EAST AUGUST 2014 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

ABSOLUTELY

AUGUST 2014 £3.95

MEXICAN WAVE

NOTES ON THE CHILLI BY THOMASINA MIERS

SCHOOL’S OUT

KEEP KIDS AMUSED THIS AUGUST

THE COMPANY OF DOGS

GERRARD GETHINGS’ PET PORTRAITS

RIVIERA REDUX

RESORT STYLES FOR SUMMER

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contents AU G U ST

2 0 14

EDITOR’S LETTER

WHAT’S ON

LOCA L 12

THEATRE REVIEW Clementine Lyon on The Crucible at The Old Vic

NATURE'S TREASURE Jewellery designer Alex Munroe on his accidental memoir

FA S H I O N 26

UNDER THE SUN Elegant swimwear for a sophisticated summer

THE SUN KING Cool British heritage style from Sunspel

FOOD 48

SOME LIKE IT HOT Thomasina Miers talks Mexican and motherhood

FOOD REVIEW Annabel Widgoer on Holborn Dining Room

FA M I LY 60

SCHOOL'S OUT Holiday hotspots for restless rugrats

PERFECT PITCH Keep tots amused with a tipi in the garden

INTERIORS 72

SLEEK AND CHIC Monochrome magic from interior designers Bodie & Fou

SAND CASTLES It’s August, which means its time to do up the beach house

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ABSOLUTELY DESIGN PROPOSALS

EDITOR Helen Baron EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Catherine Hales EDITORIAL INTERN Louise Godwin ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER Tolga Saylan BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Kristian Brumby GROUP PROPERTY DIRECTOR Alexandra Hunter PROPERTY DIRECTOR Andy Elmer PROPERTY MANAGER Emily Saunderson NORTH PROPERTY EDITOR Lucie Pearce ART DIRECTOR Ray Searle SENIOR DESIGNER Phil Couzens PRODUCTION MANAGER Stewart Hyde MIDWEIGHT DESIGNER Gemma Isteed DESIGNER Ekrem Yilmaz JUNIOR DESIGNER Rebecca Noonan DESIGN INTERN Shannon Nash PRODUCTION CONTROLLER Christine Mann COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Simon Caplan FINANCE DIRECTOR Alexandra Hvid M ARKETING MANAGER Leah Day DIRECTOR Greg Hughes MANAGING DIRECTOR Sherif Shaltout PA TO THE DIRECTORS Marianne McFadden

INTERIORS

PLANNING CONSENTS

COST ESTIMATES

BUILDER SELECTION

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

AFTER CARE

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

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Foll ow Us O n T wit t er @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS Fa c eb o ok ‘ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES’

14/07/2014 17:03

AU G U ST

2 0 14

EDITOR’S letter

he August issue welcomes the chance summer offers to cherish the vital things in life: getting back to nature and spending time with family. Whether you’re off on another holiday or staying closer to home with little ones, the clement (we hope) weather is best enjoyed by getting out and about in the great outdoors. In our lead feature, Alex Jones meets Alex Monroe, the celebrated jeweller who draws inspiration from nature to create all manner of charming charms. For the jetsetters, we’ve also plenty in the way of holiday style, with clothes to get you from poolside to party in true continental fashion. If you’re staying home, we’ve the perfect way to introduce a little enchantment to your kids’ summer: their very own tipi. It’s just the thing to get them into the garden and fire their imaginations. And if they do grow tired of it – unlikely though that may be – take a look at our round-up of what to do in the local area this August. Whatever your little ones’ area of interest, we’ve got entertainment options galore (all of which grown-ups can also enjoy). With our minds so firmly on family, we couldn’t forget old Fido. Always the most popular family member, dogs deserve every last bit of attention we can give them – so this month seemed the perfect time to fulfil a long-held aim and feature local heroes Dogs Trust. We went for lunch with talented photographer Gerrard Gethings, who recently teamed up with the dog rescue charity for an exhibition featuring amazing shots of celebs and their pooches. Read the full piece and see some of Gethings’ shots later in the issue. Here’s to a glittering summer and your best holiday yet.

Helen Baron Editor TWEET ME @absolutelyedhel Email: helen.baron@zest-media.com Follow us on Twitter @Absolutely_Mags Facebook ‘Absolutely Magazines’

On the cover

Toast; toast.co.uk

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10 THINGS WE

ABSOLUTELY

HAPPY HAMPER

L O V E

Nothing says ostentation and decadence better than a Fortnum & Mason hamper. The Burlington Hamper is our favourite, with lashings of Burlington Breakfast marmalade and specially picked tea. £250

fortnumandmason.co.uk

E A R CA N DY

Our handbags are designer, our clothes boast luxury labels and our soles are scarlet, so why not complete the look with a pair of luxe Ted Baker headphones? £375;

debretts.com

GOING SWIMMINGLY

Whether you’re planning to jet off to a distant Caribbean island or going for a dip in the local lido, killer swimwear is essential. Australian brand Seafolly’s vibrant and varied styles mean there’s something for everyone.

seafolly.com

PEARLESCENT Inspired by old Hollywood glamour and handmade in the UK, Gilda & Pearl’s lingerie and loungewear are the height of luxury. This silk kimono in leopard and gold adds a touch of the femme fatale. £840; gildapearl.co.uk

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IRREGULAR INTERIORS The Rodnik Band has teamed up with made.com with this range of fabulous Pop Artinspired interiors. Doesn’t every sitting room need a shark-fin armchair? £449; made.com

TECHNOPHILE Qeelin specialises in contemporary fine jewellery, combining Chinese inspiration and French craftsmanship. We love their adorable Petite Robot Pendant in 18ct white gold and diamond. £1,040; selfridges.com

EDITOR’S

PICK

BABY GOT B A C K PA C K

This medium size leather backpack handmade in the UK is part of the ‘Hari’ collection at Grafea England. With a multitude of pockets and secure fastening, this is a super practical yet stylish bag for the every day. £180, grafea.co.uk

W O R L D S AWAY Undeniably opulent, these mini desk globes are handmade by Bellerby & Co. in their North London studio. Whether a collector, or just a purveyor of fine things, these are timeless pieces of traditional craftsmanship. £999;

bellerbyandco.com

CHEEK TO CHEEK

The new Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm arrives at Clinique counters on 1 August and brings with it a beautifully natural looking and easy-to-apply alternative to powder blushes. We don’t just like. We love. £19;

clinique.com

E Y E - C AT C H I N G Mix and match these eight eyeshadows in neutral and pastel shades from Bobbi Brown to achieve a range of different looks. This limited edition palette is inspired by the beach and comes in a themed linen mirror compact. £48;

bobbibrown.co.uk

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www.calligarisinteriors.com

Africa rug / Islands side tables / Division bookcase / Square sofa

SALE NOW ON

Shop ONLINE, INSTORE and over the PHONE Parisienne chair / Convoy table / Sextans light / Mag sideboard

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TEDDINGTON

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Tower table / Bloom chair/ Mag sideboard/ Medusa coat stand

STANMORE

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26/06/2014 10:11

Absolutely

August 2 0 14

Culture A RTS &

> WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON p. 09 THEATRE REVIEW: THE CRUCIBLE p. 12 ALEX MONROE ON A GILDED LIFE p. 14

CHARLOTTE OC After her triumphant turn on The Shackelwell Arms stage, Charlotte OC and guests will be playing the Sebright Arms on 5 August. 31-35 Coate Street, E2; eatyourownears.com

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AgENDA

/ AU G U ST

don’t miss

Malevich Until_26 October Tate Modern Kazimir Malevich (1878 - 1935), Girl With a Red Pole 1932 - 33

azimir Malevich, an artist as influential as he was radical, cast a long shadow over the history of modern art. This, his first retrospective in 30 years and the first ever in the UK, unites works from collections in Russia, the US and Europe to demonstrate the profound influence his early life growing up in Tsarist Russia had on him. A fascinating story of revolutionary ideals and the power of art itself. Bankside, SE1; tate.com

PAW PAGEANT 25 AUGUST Old Spitalfields Market he capital’s best-loved doggie fashion show returns to Old T Spitalfields Market on Bank Holiday Monday, as dozens of debonair hounds (including yours, if you’re up for it) vie for glory in five cute categories. Running from 1-3pm, the event will raise funds for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, with celebrity judges including Rankin and Tuuli Shipster and and doggy outfits provided by

queen of canine couture, Lilly of LoveMyDog, with human models wearing Albam, Hackett and Jigsaw Menswear. There will also be free microchipping for dogs on the day, while Las Iguanas Spitalfields have promised to rustle up some pooch-friendly ice cream. A dog-lover’s dream day out – visit the website for more info on how to get involved. 16 Horner Square, E1; oldspitalfieldsmarket.com

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ABSOLUTELY ART& CULTURE

Great Britain

Until_23 August National Theatre Richard Bean’s new play is an anarchic and foul-mouthed satire about the press, the police and the political establishment. Billie Piper plays Paige Britain, ambitious young news editor of The Free Press, a tabloid locked in a neverending battle for more readers. Starring Rupert Vansittart and Robert Glennister and directed by Nicholas Hytner, this production packs a serious punch. Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1;

nationaltheatre.org.uk

Gotta Dance, Gotta Dance!

Throughout August British Film Institute Song and dance have been bringing joy to the screen for decades and the BFI’s two month long Gotta Dance, Gotta Dance! season seeks to celebrate the twirls, taps and twists. Among the films due to be screened are the iconic West Side Story, German documentary Pina and flamenco fiesta Blood Wedding. Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1;

bfi.org.uk

David Lean’s Brief Encounter THE BOOK

East London Swimmers (Hoxton Mini Press)

by Madeleine Waller

Twixt Two Worlds Until_31 August Whitechapel Gallery

This show maps the pivotal moment in cinema history when still photography evolved into moving images. Inspired by the Barnes brothers’ collection of early projection apparatus at the Royal Pavilion and Museums, Brighton and Hove, this shift is explored through objects, printed materials and films. On show are magic lanterns and slides from the late 19th century and films and photographs by past pioneers and modern artists. 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1; whitechapelgallery.org

his beautiful new book features a series of striking photographic portraits of visitors to London Fields Lido, alongside some revealing words from those who use and enjoy the pool (in all weathers). Those brave enough to risk the sometimes hypothermiainducing conditions at the lido range from the warehouse-dwelling members of East London’s creative communes to die-hard residents who have sustained a love affair with the area’s quirks and foibles. A good reflection of today’s East London – and a neat reminder that there’s a story behind every stranger. £12.95; hoxtonminipress.com

15_29 August Southbank Centre Screened as part of the ‘Love at the Pictures’ season at the Southbank Centre, Noel Coward’s heartbreaking romance Brief Encounter will be returning to the big screen accompanied by live music from the London Philharmonic Orchestra. A complete performance of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 (a piece of music which recurs throughout the film) will precede the screening of the epic romance. Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1;

soutbankcentre.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY ART& CULTURE

nspired by the Salem witch trials of 1692, Arthur Miller’s play attempts to unpick the intricate knot of forces and fears that saw 20 of the Massachusetts town’s Puritan residents condemned and executed for the crime of witchcraft. The victims were ordinary folk – farmers, beggars, maidservants, mothers – who refused to confess to consorting with the devil, preferring to hang for their honesty than live with a lie. Written in 1953 while Miller struggled with the chilling implications of America’s anti-communist McCarthy hearings, the text explores the causes and consequences of the witch hunt at both social and personal levels, affording us a sinister insight into how the most mundane and familiar human behaviours can help to author large-scale injustices of the most bizarre, brutal kind. It’s ‘The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters’ writ large across gloomy New England skies – but unlike in Goya’s famous etching, this nightmare is horribly real. Yael Farber’s new production succeeds brilliantly in translating Miller’s ideas and anger to the modern stage. The text is a lengthy, weighty thing – staging clocks in at over three hours, but Farber retains a ruthless momentum, matching the fiery, immaculate power of the language with a raw, emotional physicality. The cast is excellent, with a stellar performance from Samantha Colley as Abigail Williams, the spurned servant girl who inadvertently initiates fears of witchery in Salem before turning the town’s hysteria to her own devilish advantage. Other mentions must go to William Gaunt as Giles Corey, whose salt-of-the-earth patter offers valuable light relief, and Michael Thomas and Marama Corlett as Reverend and Betty Pariss respectively. Richard Armitage (of The Hobbit fame) does a doughty job as John Proctor, a farmer who finds his family unwillingly swept up in Salem’s mood of spiritual suspicion; my only caveat is that his gruff performance, while full of strength and frustration, shows a little less nuance of emotion than some of Miller’s finely wrought lines deserve. This is theatre in the round, though, and the fault is perhaps endemic; most of the cast end up bellowing a bit to ensure they’re heard. The shouting can’t undo the fact that this is a tremendously energised and passionate rendering of a play that remains frighteningly relevant today. Farber, her cast and crew have crafted a frenzied, exhilarating and rightly exhausting tour de force that conjures all the panic and mistrust of a society in turmoil.

T h e at r e R e v i e w

THE CRUCIBLE Arthur Miller’s electrifying tale of state-sanctioned vengeance comes to the Old Vic Wo r d s C l e M e n t i n e Ly o n

 The Cut, SE1; oldvictheatre.com

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BATH SORTS

BATHROOM DESIGN SPECIALISTS

38 Offord Road, Islington N1 1DL 020 7700 1333 www.bathsorts.co.uk

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Natural

T R E AS U R E Alexandra Jones meets jeweller Alex Monroe to talk nature, memoir and the art of making P h o t o g r a p h y D AV I D S T O C K I N G S

he day that I meet Alex Monroe is one of those that makes you really rather glad to be in London. One of those hazy sunny days where rays follow you from behind buildings and your shadow wobbles long over cobbled streets. We bump into each other outside Alex Monroe HQ, a pretty, oddly shaped, rabbit den of a building that houses the shop (think: glinting trove of loveliness, stacked with display cases of gold and silver jewellery), a workshop, various small offices, a meeting room and a roof terrace in the City. He is locking up his bike and I am running late thanks to a delayed overground train. During the course of our chat he explains that it is the only way he travels, brushing off my jitteriness: ‘you just have to be careful, you know? Don’t do stupid things like ride with earphones, people who do that shouldn’t be allowed on the road.’ And assures me that when you cycle regularly you realise ‘how seldom it rains. Actually I prefer cycling in the rain,’ he adds conspiratorially. ‘All the other buggers stay at home.’ Much taller than I’d imagined (in my head I had pictured a delicate jeweller stooped at a workbench, squinting through a monocle: a miniature man, working in miniature), Monroe is gregarious, loquacious and expansive in his compliments of his staff. And despite being a creative, an artist, he talks about most things as about cycling, with a blithe

practicality. He explains, for example, that he became a jeweller because when he tried to be ‘arty’ and to get work into galleries, he realised it would never make him any money. ‘I made some earrings and I sold them to a shop. They gave me sixty quid; I remember it was a cheque. I cashed it, went to the pub and had a few pints and some curry sauce and chips. I drank and ate that night and I thought, well this isn’t rocket science, I can make stuff and sell it.’ It is fitting then that his memoir, a wonderfully readable 240 pages entitled Two Turtle Doves: A Memoir of Making Things was never really meant to be anything so fanciful as a memoir. Rather, it was meant to be an exploration of the thought processes of a maker, taking the reader through the rich webs of inspiration, from those first intangible sparks, through layers of design and re-work, to the final shiny product. ‘I’ve read books that have transported me to the world of a sailor or a sportsman or a housewife or a gardener or a chef,’ explains Monroe. ‘I love Nigel Slater’s Toast, that really let me into the mind of a foodie, of someone who lives through food. But I’ve never read a book that transported me into the world of a maker. The bits of memoir were just supposed to… support that.’ On both counts the book is a huge success. And no, I’m not being unnecessarily complimentary when I say this. On the one hand the reader is invited

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ABSOLUTELY PROFILE

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AQUA MA R IN E R IN G £1,200

BU M B L E B E E £150

...IF I SEE A PHOTO OF Northern Canada, WHERE THERE ISN’T a human being

within a thousand miles, I just LONG TO be there. behind the curtain, to see how his work comes into being. We find out, for example, how the bee necklace – now wildly popular, Monroe’s calling card, even – was carved from a solid silver rod, how he added textures, how he soldered on the legs and delicate wings. On the other hand, the reader is given a glimpse into the whys of each object’s creation, through anecdotes from his own past as well as family history. The fact that his past – growing-up in an ‘un-parented’, ramshackle household, semi-wild in Suffolk – is particularly bookworthy certainly helps. All is described with great lucidity and the two modes (making and memoir) run together seamlessly to create a finished product that has that rare quality which makes you desperate to keep reading on, despite telling yourself that ‘no, you must go to bed at the end of this chapter.’ When I ask how it feels to have the book so well received (I read him a quote from The Spectator’s review: ‘a highly-wrought achievement... it’s difficult to think of a text that better describes the way in which lived experience is translated by high craftsmanship into art’) Monroe bristles happily. ‘It’s really, just, well, it’s brilliant. The thing is, it’s so much bloody work, writing a book!’ Monroe’s regular writing hours were between 9pm and 2 or 3am each night, after which he would wake-up at 7am each morning to go to work. ‘I wrote ten times more than ever made it into the book,’ he admits. ‘It was exhausting.’ But he would write another one? ‘Oh yes, I have some ideas, maybe a fiction but still centred around the workshop, it’s all I know really.’ As well as another book, Monroe mentions that he’s thinking of getting a business qualification, a degree of some kind, to brush up on the nuts and bolts

BU N C H OF K EYS £180

G IN G E R B R E A D M A N £180

P E AC OC K E A R R IN G S £174

T E E N Y T IN Y B E E £465

of managing a business, the bits that, he explains, don’t come so naturally to someone who, if you cut him in half, would be a maker through and through. Here again Monroe’s practical side is much in evidence. So too when he attributes his success as a jeweller to the fact that, when he was starting out, instead of making the highly conceptual, minimalist pieces that were in vogue in the late 80s and early 90s, he decided instead to make pretty, wearable, whimsical jewellery that he knew would be more widely popular. This made him a name in foreign markets, Japan in particular, but for a while not so much at home. And from reading his memoir you get the sense that, had his up-bringing not been quite so poor, had this not made it necessary for Monroe to be quite so practical, his knack for keeping an eye on the commercials of the business might have been subsumed by the artist in him. And he is an artist. A fact that is never more obvious than when he talks about his relationship with nature. ‘I think it’s in the blood. I cycled Land’s End to John O’Groats with a couple of mates a couple of years ago and they were driven to distraction: I would just stop every two minutes because I thought I’d heard a particular cricket or I’d be half in a hedgerow, picking leaves. I always, always press flowers, which isn’t a particularly macho thing to do! They kept going "oh mate, what’re you doing?!" because there we were, three blokes on bikes and I’d be like "Oooh! There’s a primrose, let’s stop for it!" ‘Some people love Glastonbury,’ he continues. ‘They get excited by the idea of ten million people, all sitting in a field. If I even see a photo of Glastonbury I start to break out in cold sweats. But if I see a photo of Northern Canada, where there isn’t a human being within a thousand miles, I just long to be there. There’s almost a need to be a part of that kind of boundless nature.’ Here, I think to myself, I have found the part of Monroe that is not even a bit practical. Here, I think, I have found the topic that best brings to the surface his artistic soul: the wilds of nature speak to his most creative self. ‘But then, the trouble is, you can’t have that and have a nice decaf latte, so when the weather’s like this,’ he gestures round ‘you can’t beat London, really.’

 Two Turtle Doves: A Memoir of Making Things £16.99, Bloomsbury

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INTERIOR DESIGN

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SPACE PLANNING DECORATION AND FURNISHING

interiors@sarahrossdesign.com

DESIGN & BUILD LIGHTING

www.sarahrossdesign.com

10/02/2014 17:23

Tim Moss Bespoke kitchens www.timmoss.co.uk

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Fashion Absolutely

August 2 0 14

> FESTIVAL FASHION p. 20 RIVIERA REVIVAL p. 23 UNDER THE SUN p. 26

SUPPORT ACT Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to see some support for active ladies FIELD OF DREAMS with bigger busts from boob experts Rigby and Peller. Their swimwear Inspired by days outlatest in London alongcollection the river includesthe bathing suits and bikinis offering Thames, Fieldlife summer collection will impressive capabilities. see your little onesbolstering through whatever mischief they getrigbyandpeller.co.uk up to during the holidays. fieldlife.co.uk

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OUR AUTUMN & WINTER 2014 COLLECTION IS NOW AVAILABLE IN STORE & ONLINE OSKA 20 Montpelier Vale London Blackheath T 0208 852 9774 blackheath.oska.com OSKA 71 Heath street London Hampstead T 0207 433 1482 hampstead.oska.com

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ABSOLUTELY FASHION HOUSE OF HOLLAND LEATHER BIKER JACKET, £1,000; houseofholland.co.uk

FESTIVAL FEVER THE INSPIRATION… BUCOLIC BOHO: TRAFFIC PEOPLE

MARC BY MARC JACOBS FLORAL PRINT BACKPACK, £175; net-a-porter.com

BURBERRY GLOSSED RUBBER RAIN BOOTS, £250; net-a-porter.com

DR MARTEN’S GOLD CLARISSA SANDAL, £95, Old Spitalfields Market, E1; drmartens.com

EDITOR’S PICK

JONES + JONES FLORAL HEADBAND, £15, Old Spitalfields Market, E1; jonesandjonesfashion.com

LA SARDINA CAMERA, £99, 117 Commercial Street, E2; lomographyuk.com

BROIDERY GEO SUN DRESS, £65; 73 Brushfield Street, E1; oliverbonas.com

PATRA CLOG SANDALS, £99; 107a Commercial Street, E1; medwinds.com

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ABSOLUTELY FASHION J CREW SLUB LINEN JERSEY TOP, £35; jcrew.com/uk

ON VACATION

EDITOR’S PICK

IT’S TIME TO GO ISLAND HOPPING IN THIS SUMMER’S FINEST RESORTWEAR…

CALZEDONIA SS14

FITO BLACK & WHITE STRIPED DRESS, £79; les100c.com

TORY BURCH ENCINTAS BRODERIE ANGLAISE COTTON TUNIC, £255; net-a-porter.com

KNITTED PAPER PACKABLE TRILBY, £15, N1 Centre, 10 Parkfield Street, N1; uk.accessorize.com

JIGSAW VICTORIA PLIMSOLLS £35; 66 Cross Street, N1; jigsaw-online.com H&M BLACK SANDALS, £25, N1 Islington 26 Parkfield Street, N1; hm.com

TARA MELLON LEATHER PLAYSUIT, £1,050; net-a-porter.com

ANCIENT GREEK ASTRAPI LEATHER SANDALS, £140; net-a-porter.com

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ABSOLUTELY FASHION

FOR HIM From poolside to party in continental style

ALBAM SUMMER ATHLETIC CREW SWEATERS (IN MUSTARD, MARL & BLUE), £94, 111a Commercial Street, E1; albamclothing.com

ALBAM SOFT BLAZER, £249, 111a Commercial Street, E1; albamclothing.com

CAMPER CASCO BOAT SHOES, £75, 107a Commercial Street, E1; camper.com EDITOR’S PICK

The Inspiration… RIVIERA REDUX REDUX: JIGSAW

JIGSAW COTTON TWILL FLAT FRONT SHORTS, £49, 11 Lamb Street, E1; jigsaw-online.com

FRED PERRY STRIPED SWIM SHORTS, £50, 105A Commercial Street, E1; fredperry.com

ALBAM PREMIUM KNIT SWEATER, £175, 111a Commercial Street, E1; albamclothing.com

HACKETT DÉLAVÉ LINEN SHIRT, £100, 75-77 Brushfield Street, E1; hackett.com

CAMPER TENNIS SHOES, £55, 107a Commercial Street, E1; camper.com

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under the

SUN Combine classic tailoring with elegant swimwear for sophisticated summer style P h o t o g r a p h y : JA MES LUCAS Styling: HANNAH BECK

Entire look by Hasan Hejazi

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White suit by Hasan Hejazi Cuff by Karla Ross

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Body by I.D Sarrieri Earrings by Karla Ross Ring by Imogen Belfield

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Trousers by Tara Jarmon Bikini by Moeva Ring by Imogen Belfield

STOCKISTS AMISHI; amishi.eu HASAN HEJAZI; hasanhejazi.com I.D SARRIERI; sarrieri.com IMOGEN BELFIELD; imogenbelfield. com KARLA ROSS; etsy.com MOEVA; moeva.com PINGHE; bypinge.com TARA JARMON; harveynichols.com

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Photography: James Lucas Styling: Hannah Beck Hair and Make up: Alice Oliver using Bobbi Brown and Aveda Models: Elise Lebrun @ESTABLISHED and Leila Sharma-English @ESTABLISHED Production: Beauty & Pro (beautyandpro.com) Shot on location at The Park Club (theparkculb.com)

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ABSOLUTELY FASHION

THE SUN KING

Absolutely speaks to Sunspel co-owner Nick Brooke about craftsmanship in clothing – and what makes Shoreditch the perfect place for his latest store ABSOLUTELY Tell us a bit about the brand and its heritage? NICK BROOKE Sunspel was founded by Thomas Hill in Nottingham more than 150 years ago, as a supplier of the finest quality underwear to the British Empire. Today we still excel in the best quality basics, but the range has been extended to include polo shirts, knitwear, chinos, swimwear and womenswear. Our core values remain the same – to create simple, everyday clothing in beautiful fabrics. ABSOLUTELY Is it difficult to maintain superior craftsmanship in today’s competitive fashion market? NICK BROOKE I think that more and more people are becoming aware of the provenance of their clothing. We still make much of our clothing in our Long Eaton factory, combining traditional techniques, innovation and modern designs. For over 150 years we have sourced the finest raw materials from around the world and have innovated with fabric structure to create luxury fabrics that are unique to Sunspel. We are continually refining and perfecting our fabrics as well as focusing on the smallest details of design and fit. It’s this attention to detail and finessing that makes us stand apart from other brands.

WE STILL MAKE much of

our clothing in OUR LONG Eaton factory

ABSOLUTELY Tell us about the collaboration with J.W. Anderson; in what ways does the designer reflect the brand’s values? NICK BROOKE Jonathan had consulted for Sunspel from 2008 and in 2011 he was appointed Creative Director. While his own label is very different to Sunspel, he shares our obsession with fabric innovation and helped us move the label forward to appeal to a wider audience, perhaps most notably by introducing womenswear in 2011. The collaboration sees classic Sunspel pieces reworked by Jonathan – for example a kilt shape amalgamated with a vest to create a new skirt style, or classic cotton fabric strips used in a patchwork style to create a shift dress.

ABSOLUTELY The first Sunspel women’s store recently opened in Redchurch Street (home also to the original men’s store); what made you decide on that particular area? NICK BROOKE When we opened our first men’s store, in 2010, we chose Redchurch Street because of its diverse mix of shops, galleries and restaurants. The area was given a real boost by the Young British Artists in the nineties and has since become one of London’s most unique shopping destinations. Since opening the first store we have launched three additional London stores (in Soho, Chiltern Street and Jermyn Street), so when opening our first women’s store it felt natural to return to our roots in Shoreditch, in the space next door to the original shop. With Aesop, Hostem, Labour and Wait, Aimé and A.P.C. for neighbours we are in very good company. ABSOLUTELY

customer?

Who is the Sunspel

NICK BROOKE Our customers span a vast range of ages, from the fashion-conscious guy or girl in their twenties to the lifelong customer in his eighties. Like our male customer, the Sunspel woman has an appreciation for beautifully made wardrobe staples. We have a lot of celebrity fans too, and everyone from Alexa Chung to Lara Stone has shopped in the stores.

 5 & 7 Redchurch Street, E2; sunspel.com

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14/07/2014 10:33

www.sweetpeajewellery.com

Fine Jewellery â&#x20AC;˘ Primrose Hill The Sweet Pea boutique on Gloucester Avenue stocks both luxury and fashion designer brands including Polly Wales, Jo Hayes Ward, Brooke Gregson and the Sweet Pea range. A bespoke service is available. 10% off on your first purchase - Code SUMMER10 - in store or online. SWEET PEA BOUTIQUE 77 Gloucester Avenue Primrose Hill London NW1 8LD phone 0207 449 9292

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11/07/2014 09:48

ABSOLUTELY FASHION

FASHION NOTES STOP TRAFFIC

Traffic People in Old Spitalfields Market does a rather wondrous line in vintage styles and festival-friendly attire. From Thirtiesinspired outfits to bold Seventies statement pieces, search here for playful prints and accessories of a boho bent. We love. 61-63 Brushfield Street, E1; trafficpeople.co.uk

EAR FOR IT

Always wanted to channel Frida Kahlo and her riotous use of colour? Now you can with this month’s musthave statement gemstone earrings from boutique jeweller Sweetpea. Folksy and exotic but nevertheless elegant, they’d even look good paired with nothing else but a bikini. £375, 77 Gloucester Avenue, NW1; sweetpeajewellery.com

EDITOR’S PICK

TUM IN THE SUN

Dare to bare this month and embrace fashion’s latest fetish: the exposed midriff. Jil Sander SS14, available from Matches Fashion, 87 Marylebone High Street, W1; matchesfashion.com

PLAY FOOTSIE

August sees the release of the latest collaborative project by Italian footwear trendsetters Superga. This time around, the brand has teamed up with model Suki Waterhouse (the face of the company’s SS14 campaign) for a capsule collection of flatform shoes which ‘encompass her personality, femininity and playfulness’. Sugary ice cream shades meet bolder blues and reds, while soles are imprinted with hearts. 105b Commercial Road, E1; superga.co.uk

style tip THIS SUMMER, ESPADRILLES HAVE GONE POSH. We’re no longer limited to trailing European markets to find a pair that will no doubt disintegrate by next year. High fashion now offers them in cowskin, prints and sequins, but with so much colour about it’s difficult to find a pair to work with every outfit. Go monochrome with these heavenly Stella McCartney platform slingbacks, and you can’t go wrong. stellamccartney.com/uk

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14/07/2014 10:41

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Beauty Absolutely

HEA LTH &

August 2 0 14

> SUMMER'S ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS p. 38 MAKEUP INSIDER: SUN-KISSED SKIN p. 41

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE Plan to get firmly back into swimming this month? Make a splash with a streamlined, sporty (but glam) new costume from Eres â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it's bound to get you motivated and doing more laps than ever. eresparis.com/en

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Glow Get It

B E AU T Y / n o t e s

If you’d rather glow than bronze this summer, Chanel’s Les Beiges collection is what to look for. The All-in-One Healthy Glow Fluid (£34) comes in a range of tones to paint your skin with a naturallooking glow, whilst the Healthy Glow Sheer Powder SPF 15 (£39) provides a fresh, radiant finish with every brush. chanel.com

Total Eclipse Perfectly capturing the scent of summer, Ghost’s new fragrance Eclipse is full of tropical citrus charm. Juicy top notes of lemon, mandarin, black currant, peach and apple are balanced with a base notes of amber and musk, keeping it seductive, not girly. Great for carefree summer days. £46.50 for 75ml, available from The Perfume Shop, 107 Cheapside EC2; theperfumeshop.com

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ABSOLUTELY B E AUT Y

Pin-Up Pins If age and activity are making your veins too visible, Destination Skin has the answer. Sclerotherapy is an advanced treatment that uses tiny injections of a special substance called ‘fibrovein’ to collapse unsightly spider veins, which are then reabsorbed by the body. The process is safe, effective and causes minimal discomfort – and it costs from just £250. 5-7 Folgate Street, E1; destinationskin.com

TRIED & TESTED

GLASSHOUSE SALON Bronze Is Best

Hello the Bronze Goddess Summer 2014 Collection by Estee Lauder. Nudes Eyeshadow Palette highlights sunkissed eyelids and Cheek Glow moisturises cheeks that are dry from the sea. The Luminous Liquid Bronzer patches up tanning blemishes, and Eau Fraîche Skinscent spritzes your bod with top notes of amber and coconut milk. Go on, get goddess-ed. esteelauder.co.uk

Lacy Days

3 of th e be st T R AV E L E S S E N T I A L S

1 2

1. Cowshed Antibacterial Hand Gel, £7; cowshedonline.com 2. H&M Quick Dry Nail Spray, £2.99, N1 Islington 26 Parkfield Street, N1; hm.com 3. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, £8.50; feelunique.com

lasshouse is one of a new breed of salons that are bringing Soho-style quality to the City fringes (no pun intended). Sited in a prime position at the front of London Fields’ hipster hangoutcum-creative hub Netil House, the salon’s minimal decor evokes the cool, clean lines of a school lab, with lush potted palms suggesting glasshouses of a more traditional sort. Other references to nature and the elements appear in the scrumptioussmelling line of shampoos and conditioners by Organic Colour Systems, as well as a reconstructive treatment (much-needed) that uses quinoa and wheat-grass proteins and is applied rather decadently with a small natural sponge for maximum absorbtion. Fifteen minutes later, all flyaway hairs and fuzz have been banished. My stylist Olivia administers a lengthy and excellent head massage (not the flash-in-the-pan, gingerly-applied rub you're sometimes met with at the wash basin). At her suggestion some gentle layers are snipped in to alleviate heaviness. And then my barnet is blow dried perfectly. I actually leave with a smile on my face instead of, as often happens at hair salons, a look of disappointed bewilderment. Two very emphatic thumbs up. HB

Travel essentials aside, what you really need to get the best out of a festival is a nifty bit of face lace. We didn’t think they were necessary… until we tried them. And now we love them. Just don’t overdo the Instagram selfies. £9.95; face-lace.com

 Netil House, 1 Westgate Street, E8; glasshousesalon.co.uk

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14/07/2014 10:24

ABSOLUTELY HE ALTH & B E AUT Y EMILIO PUCCI SS14

MAKE-UP

INSIDER Arabella Preston on tans and illusions

here are two very good reasons to cheat your way to a tan. One is obvious: the need to protect your skin from harmful rays; the other is that the products available to help you do it might just do a better job than the real thing. There's only one fake tan for the face that I turn to time and time again –James Read's Gradual Tan. It has enough oomph that you'll see a difference with one application, but not so much that it looks heavy-handed. Foundations with an SPF should be seen as a safety-net only. Use a proper SPF of at least 30 under your base. The NUXE SPF 50 is light and smells delicious too. Keep your base as transparent as you can. It simply isn't possible to achieve a healthy glow if you can't see your skin. The NARS Tinted Moisturiser is without a doubt the best on the market. I use St Moritz, a shade darker than my own skin, when I want to feel sunkissed. Liquid illuminators and bronzers are also clever, modern ways to cheat the sun. Apply straight onto cheekbones or blend small amounts into your tinted moisturiser for a great summer evening trick. To add shape and definition to your face, a matte bronzer is essential. Make-up artist Florrie White, whose magic fingers are in constant demand from glowing beauties such as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Blake Lively, recommends the Cover FX Bronzer in Sunkissed. Using a large bronzing brush, sweep the bronzer onto the apples of the cheeks, then upwards to the temples, into the hairline and across the nose and chin. To lift your complexion, pop a pale pink or peach blush on the apples of your cheeks and finish the look with a shimmering body lotion to officially get your glow on!

7 8

1 Cover FX Bronzer in Sunkissed, £25; harveynichols.com 2 James Read Gradual Tan for Face, £23.50; harveynichols.com 3 NARS Tinted Moisturiser in St Moritz, £28; johnlewis.com 4 Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting, £42; spacenk.uk.com 5 NARS Body Glow, £44; johnlewis.com 6 Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Liquid Bronzer, £28; esteelauder.co.uk 7 Nuxe Sun SPF50, £16; nuxe.com 8 This Works Skin Deep Golden Elixir, £45; spacenk.uk.com

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Where Taste Meets its Climax

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Drink Absolutely

FOOD &

August 2 0 14

> THOMASINA MIERS p. 48 FOOD REVIEW:HOLBORN DINING ROOM p. 53

FINGER-LICKIN' GOOD Why did the chicken cross the road? Perhaps it saw Pablo coming – his Cajun Chicken is just one of many healthy alternatives to classic dishes you’ll find in Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley’s The Art of Eating Well. Rustle up in minutes and no need to fry!

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14/07/2014 15:43

fo o d

news

{ My LOCAL LARDER {

QUINTIN & GEORGIA FOXCROFT pending more time in East S London has been a foodie blessing, as we have discovered an uncountable host of vibrant cafes, restaurants and pubs. You can breakfast in late 20th century Bombay in Dishoom with their bacon and tomato chilli jam Naan, lunch on spectacularly elegant modern British menus at Lyle’s in the old teahouse in Shoreditch, or dine at Brawn in Bethnal Green, where we love the focus on honest and simple ingredients and nose-to-tail dining. Much care is taken over provenance and their cheese comes from the wonderful Androuet (Spitalfields) which is a pillar of fine cheese purveying in London. You can’t beat a Saturday morning stroll around Exmouth market in Clerkenwell, the grown-up brother of the younger, edgier districts of Shoreditch and Dalston. Its streets are lined with enticing food stalls offering everything from burritos to Ghanaian stews and salt beef sandwiches. We always make a beeline for Caravan, a restaurant/café that roasts its own coffee beans daily in small batches always a good sign. At F&G we take our coffee extremely seriously, and use only the finest beans locally sourced from Caravan, the Roasting Party and Has Bean, while the water is purified using reverse osmosis to create a smooth, clean taste. A short walk away is another favourite of ours, St John’s Food & Wine in Spitalfields, which has been around for years and is permanently heaving with locals – another good sign.

 69-89 Mile End Road, E1; foxcroftandginger.com

B OX F R E S H oho House’s Chicken Shop and Pizza East Kentish town are championing al fresco this August with the relaunch of their picnics. Say no to soggy sandwiches and hello to hot rotisserie chicken with a choice of three sides, plus smoky sauces in an easy-to-carry jute bag. Alternatively, next-door neighbour Pizza East will be serving up any two pizzas from their new summer menu together with butter lettuce salad and garlic bread, also packed in a handy jute. £26 Chicken Shop picnic/£30 Pizza East picnic.

 79 Highgate Road, NW5; chickenshop.com/pizza-east.com

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14/07/2014 11:09

ABSOLUTELY FOOD

MUST TRY

recipe of the month FOR THE ROLLS

 100g crabmeat, mixed or just white  ½ avocado, diced  2 spring onions, sliced  1 tbsp ginger poppy seed  Mayonnaise or full-fat probiotic yoghurt  2 tsp lime juice  ½ red chilli, finely chopped or a sprinkle of chilli flakes, to taste  1 large cucumber  black or white sesame seeds, to garnish  sea salt

BIG DIPPERS

Enjoy Godiva’s fresh take on delicious Belgian chocolate with their chocolate dipped strawberries which can be found in all London Godiva stores for the duration of the summer. Available in a paper cone or as part of a gift box, the juicy fruit will be hand-dipped before your eyes in the finest milk, dark or white Godiva chocolate. If you like your chocolate cool and creamy, Godiva’s new Soft Ice Cream may suit you better. Customers are able to customise their cones with a choice of flavours and toppings. Yum. King's Cross St. Pancras, Euston Road, N1; godivachocolates.co.uk

TO S E RV E - TA M A R I

Wasabi paste

(or 1 tbsp tamari mixed into the paste with ½ tbsp water) a few slices of pickled ginger

CUCUMBER MAKI SPICY CRAB ROLLS S E RV E S 1 0 - 1 2 P I E C E S

MERCI MARIE

Wednesdays will see the Merci Marie pop-up rebranded as ‘Around The Table’, a summer residency sporting long tables for al fresco feasting. Relocated to the sunnier climes of Dalston Roof Park for the occasion, diners can expect flavour fusions such as salt cod gyoza and truffle oil, smoked duck breast with fresh figs, honey & French beans, and chocolate and chilli torte – all with exceptional views, of course. The Print House, 1822 Ashwin Street, E8; merci-marie.com

ice-free sushi? We love sashimi (that’s just the R raw fish), but you need to be able to access high-quality and super-fresh fish – something that most of us can’t really do. These Cucumber Maki Crab Rolls are a great faux option. They are perfect for entertaining and there’s no rolling technique needed either – it’s actually a pretty easy dish despite its creativity! This is a good way of using up leftover poached or smoked salmon. It’s also a nice way of eating the expensive treat of some crab as a little goes a long way once you’ve mixed it with the other ingredients. Avocado is a must and so is mayonnaise. An old-school melon baller will give you an easier job and a neater finish.

1. Drain any liquid from the crab and put it in a bowl with the avocado, spring onion, mayonnaise, lime juice and a pinch of salt. Mix very carefully to avoid crushing the ingredients and then stir in the chilli, to taste. 2. Wash the cucumber and remove one end. Cut the cucumber into even, 2.5cm thick slices. 3. Use a small knife to carefully cut out the flesh from the centre of the cucumber, leaving just a few millimetres of flesh all the way around. The neatest way is to use a melon baller to scoop the seeds out, leaving the bottom of the cucumber intact. 4. Distribute the crabmeat mixture between each cucumber roll. Finish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and serve with the tamari, wasabi or pickled ginger.

 Taken from The Art of Eating Well by Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley (Ebury Press, £25) Photography by Nick Hopper.

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14/07/2014 11:09

Chillies actually speed UP YOUR

METABOLISM... AND I EAT a lot of

chillies!

Some like it

H O T… MasterChef winner and Mexican food fanatic Thomasina Miers may have just opened DF/Mexico in Brick Lane, but when it comes to her latest book, she’s decided to spread her wings. Here, she tells Georgie Lane-Godfrey why

t’s a story which has been done to death. Inspired by a gap year living in Mexico and a cookery course in Ireland, Thomasina Miers auditions to be a part of the BBC’s newly rebooted MasterChef. Dazzling judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode with her ‘bold and sometimes eccentric cooking style’, she wins and goes on to become ‘Mrs Mexico’, setting up the Wahaca chain of successful Mexican street food restaurants. And yet, despite its countless repetition, despite all the interviews and inane questions about how she became so passionate about Mexican cuisine, Thomasina Miers

(or Tommi to her friends), still manages to remain inexhaustibly enthusiastic about the country and cuisine with which her name has become synonymous. But surely, surely, even she must struggle to remain so excited about Mexico all the time? ‘Well, during my second pregnancy I really went off Mexican altogether,’ admits the mother-oftwo. ‘We were developing dishes for our South Bank menu which has lots of specials and I had really bad morning sickness. I found the process just exhausting. And funnily enough, the book I’ve just written has little Mexican food in it.’ The new book is Chilli Notes, a collection of chilli-inspired recipes from around the globe. It proved liberating, letting Miers delve into other cuisines. ‘I submitted a recipe recently to an editor and she replied saying, "Hmm, that’s a bit Yotam [Ottolenghi]. Can you do something else?" I remember thinking, "Oh my god, he’s just cornered the whole of the Middle East!" I suppose you can’t be greedy though, and he is Israeli after all!’ Chilli Notes may have given Miers that much needed creative release from her restrictive Mexican shackles, but it took its toll in other ways. ‘I basically wrote it on my maternity leave, which was a real killer. My husband told me, "If you ever do that to me again, I will divorce you,’’ she says casually. ‘But

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14/07/2014 11:12

ABSOLUTELY FOOD

you kind of need that creative space to write a book and it was a real labour of love. I did actually enjoy the whole process, even though my husband obviously didn’t!’ she laughs. Now, however, she’s back at work with a renewed passion for all things Mexican. ‘I always find post maternity a really exciting phase as you come back with loads of fresh ideas. It’s an amazing time to reassess.’ One of these new ideas is DF/ Mexcio, a brand new concept that puts a spin on Miers' much-loved Wahaca formula. The diner will serve Mexican food with a fun USstyle twist, including tortas served like burgers in broiche buns. It's an inspired next step and, while it's slated to remain open for just 18 months, the new venture already has the culinary cognoscenti talking. Gangly and gap-toothed, Miers is easy company and immensely likeable. She also happens to be the most successful in fact of all the MasterChef alumni. With two daughters, two books, three TV series and all these restaurants,her tick list appears to be almost complete. Would she consider going into Gourmet Mexican food? 'When I first came back from Mexico I wanted to do a Mexican version of The River Café, but it’s so ingredient led; it’s all about the terroir. For example, there are 200 varieties of chillies in Mexico and the dough for the tortillas is made

Roasted Red Pepper & Goat’s Cheese Tart his is one of those incredibly simple recipes that I always turn to in the summer when I want to make something out of nothing. I like to wrap it in foil hot from the oven to take on a picnic: it seems to taste better warm than hot and with that flaky, buttery pastry, it’s also delicious cold, served with a green salad and some boiled potatoes.

Feeds 4 from fresh corn. It’s that fresh produce which just doesn’t exist here. You’d have to fly over those fresh ingredients which goes against the grain of it, for me anyway, so I’ve never really squared that circle.’ She does, however, get her gourmet fi xes elsewhere, eating out in London to check up on what her contemporaries are cooking, which is surprising when you look at her; Miers is a beanpole. So much for never trusting a skinny cook, then. ‘You can’t discriminate against someone for having a fast metabolism,’ she says crossly. ‘When you’re surrounded by food all the time, the novelty wears off. Besides, chillies actually speed up your metabolism and I eat a lot of chillies, so sometimes I think that must be one of the reasons!’ Looks like I’d best get watering my chilli plant. And get buying a certain chilli cookbook too...

• 230g ready-made all-butter puff pastry • 150g roasted red peppers (jarred to make it easy), cut into strips

• ½ red onion, finely sliced • 12 cherry tomatoes, halved • 25g pine nuts • 80g goat’s cheese, crumbled • ½ tsp Turkish chilli flakes or a pinch of sweet smoked paprika

For the Tapenade

• 1 garlic clove • Zest and juice of ½ lemon • 1 tbsp of capers, washed in cold water • 110g black olives • A good handful of basil leaves, roughly chopped

• 1 large fresh red chilli, roughly chopped • 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/430°F/gas 7.

Chilli Notes by Thomasina Miers is published by Hodder & Stoughton (£25)

2 To make the tapenade, whizz all the ingredients apart from the olive oil in a food processor until roughly combined, then add the olive oil. 3 Roll the pastry, place on a lined or buttered baking sheet and chill for 20 minutes. Lightly smear the base of the tart with the tapenade, making sure you leave a border of pastry, 1cm wide, all the way around. 4 Scatter the base with the strips of pepper, onion, tomatoes, pine nuts and cheese. Brush the edges of the pastry with a beaten egg and bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until the pastry has risen and is golden and crisp and the tomatoes and onion are cooked. Sprinkle with the chilli flakes and serve.

TIP Break a couple of eggs on top before baking if you want to make the tart a little more substantial. © Thomasina Miers 2014. Recipe taken from Chilli Notes by Thomasina Miers published by Hodder & Stoughton (£25) Photos: ©Tara Fisher.

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14/07/2014 14:45

The Highbury Barn

T- 020 7226 2383 www.thehighburybarnpub.co.uk

Offering diners a new destination point for eating out, yet still maintaining the unique, iconic feel that makes the pub so well-loved. With a theatre-style kitchen, a la carte menu and a whole new interior decor including our new coffee shop, the Highbury Barn makes good food worth going out for. Fine ales, great beers and quality wines - you can still expect nothing less from Highbury’s favourite pub and restaurant.

26 Highbury Park, Islington, London N5 2AB Find us

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12/02/2014 16:04

A BUZZING RESTAURANT IN THE HEART OF CROUCH END SERVING RUSTIC FRENCH/ ITALIAN FOOD WITH A CONTEMPORARY TWIST.

Join us for Exciting Brunch; delicious lunch or memorable dinner

COMPLIMENTARY

COCKTAIL FOR YOU AND YOUR GUESTS

Quote “Absolutely“

WHEN BOOKING

YOUR TABLE (Offer ends 01.08.2014)

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45 TOPSFIELD PARADE TOTTENHAM LANE, CROUCH END N8 8PT • 020 8341 1681

www.melangerestaurant.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

O ffe r ‘SMITHS’, are running a 2 course set menu for £17.50 until 31st August. Availability and exclusions apply. Email reservations@thisissmiths.com or go to thisissmiths.com to make a booking and quote ABSOLUTELY. Reservations & Bookings: 020 7251 7950

PRIME CUT ‘SMITHS’, Spitalfields returns – and it’s a meaty masterpiece

SMITHS’ is an iconic all-day dining concept with two great venues in the heart of the city. Firmly established in Smithfield and recently opened in Spitalfields, both venues occupy amazing industrial buildings. The menu at ‘SMITHS’ is focused on Great British meat and seasonal ingredients; only the best dry-aged rare breed UK beef is used and great pride is taken in pairing the fine flavours of British meat with the best fresh produce.

Put simply, ‘SMITHS’ loves the best of British. Their beef is always expertly butchered in-house, as it should be, and every bit is put to use, from the rump and loin to the prized côte du boeuf and the off-cuts from the ribs. Even their stock is a meaty reduction made from the carcass and bones. That said, it’s not all about beef: other favourites in the 1st Floor Dining Room include expertly cooked slow roast pork belly with mash and green sauce and pan-fried hake with braised gem lettuce, parsley and caper sauce. ‘SMITHS’, Spitalfields is very much inspired by its elder sibling, ‘SMITHS’ of Smithfield. Only recently reopened after a fire, the Spitalfields incarnation is sited on the outskirts of the iconic Old Spitalfields Market. The four-floor venue features a Basement Bar, Ground-floor Café and Bar, 1st Floor Dining Room and Private Loft. The 1st Floor Dining Room honours the classics and the celebrated rare breed beef as well as serving brunch on the weekend. The ground floor is home to the ‘SMITHS’ Café during the day, where you can enjoy classic bacon butties and all-day ‘Best of British’

Fo r P r i v a t e H i r e P R I VAT E LO F T

Breakfast ● Lunch ● Dinner ● Canapés Parties ● Fizz ● Cocktails ● Fine Wines BA S E M E N T BA R

Canapés Parties ● Fizz ● Cocktails Fine Wines ● Private Screening

breakfasts. In the evening, a transformation takes place, with ‘SMITHS’ late night Bar (complete with DJ centrepiece) coming to life. The ‘SMITHS’ Basement Bar is like no other venue around, and is set to host quality DJs and unique British talent including the Pianoman, who promises to sing any song you want every Thursday night. And don’t worry if you don’t have time to stop: outside in the market, takeaway versions of the classics are available alongside ‘SMITHS’ own fresh juices and smoothies. In short, ‘SMITHS’, Spitalfields is back, serving from morning to night and offering a wealth of great ideas for private hire – including beef and cocktail masterclasses, custom events and amazing spaces in the form of the Private Loft and Basement Bar.

 ‘SMITHS’, Spitalfields 109 Commercial Street, London. E1 6BG  ‘SMITHS’ of Smithfield 67-77 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HJ, thisissmiths.com

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ten

a high flying spectacle of acrobatics, wit and wonder

TAZ

IO restaurant

tentazioni.co.uk

‘I CAN RESIST ANYTHING EXCEPT TEMPTATION’ - Oscar Wilde

We have been serving fine italian cuisine since1997

Kids go ! e half-pric Terms and

TENTAZIONI FINEFOOD DELI 19 The Circle Queen Elizabeth Street London SE1 2JE 020 7407 7529

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TENTAZIONI RESTAURANT 2 Mill Street London SE1 2DB 020 7237 1100 020 7394 5248

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Make the most of the N1 Centre’s summer lawn this season; a back garden for the whole community. Rest those tired feet while you’re out shopping, relax on a deckchair and enjoy an al fresco lunch on the grass. With wagamama, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and the soon-to-beopened Pret all offering takeaway food, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Here until the end of August.

conditions

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THE

C EN T R E I S . . .

FUN I N T H E SU N TH I S AU G U S T Head over to Islington’s much loved shopping destination this month for plenty of fun-filled activities and a show-stopping performance that you won’t forget.

Bring the whole family down to see the star of our summer events programme, Titan the Robot, as he takes centre stage in the central piazza. Fresh from performing with world class celebrities such as Rihanna and will.i.am, the amazing Titan will be entertaining the crowds with his unique performance on the 21st of August at 11.30am and 2pm. Not one to be missed!

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FOOD REVIEW We A l s o L o v e  F o r r e v e l l e rs

Bistroteque

A mix of industrial and bistro style with an experimental performance space. 23-27 Wadeson Street, E2; bistroteque.com  F o r M o d e r n i sts

Hoi Polloi

An all-day, wood-panelled dining solution offered up by the cool cats at Ace Hotel. 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1; hoi-polloi.co.uk  F o r n osta lg i sts

The Gilbert Scott

Awe-inspiring, grand, elegant, full of Victorian drama and with a retro British menu.

HOLBORN DINING ROOM & DELICATESSEN Annabel Widgoer reclines in comfortable retro tradition ed to our table by a friendly waiter in suit L trousers, brogues and red braces, past plush leather banquettes, heavy oak furnishings and strings of cured meat hanging from antique rails, with a soundtrack of the Rolling Stones and David Bowie playing softly in the background, Holborn Dining Room feels just the right side of busy for a Monday evening. It feels cosy despite the high ceilings and size of the room; there’s a buzz but we’re able to marvel at the maître d’s yellow and green check suit without raising our voices.

The atmosphere of comfortable retro tradition is in keeping with the menu, inspired by an era before fancy foams and molecular deconstructions of familiar dishes became the norm. Helmed by Lee Bull, formerly of Le Caprice and Scott’s, and David Burke of Le Pont de la Tour, the classics come just as expected, but bigger and richer; hearty portions of muchloved British cuisine for diners who aren’t overly worried about their cholesterol levels. The menu is divided into tempting deli-style categories with plenty of choice. To start, we opt for pan-fried chicken

livers and rich black pudding topped with an oozy, perfectly cooked duck egg from the Hot Counter. We also sample the charcuterie selection, which includes wild boar and air-dried beef, and is served with a fruity relish. From the Hot Kitchen, a lighter option of sea bass takes centre-stage, dressed with fresh broad beans and tiny morsels of chorizo, before we tuck into a rib-eye steak so big and juicy that it comes with a warning from the waiter. Accompanying it are sides of well-salted chips and broccoli with sliced almonds, while for dessert, the whisky and treacle pudding with custard is

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Road, NW1; thegilbertscott.co.uk

stodgy and moist in the best possible way – and the British cheeseboard large enough to feed three. Holborn Dining Room is the kind of place where one can easily while away an evening, sinking into the banquettes with a bottle of wine (which is exactly what we do). The menu may not reinvent the wheel, but this is a satisfyingly luxurious experience in beautiful surroundings – and one which won’t leave you hungry.  252 High Holborn, WC1; holborndiningroom.com

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Absolutely

Family KIDS &

August 2 0 14

> SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER p. 58 FAMILY FRIENDLY BREAKS p. 62 PITCH A PERFECT BELL TENT p. 66

FUN IN THE SUN Luxury kids clothing label Sunuva is the first of its kind to be accredited by the British Skin Federation. With fabric offering added SPF 50, it lets you rest easy whilst your kids have fun in the sun. Perfect. sunuva.com

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A DOG’S LIFE Absolutely meets Gerrard Gethings, the photographer whose amazing portraits of dogs (and their owners) have won hearts across London – and beyond

errard Gethings’ Instagram profile eschews an obvious bio in favour of something more cryptic: ‘Three flights up on the Charing Cross Road and never a job at the top of them.’ As sentences go, it doesn’t seem to give much away. It doesn’t tell you where Gethings was born (Wigan), lives (Stoke Newington), his age (38) or what he does for a living (although the quality of the photos in his feed is a clue). What it lacks in concrete info, however, the phrase makes up for in flavour; if you can appreciate the sardonic humour and glint of self-deprecating wit in Gethings’ Instagram tagline, you’ll probably enjoy the company of the man himself. Absolutely meets Gethings in an East London cafe. It’s dog-friendly, which is just as well: where Gethings goes, his dog Baxter tends to follow. Baxter is a border terrier, a smallish, placid chap with frisks of blond hair that trail off of his ears and a quietly quizzical expression on his face. He’s also a muse of sorts; it was Baxter who inspired Gethings to switch from painting to photography, and who in doing so made himself and his master favourites with

dog-lovers and photography aficionados. Gethings’ incredible portraits of dogs remind us of the sheer weirdness of these most familiar of animals. Man’s best friend is shown in many guises, from the flummoxed and the frantic to the just plain furry – and crucially, he is never patronised. Gethings’ mutts are not shown simpering to humans or offering themselves up as standard-issue cute companions – they’re complex, characterful individuals, full of humour and pathos and unpredictability. Such is the photographer’s feeling for his subjects that even a close-cropped shot of the back of Baxter’s ear seems to hum with life and personality. So when online community and pet store Pet’s Pyjamas wanted someone to take shots of celebrities and their dogs, it’s no wonder Gethings was their first port of call. The photographer suggested involving the national rescue and rehoming charity Dog’s Trust, and the perfect collaboration was born, culminating in a hit exhibition and beautiful book (The Company of Dogs) plus a charity auction to raise funds for Dog’s Trust. Gethings was suddenly something of a celebrity especially on Instagram, where his baby son Jarvis has

joined Baxter as a new Insta-icon. So how did a painter from Wigan become one of the country’s fastest-rising photographers? ‘I fell into photography,’ Gethings says. ‘I came to London from Wigan to become a painter, but you don’t make much money being a painter so I ended up assisting [fashion photographer] Terry O’Neill because we shared a studio. It wasn’t an official thing really. I could never see myself doing what Terry did until I got Baxter, six years ago. I saw a [celebrated animal photographer] Tim Flach book, was inspired and thought I could take photos that didn’t make dogs look like idiots looking up at you.’ So Baxter really was a game-changer? ‘In a nutshell. Baxter was when it became serious, although I now take pictures of other things. I got work straight away from taking pictures of dogs and that’s what stopped me painting, really. Painting can be lonely as well. Baxter sits very well for me; he’s the perfect model.’ At this point Absolutely can’t help but notice that Baxter really is very wellbehaved, sitting calmly beside us while we talk, only occasionally troubling his master for a treat and submitting happily

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ABSOLUTELY PROFILE

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BEANS & RABBIT PHOTOGRAPHED BY RANKIN

WWW.LOVEMYDOG.CO.UK

LoveMyDog requests the pleasure of your company for the catwalk launch of the new A/W designer dogwear collections.

Bank Holiday Monday 25th August â&#x20AC;˘ 1:00pm at Old Spitalfields Market, London, E1 Lovemydog & Old Spitalfields Market Celebrity Paw Pageant event in aid of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

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I saw a TIM FLACH

BOOK, WAS INSPIRED AND THOUGHT I COULD TAKE photos that didn’t MAKE DOGS LOOK LIKE idiots

looking up at you.

to the attentions of various passing strangers. There must be people who are much harder to photograph than this polite pooch – which begs the question, are Gethings’ artistic intentions for human portraits the same as for canine ones? ‘I guess they’re the opposite. Photographing a dog, you want to include everything, all the detail is highlighted – you don’t usually do that with model photography. People say I’m showing a dog’s personality, but actually I think I often impose one on the dog – you can make the

stupidest dog in the world look ponderous.’ He points to Baxter. ‘That’s what he’s like and I know him – he’s not that smart.’ But does he prefer working with dogs? ‘I’d have said yes a couple of years ago. I like meeting owners too – which you do, you know, because dogs never turn up on their own. I instinctively love dogs... but then again, you don’t always learn from each new experience with a dog. There are pros and cons.’ The Pet’s Pyjamas project allowed Gethings to photograph both – humans and hounds, celebs and their pets. How did the collaboration come about? ‘Pet’s Pyjamas sponsored it,’ Gethings says. ‘They wanted to do portraits of celebrities’ dogs. I thought it would be a good idea to get a charity on board so people wouldn’t say no. I didn’t think we would be taking pictures of people at first, but the publicity was largely around the people.’ Talking of celebrities, Gethings’ own star is very much on the rise if his popularity on the internet and Instagram are any measure. How important is social networking to the

contemporary photographer? ‘Although it’s really important to me for what I do, it’s also fun,’ he says. ‘My son will have the best diary of his early life and be able to read through all the comments… which may be a nightmare waiting to happen.’ So the future may involve Gethings having a lot of explaining to do – and what else? What’s in store for him professionally? ‘I don’t really know; it’s such a big job to get a photography project going. Eighty per cent of my work is personal portraits of dogs and their owners.’ But once the momentum is there, things often get easier – or at least more possible – and Gethings has previously mooted plans for projects

on hawks and horses. Our feeling is that he’ll be moving in all kinds of directions before too long. Anyway: three flights up on the Charing Cross Road and always a job at the top of them – that’s definitely progress.

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DIGITAL REVOLUTION EXHIBITION

It’s a

FaMily Affair

School’s out for the summer – and so is boredom. Make the most of the local area during the holiday with our guide to the best family activities and events BEST FOR babies

BEST FOR daredevils

BEST FOR budding dancers

LITTLE DIPPERS

LONDON DUNGEON

G ROOVE ON DOWN THE ROAD

Like playing an instrument and speaking a second language, swimming well is one of those accomplishments everyone wishes they could call their own. Get your little treasure splashing around as early as possible. Not only will he or she reap the health and safety benefits later but will make a heap of new friends too; plus, what’s cuter than a baby in swimming trunks? Exactly.

The only thing scarier than a trip to the infamous London Dungeon is the booming voice and mad antics of the inimitable Brian Blessed; fortunately, you can now combine the two. Blessed – or a 3D projection of him, at least – plays Henry VIII as part of the London Dungeon’s revamped Tyrant Boat Ride. If you have older kids who like to have fun while they learn (and enjoy a dollop of fear mixed in) this is a great way to keep them entertained.

There’s fancy footwork galore in this exhilarating rework of the classic Wizard of Oz story, which sees the fantastic ZooNation Dance Company (a troupe of dancers aged 10-19) perform gravity-defying choreography to hit songs by the likes of Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and José González at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Running 5-26 August, it’s sure to inspire your own little groovers and fun is absolutely guaranteed.

Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1; thedungeons.com

Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1; southbankcentre.co.uk

Classes are held at Crowne Plaza, Royal Victoria Dock E16 and The Bridge School, 251 Hungerford Road, N7; waterbabies.co.uk

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BEST FOR broadening horizons

SEA LIFE LONDON AQUARIUM

TOY STO RIES

This summer, the SEA LIFE London Aquarium is celebrating ‘Warriors of the Sea’. Every day from August 2-31, children can pick up a free trail card and take a special journey to spot a selection of amazing creatures with some surprising natural defenses and attack mechanisms, including the armoured Japanese spider crab and the sharp-fanged Moray eel. Perfect for wannabe Jacques Cousteaus.

The summer holidays are a perfect time to open kids up to the wonders of the wider world, and there’s no more enjoyable way of doing so than with a visit to the Toy Stories exhibition at the V&A Museum of Childhood. Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti’s striking portraits show children around the world alongside their favourite toys – and encourage us to consider the experiences of other people in other places. Eye-opening.

County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1; visitsealife.com

Cambridge Heath Road, E2; museumofchildhood.org.uk

BEST FOR thrill-seekers

IMPE RIAL WAR MUSEUM

ALEXANDRA PALACE FUNFAI R For old-school family fun (and photo opps) very little beats a trip to the fair. Bright lights, prize stalls, wild rides and (of course) candy floss abound at Alexandra Palace this month, as the funfair returns throughout August. Scream if you wanna go faster….

Alexandra Palace Way, N22; alexandrapalace.com

BEST FOR little soldiers

The Imperial War Museum has recently undergone a bit of an overhaul, with new exhibition spaces and galleries added in advance of its summer relaunch – so it’s ripe for exploring. Kids with a taste for skulduggery and adventure will love the Horrible Histories: Spies exhibition, which details some of the weirdest (true) spy stories from the Second World

ORLY FROM BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS

BEST FOR nature fans

War in all their gory detail. Exploding camel poo? Sounds like fun to us.

Lambeth Road, SE1; iwm.org.uk BEST FOR the beach brigade

CAMDEN BEACH Avoid long drives and traffic jams and get your beach fix right here in London this summer, with the return of Camden Beach at the Roundhouse. Sited on the famous venue’s terrace, last year the beach (which includes powdery white sand and topnotch refreshments) received over 40,000 visitors. Entry is free – though our tip is to book one of the natty beach huts.

Chalk Farm Road, NW1; roundhouse.org.uk BEST FOR technological teens

DIGITAL REVOLUTION Billed as a ‘immersive exhibition of art, design, film, music and video games’, this Barbican summer special will appeal to the trend-conscious and technologically minded. Expect an interactive 3D laser light-field, robotic pet snakes and the latest in ‘wearable tech’ courtesy of Lady Gaga’s own design house. Snazzy.

Silk Street, EC2; barbican.org.uk

OUT OF TOWN

MONKEY WORLD eading out of town doesn’t have to mean overpriced theme parks and joyless corporate consumption. Monkey World in Dorset was established in 1987 as a refuge for abused and neglected pet chimpanzees, and has since expanded into a full-scale primate rescue and rehabilitation centre, home to the largest colony of chimps outside Africa. The park allows visitors to see and learn about primates without the ethical doubts that can accompany other zoo and safari park visits – and every penny you spend goes towards helping save more animals in future. Longthorns, Wareham, Dorset, BH20; monkeyworld.org

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FASHION Mercantile on Lamb Street will welcome in Winter 14 collections and continue their summer sale this month. Bargains galore can be snapped up from brands including Baum und Pferdgarten, Current Elliot and Won Hundred. See by Chloe is new to the store for Winter and adds to the 60 plus brands in this eclectic, exciting boutique in the heart of Spitalfields. 17, Lamb St, E1; mercantilelondon.com

HERE COMES THE SUN Absolutelyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top recommends for a sizzling summer

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FESTIVAL

PUB GRUB

Don’t miss the Hampstead & Highgate Literary Festival from Sunday 14th to Tuesday 16th September. A celebration of literature for all ages and a major highlight in London’s literary calendar; 70 events, 90 writers, creative workshops, speed pitching, book bites and a Kidsfest. Waterstones bookshop and café open are on site throughout the festival. Ivy House, NW11, 020 8511 7900; hamhighlitfest.com

After it’s hotly anticipated revamp, the Highbury Barn was the focal point for the F.A. Cup this year, with tickets for the champagne breakfast flying out as quick as the popular Sunday roasts every weekend (book early in the week, it gets packed). The new summer menu has something for everyone from the mozzarella-stuffed arancini with butternut squash purée to the 31 day aged sirloin of beef. 26 Highbury Park, N5; thehighburybarnpub.co.uk

HEALTH Fresh from taking France by storm, E-Vap is helping smokers across North London ditch the cigs and switch to healthier lifestyles. The company’s rechargeable electronic cigarettes are safe, reliable and cost-effective; they’re also accompanied by a range of tasty e-liquids that make quitting smoking as painless as possible. Save some cash this summer (and possibly your life) by popping into one of the stores today. 55 Ballards Lane, N3 and 49 Camden High Street, NW1; evap.co.uk

BEAUT Y

FITNES S

Gelicure is a stunning new soak-off gel nail polish from Ella’s Beauty Box. Great for those with natural nails, you can leave with a professional long-lasting manicure without the worry of smudges. The results come with a high gloss finish and a strong pigmented colour. Perfect for holiday and any special occasions. 07930 381773; ellasbeautybox.co.uk

Yippee! It’s the season for sunglasses, Pimms, flip-flops and strappy tops. So are you ready for summer?! With some personal training, you could soon be feeling better than ever. And who doesn’t want to feel better? My sessions are tailor-made for you, they’re fun and they really work. Give me a call and be the very best you can be. 07960 407049; thefeelbetterpersonaltrainer.com

AL FRESCO All-day dining venue, ‘SMITHS’ of Smithfield is located in the heart of Smithfield Market. The impressive grade II listed four floor venue features a rare roof-top experience; a Top Floor Restaurant & Roof Terrace with a panoramic view of the city, this airy and spacious restaurant is a fine choice for summer dining. 67-77 Charterhouse Street, 020 7251 7950; smithsofsmithfield.co.uk

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A Canvas Home from Home Feeling brave enough to venture beyond the back garden? Family Traveller Magazine’s William Gray reveals his 10 favourite family campsites in the UK CAMPFIRES, BUSHCRAFT & STARGAZING Trellyn Woodland Campsite’s location is hard to beat. Not only does it lie within 10 miles of a dozen coves and beaches and barely 100 yards from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path at Abercastle, but you are also within easy striking distance of St David’s, Ramsey Island (ramseyisland.co.uk) and the reconstructed Iron Age hill fort of Castell Henylls (castellhenllys.com). The campsite itself has plenty to keep you occupied, whether it’s stargazing around the campfire or learning how to make fire yourself on one of Trellyn’s three-hour bushcraft courses (from £15 pp). There are just five pitches, each with its own picnic table and campfire, while the Dragon Tipi has a double bed, two futons and a separate campfire kitchen. Upping the glamping stakes, the yurts have oak floors and handcrafted furniture, while the modern and spacious geodomes have panoramic windows and wood-burning stoves. Best For Kids Aged: 6–12 years. How Much: Pitches from £240 per week; tepees from £450 per week; yurts from £565 per week; domes from £510 (all sleep four to six). trellyn.co.uk

SEASIDE GLAMPING Choose between luxury tree houses and safari tents at Harvest Moon Holidays’ fabulous new glamping site on Lochhouses

Farm, adjoining the John Muir Country Park, east of Edinburgh. With sweeping views across sand dunes towards gannet-festooned Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth, this is a great spot for free-spirited families who love the great outdoors. The big empty beaches are irresistible, whether you’ve brought a bucket and spade or your own horse (£12 per night). On site there’s a farm shop, campfire and a kids’ corner with ducks, rabbits, lambs and other cuddlies. Boasting an internal area of 40sq m, the seven safari tents sleep up to eight and feature en suite toilets and hot showers, a fully equipped kitchen with Belfast sink, pine dresser and wood-burning stove, plus a lounge/dining area that opens onto a covered veranda. Best For Kids Aged: toddlers to 12. How Much: Safari tents £685 to £960 per week; tree houses £820 to £1,140 per week. harvestmoonholidays.com

ECO-FRIENDLY CAMPING GETS SERIOUS Forget inflatable mattresses and damp flysheets – inside The Really Green Holiday Company’s fabulous family yurts (sleeping up to six) at Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight, you’ll find a four-poster bed, a double futon or day bed, wardrobe, dresser and other home comforts, all on a raised wooden floor strewn with rugs and mats. Each yurt also has an outdoor brazier – ideal

Trellyn Woodland Campsite, Pembrokeshire

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ABSOLUTELY KIDS

Inside a Feather Down FARMS Tent

for barbecues – while the undercover communal Dome has plenty of space for cooking if the weather turns against you. A lot of thought has gone into making this campsite as eco-friendly as possible – firewood is gathered from sustainable woodland and there are solar-powered lights and super-efficient composting toilets. Organic herbs and vegetables are grown onsite for campers to use, and there’s an excellent farm shop nearby that sells local cheeses, sausages, ice-cream and other Isle of Wight goodies. As well as fine beaches at Sandown, Ryde and Ventnor, the Isle of Wight is crammed with family attractions, from falconry displays and red squirrel safaris at Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park (robin-hill.com) to time travel back to the Jurassic Age at Dinosaur Isle (dinosaurisle.com). Best For Kids Aged: toddlers to early teens. How Much: From £375 to £645 per week for a 16ft yurt (sleeps five), or £410 to £705 per week for an 18ft yurt (sleeps six). thereallygreenholidaycompany.com

CASTAWAY ISLAND CAMPING The Isles of Scilly are the nearest thing in the UK to the islands of the Caribbean or even the Indian Ocean. They exude a nostalgia for a slower pace of life, where kids are free to roam (there are just a few cars on the main island of St Mary’s and none on the other islands) and enjoy the natural environment. Highlights include a picnic on a sandy beach, the perfect pub lunch and some sleepy stargazing. There are five campsites to choose from: two on St Mary’s and one each on St Martin’s, Bryher and St Agnes. Some have their own

beaches, some are exposed to the elements and some are on a farm such as Peninnis Farm Luxury Camping on St Mary’s, which has seven spacious, custom-designed safari tents all fully furnished with kitchens, comfortable bedrooms and stylish shower rooms. Kids can lend a hand on the working farm and collect eggs for breakfast. Hugh Town, the harbour and many of the island’s beaches are just a five-minute walk away. Alternatively, catch the boat to Bryher for a truly rugged, small-island camping adventure. Bryher Campsite has a wellstocked shop and the glorious Hell Bay Hotel is just down the road if you fancy a taste of five-star lunch. Seal snorkelling is the ‘in’ thing to do in the Scillies where you and your kids (minimum age eight) can get up close to Atlantic grey seals (scillysealsnorkelling.com). Best For Kids Aged: 4–12 years. How Much: From £796 for three- or four-night breaks in June to £1,195 for a seven-night stay in the summer school holidays, per safari tent (sleeps six). peninnisfarmluxurycamping.co.uk

ENCHANTING YURT VILLAGE The Park at Mawgan Porth in north Cornwall is a find. Tucked in a valley behind Mawgan Porth Beach, this thoughtful reinterpretation of a holiday park has everything from airstream trailers to eco-homes. The yurt village is a highlight with five Mongolian-style yurts decked out with wood burners, reclaimed wood beds and driftwood lamp stands (yes, there is electricity). As well as an indoor pool, there’s a delightful outdoor pool surrounded by stylish blue loungers and mini palm trees. Every Thursday afternoon kids can join 65

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0203 302 0794 dominicmckenzie.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY KIDS

a Park Rangers expedition (£12 per child) with marine biologist and former lifeguard Karl Fice-Thompson, a lovely bear of a man who teaches the kids about the flags on the beach before taking them down onto Mawgan Porth Beach at low tide where he dives into rockpools to catch crabs (which he eats raw), blennies, Cornish sea-slugs and breadcrumb sponge. His passion for the environment is infectious and it all ends with a fire-building adventure in a beach cave with mussels cooked fresh off the rocks and marshmallows on sticks.

of seeing wildlife, including eagles, on a safari with Island Encounters (mullwildlife. co.uk). Named after the summer cottages of Highland shepherds, white canvas tents known as shielings bring a touch of original glamping to the site with their carpets, woodburning stoves, real beds (up to six per tent) and self-contained bathrooms and kitchens.

Best For Kids Aged: babies to teens. How Much? A large family yurt (sleeps four) costs from £550 per week in summer (short breaks available from £330 for a three-night stay). mawganporth.co.uk

TRADITIONAL CAMPING ON THE SHORES OF LAKE WINDERMERE

Best For Kids Aged: 4–12 years. How Much: Tent pitches £23.50 per night for a family of four; shielings from £68.50. shielingholidays.co.uk

There’s plenty of choice for family campers at the beautiful Low Wray Campsite on the quiet western shore of Lake Windermere. Purists can pitch their tents within a toe dabble of the lake, while those who prefer not to grapple with guy ropes and tent poles can opt for various glamping options, from wooden camping pods and gypsy caravans to tepees and yurts. Facilities at Low Wray are superb. As well as refurbished toilet and shower blocks, the campsite offers children’s activity packs, an orienteering course, a bird hide and picnic area, as well as a lakeshore footpath to Wray Castle (nationaltrust.org. uk/wray-castle).

SAFARI CHIC WITH WELLIES There are dozens of Feather Down Farms scattered throughout the UK, and Boswarthen Farm near Penzance in Cornwall is typical of the company’s spot-on family-friendly formula of combining luxury camping with working farms. Its six Feather Down tents have everything from a wood stove, oil lanterns, dining table and chairs to three bedrooms (including a secret den for kids), a flush toilet and kitchen sink. Outside, there’s a clay oven and an honesty shop stocked with local produce, a range of food hampers and barbecue packs. Boswarthen Farm also has hot tubs, a farm trail and maize maze. You can even rent your own private chicken coop – kids scampering outside in pyjamas and wellies collecting eggs is an early-morning ritual at most Feather Down Farms. With your car parked out of sight (and mind) in the farmyard, and with no electricity to bring radio, television or computer games crashing into your consciousness, time at Boswarthen Farm ebbs and flows to a relaxing, rural rhythm. Later in the day, you might plan a picnic or cycle ride, play hide and seek or set off on a pilgrimage to St Michael’s Mount or the Tate Gallery in St Ives (tate.org.uk/stives). Best For Kids Aged: toddlers to 12. How Much: From £469 to £1,029 per week, £325 to £685 per weekend featherdown.co.uk

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS… This is not glamping. It’s ‘real camping made easy’. At least that’s how the owners of Wild Boar Wood Campsite, a leafy retreat in West Sussex, prefer to describe their nine fully equipped bell tents. The luxury here is not about hot tubs or feather duvets, but a chance to really get away from it all. Apart from the occasional shrill whistle from the

Bluebell Line (bluebell-railway.co.uk) as it trundles past the edge of the five-acre wood, this is back-to-nature camping, complete with a full cast of wildlife. In fact, the campsite is so secluded that you won’t even be told its exact location until your booking is confirmed. Each of the pre-erected tents is equipped with beds and cooking equipment. Nearby family-friendly attractions include Bodiam Castle (nationaltrust.org.uk) and the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum (wealddown.co.uk). Best For Kids Aged: 6 and over. How Much: Ready erected tents from £570 for six nights for a family of two adults and two children. ecocampuk.co.uk

A HEBRIDEAN WALK ON THE WILD SIDE With wonderful views over the Sound of Mull and across Loch Linnhe towards Ben Nevis, Shieling Holidays’ grassy campsite on the Isle of Mull is a short stroll from the ferry pier at Craignure. You can watch the CalMac ferry coming and going from Oban and listen out for the whistle of the narrowgauge steam train that trundles back and forth between Craignure and Torosay Castle (torosay.com). There’s even the possibility of glimpsing seals, porpoises and otters from your tent, although you’ll get a better chance

Best For Kids Aged: 8–15 years. How Much: Tent pitches from £25.25 per night; family pod from £40 per night; tepees from £460 per week; bell tents from £355 per week; yurts from £385 per week; gypsy caravans from £335 per week. nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/camping

A DEN-BUILDING PARADISE Woodland Tipis and Yurts is located on a farm in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Little Dewchurch, Herefordshire. It has six Mongolian yurts and three traditional Sioux Native American tipis tucked into woods less than a mile from the River Wye. Each tipi or yurt sleeps up to six people, has an outdoor fire pit, picnic table and hammock. Inside, there’s a cosy jumble of rugs, sheepskins and mattresses, plus a king-size bed and woodburning stove. In addition to the two wellequipped kitchen shelters, there are separate bake houses with traditional earth ovens. Perfect for making pizza. Best For Kids Aged: toddlers to teens. How Much? Three-night weekend from £295 per tepee or £310 per yurt; four-night mid-week break from £390 per tepee or £420 per yurt. woodlandtipis.co.uk This feature first appeared in Family Traveller Magazine’s May/June edition. For more inspiring holiday ideas from Family Traveller go to familytraveller.com 67

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Perfect

P I TCH

Most people would never consider pitching a tent in their back garden. Why not? asks Pendle Harte, who is a convert to the stylish outdoor shelter

ast year, we went to Bestival and didn’t take a tent. For us there was no lugging equipment from car to pitch; no time wasted setting up camp and no sweating over ropes, poles and pegs. Instead, we rocked up to Hotel Bell Tent, confirmed our reservation and fell in love with our beautiful five-metre canvas palace. For comfort and style, there’s no competition. Festival or campsite, tent life doesn’t have to be about sweaty synthetics and garish colours – the spacious canvas option wins hands-down for aesthetics as well as practicality. It’s easy to pitch, waterproof and it looks pretty too. So now we’ve stayed at the hotel the obvious next step is to acquire our very own bell tent. But is it worth it if we’re only going to one festival? And will it create a storage problem for the rest of the year? Not according to Tobyn Cleeves of Bell

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As a spare rooM More guests than you have beds for? Put them in the garden. Or just put them in the garden anyway.

ACCESSORIES

As a party rooM Maybe you’re having a riotous party in the house but guests need somewhere to chill out. Fill the tent with cushions and fairy lights and everyone will move inside it, guaranteed.

Bunting You need this. There’s a vast selection at dotcomgiftshop.com. We like the spotty stuff, £12.99

As a sMoking den Install and enjoy hookah pipes in the great outdoors but when its too chilly out, out As a playrooM What child can resist a play tent? Fill it with toys and sweets and they’ll be gone for hours.

Tent UK, one of the country’s most charismatic bell tent enthusiasts, responsible for kicking off the trend in 2006. He reports more and more enquiries from people wanting bell tents not to take away, but to put up at home. In their London gardens. And the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Because what lovelier view from a window than a bell tent decked out in bunting and tea lights, filled with cushions, rugs and throws and kept toasty by a wood burner? And what better way to make use of your garden, rain or shine? As long as you have a patch of grass big enough to take a four or five metre tent (remembering the extra couple of metres all round for ropes) and the vision to transform your garden into a magical and useful space, you could pitch one for a weekend or the entire summer. Can’t think why? Here are some suggestions.

As a garden studio Instead of a bed and cushions, install a desk and chairs. Make sure your wifi signal is strong enough, and say hello to your own characterful home office.

Throws The more the better. Try the Donna Wilson Field Day throw, £225, scp.co.uk

As a rain or sun shelter Rain again? Zip up the door and you’ll be safe. Heatwave? Roll up the sides and the tent becomes a floating sun shade.

Pouffes  Bell tents and related equipment is available at belltent.co.uk

For a Moroccan-inspired look. All colours, including gold, £74.99, moroccanbazaar.co.uk

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m I ak SP ew L ay A fo Y ro S ur A ex LE cit N in O gn ew W sh O ow N ro om

Fine fitted kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms

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17/04/2013 13:49 14:08 01/06/2012

Interiors Absolutely

HOMES &

August 2 0 14

> MONOCHROME CHIC FROM BODIE & FOU p. 70 GET THE LOOK p. 75 BEST BEACH HOUSE PRODUCTS p. 83

FORM & FUNCTION At Bulthaup, minimalism meets master craftmanship, creating family hubs that are both practical and super stylish. bulthaup.com

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MONO CHROME c h i c In an extract from Design Bloggers at Home, French boutique owner and blogger Karine Candice Köng shares her interior style secrets

he Maida Vale home of French boutique owner and blogger Karine Candice Köng is overflowing with creative styling ideas. By mixing old with new, she has retained the character of her charming period townhouse while creating a modern family home that is as effortlessly chic as it is warming and welcoming. Karin set up her online concept store, Bodie and Fou, with her sister Elodie in 2005, to bring their personal blend of French style to a worldwide audience. The Northwest London shop is named after the sisters’ nicknames for each other – Elodie is ‘Bodie’ and Karine is ‘Fou.’ Good design runs in her blood. She grew up in a creative environment with a father who loved DIY and a mother who spent her weekends sewing. They took her to flea markets and her lifelong love affair with interiors began at an early age. Karine’s blog – or ‘Le Blog’ as she affectionately calls it – started life a year later, as a channel to promote the sisters’ shop. But it soon became a virtual scrapbook in which to share her inspirations, her passion for fashion and her interior design ideas. It is now considered a ‘little black book of interiors’ by the likes of Vogue magazine, features everything from motivational and poetic quotations to stunning photographs of her home, and has become a onestop-shop for design enthusiasts. ‘My blog very quickly became about much more than just my business,’ muses Karine. ‘It’s almost like a diary to me and very personal. It’s a way for me to share my passion for interior decoration online with other enthusiasts, but it’s also an important creative virtual space, where I can explore ideas and

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To p B l og g i n g T i p s Relax and just be yourself That’s when you really tap into your own creativity and do your best work – when you just do your own thing, rather than trying to emulate a blog that you like. I did my blog originally because it’s good for the business, but I’ve always written from the heart. Keep things real & personal As well as sharing photos of my home and my design finds, I post about simplifying my home life, my yoga challenges, my family and health. The personal posts are the most popular. Keep at it – you’ll get there It can take a while to find your voice, but don’t give up.

designs.’ Karine feels that writing a blog has broadened her horizons. ‘I used to read a lot of same-y French interiors magazines, but now I read titles such as VT Wonen from Holland and Inside Out from Australia – I’m exposed to a much wider range of styles and trends.’ When Karine first viewed the fourbedroom, Victorian home she shares with her husband, Steve, and daughter, Mila, she immediately sensed it was ‘the one’. ‘It was the sense of space that first attracted me to this house,’ she says. ‘We were just about to give up on house hunting. We’d seen so many and none of them were quite right. This one was the last we saw and it was perfect.’ Karine has decorated the house with white throughout, but warm natural

materials such as leather, marble and wood prevent the rooms from feeling stark or cold. ‘I love mixing different textures together and incorporating organic materials that have integrity,’ explains Karine. ‘I always find beauty in natural objects. For example, I pick up bits of wood at the beach and bring them home to display them. I like shells, too. My look is pared back and edited, so each object I own has a story behind it.’ Her rooms are effortlessly chic – a beguiling cocktail of vintage treasures, contemporary designer buys and carefullychosen high street finds. ‘I love IKEA,’ she admits, ‘but I’m selective. It’s like fashion; if you mix expensive designer pieces with high street bargains, it works.’ Karine’s inspiring less-is-more approach extends to every area of her home. ‘If you have a simple, rustic wooden table, a little jug and a small bunch of flowers, that’s it. You’re sorted.’ That said, Karine isn’t afraid to throw splashes of colour into the mix. Her linen bed sheets are a bright turquoise blue. ‘I’ve always wanted to create a home that has a laid-back, holiday-like feel,’ explains Karine. ‘Turquoise reminds me of the sky and sea, while natural linen conjures up memories of summer days at the beach.

Taken from Design Bloggers at Home by Ellie Tennant, photography by Rachel Whiting (Ryland Peters & Small) Design Bloggers at Home is available to readers for the special price of £13.99 incl p&p (rrp £19.99). Phone Macmillan Direct on 01256 302 699 and quote reference GLR 9NF.

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CONCEPT

KITCHENS CONCEPT KITCHENS | DESIGN & FUNCTION

Kitchen dreams are coming true...

40, Offord Road, Islington N1 1EB 020 7700 1555 www.conceptkitchensislington.co.uk

Concept kitchens_2014.indd 2

12/06/2014 16:59

sale starts July

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

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

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ABSOLUTELY INTERIORS

Absolutely shows how to recreate this nomadic-style living room in Islington

GET THE LOOK

P h o t o g r a p h y O l i v e r B e b b / O n e F i n e S tay 3

1. FEATURE CHAIRS

An unusual chair lifts a space, creating intrigue. The wooden chair pictured is a family heirloom from India. Unique seating can be found at 1st Dibs, which ships to the UK, or you can try reupholstering an antique in a contemporary fabric – such as the William IV Prie chair in chenille above. £785, William IV Prie Dieu Chair c.1835 in Rosewood, Heritage Argyle Antiques, Poole, BH14; 1stdibs.com

2. COOL WALL MOUNT

Not only is this zebra head a nod to its owner’s broad travels, it also adds an artistic flourish to the wall, evoking wall mounts of old. More importantly, no actual animals were harmed in its making. While you may prefer to pick something like this up on your travels (this particular example was sourced from a local store in Malindi, Kenya), those looking for an instant injection of fun might like these white resin animal mounts from Graham & Green. White Resin Gazelle Head, £45, 164 Regents Park Road, NW1; grahamandgreen.co.uk

3. SHEEPSKIN THROW

Animal throws are a cosy addition to any interior scheme. Though it may seem obvious, the important thing to remember is that they come from sheep. Speak with the local butcher to see if you can coordinate getting the skin ready – it's one way to avoid waste and avoid one that might have been obtained unethically or come all the way

from China; cheaper skins tend to be small, stiff and unfluffy anyway. Or try Organic Sheepskins, which is the only organic registered tannery in Britain. No toxic chemicals are used in their tanning process, all sheep are British-bred and raised for the meat industry. Prices start at £45 for smaller throws; organicsheepskins.com

4. WOVEN RUG

Rugs make perfect travel buys as you can pick up authentic pieces in places renowned for their tapestries or handweaving skills. Try 1st Dibs for a large range of vintage nomadic rugs or stay closer to home with a Welsh Preseli floor rug woven from 100% British wool available from Solva Woollen Mill. solvawoollenmill.com Vintage Moroccan Flatweave Rug, POA,Galerie Shabab; 1stdibs.com

HOT TIPS et creative, as these owners have, fashioning their own lamps from disused fire extinguishers. G You can cheat too, with this upcycled 1939 foamite extinguisher from notonthehighstreet. com. For maximum luxury in the bathroom why not go hell-for-marble with a custom-made natural stone worktop? The owners sourced theirs from Marble Arts in Durham. marblearts.net

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Luxury European Luxury European Furniture Furniture since 1962 since 1962

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ABSOLUTELY INTERIORS

INTERIOR NOTES RIVIERA’S RETURN

three of the best

Our obsession with the Riviera continues Heading up the trend for golden age glamour are the latest additions to the Slim Aarons collection at Surface View. From the azure coast to mountain slopes, invest a wall of attraction with a tasteful mounted print. From £60 per sq m; surfaceview.co.uk

Pat t e r n e d R u g s

1 2

1. KASBAH BERBER RUG, £1200; grahamandgreen.co.uk 2. PLANTATION RUG COMPANY PINK LEAF RUG, £250; heals.co.uk 3. Ellora Black by The Rug Company Studio Collection Hand Woven Dhurrie, £765; therugcompany.com

GLORIOUS GLAMPING

If your love of the great outdoors doesn't extend to camping, perhaps glamping is for you. OKA's new range has all you need to make your yurt so comfortable you'll forget you're even outside. okadirect.com

KNOCK ON WOOD

It’s a pretty simple equation: expert woodworker plus talented artist equals crafted homewares a cut above the norm. Founded by Jonty Hampson and Sascha Gravenstein, Hampson Woods creates beautiful small-batch bespoke objects such as chopping boards and serving platters out of sustainable UK timber. Based in Hackney, the firm’s range is already stocked by Heal’s. Snap it up. heals.co.uk

ROCK IN RIO

In New Brazilian House, a beautifully illustrated interiors book, writer Dominic Bradbury has rounded up the most spectacular examples of modern Brazilian architecture that make up the country’s dramatic landscape – from golden beaches to vibrant cities and lush countryside. New Brazilian House, By Dominic Bradbury and Richard Powers, (Thames & Hudson), £24.95

EDITOR’S PICK

PALMERAL ROCKER SWING SEAT £5,850; 131 Shoreditch High Street, E1; houseofhackney.com

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W OUTSIDE l e t’s g o

Make the most of your garden this August with the best in al fresco accessories from Finchley Road’s O2 Centre

ith the summer hotting up, we're determined to spend as much time outside enjoying the fine weather as possible – so we took a trip to Finchley Road’s O2 Centre to find out how to transform a tired garden into your very own oasis, complete with beautifully designed outdoor furniture and chic accessories. 'In recent years, our lifestyle retailers have seen a significant shift towards people using their garden as an extension of the home, to relax and entertain in,' says Jason King, Centre Director at the O2. 'And with leading brands such as Oliver Bonas and Habitat on hand to offer advice on the latest trends, we can help you to revolutionise your outside space this summer, no matter how large or small.'

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ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

GIVE YOUR

outdoor space a new LEASE OF life with brightly COLOURED

GARDEN TABLES.

The bold & the beautiful

right colours and bold prints are always big news at this time of year. Even if you’re not brave enough to add rainbow hues to your wardrobe, you can give your outdoor space a new lease of life with brightly coloured garden tables and chairs that will cheer you up no matter what the weather. This lightweight folding Rosso table and co-ordinating Parc chair from Habitat will perk up even the smallest garden and can be easily tucked away when not in use.

Garden party

nce you’ve completed your garden makeover, it’s time to O show it off ! Get the party started with this cute charcoal barbeque from Homebase – perfect for toasting marshmallows. VEGAS PORTABLE KETTLE CHARCOAL BBQ from Homebase, £14.99.

Floral fancy

lorals are in fashion yet again, but this summer trend is much too pretty to be confined to the catwalk. We love the Primrose furniture range by Oliver Bonas featuring intricate floral designs in fresh pastel shades.

PRIMROSE TABLE AND CHAIRS by Oliver Bonas, from £59.

EDITOR’S PICK

And make your gathering a night to remember with these beautiful champagne flutes from Oliver Bonas.

Light up your life

ith all this fab new garden furniture to enjoy, you’re going to want to sit out long after the sun has gone to bed. We recommend investing in a set of outdoor fairy lights to bring a little bit of magic to your garden. Habitat stocks a range of LED, anthracite and battery operated garland lights, which can be draped over a bush or wrapped around a pillar for instant outdoor glamour.

ROSSO FOLDING TABLE & PARC GARDEN CHAIR by Habitat, from £36

If you’re planning a staycation this summer, bring a happy holiday vibe to your home with these brightly coloured beanbags from Habitat. BENNY BEANBAGS by Habitat, from £35

SET OF FOUR LSA POLKA CHAMPAGNE FLUTES Oliver Bonas, £30

Inside out

ou’ll be wondering whether you’re indoors or out with this trend, which sees designers and manufacturers creating outdoor designs that can also be used inside the house. A great example is this versatile collection from BoConcept which includes stackable wicker chairs and a round table that is ideal for balconies and courtyards.

THE ELBA RANGE from BoConcept, from £39.

BRIDGET LED OUTDOOR FAIRY LIGHT from Habitat, £35.

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Installations and connections you can trust Harris Electrical is a family run business that has retailed domestic appliances and home entertainment from showrooms on Lower Clapton Road, Hackney for more than 80 years.

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11/07/2014 14:53

Let Us Make

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18/07/2013 10:04

ABSOLUTELY INTERIORS

RALPH LAUREN HOME JAMAICA SIDE TABLE, POA; ralphlaurenhome.com

EDITOR’S

PICK

TALISMAN RARE 1960S LEOPARD METAL SIDE TABLE WITH PATINATED FINISH, POA; talismanlondon.com

OKA CALBOURNE CHAIR, £295; okadirect.com

LINLEY FOR SUMMIT SOFA,

£7,035; davidlinley.com

KARTELL FRANCOIS GHOST MIRROR, YELLOW, BY PHILIPPE STARCK, £238; heals.co.uk

SANDERSON 150TH ANNIVERSARY SWALLOWS CUSHION, £35; johnlewis.com

SAND CASTLES The sun is out, the sea is blue, it’s time to remodel that beach house

Bi Bea chi

THE WHITE COMPANY VINTAGE LANTERN, £40; thewhitecompany.com

ANNABEL JAMES SILVER CHAMPAGNE COOLER WITH FLUTES, £215; annabeljames.co.uk

WILLIAM YEOWARD ANEMONE BOTTLE, TURQUOISE, £175; williamyeoward.com

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KUT Absolutely FP (NEW STYLE Oct 13)_Layout 1 16/10/2013 10:20 Page 1

Kitchens Upon Thames

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17/10/2013 12:03

Travel Absolutely

August 2 0 14

> SPOTLIGHT ON VENICE FILM FESTIVAL p. 86 A WEEKEND IN PROVENCE p. 89

LA DOLCE VITA Beguiling at any time of year, Venice is injected with an added touch of glamour during its annual film festival. An irresistible collision of old-school Hollywood and history-steeped architecture, the festival provides the perfect opportunity for seeing iconic Venice through the eye of a lens. From 27 August â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 September; labiennale.org

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spotlight on

VENICE Film FESTIVAL Wo r d s E M M A J PAG E

G ET A TA STE

The Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido esplanade hosts several screenings and a limited number of tickets are available to the public the day before – head to the office of La Biennale, the festival organizers, to secure some hot seats (labiennale.org). Don’t worry if you miss out on tickets – the city itself is the star of the show, a living film set for more than 2000 films. Get a sense of its cinematic history by booking a tailor-made tour courtesy of Belmond Hotel Cipriani. Escorted by a private guide, a gondola ride transports you to St Mark’s Square where scenes from Orson Welles’ Othello were filmed, before moving on to Caffe Florian, the historic coffee bar setting of Anthony

Minghella’s The Talented Mr Ripley. Other stops include the church of San Nicolo dei Mendicoli, featured in cult film Don’t Look Now, plus the Aceademia Bridge and 15th century Palazzo Contarini, part of the iconic backdrop to The Merchant of Venice.

W H AT T O S E E

The list of attractions is endless, from the awe-inspiring Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica to the sumptuous art of the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Modernist treasures at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. It can feel overwhelming; every palazzo, bridge and narrow street of Venice’s six districts has a rich history. But this is a walkable city, studded with pretty waterways, and it’s easy to head off the beaten track in search of less obvious treasures. Stop at the Rialto Market early on a Saturday morning to watch the locals barter over the catch of the day before exploring the quieter streets surrounding Castello, housing the ancient Basilica di San Giovanni.

W H E R E T O E AT

For classic Venetian cooking, head to one of the simple trattorias and traditional bacari (bars) where you’ll find the locals grazing from a selection of informal canapés, or chiccetti. Book a courtyard table at Al Giardinetto da Severino (algiardinetto. it) for inventive fish dishes, while the homecooked pasta at Da Gianni (00 39 041 52 37 210) is favoured by locals. For a shot of glamour, a Bellini at iconic Harry’s Bar (harrysbarvenezia.com) shouldn’t be missed, while San Marco’s Da Ivo (ristorantedaivo. it) offers seductive fine dining.

W H E R E T O S HOP

You’ll find traditional Italian perfumes and home fragrances, including elegant scents by Dr Gritti and Dr Vranjes, stocked at Arco del Paradiso (00 39 041 241 3745). Quaint bookshop Libreria Acqua Alta (00 39 041 296 0841) features vintage biographies and history books artfully

EVERY PALAZZO, BRIDGE & narrow street OF VENICE’S SIX DISTRICTS has a

rich history

stacked in gondolas and bathtubs. And in San Polo, Viziovirtù Cioccolateria, (viziovirtu.com) is a stylish chocolate and cake shop offering sweet treats created from ancient Venetian recipes. For traditional Venetian glass, head to the nearby island of Murano by vaporetto.

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ABSOLUTELY TR AVEL

W H E R E T O STAY

Nestled on Giudecca Island with sweeping views across the lagoon towards the Doge’s Palace, the Belmond Hotel Cipriani (belmond.com) has been a byword for glamour since the 1950s. Home to George Clooney when he’s in town for the festival, this is a luxurious but discreet escape, offering respite from the bustle of the city. Ask head barman Walter Bolzonella to serve up Nina’s Special, co-created by George and named in honour of his mother, before retiring to one of the generous-sized bedrooms, featuring Rubelli fabrics and classic marble

bathrooms. In the thick of the action, close to St Mark’s Square, The Bauer Palazzo (ilpalazzovenezia.com) offers Venetian luxury overlooking the Grand Canal, while Hotel Luna Baglioni’s original frescos and antique furniture guarantee wow factor (baglionihotels.com).

TH E DA M AG E

The Leading Hotels of the World offers stays at Belmond Hotel Cipriani from £495 per night, inc. breakfast; lhw.com. Film tours cost £92 per hour. EasyJet flies to Venice Marco Polo from London Gatwick airport from £19.74 one-way from April - October; easyjet.com

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Page

ABSOLUTELY TR AVEL

THE SUITES

Weekend Getaway

TERRE BLANCHE

Easier to get to than much of Britain, five-star Riviera golf resort Terre Blanche takes the concept of the long weekend to a luxurious new level...

The accommodation at Terre Blanche is divided into suites and villas. Each is built and luxuriously decorated in soothing Provencal style, and surrounded by gardens and walkways bursting with lavender and wildflowers. Suites house separate sitting rooms with sofa beds and private terraces while villas (available in a range of sizes) add extra bathrooms, private lawns and pools or spa tubs to the mix. All the necessary indulgences are here, including space: this is the perfect place to bring the entire brood, including Fido – dogs are made very welcome. It’s worth noting that the private pools are fenced off for safety, meaning kids can play without Mum and Dad watching them like hawks.

THE AMENITIES

The Estate

ited on 741 acres of Provencal hillside once owned by Sean Connery, Terre Blanche is nothing if not picturesque. Two immaculately maintained (and pro-endorsed) golf courses – one of which is open only to members and guests – encircle the estate, which also features ornamental ponds, sundappled pine woods, a beautiful spa complex and 115 suites and villas. Oh, and a beautifully run-

down old chateau that’s soon to be put back into service... Think Le Grand Meaulnes with five star service and golf carts. Enchanting.

Naturally, the action at Terre Blanche centres on its two exquisite golf courses (one of which forms part of the French Riviera Masters Tour). At the foot of the estate you’ll also find a huge driving range, a one-of-akind Biomecaswing centre (which uses advanced technology to analyse and improve technique) and a full pro shop – in short, everything needed to finesse your game. That said, if you didn’t know the golf was there, you may not notice its absence: there are four swimming pools (the main one is especially amazing, with a jaw-dropping view of the Provencal hills), a spa offering a brilliant range of treatments, four restaurants (the food is superb) and a kids club that seemed, on our visit, to be as popular as the pool.

£ THE DAMAGE Accommodation at Terre Blanche ranges from €242.90 per night for a deluxe suite in low season to €9,884 per night for a three-bedroom Villa Terre Blanche in high season. The nearest airport is Nice Côte d’Azur, which is about 45 minutes away by car. 3100 Route de Bagnols en Foret, 83440 Tourrettes, Provence, France; 0033 494 39 90 00; terre-blanche.com

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City of

BLINDING LIGHTS Las Vegas is synonymous with sleaze and debauchery, but Gemma Billington discovers Sin City’s desert oasis

clammy, five-and-a-halfhour coach journey through endless parched land and rocky hills and we find ourselves dumped in a car park behind a garish, 'fairytale' castle. Excalibur Hotel & Casino is Disneyland meets Saint Basil’s Cathedral – with a dash of tacky faux medieval fare thrown in for good measure. Well, that’s what you get for a $25 return from Downtown Los Angeles. It’s an

awful building, but the perfect emblem of where we’ve arrived; Sin City itself, Las Vegas. After 10 minutes of trudging our cases aimlessly through the desert heat we give up and take a taxi to the Mandarin Oriental, which is situated almost slapbang in the middle of the Strip. If Excalibur, The Bellagio, Caesars Palace and Paris are among the icons of the Strip, then the Mandarin Oriental is the very antithesis of it; an oasis of tranquility and sophistication. You won’t find a single slot

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ABSOLUTELY TR AVEL

machine here, nor a sprawling seafood buffet. That’s not to say that you’re cut-off from the Vegas experience, only the sleaze and chaos of it. Ostensibly it’s an unusual addition to the Strip, in that its discretion contrasts with the other dominating, humungous hotel-cum-casinos. But its design, which incorporates the brand’s oriental roots and aesthetics, makes the 5-star hotel both subtle and spectacular. With girlish excitement my friend and I boarded the one-stop lift to the Sky Lobby located on the 23rd floor to check in. The floors are elegant black marble and the sumptuous tea room situated next to the reception is festooned with enormous, Japanese-lantern style lights and an intricate blue and red carpet. The bar, with fabulous views of the Strip, stands temptingly around the corner. Our room is impressive but sedate, with the ubiquitous enormous bed plus remote controlled curtains that reveal a spectacular vista. It is here on the 19th floor, before we’ve even set foot in a casino, that I begin to develop a fondness for Vegas. It’s really quite beautiful in an urban and completely bonkers way. Traffic is six lanes wide either side (it’s near impossible to walk anywhere) and animated billboards pop up like mushrooms – all vying aggressively for your attention. The blue canvas sky is never blemished by clouds, and it means that you can watch Las Vegas come to life, once the sun begins to set, for miles and miles – beyond the Strip and all the way to the barren desert and mountains. Slowly everything begins to light up – even the road markings are made up of bulbs – from the famous ‘Eiffel Tower’ to the twinkling Planet Hollywood hotel sign. Once the sun has set and Vegas is ablaze, it’s impossible to resist its debauchery.

nless you’re planning an excursion to the Grand Canyon, which is doable but only really if you’re staying for longer than 2-3 nights, then I wouldn’t really stray far from the hotel during the day. For one thing, the glittering decadence of the night before will reveal itself to be smoke-tinged and garish the morning after. Indulge the inevitable

ONCE THE SUN HAS set and

vegas is ablaze,

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST its

debauchery

hangover with a lavish breakfast and hang out by one of MO's two pools on the 23rd floor, with views of Monte Carlo casino from one end and ‘New York’ on the other.

t’s worth having a vague plan of where to go at night, baring in mind that it really is difficult to walk anywhere (even when everything looks so close) as the footpaths are suddenly cut off by malls that you have no choice but to walk through. There are endless live shows, casinos, buffets and every kind of Vegas ‘must do’ experience, and even for a gambling dunce such as myself, you can’t help but get into the spirit. Waitresses will (slowly) serve you free drinks at slot machines (you have to tip them amply, of course) and you can ease yourself into the gambling scene with machines that charge no more than 40 cents a pop. We took a cab to Freemont Street, which is home to the famous Golden Nugget casino and a less pretentious and more affordable night out than the Strip. But even after two nights here, we had barely scratched the surface of Vegas. However, the hangover we endured during that wearisome coach ride back to LA felt like the ultimate badge of honour from a weekend in Vegas and, in the end, totally worth it. Until next time.

 Rates at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas start from £150 per night on a B&B basis. For further information and bookings please call +1 (702) 590 8888 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas

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B R E AT H E E A SY How one clever company is helping hardcore smokers lead happier, healthier lives

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ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

THE COMPANY has helped over 1600 CUSTOMERS to quit

smoking.

Here at E-VAP we’re extremely passionate about what we do', says Emma Elias, Store Manager at E-VAP. ‘We take great pride in helping smokers to quit.’ With two stores in the UK (and a further 16 in France, under the name VAPSHOP), E-VAP seems to be doing a pretty good job. The stores specialise in the selling of electronic cigarettes and accessories – a booming sector that has helped hundreds of thousands of smokers to quit. The concept behind the electronic cigarette (or E-VAP) is a simple one. By switching from a traditional cigarette (which burns tobacco) to an E-VAP (which creates vapour, not smoke, from an e-liquid containing propylene glycol or

vegetable glycerin and food flavouring) you immediately eliminate the 4600 nasty chemicals that come with every pull on a regular cig. The only chemical remaining that you need to be aware of is nicotine. Nicotine is the addictive element of a cigarette, so for best results when starting with an E-VAP it is wise to use an e-liquid which offers the same nicotine level as your chosen brand of cigarette, in order to satisfy the initial craving. The idea is then to work your way down to an e-liquid that doesn’t contain any nicotine. Once you have achieved this, you have effectively completely quit. Even better, E-VAP e-liquids come in a wide variety of flavours, meaning quitting smoking doesn’t have to be dull. All products at an E-VAP store can be fully tested before purchasing, to ensure customers are 100% happy with their purchases, and expert staff are on hand to make suggestions based on a customer’s specific needs. E-VAP values its good reputation, and sells strictly to over-18s – so ID may be necessary if you’re lucky enough to look younger. 'Ultimately,' says Emma, ‘we’re here to help. We don’t encourage anyone to purchase an E-VAP if they don’t currently smoke; but for those who do, E-VAP can be a godsend.

ALL PRODUCTS at an E-VAP STORE CAN BE fully tested before

purchasing

Electronic cigarettes simulate traditional cigarettes much more accurately than nicotine patches, tablets or gum, ensuring you don’t stray back to tobacco for the physical sensation of smoking. After only a few weeks use, customers have reported that their senses of smell and taste, and also their breathing, have improved dramatically. Before purchasing an E-VAP, one of our regulars couldn’t walk without struggling and losing his breath. Six months after switching to vaping, he’s just completed a 10km run for charity.’ Another plus is that all E-VAP electronic cigarettes are fully rechargeable and available in a variety of kits – so you can save money (vaping is usually far less expensive than traditional smoking) while making sure you have all the accessories you need. It’s small wonder that since opening the Finchley branch of E-VAP in October 2013, the company has helped over 1600 customers to quit smoking. A great result – and a valuable step towards a healthier, smoke-free future.

 55 Ballards Lane, N3 and 49 Camden High Street, NW1; evapuk.com

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After the umpteenth year, the self-made man rested.

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all on 020 7354 3000 for a FREE quote Commercial & Residential Property Corporate & Commercial Disputes Employment Insolvency Wills & Probate

HELP WITH THE LEGAL DETAIL WHEN YOU WANT TO EXTEND YOUR LEASE OR BUY YOUR FREEHOLD

Hema

Partner, Enfranchisement and Commercial Property

"Efficient, thorough, and always a pleasure to tal to. Hema was particularly good at providing reassurance and clarity." "I always felt that with Hema we were in really safe hands."

PROPERTY LAW SERVICE

Buying or Selling Commercial Property Enfranchisement Landlord & Tenant Lease Extensions Property Disputes

pper treet, Islington, ondon 020 7354 3000 property@colmancoyle.com

www.colmancoyle.com

forward thin ing straight tal ing COLEMAN COYLE.indd 2

1984 - 2014

anniversary

Celebrating 30 YEARS in business | 1984 - 2014

10/03/2014 11:44

AUGUST 2014

ABSOLUTELY

PROPERTY

Elrington Road, E8 A five bedroom period house on a desirable street of Victorian properties located close to London Fields & Broadway Market. This terraced house benefits from a wealth of period features including bay sash windows with shutters, wood flooring and high ceilings.

ÂŁ1,700,000 Freehold

BlakeStanley

BlakeStanley | 020 7254 7554 | blakestanley.co.uk

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currell.com

£375 per week Bradstock Road, E9 • Spacious ground floor apartment • Large double bedroom • Decked garden • Good transport links • EPC rating - E

£320,000 Leasehold Rutland Road, E9 • One bedroom • Quiet location • Recently refurbished • Good transport links • EPC rating - C

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10/07/2014 10:21

Currell £350,000 Leasehold Mile End Road, E3 • One Bedroom • Period conversion • Great transport links • High ceilings • EPC rating - C

£1,300,000 Freehold Meynell Gardens, E9 • Four double bedrooms • Off street parking • Private walled garden • Lovely original features • EPC rating - F *tenancy fees will apply. For more details on our fees please visit our website www.currell.com/knowledge-base/our-letting-fees

020 3222 5555 CURRELLS_EAST.indd 2

victoriapark@currell.com 10/07/2014 10:22

currell.com

£699,950 Leasehold Gosse Court, N1 • Two bedrooms • South facing • Water views • Private balcony • EPC rating - B

£1,500,000 Freehold Fassett Square, E8 • Three bedrooms • Two bathrooms • Lovely house • Popular location • EPC rating - TBC

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10/07/2014 10:22

Currell £1,100,000 Freehold Dalston Lane, E8 • Three/four bedrooms • Three/two receptions • Three bathrooms • Popular location • EPC rating - D

£430,000 Leasehold Richmond Road, E8 • Stunning modern development • One bedroom • Close proximity to London Fields • Private garden • EPC rating - C

020 7241 4111 CURRELLS_EAST.indd 4

hackney@currell.com 10/07/2014 10:23

Property Round up

WELLINGTON ROW, E2

£1,300,000 Freehold

robably the only house of its kind in the popular Jesus Green estate that benefits from a full basement, adding a substantial amount of additional space in comparison to the majority of houses in the area. Arranged as three bedrooms, three reception areas, a study, bathroom and separate w/c and a courtyard garden, the property boasts original features such as exposed wood floors, sash windows and shutters. Wellington Row is tucked away behind Columbia Road, home to the famous flower market and some of London’s best independent shops.

CITY ROAD, EC1

£3,200,000

wo fabulously restored five bedroom, five storey Georgian townhouses. Combining traditional architecture with contemporary elegance, these Grade II listed residences will provide sumptuous luxury in the heart of Islington. With an internal area of well over 3000 sq. ft, these beautiful townhouses will offer familysized accommodation in the beating heart of London.

Keatons, Shoreditch

Thomson Currie

� 020 3535 7788; keatons.com

� 020 7226 0000; thomsoncurrielnh.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property PROPERTY OF THE MONTH

MEYNELL GARDENS, E9

£1,300,000 Freehold

ituated on the fringe of Well Street Common, this large 1930s semi-detached home is simply immaculate. With four double bedrooms, one with a large en-suite bathroom, a south facing reception, a wood panelled dining room with the most fabulous original fireplace, a large kitchen/ diner, family bathroom, a small study and a guest cloakroom. With off street parking and a garage, currently used as a separate utility and storage room, along with a private walled garden, this property with its wealth of original features has a unique charm and could not fail to please! Planning has recently been granted for a loft conversion and these plans will be made available for perusal.

Currell, Victoria Park � 020 3222 5555; currell.com

 suggests:

e have just launched our new ‘travel time’ feature which allows you to search for property based on journey time to a selected destination and your preferred method of transport. You can use our great, new travel time feature to find properties for sale or to rent that meet both your property requirements and your travel criteria. So, if you’re looking to be within a certain journey time from family, friends or work, make sure you use our new feature to find property.

NEW PROVIDENCE WHARF , FAIRMONT AVENUE, E14

£539,990

ocated within easy reach of local shops and facilities in Canary Wharf is this modern two bedroom apartment situated within a purpose built riverside development. The apartment consists of a reception room, fitted wardrobes and en-suite shower room to the master bedroom, all finished to a high standard. The New Providence Wharf development offers many facilities, including concierge service and gym, swimming pool and spa. Canary Wharf offers a variety of shops, bars and restaurants.

Century21 Hackney � 020 3696 1840; century21uk.com

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BlakeStanley

Andrews Road, London, E8

ÂŁ1100pw

An amazing opportunity to rent this fantastic canal side property. This 2500 sq ft property is arranged over four floors. The ground floor is a self-contained one bedroom flat with direct access to the canal towpath; the first floor comprises a bathroom and two double bedrooms, one with an en-suite shower room and a balcony; the third floor is a large open plan kitchen / dining room with a balcony overlooking the canal, with a feature wooden staircase leading up to the top floor: a very spacious open plan lounge and the fourth enclosed bedroom, there is also a step ladder access onto the private roof terrace, which boasts fantastic views of the city. Available in August. Furnished or Part Furnished

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

11-13a Broadway Market, London Fields, London , E8 4PH 10/07/2014 10:30

www.blakestanley.co.uk

Pritchard’s Road, E2

020 7254 7554

£565,000

Offered to the market is this split-level apartment in a popular canal side development moments from Broadway Market. The property offers an openplan reception with fully integrated kitchen and juliette balcony overlooking Regent’s Canal, two double bedrooms one with en-suite shower room and the other with en-suite bathroom. The apartment is ideally located to benefit from Broadway Market’s shops, pubs & restaurants, a short walk to London Fields and an array of transport links. Leasehold

Textile Building, London, E9

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

£875,000

Situated on a unique road moments from Broadway Market & London Fields is this well presented mid-terrace house. The property is arranged over two floors and is presented to the market in good decorative order. The ground floor comprises a dual-aspect reception and a spacious kitchen / diner with direct access to a south facing patio garden. The first floor offers two double bedrooms, one with access to a south facing roof terrace and a generous four piece bathroom suite. The house is located within walking distance of numerous amenities and transport links. Freehold

£475pw

This brand new two double bedroom apartment is situated on the third floor of the newly built Textile Building, located close to Hackney Central Station, London Fields and Victoria Park. This stunning 80 sqm warehouse style apartment features a large bright open plan reception room complete with luxury fully fitted kitchen, large industrial style windows, wood flooring, exposed brickwork, two bathrooms and high ceilings. Unfurnished or Part Furnished

Beck Road, E8

Atlas Mews, London, E8

£465pw

A great opportunity to rent this stunning one bedroom House in this private Mews minutes from Dalston Junction Station. As you open the front door from the mews you are straight into the lounge kitchen area, there is a bathroom on this floor too, up some stylish metal stairs you arrive at a little office area and then up to a lounge bedroom area, there is a step ladder up to a sleeping area. Unfurnished

11-13a Broadway Market, London Fields, London , E8 4PH 10/07/2014 10:30

020 8985 0106

hackney@castles-estateagents.co.uk

www.castles-estateagents.co.uk

Hackney Sales & Lettings

Powerscroft Road, E5

Fletching Road, E5

£850,000 FREEHOLD

£485,000 LEASEHOLD

Hilsea Street, E5

Fenland House, E5

£480,000 LEASEHOLD

£340,000 LEASEHOLD

· Traditional family home · 3 Double bedrooms · Large kitchen / breakfast room · Close to Chatsworth Road

· Double Fronted Conversion · Spacious Entrance Hall · 3 Bedrooms · Patio Garden

· Immaculate Condition · 2 Double Bedrooms · Private Garden · Large Kitchen/Diner

· Stylish Development · 2 Double Bedrooms · Arranges on the 4th Floor · Private Balcony

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09/07/2014 11:37

ABSOLUTELY Property

Property

Development

GRAND REGENT TOWER

CADMIUM SQUARE, E2

PRICES FROM

£345,000

FOR A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT

rand Regent Tower is a new, landmark development that forms part of the Suttons Wharf development. It is situated in trendy Bethnal Green, on the banks of the Regent’s Canal, and is within close proximity to Mile End tube station and Victoria Park. The development spans 17 floors and has 81 units for sale. Each apartment has a good-sized balcony, with some offering incredible views of the London Skyline. Other features include high spec kitchens and floor-to-ceiling glass aspects. The development also has a concierge and secure parking is available to purchase at £20,000. Keatons � 020 8981 7788; keatons.com

KING’S CROSS – THE PLIMSOLL BUILDING PRICES FROM

£1,650,000

here are currently a number of beautiful three bedroom apartments available at King’s Cross. Each of the apartments in this exclusive collection offers a Premier specification, spectacular views, and range in size from 1202 sq. ft to 1815 sq. ft. Later this year,

the King’s Cross partnership will be releasing a limited number of additional apartments within the ‘Summer’ core of the Plimsoll Building for the first time.The penthouses and duplex apartments in The Plimsoll Building are located on the rooftop conservatory, split over two levels with a gallery at level 13. From here, a partially-glazed

corridor links the two cores at the top of the building and provides residents with access to three additional communal terraces with views over central London. Completion date: Late 2015. Sales through Knight Frank. � 020 3691 3969; kingscross.co.uk/plimsoll

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IN THEIR OWN

WORDS JAMES HOLNESS

Lettings Manager at Winkworth, Shoreditch

Photography: Rebecca Noonan

started my working life about as far away from the London property market as possible, acting as an assistant Biologist at Murmansk Marine Biological institute in Russia. When I returned I needed a job and despite having never considered being an estate agent and having no particular interest in property I found myself in Surbiton, South London with a brand new company car and a job I begrudgingly enjoyed, despite the hours. Marine Biology has its benefits but Estate Agency and particularly lettings has a fantastic career structure, some legal training and the exhilaration of generating business and building up your office portfolio. I went on to work in Putney, Fulham and eventually Clerkenwell for some of the biggest independent agents in London. After taking some time out to spread my personal portfolio to some investment property in Brazil, I was thrilled to get a job in Shoreditch working for Winkworth, a brand I have always respected. Shoreditch, often thought of as a little Bohemian, is changing and every appraisal I carry out in the region reinforces the impression that this area could be one of the best in London. Packed with history from Huguenots to Dick Turpin, Truman Brewery and the earliest social housing, The Krays and Jack the Ripper, the infamy of East London disguises the fact that in most areas of Shoreditch and Aldgate you are a ten-minute walk from the Gherkin and the square mile;

generating one third of the UK’s GDP. The huge new residential complexes of the Avant Garde Building by Shoreditch High Street Station (with 360 apartments starting at £425pw), along with Cityscape on City Road and the new Altitude Building by Aldgate Station are a testament to this, and will undoubtedly leave the area transformed. The biggest change is set to come from The Goodsyard and perhaps Cross Rail. The Goodsyard is still in the planning phases but will bring 1400 new apartments, a huge shopping centre and a massive increase in commercial space. Beyond this, there is ‘Silicon Roundabout’, more commonly known as Old Street Roundabout, which is becoming a new hub for the tech industry. At our office in Brick Lane we deal with applicants every day that work for companies involved in this field, as well as what appears to be a flood of French professionals taking advantage of the buoyant London jobs market and excellent salaries. If you are looking to make money in London, I think this is the place to be. I have taken a couple of trips recently back through Chelsea and into Putney and I can’t deny that it’s lovely. Battersea also appears to be transforming at a fast pace, but none of these areas offer the accessibility both physically and financially that Shoreditch offers and I don’t think you will have to wait long to have a nice view to go with it. 020 7749 7650 ; winkworth.co.uk

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Smart explores the local area. Nearest school 0.3 miles

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ABSOLUTELY Property

Ask

the Expert

Our panel of professionals give you the edge in the property market

1. Nick Karamanlis

Sales Manager of Stirling Ackroyd, Shoreditch � 020 7749 3838; StirlingAckroyd.com

1. When does exchange of contracts take place?

here are a number of steps a buyer will go through before the exchange of contracts, which is the point where they become legally committed to buying the property. First of all an offer needs to be agreed, including all fi xtures and fittings for the property. If you are obtaining a mortgage offer, your mortgage lender will panel out a surveyor to value the property and your solicitor will carry out relevant searches to satisfy the mortgage lender and any further enquiries that arise. Once all is resolved a deposit is given to the solicitor, usually 10% of the purchase price unless a lower amount is agreed by all parties. At this point a completion date is set, paperwork and contract read through, and the dotted line signed, and that is the point of exchange! It sounds simple, and it can be, but the time taken to get to this point can significantly vary.

HEMA ANAND � 020 7354 3000 / colmancoyle.com

From Colman Coyle gives her expert advice on all your legal property questions

The landlord of our building has served us all section 5a Notices pursuant to the Landlord & Tenant Act 1987 offering to sell us the freehold. Does this mean the leaseholders can buy the freehold?

The Notice you have received is a right of fi rst refusal and arises where in your case, a landlord of premises comprising a number of flats intends to sell the freehold of the building. It appears that the relevant criteria has been met, which is why the landlord is obliged and has served the Notices upon the leaseholders. Of course, the exact details will need to be checked. It is a criminal offence if the landlord fails to serve the appropriate Notices. The Notice should set out the terms upon which the landlord is proposing to dispose of the premises and give the qualifying tenants a period of time in which to accept or reject the offer. A ‘qualifying tenant’ is generally the owner of a long lease of a flat, although there are a few exceptions. To validly accept the offer, it must be accepted by the requisite majority of ‘qualifying tenants’ which means more than 50% of the available votes in the building. Once the offer referred to in the Notice is accepted, the leaseholders have a further time limit to nominate a party to whom the freehold should be sold. You do not mention how many flats are within the building but leaseholders prefer to nominate a management company that has been set up specifically to own and manage the freehold interest of the building. Thereafter, the Landlord can elect whether or not he wishes to progress with the sale upon the terms referred to in the Notice. If the landlord withdraws, he will be precluded from selling the freehold for a certain period of time. Similarly, if the leaseholders reject the offer, the landlord can proceed, within a limited period, to make the disposal to a third party, but only on the same terms as stated in the Notice.

ASK THE EXPERTS Contact property partner Hema Anand with no obligation on (0)20 7354 3000 or email hema.anand@colmancoyle.com  www.colmancoyle.com 80 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0NU

Spotlight on E5



Average asking price

Average property value

£583,738

£414,744

Average asking rents £1,614 pcm

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Stirling Ackroyd All around East London E8

N16

£1,500,000

£1,150,000

HACKNEY SALES - PARKHOLME ROAD A 5 bedroom late Victorian terrace house set on one of the most beautiful & sought after roads in the area. EPC - E

HACKNEY SALES - LONDESBOROUGH ROAD A charming family residence arranged over 3 storeys & nestled between vibrant Dalston & Stoke Newington’s Church Street. EPC - E

£1,100,000

£535,000

SHOREDITCH SALES - UNION CENTRAL BUILDING A stunning 2 bedroom penthouse apartment measuring in excess of 1,100 sq ft in this former warehouse conversion. EPC - C

SHOREDITCH 020 7749 3838

CLERKENWELL 020 7549 0606

HACKNEY 020 7749 3807

WEST END 020 7256 3244

IBIZA 0034 971 326 788

ISTANBUL +90 (0)444 4493

SHOREDITCH SALES - NORTH STAND APARTMENTS A well presented 1 bedroom apartment set in this unique & impressive development, once home to Arsenal Football. EPC – B

BANKSIDE 020 7940 3888

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£625 pw

£410 pw

HACKNEY LETTINGS - SANDRINGHAM ROAD A 3 or 4 bedroom townhouse situated on an enviably located residential street in Dalston. EPC Pending

HACKNEY LETTINGS - KINGSLAND GREEN A newly converted 2 double bedroom apartment located in the heart of Dalston. EPC – D

£1,650 pw

£475 pw

SHOREDITCH LETTINGS - SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET A stunning 2,700 sq ft loft spanning the entire top floor of a former warehouse on Shoreditch High Street with private lift access. EPC - C

SHOREDITCH LETTINGS - BOUNDARY STREET A stunning selection of 2 bedroom apartments set within an imposing pub conversion on Boundary Street right in the heart of Shoreditch. EPC – F

LETTINGS PRICES EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL FEES. PLEASE SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.

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