FULHAM NOVEMBER 2014

ABSOLUTELY FULHAM

NOVEMBER 2014 / £3.95

STARS & STRIFE

NEVER FORGET LOCAL MILITARY

ANGELA HARTNETT’S MICHELIN CUISINE

LANDMARKS

FIENNES LINES SIR RANULPH ON AGINCOURT

Natural ural Look

OUTDOORS SPECIAL

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facebook.com/struttandparker twitter.com/struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Hurlingham Road, SW6

An extremely elegant and wonderfully spacious family home forming part of this highly desirable park facing terrace.

Properties in this section of the street rarely come to the market.

ÂŁ3,250,000

237 sq ft (2551 sq m) EPC rating D Drawing room | Two further reception rooms | Open plan kitchen/breakfast room | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Three further bedrooms | Two further bathrooms | Cloakroom | Temperature controlled wine cellar

Fulham 020 7731 7100 fulham@struttandparker.com

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Novello Street, SW6

An exceptional and immaculately presented three double bedroom terraced house situated on one of Fulham’s most sought after streets in the heart of Parsons Green.

£825 per week* Unfurnished

125 sq ft (1346 sq m) EPC rating D Double reception room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Master bedroom with en suite shower room and roof terrace | Two further bedrooms | Family bathroom | Garden

Fulham 020 7731 7100 fulham@struttandparker.com

*The following Tenant charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £210 (inc VAT) Credit References per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.

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featherstoneleigh.co.uk

Waterford Road, Fulham

£1,390,000 A fantastic three bedroom town house within 250m of Fulham Broadway. With 1,409 sq ft of accommodation, decked garden and garage. EPC = D.

t: 020 7610 9755

Wardo Avenue, Fulham

£1,100,000 A magnificent split level maisonette in this prime Fulham location. With over 1,130 sqft of accommodation, attic storage and roof terrace with fantastic rooftop views. EPC = D.

t: 020 7610 9755

It’s our area...

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contents

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Nove mbe r 2014

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36

ABSOLUTELY LOVES

42 LADY OF THE LACE

ART & CULTURE TALKING TOPICS

BEAUTY 60 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

Absolutely’s top picks this month

Diary dates for November

22 CHELSEA REMEMBERS

Camilla Norton goes on a Remembrance tour of Chelsea’s military landmarks

26 FIENNES, THE TRUTH

Adventurer, explorer, writer – who is Sir Ranulph Fiennes? Join Edwina Langley as she tries to find out...

ST YLE 36 FASHION CONFIDENTIAL We’re buying faux fur for the countryside and going Orla Kiely crazy

Alice Temperley MBE on meeting The Queen

Blow drys and spa mist treatments, we’re all about hair this November

FOOD & DRINK 70 STAR QUALITY

Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett on why Ramsay calls her ‘Dizzy Lizzy’

77 RAMUSAKE

Elizabeth Hutton takes on Scott Hallsworth’s new izakaya on Brompton Road

TRAVEL 82 GOOD MORNING VIETNAM Holly Baxter heads East to experience all that Hoi An has to offer

INTERIORS 90 STEADFAST & STORIED

Following its recent refurbishment, Catherine Hales visits the Savoy to learn how the hotel survived during wartime

96 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS C o v e r I m a g e : © O rl a K i e l y, AW 14 C o l l e c t i o n ; o rl a k i e l y.c o m

Beata Heuman lets the outdoors in with her nature-themed homewares

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77 107 SMALL TALK

Binky bear and dungarees find their way into the nursery

PROPERT Y 116 LIVING THE DREAM

Take a look at the most luxurious properties on the market now

132 PROPERTY NEWS News and views on the area

NOVEMBER 2014

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Brompton

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McCarron & Co.

Innovative furniture of uncompromising quality

NEW SHOWROOM: 84 Fulham Road, Chelsea London, SW3 6HR T: 020 7584 5736 Showrooms: Wiltshire Cheshire Harrogate Warwick Scotland Jersey McCarron & Co. Limited, T: 01380 859299 E: enq@mccarronandco.com www.mccarronandco.com

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Jermyn Street │ Sloane Street │ Blomfield Street │ Canary Wharf │ Westfield, White City │ Selfridges │ Peter Jones, Sloane Square St. Pancras International Station │ Waterloo Station

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EDITOR’S

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letter

t feels particularly poignant that the 100th anniversary of the First World War should fall this year – the year in which a number of serious conflicts have broken out worldwide. I imagine this will be at the forefront of all of our minds on 11th November, as we remember those who fought to secure our freedom and way of life, and give thanks to those who fight for it still.

To commemorate the centenary, Camilla Norton explores Chelsea’s military landmarks, and takes a tour around the Royal Hospital Chelsea, whilst Catherine Hales discovers how London’s famous Savoy survived during wartime (think inventive rationing menus and bomb shelters in basements).

On a brighter note, because autumn is such a wonderful month to spend time in the country, we thought an ‘Outdoors Issue’ would be appropriate.

And who better to interview for it than someone who spends lots of time in lots of countries? I am referring to the ex-soldier-turned-explorer (though I shouldn’t call him that), the great Sir Ranulph Fiennes. He tells me about exploration and Everest, the Eiger and the cold, and even gives me a short history lesson. In what? Turn to p.26 to find out.

We have lots of other outdoorsy things, too – country pursuits fashion and seasonal Alba truffle dishes, created by Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett MBE, who we chat to on p.70.

Whatever appeals to you this November, we’re certain you’ll find it here. So, get snuggly in that armchair and make the most of the time allowed for peaceful contemplation, encouraged in this month, before the town goes nuts for tinsel in the next. u

Edwina Langley

Editor

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

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

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ROCK & ROLL

Georgia May Jagger is back as the face of Thomas Sabo this season with their new Glam and Soul collection.

Proving that bigger really is better, we’re lusting after the statement making Karma Beads ring.

From £450; thomassabo.com

10 Things We

ABSOLUTELY

JENNA BAG

Brighten up the winter’s dark days and nights with L.K.Bennett’s iconic Jenna bucket bag, in a range of beautifully bold colours. £450; lkbennett.com

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Tom Dixon’s tools for the bookworm include the quill bookmark, the magnifying glass bookmark and the postcard, all made from digitally-etched brass. tomdixon.net

BUBBLES

Aged for five years and produced entirely from premier Cru grapes, the creation of this exquisite champagne, from the Frerejean-Taittinger brothers, is really something to celebrate. From £295; frerejeanfreres.com

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ABSOLUTELY / LOVES REJINA PYO

Influenced by abstract art, we love Central Saint Martin’s graduate and lecturer, Rejina Pyo’s, bold A/W Collection. harveynichols.com

HIVER MY TIMBERS With the scent of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Diptyque’s latest offering – Hiver – will warm up the coldest winter nights. £45; diptyqueparis.co.uk

THAT BOTTLE

Strikingly opulent, Donatella has dressed Disaronno up in a look that is unmistakably Versace. We love it. £15; disaronno.com

DRAW THE LINE

The season that sparkles is fast approaching so make sure you colour the town metallic with these new pencils from Caran d’Ache. £2.99 each; carandache.com

BEST KEPT SECRET

CALENDAR CHIC

Inspired by the dog collar, the Médor Rose Gold watch is ingeniously designed to conceal the clock face. Does it put style before practicality? Perhaps, but we don’t care. It’s super chic. POA; hermes.com

Designed by our all-time favourite fashion illustrator, Garance Doré, this calendar makes foreplanning stylish. £16; shop.garancedore.fr

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DISCOVERMORE

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is

Open Days November 7th/12th (9.30am/9.30am) November 19th/28th (7pm/9.30am)

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

December 3rd/9th (7pm/9.30am)

discovery, laughter and friendship.

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

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

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

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@kewhouseschool

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p. 22

FIENNES, THE TRUTH

p. 26

© EGON SCHIELE

> CHELSEA REMEMBERS

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Fro m 26 No v em b er Tate Mo de rn o coincide with the centenary of the First World War, this exhibition T concerns the relationship between photography and sites of conflict over time. It will include perspectives of former conflict zones, and features work from Syrian, Polish, German and British photographers. ◆ Bankside, SE1, 020 7887 8888; tate.org.uk

©EGON SCHIELE

ALWAYS IN FASHION

Egon Schiele

6 No v em b er - 7 D ecem b er P ro u d Ch e l s e a ondon born and bred, Norman Parkinson transformed the world of L fashion photography from the utilitarian pre-war aesthetic, into an alluring, glamorous and exciting art form. Proud celebrates his bold, creative work and takes us through his sophisticated and beautiful portfolio. ◆ 161 King’s Road, SW3, 020 7349 0822; proudonline.co.uk

The Radical Nude Un til 18 Jan uary Courtauld G aller y

Egon Schiele (1890 - 1918) was one of the most important artists of the early 20th century and a central figure of Austrian Expressionism. This exhibition brings together an outstanding selection of the artist’s nudes to chart his ground-breaking approach during his short but important career, and showcases Schiele’s technical virtuosity and highly original vision.

Somerset House, Strand, WC2R, 020 7872 0220; courtauld.ac.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE / TALKING TOPICS

RCA GRAPHICS: 50 YEARS & BEYOND 5 No ve m b e r - 22 D e ce m b e r R oyal C olle ge of Ar t

he RCA’s first exhibition of graphic design took place in 1963. Now, 51 years later, the school has delved into their archives to curate this exhibition of original and rarely-seen pieces of alumni art.

Tracing the development of the school since its’ conception, we see how rapidly graphics had to evolve to suit the digital age. ◆ Kensington Gore, SW7; 020 7590 4444; graphics50.rca.ac.uk

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POST POP

must see

East Meets West

LARGE AS LIFE

F ro m 26 No v e m b e r S aatc h i G a l l e r y

From 20 Nove mbe r Park Walk G a l l er y eturning to the cave man’s pure pigment paintings, R Gary Stinton’s pastel drawings depict life-size Jaguars, Cheetahs, Amur Leopards, Lynx and Giraffes. To capture the ‘essence’ of these great creatures, Stinton uses the soft and dry nature of pastel, to reflect the light. This subsequently creates pieces with a luminosity not obtained through other mediums. ◆ 20 Park Walk, SW10, 020 7351 0410; jonathancooper.co.uk

Examining why Pop Art has had such an impact on the world, the pieces on show here, all exploit identifiable imagery from the mass media. Despite different, often opposing ideologies, each artist has been inspired by 20th century popular culture figures. The results are truly fascinating.

Duke of York’s HQ, SW3, 020 7811 3085; saatchigallery.com

ARTIST OF THE MONTH Chelsea-based art consultant Nicholas Campbell chooses November’s top talent

ANJA SCHWÖRER y choice this month is the wonderfully delicate work by Berlin-based artist Anja Schwörer. I came across this decorative piece in a recent show and I have since found it irresistible.

Schwörer’s creative process is based around manipulating and eroding canvases.

Utilizing bleach, similar to how light is used in a photographic process, the images are burned into canvas, and the bleach is allowed to yield fluctuations of colour. This succeeds in shifting spatial tensions and the intrinsic values of

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positive and negative space. In this case, she has chosen cheese cloth, opposed to canvas, and has dyed the fabric, before systematically plucking at the material, teasing out a pattern and aesthetic residue. The result is beautiful, and would make a lovely addition to any serious contemporary collection. ◆

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

NOVEMBER 2014

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THEATRE REVIEW

UNCLE VANYA

By A n to n C h e k h ov

FULHAM’S BEE-INSPIRED EXTERIORS Wo r d s M i k e R o g e r s

run Portland Decorating with my business partner, Will, and we were brainstorming ideas one day as to how we could promote the launch of our new website. Throwing things into the mix, it all spiraled somewhat when we came up with the idea of hand-painting a large mural on the façade of a London property. Because, why not?

Never ones to back down from a plan, we got in touch with celebrated street artist, Paul Don Smith, who was as excited about the project as we were – especially when he discovered what he’d be painting…

There has been a lot in the press recently about the plight of the UK honeybee and it is something both Will and I feel strongly about. What better way to raise awareness, we considered, than for Paul to turn the front of my house into a giant honeycomb?

We worked in conjunction with the British Beekeepers Association on the project, and are simply delighted with the results. Feedback from the local community has been fantastic and in view of which, we have decided to keep it up a while longer.

So, dear Absolutely readers, spare a thought for the busy bee and sign up to the BBA by visiting bbka.org.uk. They are in desperate need of funding for research and your donation – big or small – would bee a massive help.

Oh, and since this was where it all started, do check out our website too: portlanddecorating.co.uk

I

ST JAME S’S THEATRE A d a p t e d b y A n ya R e i s s Directed by Russell Bolam

A

nya Reiss’ adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya was bound to have its critics (namely, the purists). Set in modern day, the elderly Professor Serebryakov and his younger, second wife, Yelena, arrive at the family farm, run by Sonya (the Professor’s daughter by his late, first wife) and Sonya’s maternal uncle, Vanya. Vanya and his doctor-friend, Astrov, immediately fall for the beautiful Yelena, whilst Sonya lusts after Astrov. The show climaxes when the Professor suggests the farm is sold, meaning Vanya’s life’s work would be lost forever...

Now, no one expects a ‘Cheer Up Tuesday’ when they go to see Chekhov, but I was eager to see how the late19th century text would translate to modern day. Was it successful? Well, let’s start with the positives. John Hannah, as Vanya, gives a convincing performance of the frustrated uncle, utilising his expressive face and strong vocals to portray the wasted soul. The awkwardness and humour of Amanda Hale, as Sonya, was captivating, whilst

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Jack Shepherd effectively captured the out-of-touch, old bore Professor.

That said, there were a few negatives.

The corrugated iron backdrop setting, for one, did something rather trippy to my eyes when characters walked in front of it. Whilst the endless handgesturing and lost lines were irritating, the play was mostly let down by its modern setting. You can’t sympathise with Yelena’s isolation from society when iPads and laptops (means of communication) are bandied around.

Similarly, young people today don’t stare out at storms, they Snapchat the lightening to their friends. Without verbal reference to the farm, I wouldn’t have known they were on one – it looked more like a gypsy campsite – and as for the doctor and his love of forests, would such a fellow live more on his laptop than out in nature? There were engaging moments, mainly from Sonya, but those were fleeting. I left this show glad to have seen it, but no nearer to Snapchatting the flyer to my friends. ◆

By Edwina Langley

● Until 8 November 12 Palace Street, SW1E, 0844 264 2140; stjamestheatre.co.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE / TALKING TOPICS BOOK PICKS ELECTRIC DREAMS

Jim’ll Paint I t Fab er & Fab er, £ 1 2.9 9 If you have never visualised such scenarios as Brian Blessed punching a polar bear or cats rescuing a fireman from a tree, don’t worry – others did, and they suggested them to Jim. And through Microsoft Paint, Jim turned them into this compilation of funny, surreal and disturbing imaginations.

◆

PLANT With CLEMMIE HAMBRO

MAHONIA tepping into one’s garden in November can be a lonely experience: nondescript evergreens struggle valiantly to provide a whisper of comfort against the ever-darkening skies. Apart from the gardens that have thought about planting a Mahonia.

Tucked away in a shady corner, it will sit being evergreenly discreet for most of the year, till about November, when suddenly magnificent spikes of yellow flowers erupt from its hollyshaped leaves. Smelling like Lily of the valley, it will then produce some nice purpley-black berries. Oddly prehistoric-looking, to me it’s like a welcome burst of sunshine. 

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THE REPERCUSSIONS Cather ine Hall

must read

Alm a Bo o k s, £ 1 2.9 9 Jo, a war photographer, is looking to instil some equilibrium in her life when she takes up residence in an inherited Brighton house.

But equilibrium is not forthcoming when she discovers the diary of her great-grandmother, a nurse during the Great War. The realities of conflict, love, guilt and loss, link the lives and loves of these two women across a century. ◆

PLENTY MORE Yotam Ottolenghi

E b u r y P ress, £ 2 7 For many it is enough to say ‘a new cookbook from Yotam Ottolenghi’. The restaurateur and columnist has become synonymous not just with food, but with really good food, and his previous volumes are staples on the shelves of those who cook well. In this, there are 120 new vegetable-based recipes – a feast of stews, pies, bakes, salads, and all of it, gorgeous... ◆

ABDUCTING A GENERAL Patr ick L eigh Fermor

Jo h n M u r ray, £ 2 0 Patrick Leigh Fermor: author, scholar, soldier, and as renowned for his daring wartime exploits as he was for his published output. His involvement in the kidnap of the Nazi General Heinrich Kreipe is considered one of his greatest accomplishments, and this is his own account of the incident.

BRITTEN’S WAR REQUIEM

9 Novem b er Ro yal Albert Ha l l omposed by the pacifist Benjamin C Britten in 1961, War Requiem was inspired by the poems of First World War solider, Wilfred Owen. It is dedicated to Britten’s four close friends, lost in the Second World War. Performed at the Royal Albert Hall by the Royal Choral Society, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Trinity Boys Choir. Proceeds go to charity Veterans Aid. ◆ Kensington Gore, SW7, 020 7589 8212; royalalberthall.com

◆

ARMCHAIR NATION Joe Moran

P ro f i le Bo o k s, £ 9.9 9 A history of television in Britain, how it shaped society and how society shaped it. It may lack the glamour, grand politics and worldchanging whims of the more well-trodden paths of Britain’s past, but this volume of everyday history will resonate with anyone who grew up sulking at closedown, and felt spoiled for choice when Channel 4 launched.

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

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NOVEMBER 2014

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Basia Briggs

Photograph by

Aliona Adrianova

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07568336427 25/03/2013 17:49

ABSOLUTELY / SOCIALS THIRST FOR DESIGN very merry bunch descended on the V&A for the launch of the London Design Festival. Amidst such wonders as the Barber & Osgerby immersive kinetic sculpture (in conjunction with BMW), guests were treated to an array of scrumptious canapes (like those from Cerviche Peruvian Kitchen) and flutes of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Champagne. So much so, that if anyone left hungry or thirsty, they were definitely on a designer diet. ◆

A

Culture Vultures It was literature and design that tempted Chelsea-ites outdoors last month

BOOKED here wasn’t a dry eye in the house following Lucy O’Donnell’s moving speech on the launch night of her book, Cancer is my Teacher, at Daunt Books, Chelsea last month.

That said, the mood was lifted somewhat when she berated her husband, Carletto, for not even having read it! The Marchioness of Milford Haven, Santa Montefiore and the Countess of Balfour were all in attendance, slurping champagne and nibbling smoked salmon blinis, and a record number of books were sold on the night to boot. ◆

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SPOTLIGHT

Chelsea Remembers

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, Camilla Norton visits the district’s military landmarks and pays homage to the sacrifices made by so many

T

his year marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War; the first total war, in which 16 million military and civilian personnel were killed, and a further 20 million were wounded.

One can never forget, in Chelsea – a borough packed with memorials to service men and women, past and present. At the heart of the district, in the centre of Sloane Square, is the Chelsea War Memorial, a stone’s throw from Sloane Square station.

This Cross of Sacrifice, designed by an unknown architect, was erected in 1920 and is believed to be the first war memorial built on a public highway.

A huge proportion of the Royal Borough is made up of buildings and institutions connected to servicemen. Not far from the War Memorial is the bustling commercial space, Duke of York’s Square, the HQ of which, until 2003, was the ‘Duke of York’s Barracks’. Its most recent military use was the Territorial Army

headquarters. This building, completed in 1801, was designed by John Sanders, the architect of the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst. It was originally named the ‘Royal Military Asylum’, a school for the children of soldier’s widows, used later during the Second World War for the court-martials of German spies.

To the South lies the National Army Museum, currently closed for redevelopment until 2016.

By far the most imposing and impressive institution, and one still very much in use, is the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Founded in 1682 by Charles II to care for old and injured soldiers (though not opened until 1692 under William & Mary), the Royal Hospital is home to approximately 300 Chelsea Pensioners (seven of which are currently women) who are often to be seen in and around Chelsea in their iconic scarlet coats. They are so much part of the fabric of Chelsea that a number of Chelsea Pensioners were recently asked to make cameo appearances in E4 series Made in Chelsea!

THE ROYAL HOSPITAL is home to 300 CHELSEA PENSIONERS

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ARTS & CULTURE / REMEMBRANCE

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XXXXXX ARTS & CULTURE / XXXXXXX / REMEMBRANCE The Royal Hospital sits in 66 acres of beautifully manicured grounds, an elegant range of buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren. A veritable village within a village, it incorporates a post office, museum and stunning chapel, complete with Grinling Gibbons carvings.

During the First World War, as now, the Royal Hospital was home to Chelsea Pensioners, and it also served as the central office for the administration of pensions. Curator of the Royal Hospital archives John Rochester, was at pains to emphasise that it was very much ‘business as usual’ for the Royal Hospital during WW1. Administration of army pensions continued, but due to the inevitable increase in war pensions, the 30 clerks grew to 230 (made up mostly of women) necessitating the construction of a new administration building over Burton Court.

Delving a little deeper, however, it appears that the Royal Hospital was far from ‘unaffected’ by the Great War. A wing of the complex was bombed to the ground on 16th February 1918, during which 32 Royal Hospital personnel and locals were injured and 21 killed, including the then Captain of Invalids, Captain Ernest Ludlow MC, his wife and their two sons.

Like most institutions, the Royal Hospital lost many of their staff in the war. Stoically however, Chelsea Pensioners were very much involved with the recruiting of soldiers, and many were involved in the training of new recruits too. The beautiful gardens were used as training grounds with tented camps put up

THE ROYAL HOSPITAL lost many of their STAFF IN THE WAR

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in Burton Court for the Territorial Army.

This year, the Royal Hospital has hosted many events to commemorate the 100th anniversary. On 28th June, it marked the centenary of the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand (the event widely regarded as the catalyst for the beginning of the First World War) with a Drumhead Service of Remembrance, taken by the Bishop of London, and attended by The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. On 4th August, the centenary of Great Britain’s entry into the Great War, the Great War Centenary Parade set out from the Royal Hospital.

This parade saw a convoy of over 40 Edwardian cars process from the Royal Hospital to the Imperial War Museum, via the Houses of Parliament, the Cenotaph and Lancaster House. Prince Michael of

Kent and 50 Chelsea Pensioners took part.

This month, the annual Remembrance Drumhead service will be held in Wren’s chapel on 11th November. Since this is a parish church, the service will, as usual, be open to the public. As they do every year however, the Chelsea Pensioners will continue to travel far and wide to distribute poppies and tell about the Royal Hospital. In this way, Chelsea Pensioners are not treating this anniversary year any differently to any other year; their work carries on regardless. Much like that of the Royal Hospital, which remains a symbol of this country’s gratitude to those who have served in battle for it.  Royal Hospital Road, SW3, 020 7881 5200; chelsea-pensioners.co.uk

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Mitko Stefanov ROCK CRYSTAL

ANTIQUE CHANDELIERS & RESTORATION

mitkostefanov.com 07713 285 936 | mitko.stefanov17@gmail.com K5 Cooper House, 2 Michael Road, Fulham, London SW6 2AD

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SPOTLIGHT

FIENNES, THE TRUTH Record-breaking expedition leader Sir Ranulph Fiennes on thought-blocking, exploration and his Agincourt ancestors Wo r d s E d w i n a L a n g l e y

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imagine most of you have heard of the travel writer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes. ‘Travel writer?!’ you might scoff. ‘The first man to reach both the North and South poles?

The man who led the team that discovered the lost city of Ubar on the Yemeni border? The first man to complete an unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent, incidentally, the longest unsupported polar expedition in history?

The ‘travel writer?!’

Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ quite Herculean achievements (the above are merely a handful) coupled with the estimated £16million he’s raised for charity, appears not to match his job description. Whilst I can see ‘the world’s greatest living explorer’ (Guinness Book of World Records, 1984) is rather pompous, at least it’s accurate. Isn’t ‘Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the travel writer’, a bit like ‘Sir Walter Raleigh, the sailor’?

This question bothered me in the days leading up to our interview. From my research, Fiennes was very precise. Nothing was acceptable unless it is was a fact. So the fact he calls himself a ‘travel writer’, must indeed be that – a fact. Naturally, I needed to clear this up immediately…

‘Yup,’ he replies in his precise, clipped English. ‘That’s correct.’ Not explorer, I

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The only time our EXPEDITIONS have been ‘FIRST INTO AN AREA’ ...was in 1979/80

probe? ‘The ‘exploration’ definition,’ he continues, ‘is finding something totally new and/or mapping an area that hasn’t been covered over before. Or if it has, by somebody who didn’t know how to map. The only time our expeditions have been ‘first into an area’ and [led to] a definitive map was in 1979/80. [Then] we mapped about 700 miles of unexplored terrain.’

He is referring to the colossal Transglobe Expedition, where he became the first man to circumnavigate the world along its polar axis. From 1979-82, he completed the journey alongside Charles Burton, an ex-military former bartender Fiennes had met in the Admiral Codrington in Chelsea.

A significant part of this odyssey took place in the Antarctic, where the pair were joined

by Fiennes’ first wife, Ginny, and Fiennes’ school friend, Oliver Shephard. There they spent winter, 5,000ft above sea level, making maps. The days before satellite, they

had little more than the sun, stars and a compass to work out their positioning. It must make polar travel these days seem like a walk in the park; albeit a −60°C one.

‘Well, there are two ways of looking at it,’ Fiennes explains, when I ask if GPS and satellites have taken the ‘schoolboy fun’ out of polar expeditions. ‘One is that, yes, they produce pretty complex, digital stuff, but it doesn’t have to perform accurately in extreme temperatures. To rely on it, might mean ending up with it not working when you need it…

‘The other, is that in Antarctica, or the Arctic, very often you’ve been manhauling a heavy weight, which makes you sweat. When you stop work, you get very, very cold, very, very quickly. You put the tent up and get into it. [But] until the advent of the GPS as ‘navigator’, I would be spending an average of 45 minutes, trying to get my location outside – looking at the sun to get the altitude, or in winter, a given or named star… In terms of GPS, it’s [been] a huge benefit to the navigator.

In the old days... you had to look at your nautical almanac book and your sight reduction tables… and for someone like me, with no Maths A-level, even that was a complicated thing. So a big advantage indeed, is GPS and Sat Nav.’

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Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes was born in Berkshire, in March, 1944 (the death of his father – Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes – from battle wounds, four months earlier, meant he inherited the baronetcy at birth).

Shortly after the war, Fiennes travelled to South Africa with his mother, where he stayed until he was 12. He returned to England, to Sandroyd School in Wiltshire, and then graduated on to Eton.

Fiennes has spoken about the trials that lay ahead for him there – such intense bullying that, at one point, he considered throwing himself off Windsor Bridge. It’s possible this prevented him from realising his full academic potential, though he has also attributed that to ‘girls in miniskirts’ at his Brighton crammer. But whilst, like earlier in our conversation, he can make light of his failings in Maths, when I push him on it later – did he not try? – it’s clear it’s no joking matter. ‘Oh,’ he pauses. ‘I tried very, very hard to get A-levels in Maths

and Physics. Because I wanted to be the commanding officer of my late father’s regiment. But by the time I arrived, you had to have A-levels to get into Sandhurst. But I never got them, despite working extremely hard and going to crammers.’

A shadow has seemingly fallen over our conversation and I try my best to shift it. In retrospect, I argue, he surely couldn’t give two hoots about it now. ‘It’s all very well ‘in retrospect’, 50 years later,’ he says, not at all placated. ‘But, umm, if you’re talking about ‘at the time’, I definitely regretted not going to Sandhurst. You couldn’t move in an upwards direction in the army if you hadn’t [been]. I thought those rules would change, if I hanged on. But they never did.’

Fiennes had a good military career all the same, enjoying status for a time as the youngest captain in the British army. In 1965, he joined the SAS, but was thrown out for a stunt he pulled blowing up an ‘ugly’ bridge, built in a picturesque village in Wiltshire for the set of film, Dr Dolittle. He

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returned to the Royal Scots Greys, and went on to serve with the Omani Army, where he was awarded the Sultan’s Bravery Medal.

But after eight years, believing he could go no further, Fiennes quit the military.

Having little money to speak of, he took up work as an adventure training officer, teaching soldiers how to climb and ski.

Unsatisfied still, the idea came to him that he could do the same in a civilian capacity.

Encouraged by Ginny Pepper (his childhood sweetheart, and from 1970 – until her untimely death from cancer in 2004 – his wife), his first expedition was parachuting on a glacier in Norway, funded through drill nights in the Territorial Army (which he and Ginny had both joined). Following that, he travelled up the Nile by hovercraft and before he knew it, he had found his vocation.

Nearly 50 years on, Fiennes has conquered such challenges as running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents, in 2003 (following a heart attack and double heart bypass, four months earlier); climbing the North Face of the Eiger in 2007, and reaching the Everest Nepal Summit in 2009, at the age of 65 (the oldest Brit ever to do so). All this is aweinspiring, of course, but also rather ironic; he says he prefers hotter climes.

‘If you add up the days, more of our expeditions have been in hot deserts than colder ones,’ he tells me. I wonder how he deals with the latter (the mind-boggling temperatures he must face). ‘You just put on more suitable clothes,’ he replies.

A psychoanalyst’s dream, it’s impossible to perforate his cool, considered exterior.

Whilst it’s easy to forget he was in the SAS during my hours of research, it’s strangely all I can think about during our conversation. He has a dry sense of humour, yes, but I’m never quite sure when – or even if – he’s joking. I laugh at some of the things he says, but am often met with silence. It’s most unnerving. Unnerving, and yet, intriguing. I get as close as I dare to a personal question: how does he feel before one of his trips – excited? Nervous? ‘Umm, gosh,’ he pauses. ‘I don’t really recall one’s emotions before a given expedition. Usually everything happens bit by bit. You’re talking about whether the publicity covering the expedition will a) please the sponsors, on who you depend, and b) get a lot of money for the charity of that particular expedition.

So, that would be more in mind than…’

Than what, I interrupt, the risk to his life?

‘I don’t think there’s much thought about people risking their lives,’ he replies coolly.

‘Unless during the middle of an expedition, somebody makes a mistake and finds themselves in a perilous position.’

One thing I know he must worry about though, is vertigo, for he is a well-known sufferer. ‘I don’t have a fear of heights on

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ARTS & CULTURE / ADVENTURE

a thing like Everest because there aren’t really any proper drops,’ he says. (He had earlier described conquering Everest as: ‘a very simple thing, which lots of people do… not a climb – a walk, really’.) ‘If you look down, you can sort of see a shoulder of white, but not a dizzy, black drop, like you get on the Rocky Mountains. So, with Everest, no, I didn’t get vertigo there. In the Alps, the Eiger, I found myself desperate not to look down, knowing that if I did, vertigo would come all over me. So the answer is obviously a) don’t look down…’ Or b), I interrupt again, don’t do the climb?! ‘Well, there is that. But the second thing is, you mustn’t think about below either.’

Far easier said than done. Controlling one’s thoughts at the best of times is difficult, controlling one’s fears can be nigh on impossible. ‘You have to learn to mentally block it out,’ he says, matter-of-factly. This must be down to his army training, I insist, but he neither agrees nor disagrees. ‘I like to think I’ve got some control over the weak thoughts that come into your head, if you’re a human.’

Is ‘fear’ a ‘weakness’, I find myself wondering? Perhaps so, if you’re Sir Ranulph Fiennes. But if you do manage to conquer the weaker thoughts of humanity, as he sees it, when he’s testing his body to its limits, what on earth does he think about? ‘If you take the seven marathons [challenge], the first one we did [in Patagonia] there was an Olympic measuring person and three penguins.

On the last one we did, there were 38,000

Americans, including Puff Daddy. So your mind is filled with colourful things. Down in Antarctica, where it’s a bit more boring, your unpleasant thoughts can play on your mind much more. But certainly, if you do manage to think of exterior thoughts away from whatever you’re suffering at the time, you can carry on for half an hour without even thinking about it. As soon as you start thinking you are getting a bit tired, you will get tired.’

We move on to discuss his new book, Agincourt; a personal account of The Battle of Agincourt, where he reveals his own ancestors were involved – nay, key figures – in the Anglo-French tensions, prior to, during, and post the famous battle.

He relays how, centuries earlier at the Battle of Hastings, when it looked like the English were winning, Eustace II (Count of Boulogne and Seigneur of Fiennes) told Duke William of Normandy: ‘Sire, you must retreat. The battle is going badly, we can still reach the ships’. (This, incidentally, is recorded in the Bayeux Tapestry.) William ignored him (or as Fiennes puts it, ‘gave him two fingers’) and as history relates, he went on to become William the Conqueror.

400-odd years later, in October 1415, four English knights of Henry V’s army took shelter near the village of Agincourt. They were ancestors of Fiennes. Across the valley were four other of Fiennes’ ancestors – part of the opposing Dauphin’s army.

And 50-odd years after that, once Henry VI had succeeded his father and inherited both the English and French

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crowns, another Fiennes crops up – James Fiennes, Lord Saye. He was Henry VI’s ‘very unpleasant Chancellor of the Exchequer’, responsible for withholding funds to finance the French war. ‘So, at the beginning, you’ve got Eustace Fiennes. And at the end of it all, you’ve got James Fiennes. So [I’ve got] family from beginning to end!’ he concludes.

Some might see this as an example of Fiennes further attempting to entrench his name into the history books. But remember, he is all about facts. Just as easily as he relayed his ancestor’s successes, so he conveyed their failures, and in some cases, violence. Godfrey Fiennes, he reveals, instructed his army to massacre 40,000 men, women and children. That’s a hard ancestral connection to own up to, and I commend him for not burying bad history under good. ‘That’s you assuming that I haven’t hidden any of it, Edwina,’ he retorts, and laughs (finally…).

Fiennes recently attempted to undertake The Coldest Journey, which, had he succeeded, would have made him the first man to cross the Antarctic in winter. Alas, he pulled out early on due to frostbite (which he later attributed to the onset of arthritis), and on meeting an impassable crevasse field, the remaining team had to pull out too. He implies the British Foreign Office and their insistence they take with them, ‘everything that a British Antarctic Survey desk would have – so, a kidney stone operating theatre,’ was partially responsible for the mission’s failure. When I ask if he’ll try it again, he replies: ‘If the Foreign Office change their mind about [the safety measures] we would.’

So, until his next expedition, Fiennes will continue doing what he does best – public speaking (he’s MC’ing the annual Transglobe Expedition Trust Event this month) and writing. Or make that, what he does ‘second’ best. He may factually call himself a ‘travel writer’, but writing is clearly a means to travel. This therefore makes him, foremost, a ‘traveller’. And I’d argue that that too is a fact. 

AGINCOURT My Family, The Battle And The Fight For France by Ranulph Fiennes, Hodder & Stoughton, £20 Sir Ranulph Fiennes presents ‘Astounding Feats’ at the Royal Geographical Society.

25th November, 7pm; transglobe-expedition.org

NOVEMBER 2014

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ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

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GREAT OUTDOORS For on-trend all-weather attire, look to Holland & Holland. Their AW14 Collection – with the Ladies Cashmere Cable Cardigan (£1,150) and Lancaster Boots (£450) – belongs in your weekend suitcase.

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st y l e C e n t r a l

The animal kingdom has infiltrated our wardrobe this November words scarlet crewdson

FASHION IS THAT FUR US?

When out in England’s green and pleasant land, go faux…

Wo r d s R O S E L A N G L E Y

t this time of year, I often get asked the question: ‘Are you shooting this weekend?’ I reply: ‘Yes. We have a great model and photographer on-board, so hopefully it will all run smoothly.’

The inquirer then looks at me dumbfounded, before replying: ‘No dear, I meant pheasant shooting!’ You can see why some fashionistas get confused…

Dressing for the cold doesn’t have to mean dressing unstylishly, and for a shooting weekend I’d advocate accessorising in faux fur. That way, attention is diverted from the warm, practical and – let’s face it – ‘dull’ breeks, to the luxurious, slightly outlandish, fluffiness of your expertlystyled faux fur. Even a simple fur cuff from Dubarry adds instant je ne sais quoi. But if you are looking to go for a proper showstopper, I recommend a faux fur olive green Popsicle from British accessories designer, Charlotte Simone.

Simone believes your entire outfit should be based around the humble scarf, and this piece [pictured, above] is perfect for taking both style and warmth with you, out onto the fields and moors of the British countryside. u

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 Popsicle in 100% acrylic, £155. Selected Charlotte Simone scarves are available from Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X, 020 7235 5000; charlottesimone.com

 ROSE LANGLEY – STYLIST To contact Rose, email: roselangley1@gmail.com Violet Naylor-Leyland is away

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All About Orla Orla Kiely

There isn’t much we wouldn’t do for Orla Kiely’s AW14 Collection. The Crepe Coating Double Breasted Jacket (£339) and skirt (£199) in Winter Sky Melange (pictured) fits like a glove, whilst the Textured Jacquard Sleeveless Dress in Peony (£299) is Betty Draper to a ‘t’. We simply adore.

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FASHION / NOTES

5

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Complete with turtleneck, to ward off icy winds, the goose-down interiors provide a duvet-like quality for ultimate comfort. It looks pretty fabulous too. £1,450; store.robertocavalli.com

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HATS

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PIECES OF GREAT

02

Oscar de la Renta

In memory of the late, great Oscar de la Renta, we are off to buy this: the de la Renta Parrot Embroidered Full Pleated Skirt. Influenced by Japanese artistry, this pre-AW14 piece is silk-lined and fitted at the waist.

Team with tights for a winter look. £1,725, Available from Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X, 020 7730 1234; harrods.com

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BAGS OF FUN Harvey Nichols

Italian-Brazilian Paula Cadematori’s colourful creations are made in Milan from the finest leather.

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04

05

01. MAISON MICHEL, Blanche Wide-Brim Rabbit-Felt Hat, £495; net-a-porter.com 02. ROSIE SUGDEN, Leopard-Intarsia Cashmere Beanie, £99; net-a-porter.com 03. MARKUS LUPFER, Black Crystal-Embellished Beanie, £165; harveynichols.com 04. PENMAYNE OF LONDON, Amber Trilby, £265; harrods.com 05. EUGENIA KIM, Bette Rabbit-Felt Hat, £355; net-a-porter.com

NOVEMBER 2014

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Mythical Features

Legends and elements of the West Country, designer Zaeem Jamal reveals the inspirations behind his A/W Camelot Collection

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FASHION / MOOD BOARD The stunning COASTLINE of TINTAGEL really engaged MY TINTAGEL CASTLE

IMAGINATION

The ruins of what is widely considered to have been ‘Camelot’ was a phenomenal site in which to experience nature’s elements. As I stood there, I imagined myself in Arthur’s court, and considered what the Queen and ladies of court would have worn. Royalty and nobility are always a key consideration for the brand.

CELTIC KNOTS

SUNSET

The Celtic knot is associated with the interconnectedness of man and the elements, of man and the universe, and indeed, of the interconnectedness of all. For this reason, I wanted to include them in the collection, and interpreted them through our brand’s signature rich gold and silver metal thread hand-embroideries.

The warmth of the sun, breaking through the autumnal clouds off the coast of Tintagel, inspired the ‘fire’ element of the collection, with its golden and orange hues. The unique dying process of our silk fabrics ensures vibrant colours.

MERLIN’S CAVE

Off the coast of Tintagel, lies Merlin’s Cave. The moment I entered it, I knew it had to be a part of the story; the dark grey tones influenced the ‘earth’ element of the colour palette for the collection.

TINTAGEL COASTLINE

The stunning coastline of Tintagel in Cornwall, really engaged my imagination; the colours of the sea guided our ‘water’ dress colour palette.

INCENSE & RESINS

Fragrance plays a key part in any sensory experience, and really complemented the sights and sounds of my travels to the West Country. There is a lovely boutique called Star Child in Glastonbury, which I discovered (and have returned to many times subsequently). It has a lovely selection of incenses and resins – from pure blends to special mixes – designed around mythical figures, such as Merlin.

ARTHURIAN LEGENDS

The Camelot Collection draws upon the tales of King Arthur and his knights, and the quest for the grail. I believe the Arthurian tales were told to encourage us to be the best we can be, and to learn about the importance of ideals such as: valiance, honesty, chivalry and, of course, love. Related artefacts such as the legendary ‘round table’ [pictured], pictured], pictured remind us of those stories and encourage us to reflect on their values.

CHALICE WELL

On the outskirts of Glastonbury lies the Chalice Well. It’s intriguing cover symbol [pictured] inspired many of the collection’s embroidery motifs; Research and history always form a key element of every collection.

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NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 15:36

ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE

SPOTLIGHT

LADY OF THE LACE British fashion designer Alice Temperley MBE talks to Absolutely about cultural inspiration and meeting The Queen…

W o r d s E l i z a b e t h va n l i e r

ELIZABETH VAN LIER Why did you choose Chelsea for your pop-up shop?

ALICE TEMPERLEY We have had lots of demand in the area and we will move into a store in the district one day. This space is a great pop-up location, and was fantastic timing for the run up to the holiday season, and for our amazing Winter 2014 Collection.

EVL Tell us about your new collection…

AT For Summer 2015, I focused on dayto-evening outfits, which were relaxed, modern and versatile.

EVL You grew up on a farm in Somerset, so how did that lead to designing?!

AT From a very young age I made things out of fabric and paint. I also sold earrings I had made for pocket money from the age of eight. Around the age of 11, we got our first television and I fell in love with the glamour of black and white films. This was where my clothes-making begun. I saw it as escapism, allowing me to enter another world. I studied Textiles and Print [at Central Saint Martins] and made clothes to sell in order to pay my way through college.

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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EVL Can you describe how your ‘design process’ works?

AT I work very organically, starting with the inspiration, which could be art, music or photography. This leads into colour and stories by technique, print, lace and appliqué etc. We build a fully elaborate story on our mood boards, create a muse, and then start sketching. Pattern-making and lots of fittings follow. And then we go to see our suppliers and put all our show samples into work.

EVL What influences you?

AT Everything that is around me – music, art, museums, travel... I am very lucky that I am constantly inspired by my surroundings and I collect things all the time. Inspiration is the fun bit.

I am

CONSTANTLY INSPIRED by my SURROUNDINGS

EVL Where are your clothes made and how do source the materials?

AT I source my fabric from various places.

Primarily, Italy – for laces and all our woven jacquards. The best mills in the world are around Lake Como.

EVL The Duchess of Cambridge has worn many of your designs. What does this mean to you?

AT Of course, it’s very flattering.

EVL Is celebrity endorsement important?

AT Celebrity endorsement is, of course, good exposure for a brand, and also great for brand awareness.

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FASHION / Q&A

EVL Is there anyone in your life whose style you particularly admire?

AT My mother and the women around me. I admire people with individual style, who are not label slaves and who mix things up effortlessly.

EVL How did you find out about your MBE and what happened when you met HM The Queen?

AT It was an honour to meet HM The Queen, she was very knowledgeable and I was a little overwhelmed to meet her.

When the letter came through the door I actually thought my assistant was joking at first...

EVL What would a typical outfit be for: a) A work day?

AT A three-piece-suit, a white shirt and our Temperley London lace-ups from the Summer 2015 Collection EVL b) A weekend?

AT The same, but a different three-piecesuit perhaps. I am having a suit moment!

EVL If you weren’t a designer you’d be...?

AT A photographer or a painter – there is still time for this. ◆ Temperley London pop-up open till February 2015, 33 King’s Road, SW3, 0207 313 5285; temperleylondon.com

43 CH_Nov_ALICE TEMPERELY.indd 43

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 10:51

311 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 2DY 020 7225 0584 www.renecaovilla.com Follow us on

RENE CAOVILLA_V3.indd 1

22/10/2014 15:13

ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

AFFORDABLE EXCLUSIVITY

Allison’s small team of seamstresses and tailors work to the same exacting standards and all her clothes are made locally in London.

The finishing details are exquisite yet understated. Touches of embroidery or beadwork for jacket-edges, or a scattering of crystals around dress necklines, make each piece a one-off.

Known for her bridal wear, Allison’s bridal designs make the most perfect of days, even more perfect. Understated and sophisticated, her creations rely on the perfect cut of sumptuous Italian crepe, satin and organza, or the finest french chiffon or lace, all of which hug the body to create a soft, fluid silhouette.

Each dress is designed to compliment and flatter the bride. Made through a series of fittings, Allison also advises on complimentary accessories. Her simple elegant lines, proportion and attention to detail are luxurious and unique.

Then there’s her occasion wear. From ‘mothers of the bride’ to ‘ladies who lunch,’ Allison designs for all women who treasure the opportunity to adorn themselves in perfectly cut bespoke tailoring. Her creations enhance an individual’s style and proportions, with expert attention to detail.

And if that wasn’t enough, Allison also does officewear. Working with a number of female executives in the City, she creates impeccably cut suits, tailored to make an impression.

All of this, she does from her salon, nestled amongst the ‘secret’ artisans of Chelsea Green. It’s in a discrete corner of SW3, where customers from near and far, come to invest in her clothes, fine cut, craftsmanship and effortless style for every occasion. u

Getting married? Have a formal lunch to attend? Need a new office wardrobe? Look no further than Allison Rodger…

llison Rodger designs clothes that are loved and enjoyed A by her extensive client list.

All of them, treasured pieces – timeless, elegant, exclusive; the result of skillfully cut-to-flatter fabrics, which emanate confident style.

Foremost, are the fabrics. Quality is paramount to Allison Rodger and many

of the tweeds, textured wools and silks are woven and printed exclusively for her; the silk satin linings, for example, are especially luxurious against the skin.

Working discreetly from her salon and workrooms in Chelsea Green, Allison’s care and attention to detail extends to each and every garment, whether it be a bridal gown or just a simple shift dress.

45 CH_Nov_A.Rogers_ADV.indd 45

17 Elystan Street, SW3, 020 7821 7000; allisonrodger.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 15:45

weekend B r e a k

GETAWAY For the ultimate escape, think Bergen, Norway Wo r d s a l e x c o k e

Tweeds? Tick. Cufflinks? Tick. Gin? Big tick. We’re suited and booted, and it’s off to the country we go…

ust a two-hour flight from London, Norway makes an ideal J weekend break for adventure lovers. It’s a fisherman’s paradise with 60,000 lakes and rivers full of fish and you can purchase a fishing license for just 50 Norwegian Kronors a day (around £4).

Sandwiched between the forests and the fjords, Bergen offers great autumnal hiking, hunting, shooting and fishing, as well as, kayaking, rafting and paragliding. All year round skiing is possible on a nearby glacier, reachable by car or helicopter.

The town’s most famous resident was the composer Grieg and you can hear his music echoing around the old quarter (a hipster’s playground – with craft shops and microbreweries) most evenings. The majestic mountains, fjords and waterfalls, which inspired him, are less than an hour by boat from Bergen’s harbour.

In Bergen’s Art Museum, don’t miss Munch’s ‘Scream’; or for spectacular forest walks, take the funicular from the town centre, up Fløyen mountain. To eat, try Norwegian delicacies – moose and reindeer sausage – in Bergen’s open air market; even ecologically farmed whale is on offer.

Everyone speaks English and looks happy and fit. Singletons can enjoy flirting with beautiful blondes (both female and male).

Crime is low, so you can safely stay out late.

Although it rained lightly every day, I had a fantastic time. u

Wo r d s b e r t i e M c G i n n i s

A For Apsley Apsle y Tailors

● B E R G E N , N O R WAY Norwegian airways flies to Oslo and Bergen from Gatwick several times a day from £34.90 one-way. Long-legged travellers will appreciate this new budget airline’s generous leg-space. visitnorway.co.uk; visitbergen.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CH_Nov_Mens_Notes.indd 46

Off the peg? My ears, my ears! We want tailor-made and we want it now! Apsley Tailors’ bespoke service has been closeat-hand since 1889 – that’s 125 years’ experience in finding the perfect fabrics and crafting the perfect linings, lapels, pockets, buttons, vents, wasitbands, fronts... You’ll be needing their details, we take it: 13-13A Pall Mall, SW1Y, 020 7925 2238; apsleytailors.com

46 23/10/2014 12:24

MENS / NOTES

SHOT PUT Purdey

Want to store your cartridges the traditional way? Purdey’s Oak and Leather Cartridge Magazine will hold 100 12-gauge cartridges (or a number, loose).

Made from oak and leather, it’s handcrafted to perfection. £1,750, Audley House, 57-58 Audley Street, W1, 020 7499 1801; purdey.com

NICOLE FARHI,

Navy Stretch Cotton Shirt, £135; harveynichols.com

BURBERRY LONDON, Shawstone Shearling Duffle Coat, £3,495; harrods.com

editor’s

PICK GINFUL LIVING Sibling

LAST OF ENGLAND,

There’s only one tipple to take with you outdoors: gin. As an alternative to sloe, try the full-bodied, velvety triple distilled Sibling, featuring blueberry and Madagascan vanilla. £45, Available from 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X, 020 7235 5000; harveynichols.com

Moss Stitch Crew Neck Cashmere Jumper in Green, £205; lastofengland.co.uk

PAUL SMITH,

Bomber Carpet Jacket, £1,299; harrods.com

WATCH IT Bremont

Make sure you’re on time with the Bremont ALT1-Classic Automatic Chronograph Watch – classic style, with a rose gold case and reinforced sapphire crystal (both anti-reflective and scratchresistant). £13,950; mrporter.com

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN,

Checked Straight Leg Jeans, £505; harveynichols.com

LINKED IN

JOHN LOBB,

Longmire

Darby II Leather Brogue, £695; harrods.com

Looking for some new cufflinks? We say: go natural, and by ‘natural’, we mean ‘animal’, and by ‘animal’, we mean ‘beetles’ – like these handpainted enamel Scarabs. £6,700, 75A Jermyn Street, SW1Y, 020 7930 1033; longmire.co.uk

47 CH_Nov_Mens_Notes.indd 47

HOLLAND & HOLLAND,

Mens Loden Breeks, £450; hollandandholland.com

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 12:24

Red Silk Cropped Top, £560, Matching Long Fishtail Skirt, £1,250, both Sophia Kah Leather Shoes, £139, Underground

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22/10/2014 15:32

See

RED As the trees release their fire-flamed leaves, there’s only one colour to wear this month and it’s…

Photography Helen McArdle Styling Charlie Moore

B&C_Nov_FashionShoot 2.indd 49

22/10/2014 15:33

Burgundy and Pink Printed Wool Top, £650, Matching Skirt, £595, both Issa Leather Gloves, £295, Corlette London

B&C_Nov_FashionShoot 2.indd 50

22/10/2014 15:33

Mohair Coat, £1,600, Marni

Bow bikini top, £49, by Princesse Tam Tam; princessetamtam.co.uk Crochet pencil skirt, £399,

by Sea Ny at my-wardrobe.com Cream coat, £175,

by Pepe Jeans; pepejeans.com

B&C_Nov_FashionShoot 2.indd 51

22/10/2014 15:33

Burgundy Dress Coat with Cropped Sleeves, £785, Pavane at Fenwick Leather and Stone Embellished Fingerless Gloves, £99, Karl Lagerfeld

B&C_Nov_FashionShoot 2.indd 52

22/10/2014 15:33

Cashmere Roll-Neck Sweater, ÂŁ325, Issa

B&C_Nov_FashionShoot 2.indd 53

22/10/2014 15:34

Tomato Red Top (with 3/4 Sleeves), £540, Marni Fishtail Scuba Skirt, £500, Pinghe

Photographer – Helen McArdle Stylist – Charlie Moore Model – Xin Jie at d1 models Hair and Make-up – Fabio at Frank Agency using Chanel Christmas 2014 and Chanel Body Excellence and Ojon STOCKISTS issalondon.com corlette.co.uk Karl Lagerfeld – 020 7439 8454 Marni – 020 7245 9520 bypinghe.com sophiakah.co.uk underground-england.co.uk fenwick.co.uk With thanks to The Coastguard pub and restaurant, St Margaret’s Bay, Kent; thecoastguard.co.uk

B&C_Nov_FashionShoot 2.indd 54

22/10/2014 15:34

SPOSE DI GIO.indd 1

18/09/2014 14:24

NQ JEWELLERY.indd 1

17/10/2014 14:42

ABSOLUTELY / JEWELLERY

A Touch of Frosting Dazzle in diamonds and glisten in white gold 1

2

3

8

6

4

7

5

1. BOODLES, LARGE CHANDELIER YELLOW DIAMOND EARRINGS IN PLATINUM WITH 8.34CT OF YELLOW AND WHITE DIAMONDS, POA; boodles.com 2. ASPREY, SNAKE PROTECTOR BRACELET IN WHITE GOLD WITH 11.90CT PAVE DIAMONDS AND 0.24CT EMERALD EYES, £30,500; asprey.com 3. BULGARI, OCTO SOLOTEMPO (BVL 191) AUTOMATIC WATCH WITH AN 18CT PINK GOLD CROWN SET WITH CERAMIC, £7,600; bulgari.com 4. LINKS OF LONDON, BEE IN 18CT WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND CHARM, £450; linksoflondon.com 5. NIQUESA, AURORA PEAR-SHAPED DIAMOND RING, £ 35,000; niquesafinejewellery.com 6. TIFFANY & CO., PINK DIAMOND BOW PENDANT IN PLATINUM AND 18CT ROSE GOLD WITH A FANCY PINK DIAMOND; £2,125; tiffany.co.uk 7. GARRARD, TUDOR ROSE, 18CT WHITE GOLD BRACELET SET WITH CULTURED PEARLS AND DIAMONDS, POA; garrard.com 8. CHANEL FINE JEWELLERY, BAGUE VOIE LACTÉE RING IN 18CT WHITE GOLD SET WITH 45 BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMONDS AND JAPANESE CULTURED PEARLS, £9,950; chanel.com

57 CH_Nov_JEWELLERY.indd 57

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 12:52

STRIP NOV.indd 2

17/10/2014 11:04

> BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

p. 60

FACE IT

p. 65

HIT THE RIGHT TONE With anti-oxidants, Estée Lauder’s Even Skintone Correcting Crème moisturises and soothes the skin around your eyes overnight, brightening uneven tones £46, Available from Peter Jones, Sloane Square, SW1X, 0844 693 1751; esteelauder.co.uk

59 CH_Nov_Beauty_Opener.indd 59

NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 14:07

sa lo n R e v i e w

DUCK & DRY 335-337 King’s Road Wo r d s C a m i l l a N o r t o n

uck & Dry, the stylish, new blow bar, is the brainchild of hair D dry guru Snowden Hill and happyclient-turned-business-partner, Yulia Rorstrom. Much needed in Chelsea, this style of bar has injected energy into the blow dry market. The salon is both chic and fun, and flooded with light. Every detail has been meticulously thought through, from the Emilia Wickstead front of house, to the delicious coffee, nibbles and Prosecco on tap.

Style has not, however, been favoured over substance: two key ingredients, quality and price, are central. Internationally renowned hair stylist Snowden has painstakingly sourced fantastic stylists from across London to ensure top quality and reliability. His continuing work in the fashion world ensures hairstyles are kept up-to-date, but retain their classic elegance. £25 for a blow dry and £35 for an updo, under Snowden’s direction, is an absolute bargain. For a quick fix, there is an express ‘no wash blow dry’ for £20. However, what I think is the very best value for money is the trim and blow dry for a mere £55.

The blow dry bar can be hired out for events too. In my opinion, it’s a great option to kick-start a hen night or baby shower. And if you can’t face the trek down King’s Road, the team will travel to you for weddings or parties. However you get to them, make sure you do; you’d be mad not to pay a visit for this instant and inexpensive beauty fix. u

Bold eyes, blow drys and a spectacular spa hair mist treatment W o r d s AT H E N A KO S T O P O U L O S

Good Eye,Dear Burberry

Including the Effortless, Bold Lash and Curve Lash mascaras – for ultimate shape and body – and the Effortless Eyebrow Definer, Liquid Eyeliner and Kohl Eyeliner – for supreme definition – it’s worth keeping an eye out for the Burberry Eyes Collection.

Prices from £18; burberry.com

● DUCK & DRY 335-337 King’s Road, SW3, 020 3489 9370; duckanddry.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CH_Nov_Beauty_Notes.indd 60

60 23/10/2014 15:35

HEALTH & BEAUTY / NOTES hair care L e s s o n

MID-LIGHT IN PARIS Lancôme

We’ve really rather fallen for the Lancôme Parisian Lights Collection. In particular, the five new eye shadow shades inspired by the jewels of Place Vendome, or, as it’s otherwise known, ‘Parisian Lights Hypnose Palette’. £37; lancome.co.uk

ABOUT THYME Jo Loves

Looking for a new season scent?

Jo Loves ‘Shards of Cedar & Red Thyme’ – a blend of bergamot, crushed herbs and aromatic spices (including mint, nutmeg and lavender) – is a warming and modern, yet classic, fragrance. £95 for 100ml, 42 Elizabeth Street, SW1W, 020 7730 8611; joloves.com

editor’s

PICK BRUSH OVER Laura Mercier

The Kabuki Laura Mercier Face Brush is super sized, spotty and ideally tapered for all types of powder, bronzer and highlighter application. £35, Available from Peter Jones, Sloane Square, SW1W, 020 7730 3434; lauramercier.com

SWEET DREAMS N e a l s Ya r d R e m e d i e s

If this turned up in our stockings on Christmas Day we’d not complain. The Neal’s Yard Beauty Sleep Set includes Beauty Sleep Concentrate to rejuvenate your skin overnight. £35, 124B King’s Road, SW3, 020 7225 2842; nealsyardremedies.com

61 CH_Nov_Beauty_Notes.indd 61

HOW TO…

Moisturise your hair, with RYS Hair and Beauty Wo r d s e d w i n a l a n g l e y

he weather is colder and what this mean for most of us?

T does Dryness. Whilst we’re used to treating our skin with moisturising, cold weather-combating miracle creams, I wager most of us will forget about our hair. Yes, there are moisturising shampoos, but they’re not always enough. RYS Hair and Beauty on Walton Street are offering something more – the ‘Spa Mist Hair Treatment’. Lasting around 35 minutes, it’s an excellent pre-blow dry option that actually repairs and rejuvenates the scalp and hair. It restores shine to your locks, and gives them a gloss which would only otherwise be achievable through numerous filters on Instagram.

Interestingly, it works using ultrasound, which generates mist from purified water.

This is pumped onto your cap-covered head, providing instant nourishment and conditioning; the heat opens the cuticles in your hair, to allow the moisture in. It’s revolutionary. When used in tandem with Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizer – a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment, which also adds moisture to your hair cuticles and leads to greater elasticity – you are guaranteed a virtually new head of hair. Keats called autumn the ‘season of mist’, and after a rejuvenating RYS treatment this November, I challenge anyone to disagree with him. ◆ ● RYS HAIR & BEAUTY Spa Mist Treatment, £35, Blow-Dry, £35.

176 Walton Street, SW3, 020 7100 0724; ryshairandbeauty.com

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 11:03

HAIR & BEAUTY

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

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

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

RYS Hair & Beauty

@RYShair

RYS Hair and Beauty 176 Walton Street, Knightsbridge SW3 2JL // 020 7100 0724 // info@ryshairandbeauty.com // ryshairandbeauty.com

PROMOTIONAL OFFERS Sculptra

Facial rejuvenation by doctors www.stjohnclinic.co.uk

lower face volumisation 5th vial free

Latisse prescription eyelash enhancing lotion 3 months for the price of 2

Specialist Injectable under eye dark circle treatment Juvederm 1ml £350 until Christmas

Fraxel Restore

4 treatments for the price of 3

Obagi Radiance Vitamin C peels

Half price for a course of 3

Consultations are free. Evening clinics available.

All appointments : dr@stjohnclinic.co.uk 020 8946 9694 www.stjohnclinic.co.uk

Gift Vouchers available for Christmas

Dr Helen St John MBChB MRCOG

4 The Quadrant, Richmond TW9 1BP • Crown Passage, Kingston KT1 1JD • Strands, 171 Arthur Road, Wimbledon SW19 8AD 20 Jerden Place, Fulham Broadway SW6 1BH • 3rd Floor, 152 Harley Street, W1G 7LH Bath • Edinburgh • Glasgow • Aberdeen

ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 1

23/10/2014 10:08

ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

LIFE LESSONS Winter blues getting you down?

Career concerns? Taking on too much? You haven’t met Sloan Sheridan-Williams…

WHO IS SLOAN? Sloan Sheridan-Williams is a renowned life coach who has been helping people achieve their goals in record time for over a decade. She has vast experience in many different arenas and is referred to as: a leading success coach, talented relationship expert, qualified clinical hypnotherapist and more. She models successful behaviour and is famous for her six-session coaching model called The Sloan SECRET. In addition, she offers bespoke packages and although known for seeing celebrities, she believes life coaching leads to lifelong success and should be accessible to all.

WHAT DOES SHE DO? Sloan Sheridan-Williams is a leading life coach and relationship expert with over a decade of experience working with a range of issues from beating the winter blues and staying healthy, to dealing with relationship issues, getting ahead at work and avoiding Christmas conflict early on. Her clients range from celebrities to working mothers and everyone in-between.

ISSUES DEALT WITH Sloan offers a highly effective six-step program that helps clients get results and reach their goals. She also offers bespoke packages and one-off sessions dealing with the following: Weight Loss • Healthy Eating • Sports Psychology • Procrastination • Self Esteem • Anxiety • Stress • Insomnia • IBS • Confidence • Public Speaking • Interview Nerves • Career Progression • Dating • Relationships • Infertility • Phobias • Seasonal Affective Disorder and more...

LIFE coaching

leads to lifelong SUCCESS

Whatever the issue, Sloan will help you achieve the life you not only desire but deserve. She doesn’t accept ‘average’ and neither should you.

IN THE MEDIA Sloan is often seen in the media and this month has been featured in The Telegraph, The Times, MSN, Your Fitness and The London Economic covering a wide range of topics including work, health and relationships.

63 CH_OCT_Sloan_ADV.indd 63

SLOAN CAN HELP NO MATTER THE BUDGET...

No matter what your situation, or what your desired outcome, Sloan can help.

She is currently available for new clients and also has associates, trained in the Sloan SECRET method, available for consults. She overviews every case personally to make sure you are getting the best from your sessions. There is an associate for every budget, ensuring that life coaching is accessible to all those who wish to improve their lives and ultimately achieve their dreams. u Sloan is happy to see clients all over Central and SW London but has therapy rooms in South Molton Street. 07462 611 411; sloansw.com

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 13:52

www.roseandwillard.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY / PRODUCTS GUERLAIN,

Orchidée Impériale The Longevity Concentrate, £330; harrods.com

BY TERRY,

Terrybly Densiliss Blush, £52; uk.spacenk.com

RODIAL,

Glamtox Neck Mask, £56; uk.spacenk.com

NUDE, Detox Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash, £38; uk.spacenk.com

YVES SAINT LAURENT, Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils The Mat, £24.50; yslbeauty.co.uk

DIOR, Dior Prestige La Nectar De Nuit, £300; harrods.com

THIS WORKS,

In Transit Camera Close-up, £30; uk.spacenk.com

TOM FORD,

Limited Edition Lip Colour, £37; harveynichols.com

RÉVIVE,

THE KONJAC SPONGE COMPANY,

Intensite Line Erasing Serum, £380; harrods.com

6 Wave Pure Konjac Bath Sponge,£12; harveynichols.com

FACE IT

FOREO, Issa Mint

Toothbrush, £149; harveynichols.com

New in for November GROWN ALCHEMIST, Hydra-Repair Day Cream, £24; uk.spacenk.com

LA PRAIRIE,

COLOR WOW, Root Cover Up in Platinum,

Eternal Platinum Collection, £1,148; harrods.com

£28.50; harveynichols.com

65 CH_Nov_Beauty_Products.indd 65

NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 15:13

All you need for the PERFECT

SMILE

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

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

We now also offer the following treatments: Protecting Clean

(available to patients in braces)

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

The Classic

(clean & polish)

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

www.metamorphosisorthodontics.com Metamorphosis Orthodontics.V2.indd 2

23/10/2014 15:22

020 773 11077 / 109 New Kings Road, London SW6 4SJ E: smile@metamorphosisorthodontics.com

Metamorphosis Orthodontics.V2.indd 3

20/10/2014 16:27

CHRISTMAS AT THE IMPERIAL • A dinner for 2, a cocktail party for 100 or a sit down lunch for 50 people, we can cater for whatever you need • Mulled wine and lots of bubbles for the occasion • We are flexible and open to work with you to create a stress free and memorable experience for you and your guests • Special 3 course Christmas menu at £35 per person

Everything we grow is for our Open for Breakfast, Lunch and We also specialise in private Opening times: Mon – Tues 9am – 11pm | Wed –

kitchen.

Dinner 7 days a week. parties and outside catering.

Sat 9am – 12am | Sun 10am – 11pm

the-imperial.co.uk 577 Kings Rd SW6 | reservations@the-imperial.co.uk | 020 7736 6081

THE IMPERIAL.indd 1

23/10/2014 12:50

> STAR QUALITY

p. 70

TABLE TALK

p. 75

SALMON TO SUIT From the award-winning Salmontini group, comes new restaurant, Salmontini le Resto. Serving hot and cold salmon dishes, and more, its private dining room is perfect for a Christmas party.

1 Pont Street, SW1, 020 7245 1243; salmontini.co.uk

69 CH_Nov_Food_Opener.indd 69

NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 15:37

INTERIORS / PROFILE INTERVIEW

STAR QUALITY Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett MBE talks Café Murano and why Gordon Ramsay nicknamed her ‘Dizzy Lizzy’...

Wo r d s e d w i n a l a n g l e y

EL You just said you were ‘really lucky’ but is it ‘luck’ to get a Michelin star?!

AH Well, alright, not ‘lucky’, it’s hard work!

And you have to maintain consistency.

There are some people that have always thought their food was good enough – and it probably is – but...

EDWINA LANGLEY November is the first anniversary of Café Murano. How has the last year gone?

ANGELA HARTNETT It’s gone really well, we can’t complain.

EL I heard you’ve got some quite interesting things coming up – like Alba truffle dishes. Is there a specific menu?

AH No. One day we might do Alba truffles with risotto, another day we might do them with scrambled eggs on sourdough. It will alternate, rather than be a set menu.

EL Café Murano is the sister restaurant to Murano in Mayfair. What’s the difference between the two?

AH Lots of people said we should just do ‘basic Italian’ and I’d always wanted to as well. This site came up [Café Murano on St James’s Street] and it was a great opportunity; there was no premium attached to it because they are [shortly to] redevelop the whole area. So we took it on, on the basis we’d only have a good four or five years out it. As a concept, I talked about [the café] with my business partners, and we thought it would be a great way to trial the restaurant.

EL What do you like about Mayfair?

AH It’s quite affluent without being ‘Mayfairy-pretentious’. Although, I don’t think Mayfair is pretentious.

EL You’ve retained a Michelin star for Murano. What does that feel like?

AH We were really lucky. We opened in

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CH_Nov_Angela_Haenett.indd 70

EL In respect of Café Murano, is that where you’re going with it?

AH That’s where the misconception of Michelin lies. If Café Murano gets a Michelin star it would get one for cooking consistently.

Nathan Outlaw’s got what he calls this ‘cafétype fish bar’ down in Cornwall, and it’s got [two] stars! It’s about the food.

We bought the BEST FOOD we could afford, so we ALWAYS ATE WELL

August (2008), and we got it in January (2009)! [It was] pretty amazing. They knew me from The Connaught, so they knew my style of food. But it was good to be able to be judged in that limited period, and to get it and maintain it for the last five years. It’s a big deal, you know?! It’s not quite as easy as everyone thinks. You can’t take it for granted that you’re always going to keep it, because you’re not.

EL But are stars important to you?

AH I think they’re great. But it’s not the be all and end all. At the end of the day what you want is a full, busy restaurant that makes you money!

EL You studied history at Cambridge Polytechnic. Where did it all begin, this passion for food?

AH As a kid we were very lucky because food was important to both my mum’s side and my father’s side. It wasn’t that we were ‘foodies’ who went out to lots of restaurants, we were just brought up to eat together as a family. We bought the best food we could afford, so we always ate well. I’ve always loved it and I’ve always been good at cooking.

EL You worked in a hotel in Cambridge and in Barbados. I can’t think of a hotter place to start out life in a kitchen!

70 23/10/2014 11:25

FOOD / CHEF Q&A

71 CH_Nov_Angela_Haenett.indd 71

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 11:25

Let us open up the exciting world of racehorse ownership for you.

For more information please contact Eimear Chance on: +44 (0)207 1520 132 • echance@greatbritishracing.com www.greatbritishracinginternational.com

Great Britain, the birth place of horseracing.

GBR.indd 1

23/10/2014 09:33

FOOD / CHEF Q&A AH I worked in a few pubs in Cambridge, and then in a place called Midsummer House under Hans Schweitzer; he was a great guy. [One day] he said to me: ‘This opportunity has come up in Barbados, why don’t you come along?!’ It was good, but like all resorts, you cook the [same] food all year round. You’re cooking for customers who are on holiday. It’s not like you developed menus to change. So I came back to London and I started working for Gordon [Ramsay].

EL When you first started, you were one of the only women working in the kitchen.

What was that like?

AH I liked working for Gordon. I got on very well with him from day one. He’s only two years older than me, so it felt like I was working with my older brother. I never came through the ‘hierarchy of ranks’ of the kitchen, so it never felt like: ‘yes, chef’, ‘no, chef’, ‘three bags full, chef’. It would be rough sometimes but I worked hard and I was never afraid to say when I didn’t know something. He responds to that; he was a great teacher, Gordon. You’d have some tough services, but no more than I have some days. He’d always explain what went wrong and why you shouldn’t do it like that.

I think that was his greatest gift.

EL Apparently he used to call you ‘Dizzy Lizzy’. Is that true?

AH Yes, because I would forget stuff. I’d be half-asleep sometimes and do stupid things.

EL Quite funny! You also worked under Marcus Wareing. Who was tougher Gordon or Marcus?

AH [pauses] Erm, they were both quite tough. I’m still friends with both of them, they both have a twinkle in their eye. I always pushed it. I was always 10 minutes late [laughs]. When I worked for Marcus he was always first in the kitchen, and we’d have some amazing rows – but I had a great time as well. They both taught me about standards and consistency. And a lot of things I do today, I do because they taught me – their great techniques and habits.

EL Are you aware of being a tough cookie in the kitchen?

AH Mmm, yeah, maybe [sounds unsure]. I think I’m fair. Today, we had quite a rough service because things didn’t turn up from the suppliers, there was no communication from front of house… A guy sent up a fish that someone felt wasn’t cooked enough – it’s stupid things like that. Don’t give me a pasta that’s not cooked – cook it, because [if you don’t] all you’re doing is making my job harder. Some chefs like to complicate [things] more than [they] need to.

EL Do you have any advice to aspiring young chefs hoping to get into the restaurant business?

AH Do what you want to do. But just do the best of it. Don’t do rubbish food.

EL Easy for you to say!

AH [laughs] I know, I know, but there are a lot of restaurants out there where the food isn’t great and people still charge money for it. If you really wanna go [far], give yourself time. There’s nothing wrong with saying: ‘I’m going to stay in a kitchen for three years.’ Cooks these days want it all instantly, and it’s not instant.

EL To what extent do you think television has influenced that? Programmes like BBC’s MasterChef make it seem like the leap from amateur cook to professional chef is relatively easy?

AH Yeah, I’m sure people do think it’s much more instantly gratifying. I’ve met kids that go: ‘I just want to cook food I want.’ But it doesn’t happen that easily [laughs].

73 CH_Nov_Angela_Haenett.indd 73

EL Miscellaneous questions: three favourite ingredients?

AH: Hmm, vanilla...

EL OK… AH Garlic and rosemary. Not altogether obviously!

EL What would be your last supper?

AH Roast Chicken.

EL Would you cook it or would you get someone else to cook it?

AH: Someone else, anyone else – I don’t care!

EL Nandos?!

AH Sorry?!

EL I said ‘Nandos’, but I was joking...

AH I’ve never been to Nandos.

EL How do you relax after a day at work?

I read most chefs can’t be bothered to cook when they get home. Do you?

AH Well, I don’t eat rubbish. I do snack late at night, which is very bad for your diet. I watch easy TV, like Modern Family, anything that makes me not have to think.

EL Your boyfriend, Neil Borthwick, runs Merchant’s Tavern. Do you ever get time to see each other?

AH Yes, of course, otherwise you’d go nuts. u Truffle season at Café Murano: White Alba Truffle Specials, all priced individually.

33 St James’s Street, SW1A, 020 3371 5559; cafemurano.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 11:26

FRESH BRITISH DINING BESIDE THE ICONIC LOCATION OF LONDON’S HYDE PARK

3 course Festive Season Menu available from 17th November 2014 WE ARE NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY & NEW YEAR’S EVE

( Private dining available ) For more information

T: 0207792 7066 E: eat@urbanmeadowcafe.com www.urbanmeadowcafe.com

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22/10/2014 15:06

FOOD & DRINK / NOTES RECIPE

DAPHNE’S PHEASANT RAVIOLI with Girolles

Serves: 4 Filling

1 pheasant (remove breasts, remove legs, cut in half, leave the thigh and drumstick) • 2 cloves garlic, chopped • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 40g pancetta, chopped • ½ onion, chopped • 50ml white wine • 2 small free range eggs • 2 tbsp Parmesan, grated • 3 sprigs of flat leaf parsley, chopped • A knob of unsalted butter • 50g girolles Pasta

600g 00 flour (strong white flour) • 6 large free range eggs • Pinch of salt

TABLE TALK Sunday brunch and comforting pheasant ravioli are filling up our bellies For the pasta 01 Bind ingredients in a food processor.

Cover in Clingfilm. Refrigerate for 1hour.

For the filling 01 Preheat oven to 220°C/gas mark 7.

Season pheasant breasts and thighs.

02 On a medium heat, add a tbsp of oil to an ovenproof frying pan. 03 Add the pheasant, pancetta, onion and garlic.

Cook for 2mins. 04 Add the wine till bubbling. Remove from heat. 05 Transfer pan to oven for max 2-3mins. Cool.

06 Sieve liquid into a bowl. Set aside.

07 Remove bones from pheasant and finely chop. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Add tbsp of liquid. Season. 08 Add Parmesan and one egg. 09 Refrigerate for 10mins, then roll into small balls.

To make ravioli 01 Pass dough through a pasta roller (thinnest setting). Place dough sheets on floured surface, cut into strips (30cm long x10cm wide). 02 Lay pasta sheets on a floured surface and cut out rounds (with ring cutter). 03 Put filling balls onto half of the pasta circles. 04 Brush edges with the remaining (beaten) egg. Put a pasta circle on top. Pinch to seal. 05 Melt the butter in pan. Add girolles and parsley. Cook for 2-3mins. Set aside.

06 Boil pan of salted water. Add ravioli.

Cook for 2-3mins. Drain, add girolles and parsley. Serve with Parmesan. 

Michael Brown is Head Chef of Daphne’s;

daphnes-restaurant.co.uk

A SPOT OF BRUNCH

Sunday brunch doesn’t have to be all eggs, muffins and hollandaise. The Chelsea Riverside Brasserie, with its charcuterie, seafood and salads, offers a refreshing alternative to the usual brunch, washed down with a glass of Prosecco. Midday3pm, £49 pp, Chelsea Harbour, SW10, 020 7823 3000; thechelseaharbourhotel.co.uk

We could never tire of burgers. So the news that burger joint BRGR.CO has opened their second venue, in Chelsea – with 28-day aged beef patties from the Duke of Buccleuch Estate – was a bit like Christmas come early for us. 127 King’s Road, SW3, 020 7920 6480; brgrco.co.uk

Stock The Cellar ith Christmas coming up, it’s time to fill that cellar – with a Ruinart Cellar Case; a French-made wooden box carrying four bottles R de Ruinart (£140), Ruinart Rosé or Ruinart Blanc de Blanc (£160). Available from Jeroboams, 50-52 Elizabeth Street, SW1W, 020 7730 8108;

W

ruinart.com

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH What’s that on our spoons? Spoon Cereals! £5 for 450g, Available from Bailey & Sage, 34 New King’s Road, SW6, 020 7736 2826; spooncereals.co.uk

75 Nov_Food Notes.indd 75

BEEF UP

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 11:47

LET US ENTERTAIN YOU

The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant is the ultimate private dining experience.

With menus from £40 per person and 450 wines to choose from, entertaining never looked or tasted so good.

For reservations call 020 7858 7250 or visit theribroom.co.uk

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9/24/2014 4:07:24 PM

25/07/2013 17:21 23/10/2014 10:10

FOOD & DRINK / RESTAURANT REVIEW Tataki with Onion Ponzu and Garlic Crisps that followed. In one single bite you got the richness of the meat, the sharp tanginess of the vinegary ponzu, and the crunch of the garlic crisp; an insanely good mouthful.

In view of this, it was always going to be a tough dish to follow and sadly the Tuna Tataki with Green Apple Oroshi and Mustard Miso Sauce fell flat in comparison. Not bad but not great, its fresh, sweet flavours were far too understated to follow the big impact of the beef – it’s one to skip in my view.

Better though, was the Spicy Tuna Maki rolled in tempura crunchies, and better still, was the Barbecued Jumbo Shrimp. Lightly grilled in garlic and

PRAWNS were FLAMED to BRING out FLAVOUR

Ramusake Scott Hallsworth’s newest venture goes under the spotlight Wo r d s E l i z a b e t h H u t t o n

S

cott Hallsworth’s name is on the tip of every foodie’s tongue. Anyone who’s anyone has been tweeting praise for, and Instagramming envyevoking pictures of, his food, since he first popped onto the scene with restaurant Kurobuta. So rather inevitably, my and my dinner date’s expectations for his latest opening on Old Brompton Road, were ridiculously high.

And we weren’t disappointed. Because

Ramusake just so happens to be the combination of our two favourite things: ‘swanky bar’ and ‘Japanese food’.

And boy, does Hallsworth know how to do Japanese food! We were greeted with an excellent floral elderflower cocktail, and immediately ordered a plethora of oriental dishes. First up, a round of Flamed, Butter-drenched Edamame, and Sweet Potato Fries with kimchi sauce.

The sweet, salty, spicy combination of potato, sea salt and kimchi set us up perfectly for the incredible Beef Fillet

77 CH_Nov_Food_Review.indd 77

lemon, the fat prawns were flamed to bring out their delicate flavour, ensuring the meat was both tender and succulent.

With that, we were back on track.

From the ‘Junk Food Japan’ menu, we ordered Hallsworth’s famed Tuna Sashimi Pizza with Truffle Ponzu, Red Onions and Green Chillies. Yes ‘pizza’ is synonymous with sloppy tomato, gooey mozzarella and doughy bases, but this variation – crunchy fried flatbread drizzled with citrus soy ponzu, creamy truffle sauce, covered with wasabi tobiko and seared, pink tuna – was totally worth the hype.

Feeling gluttonous, we ended with an espresso martini – ok, two – because what can I say? The happy-go-lucky nature of our servers was infectious.

Off we bounced out of Ramusake, with wide grins and full stomachs. It was that feeling, I think, that made this new venture (from Mahiki and Bodo’s Schloss’s Piers Adam) truly exciting. He and Hallsworth have brought the cool concept of the Japanese izakayas (bar and informal snack restaurants) to west London. A bold move, undoubtedly, but well-overdue: we welcome Ramusake with open arms. 

Membership to Ramusake is £250 p/a and includes FOC entry after 11pm. 92B Old Brompton Road, SW7, 020 7842 8518; ramusake.com

NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 15:51

W Buy me a

DRINK 31dover.com is a new online service that's revolutionising the way we buy and gift drinks.

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ho wants to carry bags of bottles home? They're heavy and awkward – to say nothing of the inelegant clanking.

Shopping for alcohol is something that lends itself brilliantly to the web and new site 31dover.com is revolutionising the way that Londoners buy drinks, whether it's a single bottle, enough for a wedding party or even a mass corporate gifting initiative.

Styling itself as the net-a-porter of the alcohol world, 31dover.com offers not only a wide range of products but also a very reliable next-day delivery service and a price match guarantee. Besides making drinks buying easier, 31dover.com will help buyers make informed choices. Want to try something unusual? Browse the range of spirits and you'll find a rare Guatemalan rum, a Roberto Cavalli vodka and over 40 types of whisky, all of them personally recommended by the team of experts. You'll find cocktail suggestions and lots of Champagne, plus wine, beer and mixers too.

Whether it's a dinner party, a beautifully presented gift or a cocktail cabinet refill, 31dover.com is the site to visit. u

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NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 14:06

ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION loved favourites – like macaroni cheese, burgers and sticky toffee pudding.

The Henry Root really is about being there for the community. They have a monthly Book Club and Wine Club and are available for private hire: from children’s birthday parties to sit down dinners and cocktail parties.

Incidentally, their Christmas party menu is available now – so get in there quick.

Open for elevenses, lunch, tea and supper, The Henry Root boasts a delicious brunch weekend menu too, including light and healthy options, hearty dishes and a mean Bloody Mary to satisfy the very worst hangover!

Alternatively, you can pop-in for tea and enjoy a good old cuppa and a slice of cake – or even a beer, cocktail or fine (yet affordable) glass of wine, alongside a delicious array of bar snacks.

When The Henry Root was founded, a new group was formed under the name: Truffle Hunting PLC. Now boasting three sister restaurants – Princess Victoria on Uxbridge Road, Newman Street Tavern in trendy Fitzrovia, and the newly acquired Lady Ottoline in Northington Street WC1 – Truffle Hunting PLC have established all their gastro-pubs as definitive taverns; places to socialize where casual diners can expect the highest quality cuisine, in a relaxed atmosphere, amidst a strong, community spirit. u

EN ROOT Step into The Henry Root and find just what you’re looking for…

he Henry Root, part of the Truffle Hunting Group, T signified the start of something exciting for its owners. In 2011, the idea for it was born: to create a local venue, catering for the community and beyond. Situated on Park Walk, The Henry Root takes its name from Willie Donaldson (alias ‘Henry’), a local resident of the Royal Borough until his untimely demise nearly a decade ago.

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CH_Nov_HENRY ROOT_ADV.indd 80

The famous author of the ‘Henry Root Letters’, Donaldson’s writing continues to bring a smile to his fans, both new and old – just as the mood of this bar/restaurant seeks to appeal to a broad cross-section of customers.

Let Laura, Guylina and their team at The Henry Root, welcome you at fronton-house! The fantastic chef, Rowan, and his team, will treat you to a varied menu of fresh, seasonal dishes as well as much-

9 Park Walk, SW10, 020 7352 7040; thehenryroot.com

80 23/10/2014 14:31

> GOOD MORNING VIETNAM

p. 82

UK GETAWAY

p. 87

ORIENTAL EXPRESS Get transported to another world with Holly Baxter’s guide to the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An, Vietnam (pictured). Closer to home, Asian hotel chain Dorsett have opened in Shepherd’s Bush.

81 CH_Nov_Travel_Opener.indd 81

NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 16:31

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

SPOTLIGHT

Good Morning,

VIETNAM Absolutely discovers the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam W o r d s H o l ly B a x t e r

O

ur plane touched down, after 18 hours, onto the underused tarmac at Da Nang Airport. Hoi An is a small town, flanked by the metropolises of Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the south, with miles of dirt roads and rice paddy fields in-between. Travelling by road is possible, but notoriously slow; the only realistic method of reaching Hoi An is by touching down at its local airport half an hour away in the adjoining town.

From there, a taxi for the half-hour ride to Hoi An hovers around the $15 mark – and yes, the drivers (as well as everyone else in Vietnam) will accept American dollars as readily as they do Vietnamese dong.

From what I’d heard from fellow travellers while in Ho Chi Minh City on my last few trips, Hoi An is the town that has it all: picturesque countryside vignettes hovering unbelievably close to ancient Chinese and Japanese architecture; unspoilt beaches only minutes away from markets filled with merchants who will churn you out a completely bespoke silk dress or wool suit in a matter of hours; lantern-covered rivers running through a town where residents range from elderly women in

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CH_Nov_Vietnam.indd 82

conical hats selling fruit from wooden wagons to their sprightly grandchildren navigating the streets on pink mopeds, catching pictures of the tourists with their iPads. It’s hard to believe that Hoi An can be all these things; such high praise risks condemning it to saccharine hyperbole. And in many ways, it would be untrue to say that this small part of Vietnam seems like paradise, when our first glimpse of it through a taxi window is of hundreds of honking motorbikes bellowing their way through dusty streets. Yet, once you have been here, you can’t imagine a better place to return to.

As my mother (and travelling companion) left for her plane at the end of our tenday trip, she was moved to tears by the thought that she might never have the chance to return.

But what is it, specifically, that makes Hoi An so special? Partly, it’s the sheer diversity of terrain: our small boutique hotel at the edge of town (5* suites for £26 each per night) looked over paddy fields populated with rice pickers and water buffalo on one side, and an urban scene of street hawkers advertising grilled coconut crisps on the other. Like

82 22/10/2014 16:04

TRAVEL / HOI AN

most hotels in Hoi An, the Essence lent us bicycles and maps of the surrounding area for free. Fifteen minutes down the road astride them, we discovered a palm tree-lined beach and a raucous sea to cool down in. A further five minutes from there, we came across the vegetable village of Tra Que: acres of lush green land as far as the eye can see, tended into neat lines of every herb and vegetable possible. Everywhere we looked, there was a strikingly different scene.

Those who live in the town are evangelical about its charms. Women on

We DISCOVERED a PALM TREE-lined beach and RAUCOUS SEA their way home from dropping children at school, or taking a break from selling fruit and handmade wares in the town, approached us as we wandered the winding streets, asking why we were visiting and what we thought of the place.

They told us about their families, one

83 CH_Nov_Vietnam.indd 83

weaving us a tale about her renegade sister who had married a German tourist and moved to Hamburg.

Two minutes off the main tourist walkways, adventurous visitors can find their way into the semi-chaotic local cloth market. There, an unbelievably small Vietnamese woman stood on an upturned box to reach my 5’3” mother’s shoulders, with a tape measure, to tailor-make her a Chanel copy suit for $45. Her friend took us to a stall out of the sun and expertly threaded our eyebrows and painted our nails for $5, as we perched on tiny

NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 16:05

HILL HOUSE INTERIORS_NOV.indd 1

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TRAVEL / HOI AN – is its own centre of commerce. Rather than visiting merchants, now Vietnamese children selling candles, line the banks, while the riverside proper is abundant with fishing boats waiting to take you anywhere you could possibly hope to visit.

My mother and I took a private $10 boat to a village one day, and a $5 ride down the river with candles on our last night.

We were lucky that our final night fell on the monthly lunar celebration, where all traffic and electric lighting is banned.

The town lights up with the candles of a thousand lanterns, and incense sticks burn at tiny impromptu shrines outside homes and businesses. We let our paper lanterns float down the river from our small wooden boat, and made our own silent wishes. u hoianessencehotel.com

plastic seats. We bought handmade bags to our own proportions, and were even offered bespoke reading glasses. ‘There is nothing that cannot be made in Hoi An,’ one waitress told us proudly.

Due in no small part to its lovingly tended architecture, Hoi An was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

UNESCO describes it as ‘an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to

the 19th century.’ The ancient buildings, adorned with lanterns made by silksellers sat in shopfronts that line the streets, are kept in good repair, mainly by local donations: residents’ pride in the area is strong. It’s hard to believe that, as recently as 1968, this area of Vietnam was infamous for shocking coverage of the My Lai Massacre, a violent purging of a nearby village by American soldiers.

The Vietnamese of today have not forgotten that war: charity boxes collecting for the victims of Agent Orange punctuate the winding streets, but there is no bitterness toward western visitors. Instead, westerners are welcomed without suspicion (and often photographed as exotic curiosities). Meanwhile, the happy-golucky atmosphere – where traders quite literally tell you to ‘be happy and lucky’ as you pass – is infectious: my usually cautious mother hopped readily onto the back of a motorbike and asked a local boy to drive us down the road to the herb village, to my immense surprise.

Hoi An is dissected by the Thu Bon river, which – despite the food and cloth markets jostling for attention further in

85 CH_Nov_Vietnam.indd 85

BEST OF THE REST

S

outh East Asia is an incredibly diverse region with surprisingly wellconnected flight paths, so it makes sense to spend your time there, in more than one country. One underrated city is Manila in the Philippines, best accessed via Hong Kong from Da Nang Airport at Hoi An on Cathay Pacific Airlines. By far the most decadent choices in Manila are Raffles and its sister hotel the Fairmont, both situated in the upmarket Makati district. Luxury comes at a more-thanreasonable price for the western traveller, due to the fact that the Philippines suffered a downturn in tourism after Typhoon Haiyan.

One night in a room at the Fairmont Makati comes in at around £135, even in peak season, so if you’ve been budgeting your way around the region, this is a great place to set down your bags, collapse onto a queen-size bed and enjoy a glass of champagne while watching the sun set. Quality really does come cheap in the Philippines – but renewed interest in the region means these prices won’t last forever.

● fairmont & raffles

For prices and further information see: raffles.com; fairmont.com

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 09:33

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23/10/2014 10:13

TRAVEL / UK GETAWAY HOTEL

I

t’s rather telling that when luxury Asian hotel chain Dorsett decided to expand into Europe, their first port of call was not London’s glittering West End or trendy Soho, but Shepherd’s Bush. It’s a clever move given the area’s growing appeal – its location a veritable stone’s throw away from Westfield Shopping Centre and a few doors down from the famous Empire. Residents will have noticed construction work going on for some time now and their curiosity will be rewarded when, this November, the hotel throws its enormous revolving doors open fully, following a soft launch earlier this autumn. By keeping the beautiful original Gradelisted façade, Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush is a sophisticated feat of architecture that appears both striking and imposing whilst remaining oddly subtle. It almost feels like it’s been in the area for years. 

DORSETT HOTEL S H E P H E R D ’S B U S H

Wo r d s G E M M A B I L L I N G T O N

RESTAURANT

VIBE

ictures, the in-house restaurant, boasts predominantly British fare with a spattering of Asianinspired dishes. I started with a quinoa, pomegranate and haloumi salad followed by flat noodles and prawns. The brownie I had for dessert served with pecans, raspberries and ice cream was absolutely delicious.

The best part, however, is the fact that the prices are very reasonable and the portions, satisfyingly large. It’s a smart way to attract the crowds and compete with the many eateries popping-up in Shepherd’s Bush. Afternoon tea and specialist sandwiches served at lunchtime are sure to prove stiff competition too. 

n keeping with its Asian roots, the Dorsett look is contemporary East meets West, and despite the ostentatious sounding décor (gold, velvet, diamanté, traditional print feature wallpaper and mirrored furniture) it stays well and truly on the right side of good taste. It’s business appropriate but not in a cold, distant way and the staff are extremely cheerful and only too willing to help. The rooms are spacious and elegant, with a luxuriously big shower and bath combo. One of the highlights of the hotel is to sup a pleasingly boozy cocktail in the Atrium bar. Its ingenious layout enables the visitor to take-in the hotel’s spectacular design, with a vertiginous, dazzling view of all seven floors from the inside, right up to the ceiling skylight. 

P

I

THE DAMAGE Rooms at the Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush start at £103 per night 58 Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12, 020 3262 1026; dorsett.com

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NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 14:16

Luxury European Furniture since 1962

London & M25 Showrooms 020 7760 7558

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> STEADFAST & STORIED

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INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

p. 96

RETRO-TEXTURAL G Plan have teamed up with Hemingway Design to revive classic archive pieces. Using luxurious fabrics, the mid-century modern designs will appeal to those wanting to blend Fifties fun with contemporary style. gplanvintage.co.uk

89 B&C_Nov_Interior_Opener.indd 89

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 12:46

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

Storied & Steadfast SPOTLIGHT

How the Savoy survived the Blitz, and other tales…

Wo r d s C at h e r i n e H a l e s

M

y first ever visit to the Savoy occurred when I was fifteen years old. My parents and I had come to see a production of Ira Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre and my father insisted on a quick drink before the performance. All I can remember is the distinct feeling that I was walking into a place, somewhere significant and special. As I sipped a champagne cocktail (my first ever) at a table in the American Bar, my gawky, overeager and ungainly teenage-self seemed to morph into a sophisticated and cultured young lady.

Such is the power of a truly great hotel.

My return visit had a lot to live up to…

It was rather ironic, therefore, that on first arrival I felt immensely disappointed.

Had my imagination and the passing of 10 years created a completely fictional impression? No, I had merely gone to the wrong entrance. As I walked up from the Embankment to the Strand (and the main entrance) I saw the iconic facade and something clicked: this was the Savoy I remembered. Expensive town cars and black cabs were driving in an unending loop outside, and after dodging a Rolls and

a couple of Bentleys, I made into the lobby.

Having undergone refurbishment in 2007, the hotel reopened four years later, in 2010. ‘It was actually four years ago to this very day, so you’ve timed your visit perfectly,’ says Charlotte Faith, the Savoy’s PR Manager, leading me from the dauntingly grand lobby through the Thames Foyer with its ornate, birdcagelike centrepiece and black grand piano.

Despite the refurbishment, and a few additions to the hotel’s facilities, the Savoy still looks unapologetically like the Savoy, only a glitzier, shinier version. One of the changes made has been the renaming of the River Restaurant.

Kaspar’s, as it is now known, is a seafood bar and grill, decorated in the Art Deco style that dominates half the hotel. This is our destination and we are seated at a table right next to huge windows, overlooking the river. At every turn, the Savoy reminds you why it has the reputation it does, and the spectacular view over the Thames is a nudge in the ribs few can ignore. After taking in the view, I scan the menu: dining at the Savoy is Oscar Wilde territory (Ernest Worthing from The Importance of Being Earnest makes a point of never paying there) so I intend to

Dining at the SAVOY is OSCAR WILDE territory

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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INTERIORS / SAVOY

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savour it. Along with a perfectly chilled glass of champagne, I am encouraged to try the Lobster Club Sandwich. ‘I recommend adding bacon, the saltiness contrasts wonderfully with the lobster and avocado,’ says the waiter. Who am I to ignore such a recommendation? After vowing never to eat a club sandwich without lobster in it ever again, Charlotte and I set out on our tour.

This year marks the centenary of the First World War, so I was particularly

interested to discover a little about the hotel during wartime. Opened in 1889, the Savoy has stood its ground through two world wars and was lucky enough to escape most of the devastating effects of the bombs that rained down during the air raids of the Blitz, in the Second World War. Made up of two halves, the side facing the Thames is Edwardian in style, and the side that opens onto the Strand, is Art Deco. I am shown into one of the Edwardian rooms facing the

93 CH_Nov_SAVOY.indd 93

river – why that particular room you may ask? Because it was the only room not occupied in the hotel.

The Savoy has had a long tradition of artists and authors-in-residence, who stayed for three-month stints. After seeing just one suite, I wonder how they ever managed to leave! Charlotte tells me that the Savoy was the first London hotel to have electric lights, hot and cold running water and electric lifts, the oldest of which we step into. The walls are red lacquered and there is a small seat at the back, a necessary feature as occupants were unused to the speed of lifts and felt safer sitting down.

In order to discover more about the Savoy’s rich history and, in particular, its wartime years, Charlotte hands me over to Susan Scott, the Savoy’s archivist; an expert on the hotel’s past.

The Savoy emerged from the First World War relatively unscathed, she tells me, escaping the bombs and existing within the parameters and limitations that war brought. It was during the Second World War, however, that the hotel really met with adversity, proving itself to be both ingenious and stalwart.

Susan informs me that an air raid shelter was made up in the Abraham Lincoln Rooms in 1939, as they were located in the guts of the building and deemed safest. These shelters were used by the guests, and many stories (and myths) came out of what happened down there. One such story, which Susan recounts, involves the employment of a chambermaid to tickle the feet of guests who were snoring too loudly. This may or may not be true, though I truly hope it is. Other stories and accounts have been well-documented, such as the frightening instance where bombs on the Strand blew out the hotel’s windows and caused a journalist (who had fled Fleet Street to

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 16:56

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INTERIORS / SAVOY

find safety in the Savoy) to lose an eye.

I enquire whether any famous people stayed there during this period and Susan replies, without skipping a beat: ‘Everybody.’ Churchill himself was a regular at the famous Savoy Grill and even had a room set aside for his power naps. The British Prime Minister wasn’t the only world leader who preferred to discuss business in the plush surroundings of the Savoy; in 1943 the exiled Ministers for Foreign Affairs

from Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg sat down for lunch and drew up the Benelux agreement. This in turn became the basis of the European Union.

‘Despite how you feel about the EU, you have to admire their optimism at the time,’ laughs Susan.

What’s really evident as we talk though, is the spirit of the hotel and its unwillingness to be cowed by straitened circumstances. ‘They always played by the rules, obeyed the laws and never did anything they shouldn’t have done,’ says Susan. ‘They just became more creative.’

Whilst the Grill was hobbled by rationing, just as the rest of the country was, the Savoy saw itself as ‘the standard’ – the yardstick by which others should be (and were) measured. Savoy chefs had to be clever, using unrationed food, such as game and shellfish. Partridge and oysters, for example, became menu staples. One invention that came out of the limited resources was Woolton Pie, a dish that tasted exactly like chicken pie, but contained no meat. Meat was a status symbol and not affording it was deemed almost shameful, so originally the pie was looked on with suspicion. Luckily, its fantastic taste helped to allay this bias.

Wine also posed a serious problem

95 CH_Nov_SAVOY.indd 95

to the Savoy; their cellars were by no means limited but without imports from France and the rest of Europe, they soon emptied. The Savoy managed for a short time, buying up stock from closing hotels and restaurants. But soon, all that was left were wines from Germany and Italy. Beyond disagreeable to drink these vintages during the Blitz, it would have been downright unpatriotic! So carafes were introduced and guests were given a choice: white or red? This ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy meant customers could still enjoy a little tipple with their dinners. ‘It was a terrible period, full of awful things.

But,’ posits Susan, ‘it was an interesting time to be alive.’

So the Savoy still stands, London’s most famous hotel, straddling the chasm between Edwardian picturesque and 1920s Art Deco. As I walked out through the lobby, gliding on the polished floors, I felt again that sense of poise and refinement that I had felt as a fifteen year-old girl, balancing on my bar stool, sipping a champagne cocktail. u Strand, Savoy Way WC2R, 020 7836 4343; fairmont.com/savoy-london

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 16:47

Interior

Beata’s

top 10 picks

INSPIRATIONS Bring the outdoors in, wildlife and woodlands are November’s homeware must-haves w o r d s b e ata H e u M a n

FEU DE BEAUMONT,

The Golden Goblet, £189; feudebeaumont.com

01

02

ROSE UNIAKE,

Three Hexagonal Topped ‘Twiggy’ Tripod Tables, £1,500; roseuniacke.com

NICHOLAS HASLAM,

Ceramic Jars by Loulou de la Falaise, Larger £990, Smaller £845; nicholashaslam.com 03

JOANNA WOOD,

Pheasant Placemats, £99 for Set of Six; joannawood.co.uk

04

05

SERPENTINE Bath

Drummonds

Summer is over, and there is nothing like a hot bath to get into the spirit of autumn! Drummonds do a timeless selection of interesting styles. I love the colour and elegant feet of this Serpentine bath.

From £3,210, 642 King’s Road, SW6, 020 7376 4499; drummonds-uk.com

JAMES MCWHIRTER,

Pair of Clown Shoes, £680; jamesmcwhirter.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CH_Nov_Interior_Insperations.indd 96

96 23/10/2014 12:36

HOMES & INTERIORS / PORTFOLIO editor’s

PICK ALFRED CLUB CHAIR

Ralph Lauren Home

SIGMAR,

Snuggle up with a book next to the fire, in this generous library chair; Ralph Lauren is a classic choice. £4,600, 105-109 Fulham Road, SW3, 020 7590 7990; ralphlaurenhome.com

Hand Corkscrew, £180; sigmarlondon.com

06

07

GUINEVERE,

Red Deer Antler Mirror £1,500, guinevere.co.uk

GILT RAM HEAD TABLE BASES Talisman

These unique 1906 dining table bases add an interesting talking point to an otherwise simple glass table. £1,250, 79-91 New King’s Road, SW6, 020 7731 4686; talismanlondon.com

DINNERWARE Jardin Imaginaire

This chinaware is too pretty for words, and so is it’s name: ‘Jardin Imaginaire’. I love the whimsical figures and the sense of fun. Perfect for afternoon tea! Plates from £156, Available from The Wedding Shop, 171 Fulham Road, SW3, 020 7384 8485; weddingshop.com

ROBERT KIME,

Clover Leaf Table, £1,660; robertkime.com 08

PETER FASANO,

Double Dotty, £208 per metre; tissusdhelene.co.uk

editor’s

PICK CLARENCE HOUSE, BALOO, 34817 Turnell & Gigon

Clarence House ‘Baloo’ fabric reminds me of a pheasant’s ruffles, with a touch of the Bloomsbury group thrown in for good measure. £252, Lots Road, SW10, 020 7259 7280; turnellandgigon.com

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

97 CH_Nov_Interior_Insperations.indd 97

09

JAMES MCWHIRTER, Oak Armchair, £985; jamesmcwhirter.com

10

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 12:36

The fine art of carpets

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A service like no other.

Visit Blenheim Carpets to see their outstanding collection of 100% wool, hand loomed, wilton woven and flatweave carpets and stair runners, all made to the highest standard with only the best materials.

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ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION

ART HOUSE Lisa Norris talks to Absolutely about what sets her eponymous gallery apart, and what we can expect from its current exhibition…

How did your interest in art develop?

Growing up in Bermuda, my exposure to art in the traditional outlets of museums and art galleries was very limited. However, on our trips to London and Europe we were exposed to art and theatre, things we could not get to see on an island. After I moved to London in the 80s, I worked in magazines and for a photographer’s agent and was surrounded by creative people. I started buying art in the form of small etchings and watercolours, as these were what I could afford at the time. I still cherish these pieces, which, with the later works I have acquired, have enhanced my surroundings both aesthetically and emotionally.

Why did you decide to open Lisa Norris Gallery?

I wanted to create a space that was welcoming and not intimidating. I enjoy the process of finding tremendous artists and facilitating their success; I love telling their story. I have people coming into the gallery and asking, ‘Do you mind if I look around?’ or ‘May I ask you a question?’.

That is what I am here for! An art gallery is a shop for art. I also understand that people can be hesitant in committing to buying. I often take work to client’s houses, to give them the opportunity to live with it before deciding whether it is right for their home.

Tell us about Michael Luther, the current exhibition at your gallery…

When I first went to Michael’s studio in Berlin, I was mesmerised by his range of work – from hyper-realism to abstraction – and his use of scale and detail. There is an overriding recurring theme in Michael’s work; he paints about painting and the act of creating art. It is not surprising that Michael has had numerous solo exhibitions across Germany and Europe, and won

I HAVE to be in AWE of my ARTISTS the Celeste Painting Prize in 2009. He has been exhibited at international art fairs including Art Miami, Red Dot Art Fair in New York and the Toronto International Art Fair. His work is in many important private collections and the corporate art collections of Deutsche Bank and BMW. When selecting artists to represent, what do you look for?

I have to be in awe of my artists. They must be original in thought and meticulous in execution. Overall, it is the quality of the work which stands the test of time. A good

101 CH_Nov_Lisa Norrisn_ADV.indd 101

piece of work will continue to resonate and grow, whilst a poor piece turns into wallpaper. A client recently said to me, that if her house was on fire, she would grab her children and her art – everything else is replaceable. She didn’t mention her husband! When I make an appointment to see an artist for the first time, it’s not uncommon for us to still be there five hours later, discussing works and selecting the pieces I would like to exhibit. When, many months later, the work finally arrives, I cannot wait to open the boxes and see those pieces in the studio.

What’s your favourite piece of art?

Rothko’s Number 14. How does he make colour and composition evoke such feeling and emotion? u

281 New King’s Road, SW6, 020 7731 8835, lisanorrisgallery.com

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 14:37

F

o

FULL PAGE.indd 2

29/08/2014 12:56

> EDUCATION

p. 105

TABLE TALK

p. 107

MORE, MORE, MORELY Are you after warming winter clothes for your children? Get your mitts on the cosy knits and cardigans from Morley’s Winter Collection, available from the online kids’ department store, Smallable; en.smallable.com

103 CH_Nov_Kids_Opener.indd 103

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 13:00

The Kindergartens are delighted to announce that they are opening two new nursery schools in Holland Park, W14 and Aubrey Walk, W8.

These will be sister nurseries to their highly successful Pooh Corner Kindergarten in SW7.

The new kindergartens will offer a very exciting and unrivalled education.

Morning places are available now.

THE KINDERGARTEN.indd 1

20/10/2014 14:15

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23/10/2014 10:19

KIDS & EDUCATION / SCHOOL TALK

Off The Mark

Superstar pupils with E grades and headteachers from top schools hopping with anger?

Absolutely reports on the summer’s marking debacle Wo r d s A m a n d a C o n s ta n c e

I

magine this: you have a bright teenager; you are stumping up the fees for them to do their A-levels at private school, with tuition on the side. You guide them towards those coveted A* grades and a place at Oxbridge, or a Russell Group university.

Yet when the results arrive, the As have become Bs and Ds – and even a U. But worse awaits when you discover that your precious genius was downgraded through no fault of their own, but rather because those marking the papers weren’t up to the job.

This is not the recurring nightmare of a Tiger Mother but a scary fact.

According to some leading heads in the independent sector, perfectly bright pupils at top private schools are being penalised because inexperienced markers cannot recognise A* material.

Independent schools are making a record number of appeals against grades awarded in GCSEs and A-levels this year because of concerns over shortcomings in the marking process. It is believed the total number of re-marks demanded by schools will top 310,000. There is mounting anger amongst headteachers over exam standards, particularly in relation to more ‘subjective’, essay-based disciplines such as English Literature and History.

Examples of inaccurate marking include: u An AS-level politics student from Guildford High School achieved the equivalent of an E grade, even though her essay was regarded as so good that it was quoted in an examiner’s report as an example of outstanding work. The paper was re-marked as a B and – in a largely unprecedented step – graded a third time by the chief examiner to gain an A. u Brighton College has seen the total

There is MOUNTING ANGER amongst HEADTEACHERS over EXAM standards number of GCSEs graded A* in all subjects jump, from 44.5 to 48.5 per cent, after re-marks of English and Religious Studies papers saw 200 pupils awarded an improved classification. u One pupil at Latymer Upper School was turned down by Durham University when one of his papers was rated a D grade. When the school asked to see his exam paper, they found the marks had been added up incorrectly, by 20 marks fewer, and that he should have received an A grade. By then Durham had withdrawn its offer and he will now go to his second choice university.

Headteachers are demanding a revamp of the examinations system, including greater incentives for experienced

105 CH_Nov_Education.indd 105

markers and better standards of training.

Fiona Boulton, Headmistress of Guildford High, said: ‘Some staff don’t often come across A* material and therefore don’t recognise it when they see it. We don’t pay examiners enough… so the incentive to become a marker is significantly less.’

Glenys Stacey, chief regulator of Ofqual, the qualifications watchdog, said exam boards would be required to publish data from next year showing how many errors were down to individual markers or wider ‘system problems’ but insisted that ‘overall, the system of marking works well.’

But that is not what the qualifications watchdog has concluded about language A-levels. Last month Ofqual announced that A-levels in Modern Languages would be marked more fairly from next summer, following an investigation which found that the brightest candidates were being denied A* grades by inconsistent marking and poorly designed exams.

Ofqual’s findings were damning. It found that the marking and design of the exams were flawed and needed immediate reform. The report also concluded that the most able students were not getting the highest grades due to the way in which the marking rules have been designed by exam boards.

Peter Hamilton, Chair of the Headmasters’ Conference Academic Policy Committee and Headmaster of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys School said: ‘Thanks to the joint persistence of the state and independent schools’ languages associations, Ofqual will now be acting to correct historic injustices that have hugely damaged confidence in these exam grades over recent years.’

Headteachers will no doubt be keen to see if there are radical changes in the pipeline for other subjects too. u

NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 15:16

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Our internationally experienced solicitors can assist with foriegn jurusdictions and shariah law.

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Christmas Carol Concert Monday 8 December 2014 Doors open at 7pm St Luke’s Church Adults £20 Children £10 Sydney St London SW3 6NH Join Battersea’s canine family and friends to sing carols and celebrate Christmas in beautiful St Luke’s Church. Mulled wine and mince pies will also be served.

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23/10/2014 10:22

KIDS & EDUCATION / NOTES

WEAR Jacadi

The Parisian boutique has recently launched in Harrods. With delicate prints and hand-embroidered designs, their autumnal range has been inspired by 1930s silhouettes, perfect for babies and little ones up to 12 years old. Prices vary, Available from Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X, 020 7730 1234; harrods.com

SHELF LIFE

SAM & DAVE DIG A HOLE

by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen £11.99, Walker Books

SMALL TALK A Classic Satchel and Binky bear take pride of place in the playroom

DON

Amelia Brennan

We can’t find (or imagine) cuter dungarees than this 100% cotton ‘Soldier’ pair by Amelia Brennan. £49.50, 07910 138 203; ameliabrennan.co.uk

H UG

am and Dave are on a mission to find S something spectacular. Armed with their spades, chocolate milk and biscuits, they set about digging. And dig they do, all the way through a deadpan tale full of visual humour.

It is the perfect combination of a deceptively simple story brought to life by the awardwinning Jon Klassen’s divine illustrations. The resulting ‘something spectacular’ may not be to Sam and Dave’s expectations, but the real treat with this children’s book, is in the reading. 

CA R RY

Binky Bear

Classic Satchel

The Binky Bear Gift Set – including Binky Goes To London hardback book and Binky bear – is our Editor’s pick this month. Seriously, she’s obsessed with it. £20; binkybear.co.uk

Bright pink and holds a whole lotta homework. Thank you, Cambridge Satchel Company! £135, Available from Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X, 020 7730 1234; harrods.com

107 CH_Nov_Kids_Notes.indd 107

Review by A n dy B a r r

NOVEMBER 2014

23/10/2014 13:04

PRIMELOCATION.indd V1 PL Zest 420x297 2014110 07.indd All Pages

20/10/2014 10:36

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23/10/2014 10:23

Property Absolutely

November 2 014

> PROPERTY NEWS p. 132 IN THEIR OWN WORDS p. 116 PRIME PURCHASE p. 142 ASK THE EXPERTS p.138

Durham Place, SW3

£12,750,000 Freehold

A wonderful five bedroom family home extending to 4,231 sq ft. This elegant property benefits from great volume, providing generously proportioned space throughout including a classic drawing room, a lift to all floors and off street parking.

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111 Netherton Grove, SW10 PROPERTY FRONT COVER.indd 1

NOVEMBER 2014

£7,500,000 Freehold 22/10/2014 15:41

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Opening doors in London since 1856 From the moment you walk through one of our doors, you’ll only deal with someone who lives and breathes your local property market.

Someone who knows exactly which buttons to press to sell or let your home. And someone who understands that determination and integrity will open more doors for you than any other approach.

So why not visit one of our 22 London offices? As we’ve been saying since 1856, our door’s always open...

marshandparsons.co.uk

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Local know-how. Better results.

Askew Road

Bishops Park

Clapham

Hammersmith

Marylebone & Mayfair

Richmond

Balham

Brook Green

Earls Court

Holland Park

North Kensington

South Kensington

Barnes

Camden

East Sheen

Kensington

Notting Hill

Battersea

Chelsea

Fulham

Little Venice

Pimlico & Westminster

Cornwall Gardens SW7 £2,500,000 This incredible three-bedroom upper maisonette is located on the sought after Cornwall Gardens and boasts a unique, sunken roof top terrace that has 360 degree views. The lower floor includes a luxurious master suite, a family bathroom and two double bedrooms with a large interconnecting sliding wall. The top floor is completely open plan with exceptional reception space and a stylish contemporary kitchen that is flooded with natural light. Leasehold. EPC=D. Sole Agents.

SOUTH KENSINGTON: 020 7590 0800 sales.skn@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Follow us on Twitter: @marshandparsons

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons

Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons

SALES

See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk

Stevenage Road SW6 £4,850,000 This elegant six-bedroom family house is positioned on one of Fulham’s most desirable streets. The accommodation includes a spacious Smallbone kitchen with a larder, boot room and bi-folding doors leading out to an incredible 54ft landscaped garden. In addition, the ground level includes a bay fronted double reception room with feature fireplace, while the lower ground floor has been fully excavated to provide a large reception room leading out to the garden, a media room and a utility room. Freehold. EPC=E.

BISHOPS PARK: 020 7993 9888 sales.bis@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Living the Dream The MOST LUXURIOUSLY appointed PROPERTIES on the market

Wilton Place, SW1 An elegant Grade II Listed Freehold House situated on this extremely attractive terrace in one of the most sought after streets within the Belgravia Conservation Area. The house is beautifully presented throughout and offers flexible accommodation with impressive and elegant entertaining space including a glorious first floor Drawing Room with views across to St Paul’s Knightsbridge. The

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ÂŁ7,950,000 Freehold house also offers a front garden and large West facing roof terrace on the first floor.

Located on the borders of Belgravia and Knightsbridge minutes from Hyde Park, Green Park and Buckingham Palace ideally placed for the world renowned amenities Knightsbridge has to offer including Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

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

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PROPERTY | IDEAL HOMES

Edith Grove, SW10 £1,495,000

Edenvale Street, SW6 £825,000 S.O.F

A very impressive, three bedroom period conversion with its own street entrance and fabulous west facing roof terrace. Presented in excellent condition throughout, this stunning property has been meticulously refurbished. Situated over the first and second floors of a smart period building, the property has three bedrooms, an en suite shower room in the master bed, a family size bathroom, and a contemporary style kitchen which opens to a large reception room.

A stunning extended two double bedroom Victorian garden apartment situated within the ever popular Sands End area of Fulham. Ideally located for Imperial Wharf mainline station and the River Thames, this property has been refurbished to create a contemporary lifestyle within a period property. Further amenities include the exclusive Harbour Club, The Sands End Pub and Kitchen, a Sainsbury's superstore and The River Bus service.

Marsh & Parsons, Chelsea 020 7591 5570; marshandparsons.co.uk

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

Brookville Road, SW6 £1,860,000

Juniper Drive, SW18 £650 Per Week

A stunning, bright and stylish five bedroom family house in this ever popular ‘Villes’ location. Thoughtfully designed and beautifully presented, this house offers immensely bright and well planned accommodation and provides generous and contemporary living/ entertaining space, with a fabulous kitchen that leads onto a tranquil south facing decked garden. In addition, there are five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large cellar.

An impressive two bedroom apartment situated on the sixth floor of the sought after Battersea Reach development boasting beautiful views of the River Thames. This spacious property offers over 900 square feet of modern living space with wooden flooring throughout with underfloor heating and is arranged as two double bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open-plan kitchen with granite worktops and fitted appliances.

Featherstone Leigh, Fulham 020 7610 9755; featherstoneleigh.co.uk

Lawsons & Daughters 020 8563 0202; lawsonsanddaughters.com

Spotlight on SW10

Average asking price - £2,268,399 | Average asking rent - £ 4,220 pcm | Average property value - £1,771,332

Data provided by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Completely at home in West London.

Our services Sales and Lettings Property Management Block Management Property Solicitors Chartered Surveyors Financial Services Visit kfh.co.uk

With over 35 years’ experience and 50 branches across the Capital, our local knowledge and London network will ensure we achieve the right result for you.

Local branches include • Fulham • Holland Park

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Edenvale Street, Fulham, SW6 £800,000 Fulham 020 7731 0051 Email sfb@kfh.co.uk

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A stunning and extended Victorian garden apartment which has been refurbished to create a contemporary lifestyle within a period property.

Situated within the Sands End area of Fulham, ideally located for Imperial Wharf train station and the River Thames.

• • • • • • • •

Two double bedrooms Four piece bathroom Spacious reception room Open plan kitchen Ground floor Private garden Shared freehold EPC rating C

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Ledbury Mews West, Notting Hill, W11 £2,300,000 Holland Park 020 3542 2111 Email shp@kfh.co.uk

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A charming three bedroom house with a garage, off street parking and the potential for extension (subject to planning permission). Situated on a quiet, cobbled private mews.

• • • • •

Three bedrooms Two bathrooms Garage Off street parking Extension potential (subject to planning permission)

• Freehold • EPC rating E

14:02 20/10/2014 10:22

New Release FAU L KNE R

HO U SE

The new collection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses at London’s most prestigious riverside location, Fulham Reach. Each apartment features a private balcony or terrace, elegant interiors and residents will also benefit from an exclusive private members’ club featuring a beautiful spa, gymnasium, swimming pool, wine cellar, virtual golf and a cinema screening room.

Apartments and Penthouses available from £769,950 - £3,799,950* Fulham Reach Riverside Show Apartments and Marketing Suite, Distillery Road, London W6 9RU +44 (0) 207 870 9500 | enquiries@fulhamreach.co.uk

www.fulhamreach.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of Companies

Computer generated images for illustrative purposes only. *Prices and details correct at time of going to press.

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A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

CAMBRIDGE STREET, SW1V £895,000 LEASEHOLD A wonderfully bright two bedroom garden flat opposite the beautiful St. Gabriel’s Church on this popular street in the ‘Pimlico Grid’. The apartment is well placed for access to the transport links of Victoria or Pimlico, whilst the amenities of Warwick Way, Wilton Road and Moreton Street are a few moments away.

Bright Reception Room | Separate Kitchen | Two Bedrooms Two Bathrooms | West - Facing Private Patio

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

winkworth.co.uk/pimlico-westminster

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

22/10/2014 15:07

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

WARWICK SQUARE, SW1V ÂŁ900,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD An excellent third floor apartment forming part of a handsome period building and overlooking the prestigious Warwick Square gardens. The apartment is situated in the heart of Pimlico offering easy access to the amenities of Warwick Way and Wilton Road. Victoria train and coach stations are also within close proximity of the apartment.

Warwick Square | Reception Room | Two Bedrooms | Bathroom | Kitchen | Communal Gardens

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

winkworth.co.uk/pimlico-westminster

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

22/10/2014 15:08

PROPERTY | NEWS

Micro Mansions – a solution to the UK’s housing crisis?

M

uch has been made in the press in recent weeks about some of the tiny houses and miniscule flats on the market in the capital. Rising house prices, particularly in London, have left many people with little option but to opt for the most affordable, and sometimes smallest, home they can find.

However, extra small living spaces or ‘Micro Mansions’ are in fact highly sought after in many cities – providing they are well-designed and perfectly positioned.

In its Housing Futures report, leading national estate agents Strutt & Parker identifies the trend for this type of property as something we should expect to see a lot more of in the UK in the years to come. Stephanie McMahon, Head of Research at Strutt & Parker, explains: “Small can be beautiful. The Micro Mansion serves as the ultimate living solution for those who prize location over space. As urbanisation gathers pace around the world, central locations in the most sought-after cities have become too expensive for the majority – enter dedicated tiny living spaces.”

“These are not oddities that can be found in every city, where broom cupboards have been converted into some semblance of accommodation – they are carefully designed and well-planned homes. The rise of the micro-flat looks set to mirror what has happened with modern technology – everything in our homes will shrink - becoming smarter and more compact.”

Whilst proper Micro Mansions are not something we have seen on any scale in the UK as yet, they are far more common in Japan and the US. A planned Micro Mansion is 100-250 square feet, compared to a typical small bedroom flat of around 750 square feet. They often have the ceiling height to accommodate mezzanine sleeping spaces and are designed to be much like a boat – with each component serving two or more uses. Typical features are under-floor storage, pull-down beds, steps that convert to chairs and sofas, and kitchen worktops that slide away after use. Stephanie McMahon continues: “Micro Mansions have the potential to provide a viable solution to the UK’s housing crisis in crowded cities. They attract those requiring short-term space, or who work in multiple locations and simply need a place to sleep. As our cities accelerate their pull on the global workforce, they will be increasingly popular.”

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

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

You breathe, we do the rest.

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

Nella Road, W6 A spacious four bedroom Edwardian house located on the highly sought after Crabtree Estate. The property is well presented, is formed over three floors and benefits from a west facing garden. EPC D. Four Bedrooms, Bathroom, En-Suite Shower Room, Two Reception Rooms, Kitchen, Small Conservatory, West Facing Garden

£1,275,000

020 7381 4998

Lochaline Street, W6 An impressive and outstanding property that has been newly renovated throughout and provides superb interiors and high quality finish. EPC pending.

Four Bedrooms, Three Bathrooms, Cloakroom, Double Reception Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Garden

£995 per week

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020 7381 4998

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sullivanthomas.co.uk | carterjonas.co.uk

ST MAUR ROAD SW6

£2,750,000 F/H

Situated in close proximity to Parsons Green Underground Station and the many shops, restaurants and pubs of the Fulham Road.

• 5 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms

• Double Reception Room • Kitchen/Breakfast Room

• Over 2900 sq ft • Energy Efficiency: Band D

HARBORD STREET SW6

£1,850,000 F/H

A fabulous refurbished and extended period terraced house, featuring a bay fronted reception room.

• 4 Bedrooms • Reception Room

• Kitchen/Family Room • 3 Bathrooms

• Garden • Energy Efficiency: Band D

Fulham Parsons Green Sales: 020 7751 8899

Fulham Bishops Park Sales: 020 7731 3333

GRESWELL STREET

INGLETHORPE STREET£950 PW*/£4,117 PCM*

£545 PW*/£2,362 PCM*

A well presented 3 bedroom maisonette located in the popular Alphabet Street close to Bishops Park.

A stunningly presented five bedroom family house with over 2000 sqft of space and a 35’ garden.

• 3 Bedrooms • Reception Room

• 4 Double Bedrooms • Reception Room

• Eat In Kitchen • 2 Bathrooms

• Good Storage • Energy Efficiency: Band C

• Kitchen • 2 Bathrooms

• Garden • Energy Efficiency: Band D

Fulham Parsons Green Lettings: 020 7751 8898

Fulham Parsons Green Lettings: 020 7751 8898

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

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

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

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MUNSTER ROAD SW6

£750,000 SOFH

An attractive period conversion flat is well located in this increasingly sought after location.

• 2 Bedrooms • Reception Room

• Kitchen • Bathroom

• Garden • Energy Efficiency: Band D

Fulham Parsons Green Sales: 020 7751 8899

DONERAILE STREET SW6

• 3 Bathrooms • Cellar

Fulham Bishops Park Sales: 020 7731 3333

£1,235,000 F/H

A beautifully presented terraced period house measuring 1,385 square feet of space and situated on a quiet and residential street.

• 3 Bedrooms • Double Reception Room

• Kitchen/Dinner • Loft Room

• Garden • Energy Efficiency: Band C

Fulham Parsons Green Sales: 020 7751 8899

£2,650,000 F/H

A fabulous six bedroom period semi-detached house offering approaching 2500sq ft of space.

• 6 Bedrooms • 2 Reception Rooms

PROTHERO ROAD SW6

• 2447 sq ft of Space • Energy Efficiency: Band F

BISHOPS MANSIONS SW6

£875,000 SOFH

An immaculate newly refurbished first floor flat in this very popular purpose built building.

• 3 Bedrooms • Reception Room

• Kitchen • Bathroom

• Balcony • Energy Efficiency: Band C

Fulham Bishops Park Sales: 020 7731 3333

sullivanthomas.co.uk | carterjonas.co.uk

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Imperial Wharf

ÂŁ825 pw Furnished

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

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

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London’s Letting Agency

To arrange a viewing or for more information call

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

020 7319 9783

Imperial Wharf

£450 pw Furnished

Fulham

£475 pw Furnished

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

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

Chelsea

Chelsea

£500 pw Furnished

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Apartment Porter | Lift | Short Walk To Tube & Amenities | EPC – C Knightsbridge 020 3302 7174 knight@brlets.co.uk

£1,500 pw Unfurnished

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

Dubai | Hong Kong | India | Malaysia | Singapore

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Property News The Piper Building, Peterborough Road, SW6

HOUSE HUNTING

with...

TOM WARD

Director of Aspire, Fulham 020 7736 6110; aspire.co.uk Property I'd most like on my books and why? If ever Fulham Palace came up for sale, I think that would be quite good fun to handle. You may need a day out the office to conduct a proper viewing though!

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Best place to invest... I’m going to promote my hometown of East Molesey on this one. Close to the river, and benefitting from people moving out of areas such as Richmond and Teddington, I can only see the area increasing in desirability.

The most interesting property I have been involved in is... It would certainly be a 2 bedroom garden flat that boasted a properly sound proofed and insulated cinema room with 60 inch flat screen included in the sale.

The room also had these amazing original antique cinema chairs.

Finest property showcase... The Piper Building, Peterborough Road, SW6: This is a rarely available three double bedroom flat located within the iconic Piper Building with an incredible private roof terrace.

The private roof terrace us over 1,500 sq ft, which is larger than the apartment itself. The apartment is located moments from the River Thames, South Park and Hurlingham Park, while fantastic schooling from Thomas, L’Ecole des Petits and Marie D’Orliac is also close by.

The toughest sale and why... There have been a few! Possibly selling a friend of mine’s house. ‘Those’ conversations are that much harder to have. You know what they say about friends and business…

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PROPERTY | ROUND UP

The INSIDE SCOOP of NEWS in your area Nicolas Van Patrick is the new boutique estate agency in the heart of Knightsbridge

F

ounded by Nicolas Pejacsevich and Patrick Alvarado – who have 25 years of experience within the property industry and six languages between them – NVP covers all aspects of agency throughout Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Kensington & Chelsea and Mayfair. Based in London’s most exclusive residential and retail district, NVP are ideally placed to help you with all your property needs and aim to offer the ultimate personalised service.

Patrick Alvarado: I was born in Madrid and moved to London in 1976 with my family where I attended Hill House school in Hans Place. I have over 10 years property experience in the prime central London market where I worked

RUPERT COLLINGWOOD

Founder & Managing Director at The London Management Company 020 7193 5580; thelondonmanagementcompany.com

I

t would seem that at last the political class has woken up to problems of implementing a Mansion Tax. Of course, true to form, the Labour Party still believe it’s a vote winner, more focused than ever before on tax and spend to sure up their core vote. Miliband and Balls are (at the time of writing) sticking rigidly to their conference pledge despite the protests of their own MP’s and “Labour Grandees”.

Naturally we are assured that measures will be put in place to prevent the vulnerable being forced out of the family home of 40 years, and that thankfully you might be

in sales for a leading estate agency in their flagship Chelsea office before going on to open and manage their South Kensington office. During this time I have built up a wealth of knowledge and contacts and find my additional languages, French and Spanish, are indispensable in what is an increasingly international market. My experience, enthusiasm and determination are what enable me to offer clients the very best.

Nick Pejacsevich: I was brought up and educated around the world and speak five languages; Spanish, Italian, German, French and English.

Over the past 15 years I have worked my way up from Negotiator to Manager of an established agency in Chelsea. I pride myself on my tenacity, honesty and ability to see even the most difficult deal through to fruition. Having worked in the industry for such a significant length of time, I have a wealth of experience in all aspects of agency and hope to be able to offer you a personal, hands-on approach whether it be buying or selling.

020 3770 3474; nicolasvanpatrick.com

able to defer payments until after you die; great news for those of us keen to leave our children in debt thanks to good planning and sensible property investments.

The Lib Dems whose idea this was in the first place have watched the fall out from the Labour conference and for once, faced with the real prospect of having to actually deliver an election pledge, have revised their position, moving away from a mansion tax towards the review of council tax bands.

Now although I’m not in favour of increasing council tax, it’s clear that the bandings are no longer fit for purpose.

Might there then be a way of creating a more proportional system of property taxation, that on the one hand appeases those who think everyone who owns a 2 bed flat in South Ken is an evil oil baron, and on the other supports aspiration and the generation of wealth, all the while moderately increasing tax revenue for local authorities to improve infrastructure and services for all?

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5

MINUTES with...

JOSHUA FINDLATER Senior Manager at Bushells, Fulham 020 7731 9680; bushels.com

What makes you the go-to-agent in the area? We provide an exceptional service and I pride myself on always achieving the smoothest sale possible for our clients.

How long have you been in the area? I have been working in SW for nearly 4 years now, most of that spent north of the river.

What is your company ethos?

The company conducts itself with integrity and clarity at all times, this allows us to make moving easy.

What can we expect for the market in the Autumn/ Winter?

I expect that we will continue to see a steady growth up until late November when things naturally quieten for Christmas.

PRIME LOCATION.COM

SUGGESTS If you’re thinking of selling or letting your home in 2014, make sure you choose an agent that will advertise your property on PrimeLocation.

The vast majority of agents (over 80%) do advertise with us and understand the importance of making sure that your property gets the exposure it deserves.

NOVEMBER 2014

22/10/2014 15:35

375 Kensington High Street

A classic London address, an outstanding collection of apartments 375 Kensington High Street is one of London’s most sought after new addresses and boasts the highest levels of design and luxury.

The highly anticipated next phase Benson House offers an exclusive collection of contemporary one, two and three bedroom apartments, duplex apartments and penthouses with access to world class residents facilities including: • Prestigious location in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

• Private pool, spa and gym • Business suite and private cinema

• Highly specified 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses

• 24 hour Harrods concierge

• Traditional courtyard garden

• Parking available to purchase

1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments from £ 972,500

Call 020 3538 9496 to register your interest. www.375kensingtonhighstreet.co.uk

Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

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Computer generated image depicts 375 Kensington High Street.

LONDON

St Edward Executive Sales & Marketing Suite open daily 10am to 6pm (Thursdays until 8pm).

375 Kensington High Street, London, W14 8QA

17/10/2014 15:20

OFFICES THROUGHOUT SOUTH WEST LONDON Balham

Battersea

Clapham North

Clapham South

Fulham Central

Fulham South

Furzedown

Tooting

020 8673 6111 020 7381 7381

020 7801 3400 020 7736 6110

020 7840 3700 020 8769 7900

020 8675 1222

020 8772 7080

Glenrosa Street, SW6 £425 per week Recently fully redecorated, this delightful two bedroom, two bathroom ground floor garden flat will tick the boxes for many prospective tenants. With open plan kitchen/sitting room and bifold doors to a patio, perfect for entertaining.

• South West facing patio • Set in the Sands End area • Available immediately

Aspire Fulham South 020 7736 6110 fulham@aspire.co.uk

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offIces throughout south west london Balham

Battersea

clapham north

clapham south

fulham central

Fulham South

Furzedown

Tooting

020 8673 6111 020 7381 7381

020 7801 3400 020 7736 6110

020 7840 3700 020 8769 7900

020 8675 1222

020 8772 7080

Kimbell Gardens, SW6 £1,900,000 A fully extended beautifully decorated Victorian family home. This house is located on a quiet residential road in the ever popular Munster Village and is presented in immaculate condition, boasting well-proportioned accommodation, four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

• Available with no onward chain • Private patio garden and roof terrace • Integrated utility area and ample storage

Aspire Fulham Central 020 7381 7381 c.fulham@aspire.co.uk

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Edenvale Street, SW6 £1,100,000 An awe inspiring top floor maisonette finished to an extremely high standard using outstanding colours and modern lighting throughout. With unique features and fittings, this flat is an absolute must see.

• Large open plan reception and kitchen/ dining room • 3 bedrooms, 2 en-suite • 3 Juliet balconies

Aspire Fulham South 020 7736 6110 fulham@aspire.co.uk

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PROPERTY | AGENT ADVICE

Ask the Lettings Experts

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

1. Why should I have an inventory?

A landlord and tenant are both advised to have an inventory to cover them against any disputes on damage to the property. An inventory should be done before any tenancy commences and then a copy sent to both the landlord and the tenant. When vacating the property at the end of the tenancy period, a check out report will then be conducted.

This will be compared to the inventory and will flag up if any changes have occurred to the property in the way of damage or items removed/added.

2. I already have two buyto-let properties, should I continue to expand my portfolio?

Absolutely! Whilst the rental return in some areas of London is not exactly fantastic at present and some people may think an ISA account will earn a greater return short term, I think long term it is still a very viable market to invest in compared to other parts of the world. In fact, I predict that the rental market is about to take a turn for the better and we will not only see improved rental activity but also firmer prices.

3.What will you do to ensure my property is properly advertised and marketed?

We have our own dedicated, in-house marketing department so landlords can be assured that their property will be marketed widely. Our properties are advertised regularly on over 25 property portals, as well as in traditional and online national, international and property media while our four websites provide instant access to our property details, including images and videos. We also work closely with leading global relocation agents (68.7% of our tenants come from FTSE and Fortune 500 companies) and we have 11 prominently located offices in prime London locations, as well as five overseas offices – in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Dubai and India, which brings us large numbers of overseas professionals moving to London.

a very efficient rental collection service.

We advise all our tenants to set up a standing order so that the rent is paid on the due date as a one payment transfer. We ensure the rent is then transferred to your account within five days of receipt of funds into our client account. A statement confirming this payment is sent to you via e-mail.

4. How will I receive my rental income?

Rental income is paid monthly in advance.

Lockett Estates are members of ARLA & NALS and we pride ourselves on offering

CONTACT

2. SELINA GARCIA

1. TOM WARD

Lettings Manager at Sullivan Thomas, Bishops Park 020 7751 8898; sullivanthomas.co.uk

Sales and Lettings Director at Aspire, Fulham South 020 7736 6110; aspire.co.uk

3. MARC VON GRUNDHERR

4. PAULA RECLAWOWICZ

Lettings Director at Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings, Kensington, 020 7938 3522; brlets.co.uk

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Lettings at Lockett Estates 020 7381 4998; lockettestates.co.uk

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NOW OVER 75% SOLD

IMPECCABLY CRAFTED Set behind a grand gated arch and arranged around a beautifully landscaped garden square, this exclusive collection of townhouses ranges in size from three to five bedrooms. Each townhouse benefits from its own private garden, secure underground parking for two cars and an outstanding level of specification.

PRICES FROM ÂŁ3,9 0 0,0 0 0 CALL NOW TO ARR ANG E YOUR VIEWING APPOINTM ENT Sales Suite, Farm Lane, Fulham, SW6 1QJ open daily.

0333 666 2737

www.londonsquare.co.uk

Image depicts the Pembridge Show Home at London Square Fulham. Details are correct at time of going to press.

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Offices throughout London

Philbeach Gardens, SW5

£549,000

Fulham Park Gardens, SW6

£525,000

This spacious studio, with garden, set within a newly refurbished white stucco fronted period build is presented in stunning condition.

Located on a beautiful residential crescent, close to Earls Court tube station and will benefit from the investment in the area. Leasehold.

EPC:C

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

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

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

Philbeach Gardens, SW5

Fulham Road, SW

£499,000

£950,000

This spacious studio set within a newly refurbished white stucco fronted period build is presented in stunning condition. The apartment is only a quick stroll away from Earls Court tube station and will benefit from the ongoing and substantial investment in the area. Leasehold. EPC:C

Moments from Parsons Green Underground station, this spacious two double bedroom maisonette also profits from a private roof terrace.

The property includes a large eat-in kitchen, large reception, 2 bedrooms, refurbished bathroom and roof terrace. SoF. EPC: E

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

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

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

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bushells.com

Dawes Road, SW6

£999,950

This spacious 3 bed, 2 bath maisonette with its own private entrance comes equipped with a large kitchen, separate dining area and a further living area which leads onto a large private roof terrace. Included also is an off street parking spot and loft room which has potential to extend into STPP. Freehold. EPC: D

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

PART OF THE EDMUND CUDE GROUP

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

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PROPERTY | ELITE HOMES

Prime Purchase

A cultural delight – a luxury apartment complete with contemporary art collection

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his beautifully finished two bedroom apartment is situated next to the Royal Albert Hall and features bespoke interior design and a selection of fine contemporary artworks worth £50,000, included in the sale. Blending the building’s original historic features with contemporary design, the 1,377 sq ft apartment has been created as a luxurious London home with an artistic backdrop. Art has been a principal focus from the early stages of the interior

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design with meticulous attention to detail undertaken throughout. The art inspired apartment features bespoke joinery and wall panelling as well as a range of textures and finishes such as silk, leather, suede, stingray and bronze.

Albert Court, SW7 £4,500,000 Harrods Estates, Knightsbridge 020 7225 6506; harrodsestates.com

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Battersea Reach, SW18 Furnished £625 per week

Sinclair Gardens, W14 Leasehold Asking price - £325,000

“Gorgeous modern apartment with splendid views of the River Thames”.

Separate Kitchen, Studio Flat, Separate Bathroom, Ample Storage, Popular Location.

Riverside Apartment, 2 Double Bedrooms, Private Balcony, High-Spec Fixtures And Fittings, 24Hrs Concierge, Private Parking and Gym

Lillie Rd, SW6 Leasehold Asking price - £475,000

Two Bedroom Flat, Open Plan Living, Double Glazing, Wooden Flooring, Fresh Modern Interior.

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

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PROPERTY | PROFILE

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Harry Wigram Partner at Strutt & Parker, Chelsea

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Photography: rebecca noonan

ike a lot of estate agents, I didn’t always envisage a career in property as I was growing up. Having studied at the Royal Agriculture University, Cirencester, I always intended to take over the family farm in Gloucestershire after I graduated. As a young boy, I had dreams of being a flat race jockey or a downhill skier. Sadly I grew too tall to ride race horses, and the shortage of mountains in the UK unfortunately meant that neither one of these aspirations came to fruition! But having worked as an agent in Chelsea for the past 15 years now, I can’t really imagine doing anything else. I instantly liked the buzz of working in the fast paced London property market –I’m not sure I would enjoy the trading environment out in the country half as much. I love the feel good factor of providing a solution to someone’s property needs.

When I joined the firm in 2002, (I was previously with Lane Fox which was acquired by Strutt & Parker in 2007), I learnt very early on how important it was to treat buyers like sellers. Estate agency is a people business and building good rapport and strong relationships is the foundation of a successful outcome. I work in a very proactive office and never assume business comes to me, so when it does, it always means a great deal.

The highlight of my career so far was about eight years ago, when I sold the former Entomological society at 41 Queens Gate – a 12,600 sq ft building which was their HQ since 1920. It was heavily listed with ornate plaster ceilings which were gifted to the house by the V&A. Following 250 viewings over a four week period, which were all conducted by myself, the building ended up selling for £3 million over the asking price of £7 million– a tremendous result. As with all jobs, I’ve experienced the good times and bad.

The property market flows in a series of peaks

and troughs and sometimes you go through tough times where lots of deals fall through.

These things happen and you have to remain pragmatic and move with the times. One thing that has definitely changed our industry a great deal over the past decade is the digital age. Our business is all about communication and whilst IT has allowed us to evolve in many ways, it has reduced the amount of walk-in trade we used to receive. Now a property can almost be viewed entirely through a computer screen. I’m still lucky enough to get to meet some very influential people in this business.

The majority of our clients in prime central London are high net worth individuals or captains of industry from all over the world.

The market here has certainly evolved over the years with a noticeable increase in international buyers. However, Chelsea has retained a sense of community and not lost that villagey feel like other parts of central London. With plenty of good private schools on offer, and of course its famous Kings Road for shopping, Chelsea attracts a large percentage of families who live in the area for many years and never want to leave.

I live south of the river in Wandsworth with my wife and one year old daughter – and it’s fair to say that I have definitely traded in late nights for long nights, with weekends often spent doing daddy day care to give the wife a well-earned break! I wouldn’t change it for the world. Being a country boy at heart, I love the fresh air. One of my favourite things about being an estate agent is riding a scooter. It’s the ultimate therapy – whizzing through the traffic between viewings is what keeps me sane.

020 7591 6691; struttandparker.com

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Smart knows what the neighbours paid.

See over 19 million sold prices

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15/10/2014 11:55 04/04/2014 15:18

CGI representation of The Schoolyard

Wandsworth Common

Northcote Road

Battersea Park

Stunning new 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments with balconies in the heart of vibrant SW18 with London on your doorstep

SELLING FAST Don’t miss out. To book a viewing at our marketing suite call 0844

406 9288 or visit www.theschoolyardsw18.com

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BLIPP The Schoolyard marble with logo to find out more.

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11:08 22/10/2014 10:16

Furness Road Fulham £1,500,000

An excellent Victorian mid terraced 4 bedroom house in good order. Kitchen and loft have already been extended, currently 1500 sqft with planning to extend to over 2300 sqft. Permission includes a full basement and additional bedroom on the second floor mezzanine level - please see link below for further details. No onward chain.

Rosebury Road Fulham £725,000

Located in the heart of the ‘Bury Triangle’ this ground floor garden flat comprises a double reception with feature fireplace, period sash windows, wood flooring and a fully fitted kitchen/diner with breakfast bar. Stairs lead down to a family bathroom and double bedroom which benefits from double doors leading to a private patio, this is also accessed via a side door. Further stairs lead to the lower ground floor where you will find a separate utility area and large double bedroom.

T +44 (0) 20 7731 0031 100-102 Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6 2TF Email: fulham@fineandcountry.com

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Harley Street Marylebone ÂŁ1,700 Per week Unfurnished

Twilley Street Earlsfield ÂŁ750 Per week Fully Furnished

This newly refurbished apartment is located on the third and fourth floors and is directly accessed by a lift. The large kitchen has been fitted with top of the range Hotpoint Luce appliances and oak flooring. The reception room also has oak flooring and a large amount of fitted storage space. On the 3rd floor is the master bedroom with fitted wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom. The fourth floor provides two double bedrooms both with built in wardrobes. There is also another bathroom and a separate laundry room.

This large 4/5 bedroom house is situated within walking distance of Earlsfield Station and Wandsworth High Street. The property comprises a large open plan kitchen living room with doors leading to a large garden. The reception room is located at the front of the property, this room can also be used as the fifth bedroom. There are four more bedrooms, one with an ensuite and the other bedrooms benefitting from the family bathroom. In addition there is guest toilet.

T +44 (0) 20 7731 0031 100-102 Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6 2TF Email: fulham@fineandcountry.com

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PROPERTY | IDEAL HOMES

Luxurious Lettings LOWDOWN FOR LANDLORDS

What insurance do I need for my property while letting it out?

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or a landlord, your property is your most important asset, and worth protecting with suitable cover. If you have a mortgage on the property Buildings Insurance will be a condition of the mortgage and must be at least enough to cover the outstanding mortgage. Buildings insurance usually covers loss or damage caused by: fire, explosion, storms, theft or vandalism, frozen or burst pipes or subsidence, etc. If you don’t have a mortgage on your property it isn’t compulsory but most certainly advisable.

Think about how you would afford to rebuild your house if it were damaged or destroyed. If you’re a leaseholder your lease may say that you should have buildings insurance with a named insurer, or the freeholder may take out insurance and charge you for it.

Aside from buildings insurance it is advisable getting protection for contents belonging to the landlord, landlord liability, possible loss of rent and/or alternative accommodation as well as accidental damage.

Situated within Imperial Wharf

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ne of London’s newest riverside developments is this impressive two bedroom apartment only moments from the fashionable King’s Road of Chelsea. A wonderfully bright open plan reception leads out onto a private balcony while the modern fitted kitchen overlooks the dining space.

Two double bedrooms are equipped with built-in wardrobes and have access to two smart bathrooms (master en suite).

The apartment also benefits from 24hr concierge, residents gym and secure underground parking.

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SELINA GARCIA

Imperial Wharf, SW6 £850 Per Week Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings, Imperial Wharf 020 7348 7620; brlets.co.uk

Associate, Head of Fulham Lettings at Sullivan Thomas with Carter Jonas, Parsons Green 020 7751 8898; sullivanthomas.co.uk

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COLEHERNE COURT, Earls Court SW5 An elegant and luxurious two bedroom apartment (approx. 1,352 sq. ft.) on the ground floor of a popular portered mansion block.

The accommodation includes a 40ft. (approx.) open plan reception / dining / kitchen, providing excellent space for entertaining. Both of the beautifully designed bedrooms have contemporary ensuite bathrooms and generous fitted wardrobes, and there is a separate cloakroom for guests. The property benefits from stylish finishes throughout including floor to ceiling Venetian walnut doors, Lutron lighting, and beautiful copper splash backs and Indian stone worktops in the kitchen. Coleherne Court has stunning communal gardens and is located close to the restaurants and amenities of the Old Brompton Road and Earls Court. EPC rating C. Share of Freehold Asking price: ÂŁ1,999,950 +44(0)20 7225 5911 andrew.gunnforbes@harrodsestates.com

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

HARRODSESTATES.COM

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REGENCY HOUSE, Imperial Wharf SW6 A stunning three bedroom penthouse apartment arranged over the eight & ninth floors in Imperial Wharf. The property includes an elegant reception room with open plan kitchen / dining room, two spectacular terraces, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, two further double bedrooms, bathroom, guest cloakroom, storage room and 24 hour concierge. Imperial Wharf is a fabulous riverside development located moments from all amenities of Fulham and Chelsea with plenty of great pubs and restaurants. Available now for long term let on furnished basis. EPC rating D. Price per week: £1,750 Plus Property Fees: £180 Admin & £210 Checkout.

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

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

HARRODSESTATES.COM

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THE WORLD.indd 338-0241 TheWorld 2Spread 420x297.indd 1

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The sea is our home.

Imagine the ultimate lifestyle that comes with combining both a private yacht and a luxury vacation home. A home that takes you all around the globe, allowing you to wake up to new scenery outside your private balcony every few days.

That is what life is like aboard The World, the largest private yacht on the planet.

Ownership of an apartment on The World affords you the freedom, adventure, and personal detail of living aboard a luxury yacht without all the challenges that usually accompany it.

Owners & Guests enjoy extensive time in each destination, expert guides and lecturers, and in-depth Expeditions unlike anything you could experience elsewhere.

Apartments aboard The World are extremely limited. If you would like to learn more about the Ship or ownership opportunities, please contact your Residential Advisor at ResidentialAdvisor@aboardtheworld.com or +1 954 573 2583.

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NEW

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Where will we find your perfect buyer?

At Strutt & Parker, we’ve always gone to great lengths to bring the right buyer to your door, using our knowledge, contacts and total commitment to achieve the sale you want. But now we go further than ever. As members of the Christie’s International Real Estate network, we can reach quality buyers in 44 countries via 1,100 offices and a website

visited 135,600 times a month.

There’s no better way to open your door to the world.

701 Fulham Road London, SW6 5UL Tel: +44 (0)20 7731 7100 fulham@struttandparker.com struttandparker.com/christies

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