Instruct us. And your property will be the first thing they see, too. Here’s some inside information. If you’re selling a property in the Notting Hill surrounds, we know just how to make sure it gets seen – and visited. More importantly, we’re getting the highest prices for properties in our area. Often way higher than our clients expected. Without ever once having to drop the Guide Price. Without ever overvaluing the property just to win an instruction. (That old, time-wasting trick.) And without ever tying our clients into long-term contracts. If you’re thinking of selling your property, give us a call. Or drop in for a cup of tea. Right now, if you want the Best Price, it’s the first thing you should do.
hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH
Specialists in Selling
ABSOLUTELY cONTENTS fEbRUARy 2012
FEATURES 20 LOUISE BOBBE
The photographer whose nudes are on show in w8
27 THE BIG PICTURE
david Hockney’s new vsions at the Royal Academy
37 BE MY VALENTINE Lovely local offerings and gift ideas
40 FASHION SHOOT
Luxurious lingerie on location
REGULARS 50 SALVAGE STYLE
Reclaimed and upcycled interiors at Retrouvius
60 HOT CHOCOLATE
from the bean to the box
82 EASTERN PROMISE A decadent tour of dubai
84 FINAL SAY
Sixty seconds with novelist Polly williams
12 WHAT’S ON 14 LOCAL NEWS 40 FASHION 50 INTERIORS 60 FOOD & DRINK 72 HEALTH & BEAUTY 82 TRAVEL 85 PROPERTY
S T Y L I S H . I N T E L L I G E N T. E L E G A N T. A B S O L U T E LY ABSO FEB12.indb 3
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ALL DESIGNS © THEO FENNELL
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THE PAX COLLECTION
PEACE IN EVERY LANGUAGE FROM £75
ALL DESIGNS © THEO FENNELL
FINE JEWELLERY IN SILVER
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Welcome F
ebruary is all about love. And about expressing love through shopping and other extravagances. This year, despite the doom and gloom of the markets, the menu of Valentine’s indulgences seems more extreme than ever. At one hotel in Chelsea, for instance, they are inviting lovers to sink into a champagne bath and feed each other chocolatecovered strawberries. The champagne bath is literally a champagne bath - it’s a bathtub entirely filled with 120 bottles of high quality fizz, opened and poured by a personal butler and setting you back between £4,000 and £25,000 depending on the bottles. They think this will impress your beloved but I think they haven’t thought it through. For one thing, unless they are planning to warm it up, which is just wrong, champagne is cold. Sitting in cold, sticky, fizzy water is nobody’s idea of romance, however many chocolate-covered strawberries you feed them. And that’s even before you get to thinking about the wasteful nature of the whole thing. In Notting Hill, however, we are sticking to more traditional and pedestrian gifts, such as chocolate, which comes in a rainbow of heart shapes this month, and lingerie, which dominates many pages of this issue. Enjoy February.
Pendle Harte Editor
ABSOLUTELY NOTTING HILL Balconette bra £69 and micro girdle £89 Made by Niki. Black Daena nightdress £695 Agent Provocateur. Nude suspenders £16.95 Oroblu.
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EMAIL: PENDLE@ZEST-MEDIA.COM FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS FACEBOOK ‘ABSOLUTELY NOTTING HILL’
ABSOLUTELY KENSINGTON Navy and silver bra £150 and matching briefs £80 Myla. Pale pink corset £70 Playful Promises at Dolci Follie. Knitted fox fur jacket £2,970 Hockley London.
27/01/2012 18:01
THE HURLINGHAM Restaurant & Bar
The Hurlingham Restaurant & Bar is located on the exciting and diverse All Saints Road in Notting Hill. Our Michelin trained head chef has put together a fresh, seasonal menu to cater for all tastes.
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ABSOLUTELY o Editor Pendle Harte Editorial Assistant Gemma Billington Editorial INTERN Katie Randall Beauty Editor Helen Rance Feature Writers Eloise Baumann, James Luxford, Andrew Hodgson ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Lisa Davis ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER Rochelle Streater GROUP PROPERTY DIRECTOR Alexandra Hunter Head of Design Ray Searle Senior Designer Lisa Wade Production Assistant Lauren Giles Picture Editor Colin Streater Photographer Mike Blackett FASHION STYLIST Charlotte Kewley Finance Director Alexandra Hvid Marketing Manager Jessica Batten managing Director Sherif Shaltout
For editorial enquiries please email: editorial@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 3176 5265 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing subscriptions@zest-media.com. You can receive an online subscription for FREE or a postal subscriptions for 6 & 12 months, £15 and £25 respectively (to cover postage and packaging). Please email us with your preferred option and details. Published by Zest Media London, 311 Westbourne studios, acklam road w10 5jj www.zest-media.com T: 020 3176 5265 F: 020 7900 3020 Zest Media London Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media London Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.
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The Atom Rooms Ongoing Portobello Road A new installation by the Atom Rooms Gallery has transformed the 100m stretch along Portobello Road’s North Wall. The Atom Rooms on Portobello Road sees work by artists including Paul Freud, Sophie MacDonald, Lydia Roberts, Antonio Bellotti and Thomas Lumley brought out onto the street, turning the concept of a gallery inside out. The work will stay on location until May 2012.
What’s on
February Absolutely the best of the month ahead
The Number Nine Bus to Utopia by David Bramwell 8 February The Idler Academy Mixing storytelling, lecture-style slide shows and stand-up, The No 9 Bus to Utopia is a roller-coaster ride through the most extraordinary communities of the 21st century. Packed with humour, mischief and wild stories about Bramwell’s adventures, at the heart of the No 9 bus to Utopia lies a genuine desire to inspire audiences with practical ideas for how they can transform their own lives for the better and re-connect with their neighbours and community. 81 Westbourne Park Road, W2 020 7221 5908
5x15 27 February The Tabernacle What if religions are neither all true or all nonsense? asks Alain de Botton in his new book Religion for Atheists, which he will discuss at February’s 5x15. Other speakers are Susannah Clapp, Lila Azam Zanganeh, Jonathan Safran Foer and Mirza Waheed. Powis Square W11, www.5x15stories.com
LAVINIA GREENLAW 9 February 6.30 for 7pm Lutyens & Rubinstein Bookshop In Conversation with Ted Hodkinson of Granta Magazine. £5, includes wine at Lutyens & Rubinstein Bookshop, 21 Kensington Park Road, W11 2EU, bookshop@lutyensrubinstein.co.uk 020 7229 1010
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DIARY
tHE krEutZEr sonata TO 18 February GatE tHEatrE
This image: QueeN eliZabeTh ii, 1968, cecil beaTON, cOPyrighT v&a images; belOW l-r: maria rivaNs (b. 1965), ‘NaTiONal Treasure’, cOllage, 30 x 40 cms, frOm: liberTy gallery; shePard fairey (b. 1970 usa), ‘PaNTher POWer’, 2008, silkscreeN ON meTal, sigNed, daTed aNd Numbered, frOm dOmiNic guerriNi
A man boards a train alone. the confined space of the carriage triggers potent memories and soon he is confessing to a terrible crime, one for which he holds Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata responsible. Adapted from Leo tolstoy’s shocking novella, this is a chilling one-man account of sexual jealousy and murder. Pembridge Road W11, www.gatetheatre.co.uk
CECil BEaton’s Portraits oF HEr MaJEsty FrOm 8 February V&a to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, highlights of the V&A’s collection of Beaton’s royal photography, Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration will depict the Queen in her roles as princess, monarch and mother and include a number of photographs never before seen, as well as excerpts from Beaton’s diaries and letters. Cromwell Road, SW7 www.vam.ac.uk
20-21 art Fair 16-19 February 2012 royal CollEGE oF art now in its sixth year, the 20/21 international Art Fair features modern and contemporary art from the uK and abroad. included will be oils, original prints, watercolours, drawings, collage, some photography and sculpture ranging in period from 1900 to the present day. Prices range from a few hundred pounds to many thousands. You’ll get two tickets for the price of one if you email info@20-21intartfair.com quoting Absolutely notting Hill. ADMISSION: £8 Kensington Gore, SW7 2EU, info@20-21intartfair.com, 020 8742 16111 www.20-21intartfair.com
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Absolute
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NEWS
Roundup Current affairs in the area A TEMPORARY REPRIEVE FOR BIG TABLE Much has happened since our report in December about Crossrail’s Compulsory Purchase Order for premises at 56 Great Western Road. This is a “building of local historical importance and an appealing landmark”, according to experts at Kensington & Chelsea and the Community Action Group “Save Big Table Campaign”, which regards the well-lit building both literally and metaphorically as a “beacon of light between Westbourne Park tube station and the canal”. The Save Big Table Campaign stresses that its concerns relate not just to aesthetics and history but to local manufacturing jobs at a time of economic uncertainty. For 30 years, the site has been occupied by bed and mattress manufacturer, Big Table. The characterful building was erected in 1901 by the Temperance Society as a Coffee Tavern for Great Western Railway employees and is thought to be unique. The original eviction date was 31 January 2012. On 12 January, members of the Save Big Table Campaign met Crossrail representatives who will shortly respond to matters raised.
The greatest fear is that the building could be destroyed and the business closed unnecessarily. To the layman’s eye, so much alternative railway land appears to be available, while Crossrail’s announced plans are ever-changing. Pressure by the community action group and negotiations with Big Table’s directors have resulted in an offer to reinstate Big Table’s lease for a further year, followed by a threemonth rolling notice period, though this is not yet in writing. Of course, that still leaves Big Table in a tricky position, as directors Stephen Bond and Kim Macrory explain: “Finding a place and moving out within three months is just not feasible. Yet we could be here for years, depending on how Crossrail’s plans evolve. Combined manufacturing and retail facilities are just not available locally.” For those wishing to add messages of encouragement and support for Kim, Stephen and all at Big Table, a book is open in the showroom. The community itself is urging Crossrail to recognise the dictum that ‘with power goes responsibility’. More than 3,000 people have already signed a petition against the demolition of Big Table.
You can sign online at ipetitions.com/petition/bigtable56, facebook.com/bigtable56 or email a message of support to sales@bigtable.co.uk. t James Saltire
DESIGNS FOR THE DESIGN MUSEUM Architect John Pawson’s plans for the new Design Museum at the Commonwealth Institute have now been announced. The derelict but much-loved building at the end of Kensington High Street will reopen in 2014 as Terence Conran’s Design Museum’s new home after an £80 million refurbishment. Work begins in April, with the surrounding land set to be developed for housing. The musem will triple its exhibition space and be able to exhibit its permanent collection.
PHOTO: ALEX MORRIS VISUALISATION
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The Park Club East Acton Lane West London W3 7HB ABSO FEB12.indb 15
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PPA R RT OFIL EE S
ABSOLUTELY
Social
reporting from all the best parties in our area dAVId HOckNEy
Arty crowd
A host of famous faces arrived at the Royal Academy for a party to launch the long-awaited David Hockney show – and it’s proving so popular that it’s sold out until March. Photographs by Richard Young.
TRAcEy EMIN
bOb GELdOf
cHRIS ANd NATASHA EVANS
bILL NIGHy
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PA RT I E S
Hassan El Glaoui with his daughter Touria El Glaoui, who co-curated the exhibition Simon Jenkins, Director of the National Trust
from right: Sophie Perkins, Sir Winston Churchill’s great granddaughter, Molly Cowen, Amee Taberer and Pip Johnston
Her Excellency Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui of Morroco with Baroness Mary Soames, Sir Winston Churchill’s daughter
Royalty at Leighton House Above: an exhibition of Moroccan paintings by Winston Churchill and Hassan El Glaoui at Leighton House was opened by Her Excellency Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui, Ambassador of His Majesty the King of Morocco to The Court of Saint James’s. The glamorous opening party was attended by Churchill’s granddaughter Celia Sandys and great-granddaughter Sophie Perkins. All images © Paul Bence
Her Excellency Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui of Morroco, with Touria El Glaoui
Supperclub
Below: another month at Supperclub - cocktails, champagne and decadence as usual.
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Photographer Louise Bobbe’s female nudes are set to cause a stir at the Richard Young Gallery this month. Absolutely catches up with her ahead of the show
bare
cheek THIS IMAGE: bEHINd cLOSEd dOORS, 2011 TOP: LOUISE bObbE; RIGHT: UPPER bROOk STREET, 2011
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P RO F I L E
there’s a long tradition of female nudes – mostly shot by men. How did you come to the field? and how is it different being a female photographer? it was after my first marriage that i began exploring the female form. i’d been married since i was 20 and was now in my 30s and for the first time felt like i was starting to really get to know myself as a woman. i started by doing self-portraits and then began experimenting with shooting my friends. i think as a female photographer there is an understanding of women in both their power and their vulnerability. i work with both those aspects. there is also great trust, which allows for a special intimacy between us. your images rarely show the subject’s face. Why? i like to keep the anonymity of the subject because the pictures are not only about one woman, but any woman. We are all a part of that woman and i think that anyone can relate to it in some way. i also like to keep the mystery and allow people to go where they want with the story. By seeing the face it could all become too real. this way it’s a fantasy.
i’m from London and became interested in photography through a course run by two wonderful photographers, Jorge Lewinski and Mayotte Magnus. i learned from them the basic principles and understanding of photography, but more than that they gave me great inspiration. it was a relatively short course but straight after that i went on to getting regular commissions from magazines. What are your aesthetic inspirations? there are many things that inspire me. From art to architecture, books, people, interior space. the list is endless.
THE PIcTURES ARE NOT ONLy AbOUT ONE wOMAN, bUT ANy wOMAN
and what other photographers do you admire? there are so many photographers that i admire. My house is full of books by many different artists and photographers. i look at them all the time.
What’s the starting point for the pictures? do you work with fi xed ideas in mind or is there a lot of spontaneity in the shooting? i don’t have completely fi xed ideas in mind but i have a kind of a starting point from which the pictures grow. i like to leave room for the unexpected, an element of surprise. Where are you from and how did you first get interested in photography? 21
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P RO F I L E By seeing the face it could all become too real. This way it’s a fantasy.
What will you be working on next? I still feel that I have so much to say about women. I can’t imagine not photographing them. I have many other ideas, but find myself being drawn to women again and again. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not taking pictures?
I love to cook. My husband is the most amazing cook and we love to cook together. We always have a full table of family and friends. Everyone knows that they’ll get a good meal at our house. We also love going to antique markets wherever we are in the world. That’s the first thing we look for when we travel; that and trying to find good coffee. What do you like about your part of London? We love living in Queens Park. It’s such a relaxed and friendly place to live. People here say hello in the street. I’ve never experienced that before.
At the same time it feels quite private. It’s just the right mix. What do you do locally? We go to Portobello market every Friday morning without fail. We’ve been going there for many years. It’s so familiar. We start with breakfast and then wander through the market. We meet so many friends there. t Louise Bobbe: Behind Closed Doors runs from 7 February to 17 March at Richard Young Gallery, 4 Holland Street W8 www.richardyounggallery.co.uk
TOP: PINK SPARKLY SHORTS, 2009 LEFT: MOUNT STREET, 2011 THIS IMAGE: THE DREAM, 2011
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C U LT U R E
saVinG tHE liBrary the Brent Library campaigners were named by the independent in their list of Great Britons of 2011 – saying that they “represented the outrage felt by much of the nation’s readers and researchers about cutbacks by staging a roundthe-clock protest outside Kensal Rise Library”. in time for national Libraries Day on 4 February, Jamie Reid, the anarchic artist known for the Sex Pistols’ artwork, has designed a Save Kensal Rise Library poster which launches on 3 February at the Masons Arms in Harrow Road. A limited run of 200 prints will be for sale at £30 each on the night – and tickets to the event cost £5 from Queen’s Park Books, L’Angolos in College Road and Minkies Deli. Further local support comes from Worldly Wicked and Wise on Salusbury Road, who kindly framed several prints for the campaign.
On the
Agenda
WHat arE Words WortH? those clever perspex jewellery people tatty Divine are getting literary too this month with this limitededition Words Words Words necklace, available exclusively at their Selfridges pop-up store for £75.
this month’s highlights
art oF Glass new to Kensington Park Road’s Vessel is a collection of art glass by Swedish artist Ann Wahlstrom, whose work has never been sold in the uK before. Her inspiration comes from nature and tove Jansson’s Moomin illustrations. Pictured is Lollipop x1, £2,900. www.vesselgallery.com
staMP uP Paul Smith has designed a new series of stamps to celebrate the olympics (sick of it already? Brace yourself for lots more to come). And in predictable PS style, they are super stylish and very collectable.
lutyEns & ruBinstEin’s yEar in Books the lovely Kensington Park Road bookshop will send your beloved a carefully chosen and beautifully wrapped book every month for a year, which might be the book of the moment or an underrated classic. if your loved one has a passion for a particular genre, they will accommodate it – crime novels, say, or books set in amazing locations. Each Year in Books recipient receives one of their lovely canvas bags too. What better Valentine’s gift? £130 Paperbacks, £250 Hardbacks for 12 months.
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C U LT U R E
Bigger pictures
David Hockney’s long-awaited show is taking the Royal Academy by storm
D
avid Hockney’s W11 days are well-documented: the studio in Hegdegate Court, Powis Terrace, was where he worked in the early 1970s and his name became eternally associated with W11. Before Hockney discovered California, W11 was his home and arguably his most famous painting, Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy shows a Linden Gardens interior. These days he lives mostly in Bridlington and this epic new exhibition, the one that’s taking
London by storm, at the Royal Academy, features huge paintings of the Yorkshire scenery alongside vast portrayals of sublime landscapes such as the Grand Canyon, all of them in hyperreal bright technicolour detail. Yorkshire’s fields are psychedelic in neon orange and pink, with dramatic shafts of light and surreal, underwaterlike flora filling vast expanses of space. Among the paintings are impressive sets of huge printed iPad paintings which are bright and
clear, though maybe lacking the depth of the brushstroke when seen at close range. It’s a big show: huge paintings, breathtaking colours and a great sense of optimism. t David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture continues until 9 April at Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly W1. Sponsored by BNP Paribas Tourism Partner: Welcome to Yorkshire
TOP: Woldgate Woods, 21, 23 & 29 November 2006, 2006, Oil on 6 canvases, 182 x 366 cm, Courtesy of the Artist (Photo: Richard Schmidt) FROM LEFT: The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven), 12 April iPad drawing printed on paper, 144.1 x 108 cm (one of a 52-part work), Courtesy of the artist; Nichols Canyon, 1980, Acrylic on canvas, 213.4 x 152.4 cm, Private collection; The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven)2 January; iPad drawing printed on paper, 144.1 x 108 cm; one of a 52-part work, Courtesy of the artist. ALL BY DAVID HOCKNEY, Copyright David Hockney
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GOSSIP
reaLLy, SHerLOCK? Actor Benedict Cumberbatch has been complaining that growing up in Kensington has lead him to be typecast. He told the Radio times: “i realised from quite early on that although i wasn’t trying to make a class specialty of it, i was playing slightly asexual, sociopathic intellectuals.” Stephen Hawking, Dr Frankenstein and Sherlock Holmes, to name a few – though is his W8 background really to blame? Maybe it’s just his face. He’s set to star opposite notting Hill’s noel Clarke in the new Star trek soon too, so expect more of the strange typecasting in 2013.
Absolutely
Confidential SearLe in W8
gLOVeD up Madonna came to Kensington for the premiere of her new film W.E, looking amazing in a black Jean-Paul Gaultier gown and inexplicable red leather fingerless gloves. never one to do things by halves, Madonna’s premiere was in fact her second, W.E having premiered at the London Film Festival back in october. Why have one when you can have two? Image: Richard Young
ST TRINIANS, fROM PENGUIN cLASSIcS’ THE TERROR Of ST TRINIANS ANd OTHER dRAwINGS by RONALd SEARLE.
the late Ronald Searle, who died at the end of December at the age of 91, is remembered for his spiky and characterful St trinian’s drawings – though his career spanned an enormous range of work. At the age of 15 he was the cartoonist for the Cambridge Daily news and later worked for Punch and the new Yorker, and devised the immortal Molesworth with his friend Geoffrey Willans in the early 1950s from his studio at 77 Bedford Gardens W8. A local boy then.
nOT-SO yummy THanDie A flip side to thandie newton’s perfect glossy mother image is revealed as she teams up with noel Fielding to read Adam Mansbach’s Go the F**k to Sleep on www.canongate.tv. the luminous actress never looks less than perfect when spotted in Queen’s Park with her offspring – but now we know how she gets them to bed. Smiling sweetly, she recites: “the eagles who soar through the sky are at rest. And the creatures who crawl, run and creep. i know you’re not thirsty. that’s bullshit. Stop lying. Lie the f**k down, my darling, and sleep.” other celebrities who have been recorded reading these immortal words include, randomly, Samuel L Jackson and Werner Herzog. www.canongate.tv
sPottEd: Jason Donovan at Granger & Co; Kirstie Allsopp getting into a taxi outside E&o (and Jeremy Clarkson inside); Sara Cox and family at the Diner in Chamberlayne Road; Fearne Cotton at Simon Warwick Hair in Kensington Park Road.
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TREAT YOUR LOVED ONE ON VALENTINE’S DAY
Valentine Manicure £35 Includes: Glass of bubbly Chocolates & Bottle of OPI’s Vodka & Caviar polish
Valentine Manicure & Pedicure £60 Includes: Glass of bubbly Chocolates & Bottle of OPI’s Vodka & Caviar polish
Champagne, Wine and Cocktails, latest Essie and OPI colours in stock, Chanel, Shellac, Axxium Gel, Fish Spa, massage chairs, Mummy and Baby mornings, threading and much more.. Coco Nail Bar, 267 Portobello Road, London W11 1LR
0207 243 1113
www.coconailbar.com
As recommended by
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PEOPLE
People, places and things I love in my locale
Cemal k Cemal the man behind Phillo flowers on Valentine’s Day, daffodils and parrots
you must get some pretty glamorous commissions in Chepstow road. Can you describe your most elaborate/ extravagant one? our most extravagant single commission was a £1,000 vase display. A Russian gentleman was sending flowers to his 14 year-old daughter who was on an exchange trip in the uK, the note simply read: “i love you”. What are you expecting for Valentine’s day and what do you recommend people to give? Valentine’s Day is always challenging because of the huge volume of flowers that we sell so it can be very labour-intensive but always enjoyable. our best-selling item is a hat box of roses finished with black millinery netting. it is chic, romantic and very Phillo. What are your personal favourite blooms? i have always adored narcissi and daffodils and we sell them in abundance in the spring tied simply with raffia but arranged in a typically perfect ‘Parisian dome’.
spent eight years studying human genetics and rare neurological disorders, then working at St Mary’s hospital, i gave it all up to set up Phillo in 2003. i love the challenges of running my own business and get a buzz every day creating and executing floral designs for my clients. i find that i can really appreciate the seasons too as flowers come into their natural flowering cycle. i also enjoy writing my blogs as i love to share my passions with everyone. fROM TOP: LOLA, ONE Of THE SHOP MAcAwS; cEMAL k cEMAL; HAT bOX Of ROSES; dAffOdILS
How did you become a florist and what do you like about it? i had a dilemma at school because i was good at both art and science and my art teachers were horrified when my chosen A-levels were science-based. i always had a passion for art and design but came to the realisation that i could always go back to it later in life. Flowers and plants were always a passion so having
Why the parrots? i have kept parrots for over 25 years and have a collection of 12. they mostly live in my garden in purpose-built enclosures and are charming and complicated characters – they are not the easiest birds to keep and they can live for 60 to 100 years so you have to be really committed to keep them. We always have two at the shop at any one time and their silhouettes form part of the Phillo logo. We support the world parrot trust, an organisation that looks after the welfare of captive and wild parrots around the world. t
www.philloflowers.com/blog/ 59 Chepstow road W2 020 7727 4555
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LOVE is in the air West London gears up for Valentine’s Day PAPER WISHES KELL SKÖTT To show how much they love you this Valentines Day, Kell Skött Haircare are offering all clients a complimentary hair treatment when booking any other service on 14 February. If you can’t make it on the 14th, then you can still get a half price treatment with any colour service throughout February. Visit their website for a full list of treatments. Kell Skott Haircare. 2-4 Lambton Place, W11. 020 7229 1671. 93 Golborne Road, W10 020 8964 3004 www.kellskotthaircare.com
Take a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Add a box of chocolates Stir in a romantic card or declare your love on a personalized balloon Don’t forget a Valentine’s gift basket filled with lovable goodies. Lastly, there’s an array of teddies and gifts to choose from. Get all these romantic ingredients in store, plus they stock candles, rose petals and Valentine’s decor. Introducing yummy cupcakes and cheesecakes to share. 47a Chamberlayne Road, NW10 3ND, (Entrance on Kempe Road) 020 8964 4410 www.paperwishesuk.com
JIVITA Spoil your loved one with a luxurious gift box filled in with much sought after Ila products for only £57. The Essence of Vitality box contains a Body Scrub for energising and detoxifying, Body Oil for vital energy and Bath Salts that give a heavenly bathing experience for both you and your partner. Luxurious Ila treatments also available at www.jivitaayurveda.com
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ABSOLUTELY P R O M OT I O N
soPHiE HarlEy Show the love of your life how special they are this Valentine with the brand new Brilliana collection from luxury jeweller Sophie Harley. the collection features delicious heart shaped stones, Citrine, topaz and Amethyst in beautiful colours set in 18 carat gold and sprinkled with coloured diamonds. Prices from £1500. All are welcome to visit the studio and browse the collections which also feature beautiful heart shaped lockets and charms in silver. true love forever this Valentine. 020 7430 2070 www.sophieharley.com
beTTy bLyTHe treat yourself and your loved one this Valentine’s Day with an ‘i’d Love You For Breakfast’ Hamper from Betty Blythe. the ultimate treat, these hampers are delivered right to your door and contain everything needed to have a scrumptious breakfast in bed. Filled with treats such as smoked salmon, organic eggs, bacon, tea and coffee, the hampers are hand-delivered with a smile. Valentine’s Day falls on a tuesday this year but those not lucky enough to have the morning in bed can book their romantic treat for a weekend day instead. Hampers can be booked between Saturday 11 and tuesday 14 February for any location within the M25 (delivery costs apply). 73 Blythe Road, W14 020 7602 1177 www. bettyblythe.co.uk
CaSa baTaVia Casa Batavia is a newly opened Modern italian restaurant on Kensington Church Street owned by italian chef nicola Batavia and co-owned by Paolo Boschi. Casa Batavia is part of an established brand, with a Michelin Starred Restaurant in turin. While nicola Batavia brings a traditional Mediterranean food philosophy to Casa Batavia, Paolo Boschi – with his years of experience in the restaurant industry along with a combination of charismatic yet professional approach to service – focuses on providing customers with a warm environment to enjoy their food in. this Valentine’s Day, enjoy a free glass of Gavi wine or Cabernet Sauvignon with a sumptuous five course meal for £45pp. Quote “Absolutely” and get and extra 10% off. 135 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LP www.casabatavia.com
SWanKy LaSH & brOW bar it’s February - it’s Valentine’s – it’s time to love yourself. Visit Swanky Lash & Brow Bar and savour a glass of crisp Prosecco wine and feast on chocolates - FREE throughout February with any treatment. Enjoy a manicure, pedicure or eyebrow/ eyelash treatment and mention this ad to receive 15% off – their Valentine’s gift to you! Relax in gorgeous pink baroque armchairs or sink into luxurious white leather chairs. Your chance to love yourself! relax, pamper yourself and have fun at swanky. 26 Chamberlayne Road, NW10 3JD 020 8964 2569 www.swankylashbrowbar.com 33
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COCO naiL bar For Valentine’s Day why not treat your loved one to a fabulous Classic Manicure (£35) or Manicure & Pedicure Package (£60). At Portobello’s Coco nail Bar our special Valentine’s treatments come with a glass of bubbly, some chocolates and a bottle of oPi’s popular red polish “Vodka & Caviar” to take home! Coco Nail Bar, 267 Portobello Road W11 1LR 020 7243 1113 www.coconailbar.com
LOuSHeLOu Pavé diamonds crafted in 18 carat gold, with designs that are both classic and contemporary, Loushelou Fine Jewellery has an approach to jewellery design that is elegant, timeless and wearable. they will deliver your jewellery safely, quickly and beautifully gift wrapped. image shows pavé cube pendants with champagne, black and white diamonds set in 18 carat gold from £670. Please visit online at loushelou.com or call on 020 8371 1881
angeLi SenZa eTa Spa
KuKa-me Kuka-me is a newly opened jewellery shop in notting Hill offering beautiful sterling silver and 18ct gold jewellery. Kuka-me is the new venture of former Creative Director of De Beers LV, Reema Pachachi. the small shop is all about design, also showcasing fabulous scarves by Wallace Sewell, Kitty Joseph and others—Bespoke commissions welcome. Come visit us and receive 10% off silver and 5% of gold jewellery on your first purchase in the month of February, mention ‘Absolutely’ at time of purchase. 5 Elgin Crescent, W11 2JA www.kuka-me.com
the new sun rises in Kensington high street. Angeli Senza Eta offer you the best skin care products and treatments with highly experienced therapists. tailormade holistic and aesthetic give you the chance to pamper yourself or spoil your other half. opening promotions: • 20% off all treatments over £50 • 30% off IPL Hair removal & Skin Rejuvenation • 30% off Radiofrequency and cavitation slimming treatment. Condition applies visit our website for more information: www.agelessangels.co.uk or Call us on 020 7348 0664, 288 Kensington High Street, W14 8NZ
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SWANK
Lash & Brow Bar 26 Chamberlayne Road, NW10 3JD 020 8964 2569
Love Yourself Valentine’s Offer It’s February - it’s Valentine’s – it’s time to Love Yourself Join us at
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Gift Vouchers
Savour a glass of crisp Prosecco wine, and feast on chocolates FREE throughout February with any treatment Manicures, pedicures, eyebrows, eyelashes etc…
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Mention this advert and receive 15% off any treatment Our valentine’s gift to you! Relax in gorgeous pink baroque armchairs or sink into luxurious white leather chairs… Your chance to Love Yourself! Don’t miss out book now.
26 Chamberlayne Road, LONDON NW10 3JD
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Tel: 0208 964 2569
Products: Essie, Shellac, Artistic
www.swankylashandbrowbar.co.uk
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GIFTS
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truE roManCE Absolutely the finest gifts for your beloved on Valentine’s Day
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8 1. Hanky panky knickers disguised as roses hankypanky.com 2. Cards £2.50 www.belleandboo.com 3. Chocolate rosa Baccarat £39.95 Carluccio’s, 108 Westbourne Grove W2 4. Prestat heart assortment £15 www.prestat.co.uk 5. Montblanc Mignardise bracelet £400 www.montblanc.com 6. love cake tin £6.50 Paperchase, 110 Westbourne Grove W2 7. limited edition rosa Mundi candle £40 Diptyque, 195 Westbourne Grove W11 8. love Bug Print £45 www.samanthamorris.com 37
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TO BREAK THE RULES, YOU MUST FIRST MASTER THEM. THE UNIQUE ASYMMETRIC STYLING OF THE AUDEMARS PIGUET MILLENARY COLLECTION HAS TRANSFORMED THE WAY DESIGN ENGINEERS DEVELOP CALIBRES. THIS TRI - DIMENSIONAL MOVEMENT COMBINES PERFORMANCE AND CHRONOMETRY WITH HAUTE HOROLOGY MICRO-DETAILING. IN THE TRANSVERSAL BALANCE - BRIDGE, OPTIMUM S H O C K - R E S I S TA N C E I S C O M B I N E D W I T H T H E ELEGANCE OF THE CÔTES DE GENÈVE WAVE - FORM FINISHING. THE PERFECT SYMBIOSIS OF ENGINEERING, DESIGN AND CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND A CLASSIC EXPRESSION OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF LE BRASSUS.
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2 Marylebone High Street London W1U 4NF Tel: 0207 487 5628 Email: info@newcavendishjewellers.com
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IN PINK GOLD. SELFWINDING MANUFACTURE MOVEMENT.
27/01/2012 18:11 27.01.12 17:41
Charlotte Nude pink bra £90 and leotard £135 Wolford. Red patent heels £515 Jimmy Choo.
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IN THE
lap of luxury Fall in love with the season’s most alluring accessories and lingerie
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Zoe High waisted briefs £36 Kiss Me Deadly at Dolci Follie. White vest £132 American Retro. Pearl bracelet £115 Stephen Einhorn.
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CHARLOTTE Black string bodice £189 and string half skirt £69 Made by Niki. Black high corseted briefs £92 Lascivious at Bordello Lingerie. Silver fang ring £183 Stephen Einhorn. Luxury faux fur cushions from £28 and throws from £175 Graham & Green.
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Zoe Balconette bra £69 and micro girdle £89 Made by Niki. Black Daena nightdress £695 Agent Provocateur.
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Charlotte Navy and silver bra £150 and matching briefs £80 Myla. Pale pink corset £70 Playful Promises at Dolci Follie. Knitted fox fur jacket £2,970 Hockley London.
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Zoe Black lace bra £79 briefs £49 and suspended belt £59 Myla. Stockings £20 Falke at Mytights.
Stockists Agent Provocateur 020 7243 1292 American Retro at Harvey Nichols 020 7235 5000 Bebaroque www.bebaroque.com Bordello Lingerie www.bordellolingerie.com Carvela Kurt Geiger www.kurtgeiger.com Dolci Follie www.dolcifollie.co.uk Gianmarco Lorenzi 020 7493 2906 Graham & Green www.grahamandgreen.co.uk Hockley London www.hockleylondon.com Jimmy Choo www.jimmychoo.com Lou Lou Loves You www.louloulovesyou.com Made by Niki www.madebyniki.co.uk Myla www.myla.com Mytights www.mytights.com Oroblu www.oroblu.com Splendid www.net-a-porter.com Stephen Einhorn www.stepheneinhorn.co.uk Wolford 020 7529 3000
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CREDITS Charlotte Tan cropped tee (part of dress) £190 Splendid. Black heart high silk satin knickers £60 Lou Lou Loves You. PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Blackett STYLIST Charlotte Kewley HAIR & MAKE-UP The Chapel Creative Katie Fellowes & Jodie Collins thechapel.co.uk Models Zoe B, IMG Models Charlotte Carter-Allen, Bookings Models
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FA S H I O N
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Luxe lace Absolutely the loveliest lingerie in the area
6 4 5 7 1. Mimi Holliday Cuba libra leopard balcony bra, £54, and classic knicker, £36 Dolci Follie, 28 Hereford Road W2 2. Mimi Holliday Pina Colada shoulder bra, £51, and hipster, £36, www.dolcifollie.co.uk 3. nicole bustier, £150, and hipster, £55 www.myla.com 4. stella McCartney anna Glowing bra, £105, and knickers, £52 www.foxandrose.com 5. Memoire des sens half-cup bra and saint tropez brief, Aubade, 199 Westbourne Grove W11 www.aubade.co.uk 6. daena bra £110 suspender £95 and brief £65 www.agentprovocateur.com 7. neon hipsters by Hanky Panky, £18 Love KR, 98a Chamberlayne Road nW10, www.lovekr.co.uk 49
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salvage style A converted stable off the Harrow Road is a shrine to salvaged materials and rescued furniture. Absolutely takes a tour around Retrouvius
Handmade paper rescued from a printing factory bin printed with Shakespeare text. A timber framed chinoiserie chair
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INTERIORS
R
etrouvius comprises two spaces, a Victorian stable and adjoining terraced shop totalling 5000 square feet. The site at 2a Ravensworth Road used to be the stables for Harrow Road’s horse-drawn trams before becoming a car repair centre; when Retrouvius took it on in 1999, the arge open space rapidly got filled with timber, furniture, stone and other curiositiess, sourced from all over London and further afield. Retrouvius expanded into the adjacent 1016 Harrow Road in 2008. The derelict building, formerly a
the staircase is made from tropical hardwood rescued from a school science laboratory (complete with obscene graffiti) cleaning company, was in a poor state of repair complete with leaky roof and mouldy carpets and flooring. Retrouvius gutted the entire site according to its philosophy to re-use materials wherever possible – and the building was completely reassembled almost entirely from salvaged materials. All internal joists are old timber, the staircase is made from tropical hardwood rescued from a
SHOP VIEW
Shopfront facade made from mahogany and copper light windows from a CrossRail demolition
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INTERIORS school science laboratory (complete with obscene graffiti), internal walls are clad with ex-British Library leather shelving and old Routemaster bus seat fabric screens the workshop from shop customers. the oak floor was salvaged from the Supreme Court of Great Britain (aka Middlesex Guildhall) and radiators and terrace doors come from a modernist penthouse in Camden. this forgiving structure becomes a display board for whatever materials come into stock and a testbed for design ideas. the original and rather ghastly aluminium shopfront remained
for a couple of years before the serendipity of salvage presented the perfect solution for a new facade: mahogany and copper light windows salvaged from an institutional building demolished for Crossrail link form the new frontage. the warehouse entrance on Ravensworth Road is made from a pair of enormous solid teak doors from an army building. Re-use, remodel, recycle are the buzzwords at Retrouvius.t 1016 Harrow road, nW10 5ns retrouvius.com 020 8960 6060
THIS IMAGE: VIcTORIAN ARMcHAIR REUPHOLSTEREd IN ROUTEMASTER bUS fAbRIc, INTERNAL wALL cLAd IN LEATHER EX-bRITISH LIbRARy SHELVING RIGHT: TROPIcAL HARdwOOd bOARdS EX ScHOOL ScIENcE LAb dIVIdE THE fORMER STAbLE wAREHOUSE SPAcE; INTERNAL VIEw Of cOPPER LIGHT SHOPfRONT wITH, ON LEfT, MAHOGANy cAbINETS fORMERLy STORAGE fOR INSEcT SPEcIMENS AT A LONdON MUSEUM; SHOP VIEw, wITH bRITISH LIbRARy LEATHER wALL ON LEfT, fLIP UP cINEMA SEATING, PENdANT LIGHTS, ANd ENAMEL TUbE SIGNS; MAHOGANy cAbINETS fORMERLy STORAGE fOR INSEcT SPEcIMENS AT A LONdON MUSEUM ANd ENAMELLEd fAcTORy LIGHTS EX cAR fAcTORy
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CALL NOW TO SELL YOUR ITEMS SO
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Vale Glass Ltd
1. Arrange a home visit or drop off your items 2. We sell your items for you on eBay & various other channels
3. You receive a cheque TO ARRANGE A HOME VISIT: 020 7424 0761 appointments@flogit4u.com
Flogit4u.com
76 Haverstock Hill, London, NW3 2BE. Registered in England and Wales no 5153520
Last chance to see! London Transport Museum Covent Garden Piazza, WC2 ltmuseum.co.uk Registered charity number 1123122
Supported by CASA at University College London Massachusetts Institute of Technology Clear Channel Native Design
Glass splashbacks in any colour Mirrors supplied and fitted Polishing, Bevelling Glass Roofs Same day sealed units Frameless glass doors Balustrades and staircases
In association with
020 7243 6666
Fax: 020 7792 4724 info@valeglass.com 72 Chepstow Road, London W2 5BE
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INTERIORS
WindoW sHoPPEr 50 GolBornE 50 Golborne is very much the kind of shop that used to be on Golborne Road before Golborne Road was home to Stella McCartney, only it’s a more stylish version of the old junk haven. there are lots of old clothes, of course – though they’re the kind of vintage pieces that might be borrowed by Vogue for a shoot, not the £1 rail kind – and there’s also a diversity of furniture and funny antique pieces. on our last visit we were coveting a miniature wooden school desk and chair, a bamboo tikki-style bar, a pair of angular pink chairs that were featured in a Pet Shop Boys video and this unusual triangle cupboard. Quirky stock spills out onto the pavement and it’s certainly worth more than a detour. 50 Golborne Road W10 www.50golborne.com
inspirations Interior
the best trends, local gems and designers
LEATHER CANDY COIN PURSE
ROB RYAN Mr Ryan’s intricate paper-cuttings have taken the design world by storm. We love the slightly ott romanticism of the line of poetry that only makes sense once the mugs are placed side-by-side. £16.99 www.tch.net
inspired by the original Love Heart sweets, these retro purses by natthakur are a fizz of rhyming slang: Bees and Honey (money), treacle tart (sweetheart), turtle Dove (love) and Heavenly Bliss (kiss). £35 each www.culturelabel.com
LOVE LETTERS Cass Art’s Kensington store is the prefect place to find a bit of crafty inspiration. £5.50 for each letter. www.cassart.co.uk
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TREEHOUSE HARDWOOD FLOORING
QUALITY ENVIRONMENTS FOR QUALITY OF LIFE Specialists in high quality solid and sustainable hardwood flooring We carry a huge range of woods from around the world, displayed at our Notting Hill showroom in large sample boards to assist clients, designers and architects, in planning interiors. Board and strip flooring wood block and decking, bespoke floor production. Other services, special project installation, wall panelling, staircases, doors, worktops, cabinetry, natural stone & many other interior related products. Exceptional value, experienced craftsmen, quality installation.
Showroom : 116 Talbot Rd, Notting Hill, London, W11 1JR E-mail info@johntate.co.uk Tel: 020 7460 0376
TAN London L O N D O N ’ S P R E M I E R TA N N I N G S A L O N
modern and contemporary art from the UK, Europe and Asia
Royal College of Art Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU
16 – 19 February 2012
The strongest Ergoline Tanning Equipment on the market Collagen Light Therapy (for the reduction of wrinkles, cellulite and great for any skin issues) Clean and Modern Salon Fully trained and friendly staff Fully qualified nail technician
Opening Hours 10:00 to 9:00 Mon to Fri 10:00 to 8:00 Saturday 12:00 to 6:00 Sunday
Voucher £20 free
Thurs: 11am-9pm | Fri: 11am-8pm Sat: 11am-7pm | Sun: 11am-6pm
When you buy any course over £40 with this voucher. Valid until 01/03/12.
Tel: 020 87 42 1611 Email: info@20-21intartfair.com
10 Chepstow Road London W2 5BD
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020 7792 2460
www.tan-london.co.uk
27/01/2012 15:54
INTERIORS
Beautiful bathrooms
Looking for a new bathroom? Nu-Line’s showoom is the place
N
u-Line builders’ merchant has been operating in Notting Hill for over 40 years. The area has seen great changes over that time and Nu-Line has changed as well as adapting to the requirements of its customers. In 2005 Nu-Line moved its plumbing and bathroom department from a small shop in Westbourne Park Road to new custom-designed premises in nearby Malton Road. The 10,000 sq ft unit spread over two floors houses the plumbing trade counter and warehouse on the ground floor. But it’s on the first floor that the real surprises are found. The stunning showroom houses displays from some of the finest contemporary bathroom manufactures and designers around including Duravit, Hansgrohe, Lefroy Brooks and many others. Duravit in particular is well represented with displays of their Esplanade range designed by renowned architect Sergei Tchoban, the Pura Vida range of soft curved minimalist ceramic ware and furniture and finally the Mirrorwall, a stunning collection of mirrorfaced furniture and integrated intelligent LED lighting. The showroom contains many feature areas and open bath and shower tableaux plus six complete enclosed bathroom displays so you can really get a real feel as to what your choice of bathroom will look like. There is also an extensive range of taps and accessories which showcases some of the most dramatic and innovative products available. But the elegant surroundings are just part of the story. Nu-Line prides itself in the service and back-up that it offers all its customers ranging from advice given by qualified heating engineers to problem solving from its resident plumbers. No request for help from customers is ever a problem for the highly trained and competent staff, whether it’s planning your entire bathroom or just recommending a designer or installer. t Unit 12 -14 Malton Road W10 5UP 020 8206 5177 www.nu-linebathrooms.com
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ABSOLUTELY P R O M OT I O N
For curtains and blinds that define and complete your decor - there is only one company to provide a personalised, expert, bespoke service. Pret a Vivre, 20 All Saints Road W11 0845 130 5161 www.pretavivre.com Looking for fabrics for curtains, blinds or upholstery? Choose from a wide range of cottons, linens, silks, checks & stripes. Prices from ÂŁ14 per m Pret a Vivre. 20 All Saints Road W11 0845 130 5161 www.pretavivre.com
interior destination Complete design solutions on All Saints Road
Bringing luxury into your home, the S-Box by Svedbergs. taking up just a square metre or so of bathroom space, lets you step into a world of relaxation and revitalizing treatments including overhead shower and spray nozzles, a removable solid teak bench seat with massage nozzles for back and chest. Also available in larger sizes. Visit Edwins Bathrooms showroom to see the S-Box and other products from this range. Edwins Bathrooms, 19 All Saints Road W11 020 7221 3550
Pret a Vivre offer a fabric and paint matching service; they have all the major paint brands cards in their showrooms together with all their fabric samples to make it easy to get your scheme just right. Pret a Vivre. 20 All Saints Road W11 0845 130 5161 www.pretavivre.com
if you want a traditional style for your bathroom this could be for you; the Amarcord, a stunning Brass bathtub lined in shimmering white, designed by Marco Merendi and manufactured by Rapsel, italy. For further enquiries, contact Edwins Bathrooms, 19 All Saints Road W11 020 7221 3550
Sometimes modular furniture can be the best cost effective solution for fitting the look you want into those awkward spaces. utopia offer a selection of ranges, boasting modern and sleek designs with plenty of choice to mix and match carcass, door and worktop finishes to suit your style. Contact Edwins bathrooms for further information. Edwins Bathrooms, 19 All Saints Road W11 020 7221 3550 57
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Half Price Colour Sale
Photo: Lydia Evans
Stay19gorgeous for less FEBRUARY – 16 MARCH 2012 To find your nearest salon please visit www.hmhair.co.uk or call 0345 459 7700
HEADMASTERSUK
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www.hmhair.co.uk
Mini Picassos new art HoMe
Mini Picassos Art Sessions for Children now has a brand new permanent home in trendy Kensal Rise, NW10. Mini Picassos now offers even more great art classes where children can explore a huge range of art materials from acrylics on canvas to wire & paper mache. Sarah Neale, founder of Mini Picassos and teacher, “It’s great now to have our own base, we can showcase the children’s art in our gallery space, create even more ambitious projects and run toddler art every morning.” Mini Picassos also have a range of themed art birthday parties to choose from, just think, fun packed painting, happy kids and no mess for you! So if your child is a budding Leonardo or secret Banksy bring out their talent at Mini Picassos, 8 Station Terrace, Kensal Rise, London NW10 5RT. Toddler Art classes every weekday 10am phone to book your first class FREE! Ages 4-7yrs & 8-12yrs contact Sarah 07903 638817 infor@minipicassos.co.uk, www.minipicassos.co.uk
27/01/2012 15:55
KIDS
Absolutely
tinies How to keep them amused
duCklinGs disCount Little Ducklings is a beautiful children’s clothing range designed by Danishborn Kensal Riser Rosa Wiland. Hers are playful pieces with an old-fashioned feel in muted colours – a world away from the lurid, logo-ed kids’ threads of the mainstream – and the new season’s collection is set to be stocked in John Lewis. in the meantime, Absolutely readers can get a further 25% off the existing discounts on her website using the code ABSoLutELY at checkout. Lucky you. www.little-ducklings.co.uk
PaGE turnErs Sick of nasty newsstand mags for children that are just merchandising for tV characters? Anxious about the loss of innocence that comes with consumerism? there are alternatives. Big in south London but so far little-known in these parts is the excellent kids magazine okido. Billing itself an ‘arts and science magazine’ for children aged two and above, the super-stylish title is much less serious than its tagline – packed with stories, games, doodles and experiments it’s a playtime manual on a quarterly theme – ‘dirt’, for instance, or ‘robots’, or now ‘habitat’. it’s stocked at Honeyjam – or why not subscribe at www.okido.co.uk? Another stylish magazine for kids is Anorak, which has now spawned a little sister called PLoC. Devised in east London and stocked at W11’s Pedlar’s, this calls itself ‘the happy mag for kids’ and it’s full of stories and activites with an emphasis on high class illustration with an old-fashioned feel. the first issue of PLoC is illustrated by cult French artist Alain Grée and it has a lovely vintage feel and a cute, small size that’s perfect for little hands.
EQual riGHts tootsa Macginty is a new children’s label that is blissfully un-pink and blue. it’s unisex, embellished with neither tractors nor princesses but with friendly foxes, owls and bunnies, plus brightly coloured stripes and rainbow peace symbols. it’s stocked at izzy Jones in Kilburn Lane. www.tootsamacginty.com
aBsolutEly loVEs… Lego crayons for lego fans of all ages, from W9’s www.pookieandpeach.com 59
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Hot chocolate Clever recipes and canny marketing have made chocolate into an art form of its own, says Pearl Boyd
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hocolate is bigger than ever. over the past decade, in paradoxical parallel to an increasing obsession with detoxing, exercising and health, and alongside rising obesity statistics, there has been a rise and rise of chocolate as a luxury, even fashionable, substance. We’re not talking about your supermarket box of Roses, or your service station Mars bar. Most definitely not. today’s luxe chocolate comes from the single origin bean and is tempered in notting Hill, Chelsea or Mayfair. And for your Valentine, nothing less than a high quality heart will do, pitched perfectly between naughtiness (it is, after all, basically quite bad for you) and stylish design to make it truly desirable. today’s chic west London chocolatier is endowed with mystery and magic, like Willy Wonka but more grown up. Extra magic comes from collaborations with artists, designers or chefs – like Celia Birtwell’s printed lollies for Melt, or Heston Blumenthal’s experimental but popular tobacco truffle for Artisan du Chocolat. Marc Demarquette is an awardwinning chocolatier with a shop
in Chelsea and a kitchen in north Kensington. His specialities include the Highland malt ganache and an award-winning house honey ganache, plus beautiful painted caramels such as rhubarb caramel, elderflower caramel and Manuka caramel as well as the now ubiquitous sea salt caramel. Salty caramels are having a moment, and at Artisan du Chocolat, not content with the original version (a dark chocolate ball, cracking in your mouth to release a heavenly, intense caramel with just enough salt to prevent it from being sickly) there is a range of flavoured ones including lemongrass, sage and thyme, spiced fig and even balsamic vinegar. these may not be mixed by waterfall, but there’s certainly a degree of trickery involved. “Chocolate makes everyone smile, even bankers,” is written on the wall at Melt, Ledbury Road’s white, architecty chocolate boutique. And: “there’s more to life than chocolate, but not today.” in a recession, you might not be able to afford diamonds, but you’ll probably be able to splash out on a bit of the brown stuff. Chocolate has a long history of being highly prized and Aztecs are said to have used cocoa beans as currency. its supposedly addictive
qualities add to its mythology – though they are vastly exaggerated. on Artisan du Chocolat’s website, the shopping basket is called “your stash” in a joking reference to illicitness – and the marketing of it as something a bit cheeky and highly prized is something that works for Rococo too, with its stylish, arty packaging, fun creations and luxurious Belgravia store. At Rococo, they make chocolate asparagus spears in asparagus season, chocolate cigars, chocolates disguised as grapes, Jersey Royals, olives, ravioli and quail’s eggs. their slogan “once bitten, truly smitten” again is all about love, and addiction. But entering the world of chocolate can’t all be about indulging your own love of chocolate, as Rococo’s founder Chantal Coady points out. “You might have a bit of a sweet tooth to start off with in this industry, but as times goes by you learn that real sugary chocolate is ultimately not satisfying and the sign of a really good chocolate is one that you only need a small piece of to hit the spot.” that’s the essence of it. Everybody loves chocolate and smaller quantities of higher quality stuff is what we all need to be eating this 14 February. t
L-R: MELT; MELT; wILLIAM cURLEy; dEMARQUETTE; ROcOcO
ON ARTISAN dU cHOcOLAT’S wEbSITE, THE SHOPPING bASkETI IS cALLEd “yOUR STASH”
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FOOD & DRINK
Recipe:
Melt’s white brownies with pecans and hazelnuts
This recipe offers all the satisfaction and moreishness of regular chocolate brownies. They are deliciously moist and keep well. If there are by chance any left over, they taste even better the next day, as they become more dense. You can substitute different nuts, if you prefer. Makes about 20 50g pecan nuts 50g hazelnuts 150g unblanched almonds 350g white chocolate 200g unsalted butter, diced 300g golden caster sugar 100g self-raising flour, sifted 4 organic eggs icing sugar, for dusting 1. Preheat the oven to 180˚C/Gas Mark 4. Line a 20 x 30cm baking tin with baking parchment. 2. Place the pecans and hazelnuts on a baking tray and toast them in the oven for 6–8 minutes, until just starting to brown. Set aside to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 50˚C. 3. Grind the almonds in a coffee grinder or food processor until fine but still retaining some texture. 4. Chop 250g of the white chocolate into chunks and place in a large heatproof bowl with the butter. Place in the oven for 10–15 minutes until melted, stirring gently once or twice. Remove from the oven. Increase the oven temperature to 160˚C/Gas Mark 3. 5. Place the sugar, ground almonds, flour and eggs in a large bowl and mix well. Add the melted white chocolate and butter and stir until completely combined. Bash the pecans and hazelnuts into irregular-sized chunks and add to the mixture. Chop the remaining 100g of white chocolate into irregular-sized chunks and stir them in too. 6. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 40–45 minutes, until golden brown. Leave to cool in the tin, then turn out and cut into squares or rectangles. Dust liberally with icing sugar to serve.
Recipe taken from Melt: A Book of Chocolate by Louise Nason and Chika Watanabe with photographs by Jean Cazals (Absolute Press £25)
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UKAI3. ABSO FEB12.indb 62
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UKAI
FREE DELIVERY 020 7727 8222 W1, W2, W3 (SOME PARTS), W6 (SOME PARTS), W8, W9, W10, W11, W12, W14, SW5, SW6 (SOME PARTS), SW7, NW6, NW8 & NW10.
5% discount for online ordering
HOSOMAKI
5 PIECES OF THIN SUSHI ROLL 20. Salmon 21. Spicy salmon 22. Tuna 23. Spicy tuna 24. Cucumber 25. Avocado 90. Cucumber with organic brow 91. Avocado with organic brow n rice 92. Salmon with organic brow n rice n rice
URAMAKI
71. Spicy salmon mix £11.50 102. Organic brow (Sashimi x4 / Nigiri x2 / Hos n rice omaki x5) £3.20 72. Tuna mix 103. Japanese mixed pickles £2.70 £12 .90 (Sashimi x4 / Nigiri x2 / Hos omaki x5) CHIRASHI 73. Spicy tuna mix £13.50 4 FILLETS OF FRE (Sashimi x4 / Nigiri x2 / Hos SH RAW FISH omaki x5) (SASHIMI) SERVED ON A 74. Veggie mix BED OF RICE £9. 50 110. CHIRASHI (Omelette nigiri x2 / Cucumbe r hosomaki x5 Salmon - White rice / Vegetable futomaki x5) £6.90 Tuna - White rice 75. UKAI mix £7.50 £19.00 112. SPICY CHIR (Edamame / Salmon sashimi UKAI SPECIALITIES FUTOMAKI ASHI x4 Spicy salmon - White rice x2 / Rocket uramaki x5 / Tuna / Prawn nigiri 50. 4x Oysters (Subject to avai 5 PIECES OF THICK SUSHI Hosomaki x5) ROLL £7.00 £6.60 76. Jumbo mix Spicy Tuna - White rice served with orange and pon lability) 30. Japanese Omelette (egg zu dressing s) £7.60 £26.00 (Edamame / Salmon sashimi chives, enoki mushrooms and inari, kanpyo, £3.70 52. 8x UKAI pancake Japanese pan x4 / Tuna cucumber cake with £4.90 sashimi x4 TEMAKI cucumber, chives, inar 31. Salmon and avocado / Salmon nigiri x2 / Prawn nigi £4.80 53. 4x Tuna tarta i and hoi sin sauce 1 PIECE OF HANDROLL x2 / Tuna 32. Tuna and avocado - tuna nigiri x2 / Cucumber hosomak ri r fine ly chop ped , avocado, chives £5.50 in lem raw tuna £5.70 77. Part i x5) 130. Salmon, avoc y mix 90 pieces and enoki mushrooms on pepper and mirin dres £4.50 £85.00 sesame seeds and ado, (Generous selection of sashimi, cucumber cups, chives and tobi sing served in 33. Vegetable - yellow daik chives nigi ko on, 131. Tuna, avocado, enoki maki beautifully presented idea ri and pepper, green beans & chives cucumber, red £4.70 54. 4x Salmon tartar finely chop l for 8-10 ped raw £5.00 £5.60 people - Allow prep mushroom and chives salmon in chilli was 57. Crispy duck (roasted) - duck aration time) £5.60 served in cucumbe abi and mayonnaise 132. Mixed vegetable 78. Sashimi mix mint, enoki mushrooms, chiv , cucumber, r cups and tobiko es, & hoisin sauce £3.70 £16.50 133. Ikura (Sal (Salmon x4 / Tuna x4 / Fish 55. 4x Inari sushi seasoned mon eggs), of the day x4 tofu £4.90 cucumber and chives rice, sesame, ginger and chiv pouches of £3.80 79. Tuna & salmon mix NIGIRI es £14.00 134. California (Salmon sashimi x2 56. Tuna tataki seared tuna 2 PIECES ON A SMALL BED - Crab meat, man with sesame OF SUSHI RICE £5.70 £8.60 Salmon hosomak / Tuna sashimi x2 / tobiko, cream cheese and chiv go, seeds and miso dressing 10. Salmon i x2 / Tuna hosomaki x2 / es £3.6 0 135. Eel, cucumber, enoki Salmon nigiri x1 / Tuna nigi 11. Spicy salmon mushroom £5.50 ri x1) £45.00 and chives £3.90 SALADS 150. UKAI Gojyu 50 pieces 12. Tuna £4.10 60. 6x Daikon rock (Gen erou s 13. Spicy tuna sele ction of et salad roll rocket, £5.90 presented, ideal for sushi beautifully £4.30 avocado, red pep DESSERTS 14. Prawn 4 people - Allow per, £3.90 and daikon ginger chives, enoki mushroom 120. Ice-cream 2 scoops preparation time 15. Japanese Omelette (egg dressing s) £4.50 £2.70 61. Spinach sala (Ask for daily flavours) 16. Octopus with Teriyaki sauc d roll blanched spinach, e £4.90 MISO SO £3.80 sesame seeds and 123 . War 17. Seabass m Cho colate Brownie with UPS orange ponzu dressing £6.10 £4.60 62. Green mango 80. Miso, tofu, seaweed, spri your choice of ice-crea 18. Grilled eel and papaya salad carrots, £5. ng onions £1.75 125. Green tea & m 90 and chive oil £5.10 coriander, mint, 19. Hamachi (subject to ava Vanilla Pannacotta £5. peanuts, tomatoes with red ilability) 20 £5.60 nahm jim 83. Seafood Ramen (thin) noo with chocolate sauce 27. Ikura (salmon eggs) dles, octopus, £6.50 £6.20 63. UKAI salad praw 126 . ns, Fres kan 28. Mackerel h i stick, seaweed and chive oil fruit plate Rocket, lettuce, soy beans, £4.90 £5.40 84. Seafood Udo £3.60 radicchio, seaweed, 127. Mixed mochi 29. Chilli beef with teriyaki n (thick) noodles, octopus, sauce £4.20 £6.50 £5.60 seeds with UKAI sesame and pumpkin prawns, kani stick, seaweed dressing and chive oil 85. Vegetable Ramen (thin 64. Crunchy oriental broccoli SASHIMI ) noodles, tofu, with £5.40 spring onion and £6.40 sesame dressing 4 FILLETS OF FRESH RAW mixed vegetables FISH 86. Vegetable Udon (thick) noo 65. Seaweed salad Sukura 1. Salmon dles cress & Wakame £5.10 spri £6.40 £5.50 seaweed selection ng onion and mixed vegetabl , tofu, 2. Spicy salmon , cucumber, bean sprout, £5.70 sesame seeds, eda 87. Miso, salmon, tofu, seaw es VOTED 3. Tuna mame beans and dressing eed, £3.70 £6.40 spring onions and chive oil 4. Spicy tuna NUMBER £6. 55 UKAI MIX 5. Hamachi (subject to avai lability) ONE SUSHI £7.25 THESE SELECTION ED PLATTERS SIDE DISHES 6. Seabass S CAN NOT BE ALTERED £6. 50 70. Salmon mix 100. Edamame (hot or cold DELIVERY* 7. Chilli beef with Teriyaki sauc ) e £10.90 104. Spicy Edamam £2.85 £5.80 (Sashimi x4 / Nigi e ri x2 / Hosomaki x5) £2. 90 101. White rice ***SPECIAL ORDERS WELCOM £2.70 Please note this is our take E*** Please be aware that nuts, gm, maize, msg, shel away menu. Minimum orde l and fi sh bones may be cont r is £15.00. The information on this menu is correct at time ained in some of our products. of printing £3.50 £3.75 £4.30 £4.50 £3.10 £3.25 £3.30 £3.30 £4.30
2 INSIDE-OUT ROLLED SUS HI 40. Rocket - cucumber, red pepper, chives £4.70 and enoki mushrooms 41. California - crab meat, mango, cream £4.80 cheese and masago 42. Salmon and avocado salmon, avocado £4.80 and sesame seeds 43. UKAI california - salmon, cream cheese, £5.10 rocket and cucumber
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UKAI3.indd 74 ABSO FEB12.indb 63
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Mr and Mrs Skött’s W11 diaries In which the turkey gets barbecued
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hristmas came and went so quickly, but we had a great time being wonderfully anti-social. Just the dogs and us – absolutely no obligations to anyone except the black Norfolk turkey from Laverstoke Park Farm (owned by ex-formula one driver Jody Scheckter, and worth looking up for the home-made buffalo ice cream and delicious Biltong). Following a tradition in the Skött household, the turkey (whatever the size) gets cooked outside (whatever the weather) rotisseried on the Weber BBQ, removed when just under temperature, then allowed to sit bundled in tea towels for an hour until tender and juicy. Served with all the usual trimmings, including some amazing garlic from The Spice Shop. Shocking stats about the number of Christmas trees produced only to be left lying on the street after a couple of weeks, combined with the lack of trees this year due to the inclement weather in Scandinavia, meant we decided not to get one. Instead we hung a wreath from the ceiling, decorated it with sparkling fairy lights and shiny beads and hung beautiful hand-made Danish Christmas decorations off it. Then it was just the presents to go under it, apart from the ones for the Skött dogs, which had to remain out of reach, as Max and Blue would have eaten theirs mid December, given half the chance. We are at last free of builders. The bathroom is finished and has turned out nicer than we thought it would, a nice surprise. It has the feel of a boutique hotel bathroom and is now the best room in the house. Mr Skött has had to ration Mrs Skött’s time spent in the bath; otherwise she would have turned into a prune long ago. With time off over the festive season, and a little too much to drink at times, we came up with a fantastic new cocktail. A great blend of champagne, a very special Danish Aquavit that has been layered over amber giving it a wonderful golden colour, angostura bitters and a sugar cube, it’s so good [you’ll find the recipe on this month’s Barfly page]. Oh what a merry time we had. t mrandmrsskott@zest-media.com
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HurlinGHaM Michelin Star trained chef Jon Simister has joined All Saints Road’s Hurligham, bringing a mix of traditional British dishes and a sexy, modern a la carte menu. new manager Armand Wysocki has devised a new drinks menu and combined together with great vibe, good music and brilliant service, this is set to become a popular destination, with a relaunch party planned for 9 February (from 7pm). Food is served daily from midday to 10.30pm and the bar and downstairs club are open until 2AM on Fridays and Saturdays. www.thehurlingham.co.uk
Foodie news From the gastro front
dEtox dEliVErEd Like the idea of feeling like “a brand new, sparkly version of yourself”? that’s what the newly launched Detox Kitchen promises. they aim to make detoxing deliciously easy by packing boxes full to the brim with tasty, delicious, fresh, nutritious, detoxing meals and snacks, supplements and herbal teabags. Choose between vegan and protein-packed and a box containing everything you need to eat that day will be delivered to your door early in the morning, providing a wonderful and convenient weight loss program and an energy-boosting diet. Five days of this and you’ll feel just like new. they promise. www.facebook.com/thedetoxkitchen
CuPCakE skills Baffled by baking? Stumped by piping? Have no fear. xanthe Milton, aka Cookie Girl, who practically invented the cupcake, is heading up a series of cupcake decorating workshops at Paradise, where a couple of hours will result in the unleashing of your inner icing goddess. You’ll be taught how to pipe to perfection, make flowers from sugar paste and ice with flair using a variety of techniques – and leave with a box of your own creations. www.cookiegirl.co.uk
CrunCH tiME Personalise a Valentine’s gift for the one you love with this Custom Cookie Co. set. it contains a selection of bright and beautiful, not to mention delicious, chocolate and spiced cookies as well an edible ink pen so you can tell that special someone how you really feel. £25.95, exclusive to Harvey nichols.
WinEs For ValEntinE An instructive wine tasting evening comes to the idler Academy on 15 February (6.30-9pm) with an illuminating seminar from Justin Knock, the academy’s resident Master of Wine. Savour a group of wines perfect for the Feast of St Valentine – expect rich, loving reds. Justin’s evenings are instructive but also relaxed and social; there is always plenty to drink. Cost: £25, including wine and snacks. The Idler Academy, 81 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5QH 020 7221 5908 65
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110a Walm Lane, Willesden Green London NW2 4RS 020 8452 0171 | info@thequeensbury.net | thequeensbury.net
Saint Patrick’s Day Party SATURDAY 17TH MARCH
DJ and Dancefloor until late! Come and join the fun!
FORT
HCO EVEN MING T @ Th e Que S ensbu ry Valen t
i Moth ne’s Day 1 e 4th Fe r ing Six N ations Sunday 18 bruary th Ma Rug 4th of Febru by Champ rch i ary – 17th M onship arch
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012 14:02
E AT I N G O U T
THE HEMPEL 31-35 Craven Hill Gardens W2 020 7298 9000
Absolutely enjoys maximum flavour in minimal surroundings
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unken seating areas, lone floating flames, expanses of empty white space. It must be the Hempel Hotel, Anouska Hempel’s Bayswater shrine to minimalism. When it opened in 1997, the Zen interior was breathtakingly new and celebrities flocked to dine on tiny, pretty morsels and stay in achingly stylised, empty feng shui-d rooms. Since then it’s been bought by an Irish hotel group and Anouska Hempel herself is no longer involved, leaving things a bit quiet in the ever-manicured Hempel. Still, the style remains the same, even if we’re a bit more used to the whole floating walls, invisible doors and angular white space thing now. We start with a drink at the bar – dark and stylised, it prides itself on its cocktails and
our classic Mojitos are long and cool, minty and fresh. Cross the white lobby to the restaurant, No.35, which has moved out of the basement and to the ground floor now, overlooking the square. It’s hushed and formal, of course, with dimmed lights and low-level tinkly music – and the menu is impressive. Chef Michael Carter has spent time in Japan, and his European menu is dotted with Asian touches. To start, there’s an amuse bouche of salmon with pickled cucumber and “sand from the beach”, which is pretty, powdery ground nori with a smoky accent. Our real starters are mushroom consommé, which arrives in a tiny jug to be poured over a bowl containing a poached egg and tastes intensely and impressively mushroomy, and lobster ravioli with spiced shellfish cappuccino and
wilted lettuce, which arrives in a sea of creamy froth with surprisingly crunchy greens, the single beautifully textured ravioli tasting sweet and salty. Next there’s linecaught wild sea bass with Jerusalem artichokes, grey chanterelles, spinach and vanilla, which sounds intriguing and is – the vanilla shines through and tastes perfectly at home with the high quality fish and mushroomy cream. Buttered poached Cornish skate with pease pudding, braised lettuce, capers and parsley is served, unusually but stylishly, off the bone and rolled up, tasting buttery and smooth. For pudding there are cheeses from La Fromagerie and, for me, a hot Valhrona chocolate pudding with pistachio parfait, which was professionally perfect – hot fondant, flawless exterior and indulgent flavour. Our bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc was memorable and the wine list full of interesting options. The Hempel is a sound local option for a treat, whether minimal is your thing or not. t
lobster ravioli with spiced shellfish cappuccino and wilted lettuce arrives in a sea of creamy froth
SPECIAL OFFER: Absolutely readers are offered 4-courses including a welcome cocktail designed by Martin Miller’s gin exclusively for The Hempel for £29.50. Offer valid until 30th April 2012. 67
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Stuzzico...
Chinese Whispers Everyone knows that Royal China is the place to go for dim sum. Now the Queensway eaterie has had a subtle facelift, making it better than ever, finds Absolutely
R
oyal China has always been, as the name suggests, royalty in the world of London’s Chinese restaurants. People put up with the weekend queuing at the Queensway branch because the dim sum, when they finally get a table, is worth it. And now the eaterie has reopened after closing for a makeover, sporting a fresh new look while retaining the character – and the recipes – that we know and love. Immediately it seems brighter inside. You don’t feel like you’re sitting inside a lacquer box any more, though it’s still black and gold, only less black and more gold. It feels lighter and bigger and the glossy decorative panels on the walls are new, painted with birds and waves and less traditional than the old ones. Gone are the low partitions, so it feels like there’s more space between the mostly round tables, and there are mirrored columns and gilded sunken ceilings. Staff are brisk as ever in their all-black, and the menu now unfortunately features unnecessary photographs, which is never a good sign. Though the real thing will never disappoint. Our feast included steamed dumplings of the prawn and chive, prawn and coriander and scallop varieties, all of them feats of precision and perfection in their symmetry and the faultless timing that renders them cooked, translucent and hot without the herbs wilting, and the dumplings keeping their form just long enough to eat. Texture is paramount with dim sum and roast pork buns are perfectly flaky in contrast to the glutinous steamed dumplings, while pan-fried gyozas have an almost crispy exterior, though not quite. Everything is served speedily, even brusquely, so makeover or no, there’s no major change here. It’s as good as ever. t 13 Queensway W2 020 7221 2535
A local favourite... serving authentic Italian Cuisine with a ‘Modern Twist’; using the finest fresh ingredients and offering an excellent wine list. “The Best Kept Secret In London” GQ Magazine
‘Celebrate Valentine’s Day’ 14 February 2012
Join us for a special Valentine’s Dinner Menu also in February...
‘Annual Barolo Event’ 15 February 2012
An evening of superb food paired with one of Italy’s greatest wines!
Stuzzico... 24 Kendal Street London W2 2AW 020 7262 9122 www.stuzzico.co.uk
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PARAD
ABSO FEB12.indb1 69 PARADISE.indd
27/01/2012 11:32 15:59 27/01/2012
Early Even
ing Offer
Buy any p izza and g et the seco price! Mon nd half day to Thu rsday 5.00 – 7.00pm Cheaper p izza will b e discounte d to 50% This is a lim ited offer. Not valid on Bank Holid ays.
PIZZA (all 12”)
EXTRA TOPPINGS
Traditional Pizzas
Speciality Pizzas
MARGHERITA Tomato sauce & mozzarella
7.50
KIDS’ MARGHERITA (9”) Tomato sauce & mozzarella
5.50
NAPOLI Tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies, oregano, capers & olives
9.30
CAPRICCIOSA Tomato sauce, mozzarella, cooked ham, mushrooms & artichokes
9.80
QUATTRO FORMAGGI Tomato sauce, mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Taleggio & Parmesan
9.80
MONOPOLI Tomato sauce, mozzarella, spinach, egg & Parmesan
9.80
TONNO Tomato sauce, mozzarella, tuna, capers & red onion
9.80
QUATTRO STAGIONI Tomato sauce, mozzarella, cooked ham, mushrooms, olives & artichokes
9.95
10.40
MESSAPICA Tomato sauce, mozzarella, spinach, roast peppers, roast aubergines, artichokes & mushrooms
10.40
CRUDO Tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parma ham & rocket
10.95
9.80
Any of our pizzas can be made gluten-free (add 2.00). Maximum time for delivery is approx. 1 hour… please bear with us in busy periods!
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PIZZA PARMIGIANA Tomato sauce, mozzarella, aubergines, Parmesan & goat’s cheese TROPEA Tomato sauce, mozzarella, roast peppers, onions & goat’s cheese LEGGERA Tomato sauce, rocket, sun blush tomatoes & goat’s cheese MONTAGNA Tomato sauce, mozzarella, peas, Gorgonzola & crispy pancetta
9.30 @ 1.00 each Mozzarella; capers; olives; mushrooms; roast aubergines; red onions; Philadelphia; free range egg; sweet peas; chilli relish; tuna fish; 9.80 rosemary potatoes; truffle oil @ 1.50 each Cherry tomatoes; spinach; roast peppers; 9.80 grilled chicken; cooked ham; anchovies; rocket; Taleggio; pancetta; Gorgonzola; pesto; fresh Lucanica sausage 10.40 @ 2.00 each Parma ham; Speck; porcini mushrooms; buffalo mozzarella; Bresaola; ‘Nduja’ sort spicy 10.40 sausage; sun-blush tomatoes; spicy salami; Parmesan shavings; goat’s cheese; artichokes
GASTRONOMIA
VESUVIO Tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami & fresh chilli relish
CALZONE Folded pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami, cooked ham, mushrooms & artichokes
PHILADELPHIA Tomato sauce, mozzarella, cooked ham & Philadelphia
Choose from the freshest ingredients
10.95 CARNIVORA Tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami, cooked ham, sausage & chicken LASAGNA BOLOGNESE 10.95 AUBERGINE PARMIGIANA ASSISI SALUSBURY FOODSTORE FISH CAKE Mozarella, grilled chicken, roast CAESAR SALAD peppers & pesto Grilled chicked, baby gem lettuce, 10.95 croutons, parsley & Caesar dressing CAPRESE Tomato sauce, cherry tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, D.O.P., basil & Parmesan BRESAOLA Mozzarella, Bresaola (cured beef), Parmesan, rocket & cherry tomatoes OSTUNI Mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, fresh Italian sausage, Parmesan & rocket PORCINA Tomato sauce, mozzarella porcini mushrooms, sausage & Gorgonzola
10.95
6.95 6.95 3.20 7.50
SIDES
MARINATED OLIVES GARLIC PIZZA BREAD 11.50 GARLIC PIZZA BREAD with mozzarella ROCKET SALAD ROCKET & PARMESAN MIXED SALAD 11.50 Baby leaves, cherry tomatoes, red onion and house dressing
3.50 3.50 4.00 4.00 4.50 4.50
11.50 NDUJA Tomato sauce, mozzarella ‘Nduja’ soft spicy sausage, roast peppers and olives 11.50 ALBA Mozzarella, Lucanica sausage, rosemary potatoes, Taleggio & truffle oil
24/01/2012 27/01/2012 10:48 15:59
BARFLY
Cocktail month
of the
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12 10:48
F E AT U R E D B A R
the Elgin 96 Ladbroke Grove W11 020 7229 5663
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he Elgin’s beautiful old pub features (decorative glass panels, ornate mahogany fittings) have been lovingly restored by current owners Geronimo inns and these days it’s a sleek, smart pub with a major focus on gin. More than 30 different kinds of the London spirit can be found behind this bar in homage to the gin palace tradition, along with a gin club on the last tuesday of every month. the venue’s rock and roll past (Joe Strummer played many a gig here) is revived with a regular programme of live music and food-wise, there’s a hearty, honest menu of classic pub favourites and Sunday feasts. t BEst For: Gin, naturally. Mine’s a tom Collins. tHE CroWd: An eclectic mix of Ladbroke Grovers of all ages. tHE VErdiCt: it’s a proper pub with a gin palace vibe and a strong soundtrack.
nOrTHern gOLD COCKTaiL By Mr & Mrs skött inGrEdiEnts Champagne or good quality Brut Cava nordguld Aquavit (available from Amathus Drinks www.amathusdrinks.com) Angostura Bitters
MEtHod • Chill Champagne glasses in the fridge or by swilling around a couple of crushed ice cubes before drying quickly. • Soak the sugar cubes (one per glass) in a few drops of Angostura Bitters and drop in to the Champagne glass. • Pour 15ml Nordguld Aquavit into the glass. • Top with Champagne and serve immediately. 71
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H E A LT H & B E A U T Y
triEd and tEstEd aQuaFit
HEALtH nEWS February’s fitness frenzy
Fiona’s FitnEss diary Six weeks on the Ellis Stockwell programme My first session at Ellis Stockwell Personal training starts with a full fitness assessment. it is the most embarrassing thing that happens in the whole six week programme; my readings are shocking. i last a paltry five minutes on the treadmill with the smallest of inclines, with a heart rate well above 150 beats per minute, which tom tells me is very poor. not a great start then – i am told i need a full Mot.
For a start, it’s zero alcohol for the next weeks. then no dairy, sugar or processed food, which basically wipes out my entire regular diet. i am given a nutrition pack to follow instead. together, Paul and tom set out a programme for me to follow, spanning free weights, Power Plate training and lots of core and lower back work. there is also lots of cardio work to be done to build up a sweat. My first week is hard. But by the second week i am already feeling a lot more energized – and by week five i have dropped a whole dress size and lost a stone in body weight, along with 40% of my body fat. Result.
As soon as i stepped into BodyWorksWest, the luxurious Lambton Place private members club, i knew i was in for an invigorating and exciting work out. i was greeted with friendly smiles and ushered into the bright airy changing room – the whole building is well served by big windows so you never feel like you are working out in a cave. i was due to join an Aquafit class with super-toned and friendly instructor, Lucy Slater, and let’s just say i’m a beginner. Slipping into the heated pool with a small group of peers, you can’t help but relax. the room recalls a Grecian temple with its marbled walls and a sumptuous mural on the wall. We began a series of both gentle and intensive moves, throughout which Lucy provided spirited encouragement and guidance in terms of body positioning and getting the most out of your moves. the club also offers a variety of treatments to pamper aching muscles and release tension after a hard workout in the large gym or pool. BodyWorksWest is surely notting Hill’s finest. Katie Randall 11 Lambton Place, W11 2SH 020 7229 2291 enquires@bodyworkswest.co.uk
In numbers… BEForE aFtEr
Weight
66kg
61kg
shoulder
39”
36”
Bust
38.5
37.5
Waist
39
34
Hips
41
39
Press ups
7 half
25 full
Pull ups
2
15
sit ups
2
20
tape measure:
Fitness ability
Ellis Stockwell, 69 Chamberlayne Road NW10 020 8964 3797 www.ellisstockwell.co.uk
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STRIP2.
LONDON’S NO.1 WAXING BAR AND LINGERIE BOUTIQUE
Make sure you strip this
Visit Strip for the ultimate Valentines Preparation L SPECIAISED M CUSTIO B KINSI GEM
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www.stripwaxbar.com GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE FOR WAXING, LINGERIE & SKINCARE
NOTTING HILL 020 7727 2754
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CHELSEA 020 7590 0050
SOHO 020 7434 4222
CITY 020 7236 0050
BRISTOL 0117 916 8864
25/01/2012 27/01/2012 16:20 16:00
EllisStockwell
personal training
S i M o n Wa R W i C K
69 Chamberlayne Road, London, NW10 3ND 020 8964 3797 info@ellisstockwell.co.uk www.ellisstockwell.co.uk
SaLonS
This duo promises to shrink your body by at least one dress size in six weeks (some clients have shrunk two, and lost up to 2.5 stone). Paul (Ellis), who focuses on weights and Pilates, and Tom (Stockwell), who’s a keen boxer, will tone your entire body, for a gorgeous sinewy figure, with speed - but the likeble pair never fail to keep it fun. - Harper’s Bazaar
Drop 2 dress sizes in 6 weeks Strength & Conditioning
34 Clifton Road, Maida Vale, London, W9 1ST Tel: 020 7289 2100 194 Kensington Park Road, London, W11 2ES Tel: 020 7221 8000
Pre/Post natal programmes Rehabilitation from injury
Nutritional plans & advice Lose up to 6 inches from your waist Voted London’s best body trainers - Harper’s Bazaar
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ABSOLUTELY P R O M OT I O N
LET COMPLETE BODY CONFiDENCE AWAkEN YOUr iNNEr rOMANTiC Whether you’ve got a hot date or a ski slope mini-break planned – or you just want to look your best for someone special – EF MEDiSPA is playing beauty Cupid with treatments to nurture your sultry side in time for Valentine’s Day
t
his may be the season of all things love but it’s a rare person who enters the cold, wet days of February fi lled with the spark of irrepressible passion. Having recently triumphed at the beauty world’s oscars, emerging with the 2011 Aesthetic Award for Best uK Clinic Chain, EF MEDiSPA is now officially the number one spot for discovering your best ever you. So turn to their legendary treatment menu to boost your body, set your confidence soaring and bring out your inner Adonis or Venus, god and goddess of love and beauty. We all know that beauty begins from the inside – so set out on your path to passion by rescuing your mood and immune system with a session in EF’s Drip ‘n Chill lounge where a cocktail of super nutrients will instantly replenish your body. then it’s time to work on the outside. if the January diet hasn’t got off to the flying start you’d planned, EF MEDiSPA has a revolutionary way to beat stubborn fat for good. their Vaser Lipo and Vaser High-Def procedures emulsify fat deposits with minimal bruising and downtime. Done under the new ‘twilight Sedation’, you remain awake yet painfree during the procedure and walk out the same day with a newly contoured body to be proud of. For some of us though, it’s our thighs that are our real Achilles’ heel. So throw off your inner demons forever with Madonna’s go-to cellulite treatment. AWt Cellactor is the next generation of Acoustic Wave therapy that boosts lymphatic drainage, breaks down fat cells – plus even eradicates scars and stretch marks, transforming orange peel into seductively smooth skin.
You’ll only need a course of the miraculously pain-free Laser Hair Removal to get legs that’ll set your chosen one’s heart racing. And once you’ve got a killer body, perfecting your complexion will complete your transformation into the ultimate seductress. if uneven pigmentation is your concern, EF’s chemical peels or Fraxel Laser will gently lift excessive melanin and restore your former glow. Alternatively, let EF MEDiSPA matchmake you with the entirely bespoke Liquid Facelift, swapping knives for minute injections of Botox and fillers that smooth, recontour and add radiance to your face in a masterfully understated way. By which time you may be hitting the slopes for a romantic weekend getaway. With your lingerie packed and your body primed, we wish you bon voyage – with only a last minute reminder to pack your Skinceuticals ultimate uV Defence SPF 30 and the Dermaquest on-the-Go Finishing powder SPF 30 to ensure you end February with the sexiest of glows.
tOP tIP: WHaT WOmen reaLLy WanT FOr VaLenTine’S Day Men take note; it’s not flowers or chocolates that will melt her heart this Valentine’s Day but the ultimate gift of health and beauty. indulge her with EF MEDiSPA’s £1,000 gift voucher (or choose the value you want), allow her to pick and choose from the holistic treatment menu and we’re guessing she’ll be like beautiful putty in your hands.
69 St John’s Wood High Street London nW8 7nL 020 7449 6925 29 Kensington Church Street London W8 4LL 020 7361 1005 193 Kings Road London SW3 5ED 020 7368 7674 Website: www.efmedispa.com twitter: twitter.com/estherfieldgras Blog: www.efmedispa.com/news/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/EFmedispa
Voted Best Clinic Chain in the uk at the 2011 aesthetic industry awards 75
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Powervibe launches BodyVibe. The ultimate fitness package giving you the opportunity to exercise everyday at Powervibe for 28 days. Take part in any dynamic, semi private Power Plate or Spin Class everyday for only £285. The perfect way to kick start your 2012 body. Call us today on 020 7229 9614 or email appointments@powervibe.co.uk to find out more about this amazing new package. New Opening Times: Monday - Thursday 7am-2pm & 5pm-9pm Friday 7am-2pm | Saturday 9am-2pm | Sunday 9.30am-1.30pm 95A Westbourne Park Villas, London, W2 5ED | 020 7229 9614 | www.powervibe.co.uk
Specialists in... Weight loss Pos nat Post a al tra rainin in ng Musc scular dev evel elop opme ment nt Prre we wedd ding g tr ta aiini n ng g Inju In ury r reh e ab a Card Ca rdio dio i perform rman a ce an e
‘ The results speak for themselves’ – Vogue For a free consultation visit my f it ness studio.co.uk or call 020 8960 3655 My Fit Fitnes nesss Stud Stud tudio, io, 9 Bus B spac Bu pace e Stud tudios ios,, Conl ios Conl onlan a Str an Street e , Lond eet London on W10 10 0 5A 5AP P
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B E AU T Y
Bottle it Fall head over heels for our scent-sational round-up of the very best February fragrances
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1. Tom Ford Violet Blonde 50ml £60 0870 034 2566 2. Jo Loves Orange Tulle 100ml £95 www.joloves.com 3. Calvin Klein Sheer Beauty 50ml £46.50 www.theperfumeshop.com 4. Vivienne Westwood Cheeky Alice 50ml £45 www.theperfumeshop.com 5. Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne 100ml £72 Jo Malone 0870 192 5131 6. Yardley Royal English Daisy 50ml £9.99 yardleylondon.co.uk 7. Marc Jacobs Purse Sprays £29.50 www.theperfumeshop.com 8. Vera Wang Princess Night 50ml £45 0800 083 6313
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PEOPLE
Diary of Shakti Ananda Yoga teacher from Portobello by Hattie Edmonds
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hakti Ananda (38, real name Annabel) used to work in fashion PR. But after reading Eckhart tolle’s the Power of now, she had an ‘A-ha’ moment and gave it up. After completing her ttC at the Sivananda Centre in Madurai, she’s now a fully accredited yoga teacher. She’s also a Reiki Master. Her mission, aside from becoming enlightened in this lifetime, is to heal those around her and help humanity in its transition from fear to love. Wake and set intentions for day: to flow with the universe, to transmit light wherever i go and to book into that Manifesting Your Dreams workshop in Chorleywood next weekend. Call Colin, my shaman, who’s just back from his Ayahuasca retreat. i tell him about finding seven hairs down the bathroom sink plug this morning and ask him what this means. He says he’s not sure, but if i book in for a consultation, he’ll be able to tell me more. Make a Health Shake of beetroot and ginger to cleanse the blood and help circulation. Do some breathwork. Ring to book the Manifesting Your Dreams workshop, but the woman who answers says that it’s full. When i ask her why she can’t manifest one extra place, she hangs up. these days, you have to be really careful about Low Vibrationals masquerading as High Vibrationals. Meditate on Light. teach at Beauty Works Best. the orb that i thought i saw a few weeks ago is back again. Excellent news. i must be making progress! orbs carry high vibrational information for mankind in this time of great change and i intend to do a workshop on them a.s.a.p. Meet Jagadambai in the Grain Store for a veggie takeaway. We go
back to hers and do some Reiki on each other. A few childhood anger issues come up so i obviously need to do some more clearing. teach at gym. When i ask the manager, nigel, if he can turn up the heating, he says: “it’s February, luv, put a jumper on.” Write a letter of complaint to Human Resources. nigel should not be allowed to talk to me like that. Make a tabouleh of quinoa, but am still feeling upset by nigel so it doesn’t taste very nice. Write down some ideas for
my new yoga video. i intend to use single mums from tower Hamlets to demonstrate the poses and prove that everyone can do yoga, however busy and stressed their life might be. thank the universe for giving me the opportunity to be a channel for its healing energy. t Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Baba Ganoush For more West london tales, catch Hattie’s Portobello Puff column each Friday: www.huffingtonpost. co.uk/entertainment
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Decadent Dubai Jessica Batten visits the Desert Palm Resort
D
ubai. i pictured vast shopping malls and thousand-room hotels when my other half suggested it as our mini-break destination. it did not appeal. But he explained that the Desert Palm is one of the few real boutique hotels in Dubai with just 38 suites and a handful of apartments, offering an ‘alternative luxury experience’. i agreed to Dubai on the proviso that we would stay there.
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T R AV E L
As home to a world class polo club overlooking beautiful grounds, the Desert Palm sports an equestrian interiors theme – horse motifs and statues are everywhere. Hotel owner Ali Albwardy is an avid polo fan and originally built the hotel to house visitors to polo events. Our spacious room offered luxe gadgets and toiletries by Reidel, Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Voss, Ren and Apple. A seating area overlooked the main polo field and Dubai skyline and the bathroom was particularly impressive with an oversized shower room, separate WC, two sinks and a central freestanding, roll-top bath. Shortly after our arrival we were invited to take afternoon tea while watching some polo. We had missed the Royal Salute Desert UAE Nations Cup, captained by the world’s number one polo
player, Adolfo Cambiaso, by just one day but the hotel hosts several tournaments though so it’s worth checking when these are on.
The City Dubai is like Disneyland meets Las Vegas. Our first trip was to the the Palm Atlantis, where we wandered the Lost Chambers followed by the spectacular Dubai fountains via the huge Dubai Mall. My personal highlight was visiting the top of the Burj Khalifa, where we sipped champagne at Atmosphere bar and listened to some live music, a great alternative way to experience the spectacular views. The next day we visited The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence. Here, adjacent to the beach, there’s a range of restaurants, clothing stores, boutiques, department stores, cafes and gyms to check out. We followed this with a slightly more authentic Dubai experience – walking the streets of
the tranquil, restored Bastakia area and the multicultural Karama. Our final evening saw us back at Desert Palm at steak restaurant Rare, where we enjoyed a full modern international grill, includings highlights such as lobster bisque, ribeye with truffle foam and deconstructed cheesecake, with vegetarians surprisingly well catered-for. The Desert Palm offers a luxurious mix of relaxation and activity – there’s plenty of peace and quiet but it’s not too isolated, making it the ideal hotel from which to enjoy guaranteed winter sun just an easy seven-hour flight away.
Flights from London to Dubai range from £335- £465 in February depending on the airline.
Nightly rates start from £255* (AED 1,480.00) per suite per night, this includes taxes and service along with breakfast for 2 in Epicure. Facilities: Tennis/squash courts, polo pitches, riding school, swimming pool, spa, sauna, steam room, shop, DVD library, free WiFi. In rooms, LCD TV/DVD, iPod, B+O stereo, minibar, coffee maker, Ren toiletries. Villas also have kitchens and pools. A three course meal for two at Desert Palm’s Restaurant Rare costs around £130. Desert Palm Retreat, PO Box 119171, Dubai, UAE www.desertpalm.peraquum.com
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PEOPLE
S I X T Y S E C O N D S W I T H...
Polly Williams Novelist, Queens Park Your new book The Angel at No. 33 features a dead heroine. That’s quite something to pull off. Especially one with a small son. What made you kill off your main character? I wanted to answer that ‘What if something happened to me?’ question and run with it. So the heroine is dispatched pretty quickly but she becomes the novel’s main narrator. She’s still the beating heart of the story. It’s a fun, comical read despite the tragedy at its heart, which is an achievement. Did you worry that it wouldn’t work? Was the publisher worried? I didn’t want to write a depressing book about a dead wife so there had to be levity and a certain gutsiness to it. My publishers always had faith in the idea but I did secretly worry that the suspension of disbelief might be too great. So far the novel has had an amazing response from readers – it’s made them laugh and cry, so I hope I’ve pulled it off. It’s set in Muswell Hill, and you live in Queens Park. Are the school mums inspired by the Queens Park mothers? Be honest. I think there’s probably a universal language of the school gate: the reaction to a very handsome recently widowed man is likely to be the same in different postcodes. I’ve written quite a lot about NW6 in other
Which writers do you admire? Old favourites include Raymond Carver, Oscar Wilde, Austen, Melissa Bank, Daphne du Maurier, Diana Athill and the poet Elizabeth Bishop. The women writers I’ve hugely enjoyed reading recently include Jennifer Egan, Sarah Winman, Curtis Sittenfeld and Jojo Moyes. Where do you work and are you disciplined? Do you have a 1,000 words a day rule or similar? I love writing so I don’t have to force myself to do it. I work four days a week, on a horribly messy desk up in the loft. A good writing day means 3,000 words but other days are spent researching or editing or drinking too much tea and not much gets written at all. The internet is by far the most seductive displacement activity. Ideally, I’d write with the wifi turned off. But I don’t.
novels but I set this one in Muswell Hill because I needed a more suburban neighbourhood. What do you like about Queens Park? I’ve lived here for almost a decade now, after leaving Bayswater for a bit more space and a garden. It’s a fantastic place to live. I love the park and the people; so many of my friends and family live round here now. It’s a proper community, and a great place to bring up kids. My great-grandmother grew up in Maida Vale. It’s always felt familiar.
How do you ‘juggle’ motherhood and writing? I’m very lucky to have a wonderful nanny who looks after my three young children on my writing days. My husband is a hands-on dad, which makes a big difference. And life and work overlap a lot – I’ll be thinking about a plot or character while I cook the children’s supper or take the toddler to the sandpit. A book is always there bubbling in the background, which is both the best and worst thing about writing fiction. The Angel at No.33 is published by Headline on 2 February
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ABsoLUteLY 1234 ProPerTy
QUEENSDALE PLACE W11 The house is in good condition throughout and has a bright east/ west aspect. Accommodation comprises: Drawing room, Kitchen, Family room, Master Bedroom Suite, Three Further Bedrooms, Family Bathroom, Guest WC, Terrace, Large Garden (approximately 40ft).
Guide Price ÂŁ2,395,000 PROPERTY_ABSO FEB12.indb 2
020 7371 1111 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk
27/01/2012 15:46
Horbury Crescent, Notting Hill, W11 An elegant and welcoming townhouse on a quiet and pretty crescent in prime Notting Hill Well and truly reconstructed five years ago, this is a dignified, stucco fronted town house which combines practical living space and sophisticated modern systems with its existing provenance and a newly acquired touch of contemporary style and design.
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Double reception room Kitchen / breakfast room, dining room & playroom Master bedroom & en-suite bathroom Four further bedrooms, two further bathrooms Utility room, larder & cloakroom 45’ landscape designed garden The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea 2,764 sq ft / 256.8 sq m Guide Price £4.5 million Freehold
Joint Sole Agents Crayson 020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com John D Wood 020 7727 2233
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Specialists in Selling
27/01/2012 15:46
Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill, W2 Standing in a leafy setting, this spacious, stylish, solid six bedroom family house is the very essence of serenity, sophistication and sunlight Overlooking a row of elegant plane trees, this large town house stands proudly in an imposing terrace of period houses dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria.
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Two reception rooms Kitchen & dining room Master bedroom & bathroom Five further bedrooms & three bathrooms Playroom, study, utility room Walled garden, terrace & balcony 3,140 sq ft / 291.7 sq m Guide Price ÂŁ3.75 million Freehold
Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH
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Specialists in Selling
27/01/2012 15:47
Knowledge takes you far. Know-how takes you further.
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Over 50% of our sales and lettings business in Central London is with international buyers and tenants. We have years of experience in tracking down exactly the right buyer or tenant for your property, wherever in the world they might be. Even more importantly, our International Desk exposes your property to the widest global audience, opening up new opportunities all over the world. With our award-winning marketing and close relationships with major international companies, it’s hardly surprising news of your property travels far and wide.
Local know-how. Better results. sales@marshandparsons.co.uk lettings@marshandparsons.co.uk marshandparsons.co.uk
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Local know-how. Better results. Our Offices:
Brook Green
Hammersmith
Mayfair
Balham
Chelsea
Holland Park
North Kensington
Barnes
Clapham
Kensington
Notting Hill
Battersea
Fulham
Little Venice
Pimlico
Hereford Road W2 ÂŁ4,150,000 A magnificent stucco fronted Victorian house in the heart of Notting Hill, providing a reception room leading onto a landscaped garden, a large first floor double reception room, an interconnecting kitchen/breakfast room and a dining room, a huge master suite and three further double bedrooms served by two bathrooms. Sole Agents.
NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk
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Aldridge Road Villas W11 £4,100,000 An elegant and wide, semi-detached house set back from the road with a beautifully landscaped garden. While retaining much of it’s period charm, this beautiful property has been extensively reconfigured to include a dramatic kitchen/dining room, a fantastic first floor double reception room and a further reception room on the lower ground floor leading out to the garden. The bedroom accommodation includes a large master bedroom served by a huge, beautifully fitted bathroom and three further double bedrooms served by two further bathrooms.
NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk
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Local know-how. Better results. Our Offices:
Brook Green
Hammersmith
Mayfair
Balham
Chelsea
Holland Park
North Kensington
Barnes
Clapham
Kensington
Notting Hill
Battersea
Fulham
Little Venice
Pimlico
Queensdale Road W11 ÂŁ3,150,000 A fantastic, comprehensively refurbished corner house located on a sought after Holland Park road. The dramatic reception space includes a large double reception room that galleries over a fabulous bespoke, fully fitted kitchen/dining room, a large master bedroome with en suite and fitted wardrobes, a further two double bedrooms served by a bathroom and a large roof terrace. Freehold. Sole Agents.
HOLLAND PARK: 020 7605 6890 sales.hol@marshandparsons.co.uk
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Portland Road W11 ÂŁ2,595,000 This fantastic mews house boasts excellent entertaining space with an open plan living area extending through the entire ground floor. Features include a beautifully fitted kitchen/breakfast area with solid oak floors, two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and two further bedrooms served by a bathroom. Freehold. Joint Sole Agent: Strutt & Parker.
HOLLAND PARK: 020 7605 6890 sales.hol@marshandparsons.co.uk
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Local know-how. Better results. Our Offices:
Brook Green
Hammersmith
Mayfair
Balham
Chelsea
Holland Park
North Kensington
Barnes
Clapham
Kensington
Notting Hill
Battersea
Fulham
Little Venice
Pimlico
Campden Street W8 ÂŁ2,100,000 This beautifully presented terraced house offers excellent living and entertaining space, with the added advantage of air conditioning and a superb roof terrace. The accommodation comprises two large reception rooms, a separate kitchen, a study, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a private patio garden. Campden Street benefits from excellent local amenities, trasport links and the green spaces of Kensington Gardens and Holland Park. Freehold. Sole Agents.
KENSINGTON: 020 7368 4450 sales.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk
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Carson Terrace W11 ÂŁ1,495,000 This stylish and unique mews house has undergone extensive refurbishment and benefits from a well proportioned reception room over the top floor, a kitchen/breakfast room, two double bedrooms, two shower rooms (one en suite) and a double garage. Carson Terrace is conveniently located in Holland Park, close to the shops, restaurants and Holland Park underground station. Freehold. Joint Sole Agents.
HOLLAND PARK: 020 7605 6890 sales.hol@marshandparsons.co.uk
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Local know-how. Better results. Our Offices:
Brook Green
Hammersmith
Mayfair
Balham
Chelsea
Holland Park
North Kensington
Barnes
Clapham
Kensington
Notting Hill
Battersea
Fulham
Little Venice
Pimlico
Pembridge Square ÂŁ1,700 per week This unique and stylish apartment is located on the beautiful Pembridge Square, moments from the amenities of Notting Hill. Presented in excelent condition the property boasts vaulted ceilings and large warehouse style windows. the cleverly designed accommodation comprises a large open plan kitchen/reception room with mezzanine study area and access to the roof garden, a study/third bedroom and two further double bedrooms both with excellent storage and an en suite bathroom.
NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk
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Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected at the Olympic Games. We can help you let your property on both long (6+ months) or short (2 week+) tenancies.
Holland Road W14 ÂŁ575 per week This newly refurbished apartment is located close to both High Street Kensington, Holland Road and a short walk from Kensington Olympia station. The accommodation comprises a spacious reception room, a dining room, a separate kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The property boasts stylish, contemporary furniture throughout.
HOLLAND PARK: 020 7605 6890 lets.hol@marshandparsons.co.uk
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Offices throughout the UK including 5 in London Our London offices are open on Saturday between 10am - 3pm
NORTH KENSINGTON
Oxford Gardens W10 Oxford Gardens is a pretty residential street in North Kensington. The property is located in close proximity to the many amenities of Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road and is well positioned for easy access to the A40. Double reception room • Kitchen/dining room • 3 double bedrooms • Family bathroom • Utility room with WC Large garden (approximately 33ft)
Guide price £1,250,000 Freehold
Holland Park & Notting Hill 020 7371 1111 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk
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carterjonas.co.uk
HOLLAND PARK
Queensdale Place W11 Queensdale Place is a very quiet cul-de-sac situated just off Queensdale Road. The house is within easy walking distance of the many amenities and transport links of Holland Park Avenue and the shops and restaurants of Clarendon Cross. Drawing room • Kitchen • Family room • Master bedroom suite • 3 further bedrooms • Family bathroom • Guest WC Terrace • Large garden (approximately 40ft)
Guide price £2,395,000 Freehold
Holland Park & Notting Hill 020 7371 1111 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk
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Offices throughout the UK including 5 in London Our London offices are open on Saturday between 10am - 3pm
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carterjonas.co.uk
HYDE PARK
The Lancasters W2 A stunning and rarely available lateral apartment, finished to the highest possible standard with floor to ceiling windows framing breathtaking views over Hyde Park. Large reception room • Kitchen/breakfast room • Master bedroom with en suite 2 further bedrooms • Family bathroom • Roof terrace • Lift • Swimming pool Spa • Secure valet parking • 24 hour concierge
Guide price £6,100,000 Leasehold
Hyde Park & Bayswater 020 7402 1552 hydepark@carterjonas.co.uk
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Offices throughout the UK including 5 in London Our London offices are open on Saturday between 10am - 3pm
HOLLAND PARK
Addison Avenue W11 A fantastic terraced house set over approximately 2,045 sqft and located on this sought after tree lined avenue in the heart of Holland Park. Reception room • Kitchen/family room • 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms (1 en suite with dressing room) • Utility room Cloakroom • Roof terrace
£1,800 per week Unfurnished
Holland Park & Notting Hill 020 7371 3377 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk
HOLLAND PARK
Queensdale Place W11 A fantastic terraced house situated in this quiet, secluded cul-de-sac in the heart of Holland Park. The house has recently been refurbished to a high standard and benefits from a west facing patio and two terraces. Reception room • Kitchen/dining room • TV room 3 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms • Utility room • Patio • 2 terraces
£1,500 per week Furnished
Holland Park & Notting Hill 020 7371 3377 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk
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carterjonas.co.uk NOTTING HILL
Botts Mews W2 A rare opportunity to rent an outstanding mews house in this quiet, yet central location tucked behind Westbourne Grove, just moments from Notting Hill. Reception room • Kitchen • 3 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms 2 balconies
£1,850 per week Furnished
Hyde Park & Bayswater 020 7402 1552 hydepark@carterjonas.co.uk
NOTTING HILL
St Stephens Mansions W2 Enjoying a prime location amongst the charming pavement cafes of Westbourne Grove, this contemporary living space offers the ultimate in Notting Hill living. Reception room • Kitchen • 2 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms Patio
£895 per week Furnished
Hyde Park & Bayswater 020 7402 1552 hydepark@carterjonas.co.uk
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HERITAGE...
THE KEY TO A POSITIVE FUTURE With roots that go back more than two centuries, our heritage means a great deal to us. But it’s the future that counts. That’s what makes us one of the strongest names in the property business; doing what’s best for our clients and making sure the vast range of advice we offer enhances their future prosperity. Whether selling, letting or buying, there’s never been a better time to call us on 020 3018 2309 or find us online at CARTERJONAS.CO.UK/KEY
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Property
Property
of the month Addison Crescent, ÂŁ11.5M
A fine low-built period house (circa 1860) meticulously restored to the highest specification behind a richly ornamented facade. The property offers an impressive wide frontage incorporating gated off-street parking and an excellent size landscaped garden to the rear. Classic reception rooms and superb family accommodation throughout finish this imposing Victorian villa, which is ready for immediate occupation. Addison Crescent is conveniently located for the green open spaces of Holland Park and the shops, restaurants and transport facilities of High Street Kensington and Holland Park. Carter Jonas 020 7371 1111
www.carterjonas.co.uk 107
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CARSON TERRACE, W11 ÂŁ1,500,000 Freehold
A very special and truly unique mews style house built in the 1960’s and Grade 2 listed. Arranged over four floors and with an integral two car garage, the property offers an inverted lay out with a wonderfully bright top floor living room. The room is half glazed on both sides allowing for great views and plenty of natural light. A wooden ceiling and side panelling give the room a warm, natural ambience. Carson Terrace is within Princes Place, a peaceful backwater in Holland Park between St James Gardens and Norland Square. A great lock up and leave for car collectors and sleep addicts.
17 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2EU
Email: info@domusnova.com Tel: 0207 727 1717 Fax: 0207 727 2030 Web: www.domusnova.com Domus loves: weekend lunches at Julies in Clarendon Cross
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CAMPDEN HILL GARDENS, W8 ÂŁ3,500,000 Freehold
A spectacular former artist studio with double volume space and an abundance of natural light. Consisting of nearly 2000 square feet and arranged over only three floors this freehold property is wider than average with unusually tall ceilings including a 5.7m high studio room. The house is beautifully maintained and presented stylishly whilst preserving the spirit of its original purpose. Campden Hill Gardens is much sought after for its proximity to Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park. A fantastically indulgent space for party givers, budding artists and young families after something very special.
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PEMBRIDGE SQUARE, W2 ÂŁ2,350 per week
A beautiful lateral apartment occupying the entire second floor of a Pembridge Square villa. This bright and elegant property is the perfect family home, in an ideal location, with two excellent schools moments away. The flat has a well-proportioned reception room with westerly views over the garden square. In addition to the spacious master bedroom suite there is a contemporary dining room, kitchen with access to the roof terrace, second sitting room/office, two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom.
17 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2EU
Email: info@domusnova.com Tel: 0207 727 1717 Fax: 0207 727 2030 Web: www.domusnova.com Domus loves: weekend lunches at Julies in Clarendon Cross
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OXFORD GARDENS, W10 ÂŁ1,350 per week
A stunning home with a south-facing aspect and impressive reception space. This wonderful family home has been beautifully renovated throughout. The living space includes a double reception room with study area, fireplace and wooden floor. There is an impressive open-plan kitchen and dining room which opens onto the walled garden. The stylish master bedroom and en-suite bathroom occupy the first floor, with three further bedrooms and two family bathrooms, making this a comprehensive family home.
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Property
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ABSOLUTELY 1234
In their own words Nicholas Crayson, founder, Crayson
‘‘
PHOTO: GEORGE RAMSAY
I
’ve just been reading one of those Agony Aunt columns. A woman found herself in a spot of trouble on a beach in Denmark. She went for a walk and found she had to cross a naturist section, and that to continue her walk she had to drop everything and conform. This she did, feeling rather foolish having to carry her bikini. (And to be greeted by her husband and his friend ‘goggle-eyed’ at the far end.) Surely, she thought, there is an etiquette for crossing a nudist section of a beach? Indeed there is. The Agony Aunt suggested that the solution is to dip yourself in the sea, wet your hair enough to justify draping yourself in a beach towel and re-enter the nudist area, chatting busily’ So why do I mention this? Well, I’ve been thinking about what we at Crayson do best in Notting Hill. If I said no one knows the people, the places, the prices and the possibilities better than we do, you’d say, everyone says that. ‘Localness’ needed redefining. Stripping down what being a local hero means to a client - and faced with the naked truth - what makes our bespoke service more personal, and more effective for being so, is this: We have nothing to hide. No long-term contracts we tie clients into. No overvaluing properties to win instructions and no empty promises. When we tell a client we do our very best to get the price they had in mind, this is exactly what we do. Most of the properties we sold last year were sold at a higher price than the client expected and not once did we ask for a reduction in the Guide Price. Like that lady on the beach, what you see is what you get. No cover-ups. It’s not just locality, it’s transparency. This is what makes us enjoyable to work with. By now, you may have visited the David Hockney exhibition. Hockney talks about his frustration with the ‘dead eye’ of photography, encompassing only one point of view. What frustrates me is that many estate agents only have one point of view, too. The internet has changed estate agency. Likewise Hockney’s art: nowadays his most illuminating pictures are created on an iPad. And nowadays over 90% of house buyers use the internet as the primary source in their property search, with only 7% using the traditional estate agent’s window. The internet is more transparent, with information available to both buyers and sellers. For all these reasons, I set up shop in prestigious offices in a quiet mews in Notting Hill’s Lambton Place. Here, fully armed with this powerful super-tool, we are the team best equipped in the area to sell high value properties to the citizens of the world. Pop in and see what we are doing to change our world. We’ll be fully clothed.” www.crayson.com
‘‘
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100% of our clients would recommend our service to their friends and family
PROPERTY_ABSO FEB12.indb 31 WILFORDS.indd 1-2
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“
“
I’d happily recommend Wilfords to friends and family and would encourage anyone looking for an agent who will go the extra mile to contact the Wilfords team
C Desmond
6 Holland Street W8 4LT I +44(0)20 7361 0400 I www.wilfords.com I info@wilfords.com
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Kensington Garden Square, W2
ÂŁ3.5 m
2001 Sq. Ft / 186 Sq. M | 2 Bedrooms | Share of Freehold | City of Westminster This stylish two-bedroom apartment has been architecturally and interior designed throughout and occupies the first and second floors of this grand white stucco fronted period building. Wilfords London, 6 Holland Street W8 4LT wilfords.com
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+44(0)20 7361 0400
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Colville Houses, W11
ÂŁ1,795,000
1425 Sq.Ft / 134 Sq. M | 2/3 Bedrooms | Leasehold | Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea A stunning two bedroomed split-level lateral apartment, located on the desirable first floor of this period conversion and boasting high ceilings. Wilfords London, 6 Holland Street W8 4LT wilfords.com
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+44(0)20 7361 0400
27/01/2012 16:09 15:48 26/01/2012
PORTLAND ROAD, W11, ÂŁ2,600,000 An excellent opportunity to acquire a beautifully presented and well-arranged terraced house in a prime location in Holland Park. The property provides good entertaining space on the ground and lower ground floors with bedrooms on the upper two floors. Along with the paved patio garden there is an impressive roof terrace with great views over Notting Hill. Portland Road is a highly popular road off Holland Park Avenue and is within walking distance to Holland Park underground station (central line). Notting Hill itself benefits from numerous shops and restaurants and the property has the added benefit of being in walking distance of Holland Park.
Faron Sutaria 020 7229 2404
Absolutely Wallingford Avenue, W10, ÂŁ1,550,000 An Edwardian house restored by artist Bouke de Vries. Beautifully presented throughout, with walls adorned with original pieces by the emerging artist this property boasts four bedrooms, four bathrooms (two en suite), two reception rooms, kitchen, dining room, studio/office, garden and eaves storage.
Bective Leslie Marsh 020 7221 0330
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Property
St Quintin Avenue, W10 £650 PER WEEK An exceptional first floor apartment located in a striking period house on this picturesque tree-lined street. The reception room is a great size with a modern open-plan kitchen, exposed brick wall and feature fireplace which bring out the flat’s character. Both bedrooms are doubles and have built-in wardrobes. The whole flat offers approx 800 square feet of lateral living space.
Homesite 020 7243 3535
Lancelot Place, SW7 £2,595 per week This stylish and contemporary apartment is set on 5th floor of an ultra-modern development with breathtaking views towards the West End; a sizeable and elegant reception with floor-to-ceiling windows; a separate eat-in kitchen with sleek timber units and granite worktops. The master bedroom is served by a smart bathroom with heated stone flooring and further double bedroom with shower room.
Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings 020 7581 2112 119
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SALES & LETTINGS
CLANRICARDE GARDENS, W2 A south facing apartment arranged over three floors with access to a flat roof. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shower room, reception room, cloakroom, utility room, conservatory/breakfast room. Approx. 1,781 sq ft. ÂŁ1,700,000 Leasehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk
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SALES & LETTINGS
PORTLAND ROAD, W11 A beautifully presented and well arranged four storey terraced house situated in a prime location in Holland Park. 3 bedrooms, bathroom, shower room, double reception, dining room, family kitchen, cloakroom, patio garden, roof terrace. Approx. 1,854 sq ft. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms. ÂŁ2,600,000 Freehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk
OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU
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SALES & LETTINGS
AIRLIE GARDENS, W8 A charming and well presented raised ground floor studio apartment, situated in a well maintained period building (porter) with access to communal gardens. Approx. 257 sq ft. Studio, bathroom. ÂŁ340,000 Share of Freehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk
HUNT CLOSE, W11 A well proportioned 2nd floor apartment situated in a modern development with a balcony overlooking a park and ideally located for Westfield Shopping Centre. Approx. 465 sq ft. Bedroom, bathroom, reception. ÂŁ300,000 Leasehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk
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SALES & LETTINGS
BEDFORD GARDENS, W8 A raised ground floor flat in this desirable address in Kensington, with the added benefit of a spacious double aspect reception room and two balconies. Approx. 859 sq ft. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, en suite shower room, reception room. ÂŁ1,000,000 Leasehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk
OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU
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ADDISON CRESCENT, W14 A fine period house (circa 1860) restored to the highest specifications behind an ornate façade with planning permission for an additional 2,000 sq ft. sub basement with swimming pool. Approx. 6,329 sq ft. 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 4 receptions, kitchen/breakfast room, 2 cloakrooms, pantry, staff room, gym. Freehold Guide Price £11,500,000
TRINITY MEWS, W10
HOLLAND PARK AVENUE, W11
A fantastic mews house finished to a high standard located just off Cambridge Gardens and close to local shops and underground stations.
An attractive apartment situated in a prestigious address. Comprising a south facing reception room and separate kitchen. Approx. 901 sq ft.
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception, study/dressing room, balcony, parking. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception/dining room, balcony, roof terrace. Freehold Guide Price £999,950
HOLLAND PARK 020 7727 2233 hln.sales@johndwood.co.uk
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Freehold Share Guide Price £899,950
www.johndwood.co.uk
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Abso
PHILLIMORE COURT, W8 An apartment offering lateral living on the 3rd floor (with lift) of this highly desirable purpose built block with a communal roof terrace, off Kensington High Street. 5 bedrooms, bathroom, 2 shower rooms, reception room, utility room, separate storage, porter. Leasehold Guide Price £2,700,000
3 bedrooms, en suite bathroom, shower room, double aspect reception, study, patio garden, flat roof. Freehold Guide Price £1,850,000
KENSINGTON 020 7908 1100 kcs.sales@johndwood.co.uk
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R GEN E FO
IONS AT R
An attractive Victorian house set back from the road, modernised to a high standard, with a lovely double reception room occupying the full width and length of the house.
TRUSTE
PEEL STREET, W8
140 Years of Property
18
72 - 2 012
www.johndwood.co.uk
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PROPERTY
Introducing
Wilfords “I
first walked along Holland Street many years ago and quickly fell in love with the quaint houses and shops which truly stood out as a place of heritage and interest. I was therefore delighted when Wilfords London opened our doors at No. 6 Holland Street in October last year. Our launch party was a tremendous success and we are grateful to everyone who came, and to our clients and friends for their support. The street has the feel of a local village which creates significant footfall with numerous folk grabbing a coffee from Ottolenghi opposite and then perusing property details in our window display before coming in to register their interest. The central London property market continues to bemuse and gather momentum with January getting off to an extremely busy start. Our instruction and applicant levels are increasing as more local clientele hear about the high level of personal service offered by our team. I predict that prices in Kensington & Chelsea and City of Westminster will continue to increase by six to seven per cent in 2012 largely due to currency discounts available to the vast diversity of foreign investors and the Bank of England continuing to keep interest rates at a record low. The opportunities on our doorstep appear to be greater than those favoured in other global cities with London continually proving to be robust and a safe investment haven. Our website www.wilfords.com attracted potential purchasers and tenants from 27 different countries last week. If you would like a free market appraisal from a genuinely passionate and independent estate agent please contact us or pop in for a coffee. We’d be delighted to discuss your property requirements, no matter how big or small.” Geoff Wilford Wilfords London, 6 Holland Street, W8 4LT 020 7361 0400
Safe as
houses James Vlasto, property search and aquisition
I
f it wasn’t for the last series of Sherlock (superb) and my growing excitement over the imminent Six Nations competition, I may have broken under the constant drone of conversations about the state of the economy. But why, when headlines are festooned with doom and gloom about job markets and the future of Europe, are estate agents across the capital looking so damn happy? Well, despite the financial backdrop, property in prime central London has been like flypaper to investment, both foreign and domestic (though largely the former). Property in the unspoilt, culturally rich centre of such a cosmopolitan city will always have a pull from the lifestyle perspective but demand is increasingly stemming from the push of having nowhere better to put one’s money. Rental investors know that net yields aren’t exceptional (3-5%) but rely on steady capital growth (10-18% in 2011). Is central London property becoming a currency in itself, more robust than the sterling it is traded in? Buying the right property at the right price is still important but with a medium to long term view, you have to try pretty hard to get it badly wrong. My prediction for 2012 is steady capital growth (5%-8%) as low supply, exacerbated by lack of viable alternatives, drives continued interest in bricks and mortar. If the music stops would you rather be left sitting on a sheaf of share certificates or in a nice warm apartment in Kensington? I know where I’d rather be. www.badgemoor.com
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Hamptons Notting Hill Sales. 020 7717 5469 nottinghillsales@hamptons.co.uk
Aldridge Road Villas, W11 - £4,100,000 - Freehold
Colville Houses, W11 - £1,795,000 - Leasehold A substantial and tastefully decorated semi-detached four bedroom family home A stylishly refurbished first floor lateral apartment with high ceilings, two with large east facing garden close to Portobello Road & Westbourne Grove. balconies and a large eat in kitchen, on the doorstep of Portobello Road.
Cambridge Gardens, W10 - £975,000 - Share of Freehold
Leinster Square, W2 - £950,000 - Leasehold
A cleverly thought out apartment with a large living room, leading on to a south facing garden, a very stylish kitchen and large master bedroom.
A fantastic first floor flat with a large balcony overlooking communal gardens and beautiful high ceilings. One fabulous bedroom and bathroom.
Stanley Gardens, W11 - £899,000 - Leasehold
Kensington Park Road, W11 - £500,000 - Leasehold
A smart two bedroom flat in an imposing and impressive white stucco building, benefitting from a lift and access to communal gardens.
A lovely second floor flat in a period building just off Portobello Road, with a smart open plan kitchen and one bedroom with en suite bathroom.
In the year of medals, we are already on a winning streak.
Hamptons International Silver for Best for UK Large Estate Agency and Best for Marketing.
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Hamptons Notting Hill Lettings. 020 7034 0405 nottinghilllettings@hamptons-int.com
Chepstow Road, W2 - £450 per week Bright, modern double bedroom apartment located on the raised ground floor and boasting beautiful high ceilings
Barlby Road, W10 - £450 per week
Abercorn Place, NW10 - £325 per week
St Quintin Avenue, W10 - £1,495 per week
Hereford Mansions, W2 - £1,500 per week
Ladbroke Road, W11 - £2,500 per week
Newly refurbished, one bedroom apartment boasting stylish finish, wood floors, contemporary bathroom and open plan kitchen.
Superb, three bedroom lateral apartment boasting, wood floors, lift, Porter and plenty of natural light throughout
Recently refurbished two bedroom apartment boasting spacious rooms, contemporary interior and large private garden.
Beautifully refurbished four bedroom maisonette, renovated and modernised into a stylish family home with landscaped garden
Striking, architecturally designed three bedroom town house offering contemporary interior and versatile open plan living space
Gold Winner in Best for Property Management
Hamptons International has been crowned Gold Winner in Best for Property Management and at the 2011 Lettings Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, recognising Hamptons’ commitment to exceptional customer service and its status as an employer of choice. Call us to find out more about how our Property Management Services can help us meet your property requirements.
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Hamptons Kensington Lettings. 020 7937 9372 kensingtonlettings@hamptons-int.com
Wynnstay Gardens, W8
- ÂŁ1,675 per week Unfurnished A stunning newly refurbished 2nd floor flat in this prestigious Victorian mansion. The property has wooden floors throughout the double reception and boasts a new kitchen and bathrooms. The property is portered and has access to one off street parking space.
Gold Winner in Best for Property Management
Hamptons International has been crowned Gold Winner in Best for Property Management and at the 2011 Lettings Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, recognising Hamptons’ commitment to exceptional customer service and its status as an employer of choice. Call us to find out more about how our Property Management Services can help us meet your property requirements.
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PROPERTY
Modern love A home for architecture enthusiasts in Holland Park
Absolutely
W11
Mark Sommerville, Hamptons International FAVOURITE W11 RESTAURANT If the sun’s out – lunch on the terrace at the Ladbroke Arms, Ladbroke Road.
W11’S BEST KEPT SECRET Saturday morning cheese and ham croissant and coffee, perched on a milk crate outside Lisboa on Goldborne Road.
A
unique listed 1960s mews house with an impeccable architectural pedigree has entered the market in Holland Park. Designed by awardwinning modernist architect Peter Aldington in 1966, this is one of the very few Grade II listed buildings built in the 1960s. The celebrated architect’s other notable designs included the RIBA award-winning Turn End project in Buckinghamshire.
THE PROPERTY IS ONE OFI THE VERY FEW GRADE II LISTED BUILDINGS BUILT IN THE 1960S But Peter Aldington is not the only property aficionado in the property’s history. The Carson Terrace house was first commissioned by Tim Rock, then editor of Architectural Review, who lived in the house after its completion in 1970. The property is currently owned by noted architect Peter Crawford, co-founder of London architecture practice Crawford & Gray. Alongside its striking, modern exterior, the refurbished Carson Terrace property boasts a spacious, light reception room on the top floor with a fireplace, two bedrooms, two shower rooms as well as a double garage. However, the property will not just suit architecture enthusiasts. Just a stone’s throw from St James’ church, the mews house is located in the centre of Holland Park, close to the many restaurants, pubs and shops on Holland Park Avenue and within walking distance of the Westfield shopping centre. The mews house is being marketed by Marsh & Parsons for £1,495,000 www.marshandparsons.co.uk
THE FINEST COCKTAIL COMES FROM Something vodka-based at E&O. THE MOST STYLISH BOUTIQUE Giselle, my wife, likes me to go to Smithyson’s. A LOST HOUR IN W11 WOULD BE SPENT... with a quick trip to Mr Christians for cheese and then next door to Jeroboams for a bottle of wine and find a quiet corner of a communal garden. AN EXCEPTIONAL W11 PROPERTY Aldridge Road Villas, W11, £4.1m www.hamptons-int.com
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WINKW
St. Quintin Avenue W10
£599,000
A characterful and unspoilt 915 sq ft raised ground floor apartment within a handsome bay fronted Edwardian house. The spacious interior has tall ceilings and a wealth of period features throughout with retained sash windows, fireplaces, deep skirting’s and cornice. Private entrance hall | reception room | kitchen diner | bedroom with views over gardens | sizeable bathroom
Kingsbridge Road, W10
£795,000
A stunning top floor apartment within a handsome red brick Edwardian house on a rarely available and extremely sought after North Kensington Street. Reception room with period features | two double bedrooms | kitchen with integrated appliances | family bathroom with separate shower and cloakroom
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Property
Luxe living Absolutely
Kensington: Bedford Gardens W8
A
full refurbishment has brought this former artist’s studio straight into the 21st century with a contemporary finish throughout. The property is entered from a private courtyard on the ground floor which consists of two double bedrooms both of which are ensuite, guest WC and utility room. On the first floor is a lofty double-height reception room with an abundance of natural light plus a spacious kitchen/dining room with additional loft storage above. Bedford Gardens is a sought-after residential street just off Kensington Church Street midway between High Street Kensington and Notting Hill Gate and within easy reach of the excellent local shops, restaurants and transport links (Central, District and Circle lines) as well as the open spaces of Holland Park and Kensington Gardens. t Chard • 020 7243 4500 • www.chard.co.uk 132
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WEDGEW
HERTFORD STREET, MAYFAIR W1 An exceptional interior-designed lateral conversion of two elegant buildings in Mayfair comprising seven apartments of one, two and three bedrooms and a studio flat. These spacious apartments in this secure portered building with lift are finished to a very high standard and offer fully equipped kitchens, separate utility rooms, en-suite bathrooms/shower rooms with TVs and Sound Systems, guest cloakrooms and hardwood floors. The apartments have air-conditioning and excellent storage facilities. Hertford Street is conveniently located close to Park Lane and Curzon Street with easy access to the open spaces of Hyde Park and Green Park as well as an abundance of transport links and the many excellent amenities of London’s West End.
FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED
CALL FOR RENTAL PRICES
296 Kensington High Street, London W14 8NZ Tel | 020-7603 7121 Fax | 020-7603 8065 sales@wedgewoodestates.co.uk
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London’s Letting Agency www.brlets.co.uk
Notting Notting Hill Hill Gate Gate
From£270 £270pw pw Furnished Furnished From
West West End End
From £360 £360 pw pw Furnished Furnished From
Chelsea ChelseaBorders Borders From From £450 £450 pw Furn/Unfurnished
Studio/1 Bedroom Bedroom || 1 Studio/1 1 Bathroom Bathroom | Period Conversion Period Conversion | Close to TubeStations Nearby Contemporary furnishings | Two
1 Bedroom | 1 Reception | 1 Bathroom Studio/1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom | Period Conversion Prime Location Location || Amenities Hyde Park & Nearby Prime Hyde Park Nearby
2/3 Bedrooms Bedrooms || 11 Reception Reception || 2/3 2/3 Bathrooms 2/3 Bathrooms Terrace || Parking Parking || 24hr 24 HrPorterage Porterage| |River RiverViews Views Terrace
Hyde Park Park020 0207402 74029866 9866 Hyde
HydePark Park020 0207402 74029866 9866 Hyde
Imperial imperialwharf@brlets.co.uk ImperialWharf Wharf020 0207348 73487620 7620 imperialwharf@brlets.co.uk
Notting Hill Gate Kensington
hyde@brlets.co.uk hyde@brlets.co.uk
£700 £495pw pw Furnished Furnished
hyde@brlets.co.uk hyde@brlets.co.uk
Notting Hill Lancaster Gate
£795 £625 pw pw Furnished Furnished
Knightsbridge Kensington Borders
£1,100 Furnished £650 pwpwUnfurnished
Bedroom || 1 1 Reception 11 Bedroom Reception || 11 Bathroom Bathroom BalconyConversion | 24hr Porterage Close to Amenities Period | Hyde |Park Nearby | Sole Agents
Bedrooms| |11Reception Reception| |12Bathroom Bathrooms 12 Bedroom Period ConversionGarden | Near|Park HighNearby Street Lift | Communal Hyde&Park
Bedrooms ||11Reception Reception||12Bathroom Bathrooms 22 Bedrooms Period Conversion Tube Nearby Roof Terrace | Close| Amenities to Tube & & Amenities
Kensington020 0207938 79383522 3522 Kensington
HydePark Park020 0207402 74029866 9866 Hyde
Knightsbridge 7581 Kensington 020020 7938 35222112
Chelsea Hill Gate Notting
kens@brlets.co.uk kens@brlets.co.uk
£1,475 £800pw pw Furnished Furnished
Kensington Paddington
hyde@brlets.co.uk hyde@brlets.co.uk
£1,600 £950 pw pw Furnished Furnished
Knightsbridge Maida Vale
knight@brlets.co.uk kens@brlets.co.uk
£3,950 Furnished £1,000 pwpw Unfurnished
Bedrooms || 11 Reception Reception || 22 Bathrooms Bathrooms 32 Bedrooms Fitness Suite | Parking | 24hr Porterage 24hr Porterage | Close to Kensington Gardens
Bedrooms || 11 Reception Reception ||22Bathrooms Bathrooms 34 Bedrooms Mansion 24hr Porterage Lift | 24hrApartment Porterage || Lift Tube| & Amenities Nearby
Bedrooms ||11Reception Reception||23Bathrooms Bathrooms 43 Bedrooms FitnessHouse Suite || Garage Parking| |Little 24hr Venice Porterage Period Nearby
Knightsbridge 7581 2112 Kensington 020020 7938 3522
Knightsbridge 020 7581 Hyde Park 020 7402 98662112
Knightsbridge 020 7581 Hyde Park 020 7402 98662112
Nine offices open six days a week: Beaufort Park 020 8732 7980 Canary Wharf 020 7038 8057 City 020 7213 9700
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knight@brlets.co.uk kens@brlets.co.uk
Hampstead Highgate Hyde Park
020 7435 9681 020 8341 2335 020 7402 9866
Imperial Wharf Kensington Knightsbridge
knight@brlets.co.uk hyde@brlets.co.uk
020 7348 7620 020 7938 3522 020 7581 2112
Hong Kong Singapore Dubai India
knight@brlets.co.uk hyde@brlets.co.uk
primelocation.com
27/01/2012 15:49
LANDLORDS We have new tenants constantly knocking on our office doors Demand for rental properties is currently outstripping supply and in some parts of London we are seeing over 10 applicants for every property We urgently need properties to rent in all central London locations. We can guarantee you better quality tenants than anyone else
Association of Residential Letting Agents
Nine offices open six days a week: Beaufort Park | Canary Wharf | City | Hampstead | Highgate Hyde Park | Imperial Wharf | Kensington | Knightsbridge
Call us now on 0800 092 9656 or email info@brlets.co.uk or visit www.brlets.co.uk
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16 Lambton Place, Notting Hill London W11 2SH t 020 7243 3535 w www.homesite.co.uk e info@homesite.co.uk H I L L
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Homesite’s outstanding client care, work ethic and professionalism was a breath of fresh air, making them stand out from the crowd. I would not hesitate to recommend their services to others and to trust them again to let my property.
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N o T T I N G
Stephen, landlord
St Petersburgh Place, W2
£700 per week
Newly refurbished sixth floor apartment located in this charming portered building, moments from Hyde Park. The master suite has a brand new en-suite bathroom and the second bedroom is a good size double. The flat has been neutrally decorated throughout and the kitchen is fitted with modern, integrated appliances. Notting Hill Gate and Queensway tube stations are both a short walk away.
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Homesite estate agents
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Queen’s Gate Gardens, SW7
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£925,000
Beautifully refurbished two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a feature fire place, oak flooring, contemporary bathrooms & a stylish kitchen. Set within a grand period mid terraced building on this sought after garden square just off Gloucester Road, the area’s many restaurants, bars, bus services & underground station (Circle, District & Piccadilly) plus the open spaces of Hyde Park are all close at hand.
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27/01/2012 15:29 15:49 25/01/2012
Best Blog in Show Our blog has been voted the best in the United Kingdom at the Primelocation.com awards. With refreshingly outspoken views on the property market you’ll see a different perspective at douglasandgordon.com/blog
£4,100,000 Freehold Aldridge Road Villas, W11
A stylish family home situated in this quiet residential street.
£1,495,000 Leasehold Westbourne Grove, W2
An exciting newly renovated and refurbished apartment in the period building.
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Notting Hill Sales: 020 7727 7777 nhsales@dng.co.uk
4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Kitchen, Reception room, Garden.
Notting Hill Sales: 020 7727 7777 nhsales@dng.co.uk
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Open plan kitchen/ reception room.
27/01/2012 15:49
Text dng to 84840 for details of properties near you now.
North Chelsea Fulham Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush
Kensington South Kensington Notting Hill Pimlico & Westminster
South Balham Battersea Battersea Park Clapham Southside
East Putney West Putney Southfields & Earlsfield
www.douglasandgordon.com
£1,200,000 Freehold Colville Houses, W11
A fabulous unique freehold town house set in this Notting Hill Sales: 020 7727 7777 quiet no through road in the heart of Notting Hill. nhsales@dng.co.uk
£1,150,000 Leasehold Royal Crescent, W11
A unique, recently refurbished maisonette situated in this highly popular crescent.
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2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen, Terrace, Off street parking.
Kensington Sales: 020 7792 1881 kensales@dng.co.uk
2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen, Storage, Communal Gardens.
23/01/2012 15:49 12:06 27/01/2012
increase the valu your propeerof ty
You have to decorate to accumulate Call our specialist refurbishment department now on 020 7225 0234.
ÂŁ825,000 Leasehold Campden Hill Gardens, W8
A stylish and immaculate apartment on the top floor of this attractive period building.
ÂŁ725,000 Leasehold Linden Gardens, W2
A bright and spacious apartment located on the 3rd floor of this modern building.
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Kensington Sales: 020 7792 1881 kensales@dng.co.uk
2 bedrooms, Bathroom, Kitchen, Reception room.
Kensington Sales: 020 7792 1881 kensales@dng.co.uk
2 bedrooms, Bathroom, Kitchen, Reception room, Balcony, Lift, Secure parking, Porter.
27/01/2012 15:49
Text dng to 84840 for details of properties near you now.
North Chelsea Fulham Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush
Kensington South Kensington Notting Hill Pimlico & Westminster
South Balham Battersea Battersea Park Clapham Southside
East Putney West Putney Southfields & Earlsfield
www.douglasandgordon.com
£595,000 Share of Freehold Westbourne Terrace, W2
A spacious and well presented two bedroom apartment in this popular period terrace.
£549,950 Share of Freehold Inverness Terrace, W2
A well-proportioned two bedroom property in this convenient location.
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Notting Hill Sales: 020 7727 7777 nhsales@dng.co.uk
2 bedrooms, En-suite bathroom, Shower Room, Reception room, Kitchen.
Kensington Sales: 020 7792 1881 kensales@dng.co.uk
2 double bedrooms, Reception room, Kitchen, Bathroom, Shower room.
23/01/2012 15:49 12:06 27/01/2012
18
…offices in Central and South West London. All of which are linked to give your property maximum exposure.
£3,250 per week Unfurnished Orme Square W2
A wonderful family home overlooking Kensington Gardens.
£1,275 per week Unfurnished Pencombe Mews W11
A fabulous mews house in the heart of Notting Hill.
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Kensington Lettings Office: 020 7792 1331 kenlets@dng.co.uk
6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen/dining room, Conservatory, Playroom, Garden, Off-street parking.
Notting Hill Lettings Office: 020 7727 8000 nhlets@dng.co.uk
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Dining room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Garden, Garage, Off-street parking.
27/01/2012 15:49
Text dng to 84840 for details of properties near you now.
North Chelsea Fulham Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush
Kensington South Kensington Notting Hill Pimlico & Westminster
South Balham Battersea Battersea Park Clapham Southside
East Putney West Putney Southfields & Earlsfield
www.douglasandgordon.com
£850 per week Unfurnished Palace Court W2
An exceptional 3rd floor apartment situated within this well maintained red brick building.
£495 per week Furnished Arundel Gardens W11
A stunning, light and spacious raised ground floor flat with wonderful views overlooking the communal gardens.
Kensington Lettings Office: 020 7792 1331 kenlets@dng.co.uk
Double bedroom, Bathroom, Reception room, Open plan kitchen, Study/occasional 2nd bedroom, Lift.
Notting Hill Lettings Office: 020 7727 8000 nhlets@dng.co.uk
Double bedroom, Bathroom, Reception room, Kitchen, Access to communal gardens.
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Camilla Morris Pilot and Team Assistant You can bank on Camilla’s determination, a nervous flyer turned pilot. Our people are what make us great, and with Camilla it’s chocks away.
douglasandgordon.com Extraordinary people
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Nu-Line
BATHROOM & LIGHTING Showroom
311 Westbourne Park Road London W11 1EF
T: 020 8206 5177 F: 020 8206 5188 E: showroom@nu-line.net
www.nulinebathrooms.com
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