Absolutely London South West December 2022

Still wondering what to buy your loved ones and where to celebrate the festive season? Fret not. The Junction, at the heart of Battersea, boasts a fantastic selection of high street names, rich mix of small independents and little gems — from specialist shops and vibrant boutiques, to hip venues and fantastic restaurants — making it the perfect destination location to shop for all things Christmas, and the opportunity to indulge in plenty of festive fayre and cheeky yuletide tipples!

Christmas Festivities Across Clapham Junction Until

20th December

Watch out for our spectacular Christmas light displays across Clapham Junction and a series of fun, festive events and surprises (Rolling Skating Presents, an Ice Dragon and Fairies, Naughty Bouncing Elves, Christmas Opera Singers and Jazz Musicians, a Penny-farthing Magician, Illuminated Lantern Stilt-walkers… amongst others) popping up across The Junction, including our much-loved Family Christmas Safari Trail, which runs until the 20th December.

A very Happy Christmas and we look forward to seeing you at The Junction!

Check out our website and socials for all the latest news, o ers and events.

STAY IN BED

Bed: Vindö I Fabric: Designer´s Guild Glenville Oyster I Carpet: Light Beige I Bed Linen: Havsbris White I Bedside table: Holme

* Piper-Heidsieck Chief winemaker was acknowledged as best of the year nine times since 2000 by the IWC.

PIPER-HEIDSIECK PAVES A NEW WAY IN CHAMPAGNE BY ACHIEVING THE B CORP SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION.

Expert in Natural Look

ONE OF TOP COSMETIC DOCTORS IN UK

Doctor Nyla, a skin specialist, trusted by TV personalities, well-known celebrity figures and some of Britain’s most familiar faces in the media industry. Founder and Medical Director of Doctor Nyla Medispa is a highly respected and much sought after cosmetic Dermatology GP and is considered one of the top cosmetic doctors in the country. Having practised medicine for over 20 years and having personally delivered over 100,000 treatments with truly exceptional results, she has gained the admiration of the industry. We have clinics at London, Cheshire and Liverpool.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

PENDLE HARTE

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT RACHEL HOGG

MAMA EDITOR CARLY GLENDINNING

ART DIRECTOR PAWEL KUBA

SENIOR DESIGNERS

MIKE ROBERTS, SUZETTE SCOBLE

MIDWEIGHT DESIGNER CARMEN GRAHAM

PRODUCTION MANAGER DANICA BRODIE

GROUP SALES MANAGER JOSEPH HAISMAN

SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANTS STELLA ADAMS KATIE WOOD TANIA TOOHEY

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI

CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID

DIRECTORS

CRAIG DAVIES, LEAH DAY, JAMES FUSCHILLO

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER

MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT

LETTER Editor’s

ABSOLUTELY’S Decembr issue highlights

December is here – and along with it comes the annual debate about when to put up the tree. Unless you're a November adopter and your tree has been up longer than the heating's been on, in which case clearly there's no uncertainty. But for the rest of us –early December or late? Getting the timing right is important. Trees begin to lose their lustre pretty quickly after the big day, so the aim is to enjoy it as much as possible for the longest time, without getting sick of it too soon. So my vote goes to mid-December. However, as we've learnt when compiling this year's Christmas special, decorations are looking particularly good this year, so we've done pretty well to resist this far. We're all looking forward to feasting, partying and resting – so merry Christmas to all our readers, and see you on the other side.

PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

Hampers

Lots of fun in wicker.

Garlands

We're planning to hang several. Especially Anthropologie's gingerbread man one.

Bauble bauble We're loving the V&A Shop's selection

Cocktail hour What are you drinking?

Northern stars Christmas looks range from glitter-filled to muted and minimal.

FRILL SEEKER

The Molly Goddard Davina dress features all-over frills in varying sizes, cra ed from a Italian so tulle with a detachable contrasting cotton slip with a broderie anglaise trim. £2,400 mollygoddard.com

SET AND MATCH

Yawn pyjamas feature a relaxed fit, deep pockets, generous hems and a collar button for cooler nights. We love the Hounds of Love set in red. £95 loveyawn.com

LADY IN RED

Is this the ultimate red dress?

It could be. Somerset by Alice Temperley satin maxi dress, £110 johnlewis.com

RED ALERT

The quest for the perfect red lip is complete. Gucci's Rouge de Beauté Brillant High-Shine Lipstick is here – and the packaging is lovely too. £36 gucci.com

10 things we Absolutely love

BERRY RED

A warm glow for the hallway, our Stately Bouquet scented candle is designed to set the tone of your home with its calming aroma and notes of blackberries, musk and cashmere woods. £52 libertylondon.com

RED STRIPE

This red and pink ashmere cardigan by Cormio features ribbed detailing, a high round neck and flower buttons. £400 koibird.com

RED NOT DEAD

Bella Freud's iconic 1970 candle looks great in red, of course. £50 bellafreud.com

STITCH UP

Jess De Wahls' embroidered notebooks for Moleskin feature beautiful and delicate flowers. Her work merges contemporary social issues with botanical beauty. From £550 moleskine.com

ON THE SAUCE

For the person who has everything, and loves ketchup: Theo Fennell's silver tomato ketchup sleeve. £1,495. theofennell.com

RED HOT

Make a feminine statement with this gorgeous Marie Jo Nathy plunge bra and brief with beautiful floral embroidery. ameliesfollies.co.uk

Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the European 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 £420 each (inc. UK sales tax). Private commissions are also welcome.

@pullmaneditionsposters

All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions 2022 Our central London gallery

CULTURE

WILLKOMMEN, BIENVENUE

CABARET

A fantastic new cast for Cabaret brings Callum Scott Howells to the role of Emcee –and his performance is fantastic.

It's a dark, creepy character but the 23-year old actor captures him brilliantly.

Madeleine Brewer is excellent too, as Sally Bowles, and the production design and staging is unforgettable. kitkat.club

What's On 18 • Musical Theatre at the V&A 22 • London's best ice rinks 27

The Agenda

EVENTS NOT TO MISS IN LONDON

EVENT

Palace of Light

7 December - 2 January

HAMPTON COURT PALACE

This royal retreat will be coming to life after dark. Inspired by Henry VIII’s heraldic beasts, this year's after-hours light trail is set to be bigger and more elaborate than ever before. Attendees should prepare to encounter a majestic menagerie of mythical creatures as they traverse the palace grounds. hrp.org.uk

EVENT

Winter Festival

UNTIL 8 JANUARY 2023, SOUTHBANK CENTRE

It’s time to eat, drink and be merry because Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival has returned to the bank of the Thames. A firm fixture of the season, the festival o ers a joyful programme of exhibitions and performances. A host of free e are also on the schedule, including the highly-anticipated Winter Light exhibition, a free open-air display of colourful LED light installations made by contemporary artists.

southbankcentre.co.uk

10 - 23 December

KENSINGTON PALACE

There is perhaps no better holiday activity than cosying up with a movie. This winter, thanks to Luna Cinema, audiences can experience some of the most-loved Christmas classics, such as Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually and the Holiday, from within the warmth and comfort of Kensington Palace's Pavilion. thelunacinema.com

EVENT

Winter Wonderland

Until 2 January 2023

HYDE PARK

One of London’s most anticipated winter events will be taking over Hyde Park for the 15th year. The magical ice Kingdom is back and better than ever in celebration of the anniversary, and more than 500 tons of ice and snow have been transformed into a series of secret passageways, ice-slides and beautifully carved sculptures. hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

TO WATCH

THEATRE

THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

The Royal Albert Hall has been the home of Christmas in London for 150 years. The 2022 season is full of heart-warming live events to be enjoyed with your loved ones. There’s something for everyone, from Christmas carols to traditional concerts, jazz, drag, soul, ballet and so much more. You can explore the full programme online and book your magical evening out. royalalberthall.com

This Month’s Must See

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

UNTIL 23 DECEMBER, THE PIAZZA WC2E 7BB

Santa is landing his sleigh at the London Transport Museum once again this year. You can meet Father Christmas and his elves in a wintery wonderland and even climb aboard his interactive Routemaster-inspired sleigh for a festive selfie. Follow a trail around the museum’s galleries to discover silver Underground roundels nestled amongst the historic vehicles, or even get creative in a Christmas card-making workshop. ltmuseum.co.uk

Loved for his dry sense of humour, use of bright colours, whimsical characters, and ironic captions, David Shrigley’s intuitive sense of style and witty text always evokes a smile. Having dealt in his work for nearly a decade, Hang-Up will exhibit this full collection for the first time, including over 30 Shrigley works across limited-edition prints, colour and monochrome originals, ceramics, and amazing posters.

Hang-Up Gallery, London N1 until 27 January 2023. hanguppictures.com

Across town in Soho, OMNI is presenting two unmissable new solo exhibitions spanning their impressive Eastcastle Street space.

First Light features 12 never-before seen paintings by Seattle-based artist Brian Sanchez. This show is a must visit for both the amateur art lover and the seasoned collector alike.

Running concurrently, Jesse Edward’s solo show titled Little Jewels delicately combines his youthful, countercultural background as a gra ti artist, with a highly detailed oil painting and ceramic sculptural practice. Edward’s works have a playful sense of internal dissonance.

OMNI, London W1 until 7 January 2023. omnigallery.com

Joyful antidotes to the dark winter days with three colourful exhibitions

DAVID SHRIGLEY, UNTITLED (BEES ARE BETTER THAN US), 2022. COURTESY OF HANG-UP GALLERY

BACK AFT BY BRIAN SANCHEZ

My Neighbour TOTORO

By PENDLE HARTE

Studio Ghibli has become almost as big as Disney for many London children. The Japanese animation studio makes films that are gentle and magical, as well as mysterious and dark, and their appeal is enduring. My Neighbour Totoro is one of the most popular with children of all ages, spawning a vast following and a huge variety of merch: lunchboxes, cuddly toys, stationery and more. It's an animation that features humans alongside fantasy creatures, and not something you'd easily imagine on the stage. But the Barbican's new production makes the transition easily and beautifully, and instantl saw a torrent of excellent reviews and enthusiastic ticket sales.

The story is simple, and there's not much plot – the film is atmospheric and there's not even all that much dialogue. On stage, it's a visual extravaganza of set, puppetry

and an orchestra in a treehouse. We open with a father and his two young daughters driving their car through the countryside; they are moving from Tokyo to a new home to be near their mother, who we learn is in hospital. Neighbours imply that their new house is haunted, and there's a lovely scene where the house unfolds and the girls discover 'soot spirits', brought to live brilliantly by a team of on-stage puppeteers. The story makes reference to Japanese folklore, with notions of di erent spirits and creatures in the woods, and the staging makes impresive use of the large space. No publicity photographs exist of Totoro himself, or the breathtaking cat bus, because their unexpected scale and magic takes us all by surprise.

This is a beautiful play, a tale of growing up that's laced with charm and an undercurrent of sadness. It's a story about sisters, fathers, love and magic, and everything about it creates a sense of wonder, from the music to the simple set design with its illustrated feel, to the energy of little Mei. Don't miss it.

MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO

To 21 January 2023, Barbican Theatre barbican.org.uk

The RSC's unlikely staging of the Studio Ghibli classic is a huge success

“A visual extravaganza of puppetry, with an orchestra in a treehouse”

COSTUME FOR SATINE IN MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL, 2021, DESIGNED BY CATHERINE ZUBER. GIVEN BY GLOBAL CREATURES. © CATHERINE ZUBER. IMAGE COURTESY OF VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON

COSTUME DRAMA

The V&A’s Re:Imagining Musicals dives into the rich world of musical theatre

Words PEARL BOYD

Anew free display at the V&A celebrates the vibrant world of musical theatre. Re:Imagining Musicals showcases 100 objects, most of them on display for the first time, bringing together brandnew acquisitions and unseen classics in the V&A’s Theatre and Performance Galleries.

Highlights include Eliza Doolittle’s beaded gown designed by Cecil Beaton and worn by Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (1958). New costume acquisitions including Miss Hannigan’s dress, wig and whistle worn by Paul O’Grady in the 1998 West End revival of Annie and donated to the museum especially for the display; Gabriella Slade’s Tony award-winning costume for Catherine of Aragon in SIX the Musical; Jamie New’s costume

designed by Anna Fleischle for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Catherine Zuber’s Tony and Olivier award-winning Sparkling Diamond costume worn by Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Further highlights include a toy Olaf created especially for Frozen the Musical designed by Christopher Oram; a 1965 original cast recording of Hello Dolly! signed by Carol Channing; an original poster for Hamilton signed by the cast and creatives; Bunny Christie’s Olivier and Critics’ Circle award winning costume design, model and costume for Rosalie Craig as Bobbie in the 2019 West End revival of Company and Shakespeare’s first folio, which celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2023.

Simon Sladen, Senior Curator for Modern

include a toy Olaf created especially for

as Bobbie in the 2019 West End revival of

COSTUME FOR JAMIE NEW IN EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE, DESIGNED BY ANNA FLEISCHLE, 20172020. GIVEN BY JAMIE LONDON LTD. © ANNAFLEISCHLE.COM

COSTUME DESIGN FOR LADIES AT ASCOT BY CECIL BEATON, MY FAIR LADY, THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE, 1958. GIVEN BY OVERTURES THE BUNNETT-MUIR MUSICAL THEATRE ARCHIVE TRUST © VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM,

COSTUME WORN BY KERRY ELLIS AS ELPHABA IN WICKED, APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE, 2006. DESIGNED BY SUSAN HILFERTY. GIVEN BY WICKED LONDON PRODUCTIONS LTD. © SUSAN HILFERTY

COSTUME FOR ELIZA DOOLITTLE IN LERNER AND LOWE'S MUSICAL MY FAIR LADY, DESIGNED BY CECIL BEATON, WORN BY JULIE ANDREWS, DRURY LANE, 1958. © VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON

ANNIE - COSTUME WORN BY PAUL O'GRADY AS MISS HANNIGAN IN THE MUSICAL ANNIE, VICTORIA PALACE THEATRE, 1998. DESIGNED BY THEONI V. ALDREDGE. GIVEN BY PAUL O’GRADY AND ANDRE PORTASIO. © THEONI V ALDREDGE

and Contemporary Theatre and Performance, said: “Musicals are one of the most exciting and complex forms of theatre to see and stage.” Celebrating the rich lineage and astounding craftsmanship behind some of the best-loved musicals, Re:Imagining Musicals explores how they have been created, adapted, revived, and retold for new audiences. The display will journey through themes such as Literature, Film and Popular Culture, exploring how Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was retold as West Side Story and inspired &Juliet, and how The Wonderful Wizard of Oz evolved from L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel to its stage and screen adaptations, which themselves inspired The Wiz’s celebration of African American culture and Wicked’s exploration of what it means to be an outsider.

A section on History, Society and Conflict examines how musicals such as Hamilton and 1776 take radically di erent approaches to adapting the story of American independence, and how SIX the Musical, Kings and Clowns, and Rex all explore the Tudor era and reign of King Henry VIII. This section also considers how musicals such as Hair and Oh What a Lovely War often respond to, capture or criticise conflict, reflecting the public sentiment of the time.

Many of the objects featured in the display are from the Bunnett-Muir Musical Theatre Archive, the UK’s largest private collection of musical theatre-related memorabilia which was donated to the V&A in 2018. Joining this extensive collection of posters and cast recording LPs is a rich array of costumes and props that explore the role and evolution of musicals throughout history.

Until November 2023, vam.ac.uk

RT SIX THE MUSICAL - COSTUME FOR CATHERINE OF ARAGON IN SIX THE MUSICAL 2020. DESIGNED BY GABRIELLA SLADE. GIVEN BY HISTOREMIX. © GABRIELLA SLADE. IMAGE COURTESY OF VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON.

“MUSICALS ARE ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING AND COMPLEX FORMS OF THEATRE TO SEE AND STAGE”

COSTUME FROM THE MUSICAL THE LION KING FOR THE CHARACTER OF SARABI. REPLICA OF ORIGINAL COSTUME DESIGNED BY JULIE TAYMOR FOR THE DEBUT PRODUCTION IN 1994. GIVEN BY BUENA VISTA THEATRICAL GROUP LTD

PHOTOCALL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A CHORUS LINE, LONDON PALLADIUM, 2013. ©VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON.

ON THE RINK

LONDON'S BEST ICE SKATING DESTINATIONS

CENTRAL PARK

WINTER WONDERLAND

There's room for everyone at Winter Wonderland, where you’ll find the UK’s largest open-air ice rink. Set in amongst the scenic Hyde Park, this skating experience is perfect for all ages and abilities. hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

BY THE RIVER BATTERSEA POWER STATION

The recently opened Battersea Power Station is now home to Glide, London‘s only riverside ice rink, set against the backdrop of one of the capital’s most iconic buildings.

glidebatterseapowerstation.co.uk

INDOOR DISCO

ALEXANDRA PALACE

Skating may be a year-round activity at Ally Pally but there’s something special about the rink at Christmas. This year the palace will be running a special program of festive skating sessions until the 15th of January. alexandrapalace.com

INNER CITY SOMERSET HOUSE

Hailed as one of the capital’s favourite winter experiences, the courtyard at Somerset House has been transformed into the ultimate skating destination, complete with a glorious 40 Christmas tree. somersethouse.org.uk

ON THE ROOF TOBACCO DOCK

This winter, Skylight Tobacco Dock will be home to Europe’s first roo op ice-skating rink, and it's the perfect place to cosy up under a blanket and sip on some mulled wine once the skates are off. skylightbars.com

THE MOON RISES IN GREENWICH

Don’t miss Luke Jerram’s incredible illuminated installation, Museum of the Moon, in the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College.

Everything YOUR HEART DESIRES

Head to Carnaby for the ultimate Christmas shopping and dining experience

This festive season head down to Carnaby for the ultimate Christmas shopping and dining experience in the heart of the West End. This central London destination has an incredible atmosphere that boasts a diverse and eclectic collection of retailers, bars, pubs, and restaurants, all within walking distance of Oxford Circus and Piccadilly tube stations. Carnaby has over 100 retailers and more than 60 restaurants which spans across 30 global cuisines. The iconic London destination is made up of 14 streets which includes famed foodie courtyard Kingly Court and creative hub, the Newburgh Quarter.

This Christmas, Carnaby has something for everyone, with brand new openings from Stine Goya, RIXO, Ksubi, and Dickies. Take a visit to premium French fashion brand IKKS Paris, Amsterdam based brand Scotch & Soda and Danish brands Han Kjøbenhavn and GANNI for some Scandi style. Discover Rolling Stones lifestyle brand RS No. 9 Carnaby, for authentic British brands visit Aubin and RÆBURN. Stop by Bloobloom for a beautiful range of spectacles and sunglasses, head to lounge and underwear brand Gilly Hicks or discover NICCE for those perfect stocking fillers.

Visit the Newburgh Quarter, which is located just o Carnaby Street, the best place to find gifts from independent and one-o concepts. Find independent stores such as Annie’s Ibiza, iconic rock and roll jewellers The Great Frog, bespoke tailors Mark Powell and highly respected piercers Metal Morphosis.

Shopping for beauty lovers? Carnaby’s beauty o erings include; M.A.C, Too Faced, Benefit, KLORIS, Pixi and laser facial specialists Skin Laundry.

Whilst you’re busy shopping for the festive period don’t forget to fuel up at some of the most diverse and exciting eateries in London. Dine in renowned names such as Kanada-Ya, Polpo, Dishoom, Kolamba, Jinjuu and Zahter. Uncover Kingly Court, the three-floor foodie hub, nestled in the heart of Carnaby. The courtyard o ers 25 concept dining experiences. In Kingly Court discover Marsha, a zero waste chicken concept, or head along to Imad's Syrian Kitchen for an authentic Syrian dining experience. This year Carnaby Celebrates features a medley of iconic lights from the past 25 years with themes including an underwater seascape, colourful rainbows, oversized fairy lights, giant snowmen, 60s inflatables, a kaleidoscope of butterflies and collaborations with two of the world's most famous bands; the Rolling Stones and Queen. It’s not to be missed. The installation illuminates Carnaby Street, Foubert’s Place, Ganton Street

and Newburgh Street. The iconic Carnaby arches are adorned with silver shimmer discs embellished with carnival decorations and a dazzling globe has been brought back to celebrate ‘Carnaby Welcomes The World’. Whilst you're in the area why not visit the Choose Love pop up? Located at 15-17 Foubert’s Place, Choose Love will be selling a collection of limited edition products, along with refugee gifting packages plus a constant stream of celebrity guests popping in to serve customers.

See more at carnaby.co.uk

Follow @CarnabyLondon for updates

ROYAL ALBERT HALL AND BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET PRESENT

Ballet SHOES

Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballets delight audiences in Richmond

Ballet lovers and newcomers alike will find joy and spectacle in the classical delights of Tchaikovsky’s favourites Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, visiting Richmond Theatre from 12 to 15 January.

Swan Lake is a timeless tale, the story of the doomed love of Prince Siegfried and Odette, Queen of the Swans. While hunting one night, Prince Siegfried chases a group of swans. One of them transforms into a young woman, Odette, who reveals that she and her companions have been placed under a spell by the wicked von Rothbart. The spell can only be broken if someone who has never loved before promises his love and remains faithful to that vow. The Prince at once swears his eternal devotion but he is tricked into declaring his love for another, the daughter

of Rothbart, Odile. When Siegfried realises his mistake, he follows Odette to the lake and begs her forgiveness but it’s too late.

The thrilling sight of a company of swans performing to Tchaikovsky’s dramatic score is one of the true delights of classical ballet.

The Nutcracker is a festive treat for all the family. Clara’s Christmas adventure begins when she is gifted a Nutcracker doll who magically comes to life… A daring battle with the Mouse King is just the start of the excitement, as the Nutcracker Prince whisks Clara o to the Land of Snow, where they are greeted by dancing snowflakes.

A host of spectacular dances complete the magical night and Clara finally wakes to wonder if it’s all been a dream.

Tchaikovsky’s score for The Nutcracker is enchanting, as is the story, making this the perfect introduction to ballet.

Each Tchaikovsky composition is a masterpiece perfectly complementing

the dancers and narrative, especially when performed by a live orchestra.

The Smirnov Golovanov productions for 2023 will be presented by a handpicked company of international dancers, joined by the artistes of Marina Medvetskaya's International Classic Ballet Theatre. Georgia-born Marina Medvetskaya is a former prima ballerina of TbilisiState Academic Opera and Ballet.She is renowned for selecting dancers whose grace, skill and athleticism authentically portray the classical style of ballet in her presentations.

RICHMOND THEATRE

from 12 -15 Jan, tickets start at £13 and are available from atgtickets.com/Richmond

This performance is presented by PMB Presentations, a presenter of ‘high end’ touring ballet and opera, and London seasons of visiting companies.

THE NUTCRACKER

SWAN LAKE

Carmen Delprat Art

Carmen Delprat is a professional Australian artist who specialising in illustration, oil painting and printmaking.

Through her work, Carmen captures an allegory of the natural world around her and transforms it into dream like interpretations with vivid imagination.

Her captivating portrait illustrations represent the spirit of femininity emitting grace and strength.

Carmen sells her unique art as fine art prints, gift cards and stunning art scarves. www.carmendelpratart.com

Christmas IN SOHO

Head to Soho, the creative hub of London’s West End, for a vibrant mix of independent and concept fashion stores, tailors, record stores, restaurants and bars this Christmas.

This Christmas Soho has something for everyone, and start by popping by some of the most exclusive and independent stores in London. Head to RÆBURN, Footpatrol, Axel Arigato, Wood Wood and Oliver Spencer for the perfect gift for fashion lovers, or visit A.P.C for Parisian classics, Billionaire Boys Club for exclusive launches and collaborations, plus Ace & Tate for some fabulous eyewear.

If vintage is more your style, Dunno. Curated sells one-o products from brands such as Champion and Versace, and you can find premium grade designer vintage clothing and accessories at Reign Vintage.

Find the perfect gift for music lovers at Sister Ray and Reckless Records – an integral part of Soho’s rich history is the presence of vinyl and record stores.

For stocking fillers, head to beauty and grooming stores, Aesop, KLORIS and Johnny’s Chop Shop, as well as MÜHLE where you can find premium shaving brushes, razors, and shaving sets. Don’t forget to visit BLEACH, pioneers of dipdyes, rainbow hues and silver sheens, for all your hair care products this Christmas.

Some of the most well-known jewellery stores can be found in the heart of Soho.

For a gift for that special someone head to iconic rock and roll jewellers The Great Frog to find a timeless piece that will last a lifetime, or Sacred Gold for a luxurious jewellery and shopping experience in London. For something more cutting edge, Metal Morphosis o ers the most extensive range of piercing and fashion jewellery.

After some serious Christmas shopping, it’s time to discover the diverse selection

restaurants, bars and cafés Soho has to o er. Tuck into mouth-watering dishes from Evelyn's Table, Kricket, The Duck and Rice, BAO, Inko Nito and many more. Plus Ramo Ramen, Ugly Dumpling, Ember Yard and Temper are all among popular eateries in the area.

If you fancy a drink after a long day of exploring Soho, you can enjoy delicious cocktails at Heritage, who use masterful mixology and the finest spirits to bring you a cocktail menu with elaborate flavour infusions, and SOMA for drinks inspired from India and beyond. You can also find new openings from Tel-Aviv inspired Miznon and Speedboat Bar who bring the Thai flavours of Bangkok to London.

Don't miss the bright neon Soho signs on Beak Street and Newburgh Street. What can you spot as you walk through Soho? Make sure to snap your photos and tag @ThisIsSoho on socials.

thisissoho.co.uk

Why Soho is the go-to London destination for shopping and dining this Christmas

HALLS Deck the

10 of the best... Christmas decorations

Compiled by PENDLE HARTE

STAR OF WONDER

Let this graceful paper Star Sun adorn your window or use it as a Christmas Tree Topper by binding the long ribbon around the top of your tree. £49 fermliving.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

THE FIRST NOEL

This felt hare is made by hand in Nepal, and the cra ing of these felted products supports the work of small cottage industries in the region. £14 vam.ac.uk

small cottage industries

JOY TO THE WORLD

Liberty’s beautiful selection of glass baubles ranges from Hello Kitty to a vintage sewing machine, via paintbrushes, watering cans and handbags. From £6.95 libertylondon.com

OH CHRISTMAS TREE

These paper trees look beautiful styled together on a mantlepiece, on a sideboard or as part of a festive tablescape. Mix and match the different colours to create your own unique display. From £7 roseandgrey.co.uk

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

Whether hung on the fireplace or draped under the tree, you’re never too old for a stocking. £52 rockettstgeorge.co.uk

WE THREE KINGS

Bella Freud’s ceramic baubles with velvet ribbon come in a deluxe gi box. £95 for three. bellafreud.com

LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

OH HOLY NIGHT

These Mandar wood houses look great filled with LED candles to create a welcoming, Christmas village. From £12 nkuku.com

What musician wouldn’t want a personalised wooden guitar bauble? Choose from eight different guitars and colours. £9.60 oakdenedesigns.com

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

Celebrate in a calm Nordic setting with paper stars and felt baubles. From £8.50 brostecopenhagen.com

SILENT NIGHT

Set up a Christmas street on your mantlepiece with George & Viv’s georgeous light-up paper townhouses. £36 each. anthropologie.com

KIT KEMP

If your ambition this Christmas is to be more Kit Kemp in your approach to decorating, then take a look at Ham Yard Hotel's Festive Suite for inspiration. The look here is maximalist, in true Firmdale style, with lots of colour, pattern and abundance – but there's no plastic. Instead, this matlepiece display is all about foliage, flowers and berries in a beautifully arranged extravagance with a carefully curated colour palette and a keen eye for balance. Added to this is an array of stylish home-made mismatched stockings in contrasting Kit Kemp fabrics, available for sale in a limited edition – so get yours quick.

firmdalehotels.com

festive LOOK Get the

FOLK TALE

HABITAT

In another twist to the ever-changing Habitat tale, the furniture company has taken on Sebastian Conran, son of founder Terence Conran, as its new Designer in Residence. With the brand's 60th birthday looming in 2024, this new creative partnership with Conran junior is set to result in new collections of

outstanding British design that should put Habitat back on the design radar. In the meantime, this Christmas's Festive Folk look is inspired by Nordic style with hand-drawn prints and graphic typography for a pared-back yet playful and contemporary feel. Think primary colours and bold shapes, with lots of candle-holders and ceramics. habitat.co.uk

TRUE BLUE

SOPHIE CONRAN

On the subject of Conrans at Christmas, Sophie Conran is another family member who knows how to host in style. Her dedicated Christmas shop sells everything from place settings to baubles, gifts and garlands, all arranged by theme. Pictured is her Parisian Blue look, which although it doesn't feature classically Christmassy colours, works well in creating a stylishly coordinated wintry feel. We love the classic Tulipiere with its oriental inspired design – use it to create a festive floral display or just as an ornament on its own. sophieconran.com

LIGHTEN UP

FERM LIVING

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without any candles. And for the most stylish display, try Ferm Living for its variety of candelabra, lanterns and simple candle holders. We love the bowl candle holder, pictured, with its unglazed, grainy ceramic creating a raw, natural vibe. Let the candle holder make a simple yet elegant impression with a set of lighted candles, and fi ll the bowl with nuts – or even a few stray baubles. fermliving.com

NORDIC LOOKS

BROSTE COPENHAGEN

Think Danish Christmas and what comes to mind? Home-made decorations in organic materials, muted colours. Broste Copenhagen's collection focuses on rawness and wooden details, di erent sizes and volumes, and a range of judiciously selected colours. For 2022, the new colour palette reflects the beautiful changing hues in nature as temperatures drop. More specifically, a new colour card features hues such as Madder Brown, Agave Green, and Pompeian Red to accompany Grape Leaf in a mix of deep and intense colours. brostecopenhagen.com

FESTIVE GLAMOUR

ROCKETT ST GEORGE

Jane and Lucy of Rockett St George love to go all-out at Christmas and their 2022 decorations collection is the perfect expression of the party season. Designed with more glitter, quirk and glamour than ever before, the range promises to bring plenty of personality to the tradition of decorating. They always encourage a maximalist approach, with everything from beautiful glass baubles to sequin decorations, recycled plastic tinsel and sumptuous velvet embroidered stockings. For 2022, new and glamorous decorations range from legends of the music world to marvellous monochrome baubles, fruity tree decorations with a touch of the tropics and plenty of pink and gold. There's something for everyone. rockettstgeorge.co.uk

CRACK

STRIPE CLUB

ROCKETT ST GEORGE

Each cracker in this monochrome set is adorned with a different pattern, from spots and stripes to wobbly geometrics and an iconic checkerboard design. Each one includes a classic joke, party crown and a glamorous gi . £45 for six. rockettstgeorge.co.uk

TAKE A BREAK

NANCY & BETTY

Made with beautifully thick paper stock and fi nished with ribbon, the luxury Silent Night crackers are perforated for the perfect break and much fatter than your average cracker. £36 for six. nancyandbetty.com

DOG LOVER

MERI MERI

These adorable crackers will really delight all your party guests. Not only do they look like sausage dogs, but one of the gi s inside is an enamel sausage dog pin - double delight. £28 for six. merimeri.co.uk

NEW WAVE

ROSE & GREY

We love the stylish scalloped trim and fun bright colours of this set. The crackers are made from crepe paper outers with embellishments of pink crepe paper bows. £32 for six roseandgrey.co.uk

REUSE, REFILL

HAPPY CRACKERS

These reusable linen crackers are keepsake, heirloom pieces that are ready to be fi lled with your own gi s to eliminate typical cracker waste. They're hand-cra ed in Yorkshire with Liberty fabrics. £120 for four. happycrackers.co.uk

THE CAKE

PATISSERIE VALERIE

This Champagne Yule Log has a swirled golden sponge filled with champagne cream and raspberry compote and finished with a shiny pink glaze, freeze-dried raspberry pieces and chocolate truffles. It's a showstopping centrepiece for any gathering. patisserie-valerie.co.uk

THE TURKEY

COPAS TURKEYS

Need help deciding what size turkey to order? Try Copas's clever turkey calculator. Answer a few simple questions and it will recommend what you need. These are the best turkeys around – order soon and they'll deliver to your door on 23 December. copasturkeys.co.uk

THE EXTRAS

LINA STORES

Visit Lina Stores for an extensive variety of panettoni, from the classic with orange peel and raisins to Amarena cherry, Pistachio, Limoncello, as well as other Italian Christmas favourites including pandoro, torrone and festive confectionery. linastores.co.uk

Fab four TREATS

PANNETTONE

Antica Bronte panettone fragola, £25 eataly.net

MARZIPAN

Niederegger marzipan Christmas loaf, £5.50 chocolatesdirect.co.uk

THE CHAMPAGNE

LANSON

Lanson's Blanc de Blancs is our fizz of choice this year, with its combined aromas of marzipan and dried citrus with nougat and zest on the palate making it the perfect Chardonnay. £69.99 magestic.co.uk

THE PUDDING

MELROSE AND MORGAN

Melrose and Morgan's traditional pudding is a classic recipe, packed full of classic Christmas ingredients, including vine fruits, crushed apple, ginger, lemon, dried apricot and orange zest, warming spices, glace cherries, brandy and a glug of stout for a truly deep, dark, rich pudding. £17.50 melroseandmorgan.com

BISCUITS

Wicklein Musical Biscuit Tin, £15.99 wholefoodsmarket.co.uk

CHOCOLATE FIGS

Fichi Ricoperti, £13.95 carluccios.com

RARE CHAMPAGNE

By PENDLE HARTE

CHEER Timefor

With the festive months soon upon us, Silent Pool has a range of gifts for all budgets. Whether it is Silent Pool’s

Gin Copa Glass Gift Box for the one you love, serving a pre-dinner drink using their Luxury Gift Tin or gifting the ultimate secret Santa gift, the Citrus Gin G&T Pack – there’s something to suit all occasions. We take a closer look at the options…

G&T / RARE CITRUS G&T PACK

The perfect stocking filler. This gift pack contains a Silent Pool Gin/Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin Copa Glass, a miniature Silent Pool Gin/Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin and a Fever Tree Indian Tonic Can to serve up the perfect double Silent Pool Gin & Tonic.

Silent Pool Gin G&T Pack / Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin G&T Pack is available for RRP £15.

UPCYCLED BOTANICAL CANDLES

Scented candles each inspired by botanicals found in Silent Pool’s gin. Housed in used Silent Pool Gin bottles as a part of their upcycling scheme, which gives the gorgeous bottles a second time to shine. Filled with 100% natural essential oils and environmentally friendly soy wax. The best way to decorate your Christmas dinner table.

Available in four scents: Rose, Elderflower & Honey; Bergamot & LavenderJuniper & Cassia Bark; Orange, Mandarin & Bergamot. Silent Pool Gin Upcycled Botanical Candles are available for RRP £24 from Silent Pool Distillers.

SILENT POOL GIN LUXURY GIFT TIN

Luxury handcrafted gin made from 24 botanicals with the aim of capturing the essence of the Surrey Hills. A contemporary London Dry gin with floral top notes, perfectly served in a G&T with Indian tonic, garnished with an orange slice.

Silent Pool Gin Luxury Gift Tin is available for RRP £40 from Silent Pool Distillers.

GIN & COPA GLASS GIFT BOX

A remarkable gift box that includes a bottle of Silent Pool Gin with a pair of premium Silent Pool Gin Copa Glasses. A great gift for your G&T fan.

Available in the classic Silent Pool taste or citrus-infused. Silent Pool Gin & Copa Glass Gift Box is available for RRP £68 through Silent Pool Distillers.

DARTINGTON CRYSTAL 8 LITRE WITH 8 CRYSTAL GLASSES IN LEATHER DISPLAY CASE

Silent Pool Gin and Dartington Crystal have collaborated to create an eight-litre one-of-a-kind Dartington Crystal bottle of gin and glassware. It is the world’s most exclusive gin in a crystal bottle and glass set.

The hand-blown, bespoke Dartington Crystal bottle and the eight glasses that go with it took master craftsmen more than 80 hours to etch by hand. The leather case for the bottle and glasses was designed and built by luxury trunk makers Franck Tressens of Ephtee. Available for RRP £25,000 at Silent Pool Distillers.

Find out more about all at silentpooldistillers.com

Silent Pool are well-known for their gin, but it’s their Christmas range that is getting us talking

CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL? DON'T MIND IF WE DO

SILENT POOL'S CHRISTMAS GIFT SET

THE CHRISTMAS CANDLES SET

BEIJA

HERMÉS

RACHEL JACKSON

ROCK

All she wants for Christmas

By PENDLE HARTE

ASTLEY CLARKE

Circulus Mother of Pearl Ring, £150 astleyclarke.com

KATE SPADE

Bookshelf stainless steel coffee mug, £28 katespade.co.uk

LIBERTY Liberty Accessories Crackers, £60 libertylondon.com

HENRY DANIEL

Anna Camera Bag, £365 henrydanielroma.com

Ultra Vital Intensive Revitalising Cellular Cream, £326 cellcosmet-cellmen.co.uk

LOEV JEWELRY

Toi et Moi Checkerboard Brilliant Bangle, £8,816 loevjewelry.com

SIF JAKOBS

Necklace Roccanova Grande with Green Zirconia, £139 si akobs.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

PANTHERELLA

Tabitha Cashmere Socks in Sky Blue, £34.50 pantherella.com

JAEGER-LECOULTRE

Rendez-Vous Night & Day watch, £POA jaeger-lecoultre.com

KATE SPADE

Sam icon candy gem embellished satin small tote, £395 katespade.co.uk

AMELIES FOLLIES

Aubade Histoire D’Unsoir nightie, £179 ameliesfollies.co.uk

RADLEY Christmas dog socks, £12 radley.co.uk

ELOISE JEPHSON

Silk satin sleep set,£250 eloisejephson.com

OLIVER BONAS

Quentin alphabet initial mini travel jewellery box, £14.50 oliverbonas.com

Bennet Faux Fur Slipper, £36.95 justfab.co.uk

CELL COSMET

THE TRIPLE-FOUR LIMITED-EDITION RACING CHRONOGRAPH

“All British land speed world record cars link back to Brooklands, and this luxury watch pays homage to that legacy with precision timing and exquisite design.” - Land Speed World Record Holder Andy Green OBE.

Brooklands designed and operated the World’s first motor race chronograph accurate to 1000th of a second in 1907. Over 100 years later, we introduce a British classic limited to 500 units. Swiss made, designed by Sir Terence Conran and inspired by the heritage of the Brooklands Motor Circuit.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

By RACHEL HOGG

£6.95 lottie.london

HADES

X-Ray Spex knit, £220 hades-shop.co.uk

We. HEAR 2 Portable Speaker in Aqua, £169 we-by-loewe.com

2 Tone Asymmetrical Flower Power earrings, £335 beabongiasca.com

Gifts for TEENS

HADES

Anarchy in the UK scarf, £95 hades-shop.co.uk

JW PEI Gabbi bag, £59 jwpei.co.uk

Getting it right for the teenagers in the house

By PENDLE HARTE

GOODWOOD

Young Driver Learner Experience, £119 per person goodwood.com

MILK TOOTH

Flower earrings, £49 milktoothldn.com

IMPALA Athena cruiser, £150 surfdome.com

IMPALA

Quad roller skates, £110 surfdome.com

OLIVER BONAS

The Body Positive Journal, £15 oliverbonas.com

ANYDAY

Let's Dance graphic tee, £15 johnlewis.com

PAPIER

Lazy Days notebook, £23 papier.com

BYOMA Hydrating trio, £15 byoma.com

WE. BY LOEWE

BEA BONGIASCA

LOTTIE LONDON

Emerald Euphoria eyeshadow palette,

Give The Gift Of GAIA

This festive season, share a little nourishment with the ones you love with GAIA Skincare’s range of Christmas gift sets.

Each set contains a hand-picked selection of natural skincare products, each blending together the finest ingredients, plant actives, and essential oils, to support their wellness, naturally.

EDITOR’S

By RACHEL HOGG

1 SIGN ME UP OUR PICK OF THE BEST GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS

PLANT LIFE

LEAF ENVY

2

MADE BY YOU

COSY CRAFT CLUB

With a Cosy Cra Club cra box subscription you’ll get a kit to try a completely different cra every month. So you could be book binding, weaving, enamelling or knitting, and more.£24 per month. cosycra .club

ART IN A BOX

ARTFUL

Artful is a quarterly subscription box for people who love to create. Each box contains tools tailored to a specifi c style or medium of artistry, along with exclusive tutorials and the essential Artful magazine. £139.905 per year. artful.co.uk

3 4

AND RELAX CALM

Who wouldn't want to receive better sleep, relaxation, and mindfulness for Christmas? A year’s subscription to Calm Premium comes with unlimited access to a growing content library. £69.99 calm.com

BOOK CLUB

DRIFT + FOCUS

Treat someone you love to a fabulous (and recyclable) parcel of non-fi ction reading along with gi s from small brands and independent makers chosen to enhance your reading in some way. £179.96 for a year (four boxes). dri andfocusbookbox.com

LONDON’S PREMIUM FLORIST ·

BLOOMSBURY FLOWERS WILL MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS A WONDERFUL ONE!

We design and create gorgeous arrangements in London, UK & Europe for events of all sizes, ranging from intimate dinner parties and product launches to large corporate functions and gala events. Call our Covent Garden store on 0207 242 2840 to discuss how we can help.

Covent Garden, 29 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5BB | 0207 242 2840 | bloomsburyflowers.co.uk

PAPERCHASE

Pack-away desk, £20 paperchase.com

PAPIER

Tablecloth Check

Meal Planner £22 papier.com

NOBLE MACMILLAN

2023 Tangerine Leather Diary, £59 noblemacmillan.com

HELLO TIME

Haus planner, £36 hellotime.co.uk

DAISY PARK

Bookaroo pen pouch, £9 daisypark.co.uk

CARAN D'ACHE

Colour Treasure Bicolor set, £37.99 carandache.com

Stationery GIFTS

For lovers of pen and paper

By PENDLE HARTE

PICK

Colour Treasure Ecridor

Sunlight ballpoint pen, £250 carandache.com

OLIVER BONAS

The Positive Wellness Journal, £14.99 oliverbonas.com

RADLEY Prairie pink pen with pouch, £17 radley.co.uk

ONCE UPON A TUESDAY

Bright and Bold family calendar, £18 onceuponatuesday.co.uk

PAPERCHASE

So touch ballpoint pens, set of four, £5 paperchase.com

PAPERCHASE

Lavender pencil case, £7 paperchase.com

CARAN D'ACHE

SMEG

By PENDLE HARTE

HARVEY NICHOLS

Scan to get started

Upgrade to Swish and enjoy lightning-fast and always-reliable internet throughout your home.

PURE SOUND BOWERS & WILKINS

For top of the range luxury audio, you can't beat Bowers & Wilkins' new Px8 wireless headphones. Made from cast aluminium and Nappa leather, they offer recording studio-quality sound in comfort and style. £599 bowerswilkins.com

RADIO HEAD RUARK

With its slim profile, SmartRadio tuner, inclusive streaming options and natural, powerful sound, Ruark's R2 will fit easily into your life and surroundings. £479 ruarkaudio.com

SPIN DOCTOR CAMBRIDGE AUDIO

Vinyl lovers will appreciate this Alva top-of-the-range turntable that has bluetooth for wireless streaming. Place it anywhere and enjoy pitchperfect audio reproduction. £1,500 cambridgeaudio.com

POWER UP BEAST BLENDER

The Beast blender is thoughtfully designed and meticulously engineered with industryleading technology, resulting in a machine that is the ultimate in preparing nutrient-rich smoothies and infusions. £185 selfridges.com

AN EARFUL NOTHING

The Ear (1) wireless earbuds have an active noise cancellation mode for when you want some peace and quiet. Then, when you want to let the world back in, you can do so with just the touch of a button. nothing.tech

Share the warmth and joy of Christmas throughout the year

This Christmas, wrap up the gift of giving and support St Raphael’s, your local Hospice.

Your monthly gift will help us be there for around 1,000 families every year delivering expert care free of charge and providing the reassurance that, should we be needed, we will be there for you and yours.

Donate monthly at www. straphaels.org.uk/regulargift

SBRI

Personalised leather dog walk accessories bundle, £52 sbri.co.uk

PET TEEZER

Cat grooming brush, £10 tangleteezer.com

WILD ONE

Twist toss dog toy, £20 selfridges.com

OLIVER BONAS

Set of two raised dog bowls, £55 oliverbonas.com

PETCUBE

Pet camera, £39.96 johnlewis.com

ELEANOR BOWMER

Pet placemat in dalmatian, £7.96 johnlewis.com

SBRI

Luxury leather dog collar, £45 sbri.co.uk

OLIVER BONAS

Orange & blue tassel rope dog lead, £19.50 oliverbonas.com

CHARLEY CHAU

Deeply dishy luxury dog bed in teal & fuchsia, from £145 charleychau.com

Gifts

for PETS

EDITOR’S PICK

DOGGY BAKING CO.

Carrot cake mix in a bottle, £10.99 bottledbaking.co.uk

CHESHIRE & WAIN

Rococo lilac cat collar, from £55 cheshireandwain.com

JOULES

Dog mattress in rainbow dog print, from £50 joules.com

'Tis the SEASON

Coworth Park is the ultimate festive retreat

By EVE HERBERT

The twinkling lights. The roaring log fires. The smell of mince pies. Coworth Park was simply made for the festive season. At this rural retreat, set in 240 acres of picturesque parkland, you’ll find luxurious rooms and suites, exquisite dining and a tranquil spa which o er the chance to do as much – or as little – as you like this Christmas.

A diverse choice of festive activities means you can cosy up indoors with family board games and films, try your hand at some new activities, or head outdoors and breathe in the crisp wintry air with walks through the beautiful grounds of the estate.

Step into the beautiful rooms and suits and you instantly feel at home. Warm colour and soft lighting create an atmosphere of relaxed elegance, while the deep copper bathtubs just beg for a cosy night in. For Georgian style with eccentric flair, the Mansion House o ers elegant rooms and suites, while the self-contained Stables and Cottages retain the original feeling of the country estate, with the comfort and seclusion of your own private residence. And because no Christmas is complete without a touch of sparkle, the team will decorate your room or suite with your own tree, for gathering around with the family on Christmas morning.

This year, Coworth Park have launched a festive three-night break for guests to discover a real country Christmas. The celebrations begin on Christmas Eve with an indulgent Champagne afternoon tea, festive singing and relaxed family board games before dinner and a traditional midnight service at a local church. The night ends with drinks in the Drawing Room after Mass. On Christmas Day, Father Christmas will visit with gifts for children, before a Christmas feast is served in

either The Barn or Michelin-starred Woven by Adam Smith. In the afternoon, the King’s Christmas Broadcast will be shown at 3pm accompanied by Christmas cake, before a relaxed bu et supper with live music. Boxing Day is full of activities including a children’s party with Kellie Potter and a selection of country pursuits across the grounds. The following morning, a leisurely breakfast rounds up this perfect festive getaway.

Whether it's wintry strolls on a frosty morning, a family feast with all the trimmings or simply an afternoon by a roaring log fire, Coworth Park o ers something for everyone in the hotel and in the local area. dorchestercollection.com

UNTAMED LUXURY Unlock the magic this Christmas

& DRINK

CERTIFIED SUCCESS

PIPER-HEIDSIECK

Earlier this year, the efforts of Piper-Heidsieck were recognised as they became B Corp Certified, joining a community of companies that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.

Acquiring the certification is an extensive process involving the assessment of each brand’s social and environmental influence.

Read more on page 57. piper-heidsieck.com

WHAT TO DRINK

TASTING

NOTES

London’s food news and most exciting openings this month

By RACHEL HOGG

GRAPE news

Wine recommendations for the month

Champagne Lanson Le Blanc de Blancs, France  £69.99

Le Blanc de Blancs has all the characteristics of a great Chardonnay. The wine's delicacy and finesse are enhanced by a very pure, mineral finish and by the freshness that is the hallmark of the Lanson style. It will pair perfectly with fresh dishes. lanson.com

Olivier Baudin Brut NV Champagne, France  £29.99

This award-winning Champagne blend provides a fine, toasty, spice hint with brioche characters on the nose, while the Pinot Noir and Meunier elements give a delicious red fruit tang and softness on the palate and the Chardonnay lifts the finish. majestic.co.uk

Nicolas Courtin Roseì NV Champagne, France  £24.99

Strawberry flavours abound in this elegant and fine Rosé Champagne. The mousse is lively and the acidity is well balanced with the ripe flavours creating a harmonious and delicious Champagne, bursting with raspberry aromas. majestic.co.uk

Spread the Joy

THE IVY CHELSEA GARDEN

The brasserie at the Ivy Chelsea Garden will be serving up an array of joyful treats in celebration of the festive session. Diners will have a range of delicious a la carte dishes and exclusive set menus to choose from, with highlights including a seasonal twist on the iconic Shepherd’s Pie with confit goose and turkey, pigs in blankets and cranberry sauce. theivychelseagarden.com

Keeping Warm

WAGTAIL

It may be cold outside, but you’re not going to feel it tucked away in one of Wagtail's brand-new igloos. Opened just in time for winter, they o er an enchanting rooftop dining experience overlooking a 360-degree view of London’s skyline and would be the perfect location for a festive get-together. wagtaillondon.com

TREAT YOURSELF

Indulge in these delicious desserts

CROSSTOWN

Crosstown doughnuts have baked all the flavours of the festive season into its holiday collection, which features plenty of sweet treats, as well as carefully curated gi ing options. crosstown.co.uk

SEASONS SIPPING

LUCKY CLUB CAMDEN

At the recently transformed Lucky Club in Camden, guests can cosy up on the new Winter Rooftop Garden and enjoy a cocktail by the open fire. The menu has been given a yuletide makeover and features a number of new creations including a Christmas Apple Sour and a Chai Old Fashioned. theluckyclub.com

Festive Feast

GAUCHO

Why deal with hours spent in the kitchen and piles of dirty dishes, when you could let Gaucho take care of the Christmas lunch this year instead? For only £125 per person, you and your party can tuck into a delicious four-course festive feast that kicks o with a relaxing glass of Domaine Chandon Brut NV. gauchorestaurants.com

LAUDRÉE

Laudrée’s Christmas collection is a delight for both the eyes and the taste buds and features a selection of macarons, advent calendars, gi boxes and gourmet hampers. laduree.co.uk

BISCUITEERS

Biscuiteers have got all your gi ing needs sorted this Christmas, they have created a delightful range of biscuits, all hand-decorated with all your favourite festive figures. biscuiteers.com

IN THE SPIRIT

DOÑA

Doña’s Christmess Cocktail Parlour is set to celebrate the holiday season with a new winter mezcal menu, festive party packages and the debut of ‘A Nativitaaaay Spectacular’. Every evening from 19-23 December, the bar will be transformed into the theatrical home of a sauced-up version of the traditional Christmas panto.

bardonalondon.com

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

British seasonal produce in a Notting Hill brasserie

By PENDLE HARTE

You can’t miss Dorian. There’s a crowd outside, because at 8pm on Saturday night, it’s already full inside, and people are hoping in vain for the chance of a table. Inside, it’s buzzing and sta are turning people away politely. This is Notting Hill’s hottest new opening, from Chris D’Sylva, the man behind the nearby Notting Hill Fish Shop and Supermarket of Dreams. He’s all about ingredients – but also all

about the stylish space. Because this actually quite small space has been cleverly transformed into a professional eaterie that feels bigger than it is. It’s being taken seriously for its food while aiming to attract a loyal local following. We sit at the marble bar, watching chefs setting fire to large pieces of meat in the open kitchen. It’s a small menu, presented minimally – just ‘pork chop’, for instance, or ‘squash & curd’ – but enthusiastic sta will talk you through each item for at least a paragraph. The wine list is lengthy and considered, as are the

cocktails, because this is also very much a high class bar. We start with crab rostis, which are perfectly salty, crispy and delicious while remaining delicately tiny, served with slivers of radish. Then there’s wild mushrooms and celeriac, which is excellent, the celeriac puree subtle and silky with large, lovely mushrooms. Pigeon comes rare and complete with its tiny foot, with sweet quince compote. Venison is fallow, not roe, we’re told (it’s the type favoured by Brett Graham next door at The Ledbury) and it’s served very rare indeed, with creamed greens, while turbot with beetroot and chanterelles is buttery and soft with sweet, fruity beets and tasty chanterelles. A side of cabbage and hazelnut comes carefully blackened. A plate of cheese is predictable good, varied and interesting, while a pear and custart tart is a delight: sweet, fragranced and delicate with a decadent buttery base. This is a modern eaterie with an old-fashioned feel for glamour and quality. Good luck to it.

DORIAN 105 Talbot Road, W11

“It’s all about ingredients – but also all about the stylish space”

Words ANGELA CLUTTON Photography KIM LIGHTBODY

Mussels in lemongrass, galangal and turmeric broth

Serves 2 as a main or 6 as a starter or small plate

Look out for British mussels in the colder months from September to March. That is when they will be at their most abundant, sustainable and delicious. I think especially delicious when cooked in this aromatic broth, thickened by the breadcrumbs, which also give some lovely flavour contrast and crunch. De-bearding mussels simply means pulling away the wiry bits that may be where the bivalve’s shells join together. Give the threads a good tug as you go through the mussels checking for which ones are (or, more importantly, aren’t) closed.

INGREDIENTS

• 1kg mussels

• 1 banana shallot

• 2 tablespoons ghee or rapeseed oil

• 1 lemongrass stalk

• 2 garlic cloves

• 5cm piece of turmeric root

• 5cm piece of galangal

• 50g coriander

• 1 x 400ml tin coconut milk

• 30g panko breadcrumbs

• ¼ teaspoon chilli flakes

METHOD

1 Wash the mussels in cold water. De-beard as necessary and tap any that aren’t quite closed. If they don’t close up straight away, discard them, along with any broken ones. Sit your mussels on a bowl of ice in the fridge until needed.

2 Peel and finely chop the shallot. Heat 1 tablespoon of the ghee or oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for 5 minutes or so until just softening. In the meantime, trim the lemongrass, remove its tough outer leaves and finely chop along with the peeled garlic. Add to the shallot, stir for a couple of minutes, then grate in the turmeric root and galangal – there’s no need to peel them. Finely chop just the stalks of the coriander and add those too. (Be sure to keep back the leaves.) Stir everything for another minute or until nicely softening, then pour in the coconut milk, add some salt, and let it simmer gently for a few minutes.

3 Increase the heat and add the mussels. Put the lid on the pan and let them cook, undisturbed, for 4

minutes. While that is happening, heat the remaining tablespoon of ghee or oil in a small frying pan over a medium heat, add the panko breadcrumbs with the chilli flakes and toss around until nicely golden. Tip into a bowl.

4 Take the lid o the pan of mussels and you should see them excitingly opening. If some are still closed, replace the lid and cook for another 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and discard any that have remained closed. Chop the coriander leaves. Scatter half over the mussels and broth and stir the rest through the crisped chilli breadcrumbs. Finish by scattering the breadcrumbs over the top.

Rabbit ragu pappardelle

Serves 4 as a main

INGREDIENTS

• 1 leek

• 1 onion

• 1 carrot

• 1 celery stick

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 jointed rabbit (about 1.5kg)

• 60g diced guanciale (or pancetta)

• 4 garlic cloves

• 125ml dry vermouth

• 4 anchovy fillets in oil

• 2 tablespoons tomato puree

• 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 sprig of rosemary

• 1 sprig of sage

• 4 sprigs of thyme

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 400g dried pappardelle pasta

• 20g butter

• 100g parmesan

METHOD

1 Finely chop the leek, peel the onion, carrot and celery. Set aside.

2 Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large casserole dish over a medium heat. Brown the rabbit pieces all over and set aside. Put the remaining tablespoon of oil into the casserole dish, followed by the prepared leek, onion, carrot and celery. Add the guanciale to the pan with some salt. Stir and allow to cook for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are softened and starting to colour, and the guanciale has rendered its fat and is crisping up. Roughly chop the garlic, add to the dish and cook for another couple of minutes.

3 Pour in the vermouth and let it bubble for a minute, using a wooden spoon to rub at the bottom of the dish and deglaze. Chop the anchovies, then stir in. The tomato puree and chopped tomatoes go in next; fill the empty tomato tin with water and add that too. Tuck in the rabbit pieces and herbs, bring to a simmer, then put the lid on and turn down the heat as low as it will go. Let it simmer very gently for 1½ hours, stirring halfway through.

4 Lift out the rabbit pieces; let them cool a little, then pull o the meat with a fork, discarding fat, gristle and bone. Remove the herb stalks and bay leaves. Shred the meat, set it aside, and bubble the rabbit cooking sauce over a high heat for 10–15 minutes until reduced by about a third. Reunite the rabbit meat with the sauce and stir in the mustard. Check the seasoning.

5 Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the instructions. Meanwhile, reheat the ragu and grate the parmesan. Add the pasta to the ragu, stirring to coat it well and adding a cupful of pasta water in stages to help bring it all together. Stir in the butter and parmesan. Serve with black pepper and more parmesan.

Brown bread

Victoria

sponge with

orange and sa ron curd Serves 8–10

This is a very grown-up victoria sponge, made slightly addictive by browning the butter for the sponge to give it an almost fudge-like character. The sandwich layers are filled with a fresh but quite intense curd to make a tall, impressive cake.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 eggs

• 250–270g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

• 250–270g golden caster sugar

• 250–270g self-raising flour

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon cold milk (optional)

• 225ml double cream

For the orange and sa ron curd

• Pinch of sa ron threads

• 3 oranges

• 70g caster sugar

• 2 whole eggs, plus 2 yolks (4 eggs)

• 70g unsalted butter

• 2 x 20cm sandwich cake tins

METHOD

1 Weigh the eggs in their shells –their weight determines the weights of butter, sugar and flour you will use. They all need to be equal.

2 Brown the butter in a small saucepan over a low heat. In about 5 minutes you’ll see it transform from golden and frothy to amber. Remove it from the heat or it will burn. Pour into a bowl and chill for 30–45 minutes or long enough for the butter to firm up to the consistency of softened butter.

3 Preheat the oven to 160C fan/180C/350F/gas mark 4. Lightly grease both cake tins and line with baking parchment.

4 Beat the browned butter until creamy, then beat in the sugar until light and flu y. Beat in the eggs one at a time, with an accompanying tablespoon

of flour to prevent curdling. Add the vanilla extract, sift in the rest of the flour, then fold it gently into the mix so as not to lose all the lightness. You want a mixture that drops easily o the spoon – if it feels a bit thick, add a little milk.

5 Divide the mixture evenly between the tins. Use a knife to level out the mixture and bake for 25–30 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let the cakes cool in their tins for a couple of minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Turn the oven down to 110 C fan/130C/250F/gas mark ½.

6 While the cakes are baking, make the curd. Put the sa ron in a small bowl, pour over 1½ teaspoons hot water and set aside. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the peel from one of the oranges, taking as little of the white pith as possible, and set aside. Squeeze the juice from all the oranges – you need 150ml. Mix the caster sugar and the eggs and yolks in a bowl. Stir in the orange juice, sa ron and its water, and a pinch of salt. Melt the butter over a very low heat in a medium saucepan, then stir the orange / egg mix into the melted butter and keep stirring continuously over a low heat for 10–12 minutes until it thickens. Pour it into a heatproof bowl and chill for 1 hour or so to thicken up.

7 Line a baking tray with baking paper. Slice the reserved orange peel into strips roughly 2mm-thick, scatter onto the tray and bake in the cooled oven for 20 minutes until dried and curling. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Whisk the double cream until thick, gently ripple through three-quarters of the curd, then chill until you need it, so it stays firm.

8 Sit the base cake on a plate, flattest side down. Spoon on two-thirds of the cream and curd filling, then sit your top layer on top, flattest side up. Spread the remaining cream on the top, then spoon the remaining curd over. Scatter the dried orange peel to decorate.

Recipes taken from Borough Market: The Knowledge with Angela Clutton , published by Hodder & Stoughton. Photography by Kim Lightbody

CHAMPAGNE MOMENTS

Since its inception, PiperHeidsieck owes its success to audacious leadership and a pioneering spirit, anchored in its companywide practices – an approach now being recognised by others.

The House showcases its unwavering commitment towards a conscientious, sustainable future and responsible Champagne production by implementing several initiatives across a number of areas including its carbon footprint reduction, vineyard operations, social impact and supplier management.

Now, the e orts of the Champagne House, Piper-Heidsieck, have been recognised as it becomes B Corp Certified, joining a community of companies that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative change.

A NEW WAY FORWARD B Corp certification is given to businesses that meet high standards of social

and environmental impact, verifying its performance, accountability, and transparency by allowing information to be measured against B Lab’s criteria. Piper-Heidsieck obtained a score of 91.9 points, verified by B Lab, the non-profit network founded in 2006.

Acquiring the certification is an extensive process involving the assessment of each brand’s social and environmental influence with more than 200 questions as defined by B Lab, covering governance, employees, communities, and the environment.

PIPER-HEIDSIECK CEO BENOIT COLLARD

“Achieving B Corp certification reflects our pioneering ethos and daring initiative

to be a driving force of change within the Champagne industry. This certification not only recognises our environmental impact in the vineyards, but extends to our entire winemaking ecosystem, our community and our workplace.

“This process began with an innovative vision from our Chief Winemaker Emilien Boutillat, which propelled our entire team on a journey to work together towards a shared mission, and I am immensely proud to see this remarkable achievement brought to life. Becoming B Corp Certified marks a commemorative occasion in the history of Piper-Heidsieck, yet it also signifies that together we are striving towards sustainable change and we hope to inspire others in the wine industry to implement similar initiatives.”

For Piper-Heidsieck, the B Corp certification represents a first milestone in the reinvention of the iconic Champagne House’s operations towards a positive and purpose-driven business model.

piper-heidsieck.com

How Piper-Heidsieck is uncorking a sustainable future

“It has an unwavering commitment to sustainability”

PHOTO: TIM COPPENS

A BIT OF SPARKLE

ANTHROPOLOGIE

Partywear has never been more glamorous. Festive fashion at Anthropologie is all velvet, satin and beading with more than a hint of 1920s decadence. anthropologie.com

Shiny finishes, sparkly dresses and bright colours for party season at Whistles

Stars Above

We were inspired by all things celestial this month

By RACHEL HOGG

ASTLEY CLARKE

ANNOUSHKA

White Gold, Diamond & Freshwater Pearl Earrings, £7,000 annoushka.com

Large Polaris Mother of Pearl Locket, £295 astleyclarke.com

THOMAS SABO

LMJ

Nighttime Moon Star Lovers Diamond Ring, £1,558 wolfandbadger.com

Star Brooch with White Stones in Silver, £298 thomassabo.com

KIRSTIE

LE MARQUE

Diamond & Gold Starburst Necklace, £375 kirstielemarque.com

MISSOMA

Harris Reed Symbols of Change Charm Choker, £365 uk.missoma.com

DINNY HALL

ZOREH.V

Diamond & Labradorite Star Pendant, £295 zohrehv.com

SCREAM PRETTY

Hannah Martin Art Deco Star Drop Studs, £65 screampretty.com

My World Small Orb Locket & Moon Charm Pendant, £440 dinnyhall.com

The Triple-Four Racing Chronograph has made a seriously dazzling impression on the world of horology since its launch this autumn. Limited to just 500 examples, the debut timepiece from new British firm Brooklands Watch Company is a modern classic with heritage at its heart.

Designed by the visionary Sir Terence Conran, the Triple-Four is inspired by the golden age of racing at Brooklands, the birthplace of motor sport and aviation in Britain. Sir Terence’s father often attended the races at Brooklands’ historic track in Surrey and his mother learnt to fly at its Flying Club.

His Triple-Four Chronograph design references the record-holding NapierRailton racing car built at Brooklands in 1933. The watch face perimeter is banked, echoing Brooklands race track’s unique

sloped embankment, while the blue leather strap echoes the distinctive block tread design of early car tyres. Its back reveals a rotor design modelled after the car’s legendary Triple-Four Aero aircraft engine.

The Triple-Four has already received praise from the likes of Tracey Llewellyn, watch editor of The Telegraph. In The Best Watches for Motoring Enthusiasts in WatchPro, Tracey noted that “watches and cars are a match made in mechanical heaven” and named the Triple-Four “a modern classic”.

An ideal Christmas gift, each of the 500 limited-edition watches is individually numbered, signed by Sir Terence and presented in a beautiful blue velvet-lined leather watch box. Displayed neatly inside are the Triple-Four Chronograph, a slim brass warranty card and a members badge. This badge entitles the Triple-Four owners to a drive on Brooklands’ world-famous Test Hill track in a specially commissioned Brooklands Watch Company electric Bugatti Baby II car.

Brooklands Watch Company was founded by aeromechanical engineer Simon Je s. “The Triple-Four is a piece of art with a purpose. It has a beating heart and a story of British motor racing to tell,” he explains. “I’ve enjoyed flying for many years and settled mainly on helicopter flying before motorsport took over. I visited Brooklands racetrack to see my uncle’s Brooklands racing car being run after many years in storage. It was incredible. I was astonished that Brooklands built and operated the first Motor Racing Chronograph accurate to 1000th second in 1907. This inspired me to create a luxury British watch brand.”

The limited-edition Triple-Four retails at £5,754 and is available on the Brooklands Watch Company website and until the end of the year exclusively at The Conran Shop, Chelsea. Brooklands Museum Trust and London’s Design Museum will both benefit from the sale of each watch.

Taking a closer look at the debut timepiece from Brooklands Watch Company

designed by Sir Terence Conran

TRIPLE-FOUR CHRONOGRAPH WITH WARRANTY AND MEMBERS BADGE

Sparkle This Christmas

Bespoke Fine Jewellery by Master Goldsmiths

&

CELESTIAL SPARKLE

CHANEL

You can celebrate the holidays in a swirl of stars with this stunning new holiday collection. It seems that Chanel’s Makeup Creation Studio looked to the skies when searching for inspiration for this year's range. The result is a truly stunning collection of shimmering products, all delicately embossed with a celestial signature. chanel.com

BEAUTY

NOTES

The latest in luxury makeup and skincare

By RACHEL HOGG

FOCUS

FESTIVE FINGERS

RARE BEAUTY

Your lips o en need extra care during the harsher winter months, so what better time to treat yourself to this gi set by Rare Beauty? The Kind Words Mini Matte Duo contains a matching lipstick and lipliner that pair perfectly to give your lips colour and definition without sacrificing comfort or hydration, £19. spacenk.com

Dynamic DUO BEAUTY SLEEP

SLIP SILK

The beauty secret of celebrity hairstylists, dermatologists and beauty experts alike, Slip Silk’s range of pure silk eye masks, pillowcases, and scrunchies are designed to be gentle on your hair and skin. Now you can give the gi of beauty sleep thanks to their stunning new holiday collection, which includes gi ing options for every budget, from £25. slipsilkpillowcase.co.uk

Ready to Party

SKINNY TAN

Want to make sure you arrive at every Christmas party looking your best? Well, Skinny Tan has got your back this holiday season. Their new Wonder Tanning Collection Gift Set contains everything you could need to achieve a flawless fake tan, and it all comes wrapped up in a luxury velvet cosmetics case, £38.89. boots.com

When it comes to manicures, I usually opt for something simple and neutral. But with the holidays fast approaching, I wanted to make sure that my nails matched the spirit of the occasion. Since I am a relative newcomer to nail art, I decided it was best to place my hands in the hands of an expert, and dropped by Young LDN in Notting Hill. After sitting down with one of their manicurists, it was quickly established that the festive season is a fairly common time for people to step out of their comfort zones, nail-wise. According to her, many people may opt for bold colours they wouldn’t usually go for, likewise those who usually wouldn’t consider nail art tend to experiment a little more. People overwhelmingly tend to favour red and green colour palettes and designs depicting classic Christmas iconography. However, there are a lot of simpler and more toned-down options that can still retain a bit of that festive edge, which is what I ended up going for. After a quick peruse of Pinterest, we settled on a classic design with a graduated glitter french tip. The nails she did are so lovely that I get constantly distracted looking at them, and I do think it may have opened a door to a bit of a nail art obsession, so stay tuned I guess?

YOUNG LDN 228 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RH youngldn.com

EDITOR’S PICK

Expert advice on getting the perfect holiday manicure

CHARLOTTE

TILBURY

Pillow Talk Crystal Dimension Eyeliner, £24 charlottetilbury.com

EDITOR’S PICK

CHANEL Éclat Lunaire Illuminating Face Powder in shade Or Rose, £68 chanel.com

LOTTIE LONDON

Power Foil in shade Unphased, £6.95 lottie.london

ANASTASIA

BEVERLY HILLS

Rose Metals Palette, £48 lookfantastic.com

STILA

Glisten & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in shade Playa, £24 stila.co.uk

HUDA BEAUTY

Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette Rich, £27 sephora.co.uk

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot, in shade Babe in Charms, £18.50 maccosmetics.co.uk

BEVERLY HILLS

Dewy Set Setting Spray, £27 lookfantastic.com

By RACHEL HOGG

Cabernet Blush Artistry Palette, £13 uk.morphe.com

NARS

Rising Star Cheek Palette, £56 narscosmetics.co.uk

Limited-Edition Rouge Dior Velvet in shade Midnight Rose, £36 dior.com

MORPHE

DIOR BEAUTY

Anya Taylor-Joy for Parfums Christian Dior

ANASTASIA

TOP PICKS

GIFTS FOR THE FITNESS-OBSESSED

A Smart Bike APEX BIKES

Forget having to hide your exercise equipment away in the garage, because the team at Apex have designed a bike that looks great and performs even better, £699. apexrides.com

FITNESS NOTES

By RACHEL HOGG

A Jump Rope TECHNOGYM

A quality skipping rope can be the ultimate exercise tool and this particular model has been professionally designed to ensure effortless rotation and maximum durability, £85. technogym.com

A Theragun Elite THERABODY

What better gi than relief from any niggling ailments, aches and pains? Theragun’s newest percussive massager is their quietest and most ergonomic model yet, £375. therabody.com

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS

Tips from Sophie Dillon, the Head of Nutrition at Fresh Fitness Food, for staying on track during the festive season

1. EAT REGULARLY & DON’T SKIP MEALS

Despite the festivities, it's still important to make sure you are eating healthy balanced meals throughout the holiday season. Try to make sure you stick to regular meal timings as much as possible. This helps you to avoid overindulging on snacks and canapes, whilst still ensuring you are getting all the nutrients you need to maintain your health and energy levels. If you're drinking alcohol, ensuring you consume nutrient-dense meals the following day is a great way of supporting your hangover recovery.

2. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

Hydration is key when it comes to ensuring your body can function at its best. Christmas celebrations often involve alcohol, which can be very dehydrating. To ensure you stay hydrated, try alternating each alcoholic beverage with a glass of water. Don’t feel pressured to consume alcohol when you don’t want to, there are plenty of really tasty non-alcoholic alternatives to try too. Be mindful that the calories from alcohol can add up quickly, and they tend to also lead you to completely throw the towel in when it comes to your food intake.

3. GET MOVING!

As well as keeping up with your nutrition, it is equally as important to stay active, though you might find your usual training schedule interrupted. Rather than sticking to a strict routine, go for a long wintery walk with your family, to ensure you stay active without sacrificing quality family time. After all, whilst it is important to continue to strive towards reaching your fitness goals, the holidays are also a fantastic opportunity to relax, unwind and spend some quality time with family and friends.

freshfitnessfood.com

GLAMOUR WAVE

Tips for perfect party hair from Headmasters

This glamorous wave look is like a little black dress of party hairstyles. It goes with every outfit, suits any occasion and oozes luxury. Headmasters Creative Ambassadors, Clare Hansford, Sian Quinn, and Danielle Louis reveal their top tips for achieving the hottest party look of the season.

1. MAKE THE CUT

This blow dry works best with a layered haircut, adding body through the back and framing the face at the front, you will get volume and bounce that will last much longer. Your stylist will be able to cut your hair to provide the most flattering cut bespoke to your face shape.

2. CREATE SOME COLOUR

You can enhance your bouncing blow dry even more with multi-toned colour, having a bespoke balayage service will not only brighten up your skin in the colder months but it will create more texture through your hair and show o more movement. It's a great way to ensure you really make an entrance at any party or work event this year.

3. BLOW DRY TO FINISH

To create the look your stylist will prep your hair with products to ensure hold. After this, your stylist will take smaller sections and use a ghd large round brush to blow dry your hair. Sian’s top tip is to allow the hair to set and cool before getting dressed up.

AFTERCARE

Excessive alcohol consumption will dehydrate not only your skin but your hair. It is important to remember that dehydration can cause hair to become dry brittle and weak and over time this can cause hair to split and snap. To prevent your hair from looking and feeling dry Sian suggests using a deep conditioning treatment weekly during winter and the festive season. Sian's personal favourite is the Olaplex Hair Repair Treatment Kit, a nourishing set of four haircare heroes, ideal for breakage-prone hair. Often party season can also be a time when you're using heated tools such as wands, tongs, and straighteners more than usual. Hair that has been over-styled will visibly show signs of split ends, so it's generally a good idea to invest in a heat-protectant spray and use it every time you style. It might also be a good idea to book a Headmaster's healthy hair micro trim (price from £55). The cut is minimal, which allows the stylist to remove any split ends and breakage while maintaining the hair length.

HEADMASTERS

Headmasters are renowned for creating beautiful, confidence boosting hair in their 54 salons located across the UK. headmasters.com

Respect the remarkable

There’s no one in the world like your loved one. As a Loveday member, they can enjoy a later life that truly honours who they are. We o er CQC Outstanding-rated care, tailored to their personal needs. A curated programme of activities to suit their lifestyle and interests. And 5-star service delivered in beautiful surroundings – for an experience that’s anything but ordinary.

ALL

Morgan is a former property valuer and, at 55 years of age, is also a patient of St Raphael’s Hospice. He is concerned about the “rising importance of expressing what a hospice really is”. As many people will do, he has needed a period of time as an in-patient at the Hospice before being able to return home to his family, supported by the Specialist Palliative Nurse team. From first hand, he is now keen to let others know about the vital part the Hospice plays at a point which we will all arrive at, one day:

“My experience at St Raphael’s has helped me to begin my journey, it has been a period of rest for me. Clearing my mind about what the future may or may not bring.

I didn’t realise at the start how important this time would be for me and my family. I don’t know how long I have left, none of us really do, yet this has been a humbling and levelling process of coming to terms with death with a lot of gratitude.”

He continues by saying that his experience has brought “love and respect into his days” alongside the reassurance that he is “in the very best of hands”.

St Raphael’s is the local hospice for Merton and Sutton boroughs of South London, an area from Wimbledon Common down to Banstead Downs and serving a population of over 400,000. The Hospice is fully integrated into the local health system, receiving referrals from GPs or hospital specialists at a point when curative treatments are no longer available.

The role of the Hospice is to support each person with expertise, experience

and compassion delivered by a team of dedicated and passionate palliative care specialists (pictured below) who help to stabilise symptoms and bring pain under control. The Hospice’s Psychological Support team helps patients and those closest to them navigate the emotional journey. Practical support is also provided, such as assisting with the planning of finances or the housing of pets. St Raphael’s volunteer Compassionate Neighbours provide companionship for people in the community living with life-limiting illnesses, o ering understanding and support. The Hospice aims to enable all to live life to the fullest extent possible, within the constraints of their illness.

This vital service is o ered completely for free to those in need, yet is financially fragile. One in four of us will be referred to the Hospice at some point in our lives. Given how crucial this service is for all of us, it is alarming that the NHS only contributes around 25% of the £6m+ it costs to run the charity each year. These costs are rising. Inflation has added over £1m since 2015, creating a large gap in funding. Today, for every £1 from the NHS, St Raphael’s needs to raise £3 from individuals and businesses.

If you would like to help St Raphael’s Hospice raise the extra £1m needed each year, please contact them to donate, fundraise, join their business club, volunteer or play the charity’s lottery (16+).

supportercare@straphaels.org.uk straphaels.org.uk/regulargi

“The Hospice aims to enable all to live life to the fullest extent possible”

COLOUR WAYS

ANNIE SLOAN

Colour expert Annie Sloan has a firm belief that a new coat of paint is the solution to most problems. It's not too late to upgrade your walls, woodwork or accessories before adorning them with decorations – and her chalk paint requires no priming and very little prep. anniesloan.co.uk

Ashby's latest project

NOTES INTERIORS

Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

SQ UARE D ANCE

+ CAMILLE WALALA

Textile development studio ambar - founded by designer Natalia Nicolau - has collaborated with multidisciplinary artist Camille Walala to create a collection of knitted textiles for table and home. Designed and made in the UK, it includes knit jacquard table runners and table mats as well as cushions and merino wool throws featuring artworks by Walala. ambarldn.com

QUICK FIX

ANNIE SLOAN

There's still time to freshen up your home before Christmas, and painting your walls, floors and kitchen cabinets is a breeze with Annie Sloan's versatile and forgiving chalk paint. Go on – have a go. anniesloan.co.uk

AMBAR

PILLOW TALK

BED THREADS

If linen is offi cially the most comfortable fabric for bedding, then Bed Threads' linen is probably the world's most comfortable bedding. Impossibly so even when brand new, the sets come in a huge variety of mix and match shades and are an instant bedroom upgrade. bedthreads.com

TAKE FIVE

Champagne Saucers

DARTINGTON CRYSTAL

Limelight Mitre champagne saucer, set of two, £56 dartington.co.uk

CANDY

BURN OUT

STUDIO DINE

Put a spin on your Christmas table this year with Studio Dine's taper candle pair in a modern colour clash combo of pink and red. Handmade in Italy by a familyowned candle maker, these are made to the highest standards and then illustrated by hand in London. studiodine.com

BERGS POTTER

Since the celebration of winter solstice in ancient times, green has been associated with festive celebrations. Bergs Potter carries a collection of glowing emerald green pots and vases in luscious deep glazing - all perfect for the seasonal celebration. bergspotter.com

FERM LIVING Ripple champagne saucer, set of two, £39 heals.com

BRIDE & WOLF

Gold Lightning Bolt Mirror, £75 antipodream.co.uk

GISELA GRAHAM

Metallic Gold Twist Taper Candles, £4.99 giselagraham.co.uk

BELLA FREUD

1970 Gold Ceramic Candle, £110 beaumonde.co.uk

GRACE DIGITAL ART CO

Gold and Emerald Green Artemis Poster, £35 gracedigitalartco.com

FRENCH BEDROOM C0

Angelique Ornate Gold Wall Mirror, £295 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

Eichholtz Las Palmas Table Lamp Gold, £974 sweetpeaandwillow.com

GOLD RUSH

Sparkle and shine for the season

By PENDLE HARTE

FY Cassia Vase, £49 iamfy.co

BEAUMONDE

Geraldine Gold

Giraffe Table Lamp, £145 beaumonde.co.uk

ROCKETT ST

GEORGE

Gold Metal Multi Hands Candle Holder, £150 rockettstgeorge.co.uk

LUXEOLOGY

HOME

Gold Bobble Edge Wall Mirror, £145 luxeology.co.uk

LUXEOLOGY

HOME

Tall Gold Metal Vase, £119 luxeology.co.uk

SWEETPEA & WILLOW

GO LARGE BLOOM

Bloom's Christmas Wreath designs are 100% plastic-free and created using sustainable fl oristry techniques. These expert London fl orists make every single festive wreath by hand. From £155 bybloom.co.uk

A MIXED BUNCH

UNCUT STEMS

Born from a desire for a more creative, sustainable and educational fl ower subscription that champions real fl owers, Uncut Stems offers a journey through the British growing season from spring blossoms to Christmas wreaths. uncutstems.co.uk

METAL HEAD

ROSE & GREY

Bring the festive season into your home in a more suble way by hanging this stylish metal wreath above your mantlepiece or on a wall. We love the brass fi nish and delicate berry details. £45 roseandgrey.co.uk

WHITE LIGHT COX AND COX

The subtle and elegant Gypsophila Lit Wreath has a simple, round silhouette, a total of 15 steady warm white micro LED bulbs and is adorned in tiny white faux fl owers with a glitter fi nish.£30 coxandcox.co.uk

MASTER CLASS

PETERSHAM NURSERIES

Immersive wreath making masterclass using sustainable fl oristry techniques and Petersham Nurseries’ dramatic fl oristry style take place from 28 November. Book now. petershamnurseries.com

Founded in 1908, design company Carl Hansen & Søn is a third-generation family-run Danish business.

At Carl Hansen & Søn, they believe that iconic design is a combination of simplicity, aesthetics and functionality brought to life through skillful work with the highest quality materials.

Through the years, Carl Hansen & Søn has maintained a strong focus on preserving Danish design classics while continuing to expand the collection to represent influential new designers.

As an extra element in all flagship stores, a broad and exciting accessories program has been developed. A program that matches the furniture and helps to give the interior the special touch that makes it di erent and personal. The company uses nature’s own produce: wood, Carl Hansen & Søn’s most important material, along with other sustainable materials such as clay, glass, wool, linen and paper.

Carl Hansen & Søn’s accessory range also creates new and exciting experiences and new relations with many exciting items made in the spirit of passion and good conscience, both for decoration and as fun and functional things in everyday life.

Create a Scandinavian hygge this Christmas and discover the full range in the flagship store. carlhansen.com

Anew development in Shoreditch has launched with a stylish range of interiors devised by designer du jour Sophie Ashby. For Ashby, this is her first foray into the field of interior architecture, and taking cues from the retained adjoining Georgian terrace and sensitively refurbished as part of One Crown Place’s master plan, Studio Ashby has created an aesthetic rooted in tradition. Beautifully muted colour palettes are layered with tactile materials, providing a warm backdrop and seamless transition from one room to the next.

Ashby explains: “Art is central to our inspiration, and so is place, the way we respond to and are in turn shaped by it. We believe the items we surround ourselves with should make us feel alive and connect us to the spaces we inhabit; this is ultimately what I hope for the residents who will live in these unique homes. We wanted the collection to be welcoming and timeless while reflecting the elegance of the Georgian era.”

Sophie Ashby Studio creates a contemporary interior in Shoreditch

Words PEARL BOYD

Drawing on Sophie’s evolving love of art, antiques, craftsmanship and modernist furniture, a heightened sense of domesticity has been injected into the interiors. Curated pieces from the rich source of local emerging artists and galleries, include the surreal yet tranquil resin panels by Fleur Simon in the dining room and the perfectly designed bespoke desk in the study mezzanine with its aqua blue glass top. Additional highlights feature pieces from Sophie’s newly launched furniture and homeware brand, Sister, which sees the elegant Sculpted Sofa taking pride of place in the living area, paired with the X-Frame Bench fully upholstered from top to bottom, meanwhile the playful Gaia Rug’ has been specially designed in a new bespoke colourway, just for the apartment.

Homeowners of the Sophie Ashby Collection will benefit from both bespoke kitchens and wardrobes developed together with acclaimed Italian design leader B&B Italia and its Arclinea kitchen brand. For the apartment, the sculptural kitchen provides a fitting focal point for the heart of the home and becomes the physical connection between the open plan living and the architectural framework. With its Snow quartz worktops,

natural stone splashbacks and contrasting oak cabinet panelling, the kitchen speaks to tradition yet embraces contemporary living. In the bedroom, the white lacquer oak wardrobe doors underscore expert craftsmanship with soft leather handles adding to its superior finish.

One Crown Place, a combination of 246 apartments (with take-up in residential sales hitting 80%), sets a new standard of living, with its innovative architecture and quality of interior design. The seventh level of One Crown Place provides residents with a suite of amenities designed by Studio Ashby. It includes a residential lounge, private dining room, gym, treatment room, a cinema room and 2,475 sq. ft of a private roof terrace, to retreat to and relax in. Forming part of the vibrant development, the newly opened Sun Street Hotel occupies a fully restored Georgian terrace o ering preferential access and one-year complimentary membership to One Crown Place residents.

Studio Ashby creates spaces with a unique identity. Ashby’s aim is to bring authenticity to each project, not only in the selection of furniture, lighting and art but in its use of a natural palette of materials and textures. Unswayed by the passing dictates of fashion, Ashby draws

on her love of antiques, colour, contemporary ‘world art’, modernist furniture, photography and her latest discoveries to deliver an eclectic richness to each interior.

Studio Ashby’s relationships with artisans and craftsmen, extensive resources and continual foraging play an integral role in developing each project. Humour and a love of objects with an explicit narrative result in a carefully balanced body of work that create cohesive spaces with a sense of honesty.

Sophie broadened her design vocabulary through a BA in History of Art (Hons) at Leeds University, going on to study Interior Design at Parsons, The New School in Manhattan, New York. Her strong architectural and design sensibility developed over the following years with sound. mentorship and a personal curiosity for “beautiful things”.

The Sophie Ashby Collection is now available for viewings. Prices start at £8.625m.

“The items we surround ourselves with should make us feel alive and connect us to the spaces we inhabit”

BURN OUT

1 3 4 5 2

NATURAL HIGH EYM

2

GOLDEN EYE WINGS OF WISDOM

The Thrillsome Trio: A Watchful Eye, Lunatic and Memories of Summer are modern talismans. Each comes in a fi ne bone china vessel with 22 carat gold embellishment. £80 wow-uk.com

SHELF LIFE

PAUL SMITH

Paul Smith's fi rst candle collection comes in beautiful reusable glass containers. The fragrance Bookworm was inspired by Paul's own book-fi lled offi ce. £65 paulsmith.com

FOLK TALE VILSHENKO

Vilshenko's fi rst candle collection is inspired by Slavic folklore and traditional Matryoshka dolls, and each candle represents one of the four seasons. £120 vilshenko.com

INDIAN VIBES

GINORI

The Rajathra candle transports you to a maharaja’s retreat in the hills of Rajasthan with tose and patchouli, sensual spices and a sultry animalic scent. £350 ginori1735.com

By PENDLE HARTE

WALLSAUCE

New

As more people work from home, more food is being prepared at home, so the focus on kitchen functionality has increased. The popularity of a kitchen island is unlikely to wane as they usually provide a multi-functional focal point in the room for cooking, eating, chatting and working.

Walk-in pantries are a luxury that most homeowners would want if they could create the space. A modest-sized pantry will take care of the food storage needs of most families, and make it easier to keep the kitchen clutterfree. This is especially desirable for people who are working in or near their kitchen space. In a slightly larger pantry it’s usually possible to squeeze in some additional countertop space, plus a couple of additional appliances, such as a drinks fridge, back-up freezer, and even a second dishwasher.

Finally, the breakfast cupboard is a musthave in most modern kitchens. These are tall cupboards with worktops inside where the toaster, the co ee maker and other small appliances remain plugged in and ready for use. Breakfast cupboards are usually installed with pocket doors, so the interior can remain hidden when not in use.

Islands, walk-in pantries, and breakfast cabinets are large items, so if you are intending to carry out other home improvements, or planning to extend your home, then it’s important to design the kitchen in parallel with any architectural alterations.

As people spend more time at home, there is a trend for installing large windows and glass doors to improve the connection between the kitchen and the outdoors.

Aesthetically, the trend is towards the use of more sustainable and eco-friendly products. Certainly the demand for locally manufactured kitchen cabinets is growing. It’s often possible to source salvaged items of furniture and convert their use into functional, unique and characterful kitchen cabinets. Thanks to Instagram, homeowners are becoming increasingly receptive to the use of colour and texture in their homes. Bland kitchens are becoming a thing of the past. Wood and metal finishes are becoming increasingly popular due to their durability, and composite stone worktops and splashbacks remain popular for the same reasons.

Whatever you choose, ensure that you spend enough time at the design stage. You may be spending a lot of time in your kitchen, so it’s important to love it

“Homeowners are increasingly receptive to the use of colour and texture in their kitchens”

MODERN GLAMOUR

Set the stage for glamorous entertaining with Timothy Oulton’s subversive take on luxury

Recapture the magic and romance of glamour’s golden age with award-winning British furniture and lifestyle brand Timothy Oulton. Think lavish upholstery, dramatic lighting and sensuous textures. It all sets the stage for warm and inviting spaces, sumptuous entertaining and decadent candle-lit dinner parties that carry on into the night.

A single statement piece has the power to completely transform a room, and perhaps few more so than Timothy Oulton’s prized Rex Mirror, loved by celebrities and interior designers. Rex doesn’t reveal its secrets all at once. In fact, the beauty of this mirror demands close study and utmost attention. Creating a harmony of materials that wouldn’t often be put together, Rex is handcrafted from a raw iron frame, bearing the marks of the welder’s torch, contrasted with sparkling optical glass prisms. Light from concealed bulbs is refracted through each prism, creating a perpetual dance of shimmer and sparkle.

Rex takes its name from the historic Rex cinema in Berkhamsted; a 1930s Art Deco gem boasting a beautiful auditorium with dramatic lighting. Saved from dereliction by a local entrepreneur, the cinema was restored to its former glory in 2004. Timothy Oulton’s Rex Collection encompasses a full range of lighting and lit furniture including the spectacular Rex Rectangular Dining Table, handcrafted with 550 glass prisms, and the Rex Bio Hazard Bar Cabinet, perfect for the season of hosting and toasting. With home bars experiencing a renaissance, a further shot of glamour is

served up in Timothy Oulton’s speakeasyinspired bar collection. Cocktail hour turns into golden hour with the decadent Shimmer Bar Cabinet, handcrafted from brass and glass with internal-lit shelving bathing the whole piece in a soft glow. For a more covert take on glamour, the Hudson bar and cabinetry collection features streamlined forms wrapped in a stealthy cloak of Fury leather. When it comes to wining and dining, English gentry meets abstract art in the luxurious Faded & Degraded velvet collection, available on selected sofas and dining chairs. Original designs include ‘Melting Paisley’ velvet, pairing a background of faded Victorian damask wallpaper with overlaid splatters of blue ink.

Discover Timothy Oulton’s modern take on vintage glamour together with a wide spectrum of styles from casual luxe to rugged industrial at timothyoulton.com. For the full Timothy Oulton experience visit the global flagship gallery at Bluebird, 350 King’s Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5UU (telephone 020 3150 2024) or visit the brand’s other London locations at 200 Tottenham Court Road W1T 7PL or 100 Liverpool Street EC2M 2RH.

REX TALL MIRROR

SHIMMER BAR CABINET

SERPENTINE SOFA IN FADED AND DEGRADED PEELING CEILING

Cupboard LOVE

Technical excellence with Rimadesio’s freestanding wardrobe

Cover freestanding is a cutting-edge wardrobe system in which all components are custom made, from doors to accessories, from structure to complements.

This is the self-supporting version of the Cover storage system, equipped with side panels and back panels, conceived to create linear or corner compositions. The perfect finish of the back panels and the doors make Cover freestanding an ideal system also for niche solutions, completed with integrated bridge passage. The advanced technology allows to create even compositions with direct access to the walk-in closet.

The internal equipment is fixed directly to the uprights, without visible screws, which allows a free and easily adjustment over time.

Front and back uprights are provided with optional integrated led lighting system.

As an extraordinary expression of Rimadesio technical and stylistic research, Cover freestanding is now equipped with new finishes. The front doors and sides are enhanced by the new Fibra glasses, characterised by a weaving of metal wires that creates a threedimensional texture. Available in argento and bronzo finishes, they create a play of reflections and semi-transparencies that varies according to the light.

Among other new finishes, the sahara wood and sahara glasses stand out for a wavy touch e ect. Diamante glasses enhance surfaces thanks to the exploration of materiality. The new colours arena, agata and etna integrate the exclusive collection of Rimadesio synthetic leathers. The Litech grigio rigato finish is also new, in addition to the crema, moka and piedra shades. Among the new fabrics, the gesso and piuma textures stand out for their delicate tones.

rimadesio.it/en

“In this cuttingedge wardrobe system, all components are custom made”

By SARAH BARCLAY

CALM STORM after the T

he beginning of the year is always a great time to declutter your space and start the year feeling energised. Clearing and sorting through your things can have a positive e ect on mental health and create more joy in your home.

Make a list of all the rooms that you would like to declutter and work through them one at a time. A great tip is to take a walk through each room and mark the larger items that you may want to clear out on a list. Once the list is completed, then you can easily see what you may need to organise to remove the larger items, such as booking a collection service. This helps to keep mess to a minimum if you are decluttering over a period of time.

There are some beautiful options in terms of smaller storage that can hide clutter while still looking elegant. Baskets, pretty boxes, and deep decorative trays can all be used to skilfully detract the eye from the items you want to keep without them being visible. And they can add an element of fun, with bright colours or di erent textures for an instant update.

When you are reviewing each room and the items that are to be decluttered, take into consideration the existing storage and how you use the space. Think about the flow of the room, how often you are using the items and how accessible they need to be. And of course if you actually need the item at all.

Most homes have the opportunity to create more storage space with some inventive interior design. Think about the spaces in your home that might be overlooked, such as the hallways, under the stairs, and odd spaces. These may be perfect for a

bespoke cupboard that discreetly adds more storage space and is unique to your home. Having built-in cupboards designed for your space gives you the opportunity to ensure that you get the maximum amount of storage that you can have in any given space. Bespoke joinery combined with clever design can increase the amount of storage space quite significantly. It also means that everything in your home will have a dedicated space built specially to house the items that you want to keep.

Whether you are a minimalist or a maximalist or somewhere in between, a good declutter once a year can reinvigorate your home and space.

Barclay is the founder of Barclay Interiors based in Ascot; barclay-interiors.com

Sarah

After the chaos of Christmas, there’s no better time to take stock and declutter your home

CHRISTMAS SLOWDOWN

that all-important Zoom meeting might help improve the connection speed temporarily. Of course, this might not be feasible for most modern homes that have dozens of devices constantly connected to the internet... and it might cause some family arguments.

The second option is far more e ective – upgrade to Full Fibre broadband.

Christmas is often lauded as the time for connecting with loved ones and being social. But let’s be honest – the thing most of us look forward to is curling up on the sofa and watching Christmas classics like Love Actually and A Christmas Carol guilt-free for the 20th time.

So why does Netflix keep bu ering? And why, when you hop on your phone, does Instagram take forever to load? The reason might be a little closer than you think.

Christmas time usually sees a far higher usage of the internet bandwidth in your home. You might have friends and family staying over, who are connected to your Wi-Fi. You’re also probably spending most of December either watching Christmas TV or doing some last-minute online shopping. What’s more, the kids have finished school

and are sat at home on their phones, leading to even more activity on your broadband.

All these extra devices and usage can have a noticeable e ect on your broadband speed. So, what can you do about it? There are two real options available –one more e ective than the other.

One option is to try and stagger your broadband usage. Asking family members to avoid using their phones or computers while you’re watching a film or taking

Providers such as Swish Fibre o er blisteringly-fast broadband speeds that can deliver a reliable service no matter how many devices are connected at the same time. Their packages also o er equal upload and download speeds, so you can keep working from home even if other people in your house are streaming TV or blasting the Christmas tunes on Spotify.

With Swish you won’t even need to worry about your broadband losing its punch in the future. Whether your family (or your tech collection) is set to keep growing, Swish will be able to handle it. Their network is capable of handling 10,000Mbps broadband speeds – far faster than anything available now. This is to ensure that as internet speeds grow faster in the future, Swish customers won’t have to upgrade their hardware or have new fibre cables laid in their street.

SWISH FIBRE

Head to swishfibre.com/absolutely to see how faster and more reliable broadband can bring a bit of extra cheer, and speed, to your home this Christmas swishfibre.com

LOVE ACTUALLY IS A CHRISTMAS TRADITION

TRAVEL

FREE WHEELING

SUMMER IN THE ALPS

Ski resorts continue to up their outof-season offering and Club Med's two resorts in Les Arcs focus on wellness as well as hiking and biking in the summer. Book for summer 2023 as soon as you're back from skiing and return to an entirely different landscape. clubmed.com

Summer in the mountains 140

MOUNTAIN HIGH

Words PENDLE HARTE

Granted, rooftop yoga can be nice in London too. But our sun salutations take on a whole new meaning when the sun is crowning over a mountain range, with snow caps visible in the distance through the perfect clarity of the air at 1950 metres. It's life-a rming. After our session, my teenage daughter’s phone beeps – a friend has spotted her location on snapmaps and is confused. What could she be doing in the Alps in June? It’s the wrong season! Because yes, we are in the Alps, at Les Arcs in France, but no, we’re not here to ski. There are lots of things to do in the mountains in summer, and yoga is just one of them.

It's very British thing to think that mountains are exclusively for skiing. By that

logic, the Alps remain exclusively a winter destination, and that’s a shame. Because every year the snow melts to reveal a beautiful technicolour landscape of blue skies and green valleys, with wildflowers and Disneyperfect grazing cows in sunshine and fresh air. Cable cars continue to work, taking people up the mountains for hiking, cycling or scooting, and there are lakes for swimming, and rays for soaking up. All of this without the winter crowds, and without lugging any skis around.

We are visiting two Club Med sites within close proximity of each other. Club Med is loved by families for its practical and inclusive approach to the ski holiday, and the simple pleasure of having everything organised for you. On a Club Med ski holiday, each family member can join their own ski school, or ski alone according to their individual level, and most resorts are ski-out, so it’s as easy as putting your skis on and heading out. Meals

Why the Alps are set to be next summer’s most popular destination

“The joy of cycling through such beautiful surroundings is as intense as the pleasure of skiing”

are frequent and generous, punctuated with snacks and cocktail hours, and the all-inclusive nature means that you’re never more than a minute away from a hot chocolate for a toddler or a reviving brandy for a grandparent. Increasingly, ski resorts that run a limited season are realising that they are missing a trick. So the summer months are coming into their own, with Club Med o ering a summer programme of mountain activities and swapping the hot toddy for Aperol spritz and the skis for bikes or hiking boots – or simply for pool loungers. There’s a timetable of events and activities, with groups for kids according to age, and others for adults and you just show up as you like.

So we head to Level Seven for e-biking at 11am, because it’s partly the invention of the electric bike that has revolutionised the summer season. Where traditional mountain biking is not for the faint-hearted, e-biking is a gentler, more accessible pastime, suitable for all ages and levels of cycling experience.

At Arcs Panorama, boot and ski rooms are replaced with cycle cupboards, where we are kitted out with knee and elbow pads, helmets and spine protectors before heading out on bikes. An instructor shows us the ropes on the nursery slopes and soon we are confident on our bikes, which though large and heavy, are comfortable with suspension and fully charged batteries. Our route takes us around the area, mostly on

smooth downhill paths, but uphill – even with an extreme gradient – is no problem with an electric boost function that carries you up with an almost comical speed. Gaining confidence on e-bikes is a swift process, and the joy of cycling through such beautiful surroundings is as intense as the pleasure of skiing down a white slope under a blue sky.

Les Arcs Panorama is a sprawling hotel, named for its impressive views, and sunset drinks on the terrace, or by the pool, make the most of the location. It’s not far from here to Club Med’s newest outpost in the alps, La Rosiere, nearer the Italian border, where there’s a strong focus, year-round, on wellness. There are walking and hiking trails for all levels, and we set o with a guide on a three-hour downhill hike. First we head up in the chairlift, and from the peak we enjoy showstopping views of Mont Blanc and surrounding ranges, and our guide introduces us to every wildflower and points out each mountain peak. Our path takes us back to the hotel in time for lunch, which is an impressive and generous bu et that caters to all tastes, and includes an excellent cheese course too. La Rosiere’s spa is lovely, and its pool o ers more amazing views, as does the rooftop where our yoga class takes place.

Club Med’s approach is one that encourages multi-generational groups, so there are families as well as people of all ages holidaying in these spots. Activity programmes cater to everyone in the same way that the varied bu et makes sure that everyone can eat exactly what they want – so for individual satisfaction even in the largest group, this type of all-inclusive holiday is an all-round winner. The alps are set to be this summer’s hottest destination. clubmed.co.uk

“Swap hot toddies for Aperol spritz, and skis for bikes or hiking boots”

LA ROSIERE

LA ROSIERE

LES ARCS PANORAMA

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

AIMING HIGH

Cranleigh is Surrey’s leading coeducational independent school, offering boarding and day education for pupils aged 13 to 18. Cranleigh provides a breathtaking range of opportunities in a school small enough for everyone to know and support each other. Pupils exceed academic and sporting expectations.

cranleigh.org

PREP LEADER

Godstowe School in High Wycombe has welcomed Kate Bailey as the new Headmistress. Formerly Founding Head of Wetherby Pembridge New York, part of the Alpha Plus Group, she brings a wealth of experience to leadership of the day and boarding school for girls aged 3 to 13 and boys aged 3 to 7.

Ribbon cutting

Moulsford Prep in Oxford held the offi cial opening of its new pre-prep building with children’s TV presenter Andy Day Doors cutting the ribbon. The building houses Reception and Years 1 and 2 for boys and girls, with the school remaining boys only from Year 3. It incorporates eco-friendly systems such as green roofs.

REMEMBRANCE LESSONS

Working with the National Literacy Trust, the Royal British Legion, has introduced free teaching resources to help young children understand the importance of Remembrance. Alongside a poetry project led by Tomos Roberts, there will be a livestream assembly on Armistice Day on 11th November. This year’s resources explore the theme of service.

CRICKET MEET

MChinthurst has been named 2022 Independent School of the Year for Sporting Achievement. More than 700 schools were nominated for prestigious 2022 Independent School Parent awards this year. In a competitive fi eld, the judging panel said that Chinthurst stood out because of its pioneering approach to gender in sport. The school allows pupils to choose which sport they want to play without being constrained by conventional norms. In football, rugby, netball and hockey, boys and girls train alongside each other and play fixtures together in competitive teams. As a result, they see themselves as equals on the pitch with no preconceived limitations and the encouragement and support they give one another on the games fi elds continues off it.

Poetry challenge

Gyles Brandreth has launched a new poetry writing competition as part of Poetry Together 2022 on ITV’s This Morning and winners will get the opportunity to read their poems aloud on national TV. Poetry Together is wholly supported by Dukes Education and this year’s theme is Laughter & Tears. Find out more at poetrytogether.com

EMBLEY ARRIVAL

Harriet Povey is the new Head of Early Years at Embley, Hampshire. She says: “I’m a big believer in learning through play, following the children’s interests to extend their learning, and the importance of outdoor education.” Exciting trips are planned for pupils and Natural Science and Makaton are being added to the Nursery timetable’s specialist lessons.

SOMETHING THEY SAID

“HOW CAN YOU SAY YOUNG GIRLS DON’T GET IT? THEY’RE OUR FUTURE...THEY KIND OF KEEP THE WORLD GOING”

“Teenagers are natural libertarians. They don’t want to think that their way of thinking or their behaviour has been influenced or manipulated”

Guiding LIGHT

By LIBBY NORMAN

Natasha Devon speaks with authority about young people because she talks to them, all the time. In fact, her work still takes her into an average of three schools, colleges or universities a week. She’s a body image campaigner and was awarded an MBE for her activism on mental health issues. She’s also, clearly, a very good listener.

Toxic is her first foray into fiction and was inspired by some of her conversations and focus groups with young people. It explores the grey area around bullying and centres on a best-buddy school friendship between Llewella and glamorous new girl Aretha that takes a negative turn. Devon believes toxic teen friendships can be hard for an outsider to spot, let alone understand. “When we think of bullying, we think of something tangible,” says Devon. “But then there are all of these incredibly sophisticated ways that young people find to torture each other and undermine each other’s self-esteem. So that’s what I’m trying to focus on because

there’s no protocol for that in schools, and rightly so, it is a very nuanced thing.”

Devon says a close teenage friendship is di erent. “It’s really intense. It’s a kind of platonic infatuation, I think.” She points to the changes that happen in the teenage brain that make such friendships vital, but also volatile. “We’re supposed to be having a greater reliance on our peer group because that’s how we establish independence from our parents. So it makes total sense how much young people are investing in their friendships. But, by the same token, they’re at an age where everybody’s discovering who they are and trying on di erent identities.” Boundaries get crossed and pain, misunderstandings and confusion can follow.

Setting boundaries and protecting yourself are big themes in Devon’s discussions with young people. That includes protecting themselves online, where so much harm happens in the teenage friendship landscape. “That’s very much where I’m trying to lead them – digital citizenship. That’s not a term I invented. I’m an ambassador for a charity called Glitch and it’s a term they use a lot. It’s

Natasha Devon talks to young people, a lot, making hers a voice to listen to when it comes to helping them (and us) navigate the light and shade of growing up

NATASHA DEVON. PORTRAIT: JONATHAN DONOVAN

this understanding that we have an online life and that it’s not just about consideration of others in the way we behave online, it’s about being safe online ourselves.”

Sound advice, but do young people understand how big an impact social media is having on their lives? Devon’s answer, rather ruefully, is no they don’t. “I love working with teenagers – they are some of my favourite people – but the only thing I find challenging about them is that they are natural libertarians. They don’t want to think that their way of thinking or their behaviour has been influenced or manipulated,” she says. “Trying to introduce this idea that the brain is plastic, and therefore the more of something we do the more the brain develops in that direction, is quite di cult.” She focuses more on encouraging young people to think of self-care and, rather like art curators, surround themselves with what she calls: “the nourishing stu ”.

Devon speaks from a position of personal knowledge about the dark avenues young people can go down. She started having panic attacks at the age of around ten after a series of destabilising and traumatic family events, including the death of a cousin, but was only diagnosed years later, at 31, with an anxiety disorder. A decade on, it remains a part of her life and can be managed. “It doesn’t define who I am, and it doesn’t stop me being happy,

productive or anything anymore. But it was such a long journey to have got to that point.”

It was her own therapy journey that inspired her interest in mental health and shaped her career path. Today, Natasha Devon’s work with schools centres on helping young people to understand that the mind is something to nurture. “Everybody has got mental health and it’s something that we can monitor throughout our life, that will change throughout our life. Knowing that about yourself, being armed with that knowledge, is not something to be frightened of, it’s something that can really help you.”

There are pinch points that test young people’s equilibrium. Devon’s survival guide, Yes you can: Ace School Without Losing your Mind is for one of those pinch points – the transition to Year 9. “That is the year when everything happens,” she says. She means the classic teenage stu : first love, changing bodies and growing self-awareness. It’s full of practical wisdom, with recipes, exercises and advice on everything from study routines to creative breakout activities – also fun quizzes. “Including lots of quizzes about things like ‘are you a lark or a nightingale?’, ‘what’s your motivation?’ helps to keep their interest. They’re learning about how they learn at the same time.” Underlying it all is a “sca old” approach – helping them build on existing knowledge – and showing that good mental health and good grades can coexist.

Devon has listened to the concerns of young people for well over a decade now – from body image and bullying to their sense of being constantly scrutinised and failing to live up to expectations and ‘perfect life’ social media narratives. And now Covid. Unsurprisingly, post-pandemic issues are in the conversations. “The big thing that I’m getting from young people is this sense of unfairness, also this sense that they’ve been written o .”

She thinks we adults could help by toning down the negativity – what she calls “lost generation rhetoric”. She chooses a glass-half-full approach. “I’ve

been having lots of conversations about how, when you look at the most successful people, they learned to adapt their goals in response to their experiences,” she says. “Also, I talk about how important it is that they’ve learned to motivate themselves to work from home.” She discusses the self-knowledge they acquired during Covid and home schooling – including coping strategies they can use again. “It’s trying to get them to flip the narrative,” she says. “See it as an advantage that they had the opportunity to learn those things.”

Having escaped her destructive friendship, Toxic’s heroine Llewella concludes: ‘The thing about clouds is, they pass. And, if you’re very lucky, you have some lights to guide you home’. This is a pretty good description of Natasha Devon’s approach to working with young people –helping them to manage those inevitable clouds and discover their guiding lights.

Toxic is published by UCLan (£8.99).

Yes You Can: Ace School Without Losing your Mind is published by Macmillan (£9.99). natashadevon.com

NATASHA DEVON HAS TALKED TO THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE –THEY INSPIRED HER NEW NOVEL

Break The Mould

Minding our LANGUAGES

Modern foreign languages are in decline as a subject choice, but not all schools are following that curve.

Absolutely spoke to three independents that go out of their way to inspire and develop young linguists

LANGUAGE TEACHING AT TONBRIDGE

By most measures, language teaching in the UK is in a parlous state. Half of Year 10 students were not studying a second language in 2021. While Brexit may sometimes gets blamed, this is part of a long-term decline. Applicants for GCSEs in modern foreign languages have dropped by over 40% since 2003. So why don’t more young people learn to communicate in another tongue? There is a perception that languages are hard subjects, so perhaps young people don’t want to risk lower grades. There may also be some confusion about their ‘relevance’ and application to future careers.

Thankfully, independent schools have a far better track record, with approaches that are designed to inspire and motivate young people. We spoke to three schools that are making modern foreign languages a passport to success.

The Leys School

Located in Cambridge – among the UK’s most multilingual cities – The Leys School takes language learning seriously. While French, German and Spanish are on the curriculum, the possibilities don’t stop there. “We also o er the opportunity to learn other languages – for example Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian and Russian – either via a native-speaking tutor or independently,” says Head of Modern Foreign Languages Maxine Wyatt.

At The Leys, there are specialist language classrooms as well as a fully equipped language lab, plus tools for

independent learning. “Our modern webbased software, Sanako Connect, enables face-to-face, remote and hybrid teaching,” adds Wyatt. This software enables pupil self-evaluation and assists speaking and pronunciation. Native-speaking Language Assistants are on hand throughout the language learning journey to help pupils hone their speech and understanding. Recognising the need to inspire young people with the broader possibilities, The Leys ensures added-value experiences. There’s are trips to France, Germany and Spain. While there, students enjoy an immersive range of extras in the target language – including cooking, sport activities, city tours and museum trails Maxine Wyatt says young people relish the horizon-broadening potential and see the value and impact of what they are doing as going beyond speaking another tongue. “Leysian pupils are fully aware of the importance and value of language learning. Every opportunity is taken to discuss national, European and global issues in the target language,” she says. “Talks and debates by outside speakers and in-school experts are also developed.”

James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS)

At JAGS in Dulwich, building engagement is seen as critical. Head of Modern Foreign Languages Cristina Sanchez says it comes down to pupils having a sense of the value of languages for their futures, as well as a perception that these are subjects in which they can have autonomy and self-e cacy.

The school o ers GCSE and A level in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. It also supports bilingual pupils adding qualifications in their home languages – currently these include Chinese, Portuguese, Turkish and Gujarati. Beyond the broad choice, it’s the sense of excitement that sets students up to succeed. “Language learning carries on beyond the classroom walls, with a diverse programme of extra-curricular activities and enrichment programmes,” says Sanchez. “The atmosphere in the classroom induces language learning in a supportive, low-anxiety context, where learners can take risks and make mistakes.”

Classroom environments support varied learning styles, with audio-visual equipment and interactive games a part of each lesson. Pupils can also access digital subscriptions to keep them on top of grammar, vocabulary, spelling, listening skills and syntax. “Students can work autonomously in the areas of the curriculum that they believe needs more practice.”

Co-curricular activities are championed, with residential trips, cultural events and workshops, as well as collaborations with

LEARNING AT THE LEYS SCHOOL

“Every opportunity is taken to discuss national, European and global issues in the target language”

TESTING UNDERSTANDING AT JAGS

other schools. “The list is long, but the impact is the same: a boost in motivation and a celebration of the wealth and richness of cultural diversity in our school community and beyond,” says Sanchez.

She adds that JAGS girls understand the wider impact, seeing languages as a skill for life as well as career. “Multiculturality is the norm in cosmopolitan cities, with diversity and inclusion at the heart of many institutions and companies,” says Sanchez.

The added bonus, she says, is that learning languages helps other skills, too. “Learning a foreign language strengthens literacy, analytical skills, public speaking, critical thinking, and cultural understanding. An added bonus is that once you have learnt one foreign language, the subsequent ones are faster and easier to learn”.

Tonbridge School

Tonbridge School bucks every national trend for modern languages and has been described as having one of the best departments in the country. The school notes that its Modern Languages Department sits: ‘physically and spiritually at the heart of the school’. Traditionally, the second most popular degree chosen by Tonbridge leavers is languages or languages in combination with another subject.

The Department is led by Will Law, also Head of French. He is frank about the broader challenges modern languages face in the current UK climate. “Students are increasingly interested in, perhaps obsessed by, a sense of utility. They are looking for routes that will allow them to get jobs, make money, be successful, and that’s understandable.”

The school o ers French, German, Spanish and Mandarin as its key choices but supports students interested in other languages. Italian, Japanese and Russian tutors visit regularly to give lessons and Tonbridge also works to assist other student language interests when they arise.

Alongside all the traditional and modern language teaching tools and aids, Will Law says the department puts as much into the mix as it can to broaden the context. “We deliberately try and stu the topic that we teach full of cultural insights,” he says. This

might include informal studies of films, stories and short texts. They also encourage boys to delve deeper culturally as watchers and listeners, be it sports reports, news or documentaries. “It’s guided by and curated by their own curiosities and interests.”

Tonbridge parents are hugely supportive – often expressing regret about their own failure to continue studying languages –and many boys go on to A level and degree level. (Students here have an impressive track record of acceptance to Oxford and Cambridge modern languages courses.)

A gamechanger for Tonbridge has been introducing additional Sixth Form programmes alongside A level. This means boys struggling with subject choices –for instance, deciding they must focus on sciences – no longer need say adieu to languages. The French DELF, and equivalent courses in all four curriculum languages, count on UCAS forms and can be used in conjunction with an application for a variety of combination degrees. These are also practical qualifications, recognised by business the world over – so rewarding and a boost for the CV. This programme means that, for instance, one third of students starting A levels at Tonbridge this year are continuing with a language – an impressive statistic.

As you’d expect, Will Law and team still work hard to encourage potential linguists to see taking languages to A level and beyond as a life and career-enhancing option. “The transferable skills wrapped up in learning languages are useful in broader contexts,” says Law. “In very few other subjects will they have to construct essays with so much precision and attention to detail.” Then, too, there is the value of languages beyond what they teach formally. “We’ve got quite good at helping boys to illuminate that pathway through their studies. The boys know that if they’re interested, and they stick at modern languages, there’s considerable pay o subsequently – and for their whole life, not just their studies.”

QUICK LANGUAGE TEST AT TONBRIDGE SCHOOL

“Learning a foreign language strengthens literacy, analytical skills, public speaking, critical thinking, and cultural understanding”

WILL LAW,

TONBRIDGE’S HEAD OF MODERN LANGUAGES

USING TECHNOLOGY FOR LEARNING AT JAGS

Meet the Toniebox

The musical storybox for kids

Editor’s LETT ER

Christmas, in our house, has become all the more magical since we’ve become parents. And gi giving is, of course, a big part of the excitement.

Like many families this year, in an effort to spread the cost and support small businesses, I’ve been stashing away gi s from my favourite independents. And whilst I’ve been shopping, I’ve earmarked all the best things for our Christmas gi guide pages. We’ve cherry-picked the best toys for your little ones as well as rounding up the most covet-worthy gi s for parents too.

Elsewhere in this issue, we have festive fashion for kids; as well as the most stylish so plays for you to hang out in in those days between Christmas and New Year.

I hope you all have a wonderful festive season and see you next year!

OUISTISTINE

Teddy, £32; cissywears.com

LIEWOOD Footmuff, £102; liewood.com

POLAR POST

The 2022 Father Christmas Letter, £22.99; polarpost.co.uk

KALOO

Doudou Comforter, from £14.99; kaloo.com

BAEBEA

Flower Press Toy £12.99; baebea.com

for BABIES

LITTLE BEACON Stocking, £48; little-beacon.com

gifts

MARIE CHANTAL

Holiday Gi Set, £125; mariechantal.com

Adorable presents for baby's first Christmas

Editor's pick

LIEWOOD

Ludwig Puzzle House, £50; liewood.com

KIDS CONCEPT Baby Gym, £89.50; scandiborn.co.uk

HOLZTIGER

Wooden Polar Bear, £12.95; littlepaw.co.uk

KONGES SLOJD Baby Teether, £14; andostores.com

LITTLE DUTCH

Activity Walker, £68; scandiborn.co.uk

MUSHIE

Stacking Cups, £13.50; andostores.com

BIBS Teether, £11.95; bibsworld.com

KONGES SLOJD

Rolling Tractor, £24; dawnandday.com

PLAN TOYS

Xylophone, £29.99; lunandcurious.com

WATER BABIES

Fish Bath Toy, £8.99; waterbabies.co.uk

MAILEG

Deer Toy, £17.95; themodernnursery.com

DJECO

Mimosa Doll, £39.95; tickety-boo.co.uk

Editor's pick

MERI MERI

Angel Wings, £55; merimeri.co.uk

gifts for KIDS

Presents to light up little faces on Christmas morning

STYCH Star Bag, £20; stychaccessories.com

EDX EDUCATION

Rainbow Pebbles, £27.99; shopedx.co.uk

TENDER LEAF TOYS

Birds Nest Cafe, £98; scandiborn.co.uk

BANWOOD X BONTON

Balance Bike, £159; smallkins.com

TEDDY'S TAILS

Books by Georgia Edmonds and Jake Biggin, £7.99 each; teddys-tails.com

TONIES Starter Set Toniebox, £79.95; tonies.com

LOVEVERY The Pull Pup, £30; lovevery.co.uk

TRICLIMB

Climbing Triangle, from £240; themodernnursery.com

OLLI ELLA

Holdie Dinosaurs, £25; acornandpip.com

KIDS CONCEPT

Tool Bench, £129.50; scandiborn.co.uk

KIDS CONCEPT Rocking Dino, £138.90; themodernnursery.com

NIJNTJE MIFFY

Corduroy Miff y, £20; kidly.co.uk

EDX EDUCATION

Theme Park Set, £52.99; shopedx.co.uk

Mama loves

BLADE & ROSE FESTIVE LEGGINGS, £10; bladeandrose.co.uk

BINIBAMBA

Bruno Mama Mittens, £39; binibamba.com

Mama loves

MUUKI Daily Bottle, £28; cissywears.com

MINOIS Candle, £28; cissywears.com

MERCI MAMAN

Personalised Disc Necklace, from £79; mercimamanboutique.com

CLAUDE & CO

Cream Sun Tee, £35; claudeandco.co.uk

MÈRE BOTANICALS

Stretch Mark Cream, £17.40; merebotanicals.com.au

for MUM

FERM LIVING

Cushion, £65; earlofeast.com

SIX Maya Knicker, £25; and Maya Nursing Bra £39; six-studio.com

Editor's pick

Tres Chic Print, £65; ciao-chiara.com

JEM + BEA Mama Clutch £35; jemandbea.com

WELEDA Regenerating Gi Set, £20; weleda.co.uk

CIAO CHIARA

THULE

Festive Fashion

The cutest dress up for little ones this Christmas…

FURRY FRIEND

DONSJE AMSTERDAM

Backpacks don’t get much more festive than this faux fur stag design from Donsje. Perfect for winter adventures and impossibly cute too. donsje.com

Editor’s Pick

LITTLE STAR

THE NEW SOCIETY We’re in love with this starry print blouse from The New Society. Part of its magic is that it can be worn all throughout the festive season and well beyond it too. wearethenewsociety.com

SHINE ON

MERI MERI

It wouldn’t be Christmas without some sparkly accessories and this sequin star headband from Meri Meri brings all the glitter. Great for parties, dressing up and imaginative play, your little one won’t want to take it o all festive season long. merimeri.co.uk

TWINKLE TOES

BOBUX

Party style meets practicality in these Jodphur boots from Bobux. Adding a little extra sparkle to any outfit, this supportive style is podiatrist approved and perfect for active little ones. bobux.co.uk

DRESS UP

NELLIE QUATS

Nellie Quats is one of our favourites for pretty dresses. The AW collection has it all – from Liberty prints to pu sleeves and Peter Pan collars. Perfect for festive occasions and to wear afterwards too. nelliequats.com

ORGANIC ZOO

Aimed just as much at parents as little ones, there's a new crop of stylish so plays opening up across the UK…

MAGGIE AND ROSE, ISLINGTON

Soft plays are notoriously garish… and let’s be honest can sometimes be a little bit grubby. But just because you’re parent, it doesn’t mean that you want to spend every weekend buried in a skittle coloured ball pit, or hanging out on a sticky crash mat. Thankfully, there is a new breed of stylish soft plays and play cafes popping up across the country. Beautifully designed and complete with Scandi-inspired toys (and all-important artisan co ee!), these places will keep parents and toddlers happy alike…

Maggie and Rose

KENSINGTON, CHISWICK AND ISLINGTON, LONDON

Maggie and Rose is a private members club for families with outposts in Kensington, Chiswick

and Islington, as well as various destinations in Asia. Clubhouse members get access to various impeccably designed adventure play areas, soft play spaces, and sensory rooms that are designed to support early years development. There’s also cinema snugs, big kids dens, roof top veggie patches, and a weekly timetable of music, art, and sports activities. Parents are well-catered for too – with stylish eateries to relax in. The Islington club also has a cafe that’s open to the general public and they’ve recently launched shorter term memberships (3 and 6 months). maggieandrose.com

Cheeky Chops Play Cafe

TWICKENHAM

Founded by Twickenham-based parent duo Ruth and Mike, Cheeky Chops Play Cafe has it all – style, great customer service, and a

pretty good cup of co ee. Under fives will love the two plywood and primary-colour soft play areas (featuring a ball pool, soft blocks, tunnels, and several slides) and you’ll enjoy the Scandi-chic decor of the cafe. cheekychopsplaycafe.co.uk

Tiny Tetley Studio

LEEDS

Designed by Yorkshire artist and early years specialist Stephanie Je eries, the Tiny Tetley Studio in Leeds brings together contemporary art and play. Imagine being let loose in an art gallery and given permission to play on the installations and you get what the Tiny Tetley is all about. Situated on the second floor of the historic Tetley building, under fives (and their grown-ups) can explore a bespoke sound installation by Bu alo Sound Design, and super cool play structures designed and built in collaboration with Three Create. We love all the thoughtful little touches (including crocheted breastfeeding aids from Leeds Bosom Buddies) and there’s a pretty good cafe too. thetetley.org

The Spinning Top

HALIFAX

Set up by mama-of-two Melissa Edge, The Spinning Top in Halifax couldn’t be further from a traditional soft play. The dreamy space is filled with covet-worthy toys and stylish nursery decor galore. Little ones are invited to discover STEM and Montessori-inspired activities, role play areas, and sensory play equipment – with educational toys from some of our favourite brands including Lovevery, Tender Leaf Toys, Small Foot, and TickiT . This is one indoor play area that you won’t mind spending many a weekday morning hanging out in. spinning-top.co.uk

THE SPINNING TOP, HALIFAX

CHEEKY CHOPS, TWICKENHAM

TINY TETLEY STUDIO, LEEDS

Skyboat Cafe

BRISTOL

Set up by local mums Lara and Stef, Skyboat cafe is a popular destination for young families on Bristol’s independent high street Coldharbour Road. The super cool soft play space has a custombuilt play structure – with climbing walls, tunnels, a slide, and nets. There’s also a crash mat area that’s great for younger kids to crawl around and explore. Whilst the kids play, you can enjoy the cafe – which serves delicious co ee and artisan bakes as well as healthy dishes. The mastermind behind the kitchen is co-founder Stefani who has worked in Michelin kitchens and alongside some of the world’s most renowned chefs. skyboatcafe.com

Macaroni Penguin

EAST

LONDON

Based in East London’s Royal Wharf, Macaroni Penguin’s unique soft play area is one of the most stylish indoor play centres we’ve come across in London. The multi-level wooden play structure has plenty for little ones to explore including a sensory pod, observatory area, as well as multiple tunnels and slides. There’s also a toy market stall, a reading corner, and a cafe area serving bubble tea and wa es. Aside from play sessions, they also o er various di erent classes – including Drama, Spanish, and Karate. macaroni-penguin.co.uk

Hobbledown Heath

WEST LONDON

The Great Barn at Hobbledown Heath is billed as ‘West London’s biggest indoor play centre’. There’s all the usual tunnels, slides and levels to climb, as well as digital and interactive play and a dedicated area for under 3s. What we particularly love is all the unusual design details – including the zany crocheted ‘whammock’ – and the adjoining cafe area, where you can grab a cup of co ee under a canopy of twinkling hanging lamps. hobbledown.com

“While the kids play, you can enjoy the cafe – which serves delicious coffee and artisan bakes”

SKYBOAT CAFE, BRISTOL

HOBBLEDOWN HEATH

MACARONI PENGUIN, EAST LONDON

PROPERTY

This elegant and spacious modern family house enjoys far reaching views across Wimbledon Park and towards the The All England Lawn Tennis Club. The property o ers a reception hall, two reception rooms, a combined kitchen, dining and family room, a multi-purpose room, a main bedroom suite, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, southerly gardens, a garage, gated OSP and a wine store. ER/C.

Wimbledon Village, 35 High Street, London SW19 5BY 020 8947 9833

enquiries@robertholmes.co.uk robertholmes.co.uk

ROBERT HOLMES & COMPANY

A charming centre terraced cottage on this deligh ul road in the heart of the rentham arden conservation estate. The property offers two reception rooms and well arranged fitted kitchen on the ground floor and, to the first floor, three good sized bedrooms, bathroom and separate cloakroom. To the second floor is a further bedroom and en suite bathroom. The property has gas fired central heating and deligh ul front and rear gardens, the latter approx. 60’-65’ in length. Council Tax band F. Energy Performance Certificate D.

Addison Gardens, W14

£2,230 per week

ituated in the heart of rook Green, this ictorian family home has ve bedrooms, a stylish reception room and an extended kitchen. There is a roof terrace and a landscaped garden, energy rating d.

020 7603 0603 brookgreenlettings@fletcherestates.com

Avenue Gardens, W3

£2,538 per week

A ve bedroom house with two reception rooms and a large open plan kitchen, perfect for entertaining friends and family. There is the added bonus of a wine cellar and a split level garden, energy rating c.

020 8742 4100

chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

Black Lion Lane, W6

£1,962 per week

ocated in the desirable t eter s uare Conservation Area, a four bedroom, end of terrace house nished to a high standard. Retaining period features with a blend of contemporary living, energy rating d.

Davis Road, W3 £923 per week

ositioned on one of Acton s premier roads, this well presented four bedroom home has a double reception room, an eat in kitchen with ample space for dining and direct access to a rear garden.

020 8742 4100

chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

020 8742 4100

chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

Sutton Court Road, W4

Close to the green space of Chiswick House and Gardens, this modern four bedroom house offers flexible accommodation across three floors. There is a front reception room and an extended kitchen with a generous living area which leads onto a garden, energy rating c.

Parr’s Way, W6

An impressive three bedroom apartment set within an exclusive development. There is an open plan reception area which opens onto a wraparound balcony providing panoramic views of the Thames. Residents have access to a swimming pool, gym and spa, energy rating b.

£1,299,950

020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

£4,150,000

020 7603 1415 brookgreensales@fletcherestates.com

fletcherestates.com

Murray Road, Wimbledon Village £8,950,000

A double fronted house on a plot of over 0.35 acre in one of Wimbledon’s loveliest roads. 2 reception rooms, library/study, kitchen/dining/family room, conservatory, cellar rooms, main bedroom suite, 5 further bedrooms, 4 further bath/shower rooms, 203’ garden with studio room, garage & OSP, ER/E

Arthur Road, Wimbledon

£5,500,000

With commanding views in glorious gardens of just under 0.5 acre close to the Village. 2 reception rooms, study, 37’ kitchen, breakfast room, cellar rooms, 9 bedrooms, 3 bath/shower rooms, 123’ garden, garage & OSP, ER/F

Camp Road, Wimbledon Common £6,250,000

Built in second half of 19th Century with a 115’ south facing garden on a plot of almost 0.25 acre. 3 reception rooms, family room, 1st floor games room and office, kitchen/breakfast room, wine cellar, 6 bedrooms, 6 bath/shower rooms, garage & OSP ER/D

Denmark Avenue, Wimbledon Village £4,250,000

Beautifully renovated and extended with far reaching views in a sought after road. Drawing room, playroom/family room kitchen/dining room, study, main and guest bedroom suites, 3 further bedrooms, 2 further bath/showers, 72’ SW garden, OSP and charging point ER/C

MARKET UPDATE

Martin of John Martin Estates in Ealing gives his expert take on the current property market

My last article reflected on a war in Ukraine and sounded a note of caution for the market, suggesting that buyers and sellers be realistic and that people might well take advantage of current mortgage deals before “anything else drastic” were to happen.

Well, since then something more than drastic did happen – changes of Chancellor, Prime Minister and a mini budget which left the markets in turmoil, economy in freefall and inflation continuing to rise to eye watering levels with many mortgage deals removed due to further interest rate rises. Another change of Chancellor provided some certainty but even so, as I write this, inflation is at a 41 year high and the Bank of England has increased the base rate to 3% in the biggest single rise since 1989.

The e ect of all of this on the property market has been to change the level of a ordability for most buyers and I have always said that this is the most important factor in any property transaction. It is stark when you consider that a young couple who registered in August with a budget of £950,000 reduced that figure earlier this month to £850,000. Nevertheless, those transactions which were already agreed upon and where prospective buyers

had their mortgage deals secured have, in my experience, held together and we were delighted to have two completions in the last week to excited first time buyers.

We have now had the Autumn Statement and this is what the property market had been waiting for. We were already seeing lenders introducing new mortgage products and the settling of the markets generally will certainly assist matters moving forward, as will stamp duty remaining at the current reduced levels. There will, however, be an inevitable adjustment of pricing although there will not, in my opinion, be a house price crash. In recent weeks, we have met speculative buyers waiting to snap up a bargain, but I think they will have an interminable wait for the level of discount they are seeking.

That said, buyers will have no option but to be realistic about what they can o er based on what they can now borrow and a ord to pay each month at the higher interest rates and sellers will have to take this into consideration. It may well be that lenders will have to be more inventive in terms of the product they o er and longer term mortgages may become more commonplace. Without a doubt, the high street agent must now use all of their experience, acting in a responsible way when valuing properties and not be tempted to give an unrealistic figure in order to win an instruction, as that will do no favours to the client, the buyers or the market in general.

So what is my prediction for the next few months? We will, of course, see the usual slowdown for Christmas but this timing will allow everyone to take stock and, although the market may be a little sluggish in the New Year with an adjustment in prices, the property market will endure provided everyone is realistic. For more advice on the property market and to view the properties available, please contact John and his team.

JOHN MARTIN ESTATES

82 Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5 1QX 020 8998 3333

johnmartinestates.com

John

JOHN MARTIN OF JOHN MARTIN ESTATES

Woodborough Road, Putney

Offers over £4,500,000

An exquisite 5/6 bedroom double fronted detached period property, beautifully presented and meticulously maintained in a highly sought after road in West Putney.

Built at the turn of the century the property oozes period charm with features that include ornate cornice, coving, fire places and wall friezes as well as a stunning first floor internal stained glass window and original ‘sewing room’ which is currently used as a music room / occasional room/ office. The large Chalon kitchen / breakfast room benefits from a Marston & Langinger conservatory, French oak flooring, Aga and underfloor heating.

Fine & Country with over 300 offices worldwide. Head Office Park Lane, London and our new hub office in Putney.

CONTEMPORARY FAMILY LIVING IN ONE OF LONDON’S MOST DESIRABLE LOCATIONS

Verdant Mews o ers modern, newly-built, three bedroom family homes for sale in SE19 – all with allocated parking and private courtyard gardens.

Perfectly nestled on a quiet residential road, just a short stroll from the highly desirable Crystal Palace Triangle – o ering the perfect blend of modern eating and drinking spots, alongside green open spaces and highly-rated schools. Prices from £600,000

For more information call 020 7089 6566 or visit acorngroup.co.uk/newhomes

Perfectly positioned on Sidcup Hill, each apartment has been designed with attention to detail and features an enviable specification to bring you the best of spacious, modern living.

Hillcross Place is located a short walk from Sidcup High Street, where you can enjoy a kaleidoscope of shops and a delicious selection of restaurants.

Over 90% sold –ready to move into

Hillcross Place is a stunning new collection of 2 bedroom apartments for sale.

Commuting from Hillcross Place is easy with quick access to the A20, leading into central London. You are also within a 20-minute walk of Sidcup Railway Station, with trains to London Bridge in under 30 minutes.

Selling agent:

Show home open Thursday-Monday, 10am-5pm. Call 020 8315 6902 or visit acorngroup.co.uk/hillcross

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