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ABSOLUTELY

CONTENTS JAN UARY

2014

04 EDITOR’S LETTER 06 WHAT’S ON 

LOCAL

10 CULTURAL CALENDAR What to look forward to in 2014

15 THE GOOD GIRL

How to live well with Gwyneth Paltrow



STYLE

21 SQUARE PANTS

When checks ruled the runway

22 THE INBETWEENER Transitional fashion for January

31 MARK MAKER

Sharmadean Reid on building her nail empire



FOOD

53 PUB GRUB

Ten of the cosiest pubs in the area

54 DETOX IN A BOX

Lily Simpson, the brains behind The Detox Kitchen



INTERIORS 59 SPA TOWN

Bespoke bathrooms to covet

67 ANIMAL MAGIC

Absolutely’s favourite animal cushions

Find us online @zest-media.com

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ABSOLUTELY EDITOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT EDITORIAL INTERNS PROPERTY EDITOR TRAVEL EDITOR ART DIRECTOR

HELEN BARON CATHERINE HALES ELLIE RICHARDS HUGO HUNTER GEORGIE LANE-GODFREY RAY SEARLE

PRODUCTION MANAGER

STEWART HYDE

EDITORIAL DESIGNER

ANDREW MAVIN

MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER

GEMMA ISTEED

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

TAHIR KAPUCU

ART WORKER

EKREM YILMAZ

JUNIOR DESIGNER

EDWARD TAYLOR REBECCA NOONAN

PRODUCTION CONTROLLER PHOTOGRAPHERS NORTH & CENTRAL ADVERTISING MANAGER ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER GROUP PROPERTY DIRECTOR

EDITOR’S let ter

W

JANUARY 2014

hen you think of the Good Life, what springs to mind (the lovable seventies sitcom with Richard Briers aside)? Is the Good Life a high standard of living with plenty of creature comforts? Or do you take the Socratic view that material advantages are superfluous when one knows and appreciates true beauty, true justice and true friendship? Broadly speaking, the two views seem to me to represent the realistic and the idealistic – so which to aim for?

If there is a realm where these two viewpoints overlap, it may be in our awareness and enjoyment of our mental and physical wellbeing. And so, in this issue, the first of 2014, we take a look at some of the ways in which to make meaningful changes to our lifestyles, perhaps even breaking bad habits or undesirable cycles. Our Body Talk feature takes stock of some of the health checks you might want to investigate in a bid to ensuring a fitter, happier year ahead. Of course, the Good Life is as much about the process as the end result, and in the words of writer Cormac McCarthy, ‘There is no such joy within the tavern as upon the road thereto’. With that in mind, many of the ideas and services featured are about helping you to find sustainable ways in which to stay well amid the pressures of modern city life.

Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll also find plenty of ideas and inspiration about everything from interiors and fashion to cultural goings-on, so you can make it an enlightened New Year as well as a happy, healthy one.

CHRISTINE MANN GEORGE RAMSAY KRISTIAN LIBETTA TOLGA SAYLAN ALEXANDRA HUNTER

PROPERTY DIRECTOR

ANDY ELMER

PROPERTY MANAGER

EMILY SAUNDERSON

FINANCE MANAGER

MARIANNE MCFADDEN

FINANCE DIRECTOR

ALEXANDRA HVID

MARKETING MANAGER DIRECTOR MANAGING DIRECTOR

LEAH DAY GREG HUGHES SHERIF SHALTOUT

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

Subscriptions are available simply by emailing clarissa@zest-media.com. You can receive an online subscription for FREE or a postal subscriptions for 12 months, £30 respectively (to cover postage and packaging). Please email us with your preferred option and details.

ZEST MEDIA LONDON 213 Westbourne Studios, Acklam Road, London W10 5JJ, T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020

Enjoy January.

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

Helen Baron, Editor

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ON THE COVER: bimbaylola.com

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. www.zest-media.com

12/12/2013 15:06

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WHAT’S ON

DON’T MISS



CORIOLANUS 30 JAN

Fresh from Thor and The Avengers, Tom Hiddleston takes the title role of Shakespeare’s Roman epic Coriolanus.

When Rome is threatened by an old enemy, the city summons its staunchest defender; however, Coriolanus’ return is complicated by enemies within the city gates, a famine causing civil unrest and the rising of the realpolitik. National Theatre Live gives everyone the chance to catch this all-star production of one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known masterpieces.

Phoenix Cinema, 52 High Road, N2; phoenixcinema.co.uk

RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN FROM 16 JANUARY

A sharp comedy by playwright Gina Gionfriddo, Rapture, Blister, Burn follows the reunion of two university friends whose postgraduate lives took wildly divergent paths. One, Catherine, pursued a career as a ‘rock star academic’, while the other, Gwen, married and raised a family. Decades later, each finds the other envious of what she has achieved, and both begin hazardous excursions into the unknown territory of an alien life. Starring Emilia Fox and Emma Fielding, the play explores modern gender politics with witty incisiveness.

Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, NW3; hampsteadtheatre.com

CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN 3 JAN

This rock ‘n’ roll four-piece have a reputation for incendiary live shows, with the chaos of frontman Van McCann’s energetic onstage antics matched by the precision playing of guitarist Billy Bibby, bassist Benji Blakeway and drummer Bob Hall. Catch them at one of Camden’s bestloved venues this month.

Koko, 1a Camden High Street, NW1; koko.uk.com

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J A N U A R Y

MONDAY OR TUESDAY

FROM 17 JANUARY Best-known for her stage performance and landscape-inspired canvases, Silke Otto-Knapp’s latest offering examines the tradition of romantic landscape painting through the lens of stage design.

The result is a darkly entrancing series of black and silver images that evoke the magic and melancholy of abandoned theatre sets.

Camden Arts Centre, Arkwright Road, NW3; camdenartscentre.org

FINDING JOY 24-25 JANUARY

Part of London’s International Mime Festival, Finding Joy tells the story of Danny and his grandmother, Joy – a mischievous, creative type who loves to dance and who is, sadly, losing her memory. When the bright but reckless Danny suddenly decides to become Joy’s carer, their playful and caring relationship looks set to alter forever. A tender tale told through full mask theatre, this manages to be both funny and incredibly human - and all without traditional dialogue.

Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, N6; jacksonslane.org.uk

RAINER

23 JANUARY Avant-pop duo Rainer, consisting of singer and songwriter Rebekah Raa and producer Casually Here (real name Nic Nell), present their brand new EP at one of East London’s hippest small clubs. Dealing with themes of sex, hope and ‘the menagerie of emotions that come with bedroom trysts and a brand new relationship’, expect a glut of influences ranging from hip-hop and opera to calypso.

Surprising and engaging without ever getting too fragmented.

The Waiting Room, 175 Stoke Newington High Street, N16; waitingroomn16.com

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DON’T MISS

 THE BOOK THIEF 31ST JANUARY

Based on the bestselling book of the same name, The Book Thief is set in Germany in 1939 and tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl who is sent to live with foster parents after her father leaves and her mother is forced to give her up. As in the novel, the film is narrated by Death, who first spots Liesel at the funeral of her brother stealing a copy of The Gravedigger’s Handbook in spite of the fact that she cannot read. Although initially suspicious of her new foster parents she and Hans forge a strong bond, though the diminutive thief remains wary of Rosa. The personal and public storylines intertwine as Liesel learns to read with the help of local boy Rudy Steiner and becomes increasingly aware of the changes happening in Germany. This awareness is compounded by the arrival of Jewish Max Vandenburg, whom Hans and Rosa conceal in their basement to protect him from discovery by the Nazis.

A heart wrenching portrayal of the devastation wreaked by the Second World War and Hitler’s rise to power on a small German community, rich and poor, men and women, Jews and Christians alike.

Directed by Brian Percival Starring Sophie Nelissé, Geoffey Rush

AVIEMORE SLED DOG RALLY 25 - 26 JAN

OUT OF TOWN



You might think that you’d have to jet off to Lapland or the North Pole to watch sled dog racing, but you’d be wrong. The furthest North you have to go is bonny Scotland, to the forests round Aviemore, and you’ll be able to watch the 230 teams whipping round the banks of Loch Morlich. The hasty huskies reach speeds of 20mph and it takes some teams little more than fifteen minutes to complete the four mile course. Five breeds of sled dog are eligible to enter: Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds, Greenland Huskies and Canadian Eskimo Dogs. So, if you were planning on entering your highly trained team of Pomeranians, you will be disappointed.

Loch Morlich, Cairngorms, Scotland; siberianhuskyclub.com

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J A N U A R Y

BOOK REVIEW PRISCILLA

BY NICHOLAS SHAKESPEARE The most unbelievable stories are often the true ones. Author Nicholas Shakespeare never imagined that when he discovered a box of documents belonging to his late aunt they would contain the story of a glamorous and morally ambiguous young woman surviving in occupied France during the Second World War. Love, espionage, daring escapes and double crosses – it reads like the synopsis of an outrageous thriller but is actually the true story of a young woman called Priscilla.

HOLLYWOOD UNSEEN

BY DANCE ROBERT

MUST READ

 SHUNGA: SEX AND PLEASURE IN JAPANESE ART

EDITED BY TIMOTHY CLARK, ANDREW GERSTLE, AKI ISHIGAMI & AKIKO YANO Until the 19th century, Japan (which practiced the Shinto religion) was essentially cut off from Europe. Unlike Christianity, which shamed the human body, Shinto venerated sexual enjoyment.

Taboo in westerned Japan for much of the 20th century, these exquisitely detailed prints and paintings inspired artists Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec and Aubrey Beardsley.

With the spread of woodblock printing, in the 17th century, Shunga became more freely available and a huge number were produced and circulated. For 300 years even renowned Japanese artists, including Hokusai, experimented with this erotic art form and it continues to inspire contemporary Japanese artists. Frequently tender and witty, Shunga celebrates erotic pleasure in all its forms in colourful prints and paintings. This catalogue accompanies the exhibition of Shunga art showing at the British Museum, until 5th January 2014. Parents should note that Shunga are not suitable for children under 16.

British Museum Press, £50, by Alice Coke

With our culture of nip slips and Perez Hilton, we see more of celebrities private lives than one ever could have thought possible. Such was not always the case; Dance Robert’s book reveals the carefully controlled exposure by the great Hollywood studios of their biggest stars.

The book showcases several never before seen images of stars from Rita Hayworth to Humphrey Bogart showing a glimpse into their ordinary lives – which were actually just as staged as any pictures used to promote their movies.

AN OFFICER AND A SPY

BY ROBERT HARRIS Set in Paris in 1895 Harris’s new novel tells the story of two people whose lives diverge and spiral off in opposite directions.

Picquart, the officer, is given a promotion making him the youngest colonel in the French army whereas Dreyfus, the spy, ends up imprisoned on Devil’s Island and sentenced to a life of solitary confinement.

As time passes Picquart slowly beings to realise that all is not as it seems as his efforts to make a fuller investigation are rebuffed and eventually lead to his own undoing.

Suspenseful and insightful, Harris’s examination of the famous resonates with the modern reader.getting too fragmented.

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2014 THE BEST IS YET TO COME

JANUARY QUIDAM

Tempted to dump the new year diet already? Us too. A trip to Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam should have us merrily back on the wagon though. You might not come out looking like an acrobat, but you’ll be inspired to try.

4 Jan - 9 Feb; Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7; royalalberthall.com

I, THE SYRIAN

Diaries at the ready, Absolutely has prepared a round-up that’ll keep you busy for the next twelve months… enjoy!

In his first UK solo exhibition, artist Tammam Azzam explores creativity, destruction and the fragility of a war-torn Syria. A powerful statement from an artist who fled the country seven months after the start of the revolution.

Finishes 30 Jan; Ayyama Gallery, 143 New Bond Street, 1st Floor, W1; ayyamgallery.com

FEBRUARY BAILEY’S STARDUST

Life is never more glamorous than in a David Bailey photograph – and if you don’t believe us, go and check out this landmark exhibition. All images have been picked and printed by the man himself.

6 Feb - 1 Jun; National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, WC2H; npg.org.uk

HOLBORN DINING ROOM

MICK JAGGER BY DAVID BAILEY, 1964 © DAVID BAILEY

Valentine’s Day dinner can be a bit of a drag at double the price and half the space. Take your paramour to the Holborn

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ABSOLUTELY ARTS & CULTURE

MAY RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

MARCH THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL

You know that spring has officially sprung when the Chelsea Flower Show comes round again. Glorious gardens abound.

A festival dedicated to engendering discussion and inciting action as well as telling the stories of those who are too often overlooked.

Thought-provoking and often deeply moving.

20 – 29 Mar; Alternating between: The Barbican, Silk Street, EC2; The Ritzy Picturehouse, Coldharbour Lane, SW2; The Curzon, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1; ff.hrw.org

20 - 24 May; Royal Hospital Gardens, Royal Hospital Road, SW3; rhs.org.uk

CITY SOCIAL

Dining Room, part of the newly opened (and very swanky) Rosewood London, for some guaranteed glamour.

252 High Holborn, WC1; rosewoodhotels.com

PANCAKE DAY

The best thing about Lent?

The stuffing your face bit before.

Absolutely’s three favourite pancake joints…

La Petite Bretagne 5-7 Beadon Road, W6; lapetitebretagne.co.uk

8 Feb – 9 Mar; Princess of Wales Conservatory, Kew Gardens, TW9; kew.org

MARCH FATAL ATTRACTION

We’ll be snapping up tickets to this gripping thriller, adapted for the stage by James Dearden (who also wrote the original 1987 film) if only to find out whether in this version, the bunny makes it.

8 Mar – 21 Jun; Theatre Royal Haymarket, 18 Suffolk Street, SW1; trh.co.uk

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

Expect an avant garde production of Arthur Miller’s great American tragedy from Belgian director Ivo van Hove.

Book soon, tickets will sell fast.

ORCHIDS AT KEW: A PLANT-HUNTER’S PARADISE

It seems as if summer is still light years away, except at Kew Gardens, where the sun’s always shining (kind of). Take in some beautiful blooms and feel refreshed.

APRIL

The Blues Kitchen, 111 Camden High Street, NW1; theblueskitchen.com

4 Apr – 24 May; The Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1; youngvic.org

Date TBC. No address released yet, but word on the street is that it’ll be housed in Tower 42, 25 Old Broad St, EC2

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT

THE GLAMOUR OF ITALIAN FASHION 1945 - 2014

Tracing the rise of Italy as a world fashion centre.

Beautiful gowns and photography help to illustrate this truly iconic story.

5 Apr - 27 Jul 2014, The V&A, Cromwell Road, SW7; vam.ac.uk

EASTER

The Breakfast Club 2-4 Rufus Street, N1; thebreakfastclubcafes.com

Pollen Street Social made fine dining fun; now Jason Atherton is expanding the Social circle to include an outpost in the City. We’re really rather excited. Go for the kind of food you’d sell your Nan for.

Treat your loved ones (or yourself) to some truly outstanding chocolates this Easter. Our pick would be one of the gloriously decadent boxes from Artisan du Chocolat (hint hint).

20 Apr; artisanduchocolat.com

Visit galleries and museums after hours and get a different perspective on your favourite London spaces. The exhibits probably won’t come to life, but we can hope...

15 May - 17 May; for full programme and venue info see culture24.org.uk

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JUNE JUNE FESTIVALS

JULY PRIMROSE: RUSSIAN COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

Tracing the development of colour photography as well as presenting a beautiful portrait of life in Russia from 1850 onwards.

Festival season is in full swing, and you don’t even have to leave London to make the most of it.

Here are three of our favourites…

Field Day, 7 - 8 Jun; fielddayfestivals.com Crystal Palace Overground Festival, 27 - 30 Jun; crystalpalacefestival.org Polo in the Park, 6 - 8 Jun; polointheparklondon.com

24 Jul - 28 Sep; The Photographers’ Gallery, 16 - 18 Ramillies St, W1; thephotographersgallery.org.uk

THE MINIATURIST

Amsterdam, 17th century, Nella has been married off to wealthy merchant Johannes. Living in a household full of secrets, she becomes obsessed with the idea that a local miniaturist can tell her fate. A book so compelling it caused a six-way bidding war among publishers.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, published 3 Jul; picador.co.uk

OUTDOOR CINEMA

Ah summer, the perfect time to watch a film outdoors. Grab a blanket, a bottle of wine and a picnic and pray for clear skies.

Cinema Under the Stars, Dulwich Park, College Road, SE21; southwark.gov.uk

SEPTEMBER HENLEY LITERARY FESTIVAL

AUGUST A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Gillian Anderson as Blanche DuBois? Yes please. Tennessee Williams’ classic gets the Young Vic treatment.

Dates TBC; The Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1; youngvic.org

Word on the street has it that Henley is the Glasto of the book world. Past speakers have included Jojo Moyes, Irvine Welsh and Lisa Jewell as well as Giles Coren, Rachel Johnson and Emma Freud. See you at the front.

COLOUR HILAIRE-GERMAIN-EDGAR DEGAS (1834 – 1917) COMBING THE HAIR (‘LA COIFFURE’), ABOUT 1896 © THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON

29 Sep - 5 Oct; for full programme and venue info see henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk

The first of its kind in the UK, the National Gallery will dedicate each room of this exhibition to a different colour of the spectrum (plus a room for gold and silver). You’ll be able to trace the history of each colour from the early Renaissance to the Impressionist movement.

18 Jun – 7 Sep; The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2; nationalgallery.org.uk

WIMBLEDON

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

AUGUST NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL

Can Murray do it again? Will the weather be as glorious as last year? We’ll see you in the queue for Centre Court...

23 Jun - 6 Jul; Church Road, Wimbledon, SW19; wimbledon.com

Is there any better way to spend a summer’s day than at Hampton Court Palace? We doubt it... unless you have hay-fever.

8 - 13 Jul; East Molesey, KT8; rhs.org.uk

There’s dancing, there’s singing and there’s some killer jerk chicken.

We’re already excited for London’s biggest party.

24 - 25 Aug; thenottinghillcarnival.com

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ABSOLUTELY ARTS & CULTURE

HENRI MATISSE: THE CUT-OUTS

Matisse really knew how to throw shapes. Catch this vibrant and dramatic exhibition before it finishes!

Ending 7 Sep; Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1; tate.org.uk

OCTOBER REMBRANDT: THE FINAL YEARS

A unique chance to see the work of a master from one of the most creative and expressive periods of his life.

15 Oct – 18 Jan 2015; The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N; nationalgallery.org.uk

FRIEZE

SEPTEMBER

OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND

Take a peek behind the closed doors of some of London’s great landmarks.

With over 800 buildings, walks and tours available just make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes. 20-21 Sep, various locations; londonopenhouse.org

THE EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL Luminaries from the art world converge on London for this annual fair. Talks, exhibitions and pop-up projects make it a good day out for us neophytes as well.

DECEMBER CHRISTOPHER KANE

NOVEMBER

An exploration of the life and work of Canadian modernist painter Emily Carr. Largely overlooked in her lifetime, the exhibition brings together over 100 of Carr’s paintings and sketches and highlights the influence of Indigenous art on her work.

1 Nov – 22 Feb 2015; Dulwich Picture Gallery, College Road, SE21; dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

ICE SKATING

Date TBC; interstellar-movie.com

16–19 Oct; Regent’s Park, NW1; for full programme and venue info see friezelondon.com

PAINTING CANADA 2: EMILY CARR AND THE INDIGENOUS ART OF THE NORTHWEST COAST

Knight Rises. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.

Live improvised music at venues across London. If jazz is an acquired taste, now is the best time to acquire it.

14 - 23 Nov; for full programme and venue info see londonjazzfestival.org.uk

INTERSTELLAR

Christopher Nolan co-writes and directs this outer-space epic about a group of explorers who use wormholes to travel through the galaxy. The excitement is already building for Nolan’s first film since The Dark

A ripple went round the fashion pond when it was announced that feted Scottish designer Christopher Kane would be opening his first flagship store in London. At the time of going to press, details of the opening were still sparse; what we do know is that it’ll be some time around the end of the year – keep your eyes peeled!

Date TBC, net-a-porter.com

Slippidy slide into 2015. Wrap up warm and look back on a year well spent!

Dates TBC; Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7; nhm.ac.uk

WINTER WONDERLAND

Enough beer, mulled wine and rides to bring some cheer to any would-be Scrooge. Also enough beer, mulled wine and rides to bring up your supper – you have been warned.

Throughout December; hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

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ABSOLUTELY PROFILE

Good Girl THE

AFTER TWO DECADES IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AND AT THE TOP OF HER GAME, GWYNETH PALTROW’S APPETITE FOR LIFE SHOWS NO SIGN OF ABATING, AS ABSOLUTELY DISCOVERS.

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S

peaking with Gwyneth Paltrow is ever so slightly like conversing with royalty. She has that air of rarefied grace and refinement, yet she remains, ultimately, ‘one of the people’.

The North London household Paltrow shares with her husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin (and which the family only recently left to spend some time in LA), has received wild amounts of media interest in recent years, yet the A-list family were just as likely to be seen in and around the coffee shops and outdoor spaces of Belsize Park as they were pitching up at the latest West End movie premiere. In Paltrow’s own words, the family has a very ordinary desire ‘to get on with and enjoy life’. All of which means that, despite Paltrow’s recent return to the Hollywood circuit, starring opposite Mark Ruffalo and Tim Robbins in the comedy-drama Thanks for Sharing, family remains her number one priority.

‘I do love being around my family,’ she smiles. ‘We’re just a sensible family. Daddy has an important job and I’ve been known to do a bit of acting, but that doesn’t come into it – it’s all about spending time with each other and being a team.

‘Our jobs can get in the way of that [family] time, but I think, as a parent, you are aware of the reality, and you do as much as you can to make up for time apart.’

It’s a happy ending of sorts for Paltrow, for whom a small string of high profile romances in younger years ended badly (Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck are among the beaus who didn’t work out). Now happily married to Martin since 2002 and with children Apple and Moses (nine and seven, respectively) added to the brood, Paltrow terms her focus on family life a ‘healthy obsession’.

‘We all make mistakes in relationships,’ she says. ‘That’s what makes us human. When I was much younger I got involved with somebody.

They weren't married, but they were into drugs.

I was obsessed. And even though I was raised by people who really loved me and made me feel

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ABSOLUTELY PROFILE

really good about myself, I still got caught up in the whole questioning of why this relationship wasn’t turning out the way it should. But that happens, and you move on.’

The security of her home life may be one reason why Paltrow has turned her hand to so many other things in recent years. An Oscar-winning actor revealing a show-stopping singing voice and recording an album is hardly shocking, but Hollywood royalty entering the hugely competitive world of online commerce and reinventing herself as a food and lifestyle guru? When Paltrow took the plunge and launched her website, Goop, in 2008, the whole world sat up and took notice.

‘When I was doing two or three movies a year I didn’t have time to express my real love of fashion outside of what I wore when I was out,’ Paltrow confides, ‘but if I’m now doing just one movie [a year], then [hanging] around looking after my family, I’ve found [I have] more time to really express some ideas.

I’m not pretending to be any kind of authority, but I was always into fashion, even at high school and junior high school, and in New York City being exposed to everything that went on there. I was reading Vogue when I was fifteen years old, so I think it's always been something that has interested me.

It’s also something that we all enjoy – and who’s to say anyone has it wrong in terms of what they wear? Fashion and image and style is complete freedom and self-expression. There are very few things in life you can really liken it to, and it fascinates me as much now as at any time in the past.’

Paltrow’s eye for style is matched by her appetite for healthy living – she’s rarely been out of the UK press in the last few years, whether due to her strong beliefs about what to feed youngsters (‘I’d rather die than let my kid eat Cup-a-Soup’) or her passion for inventive cooking. In fact, 2013 saw the publication of Paltrow’s cookbook, It’s All Good, which despite the usual press sniping had some pretty interesting ideas about how to eat well without sacrificing flavour. A New York Times journalist who tested some of the recipes was even moved to admit (grudgingly) that she felt much better after a short stint eating like Gwynnie. Paltrow also knows her way around a script, as Thanks

DADDY HAS AN IMPORTANT JOB AND I’VE BEEN KNOWN TO DO A BIT OF ACTING, BUT THAT DOESN’T COME INTO IT – IT’S ALL ABOUT SPENDING TIME WITH EACH OTHER AND BEING A TEAM

for Sharing proved. Mixing comedy and romance with the blockbuster spectacle of Iron Man, there’s certainly no danger of her being pigeon-holed any time soon. Was working on a megabucks comic book adaptation a departure?

‘I’m not intelligent enough to appreciate sci-fi,’ she says, ‘but I loved doing Iron Man, and working with Robert Downey Junior was a dream. There’s a human element to the series, which is why I felt I could really get behind it.

Yes, it’s very futuristic, but it’s still based in reality, as are all of my movies.’

Which is just as well, because with plenty of mileage left in the acclaimed franchise, Paltrow could find herself romancing a superhero for years to come. ‘I don’t know what’s going to be around the corner,’ is her response, ‘but if I can continue to strike this balance between my home life and making movies that really mean something, why should I want anything else in life?’

It’s All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes that Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great is available now in all good bookshops; goop.com

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GREAT MUSIC DESERVES BANG & OLUFSEN BEOLAB 18 EXPERIENCE IN STORE NOW

Bang & Olufsen introduces a new range of wireless loudspeakers featuring: • astounding acoustic performance • uncompromising design and craftsmanship • technical innovation Audition the new wireless loudspeakers at our store and prepare to be amazed.

Bang & Olufsen of Swiss Cottage is now wholly owned by Bang & Olufsen of Denmark.

Bang & Olufsen of Swiss Cottage 79-81 Fairfax Road, London NW6 4DY Tel: 020 7624 4243 Email: swisscottage@bang-olufsen.co.uk Web: www.bang-olufsen.com/swisscottage.

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ABSOLUTELY FASHION

TWEEDY PIE

Marks and Spencer has well and truly won us over with their Best of British range. Take this suit for example. Classic, fashionable and warm, importantly.

The neo-boy look is officially a winner.

Westfield Stratford City, E20; marksandspencer.com

FASHION NOTES

MONCLER FLORAL COATS

These amazing floral coats from the Moncler x Mary Katrantzou AW13 collection are proof that you can look as good on the slopes as off. Don one if you dare; the piste is your runway. £1,250; selfridges.com

STYLE TIP

JUMP UP

The fact that it’s January is not an excuse to slack off in the style stakes. It doesn’t get more statement than this Ingenue Mena jumpsuit. The print is muted, so it’s as sophisticated as it is loud. £120; ingenuelondon.com

CLUTCH CONTROL THE WHITE SHIRT

will never grow old. How can something so simple look SO GOOD? Even pared down, a crisp cotton shirt teamed with denim and chic accessories (such as oversize sunglasses or a petite clutch) is the business. Comes in handy in Winter too, worn under a woolly cardi or jumper.

Radley have proven their style credentials yet again by teaming up with British design talent Holly Fulton. The capsule collection showcases Fulton’s magpie eye for bold, graphic pattern and Radley’s own commitment to well-crafted leather. The trouble is in the choosing...

Stocked at House of Fraser, 68 King William Street, EC4; radley.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY LONDON

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

ABSOLUTELY

JANUARY 2014 £3.95

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THE PERFECT YEAR CULTURAL

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2014

RADIO DAYS

IN BED WITH ANNIE MAC

Winter

Whites

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January's new elegance T H E N E W

i PA D A P P

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11/12/2013 15:19

T O D AY SEARCH FOR

‘ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES LONDON’

iTUNES, NEWSSTAND OR APP STORE

The Best of Local Luxury

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MARCH 2013

FASHION • SHOPPING • FOOD & DRINK • WHAT’S ON • CULTURE • INTERIORS • PROPERTY

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DAVID NASH MAKING SHAPES IN KEW GARDENS

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ABSOLUTELY FASHION

CELINE

8 9 1 6 3 4 SQUARE PANTS 2 7 5 WHO KNEW THAT LAUNDRY-BAG SQUARES WOULD END UP RULING ON THE RUNWAY? PLAID, HOUNDSTOOTH AND CLASSIC TARTAN? CHECK. GET READY FOR SOME SERIOUS GRID REVERENCE.

1. Vivienne Westwood Red Label Tartan Trousers, £375; matchesfashion.com 2. Eric Bompard Cashmere Jumper, £245; eric-bompard.com 3. Elizabeth and James Plaid Silk Shirt, £265; matchesfashion.com 4. Sophia Webster Penelope Tartan and Patent Leather Pumps, £450; brownsfashion.com 5. Charles Philip Shanghai Tasselled Tartan Slippers, £115; net-a-porter.com 6. Eric Bompard Tartan Scarf, £95; eric-bompard.com 7. Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Red Tartan Bo Biker Jacket, £1,360; avenue32.com 8. No. 21 Plaid Mini-skirt, £275; matchesfashion.com 9. Peter Som Emerald Plaid Silk Trousers, £565; avenue32.com

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Inbetweener The

Revisit the '50s and '60s with the best in transitional fashion

PHOTOGRAPHY: OLGAC BOZALP STYLING: CLEMENTINE KING

JAN SHOOT.indd 44

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Long satin blue dress, with silk chiffon panel, ÂŁ1,820, Missoni, www.missoni.com

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Green enamel and diamond earrings, £1,300, Jessie Western, 82b Portobello Road W2 6QA, 02072292544 Pink glasses, £279, Transitions for Face-a-Face, www.transitions.com Silk embroidered red drees, £797, Shanghai Tang, www.shanghaitang.com

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Silk embroidered red drees, £797, Shanghai Tang, www.shanghaitang.com White tights, £10.95, Oroblu, www.oroblu.com White shoes, with chunky black heel, £132, Hobbs, 08453133130

JAN SHOOT.indd 47

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Faux fur deep red coat, £499, Antipodium, www.antipodium.com Black dress with leather front panel, £598, Shanghai Tang, www.shanghaitang.com Pink faux bag with green leather panels and shoulder strap, £605, LAAEL, www.laael.com Sheer black tights, £8.95, Oroblu, www.oroblu.com

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Blue sheepskin waistcoat, £395, Daisy Darche, www.dasiydarche.com Grey top with pleats, £115, Toast, www.toast.co.uk Green tartan trousers, £125, Toast, www.toast.co.uk White Valentino glasses, £185, MARCHON, 0800722020, www.marchon.com Red faux fur bag with pink shoulder strap, £445, LAAEL, www.laael.com Blue ostrich skin slip on shoes, £970, Dorraj, www.dorraj.com

JAN SHOOT.indd 49

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Faux fur deep red coat, ÂŁ499, Antipodium, www.antipodium.com White patent top, ÂŁ160, Antipodium, www.antipodium.com

Stylist - Clementine King Hair and Make-up - Alice Howlett Photographer's assistant - Bugra Ergil Stylist's assistants - Daisy Aziz Location - Goode and Wright, 271 Portobello Road W11 1LR

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ten pilate_jan.indd 2

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MITCH CLOTHING SIZE 16 - 30 0207 586 0030 | WWW.MITCHCLOTHING.CO.UK | 14 ENGLAND’S LANE, LONDON NW3 4TG

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ABSOLUTELY LOCAL

MARK MAKER CURATOR OF COOL AND FOUNDER OF WAH ON NAILING IT WITH HER MINI-EMPIRE

Tell us about the business; when you started out, did you have any idea how big the company would get?

I started WAH Nails because there was nowhere for girls like me to get their nails done by technicians who were in-the-know.

I knew it would be big but although it was in my original business plan to change nail culture, I didn’t think it would be this huge.

What nail trends can we look out for this year? Will you be at LFW again?

I only really do LFW for my friends Ashley Williams and Nasir Mazhar. I’m not so fussed about it and there are session nail technicians who have been doing shows forever and who are amazing at it. It’s not a gap I need to fi ll. As for nail trends... I really love graphic, painterly and pointillist nails.

Art is my biggest inspiration.

How did the Eastpak collaboration come about?

Eastpak contacted me to work with them on the DAA [Designers Against AIDs] project. I was really excited to put our classic nail print onto a bag.

How did you come up with the design, and how is your own personality reflected in the end result?

I love lilac, pink and blue so this was always going to be the base. Leopard is what made us famous in the nail world so it was only appropriate that I did that.

It’s basically what founded the business.

I’ve always been a blogger, documenter,

Your business has expanded quickly - you’ve published books, you model, style and consult on fashion shoots… what advice would you give to other young women wanting to start their own business? Is there anything else you want to do?

Just get on with it, don’t talk about it. Even now I find myself hesitant to explore new ideas, which is not in my nature but it comes with age and experience. The younger you are

WAH Nails Book of Downtown Nails is a step up from our first book (the WAH Nails Book of Nail Art), with more intricate designs – it encourages everyone to reach their full nail art potential!

420 Kingsland Road, E8; wah-nails.com

IE GR ANT

You also edit the WAH website. How important is the online element of the business?

Alex came into the salon one day and she was sweet and cool and got talking to me about her dreams of having her own salon. We had way too much space so I offered her the back of the shop. She said yes and Bleach was born!

Lastly, tell us about your new book...

HED BY HA RD

Definitely. I am keen on doing more philanthropic endeavours, particularly for women and children.

How did you start working with the Bleach salon girls?

the more naive you are and you have the balls to just do it!

IS £11.9 9, PUBL

Is it important to you to use your success to support causes such as this?

story-teller. I’d already built an online following for the WAH crew via my old blog, wahappenings.blogspot.com, so the basis was there. Instagram took it to the next level.

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ABSOLUTELY LOCAL

MY STYLE

INTERIOR DESIGNER & FOUNDER OF MATRUSHKA, JOANNA BERRYMAN SHARES HER INSPIRATIONS

FAVOURITE PERIOD IN DESIGN: In the midst of a seventies moment with forties baroque accents; the contrast between utilitarian and decadent design is the most striking for me.

FAVOURITE HOTEL:

The Bowery Hotel in New York for the polenta fries at Gemma’s and the home away from Home Ambience.

FAVOURITE FASHION DESIGNER

Just ordered some divine pieces from Pavane’s SS14 collection. For staples I love Carven or Acne, accessorised with a bold necklace and a pair of architectural shoes by Nicholas Kirkwood for statement or Robert Clergerie creepers for comfort.

STYLE ICON

FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION

Matrushka HQ, 4 Willoughby Road, NW3; matrushka.co.uk

A fox miniature painted by my friend Alice Instone, she’s a talisman and resides at The Folly, my retreat in the Cotswolds.

Udaipur and Jaipur in Rajahstan; the landscape here takes on an almost mythical quality. I find the faded beauty of the forgotten forts and palaces so inspiring.

MOST INSPIRING EXPERIENCE

Birth of my daughter nico (7), she’s grown into quite a character and is currently obsessed with comedy. She goes to comedy school once a week.

I marvel at her ability to craft and deliver jokes, her comic timing is genius. Watch this space.

Iris apfel: it’s important society breaks away from the cult of youth, iris represents everything i aspire to be style wise: authentic, colourful, brazen and feminine.

FRANCO VOGT PHOTOGRAPHY

PAVANE

MOST TREASURED POSSESSION

FAVOURITE PIECE OF ART

Feather Boat by Nancy Fouts. It’s such a charming creation housed within a glass box.

Nancy’s bonkers and original thinking really tickles me.

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FOR HIM EMBRACE THE WINTER WEATHER WITH JANUARY’S BEST CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES

ABSOLUTELY FASHION

TINKER, TAILOR

Founded in Amsterdam in 2000, Suitsupply wasted no time getting its wares to the rest of the world, with branches popping up as far afield as Chicago and Shanghai. Specialising in superb tailoring at very reasonable prices, the current collection includes some sharp overcoats as well as heritage-style bodywarmers and chunky knits – all of which help to make the English winter feel a lot less bitter… suitsupply.com

AGENT ORANGE

US brand Penfield know a thing or two about life in a cold climate. The Bowerbridge Puffa, available in a range of subtler shades as well as this rather excellent bright orange, boasts a ‘power down’ filling and water- and windresistant shell – and pretty much guarantees you won’t get lost halfway up a mountain. £180 from Present, 140 Shoreditch High Street, E1; present-london.com

GOOD YARN

It’s not too late to make the most of a nifty knit, and this Fair Isle specimen from US titan J Crew – who recently debuted a trio of London stores - is just the ticket. £128, 38 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1; jcrew.com

THE TATTOO COLOURING BOOK

Brighton-based artist Megamunden recently published this clever colouring book through Old Street’s Laurence King.

Featuring loads of amazing original illustrations just begging to be turned into body art, it’s the perfect addition to any coffee table - and a treasure trove of ink ideas for anyone looking to show some skin when the season turns... £9.95 from laurenceking.com

CHECK MATE

Nine times out of ten, winter headwear is either dull or infantile. Thankfully, Japanese brand Neighborhood have bucked both trends with this ‘ear buff ’ cap, which will keep your lugs toasty while plugging you in to the enduring craze for classic Americana. £96 from the Goodhood Store, 41 Coronet Street, N1; goodhoodstore.com

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ABSOLUTELY KIDS

ABSOLUTELY

KIDS HOW TO KEEP LITTLE ONES AMUSED

HUG A PUG

The Steiff version is oh-so-cute and looks like the real thing. At least this one can go everywhere your little one does… and doesn’t need a walk. £159.95; harrods.com

AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES

Taschen’s latest compilation of The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen comes with a selection of beautiful artwork from the 1840s to the 1980s, which parents will love just as much as the kids. £24.99; taschen.com

’s

tor

Edi

K

PIC

INDIAN WINTER

Wolf & Rita specialise in quality shirts for kids, of which each is produced in the traditional way and in limited number. The debut winter collection is inspired by the great American photographer Edward Sheriff Curtis. Kids can embrace their own free spirit with the addition of some bows and feathers.Wolf & Rita at Bubble London 26-27 January, feathers.

Business Design Centre, N1; bubblelondon.com

BUNNY LOVE

Emma Bridgewater does Beatrix Potter? We’re as smitten as Tom Kitten. Emma Bridgewater, 81a Marylebone High Street, W1; emmabridgewater.co.uk

BARBIE GIRL

Kitsch reaches iconic new heights with the release of this Audrey Hepburn Barbie, dolled up in the same gown and black stiletto heels worn by Hepburn’s character Sabrina in the 1954 film of the same name. An elegant departure for the world’s most famous blonde bombshell – and a light-hearted homage to Hepburn herself. What a doll. £84; pixmania.com

PEDAL PUSHER

Frog bikes launched last year as an antidote to to hideous and heavy children’s bikes in sparkly pink or superhero blue. These sleek aluminium cycles are super lightweight, with high quality components, and come in lovely, shiny unisex colours. With sizes ranging from toddler balance bikes to teenage, the range is set to become the last word in kids’ bikes.

Available at Stoke Newington’s Two Wheels Good, priced £100-£280; frogbikes.com

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all colour services inc cut & finish receive

all ladies cut & finish services receive

£20 OFF

£10 OFF

all men’s cut & finish services receive

all beauty services spend over £20 receive

£5 OFF

£5 OFF

Opening Times: Beat the January blues with a stylish start to the New Year... www.loungehairbeauty.co.uk Monday 9:30am ....... 6:30pm Tues-Fri 9:30am ....... 8:00pm Saturday 9:00am ...... 6:00pm Sunday 10:00am .... 4:00pm

FREE CAR PARKING Behind the salon exclusively for clients Scan on code to see our beauty price list

Lounge Hair Salon.indd 1

020 7237 2624

* THESE OFFERS INCLUDE ALL LEVELS OF STYLISTS. * OFFER VALID UNTIL 31 JANUARY 2014. * MONDAY TO THURSDAY ONLY. * NOT TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS.

200 Jamaica Road, London, SE16 4RT

(Close to Bermondsey tube station)

ind us on facebook loungehairsalon, Bermondsey, London

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12/12/2013 14:27

15/2/08

11:12

YOU’RE AS YOUNG AS YOUR SPINE IS FLEXIBLE “If, at the age of 30, you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If, at 60, you are supple and strong, then you are young.”

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

020 7288 8080

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

Superb teachers. Superb facilities. Superb location.

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Page

ABSOLUTELY HEALTH

THE MOLE SCAN THE DEAL? The Mole Clinic offers a full-body check-up, taking in every mole from the freckle-sized to those hidden under hair or between the toes. Applying the ABCD rule (asymmetry, border, colour and diameter), the nurse checks for signs of melanoma; if you are in the melanoma risk group, mole-mapping may be required, whereby pictures are taken so any change or growth can be flagged in an annual check-up.

BODY TALK TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR WELLBEING THIS YEAR WITH THE LATEST CHECKS AND TREATMENTS, WORDS: HELEN BARON

THE RESULT: The check-up is a quick and efficient way to get peace of mind, especially if you’ve experienced sunburn, used a solarium or not used SPF because cloudy London gives you a false sense of security. Assessing your skin type, the nurse will advise on ways to be sunsmart – and once you’ve been given the full once-over, you can opt for the TELEDerm service, which involves photographing any moles presenting two or more of the ABCD symptoms and sending the pics to a lab for further investigation. Your nurse will also follow up on your appointment with a phone call detailing the results – and provide a referral to a dermatologist if required.

THE DETAILS Infusions cost between £110 and £450; if it’s your first time, you can also book a preinfusion health-check for £150.

Bell 5, 19 Devonshire Street, W1; theinfusionclinic.co.uk

THE NUTRITIONAL APPRAISAL

THE RESULT: After your consultation, you’ll receive a personalised report via email. This rundown is full of tailored nutritional advice based on your personal requirements as well as a professional appraisal of the balance of nutrients in your current diet. Possible food intolerances are discussed and nutritional myths dispelled - helping you to make future decisions free from the distorting influence of rumour and hearsay.

THE DETAILS A standard consultation lasts half an hour and costs £50. For those who can’t get to Harley Street, it’s also possible to book a visit from a Food Doctor specialist.

13 Harley Street, W1; thefoodoctor.com

THE DEAL? The Infusion Clinic by Nosh Detox is the only place in London that replicates Las Vegas’ much talked-about Hangover Heaven, a high-end service that boosts wellbeing and combats alcohol-induced torpor with a potent, intravenously-delivered blend of vitamins, minerals and other vivifying substances. The idea is to increase the body’s uptake of detoxifying nutrients by administering them directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive tract and all its potential inefficacies. The Infusion Clinic offers a range of targeted treatments designed to invigorate the complexion, aid weight loss and reduce the effects of aging. Of course, it’s the anti-hangover infusion that intrigues most of all...

THE RESULT: A standard drip multi-vit infusion takes about 45 minutes and gives your system an instant boost.

The hectic schedule and irregular sleep patterns of the typical urbanite can be draining, but the infusion adds a dose of energy and vitality that lasts well beyond the treatment itself. In fact, the real benefits seem to kick in a few days later, when energy levels seem noticeably higher - even post-hangover (a real win).

THE DETAILS Mole checks start at £115, while TELEDerm costs £45 for the first mole diagnosis and £30 for each subsequent one.

9 Argyll Street, W1; themoleclinic.co.uk

THE DEAL? The Food Doctor isn’t just a range of super healthy snacks; in fact, the fast-growing food line is one happy by-product of a Harley Street clinic specialising in the science of nutrition. Consultations entail discussing your diet with an expert who can help you to pinpoint your nutritional goals and recalibrate your eating habits to ensure you achieve them. Whether you’re looking to enhance your general health and vitality or target something specific like problem skin, hormonal imbalance or a lack of energy, the Food Doctor can suggest an effective approach.

THE VITAMIN INFUSION

HYGIENIST

ACUPUNCTURIST THE DEAL? The traditional Chinese practice of acupuncture - the insertion of tiny needles into the skin at strategic points around the body - has been around for thousands of years. The idea is that the body is home to a network of ‘meridians’, invisible lines or channels by which ‘qi’ travels from the inner organs to the muscles and skin.

Acupuncture tries to regulate this flow and clear blockages that may occur due to disease or stress.

THE RESULT: Zen Clinic offers a range of Chinese herbal remedies and massage treatments as well as experienced acupuncturists.

On arrival, you’ll discuss any existing health issues or concerns with a traditional doctor (and a translator, if necessary) before being advised on the best course of treatment. The acupuncture sessions can target anything from general problems with the immune system to skin issues and tiredness. Whatever is ailing you, here you’ll find a sympathetic ear and some practical ideas on how to get yourself back to top form.

THE DETAILS Acupuncture sessions last from 30-60 minutes and cost between £40-85.

1 White’s Row, E1; zencliniclondon.co.uk

THE DEAL? Voted one of the best dentists in London at last year’s Dentistry Awards, Elleven is also Emma Watson’s practice of choice – and offers something different from the usual dental experience. The practice itself is little short of luxurious, with resident specialists on hand to advise on dental care, perform high-level cleaning and spot issues like plaque build-up and gum disease before they become serious problems. Treatments use the latest, state-of-the-art technology and include discreet lingual braces, Invisalign teeth-straightening and a range of other orthodontic and aesthetic services.

THE RESULT: Air-Flow represents the latest development in dental hygiene technology. It’s a polishing technique that uses highpressure air and water and a speciallyformulated powder to remove staining and restore the natural whiteness of teeth.

For those of us partial to coffee/red wine/ the odd cigarette, it’s a powerfully effective route to an improved smile.

THE DETAILS The Air-Flow treatment takes about an hour and costs £94.

11 Devonshire Place, W1G; ellevendental.com

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Bringing Harley Street to Shoreditch

B

oudoir Medical is based at Boudoir Beauty Parlour.

The clinic takes a holistic approach in a friendly, family setting. We take pride in treating every person individually, according to their needs and expectations. It is a one stop shop for all your beauty and medical aesthetic needs, to make you look and feel gorgeous and fabulous. You can have eyelash extensions to body contouring all under the same roof.

The TriLipo™MED from Pollogen is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment, with no down time.

The TriLipo™MED with a unique offering treats a wide variety of conditions including;

 cellulite  stretch marks  mummy tummy  acne scarring  body shaping  skin tightening  facial rejuvenation  skin resurfacing

BEFORE

AFTER

1A Turville Street, E2 7HX - 020 7739 5462

www.boudoirmedical.com

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ABSOLUTELY HEALTH

HEALTH NOTES WISE WORDS STUDIO REVIEW

SĀDHAKA YOGA CENTRE

This brand new studio in Camden provides a serious cure for the winter blues. Previously known (and well-loved) as Alchemy, the new venture has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, experienced yogis Mollie and Simon Morris have created a space that embodies perfectly their holistic approach.

With over 50 classes a week catering for different levels and styles of yoga, plus numerous workshops and meditation classes, this is the kind of place to while away an entire Saturday. I opted for a taster in Kundalini and ended up on a cosmic journey which took in a series of ‘kyrias’ (dynamic and static poses) combined with shouting mantras and loud music – the aim being to unite the cosmic and individual consciousness. I followed this with a treatment; the studio offers everything from acupuncture and homeopathy to massages and… spiritual hairdressing. Yes, you read that right: a professional cut that involves healing and letting go of old energy. That has to be a first.

I topped it all off with a smoothie from the on-site Soul Café. It’s always nice when a studio has the forethought to include a space for socialising and replenishing your energy stores; this one serves organic food (as you’d expect) and a selection of ultra-healthy superfood juices. Be sure to try the signature Yogi Bhajan Chai too, incredibly warming and caffeine-free. So much better than wishing winter away from the sofa…

BY TANIA ODELL

We all know that Omega-3 is good for us and that we should have it every day, but how many of us actually do? If you can’t stomach regular meals of oily fish and find that supplements taste a little, well, fishy, then look out for the new VeryWise range of super-absorbable Omega-3 supplements. There are six to choose from, each with their own unique benefits. Feel like you have the attention span of a gnat? Try tropical-flavoured Brainwise – which is also packed with 100% of your RDA of essential vitamins. Best of all, it tastes delicious – just like a syrupy pineapple yoghurt. You can take it as a 5ml shot or add it to smoothies.

For prices see verywisenutrition.co.uk

A KINETTIP FROM IC PILA TES



Exercising little and often is a great way to get back to former fitness after a long break. Pilates is also ideal for easing back in, especially post-injury or post-training recovery; as little as ten minutes a day would be a great place to start over a week-long period. Stretch daily, focusing on your hamstrings, hip flexors and calf muscles, and do some gentle corestrengthening exercises to ease the pressure on your back and joints. This will help to avoid injury and recall your body’s muscle memory.

4 Ossian Mews, N4; kineticpilates.com

Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1; sadhakayogacentre.com

3 PRODUCTS FOR BETTER SLEEP

1. BetterYou Magnesium Oil Goodnight Spray, £12.20 for 100ml; betteryou.uk.com 2. Remedies to Roll – Relaxation, £6.25 for 9ml, available at Neal’s Yard, 295 Upper Street, N1; nealsyardremedies.com 3. Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil, £39; aromatherapyassociates.co.uk

MUSCLES FROM BRUSSELS

Before you wrinkle your nose in dismissal of 2014’s emergent juice craze – brussel sprouts – listen to these wise words from Juice Club… ‘Lately, brussels sprouts have garnered a cult following rivalling that of the mighty kale, due largely to their being packed with vitamins A and C as well as the fact that they’re high in fibre but low in carbs and calories. Some festive combos with pears, cinnamon and spice or cranberries were on trial last month, but keep things lean and green in the New Year by adding spinach and kale.’ Maltby Street Market, SE1; juice-club.co.uk

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WE CAN

WORK IT OUT DAVID LLOYD LEISURE’S EXPERT TRAINER JOHN WILLIAMS TELLS ABSOLUTELY HOW TO STAY FOCUSED ON FITNESS

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ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

 BY JOHN WILLIAMS, DAVID LLOYD LEISURE’S EXPERTISE COACH

A

lthough any time is a good time to embark on a fitness regime, without a doubt January is the most popular month to do so.

We are all aware of the cynicism that surrounds New Year’s resolutions; however, most of us aren’t aware that the success rate of anyone embarking on a radical change – at any time of the year – is low. Very low, in fact.

Typically, there are a couple of fundamental reasons people choose to make a change to their fitness – pain and pleasure. It just so happens that after plenty of festive indulgence, many people are left feeling the ‘pain’: increases in weight and body fat and poor energy levels are just a few examples.

This pain often leads to action – and action often takes the form of New Year’s resolutions. So is there a way to improve your chances of sticking to them? Before you start, there are three key things you need to be clear about when embarking on a new fitness routine:

You should define clear outcomes and think about how achieving them will benefit you. In other words, ask ‘what do I want and why?’

This is the ‘pleasure’ motivator, and if it’s powerful enough, it will keep you going long after you lose touch with the ‘pain’ which got you started in the first place.

You need to be sufficiently dissatisfied with what you currently have.

Most importantly, you need to be crystal-clear on what you need to do to achieve your fitnessrelated goals from your current standpoint.

This includes being aware of potential challenges and preparing solutions to them your own action plan.

Write down all your goals in a positive way and as though you have already achieved them. For example: ‘I am X weight, I exercise four times per week’ rather than ‘I will lose’ or ‘I will do’.

Consult with a fitness professional who can discuss with you the best ways of exercising and eating to achieve your goals.

Commit long-term: it shows belief in yourself

and is absolutely essential to your fitness goals.

Imagine your commitment as an endurance event: be cautious of coming out of the blocks sprinting, as true fitness can’t be achieved in two or three hard weeks. In fact, throwing everything at it early in the New Year is one of the surest ways to end up burnt-out, de-motivated or even injured. Work out with others. If you like working out in groups, sign up to a group programme, go to group exercise classes with a friend or even make some new ones at the classes.

Research has shown that those who get fit as part of a group stick to their programmes more than those who try to do it alone. Even if you don’t like groups, try to get a workout partner. Most gyms now do taster sessions or group personal training, where you can get expert guidance while meeting new people. Be open-minded: make enjoyment a focus and try new things that you think might be fun. You never know, you may find a fitness class that moves you from being someone who goes to the gym because they feel they have to, to someone who goes because they love it!

EASY TIPS FOR STICKING TO YOUR FITNESS GOALS

MOTIVATION

NUTRITION

1. Darker days and low temperatures can have a hibernating effect, particularly on those sensitive to light. Prior to working out, wrap up warm to increase your body temperature and spend some time in good light; this will increase energy and make it easier for you to get down to the gym.

2. Put your workouts in your diary – this is a tip that holds all year round. Those that commit in writing are up to six times more likely to get to the gym and get that workout done. ‘Hoping you will get time’ and ‘doing it when you feel like it’ aren’t going to work when you’re busy!

1. Hydration is one of the most important things to get right for health and energy. Try to achieve an intake of 0.033ml of water per kilo of body weight, per day.

For example, a 70kg person should aim to drink 70 x 0.033ml per day: 2.3 litres.

2. Time your indulgences. Okay, so there is never a great time to indulge in chocolates, but a better time might be 30 minutes pre-workout, as this can top up the tank to give you energy for your workout. And within 60 minutes of completing a tough workout your ideal meal should include some protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats.

This is also a time when your body is restocking its muscle glycogen, so a little extra carbs are likely to impact you less.

We’ve teamed up with David Lloyd Leisure to offer readers a chance to win ten free Orangetheory group training sessions at the new David Lloyd Studio in Islington. Bringing David Lloyd Leisure’s expertise to the high street with no membership fee required, David Lloyd Studio, Islington is the first location in the UK to offer Orangetheory, a fitness programme that uses heart-rate monitored training and which has taken the US by storm. A fun and effective workout suitable for all ages and abilities, each unique 60-minute session can accommodate up to 24 adults and features treadmills, rowing machines and weight-training blocks. Participants undertake intervals of cardio and strength training, burning up to an average of 900 calories per session.

The result is the Orange Effect – more energy, visible toning and extra calorie burn. Plus there’s ten per cent off all Orangetheory bookings for every reader during January and February! Call 020 7226 6744 and quote ABSOLUTELY10. To enter the free prize draw, simply email info.islington@davidlloyd.co.uk with your name, phone number and address by 1 February 2014 when the offer ends. David Lloyd Studio, 240 Upper Street, N1, 020 7226 6744; davidlloyd.co.uk/Islington

EXERCISE 1. If your energy levels are low due to overindulging, be open and try something new such as swimming. The swimming pool is a great place for interval training: swim hard for two lengths, rest and repeat.

The water is stimulating, so will no doubt help boost energy. Other alternatives might be a body balance or yoga class – they are not your usual lung-busting cardio sessions, but they still burn calories and increase energy.

2. Use TV time to stretch or foam roll. Rather than slouching on the couch, get down on the floor and have a thorough stretch while watching your favourite shows. This will not only improve your flexibility but will go some way to lift your energy levels.

3. If you are around children, come up with a game that will get you moving. This is not only an extra calorie burner for you but a good opportunity to wear the children out.

And when they sleep well, it means more peace and quiet for you!

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ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

FRIENDS WITH BEAUTY BENEFITS

TRIED & TESTED: THE BEAUTY CENTRE

T

WORDS: HELEN BARON he Beauty Centre is not so much a salon as a members’ club with benefits. Here’s the deal: you pay either £199 a month for Gold membership, £269 for Platinum or £349 for Black. Gold entitles you to unlimited standard manicures and pedicures, waxing, eyebrow-shaping, eyelash and eyebrow-tinting and spray-tans. Yes, you heard that right: unlimited. You also get 10% off all products in-store plus another ‘bonus’ treatment from a menu including (but not limited to) express facials, Caci facials, electrolysis and deep tissue massage.

In fact, one of the major advantages of the membership plan is that you can try a different treatment each month or discover the benefits of returning to one treatment on an ongoing basis. Platinum membership earns you three extra treatments a month rather than one, while Black membership sees you entitled to unlimited use of all available treatments – and all memberships come with a clutch of exclusive discounts at other local stores. And for those afraid of committing to membership, yet more good news: the Beauty Centre offers a loyalty card. Grab nine treatments and your 10th is free. Owner Alice goes above and beyond the call of duty, lavishing clients with a maternal dose of TLC; she clearly values customer service and works hard to foster a sense of belonging and loyalty among her understandably devoted client base. Repeat custom is key to the Beauty Centre’s success. I’m in for a deluxe manicure, which means that my hands are doused in paraffin wax while I’m treated to a facial. My nails are serviced with finesse and an ingenious top-coat is applied that not only adds extra shine but means the work is touch-dry in moments – shaving crucial minutes off my waiting time (always the worst aspect of self-maintenance). My Dermalogica Facial Mapping is performed by therapist Roberta, a fountain of knowledge with radiant skin. She asks questions to assess my skin type and we identify my main problem as being large pores, which often run tandem with oily skin – when the skin overproduces sebum, it combines with dirt and make-up, congesting pores which then oxidise and cause blackheads.

Sexy stuff. Roberta reassures me that it is very rare to come across someone who doesn’t suffer from such things. Facials like this are especially good at fighting pasty, winter-ravaged skin and evening out skin tone. Roberta shows me a Dermalogica Barrier Repair Cream which helps to fortify the dermis. It’s best used after toning, which should be an important step in any beauty regime as it helps to minimise those pores after cleansing (I promise her that I will tone assiduously from now on); the ultra-calming complex it contains interrupts environmental and external triggers that cause skin stress. As it’s so light, moisturiser can then be applied over it. Within the hour, my skin looks plump, my eyes less puffy. Dermalogica is widely used on blemish-prone skin, so you won’t suffer a break-out for the sake of a day’s dewy complexion, either – reassuring for those of us prone to sensitive skin. By the end of my visit, I can’t help but wonder how the Beauty Centre’s membership scheme can be the first of its kind in London – it’s surprising no one thought of it before. For those in the habit of making a couple of salon trips (or more) each month, this is a fun, nicely indulgent and incredibly economical way to enjoy a professional beauty regime. In other words, a complete no-brainer.

130 Allitsen Road, NW8; thevipbeautyclub.com

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The VIP Beauty Club The Beauty Centre brings you a brand new concept in beauty!

Very simply: Unlimited usage of salon treatments* for a fixed monthly fee Available in 3 affordable grooming packages for the true beauty aficionado.

Discover luxury treatments at their finest at The VIP Beauty Club. £99 club joining fee has been waived for the first 20 applicants This offer won’t be around for long! So! First come, first served!

For more information, contact the salon The Beauty Centre, 130 Allitsen Road, St John;s Wood, London NW8 7AU 020 7722 6603 or 020 7586 1513 VIPClub@the-beautycentre.com www.thevipbeautyclub.com www.twiiter.com/VIPClubNW8 *UNLIMITED USAGE APPLIES TO SELECTED SALON TREATMENTS AND IS BASED ON MEMEBERSHIP LEVEL. TERMS & CONDITIONS AND A FAIR USAGE POLICY APPLIES

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ABSOLUTELY BEAUTY

BEAUTY

EDIT HEALTH, BEAUTY AND WELLBEING IN THE AREA

GOOD FOUNDATIONS

Is the cold weather catching up with you?

Help tired skin with MAC’s Prep + Prime Beauty BB Palm Compact SPF 30, which enhances facial contours and adds light to shadowed areas.

Available in both cream and compact forms, this naturallooking, illuminating foundation comes highly recommended. £23, 103a Commercial Street, E1; maccosmetics.co.uk

SALON REVIEW JONES & PAYNE AT ST MARTIN’S LANE

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OF THE BEST SPF MOISTURISERS

1. Clarins HydraQuench Cream SPF 15, £35; clarins.com 2. Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF 50, £31; kiehls.co.uk 3. Balance Me BB Natural Perfection with SPF, £26; balanceme.co.uk

HAND OVER Liz Earle’s new superskin hand serum might well be the ultimate perfect hand cream. It’s lightweight and non-sticky while softening even the driest skin. With its fresh scent and high antioxidant content, it’s a potent formula that makes your winter hands feel fabulous. £17.50; uk.lizearle.com

Hair gurus Ricky Lee Jones and Stewart Payne have done what trendy salon owners do when they’re doing well – that’s to say, add to their original (Shoreditch) salon with a new outpost in equally creative Soho. Jones & Payne has seriously trendsavvy credentials – the founding duo have a accrued a pile-up of awards, including their current London Lifestyle Award for London Hairdressing Salon of the Year, while Jones has worked on high-end fashion shows in Paris and London for design houses Kenzo, Vivienne Westwood, Chloe and John Rocha. You get the picture: they’re a bit of a big deal when it comes to hair. It makes sense, then, that their Soho outpost has bedded down at the St Martin’s Lane Hotel, long a destination of the international jet-set and an official party hotspot (remember the obsession with Bungalow 8?). I rock up at the salon to get my ends lightened; not only does my colourist, Becky, perform a winning job (even adding a toner to combat an emergent reddish tone with a more ashen shade), but stylist Andi (an artist with a hairdryer) knocks me up a great style, giving me a tousled, desirably messy look with GHD’d waves.

By Helen

Baron

St Martin’s Lane Hotel, 45 St Martin’s Lane, WC2; jonesandpayne.com

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JOIN THE UK HEALTH CLUB OF THE YEAR NO ANNUAL CONTRACT

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See in your New Year’s Resolutions with Style at the N1 Centre, Islington Keep your New Year’s resolutions this January with the help of the N1 Centre. With a great range of shopping, eating and entertainment choices, the N1 Centre’s got everything you need to help keep you on track to a fabulous 2014.

1. Stick to that diet Itsu offers a delicious range of low calorie dishes. Try the new Chicken Soup with crystal noodles for £3.79 AND it’s less than 220 calories, too!

2. Cut down on your TV viewing Why not catch a live band instead?

With alternative folk quartets such as Future Folk, Welsh rockers The Blackout and leading tribute acts such as The Smyths, O2 Academy Islington is the place to be this January.

4. Catch up with old friends Meeting up with friends doesn’t need to cost the earth. The N1 Centre hosts some of the UK’s best-loved eateries including GBK and wagamama or catch the latest movies at Vue Cinema Islington.

3. Be on trend with the latest fashions Beat those bad weather blues with Accessorize’s gorgeous leather gloves with faux fur cuffs.

Revitalising your wardrobe is easy with the latest Spring/ Summer collections releasing this month at French Connection, H&M, GAP and more.

5. Clear out your clutter From stylish wall cabinets to funky shelving units, Butlers at the N1 Centre will help you get organised and, more importantly, stay organised this year.

For further information visit www.n1islington.com, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ n1shoppingcentreislington or tweet with us @n1centre.

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ABSOLUTELY TRIED & TESTED BARRY’S BOOTCAMP

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS TO PUT YOU THROUGH YOUR PACES GET FIT BARRY’S BOOTCAMP

Entrance is on 163 Euston Rd, NW1; barrysbootcamp.com

THE PURE PACKAGE

Barry’s Bootcamp. Words to strike fear into faint hearts. Hell, there are times they strike fear even into those who love a hardcore workout. I first heard tell of the mysterious Barry when I was living for a short time in LA, spiritual home of the exercise-honed hottie, where the bootcamp had fast become the default destination of A-listers and health freaks. Fans include Jessica Biel (Mrs Timberlake, no less) and the Kardashian (sooo LA). Barry’s full name is Barry Jay, and he co-founded the company with the aim of providing ‘the best workout in the world’. His regime, it was claimed, burned a whopping 1,000 calories a go – and people were so hooked, they went every day (these were LA people, mind). Despite my own best intentions, I never made it to Barry’s. My British reserve kicked in and I stuck to what I knew – a gentle yoga class – while my intrigue smouldered on the back-burner. So it was with much excitement (and trepidation) that I discovered Barry’s was coming to London, thanks to the efforts of brothers and trainers Sandy and James Macaskill. The move seemed a sure sign of London’s ever-increasing commitment to health and fitness, and suddenly made Hollywood-style buns of steel seem within the realms of possibility.

The studio is spacious enough to accommodate up to 45 devotees. Inside, dimmed red lights and mirrors work flattering magic on your reflection, so you’re happy to sweat it out to the club music. It’s a nightclub-like environment, which turns out to be very good for motivation. I’m here for a ‘legs and butts’ session, and we’re put through our paces on super advanced Woodway treadmills and special work-stations designed to facilitate squats, burpees, planks and weight-training. This sort of interval training is great for surprising the body and burning up fat - and it also makes the class go faster, though towards the end the treadmill starts to become oppressive. But it’s those sharp sprints and uphill bursts that take you into the optimum fat-burning zone...

Of course, none of this is rocket science. In fact, it’s not too dissimilar to workouts I’ve done elsewhere – but the quick turnover of sets make it seem more streamlined and American; trainers even wear those Britney-style headsets to bark friendly orders. Yes, you could do this workout yourself, but there’s a good chance you’d slack off, especially towards the end.

When you’re done, the rewards are plentiful. There are Malin + Goetz smellies in the shower, cotton pads, hair-straighteners and even a little jar of hairbands and bobby pins (someone always forgets). The facilities are luxe, unlike some more mercenary gyms I could mention, for whom showers and toilets seem to be just a dismaying after-thought. At Barry’s, it’s all about the complete experience – which is a winning approach, especially if home is not just around the corner. You can even grab a protein shake on your way out; having just burned 1,000 calories, why not?

HEALTHY EATING THE PURE PACKAGE A ‘gourmet’ food delivery company, the Pure Package is for those who don’t/can’t/won’t do diets – with a focus on health rather than losing weight. Vitamin-packed, tasty meals are boxed up and delivered at the crack of dawn in a delightful freezer-bag with a convenient print-out of what you’ve got to look forward to. For the time-poor, it’s a doddle and portions are generous with plenty of snacks. In fact, snacks are so plentiful you might want to order the delivery to work, to save on a package-laden commute.

I ordered the three-day Japanese Body Boost. I love Japanese food (the fact that it’s low in calories is merely a bonus), so it’s just like having a healthy takeaway thrice daily.

Day one is a cinch. Breakfast always consists of miso soup and edamame beans, which go down surprisingly well in the morning. Shiitake mushrooms are known for their antiviral and immune system-enhancing properties, so already you’re off to a good start.

A typical day might run as follows: a morning snack of bamboo and mushroom crystal rolls with pickled cucumber, sesame soy dip and a mixed sea vegetable salad; a salmon sushi box for lunch (packing in fatty acids and Omega-3,

it’s fresher than the fare from your average Japanese restaurant or anything you might find in a chain sandwich store). Next up is your afternoon snack – something like papaya, kiwi and pumpkin salad with a stem ginger and black sesame seed marinade (plus more edamame beans if you’re still hungry; papaya is packed with antioxidants and protein-digesting enzymes, so again the benefits go beyond flavour) – and dinner, which might take the form of teriyaki prawns with brown rice and stir fried Japanese vegetables.

By day three, it’s going well. I feel light and healthy - though I am craving something hot (not miso soup), and something with texture (not slimy). The idea of a simple slice of granary toast with peanut butter is threatening to throw me off-course, but no matter: I’ve still tripled my nutrient intake, lost two pounds and have radiant skin at a time of year when my dermis is usually in need of a good sloughing. Famous fans of the Pure Package include models Lily Cole and Erin O’Connor – and we’re happy to join their number. A practical no-brainer. purepackage.com

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ABSOLUTELY FOOD

A FOODIE GUIDE TO EAST LONDON

WE HEART IT

BY MICHAEL

MORALES, OWNER OF ANDINA IN SHOREDITCH

“

Every January when I was a child, my grandmother used to send us a hamper full of quinoa, meats, cheeses, eggs and sweet cakes. Mamita Naty, as we called her, lived in Santiago de Chuco: a village 18 hours from the nearest town in the Andes of Peru. The ingredients she sent us, the dishes we made with her recipes have all influenced my cooking today, and breakfast was when we savoured most of these.

Living in London is a far cry from Santiago, but I’m excited to find all kinds of quinoa in many colours and types: maca root, amaranth and other Peruvian super-foods. Quinoa is just fantastic: a super-food seed and complete protein; gluten-free, lactose-free, rich in magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc and vitamins C, B and E. The quinoa we use at my restaurants is Peruvian and ethically sourced by a company called Quinola, co-run by a Peruvian school-friend of mine. We make quinoa porridge, croquettes, brownies, burgers and even liquid quinoa-based meals in a cup.

On Kingsland Road in Shoreditch, near to our new restaurant Andina, is the Grocery. I get my fix of choc chip and quinoa biscuits from there (they come from Doves Farm), as well as loveberry superfruit bites by a raw food company called Inspiral.

If I’m not drinking a Green Vayeho at Andina (an avocado, pear, mint and spinach smoothie), I love drinking muña tea, an Andean herbal tea that’s good for the digestion, which I get from a company called Eco Inca. Dried fruits are essential in any diet and I particularly like goldenberries, either fresh in juice form or dried. They are a super-food native to Peru containing beta carotene, iron, calcium and all eight essential amino acids. They’re also high in vitamin C, D, E and A; you can get them at Wholefoods or Planet Organic. If I’m rushing I like a quick coffee. We have created a new blend from Peruvian, Costa Rican and Tanzanian coffee beans.

Perfecto. If she was still alive, I think Mamita Naty would approve of my choices.”

Redchurch Street, E1; facebook.com/andinalondon

Angela’s Hartnett’s upscale restaurant in the New Forest has set tongues wagging.

The latest addition to the five-star Limewood Hotel, Hartnett, Holder & Co whips up locally-sourced, classic English dishes with a seasonal, sometimes Italian twist. Shoreditch-based chef Angela will be making sure to reflect the restaurant’s prime forest location in the menu, bringing high-end home-cooked food to some of England’s most beautiful countryside. limewoodhotel.co.uk

FOODIE NEWS

R EC I P E Spicy Cold Zapper Have a sniffle? Feeling blue? A sip of this may cure you.

IT’LL FEED One person

INGREDIENTS

Th ree carrots One to two centimetre piece of fresh ginger Two oranges or blood oranges A dash of ground cinnamon

STEP BY STEP

Juice the carrots with a bit of ginger. Top up with juiced oranges and a pinch of cinnamon. abelandcole.co.uk

NIGHT SESSIONS

For an evening of jazzy glitz and Gatsby-style glamour, head to the Thursday Night Sessions at the Bloomsbury Hotel, with live music from a cherrypicked selection of up-and-coming jazz, swing and blues acts. Set in the opulent environs of a Sir Edwin Lutyen-designed architectural gem, you’ll take in the vintage vibe amid bespoke art pieces and handblown Waterford crystal chandeliers. Sharing platters are also on offer while you soak up the music.

16-22 Great Russell Street, WC1; the doylecollection.com

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PUB GRUB

FANCY A WINTER WARMER? BETH EVANS SELECTS THE TEN BEST LOCAL PUBS FOR GRUB AND GOOD TIMES BEST FOR: CHOICE AND SERVICE MARQUESS TAVERN

A pub can’t be cosy without warm service, something the Marquess Tavern provides in spades. Add to that relaxing armchairs, a toasty fire and a menu with enough options to please even the fussiest diner, and you’re on to a winner.

The likelihood of leaving room for pud is slim to none, but try and you won’t regret the double chocolate stout brownies (until you’re rolled out of the door, anyway). And don’t leave without trying the Scotch eggs.

32 Canonbury Street, N1; youngs.co.uk/pubs/ marquess-tavern

BEST FOR: CLASSIC PUB NOSH THE EAGLE

MARQUESS TAVERN

Far from buying into the hurly burly of Shoreditch’s gentrification, this Hoxton stalwart has been standing the test of time since way before your mother’s mother’s mother tripped the light fantastic over the threshold. This is the Great British pub at its best, so grab yourself a Bloody Mary, order that sausage roll for starters and cancel all plans for the rest of the day. A boozer to be proud of.

2 Shepherdess Walk, N1; theeaglehoxton.co.uk

in this intimate eatery just off Great Eastern Street.

Simple food; clean, stylish and classic décor and no sign of a chip on the hipster shoulders you’ll find here in abundance: there are good times aplenty to be had.

Always jam-packed, this is clearly the real people’s Princess, so book a table to avoid disappointment.

76-78 Paul Street, EC2; theprincessofshoreditch.com

BEST FOR: MEAT, OBVIOUSLY THE PIG AND BUTCHER

This is the place for anyone seeking high-end gastronomy without undue pomp and ceremony.

Grilled, smoked, dressed or potted, there are more seasonal meat dishes than you can throw a Gaviscon at. With a ‘sitting in your front room reading the papers’ atmosphere, you might be tempted to wear your old pajamas for your next visit. Don’t, though: there are standards.

44 Barnsbury Street, N1; thedrapersarms.com

With a name like The Pig and Butcher, it comes as no surprise that the team behind this stylish North London boozer are meat connoisseurs.

It’s a case of go meat or go home, basically – and with a menu that includes salted ox tongue and pig’s head on toast, committed carnivores are sure to leave their coats squarely on the pegs.

Packed with warm, wooden farm tables and an even friendlier atmosphere, you won’t be going anywhere for some time.

80 Liverpool Road, N1; thepigandbutcher.co.uk

BEST FOR: OLD-SCHOOL DISHES WITH FLAIR THE DRAPERS ARMS

THE DRAPERS ARMS

BEST FOR: GUILT-FREE DINING THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE

For those who like their food award-winning and their beer organic (with a healthy dollop of ethical farming thrown in for good measure), this is a one-stop shop. Topping the food-lovers’ charts year after year, the locally-sourced produce and delicious, varied menu mean your conscience will be clear along with your plate. Grab a (recycled) paper, order that pudding and pat yourself on the back: you’ve earned it.

30 St Peter’s Street, N1; sloeberry.co.uk

BEST FOR: A BIRTHDAY BASH THE PRINCESS IN SHOREDITCH

Like all good royalty, the Princess of Shoreditch don’t ‘alf scrub up nice. But if crisp white linen and her Madge’s finest tableware isn’t your style, fear not, because there’s something for everyone

Hunter S is more than just a local. Our tip? For a snack, get the cheeseboard.

194 Southgate Rd, N1; thehunter-s.co.uk

BEST FOR: A CANDLELIT WEEKNIGHT RENDEZVOUS THE ROYAL OAK

When you want a massive dash of lively with your shot of cosy, get yourself down to Columbia Road’s Royal Oak, where the hipsters return more frequently than a dieter to a ‘fridge. This is not just a place to eat, drink and be merry – it’s an institution.

Get yourself down earlier in the week you risk getting caught up with the exuberant weekenders.

There’s also the Sunday café from 9am to 2pm for the flower enthusiast.

73 Columbia Road, E2; royaloaklondon.com

BEST FOR: A HANGOVER SESSION EDINBORO CASTLE

A summer favourite due to its celebrated beer garden, this Camden haunt is also the perfect spot for a winter Sunday roast, a good game of Scrabble and a sup from the extensive wine list with fifty of your closest friends. Check in early doors at weekends because despite its size, this venue gets rammed.

57 Mornington Crescent, NW1; edinborocastlepub.co.uk

BEST FOR: GETTING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK THE ALBION BEST FOR: A GROWN-UP, BOOZY AFTERNOON THE HUNTERS

Not for the faint-hearted since its conversion into a taxidermist’s paradise a couple of years ago, the Hunter S has embraced all the quirky and idiosyncratic qualities of its gonzo namesake, from the stuffed animals to the pictures of ‘an adult nature’ on the bathroom walls. Whether you’re looking for a slap-up meal, a quickie after work or a bloody big session, the

A heartbeat away from the thrum of Upper Street is this delightful and quaint pub with all the home comforts of Georgian country retreat.

A wisteria-filled garden might make you long for a sunny summer day, but once inside the roaring fire and readily available sticky toffee pudding will more than make up for the winter weather.

To go the whole hog, you can even advanced order a whole roast suckling pig with all the trimmings for a mere £350.

10 Thornhill Road, N1; the-albion.co.uk

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BOX

FOUNDER OF THE DETOX KITCHEN, LILY SIMPSON TALKS DELIVERY DIETS TO GEORGIE LANE-GODFREY 54

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tend to avoid ‘detox bunnies’. You know who I mean: those bright-eyed, bushytailed individuals who eat only the very healthiest of meals, exercise every day and are perkier than a Colombian coffee in the morning (read Gwyneth Paltrow). I find their company terribly depressing, holding up a mirror to my own inadequacies and making me vow to eat better/ exercise more/get more sleep/only drink green tea/take up yoga etc. Until I end up with more ridiculous resolutions than a crack addict at New Year.

So it’s no surprise that I wasn’t particularly looking forward to interviewing Lily Simpson, founder of high-end diet delivery service the Detox Kitchen. As she walks in, all clear pale skin, big dark eyes and glossy brown mane, I can’t help thinking that Lily wouldn’t seem amiss playing Snow White in a pantomime.

She also makes a great poster girl for the detox lifestyle. It doesn’t take long for her to launch into an explanation of the company – a food delivery service based on the three guiding principles of gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free food. Subscribers receive three fresh meals a day along with two snacks, all of which is delivered to the doorstep every morning before 7am. At 1500 calories a day, it’s not too strenuous and it shifts the weight too, with most clients losing between 3-6lbs in the average five-day programme.

‘Naturally you start eating healthier and your palette is cleansed so it stays off,’ Lily explains. ‘It’s all about clean food. I hate to sound snobby when it comes to food but if I eat sugary food or if I have anything very oily or fried, it affects me so badly. My eyes feel like they’re popping out of my head – horrible. It’s just about having a clean system.’

It would seem that there are many who would agree: Elle Macpherson, Pixie Geldof, Henry Holland, Jasmine Guiness and, of course, Gwyneth Paltrow are all tried-andtested fans of the service. Indeed, such was the

success of the brand that it now has an outpost in Harvey Nichols – a salad and juice bar serving the same sugar-, gluten- and dairy-free dishes – and next on the agenda is a DIY home detox kit, complete with recipe card and quality ingredients so that clients can continue the regime at a more affordable price.

So far, so Gwynnie. But surely it can’t be that much fun never eating sugar? Or gluten?

‘Well, I mostly eat my own food but I am obsessed with chocolate so I still eat that,’ Lily concedes. The pressure to be healthy must be tough, I suggest, when you’re running a business like the Detox Kitchen.

‘Yes!’ she bursts out, unexpectedly, ‘there’s so much pressure. It’s horrible!’ I point out that she looks pretty good considering, but she just shakes her head. ‘When I first started I ran myself into the ground. I looked awful, with big bags under my eyes and I’d lost so much weight because I’d been running around like a complete maniac. So I’d turn up to meetings as this really skinny, pop-eyed, spotty, tired girl. People were like, “Really? You run THIS company?!”’Not that it got any easier after things slowed down; Lily suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome, which often affects her skin.

‘I’m a very emotional person,’ she confides, ‘so my skin tends to flare up when I have an important meeting. I have to tell them, “It’s not my diet, it’s the ovaries!”’ she laughs. Having learned to control symptoms with her diet, Lily is now helping others do the same – a project which has inspired her latest adventure: trekking across the Alps to help raise money for Trekstock, a charity which supports young people with cancer.

‘They’re amazing,’ she tells me, ‘because they offer support in a really interactive, interesting way. They also help people with their diets, which is something we do too.’ So how is the training going, I ask? ‘It’s so hot, I think I might actually die!’ Lily wails. ‘On the kit list it says “trekking boots, best worn-in over three years”.

Try three days! But tonight I’m going to walk from Battersea to North London, where I live.’

R EC I P E Wheat and Dairy-free Soba Noodle Carbonara INGREDIENTS 200g x Soba noodles 2 x egg yolks ½ x onion 1 x garlic clove ½ cooked chicken breast 1 x handful of kale 1 x handful of flat leaf parsley Cracked black pepper Maldon salt TO MAKE Bring a pan of water to the boil and drop the soba noodles in for 2 minutes, then drain - but keep 1 tblsp of the starchy water.Meanwhile, dice the onion and crush the garlic. Sweat down the onion until it is slightly caramelised, for around 6 minutes, then add the garlic and cook out for 5 minutes. Now add the diced chicken and cook for 10 minutes, adding a splash of the starchy water that you saved from the noodles. Next, add the kale and cooked noodles, heat for 1 minute and take off the heat. In a bowl, beat the egg yolks and season with salt and pepper. Tip the noodle and onion mixture into the bowl with eggs and beat (this will cook the eggs and is all done off the heat). Finish with chopped parsley.Check delivery areas at detoxkitchen.co.uk

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To

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

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BLUE JASMINE We love Farrow & Ball's current collection of nine beautiful colours.

Our pick is St Giles Blue, a gorgeous, earthy hue named after the Renaissance stylings inside the ancestral home of the Earl of Shaftesbury in Wimborne, St Giles.

But don’t worry, you needn’t own a home of palatial proportions to incorporate this rich and regal palette. As far as we’re concerned, it goes with any home.

Farrow and Ball, 58A Rosslyn Hill, NW3; farrow-ball.com

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ARCHITECTURAL

Living in Space is the home of innovative interior design, build and architecture.

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SPA DETOXING THIS MONTH? WEST ONE BATHROOMS SHOWS YOU HOW TO BRING THE SPA EXPERIENCE HOME

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W

ith New Year come, once again, those New Year’s resolutions: drink less, exercise more, take better care of yourself. Spa trips are the order of the day, yet it seems a waste to spend money indulging in a treatment only for it to wear off as soon as you’re back home in your normal bathroom. However, West One Bathrooms have the answer – bring the spa experience home with one of their luxurious bathrooms. From mood-inspired waterfalls in the shower to atmosphere-enhancing lighting in the bath, West One has everything you need for a truly decadent room.

Showcasing more than just Scandi style, this Nordicinspired bathroom is filled with all the latest pieces for complete home pampering. For instance, the shower’s Ambience Tuning Technique regulates water volume and temperature to create a bespoke spray to suit your needs.

Choose between three scenarios – balancing, energising and de-stressing – all designed to control the water pressure in such a way that the shower adapts to suit your mood demands. Use on a regular basis and you’ll find that these scenarios become part of a personal ritual, creating a truly exceptional shower.

What’s more, it can also transform into your very own Hammam thanks to Effegibi’s ‘Touch and Steam’ technology – a glass panel fitted to the wall which enables

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STEAM UP YOUR SHOWER INTO A HIGH-TECH TURKISH BATH TO ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE

you to steam up your shower into a high-tech Turkish bath complete with different coloured light and heat options to enhance your experience. Neatly efficient, this space-saving option is perfect for London homes.

Meanwhile, TOTO’s Luminist bath and basin come with integrated LED lighting, designed to illuminate your bathroom subtly whilst creating a calmingly sophisticated setting. Even the toilets here are high-end; a mixture of haute design and top-of-the-range technology. The Giovannoni Washlet is a collaboration between TOTO and Italian designer Stefano Giovannoni, and includes a heated seat, deodoriser and warm water jet to gently cleanse. Alternatively, the Geberit Aquaclean 8000 Plus is ergonomically designed to provide an oscillating shower

with adjustable temperature and pressure settings. It also boasts a warm air dryer and odour extractor to ensure a pleasant and comfortable cleansing experience.

The annual sale is now on, with upto 40% off leading brands. Visit exdisplay bargains online or pop in to visualise your future bathroom and speak to one of West One's experts.

West One Bathrooms, 020 7720 9333; westonebathrooms.com

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Tim Moss Bespoke kitchens www.timmoss.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY INTERIORS

INTERIOR

INSPIRATIONS

Winter Whites

1. Decorative Medicine Bottles, £20; houseoffraser.co.uk

SITTING PRETTY

Sofa Workshop’s vintage-inspired Petite Reader chair is handmade to order in their British workshop.

What more could you want for curling up on to read a literary classic?

Austen, here we come…

From £999; sofaworkshop.com

THANK YOU

Penreath and Hall produce a delightful range of stationery, from vintage-style paperweights to illustrated greetings cards and old-fashioned cartes postales.

We love Mary Sumner’s artsy Chiming Tree design, and what better way to say thank you for all your Christmas gifts than with a handwritten note. £2.50; 17 Rugby Street, WC1; penreath-hall.com

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3. Betty Jackson Cushion, £38; debenhams.com

IN DA TUB

Looking for a January bargain? Look further than West One Bathrooms Ltd, currently holding their annual sale, with massive reductions on well-known brands. At 40% off, its not to be missed if you're looking to realise your dream bathroom in the new year.

44-48 Clerkenwell Road, EC1, 020 7324 0780; westonebathrooms.com 4. Lee Broom Decanter Lights, from £230; leebroom.com

SHOP OF THE MONTH

Brought to you by the same friendly bunch of aficionados behind the acclaimed East London Design Show, Hackney’s East London Design Store is stuffed with all things fascinating and fun. The staff ’s curatorial expertise is secondto-none, and everyone – from kids and cooks to style-hounds and interiors obsessives – is sure to discover something here to inspire, entertain or just downright improve their life.

A must-visit in 2014 – which is shaping up to be a very good year for design.

6a Ada Street, E8; eastlondondesignstore.com

5. Penreath & Hall Bridie Hall Pavilion Candle, £50; penreath-hall.com

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BEOVISION 11 TELEVISION BANG & OLUFSEN

DESIGN PROPOSALS

INTERIORS

PLANNING CONSENTS

A sensory experience: While BeoVision 11’s stunning lines may at first seduce the eye you’ll find countless innovations inside its sleek exterior that will bring you to a new world of sensory delight. Engineered with uncompromising Bang & Olufsen perfection, they drive outstanding performance through the exceptional LED-based LCD display.

Heightening the imagination with razor-sharp images and powerful sound. BeoVision 11 will challenge your senses and all previous conceptions of what a TV can be.

Sound reaction Just like its display, BeoVision 11’s audio adapts itself to changes in media. Flick from YouTube to a classic thriller and you’ll notice that the sound automatically tailors itself.

Of course, you always retain complete control yourself, and can fine tune personalised settings that are perfect for you. At Bang & Olufsen, sound is an art form. They put passion, precision and finesse into every detail of every sound wave. BeoVision 11 is no different. Carefully tuned by hand and by ear, it is the embodiment of our search for acoustic perfection.

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The art of silence Vibrations create sound. The Beovision cabinets are fitted with rubber damping to cancel out any unwanted audible or turbulent noise. The 55-inch model comes with two bass ports angled downwards to ensure that, only the purest sounds reach your ears.

Adaptive to the slightest detail Our eyes constantly analyse and adapt to lighting conditions without us noticing.

BeoVision 11 is built around the same principles. Each pixel tweaks, twists or trims its light according to its sensory data. Adjusting to how much light there is in the room and the image currently on screen. Adaptive Contrast ensures that darker areas in a scene appear pitch-black and full of contrast even when daylight floods the screen.

Movies typically run at 24 frames per second which isn’t always ideal for TV. Using advanced compensating interpolation techniques, BeoVision 11 works out where objects should have been and blends the original frames to give you noticeably smoother enjoyment. Combined with a superb LCD panel, these advanced features create a visual experience that challenges our senses. BeoVision 11 also features comprehensive fine-tuning controls, allowing you to customise a viewing experience that’s perfect for you.

A musical masterpiece BeoVision 11 just became even more versatile. Spotify – with more than 20 million songs – is yours to enjoy, transforming the TV into a superior music system. Download the software update and fill your living space with the sound of your favourite artists, stunningly reproduced with Bang & Olufsen sound, at just one touch of your remote.

360 Degree Perfection A discreet sensor is housed at the top of the aluminium frame. The sensor constantly measures and analyses light conditions in the room to make sure your viewing experience is comfortable and optimised whatever the conditions.

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21/03/2013 16:25

12/12/2013 15:22

ABSOLUTELY TRAVEL

UK GETAWAY

BAILIFFSCOURT SUSSEX

THE SPA

D

renched in natural light, the Bailiffscourt Spa is an airy space with big windows providing views over green fields and the sea beyond. Treatments

by Temple Spa are perfect after a dose of the Sussex sea air – we recommend a rejuvenating full body massage. If you can manage the dash outside, a swim in the (heated) outdoor pool is particularly atmospheric.

THE HOTEL

W

alking into Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa is like stepping back in time to the 1920s, when it was built as a home for the Guinness family. Constructed from medieval timber and stone collected from derelict 13th century buildings nearby, it still feels like a private family home with its cosy nooks and roaring fires, four-poster beds and oak beams, all set within 30 acres of parkland.

Even better, the pebbled beach at Climping is just a short stroll away.

THE RESTAURANT

A

fter a glass of merlot by the fire in one of the cosy lounges, the Tapestry Restaurant beckons. Medieval architecture, dark wood, mullioned windows and candlelight set an intimate atmosphere by night, matched by a menu of reimagined British classics with fresh, local produce. We ooh-ed over perfectly poached duck egg, rump of lamb and a tart-yet-sweet caramelised apple crème brulée. We were equally pleased with the wood pigeon, roasted monkfish and chocolate and praline delice, all the right side of indulgent for a winter getaway.

THE ROOM

T

he thirty-nine rooms and suites are set across different buildings connected by oak-panelled passageways and sat around a rose-filled courtyard. We love the Baylies Suite, the hotel’s signature room and the definition of a romantic retreat – think vaulted ceilings, rich tapestries, antique furniture and a palatial bathroom with deep his ‘n’ hers roll-top baths.

THE DAMAGE

Rooms at Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa start at £210 per room per night, based on two sharing on a B&B basis – including use of spa and VAT. A three-course dinner at the Tapestry Restaurant is £49.50 pp. To book: 01444 416 111 or reservations@bailiffscourt.com; hshotels.co.uk

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Empire

IN THE SUN Helen Baron tunes into the hippie chic of the Mayan Riviera

T

he first time I visited Mexico, I steered clear of Cancun.

The Caribbean coastal resort had become, so I was told, a playground for certain kinds of tourist, and it’s fair to say that booze-addled American spring breakers and package holiday hordes were an off-putting prospect. In fact, Cancun’s chequered reputation almost saw me dismiss the Yucatán Peninsula completely – until a couple of years ago, when I was based in LA and the flight over suddenly didn’t seem like such a big deal. Of course, by then I had heard whispers about the Riviera Maya – a name coined by the region’s tourist board in the 1970s – and had investigated what lay further south along the coast. I jetted off for a few days among the Mayan ruins and tropical rainforests of Tulum, a fleeting visit enjoyable enough to have me pledging to

return. After a second visit, I’m hooked.

The Caribbean coast – in particular that part which forms Mexico’s eastern fringe – is an inviting alternative for the discerning traveller, especially in the face of the mounting cost of European trips.

Originally a hippie-leaning hang-out for backpackers and the eternally laidback, Tulum (or more precisely the boutique and eco-hotels that line the Boca Piala Road just north of Tulum itself) offers a more natural, exotic experience, uninterrupted by the garish or sterile hotels that cluster within Cancun’s city limits.

Rooftop yoga decks are dotted liberally along the roadside, sharing space with boho restaurants, small stalls selling trinkets, jewellery and patterned textiles and a few upmarket boutiques brimming with bikinis and Bretonstriped maxi-dresses. The impossibly cute beach bars, decked out in palm fronds and riotously colourful wood furnishings, complete the picture, while palapas (opensided shelters thatched with palm leaves) abound. It all

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and a view that could move you to tears if, like us, you arrived at dusk to a chilled bottle of wine.

Water has to be delivered to the area by truck, so you’re advised to use it sparingly, but this is all part of the experience: feeling closer to nature.

In fact, Jashita makes you wonder why all hotels aren’t like this, because the monstrously huge resorts elsewhere are nothing but a blot on the landscape we all come to see.

THE RESTAURANT

ROOM WIT A SEA VIEW

makes for a cheerful, unforced, unhurried scene, with none of the urban glitz or corporate tack of the northern resorts. In Tulum, it’s like everything was magically washed up on the shore and decided to stick around.

Having already spent a few days in Playa del Carmen, the Mayan Riviera’s answer to Ibiza, this sense of sun-bleached, rustic simplicity was most welcome.

JASHITA

We were staying at the upscale Jashita, a boutique hotel about ten minutes by car from Tulum, perched alone in a secluded stretch of Soliman Bay. Possibly the best spot we could have chosen, the hotel is all neutral chic, bougainvilleas and barefoot luxury.

All beaches south of Cancun benefit from the same turquoise-tinted, clear, calm waters, but here in Tulum, unlike in Playa del Carmen, the sand itself is unbelievably pristine.

Days at Jashita are blissful. We wake naturally with the sun, alert and joyful, and eat a beautifully prepared breakfast of tropical fruit and huevos Mexicanos under a muslin canopy (a hole in the middle of which accommodates a large palm tree staking its peaceful claim). The pool looks irresistible, like something from the pages of a magazine.

Jashita’s Sahara Cafe is exemplary, and just what’s needed on a holiday like this – plenty of fresh vegetables, vibrant salads and pasta dishes. We were happy enough to eat both lunch and dinner there most days, while Tommaso, Jashita’s cool-asa-cucumber Italian owner, who is by all accounts ‘living the dream’, flits in and out, chatting with guests before darting outside to play in the sea with his small daughter.

He tells us to try a local fish shack, pointing to a red roof half a mile up the beach. He recommends the ceviche, which we order and wash down with a can of cold Sol. One thing to bear in mind when staying at Jashita is that you aren’t on the main drag where most of Tulum’s bars and restaurants are located. Your reward for comparative seclusion, however, is tranquility, and it’s well worth it.

Besides, there’s still plenty to do and most of the area’s delights are only a short cab ride away. We explored the ancient Mayan ruins and snorkelled with turtles at Akumel Beach – following a guide, we were able to get very close, a youngster popping up for air right beside me.

We also explored the underground cave system at Rio Secreto, where the earth caved in long ago and natural groundwater swelled up into the resulting pits. The Yucatán Peninsula is home to over 6,000 natural sinkholes, or cenotes, in which you can swim or even canoe.

For the traveller with more time on their

THE RESTAUARNT FIRE DECK

DON’T MISS TOMMASO MARCHIORELLO OF JASHITA RECOMMENDS...

HARTWOOD RESTAURANT A Mexican farmhouse restaurant run by ex New-Yorkers (and with a New York-style reservation list). You might have to wait for a table but it’s totally worth it.

MEZZANINE - The Friday night beach party at this restaurant sees international DJs spin the decks. Be leisurely, though - things don’t get going until around midnight.

THE BEACH

At Jashita, you can luxuriate in the privacy of the hotel’s own private cove. A leisurely dip in the sea and a swim to the floating day-bed, 400m out, is exercise enough, then it’s back to shore. Hammock time is important here, and we snooze to the lulling sound of palms in the breeze. We feel the sand between our toes, the soles of our feet miraculously smooth from being shoeless for most of each day. Our room is spacious, a sanctuary with its own plunge pool

hands, Tulum is also a great base from which to journey across the border into Belize and Guatemala, while many backpackers circle back to Cancun via the cities of Campache and Tabasco. Closer to the Jashita, we avoided the tourist-trap water parks – put off by the crude dolphinariums and their unhappy inmates - but soaked up every last bit of wild natural beauty we could find. Our pursuit of a zen state meant we saved the zip-line adventures of Xplor for another trip, but that was fine with us. Tulum is, after all, a place to revisit, and a destination that only reveals itself fully with a little time and exploration. It’s somewhere you’ll want to return almost as soon as you’ve left... just don’t tell everyone about it.

PAPAYA PLAYA PROJECT - Check the website for the hotel’s monthly full moon parties, which draw hip young things from all over the region.

REEF VIEW

Standard rooms start at 180USD per night in low season; beachfront suites start at 390USD per night in low season.

To book, visit jashitahotel.com

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Smart picks from over a million properties.

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IN THEIR OWN

WORDS DAMIEN BROWN

Lettings Manager: Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward’s Crouch End branch

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Photography: Rebecca Noonan

am a North London boy by birth and, having lived in N8 for over six years now, I’m steadily becoming what some people would describe as a real ‘Crouchender’. In the five years that I’ve worked at KFH, starting as a negotiator in 2008 and then progressing to manage the branch in 2011, I’ve definitely become somewhat of an expert on the area. I make it my mission to keep an ear to the ground with regards to events, new openings, ever shrinking school catchments and anything else that may be of interest to both myself and my clients and I often have tenants and landlords alike popping in for a catch up about all things Crouch End. Crouch End is a fantastic place to live and has become almost completely selfsufficient with the variety available on the high street. Local residents really do have a huge range of options available to them from designer furniture, contemporary art and homewares to fresh fish and even a lovely farmers market just down the road at Alexandra Palace. In addition, we have some fantastic bars and restaurants and increasingly those from surrounding areas visit here for the amenities on offer.

Crouch End has become incredibly popular among young families and couples who are drawn to the area for its genuine feeling of community spirit and good local schools.

Flats and houses within the catchments are very sought after and often achieve a premium as high as 15% for this reason. My team and I are regularly asked to source

houses in key areas at specific times of year, particularly in the summer just before the new school year begins.

The rental market here is strong and N8 has seen a surge in popularity, especially among residents from nearby areas who are looking to get a bit more for their money. Lettings prices in Crouch End tend to be in the region of 8 – 15% less than those in N6, but housing stock is fairly similar, characterised by beautiful Victorian houses, many of which have now been converted into period garden flats. An increase in stock levels and a slight dip in tenant registrations because of the strong sales market, has meant that the market is not quite as ferocious as it was in previous years so prices are more stable and tenants have greater choice available to them. Typically, prices here range from around £400 per week for a two bedroom garden flat to £800 per week for a family house. Activity at the moment seems to be concentrated around smaller properties, either one or two bedroom flats which are very popular among young professionals.

2014 looks set to continue in a similar manner with good levels of stock available resulting in reasonable rental prices and a selection of properties available to prospective tenants across the board from one bedroom flats to family houses.

020 8341 1110; kfh.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

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Coniston Road, Muswell Hill, N10

£1,195,000 Freehold Sole Agents

Available for the first time since 1935 is a charming 1920’s bay fronted house which provides spacious accommodation over two floors. The property, whilst requiring some updating, retains many original period features and has great potential for expansion (subject to relevant consents). Benefits also include a double height garage and a delightful south-westerly facing rear garden.

Situated in a quiet and desirable location, yet very close to Muswell Hill Broadway with its multiple transport links, restaurants and shops. Within catchment of Fortismere secondary and Muswell Hill primary schools.

Contact our Muswell Hill Office on 020 8444 1771

Crescent Rise, Alexandra Park, N22

£875,000 Freehold Sole Agents

A well presented mock Tudor style 1930’s family home which provides well proportioned accommodation over two floors. The house is being offered in good condition throughout; benefits also include a shared driveway providing access to own private garage. Situated in favourable distance of Rhodes Avenue primary school and within catchment of Alexandra Park secondary school, also within easy reach of Bounds Green tube (Piccadilly Line) and Alexandra Park, Palace and its main line station with connections to the City (Moorgate and Old Street). Being sold with no upward chain.

Contact our Muswell Hill Office on 020 8444 1771

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www.tatlers.co.uk

Twyford Avenue, Ringwood Estate, N2

£1,850,000 Freehold Sole Agents

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Located within the Fortismere catchment is this absolutely stunning semi detached five double bedroom family home having been lovingly cared for by the current owners. The property is situated on this prestigious avenue within the highly coveted Ringwood Estate, within walking distance of both Muswell Hill and East Finchley; the tube station is a 5 min walk away giving excellent transport link to London. The property comprises a magnificent converted loft with fantastic views over the 135’ south facing rear garden with garden room and workshop. The overall accommodation downstairs has a double fronted through rear reception room, a beautiful kitchen/morning room and a converted study. Early viewings are strongly advised.

Contact our East Finchley Office on 020 8883 1001

Linzee Road, Crouch End, N8

£850,000 Freehold Sole Agents

A fantastic opportunity to acquire a much loved family home which has been in the ownership of the same family for over forty years. Positioned at the end of a cul-de-sac the property enjoys a particularly quiet position with no through traffic. In need of modernisation and retaining some period features the property provides an exciting opportunity to create a home to your own personal taste and choosing. Close to Priory Park, with local shops and within walking distance of Crouch End Broadway the property is conveniently located. Hornsey main line station is approximately a mile away and provides a speedy link into central London.

Contact our Crouch End Office on 020 8341 4050

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PROPERTY

ROUND UP DUKES AVENUE, N10 £1,875,000

Situated in one of Muswell Hill’s most prestigious Avenues, is an impressive Edwardian semidetached house, spread over 3 floors, which retains masses of original features, including stained glass windows, decorative fretwork, door features and fi replaces. The house has 5 bedrooms, plus an expansive loft studio with potential for creating a master suite. On the ground floor is an “Au pair’s Flat” with a bedroom, shower room, and a kitchenette. There are 2 additional reception rooms and a spacious kitchen/dining room. The property further boasts an interesting hallway with a large original stained glass panel, a family bathroom, gas central heating, west facing garden and off street parking.

JHK Estate Agents 020 8883 5485; jhk.co.uk

THE BEST OF HIGHGATE VILLAGE

Annual price increase: 8% Average house price: £812,903 (Zoopla)

KFH in conjunction with Zoopla.co.uk has compiled a selection of London village guides and found that living in or near to a village in London can typically command a premium in the region of 51%. Each month we’ll feature one of thosevillages, and this month we’re focusing on Little Venice village.

NORTHWICK TERRACE, ST JOHN’S WOOD, NW8

£1,200,000 - SHARED FREEHOLD

An outstanding three bedroom apartment in this popular mansion block and also boasts from an excellent neutral colour and decorative palate. This property is located in superb area and benefits from excellent transport links and easy access to St John’s Wood with the West End just a short taxi ride away. Further offering two bathrooms, a spacious reception room and direct access to the communal gardens. Clifton Court is a much sought after Tudor style mansion block, just yards from Little Venice.

KFH St Johns Wood: 020 7586 8001

Transport links: • Warwick Avenue tube station (Zone1) • 6 (24 hour), 16, 18, 46, 98, 187, 332, 414.

Night buses: N16, N18 and N98

Main schools: • St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School

� For more information visit www.kfh.co.uk/village-guides

Little Venice village is located in the City of Westminster borough, wedged between Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue.

This affluent central London hotspot is a haven of Victorian architecture with great independent shops on Clifton Road and Formosa Road, restaurants, an award winning garden centre, upmarket hair salons and organic food stores and the award winning Warrington gastro pub. There are communal gardens designed to give residents a feeling of space and tranquillity, including the impressive three and a half acre Clifton Gardens. Historically, this area was rural with fields and woodland and used for agriculture but then during the mid-19th Century development started and elegant Victorian stucco terraces and crescents were built.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

NW5

Average asking price: £967,337 Average asking rents: £2,077 pcm Average price paid: £658,842

Data provided by property website

Interesting Fact: Since 1983 the Inland Waterways Association has hosted the Canalway Cavalcade in Little Venice. Since then, every year in May, this time honoured event sees an array of boats, trade show stalls and boater gatherings at this festival for water lovers.

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ABSOLUTELY Property

MARTYN GERRARD, THE AWARD WINNING AGENCY WHERE INTEGRITY COUNTS, RECOGNISED ONCE AGAIN

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CRESCENT ROAD, N8 Price on Application A unique 5/6 Bedroom, detached, eco-friendly, ultra energy efficient home. Situated on a highly desirable leafy road on the Highgate periphery and within a moment’s walk of Crouch End’s vibrant Village and Landmark Clock Tower.

Encompassing exceptional design and specification exceeding all modern day expectations.

Castles 020 8348 5515; castles-estateagents.co.uk

n November, the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton on Park Lane played host to the 2013 Negotiator Awards, a prestigious awards ceremony for the property market, celebrating the very best in the business from across the UK. Seven hundred guests were present to see Martyn Gerrard pick up the Silver Award for the Best Website in the UK. This was a particularly competitive category with hundreds of entries. The agencies that won Gold and Bronze were both large national and multi-national agencies with hundreds of branches, Martyn Gerrard were also delighted to win the Bronze Award for ‘Best Medium Independent Estate Agency’ nationally, again, a highly competitive category entered by companies from all over the UK with between six and fifteen branches.

Then in early December Martyn Gerrard were proud to win the Silver Award for Best Medium Agent in London at The Times and Sunday Times Estate Agent of the Year Awards. The Judges commented “Over the past year, this agency has undergone a complete rebranding to freshen up and really show off the standard and the calibre of the business” This represents an excellent achievement for Martyn Gerrard who have been selling and letting homes for almost fifty years and reinforces their position as the premier Estate Agent in North London.

Simon Gerrard, Managing Director of Martyn Gerrard, commented, “We are absolutely delighted to win these prestigious awards.

They are a fantastic reward for the high standards that we strive to set the investment that we continually make in our staff and the technical side of our business in order to create the best experience for our customers.” Simon, who will be President of the NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) from June 2014 went on to say, “We actively encourage our staff to work towards their Technical Award in Residential Sales and we require our staff to become members of the NAEA and ARLA, so it is very satisfying to be recognised at such an important occasion.”

Martyn Gerrard, who have ten offices spread out through North and North West London, from High Barnet to Kentish Town and from Hendon to Crouch End, will be celebrating fifty years of fulfilling dreams and selling property in May 2014. martyngerrard.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

Ask the Experts

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

ANDREW FLINT � 020 7354 3000 / colmancoyle.com

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

Q. I am hoping to buy a property but the seller has not told me that there is Japanese Knotweed in the back garden. Should I be concerned about this?

Dan Saunders

Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, Lettings Manager, Islington branch � 020 7359 3636 • kfh.co.uk

A. The short answer is “yes”. Japanese

Q. How to attract the best tenants?

A. Understanding your local market

and how your property is positioned among the others available is key to attracting the best tenant possible. Do your research the same way you would if you were looking – mostly via online portals these days – and see what else is available at a similar price that you are hoping to achieve. Agree on the type of tenant you are looking to attract – is it a couple, family or sharers, and then ask your letting agent for advice on how to target that market. Pricing your property correctly is imperative. You shouldn’t be swayed by unrealistic valuations; instead ask for recent comparables to support the suggested valuation and think about what you could offer to make your home more appealing than others available. This could be anything from a reduction in rental price if the tenant guarantees a longer contract, or a new sofa of the new tenants choice. Finally, always ensure the property is in as good a condition as possible and is spotlessly clean.

Stephen Porter Stirling Ackroyd New Homes � 020 7749 3810; stirlingackroyd.com

Q. Where should I invest?

A. In 2013 Stirling Ackroyd’s New Homes Department has seen interest in Shoreditch and Clerkenwell remain very high, with the new developments here selling rapidly for premium prices. With these two areas now achieving well over £1,000 per sq ft, we are seeing investors increasingly looking further east, west and south.

Towards the east, Hackney has already seen significant price increases, with investors who purchased off plan 12-18 months ago already seeing their investments grow by a staggering 35% in some cases. Broadway Market and Chatham Place fashion hub are going to be investment ‘hot spots’ as the area grows and improves over the next 12 months. The only problem investors may find is that they are already priced out from properties in prime Hackney, as we have already achieved over £800 per sq ft near London Fields.

Looking north, we are seeing investors who previously looked in Clerkenwell now buying in Highbury. The North Stand in Highbury Square that we are selling has attracted significant interest; its location near to Arsenal underground station is a crucial selling point, with residents able to get to the West End in 10 minutes. 1 beds here at Highbury Square start at £360,000, compared to well over £500,000 in Clerkenwell, making it a very good investment for 2014.

Knotweed is an invasive species of plant which can cause damage to properties unless it is treated. In particular, it can affect drains, paths, driveways, boundary walls and outbuildings. The plant is difficult to eradicate and as such, can cause problems in the housing market.

If you are buying the property with the aid of a mortgage, the valuer is required to check the property for the presence of any ‘invasive vegetation’. If the property you are hoping to buy does indeed have the presence of Japanese Knotweed, the existence of it will be reported to the lender. There is no blanket policy that states that just because a property has the presence of the plant, that a lender will not lend. However, due to the difficulty in treating the plant, some lenders have been reluctant to lend in the past.

Most lenders will consider the matter on a case by case basis. At the very least, most lenders will need to know what steps have been taken to try and eradicate the plant and that there will be a treatment programme moving forward. Hopefully, your seller will already have a plan in place and your solicitor will need to obtain a copy of it and forward this to the lender for its approval and this approval will have to be obtained before exchange of contracts can take place.

If the seller does not have a plan in place, you will need to obtain one. There is an organisation called the Property Care Association, which will have a list of members who specialise in treating Japanese Knotweed. This plan will have to be forwarded to the lender for its approval and the lender may make it a condition of your mortgage offer that the plan is implemented.

ASK THE EXPERTS Contact property partner Andrew Flint with no obligation on (0)20 7354 3000 or email andrew.flint@colmancoyle.com  www.colmancoyle.com 80 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0NU

SPOTLIGHT ON: N16 Average asking price - £452,431 | Average asking rents - £1,681 pcm | Average property value - £486,658 Data provided by property website 82

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020 8348 5515

crouch.end@castles-estateagents.co.uk

www.castles-estateagents.co.uk

Crouch End Sales & Lettings

Muswell Hill, N10

Riversdale Road, N5

£525,0000 LEASEHOLD

£1,299,000 FREEHOLD

Coleridge Road, N8

Birchington Road, N8

£1,395,000 FREEHOLD

£199,999 LEASEHOLD

· Newly converted · 2 Bedroom with Garden · Off Street Parking · Building Warranty

· 5 Bedroom Contemporary House · Close to Coleridge school · Private Garden and Garage · Built in 2009

‘Wishing all our customers a very

· 4 Double Bedroom · Period residence · Close to Highbury fields · Private garden

· Attractive studio · Close to Broadway · Highgate periphery · Period residence

Happy New Year’ 12 Topsfield Parade, London N8 8PR

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Spotlight on HIGHGATE THROUGH THE KEYHOLE...

Manager, Benham & Reeves � 020 7435 9681; brlets.co.uk

Chesterford Gardens, NW3 £550 per week

7 Bedroom

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IVAN HRISSIMOV

n exceptionally bright and spacious one bedroom apartment in this striking Victorian home situated in leafy Chesterford Gardens.

The property radiates classical elegance combined with a modern interior comprising. With high ceilings and plenty of storage throughout, this flat must be seen to be fully appreciated.

The apartment is offered furnished or unfurnished. The nearest Underground station is Hampstead.

The well-proportioned double bedroom with bay window has ample storage space and a modern spacious shower room.

7

7 Location

This period red brick building is located in a quiet residential avenue, equidistant to the village and Heath, near to all the amenities of Hampstead High Street. The nearest Underground station is Hampstead.

7

7 Reception

The open-plan reception/dining area boasts a solid oak floor, floor to ceiling picture windows let in an abundance of natural light and give views over the street’s treetops.

BEST SCHOOL

RAINY DAY

FUN FOR FREE

SPORTS

Highgate is known for its excellent schools. Channing School (an independent school for girls) and Highgate School both stand out as being among the best.

I love High Tea of Highgate, a quirky little teashop on Highgate High Street. It has great handmade cakes! The Gatehouse pub has its own theatre and that’s worth a visit too.

It has to be Parkland Walk, a path which follows the course of the former railway line between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace. It’s now a Nature Reserve filled with trees, plants and

ThepondsonHampsteadHeathare popular. HighgateGolfClubiswell knowntoo.Therearetenniscourtsin WaterlowPark–youcanalsofindyoga classesatLauderdaleHouse,alsoin WaterlowPark.

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Estate AGENTS Agents SINCE Since 1988 1988 ESTATE

Sales

SOLD

Chalcot Rd, NW1 SOLD

Grafton Terr, NW5

SOLD

Hampstead Hill Gdns, NW3 SOLD

Bartholomew Villas, NW5

SOLD

Kelly St, NW1

SOLD

Hampstead, 5 Pond St, NW3 2PN, +44(0)20 7431 1020 Primrose Hill, 47a Chalcot Rd, NW1 8LS, +44(0)20 7722 5054 Kentish Town, 189 Kentish Town Rd, NW5 2JU, +44(0)20 7284 1222 info@oliverstown.com

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Princess Rd, NW1

oliverstown.com 12/12/2013 11:30

50 YEARS OF FULFILLING DREAMS MARTYN & SIMON GERRARD

Chairman & Managing Director: Martyn Gerrard Photography: Rebecca Noonan

M

artyn Gerrard, fifty years of fulfilling dreams.

Back in 1964, Harold Wilson became Prime Minister, Beetlemania hit America, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment and the classic musical, Mary Poppins, was released. A little less well documented was the opening of the first Martyn Gerrard Estate office in Whetstone! Fifty years on, Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents have gone from strength to strength and now have ten offices covering North and North West London, from High Barnet to Kentish Town and from Hendon to Crouch End. The first properties that Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents marketed in 1964 were an “ultra modern” apartment in Barnet for £3250 and a three bedroom house in Whetstone for £4650, and their first sale was a three bedroom house in Barnet for £4950.

That same property would cost well in excess of £500,000 in today’s market.

Times and the property market have certainly moved on, but one thing that has not changed is Martyn Gerrard’s approach of always being at the cutting edge of technology. Martyn Gerrard were one of the first estate agents to use colour photographs for their advertising, and they are still renowned for using the latest innovations available, to create the best and most user friendly experience for their customers, picking up numerous awards for innovation on the way. In fact, Martyn Gerrard are

leading the way once again with their use of video to promote property online.

Martyn Gerrard is a family run business, originally set up by Martyn, and now run by his son Simon. Both recently visited the iconic Palm Court at Alexandra Palace, which they hope will be the venue of the Company’s 50th Anniversary party in May. Alexandra Palace was originally conceived as “the People’s Palace and both Martyn and Simon were delighted to be there as they admire the position that ‘Ally Pally’ represents as an integral part of the North London community – just like Martyn Gerrard.

Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents has always been proud of its traditional values of professionalism and a personal, hands on service, ensuring it is a business that lives up to its mantra ‘where integrity counts’.

To celebrate fifty years of fulfilling dreams, Martyn Gerrard has a number of offers and competitions that it will be launching in 2014 including an offer for anyone born in 1964, to sell their house for 50% of their normal fee, and to arrange free removal services for every 50th instruction sold*. You can find more details of this offer and how they are celebrating in your area on their website, martyngerrard.co.uk or pop in to your local branch. martyngerrard.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

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

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www.martyngerrard.co.uk

CREIGHTON AVENUE, N2 £2,099,999

A completely refurbished exceptional five bedroom semi-detached family home with a south facing garden.

• 5 Bedrooms

THE OWNERS LOVE...

• PoggenPohl designer fitted kitchen with Quartz work tops

“Every part of our beautiful home, especially our custom designed staircase which is the focal point” “When our Schuco bi-folding doors are open, the house and garden become one large entertaining area” “We are on the same road as Fortismere and Eden Schools”

WE’VE NOTICED...

This property has come to market with numerous designer fixtures and fittings.

The master bedroom has a separate dressing room. Decked and landscaped garden.

• Open plan living area with Cantifix Sky Light downstairs

• All doors imported designer by Lualdi • En-suite to master bedroom, rain shower by Hansgrohe • 3 Designer staircases by Kenngott • EPC rating - D

East Finchley • T: 020 8883 0077 • E: N2@martyngerrard.co.uk • 66/68 High Road, East Finchley, N2 9PN

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www.martyngerrard.co.uk

RINGWOOD AVENUE, N2 £1,999,950

A rare opportunity to acquire a family home on the Ringwood Estate that has had only two previous owners since the 1930s.

• 5 Bedrooms • 2 Reception rooms • 3 Bathrooms

THE OWNERS LOVE...

• 4 WC’S

“The garden - it’s more like an extension of nature than a domestic setting - (it used to be part of Coldfall Woods in the 30’s)“ “The kitchen - so much so, we only seem to live in that one room. It’s also been featured in a global TV commercial for Childrens charity; Plan International“ “The setting - it’s quiet, you wouldn’t believe you’re in London, and the neighbours are great too“

• Fitted kitchen • Office room • Large driveway • Private Garden

WE’VE NOTICED...

• EPC rating - E

Dukes Avenue is conveniently located for Muswell Hill’s Broadway, sought after schools, numerous bus routes and the grounds of Alexandra Palace.

East Finchley • T: 020 8883 0077 • E: N2@martyngerrard.co.uk • 66/68 High Road, East Finchley, N2 9PN

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We love helping you

the best price achieve

for your property.

We make selling homes a pleasure.

Winners of the Silver Award for Best Website Nationally and the Bronze Award for Best Medium Estate Agency in the UK at the 2013 Negotiator Awards.

Winners of the Silver Award for Best Medium Agency in London at “The Times”and “The sunday Times 2013 awards”.

www.martyngerrard.co.uk The award-winning agency . . . . . . where integrity counts.

BARNET • CROUCH END • EAST FINCHLEY • FINCHLEY CENTRAL • NORTH FINCHLEY • HENDON • KENTISH TOWN • MILL HILL • MUSWELL HILL • WHETSTONE

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