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ABSOLUTELY
Contents JANUARY 2018
115 16
C U LT U R E ABSOLUTELY LOVES
10 things we’re coveting this month
20 AGENDA
Diary dates for January
22
HOT SHOT
Absolutely meets Rankin
FA S H I O N 36 FASHION CONFIDENTIAL This month’s hottest trend updates and brands to know
39 TOP COAT
Fall in love with layers again
36 68
52 LIZ EARLE
Wisdom from the mother of wellness
FOOD & DRINK 68 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL News from the industry
76
FAMILY FOOD
Eating out with children
INTERIORS 80 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS News and views
82 A LITTLE BIT ROCK
Discover Jane Rockett's Victorian pad
42 ART HOUSE
T R AV E L 106 SPIRITED AWAY
H E A LT H & B E AU T Y 50 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL
PROPERTY 122 LIVING THE DREAM
Be inspired by the artist's palette with our new year's fashion shoot
The month’s best beauty buys
Tokyo: an alluring destination for any traveller
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.
ON THE COVER HAIR BY: SASSOON INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE TEAM LED BY MARK HAYES MAKE-UP: DANIEL KOLERIC STYLING: LUCIE PERRIER PHOTOGRAPHER: BENJAMIN VNUK
The most luxurious London properties A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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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 ACCOUNT 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 DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS EVA LEHOCZKY 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
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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 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
I
n many ways January is a month of contradictions. On the one hand we’re enduring post-Christmas blues, bolstered by shrivelled bank balances and persistently gloomy weather. Yet, it is also a month of new gym memberships, alcohol bans and green juices. All optimistic attempts to better ourselves. Although there's nothing wrong with a good old New Year’s resolution (check out ours below), we think January should be a month to show yourself some love. For starters, try settling down in a quiet, screen-free corner with this month’s Absolutely, where you’ll fi nd plenty of new year's inspiration. In this issue, we chat to photographer Rankin about his life in photography and wellness guru Liz Earle about her inspirational journey from beauty entrepreneur to magazine editor-cum-TV presenter. Plus, we meet Notting Hill's Catherine Bedford, who has launched a new range of cycle helmets, for anyone who's thinking of taking to two wheels for 2018. We have sampled sumptuous recipes from Marianne Stewart’s new cook book Nourish Cakes, proving that cakes needn’t be calorific. Meanwhile, harried parents shouldn’t miss our dining out with kids feature - another way to make your year that little bit easier. What better way to start 2018? Enjoy the issue
ABSOLUTELY’S new year’s resolutions...
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FACE THE DAY
This year I intend to put more effort into my currently non-existent skincare routine. The Ordinary have stripped back unnecessary packaging and misleading ingredients making it easy to curate a tailored regime. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10%, £5.80; theordinary.com HELEN BROWN ARTS & CULTURE WRITER
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INSIDE STORY
My new year’s resolution is all about improving my gut health. Affecting everything from skin quality to sleep, I’ll be packing my shelves with fermented foods and probiotics Symprove will do the job nicely - for a happier and healthier 2018. Symprove 8 week program, £158; shop.symprove.com JOY MONTGOMERY FASHION & BEAUTY WRITER
SLEEP EASY
WASTE NOT WANT NOT
In 2018 I am going to cut down on plastic. Without sounding smug, I haven’t used plastic bags for years anyway, but especially in the wake of Blue Planet II, everybody should be cutting down on waste. To start, I’ve got a lovely new keep cup for my morning flat white. PENDLE HARTE EDITOR-IN- CHIEF
NEW TRICKS
This year I’m going to make time for my forgotten hobbies. Drawing is a great pastime of mine and Central Saint Martins runs fashion illustration courses - I’ll be booking one ASAP. Fashion drawing for beginners, £560 for 1 week, arts.ac.uk MIRIAM CAREY LIFESTYLE WRITER
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PENDLE HARTE EDITOR
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Rather than staying up to watch just one more episode, my New Year’s resolution is to get to sleep at a reasonable hour. Neom’s Essential Sleep Kit is infused with blended oils to encourage relaxation. I’m looking forward to less blearyeyed starts to the day. Neom Organics, Essential Sleep Kit, £20; neomorganics.com
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GEORGIA MCVEIGH EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY
H E L E N B R OW N
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F. R. S F.R.S For Restless Sleepers is a cutting-edge Milanese brand that champions the casual elegance of pyjama dressing. Embrace a bold collection of exquisite styles that are splashed with daring floral prints and chic details. forrestlesssleepers.com
Sleeping Beauty
This hero product has amassed a cult following for its formula that enhances your skin’s natural nighttime recovery process. Great skin guaranteed by morning. £38; kiehls.co.uk
DUVET DAY
Renowned for keeping the fashpack toasty during the coldest of spells, Moncler’s Salix jacket is lightweight and cut for a loose fit, making it perfect for layering over bulky sweaters. £660; net-a-porter.com
Diary Date
Get your yearly affairs in order with Smythson’s calf-leather W1 Diary. The largest in the collection and with a day-per-page layout, it’s the new stylish necessity for busy bees. £295; 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
SHAKE N NOT STI RRE D
AMANDA WAKELEY
We’re vetoing dry-January in favour of Anthropologie’s charming glass cocktail shaker. Compact and effortlessly cool, it’s a must for the kitchen counter. £28; anthropologie.com
Amanda Wakeley is renowned for her “clean glam” style. The Winter 17 collection emphasises this with a focus on craftsmanship, forming a look that is full of richness, colour, pattern and texture. amandawakeley.com
S P EC S A P P E A L Pioneering eyewear brand, KITE has revolutionised the optical industry with the world’s fi rst eye bar. Head over now to fi nd the fashion-forward DORS specs, along with many others. £175; kiteeyewear.com
EDITOR’S PICK
Marmont Moment
Gucci’s iconic Marmont bag is dressed in a gorgeous blue velvet. Understatedly glam and with a versatile chain-strap, this wardrobe staple transitions seamlessly from day to evening. £1,350; farfetch.com
VELVET CRUSH
These On The Fringe boots from Stuart Weitzman are the perfect height for long days on your feet. With a fan base that includes Gigi Hadid and Suki Waterhouse, expect them to get snapped up fast. £450; farfetch.com
SWING TIME
Surprisingly lightweight, these silver Primrose earrings are woven with metallic blue silk threads and iridescent cobalt beads. Show yours off with a low ponytail. £265; net-a-porter.com
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO POSTERS
Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.
Priced at £395 each.
Private commissions are also welcome.
Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com
Our central London gallery
All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions Ltd. 2017
View and buy online at w w w.pullmaneditions.com PULLMAN.indd 1
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CULTURE
© Archives Pierre Cardin
What’s On 20 • Big Shot: Absolutely meets Rankin 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 LO N D O N ’S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S
EXHIBITION
Samurai Women From 9 January THE EXHIBITION IST H OT EL
Playing with our notion of female identity in society, Pam Glew’s work is profound and beautiful. This latest exhibition reignites her dialogue around themes of sustainability versus waste, and light versus dark, using her familiar stitch, bleach and dye to potent effect. 8-10 Queensberry Place, SW7; theexhibitionisthotel.com pamglew.co.uk
EXHIBITION
Rat Maddox E T Gallery NA
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T H E AT R E
Parliament Square Until 6 January
U NTI L 3 1 JA NUA RY • MA D D OX GALLERY
BUSH THEATR E
Maddox Gallery’s Autumn Contemporary exhibition sees the continuation of the new RETNA artworks - which are bold and dynamic - alongside a showcase of some of the world’s most sought-after artists including Bradley Theodore, David Yarrow, The Connor Brothers and Andy Warhol.
One day, Kat leaves her family and travels to London to carry out an act that will change everyone's life forever. Raw and compassionate, James Fritz’s powerful play forces a confrontation with some of the most urgent questions we face. What can one individual do to effect change?
9 Maddox Street, W1S; maddoxgallery.co.uk
7 Uxbridge Road, W12; bushtheatre.co.uk
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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS
EXHIBITION
Philip Pearlstein From 17 January
SAATCHI GALLERY
“By 1960, I decided I didn’t want to express other artists’ ideas any longer. I wanted to paint what was in front of me,” said Phillip Pearstein, pertaining to a shift from expressionism to realism. This show is a celebration of his later works, in particular his depiction of the human nude. A must for those familiar or new to his work, it highlights the complexity in his paintings that continues in his work today. Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3; saatchigallery.com
Around Town PA R A D E
NEW YEAR’S PARADE 1 January GREEN PARK
Wrap up and join the Pearly Kings, acrobats, marching bands and more as they celebrate London’s 32nd Parade. See them float, twirl, march and drum a 2.2 mile route around London's iconic landmarks in a showcase of contemporary performance, traditional pomp and ceremony. Green Park, W1J; londonparade.co.uk
EXHIBITION
WINNIE THE POOH: Exploring a Classic Ongoing V&A
This Month’s Must See
He’s the hero of children’s fiction and Britain’s best-loved bear, now Winniethe-Pooh will star in an exhibition that celebrates the life of this childhood favourite. Experience the timeless and universal appeal of Pooh Bear and his friends as they are brought to life through sketches, letters, photographs, cartoons, ceramics and fashion. Cromwell Road, SW7; vam.ac.uk
S P E C TA C L E
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: OVO From 7 January ROYAL ALBERT H ALL
TWO DECADES
K
O NGO I NG • MARLBOROUGH FIN E ART
British printmaking had its heyday in the 1960s, following a boom which enabled a wider audience to acquire the work of contemporary artists. Two Decades British Printmaking in the 1960s and 1970s features the artists most prolific in the revival of this art form; from the experimental to the innovative, there is much to be enjoyed. 6 Albemarle Street, W1S; marlboroughlondon.com
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
CHARLES I: KING AND COLLECTOR From 27 January 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, Picadilly, W1J; royalacademy.org.uk
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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BIG SHOT
Absolutely talks to photographer Rankin about his love of Britain’s beautiful places and quirky characters – and snapping The Queen, Kate Moss, Madonna, David Bowie and The Rolling Stones
By R E B E C C A WA L L E R S T E I N E R
I
’m really inquisitive about people and like trying to get into their heads when I’m photographing them. People inspire me and the best models have lots of character. Outside work, I’m not incredibly social and used to be shy,’ the Scottish-born photographer Rankin tells me. As he is softly spoken, friendly and relaxed, it becomes apparent why people feel sufficiently at ease to enable Rankin to snap them in unguarded moments. He creates images which startle with their honesty, capturing something in his subject that no one has ever seen before - closer to portrait painting than photography Intensely private, Rankin often turns down interviews, but he was delighted to be interviewed about his new project. He has spent months putting together This is Britain to help raise money for BBC Children in Need - a coffee table book of 500 photographs of mainly British subjects, such as Big Ben, Britain’s windswept beaches and quirky seaside characters, taken by ordinary people, as well as celebrities’ to ‘hold a mirror up to ourselves and ask who we are in these testing times. From John O’Groats to Lands End we wanted to capture and celebrate the extraordinary spectrum of colours and characters that make up our multicultural society and bind us together as a country,’ says Rankin, who helps many charities. An internationally renowned photographer, Rankin’s instantly recognisable work includes some of the world’s most famous faces from HM The Queen to David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Madonna, Vivienne Westwood to Kate Moss and the Cool Britannia set of the 90s and has defined decades of fashion photography. He shoots in a rapid, informal way, steering away from the traditional,
22
Photographs by R A N K I N
glossy approach favoured by many successful fashion photographers, preferring to be experimental and capture an original moment of truth. Born John Rankin Waddell, Rankin was raised in Glasgow, until his father’s job took the family to Yorkshire. He was 15 when he first travelled abroad. ‘My parents had no desire to leave England, although the family holidayed all over the country - at the seaside in Scarborough, Yorkshire, Cornwall, Scotland and the Lake District,’ he remembers. As a child he formed a deep love for ‘Britain’s magical, desolate places’ which have inspired so much of his photography. He inherited his industrious work ethic from his Scottish parents, who were in his words, ‘unimpressed by celebrity’ and brought him up to question everything. Photography wasn’t Rankin’s immediate choice for a career, as he first studied accountancy at Brighton Polytechnic but soon decided it wasn’t for him. He noticed the ‘art students having a more interesting time.’ ‘I had a friend back in my hometown studying photography and he lent me his camera. I knew the moment I picked it up that it was what I wanted to do,’ recalls Rankin. He decided to move to London to study photography. ‘It was during my year in Brighton that I first started taking pictures. I fell in love with the town, especially the glorious light and how it changes so rapidly, providing the viewer with a spectacular theatre of light. As a photographer, I’ve travelled to many different places, but I don’t want to live anywhere other than the UK.’ At the London College of Printing, Rankin met Jefferson Hack, with whom he forged a working partnership and in 1992 they launched the cult magazine Dazed & Confused, which published Corinne Day’s iconic photographs
A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s
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CULTURE • PROFILE
“Rankin prefers to be experimental and to capture an original moment of truth”
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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CULTURE • PROFILE
of the ‘gorgeous’, yet ‘natural-looking,’ young Kate Moss. To their astonishment the two found their Soho offices besieged by the world’s press, in May 1997, after President Bill Clinton denounced the ‘heroin chic’ photography in their magazine. Hack and Moss went on to date for four years, before splitting up - they have a teenage daughter together, Lila Grace. Rankin shot to fame and went on to snap royalty, rock stars, Hollywood actors, presidents and prime ministers who queued to be photographed by him, including Mikhail Gorbachev, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, whose smiling portrait helped him lose his image as a dour, anxious Scot. However, Rankin found the usually charming Tony Blair ‘distant’ and made him look devilish. ‘Who are his main influences?’ ‘Apart from David Bailey, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Cecil Beaton and lots of portrait photographers, I’m a great admirer of Andy Warhol and Malcolm McLaren who kept control of their own media. I met McLaren around four times and regret not photographing him. We had dinner a couple of times and he brought his ex-girlfriend, Vivienne Westwood, who was charming, funny, direct and didn’t suffer fools gladly.’ Rankin snapped Westwood, who used one of his images for her travelling exhibition. ‘Vivienne is such an inspiring woman. I’ve always had a great admiration for her as a campaigner and activist,’ he says warmly. Like Westwood’s anarchic clothes, with their trademark British-eccentric twist and humour, Rankin’s work questions social norms and ideas of beauty. ‘I was very influenced by the DIYness of Punk,’ he recalls. In the early 1980s, he photographed the fashion designer Bella Freud, who was then working for Westwood, on the roof of Freud’s house in Ladbroke Grove.
“Royalty, rock stars, actors, presidents and prime ministers queued to be photographed by him”
Another great inspiration was Rankin’s late father. ‘I have my dad to thank for my love of films. Although my parents weren’t cultured he encouraged me to watch the classics,’ remembers Rankin. ‘I used to sit in the back of the family car and imagine the window as a screen, and the outside world whizzing by as my own version of cinema, before I owned a camera.’ Fearlessly creative, Rankin constantly experiments with new ideas and ventures. He employs a large creative team and adopted multimedia early on. ‘We always had one foot in print and one foot in digital to reach a larger audience. I believe that you should always make the magazine that you want to read – it’s not an age specific thing,’ he explains. With over 30 books to his name, he continues to publish four magazines including his bi-annual magazine Hunger, and has directed television documentaries, commercials, music videos for Rita Ora and Cheryl Cole and global brands. Rankin is a pleasure to interview – the conversation whizzes quickly from idea to idea – as his brain never stops. His new book would make a wonderful present for an art lover as well as helping a very good cause. A very private man, Rankin has a 21-year-old son and lives in London with his wife Tuuili Shipster, a model and long-time muse.
T H I S I S B R I TA I N Compiled by Rankin, is published as a coffee table book by Photobox, priced at £25, all the profits of which will be donated to BBC Children in Need.
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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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
Girl from the North Country
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
★★★★★
Opens 29 December NOE L COWA RD TH E ATR E
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
★★★★★ From 9 January HAROLD PIN TER THEAT RE
60 years since the play’s debut, The Birthday Party returns with a landmark production, directed by Ian Rickson. Stanley Webber is the only lodger at Meg and Petey Boles’ sleepy seaside boarding house until the unsettling arrival of enigmatic strangers, Goldberg and McCann, disrupts the humdrum lives of the inhabitants. Panton Street, SW1Y;
GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY
atgtickets.com
Belleville
Woman in White
From 7 December
Ongoing
DON M A R WA RE H O US E
C HA R I NG C ROSS THEATRE
High-flying doctor, Zack and his spouse, Abby are leading the expat highlife in bohemian Belleville, Paris. But it’s all a little too perfect. James Norton and Imogen Poots star in this story of a romantic dream gone sour, written by Amy Herzog who was recently praised as 'one of the brightest new talents in theatre.’ 41 Earlham Street, WC2H; donmarwarehouse.com
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony and Oliver Award-nominated musical premieres with a revised score. The story follows Walter Hartright, a drawing teacher who runs into a woman in distress and desperate to share a secret with him. A truly haunting Victorian tale of love, betrayal and greed. The Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N; charingcrosstheatre.co.uk
★★★★★
★★★★★
White Fang ★★★★★
Until 13 January PAR K TH E ATRE
Set in 1898, Canada, White Fang follows a young girl's acclimation into an unknown society after she is rescued from a massacre by an old huntsman. Struggling to find her path in the world, she discovers hope in the friendship of an abandoned wolf. Can she reconcile who she once was with who she is now? Clifton Terrace, N4; parktheatre.co.uk WOMAN IN WHITE
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BELLEVILLE
A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s
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presents
Picnic concerts 10 July
11 July
the
GIPSY KINGS
ft. NICOLAS REYES & TONNINO BALIARDO
13 July
14 July
15 July
“London’s hottest picnic concerts” Metro
Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra featuring Gilson Lavis with guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall
10 – 15 July 2018
kewthemusic.org tickets.amazon.co.uk Royal Botanic Gardens Raymond Gubbay
RAYMOND GUBBY.indd 1
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CULTURE • THEATRE
Pinocchio The adventures of a little wooden boy at the Lyttleton By PENDLE HARTE
T
he Lyttleton’s new family show is spellbinding. It looks beautiful, the songs are cheery and familiar and there’s a good message too. The fusing of puppets and actors is a visually arresting device, whereby Geppetto the puppetmaker is himself a vast wooden puppet, which he controls – and Pinocchio the little wooden boy is an actual boy, all puppyish and bouncy. And despite the chirpy Disney tunes, there’s a darkness to the production that comes from huge leering masks
and sinister dance sequences as the lifelike meets the lifeless. With a script by Dennis Kelly of Matilda fame and a new score that rearranges the Disney classics, this is a clever piece of theatre. ‘All the best names begin with P – everybody knows that,’ says Geppetto (rightly) as he names his creation; the wooden boy’s introduction into the world of children is instantly alarming – a masked and slightly threatening mob point out his difference and laugh. What does it mean to be real? is the question that’s asked repeatedly, and reality is defined variously as ‘pleasure’ and ‘pain’.
“What does it mean to be real? is a question that’s asked repeatedly”
ABSOLUTELY reviews…
Moral guidance for Pinocchio comes of course from Jiminy Cricket, brilliantly puppeteered by Audrey Brisson whose wonderful voice and expression sets a new bar for 'Give a Little Whistle'. Jiminy, as Pinocchio's conscience, is a nervy, anxious creature, once found 'stress cleaning' and often fretting about bacteria. Pinocchio learns a fast sequence of life lessons in this brief time frame; from the dangers of instant gratification to the hazards of lying and the benefits of friendship, this cautionary tale is clear in its voice. After all, what is real? Visual highlights of this impressive staging include the terrifying Pleasure Island scene – all looming laughing clowns and drunken children – and a whale belly interior scene, as well as the Stromboli Circus, where a troupe of living dolls performs 'I Got No Strings' in a beautiful puppety dance. Technical achievements include levitation and a flying blue flame, and the lighting throughout is intense and vivid. Of course, the nose scene is brilliant too. It's on until April; don't miss out.
VERDICT A spectacular new stage adaption ★★★★★
PINOCCHIO To 10 April 2018 National Theatre nationaltheatre.org.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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HART HAT
to follow Absolutely meets Notting Hill-based designer Catherine Bedford, who is revolutionizing the bicycle helmet By PENDLE HARTE
EXPERTS RECOMMEDNED A DESIGN THAT DOESN'T COVER TOO MUCH OF THE HEAD
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Q How long have you cycled in London and how often are you on a bike? A I started cycling in London when I moved to London for the second time in 2003. I had just spent two years working for a branding agency in Sydney and the outdoor lifestyle out there literally changed my life. I had gone from a hard-drinking culture in London to working somewhere in my 20s, where socialising revolved around around exercising as much as the pub. In Sydney I would often catch up with friends and work colleagues by meeting to walk, jog, surf or cycle. As a result I started spending a bit more on my exercise gear, as it would be what I spent most time in. When I moved back to London I tried to keep that lifestyle going, but it wasn’t as easy I was told I was too short to join a rowing club and though I loved running with a club, I kept getting knee injuries. Cycling was the only solution that fitted into my life. I like the fitness aspect but also the metal calm it brings. When you cycle you have to concentrate on the roads around you and not much else. I think this might be similar to the principles of mindfulness. Ironically, since launching the business I have had less time to cycle, as I often need to work while I’m travelling, or take stock around the city. However, getting a Brompton has made it possible to combine the two as I can take it on the tube or in a car and fit in a ride on the way back.
Q With a background in design and trend forecasting, what led you to cycle helmets? A There has been a boom in bike makers this decade and cycling clothing for all styles, but to me there seemed to be less innovation for helmets. Design and trend forecasting showed me that there is always a niche, even in a crowded market, for a product that is made from the best materials or ingredients available. Look at denim or skincare. We are all living in smaller urban environments. We want to buy products that make us happy, and that we are happy to have out on display. This is what I hoped to achieve with Dashel’s design and provencence. To tap into the trend that exists amongst some to buy less, but buy better. Q The Dashel is technically very sophisticated but also looks a lot more stylish than most helmets. Which came first, the design or the tech? A The design lead to the tech. I wanted a slim, light construction, so I had to research what shell and liner materials existed besides plastic and polystyrene. The experts that I interviewed in neurology and
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CULTURE • LOCAL
“There has been a boom in bike makers this decade – but less innovation for helmets” helmet design for other fields reinforced the importance of light materials for safety. Counter-intuitively, they also recommended a design that doesn’t cover too much of the back of the head, to protect the spine. Q How did you make it so lightweight? That is the carbon fibre. It is expensive but it allows you to shave 100g off the weight. It may not sound like much, but if you are CATHERINE BEDFORD
cycling for half an hour and keep checking over your shoulder, then something under 400g is going to keep that from being a chore. Q Is it comfortable? Most helmets aren’t really. A We’ve had lots of testimonials thrilled with how comfortable it feels. The majority of helmets are made in China and use the same interior mould with a new shell on top. We started from scratch and worked with industrial design team Map, of Barber Osgerby, on the fit and dimensions. They designed some simple pads that go inside the helmet and come in two sizes. By mixing and matching you can get a tailored fit depending on whether your head is round, narrow, hirstute or not! Happily they also go in the washing machine to keep them sweet-smelling too. Q How did you manage to manufacture in the UK? A There is helmet manufacturing already in the UK for the military, equestrian and building trade. However, it wasn’t easy finding a UK factory that would work with a start up. It took nine months and during this
time I also interviewed companies abroad. Manufacturing any product never stops throwing up challenges and I want to be able to monitor the production runs without getting on a plane. It’s just luck that the factory I found is in Cornwall, as it’s such a special place to visit. Though I find the cycling more nerve-wracking than London, due to the high hedges and narrow lanes. Q Why the name? A Dashel is Cornish for thistle. We manufacture in Cornwall and I like the sound of the name phonetically - Dash and shell. Dash evokes nipping about and the helmet’s strength is its shell. In itself a thistle is colourful and protective, so it’s a good fit. Q What’s next for Dashel? A We have a lot of plans for Dashel, just to expand the current range. Further in thh future, our research has uncovered some great materials for ski helmets and I have a revolutionary idea for improving children’s helmets too. dashel.cc A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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On location An investigation into Portobello’s film psychogeography by Tom Vague can be seen on the wall on Portobello Road B y P E A R L B OY D
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otting Hill’s rich cinematic history is explored in a street gallery on Portobello Road. This public art installation features North Kensington’s favourite movies, their locations and history alongside artworks from Portobello Film Festival 1996 to the present day. From the car chase in post-war classic The Lavender Hill Mob via the 1958 race riots in Absolute Beginners and 1960s bohemia in Performance
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to contemporary classics such as Notting Hill, Kidulthood and Paddington, Notting Hill features strongly in the history of British cinema. Author and publisher Tom Vague has devised Hollywood W10/W11 as a film history and psychogeography study mapping the urban environment’s direct influence on local cinema, from slum housing and alternative society notoriety to property boom and multicultural edginess fame. The installation also celebrates more than two decades of free films
“Notting Hill features strongly in the history of British cinema”
CULTURE • FILM
and street art at Portobello Film Festival. Since 1996, Portobello Road’s unique film festival has showcased the rarely seen and boisterous front line of independent UK and international cinema. Directors including Guy Ritchie, Sarah Gavron and Shane Meadows screened their early work at the festival, which has also hosted local heroes such as Ken Russell, Julien Temple, Franc Roddam and Hanif Kureishi, as well as contributions from international stars David Bowie and John Malkovich. Alongside film, the festival showcases street artists including Blek Le Rat, Jamie “Gorillaz” Hewlett, Pure Evil, Dotmaster, Andrew Logan and Ralph Steadman, many of whom have designed artworks which are featured in the wall art installation. Members of the public are encouraged to explore the North Kensington locations of these films for themselves, and there is a website supporting the installation at wlfn.org/history-west-london-films. The installation can be found at the northern end of Portobello Road between Cambridge Gardens and Golborne Road.
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FASHION
MIGHTY MUSES
KATE SPADE SHE From jounalist Gloria Steinem to celebrity activists, such as Lena Dunham, Kate Spade SHE is a tribute to the muses who inspired the designs we love today, featuring stunning photography alongside inspiring quotes and essays. katespade.com
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FASHION NOTES
From brogues to bags - embrace new beginnings this January with these instant wardrobe updates B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y
01 C L AU D I A S E B I R E
Dressing its loyal customers since 1987, eponymous Chelsea boutique Claudia Sebire is marking 30 years in fashion. A must for your Little Black Book. claudiasebire.com
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5 OF THE BEST
BLAZERS
EDITOR’S PICK
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CHECK MATE
1. Mango, Contrast seam blazer, £69.99; shop.mango.com. 2. Helmut Lang, Checked wool blazer, £895; net-a-porter.com 3. Isabel Marant, Laya smoking jacket, £675; farfetch. com 4. Khaite, Darla peak-lapel double-breasted wool jacket, £1,330; matchesfashion.com. 5. Toga, Moire double-breasted silk-blend jacket, £1,375; matchesfashion.com
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FASHION • NOTES
ARTS & CRAFTS
H OW TO
R AC H E L E N T W I ST L E X PAU L S M I T H
Nothing says post-Christmas pick-me-up better than some shiny new jewellery. This season, celeb favourite Rachel Entwistle has joined forces with Paul Smith to create a collection inspired by mid-century design. Layer the collection’s statement necklaces under a crisp white shirt for back-to-work cool. rachelentwistle.co.uk
Discover Your Personal Style SEEK INSPIRATION
MADE IN BRITAIN &DAUGHTER
BAG CHARM BY R E D O L E AT H E R COLLECTION
He’s the brains behind fragrance brand Byredo, but this season Ben Gorham has brought his notable aesthetic and creative skill to the world of accessories. Launching exclusively with Selfridges, the Byredo Leather Collection covers everything from bags to cosmetics cases in a range of timeless colourways.
With production centres in Donegal and Hawick, &Daughter is the knitwear label with deep roots in the British Isles. Founded by Buffy Reid, the brand produces updates on heritage classics: think chunky Aran jumpers and the softest cashmere. and-daughter.com
selfridges.com
BORROWED FROM THE BOYS
CHURCH’S Androgyny is very much the flavour of the season here at Absolutely. There’s nothing we love more than cocooning ourselves in a pair of tailored trousers and an oversized cashmere knit. All we need now is the perfect pair of flats. Church’s brogues offer all the clean-lined simplicity of mens’ footwear, just with a few stylish twists. J’adore; £585.
church-footwear.com
Looking to others for inspiration is a great way to get started. This can come from anywhere: from magazines and films, to history and Instagram. Avoid ripping off someone else’s style by identifying specific aspects or details you like. This could be an innovative approach to layering or a knack for incorporating vintage pieces.
KNOW YOUR BODY SHAPE Acknowledging your body shape is the bedrock of forming great personal style. There’s no use falling in love with a look if it doesn’t work with your figure. It’s better to forgo a hot-off-the-press look for a classic yet flattering style. You can always add fashion factor with accessories.
ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR LIFEST YLE Another important aspect to consider when building your look is acknowledging your lifestyle. Do you spend lots of time outdoors? Are you constantly running after an energetic toddler? Aim to pick pieces that harmonise with your life, even if that means buying the same piece in multiple hues.
“It’s better to forgo a hot-off-the-press look for a classic yet flattering style” CHOOSE PIECES YOU’LL WEAR AGAIN There’s nothing wrong with embracing a ‘uniform’ approach to your style. We can learn from Vogue editor Sarah Harris, who is never seen without a white shirt and jeans. Whether it’s a classic breton or leather biker, choose pieces that you know you will wear again.
SHOP SMART ACCESSORIES Accessories are the cherry on the cake - capable of transforming basics into a pulled-together ensemble. There’s no need to splurge on hundreds of shoes and bags, instead select an edit to suit your needs. We love this season’s mini bag, which packs plenty of personality and is ideal for elevating a white shirt.
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77 Portobello Rd, London W11 2QB 020 7018 2373 www.silkandcashmere.com
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FASHION • PRODUCTS EDITOR’S PICK
HAIDER ACKERMANN Velvet-Trimmed WoolBlend Coat; £2,200 net-a-porter.com EMILIA WICKSTEAD AW17
MR & MRS ITALY
BY. BONNIE YOUNG
Fur-Trimmed Canvas Parka; £1,450 ssense.com
Dropped-Shoulder Shearling Coat; £3,780 matchesfashion.com
JOSEPH Light Double Cashmere Kido Coat; £695 joseph-fashion.com
ALL SAINTS
YVES SALOMON
Hawley Oversized Shearling; £898 allsaints.com
Peak-Lapel Shearling Coat; £2,840 matchesfashion.com
TOP COAT
BIMBA Y LOLA Long Crossed Coat; £415 bimbaylola.com
Don’t let winter cramp your style. Love your layers with this season’s chicest coats B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y
VICTORIA BECKHAM AW17
BIMBA Y LOLA Oversized Two-Tone Coat; £445 bimbaylola.com
BURBERRY Shearling-Lined Leather Coat; £2,295 net-a-porter.com
ARKET Melton Wool Pea Coat; £250 arket.com
INÈS & MARÉCHAL Bonjour Single-Breasted Shearling Coat; £1,828 matchesfashion.com
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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A N U N M I S S A B L E STA RT TO THE INTERNATIONAL ART YEAR
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FASHION • JEWELLERY
Q&A
Charm
SCHOOL Jeweller Giovanni Raspini tells Absolutely about nature, ancient silver and David Lynch
Q How did you get to where you are now? A As a matter of fact, I am an architect and have been a designer of interiors for few years. I have always had an enormous interest in ancient silverware and a deep passion for designing my own articles. Thirty years ago I decided to buy a small silver factory. Since then I went on producing my silver objects and now we are a gang of artisans, sculptors, jewellers, etc, encompassing more than 60 talents. Q Why jewellery design? A Jewellery came later. We started with silver charms. Hung them to bracelets and the trick was done. Now, designing jewellery is my primary interest and a large source of amusement and joy. Q What inspires your work? A Being specialized in lost wax casting, we are more oriented in themes and inspirations which I would define as “rich and organic”. The world of nature, shells, corals, snakeskins and butterflies all give a contribution to my naturalistic mood. Q What’s been your career highlight? A Difficult to say. I only want to mention the silver prize that Vanity Fair asked me to design in honour of David Lynch.
He is not a man who is so much a friend of words, but he congratulated me and had a profound interest in knowing how I managed to realize that strange Silver Chimere. At that moment, he was not my client, he was my public, my attendance… Q What makes Giovanni Raspini jewellery unique? A I do not know if we are unique. But it’s true that in our region we have been casting silver, gold and bronze for thousands of years. Still, we are contemporary. Up to date. And irreverent.
“I arrived in London as a student 50 years ago and kissed the ground ”
B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y
Q What’s your favourite thing about London? A I arrived in London as a student exactly 50 years ago and kissed the ground. In my opinion, not many things have changed. To give you an answer, only one thing… People. Q Where do you see the business in 5 years’ time? A In 2017 we really made the grade (like in David Bowie's Space Oddity) we are still hungry. I see a favourable and rich panel of opportunities for our firm. We are able to give true emotions with our artefacts and have the strong determination to offer our jewels to an international public.
G I OVA N N I R A S P I N I 5 South Molton Street, W1 giovanniraspini.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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ART HOUSE See life through an artist’s lens this season with a palette of rusted ochre, rich burgundy and pastel pink AW17 collection available from uterque.com
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ADVANCED STYLE
60 South Molton Street, London W1K
020 7491 8848 45A Monmouth Street, London WC2
020 7240 6635 124C Kings Road, London SW3
020 7730 7288 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4
020 7246 6850 WWW.SASSOON-SALON.COM
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
AGAINST THE GRAIN VIDAL SASSOON
This season Vidal Sassoon is celebrating individualism with the Mondaine Collection. Exploring the relationship between hair design and the couturier Cristobal Balenciaga, it is a celebration of bold colours and precision techniques. sassoon.com
Beauty Notes: Facial fuel & jelly skincare 50 ¡ Trend page: Ayurvedic beauty 57 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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BEAUTY NOTES
Start 2018 the right way with the best skin, hair and body revivers By J OY M O N TG O M E RY
New Faces E ST É E L AU D E R
She was the first Chinese model to appear on the covers of both American and Italian Vogue and now fashion icon Fei Fei Sun has been announced as Estée Lauder's newest face. Sun has kicked off the New Year with a stunning new campaign, featuring a bold pink lip which is sure to brighten up the dark days. esteelauder.co.uk ESTÉE LAUDER
INDEED LABS
Nutritious MicroAlgae Pore Purifying Cleansing Jelly; £21 boots.com
Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Jelly; £24.99 lookfantastic.com
5 OF THE BEST JELLY-BASED BEAUTY
BIO-ESSENCE Miracle Bio Water Jelly Make Up Remover; £16 cultbeauty.co.uk
SHISEIDO WASO Fresh Jelly Lotion; £20.40 johnlewis.com
DIOR Glow Better Fresh Jelly Mask; £44 dior.com
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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES SALON REVIEW
HAPPY HAIR GHD
Cold weather and Christmas parties are a recipe for seriously unhappy hair. Press re-set this January with ghd’s advanced split end therapy, the heat-activated treatment which works to leave hair feeling sleek, smooth and shiny for up to 10 washes. Split ends meet your maker; £19.95
Daniel Galvin Jnr
ghdhair.com
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By PENDLE HARTE
EDITOR’S PICK
FACIAL FUEL LUMIT Y
Cocoa Crazy R A B OT 1 74 5 B E AU T Y
Hotel Chocolat might not be your first point of call when it comes to beauty, but this season the confectionary giant is expanding its oeuvre to a luxury skincare line. Covering everything from shower gels to thermal body masks, this beautfully-packaged range harnesses the antioxidant powers of the humble cacao bean; from £7. hotelchocolat.com
Contrary to what you might think, facial oil can be better for acneprone skin than harsh, oil-stripping products. Packed with a blend of 32 ingredients, Lumity’s Facial Oil will leave your skin feeling replenished and balanced; £60. lumitylife.co.uk
LIP SERVICE D R . PAW PAW
If there’s one thing you need in your beauty arsenal when the mercury drops, it’s a good lip balm. Because we all love a multi-tasker, we’ve been searching high and low for the best tinted variety. Dr.PAWPAW comes up trumps with its lip-loving formula and flattering peach and raspberry hues; £6.95.
drpawpaw.com
aniel Galvin Junior – celebrity hairdresser son of celebrity hairdresser Daniel Galvin – has taken up residence at the Lanesborough. There, hidden away inside London’s most expensive hotel, he has a small, intimate space, designed for exclusivity and discretion, and Galvin himself is moving between this and his Belgravia salon as required. Many of his clients are high powered enough (and pay enough) to command him to act on their every whim, despite his intensely busy schedule that includes producing a range in collaboration with Prince Charles. I am here to try his new invention, called ‘taliage’ in place of the more common balyage. Taliage is all about protecting the tips, rather than covering pre-dyed and straggly ends with more dye, he tells me, lifting my distressed tresses to illustrate his point. My tips clearly don’t need any more dye – but a traditional foil approach would automatically layer more onto them while attending to the more needy roots. So that all makes sense, but, more importantly, says Galvin, somebody has ruined my hair and it needs to be rescued. I’ve got far too much bleach in it, over far too many years, and so he intends to sort out my roots without using any at all. Years of highlights inevitably leave us too blonde – and a periodic reassessment of colour can only be a good thing. So my grown-out highlights are renewed with a taliage treatment combining a darker colour with a (bleach-free) lighter one and my locks are shinier than ever before. DANIEL GALVIN JUNIOR
The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner, SW1; 020 7333 7064 danielgalvinjunior.com
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LIZ EARLE - PHOTO BY GEORGIA GLYNN
She’s left her eponymous beauty brand behind and now she’s taking on the world of wellness. Absolutely meets entrepreneur and wellbeing guru Liz Earle By J OY M O N T G O M E R Y
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W
atching Liz Earle’s YouTube videos might lure you into a false sense of security. The surfaces of her immaculate kitchen gleam, her hair is perfectly coiffed, soft spa-like music tinkles in the background, her voice gentle and manner approachable. It’s a big steaming bowl of comfort TV - just without the calories. It would be easy to underestimate this lovely lady and her spelt flatbreads. But Liz Earle is on an important mission: a mission to take on the cult of wellness. This is serious business. We meet Liz Earle at her Battersea-based HQ on a crisp autumn afternoon. Located by leafy Battersea Park, the light-flooded space is more cosy country cottage than office, with warming fires crackling in each tastefully decorated room. In fact, this urban retreat is a veritable lab of Liz’s latest ventures, where everything from her new print magazine Liz Earle Wellbeing to her YouTube tutorials and podcasts are cooked up (quite literally, in some cases). When we arrive, the kitchen is a hive of activity, abuzz with women tapping away at laptops and chatting on phones. In the midst of the
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HEALTH & BEAUTY • INTERVIEW hubbub is Queen Bee Liz, a sea of calm, flawless skin framing delicate features and bright, softly lined eyes. For many, the Liz Earle name will be synonymous with the iconic skincare brand whose Hot Cloth Cleanser become a cult favourite of the nation’s beauty lovers. With its focus on naturally active ingredients and botanicals, Liz was arguably ahead of the curve when she founded the brand with friend Kim Buckland back in 1995. “I was very lucky when we started the company my business partner and I were at the same stage of life, we both had young children so understood each other,” Liz recalls. “I often say to young women who are thinking of going into business with a partner, make sure you each understand where you are in your particular stage of life.” After 15 prosperous years, which saw the brand go from strength to strength, the company was snapped up by beauty conglomerate Avon in 2010 and is now owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance. Fast-forward to 2017, and with an MBE and 35 best-selling books under her belt, this mother of five is again entering a new stage of life, leaving her eponymous brand behind and setting her sights on the big bad world of wellness. Fresh from filming in Europe for ITV’s This Morning, Liz’s natural warmth and eloquence make her a natural in front of the camera. “It’s been like coming home,” she says with a smile. “I started working on This Morning when I was 25 and then spent four years with Richard and Judy. I was thrown in at the deep end, doing live TV, phone-ins and outside broadcasts. You get real authenticity with live TV, it’s a very genuine way of communicating.” Invigorated by her return to the small screen, her new mini-series addresses the complexities of an ageing population, specifically the question of how we can live younger for longer. “It’s not just about the number of years on your life but the quality in your years,” she explains. “When I was filming in Greece and Italy there were all these 80 and
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90-year olds and none of them wore glasses, had hearing aids or false teeth. But I think, overwhelmingly, there was this sense of community.” In many ways, Liz Earle is a delightful contradiction. She’s an author, TV presenter and old-school journalist with over 30 years experience writing about health and wellbeing. She was talking about kale long before Deliciously Ella was born. Yet she is entering the Millennial world of wellness, armed with a YouTube channel, podcast, website and glossy print magazine. How does she reconcile the two? “I’ve written about this area for 30 years and I haven’t changed my story. That’s what I’m pleased about. I was looking at a book I wrote 25 years ago called Eat Yourself Beautiful and in it I was talking about this strange things called ‘spelt’, a grain no one had heard of, and how almond milk is really hard to get hold of. Now you go into any garage forecourt and they’re selling it,” she says with a laugh. “But the great thing about being online is that there’s an amazing opportunity to have broader horizons, and at a flick
“I’ve written about this area for 30 years and I haven’t changed my story”
LIZ'S WELLBEING TEAM PHOTO BY GEORGIA GLYNN
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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HEALTH & BEAUTY • INTERVIEW
SPINACH AND MUSHROOM LASAGNECREDIT LIZ EARLE WELLBEING YEARBOOK VOLUME 2
SPICED ORANGE DATE BALLS IMAGE - CREDIT LIZ EARLE WELLBEING YEARBOOK VOLUME 2
LIZ PODCASTING PHOTO BY GEORGIA GLYNN SMITH
“In amongst the deafening barrage of advice Liz is a calming and seasoned voice of reason”
of a switch you have access to so much more around the globe. It’s incredibly exciting to have that as a platform for sharing.” In amongst the deafening, and often conflicting, barrage of advice offered up by the ‘clean-eating’ crowd, Liz is a calming and seasoned voice of reason. The tagline for her print magazine is ‘wellness wisdom you can trust’. How can we, as consumers, separate fact from fiction? “I would say to anyone who is concerned, look at the credentials of who is writing, how long they’ve been writing for, what their background is and what their academic qualifications are,” Liz explains. “I was brought up pre-internet, so if I needed to do research I would sit in the British library and get out research papers. I say to my team here, you always have to go back to your sources.” When it comes to the gluten-free phenomenon, Liz is deeply sceptical. Far from being an exercise in deprivation, she insists that the secret to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is simply to go back to the gut, which is the subject of her latest best-selling book The Good Gut Guide. “I think we’ve missed the point. People say they feel so much better after cutting out gluten, but actually that’s just sorting out
the symptoms, whereas we need to address the cause. Let’s look at fixing gut health so you can go back to having wholewheat toast with lashings of butter and enjoying it!” Her career, she explains, started from this desire to pass on knowledge. Her mission now? To pass on new knowledge through the media available to her - whether it’s through a YouTube tutorial or TV series. So what does the future have in store for this entrepreneurial powerhouse? “I’ve spent the last couple of years getting the magazine right and opening new platforms. The next step is amplification. The whole area of wellness and wellbeing is a global phenomenon, and in some ways the UK lags behind, especially when you look at what’s happening in Scandinavia and Asia. That’s why we’ve decided to go global.” Watch out world, Liz Earle MBE has come to educate the masses and she’s got both style and substance. This is serious business.
READER OFFER
Absolutely readers can enjoy an exclusive £5 off the Liz Earle Wellbeing Yearbook Volume 2 using the offer code LIZ25. Available from lizearlewellbeing.com
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Temperley London AW17
HEALTH & BEAUTY • PRODUCTS
SISTER & CO Oil Pulling Rinse with Spearmint; £16 sisterandcompany.com
SAMAYA Kapha Hydrating Cleanser; £69 samayaayurveda.com
NIOD Sanskrit Saponins Face Cleanser; £21 houseoffraser.co.uk
UMA
MAULI
Pure Rest Wellness Oil; £60 cultbeauty.co.uk
Reawaken Hand & Body Lotion; £23 maulirituals.com
ALCHEMY OILS Amla Hair Remedy; £26 alchemyoils.co.uk
NEW RITUALS Reconnect this January with these Ayurvedic inspired remedies B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y
AVEDA Tulasāra Morning Awakening Ritual Kit; £65 harrods.com
FUSHI Really Good Cellulite Oil; £18 feelunique.com
RITUALS The Ritual of Ayurveda Hand Lotion; £8 rituals.com
ARK SKINCARE Conditioning Oil; £35 arkskincare.com
EVE LOM Time Retreat Regenerative Night Cream; £90 lookfantastic.com
EDITOR’S PICK
URBAN VEDA Soothing Facial Oil; £29.99 urbanveda.com
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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HELATH & BEAUTY • SCENT
PERFUME
The scents of
INSPIRATION Uplifting fragrances for the new year B y M I C H A E L D O N OVA N
H
appy New Year! I thought I would kick off 2018 with scents of energy and optimism. The most exciting collection to cross my path is from a Californiabased artist, Bruno Fazzolari. Bruno has a condition called synesthesia, a cross-wiring of the brain that results in experiencing something like scent with two different senses at the same time - in this case he smells in colour. The result is a collection so vivid, intense and vibrant that it acts like an olfactory pick-me-up. ‘Monserrat’ is a fantastical, fruity explosion, bursting with vigorous pink grapefruit, apricot leaves and jasmine with luscious, radiant osmanthus, carrot seed and a hint of setting plaster! At D.S. & Durga, the talented David Moltz has set himself the task of bottling the colour violet and the results are electric. Frosty wisteria and violet are blended with fizzing rhubarb and incense. The juxtaposition of warm and cool notes just adds to the excitement. James Heeley’s ‘Note de Yuzu’ takes Japan’s zesty fresh citrus fruit and layers of salty marine notes to conjure the scent of the traditional yuzu bath taken to celebrate the winter solstice. This is an intense, clean and uplifting scent. ‘The Writer’ by St Giles is ‘the scent of inspiration’ and was inspired by a recent scientific study that found that memory recall is improved by an average of 19% when the scent of rosemary is in the room. Consequently this fragrance will make you feel alert and will certainly raise your IQ. Rosemary absolute’s bitter-green intensity provides the focus for this perfume
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“I thought I would kick off 2018 with scents of energy and optimism”
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and it opens the scent with fresh ginger and the focusing sparkle of aldehydes. At the heart lies a leather/ frankincense resin mélange, while at the base lies an inky note achieved with castoreum absolute plus sandalwood, cedarwood from the Atlas mountains and driftwood. Independent British perfumer and yoga instructor Sarah McCartney has just released a new collection of completely natural fragrances entitled ‘Our Modern Lives’ each colour coded to match a mood or emotion. The scent of energy and vitality is ‘Yellow Sunset’ and this fragrance contains so many uplifting ingredients that you will dance to the office. Lemons, clementine and mandarin with blood and sweet oranges and the stimulating component of coffee absolute. Celebrating the crisp, cold embrace of her native Iceland, Andrea Maack’s latest fragrance ‘Birch’ is an atmospheric fragrance that transports the wearer to the Arctic tundra. An airy bergamot creates a cool breeze with lightly spicy ginger and pink pepper. The character of the scent lies in the meeting of dark guaiac wood and cypriol that capture the arctic woodland. Birch is gorgeously evocative, alternating between the fresh cold air and smoky, earthy woods. It’s one of those scents that you wear to breathe in deep and enter another world. Wishing you a fantastic and fragrant 2018. A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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skinade.com
Beautiful skin from the inside We all know the importance of looking after our skin on the outside. To achieve your perfect complexion, you must also support your skin from within. Discover skinade™ – the skincare drink that nourishes the skin from the inside for beautiful skin on the outside.
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HELATH & BEAUTY • TOP TIPS
Seasonal Skin
SAVIOURS Protect your visage from the ravages of winter with Dr. Sara Palmer Hussey’s skincare tips By D R . S A R A PA L M E R H U S S E Y Illustartion P H I L C O U Z E N S
SUPPORT THE SKIN’S OWN SHEILD
also disrupting the release of our human growth hormone, considered by many as a fountain of youth for its crucial role in repairing and renewing all tissues in the body, including the skin. Three amino acids, l-glutamine, l-arginine and l-lysine, taken just before bedtime, can naturally increase the release of human growth hormone, which ensures we maintain healthy glowing skin, as well as muscle strength, mental clarity and a strong immune system.
Low humidity and central heating are two reasons why winter can be very drying for the skin. In order to counteract the effects, it’s good to increase the skin’s ability to retain moisture. The skin has a natural protective two-way barrier that keeps out germs and toxins and seals in moisture to maintain a supple skin texture. This barrier has a unique composition: 50% ceramides, 25% cholesterol and 25% fatty acids, so it makes sense to choose natural plant oils rich in these components; excellent examples include safflower seed oil, macadamia seed oil, argan oil and passion flower seed oil.
DON'T FORGET TO NOURISH FROM THE OUTSIDE IN
NOURISH FROM WITHIN The health of our skin reflects the health of our body as a whole, so for glowing skin that is resilient to the onslaught of winter, it is vital to nourish from within. Nutrients, such as vitamins A, C and E, zinc, selenium and a good dose of omega-3 fatty acids, are essential.
BE GENTLE Over-aggressive exfoliation with acids, harsh abrasives or chemical peels can expose fragile new cells before they have matured and disrupt the skin’s natural protective barrier. Avoid using peels, clay masks, alcohol-based toners, all of which can strip moisture from the skin. Instead, use a gentle cleanser with a muslin cloth. Also avoid petroleum and silicone oils used in moisturisers, which form a plastic-like barrier that sits on the surface of the skin. The intention is to seal in moisture, but it also traps everything under it, including bacteria and sebum, and prevents the skin from naturally shedding dead skin cells.
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“For glowing skin that is resilient to the onslaught of winter, it is vital to nourish from within”
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HIBERNATE The skin has a circadian rhythm - nighttime is its repair mode. Harness this regenerative cycle by using the most nourishing. pure products at night. Sleep is our opportunity to rest and regenerate and is vital for the health and repair of our skin. When we toss and turn all night or go to bed late, not only are we missing out on rest, we are
Skincare ingredients can penetrate the skin and find their way into the bloodstream and other body tissues. This starting point should shift our perspective on skincare products, that is, if we would think twice about ingesting an ingredient, maybe we should think twice about rubbing it all over our skin. Choose a natural skincare product, ideally an oil that is packed with phytonutrients and skinloving extracts that reinforce and nourish the healthy condition of our skin. Our top pick? Lumity Anti-Ageing Skin Nutrients is a perfectly-balanced blend of 32 nourishing plant oils, extracts and essential oils rich in antioxidant polyphenols, vitamins and minerals, lycopene, resveratrol and coenzyme Q10, as well as regenerative amino acids and omega 3-6-9 fatty acids. All critical nutrients for cell growth, protection, healing and repair in the skin. This product provides the full range of nourishment the skin craves to get through the winter in glowing health So, whether you cosy up in the warmth or brave the icy chill outside, make sure you protect yourself both inside and out this January. Happy New Year! A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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299 Munster Road, Fulham, London SW6 6BJ 020 7381 1880 • tilesandbeyond.com
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HEALTH & BEAUTY • FITNESS
FITNESS NOTES
SixtyNinety The fitness brand to know now sixtyninety.com
WHAT IS IT?
● When two Brazilian model best friends joined forces with a female investor in January 2017, SixtyNinety Brazilian swimwear and activewear was born. Serious about creating a brand which praises the healthy female physique, the name SixtyNinety was inspired by the classic myth of 60-90cm as a woman’s ideal body measurements. Together, the partners want to bypass this limit and challenge the idea of beauty.
TOP TRENDS Founders of Move Your Frame, Joan Murphy and Pip Black share their thoughts on what to expect from the fitness industry this year
WHO IS IT FOR?
● SixtyNinety is a brand designed by women for women. The swimwear is smart, eco-friendly and sizzlingly sexy. The Amni Soul fabric and cool designs became an instant hit with influencers such as Arizona Muse, Millie Mackintosh and Lily Fortescue. Socially conscious, the brand uses the world's first biodegradable yarn.
LOW IMPACT CARDIO People are becoming more aware of the risk of injury from high intensity or high impact training and the long term effects on joints and the body, so mixing in training such as Rebounding gives you the cardio fix without damaging your joints. It’s key to future proof your body.
MINDFULNESS & LOW IMPACT TRAINING Mindfulness has been a buzzword for a while and has grown into a
massive trend over the past year; we predict it will come into the fitness genre. Combining HIIT with meditation has been proven to maximise the well-known benefits of the HIIT workout. Doing high impact workouts all the time can play havoc with your hormones especially if you're juggling a stressful job and life. At Frame we have created a new class called HIIT & Chill which is based around this theory. Keep an eye out for the workshops which are launching this month.
HIIT HIIT will continue to rise as people become more clued in and realise that training for longer does not equate to training smarter and won’t always give the best results. It ranked number 1 in the Crep Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2018, and we agree it will continue to be a big one.
FEEL-GOOD FITNESS Moving your body in a way that makes you feel good has always been our mantra here at Frame, and this is set to be a trend for 2018. Gone are the days of ‘no pain, no gain.’ Whether it’s a dance class or hike in the park, make sure you enjoy it and rack up those endorphins as you do. Check out the newest Frame studios open this month in Fitzrovia and Hammersmith; moveyourframe.com
SUPER SUPPLEMENTS
Supercharge your workout with these delicious and nutricious protein powders
WHAT’S NEXT?
● The three female SixtyNinety founders Aline Lima, Daniele Trece and Vanusa Fonseca are passionate about creating a niche in the lifestyle market for a growing female audience of affordable fashion consumers.
1. Healthista Lean Vegan Diet Protein, £24.99; wholefoodsmarket.com 2. Zaggora Protein Smoothie Chocolate Coconut, £38; uk.zaggora.com 3. Form Salted Caramel Chocolate Superblend Protein, £24; formnutrition.com 4. The Organic Protein Company Organic Whey Protein, £22; theorganicproteincompany.co.uk 5. Missfits Vegan Protein Multitasker, £18; missfitsnutrition.com
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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CONNAUGHT KITCHENS LONDON
www.connaughtkitchens.co.uk • 02077062210 CONNAUGHT.indd 1
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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NUTRITION
You are what you eat
LU NC H T I M E
B R E A K FA S T I fully advocate that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I always try to have some protein and carbohydrates as I find that it sets me up for the day. When I have time, I like to have eggs (which are rich in amino acids) boiled, poached or scrambled, with lots of fresh herbs or slices of avocado. Other days I might have smoked salmon with rye bread or a green juice. I love to load up on greens in my juices so include cucumber, celery, and apple, and often add ginger for its digestive and immune-boosting properties.
Lunchtimes can be quite a busy as I juggle being a mother, working at my practice in Grace Belgravia and running my supplement range, GP Nutrition. Often I’ll have lunch out. A couple of my local favourites are Granger or the Electric in Notting Hill, or if I’m at the clinic Grace Café is great. I adore sushi so that’s one of my go-to lunches. If I’m at home I like to make a big salad with greens, tomatoes, avocado and cucumber and add some oily fish (such as salmon or mackerel) or pulses, such as chickpeas or cooked lentils with herbs and a dressing made from cold pressed rapeseed or walnut oil and lemon.
“I adore sushi so that’s one of my go-to lunches”
Inspire your New Year’s wellness resolutions with nutritionist Gabriela Peacock’s day on a plate
gpnutrition.com
DINNER By the time it comes to dinner, it’s usually something relatively quick and easy. There is always fish and organic chicken in the fridge and loads of vegetables. My favourite grains are brown rice, barley and spelt/rice pasta. Sometimes I’ll have a baked sweet potato with hummus and salad. I personally avoid gluten about 95% of the time for my own digestive symptoms. If we get a take away it will always be Thai or Japanese with brown rice. I also try to avoid lots of ‘free’ sugars, found in sweets, confectionary etc. However, when the desire strikes, I find plain dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (at least 70%) satisfies my urges for a little piece of something sweet. Plus, good quality chocolate does contain minerals and antioxidants and nothing beats glass of lovely red wine after long day at work.
SNACKS I always carry snacks for mid-afternoon cravings and dips in blood sugar levels. My favourites are protein bars or little bags of nuts or seeds. I like the spicy/mildly flavoured versions for variety - the Punch foods seeds selection are good, they are delicious and sprouted which makes them super healthy. The high protein content of these snacks means the glucose is released more slowly, keeping me feeling fuller for longer, plus nuts are nutritional wonders – high in magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese plus B vitamins and vitamin E. A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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From 7 January to 4 March, Park Terrace is proud to host the official Afternoon Tea for Cirque du Soleil’s latest show, OVO. 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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FOOD & DRINK
SEAFOOD MERCHANTS THE WRIGHT BROTHERS Head chef Chris Beveridge has a way of bringing out seafood flavours in simple yet inspiring ways. Downstairs, The Mermaid basement bar is a cocktail-lovers dream. 56 Old Brompton Road, SW7 thewrightbrothers.co.uk
Wines of the month 68 • The best juice bars 69 • Eating out with children 76 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 January By MIRIAM CAREY
By BERRY BROS. & RUDD
The King’s Ginger £22.50 A great winter warmer – serve over ice, or mix with tonic. The Kings Ginger was specifically formulated by Berry Bros. in 1903 for King Edward VII. Rich and zesty, it was created to stimulate and revivify His Majesty. It has been appreciated by bon viveurs ever since.
2016 Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary White by Dourthe £9.25 A classic Bordeaux white, this 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc is made just for Berry Bros. & Rudd. Intensely aromatic on the nose, with ripe gooseberry and greengage fruit, the wine has wonderful lift and zest.
2015 Toreye Spätburgunder, Eymann, Pfalz £19.50 Though rarely acknowledged, Germany is the third largest producer of Pinot Noir (aka Spätburgunder) in the world. This is a wonderful example of an accessible, refreshing Pinot that offers an alternative to Burgundy.
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
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Japanese Juice J U S U B R OT H E R S
Established by a collective of creatives, JUSU Brothers do nutritious food combined with Japanese culture. They have a vast juice menu with names derived from the Japanese language. Ishiban is a fruity infusion, and Kyoto Drift is a combination of red pepper, lemon and apple. They have a vegan-friendly menu with maca porridge, vegan sushi, and raw vegan brownies. 147-149 Westbourne Grove, W11 jusubrothers.com
A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s
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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES Our pick of the best
JUICE BA R S PORTOBELLO JUICE
Regional Wine
A lovely independent cafe, displaying the work of local artists, Portobello Juice has the same name as the road it sits on and the market it sources fruit and vegetable from. The cafe opens for breakfast, serving poached avocados on toast and makes juices, all the way 'til quarter to midnight. 297 Portobello Road portobellojuice.com
E N OT E CA R O S S O
The latest Italian restaurant to open on Kensington High Street, Enoteca Rosso is passionate about seasonal food and Italian specialities. The wine list is divided between 17 wine-making regions across Italy and includes many never seen before bottles in London. 276-280 Kensington High Street, W8 enotecarosso.com
JUICE BABY
C H I L LY K AT Z
Grass fed, organic, hormone-free Icelandic hot dogs have come to Hammersmith and award-winning chef Phil Harrison certainly knows what he’s doing. Hot dogs come dressed up in six exciting flavour combinations. For the more adventurous, choose ‘Kung-fu Biting’ - a hot dog topped with asian slaw, ginger, and peanuts. 18 Beadon Road, London W6 chillykatz.co.uk
GOLBORNE DELI
An independent café passionate about food and coffee. Their AngloMediterranean menu offers soups, salads, ciabatta, and pasta. All ingredients are bought locally, and coffee is sourced from sustainable farmers. Their entire menu also comes gluten-free. 100 Golborne Road, W10 golbornedeli.com
CPRESS
Flavour varieties at CPress are so abundant they will make any health enthusiast feel like a kid in a candy shop. Choose the ruby red ‘Prime Number’ for a burst of anti-oxidants, or opt for the snow-white almond milk for your daily dose of protein and vitamin E. Fulham, Chelsea cpressjuice.com
DRESSED UP DOGS
MEDITERRANEAN MENU
Juice Baby has it all: shots, smoothies, milks, and juices. The nut milks are naturally packed with iron, calcium, and vitamin E +, while the powerful 30ml shots of wheatgrass, aloe vera, and ginger are brimming with health-boosting vitamins. 398 Kings Road, SW3 juicebaby.co.uk
JOE & THE JUICE
With locations all over the world, Joe & The Juice is a universal congregation site for freelancers and their laptops. As the brainchild of super cool Danish entrepreneur Kaspar Basse, it's no suprise Joe & The Juice finds itself the hipster juice bar of choice. Locations all over London joejuice.com
ITALIAN GLAMOUR HARRY'S DOLCE VITA
Inspired by Harry's Bar, this new Mayfair restaurant exudes 1950’s Italian glamour with colourful glass, silky fabrics, vintage brass and leather banquettes. They serve cocktails and seasonal Italian plates, signature dishes include a sumptuous linguine vongole and fantastic pappardelle al ragù bolognese. 27-31 Basil Street, SW3
harrysdolcevita.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Vanilla Cheesecake
Wheat Free • Gluten Free Dairy Free • Vegetarian Serves 6–8
INGREDIENTS Cheesecake Base 45g whole almonds, unskinned 15g coconut oil 10g cashew nut butter 10g maple syrup 55g oats (gluten-free if needed) 30g coconut sugar or dark muscovado (soft brown) sugar ½ tsp ground cinnamon pinch of sea salt 5g (¹⁄8oz/1 tsp) desiccated (dry unsweetened) coconut
Fo r t h e f i l l i n g 120g cashew nuts pinch of sea salt 80g coconut oil, melted 100g maple syrup 2 tsp cider vinegar 200g coconut cream 1 vanilla pod (bean), halved lengthways and seeds scraped out or 1 tbsp vanilla paste
Piece of Cake
Chef Marianne Stewart shows us how baking with all natural ingredients can be delicious and easy
I
magine enjoying a Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart that contains rich dark chocolate full of antioxidants. Antioxidants that will give you a mood boost. Imagine enjoying a chocolate brownie that doesn’t give you that sluggish feeling. Nourish Cakes is a book full of scrumptious cake recipes. Each of them is full of diverse and good for you ingredients.
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Recipes include fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts and seeds to show how delicious baking can also be nourishing. The best way to optimise health and well-being is to eat a variety of natural unprocessed foods. Adding foods rich in fibre and protein slows the absorption of sugar. This in turn reduces spikes in blood sugar level. The author Marianne Stewart is a trained pastry chef who has worked in a number of respected kitchens. She previously worked in Baker & Spice, Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, and Peggy Porschen’s Cakes. The first rule of baking for Marianne is that treats must always taste good. However, she no longer believes that for food to taste good it must be filled with ‘bad-for-you’ ingredients. The book is a true celebration of good quality ingredients and the discovery of new and exciting ways to use them. The focus is on all those amazing things you can eat that make you feel alive. It’s about baking your cake and eating it too.
Fo r t h e to p p i n g 200g coconut cream, at room temperature if possible 1 tsp maple syrup ½ tsp cider vinegar 1 tsp melted coconut oil edible flowers, to decorate
METHOD Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/400°F. To make the base toast the almonds on a baking sheet for 5–6 minutes until just browned. Cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F. Melt the coconut oil, then add the cashew nut butter and maple syrup and whisk together to blend well. Finely grind the almonds with the oats in a blender, then add the coconut sugar, cinnamon and salt, and blend again. Add the wet mixture and blend again until the mix comes together. Mix in the desiccated (dry unsweetened) coconut by hand. Divide the mixture equally between your chosen silicone moulds or into a lined tin and press down. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, or until browned around the edges. Cool on a wire rack.
A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s
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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES 25g buckwheat flour 75g rice flour 50g ground almonds 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Fo r t h e s t i c k y to f f e e s a u c e 65g date syrup 100g coconut or dark muscovado sugar 120g coconut cream 30g coconut oil 45g maple syrup large pinch of sea salt 1 empty vanilla pod (if used in pudding), or 2 tsp vanilla paste
METHOD Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/400°F. Roast the sweet potato for 45 minutes, or until soft in the centre. Cool, then scoop out and weigh 80g of the flesh. Purée until smooth in a blender. Toast the pecans on a baking sheet for 5–6 minutes then roughly chop. Reduce the oven temperature to 180°C/ fan 160°F/350°F and grease 6 individual pudding moulds with coconut oil. Pour the tea over the dates in a bowl, cover and leave to soak for 20 minutes. Place the flaxseed in another bowl and add 3 tablespoons of warm water. Mix well and leave for 10 minutes to thicken. Lightly mash the soaked dates, so they are half puréed. Add the sweet potato purée, vanilla, coconut sugar, coconut oil, vinegar, date syrup, flaxseed and salt and mix well.
For the filling, soak the cashews in cold water for 1 hour. Drain and blend in a blender or food processor with the salt until as fine as possible. Add the coconut oil and blend again until completely smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and blend again until well mixed and smooth. Fill the tin and chill until just firm. This takes 2 hours in the freezer or overnight in the fridge. For the topping, blend all the ingredients together with a balloon whisk. Gently pour onto the cheesecake and tap to remove any air bubbles. Return to the fridge or freezer to set for a few hours. For best results, chill overnight until firm and creamy. To de-mould, warm the sides of the tin with a hot damp tea towel or with a blow torch if you have one available. Then unclip the sides and slide the cheesecake off the base. The cheesecake will keep well in the fridge for 3–4 days, and becomes firmer with time. Decorate with edible flowers to serve.
Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce Dairy Free • Gluten Free Wheat Free • Vegetarian Serves 6
INGREDIENTS 1 small sweet potato 40g pecans 145g strong Earl Grey tea 145g soft pitted dates chopped 1 tbsp ground flaxseed 1 tbsp vanilla paste or 1 vanilla pod (bean), split in half and seeds scraped out 150g coconut sugar or soft brown sugar 40g coconut oil, melted 2 tsp cider vinegar 30g date syrup or black treacle pinch of sea salt 50g teff flour
In a separate bowl, sift together the flours, ground almonds and bicarbonate of soda, then mix in to the wet ingredients with the pecans. Divide the batter between the moulds and leave for 10 minutes. Bake for 50 minutes, or until the sponge springs back when pressed. If the tops of the sponges get a little dark, cover with foil or reduce the oven temperature by 10°C/20°F. Let the puddings cool until just warm, then de-mould onto a baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Wrap in foil and store in the fridge until ready to heat. For the sauce, gently simmer all the ingredients together in a pan for 10 minutes to thicken. If using vanilla paste, add this at the end of simmering. Chill until needed (it will keep for up to a week) and reheat gently before using. When ready to assemble, preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F and place a tray of hot water at the bottom. Heat the puddings for 15 minutes, or until warmed through. Pour the hot sauce over and serve with custard or ice cream.
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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
5 L ADBROKE ROAD
NOTTING HILL
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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES the dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl, add the chilled wet ingredients and blend together using a spatula or your fingertips. Knead gently to form a smooth, soft dough. Flatten, wrap in clingfilm and rest in the fridge for at least an hour or up to 3 days. Divide the dough into 5 equal pieces and roll each one out between 2 sheets of baking parchment until 3mm thick. Use it to line 5 individual tart tins, about 10cm across. Chill for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/400°F and put a baking sheet into the oven to heat. Line the bases of the tart tins with baking parchment, then fill with rice or lentils. Gather the edges of the parchment together loosely in the centre and bake on the tray for 20 minutes, or until the edges of the pastry are just beginning to brown. Remove the rice and bake the cases for a further 3–4 minutes, or until the bases look dry. Cool in the tins on a wire rack until cold. For the pastry cream. Place the almond milk and 50g of the coconut cream in a small pan with the lemon zest and vanilla pod (bean). Heat to almost boiling, then turn off the heat, cover and infuse for 30 minutes. Mix together the cornflour (cornstarch), sugar and vanilla seeds in a bowl. Remove the vanilla pod and lemon zest from the cooled, infused liquid mix and use 1 tablespoon of this to blend with the cornflour and sugar. Stir until smooth. Return the milk mixture to the pan and heat over a medium high heat until it just comes to the boil. Gradually pour half of the hot liquid over the sugar corn flour mix, stirring with a whisk, then pour this into the pan and cook over a medium high heat, stirring constantly.
Fig & Honey Tart Wheat Free • Gluten Free Dairy Free • Vegetarian Makes 5 small tarts
15 small figs 50g runny honey seeds of 1 vanilla pod (bean) or 1 tbsp vanilla paste
METHOD For the pastry, whisk together the gram flour, flaxseed, coconut cream, oil, cider vinegar and orange zest in a bowl until well blended. Chill for about 30 minutes, until cool and firm. Sift together the buckwheat flour, rice flour, ground almonds, rapadura, salt and xanthan gum, or pulse briefly in a food processor. Pour
R E C I P E S TA K E N F R O M
2 tsp gram (chickpea) flour 2 tsp ground flaxseed 70g coconut cream 45g coconut oil 1 tsp cider vinegar finely grated zest of 1 orange 100g buckwheat flour 40g rice flour 60g ground almonds 60g rapadura or light muscovado (soft brown) sugar large pinch of sea salt ¼ tsp xanthan gum
To d e c o r a te
NOURISH CAKES
Fo r t h e p a s t r y
200g unsweetened almond milk 200g coconut cream, chilled 2 strips of zest from 1 unwaxed lemon 1 vanilla pod (bean), split in half lengthways and seeds scraped out 30g cornflour (cornstarch) 60g golden caster (granulated) sugar or demerara (raw brown) sugar 30g cashew nut butter
by Marianne Stewart (Quadrille, £15) Photography © Catherine Frawley
INGREDIENTS
It should be gently bubbling. Cook for 4–5 minutes, or until thick. Mix in the cashew nut butter, then scrape into a bowl. Cover the surface directly with cling film and cool to room temperature. Chill until completely cold.
Fo r t h e v e g a n p a s t r y c r e a m
Whip the remaining coconut cream for 2 minutes with a whisk until it has loosened and forms soft peaks. Use the whisk to beat the cold nut butter and milk mixture for 1 minute until smooth. Add the coconut cream to this and beat until it is evenly incorporated, smooth, light and creamy. Use to fill the tart cases, or chill for up to 3 days before use. To assemble, preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/400°F and line a baking sheet with foil. Cut the figs in half and place, cut side up, on the tray. Mix together the honey and vanilla seeds, then drizzle this on top of the figs. Roast for 10 minutes, or until just starting to colour at the edges. Cool until just warm. Fill the tart cases with the cold pastry cream, then top with the warm figs.
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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW
ABSOLUTELY eats out…
“The scallops were tender yet packed full of punchy flavour”
ULI
FOOD Chinese, Thai, Malay, and Singaporean dishes
High flavour pan-Asian cooking in a magical setting B y MIRIAM CAREY
U
LI originally opened on All Saints Road in 1997, where it was a firm favourite among locals and with critics. At its new home on Ladbroke Road the restaurant benefits from a terrace area - a gorgeous enclosed space with a hanging garden, full of greenery and lights. It provides the magic of outdoor dining but protects diners from the elements, with blankets
DECOR Low key interior decor and a magical garden terrace
and heaters on hand for when the weather is extra chilly. In its new home it is still a gorgeous restaurant serving pan Asian food, a curated selection of Chinese, Thai, Malay and Singaporean cuisines. The dishes are cherry picked to provide a perfectly balanced menu that does not repeat itself. It features Asian favourites such as edamame beans, thai crackers, dumplings, spring rolls, crispy calamari, aromatic duck, and thai green curry. Everything on the menu is thoroughly delicious. The scallops
PRICE Small plates from £6, mains from £9.90, dessert from £5
VERDICT Ideal for a celebratory meal for two or an occassion
covered in chilli and coriander were tender yet packed full of punchy flavour, and the perfect portion size for a small starter to taste. The soft shell crab was light and crisp, served as a dish big enough to share, and impossible not to keep picking at. The Peking duck rolled up in pancakes and smothered in hoisin was incredibly more-ish. The crispy shredded beef was sweet and crunchy - just how you want it to be. The pad thai was fragrant and filling, with a hint of zesty lime, and a scattering of peanuts. For dessert, a mochi ice cream selection cleansed the palate perfectly, in refreshing green tea, chocolate, and vanilla. They also have a cracking wine and cocktail menu with oriental twists on old classics such as a Japanese bellini made of jasmine tea and prosecco, and a lemongrass bloody mary made of vodka, tomato juice, and sriracha chilli. The atmosphere is quiet when we arrive, but fills up with families and friends, becoming more buzzy and vibrant throughout the evening. ULI is the perfect destination for a quiet dinner for two, a special occasion, or a celebration with friends. ● ULI 5 Ladbroke Road, W11 ulilondon.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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C
H A P PY
eaters Most children are fussy diners, to varying degrees. But how can we expand their foodie repertoire? By PENDLE HARTE
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hildren are on the whole terrible dining companions. Watching someone pick every last green thing off their plate and deposit it on the table, or on your plate, or on the floor, is not fun, and neither is dealing with moaning when any of their disliked ingredients appears. Fussy eaters might exclusively eat white food, or only foods that aren’t touching other foods, or insist on ketchup with everything, or chips. There’s no logic to any of it – they might have an irrational hatred of tomatoes, but not tomato sauce; they might love pastry but refuse to try quiche, they’ll eat cheese, but not if/only if it’s melted, they love mangoes but won’t go near melon. And then there are the inexplicable things that they do like. Olives, for instance, are very popular among children, as are cornichons – and they’ll usually eat mussels. Nothing is predictable – some of them love strong mustard and hate ketchup, and these firm beliefs can change daily. Most children have an automatic resistance to things their parents encourage. Homework, baths, gloves. And of course food. So if our power as parents is limited, how do restaurants fare as motivational environments? If we took our children to restaurants more often, would they widen their food repertoires? We picked three informal places to try with an aim of getting our girls aged 8 and 11 to try something new, and ideally to come away liking it. The rules? No kids menus.
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FOOD & DRINK • CHILDREN WAHACA
WA H AC A
Wahaca is buzzy, colourful and fun and its Mexican street food focus is well suited to children in many ways. Small sharing plates mean lots of things to try. The main hazard however is chilli, which is universally unpopular among children but in most things here. If something’s deemed too spicy, they won’t eat it, and entire dishes can be dismissed this way, leading to the worst possible outcome: rejected food, hungry children, money wasted – the main reason (apart from behaviour) that parents avoid restaurants. Burritos, tacos, quesadillas are all kid-pleasers; the 11-year old loves her chicken burrito (it comes with tortilla chips) but slightly complains that it’s spicy. Still, we try a selection of things between us, including crab tostadas, black bean quesadilla and pork tacos, which all go down well, as does guacamole, which is proof for us that children will eat things in restaurants that they refuse at home. We loosen the ban on kids menus when we spot the build-your-own-taco offering, which even with avocado creates so much delight in the eight year-old (and is a welcome relief from fish goujons and chips) that our mission is clearly a success. And to finish, churros is a winner for all ages.
“Most children have an automatic resistance to things their parents encourage. Homework, baths, gloves... and food”
THE REAL GREEK
Sharing plates have become a bit ubiquitous now, but Greek restaurants practically own the concept. Mezze is basically the way we all eat now anyway. At The Real Greek, they solve the problem of tables never being big enough for ‘three or four small plates each’ brilliantly by using the stacking silver serve equipment usually associated with afternoon tea, and this the kind of thing children like too. We order one of the set menus, Tonia’s Filoxenia, which is a feast. First there’s Greek flatbread and hummous, which admittedly sounds like what the children have in their packed lunches, but this is better and even they agree. Then comes the tiered display: delicious green pea fava topped with red onions and tomatoes gains adult approval but inevitably the children pick off the onions and tomatoes. Halloumi skewers with minted yoghurt, chicken wings marinaded in smoked chilli and falafel balls with tahini dip and a steaming bowl of saffron rice are all quite popular. We share a decadent (and not so Greek) salted caramel cheesecake and leave sated.
THE REAL GREEK
PING PONG
PING PONG
Dim Sum should be a no brainer for kids. Small parcels of deliciousness. But our girls are suspicious of dumplings. Ping Pong’s menu is vast and we order a huge spread, including pink ‘unicorn noodles’ which don’t seem to be part of a children’s menu but easily could be. Most popular are the pork ribs, probably because they’re intensely sweet, and the pork puffs – but surprisingly nobody likes the pork buns, even though they are exactly the kind of bready thing you’d expect children to adore. Steamed pork and chive dumplings are a great success, as are the beef gyoza. The dumpling prejudice has definitely been challenged.
VERDICT It seems that fussy eaters are only fussy when their parents are cooking. Who knew? A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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DESIGN SALE
YOUR SPACE. YOUR SALE.
SAVE UP TO 50%
Our design sale is now on. Save up to 20% on our furniture and accessories to order and make unmissable savings of up to 50% on our clearance and ex-display items. Remember to book your free interior design service, ask for details in-store.
MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SPACE | BOCONCEPT.COM NOTTING HILL I 18 - 24 WESTBOURNE GROVE, LONDON W2 5RH HARRODS I 87 - 135 BROMPTON ROAD, KNIGHTSBRIDGE, LONDON SW1X 7XL BATTERSEA REACH I JASMINE HOUSE, JUNIPER DRIVE (OFF YORK ROAD), WANDSWORTH SW18 1GL
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INTERIORS Interiors Notes 80 • At home with Rockett St George
IN BRIEF ANNA BURLES
This beautiful master bedroom in a Grade II listed townhouse was designed by Anna Burles to maximise the light, create storage and stay within the bouds of listed consents. The results are beautiful. annaburles.com
82 • London's
best extensions 90 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
Paper Craft STUDIO SNOWPUPPE
These Dutch origami experts produce a huge range of beautiful light shades in folded paper. High quality fabric cables and fittings come in contrasting colours for a stylish contemporary look. studiosnowpuppe.nl
WASTE NOT BRABANTIA
This new stylish bin looks too pretty and streamlined to be a depository for rubbish. As the Rolls Royce of bins, it comes with a flexible arrangement of one, two or three compartments for recylcling and in a range of colours to suit your kitchen. £199. brabantia.com
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INTERIORS • NOTES F AV UR
OR
ITE
E C FA O
S
KINSKA Various ceramics, from £38 kinska.com
PATTERN CUT KIT KEMP FOR WILTON
FERM LIVING Mrs Napkin, £4.50 cloudberryliving.co.uk
SHAPE SHIFTER KOTI & CO
xPolygon shaped placemats are ideal to set your table in a beautiful yet functional way. Silicone is naturally heat resistant that is also easy to wipe clean and store. We love the stylish range at this beautifully created site.
Wilton Carpets' new Kit Kemp collection features patterns and colourways that transport you straight into a Firmdale lobby Pictured is the Leaf Cut, straight from the Soho Hotel. The range is made in Wiltshire. wiltoncarpets.com
HOUSE OF RYM Seriously cereally bowl, £19 houseofrym.com
kotiandco.co.uk RUME Face It Throw, £180 rume.co.uk
PINK LADY ZANDRA RHODES
JONATHAN ADLER Utopia mugs, £32 uk.jonathandler.com
EDITOR’S PICK
ROSENDAHL Bjorn Wiinblad flower vase, £39.95 black-by-design.co.uk
The Zandra Rhodes/Floor Story rug collection features three pieces that reproduce work from Zandra’s fledging career in the 1960s. Wiggle, Mexican Star and Star Wars have been recreated to bring a piece of art to the floor. floorstory.co.uk
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A LITTLE BIT ROCK For Jane Rockett of Rockett St George, home is a Victorian townhouse that showcases her own distinctive style. Absolutely takes a tour B y LUCY ST GEORGE P h o t o g r a p h y DEBI TREOLAR
~ “Evident
throughout is Jane’s rejection of playing it safe and adhering to one particular style”
~
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nyone who’s familiar with the Rockett St George brand will immediately recognize Jane Rockett’s own home in Sussex. A frequent feature on the company’s Instagram page, Jane’s home is a style inspiration to many. But what is perhaps most striking about her space is that first and foremost it is a family home. Yes, it’s full of the eclectic, maverick Rockett St George magic, just as you would expect, but at its heart is a cosy, lived-in family vibe. Jane’s kitchen is an eclectic mix of different styles. The clean white walls and ceramic pendant lights create an airy, modern look while the brick wall and resin flooring have a hard-working, industrial vibe that is echoed in the metal cabinets. Dotted here and there are decorative pieces: old chopping boards, fish-shaped water jugs and a vintage clock, all of which strike a playful note. Jane bought her home at the very beginning of her Rockett St George journey and this is evident from the minute you walk through the front door. The Victorian townhouse is brimming with vintage and current Rockett St George pieces alongside
treasures brought back from Jane’s travels and special mementoes collected over the years and displayed in cabinets and on coffee tables and mantelpieces. In fact, you only really need to see the downstairs of Jane’s home for an insight into Rockett St George’s development over the past ten years. Split over three storeys, the ground floor of Jane’s home encompasses a kitchen, dining area, home office and living room. Upstairs are her two older children’s bedrooms, a spare room and a bathroom, while the top floor is home to her youngest’s room, a bathroom and the master bedroom, which was opened up to the eaves by Jane and her partner Toby when they moved in. What is evident throughout is Jane’s rejection of playing it safe and adhering to one particular style. Her kitchen combines industrial brick walls with sleek white counters and mid-century lighting. In theory, such a mix should not work, yet in Jane’s house it hangs together perfectly, balancing practical functionality with her own distinctive style. Jane has been careful to preserve the original features of the house, retaining the original sash windows and wooden floors. But what makes the house unique is the extended dining room with its floor-to-ceiling windowsoverlooking the garden. The space created by the
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INTERIORS • SPOTLIGHT
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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INTERIORS • SPOTLIGHT Jane’s kitchen is an eclectic mix of different styles. The clean white walls and ceramic pendant lights create an airy, modern look while the brick wall and resin flooring have a hard-working, industrial vibe that is echoed in the metal cabinets. Jane’s workspace is positioned to take advantage of the natural light from the dining space.
Rather than using a television as the focal point in her sitting room, Jane decided to create a style spot filled with the many treasures and memories she has collected over the years. Her cabinet of curiosities enjoys centre stage and is filled with photos, children’s drawings and beautiful pieces.
E X T R AC T TA K E N F R O M
EXTRAORDINARY INTERIORS
by Jane Rockett and Lucy St George published by Ryland Peters & Small
extension/addition offers respite from the outside world. It is a space where Jane and her family can relax and recharge: something that every family home should have. The dining area is the perfect hangout for Jane and her family. She covered a vintage armchair with cowhide and teamed it with curvaceous rattan lounge chairs. The sloping glass skylights allows light to pour in and the geometric wallpaper on the ceiling contrasts beautifully with the velvety grey-green walls. Rather than using a television as the focal point in her sitting room, Jane decided to create a style spot filled with the many treasures and memories she has collected over the years. Her cabinet of curiosities enjoys centre stage and is filled with photos, children’s drawings and beautiful pieces that have great sentimental value. The convex mirror hanging above the fireplace reflects light into the room. Stripped wooden floors, bay windows and shutters add character to Jane’s sitting room and these architectural features are enhanced by the dark charcoal walls. The leather sofas are dressed with sheepskins and cushions that make the room feel snug and welcoming and the glorious grey linen armchair
is a statement piece. The accent lighting is kept deliberately dim to enhance the room’s sense of warmth and to create a cosy space for the family to relax in. Jane’s workspace is positioned to take advantage of the natural light from the dining space. The wall behind is hung with family photographs and favourite artworks — when Jane is lost for inspiration she look ups from her computer screen and allows the images to spark her creativity. The vintage desk is one of her savviest finds as she found it outside her local Citizens Advice Bureau when they were throwing it out. Like everything in Jane’s house, it really works. Lola, Jane’s teenage daughter, has created a stunning style spot above the Victorian fireplace in her room. The four ornate Rockett St George Melo mirrors are hung in an intriguingly asymmetrical arrangement and are dressed up by a hanging dreamcatcher and wooden hand that she pops her jewellery on. A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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The Decorative Antiques & Textiles
FAIR
23 - 28 January 2018
Stand D18
F o s t e r www.fosterandgane.com
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INTERIORS • FIRE PLACES
Eternal Flame
Nothing beats an open fire for warmth and atmosphere. Absolutely meets Grate Expectations By EVE HERBERT
G
rate Expectations fireplace specialists have been established for over 25 years and remain a family business. Come and visit our newly refurbished showrooms in Wimbledon, where you can view a range of working models from the best fire and stove manufacturers around. Whether you are interested in a high efficiency gas fire by DRU or a wood burner to give your home a cosy rustic charm our team are on hand to offer expert, friendly advice. Dru Gas Fires are the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of glass fronted high efficiency fires. Designed to add that touch of class and sophistication to your living space. With many options in conventional and balanced flue (no chimney…no problem!) — and even the ability to create your own flame design on your iPad or phone! When looking for a truly elegant focal point to your room that is stylish minimal and in keeping with characteristics, DRU offer many design choices and integration options. Whether a gas stove or a
see-through built-in glass fireplace in an interior wall, the heat output generated by DRU Fires add a warmth and ambiance to your home. Our showroom has many live working DRU Fires on display, so drop in for an expert consultation and demonstration with our team. Wood Burning Stoves Summer has come and gone, and with Christmas just around the corner, what better way to warm up your home than with a wood-burning stove. With twice the efficiency of the traditional open fire, wood burning stoves are a cleaner and more economical option. Our range of manufacturers consist of DG Fires, Jotul, Stovax and many more. Majority of the wood burners we supply and install are Defra approved suitable for London smoke control areas.
G R AT E E X P E C TAT I O N S For expert advice on purchasing a fireplace or stove and installation services please contact Grate Expectations Fireplace Specialists: 1-3 Station Buildings, Kingston Road Wimbledon Chase, London, SW20 8JT, 020 8540 8387, sales@grateexpectations.com grateexpectations.com
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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LONDON
LONDON
SALE SAV E UP TO 40% 0333 011 3333 I
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INTERIORS • DESIGN
The Legacy Robert Welch’s Alveston/RW2 cutlery By EVE HERBERT
W
models and finished pieces designed by Sigurd Persson and made by the Swedish manufacturer, A. B. Silver & Stal. It made a profound impression on him, as did the Scandinavian design ethos generally. In the 1950s, many British firms were still reproducing poor quality copies of silver patterns over 150 years old as opposed to Scandinavian and German firms who had been forging ahead with modern designs in new materials since the late 1930s. The introduction of stainless steel to British cutlery manufacture coupled with a rationalisation of the efficiency of design lead to new, modern patterns which challenged the popularity of Scandinavian imports. Working on a new pattern based on the best traditions of English cutlery in 1959, he produced Alveston, whose roots lay in the cutlery of the mid-18th century – it is often a surprise to realise it owes its origins to Georgian cutlery, prized as it is for its Scandinavian good looks. Alveston was named for the village where he had recently built a new house, and the range was expanded in 1964 to include the enduringly popular tea set of the same name, which remains highly sought after by collectors. By the mid-1980s more than four million pieces had been manufactured. The fact that it is still in production today, although slightly modified in scale and weight as RW2, attests to its success.
inner of a Design Centre Award in 1965, Robert Welch’s Alveston cutlery remains in production and hugely popular. Often seen in restaurants and in households all over the UK, these stylish rounded pieces are comfortable to hold, feeling familiar and satisfyingly weighty. Robert Radford Welch (1929-2000) was a British silversmith and designer who studied at the Royal College of Art’s School of Silversmithing. He developed an interest in tableware after a student visit to Scandinavia, when he had noticed and photographed a display in a bank window in Stockholm showing drawings, dies, A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Sun Rain Room
Tonkin Liu This two-storey extension and restoration of a Grade-II Listed Georgian townhouse reframes the rear of the building by amplifying the characteristics found within its fabric.
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INTERIORS • EXTENSIONS
“Timber, in various forms, seems to be making a comeback as a wall finish”
Corduroy House Manalo and White Dark Welsh slate is used in an economic and direct way to provide a rugged, natural backdrop to the garden foliage and a foil to the calm, light interior.
BUILD IT New London Architecture’s annual focus on London’s best extensions returns with an exciting and diverse lineup B y P E A R L B OY D
I Reading Room
Studio Carver This small extension is designed around a large picture window projecting out into the garden with bespoke joinery and desks carefully integrated into the building.
f 2018 is set to be the year that you build an extension onto your home, there is inspiration and advice to be found at New London Architecture’s (NLA) ninth annual display of London’s cleverest and most beautiful designs. Don’t Move, Improve! is a wide-ranging focus, promoting the work of emerging practices and encouraging the best design in everyday life. The competition highlights the importance of high-quality design and multifunctional spaces in Londoners homes, where space often has to work twice as hard to deliver everyday needs in a condensed footprint. Peter Murray, Chairman of NLA, said: “Entries ranged from designs that enhance the interior spaces with better layouts and daylighting to intricate additions that responded to the interests and lifestyle of the occupiers. The huge variety of approaches makes it difficult to point to particular trends, although timber, in various forms, seems to be making a comeback as a wall finish.” Over 200 family home extensions, studios and garden rooms were submitted
to the competition. The 30 best projects were chosen by an eminent jury including Carl Turner of Carl Turner Architects, Cany Ash of Ash Sakula, Zohra Chiheb of Levitt Bernstein, Amy Frearson of Dezeen, Philippa Stockley of the Evening Standard and Peter Murray, Chairman of New London Architecture. Amy Frearson of Dezeen called Don’t Move, Improve! one of her favourite design competitions, “as it focuses on an area of architecture that so many people, particularly in London, have either experienced themselves or have aspirations towards, and provides a real source of inspiration." Winners will be announced at NLA on Thursday 25 January 2018 to an audience of 400, launching a major three-month exhibition and the 2018 Don’t Move, Improve! magazine. The first of four public Design Surgeries will be held in February, for homeowners in London looking to extend and improve their homes featuring free consultations with architect practices. A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Grate Expectations - A Family run business established for over 30 years The UK’s leading suppliers of luxury gas fireplaces, wood burning stoves and bioethanol fires manufactured by DRU, Spartherm, Ebios, Dik Guerts, Gazco, Stovax and many more.
1-3 Station Buildings, Kingston Road, Wimbledon Chase, SW20 8JT 020 8540 8387 | sales@grateexpectations.com | grateexpectations.com
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INTERIORS • EXTENSIONS
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Manor Road, N16
Paul Archer Design A Mies van der Rohe inspired glazed kitchen extension with a cantilever roof stretches outdoors on a raised plinth, creating a garden link between the basement conversion and the ground floor living spaces.
Threefold Architects The brief for the project was to create a dynamic new gallery that was connected to the curators house and garden which are themselves an extension of the gallery space.
Valetta House
Office S&M This Victorian house was extended to create a generous living space on the ground floor and a new bedroom in the loft. A palette of colours and materials were used.
Arbour House
Pop Up Ute
Nimtim Architects The timber structure defines a series of openings along the roof and onto the rear garden. This timber grid extends both into the garden and into the house blurring the boundary between inside and out.
Friend and Company Friend and Company are adept at finding imaginative solutions to complex architectural problems, and have a particular interest in exploiting the structural possibilities of materials.
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Roman Road Gallery
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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
WASTE NOT MINI RODINI
Mini Rodini carries one of the most sustainable ranges on the market – with collections made with more than 99% sustainable materials. So if sustainability's on your list for 2018, here's where to go. minirodini.com
Small Talk
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Children’s Book Project
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KIDS & EDUCATION • NOTES
F O CU S
Let it grow B U N N Y & C LY D E
This Harrison toddler bed with its midcentury feel converts effortlessly into a stylish daybed that's just as much at home in an adult space as in a kids' room. bunnyandclyde.ie
LEATHER CRAFT Witloft
SMALL TALK Flexible furniture, leather aprons, a shiny jacket and some new books
EDITOR’S PICK
GOLDEN DOWN FINGER IN THE NOSE
If your tot is one of those that refuses to wear coats, dazzle them with this beautifully shiny quilted down jacket from stylish French label Finger in the Nose. Now see who's refusing.£151;
smallable.com
TOMB TALK E GY P TO M A N I A
This big, bold lift-the-flap book takes you straight into the heart of ancient Egypt. Learn what people wore, what’s inside a pyramid, how a mummy is made and much, much more. £18.99. laurenceking.com
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aunched in Amsterdam in 2004, Witloft has become known for its leather aprons that have been worn and loved by the world’s most credible chefs. Jamie Oliver, The Hairy Bikers, Gennaro Contaldo and Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown have all been spotted in the stylish leather aprons, as have countless baristas, barbers and grill masters. And now they've launched a beautiful children’s collection mirroring the main collection. The colourful collection is available in five styles as well as a limited edition golden colour. These handmade leather aprons are perfect for showing off in the kitchen while preparing family Christmas treats together. The one-off golden apron makes the perfect gift for any chef of the house, or budding baker – and they're all equally good for outdoor pursuits too. wit-loft.com
SHELF LIFE SY LV I A B I S H O P
This story is about a little girl named Property Jones, socalled because she was left in the lost property cupboard of a bookshop when she was five years old. Her secret is that she can’t actually read... scholastic.co.uk
A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s
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EDUCATION • FOCUS
Reading riches How the London Children’s Book Project redistributes books to families without them
T
he act of reading changes us. When a child reads for pleasure it alters the way they view themselves and how they view the world,” says Liberty Venn. Anyone who reads books knows how transformative it is for children to grow up surrounded by stories. Yet according to the National Literacy Trust, one in four children across London has fewer than 10 books of their own. Children growing up in ‘book poor’ households are known to be disadvantaged when it comes to language development, emotional and social development and learning outcomes. Venn is a researcher from west London who specialises in literacyrelated work. Last summer she launched the London Children’s Book Project following a successful two-year-pilot project at a primary
school in North Kensington. The not-for-profit organisation aims to redistribute 30,000 new and ‘gently-used’ children’s books this academic year. There are many such gifting programmes in the US, yet the UK has none, despite significant need. Working with the staff at Barlby Primary School in North Kensington (48% of pupils at Barlby are on free school meals; the national average is 24%) she set up a free library in the playground “full of books for kids to take, with no rules about them”. “No surprise, we ran out of books”, she says, so Venn wrote to 10 local private schools such as Bute House, Thomas’s, Norland Place and Notting Hill Prep (where Jane Cameron was “incredible”) to see if they could donate. Norland Place did a book drive. Parents were thrilled to clear their shelves and “by the next day, we had 1,300,” says Venn. Norland Place has now made this book drive an annual event for LCBP. In summer 2017, Notting Hill Prep gathered 2,400 books for the charity. “I have been amazed by people’s generosity,” says Venn. “What is amazing is the unquestioning support of the project. You don’t need to explain to anyone why it’s important, everyone just gets it.” What makes the charity special is the “creative distribution” of the books, says Venn; the project places an emphasis on enjoyment for those both giving and receiving books. The project has created posters, bunting and stickers
“You don’t need to explain why it's important – everyone just gets it”
B y A M A N DA C O N S TA N C E
for schools to create their own pop-up bookshops. “This puts real value on the selection process,” says Venn. Teachers have already reported on “the amazing language development in their pupils when they discuss the process afterwards”, says Venn. So what’s the end goal? “I think it’s reasonable to distribute 50,000 books a year,” says Venn. She’s done her homework: there are 305 primary schools in London where the pupil body is above national average for receipt of the pupil premium – ie the school has a high number of children who are more likely to come from book-poor homes. “We have pushed 10,000 books into the community in North Kensington,” says Venn. That works out at about 10 books a child on average. As a workable model, “it’s a no-brainer”, she says. “It’s very neat. I want commitment, not money.”
Email liberty@childrensbookproject. co.uk to get involved childrensbookproject.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Co-educational Boarding and Day (for pupils aged 13 – 18) Outstanding facilities Beautiful location A choice between the IB and A levels in the Sixth Form
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EDUCATION • FOCUS
SOUTH HAMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOLS PUPILS
No Brainer An alliance of London girls’ schools is planning to replace the 11+ with cognitive tests to make the admissions process less of a headache Wo r d s L I S A F R E E D M A N
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hen my oldest child was sitting 11+, I used to wake up in the middle of the night and count school places. The activity certainly didn’t send me back to sleep. Now, however, a significant tranche of London schools is planning to make their admissions process less nightmarish and, from 2019, will be simplifying their entrance exams. The loose alliance of schools known as the North London Independent Girls’ Schools’ Consortium (12 all-girls’ schools in the capital and surrounding suburbs) have
long tried to ease the pressure on pupils by coordinating their exams and the date on which results are released. Now, they intend to radically reorganise the exams themselves, replacing the traditional written papers in Maths and English with a single aptitude test, which, they hope, will be considerably less stressful. "We’ve had discussions for the past few years to address concerns about young children’s mental health, particularly girls," says Lucy Elphinstone, headmistress of Consortium member Francis Holland School, Sloane Square. "Then, a number of prep-school heads gave a presentation to senior-school heads about the effects of 11+
testing with a plea to significantly modify or get rid of it. In its place, they advocated the use of cognitive testing." Cognitive tests – or, to use a more oldfashioned term, IQ tests– have, of course, long been a significant plank of school admissions. They were (and remain) the dominant means by which the country’s 163 grammar schools discriminate amongst their multitude of applicants. Increasingly, however, they have also been employed by the independent sector. Eton, for example, introduced a bespoke computerised aptitude test as a key part of its admissions process in 2002, and this type of assessment has now become widespread in 13+ ‘pretesting’, where applicants frequently sit online multiple-choice tests. Lucy Elphinstone believes that one of the most significant benefits of cognitive testing is that it’s less easy to tutor for, and, as a result, less likely to induce the same level of ‘I-can’t-do-it’ panic. "Girls take similar tests every year at school to track and forecast progress and don’t blink an eyelid." A further plus is that cognitive tests are seen as fairer to those for whom English is an additional language and applicants from state primary schools, who may not have received the same level of preparation. Independent schools are, of course, fortunate, that, unlike their grammar-school counterparts, they can employ cognitive tests as just one strand of a multi-faceted A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Redcliffe School dedicated to growing excellence
Discover why Olivia’s opinions matter at Redcliffe… Visit redcliffeschool.com Redcliffe School - educating boys and girls from rising 3 to 11 To arrange your tour contact Henrietta Corbett on 020 7352 9247 or email registrar@redcliffeschool.com
THE STUDY HOUSE LONDON
LO N D O N ’ S F I R ST ACA D E M I C M E M B E R S C L U B FO R C H I L D R E N O P E N M O N D AY T O S A T U R D AY F U L L T I M E D U R I N G T E R M - T I M E H O L I D AY S Membership includes school pick-up and home drop-off, homework tuition, one-to-one subject specific tuition, Piano and Guitar tuition, and French, Spanish, German, Mandarin lessons. Membership Applications now open. More info www.thestudyhouse.co.uk
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EDUCATION • FOCUS
admissions process, using school reports and interviews to give a more in-depth picture, and the Consortium are currently ensuring that both these components are more robust. Traditionally, decisions about who and how to interview have been left up to individual Consortium schools, with some interviewing all girls before the written tests, others interviewing all after, and many making an initial edit based on the outcome of the written exams. Victoria Bingham, recently appointed head of Consortium member South Hampstead High School, which receives about 10 applicants per place, is hoping to continue the practice she’s just introduced of providing one-to-one interviews for every applicant. "The difference between candidate number 20 and candidate number 100 in the written papers is usually not that great. What we’re looking for is spark and an interview can entirely reverse the order. A creative girl, full of character and intelligence, might not be particularly well suited to reasoning tests, while the child who’s good at the tests may come across as a bit of an automaton." The interview process itself is also evolving, aiming to ascertain aspects of personality and ability beyond the merely academic. Highgate School, for example, a co-educational independent school in north London, introduced group interviews several years, intended to evaluate intellectual curiosity, problem solving, listening skills and the ability to collaborate. This approach is also being favoured by the Consortium. "We’re looking at far more group-based activities likely to suss out creativity and
LUCY ELPHINSTONE, HEAD OF FRANCIS HOLLAND, SLOANE SQUARE
“Cognitive testing is less easy to tutor for, and, therefore, less likely to induce the same level of ‘I-can’t-do-it’ critical thinking, the skills we believe are required to thrive in a rapidly changing world," says Lucy Elphinstone. The Consortium’s move has aroused considerable interest elsewhere, and other schools, such as Wycombe Abbey, ‘are currently reviewing their processes’. Some, such as Cheltenham Ladies’ College, already have measures in place to smooth the 11+ transition, and here, a voluntary, ‘nonbinding’ ‘pre-assessment’ is offered to all applicants in Year 5.
"We provide a one-and-a-half-hour oneto-one assessment," says Dr Hilary Laver, Admissions Director. "It’s heavy on our time, but we feel it’s incredibly valuable." The assessment consists of a 15-20 minute chat and written samples of the type of questions in maths, verbal reasoning and creative writing girls will confront if they proceed to sit the entrance exam itself. "The longer you have with them, the more you feel you can make the right judgement. We’re looking at the pace they work and their accuracy, how they cope with the unfamiliar and how they respond to guidance." At Cheltenham, the pre-assessment also provides the opportunity to talk to parents. "It enables us to understand their ambitions. We’re honest with them and give them a sense of where their daughter will fall in the cohort." In a system in which not every child can gain a place at their preferred school, parents will, understandably, feel anxious about their children’s prospects, and Lucy Elphinstone feels this concern has been one of the chief drivers of the tutoring business. "With the new tests, familiarity will certainly give greater confidence, but tutoring will not significantly affect the outcome. We hope common sense will prevail." Leading tutorial companies, like Keystone Tutors, agree – up to a point. "The computerised cognitive tests currently used are purposefully designed with as little transparency as possible and no tutor can claim to have in-depth knowledge or experience of the tests themselves," says founder and director Will Orr-Ewing. "However, the cold hard facts are that the numeracy and literacy content of these tests is rooted in Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum. As such, a comprehensive understanding of the Maths and English syllabus will stand students in good stead." Keystone also believe a well-honed exam technique can be of benefit. "Often questions may be testing something quite simple, but be presented in a complex way." If, as the schools argue, tutoring isn’t the answer, what is? ‘We feel the changes will give parents more of a role to play,’ says Lucy Elphinstone. "The best way to develop cognitive skills is for families to sit round a dinner table at night discussing the news; for girls to be taken to exhibitions, concerts, the theatre." Ultimately, of course, a selective system will never be entirely stress free, but the Consortium schools and their counterparts elsewhere are all aiming for the same thing. As Dr Laver puts it: "What we hope is that girls will come to the exams in a relaxed state, so they have as much brain space as possible to focus on what’s being asked."
LISA FREEDMAN
is the MD of At The School Gates, attheschoolgates.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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BEST OF BRITISH
The bastion of British cuisine presents a new seasonal menu reviving many Rib Room favourites and classic grills, with main dishes from just ÂŁ15. Make The Rib Room Bar your local with tasty all-day bar meals and imaginative cocktails, now open daily until late. To reserve your table, call 020 7858 7250 or visit theribroom.co.uk
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TRAVEL
OLD MEETS NEW TOKYO
A mega-metropolis of dizzying contradictions, Tokyo is both familiar and foreign. This month we explore this exciting city during the autumn season, when the leaves turn and create a spectacular panorama of colour.
Spirited Away: Past meets present in Tokyo 106 • The thinking traveller 115 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Spirited Away Fusing past and future, Tokyo is an alluring destination for any traveller By HANNAH HOPKINS
A
mega-metropolis of dizzying contradictions, Tokyo is both familiar and foreign. Dystopian mega-malls, neon-lit streetscapes and soaring skyscrapers make it feel like a sci-fi cityscape, but you can still see traces of the shogun's capital, from ancient shrines and temples to plant-covered wooden houses and village-like lanes. One area particularly rooted in tradition is Nihonbashi, the birthplace of Tokyo. Originally a small fishing village named Edo, it became the capital when in 1604 a shogun named Tokugawa Ieyasu arrived and built Nihonbashi bridge, from which Mount Fuji could be seen in the distance. It was declared the centre of Japan and the starting point of five key routes across the country, and is today the capital’s financial and commercial hub. A steady flow of entrepreneurial merchants swept into the city to set up businesses, from kimono-making to seaweed shops. Fast forward more than four centuries and modern-day Nihonbashi is no less lively. Traditional shops are hidden behind contemporary buildings, dedicated to the continuation of special crafts. You could spend days discovering them, but particular highlights include Eitaro Sohonpo, a traditional sweetshop selling kintsuba (delicious flour-coated rolls of sweet bean paste), Yamamoto Noriten, selling nori seaweed and Ninben, selling dried fish flakes used in dashi stock. Ideal for souvenirs, Ibasen make handcrafted fans, while Yamada Heinado create beautiful lacquerware.
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“In the quiet alleys you’ll find anachronistic wooden shanty bars and raucous festivals”
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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE (MATURI) FESTIVAL - PHOTO PHIL COUZENS
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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7-11% 3 year ÂŁ7,000 IRR PA
Return
Investment
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Buy2LetCars Car leasing funded by people for people
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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST
THE ASAHI BEER HALL PHOTO HIROMI IGUCHI
SUSHI SORA
Nihonbashi is also the neighbourhood of the luxurious Mandarin Oriental hotel. Set high above the city, its combination of crisp, contemporary style, renowned spa, innovative restaurants, superb views (you can see Mount Fuji on a clear day) and of course, impeccable service, make it the perfect base from which to discover Tokyo. Tokyo is a nirvana for foodies, and has the world’s greatest number of Michelin star restaurants in any city. Three of them are in the Mandarin Oriental. Even without a Michelin star, Sushi Sora on the hotel's 38th floor cannot be missed. With an eight-seat dining counter fashioned from 350 yearold Japanese cypress and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Tokyo Skytree
– a twisting spire that draws on ancient building techniques - the setting is sublime. As for the food, the chef’s skilled hands elegantly transform the most simple nigiri or makimono-rolled sushi into a culinary masterpiece. Drinks at the hotel’s Mandarin Bar also offer a flavour of old Tokyo – order the Nihonabshi cocktail, a heady mix of vodka, yuzu and grapefruit juice. With a theme of wood and water, the hotel’s rooms are utterly tranquil, with nature motifs and pale bamboo wood floors. We stayed in a Mandarin Grand room, with views that stretch over Shinjuku towards Mount Fuji in the distance. The spa-like bathrooms, with rainforest showers and stand-alone baths, offer space to relax while the beds are made up with Egyptian cotton linens, resulting in the best sleep we’ve ever had in a hotel. This relaxation theme is continued in the spa, where you can soak sky high in vitality pools with soothing body jets or get a restorative treatment based on the five Japanese elements - green tea, pine, bamboo, rice hulls and plum. Shopping is a highlight of any trip to Tokyo. It’s worth bringing an empty suitcase to fill with hard-to-resist gadgets, trendsetting garments and treasures from craft and design stores. Right by the hotel is the Mitsukoshi, the oldest surviving department store chain in Japan. The grand building of Renaissance architecture has an entrance guarded by a pair of lion statues and stocks everything from luxurious kimonos to weird and wacky culinary delights. In the same area, you’ll find Ozu Washi, which sells traditional Japanese washi paper - you can even have a go at making it yourself at their experience studio - and Tokyu Hands is packed with unique Japanese products that will make beauty and stationery junkies very happy.
SUSHI SORA
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Many associate Japan with its famous cherry blossom season, but its autumn foliage, when the leaves turn, is also spectacular, rivalling even New England’s celebrated range of colours. At the Meiji Jingu Gaien a golden tunnel is created by the area’s 146 ginkgo trees, which extend from Aoyama Dori to the Jingu stadium, while Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden offers a rainbow of autumn foliage panoramas and plenty of fresh air. After snapping the stunning vistas, head to the nearby quiet alleys where you’ll find anachronistic wooden shanty bars, raucous traditional festivals and lantern-lit yakitori (grilled chicken) stands. Even though Tokyo has a population of 13 million-plus, trains run on time, there is no public litter and street crime is near non-existent. Getting around is pretty easy and it’s worth heading to the backstreets of Harajuku - known for its colorful street art, fashion scene and quirky vintage clothing
“Traditional shops including kimono makers and seaweed stores are hidden behind modern buildings” stores and Shibuya, where you can witness its vast crossing and giant video screen, projecting images of the hottest pop stars. Nearby is the Meiji Shrine - the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken, and first-timers to Tokyo should also tick off the Tokyo Imperial Palace primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. To view the city from the water, follow in the footsteps of early Edo business pilgrims and take a 45-minute limousine boat tour, where you can take in the vast number of bridges, skyscrapers and water-side restaurants. To really see Tokyo you need to head up high, where you can look over the city at night. See it blinking like the control panel of a starship, stretching all the way to the horizon, and take in its intoxicating mix of old and new, familiar and unfamiliar.
M A N DA R I N O R I E N TA L Tokyo Rates start from JPY 49,000 per room per night (approx. GBP 330). For more information or to make a booking, call +81 03 3270 8800 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/tokyo
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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21/12/2017 10:14
T THE HOTEL
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ichelin-starred restaurant, awardwinning spa, 500-acre estate, tennis courts, cookery school and stables; Lucknam Park has it all. Our stay starts with an enthralling drive up the milelong, beech-lined drive, and ends in a state of utter bliss. For unspoilt, country house living at its very best, this is the place to be. What a joy for a London-weary traveller, having made her way from a packed Paddington station to land upon this handsome hotel, nestled in the depths of Chippenham countryside. Each of the 43 bedrooms is individually styled with refined English furnishings, while the reception area and hallways are finished with grandeur.
canapés, before making our way through the charming library to commence dinner in what was once the ballroom. This is a veritable feast of sophisticated culinary creations such as dressed cornish white crab and rhubarb soufflé. Take a moment to drink in the high ceiling ornamented with fresco and studded with opulent crystal chandeliers: trophies from the room’s original use. The Brasserie, with its squashy armchairs, open kitchen and wood-burning stove is a more relaxed affair. Our evening here is an enjoyable one where we tuck into Cornish tempura calamari and sticky toffee pudding. Sunday lunch is a bountiful occasion with roast chicken and quintessentially British, coma-inducing puds.
weekend
THE SPA
he spa is one of the main events at Lucknam Park. Set within the estate’s unspoilt parkland, the facilities are at one with their surroundings incorporating wood, marble and glass to reflect the outdoor hues. Whether you chose to relax in the indoor pool, the hydrotherapy pools, saltwater plunge pool, thermal cabins, sauna or steam room, a state of bliss is guaranteed. Book yourself into one of the nine luxurious treatment rooms for a full-body massage; the ultimate pamper session.
“A veritable feast of sophisticated culinary creations”
DESTINATIONS
TRAVEL • UK GETAWAY
LUCKNAM PARK Heritage and luxury effortlessly combine to create a quintessential home from home. By HELEN BROWN
THE FOOD
C
hef Hywel Jones helms the eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant which transports its diners to a bygone era of elegance. The experience begins in the magnificent drawing room where we are lavished with pre-dinner cocktails and
Room only rates from £275 based on two people sharing for one night LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL, SPA AND ESTATE Chippenham, SN14; lucknampark.co.uk
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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HOME
COMFORTS East meets west at the quintessentially British Dukes Dubai W o r d s T A M A R VA N D E R H O E K
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ukes London has occupied two townhouses in a quiet cul-de-sac of St James since 1908. Fast forward to 2017 and The Mayfair brand has opened its first sister hotel in the Middle East. Dukes Dubai offers a slice of Britain in the heart of the UAE and stylishly combines quintessential British charm with larger than life luxury for which Dubai is known.
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Positioned on ‘The Trunk’ of the Palm Jumeirah, just a 40-minute drive from both international airports and proximity to districts like Media City and Internet City, Dukes Dubai is a gateway for those visiting Dubai for both leisure or business. The hotel reflects the sophistication, elegance and attention to detail of its Mayfair predecessor, but with 506 rooms and suites spread over two towers conjoined by a skybridge, Dukes Dubai is indeed a modern incarnation of the historic, boutique offering in London. The grand foyer is adorned with opulent features including a lavish Swarovski chandelier hanging above a centrepiece of fresh flowers, which compliments the more understated British finishes such as bookcases, chesterfield sofas and portraits of English aristocrats framing the lobby space. Tucked away on either side of the lobby is a double staircase which leads up to the Dukes Bar on the Mezzanine level. The original in London is one of the city’s most famous bars. Legend has it it's where author Ian Fleming dreamt up the James Bond character while ordering the signature ‘shaken not stirred’ martini. With such significant history to live up to, bartenders in this imported edition have been hand-picked and trained by the Dukes London legendary head bartender Alessandro Palazzi. Guests can expect to enjoy a classic cocktail in a city where bar culture is not a priority. Rooms and suites have been styled elegantly in neutral tones with plush upholstered headboards and furniture finished in dark-wood. Each room is bright
“Legend has it it’s where author Ian Fleming dreamt up the James Bond character while ordering a martini”
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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST
with floor-to-ceiling windows leading onto a private balcony with views of the Dubai Marina and city beyond. Home-grown touches include in-room amenities from Floris London, furniture from Andrew Martin and fine bone china from William Edwards. On the fourth floor lies 20 dedicated rooms to women travelling on their own, aptly named the Duchess suites. These rooms have been outfitted in stylish Liberty prints, the first time in which the iconic brand has partnered with a hotel. The skybridge plays host to an indoor swimming pool which has views of the Arabian Gulf. For guests looking to bask in the desert sun, the hotel provides a short golf buggy shuttle service to the nearby outdoor swimming pool and private beach.
Culinary offerings include the Mumbai restaurant Khyber on the 15th floor, a West14th Steakhouse and a hotel restaurant located behind the lobby, which serves up an all you can eat buffet every morning. While this new hotel can’t compete with the history of the original in London, Dukes Dubai appeals to travellers looking for the home-away-from-home feel in a desert city, perfect for a winter sun escape.
DUKES DUBAI The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Rates from 1,190 AED (approx £242.50) per night dukesdubai.com
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BUCKINGHAM 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?
OPEN MORNING
SATURDAY 3RD FEBRUARY 10AM
Join us to find out how Thornton can help your daughter thrive. For further information and to book a place, please phone Claire Ballantyne on 01280 812610.
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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TRAVEL • COMPANY FOCUS
Home from Home
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
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he Thinking Traveller seed was sown on the crest of Stromboli, where Rossella and Huw Beaugié were holidaying in 2000. The couple's innovative start-up filled a void in the Sicilian travel market, making available to discerning travellers a collection of highly covetable rental villas. Now in its 17th year, The Thinking Traveller’s property portfolio includes villas in Sicily, Puglia, the Ionian Islands, the Sporades Islands and Corsica, and the company has garnered an impressive assortment of accolades. Here's why a villa holiday with The Thinking Traveller should be your summer getaway this year.
Each villa has been handpicked with a focus on beauty and location. Many are within walking distance to shops, restaurants and the ocean, while many have private pools. For those looking to be nestled in the heart of the countryside, the hilltop villas offer unbeatable views.
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
You won’t miss the convenience of a hotel with a serviced villa from The Thinking Traveller. Cooks, maids and gardeners are all on hand so you need not lift a finger. Service levels from start to finish exceed expectations, guaranteeing utter comfort and total bliss.
“Each villa has been handpicked with a focus on beauty”
Discover the benefits of a villa holiday with The Thinking Traveller
PRIVACY
Whether serviced or not, every villa offers complete privacy. Make a splash in the pool, cook up a storm in the kitchen and roam the gardens freely; all are yours to discover and enjoy during your stay.
INFORMATION AT HAND
So that every guest has the ultimate holiday experience with The Thinking Traveller, each booking comes with a smart travel bag containing a map, detailed house guide and area guide book. Local managers are also on-hand to ensure your holiday goes smoothly. Part-concierge, parttroubleshooter, they can help you with everything, from sourcing the best ice-cream to discovering the area’s hidden gems.
MAKE YOUR OWN RULES
With The Thinking Traveller there are no dress codes and no set meal times. It’s your house and your holiday so you call the shots. The bar never closes and the fridge is always open. On arrival you’ll find it fully stocked, while the wine-to-villa delivery service means you can enjoy a beverage on stepping through the threshold. Additional shopping can be pre-ordered and delivered to suit specific needs, or for those looking for that extra touch of luxury, a local chef can be organised to cook your evening meal. For more information visit thethinkingtraveller.com or email info@thethinkingtraveller.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Happiness starts at Battersea
At our dogs and cats home in London, you’ll find lots of smiles, just like this one. It’s because we do more than microchip them, vaccinate them and give them full check-ups. We spend time with each of them, giving them professional training and expert care. That way, when you come to meet them, we know they’re ready, and happy to meet you.
battersea.org.uk
Registered charity no. 206394
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PET PAGES
WALK THE DOG TEATUM
Fashion brand Teatum Jones has teamed up with Brora to create a beautiful cashmere range. Pet lovers will adore this cashmere dalmatian jumper in French navy and mustard, £395, brora.co.uk
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Eating Well with Butternut Box 119 • British is Best 121 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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CALMA-K9
D O G WA L K I N G • DAY C A R E • B OA R D I N G • T R A I N I N G 07864 029 004 • calmak9.co.uk
A LWAY S P R E PA R E D T O WA L K T H E E X T R A M I L E
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PET PAGES • FOCUS
Dog’s Dinner The team at Butternut believes that dogs deserve better meals, delivered to their doorsteps B y L AU R E N L EO N A R D
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utternut Box deliver bespoke packages of nutritionist-approved meals to your door for your pup to lap up in a state of satiated bliss. We caught up with the team behind the innovative brand to discover why these delicious and nutritious dinners are a must for happy dogs. Q: Tell us a bit about Butternut Box, where did it all start? A: The story began five years ago when Dave, one of the founders, fell in love with a Staffie at Battersea Dogs Home. She was very poorly, but Dave convinced Battersea that his family were the best people to nurse her back to health. Unfortunately, things didn’t look good, and well... they didn’t smell good either, so they decided to call her Rudie. In an attempt to improve Rudie’s tummy problems, Dave started homecooking her meals using only the best ingredients, and the improvement was better than he could have imagined. Dave told the story to his friend and colleague Kev, our other founder, who suggested that they try cooking for even more dogs - and so the idea was born. Q: How does Butternut Box work? A: Before we prepare our meals we ask you a few simple questions about your dog so that we can really get to know them. We take into account the age, weight, breed, body condition and activity level of your dog to help us create a truly tailor-made meal plan. Every meal is taste-tested by us before it leaves our kitchen, then frozen and packaged in an insulated box to keep it fresh whilst it’s being shipped out to our lucky Butternutters. Meals are carefully
portioned and packaged so that you know exactly how much you should be feeding your dog each day - simply serve and set your dog’s tail to wag. Q: What’s the Butternut Box team like? A: We’re a group of individuals from all over (although there is a strong Irish contingent) who are brought together by our passion for dogs. We love to go the extra mile - we know the name of all of our furry customers, and most of the human ones too, and nothing makes us happier than the pictures and success stories that we get sent every day. Q: Give us an example of some of the ingredients you work with? A: At the moment we have four tasty meal options; turkey, chicken, lamb and beef. All of our recipes contain 60% fresh human-grade meat along with a selection of vegetables and supplements to provide a nutritionally complete diet. We think that knowing where your ingredients come from is a big deal. Our beef and lamb is from Northern Ireland, our chicken is from Norfolk and our turkey is from Hertfordshire. We like to be close with everyone we work with, including our suppliers, so we know that the ingredients we use meet the standards that we, and you, expect. Q: What are some important aspects to keep in mind when choosing nutrition for your dog? A: Three areas to focus on are quality, palatability and suitability. In terms of quality it’s important to understand the ingredients in the food and how it’s processed. There only needs to be 4% chicken in a tin of dog food for it to be classed as a
“We love to go the extra mile - we know the name of all of our furry customers” chicken meal, so it’s best to check the label before you buy. In terms of palatability, freshly cooked is more accepted than other forms, and we have a few tricks up our sleeve to help out pet parents with fussy eaters. Lastly it has to be suitable for your dog’s individual needs, so as an absolute minimum we recommend a food that’s free from any known allergens including grain, dairy and soy. Q: What’s next for Butternut Box? A: Our dream is to see as many dogs as possible doing what we call ‘the happy dance’ when they receive their Butternut Box delivery. We are busy developing new recipes for our Butternutters, planning dog walks and maybe even adding some feline friends to the family...
BUTTERBOX 207-210 Dephna Estates, NW10; butternutbox.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Real good food.
The UK’s first home-cooked dog food company Super fresh meals. Made by hand. Delivered to your door. Developed with nutritionists.
Cooked by hand. Fresh wholesome
ingredients, tailored
to suit your dog.
Delivered to your door.
50% off Sign up now at butternutbox.com/absolutelymutts
Ts & Cs apply. 1 offer per household. First time customers only. Valid Until 31/03/2018. UK delivery only. Cancel anytime. For full Ts & Cs go to www.butternutbox.com/terms-and-conditions
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Real good times.
your first 2 boxes
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PET PAGES • PRODUCTS
BARBOUR Quilted Dog Bed, £59.95; barbour.com
DOGATELLA Gold and Silver Collars, £59; dogatella.com
BY MUSA Luna Collar, £75; bymusapets.com
MUTTS AND HOUNDS Balmoral Checked Tweed Coat, £50; muttsandhounds.co.uk
DOGATELLA Gold Collar, £59; dogatella.com
BY MUSA Poo Purse, £60; bymusapets.com
BARBOUR
WRAP UP WARM
EDITOR’S PICK
Large Dog Blanket, £59.95; barbour.com
The best British brands to keep your dog warm this winter
MUTTS AND HOUNDS Camello Leather and Grey Tweed Lead, £55.50; muttsandhounds.co.uk
B y MIRIAM CAREY
JOULES Percher Check Pet Bed, £34.95; joules.com
CHELSEA DOGS ORVIS Quilted Waxed Cotton Dog Coat, £45; orvis.co.uk
Waterproof Quilted Dog Coat, £45; chelseadogs.com
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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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.
13/12/2017 15:36
PET PAGES • NOTES
Puppy Love
We catch up with Mayhew to discover how they help thousands of animals in need gain a better quality of life
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ince 1886, Mayhew has and continues to be one of the most effective animal welfare charities in London. More than just a rescue and rehoming centre, Mayhew strives to tackle the companion animal welfare crisis through a number of communitybased outreach programmes. Here they tell us about the work they do, and how you can do your bit to help the animals that need your help. RESCUE AND REHOMING Every year Mayhew rehome hundreds of dogs and cats to loving, forever homes. Every dog and cat that comes into them receives the very best care and veterinary treatment during their stay. Adoption Officers work tirelessly to assess and get to know each and every one of their animals looking for a home to ensure they are matched with the right owner. ANIMAL WELFARE Mayhew’s team of Animal Welfare Officers respond to emergency calls to rescue many neglected, unwanted and stray dogs and cats across London. They actively work in the local community preventing animal welfare problems becoming crises
and work extensively with vulnerable pet owners including the elderly, disabled, homeless and pet owners facing a crisis, whether housing, personal or health related. VET CLINIC The onsite Community Vet Clinic and Vet Team promote responsible care for pets and offers low cost and affordable neutering and preventative veterinary care to pet owners. The Vet Clinic provides care, treatment, neutering and surgery for the sick, injured, abandoned and neglected animals that come through its doors.
“Adoption Officers work tirelessly to get to know all of their animals looking for a home”
B y L AU R E N L EO N A R D
MAYHEW INTERNATIONAL Since 2000, Mayhew has worked internationally to fund long-term and sustainable animal welfare, rabies prevention and Trap Vaccinate Neuter Release (TVNR) programmes. This treatment is rolled our across countries such as Afghanistan, Georgia, Russia and India. THERAPAWS Mayhew's animal therapy programme, TheraPaws, has 50 teams who visit care homes, hospitals and hospices in 11 London boroughs promoting the human and animal bond, and bringing well-being and joy to residents and patients. HOW CAN YOU HELP? If you’d like to help the homeless cats and dogs at Mayhew, you can make a donation to help them care for and find the perfect home for each and every one of them. If you are thinking about getting a pet, Mayhew ask that you first consider the responsibilities and costs involved in owning an animal and, if you decide to go ahead, think about adopting one from a shelter like Mayhew. At Mayhew, every cat or dog that passes through the doors is assessed both medically and behaviourally and their adoption process is very thorough to ensure they find the right owner for each animal.
T H E M AY H E W To find out more about Mayhew’s work, visit themayhew.org For adoption, clinic and general enquiries, call: 020 8962 8000. To donate, call: 020 8206 5870. A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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The Subscription
FOR INTERIOR DESIGN ENTHUSIASTS Sign up to Readly for only £7.99 a month and read all back issues of Absolutely Home, as well as our entire portfolio, including Absolutely Mama, Absolutely Education and Absolutely Weddings. Readly Subscribers also enjoy unbounded access to over 2,300 top titles.
Readly offers the freedom to effortlessly glide between articles and features covering inspiration from London’s top interior designers and influencers.
Subscribe at gb.readly.com/absolutelyhome
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PET PAGES • NOTES
A Dog’s Life We caught up with Freddy Ferreira, founder of dog training business Calma K9 to discover how he can help you and your four-legged friend lead a happier life together. B y L AU R E N L EO N A R D
LAUREN LEONARD: What’s different about Calma K9 to other dog training services? FREDDY FERREIRA: Our main difference is the preparation we offer to our employees. They are well equipped to understand what the dogs are demonstrating and how to utilise the necessary actions to prevent anything spoiling the fun and safety. LL: When did you realise you had a better understanding about dogs? FF: I think I really started to notice it when I was doing a live-in experience at a kennel and I was able to help the dogs that my mentors were struggling with. That was the initial point I understood that a good dog trainer/behaviourist must have a range of different methods and techniques up their sleeve to be able to adapt to every circumstance and each individual dog.
LL: What sort of training can you provide for dogs? FF: Our training sessions are done in a one-to-one format. This means that dog and owner can get the most out of it and each pair gets our full attention. By doing this we not only demonstrate the theoretical part of the process but properly engage practically and take the first steps with the customer to fix any issues and doubts that might arise. LL: Talk us through a typical day in the life at Calma K9? FF: Days are incredibly dynamic and can be challenging at times. When work revolves around animals with varying personalities and unpredictable natures, the game changes a a bit. However I can’t deny how rewarding it is to be able to watch the dogs growing in confidence and having the opportunity to bond with them in the way we do. It's one of the best things in the world. LL: What are the three most important aspects to keep in mind when choosing daycare for your dog? FF: I believe that the most important things would be to find someone that has a good understanding about dog behaviour. Personally I would steer away from the “pet lovers only" services, and find a daycare centre that really understands the needs of your dog and can adapt to that. Each dog is unique and requires different arrangements from one another.
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“It’s rewarding to be able to watch the dogs growing in confidence”
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LL: What is your top dog walking tip that every owner should know? FF: My top tip would be to never pick up your dog. If in doubt, put your dog on the lead and keep it as short as possible. Remember that you are taking the dog for a walk not the other way around, stick with the leader mindset. LL: What’s next for Calma K9? FF: At the moment we are focusing on innovation; we want to offer something special to our dogs and their owners. We have plans to create a centre that has the potential to become an authority in the way dogs are cared for. It'll be a one-stop-shop for all of your dog’s needs.
CA L M A K 9 Bracewell Road, W10; facebook.com/CalmaK9 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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After 8 years in the Cotswolds, Symes is now operating in London and the Home Counties. Specialising in bespoke kitchens and joinery, fine interiors and renovation works, we are dedicated to your vision of creating a beautiful home. Offering full design services, we compliment this by also providing a complete design and build option. Whether you are wishing to add a bespoke kitchen, a climbing frame in your garden or undertaking building and interior works, we will not only create the look you want, but deliver your project with the greatest attention to detail, efficiency and professionalism.
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For a complete and comprehensive tailored solution to your property needs, please contact us. info@symesinteriors.co.uk 02085422334 07917086199 www.symesinteriors.co.uk
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mm ee aa nndd V Viissiitt!! Co
A new nursery for Twickenham! •• •• ••
Great Great teaching teaching and and learning learning In a stylish and well-resourced In a stylish and well-resourced environment environment With excellent customer service With excellent customer service
bhdaynursery bhdaynursery
@bhdaynursery @bhdaynursery
0208 0208 7122 7122 297 297 || www.bhdaynursery.co.uk www.bhdaynursery.co.uk manager@bhdaynursery.co.uk manager@bhdaynursery.co.uk
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CREATORS OF THE WORLD’S MOST DESIRABLE FIREPLACES Winner of the HOMES & GARDENS PALMES D’OR design awards, we created our unique open flame flueless gas fires in 1999 using cutting edge burner technology
CVO Fire | Unit 4 Beaumont Square Newton Aycliffe | County Durham | DL5 6XN 01325 301020 | sales@cvo.co.uk www.cvo.co.uk
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PROPERTY Living the dream 132 Famous Places 138
DUNCAN TERRACE N1
ÂŁ5,250,000
ust north of central, is this elegant and spacious six bedroom family townhouse. The property is a Grade II listed Georgian terrace with a garden. On the ground floor is a reception room, kitchen, breakfast room and west-facing terrace. On the two floors above, there is a study, cloakroom, two bathrooms and four bedrooms. Below is a self-contained flat with separate street access.
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YOU HOME Notting Hill 020 7908 9280 youhome.co.uk
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ANSELM ROAD, FULHAM Having been recently refurbished throughout this Victorian family home comprises five double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fully fitted kitchen / reception room. Additional benefits landscaped rear garden, a separate WC and a utility room. EPC –C
5
2
2
GUIDE PRICE
£1,595,000 FULHAM 02076109755
FAULKNER HOUSE, HAMMERSMITH Faulkner House is perfectly positioned on the north bank of the River Thames within the exclusive Fulham Reach. The luxurious apartments are designed to the highest specification. Each apartment also boasts its own private balcony or terrace. EPC –C
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£859,000 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
ELM LODGE, FULHAM An immaculately presented apartment, perfectly positioned on the North bank of the River, with beautiful views of the Thames. The development benefits from secure underground parking, communal gardens, swimming pool, sauna and steam room. Putney Bridge tube (District Line), Hammersmith tube (District, Piccadilly and Hammersmith & City Lines) Parsons Green tube (District Line) are all within walking distance. EPC – C
GUIDE PRICE
ÂŁ900,000
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LIVING THE
DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market
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FITZJAMES AVENUE W14, ÂŁ2,100,000
A
second floor mansion block apartment. The master bedroom and reception room have floor to ceiling windows with views overlooking the desirable leafy Fitzjames Avenue. The apartment has three bedrooms, a kitchen, and large family bathroom. Fitzjames Avenue is a sought after location with the amenities and transport links of Kensington High Street in close proximity. HARRODS ESTATE Kensington, 020 350 4600 harrodsestates.com
CHEYNE WALK
SW 1 0 , ÂŁ2,000,000
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his 26m boat has wonderful entertaining space that includes the entire ground floor comprising a large open-plan kitchen, dining area and drawing room. A large terrace opens out from the drawing room, offering incredible views across the Thames. She has two large ensuite bedrooms with a dressing room in the master suite. There are also separate study, utility, cloak and plant rooms. KNIGHT FRANK Chelsea, 02036037559 knightfrank.com 1
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PROPERTY • NEW TO THE MARKET
SOULDERN ROAD W 1 4 , £ 5 ,9 5 0,0 0 0
A
BARTON ROAD
TOWNMEAD ROAD SW 6 , £ 5 1 5 ,0 0 0
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stunning and highly unique property converted from two houses into one. This property provides extensive light filled living space. There are two reception rooms, five bedrooms, and a roof terrace. Souldern Road is a tree lined residential street in Brook Green within a mile walk of Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith underground stations.
his Victorian conversion flat comprises an entrance hallway, two bedrooms, a reception room, modern bathroom and kitchen. There is gas central heating, built in storage cupboards and modern furnishings. The property has a private garden and is situated just North of the River Thames, and within close proximity of Wandsworth Bridge.
FINLAY BREWER
LOCKETT ESTATES
Brook Green, 02073714171 finlaybrewer.co.uk
Fulham, 02077362810 lockettestates.co.uk
W 1 4 , £93 5 ,0 0 0
A
beautiful three bedroom apartment in the heart of Barons Court. The property has a range of original period features plus high ceilings, creating a characterful home which has been thoughtfully restored and modernised. The property has its own garden, and sits close to the shops and restaurants of West Kensington. Barons Court tube is a moments walk away providing transport to central London.
THE PROPERTY HAS HIGH CEILINGS AND A RANGE OF PERIOD FEATURES CREATING A CHARACTERFUL HOME
FEATHERSTONE LEIGH
Fulham, 0207 610 9755 featherstoneleigh.co.uk
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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Harrods Estates brings
LONDON property to the world
• LONDON RESIDENTIAL SALES • LONDON RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS • ACQUISITIONS • NEW DEVELOPMENTS • ASSET MANAGEMENT • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: 020 7225 6700 KENSINGTON OFFICE: 48-50 KENSINGTON CHURCH STREET LONDON W8 4DG T: 020 3650 4600
HARRODSESTATES.COM @HarrodsEstates
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Established 1897
An immaculately refurbished three-bedroom apartment. Fitzjames Avenue, Kensington W14 • Edwardian mansion block • Double-Aspect reception room • Three double bedrooms • Landscaped communal gardens
GUIDE PRICE
£2,100,000 TENURE
Share of Freehold
• Porter and security • Approx. 1,661sq ft/ 154sq m
EPC RATING
D
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 exquisite lateral apartment in this sought after mansion block. Drayton Gardens, Chelsea SW10 • Three bedrooms • Second floor with Lift access • Two reception rooms
ASKING
£4,950,000 TENURE
Share of Freehold
• Over 2,300sq ft • West facing balcony • Wooden floors throughout
EPC RATING
D
CONTACT
CHELSEA OFFICE 020 7225 6700 esam.sultan@harrodsestates.com
H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M
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Established 1897
A spacious three-bedroom apartment in a period block. Carlisle Place, Victoria SW1 • Purpose-built Edwardian mansion block • Two large reception rooms • Three double bedrooms
GUIDE PRICE
£2,975,000
TENURE
Approximately 111 Years
• High ceilings and period details • Day porter and security • Approx. 2,176sq ft/ 202.19sq m
EPC RATING
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CONTACT
KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE 020 7225 6509 michael.harte@harrodsestates.com
H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M
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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
COMES WITH BAGGY TROUSERS
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SPITFIRES AND PIANOS
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his extraordinary building was originally the home of a famous piano manufacturer that made instruments for Beethoven as well as Strauss and Sibelius. Then, during the Second World War the factory is where canopies and propellers were made for the iconic Spitfire fighter. After the war its owner Chappell & Co returned to making pianos but by 1970 had lost out to cheaper instruments made in the Far East. During the 1970s and 1980s the premises became a studio complex for photographers and modelling agencies and it’s here that many famous photo shoots for Vogue, Tatler and Harpers & Queen
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magazines were completed. During the late 1990s the property, which is in the fashionable area of Camden in London, was bought by developer Hallmark Property Group which, in 2013, began a four-year conversion of the building into ten loft-style apartments. That has now been completed and the penthouse has already been sold. Buyers of the remaining properties will enjoy a shared residents’ Club Lounge which includes a bar, cinema, 17-metre long pool, a spa area and a gym. Its history and luxurious surroundings do not come cheap. Prices at Chappell Lofts start at £3.25 million and rise to £8.5 million. More information from joins agents Savills (020 3425 5615) or Aston Chase (020 77214 4724).
op band Madness is still going strong despite 37 years having passed since their first hit album, One Step Beyond, was released. The band’s mix of ska, thoughtful lyrics and outrageously silly videos has given the band a loyal following across the generations, helped by a relentless gigging schedule and regular album releases. Much of its ‘nutty boys’ persona is down to lead singer Suggs who, as well as regular appearances on TV, writes much of the band’s material. He, like the rest of Madness, hails from Camden in North London and despite fame and fortune hasn’t wandered far. And now one of his early homes in the area is for sale. It’s a mews house lived in by Suggs during the early years of Madness. Bought by the current owner off the singer during the late 1980s, it has subsequently been expanded and now includes a fully fitted kitchen, large reception room, three double bedrooms and three bathrooms. Camden Mews is a highly sought after location just off Camden Square. This cobbled mews is famous for its diverse architecture and onward travel links to the City and Kings Cross St Pancras. Suggs bought the property in 1981 and in his autobiography, recalls how he “finally arrived at my newly purchased house in Camden Mews. It had been part of the stables for the bigger houses at the back. It was pretty, but tiny.” It’s for sale at £1.95m. Call Savills on 0203 428 2900 for more information.
A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s
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PROPERTY • STAR HOMES
THE DUNKIRK BEACH STAR
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unkirk, this year’s blockbuster about the rescue of British troops during WWII, marked the acting debut of One Direction singer Harry Styles. But the film enlisted some much older talent. One of the rescue boats hired by Dunkirk’s producers was Xylonite, a Thames sailing barge. The 86ft long and 18.5ft wide barge was built in 1926 and worked the waters off the East Coast of England until 1977. What viewers won’t have known is that Xylonite is a four-bedroom luxury home normally moored at St Katherine’s Dock in Tower Bridge. As well as being certified to be sailed at sea she has a wealth of original maritime features plus all the modern fixtures you’d expect of a luxury home. She is being sold via Riverhomes.co.uk for £395,000.
"One of the rescue boats hired by Dunkirk's producers was Xylonite, a Thames sailing barge"
BAKEWELL EXITS PRIMROSE HILL
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oan Bakewell is one of the nation’s best-known writers and broadcasters and has a remarkable track record in campaigning journalism under her belt. Despite all her work, for which she was made a Baroness in 2011, Bakewell is also well-known for her relationship with Harold Pinter. Throughout Joan's career, she has lived in the same house in Primrose Hill, north of central London, which she bought in 1963 when the area was a bohemian neighbourhood. Neighbours since have included playwright Alan Bennett, poets Ted Hughes and his wife Sylvia Plath, TV presenter Jon Snow and Robert Plant, lead singer of Led Zeppelin. 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.
A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N
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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
AMOR ROAD W6 GUIDE £2.75M FREEHOLD UPPER MALL W6 • 5 DOUBLE BEDROOMS £1,500PW / £6,500PCM • DOUBLE RECEPTION UPPER MALL W6 • KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM •£1,500PW HOME •WONDERFUL 19’11 x 18’5FAMILY MEDIA/PLAYROOM / £6,500PCM • •• •• ••
BEDROOMS •4 DOUBLE STUDY/BEDROOM 6 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
ADDISON GARDENS W14 GUIDE £2.3M FREEHOLD HAARLEM ROAD W14 • 5 DOUBLE BEDROOMS £625PW / £2,708PCM • DOUBLE RECEPTION HAARLEM ROAD W14 • KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM •£625PW BEDROOM FLAT •2 DOUBLE 2 BATHROOMS / £2,708PCM • •• •• ••
•RECEPTION GUEST CLOAKROOM 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
• • •• •• ••
• 2 BATHROOMS (1 EN SUITE) • EN SUITE SHOWER ROOM LETTINGS 020 • GUEST CLOAKROOM GARDENS •2 COURTYARD 33’8 x 21’2 GARDEN HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK •EASY EPC ACCESS RATING TO D 62 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
• • •• •• ••
• UTILITY/PLAYROOM • WINE CELLAR & LARGE STORAGE CELLAR 020 7371 LETTINGS • PATIO GARDEN •BALCONY POTENTIAL ROOF TERRACE •UNFURNISHED EPC RATING E 54 WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY BALCONY EPC RATING C 79 UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE NOW WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY
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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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WESTWICK GARDENS W14 £1,450PW / £6,283PCM • • • • •
6 BEDROOMS ELEGANT DOUBLE RECEPTION 2 FLOORS OF LIVING SPACE LARGE KITCHEN/DINING ROOM FAMILY BATHROOM & SHOWER ROOM
LETTINGS 020 7371 4071
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HEBRON ROAD W6 £1,000PW / £4,333PCM • • • • •
4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION BESPOKE KITCHEN 2 BATHROOMS BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
WOOD FLOORING THROUGHOUT SOUTHERLY FACING GARDEN & ROOF TERRACE EASY ACCESS TO SHEPHERDS BUSH & HOLLAND PARK EPC RATING D 67 AVAILABLE BEGINNING DECEMBER
LETTINGS 020 7371 4071
• • • • •
WOOD FLOORING THROUGHOUT CELLAR STORAGE CLOSE TO EXCELLENT HAMMERSMITH TRANSPORT LINKS EPC RATING E 50 AVAILABLE END FEBRUARY
LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED
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PROPERTY • NEW HOMES
THE SOUTH BANK This buzzy area of London sparkles during the busy winter period
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he South Bank has become a hive of activity this season as “Wintertime”, the Southbank Centre’s annual programme, gets into full swing. Regarded as the busiest period of the year for retailers, winter is also fast-becoming a popular time for property buyers to find their perfect home. Christmas is a time when families have more spare time and get together to make property decisions, resulting in record levels of traffic on property websites. Buyers looking during the beginning of
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“With festivities taking over many parts of London, the South Bank perfectly captures the capital’s enchanting winter atmosphere”
the New Year are serious and committed to transacting, which combined with the magical scenery, makes for a much swifter sales process. With festivities taking over many parts of London, the South Bank perfectly captures the capital’s enchanting winter atmosphere. Belvedere Gardens, the latest phase at Southbank Place, is ideally located for some of London’s finest scenery and winter activities, with two and three-bedroom apartments available from £2.145m. For more information please go to southbank-place.com
A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s
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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
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14/12/2017 11:03
New Year’s Resolutions: 1. Exercise More 2. Eat Healthier 3. Sell My House
Telephone: 020 7908 9280 • Email: ldn@youhome.co.uk RBK&C Office: 121 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3LB • Westminster Office: 63 Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6LX Website: youhome.co.uk • Twitter: @youhome_ldn • Instagram: @youhome_ldn
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Sale of the Month LD SO
Rutland Street, SW7 Quietly set within the sought after Knightsbridge village a beautiful 3 bedroom freehold Victorian house with a large terrace. The very bright and tranquil property benefits from great entertaining space, three bedrooms, a guest shower room, a master en-suite bathroom and a large eat in kitchen and dining area.
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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Properties For Sale
Ossington Street, W2 £620,000
Holland Park Avenue, W11 £1,795,000
• 1 double bedroom flat • Tastefully refurbished • Own front door
• 3 bedroom apartment • Large lateral living space • Beautifully refurbished
• Great location • Long leasehold • C. 509 Sq. ft
• Private garden • Leasehold • C. 1,240 Sq. ft
Property Guru: Jerry Epton MRICS D: 020 7908 9282 E: jerry.epton@youhome.co.uk
Property Guru: Jerry Epton MRICS D: 020 7908 9282 E: jerry.epton@youhome.co.uk
Hollywood Road, SW10 £3,895,000
Cromwell Place, SW7 £2,575,000
• 4 bedroom terraced house • Beautiful white stucco fronted • Spacious and light
• Bright upper maisonette • 3 bedrooms • Elegantly refurbished
• Impressive ceiling heights • Freehold • C. 2,365 Sq. ft
• Spacious living area • Share of freehold • C. 1,466 Sq. ft
Property Guru: Alexandra Mathew D: 020 7908 9282 E: alex.mathew@youhome.co.uk
Property Guru: Davide Moi D: 020 7908 9256 E: davide.moi@youhome.co.uk
Philbeach Gardens, SW5 £5,500,000
Whaddon House, SW1X £2,850,000
• Rare grand undivided house • 6 large bedrooms • Flexible entertaining space
• Upper floor flat • 3 ensuite bedrooms • Newly refurbished
Property Guru: Davide Moi D: 020 7908 9256 E: davide.moi@youhome.co.uk
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• Quiet west facing garden • Freehold • C. 4,431 Sq. ft
• Underground parking • Share of freehold • C. 1,145 Sq. ft
Property Guru: Anita Sanford D: 020 7908 9295 E: anita.sanford@youhome.co.uk
20/12/2017 17:28
Bedford Gardens, W8 £5,950,000 A large semi-detached home (2,511 sq. ft) on two floors only, with off street parking, located on a sought-after tree-lined street. This charming house also allows any incoming purchaser the opportunity to create a substantial five bedroom family home. Full planning has been granted for a basement, side and loft extension.
Alexandra Mathew, Property Guru for W8 & W14 Direct: 020 7908 9257 • Mobile: 07974 967 811 • Email: alex.mathew@youhome.co.uk
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DISCOVERMORE
Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is a place where you would want to be – 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
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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 fulham@knightfrank.com @sw6agent.jd
Lettings 020 7751 2410 fulhamlettings@knightfrank.com @thefulhamagent
KnightFrank.co.uk
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