Absolutely Notting Hill:Kensington:Chelsea:Fulham February 2018 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

NOTTING HILL & KENSINGTON

ABSOLUTELY

Chelsea & Fulham Notting Hill & Kensington FEBRUARY 2018 / Â£3.95

Floral

MADE in BRITAIN

TRIBUTE

Farewell to the Kensington Roof Gardens

A story of sustainability FEB RUARY 2018

Going

GREEN

Environmentally friendly parenting

DRAMA QUEEN

Monica Dolan at the Bush Theatre

Statement

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents FEBRUARY 2018

106 16

C U LT U R E ABSOLUTELY LOVES

10 things we’re coveting this month

20 AGENDA

Diary dates for February

CENTRE STAGE

Absolutely meets Monica Dolan

FA S H I O N 34 FASHION CONFIDENTIAL This month’s hottest trend updates and brands to know

36 TIED UP

Bow-tie tops are big business this season

SPOT CHECK

Blemish-busting buys

FOOD & DRINK 58 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL News from the industry

60 RECIPES

Gizzi Erskine's new book

INTERIORS 68 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS 70 COOK OFF

Discover Rosie Birkett's stylish kitchen

38 MADE IN BRITAIN

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y 48 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

PROPERTY 128 LIVING THE DREAM

The month’s best beauty buys

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N The online guide to inspirational London living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes.

News and views for the home

T R AV E L 106 SEA VIEW

Meet the duo behind Studio British

40 58

Sun, sea and style at Danai Beach Resort

ON THE COVER JANE TAYLOR MILLINERY WILD ROSE, £1,800 CLOTHING BY: RUI XU MAKE UP: LOIS PICKUP PHOTOGRAPHER: SOPHIE LOUISE JONES PHOTOGRAPHY JANETAYLORMILLINERY.COM

The most luxurious London properties A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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70 years of teaching children to fly

EDITOR IN CHIEF PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR HELEN BROWN FASHION & BEAUTY WRITER JOY MONTGOMERY LIFESTYLE WRITER MIRIAM CAREY EDUCATION EDITOR AMANDA CONSTANCE GROUP SALES DIRECTOR CRAIG DAVIES MAGAZINE MANAGER ROLLO DENNISON MAGAZINE MANAGER ANABELA KOLECI PROPERTY DIRECTOR JAMES FUSCHILLO ART DIRECTOR PHIL COUZENS SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN DESIGNER CATHERINE PERKINS PRODUCTION MANAGER CHRIS COUCHMAN MARKETING MANAGER LUCIE PEARCE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID

Open afternoon 2 March

DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER

To book in, please call the school office

MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS EVA LEHOCZKY

Founded in 1947, Bassett House in Notting Hill is a proudly non-selective, co-educational prep school for 3 – 11 year olds. We believe every child can learn to fly. Individual attention combined with our exciting curricular and extra-curricular activities encourage children to think fearlessly and creatively, producing excellent academic results. In the words of Mrs Philippa Cawthorne, our headmistress: ‘The spirit and enthusiasm of our pupils has to be seen to be believed.’ To arrange a visit, please call our registrar, Mrs Thalia Demetriades, on 020 8969 0313 or email registrar@bassetths.org.uk.

Bassett House School 60 Bassett Road London W10 6JP

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

First Floor, 197 City Road, London EC1V 1JN T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 zest.london Zest Media Publications 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 Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

Fo l l ow Us O n Fa c e b o o k @ABSOLUTELYMAGAZINES T wi t t e r & In s t a g ra m @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS

020 8969 0313 bassetths.org.uk

We b si t e

a b s o l u t e l y. l o n d o n

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Editor’s

LETTER

eep in the midst of winter and with all New Year's optimism long evaporated, February can seem a bleak month. Yet, somehow it is also supposed to be a month of romance, with Valentine’s Day bringing red roses, sickly sweet cartoon hearts and smug couples aplenty. Meanwhile, singletons around the world are struck with an uncomfortable unrest that only disappears as the clock strikes midnight on the 15th. As a concept overrun by cliché and commercialism, how can we make the day of love enchanting again? Our answer is to celebrate love and passion in forms more palatable. Celeb chef and style icon Gizzi Erskine encourages us to experiment with new textures and ﬂavours on page 60 with a selection of wholesome recipes - perfect if you’re cooking for loved ones. Perhaps your plans involve a trip to the theatre? Monica Dolan tells us about her solo show The B*easts at the Bush Theatre. The subject of the play is both topical and terrifying, making it a must for anyone looking for a captivating night out. Finally, whether you and your partner are an outdoorsy duo or culture vultures, we've found a host of fun, cliché-free date night ideas. There's also plenty of fashion inspiration, a guide to artisan chocolate and a Halkidiki travel story for anyone looking to whisk away the object of their affections. Enjoy the issue!

ABSOLUTELY’S favourite date night spots...

LE GARRICK

If old-school romance is what you’re looking for then Le Garrick is the place for you. Located in the heart of Covent Garden, this underground eatery offers a little slice of France and plenty of cosy, candle-lit corners. 10-12 Garrick Street, WC2E legarrick.co.uk JOY MONTGOMERY FASHION & BEAUTY WRITER

RADICI

Radici in islington has got to be my number one date venue, as I find Italian food unbeatable for romance. The vegan chocolate cake, with its oozing molten centre, is ideal for sharing, and the location great for a post-date stroll. 30 Almeida Street, N1 radici.uk MIRIAM CAREY LIFESTYLE WRITER

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PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

PITCH BLACK

Test your alcohol knowledge with Pitch Black's immersive cocktail and wine experience in the dark. For 90 minutes your tastebuds will be tantalised by a selection of drinks, as you guess the ingredients placed before you. All the answers are revealed at the end of the night, so prepare to get competitive. 68a Neal Street, WC2H pitchblackbar.com

CLARA VAN DUIVENBODE EDITORIAL INTERN

SWINGERS

With five cocktail bars, three street food vendors and two crazy golf courses, Swingers is the date venue with a twist. This year, just for Valentine’s Day, you can tuck into heart-shaped pizzas and guzzle champagne before getting competitive with a golf club. This place has something for everyone. 8 Brown's Buildings, EC3A swingersldn.com HELEN BROWN ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

THE COW

There's nothing better than a huge seafood platter piled high with oysters, crab, king prawns, clams and the rest – and The Cow in Westbourne Park never changes. It's always small, loud and crowded – and it always does great seafood. 89 Westbourne Park Road, W2 thecowlondon.co.uk PENDLE HARTE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

26/01/2018 14:06

Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

H E L E N B R OW N

ME+ E M With dreary January behind us, now is the time to look ahead to new hues to lift winter spirits. ME+EM’s workwear essentials and ski-inspired pieces will keep you looking on-trend on and off the piste. Consider the January collection a sartorial breath of fresh air for your wardrobe. meandem.com

Twin Set

There's no conﬁdence boost quite like the one that comes with luxury lingerie, so we're opting for this matching set for a feel-good February. Bra: £36, briefs: £22; uk.intimissimi.com

OOH LA LA LA

Famed for their innovative designs, wearability and playful detailing, Chinti and Parker’s sweatshirts are a must for ﬁghting cold snaps. £275; farfetch.com

K IS S A N D T E LL Handcrafted from ﬂexible crossgrain leather, this wafer-thin notebook is designed to ﬁt perfectly in your pocket. We've gone for the Kiss and Tell motif to add an element of fun to the month of love. £35; smythson.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

CARVEN

Taking inspiration from the streets of Paris, Carven’s Resort '18 collection embodies the edgier side of French fashion with eye-catching geometric prints, 1930s-inspired cinched-waist dresses and boxy silhouettes. £570; carven.com

Eternal Flame

Embellished with Piero Fornasetti’s Sardine Rosso artwork, this scented candle looks stylish on any surface and burns with enveloping scents of thyme and cedarwood. £115; farfetch.com

EDITOR’S PICK

PY THO N PART Y Fans of Jimmy Choo's Lockett Petite bag will love the larger Lockett City version where there is more room for necessities. Its bold fuchsia ﬁ nish will add oomph to an otherwise ordinary ensemble. £1,895; net-a-porter.com

S U GAR RUS H For sweet treats this Valentine’s Day look no further than Rococo Chocolates. Finished in rose pink, these Marc de Champagne truffles are almost too charming to eat. £17.95; rococochocolates.com

ON THE CARDS

Keep it chic with this wallet from Gucci. Compact and effortlessly cool, it’s ideal for keeping your cards in once place and slips easily into a crossbody bag. £220; farfetch.com

Gin Wins

Made using a crop of rhubarb originally grown in the garden of Buckingham Palace, Victoria’s Rhubarb Gin is voluptuous on the palate with sweet and tangy rhubarb notes to ﬁ nish. £38; warneredwards.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Our medical grade, Gold Star Laser machines, offer the best in hair removal technology, ensuring a comfortable & effective treatment, for all skin types. Visit us at Strip Chelsea, Notting Hill, Islington or City for your free consultation.

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CULTURE

Sixties Style: Shot by Duffy, Proud Galleries, 2 February – 18 March, proud.co.uk; Photo Duffy ©Duffy Archive

What’s On 20 • Absolutely meets Monica Dolan 22 • Theatre Round-Up 26 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Agenda PAULENE STONE, COLOUR GELS, TOWN MAGAZINE, 1963; COURTESY OF PROUD CENTRAL; PHOTO DUFFY ©DUFFY ARCHIVE

LO N D O N ’S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S

T H E AT R E

Trust

From 22 February GATE THEATR E

EXHIBITION

Sixties Style F RO M 2 F E B RUA RY • P RO U D CEN TRAL

Photographer Brian Duffy recorded modern Britain, exploring the youth-driven cultural shift of the Swinging Sixties. Capturing the lifestyle trends of this momentous decade, this diverse collection of photographs encompasses fashion editorials, celebrity portraiture and international advertising campaigns. 32 John Adam Street, WC2N; proud.co.uk

TO NAPOLEAN, JASON BROOKS; COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND MARLBOROUGH FINE ART

Leave or stay. Speak up or keep silent. Walk out tonight or stick it out another week, a month, a year. An anarchic celebration of broken relationships, complex negotiations and the tyranny of capitalism, Jude Christian’s production asks the question, would you settle for a system you can’t trust? 11 Pembridge Road, Notting Hill Gate, W11; gatetheatre.co.uk

EXHIBITION

The Subject is Not the Subject 9 February - 10 March MARLBOROUGH FI NE ART

In his third solo show with Marlborough Fine Art, Jason Brooks looks at how the language of painting can take one object and turn it into another with hobbyist paintings collected from junk shops, 18th century paintings and composited photographic images taken by Brooks of fellow image makers. 6 Albemarle Street W1S; marlboroughlondon.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

EXHIBITION

OCEAN LINERS:

Around Town

Speed and Style

S P E C TA C L E

From 3 February

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

V&A

Ongoing

Experience a unique journey through the design stories of the world’s greatest ocean liners with an impressive showcase of artefacts, imagery, artwork and clothing. From the Titanic to the Queen Mary, the Normandie and the Canberra, discover how these breathtaking vessels have helped shape the modern world. Cromwell Road, SW7; vam.ac.uk

ROYAL ALBERT H ALL

Cirque du Soleil returns with the UK debut of OVO. A colourful carnival of crazy crickets, amazing ants and flexible fleas, the show uncovers the ground at our feet. Rush headlong into an ecosystem teeming with life in this non-stop riot of movement and mindblowing, high-flying acts. Kensington Gore, SW7; royalalberthall.com

EXHIBITION

TIME AND TIDE Until 17 February J O N AT H A N CO O P E R

This Month’s Must See

Following a highly successful joint show in 2016, British painter Jo Oakley will be holding her ﬁrst solo exhibition with Jonathan Cooper. Featuring new seascapes and still lifes, the exhibition with explore themes of nature, time and renewal, with Oakley’s thoughtful works embued with folklore and a sense of timelessness. 20 Park Walk, SW10; jonathancooper.co.uk

THE OPEN HOUSE U NTI L 17 F E B RUARY • PRIN T ROOM AT THE CORON ET

ill Eno’s wildly subversive and darkly hilarious production of The Open House opens in the iconic Coronet following a successful stint at Bath’s Ustinov Studio. In Eno’s inimitable style, the play explores an archetypal family drama as a son and daughter arrive home to celebrate their parents wedding anniversary, only to ﬁnd the atmosphere strained and the dog nowhere to be seen. Notting Hill Gate, W68; the-print-room.org

F E S T I VA L

CHARLES I: KING AND COLLECTOR Ongoing ROYAL ACAD EM Y OF ART

Aside from being the only English monarch to suffer the indignity of having their head chopped off, Charles I was also an avid art collector. This exhibition brings 90 pieces of his collection together and features everyone from Rubens to Titian. Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J; royalacademy.org.uk

EXHIBITION

WOMEN OF THE FUTURE 8 February LON DON TRA NSP ORT M USEUM

The London Transport Museum is marking 100 years since women received the right to vote with a one-off festival of feminism. Get creative with Buttress and Snatch in a playful twist on bra-burning and enjoy dynamic presentations on the portrayal of women. Convent Garden Piazza, WC2E; ltmuseum.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

EXHIBITION

OCEAN LINERS:

Around Town

Speed and Style

S P E C TA C L E

From 3 February

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

V&A

Ongoing

ROYAL ALBERT H ALL

EXHIBITION

TIME AND TIDE Until 17 February J O N AT H A N CO O P E R

This Month’s Must See

THE OPEN HOUSE U NTI L 17 F E B RUARY • PRIN T ROOM AT THE CORON ET

F E S T I VA L

CHARLES I: KING AND COLLECTOR Ongoing ROYAL ACAD EM Y OF ART

EXHIBITION

WOMEN OF THE FUTURE 8 February LON DON TRA NSP ORT M USEUM

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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drama

QUEEN As BAFTA-winning actress Monica Dolan’s ﬁrst solo show comes to The Bush Theatre, Absolutely meets her to discuss conﬁdence, comedy and learning lines

onica Dolan is learning her lines. She’s got 11,500 words to master and currently she’s nearly halfway there. “You just have to go over it and over it, and keep telling yourself that one day you’ll know it,” she explains, over coffee in the Bush Theatre’s lovely new space, handily near her house. She’s learning these lines for the second time, and even though they’re written by her, it’s still a struggle. A full hour of talking. Dolan’s solo show The B*easts was a hit at Edinburgh last year and now she’s bringing it to The Bush, with an agenda that’s become part of a wider debate. It’s quite a transition from acting to writing, isn’t it? And also from acting alongside other people to standing alone on stage for an hour? For Dolan, The B*easts is her first foray into writing, though it’s something she’s always slightly wanted to do. “Recently I’d been working with a lot of comedians who had cut their teeth in Edinburgh. I’d never

By P E N D L E H A R T E

performed at the Edinburgh Festival and started to think, why aren’t I doing this? I had done a show at the Royal Court where part of it was improvisation with the audience and I really loved that – then I talked to Sarah Pascoe who’s in W1A with me and she said ‘if you have the smallest inclination to do it, then do it,’” she says. Besides, writing a piece for yourself bypasses a lot of the layers of people involved in, say, writing for TV. “Here there’s nobody in between – just you and the audience and your connection,” says Dolan. “I kind of wanted to put myself out there in that way.” The B*easts relies on inspiring a degree of confusion in the audience, so it’s important not to give too much away here, but its subject is both topical and terrifying. It’s about children and their vulnerability to advertising and technology, and the growing quest for perfection, an awareness of which had been slowly growing in Dolan. “A friend texted me an article from The Week called Ban Botox for Children,” she says – “and I saw a documentary about advergames which are games involving little cartoon characters aimed at children, so they don’t know they’re engaging with an advert.” She learned that despite legal age requirements for tattoos and tanning, there is no minimum

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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CULTURE • PROFILE

“I’ve learnt that you get really interesting characters who are good, though most people dismiss them”

MONICA DOLAN IN THE B*EASTS, PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALAN HARRIS

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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CULTURE • PROFILE MONICA DOLAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRONWEN SHARP

age for botox, and that there are plastic surgery apps aimed at children as young as nine. “There are so many things being invented and marketed that there are no laws for – and children are starting to brand themselves very early.” The subject has taken on Dolan made contact with an anthropologist in Manchester and a bio-ethics team at Nuffield who are looking at the whole subject of children and cosmetic procedures – they came to see her play and they will be hosting a panel discussion at The Bush in connection with it. Dark subjects are something that Dolan is no stranger to. As research for her award-winning performance as Rosemary West in ITV’s Appropriate Adult, a dramatisation of the Fred West story, she read transcripts of the case provided by West’s solicitor. Which was interesting, she says, in that it was just like reading a play – “they’re all characters,” – apart from that there was loads of it. Surprisingly, she hadn’t wanted the part; she had no existing interest in the Wests. “It wasn’t a massive part for the amount of horrible research I was going to have to do,” – and there’s a line at the end of the production, “you can’t unsee things, you can’t unknow things,” that counts for her experience too. “I got so many intrigued people asking questions when I was doing that but you soon realise that they don’t really want to know.” But fascination with the Wests is a common phenomenon. “My friend who’s the mildest, most gentlemanly person you can imagine, was really interested in the Wests and he lent me Brian Masters’ book She must Have Known, which

“There’s nobody in between – just you and the audience and your connection. I kind of wanted to put myself out there in that way”

argues that there’s no evidence that Rosemary had even met some of the victims. So I was really on her side when I went for the audition. Then I read all the rest of the stuff...” So does she seek out troubling subjects? “Well I’d rather not.” She wasn’t immediately interested in Tess Wall, her character in the television adaptation of JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy, because she seemed so good. “When I first read it I couldn’t see anything to her but I’ve learnt that you get really interesting characters who are good, though most people dismiss them. When I looked into it, Tess was fascinating. Trying to be good in an environment that isn’t helping is fascinating.” Dolan started acting at school, when she had a really small part in a play in primary school “and everyone really laughed when I came on and I loved it,” she says. She continued throughout secondary school (“we had an avant garde teacher”) and went to the Guildhall despite her mother wanting her to be a lawyer “or something”. Drama school gave her confidence, she says, though going on stage alone still scares her. Is it lonely doing a solo show? She’s had a lot of support, she emphasises, starting with an early reading that she organised at home, inviting eight friends to eat sausage rolls and listen to her new piece. “The night before, I nearly cancelled. I read it and thought it was terrible, but I did it and what excited me was that everybody started talking about the subject.” For Edinburgh, the piece needed a bit of cutting (“they fine you £10 per minute if you go over the hour) but here in W12 they’re more flexible. The show’s bound to get you talking.

T H E B* E A S T S Runs from 12 February to 3 March at The Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road W12; 020 8743 5050 bushtheatre.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Rhapsody in Blue Shall we Dance Lady be Good But Not For Me S’Wonderful I Got Rhythm Let’S Call the Whole Thing Off Summertime The Man I Love

SAINT SAËNS Symphony No. 3 in C Minor

KATIE BIRTILL & RODNEY EARL CLARKE guest singers VIV McLEAN piano ALFONSO CASADO TRIGO conductor LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA Plus a glamorous ballroom duo and two sensational tap dancers.

GOLDFINGER • FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE CASINO ROYALE • YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE • THUNDERBALL DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER • FOR YOUR EYES ONLY THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN • MOONRAKER LIVE & LET DIE • NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH • SKYFALL

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra LOUISE DEARMAN & OLIVER TOMPSETT singers JOHN RIGBY conductor LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA

ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

City of London Choir Christopher Warren Green conductor

SOUTHBANKCENTRE.CO.UK

020 3879 9555

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SEATS AVAILABLE raymondgubbay.co.uk apply)

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09/01/2018 14:04

CULTURE • THEATRE

ROUND UP

Best in

MUST SEE

SHOW Spend a cosy evening in Theatreland with our top stage picks for the month By H E L E N B R O W N

MACBETH

Fanny & Alexander ★★★★★

★★★★★ From 26 February

From 21 February

N AT ION AL T HEATR E

TH E O LD V I C

Amongst the gilded romance and glamour of 1900s Sweden, the world of siblings Fanny and Alexander is turned upside down when their widowed mother remarries the iron-willed local bishop. As creative freedom and rigid orthodoxy clash, a war ensues between imagination and austerity in this magical study of childhood, family and love. The Cut, SE1; oldvictheatre.com

FANNY & ALEXANDER

Dry Powder

Girl from the North Country

★★★★★

Ongoing

H A M P STE A D T H E ATR E

NO E L COWARD THEATRE

Sarah Burgess’ breathtakingly witty and virtuosic comedy explores the vision, the vulnerability, and the vilification of those shaping - and skewing - the economy. Dry Powder follows titan of high finance, Rick, as the reputation of his firm crashes and his lavish engagement party turns into a PR nightmare. Eton Avenue, NW3; hampsteadtheatre.com

In 1934, a Minnesota community is living on a knife-edge, huddled together in the local guesthouse. When a preacher and a boxer show up in the the night, things start to spiral. Conor McPherson weaves the iconic songbook of Bob Dylan into this new show full of hope, heartbreak and soul. 85-88 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N; noelcowardtheatre.co.uk

Ruthlessly fighting to survive in the ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Rufus Norris brings his magic touch to Shakespeare’s most intense and terrifying tragedy, with Rory Kinnear and AnneMarie Duff in the lead roles. Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1; nationaltheatre.org.uk MACBETH

Lady Windermere’s Fan ★★★★★ Ongoing VAUD EV I LLE T HE ATR E

Lady Windermere’s birthday is thrown into turmoil when a seed of marital suspicion upsets proceedings. Poking fun at the moral attitudes of the upper classes, Oscar Wilde’s comedy is brought to life with an all-star cast of comics including Jennifer Saunders and Kevin Bishop. 404 Strand, WC2R; nimaxtheatres.com

LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN

DRY POWDER

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HHHHH WHATSONSTAGE

‘SO MUCH ENERGY IT ZINGS’ THE TIMES

Marble Arch Theatre | FiveGuysMusical.com

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CULTURE • THEATRE

Amadeus The story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, musical genius, at The Olivier By PENDLE HARTE

eter Schaffer’s much-loved account of Mozart’s life may not be entirely historically accurate, but it certainly makes a good story. Michael Longhurst’s hotly anticipated revived production (it was a sell-out in 2016) is a riot of action, spectacle and music, fully inhabiting the Olivier’s vast space with its displays of 18th century decadence, colourful costumes and sheer energy.

Adam Gillen’s Mozart is full of presence, brilliantly irritating with his conceitedness, indiscretion and relentless toilet humour. He’s a slightly creepy young upstart, leaping manically around the stage, conducting wildly, dismissing all music except his own and fully convinced that his work is perfection beyond measure. Spoilt, vain and over-confident yet surprisingly insightful, his performance is intense and physical. ‘A little less enthusiasm please, Mozart,’ says the emperor repeatedly.

“18th century decadence, colourful costumes and sheer energy”

ABSOLUTELY reviews…

Elderly Viennese court composer Salieri (Lucian Msamati) opens the show in his wheelchair, surrounded by the contemporary orchestra (all mobile phones and takeaway coffees) as he reminisces about Mozart’s death. Then suddenly it’s 18th century Vienna, and Mozart’s first arrival in court, where the tale of rivaly between the two musicians unfurls. Salieri is hugely jealous of the newcomer’s sheer talent, which he sees as god-given, from the same god who condemns him to mediocrity by leaving him only able to produce second-rate music. Mozart’s impeccable pieces may be show-offy, but for Salieri they reveal his own lack of talent in comparison, and so begins a long campaign of undermining and blocking Mozart’s career. Most notably in this production, the orchestra is integral to the play and they’re on stage throughout, walking with their instruments and reacting to the action. It’s an entertaining and slick production.

VERDICT

Engaging, entertaining and visually arresting ★★★★★ AMADEUS BOOKING UNTIL 24 APRIL; The National Theatre nationaltheatre.org.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Head in the

CLOUDS As the Kensington Roof Gardens announces its closure, Absolutely looks back over the years By P E N D L E H A R T E

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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ARTS & CULTURE • LOCAL FOCUS

lmost exactly 80 years after they first opened to the public in May 1938, the Kensington Roof Gardens have now closed. Virgin’s lease on the building has come to an end and the gardens’ future is uncertain. Probably many people walk along Kensington High Street entirely unaware that 100 metres above their heads is a fully mature garden, complete with palm trees, ponds and flamingos, managed by it own dedicated gardening team. Amazingly, the plants – including some mature trees – thrive in only 18 inches of soil. The gardens were originally designed by Ralph Hancock in the 1930s, on top of Art Deco department store Derry and Toms, and their landscaping is Grade II Listed. Over the years there have been many different owners, including, famously, Biba, and more recently, Richard Branson. The gardens are divided into three main areas; a Moorish Spanish garden; a Tudorstyle garden and an English Woodland garden. The Spanish garden, with its cool canal, has beds of flowers in clashing colours, while the Tudor garden has

“Amazingly, the plants, inclusing some mature trees, thrive in just 18 inches of soil”

softer planting with a black and white theme originally introduced by Barbara Hulanicki during Biba’s tenure. In the small lake an impressive iron tree sculpture dominates. The Woodland garden is cool and shady with some of the original trees still flourishing. Throughout the gardens, flamingos and ornamental ducks have free range. The design of the roof garden shows strong similarities with Hancock’s earlier Garden of the Nations of 1933-5 which was laid out on the 11th floor of the RCA building at the Rockefeller Center in New York, USA (Hancock 1936). Like the famous RCA building, the Derry and Toms store also had an Art Deco Rainbow Room restaurant. The roof garden in Kensington reflects the same design elements as the Garden of the Nations, but on a much smaller scale. It was added to the Derry and Toms department store at the particular behest of Trevor Bowen, Chairman of Barkers, the building having been constructed to allow for its future creation. Roof gardens, usually in conjunction with tea rooms or restaurants, had been popular in English stores since the Edwardian period, and were influenced by early American skyscraper architecture.

BARBARA HULANICKI IN THE ROOF GARDEN

Selfridges had been the pioneer, while an earlier Barkers’ store in Kensington had a roof garden from 1921 (neither still exists). The Derry and Toms roof garden was planned to outdo all these others. From 1973 to 1975, the store and roof garden became Biba’s department store, managed by Barbara Hulanicki. Under the supervision of Peter Trotter, the interior of the former Derry and Toms store was transformed by Markwell Associates, a design firm specialising in theatre and television work. Having opened in September 1973, Biba went bankrupt only two years later and a more sober conversion ensued. The building was subsequently leased to Rama Superstores. In 1978 the sun pavilion in the roof garden was extended and converted into a restaurant which covered part of the woodland garden. This in time became Virgin’s Babylon. Unless a function was underway, it was often possible for passersby to simply take the lift to the sixth floor and wander around the gardens unheeded, though no more. What will become of the gardens now? We will wait and see.

CHRISTMAS IN LEICESTER SQUARE

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Creating Memories YOUR WEDDING DAY AT STOKE PARK

Facilities include:

- 300 acres of glorious parkland and lakes - 49 luxury bedrooms - 3 fully licensed rooms and beautiful Southern Terrace for civil ceremonies - Dining facilities for up to 146 guests - Award winning Health & Beauty Spa

Please contact our Wedding Co-ordinator on 01753 717171 or weddings@stokepark.com Stoke Park, Park Road, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4PG 35 minutes from London and 7 miles from Heathrow Airport

www.stokepark.com

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FASHION

STRIPPED BACK

ELIZABETH AND JAMES Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen’s effortless sense of style clearly embodied in Elizabeth and James' Resort '18 collection. Expect wearable luxury and looks which transcend seasonal trends. matchesfashion.com

Fashion Notes: A stylish cause & Valentine's lingerie 34 · Bow-tie tops 36 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FASHION NOTES

Celebrate fashion month with the hottest new brandsto-watch and the latest collaborations to covet B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

5 OF THE BEST

VA L E N T I N E ’ S LINGERIE EDITOR’S PICK

DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES C H I N T I & PA R K E R X WO M E N F O R WO M E N

05 1. Fleur of England, Whiskey lace-hem silk-blend kimono, £400; matchesfashion.com 2. I.D.Sarrieri, Lace bra and thong, from £155; farfetch.com 3. Carine Gilson, Lace-trimmed silk-satin cami dress, £990; matchesfashion.com 4. Bluebella, Lace body, £49; yoox.com 5. Coco De Mer, Sylph strap-detail bra and suspender briefs, £105; selfridges.com

Do one for the girls this season with knitwear favourite Chinti & Parker’s collaboration with Women for Women International. Modelled by Arizona Muse, 100% of all sales from the capsule collection will go to the charity, which helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives. Spread a little love this February. Available from farfetch.com and chintiandparker.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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FASHION • NOTES O N E S T O WAT C H

LAYER UP

London Fashion Week AW18

REPOSSI

Founded in 1920 in Turin Italy, Repossi is the fashion-savvy, fine jewellery brand with a historic heart. Gaia Repossi took over the family business in 2007 and has moulded the brand into a must-have for celebrities and magazine editors alike. From classic hoops and stacking rings to statement ear cuffs - this is adornment for the styleconscious, modern woman. repossi.com

REJINA PYO

WOOL WORKS THE KNITTER

HANDOVER GUCCI

We might be sick of the cold, but come summer we’re secretly going to miss the luxe layers that winter offers. Make the most of woolly hat weather with Gucci’s embroidered patent gloves. The high-shine fabric is a surefire way to jazz up your winter coat, while the delicate floral detail speaks of an evernearing spring, £405; matchesfashion.com

Founded by New Zealand-born Nicole Leyborne, The Knitter is the woolly fashion brand we can't get enough of. All designs are handmade locally using centuryold methods and include quirky-cool, oversized knits and vibrant scarves.

Before launching her eponymous label in 2014, Rejina Pyo cut her teeth as ﬁrst assistant designer at Roksanda Ilincic, and went on to win the prestigious Han Nefkens Fashion Award. Pyo’s shows are now a hotly anticipated event at London Fashion Week, and her designs instantly recognisable for their innovative take on modern minimalism.

rejinapyo.com

ALICE ARCHER The British-born RCA gradate earned her stripes working as an embroidery designer for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp. Archer's unfurling, intricate threadwork has now become her signature aesthetic. Name checked as a designer-towatch by British Vogue, Alice Archer is certainly a star on the rise.

alicearcher.co.uk

theknitter.co

CITY OF STYLE

CA M B R I D G E S ATC H E L X I N E S D E L A F R E S S A N G E PA R I S

To celebrate the return of London Fashion Week, The Cambridge Satchel Company has joined forces with Ines de la Fressange Paris to create a line of achingly cool bags. The collection includes the brand’s best-selling 11” bag and tiny satchels and comes in quintessentially Gallic hues of red, white and blue - and a dash of molten copper for good measure.

SIMONE ROCHA Dublin-born Simone Rocha caught the industry’s eye when she debuted at London Fashion Week in 2010. Fast-forward eight years and Rocha's frothy yet futuristic designs have won her acolades including British Womenswear Designer Award at the British Fashion Awards and Harper’s Bazaar's Designer of Year 2016.

simonerocha.com

cambridgesatchel.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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C LO S I N G D OW N 17TH FEBRUARY

UP TO 70% OFF

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26/01/2018 10:25

26/01/2018 18:47

FASHION • PRODUCTS EDITOR’S PICK

VALENTINO Pussy-Bow Ruffled SilkSatin Blouse, £633; net-a-porter.com

SEE BY CHLOÉ Ruffled Pussy-Bow Chiffon Blouse, £260; selfridges.com

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Pussy-Bow Silk Blouse, £995; net-a-porter.com

TORY BURCH AW17

HOBBS

H&M

Erika Shirt, £69; hobbs.co.uk

Long-Sleeved Blouse, £23; hm.com

MSGM Pussy-Bow Striped Cotton-Poplin Shirt, £255; harveynichols.com

TIED UP

Formal yet frou frou: the neck tie blouse is big business this season

KHAITE Natalie Decorative-Bow Cotton Blouse, £410; matchesfashion.com

ROCHAS AW17

B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

FENDI RIXO LONDON Moss Blouse - Navy Moonlit Sky, £175; rixo.co.uk

FINERY LONDON Levine Forever Blouse, £59 johnlewis.com

Geometric Pussy Bow Blouse, £1,250; farfetch.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Q&A

MADE IN BRITAIN

Do you know where your clothes are made? Absolutely meets the duo behind Studio British, the e-tailer ﬁghting for transparency and ethical trading in the fashion industry By J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

JOY MONTGOMERY: What motivated you to create Studio British? STUDIO BRITISH: We started Studio British because we had a desire to buy better quality clothing, but were frustrated in the lack of transparency with a lot of luxury manufacturers. Too many brands trade off being British, but their clothing is made in sweatshops. Instead, we liked the idea that you could visit a site knowing that your clothing was made to the best specification by craftsmen and women who get paid fairly. We are both from London, and met as my (Ben's) partner is childhood friends with Anabel. We both have entrepreneurial minds and had discussed at length various business opportunities. When this particular dilemma presented itself, we decided to tackle it head on, and help to effect change in the fashion industry. JM: Why is it so important to champion home grown design? SB: In many ways, the way in which we buy our clothing is broken. We've arrived at a place where clothes are so cheap that consumers have become accustomed to it. But while it might seem like a bargain to buy a £6 pair of jeans, this doesn't take into account the environmental and

“In many ways, the way in which we buy our clothing is broken ” 38

JM: Why do you think the discussion surrounding ethical trading has gained momentum? SB: Not too far back, everyone depended much more on the natural materials that surrounded them. While there are certainly benefits to globalisation, the drawbacks are becoming too loud to ignore, with developed countries taking advantage of the developing world. We draw a comparison with the food industry, where people have become more interested in the ethics of what they are eating. Meateaters, for example, are now more likely to want to buy meat that is locally reared and has led a happier life, rather than clocking up unnecessary air miles.

STUDIO BRITISH FOUNDERS ANABEL AND BEN

human cost involved. Poorly paid workers making bad quality clothing which is chucked in landfill after a couple of wears is just not sustainable. There's also the impending effects of Brexit, which is really accentuating the issue of homegrown skills shortages. In the last 30 years we've become reliant on importing and lost a lot of traditional skills and processes, and this is very apparent in the textile industry. By supporting homegrown talent, we can help to create more diverse career opportunities for the next generation.

JM: Do you think it’s possible to shop sustainably on a budget? SB: It depends on how you view your budget, as buying cheap is often a false economy. My brother once said to me that he buys the same pair of shoes for work every three months from a high street store, they would get worn out and he would buy a new pair. In the time that he has got through 10 pairs, a pair of Trickers or Sanders & Sanders would still be going strong. Instead of buying a new dress for every occassion, we'd encourage consumers to think long term and buy staple pieces that will pay for themselves on a cost per wear basis. It's also worth noting that shopping habits can influence pricing. The more consumers think about where their clothes are made, the more economies of scale we

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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FASHION • Q&A

“It’s been amazing getting under the skin of brands I’ve respected for a long time” can draw upon. Helping to take British manufacturing mainstream will mean we can bring down the cost of homemade clothing. We acknowledge it will be a challenge to convince some shoppers of the virtues of buying more quality and less quantity, but it's a worthy journey and one that we are ready to fight for! JM: How did you go about finding the right designers? SB: The first brands we found were ones that we would buy ourselves. It's been amazing getting under the skin of brands I've respected for a long time, and we are incredibly grateful that they've bought into

our mission and decided to work with us. We then started looking for the startup brands, ones that came recommended or exuded quality through their clothing and stories. We have high expectations for the brands we work with, in terms of quality and ethics, but that works both ways and we aim to do the best job in promoting and growing their businesses. What are your favourite British brands? SB: Private White V.C. use incredible performance fabrics on their outerwear, while John Smedley knitwear is not only comfortable but drenched in history. I'm also a bit of a shoe hoarder so brands like Trickers, Sanders & Sanders and Joseph Cheaney are great - you feel like a million dollars every time you put on a pair. I also love the enthusiasm of younger designers like Suzy Brown from Baia Bags or Genevieve Sweeney. Their dedication to their craft is so inspiring and really gives you hope for the future of British manufacturing. studiobritish.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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W H AT LIES B E N E AT H Nothing says indulgence better than sumptuous new lingerie. After all, great style begins with beautiful foundations.

For Love and Lemons lingerie available from forloveandlemons.com

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28/11/2017 10:40 12:33 21/12/2017

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Get

LIPPY MARC JACOBS BEAUTY

Marc Jacobs Beauty’s Liquid Lip Crayons are the answer to your date night woes. Coming in nine high-pigment shades, they offer the first-to-market formula which has the feel of a liquid lipstick with the precision of a lip crayon. One swipe of colour + 16 hours of wear = your Valentine’s makeup sorted; £22. harrods.com

Beauty Notes: Perfect primers & Lunar beauty 48 · Blemish busters 51 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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BEAUTY NOTES

You've survived January. Now treat yourself to this month's hottest beauty releases By J OY M O N TG O M E RY

STAR SIGN M AC

Look to the cosmos this season with MAC’s latest makeup drop. Inspired by the Lunar New Year, this radiant collection is composed of an eye shadow palette, lipstick and powder blush, all in the softest shades of blush pink and cream. maccosmetics.co.uk EYELURE Bespoke Mascara, £30; eyeko.com

ELIZABETH ARDEN 8-Hour Lip Repair Balm, £20; boots.com

5 OF THE BEST DATE NIGHT ESSENTIALS

LE LABO Santal 33 Liquid Balm Perfume, £60; libertylondon.com

COVER FX Pressed Mineral Foundation, £31; houseoff raser.com

CHANEL Luminous Matte Lip Colour, £28; chanel.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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26/01/2018 10:54

HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES SALON REVIEW

STACK ‘EM UP TRINNY LONDON

She was the matriarch of iconic noughties makeover show What Not To Wear, but now Trinny Woodall is braving the world of cosmetics. Trinny London is a clever new beauty concept that offers personalised makeup ‘stacks’ that can include anything from lipstick and concealer to highlighter and eye shadow, all formulated to match your colouring and complexion. A must-have for girls on the go.

Peak Health Club & Spa

trinnylondon.com

B y GABRIELLE HERNANDEZ

EDITOR’S PICK

NIGHT OWL LA PRAIRIE

Back to Base CLARINS

Heralded for their complexion-perfecting powers, colour correctors are officially here to stay. This February, Clarins is taking the concept to another level with SOS Primers, a six-piece collection of problem-solving formulas - from green for redness to coral for dark spots. These clever primers can be used by themselves, mixed together or added to your usual foundation. £26.50 each clarins.co.uk

Born from Dr Paul Niehans’ work in cellular therapy, La Prairie’s Platinum Rare Cellular Night Elixir is the most potent potion to emerge from the brand’s labs. This light serum works overnight to enhance the skin’s natural detoxifying process. laprairie.co.uk

J-Beauty SHISEIDO

Forget K-beauty, because this year it’s all about J-beauty. Inspired by traditional Japanese concepts of life and wellness, Shiseido’s Future Solution LX range combines high-performance formulas with a holistic heart. The Firming Contour Serum and Total Radiance Foundation are the latest additions to the range and both use powerful antioxidant ingredients to deliver dreamy skin day after day. shiseido.co.uk

y day at Peak Health Club and Spa began with a personal training session. My trainer, Conrad, got me started with a body analysis from the Boditrax machine which previews your precise body composition and allows you to track your progress. Throughout the session he tailored the workouts to my abilities, pushing me just enough. I left the session worn out but ﬁlled with a great sense of accomplishment. Next we headed to the spa for a relaxing, post-workout bespoke facial. The treatment began with an extraction to cleanse and remove any impurities. This was then followed by the application of SKEYNDOR clear balance corrective. Honing in on clogged pores and

“This

facial is perfect for those experiencing clogged pores” oil imbalance, this treatment uses products that contain anti-bacterial properties, meaning it's perfect for acne-prone skin. Skin is left refreshed and soothed. I gladly welcomed a shoulder and arm massage as my face reaped the beneﬁts of the mask and peel. The non-invasive nature of the treatment, combined with the tranquil environment, provides a luxurious spa experience. So whether you decide to sweat out your toxins in a personal training session or revitalise your mind and body in the spa, The Peak Health Club and Spa has everything your mind and body needs to recharge from busy city life. PEAK HEALTH CLUB AND SPA Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Cadogan Place, SW1X peakhealthclub.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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26/01/2018 10:55

For 25 years, Gregory Phillips Architects has designed beautiful houses that people are proud to call home. Our process is simple. We help clients form a vision of how they would like to live. Then we make it happen. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your project.

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SS18 Alexander Wang Beauty

HEALTH & BEAUTY • PRODUCTS EDITOR’S PICK

LA ROCHE-POSAY Effaclar Duo, £16; lookfantastic.com

SISTER & CO Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleanse Detoxifying Soap Bar, £13; selfridges.com

ESTÉE LAUDER

VICHY

DayWear Multi-Protection Moisture Creme, £44; esteelauder.co.uk

3-in-1 Scrub, Cleanser & Mask vichy.co.uk

SKINCEUTICALS Blemish + Age Solution, £34.65; skinceuticals.co.uk

OLAY Blemish Control Cleanser, £2.99; feelunique.com

SPOT CHECK

LA PRAIRIE Cellular Refining Lotion, £77; laprairie.co.uk

TROPIC SKINCARE Clear Skin BlemishFighting Mask, £16; tropicskincare.com

The best blemish busters for stressed city dwellers

JURLIQUE Blemish Cream, £20; jurlique.co.uk

MANUKA DOCTOR ApiClear Purifying Face Mask, £24.99; manukadoctor.co.uk

B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

MURAD SKINCEUTICALS Blemish + Age Defense, £82.95; skinceuticals.co.uk

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Blemish Clearing Solution, £32; murad.co.uk

THE ORDINARY Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, £3.90; theordinary.com

LANCER The Method: Cleanse Blemish Control, £48; spacenk.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

17/01/2018 12:03

Sofas for when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve flown the nest* c o p ming hom e e k t u b * e to roost

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HELATH & BEAUTY • SCENT

PERFUME

Scents of

SEDUCTION Harness the power of perfume this Valentine’s Day B y M I C H A E L D O N OVA N

lchemy, sorcery, call it what you will but scent in the hands of a Master Perfumer has the power to transport through time and space. It is my belief that sensual fragrances are the most magical of all, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to discover something truly bewitching. The scents of seduction date back to Cleopatra, who filled her ship with rose petals when she went to meet Mark Anthony. While this is a provocative gesture, the modern equivalent would involve beflowering a Toyota Prius, which doesn’t quite have the same impact. So I would like to introduce you to a much more practical coterie of perfumes guaranteed to get pulses racing.

For GEN TL EWOMEN was in Paris last week to meet with the owner and nose of Histoires de Parfums, Gerald Ghislain, at his perfumery in the Marais district. The name translates as ‘Stories of Perfume’ and this library of scent celebrates famous characters or moments from French history. The best-selling scent ‘1889’ is inspired by the Moulin Rouge of La Belle Epoque. The cabaret was a jewel of Parisian nightlife and this fragrance captures the edgy glamour of the moment. Spiced cinnamon blends with sugared prune before descending into the green fairy, absinthe, the favoured tipple of the French poets. Damascus rose fills out the heart, the scent of red lipstick, and blends into the swirl of iris petticoats and a base of patchouli, musk and fur. ‘French Can Can’ by Caron was created by one of the greatest ‘noses’ of all time, Ernest Daltroff, and pays tribute to the

“The scents of seduction date back to Cleopatra”

hypnotic qualities of the legendary dance with lilac, jasmine and rose beneath a mist of orange blossom. Despite its suggestive title, Linari’s ‘Porto di Del Cielo’ (Gate Of Heaven) is a flirtatious fragrance with an opening of freesia petals and raspberry, a warm heart of cashmere wood with lily of the valley and smouldering base of tonka, vanilla and labdanum. At 4160 Tuesdays, Sarah McCartney’s ‘The Sexiest Scent On The Planet Ever’ is a juniper-infused elixir that uses the legendary molecule Iso E Super, said to mimic the human pheromone. Apply with caution.

For GE NT L E M E N asculine fragrances can be equally seductive and the objective here is ‘balance’ - the fragrance must be slightly animalic but with elegance, so the olfactory parcel is sexy but effortless. ‘The Mechanic’ from St Giles is the scent of the mechanic’s pit; car seat leather, fuel, and hot rubber. It is magnificently physical - a dark, panther of a fragrance. Something less hirsute but no less magnetic is ‘Grey Labdanum’ by Abel, a 100% natural fragrance that uses one of my favourite smokey notes, a resin extracted from the rock rose. Across this sizzling base sit patchouli and incense and at the top an athletic combination of grapefruit and bitter orange. It is worldly and virile. Salacious scents are the very best choice, and not just for Valentine’s Day!

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • ACTIVE

FITNESS NOTES

Take a Spin

Seriously good cycling in London BOOM CYCLE

● With the lights low and a worldclass sound system, riders at Boom Cycle get the ultimate ‘party on a bike’ experience. The brand has recently opened its fourth studio in Monument, offering its signature moves and badass tunes. boomcycle.co.uk

PSYCLE LONDON

● Psycle sets the spin bar high with its inspirational instructors and specially curated soundtracks. This full body workout takes you through climbs, sprints, jogs and HITT, to give you the best cardio workout possible.

SPINNOFF LONDON

psyclelondon.com

Long known to reduce fat and drop the pounds, spinning is having a resurgence

ONE 10

● Fast-paced and addictive, the Paceline class at One 10 promises to maximise your performance and promotes a metabolic surge. A HITT sequence is designed to give you your best fitness results yet. one-10.com

ANOTHER_SPACE

’m in Hampstead to try out SpinnOff London, a hidden gem which delivers more than just the undeniably fun, dance club atmosphere found at London’s myriad cycle classes. The 1/2 Spinn, 1/2 Core workout begins with half an hour on the Spinn bike; an intense cardio burst to really get the blood pumping. SpinnOff promises a long and lean ﬁgure which is conducive of having the

correct posture and position on the bike. I am instructed to keep heels down, wrists light and core strong. Eileen takes the class and is motivational throughout, without being too intense. Upbeat music and her continuous encouragement make the half hour pass by quickly. When sufficiently sweaty, the class drops to the mat for 25 minutes of strengthening and sculpting ﬂoorwork. Mairead

leads this section which involves a range of exercises from planks and crunches, to glute-sculpting pulses and pilates-style sequences. They really don’t miss a muscle. What’s evident from this class is that there is a fierce focus on technique at SpinnOff, which undoubtedly leads to maximum results. As the highest ranking class on Classpass, SpinnOff is welcoming of all levels of fitness and appears to have built up a strong community of friendly regulars. It’s definitely one of the best full-body classes I’ve done in a while and a must for those looking to shake-up their sweat session this year.

S P I N N O F F LO N D O N 17 Rosement Road, NW3; spinnofflondon.com

E C O - F R I E N D LY F I T N E S S

Our top picks of ethically-conscious activewear and accessories

● This class has been specifically designed to strengthen the core and tone the whole body whilst burning maximum calories. anotherspace.london

1REBEL

● This high-energy, full-body workout incorporates hand weights as well as immersive staging never seen before in a fitness studio. 1rebel.co.uk

1. S’WELL Stainless Steel Water Bottle, £35; selfridges.com 2. H&M Medium Support Sports Bra, £9.99; hm.com 3. Silou Gigi Sweatshorts Light Heather Grey, £189; siloulondon.com 4. Silou Audrey Crop Bra, £99; siloulondon.com 5. SixtyNinety Gigi Leggings Camouﬂage, £58; sixtyninety.co.uk

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Gluten / refined sugar free treats

EAT WELL

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020 3417 6616 INFO@LEAFWILD.CO.UK 156 LADBROKE GROVE, LONDON, W10 5NA 26/01/2018 18:04

FOOD & DRINK

A CHEF’S LIFE THE HOUR GLASS Established Chelsea pub The Hour Glass has appointed a new head chef, Sean Marsh. His approach to cooking will be ingredient-driven, sourcing seafood from dayboats and rare breed meat from British suppliers. 279 Brompton Road, SW3 hourglasspub.co.uk

Wines of the month 58 • The best artisan chocolate 59 • Food Review: Golborne Deli 67 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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WHAT TO DRINK

GRAPE news

Wine recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

London’s food news and delicious things to see you through February By MIRIAM CAREY

By BERRY BROS. & RUDD

2013 Berry Bros. & Rudd Barolo by Giovanni Rosso, Piedmont  £28.50 This Barolo offers classic Nebbiolo character. The fine yet densely packed tannins are enveloped in scented cherry and cranberry fruit, with florals that hint at dried violets. It will benefit from being decanted.

2016 Berry Bros. & Rudd Reserve Red by Collovray & Terrier  £8.75 Fruits of the 2016 vintage, which was so much kinder in the South of France than elsewhere. Our blend this year marries plots of Merlot from varying altitudes, with uplifting Syrah and Grenache. Finely crafted, and reassuringly gregarious.

Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Trevisiol L. e Figli, Italy  £15.50 The Valdobbiadene region is regarded as one of the best sources of Prosecco grapes, coming from vineyards 300 metres above sea-level. Here, the Glera grape is blended with 15 percent Chardonnay by father-and-son team Eduardo and Paolo Trevisiol.

BERRY BROS. & RUDD Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop since 1698. Today the company also has offices in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, a Wine School and an exclusive fine wine and dining venue in St James's.

bbr.com

EAT YOUR HEART OUT GA LV I N AT T H E AT H E N A E U M

Galvin at The Athenaeum are offering bottomless puddings with their weekend lunch menu. Dishes to choose from include Victoria plum Bakewell tart and Provence ﬁg and blackcurrant Triﬂe. The restaurant comes from Michelin-starred chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin, who have stepped away from their trademark French-inspired menus to champion Britain’s dishes. 116 Piccadilly, W1J athenaeumhotel.com

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FOOD & DRINK• NOTES Our pick of the best

ARTISAN CHOCOLATES

PIERRE MARCOLINI LOVE FOLLIES

FASHION FORWARD

The Valentine’s Day collection from Pierre Marcolini has six colourful flavour varieties that taste delicious and look delightful. Packed full of exotic ingredients from Moroccan pink peppercorn, Iranian pistachio, and Sichuan pepper, to Tahitian vanilla and Sicilian lemon, these beauties are guaranteed to pique the interest of those who receive them. marcolini.com

G R E Y H O U N D CA F É

Cult Thai fashion label Greyhound have just opened its ﬁrst restaurant in London. Greyhound began as a fashion house in 1980 before opening a restaurant Greyhound Café in Bangkok. Expect a Thai menu with lots of twists, Pork Knuck Tod Krob is a German style pork knuckle simmered with Thai herbs. 37 Berners street, W1T greyhoundcafe.co.th

FARM GIRL FARM GIRL

This February Farm Girl are opening a new restaurant in Chelsea where you can eat a coconut bacon BLT on bright green leather seating at their signature pink marble-top cocktail bar. This will also be the ﬁrst of their restaurants to have a separate dinner menu with more substantial dishes such as Lamb Gyro with Roasted Pistachio Yoghurt and a Heritage Tomato Salad. 9 Park Walk, SW10 Thefarmgirl.co.uk

RAW HALO GIFT SET

Raw Halo artisan chocolate is the ideal treat for the vegan loved one in your life. The bars are made of rich Peruvian cacao, are raw, organic, and free from lactose, wheat, and refined sugar. They come in 12 delicious flavours and the beautiful rose gold packaging make them perfect gifts. rawhalo.com

FORTNUM & MASON HEART BOX

FROM BOMBAY WITH LOVE DISHOOM

Dishoom has opened a new site in Kensington, inspired by Bombay Art Deco and Jazz scenes of the 1940s. It's a wonderful all-day venue serving delicious food such as bacon and egg naan rolls, recalling a time when Old Irani cafes were the fabric of Bombay life. 4 Derry Street, W8; dishoom.com

Show the size of your love this February with Fortnum & Mason’s most generous selection of chocolates yet. Beneath the lid of the 1kg heart chocolate box is a double layer of indulgence, including old Fortnum's classics and exciting new creations. fortnumandmason.com

COCO CHOCOLATIER GIFT BOX

The Edinburgh chocolatiers have created milk and dark chocolate in flavours such as lavender, artisan espresso, and gold, frankincense and myrrh. They show love to the arts community by coming wrapped in artworks from artists around the UK. Buy all the different flavours and stack them in a gift box. cocochocolatier.com

MICHELIN MAKI SUSHI SHOP

Sushi Shop has just launched their new collaboration with AnneSophie Pic, the only female French chef to have three Michelin stars. The imaginative menu includes tasty pieces such as goat’s cheese, matcha and bergamot California roll. 72 Westbourne Grove, W2 mysushishop.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Avocado Salad with Wasabi, Wakame & Spring Onions Serves 4 • Preparation time 20 minutes

vocado is not a traditional Japanese ingredient, though we do associate it with Japanese cuisine due to the brilliant Japanese fusion food that comes out of California. Avocado just works so well with Japanese flavours. This salad also includes wasabi, which is Japanese horseradish, for those of you still living in the Dark Ages, and wakame, which is dried and then rehydrated seaweed. This healthy salad is delicious on its own and is also great served alongside teriyaki or miso fish.

INGREDIENTS 25g dried wakame seaweed 4 ripe but ﬁrm avocados 10 pink radishes, very thinly sliced 6 spring onions, ﬁnely chopped 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds, toasted 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds, toasted

SPICE of LIFE

Gizzi Erskine encourages us to experiment with new textures and ﬂavours

very week, when I open up a newspaper or women’s magazine there’s a new bit of health information that puts a spanner in the works of what I had previously thought was the right way to be healthy. So here is my ethos, how I feel about food trends and what we can learn from them. Firstly, I believe that having a better understanding of nutrition

is not just about making your body healthier, it can also make you a better cook. The more I learn about different ingredients or come across a new cooking technique, vegetable or cut of meat, the more inspired I tend to be. It’s good to love food in all its guises and sometimes your body needs to be fed what it's craving. The chapters of this book are divided into textures and flavours. For me, those textures and flavours often reflect my mood. For example, if I crave something braised or oozy it may mean that I’m after something rib-sticking and comforting but if I want crunch or crispness then I probably feel the need for something clean and fresh. Sometimes I want fiery food, so we have a chapter for spice, and other times I just need something sweet, and there’s a chapter for that too. Ultimately, I want people who are reading this book to try new things and push themselves into new areas of food, be it going to your local Asian supermarket or having a go at cooking with a new ingredient or gadget. I just hope people are inspired to cook fresh food using good ingredients.

Fo r t h e d r e s s i n g 3 teaspoons wasabi paste (use the best you can find) 4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 4 tablespoons light olive oil 2 tablespoons sesame oil sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper Place the wakame in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak for 15 minutes. The wakame will rehydrate and grow in size, so cover with plenty of water to allow for this. It’s ready when it has doubled in size and you can bite through it but it still has chew. Drain, and then rinse under cold running water to cool. Alternatively, you can cool the wakame in a bowl of iced water. Drain again and gently pat dry with kitchen paper. To make the dressing, place the wasabi, vinegar, oils and some seasoning in a bowl and whisk together until it has fully emulsified into a thickish sauce. Cut the avocados in half, slice, and place on a platter. Once you’ve done this, gently press the top of the avocados to fan out the slices a little. Top with the dressing, then the wakame, then the radishes, then the spring onions and finally sprinkle over the sesame seeds. Serve straightaway.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

I’ve served the stew with something completely odd – Vietnamese banh cuon rice wrappers, which I’ve used like big, fat, wide noodles. If you can’t find them, any Vietnamese rice noodle will do or you can even use rice, which is wicked to soak up the stew.

INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 lemon grass stick, very thinly sliced 4–5 thin slices of fresh root ginger 3–4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 350g baby plum tomatoes, halved 400ml fresh White Chicken Stock (you can buy this or make your own) 2 tablespoons lime juice 2–3 tablespoons fish sauce 5–7 kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced 12 raw tiger prawns, peeled, deveined and cut quite deeply Down the back 1 sea bream, filleted and each fillet cut into 4 lengthways 1 squid, gutted, slashed and cut into bitesized pieces sea salt flakes a good handful of Thai holy basil Crispy Shallots to garnish coriander leaves, to garnish banh cuon rice wrappers or rice noodles or rice, to serve

Fo r t h e p a s te

Tom Yum Goong (Hot & Sour Fish Stew)

Serves 4 • Preparation Time 25 minutes • Cooking Time 15 minutes

bloody love tom yum goong, the hot and sour prawn soup from Thailand. There’s also a similar dish from Cambodia called solmar machoor, which is a soupy fish stew that is as fiery as it is sour – this is my take on them both. All the legwork for this stew is in the paste and in cooking down the tomatoes, so it’s really important that you take your time and do this slowly to encourage the natural sweetness you want from the dish.

3 shallots 3 lemon grass sticks, bashed and root removed 4cm piece of galangal (or fresh root ginger) 5 kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced 6 Thai bird’s eye chillies 1 teaspoon Thai roasted chilli paste or hot chilli powder ½ teaspoon dried shrimp paste 1 teaspoon palm or brown sugar 5 coriander roots To make the paste, pound together all the ingredients to form a smoothish paste. I prefer to do this using a pestle and mortar, but this can be time-consuming so blitz the ingredients in a food processor or blender if you’re in a rush. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Fry the lemon grass, ginger and garlic for 2 minutes. This is a little unconventional but it will give the stew a deeper, more caramelized flavour. Add 3 tablespoons of the prepared paste and fry for 1 minute, then add the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes, or until they start to melt. Pour over the stock, lime juice, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves and cook for 5 minutes. Add the prawns, fish and squid, season with salt and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the seafood is just cooked and the prawns are pink. Stir through the holy basil and garnish with Crispy Shallots and coriander leaves. Serve the stew with flat rice wrappers, rice noodles or rice.

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CLEAN, TRADITIONAL ASIAN COOKING

Located at Notting Hill Gate, ULI offers a fresh, honest approach to Asian cuisine. Natural limed oak, soft tones of blue and contemporary art give the restaurant a clean and informal look, highlighted by a hanging garden of pendant lights. Our menu encompasses carefully selected dishes from Asia, all prepared using traditional Chinese, Thai, Malay and Singaporean disciplines. We believe that Asian food should be clean, fresh and healthy, and that each dish should always be made from scratch. We serve lunch and dinner all week, also available for takeaway delivery. Absolutely magazine readers receive an exclusive 10% discount on their first takeaway delivery order placed online using code ABMAG10

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21/12/2017 12:30

FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES Rinse the garbanzo beans thoroughly and place in a large pan and cover generously with cold water. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil for 25 minutes, or until the outsides feel cooked. Preheat the oven to 200°C. I like to cook my stew in stages and fry everything separately in a frying pan, but by all means, brown everything off straightaway in the casserole. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Season the chicken pieces with salt, then add them to the frying pan, skin-side down, in batches and brown them thoroughly. Once the chicken pieces are browned, remove them from the frying pan with some tongs and set aside on a plate. Brown the chorizo all over in the same frying pan, then remove and set aside. Next, lay the garlic bulb halves in the frying pan, cut-side down, for a minute, until golden, then remove and set aside. Now you need to pour away the excess fat from the frying pan until you are left with about 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the onions and fry them slowly for about 10–12 minutes, until they have softened, then transfer to a casserole. Pour over the sherry, sherry vinegar and stock, add the saffron, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme and half the parsley and bring to the boil. Add the chicken, chorizo, garlic and beans to the casserole. Top up with more stock to ensure the chicken is immersed, Pop the lid on the casserole and place in the oven for 15 minutes. Turn the oven down to 180°C/Gas Mark 4 and cook for a further 45 minutes.

Spanish Chicken Stew with Chorizo, Sherry & Garbanzo Beans 200g dried garbanzo beans (chickpeas), soaked for 12 hours 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large free-range chicken, skinned and jointed into 10 pieces 240g raw cooking chorizo sausages 1 bulb of garlic, cut in half horizontally 2 onions, finely chopped 350ml dry sherry 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar 1 litre fresh White Chicken Stock a generous pinch of saffron 2 bay leaves 1 rosemary sprig a few thyme sprigs, leaves picked a small bunch of flat leaf parsley, chopped grated rind of ½ lemon sea salt flakes and black pepper

R E C I P E S TA K E N F R O M

INGREDIENTS

GIZZI’S HEALTHY APPETITE

herry has a bad reputation, doesn’t it? It still conjures up thoughts of old ladies at Christmas but in Spain, where sherry originates, it’s a whole different ball game and sherries are prized as some of the greatest wines in the world. Sherry is not only delicious to drink, it’s also terrific to cook with. Together, sherry, chicken, chorizo and garbanzo beans (the most wonderful Spanish chickpeas, to you and me) make this one damn sexy dish. Stews are best made the day before you need them and it’s particularly worth doing so when cooking a stew with beans because it balances out the seasoning and homogenizes.

by Gizzi Erskine is published by Mitchell Beazley, £15 (www.octopusbooks.co.uk) Paperback out now

Serves 4 • Preparation times 30 minutes, plus soaking • Cooking time 2 hours

Now, this is where it gets complicated. Remove the casserole from the oven and carefully remove the chicken breast pieces and set aside, leaving the chorizo and chicken thighs and leg meat in the casserole. There will still be a fair amount of liquid in the casserole and the beans will not be fully cooked yet, so pop the casserole on the hob, with the lid off, and cook over a lowish heat for another 15–20 minutes to reduce the sauce, making it taste nice and strong, and until the beans are cooked fully when they are completely tender. Don’t worry about the chicken thighs and leg meat as they are hard to overcook. Once you’re happy with the ﬂavour and thickness of the stew and the beans are cooked through, return the chicken breast pieces to the casserole. Remove from the heat, stir in the remaining parsley and the lemon rind and season to taste. Pop the lid on and leave the stew to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the chorizo from the casserole and slice each sausage into about 10 pieces. Pop the slices back in the casserole and stir through. Spoon a couple of pieces of chicken, some chorizo, beans and sauce on to each plate and serve with a fresh green salad.

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FOOD & DRINK • EATING IN

Fast FOOD

Farmdrop is the ethical grocer that delivers to your door like an online farmer’s market

armdrop is a website, much like Ocado or Tesco, where you can do your weekly food shop for essentials – organic milk, bread, pasta, meat and wine – and have them delivered straight to your door. However, the difference is they come direct from small farms, which takes out the need for a corporate middleman. As someone who is strapped for time and looking to fill their cupboards with healthy food with a conscience in minimal time, I ordered the Farmdrop essentials package - a bundle of meats, vegetables and store

cupboard staples. For the £47 bundle I get sourdough, organic milk and butter, mature cheddar, eggs, fruits and vegetables, streaky bacon, an organic chicken, organic pasture fed beef mince and english ham. For each product, I am told exactly which farm in the UK each was sourced from. My chicken came from Wood Green Farm in Devon, where chickens are allowed to roam on luscious pastures and forage for insects. My vegetable bundle came from Purton House Organics, an organic farm in Wiltshire run by a mother and daughter. With my bundle I decided to make an old fashioned Sunday roast and I can immediately tell the quality of the vegetables from their odd shapes, as opposed to the identical genetically modified supermarket varieties. They also need a good deal

“I like knowing my chicken was raised humanely, with sunlight and fresh air”

By MIRIAM CAREY

of scrubbing to clean off the dirt telling me they’ve come straight from the ground. The organic chicken is stuffed with giblets - which I use to make stock - and it is lovely knowing I am preparing a healthy chicken that was raised humanely with lots of sunlight and fresh air. There are many benefits to using Farmdrop, one is the increased choice of items you would not necessarily expect to see at your local supermarket. Foraged plants, such as sea buckthorn berries, three cornered garlic, and dried chanterelle mushrooms, and specialised meat, such as whole mallard duck and wild venison, all feature on the website. The prices are also reasonable you would expect to pay the same for items of lesser quality in the supermarket. With Farmdrop the farmer also gets a better deal - a 75 per cent share of the retail price. This positive method of food shopping could drastically shake up the way the UK food supply chain operates. It's time to ditch the supermarkets, so log onto Farmdrop and discover a new ethical way of food shopping. farmdrop.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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RIBA CHARTERED PRACTICE www.emrdesign.co.uk E: emilie@emrdesign.co.uk | T: 07484 922 003

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“The highlights of the venue are the audience and buzz it attracts”

Golborne Deli A quirky café whose popularity with the locals speaks volumes

FOOD Deli-style breakfast and lunch dishes

B y MIRIAM CAREY

olborne deli is a curious little place. The independent eatery is spread across two venues - Golborne Deli is next door to Golborne Bistro, but the menu and staff are the same in each. Which one you choose to eat in will be dictated by where you can find a seat, which could be a difficult task on a busy Saturday morning. Golborne deli is a brunch lover's dream. The menu offers every breakfast and lunch favourite imaginable, from scrambled eggs, to cooked breakfasts, ciabattas,

soups and salads. Everything is customisable so you can add on delicious extras such as goats cheese, crispy pancetta, avocado, salmon, salami or sausage. There are also plenty of free-from options. Anyone who is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, or who has an intolerance, will have no problem finding something tasty. Prices are also reasonable. I order the goats cheese scrambled eggs on toasted ciabatta, with extra crispy pancetta on the side, which costs £9.50. My dining partner orders the big breakfast which consists of scrambled eggs, tomatoes, crispy pancetta, baked beans, sausage, and

DECOR Cosy and bohemian with locally sourced wooden furniture

PRICE Main dishes from £4.90, coffee £2.30, juices £3

VERDICT Good coffee and great weekend lunch spot

toasted ciabatta, which costs £8.85. The friendly service, high quality ingredients and thoughtful touches, such as interesting crockery and pink Himalayan salt, are what make Golborne Deli the experienced bruncher's favourite place to eat. The scrambled eggs are a rich golden yellow colour, their quality speaking for themselves. The coffee, served with a tasty biscotti on the side, is second to none - Golborne Deli have an entire philosophy for how they should source and prepare their coffee beans. The interior is also charming the cosy café has bohemian vibes, tightly packed with wooden tables and chairs that were sourced from the local market. Some seating is communal, some separate. There are floor-to-ceiling chalk boards with the daily menu scrawled across them and the front counter is full of delicious-looking cakes. The highlights of the venue are the audience and buzz it attracts. There is such an array of guests dining, reading, talking and enjoying the weekend. Golborne Deli truly is a popular place, and despite the tough climate for independent businesses, I can see why it is thriving. ● GOLBORNE DELI 100 Golborne Road, W10 golbornedeli.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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LONDON

SALE SAV E UP TO 40% 0333 011 3333 I

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INTERIORS Interiors Notes 70 • In the kitchen with Rosie Birkett

COLOUR WAYS RUBELLI

Rubelli’s 2018 collection features vibrant colours spanning lime, aquamarine, dusky pink and Tiffany blue as well as an oxidised bronze and the return of red. rubelli.com

Nikki Pierce's flowers 80 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS NOTES

Ideas, designs and styles for your home By PENDLE HARTE

Surface area OLIVIA ASPINALL

In collaboration with Ornamental Grace, Olivia Aspinall has created a series of handmade Jesmonite vessels in her distinctive patterned surfaces. Her surfaces make stylish and practical worktops and tabletops too. olivia-aspinall.com.

SHELF LIFE STRING

The String system can offer a stylish kitchen solution with its simple and ﬂexible versatility that suits traditional as well as contemporary kitchens. Pictured is the String system in oak with white wall and ﬂoor panels, from £42. skandium.com

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INTERIORS • NOTES O

ITE

TS E G

F AV UR

BARISTA TOUCH Sage, £999.95 johnlewis.com

ART OF GLASS TOM DIXON

ELECTRIC KETTLE Michael Graves for Alessi, £159.95 alessi.com

BASKET CASE

Deliccately handmade with pink and grey tones, this Bump glass teapot by Tom Dixon has a range of stylish accessories to match. £100 tomdixon.net

ARCHITECT TOASTER Toaster £89; Kit Miles panels £24.95 dualit.com

LA BASKETRY

La Basketry was founded to share a traditional Senegalese craft with the world and generate regular employment for their weavers. They bringing colour and individuality to contemporary houses while creating a sustainable life for their artisans.

HAND BLENDER Smeg, £119.95 johnlewis.com

labasketry.com

EDITOR’S PICK

PEANUT BUTTER MAKER Simple and healthy. £44.95 cuckooland.com

SMARTER WIFI COFFEE MAKER Control it with your phone. £179.95 cuckooland.com

WHITE OUT STELTON

Stelton's iconic and everpractical vacuum jug was designed by Erik Magnussen and is celebrating 40 years in production with a range of new metallic colours. We're fans of the classic white, however. stelton.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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A cook’s

TABLE Food writer and stylist Rosie Birkett shows us around her London kitchen B y E L L I E S T E WA R T F O R H A B I TAT

Q Tell us a bit about yourself. Can you summarise what you do for a living? A All things food. I’m a food writer, cookbook author, food stylist and cook. Q Is this your dream job? A Pretty much yes. Of course all jobs have their off days but I feel incredibly lucky to do something I’m so consumed by. The beauty of my job is that it’s incredibly creative and I do so many different things, so no day is the same, but each day invariably involves some good food and drink. Q What inspires you to do what you do? A Growing up, it was all about food and cooking. My family are a greedy bunch and we always came together over my mother’s delicious home cooked food. I think this, and the fact I was so aware of us growing our own veg, keeping chickens and fishing etc has had a big influence on my love of food. Q What exciting projects have you been working on lately? A I’ve been doing lots of events and pop up dinners, including a collaboration with the fab cinema supper club, Kino Vino, during which we screened an old Ealing Studios film called It always rains on Sunday set in and around east London; the second was a charity banquet organised by Bristol chef Romy Gill for Action Against Hunger with a load of other female chefs and food writers. We had to serve eight courses to 112 in a hall in Borough Market we weren’t cooking in, so it was very challenging but great fun and we raised over 10k which was amazing.

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Q How would you describe your interior style? A Whimsical, eclectic and natural. I love collecting beautiful objects and handmade treasures such as ceramics, vintage furniture and art. Also, you’ll notice I’m a sucker for a house plant. We don’t have a garden so I definitely like to bring the outdoors in. Q You must spend a lot of time in the kitchen. What’s your favourite thing about it? A I spend at least four days a week in the kitchen. What drew me to our house is that the kitchen is pretty much the whole of the downstairs. It’s open plan and flooded by natural light by a glass ceiling, so I’m really happy cooking here. There are plenty of units for storage and I love being able to display my props on top of the cupboards. I’m very proud of the marble tiling and hexagonal tiles behind the sink, as well as the second hand stainless steel catering cupboard which is an island and storage solution in one. Q What would you change about your kitchen space? A I would love a big range cooker.

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ABS

INTERIORS • FOCUS

“What drew me to our house is that the kitchen is pretty much the whole of the downstairs”

Q Where do you find interior inspiration? A Elle Decor, Remodelista and interior design books. Instagram too of course, including Habitat’s. Q Which instagram accounts would you recommend for interior inspiration? A As above. Apartmenttherapy and Jungalow too. Q What’s your favourite interior trend at the moment? A I love the pink trend. I’ve never been a girly girl or that into pink but recently something has changed and I can’t get enough of little hints of pink, particularly when it’s dusky, faded, pastel or stone washed. Q Which habitat products do you love and why? A I adore my new pink stonewashed bedspread which sits atop our gorgeous new wooden bed, both from Habitat. Having a wooden bed is a real statement and brings so much character to an otherwise simple room. The grain of the wood on the bed is beautiful. I really love the gorgeous green marble of the coffee table too. Watch out for many Instagram food shots featuring A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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NEW SPRING COLLECTION IN STORE FROM 15th FEBRUARY

Discover our new spring range of furniture and accessories available in-store from 15th February. Book your free interior design service in-store and discover how our new collection can fit seamlessly in your home.

Notting Hill 18-24 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RH I 020 7792 4111 I boconcept.com

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INTERIORS • FOCUS

this. Also the marble lamp is just dreamy – bringing a hint of luxury to the spare room. Q What’s your favourite thing about your home? The light and sense of space. Floor-to-ceiling windows and our double-height glass ceiling make it a really light, airy space. Q What was your last interiors project and purchase? A Doing up our spare room and putting in some shelves for my huge library of cookbooks. Q How have you made this house your home? A By filling it with our most-loved objects and people. We are always hosting dinners and drinks at ours and we’re such home bodies. Q Tell us about your most treasured possessions? A The rug in the spare room was brought in Argentina. I was really broke at the time and really agonised over whether to buy it but I’m so glad i did, it makes me so happy. Our vintage Ercol dining set was a total bargain from Ebay and I’m so thrilled we found it, even though we had to hire a van and drive to the middle of nowhere to this really posh lady’s country house, it was so worth it. Q Where is the heart of your home? A The kitchen of course. Q If you could re-live one moment in this house what would it be? Tell us about your favourite memory. A Our first Christmas party in the house was pretty epic. We got an 13ft Christmas tree, I made venison stew and there was a lot of prosecco and mulled wine. It was so brilliant to finally have our own space and be able to host our friends whose houses we’ve been partying in for years. Q What would complete your home? A I would love a wood fired log burner but unfortunately it’s not possible in this house. Q Tell us something interesting about yourself or your home that not many people know. A Cyril our dog calls the shots. Seriously, he thinks the sofa, our bed and the spare room bed all belong to him. Q Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? A My late dad, I would love to cook for him and catch him up on the last 12 years.

“I’ve never been a girly girl but recently I can’t get enough of pink”

H A B I TAT For more cool habitats visit habitat.co.uk/blog

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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77-79 WESTBOURNE GROVE - W2 4UL LONDON - UK Tel: +44 (0) 20 7221 5137 london@devon-devon.com

FLORENCE ·

CHICAGO ·

COPENHAGEN ·

HAMBURG ·

ISTANBUL ·

LONDON ·

MILAN ·

MUNICH ·

NAPLES

NASHVILLE · NICE · PADUA · PARIS · PRAGUE · ROME · SHANGHAI · TBILISI · TEL AVIV · WARSAW · WIEN

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INTERIORS • FLOWERS

Flower POWER Cate St Hill’s arrangements for FlowerBe are fresh, stylish and simple

lowerBe have collaborated with Cate St Hill, a design and interiors writer and stylist who has a passion for light, Scandinavianinspired interiors. Cate believes in an understated and minimal aesthetic as a background for everyday life, with natural, honest materials that appeal to the senses and improve over time. On her dining room table, Cate prepared a ‘fika’ – a custom in Swedish culture with the basic meaning “to have coffee”, often accompanied with pastries, cookies or pie. She created a natural, woodland-inspired scene, with lots of different sized vessels forming a relaxed, informal centrepiece along

the table. Vases of various heights and textures create layers, and give a sense of depth. Candlelight provides a soft glow in the darker days, while each person’s place setting is made a little bit special with a decorative dish of ranunculus. Cate said: “My dining table arrangement is all about appealing to the senses and feeding the soul, with fragrant smells from the narcissus and eucalyptus, freshly baked cinnamon buns and warming cups of coffee.” Cate also created a beautiful living flower installation using individual stems FlowerBe’s Tall Selection, arranging these within simple picture frames. Within each frame she chose lemoncoloured Aztec Lillies, pale lime Eustoma and soft pink Hypericum berry, which together form an art piece positioned on a minimal white shelf. Cate said: “I used simple picture frames to create a colourful shelf display with single stems and branches. You could also press

“Simple ﬂower arrangements can lift the spirits”

B y P E A R L B OY D

flowers and use dried stems to last through to spring. Letting the stems extend outside the frame creates a wilder arrangement and a beautiful focal point in the room.” Cate’s ethos is sharing simple design that lifts the spirits each day. The simple everyday means seeking a moment of calm amid our busy lives – to slow down and appreciate the little things. Cate has shown how simple flower arrangements can lift the spirits and create a clean, fresh interior.

flowerbe.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Tel: 01306 712 262 Email: info@iggi.co.uk Iggi Interior Design, The Old Parlour, Unit 6, Ockley Court Farm, Coles Lane, Ockley, Surrey, RH5 5LS

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• MOODBOARD • NOTES INTERIORS FASHION

My Style JA N E T T E R E I D

The owner of online interiors boutique Eclect shares her inspirations e clectdesign.com

YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION I’m not sure I would call it a holiday, but I once went horse trekking in Mongolia. It was as painful as it was memorable, but it was a profound experience I feel very privileged to have had.

YOUR STYLE ICON

I spend most of my time in jeans and plain tops, though when its time to dress up I enjoy wearing quite bold, colourful patterns. Who would my style icon be?

YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGNER Lucienne Day. She brought fresh, optimistic designs to the living rooms of post-war Britain. Her lively, patterns continue to be an inﬂuence.

YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE FROM THE SHOP’S CURRENT COLLECTION I have a soft spot for the Russel Wright American Modern collection. It combines a sophisticated Midcentury design with a comic quality.

YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF ART Anything by Charley Harper, the American modernist artist. He had such an original way of converting the complexity of what he saw into a distilled style he called “minimal realism”. His illustrations of birds are perhaps the most recognisable.

YOUR FAVOURITE BUILDING I have often walked my Westie in Crystal Palace Park and stared at the ground where the magniﬁcent palace once stood. I imagine how exciting it would have been to walk amongst the crowds at one of its exhibitions.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Flower

GIRL Florist Nikki Pierce tells Absolutely how ﬂowers can transform a space

B y GEORGIA MCVEIGH

Q Tell us a little bit about yourself? A Well, I’m originally from Canada but now call Portobello Road home. I live right above the most vibrant market street with my husband and black pug and spend way too much time window shopping vintage finds from my living room window. I’m also an avid meditator and do a ten day silent Vipassana retreat every year to rebalance and renew. Q Where did the idea for Petal and Grace stem from? A It came mostly from an urge to be surrounded by more nature after spending a few years living in the centre of London. Once I started working with flowers, I quickly realised the wonderful impact they can have. They can completely transform any space and it’s so nice to see the wonderful reactions we get to our arrangements.

Q What tips would you give for flower arranging at home? A Allow nature to do its thing. Try not to restrict flowers and foliage too much. Sometimes allowing flowers to sit naturally in a vase is enough. Q Do you have a favourite flower? A This changes about every five minutes. Right now I’m loving the deep burgundy colour of Bordeaux Anemone. Q Which flowers do you prefer to use in the winter months? A We are so lucky to have the most beautiful spring flowers in the winter. It seems a bit odd to have hyacinths and ranunculus in January but they are such a wonderful reminder that spring is around the corner. Q Do you stick to working with brands, or do you do private events as well?

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INTERIORS â&#x20AC;˘ FOCUS

A I do so many private events. Private parties and weddings can be so much fun and a great way to work creatively with some wonderful people. Q What has been your favourite project and why? A: We had such an amazing time creating florals for Coach to help them launch one of their new fragrances. As the event was based around scent, we were asked to fill Mortonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s club in Mayfair with an abundance of the most beautifully scented garden roses. We had pink roses tumbling from suitcases and pouring out of bookshelves. The space was absolutely transformed and the scent was heavenly. Q How has your upbringing had an impact on your work? A: I grew up in Vancouver, Canada, where a 20 minute drive would bring me to the edge of the most vast and dense wilderness. I like to think that there is an element of the untamed in a lot of my work that probably comes from growing up surrounded by this type of nature. A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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“We had pink roses tumbling from suitcases and pouring out of bookshelves”

“We can transform a space or add a little touch of light to a dark corner”

Q Have flowers always played an important part in your life, or was it something that developed over time? A I wish I could say that I had access to a cutting garden when I was young, but I think a full appreciation for flowers came at a later stage. So much of my admiration came from studying 18th century still life paintings. Spending time pouring over those images then turned into a desire to make my own floral creations. Q You often use art to influence your designs. Is there any particular artwork that you draw influences from? A I think art can influence florals in so many ways. Yes, the still life portraits are an obvious source of inspiration, but I believe that inspiration can come in so many different forms. Colour palettes, textures or even a tension within a piece of art. All of these can translate to floral design.

Q How does the environment you’re working in impact your designs? A I absolutely adore being in different environments to work with florals. Different event and wedding venues and private homes can be so full of character and can bring so much inspiration to the final design. The colour of the space, the feel and the light can all determine how we design our florals. We can completely transform a space or add a little touch of light to a dark corner. Q What are your plans for the future? A It’s really exciting to be in the third year of our business and to see that we are growing at such a fast pace. We are already booked out for so much of 2018 and as tempting as it would be to expand we plan to keep the business artisanal and really focus on providing the most amazing service to our clients.

PETAL AND GRACE petalandgrace.com

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MARBLEHILL FIREPLACES THE MOST IMPRESSIVE & EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF FIREPLACES IN THE UK

WITH OVER 7 DIFFERENT SHOW AREAS AND MORE THAN 55 MANTELS ON DISPLAY WITH 14 ACTUALLY UNDER FIRE, MARBLE HILL IS ONE OF THE LEADING LONDON SHOWROOMS FOR ALL YOUR FIREPLACE NEEDS. WE ARE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO SHOWCASE INNOVATIVE AND NEW DESIGNS.

70-72 Richmond Road, Twickenham TW1 3BE

Tel: 020 8892 1488 info@marblehill.co.uk www.marblehill.co.uk

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INTERIORS • COMPANY FOCUS

Soft Machine Tom Dixon is mostly known for his stark metals and angular accessories but now he has a new range of textiles

bstract is the name given to a pair of cushions made using techniques from the rug and carpet industries. Thick, wooly, harder wearing and generally more substantial than most cushions, these are hand tufted in India by extraordinarily skilled craftsmen. Urban perspective sketches and hippy wall hangings of the 70s were the initial inspiration for the variety of textures and blocks of saturated colours that come through in Abstract. Details of a cityscape watercolour from textile artist Josephine Ortega were blown up in scale and separated on graph paper to create a grid a technique familiar in tapestry pattern, but supersized for this project. The loops, tufts and the variety of pile heights accentuate the hand-crafted nature of these cushions impossible to create by machine. Made from 100% New Zealand wool, backed with natural linen and generously filled with Danish duck feathers outstanding materiality and a human touch.

B y P E A R L B OY D

Paint is a set of cushions with a subtle painterly print of abstracted urban landscapes rendered onto super soft canvas. Tom Dixon commissioned young upcoming British talent Josephine Ortega to create a set of abstracted architectural watercolours based on scenes of British urbanism. Pigment of pinks and indigo were then ink jet printed onto a textured canvas of offwhite linen to form stackable landscapes. Woven from natural linen mixed with lightweight viscose for a soft and natural feel, Paint is digitally printed, sewn, stuffed and finished in Britain. Embroidered graphic illustrations inspired by the natural geologies of rock formations and layered sediment, Geo is restrained yet expressive pattern making across two cushions and a double-sided throw. Celebrating the decorative qualities of natural phenomenon in bold embroidered strokes, Geo is the no-fuss monochromatic that packs a graphic punch. Geo cushions are embroidered by hand and machine on a base of natural linen and cotton mix, then filled with Danish duck feathers, Geo is a lightweight collection with superior comfort.

“Hand tufted in India by extraordinarily skilled craftsmen” TOM DIXON tomdixon.net

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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*WIN A STUNNING ABINGDON DOUBLE BED FROM THE CORNISH BED COMPANY WITH ABSOLUTELY HOME*

*INCLUDES

The Abingdon is one of the most popular beds in the collection. Offering 2â&#x20AC;? side posts, exceptional strong framework including our signature knuckle joint, which is everlasting. The bedstead is then softened with white crackle finish ceramics, which are hand spun into its brass fixing with ornate lower brass petal. Hand cast at our Cornwall Foundry and made with all the traditional fixings.

Visit www.absolutely.london to enter. Competition closes 01.03.2018

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INTERIORS • PRODUCTS AUDENZA Imperial glass bottle vase, £38.95 audenza.com

EDITOR’S PICK

JONATHAN ADLER Palm Springs bow tie vase, £525 uk.jonathanadler.com

BRISSI Rosa vase, £36 brissi.com

KAHLER Hammershoi vases, £30 heals.com

BRIDGMAN Lucius Medium Amethyst vase, £55 bridgman.co.uk

REBECCA UTH FOR RO Hurricane No 26 vase, £74.95 urbanavenue.co.uk

HAY Colour vase, £39 utilitydesign.co.uk

STEM CELLS

MARK MCGINNIS Megatropolis pitcher scp.co.uk

Pretty ﬂowers need beautiful vases By P E N D L E H A R T E

TOM DIXON Bump short glass vase, 55 tomdixon.net

DESIGN PROJECT BY JOHN LEWIS Pleated glass vases, from £25 johnlewis.com

HABITAT Claudia patterned vase, £30 habitat.co.uk

ANNABEL JAMES Large Polka vase, £59.95 anabeljames.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Sweetpea & Willow L OVE T HE WAY Y OU L I VE NEED SOMETHING IN A HURRY? EVERYTHING IN OUR SHOWROOM IS AVAILABLE TO TAKE AWAY TODAY!

CUTHBERT BOUTIQUE BED HOUSE VELVET - SOFT TEAL MORE FABRICS AVAILABLE!

CHESHIRE DINING TABLE AVAILABLE IN 200, 240 AND 280CM WANT A BESPOKE SIZE? GIVE US A CALL!

Come and See Us, We’re Local! LUXURIOUS UPHOLSTERED BEDS, STUNNING HANDMADE SOFAS, EXQUISITE HOME ACCESSORIES AND MORE. PLUS THOUSANDS OF FABRICS TO CHOOSE FROM. THE PROSECCO IS ON US!

WWW.SWEETPEAANDWILLOW.COM 0345 257 2627

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FREDERICK SOFA LUXURY LINEN - ZINC 1000’S OF FABRICS!

THE SHOWROOM (FREE PARKING) Unit 15, The Metro Centre, St John’s Road, Isleworth, TW7 6NJ OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY* 9.00 - 4.30PM *Also open the last Saturday of each month. See website for opening hours.

22/01/2018 18:18

INTERIORS • DESIGN

The Legacy British upholstery brand Parker Knoll has relaunched its most iconic armchair B y P E A R L B OY D

aunched in 1969, the Statesman was hailed as revolutionary and quickly became an icon of the age, responding to the consumer demand for bold colours and contemporary shapes. Primary shades and velveteen finishes became part of its signature look, and an ergonomically designed curved outline helped this model to quickly become a best-seller. Today, nearly 50 years on, it remains as popular as ever and is recognised around the world as a design classic. Offering the same deep levels of comfort, the new contemporary model has been manufactured using similar techniques in order to retain signature elements of the chair’s design, such as its button-back detailing and wooden base. The Statesman’s

“The Statesman’s classic curved shape is designed to cradle the body” classic curved shape has been specially designed to cradle the body, offering a supreme level of comfort. Paired with a matching footstool, it still offers the ultimate relaxation experience. Parker Knoll’s in-house design team have selected an exclusive range of fabrics in a cool, calm pastel palette and rich leathers for Statesman. From tactile weaves through to soft, sumptuous Italian designs, there are plenty of luxurious textiles to choose from, which can each be previewed using the Design Your Parker Knoll tool on the website. For the wooden base, choose from two beautiful wood colours– washed oak and walnut. Upholstered now in luxurious leather and other contemporary fabrics, the chair has been given a beautiful modern twist, without compromising on its iconic status.

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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CONNAUGHT KITCHENS LONDON

New CONCRETE finish in various colours

www.connaughtkitchens.co.uk â&#x20AC;¢ 02077062210 design@connaughtkitchens.co.uk CONNAUGHT.indd 1

12/01/2018 10:19

Kensington Park School is a new independent

school for boys and girls aged 11–18 in the heart

of London. Whilst the school is new, its leadership and teachers have long, successful track-records at some of the best independent schools in the

country with the core teaching team coming from St Paul’s School.

KPS is committed to academic excellence

combined with strong pastoral care. The school has developed an extensive oﬀering of sports and co-curricular activities, making full use of

the world-class facilities in and around its West London home.

KPS combines the best of British independent

education with a genuinely international outlook

and has strong academic, cultural and social links

Key diary dates

with partners around the world at both school

Sixth Form Open Evening Thursday 22 February 2018 11+ and 13+ Entry Exam Saturday 24 February 2018 To book, please email registrar@kps.co.uk

and university level.

We look forward to welcoming you

A NEW INDEPENDENT SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF LONDON registrar@kps.co.uk • www.kps.co.uk • 020 7225 0577

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KIDS & EDUCATION

STREET STYLE STELLA MCCARTNEY

The collection captures the energy and essence of childhood while remaining effortlessly cool and stylish - a testament to her understanding of fashion and its ever-changing demands. stellamccartney.com

Small Talk: World Book Day, French fashion and stylish toy storage 93 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Subscription

UNLOCK THE CODE TO THE FUTURE_

IS YOUR CHILD FUTURE READY? >Cypher inspires children to learn the

FOR MINDFUL PARENTS Sign up to Readly for only £7.99 a month and read all back issues of Absolutely Education, as well as our entire portfolio, including Absolutely Mama, Absolutely Weddings and Absolutely Home. Readly Subscribers also enjoy unbounded access to over 2,300 top titles.

language of the future through creatively themed coding camps.

Explore our interactive coding themes_

CREATIVE CODING CAMPS FOR KIDS_

Camps held every school holiday at:

>Chelsea >Chiswick >Hammersmith >Hampton Hill

>Kensal Rise >Notting Hill >Swiss Cottage >Twickenham

www.cyphercoders.com

Readly offers the freedom to effortlessly glide between articles and features that consider every essential piece of advice and info needed for education in the independent sector.

Subscribe at gb.readly.com/absolutelyeducation

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01/11/2017 12:35 26/01/2018 18:33

KIDS & EDUCATION • NOTES

F O CU S

French chic B O N TO N

Cool but classic; understated but bold; classy but contemporary; French brand Bonton’s collection of contradictions is the only thing to wear as this winter continues. bonton.fr

READ IT Wo r l d B o o k D a y

SMALL TALK French fashion, World Book Day and some stylish toy storage

EDITOR’S PICK

HOUSE STYLE ROCK AND PEBBLE

Make tidying up easier (and more fun) with this ‘safe house’ for toys – an organic canvas storage bag complete with ladder and key-shaped charm. £59;

thismodernlife.co.uk

THINK TANK

PRINT ISSUE

MIND HUG Children's Mental Health Week starts on 6 February and this sweet storybook is all about introducing mindfulness from an early age in a child-friendly way, focusing on moods and feelings. Part of every book sale goes towards Place2Be's work in schools. £9.99  circus-house.com

orld Book Day returns on 1 March with its mission to celebrate reading for pleasure and encourage children and young people to read and love books. A stellar line-up of authors, illustrators and events is planned across the country alongside a series of special new works that will cost just £1 or free in exchange for a £1 World Book Day book token. Bestselling children’s authors and illustrators for 2018 include broadcaster Clare Balding, musician Tom Fletcher, comedian Julian Clary and top illustrator David Roberts, sports journalist Gerard Siggins and further favorites Pamela Butchart, Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton and Kes Gray. The £1 World Book Day book tokens are available to all nursery and schoolchildren in the UK and Ireland. worldbookday.com

ALLAN AHLBERG

WORST BOOK EVER

My Worst Booke Ever is a clever story is about the making of a book and all the things that can go wrong. Allan's idea features a crocodile, but the publishers want a dinosaur and the illustrator's keen on a hippo... and further problems arrive at the printer. £10.95  thameshudson.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Who is the

S LU M M I EST

of them all?

Absolutely asks: how did candid writing about parenthood lose its honesty? B y NANCY ALSOP I l l u s t r a t i o n PHIL COUZENS

arents who watched Motherland, the ravedabout new series by Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) and Graham Linehan (Father Ted), will doubtless have nodded along in mirthful recognition – even solidarity – at the unflinching representation of what it is to be both middle class and to have children in the 21st century. Surprise! No one is having it all. And shock! Everyone is mad in their own special way – whether, at one end of the spectrum, they’re going to extreme lengths to cadge free childcare so that they can just get to bloody work on time or, at the other, presenting a breezy Ralph Lauren-style model family face to the world while busily having secret threesomes with people from the Internet. And this non-dressed up, not immediately obviously Insta-friendly account of parenthood rides the crest of a very specific parenting zeitgeist, in all its manic, wild-eyed, crazy and at-times near-psychotic desperation: the rise of the slummy/scummy mummy.

“No one is having it all. And everyone is mad in their own special way ” It all began with the Alphas, of course, those so-called “yummy mummies” who managed to magically produce perfect offspring; balanced organic lunchboxes; immaculate-though-twee homes awash with Cath Kidston (Cabbages & Roses for the more discerning); and imaginative outfits for every endless World Book Day or party requiring fancy dress unobtainable to the more basic mum with her trusty glitter, scissors and glue. They did all this casually while also ensuring their kids were high-achieving and did things like going to bed on time without alarming nightly meltdowns. These people were, of course,

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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KIDS & EDUCATION â&#x20AC;¢ SPOTLIGHT

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Maria Montessori School Dedicated to helping each child lay the best foundation for life Our three nursery schools in Central London offer an authentic Montessori education for children from 2½ to 6 years old

Bayswater - St. Petersburgh Place, W2 Holland Park - Nottingdale Square, W11 Notting Hill - Powis Gardens, W11

020 7435 3646 schools@mariamontessori.org www.mariamontessori.org

I N D EPEN D EN T DAY S CHO OL FOR G I RL S AG ED 4 TO 18 — Queen’s Gate School offers girls a warm, supportive environment where individuality is nurtured, academic standards are high and a broad-based curriculum ensures a well-rounded education. A range of scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available to assist girls to join us and parents are welcome to visit us throughout the year. Details of Open Events for entry to the Junior and Senior Schools are available on our website. For a prospectus or to arrange a visit, please contact the Registrar, Miss Isabel Carey: — registrar@queensgate.org.uk · 020 7594 4982 queensgate.org.uk/admissions

Queen’s Gate School, 131–133 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5LE

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KIDS & EDUCATION • SPOTLIGHT course, either self-created myths (cross reference: threesomes with people from the Internet) or eye-bulgingly wealthy and thus able to delegate with abandon. But these fictitious uber parents did more than to just leave us with a sense of inadequacy; they bequeathed in their wake the rise of the anti-yummy mummy, as pioneered by Fiona Neill, the Times’ original Slummy Mummy whose laundry pile is rarely less than a metre high and, in consequence, whose every confessional book has teetered at the top of the bestseller’s charts. She – along with the swelling tide of social media has in turn spawned a litany of colossally popular bloggers, from Selfish Mother, to the Unmumsy Mum to Hurrah for Gin, whose sweary stickman-illustrated blogs fondly yet honestly recount what life with toddlers – or miniature dictators – can be like. So far, so refreshing. But as the bloggers practically triple daily in number, all clamouring to proclaim their ineptitude louder than the last, the nearcompulsive candour has also filtered down to every playground and school pick-up in the land. Your child has fallen head-first off the climbing frame because you were distracted with gossip about that weirdly attractive teacher? “Ach, don’t stress, my child broke every bone in his/her body last summer – we still don’t know how – at that boozy picnic that no-one can remember getting home from!” “You think that’s bad? I blot out their whingeing every day by downing gin with my morning coffee!” “I feed my kids ready meals every night!” “I don’t feed mine at all, except the occasional Haribo!” “I don’t remember my kids’ names!” “I haven’t seen my kids in weeks!” “Occasionally I get so off my head I forget I even have kids!” “My youngest is a twat!” “My middle child is the spawn of Katie Hopkins and Jeremy Hunt!” And so on, each ‘self-deprecating’ declaration of failure more extreme than the last. Something that was born of a commendable desire to deflate the impossibly high standards set by the saccharine yummy mummies has descended into a different sort of one-upmanship. It is important to remember that these are, invariably, middle class parents deafeningly proclaiming their ineffectiveness; if a working class parent dared to shout, in

jest, that they cracked open their first bottle of wine as they poured their kids’ cornflakes, social services would doubtless be summoned. And therein lies the rub. It is, after all, human nature to delight in a candid chat and the realisation that our shortcomings are not only recognisable to but also shared by our peers. But when those failings are plastered relentlessly across a host of social platforms – Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – it becomes less of an in-it-together candour, and takes on a smugness all of its own that says, “here I am being hopeless – and yet, by some miracle cocktail of good fortune and spectacular genes, aren’t my children still beautiful in spite of bohemian old me getting sozzled in the corner? And come to that, aren’t I remarkably artfully dishevelled in my small label designer clothes that make me look like I’ve wandered off the Moors as some sort of Brontean fantasy – minus the tuberculosis.”

“Something that was born of a desire to deﬂate the impossibly high standards set by saccharine yummy mummies has descended into a different sort of one-upmanship”

The compulsion to be honest smacks of studied affectation and competition. Rather than sitting in friends’ homes swapping comic stories of the disasters (and triumphs) of family life, the compulsion to publish every move to a mind-boggling number of followers doesn’t scream ‘supportive sisterhood’ so much as “look at me and how unbelievably authentic I am!” Particularly since, even as the snapshots and videos of toy explosions in the sitting room/ children head-to-toe in cake mixture/ toddlers swearing loudly go up, there is one hard-to-ignore constant: an exemplarily dusky Farrow and Ball interior in the background; a picture-perfect shabby dog lolling by a log burner, firmly ticking the middle class signifier of taste box; and the ‘slummy’ mummy herself, caught ‘unawares’ – despite this being a selfie – in an Anthropologie maxi dress with a Barbour thrown over, some Toast knits, hair unkempt in a manner that can only be achieved with much zealous back-combing and a pair of Hunters paired with thick handmade socks, looking like a stylist’s dream reworking of 1940s make-do-and-mend ration fashion. In truth, the mums vying to out-inept one another are almost invariably – and entirely laudably – highly devoted, hard-working nonbinging non-day drinkers who also happen to have one eye on the entrepreneurial prize of being a much followed social media slummy mummy. All of which is entirely commendable, if only we could wind down the competition and be neither yummy, nor slummy but just fine. We’re fine with just being fine.

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BUCKINGHAM, ENGLAND Looking for a school that’s engaging and challenging, with an exciting curriculum? Somewhere with a warm, caring, friendly atmosphere? A school with a strong work ethic where your daughter will make excellent progress and fulfil her true potential?

ONE OF THE UK’S TOP NON-SELECTIVE SCHOOLS THE TIMES LEAGUE TABLES

Contact Mrs Claire Ballantyne, Registrar email registrar@thorntoncollege.com or telephone +44 (0) 1280 812610 to book a visit and for further information about the School.

Thornton is well-known for its exceptional pastoral care, outstanding academic achievement and high expectations of all its students.

INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC DAY & BOARDING SCHOOL PREPARATORY † SENIOR † SIXTH FORM

For girls aged 3 to 18. Children of all faiths and of none are welcome.

THORNTON COLLEGE, CONVENT OF JESUS AND MARY, THORNTON, MILTON KEYNES, BUCKS, MK17 0HJ

WWW.THORNTONCOLLEGE.COM

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THORNTON COLLEGE EXISTS TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION. REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 247358

Students respect one another, value the community spirit, have fun learning and achieve great things. They are extremely well educated both inside and outside the classroom and grow up with confidence and a great sense of humility.

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EDUCATION • FOCUS

Making their mark The Early Years coordinator at Dallington School in Islington on the importance of encouraging young artists By AMBIKA CURBISHLEY

he children I have taught over the years arrive having already had a range of different experiences when it comes to art. Some children immediately experiment and explore and think creatively when they are making or drawing, others do not want to get paint on their fingers, or say, 'I can’t do it!' As my teaching career continues, I have come to question how we as adults influence children’s attitudes to art and how we impact on children’s interest in this area. Often talking to parents gives an insight into

how their own experiences at school or their outlook on art has an impact on how they approach the subject with their children. I have heard people say, ‘It doesn’t look like anything, it’s a scribble.’ I then spend time explaining that that ‘scribble’ is where the child is at developmentally and that the child has just told a whole story whilst making those marks. I also hear parents describe how they felt they were not very good at art at school and, therefore, they don’t know how to go about teaching their own children. So, did someone along the way dismiss attempts they had made as a child, squashing confidence?

“There is great value in allowing children to make choices and express themselves”

A YOUNG PUPIL AT DALLINGTON

There is great value in allowing children to express themselves, to make choices about the media they wish to use, to learn through the process of creating and to praise each child’s art work. Those early ‘scribbles’ and the freedom to make them, cannot be emphasised enough. If opportunities do not arise, does the child miss a stage of building up a repertoire of marks? Can this gap then be filled at a later date? As early years educators we can do that to a degree but children also need those opportunities at home. Sometimes, people have asked me whether the reason a child does not draw or take part in art activities is because they are not interested. I then question why they might not be interested at the age of three! Do they find it difficult or has an adult influenced their desire or opportunity to participate in art-based activities. So when a child shows an adult a drawing, we need to think about our responses, instead of, “What is it?” which for a child, that knows exactly what they have just drawn, is a little deflating “Can you tell me about it?” leads to a far more in-depth discussion. You may be very surprised to find that those several lines across a page are a ladder that goes up to a fairy castle or that those circles that go round and round are the movement of a car. Let children create and make a mess, it can be cleaned up but a child’s confidence takes a lot longer to rebuild. I am fascinated by the early marks that children make and the insight they give into different areas of development. For example, their language skills can be heard through their descriptions whilst drawing; their physical development observed by looking at their self awareness depicted in their figurative pictures or how they hold a paint brush; to their emotional development, where drawings can depict how a child is feeling. As long as I teach, I hope I will be able to place an importance on art in the early years and recognise all that it can lead to.

AMBIKA CURBISHLEY Early Years Coordinator Dallington School

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PIUPIA.CO.UK

F GOING GREEN Absolutely wonders how environmentally friendly it’s possible to be with kids

By H E L E N B O W M A N

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or a while now, I’ve been thinking about how to reduce my family’s environmental footprint. Earlier this year, we almost moved to the country in search of a slower, more mindful pace of life – one that might encourage a closer connection with nature as well as the opportunity to consume less. For various reasons, the move didn’t happen, but a feeling that our family life was unnecessarily wasteful continued to grate. I’d always thought of myself as environmentally aware, but now I had two young daughters to think about: the future of the planet just got personal. I know many parents feel the same. It’s difficult, when presented with the boxes of disposable nappies and wipes, the plastic tubs of creams and lotions, the dozens of travel pouches of baby food, the rapidly outgrown clothing and the small mountains of unloved toys, to feel that you’re not privileging transient experience and momentary convenience over the long-term health of the living world. The truth is, people aren’t great for the planet. But that doesn’t mean we should blithely rationalise our impact away as a tragic inevitability. While mo’ people generally equals mo’ problems, we still need a functioning planet for our children to call home. A planet that can sustain life while inspiring wonder. So how to minimise our environmental impact in the here and now? The first step, as I found out to my increased consternation, is to transform that vague, gnawing worry about ‘the environment’ into a more solid sense of precisely how negative your personal impact is. For example: I thought that most plastic was recyclable. My local council always instructed us (or so I thought) to use our recycling bin for ‘metal, plastic, glass and paper’ – and in my ignorance I didn’t think to unpick that.

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KIDS & EDUCATION • PARENTING It turns out that of the 3.4 million tonnes of plastic discarded in the UK each year, only 1.5 million tonnes are recyclable. And of that number, only 500,000 tonnes are actually recycled. This means, for example, that most of our food containers – pouches, plastic films, bottle tops and ‘mixed plastics’ – go directly into landfill. And guess what? The recycling symbol – those circling arrows we all recognise, and in which I had always placed a stupidly blind faith – doesn’t mean ‘recyclable’ at all; it simply denotes that a manufacturer has made ‘a financial contribution’ towards the collection and recycling of packaging, usually in lieu of using recyclable materials for their own products. One reason for this waste is that many of the recyclable plastics we use in our daily lives – baby food pouches being a particularly relevant example – are not recycled by most local councils. Happily for my family, Ella’s Kitchen, pouches can be recycled by specialist company Terracycle (terracycle.co.uk), which focuses on the recycling of hard-to-process waste: there’s a collection point close enough to my home that we’re able to store up our used pouches and do drop-offs every couple of months. But what about everything else? The best solution, of course, is to reduce the amount of harmful waste you produce from the outset. It’s a minefield out there, not to mention inconvenient – more so

ECO BY NATY CLEAN POTTY

ORGANIC CLOTHING BRAND PIUPIA BABY

ECOVER CLEANING RANGE

because plenty of the big brands seem happy to mislead or obfuscate rather than doing their bit. And of course, it’s even harder with little ones to look after – little ones who would rather you be continuously wiping their nose than Googling ways to go plastic-free. But what follows are some relatively simple ways I’ve found to do a little good. Because after all, it’s the world we’ll leave to our children.

Be wise to the effects of plastics

“The average baby can get through 6,500 nappies in two and-ahalf years ”

ECO BY NATY BIODEGRADABLE WET WIPES

veryone’s talking about this right now, in no small part due to the devastating effects plastic pollution is having on our oceans, as highlighted in the BBC's Blue Planet II. The truth is, there’s a fair bit you need to know if you’re to understand how plastic recycling works in the UK. Start with a quick glance at the various plastic recycling codes, which seem designed to obscure as much as they explain. A good resource can be found at lifewithoutplastic.com.

Use eco-friendly beauty and cleaning products

he beauty and sanitary industries are some of our worst environmental offenders; as a result, many of us look into

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KIDS & EDUCATION • PARENTING chemical-free alternatives while pregnant. There are good aluminium-free deodorants on the market these days, as well as natural detergents and cleaning products that eschew harmful manmade chemicals. The Ecover range is famously gentle, and you won't have to fret when baby crawls all over your freshly mopped floor.

Rethink your brand loyalties

“Of the 3.4 million tonnes of plastic discarded in the uk each year, only 1.5 million are recyclable”

id you know that the UK’s leading nappy brand scores the lowest marks on almost every ethical standard, from animal testing and workers’ rights to environmental impact? It’s like buying nappies from Darth Vader. PIUPIA.CO.UK The good news is, there are better alternatives. A growing number of parents are switching to reusable cloth nappies, but if that’s too extreme a step, try the biodegradable nappies made by Swedish company Naty (naty.com). They’re made from organic cotton and plant fibres which break down naturally when disposed of – important when you think that the average child can go through 6,500 nappies in two and a half years. That’s over 10 tonnes of waste you could save from permanently sitting in landfill. Just make sure you dispose of them in a biodegradable nappy sack. The same logic applies to wet wipes, which have seen a huge rise in use over the last 5-10 years – as evidenced by the sheer number of them found clogging up our sewers and beaches. Most wet wipes contain

plastics and polyester and don’t break down. But switching brand can help: Jackson Reece makes widely available biodegradable wet wipes from cellulose, a plant fibre. They disappear completely within eight days in a sewage treatment plant or six weeks in a compost heap, and are great for kids with eczema or sensitive skin. The fact that they’re made in Britain also means they leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Refuse and recycle excess packaging

hen it comes to food packaging, it can seem impossible to avoid plastics. But, your impact can be improved by finding out if companies like Terracycle operate collection points in your area and taking tricksy packaging to them. Besides which, it’s always worth sending an email to the Customer Service department of your supermarket of choice, to politely remind them that their customers are concerned about the volume of nonrecyclable materials used in their packaging.

Buy less, buy better

ou can also help to save the environment (and some cash) by buying fewer toys and clothes – and making sure the ones you do buy are chosen with at least one eye on their ecological impact. Wooden toys generally look better than plastic ones anyway – check out Sarah and Bendrix and Garbo and Friends for inspiration. Environmentally, it can pay to shop small, with many independent brands placing an emphasis on sustainability. Support eco-conscious brands and you’ll be supporting the planet. Everyone’s a winner. Some more helpful resources: reyouzable.com • bulkmarket.uk hetu.co.uk

5 ECO-CONSCIOUS alternatives you’ll love

Takeaway Coffee

Body Scrub

Bath Toys

Bottles

Tablewear

KEEP CUP

S I ST E R & C O C O C O N U T O I L

H E V E A K AWA N N AT U R A L

PURA

M O L LY A N D M O O

That daily coffee you enjoy after the school run? Make sure it’s in a keep-cup. In the UK alone, we discard around 2.5 billion coffee cups every year – and only 1 in 400 is recycled. At uk.keepcup.com, you can design your own keep-cup to suit your tastes.

Microbeads in many exfoliants are actually tiny balls of plastic that ﬁnd their way into our natural watercourses, killing wildlife and harming entire ecosystems. Avoid using coffee in your scrubs too as it blocks drains. Use natural coconut oil with brown sugar instead.

So many baby products are made of plastic when they could be made of natural materials. We love the Kawan duck by Hevea, as well as their full range of rubber teethers and paciﬁers, available at meandbuddy.com.

There’s no need to stick with plastic for baby bottles and toddler training cups – check out the Pura collection including adult water bottles at kidly.com, made from stainless steel. Kidly is a great destination for natural and sustainable toys too.

Ditto dinnerware – several new manufacturers make eco-friendly bamboo sets. Bamboo is a great natural ﬁbre that can be used to make all sorts of kitchenware and tupperware for children’s snacks. We love this stylish star-print set from mollyandmoo.co.uk.

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RUBBER DUCK

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EATON HOUSE SCHOOLS

EATON HOUSE THE MANOR PREï&#x161;ºPREP SCHOOL

THE PERFECT CHOICE TO BOOK E AN OPEN HOUS PLACE PLEASE SSIONS. CONTACT ADMI PLACES P A FEW PRE-PRE E FOR BL LA AI AV STILL . SEPTEMBER, 2018

Our exceptional teachers provide a supportive academic environment, challenging every boy and enabling him to reach his full potential. Boys are encouraged to think independently, be confident and develop a sense of responsibility

Mrs Nicola Borthwick, Headmistress, Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep School

Come and meet us at our Open Houses Developing a life-long love of learning for your boys is our ultimate goal. We firmly believe that it is no coincidence that children learn best when they feel happy and secure. At Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep we recognise all of our boys as individuals, understanding what makes then

tick, nurturing their talents and ensuring that they feel known and valued. If you would like to be part of our successful, caring and happy school, speak to the Head of Admissions, Jennifer McEnhill, about booking an Open House meeting on 0203 917 5050 or contact admissions@eatonhouseschools.com

NURTURING EXCELLENCE EATON HOUSE SCHOOLS www.eatonhouseschools.com

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Park Terrace is proud to host the official Afternoon Tea for Cirque du Soleil’s latest show, OVO. Available until 4 March, our talented Pastry Chefs will reflect OVO’s motif of insects by transforming our delicious Afternoon Tea into an edible ecosystem. Upgrade to our Royal OVO Afternoon Tea and enjoy a glass of champagne accompanied by strawberries with vintage balsamic drizzle. Located just a 10 minute walk from the Royal Albert Hall. To make a booking, please contact us on parkterrace@royalgardenhotel.co.uk or call 020 7361 1999. 2-24 KENSINGTON HIGH STREET LONDON W8 4PT TEL +44 (0)20 7937 8000 FAX +44 (0)20 7361 1991 WWW.ROYALGARDENHOTEL.CO.UK

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TRAVEL

HEADING NORTH GREECE

Unspoilt beauty, expansive beaches and an authentic dose of the region’s culture, this month we argue the case for a holiday in Northern Greece at one of the country’s swankiest resorts.

Discover the Unspoilt Beauty of Halkidiki 106 • UK Getaway: Coworth Park 111 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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THE RESORT BOASTS IMPRESSIVE VIEWS OVER THE AEGEAN SEA

“Look out from the French doors and see sun, sea and private pool blend seamlessly into a postcard image of utter perfection” 106

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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST

A Trident’s

TALE Discover what it truly means to be stress-free amidst the unspoilt beauty of Halkidiki By H E L E N B R O W N

ell anyone of your holiday to Greece and they’ll immediately picture the pretty island harbours and tavernas of the south. Where sun is aplenty and the vista one of gleaming white against sparkling azure. Make your way north however, and the pictureperfect views bloom with verdant greenery and Greece’s best-kept secret lies, unhassled by summer holiday-makers. Fabled for its heart-stopping beauty and boundless hospitality, Halkidiki is the trident of Greece; three unspoilt, forested fingers stretching out into the Aegean Sea. Our Greek odyssey brings us to Sithonia, the central peninsula with a backbone of mountains and pine forests. More rugged and less populated than the left prong, Kassandra, Sithonia has long been a favourite vacation destination for locals. Along the coast, sweeping beaches are interspersed by secret coves, and the east side offers commanding views of Mount Athos, the third peninsula. On Sithonia you’ll find gorgeous, sleepy towns, a wealth of charming treasures to unearth and our home-from-home for the week, Danai Beach Resort. Easily reached from Thessaloniki, this luxurious hideaway is a haven of lush Mediterranean gardens and an expansive sandy beach. A family-run establishment, Danai offers a broad range of suites and villas, each

unique in style and boasting impressive views over the gardens or the ocean. Our two bedroom suite falls into the latter; here you can look out from the French doors and see sun, sea and private pool blend seamlessly into a postcard image of utter perfection. Fresh flowers, captivating wall art, Bose wi-fi music system, walk-in wardrobe and Bulgari bathroom products complete the scene. With all sense of the nine-to-five forgotten, we head to the Sea Horse Grill. On offer here is authentic Greek flavour and the freshest of fish and seafood. There is an ancient concept of hospitality and guest-friendship in this country, known as Xenia, and from this first meal we truly get an understanding of it. Hungry from the morning travelling, we gorge at a table laden with sharing plates until we can eat no more, only to find it relaid with a second wave of larger dishes. A true Greek feast. With bellies full and the sound of lapping waves tempting us into culinary-induced comas, we head to the beach. More than 300 meters long and absent of crowds, this is where London life is truly left behind. Stretchers and daybeds are available to hire for all guests, but to really get into holiday mode, a beach cabana does wonders. With this comes a private section of beach, a sitting area and comfortable double bed. Hotel staff are on hand to wipe clean your sunnies, serve fresh fruit platters and pop the corks from Perrier Jouet. Our beach lounging is interspersed with turns on the resort’s paddle boards, dips in the pool and a A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Where outstanding performing arts meets academic excellence

www.artsed.co.uk

Get in touch to arrange a visit | 020 8987 6600 | pupils@artsed.co.uk Co-educational Day School and Sixth Form | London W4 1LY

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Boatloads of family fun this summer! Our collection of award-winning holidays is designed for families who want far more than the usual summer break. Try white water rafting in Austria, mountain biking in Tuscany or snorkelling in Borneo. We have a range of holidays to suit all ages and abilities during Easter, half-term and summer!

Visit www.activitiesabroad.com or call 01670 333 091 to find out more

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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST EVERY SUITE AND VILLA IS INDIVIDUAL IN STYLE

fantastically indulgent facial. Danai’s prestigious spa is a real haven of tranquility, comprising multiple massage rooms, a nail spa and trilogy room with reflexology bed and a Cleopatra’s Bath with double bed for relaxation. Dinner is another exciting affair with three restaurants to choose from and a traditional Bachtses Night. Put on once a week in an intimate outcrop of garden overlooking the sea, this is a spectacular evening steeped in Greek authenticity. Live cooking, traditional dishes, locally produced drinks, music and dancing make this a night to remember. Our second evening is spent at the open-air Andromeda Restaurant, where modern Mediterranean fare is the order of the day. Sitting on the restaurant’s terrace, we tuck into strawberries with seafood, elegantly cooked lamb and a lemon meringue pie like no other, against a backdrop of splashing waves. For something a little swankier, The Squirrel has a well-earned reputation for being one of the principle culinary addresses in the country. If Halkidiki is the trident of Greece, then Poseidon is certainly smiling on those who manage to get a table here. Or perhaps Dionysus of wine, parties and fruitfulness; the food here certainly tastes otherworldly. The elaborate degustation menu offers a daring variety of Willy Wonka-esque plates, French and Mediterranean in flavour and expertly paired with wine

THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE SPA IS SET ON ORIENTAL HOLISTIC THERAPIES

of which hail from Greece and prove that the region’s reputation as a producer is on the rise. If it’s an apéritif you’re after, the Philosophy Seaside Bar prides itself on its creative drinks menu and incomparable setting. Located on the beach, an evening here is certainly appealing. The bar staff demonstrate impressive flair and the premium cocktail list attracts both guests and locals alike. Providing your hangover isn’t too severe, a number of excursions from Danai are available to fully explore the peninsula of Halkidiki. By yacht or by speedboat is the ideal way to combine leisure with sightseeing, and to fully get a feel for the area. One of the resort’s most popular routes will take you to the old city of Neos Marmaras. Departing from the hotel’s private beach, the tour follows the coastline of Nikiti, Ai Giannis, Kastro, Kalogria, Elia and Paradeisos beach, finally reaching Neos Marmaras. This is a must-see village with wild entertainment and plenty of romantic walks. The route then passes by the impressive complex of Porto Carras - cocooned with vineyards and its picturesque harbour -

“Hotel staff are on hand to wipe clean your sunnies and pop the corks from Perrier Jouet”

from Danai’s on-site wine cellar. The restaurant won the FNL Award in 2016 as one of the best three restaurants in Greece, while the wine list came in at number one. So what of this impressive purveyance of wine? Built deep into the side of the mountain in the heart of the resort, Danai’s private cellar boasts a lauded collection of around 1,700 wines, carefully collected over decades. Varieties range from the old to the new, and from producers SWEEPING PRIVATE TERRACES both local and farPROVIDE UNPARALLELED VIEWS reaching. Kitted out with antique furnishings and maintaining an old-world ambience, the wine cellar plays host to an incredibly awe-inspiring tasting session. Within this mystic and medieval candle-lit cave, Danai’s competent sommelier talks us through a cleverly curated selection of wines, many

before passing by the tortoise-shaped, deserted island of Kelyfos and the sandy beaches of Diaporos. Another must for culture vultures is a visit to Nikiti where a quaint church marks the highest point of the village and the seafront is a bustling jumble of authentic beach eateries. The village epitomises Halkidiki’s compelling blend of beach holiday with authentic Greek buzz, and proves there is more to the area than meets the eye. Top up your tan, feast on local cuisine and luxuriate in a lifestyle where schedules are few and far between; Halkidiki is the hidden gem to have on your holiday radar this year.

DA N A I B E AC H R E S O R T & VILLAS Junior suites from £375 on a B&B basis, based on 2 people sharing +30 2375 020400 danairesort.com

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A boarding school for boys aged 12 to 18 years in Ireland Glenstal Abbey School is a private school of 250 students, providing consistent high educational standards in a small class setting. We offer a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, personal pastoral support and a strong sense of community. Set in 500 acres of parkland in the heart of Munster, 40 minutes from Shannon Airport and 2 hours from Dublin Airport.

Every Day is an Open Day at Glenstal Abbey School, please do come and see for yourself... Glenstal Abbey School, Murroe, Co. Limerick, Ireland +353 61 621044 - admissions@glenstal.com - www.glenstal.com

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weekend

THE SPA

oworth’s awardwinning spa is an architectural wonder, partially submerged in the landscape and offering stunning views over the surrounding parkland. Products include Aromatherapy Associates, Carol Joy and Kerstin Florian while a fully equipped Technogym overlooks the beautiful hillside. An hourand-a-half of full body deep tissue massage sends us into a state of deep relaxation.

THE HOTEL

ountry manors don’t come much more glamorous than Coworth. The 17th-century mansion and polo estate has been treated to an intelligent and eco-friendly modern makeover that’s given it three restaurants, a spectacular spa, and an air of quietly confident grandeur. Set in 240 acres, it has an onsite equestrian centre with a Guards Polo Academy where you can have lessons (this is the UK’s only hotel to offer polo lessons) or simply head out on horseback on a ride through the stunning grounds. All this within 15 minutes of the M25.

THE ROOM

ur spacious suite in the main mansion house is comfortable and stylish, with a luxurious feel. Champagne on arrival, an insanely comfortable bed, Nespresso machine, huge TV, iPod dock and wellstocked minibar make up the extras while the bathroom’s comforting underfloor heating and super soft towels make for an inviting environment. There are further rooms in the renovated stable block that have an equestrian theme.

THE FOOD

fternoon tea in the Drawing Room is a particular highlight – then dress up for cocktails in the super chic bar. Dinner at The Barn is a brasserie-style affair a short stroll from the main house, where the converted barn has a wall of windows with farreaching views across the polo fields. More formally, there’s Restaurant Coworth Park with its Michelin star. Here, Executive-Chef Adam Smith delivers modern British dishes with a commitment to quality ingredients, while breakfast is an impressive buffet spread in the lounge.

DESTINATIONS

TRAVEL • UK GETAWAY

“An hour-anda-half deep tissue massage sends us into a state of deep relaxation”

COWORTH PARK Pastoral tranquility meets utter grandeur at this country house hotel nestled deep within Berkshire parkland By J E R R I E KO L E C I

Double rooms from £291 COWORTH PARK Blacknest Road, Ascot, SL5 7SE; 01344 876600; dorchestercollection.com

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Paradise Found Escape to the land of utter luxury at the grandiose and gorgeously modern Waldorf Astoria Dubai B y TA M A R VA N D E R H O E K

ituated on the North Eastern crescent of the Palm Jumeirah with views of the Dubai Marina and Arabian Gulf, the Waldorf Astoria Dubai is the first island iteration of the luxury New York hotel brand. Skilfully merging art deco flair, synonymous with the flagship hotel’s identity, and Dubai’s tendency to go big and bold, the awardwinning hotel is one of the city’s most luxurious holiday destinations. Completed just over a year ago as part of the Palm’s continued development, the hotel oozes pristine newness. It’s a pleasure driving up to the white, massive structure that shines like a beacon in the blazing desert sun. Stepping into the grand, marble-floored foyer, we are greeted by a blast of cool air-conditioning and a warm “Welcome Miss Vanderhoek” from the concierge. Only moments before, I was racing through the eight busy lanes of Sheikh Zayed highway surrounded by Dubai’s cascading skyscrapers, which now all seem a lifetime away in this immense but serene setting. As the concierge says,“This way Miss Vanderhoek”, I am led through acres of ivory marble, past a sweeping double staircase and through an immaculate hallways to my suite. There are 319 elegant rooms and suites in total, all of which are decorated in creams and soft turquoise and boast plush beds, 300 thread-count sheets, an entertainment system and private balcony with loungers and sea views. The equally decadent bathrooms come with double vanities, a bath, separate rain shower and Salvatore Ferragamo amenities.

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“The white, massive structure shines like a beacon in the blazing desert sun”

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TRAVEL â&#x20AC;¢ WANDERLUST

A SELECTION OF ELEGANT ROOMS AND SUITES BOAST PRIVATE BALCONIES WITH LOUNGERS AND SEA VIEWS

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The magnificent Tower of London, spectacular and truly unique events hrp.org.uk/hireavenue 020 3166 6226 HRP.indd 1

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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN DESIGN REFLECTS THE RESORT’S UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE.

BE SPOILED FOR CHOICE WITH SIX ICONIC RESTAURANTS AND BARS

With all of this, it is incredibly tempting to spend the entirety of our stay in the comfort of this luxurious suite, but as there are six bars and restaurants, two pools, a spa and 200 meters of private beach, I am desperate to discover the rest of the resort. Without the guidance of the concierge, my first solo journey through the hotel left me a little lost, but it wasn’t long until I found myself back outside in Dubai’s heat where I headed for the pool. This is where the action is during the day; guests can be found lounging on cabanas or deck chairs, sipping on drinks or tucking into a snack. Families can enjoy the covered kid’s pool or seaside activities such as snorkelling, paddle boarding and fishing, all of which can be arranged by the concierge. Those with smaller children aged between 3-12 can benefit from Coco’s Kids

Club, which offers two complimentary hours per day per child and babysitting upon request. By sunset, guests have the choice of eating at the range of onsite establishments. First of which is the Mezzerie, an all-day dining restaurant offering multiple cuisines and encompassing an elegant space that combines western character with subtle Arabic details. Come morning, this is where you'll find an excellent all-you-caneat buffet. The prize culinary attraction is Social by Heinz Beck, the acclaimed three Michelin-starred German chef who regularly visits the establishment to bring his contemporary Italian dining to Dubai. I opted for the scenic Palm Avenue, a casual Mediterranean bistro and followed it with a cocktail (or two) at the Serafina Bar. Exuding a character reminiscent of the

“The three Michelin-starred chef brings his contemporary Italian dining to Dubai” Italian Renaissance, Serafina Bar features lush furnishings, striking blown-glass chandeliers and offers a rich experience. With unique cocktails and small dishes inspired by Venetian 'Bacaro' cuisine, guests are encouraged to watch the sun set below the horizon whilst being serenaded by live entertainment in the evening. Be sure to head over on a Thursday night where a live Jazz band will provide the backdrop to utter holiday perfection. There’s so much to do in Dubai, one could visit the tallest skyscraper in the world, shop in the largest mall or ride the fastest rollercoaster. But why go out when the private beach is so inviting and a wealth of recreational activities is available, including tennis, fishing and parasailing. For those looking to really put their feet up, the spa features over 3,200 square meters of palatial indoor space with an extensive array of hydrotherapy facilities and thermal relaxation rooms. Inviting warm, golden colors and a classic and refined design will help you unwind. But heat like this encourages idyll, and for the duration of my stay, you’ll find me relaxing and recouping poolside at the Waldorf Astoria.

WA L D O R F A S TO R I A

ENJOY A LEISURE-FILLED DAY LOUNGING BY THE POOL OR BEACH

Dubai Palm Jumeirah Rates start from AED 1,050 per room per night (approx. GBP 207). For more information or to make a booking, call +971 4 818 2222 or visit waldorfastoria3.hilton.com

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www.castrads.com Book a home consultation or visit one of our showrooms for bespoke heating Cast iron radiators hand made in England UK stores in Chelsea, Wimbledon & Manchester +44 (0) 20 3397 7295 | +44 (0) 161 439 9350

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PET PAGES

HOME STAY

SOUTH PLACE HOTEL

South Place Hotel has got tongues and tails wagging as it works with Pets Pyjamas and children’s charity, Coram’s Fields to give pups the ultimate in pampering. King-sized dog beds, a welcome gift and a local dog guide will be available to all four-legged guests, while the usual £50 dog stay fee will be donated to Coram’s Fields. southplacehotel.com

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Making a house a home 119 • Pet Notes 121 • Pet-friendly getaways 123 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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PET PAGES • NOTES

Home is Where the Heart is Battersea Dogs and Cats Home share their top tips for welcoming a new pet into the family B y L AU R E N L EO N A R D

wning a pet is very rewarding but having your own little fur baby to look after is a big commitment. From furnishings to food, there are lots of things to consider. Once you’ve made the decision to re-home an animal, you’ll need to ensure your house is pet-friendly. Every year Battersea re-homes thousands of dogs and cats across the United Kingdom. Here they share the best ways to prepare for your new pet’s arrival, and to make the early days easier for you and for them.

HOME ESSENTIALS For cats, basic home essentials include separate food and water bowls, at least one litter tray in the house, a collar and a soft bed or blanket where they can retreat to. Dogs too require separate food and drink bowls, a stash of plastic

bags to take with you on walks and a soft bed in a quiet spot in your home. Both cats and dogs will need regular grooming to keep coats clean and healthy and a selection of toys that will keep them physically and mentally stimulated to stop them from being bored.

MICROCHIPPING Microchipping is a legal requirement for all dogs in England, Scotland and Wales, and highly recommended for cats. Battersea microchips all animals that come into the Home, so all you have to remember is to keep their details up to date.

NEUTERING Neutering your dog or cat prevents unwanted litters and can positively impact behaviour.

REGISTER WITH A VET Pet owners should register with a local vet straight away. Animals need annual vaccinations and it’s also a good time to complete a health check to ensure everything is in tip top shape.

PET INSURANCE Pet insurance will help guard against any unexpected veterinary fees. All Battersea dogs and cats leave with four weeks of free insurance.

“Come rain or shine, your fourlegged friend will be pounding the paths”

EXERCISE, TRAINING AND SOCIALISING Dogs will need regular walking on a daily basis – at least twice a day. Come rain or shine, your four-legged friend will be pounding the paths with its paws. Booking in a training class or two will help owners take the right approach to training a young dog. It’s vital to train your puppy so that you don’t encourage unwanted behaviour in the future. Get your cat used to everyday situations by associating them with positive things.

B AT T E R S E A D O G S A N D CAT S H O M E For more information about dog or cat care advice, or if you’re interested in rehoming a dog or a cat, please visit battersea.org.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Waiting for a home Our Animal Welfare Officers work across London rescuing hundreds of dogs and cats every year and rehoming them with loving families. Could you give a forever home to one of our homeless dogs or cats?

Visit www.themayhew.org/adopt/absolutely to see our animals looking for a home.

info@mayhewanimalhome.org 020 8962 8000 Trenmar Gardens, London, NW10 6BJ

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ABSOLUTELY • PROMOTION

“We have an allin-one approach meaning that your pet’s treatment plan is carried out from start-toﬁnish in-house”

medicine which works alongside traditional medicine.

COMPASSIONATE PET CARE

oehampton Veterinary Clinic offer an exceptional and compassionate approach to the care of small animals. Founded in 2000, the skilled team have, and continue to be one of the leading clinics in south west London, offering a range of services and treatments. We caught up with co-director Denise Bleckman to find out more about the incredible work they carry out each day. ABSOLUTELY: Tell us a bit about Roehampton Veterinary Clinic? DENISE BLECKMAN: We are an independent veterinary clinic, founded and co-directed by my husband, Richard, and myself. Richard is a renowned veterinary surgeon and has been practicing in South West London for over 30 years. We are positioned in a beautiful spot overlooking Putney Heath, not far from Wimbledon and Richmond Park. A: Tell us about the sort of work you carry out at the clinic? DB: Along with preventive and

comprehensive health care, we offer a range of services from advanced imaging and diagnostics to emergency medicine, laparoscopy and specialised surgery. We integrate this with complimentary and chinese medicine to ensure a quick and wellrounded recovery. A: What do you do that’s different to other veterinary clinics? DB: We have an all-in-one approach meaning that your pet’s treatment plan is carried out from start-to-finish in-house by us. We have our own laboratory and operating theatre, and are able to carry out in-house imaging. This cuts out the toing-and-frowing from one referall to the next, resulting in a speedier diagnostic and recovery. In addition to this, we are known for our laproscopic surgery, a less-invasive practise of neutering with a quick recovery time. We mostly see pets bounce back the day after surgery. Alongside this, we pride ourselves in making great diagnostics, solving problems, orthepic and soft tissue surgery. Paul additionally specialises in dermatology and Richard in integretative

A: What’s the Roehampton team like? DB: We have a highly qualified team and our vets have at least 10 years of experience each. Richard is renowned in the industry with 40 years of experience as a referral veterinary surgeon. He’s been a practicing Buddhist for over 40 years which feeds into his care for each animal. He holds diplomas in Eastern and Western herbal medicine, acupuncture, Chinese medicine and Tibetan medicine and his diagnostic and surgical skills are highly comprehensive. Paul Aggarwal joined our team in 2012. He has 10 years of experience as a veterinary surgeon and holds an Advanced Small Animal Diploma and an Advanced Diploma in Veterinary Dermatology. Paul offers excellent care for all animals who are sick, injured, or simply in need of their regular check - ups, as well as support for animals requiring management of long - term illnesses. A: What’s next for Roehampton Veterinary Clinic? DB: Compassionate care is at the core of what we do and will remain our focus. From highly complicated, near-inoperable surgery to routine check-ups and providing loving care for our inpatients, we always do our best. Our staff will continue to learn new skills while carrying out the precise and attentive care they do now. Last but not least, we’ll continue to offer high quality services with experienced staff.

ROEHAMPTON VETERINARY CLINIC 1 Treville Street, Putney Heath, SW15 4JX 020 8789 4000 roehamptonvets.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Wycliffe

Co-educational, Day, Boarding School for Boys and Girls aged 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 18. Founded 1882.

Where bright futures begin

2017 Best ever GCSE Results Top UK School for Added Value Direct train to London (90 minutes)

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PET PAGES • GETAWAYS

Great Escapes Stylish stays for pooches and people By HELEN BROWN

T H E H O R S E B OX

ELLENBOROUGH PARK

RETREAT EAST

E L L E N B O R O U G H PA R K

et in rolling green countryside, Ellenborough Park is the perfect getaway for dog owners. Family holidays are not the same without your four-legged friend and so instead of leaving your pampered pooch at home, dogs are most welcome here. With 13 petfriendly rooms, dogs are welcomed throughout the hotel grounds and in set areas of the hotel. Guests will find fantastic walks within Ellenborough Park’s 90-acre site as well as a wealth of Cotswolds countryside to explore beyond the boundary.

● Rates from £189 a night on a bed and breakfast basis. Dog-owners staying at the hotel will be required to pay a £25 housekeeping charge. Southam Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3NJ; ellenboroughpark.com

while their owners take advantage of the Turkish hammam, Finnish sauna and outdoor jacuzzi, before munching on delicious local produce in the restaurant or nipping to one of Suffolk’s many dog-friendly pubs. ● Buy a debenture at Retreat East for a one-off lifetime cost of £10,000 for a studio barn. Dogs can stay in the barns for free. Brick Kiln Farm, Sandy Lane, Suffolk, IP6 9QE; suffolk.farm

R E T R E AT E A S T

etreat East is a new affordable way to make a home in sought-after Suffolk and best of all it’s perfectly set up to pamper four-legged friends. Guests and their dogs can escape the city life and amble along countryside footpaths, run-free in fields, race through waves, and chase balls in Retreat East’s own 35 acres. After a rejuvenating ramble, dogs can be returned to their former mudfree glory in the “Four Paws Spa”

GOLDEN MEADOW

“Amble along countryside footpaths, run-free in ﬁelds, race through waves and chase balls”

llenborough Park boasts a wonderful new, hotel-owned country pub, The Horse Box, where race-goers can toast a glass by the wood burning stove, locals can meet for coffee and families can congregate for a hearty lunch. This new five-star country pub not only offers guests an informal relaxed dining option that so many top hotels lack, but also serves as a buzzing hotspot for locals to meet. Four legged friends are also most welcome. Southam Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3NJ; ellenboroughpark.com THE HORSE BOX

G O L D E N M E A D OW

lue Chip Holidays know that dogs can be essential to many family getaways. Their Blue Chip Paws collection comprises carefully selected properties around the UK to ensure that all dogs are welcome. Each includes a garden meaning that energetic canines are able to stretch their legs. Pampered pooches will also receive a goody bag with identity tag, tasty treats and waste bags. We’re particularly taken with Golden Meadow which boasts a spectacular setting overlooking Torcross’ Stuart Bay. ● From £1,308 for a three night stay. Sleeps 12 guests. Tor Church Road, Torquay, TQ2 5UP; bluechipholidays.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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READE OFFERR

Admit One Adult FREE

For free admission please complete your details and hand in on entry to the fair. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Name

Ref: ABSK18

Address Post Code

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Admission £6 10am - 5pm Daily W8 7NX

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CREATORS OF THE WORLD’S MOST DESIRABLE FIREPLACES We created our unique FIRE RIBBON BURNER technology in 2003 with a large, glamorous and distinctive flame quality

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PROPERTY Living the dream 128 Famous Places 132 Nigel Lewis: Luxe 138

PRINCEDALE ROAD W11

ÂŁ1,600,000

beautiful maisonette arranged over the ground and lower floor of a property on Princedale Road. The house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, an open-plan living space and wonderful high ceilings. The property is close by excellent schools and moments from Clarendon Cross, and the great shops, boutiques and restaurants of Holland Park Avenue.

KFH Holland Park Office 020 3792 2799 kfh.co.uk

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Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea SW10 A beautiful recently refurbished two bedroom flat The property is set in a perfect location just minutes from the King's Road. With plenty of light and and on a quiet road, the flat benefits from excellent storage, bespoke finishes, sound proofing throughout and access to well maintained communal gardens. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room, kitchen and access to communal gardens. EPC:C. Approximately 76.7 sq m (826 sq ft). Leasehold: approximately 150 years remaining

Guide price: £1,850,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/chelsea chelseasales@knightfrank.com 020 8128 9743

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/CHL170121

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WHAT'S YOUR NEXT MOVE? To find out how we can help you please contact us KnightFrank.co.uk/fulham fulham@knightfrank.com 020 7751 2400 KnightFrank.co.uk/fulham fulhamlettings@knightfrank.com 020 3463 2621

Guide price: £995 per week

Musard Road, West Kensington W8

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An impressive 4 bedroom house which has been meticulously rebuilt and designed throughout to create a truly exceptional family home. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, bespoke kitchen, dining room, reception room, utility room and garden. EPC: D. Approximately 157 sq m (1,686 sq ft). fulhamlettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3463 2621

All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £288 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. There will also be a £48 charge to register your deposit with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme if applicable. (All fees shown are inclusive of VAT.) Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees.

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £1,550,000

Epple Road, Fulham, SW6 A charming Victorian four bedroom family home in one of Parsons Greens most favoured and convenient locations. Comprises four bedrooms, family bathroom, a double reception room, open plan kitchen dining room and garden. EPC: E. Approximately 125 sq m (1,345 sq ft). fulham@knightfrank.com Office: 020 7751 2400

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LIVING THE

DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market

WHADDON HOUSE SW1X, £2,850,000

his property is a newly refurbished upper floor flat, set back from Lowndes Square in Knightsbridge. The accommodation comprises of three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a semi open-plan kitchen, reception room and balcony. The property is west facing and light filled, and is situated in a quiet mews with the security of a porter and underground parking. YOUHOME Notting Hill Branch, 0207908 9280 youhome.co.uk

HOLLAND PARK AVENUE W 1 1 , £1,795,000

n elegant and spacious three bedroom apartment, set on a private road adjacent to Holland Park Avenue. The property has its own entrance to the handsome period building, and benefits from a wonderful patio garden and private parking. Holland Park Avenue is near numerous shops, restaurants and cafés, as well as excellent transport links into Central London. YOUHOME Notting Hill Branch, 0207908 9280 youhome.co.uk 1

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PROPERTY • NEW TO THE MARKET

QUEENSMILL ROAD SW 6 , £ 3 , 2 5 0,0 0 0

MUSARD ROAD W 6 , £ 70 0,0 0 0

his end of terrace property has been refurbished and interior designed to create a luxury family home. The property has six bedrooms, two bathrooms and two reception rooms. The bedrooms have bay windows, large skylights, a feature fireplace and a herring-bone wooden floor. The property also has a south facing landscaped garden.

his three bedroom period conversion flat has two landing areas, a reception room, modern kitchen, and shower room. The property benefits from modern fixtures, wooden flooring, and a private roof terrace. The location is conveniently situated close by multiple transport links, schools, and the local amenities of West Kensington and the Fulham Palace Road.

KNIGHT FRANK

LOCKETT ESTATES

Fulham Office, 020 7751 2400 knightfrank.com

Fulham, 07714081732 lockettestates.co.uk

HOLLAND PARK W 1 1 , £ 1 ,1 0 0,0 0 0

his is a spacious two bedroom apartment located on the lower ground of an attractive period building. The apartment benefits from a large reception room, open-plan kitchen, master bedroom and second bedroom, both with ensuites, a study area, and a private patio. Holland Park is one of London’s premier addresses, situated close to Holland Park itself and near to shops, cafes, restaurants and excellent transport links.

THIS END OF TERRACE PROPERTY HAS BEEN REFURBISHED AND INTERIOR DESIGNED TO CREATE A LUXURY FAMILY HOME

HARRODS ESTATES

Kensington Office, 0203 650 4600 harrodsestates.com

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ANSELM ROAD, FULHAM Located off the vibrant North End Road sits this immaculate Victorian House. The property comprises five double bedrooms, two bathrooms, fully fitted kitchen, south facing reception room, separate WC, utility room and landscaped rear garden. EPC – C

GUIDE PRICE

£1,595,000 FULHAM 02076109755

FAULKNER HOUSE, HAMMERSMITH A beautifully presented brand new two bedroom apartment perfectly positioned on the north bank of the River Thames. Property comprises open plan kitchen reception room, two double bedrooms and two bathrooms (one en-suite). EPC- C

GUIDE PRICE

£1,249,000 FULHAM 02076109755

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Chiswick Hammersmith West Kensington Fulham Chelsea

Battersea Clapham Putney Barnes Richmond

Kew Sheen Twickenham Teddington Kingston

featherstoneleigh.co.uk

PETERBOROUGH ROAD, FULHAM An immaculately presented one bedroom top floor apartment located in the heart of Parsons Green. Peterborough Road is just south of the vibrant Parsons Green with plenty of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafés as well as Parson Green underground station on your doorstep. EPC - C

GUIDE PRICE

£550,000

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FA M O U S P L AC E S by N I G E L L E W I S

London hides a plethora of celebrity homes. These are the most recent to come on the market

JEEVES TO MCQUEEN

BELLA’S BOLTHOLE

ella Freud is best known for her fashionwear, father Lucien Freud, and famous friends, but now she’s turned her talents to interior design. The 56-year-old has put the finishing touches to a 2,300-sq-ft apartment within the BBC’s former White City TV studios. Bella, who counts Kate Moss as one of her close friends, has been moving into interior design, and recently launched her own range of scented candles.

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Her designs for the apartment are still under wraps, but will be influenced by both her fashion background and the TV heritage of the site. It’s within a £1.5 billion mixed-use development, which is retaining both the original Blue Peter garden and crescent shape of the former TV Centre building. Bella’s apartment is to be launched in the Spring and will cost approximately £3 million; a final price is yet to be decided.

his elegant Georgian property was once the home of both fashion designer Alexander McQueen and author PG Wodehouse, but at different times. The property is located on Dunraven Street in the centre of Mayfair, only a stone's throw from Hyde Park In 2010 McQueen was half way through refurbishing the top floors of the property, with the intention of restoring it to it's former status as a family home, when he committed suicide at a rented flat nearby. PG Wodehouse, the author of the Jeeves and Wooster books, lived at the house between 1927 and 1934 while at the height of his creative powers. It was his last home in the UK. After selling the property Wodehouse moved to France but, after being captured by the invading Germans in 1940 at the seaside town of Le Touquet but later being released, then moved to the US where he remained until the end of his life. After McQueen’s death, the refurbishment of the property’s top floor three-bedroom maisonette was completed and the flat later sold for £8.5 million. The other part of his planned project, an apartment below, is now for sale, having also been refurbished. It’s a one-bedroom property with a single reception room and two bathrooms, a small rear balcony off the bedroom, a new kitchen and wooden flooring throughout.

More information from Knight Frank, 020 7629 8171.

More information from Dexters on 020 7590 9590.

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PROPERTY • STAR HOMES

BROADCASTER’S HOUSE

oan Bakewell is one of the nation’s best-known writers and broadcasters. She was made a baroness in 2011, but is bestknown for her relationship with playwright Harold Pinter. The relationship went on for seven years and during all this time she has lived in the same house in Primrose Hill which she bought in 1963. Neighbours have included Alan Bennett, Ted Hughes and his wife Sylvia Plath, Jon Snow and Robert Plant. But now Bakewell is downsizing and has put her home on the market for £6.25 million. Overlooking a pretty green, the large Victorian house includes a selfcontained two-bedroom flat, a garden and four bedrooms. More information from David Birkett Estate Agents, 020 3641 2618.

"Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne lived in the property during Ozzy's well-documented battle with alcohol"

OZZY MANSION

eel House near Amersham has been home to actor Dirk Bogarde, songwriter Matt Aitken of Stock, Aitken and Waterman and TV chat show host Robert Kilroy-Silk. But they are all eclipsed by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne who lived in the property during Ozzy’s welldocumented battle with alcohol during the late 1980s. During their time there, in 1989, Ozzy was arrested at the property by police for threatening to kill his wife and subsequently spent time at a nearby rehab clinic. The Osbournes eventually resolved their marital problems, sold Beel House and moved to Los Angeles and gained worldwide fame with their TV reality show The Osbournes. Beel House is back on the market and the current owner is asking £3.95 million for the property. The seven-bedroom house has extensive gardens, a pool and a spa complex, and is located near Amersham in Buckinghamshire.

More information from Knight Frank (01494 854579).

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Established 1897

A three-bedroom apartment in a sought-after development. Trinity House, Kensington W14 • Open plan reception • Courtyard facing balcony • Cinema room • Gym, pool and spa facilities

GUIDE PRICE

£2,595,000 TENURE

Leasehold: Approximately 993 years

• 24-hour concierge and security • 1,157sq m / 107.49sq m • Secure underground parking

EPC RATING

CONTACT

KENSINGTON OFFICE 020 3650 4600 joel.hughes@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

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Established 1897

An extremely spacious threebedroom family apartment. Carlisle Place, Victoria SW1 • Two spacious reception rooms • Three double bedrooms • Impressive Edwardian mansion block

GUIDE PRICE:

£2,975,000 TENURE

Share of Freehold

• High ceilings with period details • Day porter and security • Approx. 2,176sq ft / 202.19 sq m

EPC RATING

CONTACT

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE 0207 225 6506 michael.harte@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

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26/01/2018 17:33

Established 1897

A spacious and delightful six-bedroom family home. Elm Park Road, Chelsea SW3 • Four reception rooms • Six bedrooms/ six bathrooms • Fabulous Chelsea location

GUIDE PRICE

£5,950,000 TENURE

Freehold

• Patio terrace • Integrated garage & parking space • Approx. 3,981sq ft /370 sq m

EPC RATING

CONTACT

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE 0207 225 6506 Jake.irwin-brown@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

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26/01/2018 17:34

Established 1897

A stylish two-bedroom flat with fabulous views. Hans Place, Knightsbridge, SW1 • Reception room • Contemporary kitchen/breakfast room • Two double bedrooms

GUIDE PRICE

£2,795,000 TENURE

Leasehold: Approximately 165 years

• Access to Hans Place gardens • Direct lift access • Approx. 1239sq ft /139sq m

EPC RATING

CONTACT

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE 020 7225 6797 reem.dougramaji@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

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26/01/2018 17:34

IS THE LUXE LOOK OVER? We’ve all heard of them, but few of us have seen inside London’s high-end luxe-look apartments. Nigel Lewis went to look around the first of a new breed that eschew bling, for sale at £12.75 million.

hen a property is so expensive its guest bathroom is worth more per square foot than your car then you really pay attention while being shown around it. Even the most mildly curious mind is looking at every fixture, fitting and feature to work out where the money went. Is the loo handle ten times better than the one at my home? Does the golden brass balustrade justify the overall spend despite its wow factor? Does anyone really need four dishwashers? Walking around The Penthouse on the freshly-minted Fitzroy Place, these

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questions pop into your head a lot. One thing’s for sure. This is a truly oneoff property. And that’s what the people who will eventually call this two-floor apartment home will be looking for. While most people are focussing on the huge price tag, house hunters in this category want to know how much exclusivity their millions buy. And the answer is, a fair amount. The property is on the top two floors of an already select new-build block that’s just five minutes from Oxford Street, and is the only penthouse on this square. And to top that, Fitzroy Place is the first new square to be built in London’s central districts for over 100 years. Replacing what older Londoners will

remember as the Middlesex Hospital (until it closed in 2005), it includes the HQ of Estée Launder as well as two apartment blocks, restaurants, shops and the one part of hospital that remains; its chapel, which has been deconsecrated but can still be rented out for functions. The penthouse is the icing on this mixed-use cake and comes with two parking spaces in the basement and a lift, the entrance of which can be monitored via a CCTV link upstairs. Once you’re up there are several jaw droppers to take in within the threebedroom duplex. One is the interior design, which has been completed by Caroline Paterson, who was given over £100,000 and a remit to create something European, contemporary and that wasn’t bling. We wanted to steer clear of the Knightsbridge or Mayfair luxe look that many developments feature elsewhere which are aimed at Middle Eastern buyers,” says Lucy Arthur from Ashby Capital, which is the financial force behind Fitzroy Place. “Instead we wanted this to be the kind of cool European apartment that would appeal to everyone whether they’re European, Asian or from the Middle East.” The other attraction of this penthouse duplex is that it’s relatively ‘affordable’ within the mildly crazy world of prime property. Lucy says it’s hard to find a penthouse like this one for less than £3,000 per square foot – and this one comes in at £2,800. It's considerable square footage comes from the duplex design. The 26ft long

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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PROPERTY • NEW TO THE MARKET

lower floor is almost entirely open plan featuring floor-to-ceiling glass terrace doors along each side. Therefore, as you glide out of your kitchen clutching a gin and tonic after a long day in the City, on the left the doors lead out onto a terrace with views over the square looking east, while the bedroom – which has its own terrace – offers stunning views of the roofs of the West End and, on a clear evening, amazing sunsets. But part of the high price of living here is the area. Fitzrovia, which used to have a reputation as a posh but hard-working area famous for the rag trade, has now gone upmarket. These days it’s dominated by the

“ House hunters in the category want to know how much exclusivity their millions will buy”

higher end of the corporate world. One add on residents of Fitzroy Place get is access to their own private club, the facilities of which are free. This includes a gym, offices, an 18-seat cinema, and concierge service. Fitzroy Place, is also home to award winning restaurant The Detox Kitchen. Further, in December 2017 one of the two architects responsible for the design of Fitzroy Place won the Architect of the Year prize at the Architect Journal’s annual awards for the project which, it was said, wowed the judges with its design. So perhaps the £12.75 million price tag for its penthouse might be justified after all. A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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26/01/2018 16:56

www.finlaybrewer.co.uk BROOK GREEN SHEPHERDS BUSH BROOK ACTON GREEN SHEPHERDS BUSH ACTON

138 SHEPHERDS BUSH ROAD W6 7PB 113 ASKEW ROAD W12 9AS 138 SHEPHERDS BUSH ROAD W6 7PB 27 CHURCHFIELD ROAD W3 6BD 113 ASKEW ROAD W12 9AS 27 CHURCHFIELD ROAD W3 6BD

www.finlaybrewer.co.uk www.finlaybrewer.co.uk

STERNDALE ROAD W14 GUIDE £2.5M FREEHOLD UPPER MALL W6 • 4/5 DOUBLE BEDROOMS £1,500PW • 2 RECEPTIONS/ £6,500PCM UPPER MALL W6 • FULL WIDTH KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM •£1,500PW WONDERFUL FAMILY HOME • 2 BATHROOMS / £6,500PCM • •• •• ••

4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS MASTER SUITEFAMILY WITH MEZZANINE STUDY AREA WONDERFUL HOME 2 LIVING SPACE 4 FLOORS DOUBLE OF BEDROOMS 2 BATHROOMS & 2 SHOWER ROOMS MASTER SUITE WITH MEZZANINE STUDY AREA

• 2 FLOORS OF LIVING SPACE • 2 BATHROOMS & 2 SHOWER ROOMS

MELROSE GARDENS W6 GUIDE £1.895M FREEHOLD HAARLEM ROAD W14 • 3 DOUBLE BEDROOMS £625PW / £2,708PCM • SPACIOUS DOUBLE RECEPTION HAARLEM ROAD W14 • KITCHEN •£625PW BEDROOM FLAT •2 DOUBLE BATHROOM / £2,708PCM • •• •• ••

•RECEPTION SHOWER ROOM CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 2 DOUBLE BEDROOM FLAT MASTER WITH EN SUITE BATHROOM & DRESSING AREA RECEPTION SHOWER ROOM KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM CONTEMPORARY • MASTER WITH EN SUITE BATHROOM & DRESSING AREA • SHOWER ROOM

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171 LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • •• •• ••

• EN SUITE SHOWER ROOM • CELLAR LETTINGS 020 • SOUTHERLY FACING GARDEN •2 COURTYARD EPC RATING DGARDENS 64 EASY ACCESS TO HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK UNFURNISHED 2 COURTYARD GARDENS EPC 57 HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK EASYRATING ACCESSDTO AVAILABLE NOW UNFURNISHED

7371 4071

• EPC RATING D 57 • AVAILABLE NOW

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171 LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • •• •• ••

• CELLAR • LOFT STORAGE LETTINGS 020 7371 • PATIO GARDEN •BALCONY EPC RATING D 60 UNFURNISHED WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY BALCONY EPC RATING C 79 UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE NOW WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY

4071

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED • EPC RATING C 79

L O C A L . I N D E P E N D• EAVAILABLE N T NOW . INVOLVED

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LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

17/01/2018 17:14

BOLINGBROKE ROAD W14 £1,450PW / £6,283PCM • • • • •

5 BEDROOM FAMILY HOUSE SPACIOUS DOUBLE RECEPTION STYLISH KITCHEN 2 BATHROOMS PRETTY PRIVATE GARDEN

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • • • •

HEBRON ROAD W6 £1,000PW / £4,333PCM • • • • •

4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION BESPOKE KITCHEN 2 BATHROOMS BEAUTIFUL GARDEN

UTILITY ROOM UNFURNISHED GOOD TRANSPORT LINKS EPC RATING D 64 AVAILABLE NOW

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • • • •

WOOD FLOORING THROUGHOUT UNFURNISHED GOOD TRANSPORT LINKS EPC RATING E 50 AVAILABLE END FEBRUARY

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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17/01/2018 17:14

London’s New Country Retreat. PARK VIEW ROAD, EALING, W5 Beautifully crafted, bespoke, 3 bedroom lateral apartments with expansive open air terraces, concierge at your service, gated underground parking & private store rooms.

Just 11 minutes to Bond Street via Crossrail from 2018.

LIMITED TO SIX RESIDENCES • LAUNCHING SPRING 2018 PRICED FROM £1,950,000 To register your interest please call: +44

fusionresidential.co.uk Image is a computer generated representation.

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(0) 1923 216 535 or email: info@fusionresidential.co.uk

Brought to you by

17/01/2018 17:15

true associates ltd CHARTERED SURVEYORS

•

ESTATES AGENTS

Dundonald Road, NW10 Kingswood Avenue, NW6

•

PROJECT MANAGERS

£3,500,000 £2,250,000

This lovely double bedroom home faceswith directly onto rooms the park in one of the most sought roads in panelled This bright and airyfronted home 4/5 is perfect for family a growing family, spacious and a wonderful garden. Theafter stained glass the Queens Park Conservation area. The house retains many attractive period features and has plenty of scope for extending. The front door opens onto a wide entrance hall which features an attractive monochrome marble tiled floor leading through into the mature garden room, has the added advantage of a second separate rearThe access. Kingswood Avenue is well placed Queens Park kitchen/dining with doors onto a stunning patio and garden. 2 interconnecting reception rooms havefor high ceilings and an station andoriginal the shopping restaurants on Salusbury Road. impressive periodand fireplace surround. Upstairs there are 4 bedrooms and 2 generous bathrooms (1 en-suite).

True Associates Limited 32 Chamberlayne Road London NW10 3JE

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T: 020 8960 3663 F: 020 8960 3883 E: info@trueassociates.co.uk W: www.trueassociates.co.uk

Find Us on Facebook & Twitter

25/01/2018 12:04

YOUhome, Let’s Get moving.

SOLD

Rutland Street SW7, £2,295,000

SOLD

Alexander Street W2, £660,000

SALE AGREED

Redcliffe Gardens SW10, £2,250,000

SOLD

All Saints Road W11, £1,725,000

SALE AGREED

Royal crescent W11, £1,050,000

SALE AGREED

Bedford Gardens W8, £5,950,000

These are just a few of our recent successes. If you are on the market without success or would like a free, no obligation and confidential Market Appraisal of your property, please get in touch. We have the best and most up-to-date statistics and information about the local market in your area, and we are able to take your property out to the widest audience possible to achieve the best price available. Areas currently covered; W2, W8, W10, W11, W14, SW1, SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10

YH.indd 1

17/01/2018 17:19

We advertise on all portals… Rightmove is the 8th most used website in the UK with 85% of sellers ranking Rightmove as the first place that they would want their property advertised with. 78% of London adults know about Zoopla. Zoopla and Prime Location receive approximately 50 million views in one month! At YOUhome, we advertise our properties on Rightmove, Zoopla & Prime Location to ensure that your property reaches the largest audience possible.

We keep you up to date… PlatformYOU - We know you want to be informed and stay in control. We give you 24/7 direct access to marketing analytics, viewings, feedback, offers, sold prices, listing prices, price movements and sale progression updates. Our ‘eyes and ears’ on the property market shared openly with you.

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1.25% for Sole Agency… A commission fee that is fair and honest: We deliver a premium service at a fraction of the traditional fee. Sole agency 1.25% plus VAT or Multiple agency 2.5% plus VAT.

With you every step… All of our Property Gurus and Local Experts have at least 10 years property experience. They will be honest, transparent and will guide and advise you every step of the way. They are your trusted property advisors.

Telephone: 020 7908 9280 Email: ldn@youhome.co.uk RBK&C Office: 121 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3LB Westminster Office: 63 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6LX

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17/01/2018 17:19

Earl’s Court Gardens, SW5 £4,250,000 A beautiful freehold house with garden and off street parking for two cars situated on a quiet residential street in the heart of Earl’s Court. The accommodation comprises of reception room, large family area with kitchen and dining room, five bedrooms, a study, four bathrooms and a self-contained studio perfect as a private guest room or as independent accommodation for a nanny or staff.

Davide Moi, Property Guru for SW5 & SW7 Direct: 020 7908 9256 • Mobile: 07796 235 516 • Email: davide.moi@youhome.co.uk

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17/01/2018 17:20

Duncan Terrace, N1 £5,250,000 An elegant and spacious 5/6 bedroomed family town house (5,035sf) in a Grade II listed Georgian terrace with west-facing terraces and gardens all very centrally located.

Jerry Epton MRICS, Property Guru for W11 Direct: 020 7908 9282 • Mobile: 07780 497 188 • Email: jerry.epton@youhome.co.uk

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17/01/2018 17:20

DISCOVERMORE

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is a place where you would want to be â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a place of learning and discovery, laughter and friendship.

Currently recruiting into the Sixth Form with a new Sixth Form Centre opening in 2017.

Open Days 16th January1stat/7 9.30am th November (9.30am/ 9.30am)

17th January at 6.30pm (Sixth form applicants only)

November 15th/21st (7.00pm/ 9.30am) 8th February at 9.15am

th 8th March at29 9.15am November (9.30am)

21st March at 9.15am 2nd May at 9.15am

25th June at 9.15am 29th June at 9.15am Please book your place online.

T: 0208 742 2038 E: info@kewhouseschool.com W: www.kewhouseschool.com An independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London

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@kewhouseschool

13/12/2017 12:05

Faster. Sell or let your property with Knight Frank. Get back to the things you love. Our understanding of the ever-changing market enables us to price your property accurately, so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving. Knight Frank Fulham 203 New Kings Road London, SW6 4SR Sales 020 7751 2400 | Lettings 020 7751 2410 fulham@knightfrank.com | @sw6agent.jd fulhamlettings@knightfrank.com | @thefulhamagent

Knight Frank Chelsea 352a Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Road London, SW3 5UU Sales 020 8128 9743 chelsea@knightfrank.com @rolyinglebymackenzie |

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KnightFrank.co.uk

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18/01/2018 10/01/2018 15:53 14:13