March 2012 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

ABSOLUTELY

NOT TING HILL

Penguin Cafe Orchestra W11’s Arthur Jeffes revives the band

MARCH 2012

Counter

culture Backgammon gets personal

Rock royalty

Rare pictures of Pink Floyd and The Velvet Underground

splash

Katie Melua

From east to west

Judith Owen and Harry Shearer

Talking Spinal Tap and Ruby Wax

Spring’s new looks

S T Y L I S H . I N T E L L I G E N T. E L E G A N T. A B S O L U T E LY

Instruct us. And your property will be the first thing they see, too. Here’s some inside information. If you’re selling a property in the Notting Hill surrounds, we know just how to make sure it gets seen – and visited. More importantly, we’re getting the highest prices for properties in our area. Often way higher than our clients expected. Without ever once having to drop the Guide Price. Without ever overvaluing the property just to win an instruction. (That old, time-wasting trick.) And without ever tying our clients into long-term contracts. If you’re thinking of selling your property, give us a call. Or drop in for a cup of tea. Right now, if you want the Best Price, it’s the first thing you should do.

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ABSOLUTELY CONTENTS MARCH 2012

Features 20 profile

Arthur Jeffes on the Penguin Cafe Orchestra

26 r ock shots

Adam Ritchie’s rare pictures of Pink Floyd and the Velvets

28 k atie melua’s W11 A new album and a new engagement

33 culture clash

Alexandra Llewellen on making backgammon cool

REGULARs 36 fashion shoot Clashing prints and colours for spring

49 mothers’ day

Jewels and gems for your mother on 18 March

50 KENSINGTON STYLE Interiors with Jimmie Martin & McCoy

55 sophie conran On designing eggs in Bayswater

12 WHAT’S ON 14 local news 36 FASHION 50 INTERIORS 68 FOOD & DRINK 77 HEALTH & BEAUTY 88 travel 93 PROPERTY

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Welcome o A

lthough the world of fashion seems to be, inexplicably, carrying on as if the rest of the world were not crumbling around it, there has been one noteable concession to the recession in these parts. I’m talking about the rise of what used to be called ‘second-hand’ and what has now commonly become ‘vintage’ but is also, in Notting Hill at least, becoming Americanised as ‘consignment’ or even the hideously euphemistic ‘pre-loved’. Old clothes, in short, are no longer the preserve of the eccentric but an acceptable concession to 21st century belt-tightening. Not, of course, rails of moth-eaten cashmere or 1980s C&A, and certainly not the Primark cast-offs that clutter up our charity shops. No, this new ‘redistributive fashion’ is all about designer pieces, barely worn by their original owners and traded by canny types well aware of the supply and demand logistics of the Matthew Williamson, Chanel or Alexander McQueen output. The Merchant in Ledbury Road, a ‘consignment boutique’, claims to have a store of items that are on international waiting lists, while other stockists operate from their homes, seeing clients by invitation or at champagne-fuelled shopping evenings. Added value in pre-owned comes from the identity of the pre-owner: Poppy Delevigne’s old Prada is being sold at a charity sale this month and hers is likely to be worth more than, say, mine would be. Curious? Find out more at the celebrity wardrobe sale on 16 March at the 20th Century Theatre in Westbourne Grove. And there’s a mix of old and new in the pages of this issue of Absolutely too, so enjoy March.

Pendle Harte Editor Absolutely Notting Hill Lime print silk dress £360 Peridot at Wolf and Badger. Necklace £1,426 and earrings £400 Erickson Beamon. Lime platform heels £295 Kurt Geiger

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ABSOLUTELY o Editor Pendle Harte Editorial Assistant Gemma Billington Editorial INTERN Katie Randall Editorial contributors Hattie Edmonds, Pearl Boyd ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Lisa Davis ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER Rochelle Streater GROUP PROPERTY DIRECTOR Alexandra Hunter Head of Design Ray Searle Senior Designer Lisa Wade Production Assistant Lauren Giles Picture Editor Colin Streater Photographer Mike Blackett FASHION STYLIST Charlotte Kewley Finance Director Alexandra Hvid Marketing Manager Jessica Batten managing Director Sherif Shaltout

For editorial enquiries please email: editorial@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 3176 5265 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing subscriptions@zest-media.com. You can receive an online subscription for FREE or a postal subscriptions for 6 & 12 months, £15 and £25 respectively (to cover postage and packaging). Please email us with your preferred option and details. Published by Zest Media London, 311 Westbourne studios, acklam road w10 5jj www.zest-media.com T: 020 3176 5265 F: 020 7900 3020 Zest Media London Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media London Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

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Intelligence Squared debate: Facebook 5 March TABERNACLE For those who love it, Facebook has created a true global village. You can enjoy the constant background buzz and chatter of everyone you’ve known and loved but could easily lose touch with. And it’s more than just a tool that enhances lives and social connectivity – it’s so powerful that it brings down dictators. But there’s a dark side to Facebook that its detractors want you to know about. It destroys the notions of privacy that civilised society has always relied on; it collapses the rich and complex notion of friendship into a single, mechanical click; and it rewires our brains into attention deficit disorder and social paranoia and creates lonely, screen-filled lives. And that’s not even to speak of its manipulative business practices. So where does the truth lie? Go to the Tabernacle, hear the arguments over a glass of wine and a plate of charcuterie and decide for yourself. Tickets £25. The debate will begin at 7pm and finish at 8.30pm. Tabernacle, Powis Square W11, intelligencesquared.com

Anja Niemi: Do Not Disturb From 27 March THE LITTLE BLACK GALLERY Hailed as one of Europe’s most exciting photographers, Anja Niemi’s pictures are striking and sometimes sinister. Each one shows Niemi in a different guise alone in a hotel room. The Little Black Gallery, 13a Park Walk, SW10 020 7359 9332 thelittleblackgallery.com

March What’s on

Absolutely the best of the month ahead

Portobello Orchestra 24 March, 7.30pm ST PETER’S CHURCH The concert will include Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony and the first performance of Gareth Weston’s Windows. £10 adults, £8 concessions, with free wine or soft drinks in the interval. St Peter’s Church.90 Kensington Park Road, W11 theportobelloorchestra.co.uk or tickets on the door

DIARY

Freshly cut To 14 April Flow Gallery Freshly Cut is an exhibition focused on heart and flower themes in leading-edge jewellery design. Featuring seven individual designer-makers with an international perspective; each artist shares an alternative view of either the traditional heart symbol or ornamental flower motifs in jewellery. 1-5 Needham Road W11 flowgallery.co.uk

BY CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON

Grafik Apparel To 17 March LONDON PRINT STUDIO An exhibition examining the strategies of artists and designers who stretch and invisibly mend the codes and clothes we wear, exploring the creative tension between the separate worlds of art and fashion. Clothes entwine references, ironies and identities. Historically garments express a collective state of mind, status, allegiance, profession and individual dreams. London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road W10, londonprintstudio.org.uk

JAZZIE B 30 March PARADISE Legend of British music Jazzie B returns to play another incredible set at Paradise. Founder of Soul II Soul, superstar producer, DJ and original funki dread always brings the greatest collection of funk, soul, reggae, and roots. Paradise By Way of Kensal Green, 19 Kilburn Lane W10, theparadise.co.uk

Kensal Flea 24 March 11.30-5.30pm PARADISE

Urinal Dress, The Rodnik Band by Philip Colbert

Kensal Flea is back with its quirky mix of crafty people selling delightful bits and pieces. Homewares, antiques, vintage fashion, jewellery and children’s clothes are crammed into every corner of the venue, punctuated with cupcakes and chat, making this the funkiest fleamarket around. Paradise, 19 Kilburn Lane W10, kensalflea.com

NEWS

Princess Anne in W10

Roundup

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal came to W10 to visit the new Tri-borough youth service, which brings together the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City of Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham Councils’ youth offending services into one team. The Princess Royal visited the new headquarters to see how restorative justice works in practice and to witness young offenders working with the victims of crime. The team is working across the borders of the three local authorities to offer a more joined-up and responsive approach to tackle youth crime.

Current affairs in the area

Cycling signs

Victory over Crossrail Westbourne Park’s Big Table is celebrating good news from Crossrail. The rail company has now axed its plans to demolish the shop to make way for an electric substation – leaving Big Table is free to continue trading as long as the original lease allows. An energetic and vocal campaign run by local people, councillors and loyal customers attracted a lot of attention in its mission to save the site and the 30 year-old business. Ian Lindsay, Crossrail Land and Property Director said: “We have reduced the extent of land required for our substation and negotiated alternative access. This means that the property at 56 Great Western Road can be retained for commercial use.” Kim Macrory of Big Table told Absolutely she was “beyond delighted”. 14

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has unveiled plans to roll out its two-way cycling scheme to selected one-way streets across the borough. Originally trialled in 2009, statistics showed no personal injury collisions as a result of the initiative. News signs will be erected over the coming months and two-way cycling implemented in several streets by the end of the year. Councillor Nick Paget-Brown, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Our rationale for permitting two-way cycling in these streets is that it allows cyclists to avoid very busy roads and in some cases they even provide a more direct route.”

Library losses Media interest continues to focus on Kensal Rise Library – even though the legal campaign to save it from closure has come to an end with the Supreme Court’s refusal to allow further appeal. Channel 5 filmed local adults and children outside the library as part of a story about library closures. Kensal Green-based campaigner Marcos Sanjurjo, who suffers with cerebral palsy, raised £200 for Brent SOS Libraries by swimming more than 150 metres in a hydrotherapy pool. A packed public meeting focusing on the redevelopment of Willesden Green library (and the closure of its popular bookshop) to include a housing development on the site was animated, with residents showing increasing hostility to Brent council.

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ABSOLUTELY

Social

Reporting from all the best parties in our area Chakra

Lots of faces including came to Notting Hill Gate to celebrate the launch of Andy Vama’s new restaurant Chakra, including Liz McClarnon, Gary Lineker and Duncan Bannatyne.

Richard Young Gallery

Launching Louise Bobbe’s exhibition at the Richard Young Gallery was a glamorous event, with Bobbe’s female nudes attracting lots of praise.

Kelly Hoppen, Louise Bobbe and Ronnie Newhouse Caroline Shapiro, Miranda Davies, Susan Young

Nicky Haslam and Gary Kemp

Louise Bobbe and guest

Louise Bobbe and Yasmin Mills

PA RT I E S

Angeli Senza Eta

New Kensington High Street spa Angeli Senza Eta wowed the beauty crowd with its stylish premises and lots of champagne for all. Photography by George Ramsay

Shola Ama at Paradise Shola Ama launched her own regular club night at Paradise with plenty of classic hip hop and R&B and lots of special guests still to come.

THE HURLINGHAM Restaurant & Bar

The Hurlingham Restaurant & Bar is located on the exciting and diverse All Saints Road in Notting Hill. Our Michelin trained head chef has put together a fresh, seasonal menu to cater for all tastes.

The bespoke cocktail menu aims to provide our guests with a variety of exclusive cocktails that have been created in-house. We offer all this in a relaxed, unpretentious environment, with a team of fun and friendly staff.

6-8 All Saints Road, Notting Hill, W11 1HH Tel: 020 7243 6363

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Penguin

dynasty

Musician Arthur Jeffes is reviving his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seminal band, the Penguin CafĂŠ Orchestra, from the same Notting Hill studio. Pendle Harte meets him

P RO F I L E

hink of the Penguin Café Orchestra and you might think of Telephone and Rubber Band, the much-sampled track that appears in several films and adverts. It’s a tuneful loop that mixes an old-style phone ring with an engaged tone and a twangy rubber band. Or you might think of the slightly dark album artwork featuring anthropomorphised penguins. The band was set up by musician Simon Jeffes in 1974 and ran for over 20 years, until his death in 1997. Now its spirit has been revived by Jeffes’ son Arthur, who is working from the same W11 studio and producing music in the same character. Arthur Jeffes sits at a table at Julie’s, opposite his studio. He’s a smiley man, slightly nervous, with a warm, friendly look. Until last year, he was working as a composer making music for film and television, and now he is entirely dedicated to the project he calls Penguin Café, to differentiate slightly from the original. “It’s a very strange idea, a dynastic band,” he says. But is it? It may be unusual to have a band that survives for over 20 years, but of course there’s a whole tradition of handing skills down from father to son. “There’s still a lot of appetite for the music – I love hearing it played live whether or not I’m playing it. It was sad to think we’d never hear it again.” The Penguin Café Orchestra’s music has often been described as sounding familiar, though you can’t quite identify it. It’s timeless and tuneful, with a cosmic jokiness and an almost improvised feel, a sense of experimentation with instruments. And with tracks called things like ‘The Ecstasy of Dancing Fleas’ or ‘Perpetuum Mobile’ or ‘Yodel 1’ there’s a definite element of fun and of the unexpected. Arthur’s revival of the band started in 2007, when he and various original members of the Penguin Café

Orchestra played a series of tribute gigs to mark a decade after Simon Jeffes’ death, with Arthur taking his father’s place. “After that, some friends were doing a small music festival and asked us to come and play, so I thought I’d do some of my dad’s tunes with my friends. We went off just for a fun weekend in 2008, but after that people started getting in touch asking us to play, and every time we played we ended

feeling. “Whenever I’m somewhere with more than about 10 people, chances are that at least someone will know the Penguin Café Orchestra,” he says. “And people talk about them with a real kind of proud sense of propriety. Because the band was around for so long, some people were introduced to the music by their parents - people have memories tied up with the band and just love them.”

PHOTO: EMILE HOLBE

up with another member with another instrument, so that kept adding extra tunes we could do. By the time there were eight or nine of us we thought we needed to get paid, so we asked my dad’s old promoter and started getting offers from everywhere.” Within six months of starting out they played Glastonbury and the Big Chill, and audiences loved theirr mixture of Penguin Café Orchestra favourites and original material written by Arthur. Was the success a surprise? Arthur had always known that his father’s music inspired a lot of

Not least, of course, Arthur himself, who remembers his father being away on tour for much of his childhood. “He’d go off for what seemed like years at a time and come back with loads of toys. They toured in Japan in the mid 80s when I was about seven and he brought back these amazing early transformers before anyone had them here.” But sometimes he went too – memorably to Italy, where a concert in a dilapidated palazzo in Rome sticks in his mind – “There was a nice echo and a nice fountain – I remember it as a whole universe.” Arthur didn’t set out to be a musician and his first degree was in archaeology and anthropology, though he had always been interested in music. “I learnt early on that I liked things that made noise and I could always play

Whenever I’m somewhere with more than 10 people, chances are that at least someone will know the Penguin Café Orchestra

P RO F I L E

the piano to avoid homework.” An awareness of music stayed with him and he built on that while studying for a Masters in Composition at Goldsmiths, having given up on the archaeological digs that had taken him all over the world (“even Timbuktu!”). “Growing up you learn the vocabulary of how chords work with each other, like some are clichés and some are obvious and some don’t work. Some foods you don’t like when you’re young, maybe because they’re bitter, and you get used to them later as your palate changes – and it’s like that with music.” Arthur plays piano and guitar, along with variations on guitar, such as the cuatro (“it’s half way between the guitar and the ukulele, from Venezuela”) and the ukulele (he teaches ukulele at the Idler Academy in Westbourne Park Road too). What do the original musicians think of his band? “I’ve tried to make it clear at every point that we’re not the original band, our thing has to stand up on its own merits. It’s my dad so I’m acutely aware of doing it wrong. I’ve said no to things that wouldn’t make sense – we don’t have the same freedoms to innovate with sounds, it wouldn’t feel right to do massive promotional stuff, which my dad never did. I think they finally managed to get out of the red about two years ago.” He’s been in the area for years and notes that the people are very different these days. “The studio used to be a garage and my dad bought it very cheaply in 1972. Now I’m surrounded by all these bankers,” he smiles. And what’s the name all about? The Penguin Café Orchestra all started with a dream Simon Jeffes had in the early 1970s. A particularly vivid, feverish, foodpoisoning induced dream. He pictured a bleak landscape, with everyone living in grey concrete compartments. All was desolate – except for one building radiating light and sound. That was the Penguin Café and its resident band was the Penguin Café Orchestra. 22

“The band was always playing music you’ve heard before but you don’t know where, so my dad’s band was sort of doing covers of this virtual band. That was the mythology at the heart of the band and we’re carrying on the sensibility because it was already slightly removed,” explains Jeffes. So, to summarise: his new Penguin Café is reworking music from the old Penguin Café Orchestra, which was reworking music from a band that existed in a dreamworld, and the original dream is still referred to even after the dreamer’s death. It’s a strange existential concept that makes total sense in the band’s quirky universe. Long may it continue. t

Arthur Jeffes is playing with Sundog on 1 April at the 20th Century Theatre in Westbourne Grove. Penguin Café are playing at Victoria Park in June and CD A Matter of Life… is out now.

C U LT U R E ESTABLISHMENT FIGURE Anarchist artist Jamie Reid is having a moment. After his special poster for the Kensal Rise Library campaign proved a popular buy at the recent fundraiser, his work is now being celebrated at the V&A. British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age, the major spring show, opens on 31 March and includes Reid’s seminal God Save the Queen Poster for the Sex Pistols. IMAGE: ©Jamie Reid. Photograph by Victoria and Albert Museum

On the

LITERARY LOCALS Queens Park resident Jennifer McVeigh’s first novel The Fever Tree is just published and has already featured in Vogue (it’s an epic story set in colonial South Africa; think Rose Tremain or Barbara Kingsolver). The wellconnected McVeigh is sister to Charlie McVeigh, co-founder of Le Café Anglais, and ex-sister-inlaw of Canongate’s Jamie Byng. Viking, £12.99

Agenda This month’s highlights SCANDI KIDS Congratulations to NW10’s Kidsen for scooping the Telegraph’s highly coveted gong for Best Independent Children’s Shop. Delighted owner Corina Papadopolou collected her prize from Mary Portas at the glamorous event – pictured is the Lundi Smaland dolls house, a perennial favourite at the store. Well done Kidsen!

CYCLE CHIC The Royal Borough of Kensignton and Chelsea’s Bikeminded scheme to get people cycling takes a very fashioncentred approach and this month their website is highlighting the Michaux Club, set up by ex-Kensal Riser Rachel Bonney. Her beautiful and practical bag is specially designed for cycling – not a rucksack and not a handbag, more a cross between the two, and made from the softest leather. We want one. themichauxclub.blogspot.com

SPRAY ON London Westbank, the gallery inhabiting the long-derelict building on the corner of Westbourne Grove and Pembridge Road, has been overwhelmed by demand for their new Saturday graffiti classes. There’s also a vast array of urban art for sale, including works by locally based Inkie, pictured. 133-137 Westbourne Grove W11

Big shots Local photographer Adam Ritchie’s pictures of Pink Floyd and The Velvet Underground go on show in NW10 this month. Absolutely has a preview

ocal photographer Adam Ritchie is unlike most photographers. For one thing, he taught himself his trade in the space of a single weekend, and for another, his career history spans economics, house building and furniture making. Over the years he has worked in Richard Avedon’s New York studio, built a house in Wales for Augustus John’s son and developed a new kind of folding chair. He was also the original founder of the Westway Development Trust, which he set up in 1966 as the North Kensington Playspace Group, dedicated to securing community use for the land under the (then) proposed Westway – but these days the multi-talent spends his time in NW10 doing Irish set dancing, looking after four allotments and singing with the Queens Park Singers. This month, the

Artisan Gallery is hosting an exhibition of Ritchie’s rock photographs, some of which have been shown at the Tate, the V&A, and the Whitney, and included in the Andy Warhol and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Collections. It’s just a small selection of his work, because most of his pictures were mysteriously lost by a photography lab in the early 1970s (to which Ritchie’s response was: “Well, I guess that means I’m not a photographer any more.”) These rarely-seen pictures of the Velvet Underground date back to 1965, when Adam was working in New York as a freelance photographer, and to London in 1966, where Adam met Pink Floyd at his old friend John ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins’ UFO Club. t

Flashback runs from 9 to 24 March at Artisan, 80 Harlesden Road, NW10 2BE

C U LT U R E

LEFT: Nico, whom Andy Warhol gave the Velvet Underground as a singer, with Sterling Morrison beyond her at a gig organised by Andy Warhol for the Velvet to play for the Association of Clinical Psychiatrists at the Delmonicvo Hotel in January 1966 this page, CLOCKWISE FROM top: girl selling entry tickets to UFO Club; Roger Waters playing with Pink Floyd at UFO, 1966; lou reed in the making of the film Venus in Furs by Piero Heliczer, 1965; pink floyd on stage at the ufo

Katieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Symphony

P RO F I L E As songstress Katie Melua prepares to return to the stage she takes time to chat about her new album, world records and gardening in west London with Katie Randall

urprisingly, Katie Melua still gets nervous. The day we meet she is about to record a speech on camera for TEDxTblisi, a non-profit organisation dedicated to spreading worthwhile ideas – she readily admits it is a rather intimidating prospect. For a woman as adventurous and vibrant as Katie (she’s a scuba diver, she used to be a world record-holder and as a child used to play in burnt-out cars) it is refreshing to think that she suffers from those pesky butterflies just like the rest of us. The singer-songwriter blasted into the limelight in 2003 with her distinctive voice and debut album Call off the Search. She was just 18. Nine years later and she shows no signs of slowing down. Melua’s fifth album, Secret Symphony, produced by long-term contributor Mike Batt, is released this month and she is set to tour the UK and Europe this autumn. She speaks about her music with gutsy enthusiasm, “Last year I did my tour and it was amazing for me to get it done because it was a postponed tour after illness the year before. It felt amazing to be on stage, and that feeling was so fantastic that I wanted to make another album.” The end result, Secret Symphony,

is a blend of beautiful lilting orchestral arrangements and Katie’s bluesy stripped-back vocals coupled with some great writing talent, Francoise Hardy penned the coy track, ‘All Over the World.’ “I wanted to make quite a natural album, and so in that sense I decided not to write songs” Katie reveals. “For me, writing is quite difficult. I love it and it is what I live for, but singing is a lot easier for me.” Singing has always been her number one interest; at the age of seven her father bought home a video camera and she spent hours endlessly performing routines and songs. “I saw this thing and was like, oh my God, I’m going to be on television” she laughs. Melua was born in Georgia but her parents moved the family to Belfast in the early 90s because of the Civil War. Her father, whom she calls an “incredible person”, got a job in Northern Ireland and so they packed up. “Some people

My first musical memory is of Moonlight Sonata, a piece of music that blew my mind and still inspires me today

have described it as going from the frying pan into the fire, but actually, Belfast was much better in terms of education, health care and housing.” she says. The Meluas moved to Surrey when Katie was 13 and to London shortly afterwards. It was her father who fed his daughter’s passion for music throughout these stressful moves. “Music is the thing that really kept me sane, it remained the constant. Dad saw that I was obsessed with music and bought me a little piano; and when I was 15, he bought me a computer with music sequencing software, Cubase, on it.” Meanwhile, her mother introduced her to Beethoven. “My first musical memory is of Moonlight Sonata, a piece of music that blew my mind and still inspires me today.” The singer recently announced her engagement to former World Superbike champion James Toseland. A romantic at heart, Katie admits she finds it easiest to pen songs about love, “That’s the biggest drama in everyday life.” After all those moves Katie is now settled in Notting Hill. “I love the architecture around Notting Hill. The pastel-coloured houses are stunning and I think Julie’s is a lovely restaurant. I’d have to say Wholefoods is my favourite place to 29

P RO F I L E

shop.” says Katie. You are also just as likely to find her ambling round the flowers in Holland Park. Kyoto Garden with its oriental influence is her favourite. She reveals that she is a dab hand in the garden: “I am obsessed with flowers, I’ve got a little garden which I look after, but I like to pretend Holland Park is my garden.” Growing up in Georgia the youngster would always be getting into ‘scraps’ and having adventures outdoors. “When I was a kid in Georgia, the electricity would go out every night and then it would come back on.” Katie explains. “It was so exciting, the thought that it could come back at any minute. You kind of got used to living on the edge.”

Until recently, the singer held the world record for playing the deepest gig, performing two 40-minute sets at the bottom of one of the lakes in the North Sea. “We took a helicopter out there, it was completely remote.

Then we got into this rickety lift which took ten minutes to go down. When you were at the bottom, you couldn’t see the ceiling. Britney Spears probably said no to going that far underwater.” But she feels that for her own music in this economic climate, it isn’t necessary to make high-cost lengthy music videos. Katie Melua is back on the scene, doing what she does best. “I’d love people to discover this album through word of mouth and recommendation,” she says. t Katie Melua’s new album Secret Symphony is out now on Dramatico. See katiemelua.com for more details and tour dates.

I am obsessed with flowers, I’ve got a little garden which I look after, but I like to pretend Holland Park is my garden

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On board with...

Alexandra Llewellyn Alexandra Llewellyn’s backgammon boards are beautiful and highly covetable, finds Absolutely

ow does a nine year-old British girl bond with her nonEnglish speaking Egyptian grandfather in Cairo? For Alexandra Llewellyn, it was by playing the oldest recorded board game. Together they would play backgammon with toothless old men in obscure backstreets. And it became an enduring theme – because these days Alexandra makes a living from backgammon. Not by gambling (though she’s not averse) but by making and selling beautiful, handcrafted boards and pieces. In just one year she has built up a successful business with a big following from her Kensal Rise studio, supplying backgammon sets to stockists including Harrods and bespoke boards to clients including American Vogue. It goes without saying that these aren’t just any old backgammon boards. Made of the finest woods (white birds eye maple, walnut, laurel burr) and hand lacquered with photographic prints (butterflies, feathers, palm trees, even nudes), they are truly fabulous. Playing pieces are carefully made of weighted hardwood and then veneered and lacquered for the perfect feel. As an artist working in product development, Llewellyn wanted to find something to

backgammon table that told the story of their life, with inlaid silhouettes of their children and significant words and names emblazoned on each counter. For Alexandra, it’s all about her love of the game and she is often to be found hosting backgammon tournaments at Julie’s, where all are welcome: there are five boards, everyone plays for points and the winner gets dinner at Julie’s. Even if you don’t win, it’s good opportunity to play on a beautiful Llewellyn board. t

specialise in and backgammon was the natural thing. “It’s played all over the world, and my family have always played,” she says, so after putting in some careful research, she launched her line, and found a serious market for the £1,800 board game. There’s also the more exclusive bespoke option, where materials can include shagreen, pearls and rose quartz, along with inlaid designs, engravings and personalised quirks. A recent commission, a gift from a wife to her husband, resulted in a unique

Stockists include Myriad, 131 Portland Road W11, Talisman London, 190 Ebury Street SW1 and Harrods, plus Culturelab and Quintessentially Gifts online. Julie’s, 135 Portland Road W11; 020 7229 8331 alexandralldesign.com 33

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EAST WEST As the long-standing W11 gallery pops up in Kensington Park Road, Absolutely catches up with owner Jill Morgan East West Gallery went away and came back. What happened? East West left Blenheim Crescent in September 2009 (market dipped, rent and rates both shot-up). We moved to the corner of All Saints Road and St Luke’s Mews and were there until April last year. We then traded from home before coming to 214 Kensington Park Road. How long were you on Blenheim Crescent? We were in Blenheim Crescent 19 years. We are very glad to be back near are first premises. We are currently also exhibiting

work in the members’ lounge of BodyWorksWest, Lambton Place.

Portobello Road - and would not like to live anywhere else in London.

When did the gallery first open and who was behind it? The gallery opened in March 1990. Founded by me (I had an arts background) and New Zealander, David Solomon (he had a City background, having worked as a Corporate Treasurer, but had dreamt of opening a gallery since his teenage years).

What does the future hold for the gallery? With effort, luck and a fair wind to sell many pictures, drawings and sculptures, allowing our artists to continue working and giving pleasure to our Notting Hill customers. t

What type of work do you specialise in? Strong images, strong colours, unique works. Fine draughtsmanship is something we seek out. Our artists are largely figurative although we represent two very good abstract artists, and we arrange portraits and other commissions too.

East West Gallery, 214 Kensington Park Road W11 1NR, 020 7229 7981

Where do you live and why? We live five minutes’ walk from

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: THE COSY LOUNGE by dirk larsen | Mona Bear by Dirk Larsen M BY dick larsen | little thing, oil on copper plate, by dean marsh

CLASH CITY ROCKERS There are no rules when it comes to prints this season. Clash them or match them as you will PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Blackett STYLING Charlotte Kewley

Paulina Pink leopard dress £275 Graham & Spencer. Smudged floral print blazer £765 Paul Smith. Silk scarf (around head) £145 Paul Smith

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Paulina Ivory silk vest ÂŁ132 American Retro. Blue print bustle skirt and print jacket price on request at David Longshaw. Black suede sandals ÂŁ475 Jimmy Choo

Marija Print shirt £249 Louise Amstrup. Stripe shorts £475 Stella McCartney at Net a Porter. Neon yellow heels £295 Kurt Geiger. Pink sunglasses £219 Marc Jacobs Eyewear

Paulina Stripe cap £50 House of Holland. Hawaiian print jumpsuit £1145 Stella McCartney at Net A Porter. Neon yellow heels £270 Nanette Lepore

CREDITS Paulina Stripe crop top £145 Nanette Lepore. Pink trousers £180 Maxmara. Black polka dot sunglasses £219 Marc Jacobs Eyewear PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Blackett STYLIST Charlotte Kewley HAIR & MAKE-UP Hair: Kieron Lavine Make-up: Nikki Wolf Models Marija, Bookings Agency Paulina, First Model Agency

Stockists American Retro at Harvey Nichols 020 7235 5000 Belen Echandia belenechandia.com David Longshaw davidlongshaw.com Erickson Beamon ericksonbeamon.com Ganni gannistore.com Gianmarco Lorenzi 020 7493 2906 Graham & Spencer 020 7580 8644 House of Holland at ASOS asos.com Jimmy Choo jimmychoo.com Kurt Geiger kurtgeiger.com Louise Amstrup bengtfashion.com Marc Jacobs Eyewear 01423 520 303 Maxmara 020 7518 8010 Nanette Lepore 020 7221 8889 Net a Porter net-a-porter.com Paul Smith paulsmith.co.uk Wolf and Badger wolfandbadger.com

Marija Blue print dress ÂŁ960 Emilio Pucci at Net a Porter. Blue cap ÂŁ85 Paul Smith

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MUM’S the word Don’t forget Mothers’ Day on 18 March. Here’s a variety of local options to remind you

ICEBAR BY ICEHOTEL LONDON Why not treat mum this Mothers’ Day to London’s coolest bar, Icebar by Icehotel London? Step into Icebar by Icehotel, a cold sensory environment where the walls, bar, tables and even your own personal glass are made of the purest ice. A concept at the very heart of Icebar by Icehotel is that everything inside is made from crystal clear Torne River ice which is harvested from the pristine winter wonderland of Jukkasjarvi in Northern Sweden. Tickets start from just £12.50 and include a designer cape, gloves and your very own cocktail, with the glass made purely from ice! Call the reservations team on 0207 478 8910 or visit us at icebarlondon.com for more information

LOVE KR love kr is celebrating all things feminine this Mothers’ Day with an array of gorgeous scarves from cult brand Lilly and Lionel. If you really can’t decide which colourful print to choose, you could always let her pick. Treat her to a love kr gift voucher – now available instore. 98a Chamberlyane Road, Kensal Rise Nw10 3Jn lovekr.co.uk

SWANKY LASH & BROW BAR Do you have the world’s greatest mum? If so then read on. Pamper your mum this Mothers’ Day in style at Swanky Lash & Brow Bar by indulging in this month’s treat: a champagne and chocolate session for mother and daughter for £35 each. Wind down with Swanky’s classic manicure and pedicure, designed to revive and rejuvenate your hands and feet leaving them truly pampered. Pedicure includes a three stage scrub, nail grooming, cuticle treatment and massage finished off with an Essie colour of you choice. Mothers’ Day gift vouchers are also available. 26 Chamberlayne Road, NW10 3JD 020 8964 2569 Opening times: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 6.30 46

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JIVITA AYURVEDA Spoil your mum with a luxurious gift box filled with much soughtafter Ila products for only £57! The Essence of Vitality box contains a body scrub for energising and detoxifying, body oil for vital energy and bath salts to give her a heavenly bathing experience. Luxurious Ila treatments are also available at jivitaayurveda.com. 89 Chamberlayne Road, NW10 3ND 020 8964 4993, jivitaayurveda.com

SOPHIE HARLEY Treat your mum to the best things in life this Mothers’ Day by presenting her with a beautiful charm created by luxury jeweller Sophie Harley. Choose from a selection of winged alphabet letters and coloured love-hearts, including Sophie’s signature design that is the winged love-heart in silver with gold plating detail. Adding one of Harley’s mystical and stunning charms to an existing bracelet or necklace makes your jewellery come alive. For individual charms call the studio, with charm prices starting from £46. 020 7430 2070, sop hieharley.com

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ANGELI SENZA ETA This new spa offers a lengthy menu of holistic face and body massages to connect mind, body and soul, along with extensive anti-ageing treatments. Why not give your mother a 45-minute SCR Gold Illuminate Fiscal this 18 March? And for mums-to-be there’s a variety of dedicated treatments to ease the journey into motherhood. Visit the website for special offers. 288 Kensington High Street W8, 020 7348 0664, agelessangels.co.uk

Buy your mother something permanent this year. Krausz jewellery specialises in bespoke jewellery; they also remodel existing jewellery to create a unique piece. Impeccable customer service means they are happy to take bespoke requests, researching images and mocking up drawings and models in necessary to ensure clients can visualise the final piece. Contemporary silver and gold collections take in the latest fashions and trends but are also timeless classics, so they can be worn for years. The Krausz ethos is to produce the best piece of jewellery possible within budget. krauszjewellery.co.uk, info@krauszjewellery.co.uk 47

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Forget flowers and chocolates for Mother’s Day. Buy her something lasting instead 1. Nostaligia necklace £95 Orit 95 Westbourne Park Villas W2 2. Flower earrings £1,070 Kuka Me 5 Elgin Crescent W11 3. Diamond and amethyst flower necklace £1,820 econe 56 Ledbury Road W11 4.‘Mum’ necklace to order at tattydevine.com 5. Mini rose gold pendant £215 econe 56 Ledbury Road W11 6. Enamel heart ring £45, azuni.co.uk 7. Jaguar bangle £870 chavinjewellery.com 8. Edwardian silver and gilt mother reworked necklace £195 violetvintagejewellery.com 49

High gloss Three different projects, all with a signature shiny style. Absolutely admires the world of Jimmie Martin & McCoy

This two-bedroom Notting Hill apartment belongs to a professional couple; the brief specified complete refurbishment to create a cosy home with a colourful and fun entertaining space and a great backdrop for the couple’s art and artefacts.

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The Notting Hill offices of a sports media production company in a warehouse conversion. The brief was to create a boutique hotel feel for an office space.

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This Kensington loft apartment is a single professional girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s London pied-a-terre. The brief was to create a clutter-free but totally personalised and glamorous space with bright injections of colour.

Jimmie Karlsson and Martin Nihlmar are a duo of talented creatives working under the name Jimmie Martin as an award-winning furniture design company based in Kensington. Together with established interior designer Sally Anne McCoy they are Jimmie Martin and McCoy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and their design work is varied and dynamic. Fresh and alternative, their ideas are new and innovative. 77 Kensington Church Street W8 4BG, 020 7937 7785 jimmiemartinandmccoy.com

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Sophie’s world W2’s Sophie Conran is one of 200 artists commissioned to design an egg for this Easter’s Faberge Big Egg Hunt. Nancy Alsop meets her to find out more

was so honoured,’ chirrups an ebullient Sophie Conran. ‘I mean it’s something that artists normally get asked to do’, she continues, laying so reverential an emphasis on the A-word it’s patently clear that she – but a humble product and fashion designer, not to mention cookery writer – does not consider herself worthy of categorisation in the lofty ranks of the artist. She is, of course, talking about having been asked to design one of 200 eggs for the Faberge Big Egg hunt, an Easter trail on the very grandest of scales stretching across the capital for which the likes of the Chapman Brothers and Marc Quinn (“real artists”) have been enlisted to customise their own Faberge Egg, later to be auctioned for the charities Elephant Family and Action for Children. The philanthropic aspect too was, it seems, a boon for Conran. “A number of friends have been involved with Elephant Family, and I’ve worked with Refuge, so I’m always really keen to help underprivileged children.’ The trail, which follows in the triumphant footsteps of the 2010 Elephant Parade, extends across 12 zones of London, and Conran’s effort is to be housed within the gardens of the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in Knightsbridge, a turn of events about which she is thrilled. Did she,

I wonder, covet a particular spot on the route? “No, but I did have an idea that I wanted it to be somewhere in or near a garden, so it’s wonderful that there will be flowers bursting into spring.’ It is particularly fitting given that Conran’s egg references so explicitly the season; it is, after all, no coincidence that she chose to name it ‘The First Spring in Eden’. “Because of the egg and all the symbolism that’s bound up with it and with Easter, I very much wanted to do something about re-birth,” she

explains. “I wanted it to look like the first time you ever saw spring, hence its name.” And while some of her fellow artists have gone down quirkily playful avenues and others into decisively dramatic territory, Conran’s egg speaks of innocence, all prettiness with none of the oftattendant twee factor. While the high profile commission may have come as a surprise to Conran, to the outside world she seems a natural choice. After all, she comes from a dynasty of British 55

INTERIORS I love the mix of the old and the new, there’s a nod to Scandinavia and to Japan, but we also love the traditional English style. I am more feminine though – I just adore patterns’.

design behomoths, grew up next door to her father Terence’s studio for revolutionary shop Habitat, was working for the milliner Stephen Jones at 17 and later for her fashion designer brother Jasper and did up the W2 house in which she still lives at 20 – to mention nothing of her ceramic Portmeirion products with which her name is now synonymous, or the fact that she and her brother Tom ran a trailblazing supper club in their 20s, with guests like Jay Jopling feasting on her fare for just a fiver. Did she feel that there was a certain inevitability about becoming a designer? “I think it was natural,” she says, slightly falteringly. “It’s what they taught me, so it was kind of a natural transition that I would take after both my father and my mother [the food writer Caroline Conran]. But I’ve had all sorts of jobs. I once hand-made lollipops. But when I was little I wanted to be a headmistress.” That early dream was, alas, not destined to be. Indeed, Conran remembers her fascination with the aesthetic being stoked when her brothers Jasper and Sebastian made 56

her a dolls house out of a beehive. I wonder aloud whether, in a household filled with such creative ingenuity, there was ever any rivalry, a line of enquiry she gently dismisses. “No, I don’t think there ever was, because even if some people think that what we do is similar, to us it feels quite different. We all found our place in the family, and perhaps because of that, we all found our place outside the family. I am lucky to be able to say that we would be friends even if we weren’t related.” And for her father, she has nothing but admiration. “He has undoubtedly influenced me. Because of him, I love the mix of the old and the new, there’s a nod to Scandinavia and to Japan, but we also love the traditional English style. I am more feminine though – I just adore patterns.” Conran cut her teeth working for the milliner Stephen Jones, which, she says, was “such hard work, but incredible. I loved that there was nothing industrial about it – just

rabbit glue and blocks of wood. He’d send me out to these Dickensian basement shops in Soho to buy buttons, all cramped and full of cardboard boxes – it was like being in a sweet shop.” Although she still occasionally works with her brother Jasper, it is her prettily utilitarian kitchen ceramics with Portmeirion that really catapulted her on to the design main stage in 2006, after she mentioned at a party to the company’s PR that she’d been working on an oven dish for her pie range. Did she ever envisage it would become so roaring a success? “No!’ she says, exclamatory. “I’ve been bowled over by how well it’s been received, especially in countries where no one’s ever heard the name Conran. I love that they just pick it up and respond to it. That’s the really happy making thing, and I think it’s maybe because I was so conscious that everything has become so generic and CAD. I wanted something that had soul, so that people had the feeling of it having been through the mud and through people’s hands.” And that last – the muddy bit at least – is not a million miles from what Conran and her teenage children will be doing themselves this Easter. “We’re off to a cottage in Wales with friends for walk, an egg hunt, and lots of feasting!” she hoots, merrily. t sophieconran.com

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long-established flooring company with showrooms in Notting Hill, Tetbury and Knutsford, Capitol is quite simply inspirational when it comes to the latest trends in floor coverings. With a reputation synonymous with quality and an enviable client list, Capitol is a must for those with a passion for interiors. Their showrooms are chic and relaxing and offer the perfect setting for choosing from the most diverse ranges possible. Products are sourced from all over the world and range from silks, mattings, linen, wool, sisals and stair runners in both contemporary and traditional styles. So whether you are looking for an exciting solution for your home, motor yacht, or even aeroplane, you are certain to find something perfect for you. In addition to their vast knowledge, interior design flair and project management skills, consultants at Capitol will ensure your experience is stress-free and enjoyable. They will inspire you with their ideas and look after you every step of the way. Alternatively, if you are looking for something unique, Capitol can design and manufacture a completely bespoke carpet for you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or a carpet designed by you. So whether you are looking to carpet a small spare bedroom or require a totally bespoke design, Capitol works to all budgets and tastes. They also offer a home consultancy service, which is completely free of charge and all fittings and installations are carried out by their own professional fitters. A brochure is available on request. t 2B Chepstow Road W2 020 7221 1260 carpetsofchelsea.com 59

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For curtains and blinds that define and complete your decor - there is only one company to provide a personalised, expert, bespoke service. Pret a Vivre, 20 All Saints Road W11 0845 130 5161 pretavivre.com

Looking for fabrics for curtains, blinds or upholstery? Choose from a wide range of cottons, linens, silks, checks & stripes. Prices from ÂŁ14 per m Pret a Vivre. 20 All Saints Road W11 0845 130 5161 pretavivre.com

Interior destination Complete design solutions on All Saints Road

Bringing luxury into your home, the S-Box by Svedbergs. Taking up just a square metre or so of bathroom space, lets you step into a world of relaxation and revitalizing treatments including overhead shower and spray nozzles, a removable solid teak bench seat with massage nozzles for back and chest. Also available in larger sizes. Visit Edwins Bathrooms showroom to see the S-Box and other products from this range. Edwins Bathrooms, 19 All Saints Road W11 020 7221 3550

Pret a Vivre offer a fabric and paint matching service; they have all the major paint brands cards in their showrooms together with all their fabric samples to make it easy to get your scheme just right. Pret a Vivre. 20 All Saints Road W11 0845 130 5161 pretavivre.com

If you want a traditional style for your bathroom this could be for you; the Amarcord, a stunning Brass bathtub lined in shimmering white, designed by Marco Merendi and manufactured by Rapsel, Italy. For further enquiries, contact Edwins Bathrooms, 19 All Saints Road W11 020 7221 3550

Sometimes modular furniture can be the best cost effective solution for fitting the look you want into those awkward spaces. Utopia offer a selection of ranges, boasting modern and sleek designs with plenty of choice to mix and match carcass, door and worktop finishes to suit your style. Contact Edwins bathrooms for further information. Edwins Bathrooms, 19 All Saints Road W11 020 7221 3550 63

INTERIORS

Light fantastic Switch on a vast array of lighting options at Nu-Line’s W11 showroom

u-Line’s award-winning lighting showroom in Westbourne Park Road has expanded the range of services they offer to residential and commercial customers. The new service consists of on-site visits to discuss your lighting requirements and to plan out your required lighting scheme. Lighting manager Anthony will come to your site and go through all the different options available in lighting types as well as sockets and switches – he’ll even bring with him working examples of the LED lighting system in which they specialise. Anthony and his team will organise lighting plans for your home, ready to hand them over to installers and will even work with them to get the best results. Often they will end up virtually project managing the whole electrical installation. This new service is not only very convenient and useful but the nice people at Nu-Line offer the whole thing absolutely free. So why not pop in and have a look at the some of 500 switches and sockets on display and the new range of Grossman lighting from Germany, and before you go tryout the amazing Jambox Bluetooth speaker systems. That’s why they say it’s “so much more than a builder’s merchant”. t 305-317 Westbourne Park Road, W11 1EF 020 7727 7748, nu-linebathrooms.com 64

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Designing the perfect shower is a feat of technical knowledge and style sense, discovers Absolutely

veryone has their own very personal view on what makes the perfect showering zone. Generally, most people want ample space, thermostatically controlled water temperature and different types of spray, ranging from overhead drench to rain showers to body massage jets. Rainshower shower heads are ideal for wetrooms, as water flows vertically to limit the amount of splashing. Side jets are not usually compatible with open showers as it is more difficult to control the spread of water. For true extravagance, a ceiling flush module which mimics natural rainfall provides the ultimate showering experience. If you’re in a hard water area, do consider the installation of a water softener and specify ‘rub it clean’ nodules on the shower head to prevent the buildup of limescale. Chrome is currently the most popular finish for shower and bathroom fittings, but it is by no means the only choice available. If you want something a little different then finishes such as stainless steel, brushed nickel or antique gold can be used to great effect. Wetroom systems with made-to-measure glass can get round sloping walls and give an interesting touch to the room. Ceiling heights still need to be watched in order to ensure good access to the shower and sufficient head height under the shower rose. The aesthetics of a wetroom often clash with practicality, for example, in small rooms; shower spray exiting the shower area needs to be directed away from basins and WC’s. Good design will usually achieve this by clever use of bespoke glass panels or even repositioning of the bathroom doorway. t For more advice on designing your perfect showering zone contact Ripples, 138 Wigmore Street W1U 3SG 020 7935 6112 or 116 Fulham Road SW3 6HU 020 7373 3668, ripples.ltd.uk

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Down the rabbit hole

Absolutely

Christopher Wheeldon’s acclaimed 2011 ballet Alice in Wonderland returns to the Royal Opera House this month (17 March to 16 April) with music composed by Joby Talbot and visual effects by Bob Crowley. It’s suited to children aged six and above with its mix of crazy Carroll characters and classical ballet. roh.org.uk

Tinies How to keep them amused

Book day World Book Day in partnership with schools all over the country, will be distributing more than 14 million £1 book tokens to children this month – and you’ve got until 25 March to use them. Each token can be swapped for one of 12 specially selected £1 books at Waterstone’s, WH Smiths and participating bookshops, or used as £1 off any book at all. worldbookday.com

lauren cuthbertson as alice in alice’s adventures in wonderland (photo: roh johan persson

Have a ball An afternoon’s bowling at All Star Lanes underneath Whiteley’s is likely to keep everyone happy. Start with the game (tots can play with guards to stop the balls rolling into the gutter, and use special frames to aim the balls) and soak up the Big Lebowski vibe with a cocktail or two while the kids eat American candy. The menu suits the American retro look (it’s well-executed – waitresses in pink uniforms, a tiled bar and chrome stools, green leather booths and chequerboard flooring along with kitsch pinup mirror artwork on the walls) so order milkshakes, hot dogs, ribs, burgers and the like, all of it satisfyingly salty. It’s a great venue for a children’s party - why not splash out on the private room with its own lane? And don’t miss the ice cream sundaes, which are predictably huge. 6 Porchester Gardens W2, 020 7313 8363, allstarlanes.co.uk

E AT I N G O U T

FENG SUSHI 101 Notting Hill Gate W11, 020 7727 1123, fengsushi.co.uk

eng Sushi was unphased when Itsu opened opposite it in Notting Hill Gate, because it’s sure of its superiority. All fish is from sustainable sources and they pride themselves on using seasonal fish from local day boats. Hardly anything is imported (apart from tuna, which is hook-caught in the Maldives, and hake from South Africa) so there’s pot-caught crab from Devon, line-caught mackerel from Cornwall and scallops from Ethical Shellfish on the Isle of Mull. Much of the business is takeaway (with handy online ordering) but the upstairs dining room in Notting Hill Gate is a fine place for lunch. Our feast included the impressive Yellowtail Upside Down – cucumber discs with yellow tail sashimi topped with wakame, pickled jalapeno, coriander, avocado and yuzu kimchee dressing – and a tasty tuna tartar with spring onions, yuzu and light miso. We loved the aptly named Loch Duart Heavenly Salmon Donburi (tea-smoked salmon, salmon sashimi, crispy salmon and 68

there’s pot-caught crab from Devon and line-caught mackerel from Cornwall ikura served with rice and hijiki seaweed) and the katsu curry of breaded hake, tiger prawn and cuttlefish in mild curry sauce. It’s all super healthy and Feng Sushi has just launched its first

Feng diet, a three-day health booster applauded by The Observer that comes delivered to your door in the mornings for £95. No wonder the chain is up for a European Business award this month. t

OR TF G N OU RIN ISC RDE D O 5% LINE ON

FREE DELIVERY 020 7727 8222

www.ukai.co.uk

HOSOMAKI 5 Pieces of thin sushi roll 20. Salmon 21. Spicy salmon 22. Tuna 23. Spicy tuna 24. Cucumber 25. Avocado 90. Cucumber with organic brown rice 91. Avocado with organic brown rice 92. Salmon with organic brown rice FUTOMAKI 5 Pieces of thick sushi roll 30. Japanese Omelette (eggs) inari, kanpyo, chives, enoki mushrooms and cucumber 31. Salmon and avocado 32. Tuna and avocado - tuna, avocado, chives and enoki mushrooms 33. Vegetable - yellow daikon, cucumber, red pepper, green beans & chives 57. Crispy duck (roasted) duck, cucumber, mint, enoki mushrooms, chives, & hoisin sauce NIGIRI 2 Pieces on a small bed of sushi rice 10. Salmon 11. Spicy salmon 12. Tuna 13. Spicy tuna 14. Prawn 15. Japanese Omelette (eggs) 16. Octopus with Teriyaki sauce 17. Seabass 18. Grilled eel 19. Hamachi (subject to availability) 27. Ikura (salmon eggs) 28. Mackerel 29. Chilli beef with teriyaki sauce SASHIMI 4 Fillets of fresh raw fish 1. Salmon 2. Spicy salmon 3. Tuna 4. Spicy tuna 5. Hamachi (subject to availability)

£3.50 £3.75 £4.30 £4.50 £3.10 £3.25 £3.30 £3.30 £4.30

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£3.60 £3.90 £4.10 £4.30 £3.90 £2.70 £3.80 £4.60 £5.10 £5.60 £6.20 £3.60 £5.60

£5.50 £5.70 £6.40 £6.55 £7.25

6. Seabass UKAI dressing £6.50 7. Chilli beef with Teriyaki sauce £5.80 64. Crunchy oriental broccoli £5.40 with sesame dressing URAMAKI 65. Seaweed salad Sukura £5.10 2 Inside-out rolled sushi cress & Wakame seaweed 40. Rocket -cucumber, red selection, cucumber, £4.70 pepper, chives and enoki bean sprout, sesame seeds, mushrooms edamame beans and dressing 41. California - crab meat, £4.80 mango, cream cheese and UKAI MIXED PLATTERS masago These selections can 42. Salmon and avocado £4.80 not be altered salmon, avocado and 70. Salmon mix: Sashimi x4, £10.90 sesame seeds Nigiri x2, Hosomaki x5 43. UKAI california - salmon, £5.10 71. Spicy salmon mix: Sashimi £11.50 cream cheese, rocket and x4, Nigiri x2, Hosomaki x5 cucumber 72. Tuna mix: Sashimi x4, £12.90 Nigiri x2, Hosomaki x5 UKAI SPECIALITIES 73. Spicy tuna mix: Sashimi £13.50 50. 4x Oysters (Subject to x4, Nigiri x2, Hosomaki x5 £6.60 availability) served with 74. Veggie mix: Omelette £9.50 orange and ponzu dressing nigiri x2, Cucumber hosomaki 52. 8x UKAI pancake Japanese £4.90 x5, Vegetable futomaki x5 pancake with cucumber, 75. UKAI mix: Edamame, £19.00 chives, inari and hoi sin Salmon sashimi x4, Prawn sauce nigiri x2, Rocket uramaki 53. 4x Tuna tartar finely x5, Tuna Hosomaki x5 £5.70 chopped raw tuna in lemon 76. Jumbo mix: Edamame, £26.00 pepper and mirin dressing Salmon sashimi x4, Tuna served in cucumber cups, sashimi x4, Salmon nigiri chives and tobiko x2, Prawn nigiri x2, Tuna 54. 4x Salmon tartar finely nigiri x2, Cucumber £5.60 chopped raw salmon in hosomaki x5 chilli wasabi and mayo77. Party mix 90 pieces: £85.00 nnaise served in cucumber Generous selection of cups and tobiko sashimi, nigiri and maki 55. 4x Inari sushi seasoned tofu £3.80 beautifully presented ideal pouches of rice, sesame, for 8-10 people - Allow ginger and chives preparation time 56. Tuna tataki seared tuna with £8.60 78. Sashimi mix: Salmon x4, £16.50 sesame seeds and miso Tuna x4, Fish of the day x4 dressing 79. Tuna & salmon mix: £14.00 Salmon sashimi x2, Tuna SALADS sashimi x2, Salmon hosomaki 60. 6x Daikon rocket salad roll £5.90 x2, Tuna hosomaki x2, rocket, avocado, red pepper, Salmon nigiri x1, chives, enoki mushroom and Tuna nigiri x1 daikon ginger dressing 150.UKAI Gojyu 50 pieces: £45.00 61. Spinach salad roll blanched £4.90 Generous selection of sushi spinach, sesame seeds and beautifully presented, orange ponzu dressing ideal for 4 people - Allow 62. Green mango and papaya £5.90 preparation time salad carrots, coriander, mint, peanuts, tomatoes with MISO SOUPS red nahm jim 80. Miso, tofu, seaweed, spring £1.75 63. UKAI salad Rocket, lettuce, £5.40 onions and chive oil soy beans,radicchio, 83. Seafood Ramen (thin) £6.50 seaweed, sesame noodles, octopus, prawns, and pumpkin seeds with kani stick, seaweed

and chive oil 84. Seafood Udon (thick) noodles, octopus, prawns, kani stick, sea weed and chive oil 85. Vegetable Ramen (thin) noodles, tofu, spring onion and mixed vegetables 86. Vegetable Udon (thick) noodles, tofu, spring onion and mixed vegetables 87. Miso, salmon, tofu, seaweed, spring onions and chive oil SIDE DISHES 100. Edamame (hot or cold) 104. Spicy Edamame 101. White rice 102. Organic brown rice 103. Japanese mixed pickles CHIRASHI 4 Fillets of fresh raw fish (Sashimi) served on a bed of rice 110. CHIRASHI Salmon - White rice Tuna - White rice 112. SPICY CHIRASHI Spicy salmon - White rice Spicy Tuna - White rice TEMAKI 1 Piece of handroll 130. Salmon, avocado, sesame seeds and chives 131. Tuna, avocado, enoki mushroom and chives 132. Mixed vegetable 133. Ikura (Salmon eggs), cucumber and chives 134. California - Crab me at, mango, tobiko, cream cheese and chives 135. Eel, cucumber, enoki mushroom and chives DESSERTS 120. Ice-cream 2 scoops (Ask for daily flavours) 123. Warm Chocolate Brownie with your choice of icecream 125. Green tea & Vanilla Pannacotta with chocolate sauce 126. Fresh fruit plate 127. Mixed mochi

£6.50

£6.40 £6.40 £3.70

£2.85 £2.90 £2.70 £3.20 £2.70

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£4.50 £5.00 £3.70 £4.90 £5.70 £5.50

£4.50 £6.10 £5.20 £4.90 £4.20

We deliver to: W1, W2, W3 (some parts), W6 (some parts), W8, W9, W10, W11, W12, W14, SW5, SW6 (some parts), SW7, NW6, NW8 & NW10

223 Portobello Road, W11 1LU | 2 Westbourne Grove, W2 5RA | 58 Poland Street, W1F 7NR *our own customer survey

E AT I N G O U T

THE ELECTRIC 191 Portobello Road W11 020 7908 9696, electricbrasserie.com

here’s an air of ease here, a naturalness that implies that everyone’s totally comfortable with what they’re doing. Service is charming and attentive but still informal and relaxed, striking a balance that’s rare (though it’s clearly not as effortless as they make it look). Pitched perfectly, lunch at the Electric retains the feel of a treat while making you feel entirely comfortable in familiar surroundings, even if you don’t come here all the time. At the back, it’s like being on a 1930s cruise ship, with a low ceiling and

luxe leather banquettes running the length of the wall. A large central chandelier provides glamour and a cinema screen-shaped window reveals the busy but streamlined kitchen in action. The brasserie

The brasserie menu is allencompassing, ranging from a classic seafood selection to simple fish and chips

menu is all-encompassing, ranging from a classic seafood selection to simple fish and chips, and you can choose from a range of categories. Our starters came from the seafood selection (grilled tiger prawns in chilli gremoulata) and from the small plates section (creamy smoked mackerel pate that was frothy and only just smoked). Mains were a huge bowl of supersized moules marinieres with a small bucket of chips, professionally done with lots of soupy sauce to soak up; and salmon fillet with Swiss chard and sweet shallot and raisin relish featured raisins. Good as this was, pudding was the highlight. Peanut shortbread with salted caramel ice cream was a delight of biscuit and subtle caramel with a chocolate filling and a hint of peanut. Everything is high class and super stylish here; the Electric continues to reign. t 71

The name Zaika translates quite literally as sophisticated flavours and this is the ethos behind the innovative menu. With and emphasis on refined yet creative Indian cuisine. Enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne when you come for Lunch, quote “Absolutely” when making the reservation. Conditions Apply.

........................................................................................................................ ............... ................... Lunch Menu from £12

T Two Course Early Evening Menu from £22

........................................................................................................................ ............... ................... Private Bookings, Corporate Events

Zaika, No1 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5NP 020 7795 6533 reservations@zaika-restaurant.co.uk www.zaika-restaurant.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

Foodie news Hello Jamie

Pot heads Super-stylish tea pots from Dutch company Jansen+Co have arrived at SCP. The simple, classic shape comes in two contrasting colour options – and there are matching mugs and espresso cups too. Teapots, £44.95, SCP, 87 Westbourne Grove W2

From the gastro front

After inhabiting its site on the corner of Notting Hill Gate and Pembridge Road for as long as anyone can remember, WH Smiths has closed down, truly marking the end of an era. And what’s to take its place? Apparently, Jamie Oliver is set to open Recipease there, another branch of his popular Clapham Junction food store. Not only will there be food to eat in, and ready meals to take away, but there will also be an extensive programme of cookery courses and various morsels of Jamie’s wisdom available to sample. It’ll be like a whole Jamie empire on our doorsteps.

Easter treats Easter goodies from the century-old Bettys of Harrogate include all the usual eggs, plus some less predictable farmyard offerings. There’s the milk chocolate saddleback pig, for instance, with dark and white chocolate piglets, or a box of little chocolate chickens (they’re seated, waiting for their eggs to hatch), or some darling chocolate ducks. Order before 2 April at bettys.co.uk and they’ll guarantee delivery for Easter. And for the more traditional egg, personalised or decorated with sparkles and colours, visit Ledbury Road’s Melt, where they’ll decorate while you watch. 59 Ledbury Road W11 73

Mr and Mrs Skött’s W11 diaries In which they return from the Maldives to eat at Granger & Co

t last we made it to Granger & Co, but after all the hype we found it a bit bland. It’s nice enough but can’t quite see what the queues are all about. In fact, more than anything, it bought back fond memories of Palio, the great Italian restaurant on the same site in the 90s, where many an evening was spent enjoying Pinot Grigio and affogatos. So many restaurants come and go in Notting Hill, but Osteria Basilico is celebrating 30 years on Kensington Park Road. We had a lovely long lunch sitting in the window with many clients popping in to say hello. A golden labrador was pawing at the front door, because even the dogs of W11 have good taste. There is nothing better than afternoon tea on a cold winter’s day, and we were treated to one at The Aubrey in Kensington, thanks to the council’s Bikeminded initiative and their Advent Calendar competition, which we were thrilled to win. Even better than afternoon tea is a tropical holiday in dark and gloomy February and you don’t get much more tropical than the Maldives. We left Heathrow in -4 and arrived 10 hours later to 34 degrees. The best bit was swimming with turtles and reef sharks – and no, we don’t mean the Russian Mafia, of which there were plenty. If Mrs Skött had her way, she would live in her PJs – she is always ahead of her time as pyjamas are having a fashion resurgence this season. So, it was perfect timing to head down to lovely new lingerie boutique, Dolci Follie, who were holding an evening to showcase Olivia Von Halle’s über luxe lounging silk pyjamas. After the great success of our cocktail invention last month, Mr Skött is on a roll and has now invented another drink, this time a coffee-based one. Introducing the mocchiato – not a macchiato spelt wrong, but a double espresso blended with the finest organic cocoa powder, a dash of hot milk and froth on top. You heard it here first. t mrandmrsskott@zest-media.com

Modern Italian Dining

Modern Italian dining bringing creative Italian dishes to Notting Hill Gate. Each recipe is an original combination of flavours unique to Casa Batavia. From the masterful skills of host Paolo and multiawarded Chef Nicola, you are guaranteed the taste of Italy to a different level.

Special Tasting Menu Tuesday 9th March Five Course Meal 50% off, now only £30 per person

Special Lunch Menu Throughout March Selection changes daily 2 Courses £16.50 per person 3 Courses £19.50 per person

Casa Batavia 135 Kensington Church Street London, W8 7LP

020 7221 7348

www.casabatavia.com

BARFLY

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F E AT U R E D B A R

Pizza East Portobello 310 Portobello Road W10 020 8969 4500

kay, so you wouldn’t really think of Pizza East as a bar. But if you’re looking for a post-work drink during the week, with a nibble or two to calm the empty stomach, this is the ticket. They’ve just launched aperitivo, inspired by an Italian tradition of a social event to ‘open’ the palate – so on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5 to 7pm, a generous selection of complimentary antipasti (Italian meats and cheeses, beef carpaccio, lardo and pear crostini, pizzette and grilled sardines) are set out along the bar. Pick and choose as you enjoy an Italian cocktail or a glass or two of wine. And of course, there’s always the prospect of staying for a woodfired pizza afterwards if you’re loath to leave and still peckish. t

THE NEGRONI The Negroni, invented in Florence in 1919, is the result of a request by one Count Camillo Negroni’s for a stronger version of the classic Americano. A bartender simply swapped soda for gin and lemon for orange and a legend was born. In fiction, the cocktail has been enjoyed by The Sopranos’ Bobby Baccalieri, James Bond and Tennessee Williams’ Mrs Stone.

Recipe 30ml gin 30ml sweet red vermouth 30ml Campari Stir into a glass over ice and garnish with orange

H E A LT H & B E A U T Y Ayurvedic massage Loretta has been practising in the area for over nine years at BeautyWorksWest and now at her own Wellbeing clinic at Virgin on Lancaster Road (the first holistic clinic at any of the Virgin Active sites). Having trained in ayurvedic medicine, her bespoke urban ayurvedic detox plans follow traditional methods whilst adapting them to today’s busy lifestyles. Her massage therapies and intuitive healing sessions work on deeper tissues and the nervous system, and her ability to translate ayurvedic practices into layman’s terms is unique. Loretta Heywood 07973 120331

Health & Beauty

NOTES Local treatments, products and trends

Nail news

Hair care Under review:

Queens Park salon Ego Andy Loizou has been a hairdresser for many years and his lovely Queens Park salon used to be his parents’ floristry shop. The place is full of character and charm, and chatty Andy will entertain you as he works. I was in for highlights and a trim and, unusually, he used cotton wool instead of foil, which was infinitely more comfortable. No sharp foil edges, none of that horrid sensation of rustling tin foil weighing your head down and none of the fuss of unwrapping each foil separately afterwards because cotton wool dislodges itself easily. Who knew you could do that? There’s a friendly, community feel to the Salusbury Road salon, with people popping in and out. Ego is an ammoniafree zone, using L’Oreal’s Inoa and Dia colours – and my locks emerge looking subtly lightened, shiny and healthy, just as nature must have had in mind but failed to deliver. PH Ego, 45 Salusbury Road NW6, 020 7625 4811

Brights, pastels and metallics are set to be huge trends for spring/summer 2012 and now that nail colour has taken over from lipstick as the most up-to-date way to follow the latest catwalk trends, take note. Bio Sculpture’s new Royal Collection sees radiant solid gold and silver glitters, metallic pink, electric blue and a fierce fuchsia. Bio Sculpture Gel is applied as an overlay to create a flexible, glossy finish that lasts for up to three weeks. With a range of over 150 colours, there will be a Bio Sculpture Gel shade to suit every season. biosculpture.co.uk

THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUE Craniosacral Therapy may sound very high tech but in fact it’s very low maintenance. At least, it is for the person experiencing it. Some therapists can be off-puttingly evangelical about their work and leave you baffled, but W11’s Daska Hatton is refreshingly low-key. First she’ll ask pertinent questions about your life and what you’re experiencing. In my case, I lamented the strains of coping with a job and small children and not having any time left over, a scenario familiar to many, including Daksa. One of the benefits of craniosacral is that it gives you space to think, or rather not to think and to let your body respond to itself. For Daska, craniosacral is a treatment she combines with Alexander Technique to produce long-term results by changing the way you think and move. Her session involves you lying down while she puts pressure on different parts of your body, by holding your feet, pressing on your arms and cradling your head. It may sound strange but it’s not: it’s supremely relaxing and I left with a new sense of vitality and a total lack of tiredness. Go and see her. Daskahatton.co.uk; 07899 862 126

ABSOLUTELY P R O M OT I O N

é Hair and Beauty is a boutique salon based in the exclusive Connaught Village. Numerous editorials and television appearances have featured why Fé is one of the best salons in London, and the great team of stylists and therapists continously strive to keep up to date with the latest techniques and developments in the hair and beauty industry. They are a friendly, hard working team who endeavour to offer services in a welcoming, friendly and professional manner. The salon has gained a reputation for delivering first-class hair services, beauty treatments and bespoke specialist make up lessons with the resident make up artist. Dr Stagnell is also on call to offer non-surgical facial aesthetic injections to include Botox and Dermal Fillers. His training with Dr Adrian Richards, a renowned plastic surgeon, has gained Dr Stagnell a first-class reputation in providing a safe and knowledge based service. Fé would offer 2 like to 0% off hair a any nd be au to rea ders o ty ser vice f Abso magaz lute ine ABSO . Please me ly 20 wh ntion en b your a ppoin ooking tment *

BLOW DRYS Fé’s blow-drys are renowned for their staying power. Your tresses will be soothed with a luxurious scalp and hair conditioning treatment with 100% argan oil. An invigorating shoulder and back massage then follows before your hair is smoothed into a style that will last for at least two days. The worldfamous Kerastraight Brazilian Blow Dry, and the BioLustre Intensive Hair Treatment as featured in Harper’s Bazaar are just two of the other fabulous hair services on offer at the salon.

FACIALS

Hair & Beauty

Top to toe Visit Fé Hair & Beauty for all your beauty needs

YonKa facials at Fé have come to be known as some of the best facials in London. Fé’s facialists deliver treatments that will leave your skin glowing and deeply clean. Pure plant extracts and essential oils are soothingly massaged into the skin; these facials clean, hydrate, soothe, plump and enliven the skin in only 60 mins. Secret massage techniques will send you to sleep and the organic skincare range will deliver results after only one treatment.

PRODUCTS The salon stocks a vast range of hair and beauty products that includes YonKa, Essie, Dr Schrammek, L’Oreal, Xen Tan and Fushi, the UK’s leading organic supplier of nutritional supplements and oils.

Manicures and Pedicures Fé’s nail treatments are luxurious and effective. They will exfoliate, scrub, buff and massage until your hands and feet are baby soft. An intensive treatment that takes care of all of your skin and nail problems and will completely change the way your hands a feet look. A coating of either Essie nail polish or BioSculpture Gel finishes the treatment, with a promise that these manis and pedis are some of the most thorough treatments in London.

HAIR REMOVAL Fé has a huge loyal client following for their hair removal using only the best hot and warm wax which is shipped to the salon all the way from Spain. Here, therapists are famous for their Brazilian Hot Wax technique, which is thorough, effective and practically pain-free. All waxing treatments are followed with an application of 100% organic pure shea butter to soothe and calm the skin. Fé specalises in waxing, and their unique hair removal techinque is exclusive to the salon.

Find us on facebook for news, updates and offers at the salon: www.facebook.com/fehairandbeauty Fé, 22 Kendal Street, W2 2AW, 020 7402 4442, fehairandbeauty.com AWARDED 5 STARS BY THE GOOD SALON GUIDE *offer expires 30 April 2012

Ask for Bio Sculpture Gel the original everlasting manicure tried, tested and proven system adding strength and durability to natural nails Bio Sculpture Gel is the original must have nail care product. Unlike varnish that chips and peels, this durable Gel is applied as an overlay onto natural nails by a qualified nail technician. The Gel is set under a UV Lamp giving it that strong, flexible, glossy finish which lasts for three weeks. Easy removal without damage to nails. For your nearest salon or information on training courses for beginners and experienced nail technicians, call 0845 331 2347

New Design Gel Pots Coming Soon

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www.biosculpture.co.uk

2012/01/17 4:19 PM

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‘ The results speak for themselves’ – Vogue For a free consultation visit my f it ness studio.co.uk or call 020 8960 3655 My Fit Fitnes nesss Stud Stud tudio, io, 9 Bus B spac Bu pace e Stud tudios ios,, Conl ios Conl onlan a Str an Street e , Lond eet London on W10 10 0 5A 5AP P

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EllisStockwell

personal training

69 Chamberlayne Road, London, NW10 3ND 020 8964 3797 info@ellisstockwell.co.uk www.ellisstockwell.co.uk

B E AU T Y

Beauty’s secret weapons Absolutely the most effective products from the beauty world

2 3 This duo promises to shrink your body by at least one dress size in six weeks (some clients have shrunk two, and lost up to 2.5 stone). Paul (Ellis), who focuses on weights and Pilates, and Tom (Stockwell), who’s a keen boxer, will tone your entire body, for a gorgeous sinewy figure, with speed - but the likeble pair never fail to keep it fun. - Harper’s Bazaar

Drop 2 dress sizes in 6 weeks Strength & Conditioning

4 5 6

Pre/Post natal programmes Rehabilitation from injury

Nutritional plans & advice Lose up to 6 inches from your waist Voted London’s best body trainers - Harper’s Bazaar

1. Deborah Lippman 2 Second Nail Primer £8.50 houseoffraser.co.uk 2. Lubatti Gorgeous Day Moisturiser in orange and jojoba £30.50 lubatti.co.uk 3. Comfort Zone Sacred Nature Body Butter £52.95 comfortzoneskincare. com 4. Caudalie Beauty Elixir £32 for 100ml and £11 for 30ml spacenk.co.uk 5. Skin Science Bio Active Quicklift Mask £60 harveynichols.com 6. Crème de la Mer The Lip Balm £40 0870 034 2566 81

ABSOLUTELY P R O M OT I O N

MARCH INTO SPRING As a new season stirs, shrug off winter and march into spring with EF MEDISPA’s menu of treatments designed to make you look and feel more fabulous than ever

pring time beauty at EF MEDISPA is all about peeling back the winter layers and preparing yourself for the summer sunshine. Limbs that have been cosseted in cashmere since October may be feeling shy, perhaps a little softer and less taut. But with a few choice EF MEDISPA treatments, you’ll be ready to proudly ditch the black opaques and dream about getting into your bikini. So where do you begin when it comes to your body? Losing weight is the first step to reclaiming the figure you need, to feel confident. The Well Woman Diet is the proven path to seeing the numbers on the scales slide – and stay there. Devised by EF MEDISPA founder, Esther Fieldgrass and Diet Doctors guru, Dr Wendy Denning and rated 10/10 by Tatler, it’s a calorierestricted, protein meal replacement programme that’s tailored entirely to your body type after a blood profile has been taken. With five years of scientific research behind it, the programme turbo charges your weight loss through a combination of carefully controlled meals, slimming colonic hydrotherapy and lymphatic drainage treatments – plus radio frequency and Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) to tighten, tone and top off your weight loss with perfectly smooth skin. The changing of the seasons heralds the swapping of wardrobes, so you can say goodbye to your winter woollies and slip into something more comfortable. Some women shy away from the

more exposing spring styles; with a fear of exposing less-than taut tummies, extra inches on the back, or hips that cause muffin tops in tight clothing. New to EF MEDISPA Kensington is the EF Ultra, a noninvasive solution which can help with these problem areas and make putting on a cut-out dress a pleasure rather than a no-go! The treatment combines ultrasound technology and radio frequency for the first time, getting your tummy, thighs, and arms tightened and toned in time for swimsuit season. And for the perfectionists out there who really want to better their body and boost their confidence, Vaser Lipo provides the ultimate finishing touch. Through a combination of ultrasound and radio frequency technology, this walk-in walk-out minor surgical procedure is the ideal way to tighten your tummy, sculpt your thighs and banish your bingo wings. Now all you need is the new bikini. Cellulite of course, is the curse of womanhood. 90% of us suffer from tell-tale orange peel dimpling, which is why EF MEDISPA offer exclusive combination treatments that tackle all of its underlying causes; the EF MEDISPA Cellulite Solutions. This unique, four-step process includes AWT to break up fatty deposits, Radio Frequency to tighten and smooth skin, High Frequency Mesotherapy to stimulate collagen synthesis and Electro-lymphatics to clear congestion and release water retention. Book your course now and come summer, you won’t believe your thighs.

TOP TIP: Ban the razor for permanent hair removal When it comes to getting perfectly smooth pins, the early bird catches the worm. Now is the perfect time to book your course of EF MEDISPA’s pain-free Permanent Hair Removal to be bikini ready for the summer.

69 St John’s Wood High Street London NW8 7NL 020 7449 6925 29 Kensington Church Street London W8 4LL 020 7361 1005 193 Kings Road London SW3 5ED 020 7368 7674 Website: www.efmedispa.com Twitter: twitter.com/estherfieldgras Blog: www.efmedispa.com/news/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/EFmedispa

PEOPLE

S i M o n Wa R W i C K

Esther’s diary In which the mother of the groom gets groomed

SaLonS

34 Clifton Road, Maida Vale, London, W9 1ST Tel: 020 7289 2100 194 Kensington Park Road, London, W11 2ES Tel: 020 7221 8000

pring has finally sprung and I shall be running around London like a mad March hare. Apart from running my fabulous medispas in Kensington, Chelsea and St John’s Wood, there is one other thing at the top of my mind: my youngest son is getting married. It is essential that I look my best for the wedding of the year, so this March I shall be investing in some serious pre-wedding beauty prep, in the form of a three-stage plan of action. First stop on my beauty master plan is a trip to France with the family. While they may be content with finalising trivial details such as the wedding venue in Aix-en-Provence, I shall be hotfooting it down to Monaco for the crème de la crème of anti-ageing facials, visiting the creator of EF MEDISPA’s Pep 8 Facial, Dr Tiina Orasmae and continuing the treatment at EF MEDISPA Kensington. Along with the all-important hat, for stage two of my plan I’m going to need to get my hair looking magnificent. As an ex-Notting Hill hairdresser myself, I’m always looking for something new and exciting. This is why my interest has been piqued by the Josh Wood Atelier, which has been creating a huge beauty buzz. The atelier is more like someone’s super stylish Holland Park home than a salon and Josh Wood is referred to the ‘colour king’, by some of the area’s top celebs (I’m talking about you Elle) so I think it’s time for me to pop in. I will need some serious body maintenance to fit into my wedding outfit, so third on my list is kickboxing workouts with my personal trainer, Luke Grey. I’ll also make time to try out the latest cellulite treatment at my Kensington spa, which I brought back from February’s IMCAS Medical Conference in Paris. I love my yoga so every morning I’m up with the sun and downward dogging with the best of them. I’m particularly proud to be able to stand on my head at 60. The rest of the month I’m going to be undoing all of my good work with a few visits to some fabulous local restaurants. My old friend, celebrity astrologer Linda Joyce, will be flying in from New York. We’ll dine at the Ark, which, as its antediluvian name suggests, has been around forever. It’s also my mother-in-law’s 92nd birthday, so obviously No. 92, the Notting Hill Brasserie. Then, as she’s just back from her winter sojourn in Barbados, I’ll take her down Portobello to Dine Delicious for jerk chicken and red stew fish. Phew. There’s no rest for the mother of the groom. t Esther Fieldgrass, creative director of EF MEDISPA 020 7937 5554, efmedispa.com

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PEOPLE

Diary of Shakti Ananda

A yoga teacher from Portobello. By Hattie Edmonds Shakti Ananda (38, real name Annabel) used to work in fashion PR. But after reading Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, she had an ‘A-ha’ moment and gave it up. After completing her TTC at the Sivananda Centre in Madurai, she’s now a fully accredited yoga teacher. She’s also a Reiki Master. Her mission, aside from becoming enlightened in this lifetime, is to heal those around her and help humanity in its transition from fear to love. 7.00 am Wake and set intentions for day: To work on my throat chakra (communication is key!), join the Breath Circle I recently saw advertised at the Special Yoga Centre, and talk to my neighbour Lydia about the rubbish in the corridor. 7.10 am Colin’s away on a ‘Working with your Power animal’ retreat in Spain, so I have to interpret my own dreams. Fill eight pages of my Dream Journal. 7.45 am Do some breathwork. Phew – I really needed that! 8.30 am Hear Lydia leaving for work so pop out for a quick word. When I point to her bag of empty wine bottles which have been blocking the hallway for five days, she says, ‘not now, Shikti - or whatever your name is.’ I tell her that my correct name is Shakti, which is the energy giving power behind all creation. She says ‘Yeah, right.’ 9.03 am Try to calm down and be compassionate to Lydia. She has a very low vibration and until she becomes a conscious being, I cannot judge her. Burn some sage to cleanse my energy. 10.20 am Call Jagadambai to borrow some of those yoga pants she bought back from Goa. It’s the video shoot for the Tower Hamlets mothers in a couple of weeks and I can’t assume that they will have their own yoga wear. Chris, my ex has said he’ll film it on his digital camera. 11.00 – 12.30 pm Teach at

Beauty Works Best health club and afterwards have a Guam Body Wrap. 1.30 pm Meet Jagadambai for a chai latte in Coffee Plant on Portobello Road. I tell her about Lydia and her wine bottles, and she says she’s definitely a Low Vibrational. 2.00 pm Go back to Jagadambai’s and do some alternate nostril breathing. Recently my left nostril has been blocked and I know this is stifling my creativity. 5.00 – 6.30 pm Teach yoga at gym. Nigel is off sick and frankly, I’m not surprised. 6.50 pm Work through some yoga postures for the Tower Hamlets mothers. Just simple ones like sun salutations to improve strength and flexibility and warrior poses to empower them. 7.45 pm Lydia comes in from work and blasts her television up to maximum volume. No wonder she has such a low vibration with all that wine and low quality telly. I haven’t drunk alcohol or watched tv for six years now. 9.45 pm Chris calls and asks me how much I’m paying him for the yoga video shoot. I say I thought he was doing it for free but he says he’s skint and won’t do it otherwise. 10.20 pm. Write a list of all the people I’m finding challenging at the moment; Chris, Lydia, Nigel and the little man in the newsagent who short-changed me last week. Ix imagine my Higher Self meeting their Higher Self and then sending healing green energy to their heart chakras. 10.40 pm. Burn some more sage. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti, Baba Ganoush. For more west London whimsy, catch Hattie’s Portobello Puff column each Friday huffingtonpost.co.uk/entertainment

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T R AV E L

Weekend escape Lower Slaughter Manor, Gloucestershire The background:

The restaurant:

The details:

Built in 1658, the manor remained in the Whitmore family for an impressive 307 years, until it was lost to Death Duties in 1965 and became a hotel, still a familyowned business (siblings are Gidleigh Park, The Bath Priory, Amberley Castle and Buckland Manor). But don’t be alarmed about Slaughter: the name is reputed to come from French Norman knight Philip de Sloitre, who was given the land by William the Conqueror. Sloitre means nothing more sinister than ‘muddy water’.

It may be housed downstairs in the former swimming pool, but you’d never know it. This is a stylish dining room with a 1930s feel, less chinzy than the rest of the hotel and more modern. Food is seriously impressive, with award-winning chef Andrew Birch’s menu offering prettily arranged plates of classy fare. The wine list is lengthy and carefully chosen.

We love the line of wellies in the hall – borrow them for walks (remember ‘muddy water’). In the bedside drawer a tiny vial of pillow mist, and in our room a carafe of sweet sherry (not that we touched it). When we went up after dinner, the blinds had, thoughtfully, been drawn for us – drawing attention, however, to the fact that the elaborately tied-back drapes were in fact simply decorative and not real curtains at all. t

The room: All rooms are named after women (past ladies of the manor?) and ours was June, right at the top, with views over the lawn. A super comfortable bed, an extravagance of towels and a well-stocked DVD list were all there, along with the standard vast bathroom, spacious shower and warm floor. 88

What to do: Set in the beautiful Cotswolds, Lower Slaughter offers delightful walks with country pubs at the end of them – and it’s just a short drive to Daylesford’s famous organic farm. Here there’s a shop that takes you straight back to Westbourne Grove, along with a spa and a stylish restaurant for urban country types in clean wellies. The Manor doesn’t have a spa – but it does have everything you’d need for a large country wedding.

Lower Slaughter Manor Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire GL54 2HP, 01451 820456 lowerslaughter.co.uk

ISLAND IN THE SUN Gemma Billington discovers the beauty of Cyprus in spring

e arrived in Cyprus late at night and one of the first things that struck me on the drive from Larnaca airport to the city of Limassol was how compact a country it is. Though not exactly an astute observation, it was one that would stay with me throughout our short, busy trip. The size and accessibility of the island is something quite unique. Surrounded by three different continents, Cyprus’ picture-postcard views and year-round sunshine appeal to Western Europeans and the coasts are lined with luxury resorts catering for summer stays and wedding packages. British couples are the current number one nationality marrying in Cyprus, with Russian and German second and third. Limassol is clearly geared towards this influx of tourists, and we had a taste of the city in 90

arguably the best resort it has to offer, the independently owned and operated Four Seasons Hotel. The luxurious 5-star hotel is a spectacular sight, both inside and out, and boasts boutique sea views and private pool rooms as well as six restaurants, the Shiseido Spa and its own private beach. Though Cyprus’ appeal to tourists lies in its warm weather and sandy beaches, it would be a crime to miss the myriad historical and architectural sites that show a different side to the country and don’t require long car journeys to visit. Having been under the influence of multiple cultures and with a history of diverse ownership (UK plug sockets and left-hand drive being some of the remaining by-products of British occupation) I wondered if Cyprus perhaps struggled to find – and assert – an identity of its own. Historical hot-spots are littered all

over the country and the ruins in the ancient city of Kourion, on the South West coast of Cyprus are particularly impressive. Highlights include a grand and fully functional amphitheatre and Roman baths with intricate mosaic floors still intact. Churches, Greek Orthodox and Christian, are aplenty, and the stunning World Heritagelisted churches of the Byzantine era located in the Troodos region are not to be missed. However, these are all results of Cyprus’ various cultural influences – so what is uniquely Cypriot? The answer lies in the island itself; its abundant pure and natural beauty. Our guides and the locals we encountered were all remarkably proud of their little country, happy to crack open fresh pomegranates from trees and point out growing olives and native herbs. Their only indigenous animal, the mouflon (a type of goat), is the emblem of

LEFT: Limassol Port, THIS PAGE: Four Seasons Hotel (Penthouse Suite, Cafe Tropical & Shiseido Spa

T R AV E L

Cyprus Airways and appears on their five cent coin. The Akamas Peninsula on the West of the Island is one of the best places to take in this unspoilt environment. It is here that you will find remnants of Cyprus’ most famous Goddess, Aphrodite. Petra Tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock) is a popular beauty spot steeped in superstition; it doesn’t take much for a local to engage you in her legend and the stories of her many lovers. Her baths, located near Polis on the North West tip of the island, are set in a stunning nature trail in the Akamas Peninsula National Park, completely separated (though only a short drive away) from the built-up towns and resorts. This is the beauty of Cyprus; aided by a car or coach,

you can literally go from sunbathing on the beach to braving the chilly climate of the Troodos mountains in under an hour. Cyprus’ wildlife and splendour is abundant throughout the year; Green turtles come to lay their eggs on Lara Bay in the summer, winter months are still

flowers. The weather is perfectly hot and sunny whilst being mercifully some degrees shy of the sweltering temperatures come summer. Cyprus may be the perfect destination for sun, sea and sand, but it’s when you’re away from the crowded beaches, lost in its abundant natural beauty, that the country’s motto, “Cyprus in your heart” really resonates, and Cyprus as a unique destination comes into its own. t

Highlights include a grand and fully functional amphitheatre and Roman baths with their intricate mosaic floors still intact sunny and tepid, and the sea stays warm all year round compared to neighbouring islands. It is spring, however, that the natives recommend to visit. It feels like unearthing a local secret; spring is the season when the island is at its most spectacular, covered in wild

A stay at the Four Seasons starts from £113 (€135) in winter and £260 (€310) in summer; fourseasons.com Akamas Health Farm & Spa, cyprushealthfarm.com visitcyprus.com 91

PEOPLE

T E N M I N U T E S W I T H...

Harry Shearer & Judith Owen Harry Shearer is better known as Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap and as the voices behind The Simpsons; his wife Judith Owen is a singer and half of the show Losing It with Ruby Wax. They live in Holland Park and New Orleans How did you meet and was Judith a Spinal Tap fan at the time? JO: I had finished a terrible gig in a hotel in Chelsea in 1992, when Harry walked in with his full Derek Smalls face on. He was on tour here – I was a huge gushing fan and he was clapping me. So I was really dating Derek Smalls and barely recognised Harry when I first saw him without the make up on. And how did you meet Ruby Wax? HS: My agent put me in touch with her when I first came to London in the 1980s. Ruby took me to a tiny theatre in Brent to show me these people she’d discovered and they turned out to be a young Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French. JO: Harry thought I’d have a mental breakdown if he told me he’d had a fling with Ruby so it wasn’t until she told me that I found out. HS: I’ve got in the habit of trying to gentle news for Judith. When I found a possom in our house in Santa Monica I told her it was a large mouse. So how did Judith ever become friends with Ruby? JO: At first I was scared of her because she was the epitome of confident but when we found ourselves sitting next to each other on a plane she told me about her depression and it turned out she was pretending as much as I was. We share the great game face –

our armour is really good - but underneath we both suffer from depression. Is that why you joined forces? JO: We felt good laughing about how absurd it is to feel that you’re the only one not invited to the party. Ruby wanted to devise a show about her breakdown – Losing It is me on the piano and Ruby telling the story. My music makes you cry and her humour makes you laugh. First we took it to hospitals and clinics in 2009, and then to theatres, and now we’ve just finished a season in the West End. You’re planning to take the show to the States. Will it work there?

Harry thought I’d have a mental breakdown if he told me he’d had a fling with Ruby 92

HS: I think it makes a great antidote to the Opra-fication of feelings. And it will totally shatter the American idea of the British stiff upper lip, because you get confessions from the audience. I’ve never left a show with dry eyes, though I laugh a lot too. What’s happening in the world of Spinal Tap? HS: Actually, I watched the film last night, which I rarely do, because someone on Twitter said it was on TV. As a band we have some business to sort out – in real life we have turned out to have the same issues as the bands we make fun of. t Judith Owen’s new CD Some Kind of Comfort is released on Courgette Records. She will be performing at The Pheasantry in Kings Road, SW3 on 13 and 20 March.

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THE LANCASTERS W2 A stunning and rarely available lateral apartment finished to the highest possible standard with floor-to-ceiling windows framing breathtaking views over Hyde Park. Spectacular contemporary design mixed with classical architectural features, with first class spa facilities, valet parking and 24 hour concierge service.

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Holland Park, Holland Park W11 A top-notch, top floor apartment with space and a sun-filled, west-facing view thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second to none

Reception room Kitchen / breakfast room Three bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms Study Shower room The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea 1,559 sq ft / 144.8 sq m Guide Price ÂŁ2.25 million Share of freehold Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

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Woodsford Square, Holland Park W14 A modern town house in an award-winning development, situated in prime Holland Park, in prestigious surroundings. Anyone for tennis?

Two reception rooms, kitchen / breakfast room Master bedroom & bathroom Four further bedrooms & two bathrooms Utility room, cloakroom, garage & off-street parking Private south facing garden, communal gardens The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea 2,171 sq ft / 202 sq m Guide Price ÂŁ2.75 million Freehold Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

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The Baynards, Chepstow Place Notting Hill W2 One of Notting Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most visionary buildings seeks a buyer with an equal amount of vision

Entrance hall Kitchen, dining, reception room Three bedrooms, three bathrooms Lateral accommodation Two secure, underground parking spaces 24hr Porter and lift 1,882 sq ft / 174.8 sq m Guide Price ÂŁ2.75 million Share of Freehold Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

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Talbot Road, Notting Hill W2 First class, first floor, one-bedroom flat. If space and style is what you seek, this is the one for you

Reception room Kitchen Bedroom & bathroom Balcony & lift New 125 year lease 810 sq ft / 75.2 sq m Guide Price ÂŁ1 million

Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

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Local know-how. Better results. sales@marshandparsons.co.uk lettings@marshandparsons.co.uk marshandparsons.co.uk

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Lower Addison Gardens W14 £7,500,000 A magnificent family home occupying a wide plot with a large southerly garden. Beautifully refurbished to an exacting standard, this handsome property provides well balanced family accommodation over five floors, including a huge raised ground floor double reception room, a fully fitted kitchen/dining room and a family room that leads out to the south facing garden. The bedroom accommodation includes a large master suite and four further double bedrooms served by two large bathrooms. Joint Sole Agents.

HOLLAND PARK: 020 7605 6890 sales.hol@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Lansdowne Road W11 £5,375,000 This magnificent, semi-detached Victorian house boasts a tiered garden and direct access to communal gardens. The elegant reception space offers a well proportioned, raised ground floor drawing room and dining room, while the floor below features a large kitchen/ breakfast room leading through to a reception room with direct access to the gardens. The bedroom accommodation includes a large master suite and study on the first floor and a further three bedrooms served by a family bathroom on the second floor. Freehold.

HOLLAND PARK: 020 7605 6890 sales.hol@marshandparsons.co.uk

Local know-how. Better results. Our Ofﬁces:

Brook Green

Hammersmith

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North Kensington

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Bedford Gardens W8 £4,950,000 This lovely Grade II listed period house features a wonderful double reception room on the ground ﬂoor, a separate kitchen/dining room, a large master bedroom suite, a further two bedrooms and three bathrooms. The property also beneﬁts from an artist’s studio situated at the end of the private garden. Freehold. Sole Agents.

KENSINGTON: 020 7368 4450 sales.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Horbury Crescent W11 £4,350,000 This wide, well-configured house is located within the catchment area of Ladbroke Square Gardens. The accommodation is arranged over four floors including an elegant double reception room on the raised ground floor, a large well equipped kitchen/ dining room on the lower floor providing direct access to the garden, a magnificent master suite on the first floor with a further two bedrooms served by a family bathroom on the second floor. Freehold. Joint Sole Agents.

NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk

Local know-how. Better results. Our Ofﬁces:

Brook Green

Hammersmith

Mayfair

Balham

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Holland Park

North Kensington

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Kensington Park Road W11 £3,500,000 A beautifully presented house set back from the road with views over the communal gardens of Ladbroke and Arundel Gardens. The elegant accommodation is arranged over five floors including a fabulous reception room at raised ground floor level and a fantastic kitchen dining room on the lower floor leading out to a walled garden. The bedroom accommodation includes a guest suite on the lower floor, a master suite on the first floor and a further two bedrooms on the top floor served by a family bathroom. Freehold. Sole Agents.

NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Sunderland Terrace W2 ÂŁ1,600,000 Located on Sunderland Terrace, a pretty tree lined street, this property boasts great space for entertaining, the accomodation includes a large interconnecting reception room leading onto a stylish kitchen/dining room with views over the garden and the bedroom accommodation consists of two very large bedrooms, one en suite, with an additional contemporary bathroom. Share of freehold. Sole Agents.

NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 2890 sales.not@marshandparsons.co.uk

Local know-how. Better results. Our Ofﬁces:

Brook Green

Hammersmith

Mayfair

Balham

Chelsea

Holland Park

North Kensington

Barnes

Clapham

Kensington

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Battersea

Fulham

Little Venice

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A stunning three bedroom apartment located on arguably, Holland Park’s most prestigious street! Offering a spacious reception room, a large kitchen/dining room, two double bedrooms, a master bedroom beneﬁtting from excellent ﬁtted storage and an en suite bathroom two further bedrooms, a family bathroom and a private balcony.

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Linden Gardens W2 £1,100 per week A unique and charming three bedroom apartment located on a sought after road in the heart of Notting Hill. The accomodation beneﬁts from a spacious reception room with open plan kitchen, a separate dining area, a second study/reception room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. NOTTING HILL: 020 7313 2890 lets.not@marshandparsons.co.uk

Linden Gardens W2 £1,100 per week Located just south of Kensington High Street on a charming cobbled mews, this immaculate property enjoys a spacious and bright reception room with wooden ﬂoors and large balcony, a large double bedroom with excellent storage and en suite bathroom, a further large double bedroom also with great storage and a study area. KENSINGTON: 020 7368 4450 lets.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk

Offices throughout the UK including 5 in London Our London offices are open on Saturday between 10am - 3pm

carterjonas.co.uk

HOLLand ParK

Holland Park W11 It is rare to find such a complete apartment in one of the Holland Park villas. The flat is situated on the quiet inner section, away from Holland Park Avenue and therefore having a south facing aspect at the rear and a sunny roof terrace. This road is perfectly situated for the underground at Holland Park (Central Line) and for the many shops and cafes on Holland Park Avenue and at Notting Hill Gate. Drawing/dining room (extending to approximately 48’6”) • Kitchen • Study Master bedroom with en suite bathroom • 2 further bedrooms (1 en suite) Shower room • South facing roof terrace

Guide price £4,500,000 Share of Freehold

Holland Park & notting Hill 020 7371 111 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk

Offices throughout the UK including 5 in London Our London offices are open on Saturday between 10am - 3pm

Hyde ParK

Gloucester Terrace W2 A beautifully presented apartment with high ceilings throughout set in this charming south west facing stucco fronted building. This ever popular residential street is perfectly positioned within easy walking distance of Hyde Park and a plethora of shops, bars and restaurants of Westbourne Grove. Reception room • Kitchen • 2 bedrooms • Bathroom First floor apartment • Very good decoration

Guide price £799,950 Share of Freehold

Hyde Park & Bayswater 020 7402 1552 hydepark@carterjonas.co.uk

carterjonas.co.uk

Hyde ParK

Gloucester Mews West W2 A rarely available lateral mews house arranged over one floor on this charming cobbled mews. The mews is perfectly located for transport links including Paddington and for the wide range of restaurants and bars of Westbourne Grove. Reception room • Kitchen • 3 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms Terrace • Good decoration

Guide price £895,000 Leasehold

Hyde Park & Bayswater 020 7402 1552 hydepark@carterjonas.co.uk

Offices throughout the UK including 5 in London Our London offices are open on Saturday between 10am - 3pm

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Addison Avenue W11

Queensdale Place W11

A fantastic architect designed terraced house set over 2,045 sq ft located on this sought after tree lined avenue.

A stunning terraced house situated in this quiet, secluded cul-de-sac in the heart of Holland Park.

Reception room • Kitchen/family room • 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms (1 en suite with dressing room) • Utility room Cloakroom • Roof terrace

Reception room • Kitchen/dining room • TV room • 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms • Utility room • Patio • 2 terraces

£1,800 per week Unfurnished

£1,350 per week Unfurnished/furnished

Holland Park & notting Hill 020 7371 3377 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk

nOrtH KenSingtOn

HOLLand ParK

Oxford Gardens W10

Royal Crescent Mews W11

A contemporary styled three bedroom period family house set over two floors and located on this pretty residential street.

A fantastic newly refurbished house tucked away in this charming cobbled mews in Holland Park.

Double reception room • 3 double bedrooms • Bathroom Utility room/cloakroom • Private garden

Spacious open-plan kitchen/dining room • Reception room 2 double bedrooms • Bathroom • Private parking

£795 per week Unfurnished

£695 per week Unfurnished/furnished

Holland Park & notting Hill 020 7371 3377 hollandpark@carterjonas.co.uk

carterjonas.co.uk Hyde ParK

BaySwater

Somers Crescent W2

Westbourne Gardens W2

A stunning, newly refurbished family house, situated in a highly sought after area with pleasant surroundings.

A fantastic duplex apartment in a beautiful, completely refurbished white stucco fronted building.

Reception room • Dining room • Kitchen • 6 bedrooms 4 bathrooms • Garage • Roof terrace

Reception room • Kitchen • 3 bedrooms • 3 bathrooms • Terrace

£2,000 per week Unfurnished

£1,300 per week Unfurnished

Hyde Park & Bayswater 020 7402 1552 hydepark@carterjonas.co.uk

Hyde ParK

Hyde Park Square W2

Strathearn Place W2

A spectacular contemporary loft style duplex penthouse apartment offering exceptionally bright living space.

A stunning apartment situated on the second floor, benefitting from parquet wood floors and natural sunlight.

Reception room • Kitchen • 3 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms Access to communal gardens

Reception room • Kitchen • 2 double bedrooms 2 bathrooms • Lift

£995 per week Furnished

£695 per week Furnished

Hyde Park & Bayswater 020 7402 1552 hydepark@carterjonas.co.uk

NETWORK...

THE KEY TO FINDING THE PERFECT MATCH When it comes to bringing properties and buyers together, we work tirelessly to find the perfect match. With a network of offices nationwide, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to see why loyal Carter Jonas clients can be found the length and breadth of the country. Whether selling, letting or buying, look no further. Call us on 020 3018 2309 or find us online at CARTERJONAS.CO.UK/KEY

Property

of the month ST JAMESâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GARDENS W11, ÂŁ6,995,000

This is a very well proportioned and elegant house on an ever-popular Holland Park garden square. The beautifully presented house has been tastefully modernised, with features such as a multimedia/speaker system, and offers tremendous volume throughout, with fantastic ceiling heights and many original features such as wooden shutters. The layout is extremely well thought-out with a south-facing private garden accessible from both the raised and lower ground floor levels. John D Wood 020 7727 2233

www.johndwood.co.uk 117

ABSOLUTELY 1234

In their own words

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Keith Gorny, Director, Marsh & Parsons PHOTO: GEORGE RAMSAY

olland Park, Notting Hill and Bayswater are peppered with tales of boom and bust. A multitude of investors have made fortunes while others have lost them. It is a story that can be read in the rich variety of architecture that surrounds us today. Having traded this market’s ups and downs since 1856, Marsh & Parsons’ first sales in the area were of the new residential developments constituting the Ladbroke and Notting Hill Estates. Given the turbulent events of the last 150 years, it’s a miracle so much of our early local architecture has survived. If my professional forbearer were to walk the roads surrounding St John’s Church today, he might marvel at how little they have changed from when he was parking up his horse and adjusting his breeches before attempting to convince a sceptical buyer of the sound investment this new, out of town development represented. But behind these magnificent, elegant façades much has changed. Over the last 20 years I’ve seen all manner of ambitious, beautifully executed and exciting adaptations of space. My undiminished enthusiasm for this market is in part down to the constant innovation, development and change I experience. Last week I was advising on an extraordinary house where the owner had applied for an unusually deep lower ground excavation in order that the planned pool could benefit from a high diving board. I suspect the rich international diversity of inhabitant that distinguishes our area would also come as a bit of a surprise to my frock-coatwearing predecessor. We recently sold a semi-detached Holland Park villa, owned by our client for over 40 years. Of the 30-odd viewings that took place, not one nationality was represented more than twice. The influence of this international appeal on property prices in the area is well documented. While very recent history has demonstrated only too clearly how perceptions can quickly change, in these uncertain times our safe haven status has helped our network of local offices to report record transaction levels and record prices over the last year. I can only speculate as to the brave new world my hover-board riding successor at Marsh & Parsons will be working in. One thing is for sure: as they escort the avatar of some remote buyer round the latest innovative interior, they’ll be representing a company that’s been here from the very start and possesses the unique understanding of our area that such experience brings – whatever the age this local know how will offer our clients an advantage. t marshandparsons.co.uk

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Property

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100% of our landlords would recommend our service to their friends and family

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I have already recommended you to three people with the full confidence that they will receive the same personal and considered attention you have given me

S Farjam

6 Holland Street W8 4LT I +44(0)20 7361 0400 I www.wilfords.com I info@wilfords.com

Paultons square, SW3

ÂŁ2,750 pw

2140 Sq.Ft/ 199 Sq. M | 4 bedrooms | Long Let | Chelsea A beautifully refurbished townhouse, with a lovely private garden, on a prestigious Chelsea Square Wilfords London, 6 Holland Street W8 4LT wilfords.com

+44(0)20 7361 0400

Hyde Park Gardens, W2

ÂŁ3.95m

2119 SQ FT/ 196 SQ M | 3 bedrooms | Leasehold | Lancaster Gate A rare opportunity to acquire this stunning lateral apartment within a Grade II listed building with large roof terrace boasting panoramic south-facing views over Hyde Park and Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic skyline. Wilfords London, 6 Holland Street W8 4LT wilfords.com

+44(0)20 7361 0400

Horbury Crescent, W11

ÂŁ4.3m

1425 Sq.Ft / 134 Sq. M | 2/3 Bedrooms | Leasehold | Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea A charming townhouse located on one of the most desirable and quiet streets in Notting Hill. Wilfords London, 6 Holland Street W8 4LT wilfords.com

+44(0)20 7361 0400

faronsutaria.co.uk

SALES & LETTINGS

ROYAL CRESCENT, W11 A top floor (4th) apartment with good storage, set within this recently refurbished 19th Century white stucco fronted building. Approx. 705 sq ft. Bedroom, bathroom, reception room. £625,000 Share of Freehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk

COLVILLE HOUSES, W11 A spacious and charming apartment with a private garden, located in a pretty cul-de-sac off Talbot Road and close to the vibrancy of Portobello market. Approx. 744 sq ft. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception. £610,000 Share of Freehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk

OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU

faronsutaria.co.uk

SALES & LETTINGS

LADBROKE GROVE, W10 A development of four apartments situated in a house to be sold with vacant possession. Close to Ladbroke Grove Tube and Portobello and Golborne Road markets. Approx. 2,392 sq ft. 9 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 receptions. £1,800,000 Share of Freehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk

ST LAWRENCE TERRACE, W10 A well presented and spacious apartment with excellent living and entertaining space. Approx. 628 sq ft. Bedroom, bathroom, reception room, west facing rear garden. £500,000 Share of Freehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk

OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU

faronsutaria.co.uk

SALES & LETTINGS

KENSINGTON HIGH STREET, W14 A delightful 1st floor apartment with south facing views in this well regarded mansion block with resident porters. Approx. 1,036 sq ft. 3 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room. £975,000 Leasehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk

HOLLAND ROAD, W14 A beautifully presented raised ground floor apartment with classic proportions throughout, with a west facing balcony overlooking well kept gardens. Approx. 710 sq ft. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room. £600,000 Leasehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk

OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU

faronsutaria.co.uk

SALES & LETTINGS

OSSINGTON STREET, W2 A beautifully presented house finished to a high standard, ideally located for Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Notting Hill. Approx. 1,113 sq ft. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1/2 reception rooms. £1,600,000 Freehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk

HYDE PARK SQUARE, W2 A well proportioned apartment on the 3rd floor (with lift) of a post-war portered development on the corner of Hyde Park Square and Connaught Street. Approx. 538 sq ft. Bedroom, bathroom, reception room. £610,000 Leasehold 020 7229 2404 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk

OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU

PORTOBELLO ROAD W11 ÂŁ1,250 per week An interior-designed flat on the first floor of this period conversion boasts a fantastic open plan living space leading onto a large private decked roof terrace, making the flat ideal for entertaining. Portobello Road is a vibrant area offering a fantastic array of shops, restaurants and bars. Ladbroke Grove Underground station is within walking distance; there are two bedrooms, shower room, en suite bathroom, reception room, kitchen/dining room, roof terrace.

Bective Leslie Marsh 020 7313 7711

Absolutely

Pitt Street W8 ÂŁ800 per week This spacious and contemporary-styled three bedroom apartment, set within a well maintained, portered period block just off Kensington Church Street features furnishings by In:Style Direct and comprises a well-windowed large reception with dining area, an eat-in kitchen with integrated appliances, large master bedroom with en-suite shower room, two further bedrooms with ample storage, served by full bathrooms.

Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings 020 7938 3522

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Property Princedale Road W11 ÂŁ2,450,000 A three double bedroom terraced house situated on this sought after road, offering someone a great opportunity to create a fabulous home and, subject to planning permission, substantially extend the living space. Accommodation comprises large kitchen, reception room, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, two further double bedrooms, bathroom, and patio. Ideally located for the shops and transport links on Holland Park Avenue.

Jackson Stops & Staff 020 7727 5111

Holland Park Avenue W11 ÂŁ10,000 PER WEEK A remarkable family home, situated in the heart of Holland Park. Set over 5000 sq ft, it has been exquisitely refurbished with seven bedrooms, five bathrooms and four reception rooms. It also boasts an indoor swimming pool, steam room, cinema room, a stunning landscaped garden as well as a self-contained apartment. Accommodation comprises: Four reception rooms, kitchen/ dining room, seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, gardens, swimming pool, steam room.

Carter Jonas 020 7371 3377 133

PALACE GARDENS TERRACE, W8 An upper maisonette (2nd and 3rd floors) in an exceptional Victorian conversion property on a cherry tree-lined street running parallel to Kensington Church Street, in a prime part of Kensington. 3 bedrooms, en suite bathroom, shower room, reception room, study/bedroom 3, entrance hall, roof terrace. Freehold Share Guide Price ÂŁ2,150,000

KENSINGTON 020 7908 1100 kcs.sales@johndwood.co.uk

www.johndwood.co.uk

ST JAMES’S GARDENS, W11 A well proportioned, tastefully modernised and elegant house offering tremendous volume on this favoured Holland Park garden square. Approx. 4,230 sq ft. 5/6 bedrooms, 3/4 bathrooms, reception/dining room, reception room, roof terrace, balcony, garden, communal garden. Freehold Guide Price £6,995,000

ADDISON GARDENS, W14

LADBROKE GROVE, W10

A stylish raised ground floor flat combining ornate period features with modern contemporary fixtures and fittings. Approx. 736 sq ft. Bedroom, bathroom, reception/kitchen, cloakroom, mezzanine floor, storage.

A charming lower ground floor apartment, situated in an attractive stucco fronted house with a garden, close to a wide range of shops, boutiques and restaurants. Approx. 730 sq ft. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception.

Freehold Share Guide Price £750,000

Freehold Share Guide Price £650,000

HOLLAND PARK & NOTTING HILL 020 7727 2233 hln.sales@johndwood.co.uk

www.johndwood.co.uk

Determined When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to sell or rent, our determined teams are fully committed to achieving the best price for your property.

Keith Rigby, director of sales in Notting Hill is typical of our determined staff. With 20 years experience in sales, Keith not only brings expertise and an abundance of local knowledge, but also plenty of enthusiasm to selling your home. It is perhaps why 97% of our customers would recommend us to their family and friends.

Scan the QR code using your iphone or smart phone to donwload the Bective Leslie Marsh App.

Chelsea 020 7589 6677

Kensington 020 7795 4288

Notting Hill 020 7221 4805

bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Ladbroke Grove 020 7221 0330

Brook Green 020 7603 5181

Chelsea 020 7589 6677

Kensington 020 7795 4288

Notting Hill 020 7221 4805

Ladbroke Grove 020 7221 0330

Brook Green 020 7603 5181

bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Favoured Block Prince Edward Mansions, Notting Hill W2

Freehold ÂŁ3,950,000

A sensational lateral apartment (233 sq m/2,510 sq ft approx.) situated on the third floor Notting Hill office (with lift) of an imposing red brick mansion building with porter service. This exceptionally 020 7221 4805 spacious, predominantly south facing apartment has been beautifully refurbished bc@bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk throughout and is presented in immaculate order. 3 bedrooms, 3 en suite bathrooms, cloakroom, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room.

Refreshingly different estate agents

Close to Hyde Park Palace Court, Notting Hill W2

Share of freehold ÂŁ3,650,000

A magnificent raised ground floor apartment (226 sq m/2,432 sq ft approx.) in this secure, professionally portered mansion building. The property boasts a 40 ft interconnecting double reception room with southerly views of Palace Court, a large kitchen/breakfast room and three spacious bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms. 3 bedrooms, 3 en suite bathrooms, cloakroom, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, shared patio.

Notting Hill office

020 7221 4805

bc@bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Chelsea 020 7589 6677

Kensington 020 7795 4288

Notting Hill 020 7221 4805

Ladbroke Grove 020 7221 0330

Brook Green 020 7603 5181

bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Ultimate W11 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill W11

Leasehold ÂŁ3,000,000

A stunning architect designed triplex (172 sq m/1,866 sq ft approx.) with private entrance in the heart of Notting Hill offering space, light and immense style. The 30 ft first floor double reception room boasts high ceilings, floor to ceiling windows, oak floors and a charming feature fireplace. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shower room, reception room, dining room, kitchen, flat roof.

Notting Hill office

Refreshingly different estate agents

020 7221 4805

bc@bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Quiet Backwater Chapel Side, Notting Hill W2

Freehold ÂŁ2,500,000

A unique low build freehold house (200 sq m/2,153 sq ft approx.) in this charming and very private enclave moments from Kensington Gardens. This very spacious property benefits from a triple aspect allowing a great deal of natural light to flow throughout. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite), cloakroom, reception/dining room, kitchen, roof terrace, off street parking.

Notting Hill office

020 7221 4805

bc@bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Chelsea 020 7589 6677

Kensington 020 7795 4288

Notting Hill 020 7221 4805

Ladbroke Grove 020 7221 0330

Brook Green 020 7603 5181

bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Mansion Splendour Campden Hill Court, Kensington W8

Share of freehold ÂŁ3,600,000

A beautiful and elegant apartment (189 sq m/2,032 sq ft approx.) quietly situated on the Kensington office second floor of this striking, sought after mansion building. Flooded with natural light and 020 7795 4288 overlooking the impeccable ornamental gardens, this handsome and well proportioned kt@bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk lateral property is presented in excellent condition throughout offering classical and contemporary finishes. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, concierge, lift, ornamental gardens, 24 hour security.

Refreshingly different estate agents

Prestigious Location Braemar Mansions, Kensington SW7

Share of freehold ÂŁ5,950,000

A magnificent lateral apartment (303 sq m/3,270 sq ft approx.) located on the third floor of a highly sought-after portered building complete with direct lift access. The property is presented in excellent condition throughout boasting luxurious living accommodation and vast, enviable entertaining space and access to the beautiful communal gardens. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (3 en suite), bedroom 5/dressing room, double reception room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, guest cloakroom, direct lift access, 24 hour porterage, communal garden access.

Kensington office

020 7795 4288

kt@bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Chelsea 020 7589 6677

Kensington 020 7795 4288

Notting Hill 020 7221 4805

Ladbroke Grove 020 7221 0330

Brook Green 020 7603 5181

bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Family Living St Quintin Avenue, North Kensington W10

Furnished Price On Application

A beautifully presented and spacious Edwardian house, the property has been refurbished Notting Hill Lettings to a high standard whilst still retaining period features. The property further boasts 020 7221 5388 fantastic living space ideal for entertaining and a pretty landscaped garden. 5 bedrooms, kf@bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk 2 shower rooms (1 en suite), 2 en suite bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/dining room, study, utility room, 2 cloakrooms, garden, balcony.

Refreshingly different estate agents

Immaculate House Kildate Terrace, Bayswater W2

Furnished Price On Application

An immaculately presented family house, finished to an exceptionally high standard. The property boasts three floors of reception space, making it ideal for both family life and entertaining, as well as an opulent master en suite with dressing room. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite), shower room, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/dining room, study, garden.

Notting Hill Lettings

020 7221 5388

kf@bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk

Property

Olympian gains? T

“

his is forecast to be a great year for landlords. The Kensington market is awash with foreign investors purchasing investment properties with strong capital growth potential, which helps to ease the shortage of quality rental properties. However, demand still outstrips supply, as the start of the year has brought healthy levels of corporate relocation and coupled with uncertainty in the UK economy, this is pushing potential purchasers towards the rental market. Despite this, there is one large question mark on the horizon. The greatest sporting event in the world arrives in London this summer and no one really knows what impact it will have on the lettings market. Many landlords are looking to take advantage the possibility of earning triple the normal amount as tourists visit London for the games. But at the moment there is limited demand and a real concern that the inflated prices being quoted might end up being unrealistic. An Olympic landlord needs to ensure their property is fully prepared and extensively checked as well as ensuring a robust referencing procedure is followed. In Kensington, planning permission must also be obtained for tenancies under 90 days to avoid a significant fine and the council have already stated that this is an area of concern. My advice is to take advantage of the strong long let rental market and to look carefully at the specific needs of a short let before taking the plunge. Remember: all that glitters is not necessarily gold.” Simon Welfare wilfords.com

Porten Road, W14 £700 pER wEEK This beautifully designed split level apartment has stunning views from the terrace. wilfords.com

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Absolutely

Nigel Hargreaves, Homesite Restaurant Royal China - Dim sum doesn’t get any better than this which is quite often substantiated by the queue of people spilling over on to Queensway particularly on Sundays Best Kept Secret Hamandos - The best little deli W2 specialising in Greek and Mediterranean food, served by Joseph, the store’s owner and chef who creates the culinary magic with a large helping of homemade appeal Finest Cocktail Bloody Mary from The Westbourne. A perfect mix of spice & flavourings particularly good when a rejuvenating tonic is required Stylish Boutique William Mansell Jewellers & Horologists in Connaught Street W2 – an incredibly diverse jewellers and watch store with a beautiful shopfront and internal fittings dating from the late 19th century. AN EXCEPTIONAL W2 PROPERTY Kensington Gardens Square W2 £1,950,000 Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, balcony/terrace and vaulted ceilings. homesite.co.uk

Hamptons Notting Hill Sales. 020 7717 5469 nottinghillsales@hamptons.co.uk

Pembridge Gardens, W2 - £10,500,000 - Freehold Portland Road, W11 - £2,450,000 - Freehold An imposing period building refurbished to a good standard, presenting a perfect A lovely mid-terrace property in Holland Park with a double reception, four rental investment, for two and three bedroom lateral flats. bedrooms, three bathrooms, kitchen/family room and patio.

Chepstow Villas, W11 - £1,800,000 - Leasehold A two bedroom apartment with a large reception room and kitchen/dining room with easterly views across the rooftops of Notting Hill.

Stanley Gardens, W11 - £899,000 - Leasehold

Kensington Park Road, W11 - £500,000 - Leasehold

Bracewell Road, W10 - £500,000 - Share of Freehold

A lovely second floor flat just off Portobello Road. It has a smart open-plan kitchen, and one bedroom with a smart en suite bathroom.

A large first floor two bed, two bath flat in a Victorian mid-terrace building. It has a bright living room with bay window and high ceilings.

A smart two bedroom flat in an impressive white stucco building, benefitting from a lift and access to communal gardens.

In the year of medals, we are already on a winning streak.

Hamptons International Silver for Best for UK Large Estate Agency and Best for Marketing.

Hamptons Notting Hill Lettings. 020 7034 0405 nottinghilllettings@hamptons-int.com

Pembridge Crescent, W11 - £1,200 per week - Part Furnished

Garden House, W2 - £900 per week - Furnished

Princedale Road, W11 - £1,400 per week - Furnished

Aldridge Road Villas, W2 - £3,200 per week - Furnished This unique, four bedroom family home is positioned on a quiet, residential street just moments from the popular boutiques, cafes and restaurants

Ladbroke Road, W11 - £2,500 per week - Unfurnished

Westbourne Park Road, W2 - £925 per week - Unfurnished This well located three bedroom triplex apartment offers stunning high ceilings, contemporary finish and spacious rooms.

This Interior designed apartment is located on one of Notting Hill’s most prestigious streets and offers great entertaining space and a stunning master suite.

This recently refurbished family home sits on a pretty residential street. The property has been designed with an elegant yet contemporary finish

Striking architecturally designed three bedroom town house offering contemporary interior and versatile open plan living space

Gold Winner in Best for Property Management

This elegant two double bedroom apartment sits within a prestigious portered building and has been beautifully refurbished

Hamptons International has been crowned Gold Winner in Best for Property Management and at the 2011 Lettings Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, recognising Hamptons’ commitment to exceptional customer service and its status as an employer of choice. Call us to find out more about how our Property Management Services can help us meet your property requirements.

Hamptons Kensington Lettings. 020 7937 9372 kensingtonlettings@hamptons-int.com

Stafford Terrace, W8 - ÂŁ2,950 per week, furnished A fantastic 3 bedroom maisonette on the sought after streets of the Phillimore Estate. The property has wooden floors throughout, an integrated remote controlled sound system, lutron lighting, underfloor heating, a roof terrace and a garden to the rear.

Gold Winner in Best for Property Management

Hamptons International has been crowned Gold Winner in Best for Property Management and at the 2011 Lettings Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Times, recognising Hamptonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; commitment to exceptional customer service and its status as an employer of choice. Call us to find out more about how our Property Management Services can help us meet your property requirements.

Property Notting Hill: Clarendon Road, W11 A stunning family home with a wonderful sense of volume, space and light. The accommodation comprises: Entrance hall drawing room, kitchen/dining area, family/sitting room, master bedroom with dressing area and en suite bathroom, three further bedrooms, bedroom five/studio with bathroom, shower room, bathroom, utility/guest cloakroom, terrace, garden. ÂŁ8,250,000 Freehold Marsh & Parsons 020 7605 6890

Hot

Property Bayswater: Westbourne Gardens, W2

The apartment is on the raised ground and lower ground floor with a lift of a beautifully restored period building. Throughout the apartment there is a real attention to design and detailing. Period features have been restored but a strong modern look remains. There are two good sized bedrooms and two modern bathrooms. The kitchen is open plan the apartment has wood floors throughout. ÂŁ1,850,000 Leasehold Hamptons International 020 7034 0404 150

Ladbroke Grove, W10

ÂŁ799,950 Leasehold

Winkworth are proud to bring to market this fantastic contemporary flat split over five levels. Stairs lead to a spacious first floor family bathroom and then on to a large west facing living room with entertaining space and an open kitchen area. Further up is bedroom one, then two large further double bedrooms, and finally a second bathroom. The proportions are excellent and the space is light and airy throughout. There is a large roof terrace with far reaching views. There is also planning permission to add a fourth bedroom and a third bathroom on the top floor. This is a lovely property in a fantastic location with easy access to Ladbroke Grove tube and Golborne and Portobello Roads.

16 Lambton Place, Notting Hill London W11 2SH t 020 7243 3535 w www.homesite.co.uk e info@homesite.co.uk N oT T I N G

H I L L

B AY S WAT E R

K E N S I N G To N

H o L L A N D

Grand union Close, W9

PA R K

£435 per week

Very spacious apartment with two double bedrooms (ideal for sharers), and a south facing balcony with views over the Grand union Canal. Located in a modern gated development with private parking, moments from Westbourne Park tube station. The amenities, bars and eateries of Notting Hill are about a 10 minute walk away.

St Quintin Avenue, W10

£650 per week

An exceptional first floor apartment located in a striking period house on this picturesque tree lined street. The reception room is a great size with a modern open plan kitchen, exposed brick wall and feature fireplace which bring out the flat’s true character. Both bedrooms are doubles and have built in wardrobes. The whole flat offers approximately 800 square feet of lateral living space.

I N D E P E N D E N T

E X P E R I E N C E D

f o C u S E D

R E L I A B L E

Homesite estate agents

H I L L

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B AY S WAT E R

K E N S I N G To N

H o L L A N D

PA R K

I have worked with Homesite for many years now and have always found them to be very professional and successful in what they do. Their sales team offers a very personalised approach and their customer service is second to none. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

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N oT T I N G

Cara, vendor

Trebovir Road, SW5

£995,000

Stunning south facing apartment with a balcony, beautifully refurbished and set within this striking mansion building with communal gardens. The reception room has full length sash windows, stylish lighting & feature fireplace. The kitchen/dining room is fully fitted with the latest appliances and has a sleek modern feel. Located just off Earl’s Court Road the area’s many bars, restaurants, shops and underground station (Circle, District, Piccadilly) are close at hand.

D E D I C A T E D

S u C C E S f u L L

M o D E R N

A P P R o A C H A B L E

London’s Letting Agency www.brlets.co.uk

Chelsea Notting Borders Hill Gate

From£270 £350pw pw Furnished Furnished From

Notting Hill Gate West End

£450 pw pw Furnished Furnished From £360

Paddington Frompw£480 pw Furnished Chelsea Borders From £450 Furn/Unfurnished

Bedroom || 11 Reception Reception || 1 1 Bathroom 11 Bedroom Bathroom Primeto Location | Hyde Park Nearby Close Portobello Road | Sole Agents

Hyde Park 020 020 7402 9866 hyde@brlets.co.uk Imperial Wharf 7348 7620 imperialwharf@brlets.co.uk

HydePark Park020 0207402 74029866 9866 Hyde

Imperial 020 7348 Hyde ParkWharf 020 7402 9866 7620 imperialwharf@brlets.co.uk hyde@brlets.co.uk

Notting Hill Gate Kensington

Notting Hill Kensington

£700 £500pw pw Furnished Furnished

hyde@brlets.co.uk hyde@brlets.co.uk

£795 £650 pw pw Furnished Furnished

Knightsbridge Kensington

pw Furnished £800£1,100 pw Furn/Unfurnished

Bedroom || 1 1 Reception 11 Bedroom Reception || 11 Bathroom Bathroom BalconyConversion | 24hr Porterage | Close toTube Amenities Period | Garden | Near

Bedrooms ||11Reception Reception||22Bathrooms Bathrooms 32 Bedrooms Period Conversion | Amenities & Tube Nearby Mansion Block | Porter | Amenities Nearby

Kensington020 0207938 79383522 3522 Kensington

Hyde Park 020 7938 7402 3522 9866 Kensington

Knightsbridge 7581 Kensington 020020 7938 35222112

Chelsea Paddington

kens@brlets.co.uk kens@brlets.co.uk

£1,475 £900pw pw Furnished Furnished

Kensington Paddington

hyde@brlets.co.uk kens@brlets.co.uk

£1,600 £950 pw pw Furnished Furnished

Knightsbridge Maida Vale

knight@brlets.co.uk kens@brlets.co.uk

£3,950 Furnished £1,000 pwpw Unfurnished

Bedrooms || 11 Reception Reception || 22 Bathrooms Bathrooms 32 Bedrooms Fitness Suite | 24hr Porterage Balcony | 24hr| Parking Porterage | Near Amenities

Bedrooms || 11 Reception Reception ||22Bathrooms Bathrooms 34 Bedrooms Mansion 24hr Porterage Lift | 24hrApartment Porterage || Lift Tube| & Amenities Nearby

Bedrooms ||11Reception Reception||23Bathrooms Bathrooms 43 Bedrooms FitnessHouse Suite || Garage Parking| |Little 24hr Venice Porterage Period Nearby

Knightsbridge 020 7581 Hyde Park 020 7402 98662112

Nine offices open six days a week: Beaufort Park 020 8732 7980 Canary Wharf 020 7038 8057 City 020 7213 9700

knight@brlets.co.uk hyde@brlets.co.uk

Hampstead Highgate Hyde Park

020 7435 9681 020 8341 2335 020 7402 9866

Imperial Wharf Kensington Knightsbridge

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020 7348 7620 020 7938 3522 020 7581 2112

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R E A L E S TAT E S 85 salusbury road, Queens Park NW6 6Nh 020 7372 5950 www.queensparkrealestates.co.uk Zoopla.co.uk I Primelocation.com I Findaproperty.com I the Property ombudsman

Property

Luxe living Absolutely

Holland Park: Portland Road W11

his is an excellent opportunity to acquire a beautifully presented and well-arranged terraced house in a prime location in Holland Park. The property provides good entertaining space on the ground and lower ground floors with bedrooms on the upper two floors. Along with the paved patio garden there is an impressive roof terrace with great views over Notting Hill. Portland Road is a highly popular road off Holland Park Avenue and is within walking distance to Holland Park underground station. Notting Hill itself benefits from numerous shops and restaurants and the property has the added benefit of being within walking distance of Holland Park. t Faron Sutaria â&#x20AC;˘ 020 7229 2404 â&#x20AC;˘ www.faronsutaria.co.uk

Holland Park Office: 020 7727 5111 holland.park@jackson-stops.co.uk

Chelsea Office: 020 7581 5881 chelsea@jackson-stops.co.uk

Addison Road W14

jackson-stops.co.uk/London

ÂŁ3,150,000 Leasehold

A rare opportunity to purchase a four bedroom first floor lateral apartment in a period conversion, close to Holland park and the amenities of Holland Park Avenue. 2073 sq ft. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, drawing room, dining room, kitchen, 2 study areas. Holland Park Office: 020 7727 5111 holland.park@jackson-stops.co.uk

41 offices covering the UK London: office 17c Curzon Street W1J 5HU

Fast find: 46301

Lansdowne Mews W11

ÂŁ1,375 Per Week

An extremely well presented mews house which has undergone extensive refurbishment. Moments from Holland Park tube station. 1520 sq ft. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, reception room, eat in kitchen, outside space, garage. Holland Park Office: 020 7727 5222 holland.park@jackson-stops.co.uk

Fast find: 42914

The Sold Gallery

A selection of the properties we have loved and sold in Notting Hill and Kensington in the past year

Notting Hill Sales 020 7727 7777 nhsales@dng.co.uk

Kensington Sales 020 7792 1881 kensales@dng.co.uk

SOLD

£2,000,000

Share of Freehold Kensington Park Road W11

SOLD

£2,750,000

Freehold Lansdowne Rise W11 SOLD

£2,175,000

Freehold Darnley Terrace W11

SOLD

£2,500,000

Share of Freehold Duchess of Bedfords Walk W8

SOLD

£950,000

Share of Freehold Palace Court W2

SOLD

£850,000

Share of Freehold Ladbroke Square W11

SOLD

£895,000

Leasehold Clanricarde Gardens W2 SOLD

£995,000

Leasehold Gloucester Terrace W2

SOLD

£649,950

Leasehold Linden Gardens W2

Text dng to 84840 for details of properties near you now.

North Chelsea Fulham Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush

South Balham Battersea Battersea Park Clapham Southside

Kensington South Kensington Notting Hill Pimlico & Westminster

East Putney West Putney Southfields & Earlsfield

www.douglasandgordon.com SOLD

£1,425,000

Freehold Berkley Gardens W8

SOLD

£1,410,000

Leasehold Campden Hill Gardens W8

SOLD

Leasehold Holland Park Avenue W11

Leasehold Linden Gardens W2

£1,325,000

£1,100,000

SOLD

£475,000 Leasehold Sunderland Terrace W2

SOLD

£650,000

Share of Freehold Newton Road W2

SOLD

Freehold Ruston Mews W11

Share of Freehold Pembridge Villas W11

£750,000

£850,000

SOLD

£385,000

Leasehold Kensington Park Gardens W11

SO LD LET

“If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur.” Red Adair

£3,995,000 Freehold Orme Square, W2

A wonderful family home with south facing views over Kensington Gardens.

£2,200,000 Leasehold Kensington Park Gardens, W11

A stunning ground floor apartment situated in this beautiful period building with access to communal gardens.

Kensington Sales: 020 7792 1881 kensales@dng.co.uk

5/6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Reception, Kitchen/dining room, Conservatory, Front and back garden.

Double bedroom, En-suite bathroom, Reception room, Kitchen, Conservatory, 62ft garden.

Notting Hill Sales: 02 07727 7777 nhsales@dng.co.uk

Text dng to 84840 for details of properties near you now.

North Chelsea Fulham Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush

Kensington South Kensington Notting Hill Pimlico & Westminster

South Balham Battersea Battersea Park Clapham Southside

East Putney West Putney Southfields & Earlsfield

www.douglasandgordon.com

£1,200,000 Freehold Colville Houses, W11

A fabulous unique freehold town house set in this quiet no through road in the heart of Notting Hill.

Notting Hill Sales: 020 7727 7777 nhsales@dng.co.uk

2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen, Terrace, Off street parking.

£1,150,000 Leasehold Royal Crescent, W11

A unique, recently refurbished maisonette situated in this highly popular crescent. 2 double bedroom, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen, Storage, Communal gardens.

Kensington Sales: 020 7792 1881 kensales@dng.co.uk

£?

We value you and we’d love to value your property. In this fluctuating market, wouldn’t you like to know what your property is worth? Contact your local D&G office without delay.

£750,000 Leasehold Arundel Gardens, W11

A second floor apartment in this period building in the heart of Notting Hill.

£695,000 Leasehold Kensington Gardens Square, W2

A stunning apartment located in this secure private gated development.

Notting Hill Sales: 020 7727 7777 nhsales@dng.co.uk

2 bedrooms, Bathroom, Reception room/open plan kitchen, Communal garden.

Bedroom, Bathroom, Reception, Kitchen, Balcony, Concierge, Swimming pool, Car Park.

Notting Hill Sales: 020 7727 7777 nhsales@dng.co.uk

Text dng to 84840 for details of properties near you now.

North Chelsea Fulham Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush

Kensington South Kensington Notting Hill Pimlico & Westminster

South Balham Battersea Battersea Park Clapham Southside

East Putney West Putney Southfields & Earlsfield

www.douglasandgordon.com

£595,000 Share of Freehold Westbourne Terrace, W2

A spacious two bedroom apartment in this popular period terrace.

£549,950 Share of Freehold Inverness Terrace, W2

A well-proportioned two bedroom property in this convenient location.

Notting Hill Sales: 020 7727 7777 nhsales@dng.co.uk

2 bedrooms, En-suite bathroom, Shower Room, Reception room, Kitchen.

2 double bedrooms, Reception room, Kitchen, Bathroom, Shower room.

Kensington Sales: 020 7792 1881 kensales@dng.co.uk

Streets ahead The Douglas & Gordon website now features google streetview so buyers can fall in love with your street as well as your property.

ÂŁ1,195 per week Unfurnished Pencombe Mews W11

A fabulous mews house in this ideal location just off Westbourne Grove.

ÂŁ925 per week Furnished Bridstow Place W2

A stunning cottage located on this hidden away street in the heart of Notting Hill.

Notting Hill Lettings Office: 020 7727 8000 nhlets@dng.co.uk

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Dining room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Garden, Garage, Off-street parking.

2 double bedrooms, Bathroom, Reception room with dining area, Open-plan kitchen, Roof terrace, Off-street parking.

Notting Hill Lettings Office: 020 7727 8000 nhlets@dng.co.uk

Text dng to 84840 for details of properties near you now.

North Chelsea Fulham Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush

Kensington South Kensington Notting Hill Pimlico & Westminster

South Balham Battersea Battersea Park Clapham Southside

East Putney West Putney Southfields & Earlsfield

www.douglasandgordon.com

£625 per week Furnished Pembridge Square W2

A wonderful, smart and elegant flat situated on this highly sought after square in Notting Hill.

£595 per week Furnished Ladbroke Road W11

A newly refurbished first floor flat in this portered building close to Holland Park underground station.

Kensington Lettings Office: 020 7792 1331 kenlets@dng.co.uk

Double bedroom, Bathroom, Reception room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Access to communal gardens.

2 double bedrooms, Bathroom, Shower room, Reception room, Dining room, Kitchen.

Notting Hill Lettings Office: 020 7727 8000 nhlets@dng.co.uk

Lizzie Hardman, Niki Harding, Arabella Fairbank and Fiona Davis Skiers and Negotiators Not just skiers but ski instructors these girls deftly plough through any problem. Our people are what make us great, and Lizzie, Niki, Arabella and Fiona are the ‘piste’ de résistance.

douglasandgordon.com Extraordinary people

Nu-Line

BATHROOM Showroom

Nu-Line bathroom showroom Unit 12-14 Malton Road London W10 5UP

Tel 020 8206 5177 Fax 020 8206 5188 Email sales@nulinebathrooms.com