Abs East April 2013

ABSOLUTELY

APRIL 2013 ÂŁ3.95

east

20

YEARS OF BRORA WITH Sophie DAhl

HACKney Haunts

with EAST ENDER Olly alexander

the face An exclusive interview with David Bailey

Got the bottle

Wine shops we love

Ray of light Embracing spring colours

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20/03/2013 13:53

ABSOLUTELY

Contents April 2013

Interiors

05 EDITOR’S LETTER 07 DIARY

Fashion

Local

26 BURN BABY BURN

67 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

35 STYLE FILE

69 SHELF LIFE

23 HOT FUZZ

Sophie Dahl’s Brora capsule collection

16 MODEL BEHAVIOUR Meeting Portia Freeman

All things fashion filtered

20 ACTOR’S DELIGHT

Olly Alexander’s Hackney haunts

Culture

Food

48 YOU HAD ME AT MERLOT The wine edit

10 HOT LIST

Don’t miss this month

13 EAST END FACES

Beaching it up in style

An exclusive interview with David Bailey

55 RESTAURANT LISTINGS 58 RESTAURANT REVIEWS HKK and 1776

61 SAY IT WITH FLOWERS How to create a table centre

The best trends, designers and local gems Absolutely’s favourite shelf solutions

Travel

71 BEAM ME TO SCOTTY Edinburgh’s Caledonian Hotel

73 A ROOM WITH A VIEW Hotels with wow-factor vistas

77 BUZZING BEIRUT

The land of milk and honey uncovered

FIND US ONLINE @ WWW.ZEST-MEDIA.COM

APR_CONTENTS C&A.indd 3

22/03/2013 11:52

ABSOLUTELY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

HARRIET COMPSTON HELEN BARON FLORA HUGHES-ONSLOW

PROPERTY EDITOR

LUCIE PEARCE

FEATURE WRITERS

DANIEL AGNEW GARETH FITZGERALD

ART DIRECTOR SENIOR DESIGNER MID WEIGHT DESIGNER PRODUCTION DESIGNER JUNIOR DESIGNER PRODUCTION CONTROLLER PRODUCTION ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHERS

RAY SEARLE STEWART HYDE ANDREW MAVIN TAHIR KAPUCU REBECCA NOONAN CHRISTINE MANN LAUREN GILES GEORGE RAMSAY RICHARD CLARK

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Concept dining has arrived in Islington; be inspired, indulge your senses and experience something new at Como 3 Cantina Chic.

DAVID ALLARD

PROPERTY DIRECTOR

ANDY ELMER

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

TOLGA SAYLAN

FINANCE DIRECTOR MARKETING MANAGER DIRECTOR MANAGING DIRECTOR

ALEXANDRA HVID JESSICA BATTEN GREG HUGHES SHERIF SHALTOUT

For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com

Como 3 Islington Cantina Chic

A unique and creative selection of delectable Spanish and Pan-Asian tapas, with a menu of carefully selected wines to complement your every bite and brought to you from the minds of imaginative and highly skilled chefs from Spain & Japan.

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Subscriptions are available simply by emailing subscriptions@zest-media.com. You can receive an online subscription for FREE or a postal subscriptions for 12 months, ÂŁ30 respectively (to cover postage and packaging). Please email us with your preferred option and details.

Zest Media London 213 Westbourne Studios, Acklam Road, London W10 5JJ, T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 Zest Media London Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media London Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

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22/03/2013 11:50

Editor’s Letter

T

his month we were stoked to interview David Bailey. Not only is his signature black-and-white portraiture emblematic of Britain’s swinging sixties – shorthand for the iconic era of counterculture and rock ‘n’ roll – but the great photographer is a famous East Ender to boot, a genuine working class hero. Bailey’s new exhibition at the rejuvenated William Morris Gallery contains some stunning examples of his art, capturing the faces of authentic East End people from 50 years ago. We spoke to him about life behind the lens.

Someone used to life in front of a lens is Portia Freeman, the model and mother who blasted onto the style scene in 2005 at the tender age of 16. Now 25, Freeman is a catwalk veteran and recently rejoined the fashion fray following a year off in which she devoted herself to motherhood. Read our exclusive interview and see her turning heads in our Absolutely shoot.

Victoria Stapleton, founder of British heritage brand Brora, celebrates 20 years in business this April. Her entrepreneurial flair has taken her a long way since she first came to London to start her company, and this important anniversary will see Brora launching a new summer capsule collaboration designed in collaboration with model Sophie Dahl. What’s even more refreshing is Stapleton’s dedication to social and ethical responsibility and her commitment to supporting British industry: truly admirable values to place at the core of your business.

This month, we also highlight the best local wine shops; so it’s OUT with any old plonk. No more will it be acceptable to bowl over to a friend’s dinner party with a hurriedly snaffled bottle of Echo Falls from the corner shop – especially when you’ve probably passed a string of lovely independent sellers to get there.

You may as well impress fellow guests with a well-selected wine, which doubles as a talking point as well as a pleasant tipple.

Helen Baron, Editor

On the cover

A note on...

This month we’re championing HomeBuddy – a Hackney initiative offering a short term house sitting service for Londoners so they don’t have to take time out of work to wait for deliveries, plumbers, engineers, repairmen or the like.

A carefully selected team of house sitters are CRB checked, referenced, vetted and insured and happy to do ad-hoc jobs during the sitting such as watering plants and feeding pets for a fee of £12 an hour. The super busy needn’t waste annual leave or a day’s pay, sat at home because the washing machine’s up the spout. homebuddy.co.uk

City & Angel: Crystal embellished crepe gown, £715, by Moschino Cheap & Chic at Harvey Nichols (harveynichols.com) East: Lickerish

’s

Editor

#PowderBlue

Feeling inspired by the spring looks that paraded up and down the SS13 catwalks? Delightful Marie Antoinette-cum-Ladurée macaron shades are everywhere this season, with a healthy scattering of more vibrant, saturated tones to boot. Head-to-toe pink, mint or yellow can seem like all your Easters have come at once, so instead I’ve opted for a powder blue scheme; a shirt from Wondaland with pastel-dotted sleeves, Alexander Taylor periwinkle blue clutch and shoes from Vivienne Westwood’s new collection. You can always accessorise with other ice-cream shades if you’re feeling bold...

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Pick

21/03/2013 20:44

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24/10/2012 11:40

What’s On April 2013 HAPPY-GO-LUCKY Daniel Blau Gallery HOXTON

Until 13 April

Daniel Blau’s latest exhibition offers a remarkable collection of 20th-century American photojournalism. From traditional Americana and classic iconography to the gritty reality of inner-city American life and social unrest, the showcase explores the complex history of America in the 1900s and presents a new way of looking at (and collecting) magnificent vintage pictures.

51 Hoxton Square, N1; danielblau.com

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CHARLES LLOYD QUARTET WITH SPECIAL GUEST MARIA FARANTOURI Barbican Hall BARBICAN

28 April

In celebration of his 75th birthday, the uniquely expressive saxophonist presents what promises to be a landmark concert with the iconic singer Maria Farantouri – Greece’s voice of resistance. This rare occasion follows their stunning concert in Athens in 2010. The quartet includes brilliant pianist Jason Moran, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland.

Silk Street, EC2; barbican.org.uk

ADAM GREEN AND BINKI SHAPIRO Village Underground OLD STREET

9 April

Witness the very first London performance by Adam Green & Binko Shapiro, whose self-titled and sunshine-soaked debut album has seen them lauded by press and public alike. While probably better-known as one half of cult scuzz-pop band The Moldy Peaches, Green has since had a successful and prolific solo career – and now joins forces with the enchanting Shapiro, formerly of Brazilian-accented LA trio Little Joy. Their collaboration is gloriously reminiscent of latesixties folk pop with charmingly romantic but bittersweet lyrics.

54 Holywell Lane, EC2A; villageunderground.co.uk

PEKING OPERA

Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre HOLBORN

20 April

An electrifyingly colourful and elaborate combination of music, mime, dance and acrobatics, the Peking Opera will grace the Peacock Theatre stage in April.

Formed in the late 18th century and now regarded as one of the greatest cultural treasures of China, this form of traditional Chinese theatre offers an experience that is simultaneously melancholy and uplifting. £10 off all top-price tickets for 20 April performance for all readers quoting ‘Absolutely’.

Portugal Street, WC2; sadlerswells.com

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Absolutely

CULTURE

CAKE INTERNATIONAL ExCEL

CUSTOM HOUSE

12-14 April

This international cake fair combines all the latest ideas, supplies, live competitions and demonstrations from the world of sugarcraft, cake decoration and baking. Guests will be treated to a variety of features including competition classes and advice workshops from industry experts. The Bakery Theatre will see top chef Paul Da-Costa-Greaves whipping up delicacies and sharing quick recipes.

1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16; cakeinternational.co.uk

SPIN LONDON

Truman Brewery

SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET

3-5 May

We can’t wait for SPIN London, the world’s first urban-focused bicycle consumer show and festival, which will be making its debut in East London on May bank holiday weekend. Set in the hotbed of hip street culture that is Brick Lane’s Truman Brewery, SPIN will feature emerging fashion brands, creative talent, talks, screenings, Cycle-Art installations, live music, food and loads of other things to entertain, so if you’re a cycling enthusiast, don’t miss out. This is the biggest bicycle extravaganza yet seen in London.

91 Brick Lane, E1, spinldn.com

BEFORE THE PARTY Almeida Theatre ANGEL

Throughout April

Rodney Ackland’s hilarious play follows the well-to-do Skinner family, whose post-war pretensions are shaken by widowed daughter Laura’s return from Africa with a shocking secret.

Directed by the acclaimed Matthew Dunster and inspired by a story by Somerset Maugham, this production is visually striking, thought-provoking and very entertaining indeed.

Almeida Street, N1; almeida.co.uk

A MOST CURIOUS WEDDING FAIR

Truman Brewery

SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET

19-21 April

BAKING MASTERCLASSES E5 Bakehouse

LONDON FIELDS

Throughout April

Learn the baker’s trade at London’s artisan baking HQ, where thousands of devoted regulars queue up to sample the freshbaked provender and superb coffee.

The masterminds behind the luscious loaves are willing to share their secrets – courses run every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5.30pm. £95 per person, Arch 395 Mentmore Terrace, E8; e5bakehouse.com

As if getting wed weren’t exciting enough already, A Most Curious Wedding Fair pitches up at the Truman Brewery this month to showcase some of the most expressive and fashion-forward ideas for couples looking to make their wedding like no other. Jewellery, make-up, flowers, dresses... everything you need to make your big day both beautiful and beautifully unique.

91 Brick Lane, E1; amostcuriousweddingfair.com

WHY DON’T YOU...?

HAGGERSTON Go down to the People’s Kitchen at Passing Clouds and join the people’s revolution, turning food surplus into a beautiful banquet for all. It happens every Sunday from 3pm.

1 Richmond Road, E8; passingclouds.crg 9

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21/03/2013 21:18

Absolutely

CULTURE EXHIBITION

ART FAIR

Docklands-based artist Alexander James is the subject of a remarkable new solo exhibition in Notting Hill, Intersection, featuring works derived from an entirely unique process. Having constructed giant water tanks in his East London studio, James proceeded to take a series of underwater photographs of various objects, including live tropical butterflies which he breeds himself. Through an anaesthetising process, James is able to suspend them in the water and capture them as if in flight.

A wonderfully imaginative body of work inspired by the temporality and fragility of life, this unique collection is clearly the culmination of a long, interesting and unprecedented experiment by a talented individual.

From 25 April; distilennui.com

If you’re not yet familiar with the London Original Print Fair, now’s the time to get yourself acquainted.

Europe’s longest running event dedicated to printmaking is in its 28th year, and a range of galleries around London – including North London’s Paupers Press, TAG Fine Arts and Frederick Mulder – will be heading down to display a diverse range of graphic art.

25-28 April, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, W1; londonprintfair.com

FILM

HOT LIST

THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS GIG

KING’S CROSS

An unusual mix of sounds – influenced by traditional English folksong, ‘60s West Coast psychedelia and Greek progressive rock – has already established Mary Epworth as a bit of a trailblazer. Her debut album Dream Life was released in June 2012 and quickly garnered the singersongwriter airtime on both BBC 6Music and Radio 1, as well as appearances at Bristol Ladyfest, Hop Farm Festival and Bestival in the same year. High time to check out her live show...

3 April, St Pancras Old Church, Pancras Road, NW1; maryepworth.com

The Look of Love sees Steve Coogan returning to the big screen for his fourth feature with Michael Winterbottom (our favourite being 24 Hour Party People).

This time Coogan brings his chameleonic talents to the role of Paul Raymond, a pioneer in the British adult magazine industry who became one of the richest men in the country. The allstar cast includes Anna Friel, Tamsin Egerton and North Londoners Stephen Fry and David Walliams.

In cinemas 26 April

MUSIC

After endless teasers and much anticipation, Phoenix have finally announced the release of new album, Bankrupt. The French band, who count Sofia Coppola’s husband Thomas Mars among their number, wowed the world with last LP, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, and their sparkling, slow-building synthpop is never less than amazing. We can’t wait to hear what they’ve got in store for us in 2013. Released 22 April; wearephoenix.com 10

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18/01/2013 14:29

History Boy El Baumann meets David Bailey, whose new show captures the people and places of the photographer’s East End youth

EAST END 1961

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21/03/2013 20:42

BETHNAL GREEN, 1962

I

t’s 1961, two years before the release of the Beatles’ debut record and five years before Time magazine coined the phrase ‘Swinging London’. In the USA, President Eisenhower has recently ended diplomatic relations with Cuba before handing the reins of power to his successor, John F. Kennedy; the Cold War is at its height. On the streets of London, life goes on pretty much as always. The 50s may have drawn to a close, but the 60s that we talk about today – the years of mop-tops, mods and flower power – are yet to arrive.

David Bailey turned 23 in 1961. Born and raised in the East End, he had a happy family life but never excelled at school, the result of undiagnosed dyslexia. He dropped out at the age of 15 to try his hand at a variety of jobs in the City before spending a year in Singapore as part of his National Service; it was there, where cameras were cheap and in plentiful supply, that he discovered a passion for photography. On his return to Britain in 1958, he was quick to land himself jobs assisting high profile photographers of the time.

Bailey’s talent was such that by 1960 he was operating largely on his own, fast becoming one of Vogue magazine’s

premier fashion photographers. His career wouldn’t go truly stratospheric until the 1964 release of David Bailey’s Box of Pinups, a collection of poster prints of ‘60s celebs (including fellow East Ender Terence Stamp, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Andy Warhol and infamous East London gangsters, the Kray twins), but Bailey was already beloved of the style elite, who prized his pretty-boy looks and Cockney charm almost as much as his striking portraits.

It may come as a surprise, then, to learn that for much of 1961, with his career in the ascent and in constant demand, Bailey took the time to roam his native streets and capture dozens of startlingly intimate portraits of everyday East Enders. It was a habit he continued at frequent intervals over the decades to come.

The fruits of some of these wanderings are currently on display at Walthamstow’s William Morris Gallery, in an exhibition – ‘East End Faces’ – that’s already received acclaim as far afield as the USA. I spoke to Bailey between shoots at his Clerkenwell studio (the photographer is now 75 and shows no signs of slowing down) and asked if it was important to him to exhibit these shots in the East End that they document so beautifully.

‘Yes, yes,’ he says. ‘I did a show during the Olympics in the East End, at the Royal Docks, but when the [William Morris] gallery got in touch, I was happy to get involved.’ I mention the gallery’s recent programme of renovation and Bailey is again enthusiastic: ‘[Turner Prize-winning artist] Grayson Perry has already done a show there.

They’ve done it up great, I must say.’

Many of the pictures in the new exhibition have never been seen in public before, though Bailey explains that three books are on the way in the near future: one featuring his 60s shots, one with photos taken in the East End during the 1980s and one that revisits the same territory just a few years ago. It’s an exciting prospect, and one that should provide valuable insights into the huge changes the area has undergone over the decades. Bailey, however, is famously anti-nostalgia, preferring to face forward. What, then, does he feel when he looks at his photos of an East End that’s all but disappeared?

‘Oh, I don’t know what I feel,’ he says, momentarily lost for words. He goes on to ask me where I live – Hackney – and regales me with stories from when he worked in the area, ‘when I was a kid, before I was in the Royal Air Force, I had a bad debt in Hackney

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21/03/2013 20:42

Absolutely

CULTURE RIO CLUB, 1968

when I was 17,’ he laughs, before adding wistfully, ‘and I knew a girl in the Isle of Dogs called Helen; beautiful, she was.’

I’m tempted to get onto the subject of beautiful women – Bailey has been romantically linked to quite a few, including Catherine Deneuve, Jean Shrimpton and his current wife, Catherine Dyer, with whom he has three children. But I’m aware also that the photographer’s wayward, whimsical side is threatening to throw us off-course, so I try to bring us back to the subject at hand.

The photographs included in East End Faces are evidence of his deep affection for the area in which he grew up. In one of the exhibition’s most captivating shots, a man sits alone in the corner of the Rio Club in 1968, nursing a pint of beer. The portrait is a masterful mingling of texture, colour and line, all intersecting edges and subtly shifting hues; the man himself leans back in his chair, the slight smile on his face almost bemused. Taking photos of ordinary people in everyday places must have been a very different experience from taking studio portraits of superstars, I say.

‘Not really,’ Bailey counters. ‘It’s all the same in the end. It’s the same whether it’s a prime minister or a milkman – do they still have milkmen? – I treat them all the same.

They’ve all got a story, that’s what interests me.

You’ve got to find the story. People GLAD BAILEY 1960S ask me, how do you take the picture? But I don’t take the picture. They [the subject] take the picture.’

This is modesty of the most extreme sort, as one glance at the range of shots in East End Faces will tell you. The intimacy and openness you sense between shooter and subject is very often profound.

Bailey has to head off to photograph the big cheeses of Italian fashion house Valentino, but before we part I ask if there are any favourite East End haunts he’d like to share – past or present. He surprises me with a spot that spans the decades: ‘Chan’s,’ he says, ‘a Chinese restaurant in East Ham. I go back there occasionally, it was the first place I ever ate outside of home – it’s been open since about 1948. When I grew up, if you ate out it was a Scotch egg or a sausage roll in a pub – so Chan’s was pretty special.’

It’s good to know that some elements of the old East End survive. And for those that have disappeared, David Bailey’s East End Faces provides a valuable reminder.

East End Faces runs until 26 May. William Morris Gallery, Forest Road, E17; wmgallery.co.uk WALTHAMSTOW 15

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21/03/2013 20:43

She’s a model … and she’s looking good Helen Baron meets Portia Freeman

I

t can be tiresome talking to models. They’re so often bored or overworked, jaded from all the hours spent waiting to be adjusted, back-combed, crimped. But not Ms. Freeman.

I meet her on the set of the Absolutely shoot at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge, where the crew are holed up in one of the hotel’s palatial suites. Portia Freeman stands at the centre of it all, child-like, cooing over the gowns as the stylist hangs them up.

There is a striking versatility to Freeman. In her fluffy bathrobe, hair in rollers, bubbling with girlish enthusiasm as the makeup artist starts his transformation, what’s striking is how young she looks: the translucency of her skin, her baby-blonde hair and glassy eyes.

As she chatters away to me, I’m put in mind of a sort of modern-day Marie Antoinette – there’s definitely an aristocratically porcelain resemblance to her features, a kind of beauty that’s becoming more rare in the modern age. Of course, she’s a model, and models look good. But I’m guessing that it’s this adaptability that’s key to her success, because when she’s ready to shoot, she suddenly takes on an altogether more adult aura. In a moment, she flits from innocent to vampish – the white-blonde hair and blazing eyes projecting power and poise, the confidence and elegance of a worldly woman.

She reminds me of Jamie King, Daphne Guinness and Christina Aguilera rolled into one singular package. But perhaps it’s futile to make comparisons: Portia Freeman is very much a ‘face’ in her own right.

She started early. Spotted by a model scout during a school trip when she was just 15, by her early 20s she had already fronted major

campaigns for Alberta Ferretti, Charlotte Olympia and Matthew Williamson, and was touted as the muse of the late, great Alexander McQueen. From the very beginning, she was set apart. Her first editorial was for British Vogue and was shot by Mario Testino. She admits that she wasn’t quite ready for all the attention.

‘It’s a big pressure for a 15-year-old,’ she confesses, ‘it’s insane to look back and remember what I did.’

Ultimately, though, she is thankful for her big break.

‘My dad passed away a couple of months before I was scouted,’ she says, ‘so modelling was a great way for me to get my confidence back - and was a valuable distraction. I’m so happy it came along when it did. I’m not quite sure what else I would have done and I’m so grateful and flattered to have worked with such wonderful people and talented crew.’

Her affection for the industry and her coworkers is clear, never more so than when I mention McQueen, who she deems a legend.

‘I remember being in fittings with him and him designing on me... I almost wish I could go back and fully realise the significance of it again.’

It strikes me that the loss of her father may have strengthened Freeman’s remaining family ties – because family is highest on her list of priorities. Though she did once live alone in Japan for a month, she was protected from the solitary life of many models by taking her mum and brother along on shoots.

She also knew early on that she wanted to start a family of her own, and confides that when she first met long-term boyfriend (and bassist in indie band The Kooks) Pete Denton,

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21/03/2013 21:11

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too young to be really into fashion but he’ll insist on wearing his Chelsea boots rather than putting on wellies.’

It sounds like family life is working out rather well, I say.

‘It is,’ she says. ‘Being a model I can afford to be flexible. My mum is my childcare – and my boyfriend can help out a lot, so I don’t have the anxiety of getting home exactly on time as well. I’m lucky to have family support. When Dylan starts school, I can model full-time again. Right now, I’m never away more than three days at a time.’

It’s good to know that Freeman hasn’t become a slave to her success. Babies, boyfriends and a high profile career – she seems to be taking it all in her stride. Which might explain the twinkle in her eye as I get up to leave and she adds, in a mischievous undertone, ‘Time for another [child], I think!

DRINK, SHOP, DO BAR “69 Colebrooke Row - you get a piano for a table and can sit on the stairwell... it’s like being at someone’s cool house.”

RESTAURANT “I love the St John’s Tavern in Archway.

The restaurant is candle-lit and decked out like a genie’s cave.”

SILK DRESS (BELOW), £578, BY BEULAH (BEULAHLONDON.COM) LEATHER SANDALS, £575,

BY GINA (020 7409 7090) TURQUOISE AND YELLOW SAPPHIRE EARRINGS, £580, BY BUTLER & WILSON ONYX, BLUE SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING, £11,299, BY JOUBI CUFF STYLIST’S OWN

she was quick to ascertain that he shared her outlook. Her son Dylan was born not too long afterwards, and Freeman devoted the next two years to motherhood and setting up home in North London.

Now happily back in the fashion game, Freeman often travels with her mum and three year-old son (who is himself quite the little looker). She seems to have taken to motherhood like a duck to water – and it hasn’t done her career any harm either; in fact, she’s just shot the Celia Birtwell for Uniqlo campaign. I wonder if the industry looks any different through a mother’s eyes?

‘It’s insane,’ she says, ‘I feel a lot older, mentally... I feel like a 50-year-old woman sometimes. Being a mother I suppose I now want to mother everyone, to protect and guide the other girls.’

She goes on to speak about Dylan – very obviously the apple of her eye. Last month Freeman was an ambassador for the inaugural Global Kids Fashion Week which aims to establish children’s fashion as central to the

SHOPPING “I have to confess, I’m an online addict and love Net-a-Porter. I’ll have a quick browse when Dylan’s gone to bed.”

FOR KIDS “Little Dinosaurs in Alexandra Palace.

You have to be mentally prepared for that place; it’s like a wacky warehouse for toddlers. Don’t go there with a hangover!”

industry and to showcase the work of some of the finest kids’ designers in the world via a public and private VIP show. Proceeds of public ticket sales went to the charity Kids Company, an organisation devoted to providing practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable children and young people.

‘I follow Kids Company and admire Camila [Batmanghelidjh, the charity’s founder],’ Freeman tells me. ‘I was so excited to be an ambassador. I am fully behind the idea and love to see the kids strut their stuff. That’s what I like about it most: the children having their moment in the spotlight.’ She goes on to tell me how she visited some of the children who were involved in the public show.

The event was the brainchild of online kids boutique Alex and Alexa, and featured clothes by top brands including Paul Smith Junior, Junior Gaultier and Little Marc Jacobs, to name a few. Indeed, Portia’s own son took his first stylish steps. ‘Dylan’s got an obsession with Tommy Hilfiger’s lumberjack shirts. He looks a lot like his dad and copies him. He’s

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Absolutely

CULTURE

Olly, Olly, Olly Absolutely meets local talent Olly Alexander, who stars alongside Judi Dench and Ben Whishaw this month in Michael Gandage’s Peter and Alice.

How did you go from deciding to act to pretty much straight away doing a film with Gaspar Noé (of Irreversible fame)?

It was just luck it happened that way, I had just finished my first acting job and then my next audition was for Gaspar.

whereas on film you do what you can in front of the camera and then cross your fingers it’ll be good when it comes to the final edit. I’m not sure which I prefer, I’d be more than happy if I could do both.

Are you a fan of local theatre – what is the most recent play you went to see?

Yes, I went to see Feast at the Young Vic last night. I go to the Arcola sometimes too which is always good.

Prior to that you had filmed Bright Star; what was it like working with Ben Whishaw?

He’s the best, I wish every job I did could be with him.

Was it a big shock travelling to Tokyo for that film and working on a feature so soon?

Definitely a big shock. I had no idea what I was doing at all. I had never really been away from home and suddenly I was living in Harajuku, eating sushi and acting in a Gaspar Noé film.

The whole experience was nuts.

I bought a lot of Japanese toys – they make the best toys!

How did you get involved with indie flick The Dish and The Spoon?

I was involved with another film that the director Alison Bagnall and Greta Gerwig were making but it ended up falling through.

Alison really wanted to make a movie so she created a story for me and Greta, something we could make on a very low budget, and about ten of us went to Delaware for a month and made the movie.

What was your experience of working on big budget comedy film Gulliver’s Travels?

The experience taught me that Billy Connolly is pretty much the best person in the world.

Tell us about your part as Herbert Pocket in the recent film adaptation of Great Expectations?

Herbert is described in the book as being unable to do anything secretive or mean, lots of bad things happen to Pip and Herbert, but he’s eternally optimistic. It was fun to play someone thats so eager and positive, if a bit misguided.

How much theatre have you done; how do you find it compares with film and what do you prefer?

I’ve only ever done tiny fringe plays but they’ve been a really rewarding experience.

You get to see it through from start to finish

Who do you play in Peter and Alice? What drew you to the part?

I play Peter Pan. I’ve pretty much always wanted to be him and I had all but given up on that dream until I got offered the part. I’m slightly worried I’ll develop some sort of Peter Pan complex but it’s been an amazing experience so far. And I’d be an idiot to turn down a job with Dench and Whishaw and Grandage and Logan; it’s ridiculous how brilliant they all are.

What other actors/actresses have you most enjoyed working with so far?

I really loved working with Greta Gerwig; she’s so smart and funny and talented. Also Jeff Goldblum was a real dude.

What’s next for you?

I’m making another movie with Alison Bagnall in the summer called Funny Bunny. I play a character called Titty who sometimes likes to pretend he’s an owl.

MY AREA

“Hackney is my favourite part of London, I virtually never leave. There’s always a lot of madness going on. A perfect Sunday would include Columbia Road, followed by a walk in Victoria Park, Climpson and Sons for coffee, Vietnamese food on Kingsland Road and Visions Video Bar for hip-hop in Dalston.”

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Concept Kitchens

The Tile Box

40 Offord Road Islington N1 020 7700 1555

40 Offord Road, Islington N1 020 7700 1444

www.conceptkitchensislington.co.uk

www.thetilebox.co.uk

Bath Sorts 38 Offord Road Islington N1 020 7700 1333

www.bathsorts.co.uk

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FASHION

Sophie’s choice Victoria Stapleton founded British heritage brand Brora, which this month celebrates 20 years in business with a summer capsule collection fronted by Sophie Dahl Tell us about the history of Brora.

I started Brora in 1993 because I was passionate about Scottish textiles, especially cashmere and tweeds. Having been brought up in the north of England, from an early age I was aware of the wonderful mills that produced the finest textiles, which were then shipped around the world. When my family became involved with Hunters of Brora, a 100-year-old tweed mill in the north east of Scotland, I jumped at the opportunity of creating a retail arm. This, in turn, led to the establishment of my own business, which today is a fully fledged fashion brand with a very British aesthetic.

I strongly believe in ‘made in Britain’ and the vast majority of the products that we sell at Brora are still made in this country.

Brora is 20 years old this year. How have you sustained the brand over the years, and how has the business developed since it started?

We are great believers in the power of word of mouth. By giving what we feel is the best possible customer service combined with a well-made product, we have created a very loyal customer base who love to talk about Brora.

We only sold Scottish tweeds and cashmere for the first ten years. When customers started to ask if they could buy the dresses that we used for styling the cashmere, we saw a market for our clothing. That side of the business has seen steady growth and now accounts for half of our turnover.

and his attention to detail was a joy to watch.

Can you tell us about the collaboration with Fashion East graduate Michael Van der Ham? For the last two seasons we have worked with inspirational young designers.

Michael has an elegant, feminine eye but loves working with bright colour, so his take on Brora added a new element to our offering and our customers loved his collection. It appealed to all ages and styles

You’re marking the anniversary with a collaborative summer capsule collection with Sophie Dahl. How did that come about?

Sophie has been a Brora customer for many years and loves the brand. When she approached me to work together on a small collection, I thought it was a perfect idea.

Her sense of style is so complementary to Brora and she knew exactly what she loved,

so it was a pleasure to work with her.

What can we expect from the collection?

We started with a colour palette which is always our way; colour is so integral to our collections. Sophie was keen for it to be washed-out and romantic. The clothes are extremely wearable at the same time as being unique and original. They are very ‘Sophie’, which is exactly as they should be.

186 Upper Street, N1; brora.co.uk HIGHBURY & ISLINGTON 23

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EXPERIENCE LIFE AT ONE OF THE UK’S LEADING DRAMA SCHOOLS // Two-week INTRODUCTION TO DRAMA SCHOOL courses for students aged 17+ give a grounding in the skills and techniques needed to succeed at drama school Courses: Audition Preparation for Musical Theatre | Acting Musical Theatre | TV & Film Acting 29 July – 9 August | £695 // One-week ENGAGE summer workshops for young people aged 12 to 16 develop acting, singing and dance skills through fun and dynamic workshops and performances

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SUMMER DRAMA COURSES mountview.org.uk @MountviewLDN

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Absolutely

FASHION

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD RED LABEL SS13

8

MALENE BIRGER

1 7

2

6

Animal Magic

5

3

Sharin Parker’s selection of wild, jungle-inspired pieces

4 1. MARC JACOBS leopard dress, £560; marcjacobs.com 2. STELLA MCCARTNEY Jane desert boots, £295; matchesfashion.com 3. BIBA Zebra print jumper, £79; houseoffraser.co.uk 4. LINDA FARROW Tortoiseshell sunglasses, £269; matchesfashion.com 5. BY MALENE BIRGER WASCINA clutch, £225; shop.bymalenebirger.com 6. STEFANEL Giraffe tank, £POA; stefanel.com 7. VIVIENNE WESTWOOD Circus Sailer Shorts, £205; viviennewestwood.co.uk 8. HELENE BIRGER, Amiliio, £POA; shop.bymalenebirger.com 25

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Burn Baby Burn Pain de Sucre set the beaches of Bali alight with their sizzling 2013 Swimwear Collection

Photographer: ERIC DENISET Stylist: CLARA PARTHONNAUD Hair & Make up Artist: WILLIAM BARTEL Model: MICHEA CRAWFORD

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MISHI £120

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PERLA £245

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NIKITA £135

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DUNIA £150

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SAMARRA, £135 SWIMWEAR 2013 COLLECTION AVAILABLE FROM PAIN DE SUCRE 192 KING’S ROAD, SW3; PAINDESUCRE.COM

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22/03/2013 14:38

HURLINGHAM 8TH/9TH/10TH JUNE 2012

LADIES DAY – THE QUINTESSENTIAL BRITISH SUMMER PARTY HURLINGHAM 7th, 8th & 9th June 2013 tickets on sale through ticketmaster® now Ticketmaster®: 0844 248 5069

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HURLINGHAM 8TH/9TH/10TH JUNE 2012

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After working with royal families, Footballer’s and stars you can have confidence that Prestige Watches will be able to meet your requirements.

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We also buy gold and silver, so why not cash in and get more money for your unwanted items lying around the house.

Our valuation team will be more than happy to come and see you or give us a call to make an appointment.

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22/03/20131/413:28 Rolex.indd 1

25/03/2013 12:39

25/03/2013 13:42

Absolutely

FASHION POP ART

Iconic East London footwear designer Terry de Havilland opened the doors to his new London boutique last month. Situated in Soho’s Newburgh Quarter, the pop-up will be open until mid-July, and features an interior inspired by Andy Warhol’s legendary Factory.

We can’t wait to get our hands on a pair. tdhcouture.com

Style File

HERE COMES THE SUN

The Central Saint Martins graduates behind Felder Felder have teamed up with Finest Seven to launch a range of colourful sunglasses alongside the mainline SS13 collection. Don’t let a few grey skies stop you from snapping up these lovely sunnies. £850; finestseven.com

FROM THE SOLE

East London-based Elizabeth Dunn’s SS13 capsule shoe collection is the fruit of a series of collaborations between Dunn herself and a host of professional artists. Dunn’s bespoke service also allows you to choose from a range of approved artists or an artist of your choice.

Shoes pictured painted by Claire Barrow; elizabethdunn.co.uk

MAKE A SPLASH

Travelling to warmer climes? Head to Pistol Panties first, where the epic swimwear collection promises to add more than a touch of Hollywood glamour to any holiday. We’re choosing the theMarilyn spotty bikini, £139. Pistolpanties.com

HELLO DOLLY

SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET Having won the ‘We Are Pop-Up’ competition last year, China Doll Boutique have decided to extend their six-week stay at Boxpark. Occupying the sacred space between whimsy and wearability, their pretty and feminine designs are more than ideal for spring. Unit 33, Boxpark, 2-4 Bethnal Green Road, E1; chinadollboutique.com 35

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EVENING, DAYTIME, SATURDAY, WEEKEND AND ONLINE EASTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER SCHOOL OVER 1000 CREATIVE COURSES FOR BEGINNERS THROUGH TO PROFESSIONALS:

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PLUS THESE SPECIALLY DESIGNED PROGRAMMES: SUMMER ARTS CAMPS IN ART, DESIGN AND FASHION FOR 13 - 15 & 16 - 17 YEAR OLDS • PRE-COLLEGE COURSES FOR 16 - 18 YEAR OLDS (EASTER, WEEKEND AND SUMMER) • DUAL CITY SUMMER 2013: LONDON + MILAN, BARCELONA, PARIS, NEW YORK OR ISTANBUL • SHORT COURSE WEB LISTINGS AND SECURE ONLINE BOOKINGS:

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Absolutely

KIDS

AHOY THERE

ANGEL The sailor-inspired attire from French brand Petit Bateau never fails to make little ones look cute, and the new ‘Worker Blue’ collection incorporates rustic dungarees, and adorable striped sailor dresses that look especially fitting worn on the beach. We’re on board.

125 Upper Street, N1; petit-bateau.co.uk

Absolutely

TINIES How to keep them amused

BROTHERS GRIMM

WOODLAND CREATURES

Taschen’s beautiful new collection of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm comes as a tactile cloth-bound hardback (£24.99) as well as an interactive e-book form for iPad (£4.99, iTunes).

Both feature charming vintage illustrations from the 1820s to the 1950s. taschen.com

ANGEL The new Paperchase spring collection includes stationery designed by illustrator Helen Dardik.

We love the eco-friendly lunch set made of biodegradable bamboo fibre; also launching this month is the Elsa collection and Paperchase’s hand drawn ‘Pushy Cats’, which feature on a range of products from notebooks to cat-shaped cushions. Purr-fect for little naps.

Unit 3, 21 Parkfield Street, N1; n1islington.com

DON’T MISS...

Editor’s Pick

A GOOD YARN

HIGHBURY & ISLINGTON This month, we are absolutely loving this sweet little chuncky-knit cardie from Brora. From £112, 186 Upper Street, N1; brora.co.uk

MODERN BRITISH CHILDHOOD Museum of Childhood Until 14 April BETHNAL GREEN This month is your last chance to catch this exhibition, which explores how British childhoods have transformed during the period between the London Olympic Games of 1948 and 2012.

Charting 64 tumultuous years in history, the show covers education, health, family, entertainment, fashion and play, and features tons of fascinating artefacts which dramatise the huge changes that have occurred in children’s lives – including a pair of ‘50s children’s NHS prescription glasses and the 2005 ‘Teddyfone’.

Cambridge Heath Road, E2; museumofchildhood.org.uk 37

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452.pf_AngelAd6.1_col_1:452.pf_AngelAd2_col_1

15/2/08

11:12

A NE Wprivate family club for parents and children under 5 Only opening just a minute away from St. John’s Wood High Street!

YOU’RE AS YOUNG AS YOUR SPINE IS FLEXIBLE

What

3 Hoouffseers

Club

cafe with a healthy, organic and * Childfriendly delicious menu for kids and parents, soft play

* Pilates, yoga and other fitness opportunities

classes are inspired by child development * Our specialists all around the world including Reggio

* Beauty and massage days for parents. * Weekly popup shop from independent online

area and outdoor playground, place for buggies.

Emilia School and Glenn Doman’s of The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential

* Activities for babies, toddlers and preschool children that are not only fun, but also advance their curiosity, confidence, coordination, communication andconcentration.

* Workshops expert presentations and moderated

discussions groups on parenting, health, career and other relevant topics.

3HOUSE.indd 1

for parents.

boutiques for parents and small kids.

* WiFi internet access and a Quiet Zone to catch up on your emails, work or reading while your baby is having a nap or your toddler is having a class.

*

Crèche, so you actually can take advantage of what we are offering.

* Great venue and entertainment for birthday parties for children.

“If, at the age of 30, you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If, at 60, you are supple and strong, then you are young.”

Joseph Pilates Get a stronger back, a flatter stomach and a suppler, younger body at our stunning studio

020 7288 8080

islington@pilatescentral.co.uk www.pilatescentral.co.uk 10-12 Gaskin St (off Upper St) London N1 2RY

Superb teachers. Superb facilities. Superb location.

22/10/2012 13:58

For a Prospectus and to find out about your nearest stagecoach call now on

020 3222 5544 STAGE COACH.indd 1

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www.stagecoach.co.uk/islington www.stagecoach.co.uk/hackney islington@stagecoach.co.uk hackney@stagecoach.co.uk 269 Wick Road, Hackney E9 5DG

21/03/2013 18:45

22/03/2013 14:52

Page

Absolutely

EDUCATION

COOK OFF

OLD STREET

Central Street Cookery School is an impressive new learning facility within the recently renovated St Luke’s Centre. As a charity-run cookery school, their guiding principle is to provide an affordable facility for the whole community.

Highlights include Monica Gauchi’s London Pie Club, which meets on a Sunday and has been voted one of the best things to do in London by Time Out. Check the online calendar for more class options.

90 Central Street, EC1; centralstreet.org

An Education LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX ANGEL

Helen Knox recently launched the new edition of her book Sexplained One at Islington’s MSH Wellbeing.

The education manual is aimed at a broad audience and serves as a comprehensive reference work and foundation for sex education. Suite C, Maples Business Centre, 144 Liverpool Road, N1; mshwellbeing.co.uk

YOGA FOR ALL

BETHNAL GREEN

Hackney Yoga Project is a new pilot scheme at Hackney City Farm, which seeks to develop a best practice model for using yoga to work with the refugee and asylumseeking community. The core group of women who attend are seeking asylum in the UK due to human rights abuses; many have also experienced gender-based violence. Recently, a fundraising event was held at Islington’s Life Centre, but help is always needed. Head over to the blog to find out how you can get involved.

1A Goldsmith’s Row, E2; hackneyyoga project.blogspot.com

WHAT A GAS Children from across the capital attended a fun-

packed Festival of Science recently, aimed at raising awareness of the important role of science, technology and engineering play in everyday life. Youngsters participated in a range of workshops and experiments at the Hornsey event, which was organised as part of the School Power programme – a collaboration between National Grid and City Year. During the last school year, 40 schools across London participated in the scheme, which places a focus on supporting kids in disadvantaged communities. cityyear.org.uk

LAUGHING MATTER Students from across Islington pitted their wits against local comedian and author, Charlie Higson, in the Young

Consumers of the Year contest. The quiz, organised by Islington Council’s Trading Standards team, teaches young people about their rights when buying goods and services, how to make healthy choices, how to look after their money and how to work together as a team. Higson was quizmaster for the quick-fire University Challenge-style quiz at Emirates Stadium, testing the competitors on a wide range of subjects.

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Fine fitted kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms

3,200 Square feet of contemporary kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms from Italy and Germany. Mark Nicholas Design one stop shopping for the finest home interiors on display in London. Why not call today to arrange a consultation to find out what we can do for you.

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Fax: 020 7833 2273

Email: enquiries@marknicholasdesign.com

www.marknicholasdesign.com

01/06/2012 13:49

Absolutely

BEAUTY Snap Happy

STRATFORD

Spanish fashion brand Pull and Bear’s new unisex fragrance, SHOT, is picture perfect. Designed by the Barcelonian Design and Engineering School, Elisava, the fragrance comes in a cool camerashaped bottle. Perfect for aspiring David Baileys.

Westfield Stratford, E20; pullandbear.com

the

Beauty Edit The fine art of staying beautiful...

Pick

ETERNAL FLAME Molton Brown celebrates its 40th anniversary

this month with the launch of a limited edition patchouli and saffron collection, paying homage to the brand’s ‘70s roots. The bath, body and beauty experts started hand-mixing products above their original salon floor in 1973 and have since travelled the world in pursuit of the rarest and most beautifully fragranced ingredients.

Candle, £36, 27 Royal Exchange, EC3; moltonbrown.co.uk

Sugar and Spice BANK

The new limited edition fragrance range from Jo Malone channels the spirit of the Great British high tea; specifically, cakes and biscuits. Surprising maybe, when more of us are now focused on healthy, organic living – but Jo Malone knows that underneath all that, everyone loves a sweet treat. The new scents come in lemon tart, redcurrant and cream, elderflower and gooseberry, ginger biscuit and bitter orange and chocolate varieties, all in dinky 30ml bottles. Instant olfactory puddings.

Royal Exchange, 24 Change Alley, EC3, 0870 192 5131; jomalone.co.uk

Editor’s

Pretty Pastels STRATFORD

Spring sees lighter colours doing the rounds again, from barely-there French manicures at Chanel to sorbet shades at Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Westwood. Accessorise with a pop of colour if your wardrobe’s not quite there yet, choosing from Marks & Spencer’s new season shades – Bright Coral, Ultraviolet, Pale Lavender and English Rose. Try a half moon, vertical or horizontal shape for full effect. £3.50 each, Marks & Spencer, Westfield Stratford, E20; marksandspencer.com

ON THE LASH

SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET

Boudoir Lashes has moved to Shoreditch. The go-to salon for fuller, thicker eyelashes, their expert extensions last up to six weeks, are 100% waterproof and come pre-curled. Their technique singles out every row of lashes to ensure natural-looking add-ons with amazing staying power – and the beauty parlour also offers waxing, facials, nail art and mani-pedis too, so you can be fully prepped and preened under one roof. 1a Turville Street, E2; boudoirlashes.co.uk 41

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PROMOTION

Clerkenwellbeing: Bringing Wellbeing to Clerkenwell

H

ave you ever wondered what the benefits of Pilates are, how yoga can invigorate your body and soul, or how nutrition and homeopathy can produce a more healthy and happier you? If so, now you can sample a range of complimentary therapies at the newly opened Clerkenwellbeing on Goswell Road.

On 17th April 2013, Clerkenwellbeing will celebrate its launch by running an open day of taster sessions, workshops and health checks. A completely free event, it will run from 12 noon until 7pm, showcasing the wide variety of therapies, movement classes and complementary health treatments.

Visitors will be able to trial Pilates and yoga classes, understand more about homeopathy and nutrition and enjoy taster massages and somatic movement sessions.

Foot checks will be offered by the in-house

and businesses, united in their commitment to raising the overall health of the people of Clerkenwell and beyond. New partners include the well-established Islington Chiropractic Clinic and Pilates Movement Ltd, making this altogether a calm and relaxing centre for those who want to take their personal wellbeing into their own hands. The wide range of health treatments available under one roof allows for seamless continuity between therapies, helping clients to reach their optimal health and fitness.

Clerkenwellbeing will be taking donations on the day to support the British Lung Foundation, a locally based charity which provides research on and awareness of lung disease, and those affected by it.

Visitors will be able to trial Pilates and yoga classes podiatrist and chiropractors will provide spinal screenings to examine posture and alignment.

The beautifully renovated centre has a range of studios and treatment rooms, and is home to several different practitioners

For the full programme and latest news on the launch day, please visit our website at www.clerkenwellbeing.co.uk, call us on 020 7490 4042 or email info@clerkenwellbeing.co.uk

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BEAUTY

1

2 3

8

4

At First Blush 8 of the best blushers

7

5

6 1. Chanel, Joues Contraste Powder Blush In Pink Explosion, £31; chanel.com. 2. Youngblood, Tangier Pressed Mineral Blush, £19; ybskin.com.

3. Givenchy, Le Prisme Blush, It-Girl Purple, £29.50; debenhams.com. 4. Yves Saint Laurent, Crème De Blush N°9, £29; yslbeauty.co.uk.

5. Clinique Blushing Blush Powder Blush, £21; clinique.co.uk. 6. Nars, Blush In Seduction, £21; narscosmetics.co.uk.

7. Burberry Light Glow Rose Blush, £29; burberry.com. 8. Clarins, Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour In Lovely Rose, £26; clarins.co.uk 43

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Dental and Aesthetic Medicine treatments available.

- Dental Implants - Lumineers - Clear braces - Laser teeth whitening

- Wrinkle relaxant therapy - Dermal fillers - Laser Skin rejuvenation - Laser Skin resurfacing - Laser Hair removal - Zerona laser fat loss treatment

Open evening on Wednesday 25th April. Introducing Zerona Laser Fat Loss Treatment. Champagne reception. Call to reserve your space.

Call to book your free consultation.

State of the art equipment and latest technology's available. Free Parking

943 Finchley Road, London, NW11 7PE T: 0208 2018080info@lotusclinic.co.ukwww.lotusclinic.co.uk

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22/03/2013 14:54

Absolutely

BEAUTY

IN THE FRAME

SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET Look alive, Framers. May is the month for starting the bikini body countdown and Frame – the New York style, butt-kicking studio in Shoreditch – is just the place to do it. Take advantage of their rolling promotions – a typical month might offer 20% off selected bootcamps, reduced prices for six Pilates classes and online booking sales. Sweet ass.

29 New Inn Yard, EC2; moveyourframe.com

Feeling good The latest health and fitness trends

HOT STUFF

HOLLOWAY ROAD

SPRING CLEAN

Radiance Juice Cleanse is the first UK range of certified organic, fresh (cold-pressed and raw), juices. They come in attractive colours – you can choose from Gentle Greens to to the Beauty Boost – and feature such wholesome ingredients as fennel, beetroot, carrots and lemons. As well as the fruit and veg juices, there’s a bottle of cashew milk included, to help detox, energise and manage weight naturally. Sign us up... radiancecleanse.com

North London welcomes a new Bikram studio. Take advantage of the intro offer – a 20 consecutive day pass at a mere £35 or become one of the first 250 founding members and pay only £79 per month (normal price £99.)

Islington, 8 Hornsey Street, N7; bikramhighburyandislington.com

LATHER UP

STOKE NEWINGTON

DiPalmo Body Wash Blend Collective is a new natural bodycare range that combines luxury fragranced blends with high quality skincare ingredients and is blended by Alex Lawless, a trained psychotherapist with more than 20 years’ experience in the perfume industry. £14.95, Whole Foods Market, 40 Stoke Newington High Street, N16; blendcollective.co.uk

MR MUSCLE

ESSEX ROAD

This new muscle soak combats muscle fatigue.

Made with premium grade ginger root, rosemary, borage and sweet fennel essential oils it can be used before and after your run to aid post-training recovery. £9.99, Planet Organic, 64 Essex Road, N1; naturalhero.co.uk

HOT TIP FOR MARATHON RUNNERS

“Stretch daily, focusing on your hamstrings, hip flexors and calf muscles, and do some gentle core strengthening exercises to ease the pressure off your back and joints, avoid injury and help your body to perform at its optimum. After the marathon, indulge in a massage, rest well and start some Pilates or yoga classes to help you stretch out and give your body the chance to recover properly. You deserve it!

Good luck on the big day!” Rebecca Convey, Kinetic Pilates, 4 Ossian Mews N4; kineticpilates.com 45

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The

Hottest New Beauty Parlour in Town Boudoir Beauty Parlour is a premier, unique beauty boutique that stands out from the ordinary by providing an extensive range of beauty services in a luxurious, pampering environment.

As part of our Valentine Special, we’ve put together a little something for you to enjoy at a discounted price.

We go that extra step to offer the latest treatments designed to ensure you relax, and leave you feeling uplifted (as well as simply gorgeous).

Find all you need to look good in one delectable space; from makeup lessons, manicures and pedicures, facials to our popular Boudoir Lashes eyelash extensions. Our parlour is the perfect place to go for an indulgent and rejuvenating experience.

Makeup Application & Mini Mani – £45 Mascara Effect Eyelash Extensions & Makeup Application – £99 Volume Effect Eyelash Extensions, Makeup Application & Mini Mani – £149 For our opening, we will be offering all treatments up to 50% off the normal price throughout the month of February.

We are located just off Redchurch Street in Shoreditch.



www.boudoirlashes.co.uk 1a Turville St, E2 7HX 0207 739 5462 M: 07957567181 t @boudoirparlour / @boudoirlashes e:asma@boudoirlashes.co.uk * All treatments and packages are subject to terms and conditions; please check at the time of booking.

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Absolutely

BEAUTY

Face Time

Tania Odell trials the new ESPA Cellular Renewal Enzyme Facial at Muswell Hill’s Lab Spa

I

’m greeted at the stately entrance of the Laboratory Spa and Health Club by a staff member with an umbrella. Just as well, because it’s chucking it down: this small but welcome gesture is an example of how they go the extra distance at this Muswell Hill spa. A tour of the place reveals it to be nothing short of a small paradise. I make a mental list of all the treatments (there are loads) and take in the indoor, sky-lit pool before a turn around the in-house juice bar and state-of-the art gym. This is a luxe health club, the likes of which are more often found in the West End or Chelsea.

Eventually I’m guided to the dimly lit, stylish surroundings of the treatment room, soon to become the lucky recipient of the new ESPA Active Facial Peel.

ESPA is a prestigious and pioneering spa and beauty product brand which uses natural ingredients without chemical nasties (such as synthetic colours, fragrances and pure petrochemicals). Seasoned lovers of facials will be familiar with ESPA’s host of antiaging, lifting and firming, re-balancing and hydrating treatments; what’s more, the brand is British and manufactures its products here in the UK. My facial falls under the ‘radiance’ category, and I have high hopes. After a long and dismal winter, topped up by what’s turning out to be a Siberian start to spring, my pallid complexion is in great need of a boost – and within five minutes of handing myself over to the Lab Spa

therapist, I’m feeling better. Just to be in such a harmonious place – away from work, home, the pub and the blighted journeys in-between – send me into a resoundingly peaceful state.

Targeting uneven pigmentation, ESPA’s skin-brightening facials use natural facial peels and trademarked Super Active radiance boosting creams to brighten and even out your skin tone. Botanical extracts work to encourage cellular activity, shedding dull skin cells for a refreshed, supple appearance – and if your skin is generally stable (i.e. not prone to congestion or hormonal imbalance) but has taken a battering from the elements or a few late nights, this treatment is ideal. Following a deep steam and cleansing with the Clarisonic Brush, the ESPA Professional Enzyme Peel is applied before I’m treated to a soothing massage with rose quartz crystals, which helps to cool and calm my skin. I’m left to consider the importance of doing things like this on a regular basis: for active, beleaguered lifestyles, this kind of rejuvenation is essential rather than indulgent. It’s also super satisfying to know your skin is getting some much-needed attention.

I’m treated to a soothing massage with rose quartz crystals

Absolutely Readers Introductory Offer of £70 (RRP £110), The Avenue, N10, and 1a Hall Lane, NW4; labspa.co.uk ALEXANDRA PALACE (Muswell Hill) TUBE COLINDALE (Mill Hill)

3 TOP TIPS FOR HEALTHY SKIN 1. USE SUNSCREEN Once you hit 30, you should be using a broadspectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 25; 50 is ideal, even when it’s overcast outside.

Reapply sunscreen every two hours in sunny weather.

2. EAT ANTIOXIDANT RICH FOOD Vitamin C is said to promote youngerlooking skin, alongside a diet low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates.

3. GO ORGANIC Natural ingredients are not only more effective than petroleum-derived products they enhance cell renewal and have more nutritional benefits.

They also have a higher concentration of healing properties. Espa Skin Radiance Moisturiser, £34, espaonline.com

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21/03/2013 21:13

PHOTOGRAPHY OLIVER DICKENS

Grape Expectations Natalie Ashett rounds up London’s leading wine merchants Photography: Oliver Dickens

259 Hackney Road HOXTON

A year into business, 259 Hackney Road has stuck to its guns as a purveyor of fine, small batch wines imported from France. Milena Bucholt and her partner travel to small vineyards in France to source their stock, choosing wines that are produced without using chemicals in the process. By dealing directly with winemakers, Bucholt feels that she can choose winemakers who have a real passion for their produce and who use traditional methods, something she feels is important in the making of artisan wines.

295 Hackney Road, E2; 259hackneyroad.com 259 recommends: White – L’Homme a la Veste, Beaujolais Red - Clos Roche Blanche, Sauvignon 2012 48

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FOOD

Noble Fine Liquor LONDON FIELDS

The youngest of East London’s new legion of wine shops, Noble Fine Liquor’s youth is reflected in the way that it relates to customers. Owner Liam Kelleher announces that he wants to show the world that ‘wine doesn’t have to be snooty’. Free tasting sessions are held every Wednesday evening in the shop and all are invited to come along to taste the most exciting new imports. Kelleher doesn’t profess to be a wine expert, but he is willing to share what he does know and point customers in the right direction when it comes to choosing a special bottle.

27 Broadway Market, E8; wearenoble.co.uk Noble recommends: White – Domaine Hubert Lamy, Bourgogne Blanc 2012 Red - Ar Pe Pe, Rosso di Valtellina 2012

Bottle Apostle LONDON FIELDS

A veteran in the area, Bottle Apostle has achieved a certain level of fame amongst aficionados du vin. Having served the East End since 2008, the firm opened a second branch in Crouch End in 2012, casting its seasoned net further across London. In a bid to make wine accessible to all, Bottle Apostle installed an enomatic system, allowing customers to buy and taste wine by the glass before investing in a whole bottle.

Customers purchase a card to operate the machine, which has a a rotating selection of eight red and eight white wines available for around £1 per tasting glass.

95 Lauriston Road, E9; bottleapostle.com Bottle Apostle recommends: White – Zeppelin Mulheimer Sonnenlay Riesling 2011 Red – Tinto Chilendo De Secano-Maule 2010

Borough Wines HACKNEY DOWNS

With three premises in the north and east of London, Borough Wines has become an integral part of any East Londoner’s dinner party preparations. The three shops on Wilton Way, Stoke Newington Church Street and Dalston Lane are similarly stocked with British and imported wines but what gives the Dalston Lane branch its edge is L’entrepot, its very own wine bar. Here, the food is meant to complement the wine rather than the other way around – there’s charcuterie, cheese and smoked salmon on rye bread.

230 Dalston Lane, E8; boroughwines.com Borough recommends: White – Tokaji 2011, Hungary Red – La Cuve a mon Loup 49

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FOOD

Theatre of Wine UPPER HOLLOWAY

Wines from all of the world’s favourite wine regions – Burgundy, Piedmont and Champagne – can be found at the Theatre of Wine, while plenty of shelf space is left for a diverse selection of wines from lesser known wine regions in Hungary, Morocco and Georgia. After ten successful years with the south London branch, owner Daniel Illsley opened the second in Tufnell Park in 2011, and it was quickly welcomed by locals as the area’s go-to wine shop.

124 Junction Road, N19; theatreofwine.com Theatre of Wine recommends: Red – Alessandro Veglio Nebbiolo 2009, Italy, £15.50 White – Petrucco Friulano 2011, Italy, £13.20

TheKENTISH Wine TOWN CellarWEST

Nubo Lobo, owner of the family-run Wine Cellar on Kentish Town Road, exudes the love that all Portuguese have for coffee, food, and wine. Having come here to the UK almost 40 years ago, he brought with him a passion for Portuguese vinho which pushed him to grow his stock from just a few bottles to over 200 varieties. While the wines are laid out in the cellar, the shop floor level is home to a traditional café knocking out Pasties de Nata (custard tart) and excellent Portuguese coffee. Get a morning fix, then head off home with a bottle from the northern Alentejano region.

193 Kentish Town Road; NW5 The Wine Cellar recommends: White – Planalto, Douro 2012 Red – Muralhas De Moncao, Vinho Verde 2012

Sampler ANGEL

Sampler by name, sampler by nature; Islington’s branch is largely focused on encouraging customers to taste the wines they have on offer. This place boasts a huge selection of wines, with as many as 1,500 wines in stock and 80 available for tasting at any one time. Tasting sessions here are something akin to travelling around the wine world by Oyster card: customers load up their card with wine money and help themselves to small glasses with sips available from as little as 30p.

266 Upper Street; N1; thesampler.co.uk Sampler recommends: White – Scholium Midan al Tahir 2012, California Red - The Listening Station Malbec 2008, Western Australia 50

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19/03/2013 12:35

Fresh, seasonal produce from British farmers and growers

Much more than just a veg box scheme: A wonderful mix of organic and free range British produce from meat, fish & diary to bakery and veg, that you simply can’t find in supermarkets.

No obligatory boxes, no commitments, no minimum order value: apply discount code ‘CITYANG’ for 20% off your first order.

Order online and collect from our Islington Depot or have it delivered direct to your door.

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www.farm-direct.com 0845 519 2415

28/04/2011 12:26

Absolutely

FOOD

GAIL’S KITCHEN HOLBORN

We can’t get enough of this place, the first restaurant from the team behind the muchloved artisan bakeries. The Bloomsbury outpost serves a full menu at breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, while the bar is open for drinks and sharing plates.

The restaurant menu reflects the founders’ love of artisan bread; don’t leave without trying the French toast with caramelised apples and maple butter.

11-13 Bayley Street, WC1; gailskitchen.co.uk

Bite Sized Absolutely finds out all the food news – one bite at a time

CRAFT

BETHNAL GREEN

MODERN PANTRY

FARRINGDON

DINNER DES GRANDS CHEFS MONUMENT

No less than 45 Relais and Châteaux Grands Chefs will work in teams of three from a single list of British ingredients for a special event raising funds for Action Against Hunger International. Pooling their culinary talents and expertise, they will create 15 unique five-course menus for one night only. The impressive British line-up led by Raymond Blanc and Gary Jones (Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons) includes Andrew Fairlie (Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles), Claude Bosi (Hibiscus, London) and Martin Burge (Whatley Manor, Malmesbury).

April 22, Old Billingsgate Market, Old Billingsgate Walk, 16 Lower Thames Street, EC3; dinnerdesgrandschefs.com

The Modern Pantry opened in St John’s Square in Clerkenwell in the summer of 2008, to instant critical acclaim. Founder Anna Hansen’s culinary philosophy is driven by modern ingredients and global inspiration; this spring will see Modern Pantry products pop-up in Harrods, as the venerable store’s traiteur section welcomes Hansen as ‘chef of the season’.

48 St John’s Square, EC1; themodernpantry.co.uk

Michelin-starred chef Nuno Mendes, founder of The Loft Project and the Long Table, brings us CRAFT, an unusual one-off collective of six internationally renowned chefs, all of whom are celebrated experts in their art.

World-class chefs will take over Viajante at the Town Hall Hotel, cooking their own menu alongside Nuno and his team.

26 April - 1 May, Viajante, Patriot Square, E2; craft@viajante.co.uk

BEAGLE

HOXTON

This newly opened outfit takes its name from one of the locomotives that used to operate on the old North London line that once ran overhead. Fabled Studies have overseen the interiors, while James Ferguson (former Head Chef at Rochelle Canteen) helms the culinary side of things.

397-399 Geffrye Street, E2; beaglelondon.co.uk 53

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22/03/2013 14:58

Absolutely

FOOD Restaurants YUM YUM THAI RESTAURANT 3183-187 Stoke Newington High Street N16 0LH 020 7254 6751 OISHII 67 Stoke Newington Church Street N16 0AR 020 7254 3488

DOLLAR GRILLS & MARTINIS 2 Exmouth Market EC1R 4PX 020 7278 0077 FORMANS Stour Road, Fish Island E3 2NT 020 8525 2365

BUNDU KHAN 43 Commercial Street E1 6BD 020 7375 2595

COMO 3 11-13 Theberton Street N1 0QY 020 7354 2341

LIKYA 68-70 Golders Green Road NW11 8LN 020 8455 7171

MEAT PEOPLE 4-6 Essex Road N1 8LN 020 7359 5361

Top Tables A bite-sized guide to this month’s foodie destinations

Corner Room

Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, E2; townhallhotel.com/corner_room BETHNAL GREEN

What’s the deal? Nuno Mendes’ concept restaurant offers a simpler, more affordable menu than its counterpart, Viajante, yet still boasts a flair for creative dining. The interior design is interesting, too – lots of hanging lights and cool, clean lines.

When should you go? This is a great lunchtime option; the tall windows mean the room is gloriously awash with natural light. Dinner is walk-in only, so that hotel guests and locals are ensured a table. A nice, neighbourhoodfriendly touch.

Three Coffee Shops

MEM & LAZ 8 Therberton Street N1 8LN 020 7704 9089

SU SAZZAGONI 136 Lauriston Road E9 7LH 020 8985 8448

DALYAN 462 Muswell Hill Broadway N10 1BS 020 8442 2662

LA COLLINA 17 Princess Road NW1 8JR 020 7483 0192

The Wilton Way Cafe 63 Wilton Way, E8; londonfieldsradio.com

HACKNEY CENTRAL

Positioned behind the Hackney Empire, and appealing to the cool customers of Wilton Way (rather than the Broadway Market crowd, this coffee ‘hut’ doubles as the home of London Fields Radio and is a real hub for local creatives. The reclaimed interior decor comes courtesy of local vintage specialists The Dog and Wardrobe.

Timberyard

61-67 Old Street, EC1; timberyardlondon.com OLD STREET

Timberyard, midway between Hoxton hipsterville and the design hounds of Clerkenwell, serves ‘Has Bean’ coffee. The USP here is fast wi-fi and in-house iPads – the café has a thriving social media presence.

There’s plenty of space, so it’s ideal for meetings – or any other purpose that demands you can hear yourself think.

Le Petit Nicola

72 Heath Street, NW3; lepetitnicola.com

HAMPSTEAD HEATH

An old-school bakery – before the antipodean coffee invasion, patisseries like this were what saved us from rubbish coffee and megalomaniacal chains. The French-trained pastry chef leads a team of experts who churn out gorgeous tarts and handmade gold-leaf cakes (among other treats). Head here for a bite of delectable European nostalgia.

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Absolutely

CREDIT: TOM JENNINGS

FOOD Bars/Pubs BABBLE JAR 176 Stoke Newington High Street N16 7JL 020 7254 7666 69 COLEBROOKE ROW 69 Colebrooke Row N1 8AA 07540 528 593

Reserved The tippler’s guide to this month’s buzzing bars

Crate Brewery

THE NORTHGATE 113 Southgate Road N1 3JS 020 7359 7392 THE HIGHBURY BARN 26 Highbury Park N5 2AB 020 7226 2383

JOHN SALT 131 Upper Street N1 1QP 020 7359 7501

XOXO 74 Upper Street N1 0NY 020 7226 6799

White Building, Queen’s Yard, E9; cratebrewery.com HACKNEY WICK

What’s the deal? This craft brewery (housed in a former print factory) received a lot of hype last summer, being situated on the doorstep of the Olympic Park. The stone-baked pizzas are spot-on, and a perfect accompaniment to their signature lager, golden ale, India pale ale, best bitter and brand new stout – all of which are lovingly brewed on-site.

Why should you go? Set back off the beaten track, the White Project building which contains the brewery is a standard-bearer for the gentrification of Hackney Wick. Its canal-side location will no doubt exert a real pull as warmer days set in.

FIFTY FIVE BAR & LOUNGE 31 Jamestown Road NW1 7DB 020 7424 9054

PROUD CAMDEN The Horse Hospital NW1 8AH 0207 482 3867

Three Gig Venues

SPREAD EAGLE 141 Albert Street NW1 7NB 020 7267 1410

Birthdays

33-35 Stoke Newington Road, N16; birthdaysdalston.com DALSTON JUNCTION

Many a trendy band has graced the intimate basement of this newish Dalston venue. Smaller bands have cut their teeth (and raised their street cred) with a Birthdays gig, while it was Frank Ocean’s venue of choice during his last visit to London. Great food is curated by Rita’s Bar. Happy Birthday(s) indeed...

The Waiting Room

175 Stoke Newington High Street, N16; waitingroomn16.com STOKE NEWINGTON

This subterranean club beneath Stoke Newington’s Three Crowns pub hosts everything from indie disco nights to old school hip-hop, r&b and garage throwdowns. The regular Midnight a Go-Go slots offer a fun, ‘80s disco-meets-high school prom party. A heaving sweat-box for good times.

Vortex

11 Gillett Square, N16; vortexjazzclub.co.uk

DALSTON KINGSLAND

Now celebrating its 25th year, the Vortex has live music seven nights a week, adding up to nearly 400 performances a year. Innovative programming has consistently provided a platform for both emerging and established talent on the jazz, experimental and contemporary music scene – and it’s a cool place to meet friends.

THE WELLS 30 Well Walk NW3 1BX 020 7794 3785

THE YARD Queens Yard Hackney Wick E9 5EN

OFF BROADWAY 63-65 Broadway Market E8 4PH 020 7241 2786

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15/02/2013 10:21 15:32 29/06/2012

Absolutely

FOOD

Lucky Number

Gareth Fitzgerald discovers city dining minus the corporate chill

O Hong Kong Garden El Baumann bags the hottest table in town

O

wned by the group behind the prestigious Chrysan (which is just next door), HKK is tucked away in a big glass box of a building on Worship Street, a few minutes from Liverpool Street Station. From the outside, the restaurant is so discreet as to be indistinguishable from the wider block, and my partner and I pass the place twice without realising we’ve done so – we finally spot the modest paper sign beside the door.

When you cross the threshold you enter a spa-like sanctuary of warm, stony hues and hushed minimalism. The main dining area is small and simply decorated, centred around a serving station at which delicate morsels are being assiduously arranged on stoneware plates. We glimpse the gold chinoiserie of the private dining room as we’re led to our table, which like the rest of the restaurant is shielded from the street by floaty, diaphanous drapes diffusing the daylight.

Clearly designed with the corporate customer in mind, the space is nonetheless enriched and enlivened by artful, organic touches, whether white orchids adorning the tables or banks of purplish blossom framing the reception desk. However, it’s neither flora nor furniture that has critics like AA Gill singing HKK’s praises: it’s the food. My partner and I have come for lunch, and we quickly opt for the eight-course vegetarian tasting menu, priced at £42.

HKK offers a full range of tasting menus in eight- or 15-course variations, plus an à la

carte menu featuring dishes like Wagyu beef and lobster soup with goji berry. We plumped for two alcohol-free cocktails to accompany our meal – a fantastic Washing Potato (which seemed to contain the spirit of springtime missing from the world outside the windows) and a dreamy, rose-water infused Eden.

Each of our eight dishes was presented, one after another, starting with a smoky, sweet, stuffed sun-dried tomato and ending with a pineapple fritter served with salted lime jelly and vanilla ice cream. In between, we were treated to petite, perfectly balanced dishes including jasmine tea smoked vegetarian duck with water chestnut and a vegetarian dim sum trilogy – which sounds like the masterpiece it was.

It’s not overdoing it to say that each and every course left us in raptures, excitedly comparing notes on flavours and fragrances, wondering how celebrated chef Tong Chee Hwee and his team could pack so many complementary tastes and textures into such dainty, diverse creations. The watchwords of much Oriental philosophy – concepts like harmony and balance – were in every dish employed with such skill and finesse that we were sad to bid the final course farewell.

‘If I were rich,’ said my partner, ‘I would eat here every day.’ Light yet sublimely satisfying, healthy yet delicious – and so beautifully refined – I can only agree.

n a damp, cold evening, the 1776 restaurant at 1 Lombard Street seems blessedly close to Bank station. Set within a refined, elegant space (a neoclassical former bank, in fact) complete with domed ceiling, classic furnishings and genteel clientele. A glass of champagne around the central room’s circular bar sets proceedings off nicely, before you move to an adjoining dining room with a distinctly Georgian feel.

One obvious draw of 1776 is the silver service trolley presented at your table, which helps to conjure the ambience of a relaxed and convivial gentlemen’s club. Thinking in that vein, we managed an excellent gin Martini before starters – English snail and pancetta in a potato nest, and asparagus and duck egg salad.

This was my dining partner’s first taste of snail, and it would be dishonest to say the molluscs found in her a fan for life, but she nonetheless enjoyed her dish for its neatly contrasting flavours and textures.

Our mains – which included grilled dover sole with baby clams and cannellini beans – again scored highly, each being perfectly cooked and presented. All the better, they were savoured alongside a superb light Riesling recommended by our waiter. Full as we felt after such feasting, we still dithered over the dessert trolley.

The entire evening was spent in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Equal parts intimate and alive, 1776 seemed a popular choice for diners on both romantic and more traditional business; for our own part, we stayed quite late into the night, enjoying a post-prandial whisky before heading back out into the driving rain, thankfully well-warmed by memories of the amazing meal. While we didn’t get to sample the next-door brasserie’s menu, it is a more affordable option – and while 1776 might avoid the corporate complexion, it doesn’t avoid the corporate price tag. Still, if prices are reflective of high end fare, there’s no denying that it’s worth every penny.

1 Lombard Street, EC3, ; 1lombardstreet.com BANK

Broadgate West, 88 Worship Street, EC2; hkklondon.com LIVERPOOL STREET

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Design and build

Crouch End 128 Crouch Hill, London N8 Telephone 020 8341 2020

Islington 42 Cross Street, London N1 Telephone 020 7359 4041

www.funktionalkitchens.co.uk

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INTERIORS

FLOWER POWER

As nature fulfils its annual promise and spring flowers bloom, Helen Baron goes flower arranging at Old Street’s legendary McQueens Photography: Lauren Giles 61

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INTERIORS

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eople from a planet without table centre. The first attempt at cutting the flowers would think we must oasis (which provides water for the flowers for be mad with joy the whole the duration of display) is super satisfying, a time to have such things about great taster of the course’s hands-on approach. us.” So said philosopher and It feels good to get stuck in and handle the novelist Iris Murdoch, and I heartily agree – flowers chosen for the piece – and Duncan’s though the sentiment never seemed so relevant 20 years of experience make it look so easy, as when I first arrived at McQueens flower as he breezily (yet meticulously) places each workshop, and was overwhelmed (in the most flower before standing back to evaluate his delightful sense) by the huge variety of flora work. He moves with determined purpose, and foliage on display. and is keen to emphasise that there is no right I was at McQueens to undertake a one-day or wrong, no set algorithm for arranging; he course in table centre flower arranging, having encourages us rather to intuit the shape of the heard that this was one of the best flower final display, the positioning of the individual shops in the business: founded by Kally Ellis flowers, always staying mindful of colour, in 1991, its dedicated breaking up expanses staff of master florists of white or green with have won commissions something brighter from clients including and more intense. The Claridges, the Berkeley directions and advice Hotel, Mulberry and are easy to follow, and Louis Vuitton. Even everyone in the class cult fashion brand produces eye-catching Acne makes a point results – though of always having I’m rather uneasy McQueens flowers about my haphazard in its London store. approach and, despite Perhaps McQueens’ repeated warnings, Mcqueen’s most impressive gig, manage to stab my however, is the annual foam block with a summer Vanity Fair Oscars jagged stem on more workshops party, for which Kally than one occasion. A Four-week vocational course, £4,935 herself jets off to Los more skillful attempt 7 May - 4 June Angeles – and though would have seen me Two-day intensive wedding flowers the brand is unrelated to removing any foliage course, £610 the late, great Alexander or bumps from the 12 - 13 July, 24 - 25 July McQueen, it turns out stem and inserting it that years after taking neatly into the oasis, One-day courses: on the business and its so as not make a Hand-tied bouquets 7 May, 24 June name, Kally discovered big hole. In the end, the original shop was in however, I’m lucky: my Table centres fact run by McQueen’s flowers hold steady.

8, 9 May, 25, 26 June aunt.

The alternative would Vase arrangements and corporate flowers My day begins with have been especially 14 May, 1 July some pointers from embarrassing when Course Director Luis da confronted by the Bridal bouquets Silva, who deftly runs artful efforts of my 29 May, 15 July through some of his fellow students, a Button-holes and corsages tricks of the trade using gaggle of cheery 30 May, 16 July tulips and a spherical Korean ladies who vase – throwing in useful move gracefully about tips on price for any florists in the class. Da their creations, posing for photos all the while.

Silva is in charge of the Claridges account, and It soon becomes apparent that real expertise the introduction is peppered with anecdotes requires an eye for detail and a talent for drawn from his work with the venerable making the most of what you have – flower hotel. Keeping Claridges stocked with floral shops are at the mercy of the season, the art requires da Silva to work through the growers and the usual ebb and flow of supply night once a week, preparing and creating and demand. Duncan tells us that sadly, while installations, and it soon transpires that his modern developments in growing mean that efforts don’t go unnoticed; some of my fellow flowers now last longer, the downside is that students are already familiar with his work, many of them have lost their scent – a quality including one particular Easter installation that’s so important to the overall experience. which made use of seven trees dotted McQueens use only the best blooms, however, throughout the hotel. and though we’re advised our centres will Next up is Course Tutor Duncan McCabe, lastaround four days, mine lasts well over a who guides us through the creation of our week.

HOW-TO CREATE A TABLE CENTRE

For this you will need: • • • • • • •

Flower Oasis Bunch of buried ivy Coolwater rose x7 Blue Genie rose x7 Blue hyacinth x5 Blue thistle x9 Pot

1. Cut the oasis (two litres for this amount of flowers) to fit the plastic pot and tape down with duct tape.

2. Remove foliage and any thorns (these can tear the foam) and guard petals as required.

3. Start with the buried ivy, cutting the stems to fit, making sure not to make too big a hole or to insert too much stem into the foam; then add foliage.

4. Move on to the roses, starting with the larger varieties and keeping the dome shape you have started, viewing the flowers from above and around.

Keep some distance between the roses for an even spread of colour.

5. Cut the hyacinth stems and feed into the foam from the bottom as the stems are fleshy and can be harder to insert – the blue lilac shades should break up the pinkish hues of the roses.

6. Lastly, insert the blue thistle to complete the piece. These can be inserted slightly lower down. Again, make sure to keep the shape. Finish with any remaining foliage leaves if needed.

The flowers should last four to five days.

70-72 Old Street, EC1; mcqueens.co.uk TUBE OLD STREET

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120 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 3LS 509 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 4JS 77-79 Wycombe End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire HP9 1LX Telephone: 020 7486 3080 email: info@halcyon-interiors.co.uk | www.halcyon-interiors.co.uk

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Tim Moss Bespoke kitchens www.timmoss.co.uk

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BALHAM

CHISWICK

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HARRODS

HAMPSTEAD

0800 111 4844

SELFRIDGES

info@indian-ocean.co.uk

07/03/2013 11:12

Absolutely

INTERIORS IN DA’ TUB

QUEEN’S PARK If you like hang time in the tub, you may as well do so decadently. Water Monopoly really have monopolised the market, with glorious freestanding, empire, antique copper and plinth baths. They do a lovely range of single and double basin sinks too.

10-14 Lonsdale Road, NW6; watermonoply.com

Interior Inspirations Gemma Billington rounds up the best trends, designers and local gems TAKE A SEAT

LIVERPOOL STREET The Lollipop Shoppe are currently stocking stylish revamps of Alvar Aalto’s timeless classic, the Artek Stool 60, to celebrate its 80th year. As well as the colourful Anniversary editions, there are a few specials from contemporary designers.

10 Lamb Street, Old Spitalfields Market, E1; thelollipopshoppe.co.uk Show room of the month

HOME ON THE RANGE

If a home reflects its owner’s personality then what of the home of an architect? Writer Gennaro Postiglione explores this notion with Taschen’s latest beauty, The Architect’s Home; a fascinating insight behind the doors of architects’ abodes and into the creative mind. £27.99; taschen.com

TWENTYTWENTYONE

ANGEL If you know your Bauhaus from your Bernstrand then you’ll probably already have twentytwentyone in your little black book. The retail store and showroom have been going since 1996 and has become the unrivaled go-to place for design-led furniture, lighting and accessories 18c River Street, EC1; twentytwentyone.com

TOP 3

SILHOUETTE SAUSAGE DOGS

SAUSAGE DOG HOOK, £12, HOUSEOFFRASER.CO.UK

DACHSHUND DOG ON IPHONE CASE, £32; IALBERT.CO.UK

DAXI SAUSAGES PRINT

BY RAWXCLUSIVE, £28; NOTONTHEHIGHSTREET.COM

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Grandma Griffi’s Kitchen Ready for installation by us or your builder

Griffi “out of the closet!”

We made our first piece of furniture in 1951 and our first kitchen in 1967. You may never have heard of us because since 1980 we sold our kitchen furniture exclusively to shops as their brand not ours. With this recession many of these shops are no longer with us and so from now on we are supplying home owners and installers

What’s the cost of Griffi furniture?

Vintage and Contemporary styles 35% less than in the shops Now less expensive than Chinese ‘quality’ imports Individual kitchen units sold by length and height Kitchen furniture from five to fifteen thousand pounds Bring your builder to see our rigid and easy to fit units.

www.griffi.co.uk

Griffi at The Green and Fay building Islington North London: 0207-704-0455, Griffi is the reg. trademark of George and Bessie Griffiths & Son (1951) GRIFFI RE-DESIGN.2.indd 2

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Shelf Life

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Books do furnish a room, especially with these lovely literary accessories

Osborne And Little’s Penguin Library Wallpaper, £56 Per 10 Metre Roll; osborneandlittle.com

INTERIORS

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2 3

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1. Cleo Narrow Bookcase In Red, £140; habitat.co.uk 2. Conceal Invisible Shelf, £11.95; theliterarygiftcompany.com 3. The End Book End, £19.95, vandashop.com 4. Dog Bookends, £60; grahamandgreen.co.uk 5. Isokon Penguin Donkey, £552.50, and 6. Isokon Penguin Donkey Mark Two, £484.50; both skandium.com 7. Bertha Shelf By Donna Wilson For Scp, £288; scp.co.uk 8. Attache Bookcase, £748; anthropologie.eu 69

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beautiful timber multi-fold windows timber doors

Made to measure curtains & blinds Poles & tracks l Fabrics by the metre l Fabric to paint matching service Measuring, Installation & Design Service l

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69 Cross Street Come and visit us at the showroom: 406 Merton Road, London SW18 5AD Telephone 0208 877 8920 www.ayrtonbespoke.com

Ayrton.indd 1 ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 4

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London N1 2BB. Tel: 020 7704 6594 sales@pretavivre.com www.pretavivre.com Contract enquiries: contract@pretavivre.com

22/03/2013 15:03

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TRAVEL

THE HOTEL

The photographs from my long weekend in Edinburgh belie the rain-sodden stereotype of the Scottish capital. Each one is sunkissed with clear blue skies covering the vast city, highlighting the Gothic architecture, green spaces and even a glimpse of the sea on the horizon. In truth, I’d been flukey with my chosen weekend, and it made the views from my deluxe room at the recently renovated Caledonian hotel that bit more special.

Following on from a whopping £24 million investment, The Caledonian is an impressive new addition to the Waldorf Astoria portfolio. Built in 1903 as a railway hotel, the grand building pays homage to its glamorous Victorian roots – think marble floors, sweeping staircases and Murano glass chandeliers.

The Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh THINGS TO DO DINING

Despite Edinburgh’s wealth of diverse restaurants, it’s tempting to stay within the walls of the Caledonian, especially once you’ve sampled the delights of the stylish Caley Bar. There are two restaurants, with Michelinstarred brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin at the helm; the Galvin Brasserie de Luxe, which is a nod to urban Parisian bistros, and The Pompadour, which is as opulent as its name suggests. We whiled away a surreal four hours with ease, enjoying the divine five-course taster menu of French haute cuisine and Scottish favourites. It probably helped that each and every course was paired with a finely matched wine too. A clear head the next morning is not guaranteed.

THE BEDROOMS

All the rooms are decorated elegantly with neutral colours and fitted with luxury modcons, though each room differs in layout. The decor is beautifully paired back and rightly so; nothing competes with the stunning views.

There are plenty of things to do in the city to occupy a long weekend. Five minutes away from the castle is the eccentric Camera Obscura and Museum of Optical Illusions, which is a surprising delight that will entertain both adults and children alike. Another must is the Edinburgh ghost tour. Mercat’s Hidden and Haunted walk takes you into Edinburgh’s historic and downright terrifying underbelly; the infamous Blair Street Underground Vaults. The selection of whiskeys at the Caley bar afterwards will serve as a welcome nightcap to steady your nerves.

GETTING THERE

British Airways offer two nights at The Caledonian Hotel from £295 pp incl return British Airways flights from Heathrow.

Visit ba.com/edinburgh or call 0844 4930758 thecaledonianedinburgh.com; visitscotland.com/natural 71

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Plate Me, used motor car sales was founded with the goal of building the best overall experience for buying and selling affordable used cars, such as Lamborghini,Mercedes, Audi, Maserati, Bugatti, Toyota, BMW, VW, Porsche, Vauxhall, Honda, Land Rover, Smart, Range Rover, Jaguar and Nissan.

We started with the best owner we knew, which is ourselves. We quickly realized that by selling used cars from customers we know, we could offer a wholly unique experience.

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Plate me can also custom manufacture and supply any other physical Road Legal and Show number plates at highly competitive prices.

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TRAVEL

Room Absolutely goes globe-trotting to round up three of the best hotels with wow factor vistas

HOTEL CIPRIANI, ITALY

When booking a room at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice you can choose either a pool, garden or lagoon view – that is, unless you opt for the Palladio Suite, which has a wall of windows framing 180-degree panoramic views across the lagoon. Known as the ‘glass capsule’, this spacious suite has two bathrooms, a living room, dining room (where guests can host butler-serviced dinner parties) and a large terrace with a heated plunge pool and Jacuzzi. The interiors are inspired by 18thcentury Venice with murals, marble floors and pillars, and there’s even a private garden and dock from where you can be whisked across to St Mark’s by boat. Once in town,

why not go from one boat to another and take a gondola ride through the canals to admire the colourful houses and humpback bridges? Venetian queues are notorious, so make sure you book the ‘skip the line’ service (details below) so you can enjoy blissfully quick access to the main sites. In terms of food, The Cipriani has two restaurants: the bistro, Cip’s Club, and the fine-dining, silkwalled Fortuny Restaurant. Meanwhile, for traditional Venetian coffee and cake, head to the 18th- century Caffe Quadri in St Mark’s; for seafood stroll through the narrow streets to Palazzino G and order the Catalan Platter; and for those who want to step off the tourist trail, why not dine with a Venetian Countess

and book dinner with Enrica Rocca at her palazzio-cum-cookery-school? All in all, it’s no wonder that when visiting Venice celebrities, royalty and world leaders (think Johnny Depp, Princess Diana and Ronald Regan) have stayed on Giudecca Island at the Hotel Cipriani.

Rooms start from £927 per room per night. For further information visit hotelcipriani.com or call Orient-Express UK on 0845 077 2222. For a gondola ride, ‘skip the line’ service, entry to museums and tours visit: venetoinside.com; for information on Palazzina G see: palazzinag.com; Restaurant Quadri: alajmo.it; and Enrica Rocca: enricarocca.com 71

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TRAVEL

SHEEN FALLS LODGE, IRELAND

Southern Ireland is home to some extraordinarily spectacular scenery; Kenmare, in particular, offers breathtaking vistas at every turn. No hotel better exemplifies this than the luxurious five-star Sheen Falls Lodge, a country house near the famous nature trail, the Ring of Kerry. Guests are spoilt for choice scenically, with the stunning Sheen Falls winding around the back of the property – book a room overlooking these falls, it is a treat to wake up to the soothing sounds of a flowing waterfall – and a beautiful crystal-clear lake at the front of the building. Flying into Shannon Airport, we rented a car and drove the two-and-a-half hours to the hotel to take in the views. You can fly to Kerry Airport, which is roughly an hour’s drive, but the journey through Killarney National Park is not to be missed.

Driving on the shoulders of mountains and through wooden glens, this reserve is home to Lord of the Rings-style pristine natural beauty.

At this time of year there are barely any cars on the road, although you might have to contend with the local sheep. Serious relaxation begins at Sheen Falls Lodge, take a trip to the spa for a Yon-Ka facial, or do a circuit of the jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and indoor heated pool. The hotel also provides a wide range of activities such as falconry, fly-fishing and golf. The stables were undergoing refurbishment when we visited, but the hotel recommended the Eclipse Centre in nearby Blackwater Bridge, and an enjoyable afternoon was spent trekking through the rugged countryside on horseback (eclipseireland.com). Dining at the lodge is second to none, but before your meal pop

down to the cellar for a tour of the extensive wine collection. Overlooking the falls, Le Cascade is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a delicious meal by candlelight – Pheasant breast en paupiette with sea buckthorn sauce, anyone? Packie’s restaurant in Kenmare is also a five-minute taxi ride away and is a brilliant alternative if you want to venture into the local village for a more casual affair (kenmarerestaurants.com/packies). The lodge and the surrounding area offer sublime untainted nature – the perfect retreat.

B&B rates from €89.00 per person sharing sheenfallslodge.ie, discoverireland.com

VIVANTA BY TAJ, INDIA

It’s not often you find a hotel with a three-tone water vista: from infinity pool, to river and out to the deep blue sea, the only thing interrupting the view at Vivanta by Taj are palm trees laden with coconuts. Houseboats, backwaters and sunsets come to mind when you hear mention of Kerala, but word has spread, the tourists have flooded in, and few secluded spots remain. Thankfully, one of these idylls is Bekal, in Northern Kerala.

Home to small villages, empty beaches and ancient forts, as of last year ‘secluded’ doesn’t mean slumming it as a new Vivanta

by Taj came to town. With 64 rooms spread throughout bright white villas, a sprawling spa (the biggest in Asia, they say), two restaurants – seafood and Indian, as well as a poolside BBQ – this is the place to come for serious relaxation and pampering. Great for families or couples, there’s plenty to do including visiting Bekal Fort (the largest in Kerala), taking a trip in a houseboat, or making the most of the hotel’s grounds which can be traversed by golf buggy, bicycle or on foot. Strolling along the beach at sunset shouldn’t be missed, and those who love activities can have a go at archery, kayaking, croquet, cookery demonstrations and early morning yoga sessions.

There’s also a crèche , so it’s always an option to drop off the kids and head to the spa. Treatments range from facials and head massages (using curry leaves no less) to traditional Ayurveda therapies like Snana where you are bathed in herb-infused water, or Kati Basti where warm oil is poured over muscles to ease back pain.

Enchanting-Travels (enchanting-travels.com) and Taj Hotels offer a city-beach trip including a night at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai en route to Vivanta by Taj - Bekal in Kerala. A similar tailor-made itinerary of 6 nights, 7 days during high season (October 2013) costs £1,335 per person based on two people sharing. All domestic flights, breakfast, airport and hotel transfers, private city sightseeing, activities, fees and taxes and a 24 hour point of contact are included in the price.

For more information visit: enchanting-india.co.uk vivantabytaj.com and tajhotels.com

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A land of milk and honey Gabriel O’Rourke discovers a clash of cultures in the vibrant city of Beirut

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TRAVEL

H

ear mention of Lebanon and you may think of clubs, bars and restaurants in the capital, Beirut. Or perhaps you picture Mediterranean beaches towered over by ancient ruins. Skiing may also come to mind, and looming behind it all you may think of buildings reduced to rubble from the civil war that gripped the country from 1975 to 1990.

The fact is that Lebanon is a melting pot of all the above, and much, much more. Thankfully times of turmoil are now fading into memory, and Beirut is booming – as Alain Feghaly, our tour guide, so aptly puts it: ‘buildings here are springing up like mushrooms.’

It’s a five-hour flight from London to Beirut and on arrival we are greeted in style. Forget a driver with your name on a placard, the Phoenicia greets its guests before they have a chance to mingle with the masses, welcoming them after luggage collection with a red carpet and their name displayed on a TV screen.

The transfer (in a white Jaguar I might add) takes less than 15 minutes and within an hour of landing on Lebanese soil we are lounging by the pool bar, Amethyste, nibbling on meze and sipping cocktails.

The Phoenicia is not one of Alain’s ‘mushrooms’, rather it is a gem from Lebanon’s golden era, the swinging 60s, when the country became known as the ‘Switzerland of the Middle East’ and its capital the equivalent of Paris.

Royalty, world leaders and celebrities (from Brigitte Bardot in the 60s to Angelina and Brad more recently) have graced the pillows of its 446 rooms, some of which have an opulent oriental feel; others have lighter French décor.

Columns line Amethyste, softened by white linen drapes creating a colonial-cumGrecian feel. Super yachts line the marina below and a large projector screen hangs at one end of the swimming pool playing black-and-white classics.

Our first day starts as all good holidays should, with an enormous buffet breakfast.

The Phoenicia’s Mosaic Restaurant does a breakfast from heaven with different chefs serving different food behind various counters. There’s everything from typical Lebanese pastries and breads, to eggs, fish,

cheese, croissants, yoghurt and fresh fruit.

Wondering if we’ll ever feel the twinge of hunger again, we follow Alain down the grand marble staircase and out into the city.

Our first stop is the National Museum, a spacious and airy building with just enough artefacts (the first mention of Beirut is in 14th century BC – yes, that’s BC – and the museum has wonderful relics from the Bronze, Iron and Roman ages) to give you a feel for the city’s history without overload.

Next we hit Downtown, grabbing a coffee in Martyrs’ Square, seeing the remains of a Roman bathhouse that was only discovered in 1968, and visiting the many churches and mosques which sit alongside one another, reflecting the city’s multi-faith inhabitants.

I am amazed how liberal people are – you see far more burqas and hijabs in London than Beirut. This is a Mediterranean city and most people wear shorts, skirts and airy clothes fitting to the warm climate.

and poulticing. Relaxed and fully in the swing of things we head down to the marina for a drink before dinner at the hotel’s 11th floor French restaurant, Eau De Vie. ‘On a clear day you have eye contact,’ says Alain as we set off up the coast the next morning. ‘You can see Byblos from Beirut.’

It is 37 km to Byblos, but we stop off enroute at Jeita Grotto, a breath-taking pair of limestone caves. The upper cave is home to the world’s largest stalactite, and the lower – inhabited since prehistoric times – bears an uncanny resemblance to the entrance to Hades. You even have to take a boat, although our vessel is steered by Tony who, I must admit, isn’t quite as formidable as Charon.

Byblos is one of the oldest constantly inhabited cities in the world – dating back to the Neolithic period in 5,250BC, it makes the Romans seem modern. Originally a fishing village, the Phoenicians arrived in 4,000 BC, using their time in Byblos to come up with the alphabet.

Lebanon’s geographical position means that since time immemorial it has served as a gateway to the Mediterranean from the east and to Asia from the west. Other big names who inhabited Byblos were the Babylonians, the Persians, Alexander the Great and the Romans–who brought Christianity with them.

To complement culture with glamour, Eddé Sands, Lebanon’s most fashionable beach – ‘where people behave like peacocks’, says Alain – sits alongside Byblos’ ancient ruins.

We have lunch overlooking the harbour before heading back to the hotel. After all, the Phoenicia is a landmark in its own right; locals and foreigners alike come to soak up the atmosphere, perhaps taking afternoon tea, sipping local beer or wine by the pool, or dining in one of the four restaurants which range from Lebanese to Italian, French and Asian.

It’s no surprise this bastion of Beirut has celebrated its 50th anniversary and is still counting.

Thankfully times of turmoil are now fading into memory, and Beirut is booming – as Alain Feghaly, our tour guide, so aptly puts it; ‘buildings here are springing up like mushrooms ‘Sometimes I think we Lebanese only live to eat!’ says Alain as we take a taxi to Gemayzeh for lunch. Stopped in our tracks by an unusual traffic jam, we wait as a beaming bride stops in the middle of the road, bouquet in hand, and strikes a pose for her photographer, using us as a nice backdrop.

Tawlet is a restaurant with a difference; it is a non-profit organisation set up to bring people together (after years of conflict) with food and tradition. Literally, it means ‘table’ and the style is homely, with an open kitchen mastered each day by one of 30 chefs from all over Lebanon.

Our chef is from Tripoli, and for US $23 we pile our plates with delicacies from the north including tabbouleh, baba ganoush and kibbeh (pounded raw lamb).

Stomachs full once again, we return to the hotel for spa treatments. The ILA treatments are especially good and I opt for the Manipura Massage which involves 90 minutes of blissful scrubbing, massaging

Rooms at The Phoenicia Beirut from £226 per night. British Airways (ba.com) flies daily to Beirut from Heathrow. Tickets start from £432 return, including all taxes, fees and charges. +961 1 369 100; phoeniciabeirut.com Tawlet Restaurant: tawlet.com Jeita Grotto: jeitagrotto.com

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Not just This Morning... but every morning

Marilyn Stowe is the senior partner at Stowe Family Law and resident family law expert on ITV’s This Morning.

Leading the UK’s largest dedicated family law firm, she has more than 30 years’ experience handling divorce cases and family law proceedings.

· One of the first solicitors to qualify as a family law arbitrator through the newly-formed Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA).

· The first Chief Assessor and Chief Examiner of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel.

· A Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers: a global association of lawyers recognised for expertise in their respective countries.

Located in WC1, Stowe Family Law specialises in family law issues and covers a wide range of cases.

From divorce to cohabitees’ rights, with dedicated international and children’s teams.

The team also offers mediation, arbitration and collaborative approaches and benefits from a specialist in-house forensic accountancy department that tracks down hidden assets and can provide immediate financial advice.

If you need family law advice, early support can be essential.

Stowe Family Law can help.

Contact 0207 7421 3300 or email chiefexecutive@stowefamilylaw.co.uk 8 Fulwood Place, Gray’s Inn, London WC1V 6HG www.stowefamilylaw.co.uk www.marilynstowe.co.uk

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12/11/2012 12:12

ABSOLUTELY Property April 2013

Commercial Street, E1

ÂŁ1,600,000 Leasehold

A stunning penthouse apartment set within this modern, boutique development, moments from Spitalfields Market and Liverpool Street. Arranged over the top two floors the property spans just over 2000 square feet and includes a significant private terrace (approx 800 sq ft) which is south west facing and has direct views over Bishopsgate and the City.

Stirling Ackroyd, Shoreditch Office, 0207 749 3838; stirlingackroyd.com

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CurrellResidential

£1.050.000 Freehold Richmond Road, E8 • Four bedrooms • Two double receptions • South facing garden • Possibility of extending

£1.025.000 Freehold De Beauvoir Road, N1 • Three /four bedrooms • Two receptions • Two bathrooms • Off street parking

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£625 per week Wilton Way, E8 • Three bedrooms • Charming period property • Open plan living/dining space • Patio/garden

£495 per week De Beauvoir Square, N1 • Two double bedrooms • Period flat • Large living area • Separate fully fitted kitchen

020 7241 4111 FULL PAGE.indd 2

hackney@currell.com

www.currell.com 20/03/2013 12:00

CurrellResidential

£750,000 Freehold Arbery Road, E3 • Two double bedrooms • Garden • Open plan kitchen reception • 22ft loft room

020 3222 5555 victoriapark@currell.com FULL PAGE.indd 2

www.currell.com 20/03/2013 12:01

Now open in Battersea.

020 3668 1000 FULL PAGE.indd 2

battersea@currell.com 20/03/2013 12:02

PROPERTY

MALVERN ROAD, E8

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

A well presented semi-detached Victorian house situated on one of London Fields most sought after tree-lined residential streets. Beautifully presented throughout, the property would make an ideal family home. The house also benefits from the typical period features such as sash windows and wood flooring.

Freehold £850,000 Currell, Hackney, 020 7241 4111; currell.com

BRAY COURT, E2

£489,995 Leasehold Alex Neil, Bow, 020 8980 7431; alexneil.com



A stunning two bedroom duplex penthouse apartment offering generous and contemporary living throughout. Located within a gated development on the 6th and 7th floor, the apartment is presented beautifully throughout and features stunning views over Meath Gardens.

At entry level the apartment consists of an open plan kitchen with an open plan living/dining room leading to a private spacious balcony.

QUEENSBRIDGE TERRACE, E2

A stunning two bedroom flat in this period conversion situated just moments away from Columbia Road, Shoreditch and Brick Lane.

Refurbished to the highest standard with a modern finish and bright, spacious rooms this property offers you all the character and charm needed to make this the perfect home. £424,995 Spencers Property, Bethnal Green & City, 020 7729 5222; spencersproperty.co.uk 84

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Instruct us to sell or let your property and if we’ve not found a buyer or tenant within four weeks we’ll do it for FREE!

“

Bennett Walden

have recently celebrated the completion of property transaction

“

our 2000th

020 7275 7177 



www.bennettwalden.co.uk / E: hackney@bennettwalden.co.uk

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Richmond Road E8 £325 per week

Forest Road E8 £350 per week

Stunning one bedroom ground floor converted flat.

Exceptional finish throughout including solid wood floors.

Fantastic open-plan Kitchen and living space. Enviably located just moments from London Fields park and Lido.

Fantastic one bedroom split level converted flat. Large reception and double bedroom. High ceilings. South facing roof terrace. Situated in one of London Fields most sought after tree lined turnings just moments from London Fields Park.

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Furrow Lane E9 £250,000

Forest Road E8 £350,000

Well presented and spacious, ground floor one bedroom apartment set within this recently converted former warehouse. Open plan kitchen/living space with high ceilings. Fantastic communal roof terrace with city views.

Enviably located in one of London Fields most sought after tree lined turnings is this stunning one bedroom raised ground floor converted garden flat. Bright and spacious accommodation throughout including a fantastic extended reception room offering generous living space as well as dining area.

www.bennettwalden.co.uk / E: hackney@bennettwalden.co.uk B&W_April13.indd 2

20/03/2013 15:16

020 7275 7177

www.bennettwalden.co.uk

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East Eight Apartments E8 £430,000

Greenwood Road E8 £530,000

Set within this stunning converted Victorian school is this spacious double height loft style apartment offering approximately 950sq ft of living space. Fantastic open-plan living and kitchen area bathed in natural light from three large sash windows.

Two bedroom split level first and top floor converted maisonette within this four storey Victorian house.

Fantastic reception with two large sash windows and a stunning fireplace. Spacious Kitchen/Diner. Enjoys direct access to own section of the garden.

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Eleanor Road E8 £795,000

Albion Drive E8 £850,000

Three bedroom, Victorian mid-terraced house. Enviably located is this much sought after turning adjacent to London Fields park with fantastic park views. Retains original features including Sash windows and Fireplace. Approximately 35ft rear garden.

Rare to the market is this charming three bedroom two storey semi-detached Victorian house. Retains a wealth of period features including Fireplaces, sash windows and shutters. Fantastic kitchen/dining room offering access to a 45ft south facing rear garden.

121 RICHMOND ROAD, HACKNEY, E8 3NJ T: 020 7275 7177 / F: 020 7254 9515 B&W_April13.indd 3

20/03/2013 15:17

BlakeStanley

London Fields Eastside, E8,

ÂŁ2,000.000

Located on one of London Fields premier roads overlooking London Fields is this exquisite property comprising of more than 2500sqft of space. Divided over four floors the house offers, on the ground floor, a fully fitted Boffi kitchen (inc.

Gaggenau ovens), spacious dining area and purpose built 2000+ bottle wine cellar.

Dual aspect, double-reception on the entrance floor and two spacious bedrooms (inc. wardrodes and shelving units by Porro, designed by Piero Lissoni) and two top of the range bathrooms on the upper floors. Externally the property offers a walled cold climate tropical garden, roof gardens, two gated parking spaces & a separate entrance to the self-contained studio/office.

Freehold

info@blakestanley.co.uk BLAKE STANLEY.indd 2

11-13a Broadway Market, London Fields, London , E8 4PH 20/03/2013 15:51

www.blakestanley.co.uk

Middleton Road, E8

020 7254 7554

£420,000

Located on a popular residential street west of London Fields is this two bedroom top floor split level flat presented in good decorative order. The property offers a south facing reception, fitted kitchen/diner with mod cons and a three piece bathroom suite. Other features include high ceilings, acoustically double glazed sash windows and wood flooring. Within close proximity to the open green space of London Fields offering the Lido and the ever popular Broadway Market benefiting from its cafe’s, restaurants and bars. Easy access to across London via Haggerston overground station that is within walking distance from the property.

Share of Freehold

Claremont Court, E2

info@blakestanley.co.uk BLAKE STANLEY.indd 3

£335,000,

Located between the vibrant streets of Broadway Market and Columbia Road is this second floor, one double bedroom apartment. The flat is presented in good decorative order and offers a west facing open plan reception / kitchen with private decked balcony as well as a communal roof terrace. Situated on a quiet non-traffic through road; the property is within walking distance of the bus links of Hackney Road and Bethnal Green underground station (Central Line).

Leasehold

£360pw

A great opportunity to rent this bright and spacious one bedroom apartment perfectly located for the transport links on Hackney Road and the shops and Market on Columbia Road. This modern property consists of a large open plan lounge and kitchen with wooden flooring and glass doors leading onto a good sized balcony, there is a large bedroom with fully fitted wardrobes and a large shower room. Available 1st April.

Furnished

Kay Street, E2,

Richmond Road, E8

£325pw

A bright one bedroom apartment to rent minutes from London Fields in this lovely Victorian Conversion. The property comprises of a large open plan kitchen lounge with wood effect flooring, a brand new bathroom with slate tiles and a shower over bath and a good sized bedroom.

Nearest station is London Fields overland. Available 8th May.

UnFurnished

11-13a Broadway Market, London Fields, London , E8 4PH 20/03/2013 15:52

IDMestates.com

% 5 7 .

0 For a limited period only, IDM Estates are offering 0.75% sole agency fee* ISLINGTON HEAD OFFICE

STOKE NEWINGTON OFFICE OPENING 2013

Gainsborough Studios West, 1 Poole Street, London N1 5EA

76 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 7PA

We are located on New North Road,

by Regents Canal, next to Co-op / Gainsborough Studios)

Designed by brand-ing.co.uk

template.indd 2

*This offer is available for a limited period only and may be pulled at any time by the agency. Contact us now while this rate is still available. All fees are subject to VAT.

Sales, Lettings & Private Finance T 020 7739 1650 F 020 7739 0731

E mail@IDMestates.com 19/03/2013 17:34

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IN THEIR

BRAD SUTER, MANAGER OF CURRELL, HACKNEY

I

PHOTOGRAPHY: SEBASTIAN BARROS, SEBBARROS.COM

have been in estate agency for over 11 years and love working with people to accommodate their needs and situations.

I also have a personal mission to change people’s perception of Estate Agents!

With Currell Residential for five years, I previously worked for agencies in Surrey and Hampshire and came to London to look for a fresh challenge in a wider, more exciting market place. On my first day in the Clerkenwell office, Lehman Brothers collapsed along with the world economy which certainly gave me the challenge I was looking for! Manager at the Hackney office for over two years, and previously manager at the Victoria Park office, I have witnessed first-hand the regeneration of Hackney and its emergence as one of London’s most sought-after locations. Hackney is one London borough that usually divides people’s opinions, normally into those who love it and those who don’t understand it. The Olympics undoubtedly changed the perceptions of many, and also brought a huge amount of redevelopment and investment, but Hackney was flourishing of its own accord for quite some time prior to 2012. Broadway Market is a great example. Over ten years ago, the market was struggling to attract vendors to set up stalls, let alone bring in customers. Now, the revived Saturday market is thriving every weekend with locals and visitors alike, and you’ll struggle to get a table in the local pubs.

It’s fantastic to see Hackney becoming a place where people want to live, even aspire to, and not somewhere people just live.

Coming through the doors of our office on Kingsland Road I see a variety of different clients. From City workers attracted by the improved travel links into the City, to local artists who want to be near Hoxton and Shoreditch but have been pushed out by rising prices. What’s great about Hackney is that buyers are realising the range of properties available to them, from period freehold houses, to live work units and new builds. Like Hoxton and Shoreditch before it, property in Hackney is seeing huge growth in value. Last year alone we saw property prices on selected roads increase by 15 – 20% and I see no sign of that slowing down.

Hackney’s emergence will have a knock on effect for surrounding areas in the future as rising prices, particularly in popular areas like London Fields, are already pushing some buyers out. Many, including us, have predicted Clapton may well be the next place buyers looking for a good deal will go to, taking advantage of lower prices but still enjoying good transport links to the City and central London. The growth of this borough is long overdue and working within the industry at such a pivotal moment of change is hugely exciting.

020 7241 4111; currell.com

‘‘

‘‘

OWN WORDS

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LONDON NEVER STOPS CHANGING. NEITHER DO WE. So we’ve shaped up our image to make us increasingly a magnet for London’s tenants.

A smart new look, combined with the fact that we are available from 8am–10pm, everyday and are investing millions in marketing, helps us ensure we find the perfect tenants for our clients’ properties.

Call us on 020 3441 9000 for a free valuation and start finding your perfect tenant.

L E T T I N G S AG E N T S

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15/03/2013 16:21

Absoultly East:

Trim size 210 x 298mm - RHP

WE KNOW WHY PEOPLE LOVE LIVING IN LONDON’S VILLAGES

VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, PARKS & OPEN SPACES, GASTROPUBS AND RESTAURANTS, CHARACTERS ALL OF THEIR OWN. WE LOVE LONDON’S VILLAGES AND WE KNOW WHY BUYERS AND TENANTS DO TOO.

fjlord.co.uk SALES

MORRIS ROAD, E14

LETTINGS

£625,000 - £675, 000

FALCON WORKS, E3

£550PW

An absolutely amazing, three bedroom warehouse conversion apartment in the former Spratt’s dog biscuit factory. Stylishly designed, it is arranged over three levels, spanning some 2400 sq ft.

Exceptional three double bedroom, two bathroom warehouse conversion located minutes from Mile End station with fully integrated kitchen.

BOW 020 8981 3666

BOW 020 8983 3669

Ref: FJL0001 | EPC – D

KING EDWARD’S ROAD, E9

£530,000

HACKNEY, E5

Ref: FJL0002 | EPC – E

£500PW

Gorgeous two bedroom, split level period conversion, complete with spacious reception room leading on to a modern open plan kitchen. Finished to a high standard, it is located close to London Fields, Broadway Market and Hackney Central.

Truly enchanting three-storey Grade II listed Georgian house with glorious views overlooking Clapton Pond, complete with southerly facing secluded garden.

HACKNEY 020 8986 2698

HACKNEY 020 8986 1782

Ref: FJL00002 | EPC – D

BOW@FJLORD.CO.UK | HACKNEY@FJLORD.CO.UK

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Ref: FJL0004 | EPC – D

FJLORD.CO.UK

15/03/2013 16:21

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13/03/2013 12:04

SELL YOUR HOME FOR FREE WITH FOXTONS!

*

NEW HACKNEY OFFICE

OPENING 20TH APRIL 2013 302-304 MARE STREET, LONDON E8 1HA To celebrate the opening of our new Hackney office, Foxtons is delighted to offer 0% commission to the first 200 people who instruct this office to sell their home

CALL NOW 020 7386 6565 OFFER ENDS 20TH JULY 2013

*

This relates to estate agency fees and does not include solicitor’s fees or the cost of a legally required Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and is only available on a sole agency basis. The property must fall within the office boundary and must be placed under offer and lawyers instructed before 5pm on 20th July 2013. Full terms and conditions available upon request.

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13/03/2013 12:04

£425,000

Swaton Road, E3 3 Bedroom House  Three bedrooms

Freehold Period Features

Terraced House Rear Garden

£500,000

Thermopylae Gate, E14 3 Bedroom House Three bedrooms

Freehold Large Garden

Period Features

Close to DLR

Properties for Sale

Considering selling or letting your property?

AlexNeil_Apr.indd 2

20/03/2013 15:58

Bow & East London 020 8980 7431

£2250 pcm

Augustine Bell Tower, E3 2 Bedroom Flat Penthouse

£520 pw Two bedrooms

Two bathrooms

 Large balcony

£2500 pcm

Devon’s Road, E3 3 Bedroom Flat Three bedrooms

£577 pw Penthouse

Duplex

Large terrace Properties to Let

Call 020 8980 7431 to arrange a free, no-obligation valuation.

AlexNeil_Apr.indd 3

20/03/2013 15:59

PROPERTY

SHOWCASE 

VICTORIA PARK ROAD, E9

This breathtaking six bedroomed house with views over Victoria Park has been transformed from a Church Hall in to a lavish living space expanding over four spacious floors with a contemporary finish and bespoke décor throughout. The property combines state-of-the-art technology with a unique finish while not distracting from its practicality as a home.

OIEO £4,000,000 Foxtons, Shoreditch, 020 7033 1414; foxtons.co.uk 100

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21/03/2013 19:52

Absolutely E8

THE MOST FABULOUS COCKTAIL IS...

Not really big on cocktails, I’m far more at home with the endless choice of Belgian beers available in the Dove Broadway Market.

BEST KEPT SECRET...

Retro Zebra in Andre Street E8, is an absolute Aladdin’s cave packed with an amazing selection of Vintage and retro furniture.

STYLISH BOUTIQUE...

A LOST HOUR...

Again not really one for a boutique, unless Borough Wines in Wilton Way qualifies!



Don’t get many of them! But it would have to be London Fields Lido although I must admit I’m only a fair weather swimmer.

Albion Drive E8. This charming two storey semi detached Victorian house is exceptional. Packed with a wealth of period and character features and located in one London Fields most sought after turnings. £850,000.



MOST FABULOUS PROPERTY...

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT...

Lardo on Richmond Road. Just the most amazing Pizzas need I say more!?

JAMIE CLARK, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, BENNETT WALDEN, 020 7275 7177; BENNETTWALDEN.CO.UK

DAVEY STONE RE-BRAND Davey Stone, the forward thinking agent in East London has recently rebranded. Lewis McKale, partner at Davey Stone comments: ‘Every business needs to evaluate its self every now and then as it’s good to sit down and assess your brand as a whole. Myself and my partner Simon Stone decided that it was time for a spruce, so what initially looked like a simple change to our brand turned into a time consuming and convoluted process! After many long hours debating designs and discarding prototypes, we came up with a new approach that we are incredibly proud of. Hopefully our clients like the rebrand as much as we do!’ Davey Stone, established in 2004, offer a personal, friendly approach to selling or renting along with an in-depth knowledge of the East London property market. daveystone.com

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GIVING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES. Winkworth Bow - 020 8981 6776

DUNNETT HOUSE, E3 £242,500 LEASEHOLD

REEVES ROAD, E3 £240,000 LEASEHOLD

This two bedroom maisonette flat is offered in excellent order throughout, situated on the ground floor of this purpose built block.

A two bedroom apartment situated in a small private development boasting two double bedrooms and a spacious lounge.

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ST. STEPHENS ROAD, E3 £239,950

LORD PALMERSTON, E3 £270 PW

VAWDREY HOUSE, E1 £530 PW

ANGELICA HOUSE, E3 £300 PW

A stunning two bedroom split level apartment located In the heart of Bow. This versatile accommodation is bathed in natural sun light.

Forming part of this well maintained pub conversion is a one bedroom apartment situated on the second floor.

A two storey terrace house situated in a sought after location close to local transport. The property is offered in excellent and comprises four bedrooms with a large modern fitted kitchen.

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This property is offered in excellent condition throughout and comprises one large double bedroom with fully fitted bathroom and kitchen.

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bow@winkworth.co.uk 020 8981 6776 bow@winkworth.co.uk

020 8986 4216 hackney@winkworth.co.uk hackeny@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/bow

winkworth.co.uk/hackney

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Winkworth hackney - 020 8986 4216 ER

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CHAILEY STREET, E5 £659,995 FREEHOLD

A charming three bedroom mid terrace family home located on a peaceful residential street in the heart of Clapton.

F OF

CLARENCE ROAD, E5 £325,000 LEASEHOLD

A truly glorious split level two bedroom conversion forming part of a mid terrace Victorian residence. Ideally located near green open spaces.

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CLAPTON SQUARE, £350,000 LEASEHOLD

Located in a popular area overlooking an award winning garden square, a two double bedroom first floor neo-Georgian style apartment.

New to the market is this lovely three bedroom end of terrace Victorian house. Located on a peaceful residential street close to Victoria Park.

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MILLFIELDS ROAD, E5 £579,950 Freehold

Charming three bedroom semi detached Victorian family home with character and a plethora of period features and versatile accommodation.

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

WINKWORTH HACKNEY.Apr.indd 3

BUSHBURRY ROAD, E9 £430 PW

F OF

POOLE ROAD, E9 £700 PW

A classic mid terrace, three story three bedroom Victorian residence.

Located close to all transport and shopping facilities.

WINKWORTH. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY 21/03/2013 16:16

Your reward for all the late nights in the office.

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11/01/2013 18:08

Stirling Ackroyd All around East London E8

E8

£425 pw

£495 pw

HACKNEY LETTINGS Martello Street-Rare 1 bed penthouse in the heart of London Fields, with a wealth of individuality, mezzanine, and finished to a high standard.

HACKNEY LETTINGS Atlas Mews-Newly renovated, beautiful gated 2 bed mews house, situated on a secluded cobbled street with parking.

E2

EC2

£625pw

£525pw

SHOREDITCH LETTINGS Innovation Studios-Stunning 1300sqft split-level loft apartment, large open plan living space, full length sky lights and double height ceilings.

SHOREDITCH LETTINGS London Square-Stunning 1 bed in a brand new development, fully fitted kitchen, integrated soundsystem, underfloor heating and balcony

BANKSIDE 020 7940 3888

SHOREDITCH 020 7749 3838

CLERKENWELL 020 7549 0606

HACKNEY 020 7749 3807

BLOOMSBURY 020 7256 3244

IBIZA 0034 971 326 788

ISTANBUL +90 (0)212 322 7171

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20/03/2013 17:07

E8

E9

£850,000

£485,000

HACKNEY SALES Albion Drive-Delightful 2 storey, 3 bed Victorian semi-detached house, boasting a wealth of period charm, high ceilings and south facing garden.

HACKNEY SALES Fenn Street-Charming 2 bed Victorian terrace house with double-though reception area, stunning kitchen & bathroom and west facing patio garden.

E1

E2

£1,600,000

£1,100,000

SHOREDITCH SALES Commercial Street- Stunning 3 bed penthouse over 2 floors, spanning just over 2000 sqft, including private south-west facing terrace and great living space.

SHOREDITCH SALES New Inn Yard -Stunning 2 bed, live/work warehouse conversion, open plan kitchen and reception, original factory windows and wood floors.

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RE M H AI U NI R NG RY A P ! LA A R ST TM EN T

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Photography from development

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21 WAPPING LANE E1

Quatro - Now Viewing The last remaining 3 bedroom Shared Ownership apartments in trendy and desirable Wapping. Quatro will provide an exceptional central London address within easy reach of the Thames and the many amenities on offer.

Prices start from ÂŁ122,500* Scan me to find out more about Quatro

To book an appointment call 020 8357 4444 or email sales@nhhg.org.uk and quote QAE02 *Based on a 25% share of a 3 bedroom property with a full market value of ÂŁ490,000.

21 WAPPING LANE E1

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