Absolutely Chiswick : West : Richmond March 2018

CHISWICK

ABSOLUTELY Richmond Chiswick West

MARCH 2018 / £3.95

FAR FLUNG Escape to the golden beaches of Sri Lanka

MARCH 2018

LEADING the WAY A celebration of women in design

THROW DOWN Ceramic Art London returns

Flower

FEST Thailand comes to Kew Gardens

ZEST.LONDON

Clean SLATE

B E I G E I S T H E N E W B L AC K

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What are they going to see from down there, really?

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The heart wants what the heart wants.

Discover penthouse flats with city views using keyword search.

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HOGARTH HOUSE, RICHMOND An elegant and historically significant Grade II listed Georgian Villa positioned in the heart of Richmond and once residence of the author Virginia Woolf. Originally built in circa 1750, this now exceptional four storey family home, has been painstakingly restored boasting over 3600 sq. ft.; landscaped garden and parking option.

ASKING PRICE

ÂŁ3,250,000

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Chiswick Hammersmith West Kensington Fulham Chelsea

Battersea Clapham Putney Barnes Richmond

Kew Sheen Twickenham Teddington Kingston

featherstoneleigh.co.uk

LANCASTER PARK, RICHMOND HILL A substantial six bedroom Victorian Villa located in the heart of Richmond Hill. Spread over four floors with over 2800 square feet of internal space and a whole host of period features the property is blessed with a south facing garden and off street parking. EPC=E

ASKING PRICE

£2,500,000

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BEDS, SOFAS AND FURNITURE FOR LOAFERS LOAF.COM BATTERSEA NOTTING HILL SPITALFIELDS GUILDFORD

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents MARCH 2018

106 16

C U LT U R E ABSOLUTELY LOVES

10 things we’re coveting this month

20 AGENDA

Diary dates for March

22

FLOWER POWER

Absolutely meets Nikki Pierce

FA S H I O N 38 FASHION CONFIDENTIAL This month’s hottest trend updates and brands to know

42 RODEO DRIVE

Wild West-inspired style

55 TOOLS OF THE TRADE Gadgets to add to your arsenal

FOOD & DRINK 62 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL News from the industry

64 VEGAN VICES

Healthy recipes from Mildreds

74

INTERIORS INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

76

LEADING THE WAY

Inspirational women in design

49 PIN BOARD

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y 52 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

PROPERTY 124 LIVING THE DREAM

The month’s best beauty buys

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

News and views

T R AV E L 106 FAR FLUNG

Brooches to fall for this spring

42 62

Escape to sun-soaked Sri Lanka

ON THE COVER HARRIS WHARF LONDON SS18 AVAILABLE FROM harriswharflondon.co.uk

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, LINSEY CANNON MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN DESIGNER CATHERINE PERKINS PRODUCTION MANAGER CHRIS COUCHMAN MARKETING MANAGER ANGIE KOLECI 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 3397 8706 or email: craig@zest-media.com

First Floor, 197 City Road, London EC1V 1JN T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 zest.london Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors.

We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

All rights reserved.

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

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ABSOLUTELY’S literary picks for 2018...

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FEEL FREE

ZA D I E S M I TH This year voice of a generation Zadie Smith has returned with another literary winner. Feel Free is a collection of essays that explores the intricacies of modern life. Touching on Brexit and Beiber and everything in between, this is certain to be a conversation starter. penguinrandomhouse.com JOY MONTGOMERY FASHION & BEAUTY WRITER

WHERE CHEFS EAT:

TH E TH I R D E D I TI O N The fully updated and revised third edition of this critically-acclaimed book comes out on the 21st of March. Containing 4,538 restaurant recommendations in 570 cities, you can be sure that, wherever you are, this book will have the right place. smithandbaxter.co.uk MIRIAM CAREY LIFESTYLE WRITER

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here’s something about the clocks going back that brings a sense of optimism. Even the most cynical of us can’t help but feel a twinge of excitement the first time we leave work in daylight.

The start of a new season also provides us with the chance to take stock and remember the things we’re thankful for. On the 8th we’ll be celebrating International Women’s Day which is made even more poignant as 2018 marks 100 years of votes for women - so make March a month to celebrate the ladies in your life.

In this issue we salute the many achievements of women who have shaped the creative industries.

On page 22 we talk about the home-transforming powers of floristry with Nikki Pierce, while on page 76 we meet seven inspirational women working in interior design - all from different walks of life yet united by a passion for their craft.

If blossoming spring is unable to revive your weary soul, then booking a holiday will surely do the trick. In this issue we jet off to Sri Lanka, one of this year’s hottest holiday destinations, for sun-soaked sand dunes and eclectic cuisine. If you want to keep it closer to home, you can’t go wrong with some old fashioned retail therapy. Turn to page 38 for plenty of new season inspiration.

We hope this issue gets you out of your winter funk and excited for everything 2018 has to offer whether that’s female friendships, new and old, or the joys of a new season jacket. Summer is on its way - we promise.

JOY MONTGOMERY EDITOR

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EDUCATED

TARA WE STOVE R I can't wait to read Tara Westover’s journey to receiving a PhD from Cambridge with no formal education in her youth.

The memoir addresses the challenges she faced getting into and attending college at 17, having no understanding of key societal events, such as the Holocaust. This story proves anything is possible with enough determination.

CLARA VAN DUIVENBODE EDITORIAL INTERN

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LULLABY

Heralded as 2018’s answer to Gone Girl, Lullaby is the latest page-turner on everyone’s lips, which sees an idyllic family tableaux shattered upon the hiring of a new nanny.

Faber & Faber, £8.96 on Amazon HELEN BROWN ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

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THE FEMALE PERSUASION

MEG WOLITZ ER I’m looking forward to The Female Persuasion, which is published in June.

Meg Wolitzer’s writing is insightful and entertaining and she should be counted among the Great American Novelists.

This may well be the book that gets her there.

PENDLE HARTE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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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knit it The meticulous handiwork and pointelle knit give this 100% cashmere crew neck pullover a feminine feel as well as a graphic and sensual look. The perfect pop of colour for spring. £200; eric-bompard.com

That’s a Wrap

Crafted from lightweight fabric and adorned with Kenzo's signature eye motif, the soft pink colourway of this scarf looks super chic draped across nonchalant daytime looks. €165; mytheresa.com

SILK ROAD

This pink silk-satin blouse was a standout style from Gucci’s Alchemist’s Garden AW17 show. We love it with high-waisted trousers and mules. £1,610; net-a-porter.com

T H E CAT ’S M EOW One for the feline lovers, this geometric print with vibrant background and mysterious moggy is a conversation starter. We suggest framing the print to enjoy the unique piece in all its intrigue. £35; grahamandgreen.co.uk

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

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

Specs Appeal

Pink peepers are set to be a summer staple so get your fi x with these peach sunglasses from Thierry Lasry with a cat-eye silhouette that suits all face shapes. £637; farfetch.com/uk

SOPHIE’S CHOICE Dagny London’s Sophie blouse proffers a feminine update to the classic button-down; perfect with your favourite pair of jeans or dressed up with a sleek pencil skirt. £175; dagnylondon.com

ROS E GOAL S

It’s a Gin Thing

JW Anderson’s disc shoulder bag is the perfect hue for new spring wardrobes and is ideally sized to take you from desk to disco. £975; j-w-anderson.com

TASSEL TREASURES

Family-run brand Katerina Makriyianni creates jewellry that has a vibrant freespirited feel. We love these gold vermeil earrings for adding a element of frivolity to any ensemble. £220; net-a-porter.com

English Rose is a classic gin, combining traditional botanicals and the fi nest English roses.

A celebratory spirit that stands the test of time. £32; silentpooldistillers.com

C H IC S E ATS Be the sultan of style with this colourful suzani print Alpana Cocktail Chair. With its cool modernist shape and psychedelic suzani print, it'll add real bravura to your interiors. £395; grahamandgreen.co.uk

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

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Kew Corporate - Absolutely CWR March 2018.qxp_HRP 15/02/2018 11:54 Page 1

Historic Royal Palaces

YOUR PLACE

Nestled in the heart of Kew Gardens, Kew Palace is the perfect venue for unique and spectacular dinners, celebrations and weddings.

hrp.org.uk/hireavenue 020 3166 6115

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CULTURE

Girl in the Mirror, Picasso; courtesy of Tate Modern, tate.org.uk

What’s On 20 • Meet The London Loom duo 22 • Theatre Round-Up 30 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

Peter Rabbit at Kew Gardens From 30 March KEW GARDEN S

Join Peter Rabbit and his furry friends on a botanical bunny adventure packed with games, crafts and storytelling inspired by Beatrix Potter’s iconic tales.

Spring will be well and truly underway in the Gardens where visitors will discover the exquisite illustrated world of Peter Rabbit and take part in a range of activity pop-ups for all ages.

Kew, Richmond, TW9; kew.org

T H E AT R E

M I ST Y F RO M 15 MA RC H • BUS H THEATRE

Star in the making Arinzé Kene, whose stage accolades include Girl From the North Country and One Night in Miami, delivers an epic lyrical journey through the pulsating underground soul of inner city London. With an innovative blend of gig theatre, spoken word, live art and direct address, Misty confronts the assumptions and expectations underpinning the act of storytelling.

7 Uxbridge Road, Shepard’s Bush, W12; bushtheatre.co.uk

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T H E AT R E

Humble Boy From 8 March ORAN GE TREE TH EAT RE

Following the death of his father, Felix is drawn back to his family home where his waspish mother resides with an assortment of suspicious villagers.

Charlotte Jones’ witty and intelligent family comedy will have you laughing at times and crying at others.

1 Clarence Street, Richmond, TW9; orangetreetheatre.co.uk

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

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

Around Town

FA I R

Contemporary Textiles Fair

EXHIBITION

16-18 March

PICASSO 1932: LOVE, FAME, TRAGEDY

LAN DMARK ARTS CEN TRE

Discover a diverse range of distinctive and colourful textiles from a roster of the very best designermakers in the business at the annual Contemporay Textiles Fair. A mustvisit in every textile lovers’ calendar, guests can expect richly embellished embroidery, hand-dipped shibori, ecoprints and more; everything from the quirky to couture.

Ferry Road, Teddington, TW11; landmarkartscentre.org

From 8 March Tate Modern Journey through Picasso’s year of wonders in this greatly-anticipated retrospective at Tate Modern. With over 100 paintings, sculptures and drawings, as well as family photographs and rare glimpses into his personal life, the myths around the man are stripped away to reveal the artist as you've never seen him before.

Bankside, SE1; tate.org.uk CARLA EVANS

T H E AT R E

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM 9-17 March TH E J UD I DE NC H P L AYH O US E

This Month’s Must See

Young lovers, feuding fairies and amateur actors collide in the woods outside Athens as Shakespeare’s bestloved comedy is brought to the Judi Dench Playhouse. An iconic tale about love and the confusion it brings - where there are happy endings for all that deserve them - is suitably adapted by The Questors in an unmissable, family friendly production.

12 Mattlock Lane, Ealing, W5; questors.org

T H E AT R E

MACBETH

THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS Lyr ic Hammersmith

F

FROM 15 MARCH

ollowing a sell-out season at the Abbey Theatre, The Plough and the Stars transfers to the Lyric bringing a new perspective to Sean O’Casey’s absorbing play. Set amid the tumult of the Easter Rising, the play tells of ordinary lives ripped apart by the idealism of the time. This is a dynamic reimagining; loyal to the original play with contemporary resonances for a modern audience.

Lyric Square, W6; lyric.co.uk

From 25 March Royal Opera House Shakespeare’s story of ruthless ambition is brought to life as Verdi’s Macbeth graces the stage of the Royal Opera House. Expect a bristling, theatrical score, rich costuming and magnificent cast. An unmissable production that sees Verdi at his most theatrical.

Bow Street, Covent Garden, WC2E; roh.org.uk

EXHIBITION

TACITA DEAN: STILL LIFE From 15 March National Gallery See still life through the lens of Tacita Dean in this exploration of the genre’s legacy. From the leading contemporary practitioner comes a diverse selection of her own works in a variety of mediums, alongside those of her contemporaries.

Trafalgar Square, WC2N; nationalgallery.org.uk

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

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Flower

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

B y GEORGIA MCVEIGH

Q Tell us a little bit about yourself?

A Well, I’m originally from Canada but now call Portobello Road home. I live right above the most vibrant market street with my husband and black pug and spend way too much time window shopping vintage finds from my living room window. I’m also an avid meditator and do a ten day silent Vipassana retreat every year to rebalance and renew.

Q Where did the idea for Petal and Grace stem from?

A It came mostly from an urge to be surrounded by more nature after spending a few years living in the centre of London.

Once I started working with flowers, I quickly realised the wonderful impact they can have. They can completely transform any space and it’s so nice to see the wonderful reactions we get to our arrangements.

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Q What tips would you give for flower arranging at home?

A Allow nature to do its thing. Try not to restrict flowers and foliage too much. Sometimes allowing flowers to sit naturally in a vase is enough.

Q Do you have a favourite flower?

A This changes about every five minutes. Right now I’m loving the deep burgundy colour of Bordeaux Anemone.

Q Which flowers do you prefer to use in the winter months?

A We are so lucky to have the most beautiful spring flowers in the winter. It seems a bit odd to have hyacinths and ranunculus in January but they are such a wonderful reminder that spring is around the corner.

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

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CULTURE • PROFILE

Q Do you stick to working with brands, or do you do private events as well?

A I do so many private events. Private parties and weddings can be so much fun and a great way to work creatively with some wonderful people.

Q What has been your favourite project and why?

A We had such an amazing time creating florals for Coach to help them launch one of their new fragrances. As the event was based around scent, we were asked to fill Morton’s club in Mayfair with an abundance of the most beautifully scented garden roses. We had pink roses tumbling from suitcases and pouring out of bookshelves.

The space was absolutely transformed and the scent was heavenly.

Q How has your upbringing had an impact on your work?

A I grew up in Vancouver, Canada, where a 20 minute drive would bring me to the edge of the most vast and dense wilderness. I like to think that there is an element of the untamed in a lot of my work that probably comes from growing up surrounded by this type of nature.

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

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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

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CULTURE • PROFILE

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

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

Q Have flowers always played an important part in your life, or was it something that developed over time?

A I wish I could say that I had access to a cutting garden when I was young, but I think a full appreciation for flowers came at a later stage. So much of my admiration came from studying 18th century still life paintings. Spending time pouring over those images then turned into a desire to make my own floral creations.

Q You often use art to influence your designs. Is there any particular artwork that you draw influences from?

A I think art can influence florals in so many ways. Yes, the still life portraits are an obvious source of inspiration, but I believe that inspiration can come in so many different forms. Colour palettes, textures or even a tension within a piece of art. All of these can translate to floral design.

Q How does the environment you’re working in impact your designs?

A I absolutely adore being in different environments to work with florals. Different event and wedding venues and private homes can be so full of character and can bring so much inspiration to the final design. The colour of the space, the feel and the light can all determine how we design our florals. We can completely transform a space or add a little touch of light to a dark corner.

Q What are your plans for the future?

A It’s really exciting to be in the third year of our business and to see that we are growing at such a fast pace. We are already booked out for so much of 2018 and as tempting as it would be to expand we plan to keep the business artisanal and really focus on providing the most amazing service for our clients.

PETAL AND GRACE petalandgrace.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Throw

DOWN Ceramic Art London returns to King’s Cross, with dynamic displays from over 90 of the world’s most talented ceramicists B y H E L E N B R OW N

W EMILY MYERS; IMAGE COURTESY OF CERAMIC ART LONDON

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ith packed courses, record sales and prime time TV programmes centred around the stuff, it seems we are a nation potty for ceramics. As one of the most ancient industries on the planet, ceramic artistry boasts an impressive history. From the moment humans discovered clay could be dug up from the ground and fashioned into the ancient urns of antiquity, to today’s commonplace cereal bowl, the technology and techniques in the art have undoubtedly changed but the basics remain the same.

Returning to its home in King’s Cross for a 15th edition, Ceramic Art London is the leading showcase for contemporary ceramic art and one of the most dynamic displays from the best in the business across the globe. This year’s fair takes place from 23-35 March at Central Saint Martins, home to over 100 years of ceramic art teaching.

Guests can expect 91 of the world’s most distinguished ceramic artists and a varied

selection of exciting and ambitious work.

For those already in the know, this is an opportunity to explore further and buy directly from the creator. For gallery owners and collectors, it’s an opportunity to snap up new talent and for the artists, Ceramic Art London offers a unique platform to showcase and sell their work. With pieces starting at just £15, the event offers collectors of all budgets the chance to take something away with them.

A quarter of the exhibiting makers are from overseas this year, with a third of them travelling from Korea. Reflecting the selectors’ desire to showcase CAL favourites whilst introducing new faces, this year’s fair features 20 first-time exhibitors, including well established potters Henry Pim, with his intricately engineered architectural structures, and Monika Debus, whose symbol laden pieces are the product of a practice that focuses on painting, calligraphy, experiment and chance. Rising star newcomers include Marike Jacobs with her multi-textured cups and pitchers and Hilary Mayo whose graceful, paint drip-effect creations subtly satirise the making process.

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

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ARTS & CULTURE • CERAMIC ART ANELISE BREDOW; IMAGE COURTESY OF CERAMIC ART LONDON

“The leading showcase for ceramic art and one of the most dynamic displays across the globe” KEITH VARNEY; IMAGE COURTESY OF CERAMIC ART LONDON

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

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ARTS & CULTURE • CERAMIC ART ANNA LAMBERT; IMAGE COURTESY OF CERAMIC ART LONDON

“The fair pops with colour this spring with blooming polkadot vessels in shades of crimson and cobalt”

CLARE CROUCHMAN; IMAGE COURTESY OF CERAMIC ART LONDON

IN HO SONG; IMAGE COURTESY OF CERAMIC ART LONDON

Ceramic Art London is renowned for traversing the boundary between functionality and fine art as demonstrated

by Alison Gautrey’s shell-like tilting bowls, Ashraf Hanna’s undulating modernist lines and Barry Stedman’s colour-splashed wares that bring to mind abstract painting.

The fair pops with colour this spring with Grainne Watts’ blooming polkadot vessels in shades of crimson and cobalt and Lara Scobie’s vases vividly detailed in red, orange and yellow. Sophie Cook’s impossibly elegant bottles return in luminous hues of lemon and lime, while Roger Coll’s idiosyncratic, twisting forms are rendered in bold palettes of red, blue and coral. Sculpture abounds too in Martin Pearce’s Henry Moore-esque forms, Angela Verdon’s sensual works of abstraction and Joachim Lambrecht’s darkly enigmatic forms. While In Ho Song’s playful clay characters push at the boundaries of tradition, and Anelise Bredow’s cartoon-like designs bring some alien-inspired humour to the fair.

Opening with a keynote speech by Grayson Perry CBE, the always popular

ClayTalks, programmed by the faculty at Central Saint Martins, includes Phoebe Cummings, winner of the Woman’s Hour Craft Prize 2017, Professor Simon Lacey on the history of the Craft Potters Association and artist Keith Harrison, winner of the Jerwood Award for Joyride, to name just a few. Elsewhere, Home from Home celebrates international ceramicists who have made the UK their home, while a number of talks focus on how Stoke-on-Trent is reclaiming its mantle as a global centre for ceramics manufacturing and education. These include lecturer Helen Felcey and Dena Bagi from the British Ceramics Biennial, Lisa Hammond MBE, who recently launched Clay College, and Keith Brymer Jones, who plans to reopen the historic Spode factory.

Also this year, and in a first for Ceramic Art London, CSM students will host a ceramic studio where they will make new work in front of a live audience. As well as gaining insight into all stages of the making process, visitors will be offered the opportunity to comment on the direction the work should take as it is being made.

CERAMIC ART LONDON 23-25 March Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, N1C; ceramicartlondon.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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We believe in a different perspective.

We see an oak bench. They see a rope bridge.

The Arundel dining table and bench. Made from nothing but North American oak. Designed to last a lifetime.

Neptune Chiswick, 305-307 Chiswick High Road, W4 4HH, 020 3814 1220 neptune.com/adifferentperspective

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CULTURE • THEATRE

ROUND UP

Best in

SHOW Get the most out of London's theatre scene with our top stage picks for the month

Good Girl ★★★★★

From 5 March TRAFALGAR STUDIOS

MUST SEE

Naomi Sheldon’s Fringe Festival smash hit, Good Girl transfers to Trafalgar Studios in time for International Women’s Day. Growing up in the 90s, living feels too extreme. GG and her friends obsess over music, vaginas and witchcraft. To be one of the good girls GG learns to make herself numb, but at what cost?

14 Whitehall, Westminister, SW1A; atgtickets.com

By H E L E N B R O W N

His Dark Materials ★★★★★ 20-24 March S O UTH LO N D O N P L AYH O US E

17 years after Philip Pullman’s original trilogy ended, readers are drawn back into Lyra’s universe with his latest radical read, His Dark Materials. SLT Youth Theatre bring to life this modern classic which follows the adventures of Lyra and William as they travel through a multiverse of parallel worlds.

Stanley Halls, 12A South Norwood Hill, SE25; southlondontheatre.co.uk

HIS DARK MATERIALS

Caroline, or Change

The Way of the World

From 12 March

From 29 March

H A M P STE A D TH E ATR E

D O NMAR WAREHOUSE

In a highly anticipated transfer to Hampstead Theatre, this Olivier Awardwinning musical blends blues, soul, Motown, classical music and Jewish folk songs to create a sumptuously uplifting and deeply moving portrayal of America during the social upheaval of the civil rights movement.

Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, NW3; hampsteadtheatre.com

Lady Wishfort’s sprawling, dysfunctional family are driven by desire - there’s everything to lose and six thousand pounds to gain. Watch as a glorious ensemble of characters battle it out in this exposing, satirical comedy where everyone needs to win, just to get by.

41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, WC2H; donmarwarehouse.com

★★★★★

★★★★★

A Passage to India ★★★★★

Until 24 March PA RK TH E ATR E

How can we love each other in a world divided by race, power and religion?

E.M. Forster’s masterpiece poses this question as it transports us to Imperial India; conjuring up elephants and caves, courthouses and temples. A Passage to India is one of the greatest novels of the Twentieth Century, thrillingly adapted for the stage.

Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, N4; parktheatre.co.uk

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE

THE WAY OF THE WORLD

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CULTURE • THEATRE

Five Guys Named Moe

The toe-tapping tunes of Louis Jordan in one smash-hit musical marvel B y H E L E N B R OW N

N

early 30 years ago, five funloving guys named Moe burst onto the Theatre Royal Stratford East stage to showcase the toe-tapping hits of Louis ‘King of the Jukebox’ Jordan.

The show, created by The Wire’s Clarke Peters, enjoyed a four-year stint in the West End in 2010 with Peters assuming the lead role, and is now back in an all-singing,

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all-dancing revival for a modern audience in Marble Arch.

Five Guys Named Moe tells the tale of Nomax, a whiskey-dependant underdog, played with disarrayed humour by Edward Baruwa, whose life is falling into a loveless downward spiral. Listening to the radio one night, he slips into a booze-fuelled stupor and is visited by five guys - yes, you guessed it - named Moe, intent on setting him on the straight and narrow by way of Louis Jordan songs. The inexplicable appearance of these suave and ghostly music-

“The singing is accomplished and the energy interminable”

ABSOLUTELY reviews…

meisters - Big Moe, Know Moe, Little Moe, Four-Eyed Moe and Eat Moe - goes unchallenged as they set off on what becomes a slick and exuberant tribute to the healing power of music. That's it for the plot, which leaves a lot to be desired but that’s besides the point. By definition of a jukebox musical, what ensues is a compilation of some seriously funky tunes connected by a loose lineage of comical dialogue. Much to Nomax’s displeasure, we’re treated to song after song from the depths of Louis Jordan’s career, smartly delivered in part by a brilliant six-piece band led by Steve Hill. Andrew Wright’s choreography is tight and witty, the singing accomplished and the energy interminable. The six stars have charisma by the bucket-load and maintain a feel-good party atmosphere - evocative of smoky, rock ‘n’ roll nights spent in an underground jazz bar - as they leap, dance and shimmy amongst the audience. The performance zings with energy and culminates in a night of total fun.

VERDICT

An energetic and unmissable musical hit ★★★★★ FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE UNTIL 24 MARCH 2018; Marble Arch Theatre, WC1 fiveguysmusical.com

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See life in a new light New Pirouette® Shades from Luxaflex® The unique design of our Pirouette® Shades features soft fabric vanes which gently filter light and control privacy. And PowerView® Motorisation also lets you operate your shades with one tap of your smart phone, tablet or remote control.

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19/02/2018 29/11/2017 11:27 14:27

KEW IN BLOOM A joyful celebration of Thai culture awaits you at Kew Gardens’ 23rd Orchid Festival

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CULTURE • LOCAL HAPPENING

T

he vibrant colours, culture, and magnificent plant life of Thailand will be the centrepiece of Kew Gardens’ 23rd Orchid Festival. Running till 11 March, the event will allow visitors to shake off the winter blues and escape to the Far East through a host of exciting events and activities.

Orchids have long been heralded for their medicinal properties and revered for their delicate beauty. Thailand is home to 1,100 species and botanists have been naming and describing them for more than 250 years. Kew is a world leader in this field and, last year alone, 600 new species were discovered worldwide, including three from Thailand.

Colourful floral displays welcome visitors as they enter the tropical paradise of the Princess of Wales Conservatory and wander through a magnificently colourful Vanda tunnel, with arches delicately covered with hanging orchids. Beautifully handcrafted floating Thai umbrellas will lead to an exquisite Bang Pa-Ininspired orchid palace. A traditional Thai market boat and rice paddy form an exquisite water display, representing a typical bucolic scene, complete with a special Thai cart on loan from the Royal Thai Embassy in London.

As well as these stunning visual displays, visitors can immerse themselves in the sounds of Thailand’s everyday hustle and bustle via four specially commissioned

“Orchids have long been heralded for their medicinal properties and revered for their delicate beauty” soundscapes playing inside the glasshouse. From the grinding of ingredients and the sizzling of spices, to the tranquil sounds of an exotic spa and the regal stirrings of a palace, all aspects of Thailand’s culture are captured throughout the diverse soundtracks. You’ll forget that you’re really in chilly south west London.

“I’m so excited to be creating this year’s Thai-inspired festival which I think is going to be rare and beautiful.

It will immerse visitors in the sights, senses and sounds of Thailand’s tranquil and unique culture, creating an explosion of colourful beauty that celebrates the wonder of orchids”, explains Public Glasshouse Manager Nick Johnson. “We hope this journey will highlight the significance of plants for all walks of life, from the traditional and spiritual to the cultural and religious, all the while showing the importance of plant diversity and Kew’s work to protect, conserve and study plants.”

Designed to appeal to the whole family, the event will certainly keep little and big kids alike busy. The Princess of Wales Conservatory film room will be transformed into a eclectic Thai-themed activity area, where visitors can take a seat, put their feet up and learn about the beauty of orchids and the important work Kew is doing, through a specially commissioned film. Weekends will also be packed with foodie fun, live music and informative tours and talks.

Drop in guided walks of the beautiful floral displays will be available between 11am – 1pm in the Princess of Wales Conservatory and Kew experts will be giving away hints and tips on orchid growth at noon and 2pm. Meanwhile, musically-minded visitors can hear live Thai music by the Thai Music Circle at 1pm and 3pm in the cacti zone and indulge in Thai delicacies as they enter and exit the steamy glasshouse.

Foodies can also head to The Botanical, one of Kew’s on-site restaurants, to enjoy a sweet or savoury afternoon tea. Indulge in Satay chicken and sweet and sour baby back ribs or sticky coconut cream rice and mango salsa to name a few. Tickets are £69 per pair and the offer is available Monday-Friday throughout the festival. See you in paradise.

KEW GARDENS UNTIL 11 MARCH 2018 The Princess of Wales Conservatory, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AE kew.org

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

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19/02/2018 16:05

JO BLU Salon

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22/01/2018 17:49

FASHION

GRAND DESIGNS VILSHENKO

Everyone's favourite Russian-born brand, Vilshenko, has taken a trip to the manicured lawns and lofty interiors of the country manor for SS18.

Think English Romanticism meets Eastern-inspired, folkloric flourishes. vilshenko.com

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FASHION NOTES

Usher in budding spring with sunny suits, statement jewellery and the 2018 cardigan

1

By J OY M O N TG O M E RY

J I G SAW S S 1 8 EDITOR’S PICK

2

Last year's suit trend has been given a springtime makeover thanks to Jigsaw. For SS18 the brand has delivered the perfect borrowed-from-the-boys silhouette in a universally flattering shade of yellow: vibrant but not garish, pastel yet not saccharine. Simply add sliders and a tan leather cross-body bag and you’re good to go.

Longline Blazer, £190; Portofino Trouser, £115; Madina Raffia Slider, £75

jigsaw-online.com

5 OF THE BEST

HAMMERED EARRINGS

3 4 Mellow 5 YELLOW 1. JW Anderson, Bird Hammered Earrings, £300; mytheresa.com 2. Annie Costello Brown, Disc Gold-Tone Earrings, £120; net-a-porter.com 3. Isabel Marant, Hammered Gold-Tone Earrings, £130; matchesfashion.com 4. Proenza Schouler, Medium Hammered Earrings, £545; proenzaschouler.com 5. Mango, Embossed Earring, £9.99; shop.mango.com

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FASHION • NOTES

Artistic LICENSE WA R E H O U S E X T H E B A R B I CA N

Warehouse has paired up with leading international arts centre, the Barbican, for a very design-savvy capsule collection. Embellished with bamboo motifs and abstract prints in orange, green and black colourways, the pieces draw inspiration from both the centre’s renowned conservatory and the textured planes of the concrete exterior. warehouse.co.uk

WHAT?

THE KNITTER

RING ON IT

M AYA M AGA L X MM COLLECTIVE

This March, jewellery designer Maya Magal has collaborated with five stylish women - including The Telegraph's Sophie Warburton and Harper’s Bazaar's Charlotte Davey - to create a ring design which expresses both their personal style and Magal's own brand of everyday luxury. We want them all. From £72 mayamagal.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

NU

Modern minimalism meets wearable silhouettes in NU’s new season offering

WOOLOVER PUT A

BRAND PROFILE

Thanks to Muiccia Prada and Alessandro Michele the humble cardigan has stolen the sartorial spotlight this season. Madeleine Thompson’s waisttie iteration offers a nod to Gucci with its collegiate red, white and blue hues. £375

NU is the Turkish fashion brand that has been building an international presence since its inception in 2002.

Shaped around an aesthetic of deconstruction, the brand's collections are created by a collaborative team of in-house designers, pattern makers and manufacturers. The finished article is avant garde yet wearable, statement-making yet timeless. Think dramatic silhouettes in a minimalist, tonal colour palette.

WHO?

The NU woman is a city-dweller looking for a hard-wearing uniform with serious style credentials. She is not defined by age but by a timeless approach to trends; she craves cutting-edge design alongside elegance and comfort.

WHERE?

Operating with 16 stores worldwide, NU has steadily built brand loyalty and consumer recognition through its niche positioning in the market. The brand's first London store will be located at 15 New Cavendish Street Marylebone and a second store is to follow in Chelsea. Watch this space.

selfridges.com

GOODY BAG M AY R A F E DA N E

Forget big name brands and lurid logos, because donning the latest under-theradar label is the real way to get style kudos. Our top pick for 2018? Bag designer Mayra Fedane has won us over with her vibrant, personality-packed designs. The ideal pick-me-up for your spring wardrobe. mayrafedane.myshopify.com

nu.com.tr

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

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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT ABSOLUTELY. LONDON

FASHION

BEAUTY

LIFESTYLE

TRAVEL

WHAT’S ON

FOOD

HOME

Sort Out Your Style With Absolutely’s Capsule Wardrobe Guide

9 Of The Best New Season Cocktail Dresses To Love This Summer

Military Dress: 21 Cool Khaki Pieces To Introduce To Your Wardrobe

4 Up-And-Coming British Designers To Watch

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YOUR GUIDE TO FASHIONABLE LONDON LIVING From the team behind Absolutely Magazines

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@AbsolutelyMagazines

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@absolutely_mags

11/07/2017 15:21

FASHION • PRODUCTS

HUSH

ELLERY

Frayed Star Jeans, £79; hush-uk.com

Nashville Piped SatinCrepe Midi Dress, £1,150; net-a-porter.com

COACH Suede Western Jacket, £1,100; uk.coach.com

TOPSHOP Petra Round Felt Hat, £22; topshop.com COACH 1941 SS18

EDITOR’S PICK

OÉ

w £260;

OFFICE Abandon High Cut Western Boots, £95; office.co.uk

ETRO Belted Fringed Wool-Blend Gilet, £785; net-a-porer.com

CHLOÉ Marcie Mini Shoulder Bag, £260; chloe.com

Rodeo Drive

LONGCHAMP Silk Scarf With Leather Tassels, £410; uk.longchamp.com

The Wild West gets a high fashion makeover for 2018

DIOR CRUISE 2018

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

COACH Horse Print Pleated Skirt With Side Panel, £595; uk.coach.com

WAREHOUSE

JOSEPH Heart Spot Crosby Dress, £495; joseph-fashion.com

Colour Block Western Shirt, £56; warehouse.co.uk

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

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R

O

AD T R I P Endless horizons and dust-blown planes provide the perfect backdrop for Zimmerman’s modern bohemianism

Zimmerman SS18 available from UK.ZIMMERMANNWEAR .COM

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FASHION • JEWELLERY

Pin Board Add some artistic appeal to your outfit with this season’s brooch 2.0

CRISTINA ZANI

MARNI

GUCCI

Brass Sterling Silver & Wooden Brooch, available at tomfoolery Jewellery Gallery

Geometric Brooch, £228 matchesfashion.com

Hand Crystal-Embellished Brooch, £690 matchesfashion.com

LOEWE

UTERQÜE

THE POMMIER

Gold-Plated Brooch, £75 net-a-porter.com

Crab Brooch, £49 uterque.com

Kozminka Brooch, £577 thepommier.com

ROCHAS

NINA KASTENS

WOLF & MOON

Crystal Bee Brooch, £163 matchesfashion.com

Gold-Plated Face Brooch, £145 available at tomfoolery Jewellery Gallery

Pink Wildflower Brooch, £29 wolf-and-moon.com

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

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Consultations and treatment take place in the superb new HCA facility which has been refurbished to bring a wide variety of medical specialties to West London.

H A R L EY S T R E E T C O M E S T O C H I S W I C K After twenty-five years in Harley Street and now in Crescent Place in South Kensington, The Aesthetic Surgeons are now offering consultations and non-surgical treatments at the new HCA facility at Bond House in Chiswick High Road. Norman Waterhouse is the founding surgeon of The Aesthetic Surgeons and has twenty-five years of experience in aesthetic and cosmetic surgery.

The Aesthetic Surgeons carry out a full range of procedures including FACELIFT RHINOPLASTY AESTHETIC BREAST SURGERY

BREAST AUGMENTATION BREAST REDUCTION MASTOPEXY/BREAST LIFT

ABDOMINOPLASTY LIPOSUCTION LABIAPLASTY

and many others In addition anti-wrinkle injections and dermal filler treatment is provided as well as removal of a wide variety of skin lesions.

For consultations and information please contact Karen Burns at info@theaestheticsurgeons.com 020 7636 4073 OR enquiries.chiswick@hcahealthcare.co.uk

www.theaestheticsurgeons.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Into the

LIGHT ILLAMASQUA

Everyone’s going gaga for 'the glow', and we’ve just found the highlighter holy grail. Illamasqua’s Beyond Power is a no.1 cult best-seller and this year they’re releasing a new shade: Daze. This iridescent pink highlighter is on the right side of shimmery and will certainly have people asking after your skincare secret. illamasqua.com

Beauty Notes: Sustainable skincare & postal perfume 52 · New beauty tools 55 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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BEAUTY NOTES

Strip it back this March with sustainable skincare, workout-ready cosmetics and a glow-boosting base

By J OY M O N TG O M E RY

BRIT Girl ALEXA CHUNG FOR

L’O R É A L P R O F E S S I O N N E L

Everyone’s favourite fashion muse, Alexa Chung, has been announced as L’Oréal Professionnel’s International Spokesperson for 2018 and will front two exciting new launches: the Parisian Nudes colour collection and Pro Fiber, a hair repair range.

It-girl tresses here we come. lorealprofessionnel.co.uk SKIN689

MEDIK8

Bio-Cellulose Face Mask, £5.90; skin689.ch

Ultimate Recovery™ Bio-Cellulose Zinc Mask, £60; medik8.com

5 OF THE BEST SHEET MASKS

CHARLOTTE TILBURY

Dry Sheet Face Mask, £18; charlottetilbury.com

ESTÉE LAUDER Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask, £16.50; esteelauder.co.uk

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SWISS CLINIC Face Dry Mask, £29; swissclinic.co.uk

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES SALON REVIEW

GAME FACE CLINIQUEFIT

Attention all fitness freaks: Clinique has just released a line of cosmetics that won't compromise your workout.

Suitable for before, during and after exercise, this seven-piece collection is formulated to be longwearing but not poreclogging. From storm-proof mascara to sweat-resistant foundation, these are your new gym bag staples.

EDITOR’S PICK

Dr Bela Horvath

clinique.co.uk

B y MIRIAM CAREY

WHO IS DOCTOR BELA?

PURE AND SIMPLE

BY SARAH

Good to Glowa

DR BARBARA STURM

Forget contouring and say goodbye to HD brows, because 2018 is going to be the year of low-key beauty.

Step one to achieving that elusive, well-rested radiance?

Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Glow Drops. Used on its own or combined with your favourite skincare product, this super serum will refine pores and brighten the complexion. £105. dr-barbara-sturm.com

By Sarah was born after its founder, Sarah, was unable to find any beauty products suitable for her sister who was recovering from leukaemia. The experience inspired her to create her own line of plant-based, honestlylabelled and sustainablysourced skincare. bysarahlondon.com

Postal Perfumes SNIPH

Match your perfume to your mood and discover new niche fragrances with Sniph, the new monthly subscription service. For just £17.99 a month, fragrance-lovers can road test new scents in the form of purse-friendly 7ml dispensers. Ideal for girls on the go. sniph.co.uk

● Dr Bela is a qualified and experienced doctor who has had many years practising aesthetic treatments. He founded the Safe Aesthetics Treatments campaign which informs and empowers patients in the face of the unregulated UK aesthetic treatment market. When exploring your options, Dr Bela recommends not to be drawn in by cheap treatments, but to look at a practitioner's qualifications and professional development, and not to be treated by anyone other than a medical doctor.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?

● As I have entered my mid-twenties, I have noticed the frown line between my eyebrows becoming more prominent.

I discuss this with Dr Bela and he recommends a small amount of Botox between my brows to relax the muscles and prevent frowning. This is a quick and relatively painless procedure with the potential to reverse the development of fine lines and wrinkles.

THE RESULT

● It takes two weeks for the Botox to kick in, but as the results start to appear, I'm amazed by how subtle the effect is. I look incredibly well-rested and my forehead is visibly smoother. I am also unable to frown, which will help prevent future lines from forming. Interestingly, no one else seems to notice unless I point out the difference, but this is exactly what I was hoping for. Botox generally lasts three to six months, but as I don’t have much more than a crease, I am not due another treatment for a year.

But when more fine lines start to appear I won’t hesitate to see Dr Bela.

DR BELA HORVATH

The Hogarth Club Medispa, Airedale Avenue, W4 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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LIKE &

WIN!

Like Dr Bela’s Facebook page and win a Zein Obagi Daily Skincare Kit. On-going prize draw is at the end of each month.

Dr Bela would like to build his Facebook page as a primary channel of communication, so encourages his patients to LIKE it for useful information on skin care, facial aesthetic procedures and interesting news from and about the industry.

A Zein Obagi Daily Skincare Program (worth £130) will be randomly drawn and awarded among those who sign up by the end of the previous month. The first draw will be held at the end of March for those who liked the page in February and are active at the time of the draw.

DR BELA’S MAIN SERVICES: •Facial aesthetic treatments (such as Fillers and Wrinkle injections) •Mole clinic •General dermatology consultations •Weight loss clinic •Thread vein removal •Art-Vampire project facebook.com/DrBela.clinic Appointments: 0203 903 1321

For more information on all our procedures and latest promotions please contact us on:

0203 930 1321 / www.DrBela.clinic We are located within the Hogarth Club; Airedale Ave, Chiswick, W4 2NW Earlier likes and re-likes are excluded. You don’t need to be a patient of doctor Bela to be eligible, but you should be able to pick up the prize should you win

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Located within The Hogarth Club

19/02/2018 16:21

GHD HAIR

HEALTH & BEAUTY • PRODUCTS

YU LING ROLLERS Jade Facial Roller, £18 cultbeauty.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK JULEP Chacoal Kongjac Sponge, £7 julep.com

SWISS CLINIC Skin Roller, £42 swissclinic.co.uk

DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE

NU FACE

Spectr Lite Eye Care Pro LED, £168 spacenk.com

TWEEZERMAN Bright Complexion Facial Dermaplaner, £33 boots.com

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Mini Facial Toning Device, £150 lookfantastic.com

GHD HAIR Soft Curl Tong, £120 ghdhair.com

CHARLOTTE TILBURY Hollywood Complexion Brush, £30 charlottetilbury.com

From micro-needling to facial massage: introducing the new gadgets for your beauty arsenal B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

BEAUTY BIOSCIENCE GloPro Micro Stimulation Facial Tool, £240 qvcuk.com

TARTE COSMETICS

FOREO

Five-Piece Limited Edition Brush Collection, £41 qvcuk.com

UFO, £249 foreo.com

CARITA My C.L.E., £399 carita.com

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

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UPGR ADE TO PERFECTION Take your home entertainment to the next level. Our new webOS Smart TV combines ultra-sharp OLED 4K images and the world’s most powerful TV sound with a built-in audio system for wireless music and radio streaming. BeoVision Eclipse is available in 55 and 65 inches.

b an g - ol u fsen .co m

RECEIVE UP TO £1,800 OFF WHEN YOU TRADE IN YOUR OLD TV FOR THE NEW BEOVISION ECLIPSE.*

BEOVISION ECLIPSE

BANG & OLUFSEN OF EALING – 17 BOND STREET | EALING | W5 5AP | 020 8840 1010

* Visit us in store to learn more about this limited-time offer. Save up to £1,300 when trading in for a BeoVision Eclipse 55” or £1,800 for BeoVision Eclipse 65”. Offer applies to one TV of any brand and is valid till 31 May 2018 subject to availability. BeoVision Eclipse 55”: RRP from £7,495, BeoVision Eclipse 65”: RRP from £10,795. Energy class A. Prices exclude installation and wall bracket/floor stand starting from £795. BeoRemote One included.

BO.indd 1

22/01/2018 10:41

HELATH & BEAUTY • SCENT

PERFUME

New Kids on

THE BLOCK Add something new to your olfactory oeuvre with this year’s hot new fragrance talents B y M I C H A E L D O N OVA N

A

s I scour the globe for original, exciting scents, every once in a while I experience a moment for which all true perfume believers hope and pray the discovery of a brand new talent.

Lucy Atkinson arrived at the Perfumery just before Christmas and blew me away. Her passion, fervour and joy when describing her scents meant I had found a kindred spirit.

The first thing that alerted me to greatness were the caps of her bottles. The first contact with a scent is important and Lucy has covered hers with high quality velvet ribbon.

It feel luxurious, warm and soft like skin - the perfect introduction to a perfume.

Then there are the scents themselves. Lucy is half French, and obviously it’s the right half, as these are perfumes of great style and poise.

‘Samedi A Paris’ oozes that nonchalant, je ne sais quoi for which Les Parisiennes are famed. Sunshine in the form of bergamot and mentha citrata echo Paris in the spring, uplifting and full of life and promise.

The heart has a crisp cotton note with soft woods warming it to skin temperature. And what would a jaunt along the boulevards be without the scent of coffee? Here it lies at the base with the soft summer scent of hay and a glowing, bewitching amber.

‘APÉRO’ is incredibly intoxicating with the cocktail bite of bitter orange, juniper and lime at the top fizzing across my one of my favourite aromas, that of Garrigue herbs in the summer sun. Team this with salt, black pepper, star anise and soft tobacco and you are transported to a fabulous bar in Juan Le Pins at sunset.

“Her passion, fervour and joy when describing her scents meant I had found a kindred spirit” Bruno Fazzolari is a hugely talented, self-taught perfumer based in San Francisco. He is a successful visual artist and his paintings are often inspired by the fact he has the condition ‘synesthesia’. This cross-wiring of the senses manifests in different ways, but in his case Bruno smells in colour. I have found that many people come to fragrance with this condition as they use the olfactory creative process as a kind of therapy. They construct a fragrance visually as well as with the nose and therefore can conjure some of the most arresting and innovative scents.

Bruno came to perfume very recently, yet he won an ‘Art & Olfaction Award’ for his fragrance ‘Lamp Black’. However it was ‘Au Delà Narcisse’ that captured my imagination. This is without doubt the most glorious conjuring of the narcissus on the planet. A classic white-floral chypre, made in the old-school way with genuine oakmoss and labdanum. The narcissus note is clear, fresh and unmistakable, supported by heavy doses of highest quality absolutes of Egyptian jasmine and French orange flower. Made with a very rare and exquisite extraction of Narcissus, but this is no fading flower, instead the blooms soar over a classic base, richly spicy and resinous with just the right amount of animalic purr.

The olfactory world is now that little bit more wonderful. roullierwhite.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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16/02/2018 17:36

HEALTH & BEAUTY • FITNESS

FITNESS NOTES

Lucas Hugh The fitness brand to know now…

WHAT IS IT?

● LUCAS HUGH is a London-based women’s activewear brand that incorporates futuristic design with technical performance. Established in 2010 by founder and Creative Director Anjhe Mules, it was the first of its kind to incorporate the fullybonded seam - used in Olympicquality swimwear - into activewear.

F45 TRAINING We try out the latest craze making waves in the fitness industry

WHO IS IT FOR?

● Designed for the woman who won’t compromise on performance or style, Lucas Hugh activewear fills the need for versatile clothing that is sophisticated both in and out of the gym. Cut to complement and engineered to support, each piece enhances form through its use of high compression, body-sculpting fabrics, supportive waistbands and flattering ‘V’ cutouts.

WHAT IS IT? From spinning to strength training, HITT to callisthenics, the fitness industry is big bucks at the moment but no workout has made waves quite like Australianborn, F45. This group-training phenomenon follows a tabata structure and features the most dynamic and effective functional training styles currently in play today. In short, it’s a studio-based, 45-minute, high-intensity, circuit class. The ‘F’ in the name stands for functional, a training practise that mimics everyday actions

like jumping, reaching, lifting and bending so that the body benefits in every aspect of active life.

WHO IS IT FOR? F45 encourages all fitness levels and exercises include squatting, pulling and pushing, meaning that pretty much anyone can do it; from those starting out on an active lifestyle to those looking to refresh their routine.

group workout centred around three stations or pods. Each pod has three exercises which are carried out four times for 20 seconds with a 10 second rest in between. We are required to complete the pod two times before moving onto the next. This format means that the class - although difficult - seems to absolutely fly by. Our instructors are welcoming and take time to ensure that form is correct. This workout includes squat variations, spinning and kettlebell swings, although these might vary from class to class. We leave completely shattered, but having had one of our best workouts in a long time.

WHAT IS IT LIKE? We’re at F45 Farringdon for the Athletica class, a cardio-based,

F 4 5 FA R R I N G D O N 9-13 Cowcross Street, EC1M For full list of studios visit f45training.co.uk

N E W S PAC E S

The latest editions to London’s swankiest gyms offering; here’s where we’ll be feeling the burn this month WHAT’S NEW?

● Lucas Hugh’s SS18 Auto-Glitch collection draws on parallels between the world of highperformance sportswear and the luxury of concept car design. Expect innovative shapes, aerodynamic lines and forward-thinking design. lucashugh.com

ANOTHER_SPACE BANK ● Another_Space has opened a second studio in the city with the same fast and furious HIIT, cycle and dynamic yoga as loved in the original. 40 Coleman Street, EC2R; anotherspace.london

F45 FULHAM ● F45 is the latest group fitness training phenomenon from Australia and is popping up all over London. Try it for yourself in the newly opened F45 Fulham. Dawes Road, SW6; f45training.co.uk.

BLOK SHOREDITCH ● BLOK has opened its second space in Shoreditch. From Cardio Killers to Ballet Fit, there is something to challenge all fitness levels. 2 Hearn Street, EC2A; bloklondon.com

BARRY’S BOOTCAMP SW1 ● Hailed as the world’s toughest workout, cult followers of Barry’s Bootcamp can now get their hit in SW1 where a fourth London studio has opened.

16 Eccleston Place, SW1W; barrysbootcamp.com

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

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AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE IN WAITROSE, MAJESTIC, 31DOVER.COM AND UK DUTY FREE

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19/02/2018 10:14

FOOD & DRINK

BESPOKE BEER

THE ITALIAN JOB

This Italian craft beer pub has a great selection of traditional beer from microbreweries across Italy. Visit during London Beer Week in March for a bespoke beer flight experience.

13 Devonshire Road, W4 theitalianjobpub.co.uk

Wines of the month 62 • Our favourite Easter eggs 63 • Food Review: Annie's Barnes 71 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 March

By MIRIAM CAREY

By BERRY BROS. & RUDD

2013 Berry Bros. & Rudd English Sparkling Wine £25.95 Produced in Appledore vineyards in Hampshire, this sparkling wine is created from a blend of 72 percent Chardonnay, 22 percent Pinot Noir and six percent Pinot Meunier and is the perfect aperitif for Easter.

2016 Berry Bros. & Rudd Old-Blocks Chenin Blanc by Tierhoek £14.25 Brand new to the Berry Bros. & Rudd own-label range this chenin displays the grapes classic citrus and orchard fruit aromas. It is an elegant and refreshing wine, ideal to enjoy with charcuterie or white meat.

2015 Barbera d’Asti, La Mora, Laiolo Reginin, Vinchio, Piedmont £14.75 Bursting with aromas of blueberry and blackcurrant with a hint of white pepper, this juicy fruity red wine has both refreshing acidity and silky tannins.

Great with a tomato-based pasta dishes.

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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New Horizons BLUEBIRD

Chelsea landmark, Bluebird, is opening the doors of its first sister restaurant in White City at the end of March. Located within the Television Centre, the new branch promises all the style and social setting of the original, however the menu is yet to be revealed. Watch this space.

89 Wood Lane, W12 bluebird-restaurant.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK• NOTES Our pick of the best

EASTER EGGS DAYLESFORD Organic Dairy-Free Rose Petal Egg, £15

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

HARRODS Alistair Birt Chocolate and Salted Caramel Egg, £50

FOOD MARKET CHISWICK

HOTEL CHOCOLAT Ostrich Egg, £75

OLD HAND T H E V I C TO R I A

L’ARITSAN DU CHOCOLAT

Local gastro-pub The Victoria has announced their new head chef, Damo Ciolik. Damo previously worked at the pub for eight years, as the protégé of Paul Merrett, before leaving in 2015 to launch The Malt House. After winning the Best Pub Food at the Casual Dining Awards, Damo returns to his roots to head up the excellent team.

10 West Temple Sheen, SW14 victoriasheen.co.uk

On the 25th March Food Market Chiswick is organising an Alice in Wonderland Easter treasure hunt, with a chocolate egg for young sports able to find all hidden clues. Profits raised will be put into the surrounding Dukes Meadows - in the past they have funded a paddling pool and adventure playground.

The Pavilion, Market Drive, W4 thefoodmarketchiswick.com

Dark Chocolate Gold Leaf Sculpture, £35

BOOJA BOOJA Organic, Dairy-Free, Hazelnut Chocolates in Decorative Egg, £12.99

LAKRIDS Chocolate Coated Liquorice in Dulce de Leche or Passion Fruit, £26.99

HOT CROSS BUNS GAIL’S

PIERRE HERME Ouef Lucio Fontana, £136

SELFRIDGES

NEW LOOK

Milk Chocolate Easter Egg, £29.99

F E A ST CA N T E E N

Feast Canteen is the latest project from the team behind Pergola On The Roof and Pergola Paddington. The new outlet replaces the old and dilapidated food court in Hammersmith Kings Mall, offering a site for modern fast food favourites Made of Dough, Sinchow, Patty & Bun, Breddos Tacos and Salvation Noodles.

Kings Mall, King Street, W6 feastcanteen.co.uk

LIBERTY Chocolate Society Fried Easter Egg, £29.95

Gail’s Bakery has a delicious new range out, just in time for Easter. They will be cooking up spiced hot cross buns, packed with juicy sultanas and cranberries, and chocolate sourdough, with chunks of bittersweet chocolate stirred through. Perfect with lashings of butter and marmalade.

12-13 Sheen Road, TW9 gailsbread.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Yellow Courgette, Asparagus & Pea Shoot Salad with Red Basil Oil & Cashew Cream Serves 4-6

T

his elegant and simple raw salad is all about letting the natural colours and flavours of summer vegetables shine through. If you can’t get yellow courgettes, you can use regular green ones.

INGREDIENTS

Bright Food, BOLD FLAVOURS Exciting and sustainable recipes from Mildred’s first Vegan Cookbook

B

ack in the late 1980s, when London’s Soho was still edgy, we launched Mildreds on an unsuspecting public. Those were the days when diners were all too accustomed to vegetarian food being brown and ‘worthy’, dished up on earthenware pottery. But our aim at Mildreds was – and still very much is – to deliver an inspiring eating experience with fresh, vibrant vegetarian dishes featuring ideas from a wide variety of culinary styles.

Despite prophecies of early closure from the local community, which gave us six months at the

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most, Mildreds thrived from the start and has gone from strength to strength to become the worldrenowned restaurant it is today.

The original Soho restaurant has now been joined by three sister restaurants in Camden, Kings Cross and Dalston, and in 2015 Mildreds The Cookbook was published, showcasing some of our favourite recipes from the restaurant. We are now extremely proud to present Mildreds Vegan Cookbook, where we have chosen to focus exclusively on vegan cooking.

Vegan cooking is often regarded as a relatively complicated way of preparing food, and it can seem daunting to make the move away from the more traditional approach to working with unfamiliar ingredients. But there is now an abundance of vegan ingredients and substitutes readily available at all major supermarkets, and we show you how a well-stocked larder and refrigerator, together with a little forethought, can help make the process easier.

2–3 yellow courgettes 12 asparagus spears juice of ½ lemon 1/3 teaspoon sea salt flakes 150g pea shoots 4–6 tablespoons Cashew Cream, to serve

Fo r t h e r e d b a s i l o i l 30g red basil, tough stems removed grated zest and juice of ½ orange ¼ teaspoon agave syrup 100ml light olive oil sea salt flakes Using a French-style peeler, slice long thin strips off the courgettes until you reach the seeds, then discard the seedy centre.

Remove the tough part of the asparagus by bending each spear at the stalk end and allowing it to snap where the tender part begins. Cut the tender part into strips as thin as you can manage.

Toss the courgette and asparagus strips with the lemon juice and salt in a bowl, cover with clingfilm and leave them to stand in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

To make the red basil oil, simply blend all the ingredients in a blender, or in a measuring jug with a stick blender, until smooth.

Give the courgettes and asparagus a little squeeze to remove the excess liquid, then toss with the pea shoots and four tablespoons of the red basil oil.

Put a tablespoon of the cashew cream on each plate and then a small handful of the salad. Drizzle over more red basil oil.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

Wash the urid beans and dahl, then leave to soak in cold water overnight. Wash and soak the red kidney beans separately.

Drain the urid beans and dahl and set aside. Drain the kidney beans, wash again and place in a saucepan. Cover with plenty of fresh water, add a little salt and bring to the boil. Boil rapidly for a good 10 minutes, skimming off any foam, then drain.

Heat the oil in a medium-sized saucepan, add the onion with the ginger and chilli and cook over a medium heat, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown. Add the spices and cook gently for a few minutes.

Stir in the red kidney beans, urid beans and dahl, then pour in enough water to cover by 2cm. Add the remaining ingredients (except the coriander) and simmer over a medium heat for 45 minutes–1 hour, stirring frequently, until the beans and pulses begin to break down. Add water as necessary, but the dahl should be quite thick and with a creamy consistency.

Season to taste with salt.

Mango Chutney INGREDIENTS

Goa Bowl

Dahl

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

ildred's Goa bowl is a bowl full of fresh and filling South Indianinspired goodies – dahl, cardamom and pea basmati, mango chutney, okra, coconut chutney, lime and coriander naan. Here we give you the recipe for Mildred's dahl and mango chutney, but you can find the recipe for the other components in their book.

Madhur Jaffrey says the key to great dahl is the very frequent stirring and we’re not going to argue with Madhur. The urid beans, also known as mungo beans or black lentils, are common to South Indian cuisine and are easy to find in shops with a decent Asian selection and in some supermarkets, or online.

For a quicker-cooking version, you can just use 300g dried chana dahl, thoroughly rinsed.

150g dried urid beans 100g dried chana dahl 150g dried red kidney beans 75ml light oil (groundnut or sunflower) 1 onion, diced 3cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and grated, then finely chopped 1 green chilli, diced ½ tablespoon cumin seeds ½ tablespoon toasted and ground cumin seeds ½ cinnamon stick ½ teaspoon chilli powder 1/3 teaspoon chilli flakes ½ teaspoon toasted and ground cardamom seeds ¼ teaspoon toasted and ground whole cloves good pinch of grated nutmeg 400g can chopped tomatoes, half blended to a purée 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves juice of 1 lime 20g coriander, chopped, to garnish salt

M

50ml light oil ½ small onion, finely diced 5g peeled fresh root ginger ¼ red chilli, finely chopped seeds from 2 green cardamom pods ½ cinnamon stick ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds 1/8 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds good pinch of nigella seeds 1/8 teaspoon turmeric 1 Bramley apple, peeled, cored and diced 1 mango, stoned, peeled and finely diced 100g caster sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 100ml water 50ml cider vinegar Heat the oil in a small saucepan, add the onion and sauté over a medium heat, stirring frequently, until browned. Add the ginger and cook for a further few minutes.

Stir in the chilli and all the spices except the turmeric and cook gently.

Add all the remaining ingredients and cook for 30–40 minutes, stirring frequently.

Leave to cool and store in a sterilized jar or in an airtight sturdy plastic food container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 7–10 days if stored correctly.

TO AS S EM B LE Each serving should comprise a large serving of dahl, a large scoop of basmati rice, a naan bread, a few okra, a small portion of mango chutney. Garnish with spring onions, coriander and a lime wedge.

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

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Made in Britain, Built to Last www.roundhousedesign.com

Richmond | Clapham | Fulham | West End | Cheltenham | Guildford telephone 020 8744 9993 | richmond@roundhousedesign.com

RH.indd 1

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

Plum Teriyaki Aubergine INGREDIENTS teriyaki marinade reserved from the Teriyaki-marinated Tofu 3 plums, stoned and diced 1 tablespoon coconut or caster sugar 10–12 baby aubergines or 2 regular aubergines 75ml blended oil (half sesame and half sunflower) salt Add the reserved marinade to a small saucepan along with the plums and sugar and simmer for 8–10 minutes until the plums have softened and are fully cooked.

Remove from the heat and blend in a food processor or with a stick blender. Taste for sweetness and add more sugar if needed.

Cut the aubergines in half and score the cut sides in a crisscross pattern, cutting almost all the way down through the flesh but without piercing the skin. Place in a bowl or colander, sprinkle lightly with salt and leave to sit for an hour. Rinse the aubergines and place in a bowl with the oil, then toss to coat the aubergines well.

Tokyo Bowl Serves 4-6

Teriaykimarinated Tofu INGREDIENTS

Preheat the oven to 180°C, Gas Mark 4.

Line a baking tray with baking parchment.

Remove the tofu from the marinade, reserving the marinade for the Plum Teriyaki Aubergine. Spread the tofu out on the lined baking tray. Mix the spice mix, sesame seeds, sesame oil and agave together in a bowl and drizzle the mixture over the tofu. Bake for 20–25 minutes until the tofu firms up slightly and the alcohol has been cooked out.

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

Mix the mirin and tamari together in a bowl. Add the tofu and toss to coat well.

Cover with clingfilm and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

MILDRED'S VEGAN COOKBOOK

200ml mirin 50ml tamari 325g pack firm tofu, cut into cubes 2 teaspoons Japanese seven spice mix 2 teaspoons sesame seeds 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon agave syrup

By Dan Acevedo and Sarah Wasserman, published by Mitchell Beazley, £25 octopusbooks.co.uk

A

Japanese-inspired feast of fantastic colours and sweet tangy and spicy flavours, the Tokyo Bowl includes spicy tofu, plum teriyaki baby aubergines, pickled daikon (mooli), black rice, a mix of toasted seeds and seaweed and edamame. The dish is finished with a warming cup of miso soup, which can either be drunk with it or poured over the bowl.

Here we give you the recipe for teriayki marinated tofu, plum teriayki aubergine and black rice - you can find out how to make the other components in the Mildred's Vegan Cookbook.

The tofu recipe will make a bit more teriyaki sauce than you need for the aubergines, so save the rest for delicious stir-fries. The plums don’t have to be super ripe – if they are harder, your teriyaki will just be a little more tart. You can add more sugar if you prefer a sweeter sauce.

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Heat a large frying pan to a medium-high heat, add the oiled aubergines and fry for about 2–3 minutes on each side to give them some colour. Transfer to a baking tray and coat with the marinade, spreading it over the aubergines with your fingers to allow the marinade to soak into the flesh. Bake for 20–30 minutes until the aubergine flesh is soft and the sauce has caramelized slightly.

Black Rice INGREDIENTS 200g black Venus rice 450ml water salt Rinse the rice and then drain. Bring the measured water to the boil in a saucepan.

Add the rice and return to a simmer.

Cover the pan and simmer for about 30–45 minutes until all the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked.

TO AS S EM B LE Each bowl should get a scoop of rice, some aubergine, a few cubes of tofu, a cup of miso soup and a couple of tablespoons of seed-weed, finishing with a scoop of edamame and spring onions, along with a heaped tablespoon of cold pickled daikon (about 4–5 slices) on the side of the bowl.

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FOOD & DRINK • PREPARATION

Counter

culture

68

By PENDLE HARTE

“Will it become a life-saver or end up at the back of the cupboard?”

U

nless your kitchen is an enormous glass box newly attached to the back of your house, space in it is probably at a premium. And even if you do have floor space in abundance and countertop inches to spare, there’s no reason to fill it all with things that don’t actually improve your life. But still, open the cupboards in even the most stylish kitchen and you might find a repository of mismatched Tupperware, unused utensils and endless gadgets with their inevitable attachments. So with any new purchase, the questions arises: will it become a life-saver or end up at the back of the unused cupboard?

In my own busy family kitchen, lots of necessary electricals fight for countertop space. A kettle, a toaster, obviously. A nutribullet and an espresso machine (both used daily). A Sodastream (very slim, saves on San Pellegrino bottles), a bread machine (big but worth it for the freshlybaked smell in the morning). On a high shelf there’s a rarely-used citrus juicer; in a cupboard a hand mixer with attachments (I’d love a stand mixer but can’t justify the space). We used to have a juicer but ditched it (too complicated to clean) and never replaced the coffee grinder when it broke (apparently you can use the nutribullet but we just buy ground now). But I got to thinking about slow cookers. Imagine throwing a few ingredients at it in the morning and coming home to a warm curry. We could have soup and stews waiting for us every day. And pulled pork.

But would we really use it? A straw poll of friends is divided – some use slow cookers every day for all the above reasons.

Others are less keen. Just leave it in a casserole in the oven on low, they say. One person is actively sneery. ‘Slow cookers make everything taste like school dinners,’ he says.

Absolutely’s verdict on kitchen gadgets: the slow cooker

The Fast-Slow Pro is not small. About the size of the bread machine in fact, and quite tall too. When it’s on the counter I can barely see inside it without getting a stool. The downside of having lots of promising-sounding functions is that the instruction manual is daunting, but the machine is self-explanatory with settings such as ‘soup’, ‘casserole’, ‘bolognese’ and ‘risotto’. We enjoy the novelty of coming home to chilli con carne after minimal effort in the morning and making soup without standing over a pot. There’s also no steam, so even if it’s on for six hours, the kitchen doesn’t fill with condensation. Pulled pork is a success and we cook a whole chicken in there too – but there are too many functions for us to try all of them.

Our verdict? It’s undeniably a useful machine but by no means a compact one. We’re torn. It’s easy to operate, has reliable results and offers a convenient way of planning meals, so if my counter had space for it, I’d be sold. But I’m not sure that I’d use it every day. I can’t see how they’d make one with a much smaller footprint without sacrificing capacity, but if they could, I’d definitely go for that.

SAGE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL’S FAST SLOW PRO Available at sageappliances.co.uk for £199.95.

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Cocktail Hour Mon - Fri 5 - 7pm!

Certificate of Excellence

BEST UK

RESTAURANTS

2018 Monday Mood

Enjoy a 25% discount!

Valid during March 2018!

T’s and C’s : Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount is off your food bill only, valid up to x4 guests. Tear page to redeem and enjoy!

Annie’s Chiswick, 162 Thames Road, London, W4 3QS 020 8994 9080 Annie’s Barnes, 36-38 White Hart Lane, London, SW13 0PZ 020 8878 2020 ANIIES.indd 1

19/02/2018 16:16

The home of classic Italian cuisine

Mamma Mia is a restaurant in the heart of Sheen that serves authentic and delicious homemade Italian cuisine paired with a delectable selection of regional wine.

We are a friendly, relaxed environment and the perfect place to entertain family and friends.

Be sure to book with us this Mother’s Day! Call us now on 020 8878 6725 to book a table for that special occasion or simply casual fine dining.

459 Upper Richmond Road West | East Sheen | SW14 7PR

MAMAMIA.indd 2

www.mammamiarestaurantlondon.co.uk

19/02/2018 18:00

FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“The ice cream broke up the caramel sauce and left a rich toffee taste with every bite”

Annie’s Barnes An intimate diner for a family meal with a home-fromhome buzz B y C L A R A VA N D U I V E N B O D E

A

nnie's Diner is a quaint restaurant with unique antique decor.

Deep lounge chairs, candles and crystal chandeliers create an intimate and inviting atmosphere to indulge in Annie's traditional, home-cooked food and cocktails.

The staff are patient and attentive as we take our time deciding what to order. To start, we treat ourselves to a couple of

margharitas with extra salt. Their delicious menu offers a range of classics - from pasta and steak to burgers and fish and chips.

We order the fresh battered calamari with lemon and a halloumi and quinoa salad. Both dishes are light, fragrant and packed full of flavor.

For mains, we sample the butternut squash gnocchi and Angus sirloin steak with béarnaise sauce and sweet potato fries.

Dishes are beautifully presented, with the steak served on a square wooden board and fries inside

FOOD British food with a mediterranean influence

DECOR Bohemian venue with exposed brickwork and antique decor

PRICE A three-course meal for two with drinks £80

VERDICT A great place to relax and enjoy a family meal with friends

a stainless steel dish. The chips are crisp and well salted, the steak cooked a beautiful medium rare and the sauce a perfect accompaniment to tie everything together. The butternut gnocchi, meanwhile, melts in the mouth, with chunky pieces of pumpkin and mushroom providing another level of texture.

For dessert, we share an indulgent sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. The ice cream breaks up the caramel sauce and leaves a rich flavoursome toffee taste with every bite. The restaurant indulges our desire for more vanilla ice cream without any hesitation. It's definitely the kind of dessert you feel compelled to finish every single bite.

Overall, we find the restaurant the perfect place to relax and enjoy conversation without feeling rushed. Looking around, the space is buzzing with couples and friends enjoying themselves. The openplan dining space is just right to afford privacy while still offering atmosphere. ● ANNIE’S BARNES 36-38 White Hart Lane, SW13 anniesrestaurant.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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19/02/2018 18:45

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RETAIL: £20,000 TRADE: £8,000

EVERYONE CAN BUY AT TRADE

020 8940 9393 020 020 8940 8940 9393 9393 KEYSTONE_Feb_West.indd 1

22/01/2018 18:18

INTERIORS Interiors Notes 74 • Women in design

ITALIAN GLAMOUR TACCHINI

Tacchini's beautiful Roma, designed by Jonas Wagell in 2017, has stylishly slim legs and a curved fabric seat that comes in a variety of forms, from armchair to sofa to chaise longue. tacchini.it.

76 • Sleep

essentials

84 • Stelton's

legacy

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INTERIORS NOTES

Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

British brand BHS

British Home Stores has relaunched as an online store with a large focus on homeware. Stylish lighting, high quality bedding and and a large variety of accessories make it a welcome addition. bhs.com.

VILLA STYLE DEDAR

Lovers of interiors will enjoy Oscar-nominated ďŹ lm Call Me

By Your Name, whose lavish villa interiors feature beautiful Dedar fabrics such as their Dalie Papaveri Tulipani and Abstract.

Look out for them.. dedar.com

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INTERIORS • NOTES F AV UR

OR

ITE

CU G EG O

PS

AUDENZA Aniimal egg cups, £10.95 audenza.com

TROPICAL FLORA DESIGNERS GUILD

A new range of wallpapers

by Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild includes this dramatic Birds Sinfonia Crepuscule, pictured, a lavish and colourful fresco. designersguild.com

LUCIE KAAS Bordfolk Danish egg cups, £13.50 brassicamercantile.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

ETERNAL FLAME MARBLE HILL FIREPLACES

Specialising in Balanced Flue Gas Fires, traditional and contemporary fireplaces, Marble Hill was established in 1974 and offers the largest and most comprehensive selection of fireplaces in the UK. Mantels range from elaborate antique pieces to minimalist modern ones, and they'll advise, install and service.

SCP Beardy man egg cups, £10 scp.com

marblehill.co.uk

ALESSI Cico egg cup and spoon, £13.50 selfridges.com

OMM Frida egg cup, £16.95 cultfurniture.com

DESIGN LETTERS E for Egg cups, £24 for two, teaandkate.co.uk

TRUE BLUE NORDIC HOUSE

Nordic House's Scandinavian tableware is beautiful and practical.

The blue and white handpainted Maja range is pretty and likeable. nordichouse.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Design by

WOMEN In time for National Women’s Day, HOME celebrates women in design

By P E A R L B OY D Amélie du Passage; her Vertigo light became a remarkable success

Fran Hickman and her design for Chess Club

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mélie du Passage founded design brand Petite Friture in 2009 with the aim of asserting a distinct style and bringing with her an emerging French and European design scene. After its first five years, Petite Friture succeeded in disseminating its style and putting its name to products through more than forty collaborations, including the well-known Vertigo light, designed by Constance Guisset, which became a remarkable success. Recent collaborations include the Jetlag wallpaper

by French illustrator, Lisa Laubreaux, the Dojo collection by AC/AL Studio and Max Enrich’s Thin coffee table; all of which were launched at 2018's Maison&Objet.

Fran Hickman founded her design studio in January 2014. Working with architectural partners and contractors across a wide variety of residential and commercial interiors, as well as on custom products and furniture, Fran’s work is recognised for its bespoke, highly tailored

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INTERIORS • DESIGN

Jessica Mason and her modern rustic bedding brand Piglet

approach. She draws on an extensive art and design vocabulary to create environments that are both elegant and engaging. Before establishing her own studio, Fran worked on interiors across the Soho House Group as well as for Waldo Works, where clients included Selfridges Personal Shopping, Smythson on Bond Street and Temperley. She has worked on residential projects all over Europe and in the United States.

Jessica Mason launched Piglet in January 2017 having worked for six years in PR and marketing in London and Dubai.

During that time she represented a whole host of brands - from Aesop and Ray-Ban to Christian Louboutin - which helped to shape her idea of the kind of company she’s building. Jessica believes this is a really exciting time for e-commerce with more and more ways emerging to connect directly with customers in a meaningful and personal way. Piglet offers modern rustic bedding made from 100% French Flax linen available in a variety of on-trend colours including Sage, Blush, Dove Grey, and White. Jessica believes that a beautiful home doesn’t need to be high maintenance but that with high quality, natural basics

Ursula L’Hoste founded German design brand pulop with her husband

“Her extensive vocabulary creates environments that are engaging” even an unmade bed can be beautiful.

Ursula L’Hoste founded German design brand pulpo, in 2008, with her husband, Patrick L’Hoste. Prior to establishing pulpo, Ursula worked in marketing for various companies in Germany, London, and Basel. Ursula has a keen interest in contemporary art and together with Patrick, collects contemporary paintings, sculptures, and photographs from Frances Bacon and Cindy Sherman, to lesser known, younger and undiscovered artists.

This mutual love for contemporary art inspired the celebration of colour, material, and texture which is at the heart of pulpo.

Today, Ursula is in charge of all client management at pulpo.

Founded by the Essex girl Carolyn Clewer, and Parisienne Tiphaine de Lussy, Paris Essex is the result of years of collaboration between the two knitwear

Essex girl Carolyn Clewer and Parisienne Tiphaine de Lussy founded Paris Essex together

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

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German kitchens

Azco Interior s 94 Heath Road Tw i c k e n h a m TW1 4BW

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0208 892 9906 19/02/2018 17:06

INTERIORS • DESIGN

“An ornament should also serve a purpose” mirrors or plates with real flowers, German designer Meike Harde’s pieces of furniture, lighting, and accessories combine constructive as well as intuitive elements, always with a subtle poetic character. “An ornament should also serve a purpose”, says the award-winning designer from Cologne, who deliberately questions and reinterprets common production techniques. Meike’s works have been featured in numerous exhibitions, including the Holon Design Museum in Tel Aviv, and are distributed through a number of internationally renowned design manufacturers. Meike Harde met pulpo at the beginning of her career, while she was exhibiting in various galleries. Patrick and Ursula from pulpo fell in love with her experimental and methodical approach with colours and materials. Today, pulpo have worked with Meike Harde to produce three different designs, including Miro, Miro on the wall and most recently, the Potpourri glassware collection - all demonstrating her deep and sensitive understanding of shapes, shades, and surfaces.

Cologne-based Meike Hardy deliberately questions and reinterprets common production techniques

and textiles specialists, which began 26 years ago at the Royal College of Art. Paris Essex's Crazy Blankets represent a creative dialogue between Clewer and de Lussy; the two take it in turns to play with crochet and knit, using mohair, wool and super-synthetics. Each blanket takes on its own personality as it grows organically and fluidly, with a process more akin to collage or patchwork than meticulously planned design. With names such as Heebie Jeebie, Zig Zag Bunny and Miss Harlow, each blanket tells its own story, mixing in patterns, shapes and characters.

Defne Koz is co-founder and partner of Koz Susani Design, an award winning, innovative studio based in Chicago where she designs iconic, emotionally engaging and award winning products and experiences. Her idea of design is influenced by her training in Ettore Sottsass’ studio, as well as her Turkish and Italian culture and her curiosity for different product types. To coincide with the recent Milan Design Week, Defne Koz collaborated with Istanbul-based design brand Nude to create the stunning Foresta coloured glass candle holder and the Layers coloured glass vase; both instant successes.

Whether it is textile wardrobes, marbled

Defne Koz collaborated with design brand Nude to create the Foresta coloured glass candle holder and the Layers vase

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

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40 Years experience “A level of service I believe goes above and beyond.

Thank you Roger!” Louise, W4 • Fully qualified installation professionals • Project managed - design conception to completion • CAD (Computer Aided Design) • A proud member of the KBSA

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Call us on: 0208 742 2236 or visit our showroom: 20 Fauconberg Road, Chiswick, London W4 3JY

www.osborne-interiors.co.uk

18/09/2017 16:14

INTERIORS • DESIGN

A HOW-TO GUIDE

Terrariums

1

Tom Dixon’s Plant is a double headed vase designed for the curation of floral arrangements and micro ecosystems

2

3

2 Clean the inside of the vessel to ensure there’s no residue that could harm the plant.

5

4

3 Add a layer of potting soil made for succulents. It should be deep enough for the plants to root to, so roughly 2 1/2 inches.

4 Remove the largest plant from its container and dust excess soil off the roots. You may want to trim the roots, so they aren’t too long.

A terrarium is a lowmaintenance instant indoor garden

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1 Fill the bottom of the vessel with a 1 1/2 inch layer of small rocks to collect the water drainage.

5 Using a long-stemmed implement, make a hole in the soil for the roots and nestle the plant inside. Then part the soil down firmly to hold the plant in place.

6 Plan for approximately 1 plant per inch of container diameter.

Reproduced courtesy of tomdixon.net

7 Continue placing the smaller plants using this method, trying to keep them away from the edges.

8

8 Clean off any excess soil around the glass of the container and add a small amount of water.

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

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Sweetpea & Willow LO VE T H E WAY Y O U L I VE OUR CLEARANCE SALE IS NOW ON WITH PLENTY OF ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR SPEEDY DELIVERY!

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!

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

19/02/2018 11:15

INTERIORS • STYLE

MY HOME Natalie Cardew of Wonder and Rah shows us around her new house wonderandrah.co.uk

THE MOVE

Last summer we made the move from London down to the south coast of Dorset. It was a huge change which involved selling/buying and relocating jobs so managing the timing of it all did make it super stressful.

MY STYLE

I am such a chameleon and my style changes with my mood. I guess it’s eclectic, alternative, fun and pattern focused. Nothing too matchy-matchy.

PATTERN AND TEXTURE

I love interiors, to a fairly unhealthy degree, and I’m completely obsessed with pattern and texture in rugs, cushions and prints.

NEUTRAL BASICS

Because I know how much I love to play with soft furnishings and switch up the feel of a room with cushions and prints, I keep the basics fairly neutral.

SHADES OF GREY I have a range of grey walls in my house from the very dark to the very light, I love how it allows a print to pop and is so easily adapted. That said I’m about to paint a green/blue half wall in my son’s bedroom, pretty daring for me but maybe it’s a start of something new.

CHILDREN'S ROOMS

Having children has made me more playful with interiors, quite often I will buy something for one of the children’s rooms then decide I like it too much and want it up in the living room.

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

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A good night’s

SLEEP 16 March is World Sleep Day – but sleep is important all year round. Here are some bedroom essentials

By PENDLE HARTE

1

Italian brand Bonaldo's beautiful Blanket Bed is essentially made out of a blanket, which supports the mattress and rolls up as a headboard. It's both an actual comfort and a symbol of comfort. gomodern.co.uk

Reading for as little as six minutes before sleep can reduce stress levels by up to 68%

Herdysleep’s supportive mattresses combine responsibly sourced natural materials with a level of luxury and craftsmanship never seen before in a rolled mattress. A restful sleep is guaranteed. herdysleep.com

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INTERIORS • FOCUS

3 The Secret Linen Store's 100% linen sets are piece-dyed with a vintage laundered finish, which means that each item is made and hemmed before being dyed and tumbled.

This creates slight irregularities in the colour of the linen - most notably around the edges - that give a relaxed, well-used look that would otherwise take years to achieve. secretlinenstore.com

4

The Headboard Workshop's userfriendly website and free swatch service makes light work of choosing a headboard. Alongside countless styles to choose from there is the option to go bespoke or use your own fabric and with more than 30 years of experience, their craftsmanship is unrivalled. theheadboardworkshop.co.uk

RISE AND SHINE

N

A good night’s sleep is crucial to one’s overall wellbeing – and finding the right mattress will put you on the right track

obody likes an alarm clock.

If it's loud enough to wake you up then it's loud enough to destroy your mood – and waking up grumpy defeats the point of investing in lovely mattresses and linens. Not for me though, because I have been waking up with Lumie's bodyclock all winter. A gentle light mimics the sun rising, rousing me silently and imperceptibly before the sound of birdsong gradually enters my consciousness (you can also choose a kitten purring, or waves lapping, or trains or even traffic, depending on your preference). So I am tricked into thinking I've woken up naturally, even though it's 6.45am on a freezing Monday. It's revolutionary. Bodyclock Luxe 700, £170, lumie.com

ECO LIVING

T

he Fine Bedding Company has launched a new eco bedding range that has all the softness of Hungarian goose down, while remaining animal and allergy-free.

Made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, the Smartdown range feels as luxurious as the finest down but its credentials are incomprable. “By using recycled bottles as the source material, up to 66 per cent of energy is saved and 54 per cent fewer CO2 emissions are produced. For every ton of plastic that is recycled, about 6.4 meters of landfill space is saved," they say. finebedding.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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ALL ALLASPECTS ASPECTSOF OFHOME HOMEREFURBISHMENT REFURBISHMENT KITCHEN, KITCHEN,BATHROOMS BATHROOMS&&BEDROOMS BEDROOMS Renovating RenovatingInteriors InteriorsSince Since1985 1985 www.bellainteriors.co.uk www.bellainteriors.co.uk T 020 T 020 8332 8332 9898 9898 / F/ 020 F 020 8332 8332 9777 9777 / E/ sales@bellainteriors.co.uk E sales@bellainteriors.co.uk / 137 / 137 Kew Kew Road Road Richmond.

Richmond.

Surrey Surrey TW9 TW9 2PN. 2PN.

JANUARY SALE – SEE IN STORE FOR DETAILS

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INTERIORS • UPDATE

Creative KITCHENS

bulthaup was a driving force behind the contemporary kitchen; and now its famous showroom is having a facelift

O

ften heralded as the kitchen industry’s driving force and trendsetter, the bulthaup showroom on Wigmore Street is undergoing a facelift. Celebrating 30 years of existence as a pioneering brand that has adapted accordingly in the face of massive changes to the kitchen dynamic – years that have seen the development of the trusty workbench, kitchens that encourage communication, and more efficient storage methods – the Bavarian born company is overhauling and restoring its famous showroom; due to reopen this month. The new showroom will display all of the latest and most innovative of the bulthaup creations – as well as offering a bespoke service that fits the kitchen to the client. In short, it is the opportunity for bulthaup to show that the kitchen is the hub of the home: a place that needs to have practicality, functionality and community.

The building itself is steeped in history – predating by years the brand that has made it its name.

The Grade II-listed building was originally a part of the Debenham & Freebody department store,

buried amongst the pharmacies and suppliers for the nearby Harley Street. After its transformation into the bulthaup showroom in 1988, Alex Wrighton, the Managing Director who chose the site for its central location and striking façade, made the first step in their pioneering approach by placing the manufacturer’s brand name above the door; a first for any retail kitchen furniture showroom. And it didn’t

“The kitchen is the most important room in the home”

B y GEORGIA MCVEIGH

stop there. Before long, plenty more kitchen and furniture stores had sprung up around it – making Wigmore Street the showroom destination that it is today.

The new showroom, which has been designed in-house by both the German and UK team, will showcase the four furniture systems that have facilitated the brand’s rise to fame. This will include the most recent, b Solitaire, which includes a wide range of tables, benches and freestanding storage elements, all of which can be placed throughout the living area. The success and adaptability of bulthaup is shown in its longevity. Its understanding that the kitchen is the most important room in the contemporary home is sure to keep it at the top of its game, and the new showroom will provide the perfect opportunity to show off what new and exciting directions it will take the industry next. bulthaup-mayfair.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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L ATE

FLOWERING Neisha Crosland looks back at Tulip, her ďŹ rst textile design from 1976, now reinvented in velvet for Turnell & Gigon

By N E I S H A C R O S L A N D

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INTERIORS • SPOTLIGHT

“I just decorated the flower head with stripes instead”

T

Inside Neisha Crosland's studio

he background story of Tulip started when I was a child. I remember seeing a tulip in my stepfather’s garden, a Fritillaria decorated with little gingham checks.

It was covered in dew drops, and, if I had been told that a fairy had hand painted the checks overnight, I would have believed it.

Back indoors on the same day I noticed a pair of elegant drawings of this same tulip.

My stepfather explained that they were drawings for Derby porcelain plates.

This was a seminal moment and probably the reason why I am a surface pattern designer today.

Tulip hand-blocked velvet detail

Patterned tiles in Neisha Crosland's London garden

I went to quite an academic grammar school and found myself alone on the A-Level art course with Miss Jeffries, my art teacher.

This meant that I had the whole art room to myself. I took an old sheet and dyed it pistachio green, cut out some stencils from cartridge paper, and bought some fabric paints. Miss Jeffries helped me make a silk screen, and I printed my first textile not knowing that I would still be at it 39 years later: the design I printed was a Fritillaria tulip, but as the checks seemed too tricky to cut out of a stencil I just decorated the flower head with stripes instead.

Twenty years later, on seeing the design that my mother by now had proudly framed, a friend of mine insisted on taking it to India to have some woodblocks cut of the design.

She came back some months later with a few meters printed on cotton muslin.

Last year, when visiting my studio, Matt Gomez of Turnell & Gigon spotted this length folded up in a corner, and was so inspired by it and its story, that he took the original blocks off to Thailand to print the design for commercial sale.

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

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INTERIORS • DESIGN

The Legacy Danish brand Stelton’s vacuum jug and stainless steel tableware are classic designs

By EVE HERBERT

A

These products are highly functional while remaining affordable

shoes and furniture, but their business did not really take off until they heard about a small factory in Fårevejle, Denmark, called Danish Stainless.

Danish Stainless produced stainless steel tableware, which was very much in vogue in Denmark’s 1960s. Upon entering into an agreement with Danish Stainless, Stelton began marketing a stainless gravy boat that sold like hotcakes in Danish hardware stores and was also a hit outside of Denmark. In the United States, Stelton products were the epitome of Danish Design and sold at ten times their Danish prices in high-end department stores and design boutiques.

The next important collaboration with a designer was with Erik Magnussen who designed the iconic EM77 vacuum jug. The true DNA of Stelton comes from these wellknown products, which are highly functional while being affordable.

Since then Stelton has elaborated its collaboration with international designers and architects assuring that the form and function of their product families create a synthesis that embodies innovative and different ideas in relation to concept, design and materials.

“Together with our talented and carefully selected designers, our ambition is to create timeless and functional designs that make everyday life a bit more beautiful,” said Michael Ring, Stelton’s CEO. Stelton.com

simple drawing of a teapot on a napkin during a family dinner. That was the starting point for Arne Jacobsen’s tableware design. After three years of intensive development, Cylinda-line was launched in 1967. At that time the cylindrical characteristic profile was avant-garde.

Today the series is recognized as a symbol of classic, timeless style.

Stellan and Carton were two friends who merged their first names in forming one of Denmark’s best-know design brands, Stelton. Niels Stellan Høm and Carton Madelaire were army pals who joined forces more than 50 years ago to start a trading company. They tried their hand at sports A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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“The investment in education for our daughters at Westonbirt has been invaluable.

The growth in their confidence and self-esteem has been amazing.”

Current Parent

OPEN DOOR DAY: THURSDAY 3RD MAY 9AM-12PM Bookings at www.westonbirt.org/admissions/open-days Day Fee £4,995/term; Boarding Fee £9,750/term.

E: admissions@westonbirt.org T: 01666 881301 www.westonbirt.org

Celebrating 90 years of excellent educational provision in the heart of the Gloucestershire countryside WESTONBIRT.indd 1 +3mm - 19.2.18.indd 1 Absolutely Ed - full page

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KIDS & EDUCATION

SOFT FOCUS PIUPIA

London-based childrenswear brand Piupia was born in 2013 after Claudia Carvalho became a mum to Noah, now four. The collection is characterised by soft colours, playful illustrated prints and simple shapes as well as ethical manufacturing. piupia.co.uk

Small Talk 95 ¡ Tamara Ecclestone on motherhood 96 ¡ Children's parties 103 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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om e an d visit!

C

UNLOCK THE CODE TO THE FUTURE_

A new nursery for Twickenham!

IS YOUR CHILD FUTURE READY?

First class early education for 0-5 year olds Full and part time places Inspirational learning environments Outstanding staff team

>Cypher inspires children to learn the language of the future through creatively themed coding camps.

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Explore our interactive coding themes_

CURTAIN CALL

CREATIVE CODING CAMPS FOR KIDS_

INSPIRED INTERIORS

Camps held every school holiday at:

>Chelsea >Chiswick >Hammersmith >Hampton Hill

Our redesigned and extended showroom is now open, incorporating a large Luxaflex design studio showing the latest motorised blinds, nestled alongside nearly new curtains and a huge choice of fabrics to be made to measure as curtains and blinds

>Kensal Rise >Notting Hill >Swiss Cottage >Twickenham

www.cyphercoders.com

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm • Sat 10am-6pm Evenings by appointment 52 Friars Stile Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6NQ 020 8332 6250 • curtaincall@blueyonder.co.uk

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KIDS & EDUCATION • NOTES

R EV I EW

Eco fashion C I T Y G OAT S

HONEY PIE

City Goats uses only 100% organic cotton and natural, botanically-derived dyes – think pomegranate, turmeric and onion – and the clothes are super covetable. city-goats.com

Silly Old Bear tea

SMALL TALK Sustainable fashion, Winnie the Pooh, nature fun and colourful clobber

NATURE TOTS H E L LO N AT U R E CA R D S

Children can explore the natural world around them with these beautiful illustrated activity cards based on Nina Chakrabarti’s awardwinning Hello Nature book. This pocket-sized set is perfect to help outdoor adventurers identify a tree from its seed, learn how a frog is different from a toad, where to find the Big Dipper and much, much more. laurenceking.com

veja

EDITOR’S PICK

T

he V&A's Winnie the Poo exhibition is brilliantly designed to appeal to adults who remember reading Winnie the Pooh when they were little as well as to tots. It's even good for little ones who don't care at all about Ernest Shepherd and his wonderful characters, because there's an actual slide, a colouring-in zone and a real bridge for playing pooh sticks. And any visit to the exhibition is enhanced by the Pelham Hotel's excellent themed afternoon tea offering. The special children's tea is served on an elegant treestump and includes a cute tigger-striped macaroon, a darling marzipan bee and a little honey parfait as well as little sandwiches and scones that come in a little basket. Of course it's wildly popular with children – and at £43 per head, it includes tickets to the exhibition too.

Silly Old Bear afternoon tea is available at The Gore and The Pelham hotels until 8 April

ART & SOLE

RAINY DAZE

V E JA X H U N D R E D P I E C E S

BOBO CHOSES

French footwear master Veja has teamed up with Hundred Pieces to create these snazzy (and eco-friendly) kids’ sneakers, featuring easy Velcro fastening and a fun, faintly Eighties colourbar print. From €75 en.smallable.com

The new Bobo Choses collection doesn’t disappoint. We suggest protecting your mini-me from spring showers with this lightweight hooded rain coat, featuring a colourful leaf motif. £103 en.smallable.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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KIDS & EDUCATION • PROFILE

Born to

D O IT Mama talks natural parenting and organic products with party girl-turneddevoted mother, Tamara Ecclestone

B y HELEN BARON

A

t first glance, Tamara Ecclestone is not your regular mother.

The daughter of Formula One billionaire Bernie and model Slavica, she’s been in the public eye since girlhood. She was educated at the distinguished Francis Holland school and today, aged 33, she calls a £45 million Kensington mansion home. Her professional life has taken in everything from sports presenting for Sky to posing for Playboy.

And for a number of years, she was a favourite of the gossip pages – a socialite with an apparent knack for partying.

Then came Sophia.

It’s fair to say that Tamara Ecclestone’s public life can be divided into two sections, pre- and post-partum. When her daughter Sophia (whom she calls Fifi) was born in 2014, Ecclestone’s life, priorities and public profile changed dramatically – so much so that you can’t help feeling that motherhood is her true calling.

We meet Ecclestone at Harvey Nichols.

She’s there to celebrate the launch of Fifi and Friends – her range of organic children’s bath products – and we want to find out

“I was unprepared for just how much I would love my daughter. It was so immediate and intense” more about what inspired the brand.

Because, let’s face it, few commentators saw this coming: Tamara Ecclestone, bronzed billionairess and some-time party girl, now a leading light in the promotion and development of natural toiletries for kids.

In person, the old image of Ecclestone is even harder to reconcile with her new direction. She’s still a glamour-puss, of course, but the look seems secondary to the spirit; she beams with warmth, welcome A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Subscription

FOR MINDFUL PARENTS Sign up to Readly for only ÂŁ7.99 a month and read all back issues of Absolutely Education, as well as our entire portfolio, including Absolutely Mama, Absolutely Weddings and Absolutely Home. Readly Subscribers also enjoy unbounded access to over 2,300 top titles.

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KIDS & EDUCATION • PROFILE

and positivity, clearly overjoyed to be launching her products into one of the world’s premier luxury retail spaces. It’s a triumph that seems all the more meaningful because the products weren’t designed with this uppermost in mind. They were, first and foremost, a personal project.

“My daughter Fifi and her cousin Lavinia inspired the brand,” Ecclestone tells us.

“Lavinia has really curly hair and it was hard to find decent products to tame it. I had the idea to do a range for both curly and straight hair, so we developed a detangler that can untangle even the knottiest hair.

From there it grew into swimming haircare, sun-block, nappy cream and even baby wipes – I wanted them all to use organic ingredients and to have the same fragrance.”

The natural approach is core to Fifi and Friends, and Ecclestone’s products outstrip many of their competitors’ by offering recyclable and often biodegradable packaging. We ask why the eco-conscious angle is so important and she replies without hesitation: “It’s really, really important to me. It had to be this way.

A lot of products are misleading [about such things]. And they smell fake. There was no way I was going to use anything harsh or artificial on my daughter.

“It took almost two years to get everything right – and I tested everything on myself.”

It’s all part of a conscious yet apparently never-judgmental embrace of natural parenting – itself inspired by a kind of epiphany Ecclestone experienced after having her daughter. We ask if motherhood is everything she thought it would be.

“Actually, way better!” she enthuses.

“Growing up, I wasn’t desperate to be a mum. When it happened, it blew my mind; I was unprepared for just how much I would love my daughter. It was just so immediate and intense. So far, it’s been an amazing journey and I’ve loved every stage. I don’t think you can know how you’re going to feel beforehand – or even what to plan for. I bought all these bottles and a cot thinking they would be useful, then Fifi came and I breastfed exclusively and we co-slept – I ended up following my gut with those things, so you learn on the job.”

Strange as it seems, being a public figure and endorsing breastfeeding and cosleeping opened Ecclestone up to criticism in some quarters. That must have been

hard, we venture. “I don’t really understand it. There are other things to have opinions about – [breastfeeding and co-sleeping are] such personal choices. For me, breastfeeding was easier for both me and baby, and I enjoyed that bond. Motherhood itself definitely engenders opinions and judgment. Well-meaning people like to give advice and share thoughts, but it’s bizarre that breastfeeding is contentious.”

At this point, Fifi comes over to ask for a blanket and we say how nice it must be that Ecclestone can take her daughter with her when “on duty”.

“Well, she’s so friendly and confident,” Ecclestone says. “She’s been exposed to so many adults and this is her norm.”

But, we continue, balancing work and parenting must still be a challenge? “It’s

“People like to give advice, but it’s bizarre that breastfeeding is contentious”

definitely a challenge. But Fifi does now have full days in nursery, so I get as much done as I can on those days. When she was younger, I utilised nap times. It’s important to have balance. I had to make it work so I could do something for me, too, and keep my brain ticking over.”

With that in mind, we ask for some of Ecclestone’s top advice for first-timers and mums-to-be. “Just to see what happens without planning too much,” she suggests.

“And reserve judgment, because you never know how you will react in similar situations – down to whether your child uses an iPad at a certain age or how they behave in public, and how you choose to discipline them in a moment of meltdown.”

Learning on the job, balancing work and motherhood, and wanting the best for her daughter... in all the most important respects, Tamara Ecclestone is not so different from a regular mum after all.

FIFI AND FRIENDS The range is available now at Harvey Nichols and selected retailers fifiandfriends.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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RAVENSCOURT PARK

preparatory school

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11 Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” ‘’The curriculum is excellent for all ages and abilities, and is expertly matched to meet the needs of the range of pupils in the school.’’

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - March 2016

Open Mornings

Open Mornings

18th January at 9.15am

9.15am Tuesday 14th November 1st February at 9.15am

6th March at 9.15am 9.15am Thursday 18th January 2018 3rd May at 9.15am 14th June at 9.15am

9.15am Thursday 1st February 2018 To register your attendance at one of our open mornings, To register your0208 attendance at one of our open mornings, please phone 846 9153 or mail secretary@rpps.co.uk please phone 020 846 9153 or mail secretary@rpps.co.uk

Ravenscourt Park Prep School 16 Ravenscourt Avenue, London W6 0SL

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KEW GREEN preparatory school

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11 Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent” Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent” Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” “Pupils of all ages benefit from a rich and exciting curriculum.”

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - July 2015

Open Morning Open Mornings

9.15amWednesday Wednesday,7th 15th 9.15am FebNovember 9.15am 9.15amWednesday Wednesday,21st 17thMarch January 2018 9.15am Wednesday 9th May 9.15amWednesday Wednesday,13th 7th June February 2018 9.15am To register your attendance at one of our open mornings, To mornings, please phone 020 8948 8948 5999 5999or ormail mailsecretary@kgps.co.uk secretary@kgps.co.uk

Kew Green Preparatory School

Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green, Richmond TW9 3AF

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Code WORDS Coding is the future and children benefit from starting young, say the team at Blue Shift B y H E AT H E R LYO N S

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ur children interact with technology every single day and in every part of their lives. They play games on iPads, stream TV via Netflix and watch videos on YouTube. They do research for projects using the web and are taught via smart whiteboards and interactive learning platforms at school. Whatever their lifestyle, you can be assured that your child will be extremely familiar with a wide range of electronic devices

and concepts by the time they reach primary school age.

But how many primary school children have been encouraged to think about how all these things work? How many of them are aware that someone somewhere had to design, build and bring to life their favourite toys and gadgets?

Technology isn’t going away and there’s an increasing likelihood that the best paid and most sought-after jobs they’ll be competing for as adults will be in the tech industry.

Who will build the Googles, Apples, and Facebooks of the next 20 years? It is becoming increasingly clear that understanding how

“The best paid and most sought-after jobs our children will be competing for as adults will be in the tech industry”

EDUCATION • FOCUS computers work and learning how to program them is a basic form of literacy that every child should be equipped with.

This is where organisations like Blue Shift education come in. Founded by a Notting Hill mum of three in 2013, Blue Shift offers creative coding courses for boys and girls aged 5 to 13 in a range of different tech areas.

The youngest children are taught the principles behind computer programming and discover that an understanding of programming can be used to paint pictures, tell stories and bring their ideas to life.

Older children build robots, design their own games and learn how to modify their favourite games (yes, including the ubiquitous Minecraft to make whole new worlds). The only limits are their imaginations.

Blue Shift runs coding camps every half term and school holiday in west London, as well as popular after-school clubs at some of the city’s most prestigious schools including Knightsbridge School, Eaton Square Prep, Thomas’s in Battersea and Wetherby Prep, Notting Hill Prep and Sussex House. Of course many of the children from the after-school clubs attend the holiday camps too, often coming back again and again to be inspired to create and have fun with the new friends they make.

Blue Shift sees children every day who are delighted and beguiled by the things they achieve through code. Learning to code teaches problem solving, real world skills, creativity and resilience. What could be more important than that in this day and age?

BLUESHIFT CODING blueshiftcoding.com

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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 Thurs 8th February at 9:15am9.30am) November 1st/7th (9.30am/ Thurs 8th March at 9:15am

st November 15th/21 (7.00pm/ 9.30am) Wed 21st March at 9:15am

Wed 2nd May November 29atth 9:15am (9.30am) Mon 25th June at 9:15am Fri 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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KIDS & EDUCATION • PARTIES

Children’s party places

T H E IC E S K AT I NG PA RT Y QUEEN S

Ice skating is always a popular choice for tots, pretty much as soon as their feet are big enough for ice skates. Packages at the refurbished Queens Ice and Bowl start at £24, to include an hour on the ice, skate hire and a party menu. queens.london

Sing it back There’s no escaping the annual birthday party minefield – but you can’t go wrong with karaoke for kids

A LL STAR LAN E S

A game of bowling followed by a kids meal (including the ever-popular milkshakes) is £17.50 per head. Bring your own cake; there’s a good choice of cocktails for the supervising adults. allstarlanes.co.uk

T H E B R A I DI NG PA RT Y T HE BRAID BAR

Braiders will come to your house and can do four or five braids an hour each for £100 plus VAT. Little girls love them. thebraidbar.co.uk

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oining 12 screaming pre-teens in a windowless room with inflatable guitars and Taylor Swift turned up loud might not be many adults’ idea of a fun afternoon, but that’s why there’s also a bar. Find a table, order a drink and take advantage of the sound-proofing. Karaoke is perfect for children, whose natural lack of inhibition enables them to make the absolute most of it. All their worst exhibitionism comes to the forefront as they scream into their mikes, clad in wigs and comedy glasses, ecstatic with the volume and the sheer intensity. The playlist has everything they could possibly want – the entire Disney back catalogue is there, all musicals from Grease to Matilda to The Lion King and School of Rock, and everything else too. Our 12 yearolds shift seamlessly between Let it Go, Shake it off and Galway Girl;

By PENDLE HARTE

“One minute they're Katy Perry, the next they're Justin Bieber”

T H E B OW L I NG PA RT Y

one minute they’re Katy Perry, the next they’re Justin Bieber. Fuelled by pizza and mocktails, any child old enough to read is pretty much guaranteed to have a ball here.

Lucky Voice’s children’s party offering is fantastic – just make sure you leave the room quickly.

L U C K Y VO I C E Packages start at £15 per child. luckyvoice.com

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Creating Memories YOUR WEDDING DAY AT STOKE PARK

Facilities include:

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

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

www.stokepark.com

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TRAVEL

FAR AND WIDE SRI LANKA

Timeless ruins, endless beauty, wide-reaching beaches and some out-of-this-world accomodation; we discover it all on the trip of a lifetime.

Discover Sri Lanka in style 106 • UK Getaway: Coworth Park 111 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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BOUTIQUE HOTEL, TRI LANKA OFFERS VIEWS OVER SRI LANKA'S LARGEST NATURAL LAKE, KOGGALA

SRI LANKAN SPLENDOUR TRI LANKA'S ROOMS ARE SLICK BUT COSY

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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST CAPE WELIGAMA AFFORDS UNMATCHED PANORAMAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN

This island nation has myriad charms, from timeless ruins to rolling surf

S

By HANNAH HOPKINS

DINE IN WILD COAST'S BEACH GARDEN UNDER A SRI LANKAN NIGHT SKY

ri Lanka packs in an astonishing variety of places to visit within its modest size, with a natural environment full of beauty and diversity. Its myriad charms, from timeless ruins, welcoming people and oodles of elephants to rolling surf, famous tea and flavourful food, make it irresistible to travellers.

With this in mind, my friend and I set out on a tea, sea and safari trip across the country – taking in an Instagram-famous hotel along the way. After a ten-hour flight and a four-hour drive from Colombo airport, we arrived exhausted (and ever-so-slightly carsick) at Tea Trails, a bungalow resort tucked up in verdant tea country. Five bungalows, plus one private cottage, are resplendent in their colonial style and stretch along the banks of Castlereagh Lake and down into the Bogawantalawa valley. We stayed in Norwood bungalow, packed with ‘50s character and beautiful communal spaces, including an elegant dining room and lounge where there were roaring fires at cocktail-hour. Rooms are named after past tea planter occupants and, in keeping with the hotel’s concept that the bungalow is your home, there are no keys to lock rooms.

If peace and quiet is your bag, then this is the place for you. Mornings began with Bed Tea – an age-old colonial tradition where a butler serves you tea to gently wake you up. At breakfast, mists roll in off the plantations and the atmosphere is utterly tranquil; there were wide verandas for reading in the afternoon and butler service on tap. Attention to detail is paramount in the service, and even the friendly chef says hello each day to tailor meals to your tastes and preferences.

On our first night, blissfully full after a feast of Sri Lankan curry and hoppers, we passed out as the fresh mountain air took its toll. Next day we strolled the hotel grounds – replete with roses, spring crocuses and croquet lawns, then visited one of the famous Dilmah Tea factories. You really can’t visit Sri Lanka without learning about their most successful export, and at Dilmah you can experience the tea process from picking to packaging.

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S ABSOLUTELY TPC CDS DEC ABSOLUTELY FINAL BLACK DEC ADJ TS_Westside FINAL BLACKBack ADJCover TS_Westside 14/11/2017 Back 10:13 Cover Page 14/11/2017 1 10:13 Page 1

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Call 020 8743 Call 020 43218743 or www.clubdessports.co.uk 4321 or www.clubdessports.co.uk Call 020 orLane www.clubdessports.co.uk Club Des Sports Club Des TheSports Park Club The8743 Park East 4321 Club ActonEast Acton WestLane London West W3 London 7HB W3 7HB Club Des Sports Park Club East Acton Lane West London W3 7HB S ABSOLUTELY DEC FINALClub BLACK ADJ TS_Westside Back The Cover 14/11/2017 10:13 Page 1 DEC TPC CDS TPC CDS ABSOLUTELY FINAL BLACK ADJ TS_Westside Back Cover 14/11/2017 10:13 PageABSOLUTEL 1 TPC.indd 1

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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST WILD COAST'S COCOON POOL SUITE BOASTS A PRIVATE POOL AND VIEWS OF THE BEACH

WILD COAST SITS ON THE PRISTINE BEACHES OF YALA NATIONAL PARK

MIST ROLLS ACROSS THE TEA PLANTATIONS AT BUNGALOW RESORT, TEA TRAILS

Next up on our travel itinerary was Sri Lanka’s largest natural lake, Koggala – home to boutique hotel Tri Lanka. With its slickly designed rooms, airy spa and treetop yoga (set in a space designed to float above bamboo groves), it is perfect fodder for travel bloggers. Dotted around were rooms housed in a cinnamon-clad water tower and swirling hillside houses with sumptuous suites. Traditionalists might be irked by the pared back, ultra-contemporary interiors and the communal style dining-cum-barcum-reception area, but a swim in the hotel’s beautifully designed pool over the lake might just sway them. Only 25-minutes’ drive away

is the majestic city of Galle, known for its colonial fort, whitewashed sea walls and excellent boutique shopping. On the way, we stopped off to see the stilt fisherman of Kogalla and the Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya temple in Unawatuna. Set in the ramparts of Galle Fort is Amangalla – a hotel of stately grande dame period charm that’s well worth booking for lunch in between shopping and exploring. We enjoyed the lobster tagliatelle and tuna tartare.

Travelling further along the coast we reached the breathtaking Bay of Weligama, famed for whale watching and one of Sri Lanka’s most glamorous beach resorts, Cape Weligama. A model village of sorts, it's set on an amazing headland site - we were told that many guests never leave the complex.

It’s no surprise; every curvaceous corner of the resort – masterminded by Thai architect Lek Bunnag – is designed with privacy in mind. Villas were carefully placed in clusters of two or three around generous pools shielded by trees and the iconic cliff-top pool was crescent-shaped to offer 270-degree panoramas of the Indian Ocean, regardless of who was sitting near you. From seafood at the alfresco Ocean Terrace to the more intimate Ocean House Steakhouse (book in advance), the food was delectable. You can visit the Cape Colony Club for Ceylon high tea and sunset cocktails, book into the revamped spa to unwind, learn to dive, go on a bike tour, go whale watching, or, if you really get bored, go to the fully-equipped gym.

There were staff on hand to help at all times and they were the most polite we’d ever encountered. You could want for nothing.

Just when we thought life couldn’t get any better, we arrived at Wild Coast, a brand new wildlife lodge on Sri Lanka’s south east

coast. Set along a pristine beach on the fringes of the renowned Yala National Park, it blends the comforts of a luxury hotel with the back-to-nature excitement of a wilderness safari camp.

Guests stay in tented ‘cocoon suites’ with vaulted ceilings, large windows and colonial chic design – think freestanding copper bathtubs, four-poster beds, teak floors and repurposed metallic hardware.

Some have private plunge pools – ours didn’t, but was clustered around a waterhole – more exciting as you have the chance of seeing wildlife from your private deck. This being a new opening, there were still a few teething problems – most notably copper taps that were too hard to turn and no food or drinks menus at the open-air bamboo-clad restaurant - but those will easily iron themselves out. Kudos though, to the hotel’s safari guides, who were exceptionally wellinformed, friendly and whisked us to the quietest corners of Yala National Park to see elephants, leopards and sloth bears.

At one point, we were within touching distance of an elephant, who was enjoying his dinner as the sun set. When it comes to magical holiday moments, it doesn’t get much better than that.

TEA TRAILS Rooms at Tea Trails start from $722 per night on an all-inclusive basis, based on double occupancy. resplendentceylon.com/teatrails

CA P E W E L I G A M A

Rooms start from $624 per night on a half board basis, based on double occupancy. resplendentceylon.com/capeweligama

W I L D C OA S T T E N T E D LO D G E

Rooms start from $890 per night on an all-inclusive basis, based on double occupancy. resplendentceylon.com/wildcoastlodge-yala

TRI LANKA

Rooms start from $325 per night on a half board basis, based on double occupancy. trilanka.com

A M A N GA L L A Lunch starts from around £18 per person aman.com/resorts/amangalla

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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. 2018

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weekend

The food

here’s a poolside café offering simple daytime meals and drinks, while the main restaurant offers high class local produce with an emphasis on fish and quite a formal feel. Walking over to Polzeath for dinner is another option. Don't miss the brilliant coffee shack on the beach, if you can get to it for all the sandy wetsuit-clad crowds.

The Hotel

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his sprawling white building has an impressive ocean liner look to it, especially when set against the clear blue skies that we’re all hoping for when travelling to Cornwall. It’s a super friendly and comfortable place, inhabited by returning fans of its fantastic seaside location, indoor and outdoor pool and super friendly vibe. Perfect for families, accommodation includes selfcatering villas and apartments as well as hotel rooms.

The Beach

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ollow the coastal path at the back of the hotel for about 10 minutes and you’ll emerge at popular Polzeath Beach, whose vast expanse of sand is filled with people in high season. Most of them are here for the brilliant surf, and countless schools offer lessons (the hotel can recommend their favourite).

Good coffee, ice creams and fish and chips are all available at this busy spot. Following the path in the other direction from the hotel takes you to the smaller and less crowded Daymer Bay if that’s more your thing. Or keep going and you’ll get to Rock in about 45 minutes; from there it’s a quick boat crossing to Padstow.

The Rooms

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ur garden family room opens directly onto a sunny terrace and to the hotel’s gardens and large outdoor pool. Fold-out bunkbeds accommodate two children; it’s a spacious room with a discreet seaside theme to the décor in shades of acqua and shell.

The Spa

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his outpost of Cowshed gets very busy, so be sure to book in advance.

I enjoyed my manicure for the comfortable chair, easy chat and the neat and shiny nails I emerged with; the spa is a popular destination in itself.

DESTINATIONS

TRAVEL • UK GETAWAY

“A friendly place, inhabited by returning fans of its fantastic seaside location”

ST MORITZ, CORNWALL A seaside retreat with a fantastic pool, Cowshed spa and a relaxed atmosphere

By PENDLE HARTE

Double rooms from £260 ST MORITZ HOTEL Trebethwick, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 6SD; 01208 862 242 stmoritzhotel.co.uk

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The VILLA Collective Relax and recoup in the holiday homes of the rich and famous with the new luxury online rental platform

By TA M A R VA N D E R H O E K

T

hat day, as we stood on the terrace looking out to the mountains at the astonishing view, with no other sign of human habitation and nature at its most simple and dramatic, Jimmy fell silent. And in the spring of 1986, it became ours.”

The words of Lady Annabel Goldsmith reflecting on the moment she and her late husband Sir James Goldsmith fell in love with their Spanish holiday home Torre de Tramores. Just over 20 years later, the villa is now one of the many lavish holiday rentals available on new online platform, The Villa Collective.

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Not to be confused with Airbnb, The Villa Collective is an exclusive service founded by Nick Cookson with the idea to bridge a gap in the luxury rental market. Where discerning travellers can book holidays directly with property owners and managers who have first-hand knowledge of both the property and destination on offer.

The website allows holidaymakers to search and compare a curated selection of villas and holiday homes across multiple countries and book direct.

It currently hosts a collection of private villas and estates across Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, France and Morocco with plans to expand further afield to winter sun hot spots like Barbados, with prices ranging from £4,000-£100,000 a week.

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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST

What sets The Villa Collective apart from other online accommodation platforms is the strict set of criteria that need to be met before being offered a membership. Every property and its owner is screened for authenticity and must have a house manager as a minimum requirement. This provides potential renters flexibility, added security and ease of mind - an offering which its competitors have yet to match.

Like many of the properties on The Villa Collective, Torre de Tramores comes fully staffed with a house manager, chef and housekeeping services. Set on 600 hectares of Andalusian countryside, near the town of Benahavis, the Tramores estate is only a short 15-minute drive

“The original Andalusian farmhouse has been extended into an eleven bedroom stay which cascades down over its hillside setting”

from the madness of Marbella and an hour from Malaga airport. It has been a regular holiday spot for the Goldsmith family since the late 80s and seen both celebrity and royal guests visit over the years, including Princess Diana whose suite has been dubbed the ‘Princess Room’ since her stay.

The original Andalusian farmhouse has been beautifully extended and converted into an eleven bedroom stay, which cascades over different levels on its hillside setting. Finished to an exceptionally high-standard while retaining its country-home charm, the villa is decorated with Andalusian and Moorish antiques, Spanish textiles, artwork, books and family pictures of the Goldsmiths.

The property not only boasts amenities including a tennis court, swimming pool and games room but also features stunning grounds with gardens and water features, powered by a natural stream system from the Guadalmina River. At the base of the villa lies an organic farm and kitchen garden which grows a range of fresh produce all year round.

Guests have a choice of numerous terraces and lounges to relax on throughout the property. Breakfast and lunch are usually served on the outside deck where beautiful views of the mountains and landscape can be savoured. While the evenings are slightly cooler, the Goldsmiths have been known to have a formal dinner

in the dining room, with a menu of favourites including a delicious chicken and prawn paella, followed by a fireside nightcap.

As rented accommodation continues to increase in popularity with holidaymakers around the world, The Villa Collective provides quality, luxurious and safe properties to its clientele and giving villa owners the power to make the most out of their properties by being a member of this elite platform.

TO R R E D E T R A M O R E S is available to book direct via The Villa Collective from €22,500 per week. call 020 3950 1588 or visit villacollective.com or

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Sofas for when they’ve flown the nest* c o p ming hom e e k t u b * e to roost

Armchair critics welcome: Chelsea | Islington | Bankside | Guildford | Bath | Harrogate | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Amsterdam Call us on 0345 400 2222 or, of course, visit us online

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TRAVEL • COMPANY FOCUS

Holistic Holidaying Transformative travel is tipped to be the holiday trend of 2018.

Here where we’ll be getting a taste of it this year…

KNAI BANG CHATT REFORESTATION PROJECT IN GUATEMALA

ACTIVE ICEL AND EXPERIENCE

Chõsen and Eleven Experience are hosting a series of sevenday active Iceland experiences at Eleven’s Deplar Farm on the remote Troll Peninsula. The exclusive programmes is designed to promote experiential learning through a balance of adrenalinefuelled adventures, diverse fitness modalities, goal-setting and mindfulness, hosted by an expert Chõsen team. They will include nutritional and wellness elements with gourmet menus inspired by locally grown produce and daily relaxation sessions.

The seven day Chõsen Iceland itinerary will cost from £12,183 for single occupancy and £10,475 based on two people sharing on a full-board basis (excluding flights). Available on select dates in September 2018 chosenexperiences.com elevenexperience.com

Reflect with silent walks led by mindfulness gurus, stay in traditional homes and hike to monastic caves in the remote Himalayan society of Ladakh. The Shakti Walking Experience by Ampersand Travel is ideal for those seeking seclusion and a remedy to city-frazzled minds.

Situated in India’s far north and with no motorised transport, no rush, no phone signal and travelling at the speed of your own two feet, this walk is a journey of the most personal kind.

Specialist India operator Ampersand Travel offers the 16-day Ladakh Village Walk Experience from £9,995 per person. This includes accommodation at the Trident Gurgaon, Delhi, Shakti, Ladakh and The Imperial Hotel, Delhi, international and domestic flights, private transfers and private guiding. ampersandtravel.

THE SHAKTI WALKING EXPERIENCE

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FIND PEACE IN THE INDIAN HIMAL AYAS

“Ideal for those seeking a remedy to city-frazzled minds ”

ACTIVE ICELAND EXPERIENCE

REFORESTATION PROJECT IN GUATEMAL A

This experience teaches guests the importance of reforestation from local Guatemalan charity, Global Visionaries. Planting season runs from 15 May to 15 October which goes hand in hand with Guatemala’s rainy season. The hands-on experience is a fun way to learn about the nature of Guatemala and to interact with the local community of helpers which includes students from the local schools. Scott Dunn recommends staying at Posada del Angel, a small, charming and intimate colonial mansion located in the centre of Antigua in Guatemala.

0208 682 5040 / scottdunn.com

CONNECT WITH KHMER’S COMMUNIT Y

Knai Bang Chatt is a chic, modernist boutique hotel in Kep Sur Mer – a relatively undiscovered coastal destination on Cambodia’s South Coast, once the 1960’s escape for the elite. The owners realised during their first visit to Cambodia that many neighbouring and impoverished communities were in need of improved health, clean water, more livelihoods opportunities, and better education for their children. Owner, Jeff Moon continues committed to empowering the local community, with Cambodia’s first official Sailing Club opened in May 2017 as a means of nurturing homegrown talent.

Rates at Knai Bang Chatt start from approx. £143 per night. This is an accessible coastal location, just over a two-hour drive from Phnom Penh airport and is an integral part of a Cambodia itinerary. knaibangchatt.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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

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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TERENCE CONRAN DESIGNED ASTER SOFA

GRACE 4'6" OTTOMAN

MILAN DOLLY

DUNLOPILLO

Dunlopillo Royal Sovereign, Orchid and Millennium mattresses have been awarded Which? Best Buy for 2017 & 2018.

CALL OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM ON 0208 747 8886 ANYTIME BETWEEN 9AM & 5:30PM, MONDAY-SATURDAY. 10:30AM & 4:30PM ON SUNDAY Windsor 01753 801000 | Ealing 0208 567 6789 | Chiswick 0208 747 8886

WWW.DANIELSTORES.CO.UK

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PROPERTY LIVING THE DREAM

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GROVE PARK ROAD W4

£3,250,000

FAMOUS PLACES

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NIGEL LEWIS: PORTUGAL

n impressive four storey Victorian villa offering an excellent balance of living and entertaining space. The property comprises five double bedrooms, two luxury bathrooms, two reception rooms, a grand entrance hall, kitchen and breakfast room, study and a private landscaped garden. The property is also situated on a prestigious road with off street parking for two cars.

136

A

Whitman & Co. Chiswick 02087478800 whitmanandco.com

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LANGHAM PLACE, CHISWICK An immaculate three bedroom modern house with a separate garage situated in Langham Place, a gated enclave in Chiswick, with a beautifully landscaped garden. Good transport links. EPC = C

3

1

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ASKING PRICE

£950,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

SUTTON LANE NORTH, CHISWICK A fabulous secluded and unique cottage tucked away just off Sutton Lane North by Turnham Green Common. Arlington Cottages are Grade II listed with an abundant history attached. EPC = E

4

2

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ASKING PRICE

£1,499,950 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

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Chiswick Hammersmith West Kensington Fulham Chelsea

Battersea Clapham Putney Barnes Richmond

Kew Sheen Twickenham Teddington Kingston

featherstoneleigh.co.uk

DEVONSHIRE ROAD, CHISWICK A delightful three bedroom, two bathroom split level maisonette arranged over the first and second floors of this elegant period building on one of Chiswick’s most popular and desirable streets. EPC = E

3

2

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ASKING PRICE

£895,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

CHISWICK GATE, CHISWICK An exciting new Berkeley Homes development of desirable three, four and five bedroom townhouses on a beautiful garden square, close to Chiswick House and Gardens, Chiswick High Road and transport links.

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PRICES FROM

£1,957,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

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FO R SALE

SEDGEFORD ROAD W12 £ 1,4 5 0 ,0 0 0 FREEHOLD • • • • •

A pretty Edwardian family house 3 double bedrooms Bathroom Shower room en suite Double reception room

14 5 ASKE W ROAD, W12 9AU

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• • • • •

•

29’ x 16’ kitchen / dining room Potential to extend into loft 42’ garden Outbuilding / studio 1787 sq ft / 166 sq m approx. EPC - TBC

0 2 0 8 8 11 2 9 2 9

•

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FO R SALE

PERCY ROAD W12 £ 5 2 5 ,0 0 0 SHARE OF FREEHOLD • • • • •

A light two bedroom first floor flat Two bedrooms Bathroom Reception room Kitchen / dining room

14 5 ASKE W ROAD, W12 9AU

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•

Cast iron period fireplaces Good natural light and decorations Within refurbished period building Near to Wendell and Ravenscourt Parks 646 Sq ft / 60 sq m approx. EPC - D

0 2 0 8 8 11 2 9 2 9

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Rusthall Avenue, W4

£1,295 per week St Marys Grove, W4

£995 per week

A refurbished semi-detached five bedroom house in the heart of A newly refurbished five bedroom detached home with two Bedford Park with three bathrooms, a large open plan kitchen and a bathrooms. There is a modern kitchen leading onto a dining/ secluded garden, energy rating d. reception room and a garden, energy rating e.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

Windmill Road, W4

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

£865 per week Crofton Avenue, W4

£865 per week

Arranged over three floors, a four bedroom home with a large open A four bedroom family home with three bathrooms and a study. plan kitchen/reception room with bi-folding doors opening onto a Further benefits include a garage, off-street parking and an beautiful secluded garden, energy rating c. attractive rear garden, energy rating d.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

Tenants fees apply: £180 per tenancy towards administration, £60 reference fee per tenant and £144 for a professional check in (All inc of VAT).

fletcherestates.com

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Grove Park Road, W4 A semi-detached six bedroom Edwardian family home which has been newly refurbished.

The property has a large reception room, extended kitchen with underfloor heating, a south facing garden and off-street parking for three cars.

Chiswick Lane, W4 A six double bedroom, five bathroom Edwardian house with two large reception rooms.

The master bedroom has a large dressing room and a balcony. The house benefits from a sauna, a media room and a garden with a terrace, energy rating d.

ÂŁ2,800,000 020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

ÂŁ3,000,000

020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

fletcherestates.com

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LIVING THE

DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market

1

BAZALGETTE COURT W6, ÂŁ2,750,000

A

three bedroom penthouse apartment with river views for sale in Hammersmith.

The property boasts a vast reception space flooded with natural light and an open plan kitchen. There are also two balconies and a dramatic southerly facing roof terrace allowing residents to make the most of river views as well as providing space for alfresco dining and entertaining.

KNIGHT FRANK Chiswick, 02037576231 knightfrank.com

WATER LANE

T W 9, ÂŁ1, 30 0,000

T

his two bedroom Georgian cottage has been meticulously refurbished offering versatile accommodation laid out over four floors. The property has been beautifully designed with modern touches whilst still retaining its historical features.

It is located in the heart of Richmond close to the River Thames towpath and is also moments from Richmond Green and Richmond tube station.

DEXTERS Richmond, 02082889988 dexters.co.uk 1

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PROPERTY • NEW TO THE MARKET

PERCY ROAD

W 1 2 , £ 1 , 3 9 5,0 0 0

A

THE GROVE

LENA GARDENS W 6 , £ 2 , 2 0 0,0 0 0

T

n impressive five bedroom Victorian bay fronted house.

The kitchen and dining room have underfloor heating and connect to a double reception, as well as opening onto a private west facing garden. Upstairs is a large family bathroom, two further shower rooms and a roof terrace.

Percy Road is a family orientated road near good schools, shopping and transport.

his is a five or six bedroom family home with two floors of flexible living space. This bright and spacious property achieved ‘Passivhaus’ standard in 2010 and was the first house in the UK to be retrofitted to this standard. Consequently Lena Gardens has low energy consumption and provides exceptional levels of thermal comfort.

PHILIP WOOLLER

FINLAY BREWER

Askew Road, 02088112929 philipwooller.com

Brook Green Sales, 02073714171 finlaybrewer.co.uk

W 5, £ 5 5 4 P E R W E E K

A

three bedroom flat in the heart of Ealing Broadway.

While the property benefits from good connections into London there are also many good amenities on its doorstep. Located on the lower ground floor, the flat provides open plan living with three double bedrooms accompanied by two bathrooms.

The property is finished to a high standard and also benefits from a patio garden.

A SOUTH FACING ROOF TERRACE ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO MAKE THE MOST OF RIVER VIEWS AND PROVIDES SPACE FOR ALFRESCO DINING

WINKWORTH

Ealing and Acton, 020 8896 0123 winkworth.co.uk

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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LOCAL INDEPENDENT INVOLVED

At Finlay Brewer, we’ve been deeply involved in the local community since 1992.

We know the area, and we understand our clients.

www.finlaybrewer.co.uk 020 7371 4171 info@finlaybrewer.co.uk

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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

MACFARLANE ROAD W12 GUIDE £1.499M FREEHOLD UPPER MALL W6 • 4/6 DOUBLE BEDROOMS £1,500PW / £6,500PCM • RECEPTION 1/BEDROOM UPPER MALL W6 5 • RECEPTION 2/BEDROOM 6 •£1,500PW HOME •WONDERFUL OPEN PLAN FAMILY KITCHEN/BREAKFAST/FAMILY ROOM / £6,500PCM • •• •• ••

BEDROOMS •4 DOUBLE 3 SHOWER ROOMS 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

COBBOLD ROAD W12 GUIDE £865,000 FREEHOLD HAARLEM ROAD W14 • 2 DOUBLE BEDROOMS £625PW / £2,708PCM • RECEPTION/DINING ROOM HAARLEM ROAD W14 • KITCHEN •£625PW BEDROOM FLAT •2 DOUBLE BATHROOM / £2,708PCM • •• •• ••

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

SHEPHERDS BUSH 020 8749 7719 LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • •• •• ••

• UTILITY ROOM & CLOAKROOM • CELLAR LETTINGS 020 • GARDEN GARDENS •2 COURTYARD POTENTIAL TO EXTEND STPP HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK •EASY EPC ACCESS RATING TO D 60 UNFURNISHED 2 COURTYARD GARDENS EPC 57 HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK EASYRATING ACCESSDTO AVAILABLE NOW UNFURNISHED

7371 4071

• EPC RATING D 57 • AVAILABLE NOW

SHEPHERDS BUSH 020 8749 7719 LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • •• •• ••

• SOUTHERLY GARDEN • LOFT STORAGE LETTINGS 020 7371 • POTENTIAL TO EXTEND STPP •BALCONY EPC RATING D 64 UNFURNISHED WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY BALCONY EPC RATING C 79 UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE NOW WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY

4071

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

• MASTER WITH EN SUITE BATHROOM & DRESSING AREA • SHOWER ROOM

• 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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13/02/2018 15:58

PORTEN ROAD W14 GUIDE £2.4M FREEHOLD • • • • •

4/5 BEDROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION KITCHEN/BREAKFAST/FAMILY ROOM STUDY/BEDROOM 5 2 BATHROOMS (1 EN SUITE)

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

• • • • •

UTILITY 2 GUEST CLOAKROOMS ROOF TERRACE WESTERLY FACING GARDEN EPC RATING D 60

POPLAR GROVE W6 GUIDE £1.975M FREEHOLD • • • • •

5 DOUBLE BEDROOMS 2 RECEPTIONS KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM FAMILY BATHROOM EN SUITE WET ROOM

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

• • • • •

SEPARATE WC CELLAR LOFT STORAGE SOUTHERLY GARDEN EPC RATING D 57

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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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

WESTWICK GARDENS W14 £1,450PW / £6,283PCM UPPER MALL W6 • 6 BEDROOMS / £6,500PCM •£1,500PW ELEGANT DOUBLE UPPER MALLRECEPTION W6 • LARGE KITCHEN/DINING ROOM ••£1,500PW WONDERFUL FAMILY HOME 3 BATHROOMS / £6,500PCM •• •• •• ••

4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS SOUTHERLY GARDEN & ROOF TERRACE 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

BOLINGBROKE ROAD W14 £1,450PW / £6,283PCM HAARLEM ROAD W14 • 5 BEDROOMS / £2,708PCM •£625PW SPACIOUS DOUBLE RECEPTION HAARLEM ROAD W14 • STYLISH KITCHEN ••£625PW 2 BEDROOM FLAT 2 DOUBLE BATHROOMS / £2,708PCM •• •• •• ••

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

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071 LETTINGS 020 7371 4071 • • • •• •• •• •• ••

WOOD FLOORING THROUGHOUT EASY ACCESS TO SHEPHERDS BUSH & HOLLAND PARK LETTINGS 020 7371 UNFURNISHED 2 COURTYARD GARDENS EPC RATING D 67 EASY ACCESS TO HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK AVAILABLE NOW UNFURNISHED 2 COURTYARD GARDENS EPC 57 HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK EASYRATING ACCESSDTO AVAILABLE NOW UNFURNISHED

4071

• EPC RATING D 57 • AVAILABLE NOW

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071 LETTINGS 020 7371 4071 • • • •• •• •• •• ••

PRETTY PRIVATE GARDEN EXCELLENT TRANSPORT LINKS LETTINGS 020 7371 UNFURNISHED BALCONY EPC RATING D 67 UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE NOW WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY BALCONY EPC RATING C 79 UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE NOW WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY

4071

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

• MASTER WITH EN SUITE BATHROOM & DRESSING AREA • SHOWER ROOM

• 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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13/02/2018 15:58

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

4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION BESPOKE KITCHEN 2 BATHROOMS BEAUTIFUL GARDEN

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • • • •

BLYTHE ROAD W14 £550PW / £2,383PCM • • • • •

2 DOUBLE BEDROOMS OPEN PLAN LIVING WITH WOOD FLOORING BATHROOM EN SUITE SHOWER ROOM LARGE HALL/STUDY AREA

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

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • • • •

PAVED GARDEN & COURTYARD EASY ACCESS TO BOTH SHEPHERDS BUSH & HAMMERSMITH FURNISHED EPC RATING C 74 AVAILABLE END MARCH

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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13/02/2018 15:59

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

PEPYS’ HOUSE

F

PHANTOM HOME

T

he film Phantom Thread, released this February, tells the story of a bachelor dressmaker in the 1950s whose life becomes difficult when he finds love.

Starring Daniel-Day Lewis in what is said to be his final screen role, the film also features Lesley Manville and Vicky Krieps.

Phantom Thread was filmed on location in the UK in two key places – Lythe in North Yorkshire and in Fitzrovia in central London. In the

132

capital, many of the scenes were shot at a Grade I listed, five-storey, sevenbedroom mansion on Fitzroy Square, which in the film is the workshop and home of the fictional Reynolds Woodcock that Day-Lewis plays.

The property where all the fashion and failed love takes place is now for sale. The Robert Adams-designed terraced property, which was built in 1790, also features eight reception rooms, private parking, 3.5m high ceilings and a full height cantilevered stone.

amous diarist Samuel Pepys was born in London and lived in the capital most of his life.

Pepys was born in the Square Mile, living through the English civil wars, the Great Plague, the Great Fire and the threat of Dutch invasion, before dying in Clapham in 1703.

In 1666 Pepys visited a ‘bear pit’ and saw animals including horses and bulls being baited for public amusement, which he described as “a rude and nasty pleasure”.

Bear baiting is both illegal and widely despised these days but when Samuel Pepys was writing his famous diaries during the 1660s it was a popular form of entertainment.

The original bear pit Pepys visited was an octagonal theatre open to the air on what is now London’s South Bank. It sat just behind The Globe Theatre.

The bear pit is long gone but a home was built in 1860 on the site that records his visit called Pepys House, on Park Street.

Excavations of the property’s basement have revealed that elements of the original bear pit remain. The striking four-bedroom house is now for sale for £3.5 million.

It is a beautiful Grade II Listed building, with high vaulted ceilings that expose the original timber trusses, positioned just 90 meters from the River Thames.

“In the area housing stock at this price point tends to be modern apartments so Pepys House offers something different for buyers at this level,” says agent Laura Laws.

It’s for sale at £15 million through Knight Frank (020 3813 3647).

More information from Savills, (020 7456 6800).

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

SCORES ON THE DORS

T

he antics of today’s celebrities occasionally shock the nation, but for many decades actress Diana Dors took it to a whole different level. Her fame came from two sources – her reputation as the English Marylyn Monroe and an outrageous personal life.

It included two spells working in Hollywood, an appearance alongside Joan Collins and work on TV. She also liked her houses to be luxurious and, as well as a country manor house, her former home on Burnsall Street in London’s Chelsea is no exception.

The terraced property, which has recently had a blue plaque added in memory of her career, is now for sale.

It’s a double-fronted, four-bedroom house recently extended at the rear, just off the King’s Road.

For sale at £2.85m with agent John D Wood (020 7352 1484).

"Diana Dors liked her houses to be luxurious and her home on Burnsall Street in Chelsea is no exception"

HOME GAMES

A

ctress Tara Fitzgerald has enjoyed an illustrious stage, film and TV career, but despite multiple plaudits for her work, she is best known to people as Selyse Baratheon, Lady of Dragonstone in Game of Thrones.

But despite her global fame after joining Game of Thrones, the 50-year-old has for some time lived in a modest house in the suburbs of West London. Or at least she used to.

Tara has sold the property for £1.75 million, £145,000 less than she had hoped to get for it.

It has four bedrooms and two reception rooms and a long and wide rear garden, at the end of which is a substantial outbuilding.

“There is a real serenity to this place,” says Tara. “The flow of the house means it is somewhere that people feel comfortable from the moment they cross the threshold, and it has the charm of a country dwelling in the midst of the city.”

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

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SALES SALES

5 -7 Tur n h a m G re e n Te rra ce, C h isw ic k , Lon don , W4 1R G Te l 0 2 0 8 7 4 7 8 8 0 0 · Fa x 020 8995 7275 E-m a i l i n fo @wh i t m a n a n dco.com · We bsite w w w. w h i t m a n a n dco. co m

FAIRLAWN AVENUE, W4 STAMFORD BROOK ROAD, W6

£465,000 £1,995,000

LETTINGS

A wider than average period house withflat a large secluded garden and offofstreet parking.and Master bedroom, FourThree furtherbedrooms, bedrooms, luxury Study/Bedroom, An amazingly light,semi welldetached presented triple aspect with the added benefit a balcony private garden. bathroom, Large loft space,room, Two bathrooms, Large entrance Through reception room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Utility room, Cloakroom, Secludedwith landscaped garden, Off 14' reception fully integrated kitchen,hall, gas fired central heating, share in the freehold, balcony and private garden side access.

Ideally street parking for close three cars.

Ideally of situated opposite park and within close proximityshopping of Stamford Brook tube Station, numerous bus routes and Chiswick High situated within proximity Chiswick Park the tube station and the extensive and restaurant facilities on Chiswick High Road.

Road. EPC-E.

LINDEN GARDENS, W4 LAMB COTTAGE, BATH ROAD, W4 W4

£330 PER WEEK £1.600,000 OIEO £1,750,000

newly decorated lower ground floor flat with private west garden.

Large double withcomprises; wardrobes, AAfantastic Grade II listed home attributed togarden EJ May located in the sought afterfacing Bedford Park Conservation Area.bedroom The property Fivereception bedrooms,room Familywith wood floors, bathroom with shower over,room, fittedReception kitchen,room garden. flat is on one room, of Chiswick's moments fromconservatory, the shops, bathroom, Shower room, 21’ Kitchen/breakfast withThe bay window, Dining 63’ Southbest facinglocated garden, roads, Roof terrace, First floor restaurantsLarge cafésbasement. on the High Road and 5 minutes from distance TurnhamofGreen station.

The property is available early September, furnished.

Cloakroom, The house is within easy walking Chiswick High Roads shops, cafes and restaurants.

Transport links include Turnham Green and Stamford Brook Stations, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London.

• WHITMAN.indd 2

19/02/2018 10:30

SALES LETTINGS POINT WHARF LANE,W4 TW8 RIVERVIEW ROAD,

£350 PER WEEK GUIDE £1,000,000

ABeautifully well presented, chain free, terraced house on this second popular residential the Strand on theafter Green/Grove area of Chiswick.

The house comprises; Master presented two double bedroom floor flat street in thisin highly sought riversidePark development.

Boasting a stunning open plan bedroom with ensuite, Threeafurther bedrooms with bespoke built-in wardrobes, Family bathroom, Reception room with bay window, 50’work kitchen reception room, river side balcony and a master ensuite bedroom.

Large open plan reception room, fully fittedKitchen/Dining kitchen with room, granite West Extensive Potential extend STPP. The property is moments from Strand on the Green’s riverside pubs, restaurants and cafes, and lies tops,facing fittedgarden, wardrobes andstorage, riverside views. to Underground parking space included. within the catchments for Grove Park Primary and Strand on the Green schools. Transport links include Chiswick Mainline Station, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London. EPC-D.

QUEENCOTTAGE, ANNES GROVE, LAMB W4 W4 SUTTON COURT,

£430 PER WEEK £1.600,000 £499,950

A large, light and beautifully double bedroom flat on red thisbrick highly desirable the Park heart ofofBedford just minutes An exceptionally spacious and lightpresented apartmenttwo on the third floor of this popular mansion block road in thein Grove area ChiswickPark, benefitting from from Turnhamcommunal Green underground Top parking. floor position beautiful views from and bedrooms. extensive gardens andstation. private road The flat ensures comprises; 17’3 Reception room the withreception bay window, double bedroom with built in wardrobes, kitchen/breakfast room, bathroom, entrance hall, high ceilings, estate manager, communal gardens, private road parking. The property is close to numerous transport links including Chiswick Mainline Station, Gunnersbury and Chiswick Park Tube Stations, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for access into central London and out to Heathrow and the West. Chiswick High Road’s shops, cafes and restaurants and The River are all a short walk away. No Chain. EPC-E.

• WHITMAN.indd 3

19/02/2018 10:31

SALES LETTINGS POINT WHARF LANE,W4 TW8 RIVERVIEW ROAD,

£350 PER WEEK GUIDE £1,000,000

ABeautifully well presented, chain free, terraced house on this second popular residential the Strand on theafter Green/Grove area of Chiswick.

The house comprises; Master presented two double bedroom floor flat street in thisin highly sought riversidePark development.

Boasting a stunning open plan bedroom with ensuite, Threeafurther bedrooms with bespoke built-in wardrobes, Family bathroom, Reception room with bay window, 50’work kitchen reception room, river side balcony and a master ensuite bedroom.

Large open plan reception room, fully fittedKitchen/Dining kitchen with room, granite West Extensive Potential extend STPP. The property is moments from Strand on the Green’s riverside pubs, restaurants and cafes, and lies tops,facing fittedgarden, wardrobes andstorage, riverside views. to Underground parking space included. within the catchments for Grove Park Primary and Strand on the Green schools. Transport links include Chiswick Mainline Station, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London. EPC-D.

QUEENCOTTAGE, ANNES GROVE, LAMB W4 W4 SUTTON COURT,

£430 PER WEEK £1.600,000 £499,950

A large, light and beautifully double bedroom flat on red thisbrick highly desirable the Park heart ofofBedford just minutes An exceptionally spacious and lightpresented apartmenttwo on the third floor of this popular mansion block road in thein Grove area ChiswickPark, benefitting from from Turnhamcommunal Green underground Top parking. floor position beautiful views from and bedrooms. extensive gardens andstation. private road The flat ensures comprises; 17’3 Reception room the withreception bay window, double bedroom with built in wardrobes, kitchen/breakfast room, bathroom, entrance hall, high ceilings, estate manager, communal gardens, private road parking. The property is close to numerous transport links including Chiswick Mainline Station, Gunnersbury and Chiswick Park Tube Stations, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for access into central London and out to Heathrow and the West. Chiswick High Road’s shops, cafes and restaurants and The River are all a short walk away. No Chain. EPC-E.

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PORTUGAL'S GREAT OUTDOORS Designed to appeal to the sort of people for whom endless days snoozing by the beach is anathema

L

isbon Green Valley, the substantial new villa complex under construction outside the tourist crush of Lisbon, is not the usual holiday homes resort most Brits are used to viewing when house hunting under the Mediterranean sun.

Instead of golf courses, beaches or vast swimming pool complexes, the resort is designed to appeal to the sort of people for whom endless days snoozing by the beach is anathema – the jogging, cycling and hiking set.

Lisbon Green Valley, as its name suggests, overlooks a verdant swathe of mountain criss-crossed by mountain biking and hiking paths and thousands of acres of wild countryside.

And if you do need to get to the beach but don’t want to drive, there’s a trail for the more adventurous that leads eventually to the nearest beach.

The resort has a way to go before it’s finished. The JCBs and construction workers have recently begun mauling its rich brown earth, and new wide boulevards are slowly forming to accommodate the 16 apartments, 14 townhouses and detached bespoke villas that will soon line them.

Like the modernist leanings of its partbuilt main apartment block and finished show townhouses, in many respects Lisbon Green Valley is a fresh approach to what a Mediterranean country resort should be.

And that means community, a model that’s been tried next door at its sister resort. There buggies whirr, children bob

along the sidewalks and local office workers and residents return for lunch. The number of people lunching in the club house was surprising for the early Autumn day when Absolutely London paid a visit.

Developer Gilberto Jordan, whose father André created two of Europe’s most famous resorts – Quinta da Lago and Vilamoura – says Lisbon Green Valley will bustle like its sister resort Belas Clube Campo because he expects 90% of residents to live there year-round.

It’s why the new resort is to have both a large school and a health centre. Lisbon Green Valley is also likely to have the same mixture of residents as Belas – retired golfing expats, professionals from around the world living in the sun but managing businesses remotely, and

“ if you do need to get to the beach but don’t want to drive, there’s a trail for the more adventurous that leads eventually to the nearest beach.”

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Lisbon commuters.

It’s this mix that makes Belas alive in comparison to the shuttered ghost resorts.

The ones that are all too numerous in Spain and other parts of the Mediterranean, only coming to life during the busy high-season Summer months and half-term breaks.

Lisbon Green Valley is also close to the main motorway network that cradles the capital and spreads out into the surrounding sometimes suburban countryside.

This makes many of the area’s main destinations around 20 minutes away – assuming you don’t drive at rush hour, including the regal mountains of Sintra, which can be seen from the resort in the distance, as well as the seaside resort of Cascais, historic Belem’s tower and the varied delights of Lisbon, including its bourgeoning celebrity chef scene.

Lisbon is the city break destination du jour for many northern Europeans helped by the arrival of Madonna, who has bought a house in Sintra and is now often seen in Lisbon with her son after he gained a place at the training academy of the city’s football club.

Mention of celebrities does not fluster Gilbert Jordan. His father’s first two resorts Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago were in part built on a reputation for celebrity residents from the footballing sublime to the reality TV ridiculous.

Dozens of world class football players including Christiana Ronaldo and Teddy Sheringham have resided at the two resorts, alongside reality stars such as Binky Felstead from Made in Chelsea, Ant & Dec, Holly Willoughby and Jose Mourinho.

Gilberto says he already secured several

famous names for Lisbon Green Valley, who are likely to buy one of the secluded $325,000 plots available, with building costs on top.

Further down the price list are completed apartments at Green Valley starting at €325,000 for a one-bed on the bottom floor to €520,00 for a two-bedroom unit on the top floor.

Townhouses kick off at €905,000 for the smallest three-bed units. All of which come with access to mountain bike storage facilities, of course.

For further information contact the team and get to know the Lisbon Green Valley project in detail: Call +351 219 626 616 Email: casadevendas@planbelas.pt www.lisbongreenvalley.pt

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A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

WARBECK ROAD, W12

£1,450,000

A delightful Victorian home which offers a perfect balance of period features with contemporary design. The accommodation comprises a grand double reception room with bay window, two fireplaces, bespoke storage and oak flooring. The contemporary kitchen dining room is flooded with natural light and has concertina doors that lead out to the West facing garden. On the first floor there are three double bedrooms and two bathrooms. Stairs lead up to the converted loft which offers a further spacious double bedroom and en-suite bathroom. Warbeck Road is a quiet residential road where the quietness belies the close proximity to all the amenities of Shepherds Bush including Westfield and both of the Shepherds Bush underground stations.

Four Double Bedrooms | Double Reception Room | Extended Kitchen Dining Room | Three Bathrooms | Ground Floor W.C. | Garden | 1657 Sq Ft / 153.9 Sq M | EPC Rating Band E

SHEPHERDS BUSH & ACTON | 020 8735 3266 shepherdsbush@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/shepherds-bush

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19/02/2018 12:58

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

STANDISH ROAD, W6

£1,175,000 FREEHOLD

A charming four bedroom mid-terrace house, within the St Peter’s Conservation Area. Offered in good order throughout, but with scope for the in-going purchaser to improve to their own specifications. The property further benefits from a roof terrace as well as a garden. Standish Road is ideally located for access to the various amenities of both Hammersmith and Chiswick, whilst a number of excellent state and private schools are also within close proximity.

Double Reception Room | Kitchen | Dining Room | 4 Bedrooms | Bathroom | 2 Cloakrooms | Roof Terrace | Garden | 1520 Sq Ft / 141.2 Sq M | EPC Rating Band D

HAMMERSMITH | 020 7371 4466 hammersmith@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/hammersmith

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A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

MONTPELIER ROAD, W5

£900,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

Winkworth are delighted to bring to the market a split-level three bedroom flat on one of Ealing’s most sought after roads. Upon entry you are greeted by a spectacular reception room which boasts a fireplace and high ceilings. This unusually large three bedroom property is complimented by a modern kitchen and two contemporary bathrooms, one on each floor. To the rear is a large well-kept private garden and the apartment benefits from off street parking.

Large Split-level Flat | Three Bedrooms | Two Contemporary Bathrooms | Modern Kitchen | Large Well-kept Private Garden | Off-street Parking | EPC: D

EALING & ACTON | 020 8896 0123 ealing@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/ealing-and-acton

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A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

THE GROVE, W5

FORDHOOK AVENUE, W5

£553 PER WEEK

£807 PER WEEK

Luxury apartment finished to the highest of standards in the heart of Ealing Broadway. Rent: £2,400 PCM.

An immaculate four bedroom two bathroom Edwardian semi-detached family house near Ealing Common tube station. £3,500 PCM.

Lower Ground Floor Flat | Three Double Bedrooms | Two Bathrooms | Open Plan

Extensive Living Space On Ground Floor | Two Reception Rooms | Large

Living | Patio Garden | Fees Apply | EPC: B

Conservatory-style Family Room | Set Over Three Floors | Fees Apply | EPC: D

For more information on this property call:

For more information on this property call:

Ealing & Acton office | 020 8896 0123

Ealing & Acton office | 020 8896 0123

ELLINGHAM ROAD, W12

INGERSOLL ROAD, W12

£400 PER WEEK

£800 PER WEEK

A light, spacious and well-presented two bedroom flat with study arranged over two floors. Rent: £1,733 PCM.

An exceptional four bedroom Victorian family home, beautifully presented in this enviable location. Rent: £3,467 PCM.

Two Double Bedrooms | Study | Furnished | 949 Sq Ft / 88 Sq M | Great location |

Double Reception Room | Two Bathrooms | Cloakroom | Modern Kitchen | Garden

Fees Apply | EPC: D

| Unfurnished | 1738 Sq Ft / 161.5 Sq M | Fees Apply | EPC: D

For more information on this property call:

For more information on this property call:

Shepherds Bush office | 020 8735 3255

Shepherds Bush office | 020 8735 3255

WITH 60 OFFICES IN THE CAPITAL ALONE. WE’VE GOT LONDON COVERED winkworth.co.uk

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A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

WILLOW VALE, W12

BATOUM GARDENS, W6

£435 PER WEEK

£595 PER WEEK

A recently refurbished beautiful two double bedroom garden flat located A substantial three double bedroom maisonette, arranged over the top two floors of an end of terrace Victorian house. Rent: £2,578 PCM. on a quiet cul-de-sac close to local amenities. Rent: £1,885 PCM. Two bedrooms | One Bathroom | Patio | Open Plan Kitchen | Reception room |

3 Bedrooms | Reception Room | Kitchen | Bathroom | Cloakroom | 982 Sq Ft /

Fees Apply | EPC: C

91.2 Sq M | Unfurnished | Fees Apply | EPC: E

For more information on this property call:

For more information on this property call:

Shepherds Bush office | 020 8735 3255

Hammersmith office | 020 7371 4466

MINFORD GARDENS, W14

GROVE MEWS, W6

£575 PER WEEK

£495 PER WEEK

A well-presented three bedroom maisonette, arranged over the upper two floors of a mid-terrace Victorian house. Rent: £2,492 PCM.

A charming three bedroom house with private rear garden in a mews running parallel with Hammersmith Grove. Rent: £2,145 PCM.

3 Bedrooms | Reception Room | Kitchen | 2 Bathrooms | 1057 Sq Ft / 982 Sq M |

3 Bedrooms | Reception Room | Kitchen | Bathroom | Garden | 860 Sq Ft / 79.9 Sq

Unfurnished | Fees Apply | EPC: E

M | Part Furnished | Fees Apply | EPC: C

For more information on this property call:

For more information on this property call:

Hammersmith office | 020 7371 4466

Hammersmith office | 020 7371 4466

winkworth.co.uk

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19/02/2018 12:59

A HYBRID AGENCY OFFERING A HIGH STREET SERVICE AT INTERNET PRICES CALL TO DISCUSS

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THE NEW SHOREDITCH Absolutely London visits one of the last ‘emerging’ areas of London to see what the hipster hideaway of Deptford has to offer

I

f you judge an area by its beards and brogues quota, then Deptford is undoubtedly riding right now. This once-scruffy pocket of Lewisham received a massive boost to its fortunes back in 2014 following the approval of a £1 billion regeneration project. But the big change has been seen over the last 18 months as Deptford has cemented its position as the location of choice for creatives and young professionals looking for a vibrant cultural scene within easy reach of central London.

Deptford has been dubbed the ‘new Shoreditch’ and it’s easy to see why.

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There’s been a notable influx of arty types drawn to the area by its cool creative vibe, trendy bars and cutting-edge music venues. And then, of course, there’s the affordability factor. Although prices in Deptford continue to rise, you can still pick up a one-bedroom flat here for under £300,000 making it a clear favourite with first-time buyers.

Vicci Smith from Foxtons thinks that the stamp duty change introduced in the autumn budget has been great news for Deptford. “If anything comes onto the market costing £500,000 or below the buyers are all over it,” says Vicci. “There’s so much regeneration happening here in

Deptford, it’s really exciting. I’d say it’s the area of London which has seen the most change over the last few years.

The enquiries always used to be about Greenwich, but now everyone calls up about Deptford.”

The excellent transport links are a big draw – London Bridge can be reached in six minutes by train and Canary Wharf is only a 12-minute chug on the DLR – but Vicci believes Deptford’s unique community feel is the main attraction for new home buyers. “People flock here because it has such a vibrant, culturally diverse atmosphere,’ says Vicci. “You can get any kind of food you could possibly want in Deptford, there are loads of great new bars and restaurants and there’s a strong sense of community. “Creative types love it here. You see lots of hipsters and people walking around with yoga mats over their shoulders. I had a buyer in the other day who specifically wanted to move to the area because of the number of new vegan restaurants which have opened up.”

When it comes to property, Deptford offers a wide variety of options. There are grand Queen Anne town houses on Albury Street near St Paul’s Church, Victorian terraces on popular streets like Scawen Road and several impressive riverside developments offering swish new apartments with views of the Thames. The Timberyard Deptford is one of the largest new developments in the area. Built on a former industrial site near the open green space of Deptford Park, the scheme will create 1,132 new homes – each with their own private

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outdoor space – as well as 100,000 sq ft of commercial and retail units. “Deptford is one of those previously overlooked in-between locations, nestled alongside Canada Water and Greenwich, and as such it has significant growth potential,’ says Matthew Moloney of Colliers International who are marketing The Timberyard.

“It’s so close to Canary Wharf and has a creative scene to rival Shoreditch. It’s the one to watch in the South East corridor. For buy-to-let investors, getting in early for a long-term project such as The Timberyard is where the real opportunities lie.”

The first phase of homes at The

“It’s so close to Canary Wharf and has a creative scene to rival Shoreditch.

It’s the one to watch in the South East corridor.”

Timberyard has nearly sold out and a second phase of properties will be released later this year. Other significant developments in the area include Convoys Wharf which will see 3,500 homes created on the site of the original Sixteenth Century dockyards and the Anthology Deptford Foundry which will offer 276 characterful homes in a converted former metal foundry. Investors need to move fast to make the most of the opportunities in this Zone 2 hotspot. And if you’re moving in rather buying to let, don’t forget to pack your brogues to ensure you fit in with Deptford’s seriously arty crowd.

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www.johnmartinestates.com

EALING W5

ÂŁ875,000 FREEHOLD

A beautifully appointed, characterful Edwardian style villa in the heart of Pitshanger Village offering spacious living accommodation throughout with scope to extend (subject to usual consents). To the ground floor is a well planned fitted kitchen, spacious breakfast/family room and large lounge. To the first floor are three excellent sized bedrooms and modern family bathroom. Other benefits include gas fired central heating, a wealth of period features, charming paved rear garden and wonderful views over Pitshanger Park from the rear.

Energy Performance Certificate: D

82 Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5 1QX jmesales@johnmartinestates.com JOHN MARTIN.indd 1

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“PITSHANGER’S COMMUNITY ESTATE AGENT”

EALING W5

£2,400PCM (*Fees apply)

A simply stunning three bed period property situated in the heart of the picturesque Brentham Garden Estate, moments from the award winning Pitshanger Village. The property boasts two spacious intercommunicating reception rooms and modern luxury fitted kitchen/diner to the ground floor. To the first floor are three good sized bedrooms and modern family bathroom. There is also gas fired central heating, an array of period features as well as beautiful front and rear gardens. Offered unfurnished. Available early April 2018.

Energy Performance Certificate: E

*In addition to rent, tenants pay deposit (usually six weeks’ rent per property) and administration fee of £120 (inc VAT) per tenant plus check out fee (determined by size of property) at end of tenancy.

Any guarantor required pays administration fee of £60 (inc VAT). No renewal fees are payable.

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Call Jo or Joe now on 020 8108 7209 and arrange a Club tour. ­

The Hogarth Health Club Airedale Avenue Chiswick London W4 2NW www.thehogarth.co.uk 020 8108 7209

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19/02/2018 15:57