NORTH BY NORTHWEST JUNE 2014

ABSOLUTELY

JUNE 2014 £3.95

1DE0 LIS WE

THEO RANDALL

❤

THE PRIMROSE HILL CHEF TALKS TASTE OF LONDON

COUNTER CULTURE

MASTERING LATTE ART AT CARAVAN

MY AREA

JACK LOXTON’S LOCAL HANG-OUTS

HOME GROWN THE SECRETS OF INDOOR GARDENING

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Tim Moss Bespoke kitchens www.timmoss.co.uk

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Nu-Line Kitchen Studio: 12-14 Malton rd London W10 5UP 020 8206 5170

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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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CONTENTS JUNE 2014 09

EDITOR’S LETTER

10

ABSOLUTELY LOVES

LOCA L 13

WHAT'S ON

16

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE Table talk with Primrose Hill chef Theo Randall

FA S H I O N 24

GILDING THE LILY Fashion meets florals

29

FORGET ME NOT More power to the flower with this month's botanical pick of the bunch

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BEAUTY NOTES The best beauty buys for summer

FOOD 44

WHOLE LATTE LOVE Clementine Lyon attempts to master latte art

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FOOD REVIEWS Rita's Bar & Dining & Topolski

INTERIORS 61

THE HOUSE GARDENER Isabelle Palmer's indoor gardening secrets

62

GET THE LOOK A peak inside Emerald Faerie's stylish tower block flat

PROPERTY 102

SPOTLIGHT ON Crouch End

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS Edward Robinson, Area Director at Faron Sutaria

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www.sweetpeajewellery.com

Fine jewellery • Primrose Hill The Sweet Pea boutique on Gloucester Avenue stocks both luxury and fashion designer brands including Polly Wales, Jo Hayes Ward, Brooke Gregson and the Sweet Pea range.

A bespoke service is available.

10% off on your first purchase - Code SPRING10 - in store or online.

SWEET PEA BOUTIQUE 77 Gloucester Avenue Primrose Hill London NW1 8LD phone 0207 449 9292

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June 2014

EDITOR’S letter

B

eautiful public parks, world-renowned cultural institutions and historic architecture are all good reasons to love London – and, moreover, the local area. But over the last few years, something else has snagged the top spot in my list of ‘reasons to put up with the traffic': the food.

Forget TV dinners and family meals; getting out and about for a communal cook-up is for many modern Londoners the only way to eat. Food is big news and even bigger business, so who to thank for our city’s culinary pedigree?

The answer is the people growing and making great food, one of whom, Theo Randall, is interviewed in this issue. Randall is a Gordon Ramsay protegé whose namesake restaurant at the Intercontinental Hotel in Mayfair has won plaudits from even the very hardest-to-please. Randall talked to us about what drives his culinary ambitions – and told us what goes on behind the scenes at the annual Taste of London Festival, soon to return to Regent’s Park.

The fact that the food and drink at even the smallest neighbourhood coffee shop are now routinely prepared by artisans is not one to take for granted, and the end result is that everyone in the culinary field has raised their game. We review two of London’s most talked-about new restaurant openings, Topolski and Rita’s Bar & Dining, later in the issue, and we’ve also thrown in a recipe from Thomasina Miers’ new cookbook because it’s just so lush and summery.

This June, get eating, cooking, gardening, or whichever part of the chain makes you happiest. The important thing is to enjoy your food, from field to fork.

ABSOLUTELY EDITOR HELEN BARON EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CATHERINE HALES EDITORIAL INTERN DEMI MILLARD PROPERTY EDITOR HUGO HUNTER TRAVEL EDITOR GEORGIE LANE-GODFREY ART DIRECTOR RAY SEARLE PRODUCTION MANAGER STEWART HYDE SENIOR DESIGNER PHIL COUZENS MID-WEIGHT DESIGNERS GEMMA ISTEED, ANDREW MAVIN PRODUCTION DESIGNER TAHIR KAPUCU ARTWORKER EKREM YILMAZ JUNIOR DESIGNER EDWARD TAYLOR, REBECCA NOONAN PRODUCTION CONTROLLER CHRISTINE MANN NORTH & CENTRAL ADVERTISING MANAGER KRISTIAN LIBETTA ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER TOLGA SAYLAN GROUP PROPERTY DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER PROPERTY DIRECTOR ANDY ELMER PROPERTY MANAGER EMILY SAUNDERSON FINANCE MANAGER MARIANNE MCFADDEN FINANCE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTOR GREG HUGHES MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing marianne@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

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 errorss. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

WWW.ZEST-MEDIA.COM

Helen Baron Editor

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

On the cover OSSIE CLARK ossieclarklondon.co.uk

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C lutch Control

by Mimi Berry

Mimi's SS14 collection contains an array of colourful Italian and English leather clutches, shoulder bags and satchels. Available from Hub, 49 Church Street, Stoke Newington, N16; mintvelvet.co.uk

10 THINGS WE

ABSOLUTELY

PARK LIFE

L O V E

Aston Martin don't do picnic hampers but if they did... oh, wait, they do! The luxury car brand have produced a stunning hamper just in time for the summer months, creating a picnic that really goes the extra mile. £2,950; harrods.com

getting trollied Display your bottles with pride on this rather marvellous drinks trolley.

If anyone asks why you bought it, tell them it’s just how you roll. Get it? £195, 4 Hampstead High Street, NW3; oliverbonas.com

STEP UP Go one step further with your espadrilles this summer and get them customised from Design a Manger. There's nothing like a bit of personalisation to mark your sartorial territory. £95;

gift-library.com

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so fresh and so clean The White Stuff 's SS14 collection is bang on trend, featuring feminine florals and pretty prints galore.

12-14 Essex Road, Islington,N1; thewhitestuff3.com

LIFE'S TOO SHORT Who likes short shorts? We like short shorts! Break away from the generic jean short this summer with these delightful items from Crew. £50;

crewclothing.co.uk

giddy up You don't have to own a thoroughbred or be handy with a riding crop to hanker after CALDER's brilliant new range of rurally-inspired citywear.

TERRA-RIFIC

calderlondon.co.uk

Despite living in a digital age, when it comes to writing thank-you letters, emails just don't cut the mustard.

These incredibly sweet cards from Fox and Star Stationary feature charming illustrations of terrariums. £5.95;

thefoxandstar.co.uk

FRENCH FANCY

LIKE A BULLEIT

Talk about French. This Breton striped-éclair has arrived in collaboration with The Barbican for its Jean Paul Gautier exhibition. We salute you, PAUL pâtisserie.

Bulleit Frontier Whiskey tastes as old-timey and delicious as it sounds, which makes sense since it's recipe is from 1800. We recommend adding bitters for a scrumptious Old Fashioned. £27;

£3.50, 43 Hampstead High Street, NW3; paul-uk.com

alexanderandjames.com

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AgENDA

/ JUNE

don’t miss

Demi

Lovato

1 June KOKO

he diminutive songstress first found fame on the Disney channel as the of star of Camp Rock. Since then Demi has released four albums and is currently reprising her role as judge on the U.S. version of The X Factor alongside another Disney alum, Britney Spears. Prior to the show’s autumn launch, Demi Lovato released her fourth album, preceded by the single Heart Attack and now fans of the young star will have the opportunity to see her perform live.

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

T

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HENRY V PART II RSC Live

18_June Phoenix Cinema

ing Henry’s health is failing as a second rebellion threatens to surface and the king is uncertain that Hal is a worthy heir, believing him more concerned with earthly pleasures than the responsibility of rule. Meanwhile, Falstaff is sent to the countryside to recruit fresh troops where he gleefully indulges in the business of lining his own pockets. As the King’s health continues to worsen, Hal must choose between duty and loyalty to an old friend. 52 High Road, N2; phoenixcinema.co.uk

K

in the cinema

Grace of Monaco

T

he film, starring Nicole Kidman and directed by Olivier Dahan, tells the story of actress turned princess Grace Kelly during a turbulent time in both her marriage and career. Having seemingly renounced acting after her marriage to Prince Ranier of Monaco, she is offered a part in Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie. Sorely tempted to accept, her decision is complicated by the sudden threat of invasion by Charles de Gaulle of France and the subsequent political crisis that ensues. Plagued by controversy and delayed release dates, the film itself has mirrored the confusion of its subject and is now finally due to be screened at Cannes. Fans of Nicole Kidman, and indeed Grace Kelly, can only hope that Grace of Monaco is not a repeat of the Naomi Watts/Dianagate debacle of 2013.

In Cinemas 6 June

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GROWLondon

20_22 June Hampstead Heath Whether you like to grow herbs on a windowsill, plant peonies on your balcony, sow seeds in your allotment or are just looking to jazz up your garden with colour and style, GROWLondon promises masses of inspiration, creativity and originality for everyone from plant-mad professionals to green-fingered enthusiasts. Those interested in ‘growing your own’ will be particularly well catered for this year with a wealth of exhibitors offering everything from special containers that work inside as well as outside and a programme of free workshops and talks. Gordon House Road, NW5;

Midnight Circus

18_June 12_July Jacksons Lane Life is a cabaret, old chum, so come join Midnight Circus ‘for four weeks of risqué and impressive performance, twisted contortionists, high-flying trapeze artists, incredible acrobatics and fire, lots of fire.’

The scintillating show is brought to life by a 12-strong cast of talented circus performers that will leave audiences open-mouthed and wanting more.

269A Archway Road, N6;

growlondon.com

jacksonslane.org.uk

THE BOOK

The Lawn Road Flats

H

by David burke

Islington Giving Week

9_15 June Throughout Islington A celebration of all things Islington, the week will offer locals and those from farther afield the chance to really appreciate all of the brilliant activities and opportunities the community has to offer. Most of the events are free, meaning everyone can join in the fun, which will include going ‘Inside Islington’ to see firsthand some of the projects that Islington Giving supports, learning more about the area with ‘Walk the Line’ boundary walk and a quiz night to test your local knowledge.

islingtongiving.org.uk

istorian David Burke’s The Lawn Road Flats delves into the colourful history of the eponymous Belsize Park housing development, built in the early part of the 20th century and famously the first Modernist construction in Britain to use reinforced concrete in domestic architecture. Its iconic status was later cemented (if you’ll excuse the pun) by a series of fascinating, famous (and sometimes infamous) residents including Soviet spies, artists (such as Henry Moore) and writers (Dame Agatha Christie, no less). A brilliant reminder of the stories behind the walls we walk past every day. £25, published by The Boydell Press. Waterstones 128 Camden High Street, NW1; waterstones.com

In the Vale of Health

29 May - 14 June Hampstead Theatre This extraordinary collection of Simon Gray’s work, three unseen plays and one revival, offers a unique experience five years after the writer’s death. See 1, 2, 3 or all 4 plays featuring the same characters – brothers competing for the love of the same woman – but each telling a different story with astonishingly different outcomes. Watching rehearsals of his play Japes, Gray realised the characters might have made different choices and arrived at a different ending, so he set to work on Japes Too. The result is an astonishing run of plays that are well worth the the price of a ticket. Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, NW3;

hampsteadtheatre.com

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taste the difference

In the run up to Taste of London, Beth Evans talks tables with Primrose Hill TV chef, Theo Randall

F

ood in London is big business; huge, in fact, and with new restaurants opening their doors every day, competition is fierce. No one knows this better than Theo Randall, who has been at the helm of thriving restaurants since first donning his whites. But what does it take to get to, and then stay, at the top of the most competitive of industries? And more importantly, why aren’t all chefs really, really fat? It was with these and other burning questions in mind that I popped in to chat (and eat, of course) with the man himself.

It was during the early Nineties that Randall set about creating a buzz at the River Café; he’s not only credited with winning the restaurant its first Michelin Star but also for changing Britain’s restaurant culture ‘for good’.

River Cafe was the restaurant that launched a thousand chefs – or at least a handful of some of the most feted ones, including Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Ed Baines (of Randall and Aubin) and April Bloomfield (of New York’s Spotted Pig).

So the pressure was really on when Randall went solo. That was back in 2006, and it wasn’t long before he was

YOU KNOW YOU’VE NAILED IT WHEN JAY RAYNER DECLARES YOURS ‘THE BEST MEAL I HAVE HAD ALL YEAR’

winning acclaim at his eponymous restaurant at the Intercontinental on Park Lane. Since its launch, the establishment has won numerous accolades including Italian Restaurant of the Year at the London Restaurant Awards, Best Italian/ Mediterranean over £50 in Harden’s 2013 and the highest ranking of any Italian eatery in the Sunday Times Food List 2013. You know you’ve nailed it when Jay Rayner declares yours ‘the best meal I have had all year’. Enough said.

The first thing I notice about the man himself is his effusive obsession with ingredients. Fresh, seasonal, meat or veg, Randall’s passion for produce is a key factor in his success.

‘We get the ingredients in and make the menu from there,’ he tells me, ‘but the key thing is not to overcomplicate dishes, to keep the flavours

independent and the ingredients in their best form. My philosophy is less is more. Why cover a great ingredient up with something else? For me, producers are just as inspiring as any chef. They’re the unsung heroes. It’s not always cooks who inspire me, not cooks at all really, it’s the person who rears the longhorn beef, the person who makes the cheese, the farmers and winemakers who sell them with such excitement and devotion. I always make sure I work with people who have the same passion as me.’

Making its home in a five-star hotel amid some of London’s most expensive real estate is perhaps not what you’d expect from Randall’s first

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ABSOLUTELY FOOD

restaurant, which has an informal and unpretentious atmosphere. It certainly wasn’t planned that way, though it has worked out rather nicely for all concerned. Of course, Randall is aware of the snobbery that can attach itself to a hotel restaurant, but concludes that ‘over time people have become less worried about it. It becomes irrelevant when you realise it has its own personality. It’s luxurious, you’re well looked after and actually you can really concentrate on all that’s really important in the dining experience.’

He continues, ‘Some people come because they’ve seen me on TV, others for business lunches, for anniversaries or any other occasion. It’s a destination restaurant but, young or old, they come for the great food and atmosphere. The biggest compliment is the plate coming back clean. You’re always going to get people who don’t like something but I’d never argue the point. Mistakes happen but the most important thing in the restaurant business, in any business, is rectifying it. It’s about high standards and consistency. Always.’

Ask any chef and they’ll tell you, those standards aren’t met without putting in the hours. Labouring in the kitchen from morning until night, six or sometimes seven days a week, Randall has earned his cooking stripes. But he attests to the fact that half the battle is in the marketing. Chosen by none other than Gordon Ramsay as one of the chefs the Scot most admires, Randall might not shout like his old mentor, but he’s more than a match for him in marketing know-how. Having made a name for himself on the small screen via shows like Market Kitchen, Celebrity Masterchef, Something for the Weekend and Saturday Kitchen – not to mention his own series, Country Show Cook Off – you’d be forgiven for thinking that the chef was going to disappear from his own kitchen altogether. (And that’s without mentioning his writing: Randall’s book, Pasta, is out now

and he’s already working on another, while penning a weekly blog for T he Huffington Post.) But for this chef, keeping out of the kitchen is the last thing he wants.

‘I’m absolutely a chef first and everything else second. I’m out there selling the restaurant. People are so interested in chefs and seeing what they’re doing but appearances and TV are a marketing tool, which I luckily enjoy! If you don’t enjoy it, it shows.

I don’t do it to make money, I do it to show people how good I am and to make people think “I want to see more, I want to go to his restaurant”. I love what I do and I love being in my restaurant. I just need to keep that fine balance.

My motto is to give everything 110%.’

That’s why for the last six years Randall has been a firm favourite at Taste, Londons’ increasingly popular food festival. With 55,000 food fans flooding through its gates, it’s a huge opportunity for restaurants and chefs of all levels to show off their skills – and a rare chance for Randall to spend time with his fellow chefs.

‘I love doing Taste,’ he says, ‘it’s a great festival with a friendly atmosphere but it takes unbelievable planning. It’s six months in the making, over in three days! It’s always great to see Michael Blizzard, I try to get located near him as he’s guaranteed to be one of the busiest restaurants there! And Francesco Mazzei is a good friend. It’s a festival atmosphere and

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what the public don’t see is that in between running around and working hard, we’ll have a break, a glass of something, trays of food coming and going constantly, the football will be on and it’s just really fun.’

Given that he’s one of the hardestworking chefs in the business, no one can say Theo Randall doesn’t deserve to have a little fun – so long as some of it is in the kitchen.

Though he spends a huge amount of time sourcing ingredients and traveling around Italy, Randall’s a massive lover of all things London.

‘The London landscape has changed a lot, in the last six or seven years it’s changed dramatically. You can see that from the amount of restaurant PRs alone – it’s a huge business. Looking around at all these restaurants, there are fantastic menus for really good value. The London scene is getting bigger and bigger.’

While Randall’s star rose long ago, he still has many ambitions and plans afoot. But unfortunately, he’s keeping schtum.

‘I have plans, there’s still lots to do. But I’m a doer. I like to keep my cards close to my chest and talk about things after the event. If I look at what I’ve done so far, I can allow myself to feel proud of course, but the most important thing to me is that I’ve enjoyed what I’ve done. But this is only phase one! Okay, maybe phase two.’

Quickfire Questions WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO EAT IN LONDON?

I LOVE DOING TASTE, IT’S A GREAT FESTIVAL WITH A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE BUT IT TAKES UNBELIEVABLE PLANNING

Living in North London, I can’t recommend Princess Garden highly enough. It’s always full of Chinese people, the quality is great while the prices are reasonable. Lemonia in Regent’s Park, 160 in West Hampstead – in London the list is endless! I love going to places that are completely new, and if I enjoy it, I tweet about it.

It’s a tough world and its always nice to hand out compliments. I’m not afraid of competition. Competition is the best thing, it drives you.

WHERE DO YOU DO YOUR OWN FOOD SHOPPING?

There are many incredible greens, dandelions, all kinds of things that can be grown in the UK that we just don’t use and that’s a huge shame.

We should really look into that more.

But whatever the country, I love food markets. Moxon Street in Marylebone is the best! I’ll spend hours and buy half the market if I can.

TIPS FOR HOSTING A DINNER PARTY?

Don’t make it complicated. The easier you make it, the more enjoyable it will be. And try making the dish before the big night. Enjoy it.

THEO RANDALL’S DESERT ISLAND MEAL

Poached langoustine with a little bit of olive oil. Tallerine with white truffles.

Roasted grouse, cooked on bruschetta with garlic. Gorgonzola naturale with wet walnut and pear. A bowl of ice-cold cherries.  Taste of London runs from 18-22 June in Regent’s Park; london.tastefestivals.com parklane.intercontinental.com

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ABSOLUTELY FASHION

FASHION NOTES HELLO SAILOR Tatty Devine have created an exciting capsule collection in celebration of the current Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at The Barbican.

Pieces play homage to the risqué and quirky fashions of Gaultier, so we can’t help but get on board. From £25; available both through the Barbican gift shop and the Tatty Devine website; tattydevine.com

PRETTY IN PINK Almost anything LK Bennett is alright by us, but this candy striped Denver silk print dress (£275) with Bess Colour Block Sandals (£195) is more than alright. Perfect attire for a garden party, something a bit different for a wedding, and even works as a night-on-the-town ensemble too. Unit 31, Jubilee Place, 45 Bank Street, E14; lkbennett.com

COLOUR UP Bright pastels and bold patterns dominate Ted Baker’s SS14 collection, which also features nipped-in waists and tulip skirts.

The sports luxe trend is given a nod with zipped bombers and slinky shorts. Ted Baker, Unit 5 Canada Place, E14; tedbaker.com

PALM SPREE Team this limited edition Palm Print Blouse by Marks & Spencer with some skinny jeans and a pair of killer heels and lady, you’re ready to go. We especially love that the print alludes to tropical islands we are surely soon to visit on our summer holidays. Aren’t we? £35, Unit 31, Jubilee Place, 45 Bank Street, E14; marksandspencer.com

style tip POOL SLIDES ARE THE LOGICAL TREND-SUCCESSOR TO BIRKENSTOCKS. Taking ugly shoes to the next level, at first glance they’re more ‘Eighties leisure centre/worn by your dad’ than Miami Beach. But once you see that Rita Ora and the Olsen twins have been sporting them (and that you needn’t have the legs of a gazelle to pull them off) they suddenly seem more appealing. If you can get away with them, they’re damn comfy, especially as they’re worn with socks, but we’re willing to let that slide. Ahem.

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Gilding the lily

Add an edge to this season's florals with voluminous shapes and metallic finishes

Photography: JAMES LUCAS Styling: EMMA SAVILL

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Emma Vivian top, £250 Topshop Unique skirt, £42 Vintage braclets, stylist's own

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M&S floral shirt, £35 Beulah Iris trousers, £250 Emma Vivian leather jacket, £680 Topshop earrings, £8.50

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Topshop jumper, £70 Emma Vivian skirt, £280 Zara leather bag, £80 & Other Stories shoes, £45 Topshop socks, £3.50

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Beulah bisque rose gold oil print dress, poa Zara wedges, £70 H&M jacket, £39.99

STOCKISTS Beulah; beulahlondon.com Emma Savill London; emmasavill.com Emma Vivian; emma.vivian@outlook.com H&M; hm.com M&S; marksandspencer.com Nike; nike.com Orelia; orelia.co.uk Topshop; topshop.com Zara; zara.com/uk & Other Stories; stories.com

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Photographer: James Lucas Styling: Emma Savill Model: Lidiia at Leni’s Model Management Makeup & Hair Stylist: Alice Oliver using Bobbi Brown and Bumble and Bumble Production: BeautyandPro.com

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The Tile Box

40 Offord Road, Islington N1 1EB 020 7700 1444 www.thetilebox.co.uk

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timeless

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

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

www.funktionalkitchens.co.uk

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Forget-Me-Not TED BAKER MONNY SKIRT £129; tedbaker.com

SS14 FLORALS ARE BOLDER AND SASSIER THAN EVER. MORE POWER TO THE FLOWER.

PAUL AND JOE SS14

DEBUT AT DEBENHAMS £100; debenhams.com

SOPHIA WEBSTER NINA SHOES, £540; sophiawebster.co.uk

DOLCE & GABBANA GLAM FLORAL BROCADE CROSS-BODY BAG £475; matchesfashion.com

ERDEM VALA FLORAL-PRINT SILK-SATIN JUMPSUIT, £1,120; mytheresa.com

STELLA MCCARTNEY PINK FLORAL COAT £1,195; selfridges.com

MOTHER OF PEARL, JUNO FLORAL PRINT TOP, £246; matchesfashion.com SOPHIA WEBSTER NINA SHOES, £540; sophiawebster.co.uk

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Better than SLICED BREAD!

KIDS NOTES

Ok, we have to admit, this one’s for us as well as the kids.

Sourced in Japan (of course), this sandwich mould goes under the grill for a light toasting. A gooey, chocolatey filling is our recommendation. £12; petraboase.com

CARTOON COOKIES We love the new tin from icing aficionados Biscuiteers, which includes all the classic Mr. Men characters, from Mr Tickle to Mr Bump. Buy one to be your kids’ Mr Cool – there’s even a separate Little Miss Collection for little misses, too... The Mr. Men Little Miss Biscuit Collection, £30; biscuiteers.com

EDITOR’S PICK

BOHO BABES

Vintage-inspired brand Their Nibs’ latest collection is a captivating fairytale mix of old-fashioned innocence and whimsical prints. No surprises then that Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Sadie Frost and Thandie Newton are all reported to be fans.

theirnibs.com

DESIGN FOR LIFE

here’s a new Italian children’s designer being stocked at Nubie, here to streamline chaotic and unruly dens. Clever storage design, integrated wardrobe units and high sleeper beds are some of the solutions. As well as being super stylish, they use ecological panels made from reclaimed wood, thus contributing to the fight for a more sustainable future. Woody Hug Children’s Bed, £,1350; nubie.co.uk

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SEEING DOUBLE

hat could be cuter than dressing your little’un in this gorgeous gingham dress? Dressing her doll to match, of course. Gingham baby dress with

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knickers, £18, and Matilda Ragdoll, £15, JoJo Maman Bébé, 1259 Finchley Road, NW11; jojomamanbebe.co.uk

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MY AREA

ABSOLUTELY LOCAL

JACK LOXTON, currently starring as Albert Narracott in the National Theatre’s production of War Horse, lets us in on his local secrets...

4. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

I’m an avid football fan. So I keep up to date with anything going on with my team (the mighty West Brom). I try to go and see as much theatre as possible in and around town as well as seeing the latest films at the cinema. I’m currently contemplating getting a bicycle.

Most of my friends from drama school are still living nearby

5. WHERE DO YOU GO TO GET THE BEST LOCAL BREAKFAST? A friend took me to Papa’s Café on the Finchley Road a couple of years back and I’m yet to find a better English breakfast in Northwest London.

6...AND THE PERFECT PINT?

The Holly Bush in Hampstead for sure.

7. WHAT TV SHOWS ARE YOU CURRENTLY ENJOYING?

I’ve been catching up with Peaky Blinders recently. It’s set in Birmingham and, as I’m originally from there, I’ve been critiquing Cillian Murphy’s Brummie accent. It is an amazing TV series and I cannot wait for the next season.

8. WHAT 'S PLAYING ON YOUR IPOD AT THE MOMENT? Metronomy’s Love Letters.

9. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? 1. WHERE IS HOME FOR YOU?

Just in between Golders Green and Hendon. I’ve been living here for four years now.

As I’m currently in War Horse in the West End, I’ve been reading some Michael Morpurgo books, including Private Peacefu Peaceful at the moment.

2. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE?

10. DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT WEEKEND.

I’m not far from Golders Hill Park, which is an awesome place to have a kick around. And I’m quite partial to the mini zoo they’ve got going there. Hampstead is just up the road as well and there are some really cool pubs and coffee shops around there.

3. DO MANY OF YOUR ACTOR FRIENDS LIVE NEARBY?

Most of my friends from drama school are all still living nearby; we went to Central in Swiss Cottage so we’ve stayed pretty close together since we left.

A decent-sized bacon sandwich with red sauce and no butter. Then off to watch the football either at the ground or in a good pub with a few mates. Followed by dinner at a friend’s house and then probably on to a bar in Shoreditch.

 War Horse is playing at the New London Theatre, Drury Lane, WC2 Tickets are available from warhorselondon.com

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B E AU T Y / n o t e s

GARDEN STATE o Malone London believe that gardens are good for the soul, which is why they established the Urban Community Garden Project, which supports communities to build and maintain scented gardens.

Ever the philanthropists, proceeds from the sales of the divine new Limited Edition Silk Blossom home candle will go directly to this very worthy cause. £42, 24 Royal Exchange Buildings, EC3; jomalone.co.uk

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THE COLOUR & THE SHAPE ontouring may be the beauty buzzword of 2014, but the experts at NARS Cosmetics have been in the know for years. NARS’ cult contouring collection welcomes two new matte blushers in celebration of the brand’s 20th anniversary. It’s time to shape up. Available at Space NK, 299 Upper Street, N1; narscosmetics.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY B E AUT Y

HEAR HER ROAR SL's cult concealer Touche Eclat has hit the counters in a new edition. Inspired by the brand's celebrated leopard pattern, the wild edition pays tribute to the Saint Laurent woman's ‘animal instinct’. Phwoar. £25; yslbeauty.co.uk

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RAW TRUTH Lush have capitalised on their high quality, organic and ethically sourced ingredients with a brand new kitchen concept. The ‘fresh from the kitchen’ line will be made daily and available to purchase online, while customers can view real-time updates from the kitchen and expert Q&A sessions streamed live through the website. Fans of the brand will get an insight into just how the cosmetic chefs make Lush products (by hand). Check the site or search under # WhatsInsideCounts, lush.co.uk

TRIED & TESTED

ROXY BEAUTY

erched on the hill, just up the road from Finchley Road station, Roxy Beauty offers an oasis away from the stress of everyday life. On arrival I was greeted by Roxy herself, who introduced me to my hairstylist Olya, both of whom were incredibly friendly and immediately put me at my ease.

My experience began with a ritual unique to AVEDA salons, which involved rubbing oil on my hands and inhaling the vapor. This practice aims to fully relax the client before their treatment and help them adjust to the serene vibe of the salon. Olya and I then discussed what I was looking for and we settled on a Botanical Damage Remedy to help with my split ends and repair some of the damage done by colouring my hair. A trim and touching up of my roots were also agreed upon and with that we got down to business.

During my wait for the dye to set I was treated to a hand massage by Mihaela, the salon's resident beautician, which made my wait far more pleasant and left my hands and forearms lovely and soft. Olya then rinsed out the dye and administered an incredibly relaxing head massage before applying the damage remedy. The cut was efficient and deftly carried out and was, most importantly, exactly what I'd asked for. The AVEDA mask left my hair replenished, bouncy and shiny and those results have lasted well.

One expert blow dry later and I surveyed the final results. The cut was excellent and my slightly flat hair looked healthy and revitalised. The combination of brilliant service, treatments and a really good stylist all make a trip to Roxy Beauty incredibly worthwhile. CH

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NAIL IT ant a subtle nod to the season’s floral trends? We love Ciaté’s flower manicure kit in Strike A Posy – a sugary pink polish accompanied with pops of blue, yellow and cream dried pressed flowers and tweezers for precision placement. Pretty cool. £18; selfridges.com

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SOME LIKE IT HOT he famed inflatable pod housing Hackney's favourite hot yoga sessions has taken up a semipermanent residency at The Trampery, where the hour-long classes pop up at evenings and weekends. Go on, you'll be hooked. hotpodyoga.com

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3 OF THE BEST

ORANGE LIPSTICKS

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2 3

1. Wild about Beauty Nutrilips Lipstick in Betty, £15; wildaboutbeauty.com 2. Deborah Lippmann Lip Colour in Call Me Maybe, £18; lookfantastic.com 3. By Terry Rouge Terrybly Lipstick in 400 21 VD, £33; uk.spacenk.com

 473 Finchley Road, NW3, 020 7431 0555; roxybeauty.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY B E AUT Y

1

NARS Contour Blush in Olympia, £30; narscosmetics.co.uk

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bareMinerals Warmth All Over Face Cover, £19; bareminerals.co.uk

2

Benefit Sun Beam Golden Bronze Complexion Highlighter, £19.50; benefitcosmetics.co.uk

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Becca Ultimate Coverage Complexion Crème, £34; uk.spacenk.com

Shady

LADY

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Estee Lauder Contour Shadow Brush 30, £19; esteelauder.co.uk

8 OF THE BEST CONTOURING PRODUCTS

EDITOR’S PICK

7 MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork, £15; maccosmetics.co.uk

5

Clinique Air Brush Concealer, £18; clinique.co.uk

6

Illamasqua Sculpting Duo, £26; illamasqua.com

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THE

CEN T R E IS . . .

EXCITIN G E V ENIN GS A N D TO P E N T E RTA I N M E N T With two live music venues, a ten screen cinema and a range of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, explore the best of Islington’s nightlife at The N1 Centre this summer.

Experience a night out at O2 Academy Islington with themed club events, big-name DJs and the latest up-and-coming music artists. Whether you want an epic night out or a few drinks and a film with friends, choose The N1 Centre as your one-stop destination for after-hours entertainment.

Check out www.n1islington.com for the latest event listings.

n1islington.com

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This robot clock (£12.00), tribal blue hip flask (£10.00), tartan passport holder (£7.50), ‘All Change’ iphone case (£12.00) and stylish nautical leather journal (£15.00) are just some of the gifts on offer at Paperchase.

13/05/2014 09:33

OneSh

If dinner and a movie is more his thing, check out the latest releases at Vue Cinema Islington for the hottest action and sci-fi films including Edge of Tomorrow and Godzilla.

When followed by the new Hunger Conqueror menu from GBK with any original burger, small fries and soft drink for just £9.95, it’s sure to be an easy win this Father’s Day.

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AT THE N1 CENTR E n1islington.com

Brighten up his wardrobe with socks from French Connection or kit him out with a leather belt from H&M. If your father’s a touch on the fussy side, pick out a gift card from one of our retailers or restaurants and let him choose his own treat this year.

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Whether you’re treating him to lunch, a new gadget or a tasteful accessory, The N1 Centre has just what you need to make your dad feel special this Father’s Day.

Surprise him with a cuppa in a fun novelty mug (£3.99) courtesy of Butlers, or raise a glass with their Manhattan Lounge cocktail shaker (£12.90) and celebrate in style.

Don’t forget the card! From humorous to heart-felt, Paperchase has a card to suit every dad.

13/05/2014 09:34

15/05/2014 14:43

ABSOLUTELY B E AUT Y

MAKE-UP INSIDER

1

Don’t fear orange, says ARABELLA PRESTON

2

MAC COSMETICS

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ops of bright orange were all over the Spring Summer 14 catwalks. Although it appears dangerously bold, it is in fact one of the most versatile and flattering shades. Easier to wear than pink, or even certain reds, orange balances greyness (which is why you might find your under-eye concealer has a slight apricot hue). There’s no reason not to apply this theory to the rest of the face, banishing tired and dry skin with bright flashes of orange.

The aim is skin that looks fresh, dewy and strokably youthful. Start by massaging Decleor’s Mandarine Serum into your face, focusing on highlight areas such as the tops of cheekbones, temples and the bridge of your nose. For light coverage, YSL’s BB cream is my go-to ‘natural glow’ product. Use the tips of your fingers to blend quickly into your skin.

The Prabal Gurung show (pictured) gave a wonderful demonstration of the uplifting power of an orange lip.

Make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury lined the lips in MAC’s lip pencil What a Blast! then filled in with the zingy Morange. As MAC Senior Artist Cher Web says: 'the advantage of wearing a bright lip is that you can keep your other make-up minimal. Pair it up with lashings of mascara for a perfectly balanced combo.'

If you need to lift your complexion a little, then an orange or coral blusher is the way to go. Pink will confuse the look.

The Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Hibiscus is a blendable and buildable cream blush that can also be used on the lips for a more toned-down orange pout.

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8

9

4

5

1 YSL Le Orange Lipstick,

£25, yslbeauty.co.uk 2 MAC Lip Pencil in What a Blast!,

£14.50,maccosmetics.co.uk

6

3 Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Hibiscus,

£19, bobbibrown.co.uk 4 Clarins HydraQuench Lip Balm,

£19, clarins.com 5 Topshop Lip Cream in Pout,

£7, topshop.com 6 Bobbi Brown Nail Polish in Nectar,

£11, bobbibrown.co.uk 7 YSL All-In-One BB Cream,

£38, yslbeauty.co.uk 8 MAC Lipstick in Morange,

 For more make-up tips from Arabella follow her on Instagram @arabellabeauty

£15, maccosmetics.co.uk 9 Decleor Aromessence Mandarine Serum, 7

£49.50, decleor.co.uk

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GOURMET SMALL-BATCH ROASTERY We source the world’s finest specialty coffee beans, to produce exceptional espresso and filter coffees, roasted on our lovingly restored and tweaked vintage roasters. Delivered with first class barista training and support.

WWW.VOLCANOCOFFEEWORKS.COM Unit D016, Parkhall Trading Estate, 62 Tritton Rd, London, SE21 8DE, UK. roastery@volcanocoffeeworks.com +44 (0)20 8761 8415

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ABSOLUTELY FOOD

Cold Comfort well-known lover of spice,

A Thomasina Miers is back

with metabolism (and temperature-raising) new recipes to make simple meals sensational. From weekday ideas to weekend spreads, her homecooked family dishes take an exotic twist and always, always champion the chilli.

Photography: Tara Fisher

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fo o d

news

{ My LOCAL LARDER { PASCAL AUSSIGNAC of Smithfields’ Club Gascon s a Frenchman living in London since 1997, I have always been on the search for great food places near my home in Smithfield, next to Club Gascon. Being next to the market (and knowing a few suppliers) is a great advantage for finding food, especially for those summer BBQs – my only problem is waking up so early.

For me, Smithfields is the best place in town for suckling pigs, fresh ham or côte de boeuf – some of the best suppliers are Andrade (for lamb), Gordon Meats (for beef and veal) and Keevil & Keevil (for game).

Clerkenwell is also home to some fantastic pubs, including The Fox & Anchor.

For fish, one of the first places that springs to mind is Steve Hatt on Essex Road. It’s always been tricky to find vegetables locally, however there is in fact a hidden gem of a veg stall in front of Chancery Lane station – here the fruit and veg are always (naturally) ready to eat, and it’s nice for me to buy something with no packaging!

While we import a lot of our own cheese at Club Gascon, I think that La Fromagerie in Marylebone and Androuet in Spitalfields are among the best options in London.

For something French, I am lucky to have my deli/bistro, Comptoir Gascon, where you can order duck, cassoulet, confits and piperade.

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 Club Gascon, 57 W Smithfield, EC1; clubgascon.com; @club_gascon  Taste of London returns to Regent's Park from 18-22 June. For more information or to book tickets visit london.tastefestivals.com

G R E AT B R I T I S H M E N U ompas & Parr’s new project, The British Menu Archive, collates a spectacular range of British menus in celebration of the ever-changing landscape of British culinary culture and history – and it’s all part of the Andaz Hotel’s Cultural Insider programme. Following a grand banquet of favourites in Andaz’s 1901 Wine Bar last month, the archive will be on display until the end of this month, so guests can see what people ate and drank on Concorde or what the dish of the day was at an official royal banquet.

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 Andaz Liverpool Street, 40 Liverpool Street, EC2; london.liverpoolstreet.andaz.com

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ABSOLUTELY FOOD

MAKE THIS

r e c i p e of the month  2 x 400g tins plum tomatoes  500ml water or fish stock  600g new potatoes, cut into 2-3cm chunks  900g line-caught cod, cut into large 2-inch chunks FOR THE ALMONDS

EAST LONDON LIQUOR Set to bring spirit production back to the East End (once the heart of England’s spirit trade), East London Liquor has opened the first and only distillery producing gin, whisky and vodka in the local area for over a century. Housed within an old glue factory in Bow Wharf, the distillery specialises in quality handcrafted spirits, artisanal gins and on-site aged whiskeys which are served up at their very own cocktail bar – from which, yes, you can see all the distillery gear in action.

221 Grove Road, E3; eastlondonliquorcompany.com

MUST TRY

 100g blanched almonds  1 tsp sweet smoked paprika  1 tsp sea salt  Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4.  Heat a large casserole dish over a high heat and when hot add the olive oil. Turn the heat down to medium before adding the onions, fennel, garlic, fennel seeds, chilli and saffron, and seasoning generously with salt and black pepper. Sweat the vegetables in the olive oil for 10 minutes before adding the garlic and cooking for another five minutes. Add the tomatoes,

A SIMPLE SPANISH FISH STEW WITH AN ALMOND CRUMB S E RV E S F O U R

ish stew is one of those failsafe dishes that I cook often. It always reminds me of a weekend in Spain when we went out with some local fishermen and caught enough to feed 40; we then cooked in an old beaten-up tin barrel. I have added a crumb to this version, as it lifts the stew from a cosy old supper dish into something altogether more glamorous. Make it your own by using your favourite type of fish and, if you like, add shellfish for more body.

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MARE & BECK New to London Fields is this dinky coffee shop and cafe, serving up artisan toasties and slow-cooked tacos to the creative communities of neighbouring Beck Road and Netil House. The coffee is a dark, smoky delight, the music is marvellous and the free wi-fi is FAST, while the decor somehow channels both Brooklyn brunch-stops and fin de siècle bohemian boltholes. It’s already a preferred pit-stop for those en route to or from Broadway Market – and the basement cocktail den is perfect for private parties. 69 Mare Street, E8; mareandbeck.co.uk

breaking them up with a wooden spoon, then pour in the water or stock and the new potatoes. Check for seasoning.  Simmer the stew for about 20–25 minutes or until the potatoes offer up no resistance when you push a sharp knife through: they should be completely cooked. In the meantime, put the almonds on a baking tray and pop in the oven for 5–10 minutes until a pale golden colour. Roughly chop with a large chopping knife to make fairly coarse breadcrumbs and stir in the paprika and salt.  Add the fish to the stew once the potatoes are cooked and simmer for a further five minutes until the fish turns from translucent to opaque. Spoon into hot bowls.

 4 tbsp olive oil  2 medium onions, finely chopped  1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed and chopped  4 garlic cloves, sliced  2 tsp fennel seeds, roughly ground  1 chile de árbol  2 good pinches of saffron strands  3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

 ©Thomasina Miers. Recipe taken from Chilli Notes by Thomasina Miers (Hodder & Stoughton, £25)

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WHOLE LATTE

The coffee revolution shows no sign of slowing, and Caravan in King’s Cross is home to one of the nation’s best baristas – as well as a series of coffee-making masterclasses. But can Estelle Bright teach Clementine Lyon the secrets of latte art?

here are worse ways to spend a sunny Spring morning than ambling through the regenerated King’s Cross towards Caravan, one of the area’s best and most buzzing restaurants and a highly regarded coffee roastery to boot. Yet I am everso-slightly nervous. I’m not here for the food; I’m about to take a lesson in the dark arts of the barista, and I don’t have a clue what to expect.

I love good coffee as much as the next person, but frothing milk and grinding beans has never been my forte. I worked in a branch of Starbucks once, for about two weeks more than a decade ago, but I’m fairly certain my vague memories of those syrupy, gigantic, automated

concoctions might be more harm than help in this new era of coffee purism. I have visions of myself standing coated in exploded milk suds in the middle of a busy restaurant as shocked brunchers gape in horror, morsels of egg trembling forgotten on their raised forks.

Luckily, my tutor for the next two hours is Estelle Bright, UK Barista Championship finalist and longtime overseer of Caravan’s busy coffee station. Bright is a tattooed pixie whose easygoing approach and matter-of-fact confidence soon puts my worried mind at rest. My fellow students seem similarly won over, as Bright explains the basics of coffee production and the various factors that can affect the finished product, from the quality of the milk (Caravan use only unhomogenised milk in their coffee) to the machines used to brew the

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ABSOLUTELY FOOD

CONTEMPORARY COFFEE:

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE he first thing to know is, the Antipodeans are the experts. Most of London’s current coffee culture stems from the efforts of a few inspired Aussies and Kiwis to reinvigorate what was for many years a dying art. Still, sometimes it can be difficult even to know what to order, so check out our rundown of the key caffeine fixes.

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Espresso

The milk plunges beneath the espresso’s surface ‘crema’ only to pool at the surface towards the end of the pour

espresso (handmade Italian beauties worth many, many thousands). Even the humidity of the air is important, we’re told, as it affects the way the beans are ground. It seems a lot to worry about, but it’s second nature to Bright. She’s been doing this for over a decade and is a master of the art. And art is the operative word, because the focus of this particular class – one of several held each week in the restaurant – is latte art, or the practice of squiggling pretty, symmetrical patterns in the surface of milky coffees.

Bright believes in learning by doing, so after watching her run through the three main patterns (a heart, a rosette and a tulip), we’re set to work. The key, it seems, lies in the steaming (not frothing) of the milk. What you’re after is milk of a thick, creamy consistency without bubbles or foam - the buzzword here is ‘microfoam’. Latte art is performed on lattes (naturally) and flat whites (a smaller, stronger variety of latte), not cappuccinos, which are a bit old hat anyway. The trick is to steam the milk to about 60-70 degrees Celsius (any hotter and the tasty sugars begin to

burn) then add it to the drink in exactly the right way, so that the milk plunges beneath the espresso’s surface ‘crema’ only to pool at the surface towards the end of the pour. At this moment, a few deft wrist movements can produce sinuous pale patterns in the rich coffee – but needless to say, this takes practice.

I’m not the most hopeless in the class – that award goes to my partner – but neither am I what you’d call ‘a natural’.

One of the fellow trainees does better.

He’s about to open a coffee-and-cocktails establishment in South London, and by the end of the session his rudimentary blobs are becoming more recognisably heart-shaped. My attempts to fashion a flower don’t progress as quickly, but fun has been had and some kind of seed has been sown; after twenty or more attempts, I’m keen to give it another stab as soon as I get the chance. Until then, I’ll content myself with appreciating the largely unsung talents of London’s baristas – long may they pour.

The base of all the other coffees on this list, an espresso is basically a small amount of water that has been forced through ground coffee beans at a predetermined rate, temperature and level of pressure. Beloved of Italians and a classic pick-me-up.

Long Black A black Americano in reverse; with this baby, the espresso is added to the hot water rather than the other way around. This preserves the coffee’s delicate surface layer, or crema.

Cappuccino The iconic Italian drink that almost became a cliche thanks to years of lazy pouring. A good cappuccino adds one-third steamed milk and one-third foamed milk to an espresso base, with the frothy white foam sitting on top. Chocolate or cinnamon sprinkles optional.

Flat White The killer weapon of the Antipodean revolutionaries, a flat white is, quite simply, an espresso with steamed milk. What differentiates it from a latte? Size, mainly: a flat white should never be served in a large cup. This makes it a stronger, tighter drink – and beyond that, it has a nice name.

Latte As above, but bigger – a latte is less a coffee with milk and more a milk with coffee.

Macchiato Forget Starbucks and all their caramel flavoured gubbins; a real macchiato is simply an espresso shot with a dash of steamed milk – like a flat white in miniature.

 Reserve a spot on one of Caravan’s coffee workshops by calling 020 7101 7661; caravankingscross.co.uk

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16/05/2014 09:33

DELI belly Foodie heaven is within reach… Beth Evans on ten of the best local delicatessens BEST FOR Showing off your foodie knowledge

MELROSE & MORGAN The last ten years have seen Melrose and Morgan grow from small fry into a burgeoning empire, with two stores and a string of fancy product lines to their name – but there’s no danger this local gem will lose its personal touch. This may be deli culture all grown-up and ready for business, but it still has a customer-focused, neighbourhood feel.

42 Gloucester Avenue, NW1; melroseandmorgan.com BEST FOR

People-watching

L’EAU A LA BOUCHE A forerunner of Hackney’s current culinary excellence, this ever-popular deli-cumcafé has been London Fields’ number one foodie hub since it opened in 2004. Run by a Frenchman with a strong focus on British and European delights, Broadway Market would be lost without it. You’ll struggle to get a seat inside no matter when you visit, but it’s well worth donning an extra jumper, braving the elements and enjoying your americano and croissant while watching the beards and bikes go by.

35-37 Broadway Market, E8; labouche.co.uk

BEST FOR

Treats to take home

FOOD LAB The name is misleading: rather than Petri dishes and molecular experiments, the Food Lab specialises in rustic Italian grub, where the food is matched by exceptionally warm service. Chatting to owner Liliana about her adventures in sourcing ingredients is a revelation, as is the Monday night buffet-style free for all.

And when you’re done talking?

Snaffle some of Liliana’s beautiful home-made sauces and preserves to pep up your own cooking. Try everything, stay for hours, go back often.

56 Essex Road, N1; foodlablondon.com

BEST FOR

Healthy, happy lunches

OTTOLENGHI Yotam Ottolenghi sure does love food, and unlike certain other well-known chefs (who trade on gimmicks and shall remain nameless), he’s not forgotten what made him become a foodie in the first place. Which is why Upper

Street’s Ottolenghi (the largest of the four branches) provides the consistency and range of a chain while retaining the charm and quality of a real community eatery. With influences and ingredients from all over the world, spectacular salads and cakes and a focus on freshlyprepared products, it’s hard not to be a fan.

287 Upper Street, N1; ottolenghi.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY FOOD

MUST TRY BEST FOR

A south-of-the-river sandwich

B STREET DELI

FOOD LAB BEST FOR

Pizzas!

STORY DELI Story Deli has reached legendary status, and not just because they’ve moved location so many times you assume they’re trying to shake off the bailiffs. Pizzas are Story Deli’s ‘thing’, and since their surprise win at last year’s Chowtzer Awards, they’ve clearly got it nailed. It’s all about the toppings (and the Scout Hut venue – only in East London), and while it’s more pizzeria than classic deli, it calls itself a deli... so we bent the rules.

123 Bethnal Green Road, E2; storydeli.com

B Street Deli is the latest addition to the gentrified hub that is Bermondsey Street.

Offering fine charcuterie from France and Spain, artisan cheeses and Italian antipasti as well as Volcano coffee and London Honey Co honeycombs, produce is selected by the deli’s expert ‘food hunters.’

Add to the venerable vittles an on-site cafe with brunch, cakes and an evening menu and it’s no surprise that the deli already looms large in the hearts (and bellies) of its customers.

88 Bermondsey Street, SE1; bstreetdeli.co.uk

THE GINGER PIG

BEST FOR Saturday nights & Sunday mornings

BEST FOR

BEST FOR

The suited-&-booted

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CAFÉ ROUTE

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L’EPICERIE

Dalston, formerly known as the home of the mullet, has received a ray of hope in the form of Café Route. Strongly influenced by its TurkishKurdish owner’s heritage as well as the locals’ penchant for British and Asian fare, this is a vegetarian foodie’s paradise – and great for fish-lovers too.

Open late seven days a week, you can now get pan-fried seabass fillets and peccadillo peppers whenever the mood takes you. Unit A Gaumont Tower, Dalston Square, E8; caferoute.co.uk

No, it’s not a bad Vin Diesel film, it’s a Clerkenwell-based bar-café-deli-diner. ItalianAmerican cuisine prepared with passion and flair, plus the famous Rotary Burger, meatballs AND cocktails too.

What else is going to get you through the afternoon?

Certainly not that Ryvita cracker in your desk drawer.

45 Clerkenwell Road, EC1; gntrbt.com

With its proximity to Stoke Newington, Clapton has long threatened to up-and-come and the storming success of this French-style deli certainly won’t be harming house prices.

There’s cheese, wine and Macbooks galore. All together now: ‘je t’aime’.

56 Chatsworth Road, E5; lepicerie56.com

BEST FOR

THE GINGER PIG Tell any taxi driver to take you to ‘Victoria Park Village’ and he’ll laugh in your face, but The Ginger Pig is the meaty proof in this gentrified pudding. It may have become a mini-chain, with six shops of varying sizes all over London, but you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the heart of the local area in this small and very famous butcher-come-deli.

99 Lauriston Road, E9; thegingerpig.co.uk

L’EAU A LA BOUCHE

MELROSE & MORGAN

OTTOLENGHI

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Now serving authentic Mexican BRUNCH on SUNDAYS BOHOMexica MEXICA.indd 2 Boho Sept12.indd 1

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ABSOLUTELY FOOD

FOOD REVIEW THERE’S A STRONG AMERICAN BENT TO THE DESIGN AND DECOR, WITH PINK AND WHITE BANQUETTE SEATING REMINISCENT OF GREASE

RITA’S BAR & DINING HELEN BARON has a night bite on Mare Street

t was only a matter of time before we reviewed Rita’s. A standout member of a burgeoning posse of new foodie businesses taking up residence at the southern end of Mare Street, it had already picked up a cult following during a residency at Dalston music venue Birthdays.

Now lodged in the markedly less chaotic (if no less hip) London Fields, wedged between a launderette and a fried chicken shop, it’s permanently packed and keeps cropping up in local conversation. I never got around to eating at the original Rita’s, so once the folks behind it decided they have bigger fish to fry (quite literally, I suppose), I thought it time to pay a visit. After all, Rita’s 2.0 is two minutes from my house: I want to see what they’ve done with the place.

The short answer is, they’ve done well. Very well, in fact, when you consider the awkward layout of the premises, which are

I

narrow and long. There’s a strong American bent to the design and decor, with pink and white banquette seating reminiscent of Grease and diner-style fonts on the menus. The food heads in the same direction while adding some much-needed artistry to the current craze for ‘posh junk’. Forget the overload of Vietnamese, Turkish or pizza-

related options elsewhere in E8; Rita’s is all about applying the inventiveness and imagination of fine dining to relaxed, youthful favourites. Yes, there’s buttermilk chicken on the menu (as there seems to be everywhere in London right now), but this comes doused in warm honey and sausage gravy; even the mac and cheese is enlivened by homemade

guacamole and glowering green chillis. The chefs at Rita’s may be tattooed and beardy and the staff may wear Vans, but this is hipster London at its most grown-up – and the response from customers seems to have been unequivocal.

A few months after opening, it’s ruddy hard to bag a table.

Small wonder, with Sour Cherry Bourbons like these.

In fact, all the cocktails are Instagram-worthy, and as inviting an accompaniment at brunch as they are at dinner (I’ve done both). Is there a phrase in the English language more mouth-frothingly exciting than ‘Blood Orange Americano’?

Another favourite from my visits was the miso grilled aubergine and mushroom toban, which felt healthy, tasty, fragrant and moreish all at once, and which was served alongside supremely crispy fried and crushed potatoes. I finished my evening meal in true diner style, with a slice of pie, but there are enticing desserts aplenty to lure me back – not least the peanut butter ice cream and dulche de leche beignets (doughnuts to you and I).

The service was spritely and attentive in all the right ways, and somehow this most busy, buzzing of restaurants seems like the perfect place for both a special occasion and a casual hook-up with friends: a difficult balance to achieve but one Rita’s strikes with confidence and charm. All in all, a flag-bearer for Hackney’s ongoing food revolution. I like what they’ve done with the place.

 175 Mare Street, E8; ritasbaranddining.com

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The Highbury Barn

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

Offering diners a new destination point for eating out, yet still maintaining the unique, iconic feel that makes the pub so well-loved.

With a theatre-style kitchen, a la carte menu and a whole new interior decor including our new coffee shop, the Highbury Barn makes good food worth going out for.

Fine ales, great beers and quality wines - you can still expect nothing less from Highbury’s favourite pub and restaurant.

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

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FOOD REVIEW MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS EASTERN EUROPE

BY WAY OF EAST LONDON – BUT THE FLAVOURS ARE STRONG AND SMOKY

TOPOLSKI BAR & CAFÉ

the tapas-style dishes, though my friend griped that he was getting much too drunk much too quickly. On the menu, a well thought-out selection of meats, cheeses and deliciously piquant pickles sits alongside small plates including saltbaked beetroot with beetroot tops and goat’s curd, and smouldered bacon with heritage potatoes and poached Black Mountain egg. The cob chicken and roasted garlic terrine with apple and grape salad is a particular success, as is the

ALEXANDRA JONES does Eastern European tapas in SE1

pened at the end of last year, the Topolski Bar & Café occupies what used to be the Topolski Century art bunker. It’s likely that if you’ve ever had any dealings around Waterloo, you’ll know the one-time studio space of 20th Century expressionist artist Feliks Topolski well, though may have never been inside. It’s certainly worth going now. Furnished with mid-mod, exposed-metal tables and chairs that allow the artist’s works to take centre stage, the feel is pared-back industrialism (though happily, it doesn’t labour the point, as sometimes happens in more self-conscious places).

I took a friend in the evening and as you might expect from somewhere that positions itself as a ‘bar and café’, the atmosphere is dark and buzzy.

Lots of plates clattering, glasses clinking and music turned a little too high. The crowd

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is young, fun and animated (probably by one too many infused vodkas) which is a testament to the fact that this is a ‘good time’ place. You can come, have a drink, have a bite and enjoy a friend’s company safe in the knowledge that if your voice gets a little too loud, you won’t be any more disruptive to your fellow diners than the crowds at the bar.

The food also caters to a busy, buzzy crowd with a menu centred on sharing platters and small plates. How much you’ll enjoy it, though, depends on two things: firstly, do you like Eastern European food (or at least food with pretentions towards Eastern Europe)? Secondly, do you like to share? Luckily I adore both so I wasn’t disappointed with

goulash, with its hearty deep beef flavour and the satisfying hunk of bread that comes with it. Make no mistake, this is Eastern Europe by way of East London but the flavours are strong and smoky.

Having said all of this, in the main Topolski is a social space. Somewhere to sit with friends and have a few infused vodkas (my favourite was the horseradish one, safer flavours are available) and as such the drinks menu is the star, small but interesting. Perfect postwork fare.  150-152 Hungerford Arches, Concert Hall Approach, SE1; bartopolski.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

Left 121 Creatives - Good Engine Taken from a famous football pundit quote based on the superior stamina of a football player for the duration of 90 minutes, by 121 Creatives Right London By Night By Fiona Watson

Artists are at the heart of what we do

East End Print Meet the acclaimed independent art publisher with designs on your wallspace ife doesn’t stop moving around you. especially in the city. Blink and another coffee shop has popped up, babies learn to walk and your to-do-list just keeps on growing. Stay one step ahead of the trends with the help of East End Prints.

East End Prints is an online print shop with a stall at Spitalfields Market. The company supports emerging graphic artists and creates affordable art such as Fiona Watson’s nocturnal dreamscape London at Night, which features figures leaping across the city. Artwork like this is a great way to embrace London life – and allows your interiors to reflect your evolving tastes. With East End Prints’ affordable pieces, available glass-framed and delivered direct to your door, your walls can stay as visually vibrant and dynamic as the world around you.

East End Prints founder, Helen Edwards balances life and work from her Shoreditch home and office, nurturing her young son George whilst discovering new illustrators.

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Finding the best and freshest artists to work with takes time, and Helen’s young team help her to keep her finger on the pulse. East End Prints delve into some interesting archives such as the Hemingway Design Team recently hand-picked an amazing selection of typographical ephemera specially for East End Prints.

‘I go for artists who are aware of trends but aren’t influenced by them,’ says Helen.

‘I set up East End Prints as I found myself searching for a certain aesthetic in poster art. You have to know what’s gone before to make sense of what’s coming, and to be able to work out the leaps that will move trends on. Having curated group exhibitions around Shoreditch 10 years ago, East End Prints hit on the graphic/type trend before the explosion we’re seeing today.’

With a relaunched website showcasing the latest additions and brand new artist announcements in the pipeline, it’s never been easier to bring your walls up to date – and ensure your environment says something about you.

READER OFFER

£5 off prints! Come to the Spitalfields Art Market stall on the dates below and claim £5 off any East End Prints. Please bring the magazine with this code to claim your discount.

Voucher Code 023EEPAM

Find us every month at Spitalfields Art Market, which runs Thursday to Sunday once or twice a month from March and weekly from November through to Christmas.

‘We’re excited to be able to support a new generation of talent,’ she says. ‘Artists are always at the centre of what we do – we’re nothing without them. 121 Creatives – a design duo named after the number of miles between their homes in London and Bristol – are the latest artists to sign up with East End Prints. They’ve created a timely set of prints focusing on football, which will undoubtedly take over all our lives in the next month.’

5-8 June • 12-15 June • 3-6th July 31 July 3 August • 4-7 September • 9-12 October 6-9 November • 13-16 November • 20-23 November • 27_30 November • 4-7 December 11-14 December • 18-21 December

Prints start from just £19.95 unframed. All of our prints are available in A3, A2 and A1 on 210gsm acid free archival paper.

eastendprints.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

CHANGE A LIFE Make a difference and support a young child through foster care

slington currently has 300 children in care. Foster carers play a vital role by looking after children in their own home and turn lives around with their love and support. With just 138 carers based in Islington, it’s clear that more families are desperately needed.

Foster Care Fortnight (May 12 – May 25) is the annual national awareness campaign organised by the Fostering Network charity. It raises the profile of fostering through media engagement and celebrity support, highlighting the desperate need for more carers. The Fostering Network estimates that over 8,000 extra foster carers are required to look after young people in England with over 1000 extra families needed within London alone.

Being a foster carer is a challenging role but brings great rewards. Foster carers can really make a difference and play a huge role in shaping the lives of the young people they care for.

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Myths hold many people back from becoming a foster carer Children of all ages and backgrounds come into care in Islington, sadly sometimes because of neglect in the family home from issues around drug and alcohol abuse or mental health problems.

Some children enter foster care for a short time due to family illness or quickly move on to independent living, while babies may be moved on to adoption.

However all children need love and support to keep them healthy and safe.

Myths hold many people back from becoming a foster carer; some people think that you need to own your own

home or have a partner, which are not true. Islington accepts applicants from all cultural backgrounds as well as those in the LGBT community. You just need a spare bedroom and to be able to provide a secure, safe and loving home.

There are different types of fostering alongside the mainstream care where children are placed for varying lengths of time. We offer respite care for children with disabilities, supportive lodgings for 16-21 year olds preparing for independent living, specialist fostering for teenagers with challenging needs and a remand scheme for those pending sentencing in a court.

Fostering is now being seen as a career choice with a wide selection of quality training programs to widen skills and competitive allowances. There is strong support from fostering social workers and other child-care professionals, a 24 duty and peer support through the Islington Foster Carers Association.

If you live in or around North London and think you could really make the difference to a young local life why not come along to one of our information sessions? The fostering team holds regular information sessions throughout the year every fortnight at Islington Town Hall.

Contact the team today on 0800 073 0428 or at fostering@islington.gov.uk to find out our next dates. Alternatively look on www.islington.gov.uk/fostering for more information.

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ABSOLUTELY INTERIORS

Laid Back

minimalist design needn’t mean skimping on luxurious comfort. These solid wood beds from Wharfside are built with traditional slot-in joinery, are entirely metal-free and fit perfectly within a laidback contemporary scheme or industrial space. Matching wardrobe systems (some incorporating glass) are available, as are a selection of luxury orthopaedic mattresses for a much-coveted good night’s sleep.

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Far less responsibility than a window box (and more unusual), we love these terrariums from Chive UK. £15.95; chiveuk.com

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This Lean Man console is just so NEAT. There’s not a lot of storage, but it adds colour and works its magic as an interesting design feature – while the shallow depth works well in small spaces, especially corridors and hallways. £275;

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Pot Luck

This month we’re admiring the small beauties that make up Jane Sarre’s ceramic collection. Her striking but elegant tableware is handmade in Hackney and you can find her on Broadway Market on Saturdays. From coffee pots to gravy jugs, the pieces exude sylvan charm. Our absolute favourite is the delightful Japanese style vase – perfect for displaying flowering buds or pussy willow. janesarre.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY INTERIORS

THE HOUSE

GA RDENER

Ever wondered how best to cultivate a healthy cactus indoors? West Hampstead horticulturalist Isabelle Palmer shows us how...

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sabelle Palmer is the founder of innovative online company The Balcony Gardener, which specialises in product ranges for small urban outdoor spaces – balconies, patios, containers, and roof terraces.

Palmer grew up in Worcestershire, before moving to London to study at Chelsea College of Art and Design.

She then embarked on a degree in economics before working in PR. Always a keen gardener, she wanted to create a little green oasis on the two small balconies of her West Hampstead apartment – her company stemmed from the belief that others might want to do the same. Her first book, The Balcony Gardener, was published by CICO Books in 2012. thebalconygardener.com

Cacti and Succulents he word succulent is a descriptive term given to those plants that store water in their leaves or stems. Cacti belong to a large family of plants that are all succulents. There are also other types of succulent besides cacti; as a rule, remember that all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. The word cactus is derived, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek κάκτος (kaktos), a name that was originally used to describe a spiny plant whose identity is now uncertain.

Succulents are found in many countries all over the world and have been a feature of the horticultural field for hundreds of years. They have always held an attraction for gardeners because of their curious and exotic appearance.

T

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ABSOLUTELY INTERIORS

During the 15th century, the famous Portuguese explorers Bartholomeu Dias (1451–1500) and Vasco da Gama (1460– 1524) collected succulents such as Aloe, Haworthia, Stapelia and many others from Africa. They also discovered Caralluma and Euphorbia (spurge) in India during exploratory trips to find new trade routes.

The Dutch East India Company (which was established in 1602) was responsible for collecting many succulent species for the Dutch government. Many of these succulents also found their way to the world famous Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, in London.

Desert Hearth f you’re lucky enough to have an original fireplace but don’t have time to light a regular fire, this handsome selection of cacti is for you. Of course, you don’t need a fireplace to enjoy this display since an empty corner or perhaps an otherwise unnoticed spot by the stairs would work equally well. This display sits in a selection of beautiful copper lanterns. Rather helpfully, the cacti and succulents are all easy to care for and very low maintenance: they live well regardless of being in the shade and receiving just a little water – making them perfect plants for a novice or a lazy gardener!

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The striking Echinocactus grusonii (golden barrel cactus) in the smaller black lantern is armed with stout, golden-yellow spines arranged carefully in rows on ribbed stems; it is quite the attention-seeker.

It’s sometimes known as the golden ball or, rather cheekily, as mother-in-law’s cushion. I think of it as one of the most distinctive of all cacti, and it is often used in architectural gardening due to its spherical shape.

Cacti can often be quite severe plants, but I find that Mammillaria crinita (rose pin-cushion cactus), seen in the larger dark lantern, is absolutely lovely. It’s another spherical cactus and covered in regularly arranged yellow and brown spines. There are numerous reddish-purple flowers which form a dense ring at the top. Also featured in this display is an Aloe haworthioides sitting tightly in a clay pot. This perennial succulent has lush, glossy leaves and small, rosette-like flowers. I also used gravel and reindeer moss in the display, as well as vintage medicine bottles.

SUCCULENTS HAVE ALWAYS HELD ATTRACTION FOR GARDENERS BECAUSE OF THEIR CURIOUS AND EXOTIC APPEARANCE

 The House Gardener

by Isabelle Palmer is published in hardback by CICO Books, priced £25, and is available at all good bookshops. To purchase a copy at the special price of £18 (including free postage and packaging), call 01256-302699 quoting GLR9OA; cicobooks.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY INTERIORS

GET THE LOOK

Photography: Darren Cheung

Absolutely shows you how to recreate Fiona Gall’s urban-decadent tower block apartment

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1. TRIFFID LAMP

Deploy Gall’s eye for the unique and magical with one of her very own Emerald Faerie ‘Triffid’ lamps, which will soon be available to buy in her online shop. Fiona’s passion for all things upcycled is evident here – reusing interesting decorative elements, each lamp is as striking as it is unique. From £1,200; emeraldfaerie.com

2. FIREPLACE

The ingenious thing about this fireplace is that there’s no fire. Keeping the frame creates instant charm and a focal point for the room. Fiona advises overlaying an old net curtain and spray paint to add a textured pattern, jazzing up a tired frame. If you’re on a budget, you might be able to find a secondhand or antique one (Fiona found hers in a junk-shop); if you want to splash out, Jamb Limited’s original and repro 18th century fireplaces are renowned for their exquisite detailing.

POA, 159 x 210cm, George III carved pine and gesso chimneypiece; jamblimited.com

If you’re not lucky enough to have an antique chair passed down to you (Fiona’s green one came from her grandmother and she had it reupholstered), Oliver Bonas make a range of coloured velvet replicas. When there’s an eclectic mix of furnishings, pieces need not match as long as they’re at the same sitting height. £445, Oliver Bonas, 147-148 Upper Street, N1; oliverbonas.com

4. WALLPAPER

Why not try a panel of wallpaper, rather than a whole wall? Fiona has used this print from Deborah Bowness to produce a reflective effect of her actual floor lamp. Choose from the artist’s picture walls (from genuine ‘fake’ books to the cheekily-named ‘Illusions of Grandeur’) to recreate something similar. Prices from £185 per drop; deborahbowness.com

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5. CELESTE WALL LIGHT

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The Celeste lighting collection is described as heavenly, celestial and otherworldly. If those are three adjectives with which you’d like to imbue your bedroom, invest in one of these stunning upcycled chandelier pieces. Not only do they create atmospheric pools or columns of light, they add more than a dash of Art Deco glitz.

Bespoke special order from emeraldfaerie.com

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Window shopping Beautiful new timber windows

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ABSOLUTELY INTERIORS

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Acanthus Leaf Bookends, £35; marquisanddawe.co.uk

Michael Angave for Jo Malone Limited Edition Blackberry & Bay Scented Candle, £42; jomalone.com

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Handmade Homeware In The Garden Teapot, £20; handmade-homeware.com

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Printed Wallpaper V&A Collection, £60 per sqm; surfaceview.co.uk

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Marks & Spencer Bee Embroidered Cushion, £19.50; marksandspencer.com

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Graham and Green Horse Chestnut Wall Chart, £95; grahamandgreen.co.uk

MUST HAVE

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Anthopologie Garden Buzz Dessert Plates, £10 each; anthropologie.eu

8 OF THE BEST INTERIORS INSPIRED BY THE GREAT OUTDOORS

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Kew Gardens Tea Towels, £8.99 each; creative-tops.com

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ABSOLUTELY TR AVEL

THE COTTAGE

UK

g e t a w a y

Water Meadow Cottage Blenheim Palace Estate WORDS: GEORGIE LANE-GODFREY

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THE LOCATION

erched on the banks of the River Evenlode at the end of a quiet tree-lined country lane, Water Meadow Cottage’s location could not be more idyllic. A picturesque former hunting lodge dating back to the 18th-century, the cottage sits guarding the gates to the historic Blenheim Palace Estate – home to the Duke of Marlborough, birthplace to Sir Winston Churchill and one of England’s most spectacular stately homes. A visit to this World Heritage Site is a must, even if it’s just for a stroll along the river in the beautiful grounds. Further afield, the ‘city of dreaming spires’ that is Oxford lies just 15 minutes to the south, as does the designer outlet centre Bicester Village, providing high end retail therapy. Personal shoppers and chauffeur-driven transfers available on request, naturally.

It might be a quintessential Cotswolds cottage from the outside, but push open the heavy oak door of the traditional stone portico and you’ll find more of a boutique London hotel than a cosy country pad. The sitting room’s plush Victoriana-inspired interiors are decadently off-beat – think twinkling chandeliers in rusted birdcages – while the dining room’s huge wooden table is perfect for long brunches with the Sunday papers. Upstairs, you’ll find a beam-ceiling bathroom, complete with cast iron roll top bath, and two boudoir-style bedrooms decked out in elegant chinoiserie wallpaper, crystal chandeliers and sumptuous monogrammed linens – the kind of rooms that were made for luxuriant lie-ins.

THE EXT RAS Those not so keen on self-catering needn’t worry – Water Meadow Cottage has its own impressive seasonal menu from which gourmet dishes can be selected and delivered fresh to your door. They also provide guests with all the basic essentials upon arrival and there’s an extensive honesty larder for everything else, so you’re spared the usual trek to the shops after you’ve unpacked. Meanwhile, those looking for some R&R will love the massages available on demand in the stylish summerhouse – the lovely Daniel will commute down from London to soothe away your stress with a relaxing holistic massage; all you need do is commute across the pretty cottage garden.

Dinner reservations, local recommendations – everything really is taken care of, making this cottage the perfect country retreat for those still wanting the comforts and conveniences of urban life.

£ THE DAMAGE From £425 per night (2 night minimum), or £2,525 per week. Peak rates and 3 night minimum stay apply over high season. 5 night rates available. £25 surcharge per night for 1 large or 2 small dogs. Water Meadow Cottage, Hanborough, Witney, OX29; watermeadowcottage.co.uk

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Fun in the South Beach sun

meet me in

MIAMI Playful, pristine and picture-perfect: Clementine Lyon finds out why after fifty years, Miami’s South Beach is still America’s playground 70

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nce upon a time there was a spit of land that lay all but forgotten at the foot of a great continent. It was a swampy green parcel laced with bayous and surrounded by ocean, abundant in wildlife but not held in especially high regard by the people who had swarmed so readily across the rest of the land. The spit was home to scattered farming communities and a few hardy pioneers, who called it Florida after the Spanish word for ‘flowering’. And on the southernmost flank of this peninsula sat an even more overlooked stretch of sandy beach and tropical wetland, which went by the old Indian name of Miami.

The idea of Miami as anything other than a vivacious modern metropolis is tough to compute.

Many of us made our first acquaintance with the city through its iconic screen appearances, from the tropic cheese of Miami Vice to the jubilant campery of Mike Nichols’ 1996 farce The Birdcage. Miami means bright lights, cabaret and half-naked rollerbladers in day-glo bikinis; it means Lamborghini Diablos pulling up outside glitzy nightclubs and spilling super rich cargo onto sidewalks strewn with paparazzi.

It means cagey club owners making shady harbourside deals with the Mob – and, thanks to the largest Cuban community in North America, it means a healthy dash of Latin spirit. What it doesn’t mean is quiet.

And yet quiet is what Miami was until almost the middle of the 20th century, when the Second World War saw half a million military personnel bussed into the city as part of the USA’s ‘Gulf Sea Frontier’. Impressed by their temporary home, many of these servicemen and women flocked

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Pool envy at National Hotel

...FROM THE TROPIC CHEESE OF MIAMI VICE TO THE JUBILANT CAMPERY OF MIKE NICHOLS’ 1996 FARCE THE BIRDCAGE... back to the area after the war, taking up permanent residence along the shore of Biscayne Bay and among the Art Deco edifices of Miami Beach. Suddenly, Miami was a thriving urban centre and a bona fide tourist destination.

Sixty-five years later, the nowprosperous city seems to luxuriate in it's second skin. The taxi ride from the airport winds along a swift freeway above orderly suburbs, out towards the bay and the MacArthur Causeway, one of several long, slender bridges that link the mainland to the city’s tourist hubs: South Beach and Miami Beach.

Miami has a metropolitan area of nearly 100 square kilometres and is (by some measures, at least) the richest city in the US; in short, there’s more to the city than sun, sand and sea. But I’m here strictly for the beaches, and for a week of

hotel-hopping around South Beach.

Miami has never been cheap, but it is blessed with that most American of advantages: choice. The number and variety of accommodation options in South Beach alone (an area with a permanent population of just 40,000) can seem endless but here are my favourites for each budget.

LUXURY NATIONAL HOTEL National Hotel, another of the Collins Avenue behemoths, is situated right next door to the world-famous Delano. Recently renovated in fine retro style, National is home to one of the city’s longest swimming pools and rooms decked out in inspired Art Deco style. We’re lodged in a spacious eleventh-floor suite with his-andhers bathrooms and a view that’s

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INTERIOR DESIGN

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10/02/2014 17:23

ABSOLUTELY TR AVEL

TO BE SURE, THIS IS AMERICA: EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, SOMEONE IS SELLING YOU SOMETHING AND FLASHY TRUMPS SUBTLE MUCH OF THE TIME.

little short of hypnotic. Watching gigantic cruise liners make their way across the far horizon, I feel most at home. Perhaps it’s my age: the National combines old-school elegance with a relaxed vibe, perfect for anyone who has outgrown raw hedonism but retains a sense of style. The well-heeled clientele reflect the hotel’s grown-up charm.

As hometime beckons, I imagine myself clinging to the underside of a sunbed or hiding behind a towering palm to escape my flight. For all its advantages, London just can’t compete.  Rooms from $220 per night, based on two people sharing; nationalhotel.com

MID-RANGE THE RITZ-CARLTON The Ritz-Carlton is a venerable establishment built on a far more stupendous scale. Situated among the magnificent monoliths north of 16th Street, the Ritz-Carlton is one of those South Beach hotels you can’t fail to notice, a towering Art Deco landmark overlooking the Atlantic. The style inside is jazzy and demure, and even if some of the communal spaces look a little dated, the rooms themselves are well-appointed and the service impeccable. The pool is vast – perfect for parents with kids – and leads directly onto a beach arrayed with the hotel’s own private loungers. These are free for guest use (unless you want a mammoth day-bed or umbrella), which represents a big saving for committed beach bums; renting a lounger elsewhere can easily set you back $60-90 plus tips per day.

Another plus: the beach itself is heavenly – not deserted but long, beautifully-maintained and facing an awe-inspiring expanse of ocean.  Rooms from $299 per night based on two people sharing; ritzcarlton.com

BUDGET SBH SOUTH BEACH HOTEL The brand new SBH South Beach Hotel is a low-lying Art Deco establishment at the northern tip of South Beach’s dazzling oceanside avenues, Collins and Washington.

The hotel has been refurbished with a view to attracting the youthful and fun-loving, with contemporary Pop Art on the walls and good-sized rooms in tasteful shades of grey. The pool is in the neighbouring Boulan Hotel, a rooftop sun-trap with great views, striking graffiti murals and enough enticing day-beds to go around. The effect is Ibiza meets urban LA, and the hotel seems to be a favourite spot of the young, trendy and upwardly mobile.  Rooms from $165 per night for two people sharing; southbeachhotel.com

We ❤ SoBe here may be more to Miami than the beach – not least a burgeoning art scene and the mainland’s diverse districts, from Little Havana to the skyscraping developments of Downtown – but still a week spent sauntering around SoBe doesn’t seem enough.

To be sure, this is America: everywhere you look, someone is selling you something and flashy trumps subtle much of the time.

But there’s also a sense of easy informality and good humour that more than makes up for any shortcomings – as does the glorious sunshine. There’s a holiday here to suit anyone, from the young and party-minded to romantic honeymooners and families in search of fun things to do. All the amenities and razzle-dazzle of the good old USA are present and correct – and if you do tire of city life, the Everglades National Park is less than an hour away. But with these beaches? Don’t bet on it.

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ABSOLUTELY TR AVEL FUNDU LAGOON

H E AV E N SPENT Thinking of a safari holiday for 2014? Henry Morley of Better Late Luxury rounds up his favourite African lodges for discerning travellers wanting luxury for less

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Fundu Lagoon PEMBA ISLAND s remote as it is beautiful, Pemba Island forms part of the Zanzibar archipelago, lying to the north of its larger, better known sister island, Unguja.

Fundu Lagoon itself sits on one of Pemba’s stunning, unspoilt beaches and is only accessible via boat. It’s all ridiculously romantic, providing barefoot luxury in the truest sense – this is a place where you most definitely do not need shoes. Each of the 18 rooms here – canvas tents set under makuti (thatch) roofs on wooden decks – offers panoramic views of the Indian

A

PEMBA ISLAND

Ocean, meaning that you fall asleep and wake up to the sounds of the waves caressing the beach. Follow the wooden walkways and jungle pathways through indigenous forest to the main hotel and you’ll find the stunning infinity hillside swimming pool overlooking the lagoon, a hidden oasis among the groves. The marine wildlife here is not to be missed, and you can both dive and snorkel to get a closer look at the reef fish found around the small barrier islands. Sound like too much hard work? Try a sunset cruises aboard a traditional wooden dhow, watching the dazzling sunset with a sundowner cocktail in your hand – the closest you can get to paradise on earth.

Stay seven nights and pay for five, saving between £1078 and £1858 per room. Valid until April 2015 (excluding 21 December – 5 January)

Henry Morley is the Managing Director of Better Late Luxury, an exclusive travel platform offering luxurious holidays at discounts of up to 55%.

To book any of the deals described in this feature call 020 3137 1247, email enquiries@betterlateluxury.com or visit betterlateluxury.com

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Mahali Mzuri MAASAI MARA, KENYA his is no ordinary luxury safari camp. This is Sir Richard Branson’s safari camp and trust us, it doesn’t disappoint. Sat in the most pristine part of the African bush, Mahali Mzuri’s 12 tents perch on a ridge overlooking the awe-inspiring landscape of Kenya’s Motorogi Conservancy. It also happens to be in the path of the world-famous annual Great Migration, meaning that there really is no where better for a quintessential ‘Big Five’ safari. We recommend a trip hot air ballooning over the plains for an all-encompassing bird’s eye view of the Maasai Mara during the day, followed by a spot of stargazing at night using the camps telescope.

Make sure you bring all the family too as Mahali Mzuri is super child-friendly – the camp is full of children’s books, games, and kites,

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GREYSTOKE

Greystoke Mahale TANZANIA ne of the few African lodges that offers a truly unique experience, Greystoke Mahale is an extraordinary camp in remote western Tanzania where the main aim is to get up close and personal with the local stars – the chimps. Here you’ll find not only a storybook tropical forest full of chimpanzees, but also the second deepest lake in the world – Lake Tanganyika – all yours to explore by boat or kayak from the sustainable beachside camp. Completely isolated from human civilisation, the camp offers daily treks into the misty mountains to discover the waterfalls, wildlife and wondrous birds and butterflies hidden under the treetops. A great one for children, the trek tracks the chimps so that you get to watch them in their natural habitat, interacting with each other in their uncannily human way. Keep your eyes peeled as you might just spot the odd leopard along the way, too. In the evenings, it’s time to relish the sense of seclusion Greystoke Mahale provides and curl up with a good book and a glass of wine whilst the sun sets across the lake.

WE ALSO LOVE...

LEOBO OBSERVATORY SOUTH AFRICA

✈ One of only a handful of

sole-use private reserves in South Africa, Leobo Private Reserve is a 12,000 acre estate encompassing rugged rocks, bushveld savannah, natural streams and an abundance of wildlife. 35,000 ZAR (£2199) per night or 175,000 ZAR (£10995) for the week.

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Secret Season Special. Stay at Greystoke between 1 and 30 June 2014 and pay £267 per person per night, 54% less than the high season nightly rate of £663 per person per night.

LUWI BUSH CAMP ZAMBIA

✈ Nestled in the shade of

huge mahogany trees, Luwi Bush Camp’s remote location by a permanent hippo and crocodile filled lagoon makes it perfect for walking safaris.

plus a TV, DVD player and games console for extra entertainment.

Friendly staff are also able to organise tailored activities to further educate younger guests on their African surroundings and the local wildlife (so top marks back in the biology classroom, then).

Meanwhile, older guests will love the spa rooms where treatments use the Africology range of products which are wonderfully natural and eco-friendly, and the 12-metre infinity pool – perfect for early morning swims and refreshing dips after game drives.

Stay for four nights, pay for three. This offer is available for new bookings staying before 30 June 2014, saving 25% per person. Normal nightly rates in mid-season start at £549 per person per night.

Price for the week from: $2,990 per person (£1844) as part of their ‘Week on the Wildside’ package, saving you 22% overall. Valid May – October 2014.

VAMIZI ISLAND LODGE MOZAMBIQUE

✈ Defining castaway chic,

Vamizi Island Lodge is made up of romantic timber villas dotted along a beautiful beaches on it’s own exclusive island. From $1085 per person per night (£669). Stay 7 nights and only pay for 5. Valid 6-24 January, 1 March – 20 April, 21 June-14t July, 13-20 December.

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FOOD REVOLUTION On Finchley Road

The O2 Centre is cooking up new culinary delights and we’ve been discovering what’s on the menu

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ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

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inchley Road’s O2 Centre has been undergoing a transformation, and a food revolution is taking place in this corner of Hampstead. Not only a destination for shopping, dining in style is now firmly on the menu – whether you’re picking up lunch, grabbing a bite to eat before the cinema or catching up with friends over a leisurely meal. We’ve put together our foodie highlights so you can discover these dining delights for yourself.

Chop Bar chic is the order of the day

INTE RNATIONAL FLAVOURS ou can dine your way around the world at the O2 Centre. From a taste of Japan at Yo! Sushi to Byron’s ‘proper hamburgers’ – inspired by the Silver Top diner in downtown Providence, Rhode Island.

During a four-year stint in America, Tom Byng, the brains behind Byron, decided to bring back to the UK the real taste of the USA – simple, tasty hamburgers, a bit messy, but made with good quality meat and only classic adornments. If you haven’t tucked into one of his creations yet, you’re missing out. Noodle barfavourite wagamama will also land at the O2 Centre, this month bringing with it a delicious new summertime menu that includes fresh juices and new desserts – perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

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SUMMER DINE o celebrate the opening of its new food quarter, the centre will be treating diners to something a little extra this summer. Summerdine will take place from 7 July to 21 August and if you spend £45 three times at the O2 Centre’s restaurants during those six weeks you will receive a day out at a favourite UK attraction, such as Legoland, Thorpe Park or the Harry Potter Studio Tour. You’ll also be able to sign up for exclusive offers at the centre’s cafes, bars and restaurants. For more information visit o2centre.co.uk.

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STREET STYLE Ghanaian chop bar and an inventive falafel start-up are two of latest ventures to arrive. Falafel City is the brainchild of Mitan Sachdev, who traded in his city career to start a falafel revolution. With the debate over the origins of falafel raging, Mitan has developed a concept that allows people to sample falafel with flavours from around the world, from Bangkok to Lisbon and Mexico City. ‘Chop bar chic’ is the order of the day at Chop Pot and its founder, Affia Bioh, has based her menu on traditional and modern street food from Ghana. Our favourites include plantain dumplings with a spicy bean stew.

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A TASTE OF NAPLES pening in June, Rossopomodoro promises to bring Neapolitan style to Hampstead. All of the restaurant’s Pizzaioli (expert pizza chefs) will come from long-standing pizzaioli families and everything from the flour to the ovens is imported from the spiritual home of the humble pizza.

This is one of only a handful of Rossopomodoro restaurants in the UK, the original restaurant being in Naples, and it will be an experience not to be missed.

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ireless audio just got serious – and now sounds seriously good.

With the launch of three new wireless speakers, Bang & Olufsen once again confirms the brand’s dedication to outstanding acoustics, uncompromising design and craftsmanship as well as technological innovation that makes life simpler for discerning users. Sound that is reproduced as the artist intended it to be has long been a Bang & Olufsen hallmark and with Immaculate Wireless sound, Bang & Olufsen brings this tradition of acoustic authenticity into the wireless age for the first time ever.

The new wireless line-up includes BeoLab 17, a placeanywhere compact speaker with outsize sound; BeoLab 18, the latest incarnation of Bang & Olufsen’s sculpturally iconic audio columns for walls or floor; and BeoLab 19, a radically redesigned subwoofer that pumps refined bass with a visceral punch – and looks too good to hide. “These new speakers are at the vanguard of a new era of high-end sound,” says Lars Fredsgaard, Speaker Category Director at Bang & Olufsen. “Until now, speakers with this level of performance had to be wired. Our latest launch uses a robust wireless standard with enough bandwidth and channels to deliver a listening experience the way the artist intended it.

Upgrading to premium sound – without downgrading your décor

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– is now available in three ways.”

While they have integrated the WiSA standard into the new speakers, Bang & Olufsen has also rethought nearly everything about exterior design, custom-made components and dedicated digital sound engines. With an acoustic lens tweeter and 21-lamella front, available in solid oak as well as black or white, BeoLab 18 marks a quantum leap in the evolution of Bang & Olufsen’s signature column speakers. BeoLab 17’s wedge-like form makes it easy to place anywhere from bookshelves to walls and the BeoLab 19 draws on the extraordinary rigidity of a 12-faced dodecahedron and two drivers operating in-phase to eliminate unwanted vibrations.

Since they run on the new WiSA standard, all you need to do is plug the active speakers into the mains in a room with any WiSA-compliant transmitter in order to link wirelessly to your TV, Blu-ray player or set-top box. For example, all Bang & Olufsen Immaculate Wireless Sound speakers work seamlessly, simply and spectacularly with the WiSA-updated BeoVision 11 television. With WiSA-compliant transmitters and receivers integrated into the physical and digital design, Bang & Olufsen now delivers unparalleled acoustic performance in a wireless surround setup. Of course, you can also connect the new speakers with wires, just as you can add wireless speakers to an existing wired setup if so desired.

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PROPERTY

Gloucester Crescent, NW1 This wonderful six bedroom family home is located in a prominent position on Gloucester Crescent, just a short stroll from Primrose Hill, Regent’s Park and Camden. The accommodation is arranged over five floors with period features, excellent ceiling heights and wonderful natural light, and a generous rear garden.

£3,750,000 John D Wood & Co., Primrose Hill | 020 7586 9060 | johndwood.co.uk

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www.martyngerrard.co.uk

MUSWELL HILL ROAD, N10 £1,000,000 LEASEHOLD

A three bedroom ground floor flat set within a converted Edwardian building.

• 3 Bedrooms • 1 Reception

THE OWNERS LOVE...

• Kitchen diner “Sitting in the garden which overlooks Highgate Woods, this never loses its appeal whatever the season” • Bi fold doors onto west facing garden ‘’The many period features that we have tried to maintain, and blend in to give the apartment a luxurious • Cellar with utility room feel’’ ‘‘The location, being so close to the Broadway and being so ideally placed for access to Highgate Station’’ • Parquet flooring in main bedroom • Lighting designed by Martin Barclay

WE’VE NOTICED...

The amount of lateral space, nearly 1000sqft, spread out over just one floor is unusual for the area.

There is plenty of built in storage throughout the property.

• Bespoke bathroom • EPC Rating - E

Muswell Hill office • T: 020 8444 3388 • E: N10@martyngerrard.co.uk • 300/302 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2QR

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www.martyngerrard.co.uk

AYLMER ROAD, HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB, N2 £2,850,000

A completely refurbished six bedroom detached house.

• 6 Bedrooms • 4 Receptions

THE OWNERS LOVE...

• New kitchen/ bathroom

“Our bright, welcoming entrance hall with computer designed staircase and arched cloakroom entrance” “Sitting on the first floor roof terrace with amazing views overlooking our beautiful garden” “Novellini steam on the top floor of our new loft conversion”

• Loft conversion

WE’VE NOTICED...

• New plumbing, water & heating supply

This property was completely refurbished in 2012.

This property has been offered chain free.

• Garage conversion • Insulated annex • New flooring & windows

• EPC Rating - F

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

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www.martyngerrard.co.uk

GROSVENOR GARDENS, N10 £1,550,000 FREEHOLD

A detached contemporary low built 2800sqft home located off Muswell Hill.

• 4 Bedrooms • 1 Reception

THE OWNERS LOVE...

• Kitchen diner

“The large lateral spaces with large windows which let in plenty of light” “The wraparound terrace and raised secluded garden, as there are a variety of places to enjoy the sunshine” “The modern contemporary style of the building unlike the older houses in the area”

• Off street parking • Lutron lighting • Underfloor heating • 4 Bathrooms and separate WC

WE’VE NOTICED...

Muswell Hill Broadway, Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill primary school are all located nearby, as well as numerous bus routes accessed from the Broadway which link to the underground network.

The house was built in 2011 and carries the remainder of a 10 year building defects warranty.

• Utility room • EPC Rating - C

Muswell Hill office • T: 020 8444 3388 • E: N10@martyngerrard.co.uk • 300/302 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2QR

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50 years of

fulfilling dreams ...for all generations

www.martyngerrard.co.uk

A family firm.

Helping families create homes since 1964.

Crouch End Muswell Hill

020 8348 5135 020 8444 3388

East Finchley Kentish Town

020 8883 0077 020 7267 3737

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

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New lettings s Same Highg a

5

% letting fee.

Vist us at: 58 Highgate High Street Highgate N6 5HX

Terms and conditions: For full offer terms and conditions visit www.kfh.co.uk/offerterms

KFH_NXNW_June.indd 1 KFH DPS Highgate_420x297.indd 2

13/05/2014 10:54 10:13 09/05/2014

s service. g ate branch.

To launch our new lettings service now open at our established Highgate branch, landlords will benefit from an exclusive 5% letting fee for a limited time.

So if you are thinking of letting your property, now is the time to talk to us.

For a no obligation valuation or to find out about our full range of property services, contact our Highgate branch today.

Tel 020 3126 4690 Email lhi@kfh.co.uk

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Cheverton Road, Whitehall Park, N19 £1,995,000 Freehold Highgate 020 8341 6666 Email shi@kfh.co.uk

KFH_NXNW_June.indd 06.14 KFH NXNW.indd 33

This stunning double fronted, six bedroom family home offers 3,464 sq ft of accommodation arranged over four floors which is finished to a high standard in a contemporary style.

• • • • • • • •

Six double bedrooms Three bathrooms 26ft kitchen/diner Two further reception rooms Utility/shower room Mature secluded garden Roof terrace Excellent transport links

10:14 13/05/2014 08:51

Coniston Road, Muswell Hill, N10 £1,695,000 Situated close to Muswell Hill’s Broadway is this beautiful double fronted Edwardian family home offering over 2,000 sq ft of accommodation filled with character and natural light. This property comprises four bedrooms, three reception rooms, open plan kitchen/dining area, cellar and a south west facing garden. Freehold. EPC rating E. Muswell Hill 020 8883 0213 Email smh@kfh.co.uk

Courtside, Crouch End, N8 £1,500,000 A stunning and contemporary five bedroom house set in a quiet cul de sac on the Highgate side of Crouch End. This property has been extended by the current owners to offer flexible living space arranged over three floors and a south facing rear garden.

Freehold. EPC rating C. Crouch End 020 8348 8181 Email sce@kfh.co.uk

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10:14 13/05/2014 08:51

Heathville Road, Archway, N19 £3,684 pcm Unfurnished

A stunning four double bedroom family house located close to the amenities of Crouch End, Stroud Green and local transport links include Archway and Finsbury Park tube stations.

• • • • • •

Two receptions Four double bedrooms Two bathrooms Kitchen/diner Private garden EPC rating D

Crouch End 020 8341 1110 Email lce@kfh.co.uk £210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees

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11:51 13/05/2014 11:31

St George’s Road, Palmers Green, N13 £2,500 pcm Unfurnished

A stunning four bedroom house in the sought after Lakes Estate. The house has been recently refurbished to offer a kitchen/diner, two bathrooms and off street parking.

• • • • • •

Four bedrooms Two bathrooms Kitchen/diner Large private garden Off street parking EPC rating E

Muswell Hill 020 8883 2340 Email lmh@kfh.co.uk £210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees

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10:14 13/05/2014 08:51

Grosvenor Road, N10

£1,150,000 Freehold. Sole Agents

Providing extremely bright and airy accommodation over three floors is this lovely four bedroom, two bathroom semi detached 1930’s family home. This fine property is being offered in very good condition throughout and retains many original features whilst boasting a fantastic loft conversion with amazing views stretching across Muswell Hill Golf Club. Located within half a mile of the excellent range of Muswell Hill’s shopping amenities and bus services to Highgate Tube (Northern Line); also close at hand is Alexandra Park, palace and its main line station. Within favourable distance of Rhodes Avenue primary school and catchment of Alexandra Park secondary school.

Contact our Muswell Hill Office on 020 8444 1771

Clyde Road, Alexandra Park, N22

£965,000 Freehold. Sole Agents

Retaining an abundance of original period features is this attractive three double bedroom mid terraced Edwardian residence. The house is set over two floors and is being presented in very good decorative order and benefits from light and airy accommodation and a delightful rear garden. Situated in this quiet tree lined road which is within catchment of Rhodes Avenues primary and Alexandra Park secondary schools, also close at hand is Alexandra Park, Palace and Main Line Station with its City connections.

Contact our Muswell Hill Office on 020 8444 1771

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www.tatlers.co.uk

Priory Gardens, Highgate, N6

£1,375,000 Freehold. Sole Agents

Mount View Road, Crouch End Borders, N4

£650,000 Leasehold. Sole Agents

An extremely well maintained four bedroom family home having been modernized throughout and benefiting a luxury fitted kitchen, two good sized reception rooms and a stunning conservatory which in turn leads out to the rear garden. The master bedroom has a modern en-suite shower room having been converted from the loft; added benefits also include off street parking to the front, and has the potential to extend to the side and the rear of the property (drawings have been done – any building works would be subject to relevant consents). Conveniently located within a two minute stroll to the end of the road to Highgate tube station (Northern Line).

Contact our East Finchley Office on 020 8883 1001

This garden apartment has its own private entrance, it is stylish with oak flooring throughout and contemporary fittings. The well planned living accommodation has ample storage and direct access to its own private garden. The property comprises: open plan kitchen/dining/ sitting room, two double bedrooms one with en-suite bathroom, study, shower room incorporating a utility cupboard and fitted wardrobes in both bedrooms. The location is well serviced for transport links with Crouch Hill and Harringay station close by and is a short bus ride (W3) to Finsbury Park. Crouch End Broadway with its mix of shops, cafes and restaurants is within easy reach.

Contact our Crouch End Office on 020 8341 4050

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Smart searches whilst on the move.

Find nearby properties for sale & to rent

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29/04/2014 13:16 04/04/2014 15:18

ABSOLUTELY Property

Showcase £500 Per Week

Old Church Court, Victoria Road, N4

T

his gorgeous church conversion has been carefully executed to preserve many of the original Church features such as exposed oak vaulted beams and beautiful stained glass windows.

Accommodation is arranged over the top two levels, features include two bedrooms, bathroom and ensuite a stylish contemporary kitchen. The upper level allows a spacious living/entertaining space showcasing the original gothic architecture.

Contact

David Andrew Estates 020 7281 2000; davidandrew.co.uk

suggests:

W

e all know that moving home can be one of life’s most stressful experiences.

But preparation is key. Begin by clearing the approach to your home, as this is where first impressions are made – and before anyone has stepped through the front door. By tapping into the good weather and using the additional daylight hours to work on tidying up the front garden, you can bring some sunshine into your home and maximize your selling potential.

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SPOTLIGHT ON CROUCH END

PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE

THROUGH THE KEYHOLE...

Mark Fordham Branch Manager at Martyn Gerrard, Crouch End 020 8348 5135; martyngerrard.co.uk

Warner Road, N8 £1,200,000

T

BEST SCHOOL Campsbourne Primary School’s reputation has grown in recent years, and even hosts the Alexandra Palace farmer’s market!

he Warner Estate is nestled to the south of Alexandra Park and Palace, offering a calm oasis between the bustling centres of Crouch End and Muswell Hill. This handsome Edwardian house, now in need of modernisation, is a superb opportunity to create an ideal family home with plenty of potential to extend to the rear and into the substantial loft space, subject to the necessary permissions.

RAINY DAY Victoria Stakes at the foot of Muswell Hill has a relaxed lounge with comfy sofas and restaurant. Or try the ice rink at Ally Pally!

FUN FOR FREE

GARDEN Extending approximately 16 metres (52’) the pleasant rear garden has a Westerly-aspect and open setting, meaning long sunny Summer evenings.

RECEPTION One of three receptions, this front room has an Edwardian square bay window and cornicing.

EXTERIOR A rarity in Crouch End, there is off-street parking to the front of the property.

Alexandra Palace and Park is just a stone’s throw away with all sorts of events and exhibitions and a great place for a stroll.

SPORTS & RECREATION Tennis courts in Priory Park, swimming pools at Park Road pools, and Highgate Cricket and Tennis club are all close-by.

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020 8348 5515

crouch.end@castles-estateagents.co.uk

www.castles-estateagents.co.uk

Berkeley Road, N8

£1,250,000 FREEHOLD

***NEW INSTRUCTION*** Please register your interest for our Forthcoming Open Day Charming Edwardian 4-bedroom family home in the ‘Arts & Crafts’ style, positioned within a moment’s walk of Crouch End Broadway & the desired Coleridge School on the Highgate periphery. Tastefully presented & modernised, with comfortable, bright, & homely rooms throughout.

Private front-reception, spacious & underfloor-heated rear diner & kitchen & utility leading onto landscaped private rear garden. Comprising family bathroom, & en-suite to loft room (Bedroom 4). Chain Free.

Coolhurst Road, N8

£699,999 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

***NEW INSTRUCTION*** Please register your interest for our Forthcoming Open Day A stunning two-bedroom garden conversion positioned on a muchfavoured treelined turning on the Highgate periphery. Further comprising reception, kitchen, bathroom and benefiting from own entrance. Situated within a moment’s walk of Crouch End Broadway and Coleridge School.

12 Topsfield Parade, London N8 8PR CASTLE_NXNW.indd 2

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ABSOLUTELY Property

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ABSOLUTELY Property

IN THEIR OWN

WORDS EDWARD ROBINSON

Area Director for Camden & Islington: Faron Sutaria Photography: Rebecca Noonan nowing a lot of estate agents, it seems that few people dreamed of the profession as a child. I must confess, it was the inevitability of a wet towel, once again, whilst living in a tent in a small island near Vancouver that created the desire to look in to different options.

Whilst at university in Sheffield studying economics and business the future looked bright and led to three years of travels. Three months in Italy led to six months in Japan, closely followed by chasing a dream and skiing everyday in Switzerland. The snow proved irresistible, and took me to New Zealand to follow the cold, and culminated in living in a beautiful remote island called Salt Spring.

London was one of the few places I was nervous about living; I knew the challenging atmosphere and scale of competition was going to require me to be at the top of my game if I wished to succeed.

It was a sofa near Brick Lane in Shoreditch (before it was trendy) that I would call home before moving to Dalston, Bethnal Green, Camden and now Primrose Hill. Each area has offered so many surprises and taught me that individuality within people, cultures and lifestyles can flourish and create wonderful places to socialise, live and work. Some people find it difficult to imagine that the 10 miles from Camden to Canary Wharf along the Regents Canal can be entertaining on a Monday night but I assure you the sights and experience are not to be missed.

Now a settled Londoner, outside of work I am usually on a bike, in a pool or stomping around Regents Park. I am doing my first Olympic distance

K

triathlon in Windsor in June and am enjoying the challenge. During my time in the capital I have been extremely fortunate to experience the opening of offices in Shoreditch, Canary Wharf and Camden. The differences in markets, style of property and of course client expectations have created innumerable challenges and some great successes.

We are a client focussed team with very high standards and equally high aspirations, which fits perfectly in these markets. There is no better feeling than exceeding a previous record price or securing multiple bids to allow clients absolute confidence in their decision and the privilege of being able to choose who to pass their home on to.

As there are fewer properties in the market, they are beginning to be seen as more than just a home.

The comparison with antiques and fine wine is making more sense. We are seeing that “value” is an individual’s perception and can be dramatically different depending on their view of the market and the representation of the property within it.

The agent’s role has become more important than ever. Understanding the product and being open minded about the potential for future appreciation can be the deciding factor in achieving the best deal for clients.

The future for Islington and Camden has unlimited potential. We are perfectly located to capitalise on buoyant city news whilst seeing record numbers of buyers registering. The appetite for central London property seems insatiable, with everybody wanting a part of the most exciting city in the world.

020 7267 7074; faronsutaria.co.uk

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y

AINGER ROAD, NW3 A substantial maisonette set over the lower and raised ground floors of a handsome Victorian building in Primrose Village, close to Primrose Hill, Chalk Farm and Regent’s Park. Approx. 1,480 sq ft. Energy Rating: D. 3 bedrooms, en suite bathroom, 2 shower rooms, reception room, dining room, utility room, balcony, garden.

Freehold Share Guide Price £1,950,000 SOLD

Chalcot Crescent, NW1

SOLD

Guide £3,850,000 Fitzroy Road, NW1

SOLD

Guide £3,500,000 King Henry’s Road, NW3

PRIMROSE HILL 020 3151 6295 primrosehill@johndwood.co.uk

JDW_NXNW.indd 1 NxNW June 1 JDW6765 Absolutely

SOLD

Guide £2,000,000 Regent’s Park Road, NW1

Guide £1,395,000

johndwood.co.uk

13/05/2014 13/05/2014 11:14 10:31

GLOUCESTER CRESCENT, NW1 A wonderful family home in a prominent position, close to Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park. The well configured accommodation is set over 5 floors with numerous period features and a particularly generous walled garden.

Approx. 2,976 sq ft.

6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shower room, 2 reception rooms, conservatory, 2 utility rooms, garden.

Freehold Guide Price £3,750,000 SOLD

Chalcot Road, NW1

SOLD

Guide £3,695,000 Sharpleshall Street, NW1

SOLD

Guide £3,250,000 Chamberlain Street, NW1

PRIMROSE HILL 020 3151 6295 primrosehill@johndwood.co.uk

JDW_NXNW.indd 2 NxNW June 2 JDW6765 Absolutely

SOLD

Guide £2,950,000 Gloucester Avenue, NW1

Guide £1,100,000

johndwood.co.uk

13/05/2014 13/05/2014 11:14 10:27

ABSOLUTELY Property

Property Round up P.O.A

PROPERTY OF THE MONTH

Totteridge Village, N20

A

rare opportunity to acquire a truly bespoke, outstanding family residence, situated in this most privileged of locations in the heart of Totteridge Village, secluded from the main road and accessed by the private driveway, leading through to the enclosed forecourt.

This double fronted, six bedroom property provides extensive living accommodation arranged over three floors, enhanced by a wealth of features and painstaking attention to detail. This incredible home further comprises five bathrooms (four en-suite), drawing room, dining room, breakfast room, ‘Christians’ fitted kitchen, family room, utility room, study, two cloakrooms, boot room, exquisite south facing gardens, tennis court, integral garage and underfloor heating.

020 8445 3132; realestates-wsp.co.uk

Sold on Kentish Town Our new office open now 020 7485 0400 www.parkheath.com

New Kentish Town office for Parkheath

P

arkheath, one of North London’s leading estate agents, are celebrating their latest office opening in Kentish Town. Managing Director Tom Gladwin said: ‘Kentish Town is a wonderfully vibrant and exciting part of London and we are looking forward becoming part of the fabric of the area.’

020 7485 0400; parkheath.com

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ABSOLUTELY Property

5

MINUTES WITH...

Damien Brown Lettings Manager at KFH, Crouch End 020 8341 1110; kfh.co.uk What makes you the go-to-agent in the area?

Our network of offices is incredibly strong with more than 50 branches across London and a support system of 12 lettings branches in North London. Our access to applicants is therefore unrivalled and our lettings team are hugely experienced in the local lettings market.

How long have you been in the area?

I’ve lived in Crouch End for six years now and been based in the local branch for more than five so I feel completely at home here and regularly bump into clients in the street.

Danvers Road, N8

P

rickett & Ellis are offering this particularly stylish Edwardian family home for sale in the area between the Parks Alexandra and Priory and the Broadways Crouch End and Muswell Hill. A wonderful, leafy, green and easy to park in location that 020 8883 9797; prickettandellis.com

What is your company ethos?

To provide the best service we can to both landlords and tenants alike. We focus on service, honesty, transparency, and ensuring that we are knowledgeable about all legislative issues.

£1,200,000 is also great for various transport links to town. This truly stunning extensively refurbished beautifully refitted four double bedroom residence includes a large contemporary kitchen / dining and living space, plus a separate drawing room.

What can we expect for the market in the Spring/Summer?

We are expecting a resurgence in the local market compared to last year when we lost a lot of tenants and properties to the sales market. As property prices continue to rise,w some savvy tenants are sitting back until things normalise again.

A “Thank you” from Keats Community Library Thank you so much for your sponsorship of our Art Fair again this year. It was a great success, we sold a lot of beautiful work for local artists and we netted nearly £4000 in commission for the library. Your sponsorship covered all our costs for the event, so the money we raised will all go towards keeping the library open. In addition to being a financial success for us, it was a lovely event for Hampstead.

As I hope you saw, the quality of work was extremely high and we had lots of visitors to the Library.

The artists were delighted to have the opportunity to sell their work locally. It means a great deal to us to have the support of local businesses. The library means a lot to our local community, particularly the very young and the very old, so your support is a lifeline for us.

Thank you again, Vicky, the Trustees and all the volunteers of KCL” If you wish to support Keats Community Library, visit http://bit.ly/QLW2us

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Offices throughout London

Cholmley Gardens, NW6

£1,250,000 Leasehold - 90 years plus

A fantastic four bedroom apartment that is situated in one of West Hampstead popular Mansion blocks near to West Hampstead Tube and Thames link offering great transport links to central London. The property also has its own private outside space. EPC = E

Camden Office 020 7482 8920Camden@edmundcude.com

Greville Mews, NW6

£1,300,000

Situated on a peaceful mews street in a vibrant area, this five bedroomed, four bathroom detached house is arranged over three floors offers fantastic contemporary interiors and private garden to the rear. EPC = C

Camden Office 020 7482 8920Camden@edmundcude.com

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

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Camden High Street, NW1

Price Range of £525,000 - £950,000

A rare opportunity to acquire one of the six apartments which have a contemporary one or two double bedroom apartments set on the third floor of this newly refurbished block ideally located opposite Camden Town tube station. These stylish properties all features high ceilings, modern shower room and kitchen. Ideally situated in the heart of Camden Town next to great transport links and local amenities. These property is offered on a chain free basis with a lease in excess of 200 years. There is also an option to purchase all six. EPC = C-B Camden Office 020 7482 8920Camden@edmundcude.com

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

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ABSOLUTELY Property

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

Vidhur Mehra

Finance Director, Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings � 020 7319 9730 brlets.co.uk

Does a landlord need to pay tax?

Y

es! Rental income from UK property is taxable. You must declare all rental income to the HM Revenue and Customs using a Self Assessment Tax Return and pay tax on the profit. There are a number of expenses you can deduct from your rental income to reduce your tax liability including mortgage interest, letting and management fees, insurance, ground rent and service charges, certain legal and accounting fees, repairs and maintenance.

There is also a wear and tear allowance for furnished properties.

Landlords will also need to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the eventual sale of the property.

Previously overseas landlords were exempt from CGT but the Government has introduced new rules so CGT will, in the future, apply to them too.

Nigel Ellis

Director of Prickett & Ellis � 020 8883 9797; prickettandellis.com

Who is moving to your part of North London and why?

W

ell, I should start by saying how privileged I feel to have lived and worked in the Highgate, Muswell Hill and Crouch End areas for most of my life, so my opinion on why buyers should move here is biased, but it is nevertheless based on personal experience. Is there really a better area north of the river for such an eclectic combination of good schools, parks, woodland, shopping and entertainment so close to the city centre? This is probably the reason we are getting families from the Camden, Hampstead and Islington areas so keen to move here – and you can park, well much more easily anyway. Everyone also has a cosmopolitan selection of excellent eateries and bars within walking distance, not to mention art cinemas and theatres. Our patch also includes East Finchley, which works particularly well for our clients who would like more space and more garden – for one extra stop on the Northern Line there is worthwhile difference. But it is not just families, the actors and artists who have historically been attracted to the area are bringing their own set with them. If you need convincing, come and visit the area and spot the celebrities, after a walk in the parks and woods – did you know you can virtually walk across the area without crossing a road?

HEMA ANAND � 020 7354 3000 / colmancoyle.com

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

Q

I am buying a flat with a lease that has 75 years left to run and would like to better understand my options for extending the lease.

Generally, there are two ways in which to acquire a lease term extension from your landlord. The first is to negotiate with the landlord to see whether they will agree to extend the lease. Subject to meeting certain criteria under the Leasehold Reform, Housing & Urban Development Act 1993 (as amended) (“1993 Act”), the alternative is to force the landlord to grant a lease term extension.

In your scenario, request the seller prior to acquiring the property or wait until you have acquired the property to commence and agree terms for a lease term extension with the landlord.

However, there is generally nothing binding upon the landlord to grant a lease term extension.

Alternatively, if the seller has owned the property for at least 2 years and subject to meeting other criteria referred to in the 1993 Act, the seller can serve formal notice upon the landlord and commence the process for a lease term extension. The benefit of such notice can be assigned to you so that you are not required to have owned the property for the requisite 2 years before you are in a position to acquire a lease term extension.

In all of the above scenarios, you will require valuation advice and to consider your lender’s requirements, as well.

A

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

Spotlight on NW5

80 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0NU

Average asking price: £960,642  Average asking rents: £2,210 pcm Average property value: £705,325 Data provided by

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Estate Agents Since 1988

Sales Lettings Property Management

Hampstead, NW3

Freehold | OIEO £2,900,000 | Sole Agent Hampstead Sales: 020 7431 1020 Hampstead@oliverstown.com Glorious views over Hampstead Ponds evoke an almost rural ambiance to this contemporary house in sought-after South Hill Park. Its layout is flexible but overall could provide 5 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, and 2 bathrooms. What’s more there is a private garden plus a communal one with access to the Ponds, 2 balconies and off street parking. EPC: F

Brondesbury, NW6

Freehold For Sale by Informal Tender I Sole Agent

Hampstead Sales: 020 7431 1020 Hampstead@oliverstown.com A detached double fronted house arranged over 5000 sq. ft. with a huge garden. In need of modernisation the property lends itself to myriad ways of adapting the space as an extremely large family house or conversion into several self-contained units, subject to planning consents. The house features a double volume studio with spiral staircase leading to a gallery. A large cellar is also incorporated. EPC: F

Kentish Town, NW5

Share of Freehold I OIEO £900,000 I Sole Agent Kentish Town Sales: 020 7284 1222 info@oliverstown.com This super maisonette, arranged over the lower & raised ground floors of a mid- terraced period property in the Bartholomew Estate Conservation Area, comprises 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, cloakroom and a reception opening to a kitchen/dining area. To the rear of the property are a pretty patio garden and an outside patio room. A lovely flat with loads of character and period features. EPC: D

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

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St John’s Wood

£975 pw Furn/Unfurnished

2 Bedrooms | 1 Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment Near Regents Park | Tube Closeby | EPC - C Hampstead 020 3503 0908 hamp@brlets.co.uk

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

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London’s Letting Agency

To arrange a viewing or for more information call

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

020 7319 9783

Beaufort Park

£270 pw Furnished

Hampstead

£595 pw Unfurnished

Manhattan Studio Apartment | 1 Bathroom Parking | Gym | Balcony | Near Tube | EPC - C Beaufort Park 020 3503 0017 beaufortpark@brlets.co.uk

1 Bedroom | 2 Receptions | 1 Bathroom | Apartment Period Conversion | Parking | Near Amenities | EPC - D Hampstead 020 3503 0908 hamp@brlets.co.uk

Highgate

Highgate

£640 pw Furn/Unfurnished

2 Bedrooms | 1 Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment Communal Garden | Balcony | Gym | EPC - B Highgate 020 3302 2601 high@brlets.co.uk

£800 pw Unfurnished

3 Bedrooms | 1 Reception | 3 Bathrooms House | Garden | Amenities Closeby | EPC - C Highgate 020 3302 2601 high@brlets.co.uk

Dubai | Hong Kong | India | Malaysia | Singapore

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INFO@PRICKETTANDELLIS.COM INFO@PRICKETTANDELLIS.COM

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