Absolutely Chiswick, West & Richmond December 2018

WEST

ABSOLUTELY Chiswick Richmond West

DECEMBER 2018 / £3.95

GLITTER BALLS All the most fabulous baubles

CHRISTMAS TABLES

DECEM B ER 2018

How to feast in style

GIFTS

GALORE

‘Tis the season to be giving

ZEST.LONDON

Party SEASON FA S H I O N G E T S F E S T I V E

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We’ll just put the television in the bedroom

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The heart wants what the heart wants.

Discover rural homes with sea views using keyword search.

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LAUDERDALE DRIVE, RICHMOND Lauderdale Drive is a link detached 1930’s property that has been completely re-built and re-designed to become a magnificent family home perfectly suited to modern living. The rear garden has been fully landscaped with several seating areas and an outdoor kitchen. The garden is just off south and almost 80ft approx. in length. Finally the front forecourt has been attractively bricked to provide off street parking for 2/3 cars. EPC = E

ASKING PRICE

£2,500,000

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RICHMOND 020 8940 1575

06/11/2018 15:00

Chiswick Hammersmith West Kensington Fulham Chelsea

Battersea Clapham Putney Barnes Richmond

Kew Sheen Twickenham Teddington Kingston

featherstoneleigh.co.uk

ROSEMONT ROAD, RICHMOND A well-presented family home located on one of the most popular residential roads in Richmond within the Vineyard catchment zone. The house is finished to a high standard throughout with off street parking and private outdoor space. The house has five bedrooms, a family bathroom and separate downstairs WC, spacious reception room and a further dining area leading to the kitchen. EPC = F

ASKING PRICE

ÂŁ1,750,000

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DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION • • • •

LOFT CONVERSIONS 3 BASEMENT EXCAVATIONS 3 REFURBISHMENTS 3 EXTENSIONS 3

SEE THE DIFFERENCE We are Normand Developments, a residential design and build company with an exemplary record. We specialise in extending homes with first-class basement excavations.

Your one-stop-shop for...

Concept design Planning Structural design Project management Construction Interior finishing

Call today for a FREE consultation 020 8541 2800 or email: enquiries@normand-developments.com

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normand-developments.com Normand Developments Limited, 133 London Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey KT2 6NH

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Book your Christmas meal or party with us today!

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

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

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The home of classic Italian cuisine

Call us now on 020 8878 6725 to book a table for that special occasion or simply casual ďŹ ne dining.

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

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www.mammamiarestaurantlondon.co.uk

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© Copyright & Design Right Charles Yorke Ltd

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Kitchens & Living Spaces HANDCRAFTED IN ENGLAND

For further information please call 01623 756 080 www.charlesyorke.com

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Get your

gift list together

ealingbroadwayshopping.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents DECEMBER 2018

34 50

106 C U LT U R E ABSOLUTELY LOVES

16

10 things we’re coveting this month

FOOD & DRINK 50 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL News from the industry

20 AGENDA

54 GIFTS FOR FOODIES

23 WINTER POPUPS

INTERIORS 68 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

Diary dates for December

All the Christmas specials

FA S H I O N 30 JINGLE BELL ROCK

Meeting the founder of Harry Rocks

34 THE SHOOT

Party pieces from Deborah Lyons

47 SCENT SPECIAL

72

FESTIVE TABLES

Anna Barnett's designs for Habitat

T R AV E L 106 MOUNTAIN PASS Skiing in the Dolomites

PROPERTY 115 LIVING THE DREAM

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

ABSOLUTELY Chiswick DECEMBER 2018 / £3.95

GLITTER BALLS All the most fabulous baubles

CHRISTMAS TABLES How to feast in style

DECEM B ER 2018

This month’s best beauty buys

News and views from the world of design

CHISWICK

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y 43 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

All the best treats

The most luxurious London properties

GIFTS

GALORE 'Tis the season to be giving

Perfume tales

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PARTY SEASON

ON THE COVER

FA S H I O N G E T S F E S T I V E

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deborahlyons.co.uk

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

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EDITOR IN CHIEF PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR HELEN BROWN EDUCATION EDITOR AMANDA CONSTANCE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT FLORA THOMAS GROUP SALES DIRECTOR CRAIG DAVIES GROUP SALES MANAGER ANABELA KOLECI MAGAZINE MANAGER CHARLOTTE RISSBROOK ART DIRECTOR PHIL COUZENS SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN

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M

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Y

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DIRECTOR JAMES FUSCHILLO

K

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS EVA LEHOCZKY For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 3397 8706 or email: craig@zest-media.com

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

We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

All rights reserved.

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

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Editor’s

LETTER ABSOLUTELY’S December issue highlights

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FESTIVE TABLES Anna Barnett's beautiful Christmas schemes for Habitat are inspiring us all. page 72

verybody loves Christmas, yet still we all complain when it seems to start earlier each year, and go on for longer, and involve more intense preparation. But there's no denying that decorations do get better every year: more stylish, more varied and more humorous. Some of my favourites this year include the hot dog stand bauble at the Conran Shop, the do-ityourself wooden elves at Skandium and the intensely colourful boiled wool creations at Anthropologie. Also this year, crackers have got serious with new offerings from Claridges and a huge range at Harrods – while a strong focus on sustainability is leading to a rejection of anything single-use (yes, including crackers). Almost everything in this issue is Christmassy, from lots of food talk – turkeys, of course, plus hampers and lots of booze – to Christmas trees and lots and lots of gifts.

We've got gifts for men, women and children – and our new category, teens, for whom we're buying trainers, cushions, lights and sweatshirts that we're actually secretely coveting for ourselves too. And for anyone booking holidays for next year, we're looking at skiing in the Dolomites and city breaking in Amsterdam.

Happy Christmas.

5

4

STAR TREATMENT Anthropologie's tree toppers are the finest by far page 71

POILANE'S BISCUITS What's not to like about an edible garland? page 53

2

PRETTY CRACKERS

The prize for the prettiest cracker may have to go to Katie Leamon. page 83

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PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

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HARRY ROCKS Our new favourite jewellery brand. page 30

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

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

H E L E N B R OW N

16

Part y starte r This gorgeous sequin number is exclusive to Net-a-Porter and part of Laura Jackson’s new collaboration with RIXO. With all-over sequins and elegant puffed sleeves it’s a guaranteed showstopper at any soiree; from £395. net-a-porter.com

SCARLET FEVER This winter, Net-a-Porter’s ski and snow shop offers everything you need for a stylish stint on the slopes.

Simone Rocha's Moncler Genius glossy shell jacket is the cherry on top of a gorgeous edit; £1,405. net-a-porter.com

EDITOR’S PICK

FORBIDDEN FRUIT

Luscious and tempting, Lost Cherry is the latest in Tom Ford’s line of sought-after scents. Black cherry, bitter almond and turkish rose provide seductive top notes while roasted tonka and sandalwood add depth.; £895. net-a-porter.com

STAR STRUCK

Spun from the softest merino wool, this sweater from Perfect Moment is guaranteed to keep you warm. Layer it beneath a ski suit or wear it with jeans for a walk into town; £235. perfectmoment.com

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

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

SIP IN STYLE Not even the drinks cabinet is exempt from the obligatory Christmas jumper. Maker’s Mark prove themselves to be purveyors of exceptional whisky and festive cheer by adorning bottles of their small batch bourbon with an enviable Christmas knit; £30. morrisons.com

Feeling festive Net-a-Porter kicks off the festive season with the launch of its holiday campaign. Shot by photographer Greg Harris and starring models Dilone and Hana Jirickova, the campaign features stand-out pieces from Halpern, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Jenny Packham. net-a-porter.com

HAT TRICK City chic meets snow bunny in this rich cashmere beanie from Danielapi; the ultimate winter style staple to dress your tresses with this season; £247. farfetch.com

LIP SMACKER

You can’t get more classic than a red lip for the festive season. Treat yourself this Christmas to Chanel’s limited-edition Rouge Allure Velvet No5; £32. chanel.com

FESTIVE NOTES

Missed out on the Liberty Advent Calendar? Not to worry. The Liberty Beauty Cracker with Escentric Molecules commissions a Christmas tailored to the beauty-obsessed, with a travel-size Molecule 01 eau de toilette from the contemporary fragrance house; £36. libertylondon.com

WILD CHILD

Autumn saw designers incorporate leopard print into everything from blouses to track pants to maxi dresses. Team this Whistles number with lace-up boots for the evening and boxfresh trainers for day; £169. whistles.com

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

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ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO POSTERS

Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.

Priced at £395 each.

Private commissions are also welcome.

Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com

Our central London gallery

All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions Ltd. 2018

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C U LT U R E THE BOWER OF BLISS, LINDER; ART ON THE UNDERGROUND; ART.TFL.GOV.UK

What’s On 18 • Winter Pop-ups 21 • Top Theatre Picks 23 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Agenda

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

T H E AT R E

Dick Whittington From 17 November LYRIC

Join the Lyric as it celebrates the 10th anniversary year of its Hammersmith Pantomime season. This year, the curtain calls for Dick Whittington which will feature the usual mix of live music, crazy characters, awesome adventure, singing, dancing, villainous baddies and heroic goodies with a little bit of feline flavour thrown in for good measure. Lyric Square, King Street, W6; lyric.co.uk

T H E AT R E

FATHER CHRISTMAS U NTI L 3 0 D EC E MB E R • LYR I C H AMMERSMITH

Join Santa as he awakes from a dream of sun, sea and sand only to find it is the busiest day of the year: Christmas Eve. Father Christmas is back for another brilliant year at the Lyric to bring a touch of magic and festive fun for all ages.

Lyric Square, King Street, W6 lyric.co.uk

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S E A S O N A L

Royal Festivities Until 6 January HAMPTON COURT PALAC E

The historic home of Henry VIII has once again set up shop as one of the most scenic skate experiences this festive season, but the fun doesn’t stop on the ice. Christmas Present, Christmas Past will transport visitors back to 1906 where the palace community are preparing for Christmas, plus kitchens will be cooking up a culinary storm.

Molesey, East Molesey, KT8; hrp.org.uk

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

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

T H E AT R E

SNOW QUEEN 3-8 December

Around Town S E A S ON AL

TREE TIMES

BUSH THEATRE

Ongoing

Kai and Gerda had been friends for as long as they could remember, until, in a whirl of magic, deception and a splintered mirror, Kai is pulled under the spell of the Snow Queen.

Go on a wintery journey full of friendship, loyalty and the dangers of the unknown as Gerda sets off to rescue her friend.

7 Uxbridge Road, W12; bushtheare.co.uk

PIN E S A ND NEED LE S

Pines and Needles is your one-stopshop when it comes to Christmas trees and decorations. Both online and instore at one of their stunning locations across London, you'll find the finest array of trees, wreaths, decorations and festive accessories. Harry and Meghan have bought from them so why don't you? pinesandneedles.com

T H E AT R E

CAN ’ T WAIT FO R CH R I STMAS !

From 14 December O RA N G E TREE TH E ATR E

This Month’s Must See

Jessie’s dad has brought her a lovely little present. It’s all wrapped up with a beautiful bow but she can’t open it until Christmas. Instead, he suggests she opens her advent calendar to keep her occupied. Join Jessie as she counts down to Christmas as she delights in all the festive treats that appear behind her advent calendar windows. Expect gorgeous original live music and a cracker joke or two.

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

D AY

OUT

HOGWARTS IN THE SNOW Until 27 January WARN ER BROS . ST UD IO TOUR

CHRISTMAS AT KEW U NTI L 5 JAN UARY •KEW GARDEN S

S

ee Kew Gardens once again transformed into a magical after-dark explosion of festive colour as Christmas at Kew returns for another brilliant showcase of art, light and sound. A firm favourite in the festive calendar, guests will go on a voyage of extraordinary colour - mulled wine in hand - along the mile-long trail lit up with more than one million lights.

Kew Gardens, Victoria Gate, Richmond, TW9; kew.org

Experience the festive season in the wizarding world as the snow falls over Hogwarts and the Warner Bros Studio tour. Along with the Yule Ball decoration, expect to see the Great Hall lined with Christmas trees, the tables groaning with roast turkeys and the Gryffindor common room decked out as per the films. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Leavesden, WD25 7LR wbstudiotour.co.uk

S E A S ON AL

HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND Until 6 January HY D E PARK

Christmas isn’t complete without Hyde Park’s gigantic tribute to festive frivolity. Winter Wonderland is back with its winter stalls, food stands and fun, plus Raymond Briggs’ beloved The Snowman will be celebrated with a an immersive screening from Backyard Cinema. Hyde Park, W2; hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

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

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CULTURE • SEASONAL

ROUND UP

Winter

THE WINTER FOREST

WONDERLAND

Make the most of the festive season with our pick of the capital’s best winter pop-ups

By H E L E N B R O W N

ICELANDIC IGLOOS

Icelandic Igloos UNTIL 16 MARCH • AVIARY ROOFTOP

Swap the Northern Lights for the starlit city skyline this winter as Aviary transforms its rooftop into a glistening Arctic escape. 10 storeys up on the restaurant’s expansive terrace you’ll find Aviary’s stylish, Nordic-inspired igloos, an exclusive Reyka cocktail menu and an enticing selection of sharing platters. 22-25 Finsbury Square, EC2A; aviarylondon.com

Madison Chalet UNTIL 28 FEBRUARY • MADISON

Madison is bringing the après-ski scene to the city with festive winter warmer cocktails, live music and gorgeous views of St Paul’s Cathedral. Timberclad chalets decked out with twinkling lights, faux fur and tartan blankets bring alpine action to the famous rooftop, while a slope-inspired menu will keep visitors warm. 1 New Change, St Paul’s, EC4M; madisonlondon.net

Noel Chandon UNTIL 5 JANUARY • THE BLIND PIG

Jason Atherton has teamed up with Moët & Chandon to create a cosy winter snug out of his flagship bar, The Blind Pig. Guests to the speakeasy will see it adorned with mistletoe, plush blankets and wreaths - perfect for the party season. Two innovative cocktails have been created for the collaboration: the Cranberry Kir Royal and a ‘Christmas Pudding’ cocktail. 58 Poland Street, Soho, W1F; socialeatinghouse.com

NOEL CHANDON

The Frozen Island UNTIL 27 JANUARY • TROPICANA BEACH CLUB

Neighbourhood Cinema is inviting Londoners on a voyage to the shores of an enchanted Frozen Island where they’ll find a shipwrecked world of frosted palms, icicles and giant snow globes. Here you can snuggle up to watch classic Christmas movies, enjoy a frozen cocktail from the ice bar and nibble on popcorn and festive gourmet sliders. Parker Street, WC2B; neighbourhoodcinema.co.uk

The Winter Forest at Broadgate Circle UNTIL 24 DECEMBER • BROADGATE CIRCLE

Throughout the month of December, 300 snow-covered pine trees, twinkling MADISON CHALET lights and wood cabins will transform Broadgate’s buzzing restaurants and bars into a magical Winter Forest.

Visitors will be transported to a world of winter celebrations with special menus and cocktails from the all-new Mrs Fogg’s pop-up bar on the mezzanine level. Broadgate Circle, EC2M; broadgate.co.uk

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

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CULTURE • THEATRE

ROUND UP

Best in

MUST SEE

SHOW

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

By H E L E N B R O W N

Sleeping Beauty

Austentatious

★★★★★

★★★★★

1 December - 12 January

Until 16 December

PARK THEATRE

Theatre Royal Stratford East is going all out for panto season with its hugelyanticipated production of Sleeping Beauty. In an entrancing twist on the classic, Sleeping Beauty wakes to find herself in a new city with a cruel fairy hot on her heels. Expect a buoyant blend of original songs, cracking jokes and a dusting of festive magic.

Gerry Raffles Square, E15; stratfordeast.com

SAVOY THEATRE

Following a resoundingly successful season, Austentatious: The Improvised Jane Austen Novel will extend its run at the Savoy Theatre. Entirely improvised, no two performances are the same as a cast of the country’s sharpest comic performers conjure up a lost Jane Austen novel based on a title suggested by the audience. Savoy Court, WC2R; atgtickets.com

SLEEPING BEAUTY IMAGES BY ROBERT VIGLASKY

Seussical the Musical

Circus 1903

★★★★★

19 December - 5 January

Until 29 December

ROYAL FE STIVAL HALL

SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

Experience the thrills and daredevil entertainment of a turn-of-the-century circus this Christmas as Circus 1903 makes its European premiere at Southbank. Expect sensational puppetry from the award-winning team behind War Horse, as contortionists, jugglers and more transports audiences of all ages to the mesmerising Golden Age of circus. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1; southbankcentre.co.uk

The fantastical world of Dr. Seuss bursts onto the stage in this largerthan-life musical extravaganza. Join the mischievous Cat in the Hat and a host of other much-loved characters on a magical, madcap adventure set to an electric score and co-conceived by Monty Python’s Eric Idle.

77-85 Newington Causeway, SE1; southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

★★★★★

The Nutcracker ★★★★★

3 December - 15 January ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

The Royal Ballet’s much-loved performance of The Nutcracker returns with a larger-than-life Christmas tree, a plethora of enchanting stage effects and Tchaikovsky’s illustrious score. It follows Clara and Hans-Peter on a glittering journey through the Kingdom of the Sweets, where they encounter the mysterious magician Drosselmeyer and the shimmering Sugar Plum Fairy.

Bow Street, WC2E; roh.org.uk

HADESTOWN

THE NUTCRACKER

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

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WEST IS BEST

Our top picks of winter experiences and gift ideas from west London

ANNIE'S Celebrate the festive season in style at Annie's, the place for good food and generous portions. Available now, the set party menu is ÂŁ32.95 for three delicious courses, including filter coffee and crackers.

You're guaranteed to have a wonderful time and your guests will too.

162 Thames Road, W4; anniesrestaurant.co.uk

URBAN PANTRY Urban Pantry is a five-time award winning brunch cafĂŠ on Devonshire Road in Chiswick. They use the finest ingredients to create delicious brunches and keep all their food seasonal by changing the menu every two weeks. Get there now for their Christmas menu which includes Brioche French Toast and a Chai Hot Chocolate (served naughty or nice!). 15 Devonshire Road, Chiswick, W4; urby-p.com

26

LITTLE DIPPERS Keep active this Christmas with your little one at Little Dippers. Here you can teach them key water safety techniques in a fun and nurturing environment. As well as great exercise, swimming builds physical and cognitive skills and is the perfect opportunity to bond more with your baby.

Classes take place in the warm water pool at the The London School of Diving with a maximum of seven babies in a class. 11 Power Road, Chiswick, W4; littledippers.co.uk

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

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ABSOLUTELY • PROMOTION

DICK WHITTINGTON WILD BUNCH

Join the Lyric as it celebrates the 10th anniversary year of its Hammersmith Pantomime season. This year, the curtain calls for Dick Whittington which will feature the usual mix of live music, crazy characters, awesome adventure, singing, dancing, villainous baddies and heroic goodies with a little bit of feline flavour thrown in for good measure.

Lyric Square, King Street, W6; lyric.co.uk

Wild Bunch is a local family-owned business situated opposite the scenic Turnham Green church, with a warm welcoming atmosphere and extensive menu.

Expect a wide range of healthy and delicious food catering for all dietary lifestyles. On the menu you'll find a delicious range of sandwiches, smoothies, juices and soups. 402 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, W4.

SNOW QUEEN

BARRECORE

Kai and Gerda are best friends, but one day splinters of a broken mirror work their way into Kai's heart and nothing is the same again.

Mike Kenny has adapted Hans Christian Andersen’s acclaimed story into an enchanting winter tale for ages 2-7 at Bush Theatre. The perfect festive day out for the family.

7 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd's Bush, W12; bushtheatre.co.uk

Gift your loved one a strong and healthy start to the new year with a luxury workout experience at London's original barre studio. The Barrecore Method is created to safely and efficiently sculpt your body and mind, by lengthening your muscles and building strength, stamina and balance - in a boutique environment. Each Barrecore gift card comes beautifully presented and prices range from a single class (£28), to a year of unlimited classes (£2,860). Visit one of the nine London studios (including Chelsea, Mayfair, Notting Hill, Chiswick and Hampstead) or visit the website to purchase. barrecore.co.uk

AFTER DARK Christmas gifts can prove quite tricky, causing panic in the run up to the big day.

The team at Snappy Snaps Chiswick are here to make it easy. Either pop into the store with your iPhone and pick from a wide range of presents, or sit back and relax at home by ordering a print and frame for your loved one on the website. Collect it the next day for a speedy way to shop.

182 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, W4; snappysnaps.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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MUSIC ALL A RO U N D Captivating from every angle.

No matter where and how you play.

Portable wireless speaker system. 360-degree sound performance. Easy streaming via Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth.

BEOSOUND 1

|

BEOSOUND 2

BANG & OLUFSEN OF EALING | 17 BOND STREET | EALING | W5 5AP 020 8840 1010 | ealing@bang-olufsen.co.uk

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FASHION

WHITE CHRISTMAS BOA BOUTIQUE Olvis’ focus is on fresh, innovative design using the finest stretch French lace and a forgiving lining which is made to fit and flatter the feminine form. boa-boutique.com

Gifts for her & Gifts for him 32 ¡ The shoot: Deborah Lyons' partywear 34 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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I Rocks OFF

t's an increasingly well-trodden path.

Woman has baby, tries to return to her existing job and manage motherhood alongside the nine-tofive, but finds it overwhelming and instead sets up on her own. And often these are stories of success, both personally and professionally.

When Laura Rowan went back to work as a designer after having her son Harry, things had changed and the high street fashion brand she was working for wanted her to spend at least a week out of every month in China working with factories. Pre-kids she had travelled probably once a quarter, and the new regularity was too much for her as a mother.

Her background was in graphic design and she had worked in jewellery design for companies including Accessorize, Next and Marks and Spencer – so launching her own jewellery brand was a natural move.

'I'm kind of doing it backwards,' she tells me over coffee. Laura is a friendly and approachable woman with a natural sense of what women like. Her jewellery is simple and stylish yet it has longevity. She set out to create a small brand and to make everything in the UK – and at the start, her experience was exclusively in designing and not in making. That's what she means by backwards – when she went to evening classes in jewellery making at Central Saint Martins, she had already been putting her own designs into production for a long time, even though she knew nothing about the actutal craft. 'I wasn't very patient and it takes me a long time!' she says. Making jewellery is very painstaking work, involving precision and magnifying glasses. Laura works at a bench in Hatton Garden once a week, where she loves being able to learn from the experts. 'I've been hammering bangles and for the new collection I am

Absolutely meets Laura Rowan, founder of jewellery brand Harry Rocks b y PENDLE HARTE

LAURA ROWAN

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FASHION • INTERVIEW

“The brand took off very quickly, partly due to a chance meeting”

casting coins. It's really exciting.'

Harry Rocks was named party after her son Harry and partly after the Old Harry Rocks in Dorset, where Laura spent her summers as a child. 'It's a magical place and when I started I didn't want to use my own name so I chose that,' she says. The brand took off very quickly, partly due to a chance meeting with someone who bought some earrings and wore them that evening to an event where someone noticed them and liked them – who happened to be a buyer for Harvey Nichols. The next day she put in an order and for the next three years Harry Rocks had a lovely relationship. 'That was a great start,' says Laura.

Her collection is both on-trend and timeless, with its stars, moons, lightning bolts and coins as well as lots of personalised pieces.

The best-seller is the Entwined collection, a lovely idea whereby clients commission between two and five letters to be drawn in a linked design by Laura and then engraved in nine carat gold. These are completely

MINI HOOP WITH BOLT EARRINGS, £45

bespoke and come in a range of sizes and finishes. 'Every single one is different and I'm really proud of them,' says Laura.

She's also proud of her ingenius butterfly backs that come with charms hanging from chains, designed to fit on the back of any stud. 'They take a bit of explaining but they're proving popular,' she explains.

They're sold singly without a stud, because the idea is to mix and match. As part of a focus on longevity and waste avoidance, Harry Rocks sells hoop earrings that are designed to be worn with a variety of

compatible charms – so you buy one pair of earrings, then add charms separately.

'They're not throwaway like high street pieces. That's important to me.' she says.

She wants to know where everything comes from and to keep things as local and friendly as possible.

Laura went on to have a daughter, Maisie, who inevitably became outraged that her mother's business seemed to be all about her brother and not about her. 'So I had to start a children's range for her really. She's six and not very girlie but Maisie Bee is named after her'. This collection comprises cute mini hugs and kisses bracelets, dinky personalised charms and birthstone necklaces as well as christening necklaces.

This Christmas, a pound from each Maisie Bee sale will go to the Team Margot, a child cancer charity, set up for a girl local to Laura in south west London. Laura loves selling at local fairs and meeting her customers – she's keen to keep her prices accessible even though her margins are small. 'I suppose I should really put my prices up,' she smiles – and since she's been going for nine years now, it must be about time. harryrocks.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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MISSOMA Body Language C Initial Necklace by Fee Greening, £149; missoma.com

GUCCI GG Marmont Leather Cardholder, £175; gucci.com/uk

PANACHE Marcie Balconnet Bra, £29; panache-lingerie.com

GIFTS FOR HER

EDITOR’S PICK

MESSIKA Move Romane Ring, £2,740; messika.com

JOSEPH PERRIER Cuvée Joséphine with two flutes, £160; harrods.com

Stylish Christmas present ideas she’ll love

ARKET Cashmere Turtle Neck, £175; arket.com

CHARLOTTE TILBURY Charlotte's Magic Cream, from £27; charlottetilbury.com

OLIVIA VON HALLE Raelyn Leopard Print Silk Eyemask, £70; harveynichols.com

ROTATE Ruched Jacquard Mini Dress, £300; net-a-porter.oom

QUINTON CHADWICK Ribbed Pom Pom Beanie Hat, £50; libertylondon.com

BOBBI BROWN Lip Crush Mini Crushed Lip Colour Kit, £39.50; bobbibrown.co.uk

NARS Narssisist Loaded Eyeshadow Palette, £55; harveynichols.com

JO MALONE LONDON

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Luxury Christmas Cracker, £32; jomalone.co.uk

19/11/2018 16:54

HEALTH & BEAUTY • TREND

JO MALONE LONDON Jo Malone London X Huntsman £120 for 100ml fragrance; jomalone.co.uk

COME TOGETHER The Rock Bands Game, £14.99; rockettstgeorge.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

BELSTAFF Howden Black Jumper in Black Mouline, £375; belstaff.co.uk

TAG HEUER TAG Heuer Autavia Special Addition Watch, £4,500; harrods.com

ZARA Seamed Gloves, £25.99; zara.com/uk

ACQUA DI PARMA Colonia Vaniglia, £179; harrods.com

L'OBJET L'Objet Lito Stationery Box, £90; l-objet.com

MASTER & DYNAMIC MW60S1 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, £449; masterdynamic.co.uk

GIFTS FOR HIM Boys toys and present inspiration for the man in your life

MARTINI Martini Negroni Cocktail Gift Set, £35; harveynichols.com

B y H E L E N B R OW N

AESOP Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet, £53; aesop.com

PETERSHAM NURSERIES Gardening Hamper, £200; petershamnurseries.com

THOUSAND Navy PopLock Bicycle Helmet, £85; bearandbear.com

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

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PA RT Y PIECES Timeless styles meet statement chic in seasonal occasionwear from Londonbased designer Deborah Lyons S H O P T H E C O L L E C T I O N A T D E B O R A H LY O N S . C O . U K

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

CHANEL.COM

Beauty Notes 43 • Ask the experts 45 • Perfume 47 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

FITNESS REVIEW

NOTES

Sparkling winter scents and the means to create a classic red lip B y H E L E N B R OW N

EDITOR’S PICK

TIMELESS CLASSICS CA R O L I N E I S S A X K JA E R W E I S

Style icon Caoline Issa has collaborated with Kjaer Weis to create two standout red lipsticks to support Women for Women International. Available exclusively on Net-a-Porter, the shades one with blue undertones, the other with orange - have been carefully blended to suit all skin tones. £44; net-a-porter.com

LADY IN RED CHANEL

N°5, the very essence of femininity. A floral bouquet showcased within an iconic bottle. This legendary, timeless fragrance is now available in a limited edition bottle, dressed in Gabrielle Chanel's favourite colour: red. £130 for 100ml; chanel.com

MODERN MUSE E ST E E L AU D E R

Spoil yourself or your loved one with the fragrance that captures her style, her confidence, her creative spirit. An alluring contrast of sparkling florals and sleek, sensual woods, Estée Lauder’s Modern Muse is a contemporary classic and now available in a gorgeous gift duo. £52;

FirstLight Cycle

T

his brand-new studio, with a whole new concept, has popped up in Westfield London recently. Their USP is that there’s a huge screen behind the spin ‘maestro’ as they are called here, and the screen takes you on the journey from sunrise to sunset - and each week there’s a different city. It sounds pretty gimmicky, but when you’re there in the moment dripping with sweat as the sun shines brightly over the London cityscape, it is actually pretty awesome.

What makes the experience even better is the instructors. They have clearly been chosen for their enthusiasm and motivational prowess.

If you’re not tempted to throw your hands in the air or whoop at least once in this class, then you’re simply not doing it right.

It’s a shiny new spin studio, where the classes haven’t become overcrowded yet, so get in there quick before you’re battling for a bike.

LO C AT I O N Westfield London, White City

PRICE Two classes for £20 (new customer offer)

firstlightcycle.com

esteelauder.co.uk

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

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20/08/2018 12:52

HEALTH & BEAUTY • ADVICE

Q&A

Ask The E X P E RTS Absolutely seeks out wisdom from the area’s most trusted sources

ADELE MARIE

Ego Hair, Queen’s Park’s favourite salon egohair.co.uk

Q How can I achieve long, healthy, hair?

A We all want the long hair of our dreams, to have it cascading down our backs like a glossy curtain. Perhaps you’ve tried everything, but you’re not seeing results. Well, listen up, here are few tips and tricks I have to share with you to encourage those locks to grow:

1. Make sure you get your hair trimmed regularly. My best advice is to do so every three months.

2. Always use shampoo and conditioner that is free from sulphate and paraffin. There are many on the market which falsely claim to be allnatural. I always stick to Aveda.

3. Treatments using coconut and olive oils are the best for your scalp and hair: remember, healthy scalp means healthy hair.

4. Try to not blowdry your hair more than once a week and, where possible, let it dry naturally.

5. Brushing: always brush the ends first and roots after, use a tangle teaser or paddle brush, not a comb, which will break your hair.

6. Plait your hair before bed to stop it breaking during the night. No tight bands around the top of the hair when you sleep! It can cause hair loss and breakage.

JEAN-CLAUDE VACASSIN Founder of W10 Performance Gym w10.fit

Q Is there such a thing as a quick fitness fix?

A You’ve had a carefree summer, enjoying good food and a glass or three in the sun. Then panic sets in as you realise you’ve got a matter of weeks to get back into shape before the inevitable Christmas indulgence.

What do you do? Honestly, you have to be realistic about what you can achieve in a short period. When you’re in a rush to get in shape, it’s easy to be lured into quick-fix, get-me-thin-come-whatmay fads that promise amazing results in very little time. But, when it comes to fitness, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. These short-term methods are usually extremely demanding, miserable to go through, and rarely sustainable. It’s also worth mentioning that, for some of us, these methods instil an unhealthy relationship with both food and exercise.

Yes, sadly, there’s no magic programme, no best diet, and no new workout system that can guarantee results in just a few weeks. We would do far better if we took a longer-term view and found a way of exercising and eating that we can maintain. If you give yourself six months, rather than six weeks, your exercise regime will feel less oppressive, and you’ll avoid the feelings of deprivation that come with extreme nutrition programmes. This way, we’re much more likely to view exercising and making better food choices as positive things and something we can stick to all year round.

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

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FARRINGDON

www.f45training.co.uk/farringdon 19/11/2018 16:59

HEALTH & BEAUTY • SCENT

PERFUME

Festive

FRAGRANCES The Gift Of Olfactory Memories B y M I C H A E L D O N OVA N

G

ifting perfume at Christmas is perhaps the most personal present.

Our sense of smell is tied to memory and therefore the scent, if chosen wisely, will become an enduring part of the recipient’s personal history, able to transport them back in time to moments of particular joy. Quite a responsibility!

So how does one go about selecting something so personal and subjective for one’s nearest and dearest? My first words of wisdom are - don’t be predictable and simply purchase a flacon of a fragrance that they wear already. The real pleasure is in selecting a scent that speaks of their personality and experiencing their pleasure at discovering something new and exciting.

The message is also very touching - that you believe that this scent conjures them perfectly.

And so go with your instinct; don’t be swayed by the bottle, the advertising campaign, the actress promoting the brand or the brand name itself, just let your nose be your guide. Concentrate on the individual’s temperament and you will soon find the ideal match.

For the Extrovert choose an exuberant scent like ‘Verbena and Orange Blossom’ from Alverez Gomez, a refreshing and invigorating citrus of oranges and lemons with additional tangerine, ginger and musk.

Made in Madrid, this is a great scent for everyday, is youthful and uplifting and can be worn anywhere. Likewise ‘Givrine from E. Coudray , a fresh white floral of lily of the valley, peony and gardenia with zesty notes of watermelon and kumquat that bring a smile to the face and a spring to the step.

For the Glamour Puss select something a little more sensual - ‘L’Orchidee Terrible’ from Imaginary Authors is a beautifully balanced homage to the golden age of Parisian Haute Couture with an opening

of beautiful, elegiac orchid, lightened with sweet golden honey. Alternatively ‘Ombre Rose’ from Charles Brousseau has a powdery rose allure with a warm peach heart that is totally bewitching.

For those of a more reflective nature, ‘The Writer’ from St Giles contains a hit of rosemary which has been clinically proven to improve memory recall by 19%, so this is the perfect fragrance for the office or to help the creative’s muse to perch. ‘The Decay Of The Angel’ by Timothy Han is an achingly beautiful, slightly melancholy and contemplative scent that symbolises a fall from grace and is a divine blend of frankincense with rose, sambac jasmine and a dash of oud.

For the Adventurous Traveller, something to transport will connect to their psyche and ‘Tokyo’ , the new fragrance from British perfume house Gallivant, will conjure that special feeling of early morning Tokyo. The air is humid and misty and the perfume captures the tastes of izakaya eateries, fruits, spices, wasabi, sour and sweet and puts some zing on the tongue.

‘Egypt’ from Eight & Bob offers an olfactory journey up the Nile with calming lavender and peppery green basil opening a scent, given green complexity from a note of moss and shot through with fresh lemon. A richly spiced and aromatic heart of cardamom and nutmeg lends Egypt its distinctive character, warmly enveloping the senses as the notes coalesce. In the base, rich amber and leather accords are met with delicate sandalwood and sweet, earthy patchouli to produce a truly stunning final effect in the dry down. Warming, complex, and utterly addictive, Egypt is an eau de toilette of distinctive character and inimitable style.

Perfume makes the perfect present as it holds the key to memories that will last a lifetime which is, after all, what the festive season is all about!

Have a very Merry and Fragrant Christmas and see you all in 2019!

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

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

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FOOD & DRINK

COCKTAIL HOUR LITTLE BIRD

Little Bird's award-winning mixologists have created a bespoke cocktail list that you can enjoy whilst relaxing in their low level seating or taking in the atmosphere at the bar. littlebirdrestaurants.com

Food Notes 50 • Festive food 53 • Gifts for foodies 54 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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W H AT TO D R I N K

GET MERRY

TASTING NOTES

London’s food news and most exciting openings this December

By FLORA THOMAS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MONTH By b e r ry b r os . & r u d d

2009 Berry Bros. & Rudd Champagne by Mailly, Grand Cru £39 The glorious summer of 2009 was particularly good for Mailly’s Grand Cru Pinot Noir grapes, a high percentage of which are used in this vintage blend. The resulting wine is ripe, rounded and rich, guaranteed to develop beautifully with time.

Berry Bros. & Rudd Sloe Gin £26.50 Sloes are a staple of the English autumn. Many a rambler has vowed to one day harvest a few berries to infuse at home. The finest wild sloe berries are infused with our award- winning London Dry Gin to produce a benchmark-setting example of this most comfortingly British drink.

Berry Bros. & Rudd Coffee Liqueur £26.50 A rich shade of polished mahogany, with aromas of dark chocolate. The palate starts sweet, bursting with a hit of bitter-sweet coffee. Shake 50ml with a shot of fresh espresso over ice for the simplest, best-tasting Espresso Martini.

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

bbr.com

50

Pearly Delights CORA PEARL

This restaurant, from the team behind Kitty Fishers, specialises in complex comfort food. A festive feasting menu, designed for sharing, is on offer this month. Predinner bites include devilled eggs, pumpkin, goats curd and lovage. Extravagance will follow with a dessert menu of mince pie doughnuts and brandy custard.

30 Henrietta St, WC2E 8NA corapearl.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK• NOTES

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS The best food and drink hampers for festive feasting and decadent gifts

AFTER-PARTY HAMPER Harvey Nichols, £250 harveynichols.com

AMEN RAMEN TONKOTSU EALING

GLITZ & GLAMOUR

30 YEARS BASKET Brindisa, £150 brindisa.com

BERNERS TAVERN

Christmas at Berners Tavern is a glamorous affair.

A special four-course menu available for lunch and dinner on the 25th won’t be holding back, it will include luxurious Native lobster soup with lobster and salmon ravioli and braised fennel as well as a milk chocolate, hazelnut and orange Yule log with blood orange sorbet.

10 Berners Street, W1T 3NP bernerstavern.com

This is a ramen specialist to know, especially if you’re after a Christmas shopping pit-stop. Few culinary experiences are as fulfilling as that of modern ramen. The chefs at Tonkotsu use mid-century noodle-making machines imported from Japan which complement their perfectly balanced stocks incredibly well.

14 New Broadway, W5 2XA tonkotsu.co.uk

GIFT BOX River Cafe, £600 rivercafe.co.uk

THE DINING EDIT Covent Garden, £3000 coventgarden.london

BRAND NEW NO 17 DICKENS YARD

The much-anticipated latest offering from Darwin and Wallace has arrived in the brand new Dickens Yard development, just in time for the holidays. Don't miss the uber-indulgent chestnut cheesecake.

GO NORDIC TEXTURE

For a breath of fresh Icelandic air, head to Texture in Marylebone. Chef Patron Aggi Sverrisson offers a six course Christmas tasting menu, marrying big Scandinavian flavours with a decadent wine list. With vegan options and a private dining room seating up to 16, not to mention a Michelin star, it’s the perfect location for your festive celebration.

34 Portman St, W1H 7BY texture-restaurant.co.uk

SIMPLE HAMPER Ottolenghi, from £40 ottolenghi.co.uk

Unit 17, Dickens Yard, Longfield Avenue, W2 2TD no17dickensyard.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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EARLY BIRD* BO

RE AL F OOD RESTAU RANT & BAR

OK BE 20 NOV & ENFOJORE COMPLIMENTA Y A BOTTLE OF RY WINE ON US

e l k r a p s e m o s Add ive party to your fest

* Quote ABSOLUTELY. Valid with Classic and Deluxe menus only.

a la carte Enjoy our Festive a la carte Menu with friends & family.

Our Festive Meal Deal is also available from just ÂŁ19.50.

classic menu

Book your office or family party (minimum of 8 people) & enjoy our 2 or 3-course Festive Classic Menu from ÂŁ18.

deluxe menu

Book your office or family party (minimum of 8 people) & enjoy our 5-course Festive Sharing Tasting Menu for ÂŁ37.

View our festive menu options at yourwillow.co.uk/menus VEGANÂ?

FREE FROM & PALEO OPTIONS AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE ‹Œď?´ď?¨ NOV - ‹ď?łď?´ DEC excluding Dec

BOOK YOUR FESTIVE TABLE ON

ABSOLUTELY NOV18

The Willow Real Food Restaurant 16 The Triangle, Kingston, Surrey KT1 3RT

Tel 020 3034 2424 Email info@yourwillow.co.uk Web yourwillow.co.uk MINIMUM OF 8 PEOPLE FOR CLASSIC & DELUXE MENUS. 1. We’d love to help organise your Christmas celebrations! Pop in, drop us a line or give us a call to start the ball rolling. We will help with all the boring bits, to make sure you have as little to do as possible. 2. Due to the busy time of year it’s important we know which parties are definitely confirmed, so a 25% deposit of the food bill is required in order to secure your reservation. 3. Please remember to bring your deposit receipt with you on the day – makes life a lot easier! 4. Sorry, deposits are non-refundable. 5. All prices are VAT included. 6. A discretionary charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill, all of which goes to the team.

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FOOD & DRINK • CHRISTMAS

F E S T I V E F A R E HOME’S FAVOURITE

1

EDIBLE D E C O R AT I O N S POILANE

Poilane's beautiful biscuits can be draped around the tree or hung around the house as pretty decorations, with the added bonus of being a delicious treat. Five festive motifs include Christmas trees, moons and stars.

CHRISTMAS TREATS

poilane.com

2

THE HAMPER H A RV E Y N I C H O L S

The Harvey Nichols hamper is a Christmas essential – of the countless options we love the Snowed In one. Christmas pudding, nuts, olives, wine, biscuits, cake... what more could you need? Let it snow... £150 harveynichols.com

3

3

2 4

THE TRIMMINGS FA R M I S O N

Farmison's pigs in blankets come in a variety of guises – the traditional versions, the truffled ones and the chestnut, sage and apricot ones.

Theis excellent online butcher also offers a clever Christmas essentials box and a variety of meat boxes too. farmison.com

4

THE TURKEY C O PA S

5

Our favourite turkeys come from Copas, where they lead happy free-range lives roaming at leisure accross the way from the Wild Wood of Wind in the Willows fame. Delivered to your door on 21 December they come with full cooking instructions and a clever pop-up timer. copasturkeys.co.uk

5

T H E PA N E T TO N E

GIN MARE

Christmas 2018 will be remembered as the gin one, and even the panettone is in on it. Gin Mare has teamed up with Theo Randall to create the Ginettone, laced with rosemeary and olive in a limited edition, of course. £22 ginmare.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Fe s tiv e F E A ST Culinary treats and Christmas sweets for foodies

By HELEN BROWN

Something SWEET SMITH & SINCLAIR

● The brand coined the Willy Wonka for adults, Smith & Sinclair, has reimagined its original alcoholic gummy sweets with five new selection boxes. The expertly mixed cocktail compilations have been curated with every social occasion in mind. Treat your foodie friend to the After Dinner box which features a mouth-watering Mocha Espresso Martini, or surprise gin-lovers with the Gin Obsessed box. £14.99; smithandsinclair.com

Flavour FANATICS

Gin THINGS

● Flavour sensationalists, Joe & Steph’s are here to make the festive season a whole lot merrier with a tantalising new range of Christmas popcorn products. Flavours range from Mince Pie and Brandy Butter to Mint Chocolate and Peanut Butter, all of which can be found in the Popcorn Gift Box. Other gifting favourites include a giant cracker, baubles and a Christmas stocking.

Prices from £5; joeandstephs.co.uk

● Add an element of fun to your Christmas lunch with these gin crackers from Pinkster. These elegant crackers hold both a dinkster 5cl bottle and a mini jar of gin jam and are guaranteed to liven up the dinner table. The brilliant pink colour and the delicate flavour come from fresh raspberries. Deliciously dry and exceptionally smooth, be sure to finish your G&T with a sprig of mint. £10; pinkstergin.com

JOE & STEPH’S

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PINKSTER

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FOOD & DRINK • FESTIVE

Sweet like CHOCOLATE H O T E L C H O C O L AT

● The tinsel is unpacked and the tree lights untangled; it’s the season for merriment and feasting. Jolly Santa, snowman and their penguin friend are just a few from Hotel Chocolat’s tantalising range of festive sweets, treats and gift boxes. With chocs available to mix and match, you can treat yourself while you treat others. £8 each; hotelchocolat.com

Spice of LIFE

BAKE OFF HARRODS

Harrods’ personalised signature sourdough is the ideal gift for the foodie who has everything. Straight from the world-famous bakery and the highly-skilled team of bakers, each sourdough loaf can be personalised with initials and will be freshly baked on request. harrods.com

DECK THE HALLS

RO OT E D S P I C E S

● A Rooted Spice gift box makes the perfect present for keen cooks. Specialising in single-origin spices, sourced for their superior taste, Rooted Spice have curated a gifting range to suit all palettes and preferences. We love the Middle Eastern Spice Set which has everything you need to whip up a deliciously fragrant dinner. From £32.50; rootedspices.com

SIPSMITH

The Sipsmith Gin Shop is officially open with a huge amount of gin goodies, decorations and stocking fillers. Give your tree a quirky twist with this set of miniature gin bottles, or dish them out to your gin-loving friends. £25; johnlewis.com

Count DOWN CHOCOCO

● An annual best-seller, Chococo’s decadent advent box brings a fresh take to the annual Christmas countdown. It features a selection of the brand’s finest award-winning festive chocolates to enjoy from December 1 through to the big day. The creative flavours include Tawny Port & Fig, Dorset Salted Caramel, Fizzy Puddings and Mince Pie. £23.50; chococo.co.uk

BAKE OFF PA U L

PAUL has captured the essence of Christmas by taking their fivegeneration-strong recipes and giving them a festive flare. Hybrid creation, the Mince Pie Croissant, is back for 2018 with two new flavours, alongside beautiful bûches de Noël, sweet stocking fillers and gourmet gifts. From £1.75; paul-uk.com

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Festive Strudel Serves 10

INGEDIENTS • 1 pkt Filo (In the restaurant we make strudel pastry) • 1.5 kg Bramley apples cored & thinly sliced • 200g Caster sugar • 2 tsp Ground cinnamon • ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg • 50g Sultanas • 1 Orange zested • 1 Lemon zested • 250g Melted warm butter • 125g Soft breadcrumbs • dusting Icing sugar

METHOD

Christmas

M EN U Some treats from Michael Nadra’s restaurant festive selection Recipes MICHAEL NADRA R E S TA U R A N T- M I C H A E L N A D R A . C O . U K

1 Fry the breadcrumbs in 100g of the butter till golden brown and place to the side.

2 Mix the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest orange zest and sultans.

Place in a colander and let the excess liquid drain.

3 Lay out a large tea towel, lightly flour the towel, lay out the filo over the whole cloth with about five layers and brush butter between the layers.

4 Scatter the breadcrumbs on 2/3 of the filo leaving 1/3 at the top clear. Repeat for the apple mix.

5 Using the tea towel roll the pastry tightly around the filling and butter the pastry as you roll.

6 Move the strudel to a greased baking tray butter the top and bake at 190 c for about 30 mins. Cook till the pastry is crisp and the apples are soft.

7 Dust with icing sugar and slice, I serve it in the restaurant with Armagnac ice cream.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

Michael Nadra produces the most exquisite food using both classic and modern techniques

Salad of raw brussel sprouts, pine nuts, granny smith apple, avocado, pomegranate with lemon & herb dressing Serves 4

INGEDIENTS: • 20 Finely chopped brussel sprouts • 1 Granny smith apple cored and cubed.

• 1 tbsp Red onion chopped fine • 2 tbsp Parsley chopped fine • To taste Lemon dressing (olive oil, lemon juice, salt pepper) • 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts • 1 avocado puréed with lime and salt • 1/2 pomegranate seeded

Turkey, Guinea Fowl & Partridge Terrine

METHOD:

INGEDIENTS

Mix the brussel sprouts, apples, onions, parsley and lemon dressing.

• 800gTurkey breast (500g diced & 300g cut into strips) • 250g (2 breasts) Guinea fowl breasts cut into strips) • 200g (4 breasts) Partridge breasts cut into strips • ½ clove Finely chopped garlic • 16g Salt • 2g Ground black pepper • 6 Egg yolks • 450 ml Double cream • 2 tbsp Chopped chives • 2 tbsp Chopped parsley 1 • tbsp Chopped tarragon

1

2 Garnish with the pine nuts, avocado & pomegranate.

METHOD: Marinate the Turkey , guinea fowl and partridge strips in 4g of salt and the chopped garlic. Leave for minimum 1 hour best overnight.

2 Using a food processor puree the diced turkey with 12g of salt and the black pepper when smooth.

With the processor still working add the egg yolks one by one, then drizzle the cream in slowly. You should have a smooth shiny mousse, fold in the chives, parsley and tarragon and put into a piping bag.

3 Line a terrine mould with 4 layers of clingfilm, pipe a layer of turkey mousse then add a layer of the turkey , guinea fowl & partridge strips and repeat having 3 to 4 layers of strips but ensuring to finish with a layer of mousse. Wrap the overhanging clingfilm over the top of the terrine to encase the mousse and cover with a terrine lid.

4 Steam or oven bake in a baine marie (100 c) till the core temperature reaches 72 c approximately 1.5 hrs.

5

Once cooked chill in an ice bath.

1

6 To serve cut slices and I garnish with pickled girolles, mixed leaves, brioche crostini, toasted hazelnuts & clementine.

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FOOD & DRINK • CHRISTMAS

TA K E N F R O M

SCA N DI K I TCHEN C HRI ST M AS Published by Ryland Peters & Small, £16.99

Every December, families across Scandinavia make loads of cookies

S C A N D I C H R I S T M A S

INGREDIENTS

58

550g plain/all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate/ baking soda • 1.5 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cloves • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 0.5 teaspoon ground allspice • a pinch of salt 100 g granulated sugar • 100g soft dark brown sugar • 150g butter, at room temperature • 200g golden/corn syrup • 150ml double/heavy cream

Edible decorations don’t come better than these Swedish biscuits from the Scandikitchen R E C I P E B Y B R O N T E AU R E L L P H OTO G R A P H B Y P E T E R CA S S I DY

P E P PA R K A KO R SWED ISH G IN G ER B ISCU ITS MAKES 5 0/ 70

T

hese are probably the most famous treats to come out of Sweden (besides the Plopp chocolate bar). This recipe is a quick dough which is easy to roll out so the kids can make lots of festive shapes. Every December, families across Scandinavia will sit around a table with a batch of dough, festive music on, making loads of cookies and baked goods for all the coming Sundays of Advent.

METHOD

1 In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the flour, bicarbonate/baking soda, spices, salt and sugars together. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until you have an even dough.

Shape it into a log and wrap in clingfilm/plastic wrap. Rest it in the fridge at least overnight before using – try to resist eating the dough while it’s chilling.

2 Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) Gas 6. Line several baking sheets with baking parchment.

3 On a floured surface, roll out the dough very thinly (around 2 mm/1/8 in. thick), and use cookie cutters to cut your desired shapes. Make sure they are thin biscuits. Place them on the lined baking sheets.

4 Bake in the preheated oven – each batch will take 5–6 minutes, depending on the thickness. The biscuits should be a darker shade of brown without being burnt. Remove from the oven and leave to cool before storing in an airtight container.

5 If you wish, you can let the kids loose with colourful icing/frosting. Icing/confectioners’ sugar mixed with beaten egg white and a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice makes the best decorative icing as it goes hard when it dries.

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Restaurant

Michael Nadra

Chiswick’s best kept secret Book your Christmas party now New great value Express Lunch & Early Dinner Menu A la Carte & 6 Course Tasting Menu Extensive Wine List Vegan / Vegetarian Party Bookings

@michaelnadra | facebook.com/michaelnadrachiswick

020 8742 0766 | 6/8 Elliott Road, Chiswick, London, W4 IPE | chiswick@restaurant-michaelnadra.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK • CHRISTMAS HUSH HEATH Balfour Brut Rose 2014 from Kent, £38 hushheath.com

BRUNO PAILLARD Dosage Zeromulti-vintage champagne, £49.80 bibendum-wine.co.uk

JAWBOX Small batch London gin, £30 31dover.com

HARRIS GIN Gin from the Isle of Harris, infused with sugar kelp. £37 harrisdistillery.com

MACALLAN 12 year-old Sherry Oak cask whisky, £68.95 thewhiskyexchange.com

BERRY BROS & RUDD Cold drip coffee liqueur, £26.50 bbr.com

OLD BAKERY GIN London dry gin, inspired by a 100 year old recipe, £40 oldbakerygin.com

JAMAICA COVE

TRENDING TIPPLES

A blend of Jamaican Pot and Column Stills, infused with ginger, £26.99 jamaicacoverum.com

Champagne is inevitable, but gin and coffee liqueur are everywhere too this Christmas

BERRY BROS & RUDD London dry gin, £25 bbr.com

JAISALMER Indian craft gin, £35.45 thewhiskyexchange.com

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

MR BLACK Cold brew coffee liqueur, £39.95 harveynichols.com

EDITOR’S PICK

SCHRAMSBERG Schramsberg sparkling wines are produced from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in California.

Blanc de Blanc 2015, £34 vineyardcellars.com

HOTEL CHOCOLAT Chocolat cream liqueur, £25 hotelchocolat.com

CHAPEL DOWN Limited edition Bacchus gin, £35 chapeldown.com

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

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Have a Happy

CHRISTMAS

HAPPY COCKTAIL HOUR Every evening from 6pm to 7pm throughout December enjoy £6 cocktails at A Cena.

Choose from over sixteen specials including classic Caiprinha, Cosmopolitan and Margarita – it’s the season to be merry!

A CENA · 418 RICHMOND ROAD TW1 2EB · 020 8288 0108

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FOOD & DRINK • CHRISTMAS

Turkey TRUTHS Choosing a turkey can be tricky. Here’s what to look for

By P E A R L B OY D

C

hristmas dinner can become a stressful and time consuming affair, especially when preparing a meal for a large family. With so many options available, we’ve outlined the top things to look out for to help you find a Christmas turkey the whole family will enjoy.

Turkey age and welfare

The age of your turkey and the conditions it was raised in make a big difference to the quality and the quantity of meat you’ll receive.

• Make sure the bird is at least 22 weeks old. Birds matured to this age will have a lot more meat than a younger, same weight turkey because of the improved meat to bone ratio.

• Sourcing a mature bird, which has been naturally reared to adulthood also means it will have a natural fat layer – which makes cooking even easier with no additional butter or oils required – just season and pop into the oven, no need to baste.

• To be truly free range, your turkey should have been outside for at least ¾ of its life.

• Find out as much as you can about the farm your turkey came from to ensure they adhered to the highest welfare standards all the way through production.

A simple supply chain with minimal movement is best.

Game-hung turkeys

It’s a good idea to look for a game hung turkey, as this will mean improved flavour and texture.

• Look for a turkey that is game hung for as long as possible - at least seven days to make a difference. At Copas, turkeys

“Your turkey should have been outside for at least 3/4 of its life” are hung for up to 14 days. Being gamehung for two weeks is integral to their unrivalled eating quality, providing both a truly tender eating experience and an altogether superior depth of flavour.

Accreditations/logos to look for

Look out for the following accreditations to make sure that your turkey will be of the highest standard possible: • Look for an EC plant number on the label to confirm the turkey has been produced in the UK and is FCA quality assured for food safety and consistency.

• TFTA – Traditional Farmfresh Turkey Association gives a quality assurance of a traditionally reared turkey.

• Organic Farmers & Growers or the Soil Association gives assurance for Organic products.

What type of turkey to buy

As a rule, you’ll need ½ kg per person for generous servings on Christmas day as well as plenty of leftovers of course. For example, this would mean purchasing a 5kg turkey for a family of ten people.

Turkeys often come in a range of different ways so it’s important to know how many mouths you’re feeding to ensure there is enough to go around, and to avoid wastage.

Still unsure on what turkey to buy for the big day? Copas offers an online turkey calculator – just input your requirements and they will find you the perfect turkey… copasturkeys.co.uk/turkey-calculator

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LISA’S KITCHEN & BAR

Christmas & Group bookings are now available Traditional Swedish Julbord, Set menus and Feast/Sharing menus are all on offer

LIVE MUSIC THURSDAY: Jazz | FRIDAY & SATURDAY: Lisa’s Jukebox

MON CLOSED | TUE & WED 18.00 PM - 00.00 AM | THUR & FRI 11.00AM - 00.00AM | SAT & SUN 10.00AM - 00.00AM +44 (0) 20 8964 8293 | BOOKINGS@LISASPORTOBELLO.COM | LISASPORTOBELLO.COM

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

Mamma Mia is celebrating 41 years of dishing up proper Italian grub

Mama Mia Classic Italian dining in Sheen

M

B y TAT I A N A J E A N P I E R R E

amma Mia must be doing something right.

This family-run restaurant in Sheen, southwest London, is celebrating 41 years of dishing up proper Italian grub to local regulars.

Their menu of classic Italian dishes – think lasagne, linguine alle vongole and escaloppe Milanese – is so popular it hasn’t changed since 1987.

The dark red interior walls proudly display photos of past celebrity diners.

The restaurant is simply furnished and comfortable. There is a cosy main dining room and a separate outdoor garden area for dining al fresco, though it’s a bit nippy right now. Our welcome wasn’t cold though. Warm waiters took our coats and greeted us with proper Italian kisses before leading us to our candlelit table.

We started with Mamma Mia’s extensive wine list – a glass of Chianti Classico – a Cecchi red wine which was so good that we had a second glass of Sangiovese. The restaurant’s twist on a non-alcoholic

FOOD Classic Italian food

DECOR Friendly neighbourhood trattoria

PRICE Reasonable

VERDICT Fantastic neighbourhood local

lemonade was also worth a mention.

Bread, butter, olives, and olive oil were provided while we waited for our starters.

We began with a classic Caprese salad with refreshing juicy tomatoes and soft mozzarella, followed by a Crespoline, a pancake with spinach and a rich ricotta filling, which was heaven. For main, Pollo Leonardo was perfectly cooked and soaked in the requisite greedy amount of garlic and butter sauce. Linguine alle Vongole was a good balance of clams and sweet tomato sauce.

For dessert, Black Forest Gateau was creamy and delicious and the Panettone cheesecake was a good spin on a classic Italian dessert.

Mamma Mia might not be the most sophisticated of Italian eateries – Georgio Locatelli this is not – but it is all you want in a local Italian restaurant and Sheen locals vote with their feet. Forty-one is a ripe old age and one to be proud of. The menu won’t set the world alight but the friendly welcome just might.

MAMMA MIA 459 Upper Richmond Road West, SW14 7PR mammamiarestaurant.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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MELODY 3 Seater in Woodland Moss ENVELOPING, ELEGANT & ENTICING

Ve g g i n g

Visit us on Chiswick High Rd M O R LE YS O F TO OTI N G | PE A RS O N S O F EN FI ELD | N ATI O N W I D E

theloungeco.com

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INTERIORS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

UNIQUE KITCHENS ANDREW MACKINTOSH The trademark look of an Andrew Macintosh Bespoke kitchen is a minimal, functional one, perfectly suited to urban lifestyles and interiors. Incorporating a client's own personal requirements, no two kitchens ever look the same andrewmackintoshfurniture.co.uk

Interior inspirations 68 • Anna Barnett's Christmas tables 72 • Crackers! 83 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS NOTES

Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

PAPER P L AY BANBAYU

Designed and produced in Transylvania, the range of eco friendly and sustainable wallpapers at Banbayu takes inspiration from travel, nature and history. Update any room with quirky wallpaper designs made with premium non-woven quality substrate surface printed with ecofriendly inks. banbayu.com

WARM GLOW KINDLE STOVES

Family run Kindle Stoves supplies and installs latest in cleanburn, high efficiency wood burners and gas stoves. The wood burners are approved to burn in Smoke Controlled Areas and most stoves are already SIA 2022 ready. A wide range of designs to suits anything from a Victorian family home to a modern city apartment. kindlestoves.co.uk

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INTERIORS • NOTES

BRIGHT S PA R K S Our favourite candle holders for Christmas FERM LIVING Bow candle holder, £109 connox.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

PENCIL IT IN

LOLA & MAWU

TREE TALK

Tealight candleholder set of three, £80 lolaandmawu.com

PINES AND NEEDLES

Pines and Needles is your one-stopshop when it comes to Christmas trees and decorations. Whether online at pinesandneedles.com or in-store at our stunning locations across London, we have the finest array of trees, wreaths, decorations and festive accessories.

Harry and Meghan have bought from them so why don't you?! pinesandneedles.com

ANYA HINDMARCH

This is probably the cutest diffuser ever. Anya Hindmarch's new collection of home fragrances recreate smells that evoke nostalgia for her. Using innovative ceramic reeds disguised as pencils, the Chewing Gum Diffuser is disguised as a pencil pot: it's a cheerful mix of mint, raspberry, school uniforms and music lessons, £99. anyahindmarch.com

MUUTO Open candelabra, £75 madeindesign.co.uk

TOM DIXON Rock candleholders, from £75 tomdixon.net

COX & COX Three tealight houses, £45 coxandcox.co.uk

LOOM BAND BEATRICE LARKIN

MARQUIS AND DAWE Grey mouse tea light holder, £16 marquisanddawe.co.uk

Beatrice Larkin specialises in modern woven textiles, all made in Lancashire on jacquard looms. Bea turns them into throws and cushions in London; her distinct, geometric, monochrome patterns take inspiration from traditional weave structures and West African textiles, as well as Bauhaus and Brutalist architecture. £260 madeandgood.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Photography by Paul Craig

Engineered Walnut Pre-lacquered

Beautiful flooring, designed to last Over 100 designs | Expert advice | 20,000m 2 of stock | Express delivery SHOWROOM 20 Smugglers Way, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1EG 020 8871 9771

w w w.naturalwoodfloor.co.uk

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INTERIORS • PRODUCTS LIMELACE Gold panther bauble, £11.95 limelace.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

GISELA GRAHAM

THE OAK MEN

Nordic santa and angel, £6 tch.com

Hand-carved oak trees, £25 skandium.com

FLENSTEAD Christmas mobile, £21.50 hurnandhurn.com

BROSTE COPENHAGEN Advent calendar, £15 skandinaviandesigncentre.com

HABITAT Various baubles habitat.co.uk

TINSEL TOWN

MARIMEKKO Heart-shaped decoration, £9.50 skandium.com

All the best Christmas decorations

AARIKKA

Aarikka's DIY Sauna kit, £26.50

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

skandium.com

JAN CONSTANTINE Christmas wall hanging, £950 janconstantine.com

ANTHROPOLOGIE Gulf Coast tree topper £53 anthropologie.com

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

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TABLE 72

D

E

C

O

R

Food writer Anna Barnett teamed up with Habitat to create three different Christmas looks Words A N N A B A R N E T T H A B I TAT.C O. U K

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HOMES & INTERIORS • CHRISTMAS

Sequin garlands reflect candlelight for a kitch but elegant look F I E S TA If you love colour then this one’s for you. I’ve used a traditional seasonal palette of red and gold as a base but then thrown in a ‘fiesta’ vibe with OTT patterned baubles, sequins and glitter. Lots of glitter.

TIP 1

T H E P L AC E S E T T I N G

LOOK ONE

I’m always looking for unusual ways to make a place setting. For these name places, I’ve attached gift tags to small cocktail crackers but you can always use bigger versions too. I’ve also used these wool tassel tree decorations here as a cutlery tie or you could always use as a napkin ring.

Again these also act as nice takeaway favours for guests to decorate their own home.

TIP 2

GARLANDS

So long paper-chains – lightweight sequin garlands are the way forward. Attach several together and string across the dining table for a festoon effect. They are not as chunky as those old- school garlands and the sequin garlands reflect candlelight for a kitsch but elegant look.

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B L ACK & GOLD Black isn’t a colour that most people think to decorate with at Christmas but you can create really dramatic table schemes with a cool, contemporary vibe.

TIP 1

Attach gift tags to baubles as name cards – and guests can take the baubles away with them

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LOOK TWO

H OW TO M A K E B L AC K WO R K Black is a great base to accentuate colour and texture. I’ve used black dinnerware as the base to this look and then layered gold and pine on top. Adding texture – like the pine fronds and pompoms – helps add warmth. Layering fir tree branches down the centre of the table and entwining battery-operated fairy lights will create a stunning centrepiece, giving a cool Scandi feel as well as filling the room with a pine scent.

TIP 2

N A M E P L AC E S

A great tip is to always take a look in the decorations section to get some inspiration for your dining table. A favourite of mine is to use baubles as name places for the dinner table.

Attach gift tags to each bauble as a name card and then guests can then also take the bauble away with them to decorate their own tree.

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HOMES & INTERIORS • CHRISTMAS

T H E N AT U R E INSPIRED CHRISTMAS TA B L E A refreshing, Antipodean inspired scheme that brings together eucalyptus, fruits and warming metallics.

TIP 1

T H E C E N T R E P I EC E

This is so easy to create. Lay a line of eucalyptus stems along the length of the table and intersperse with warm gold, copper or bronze baubles which reflect candlelight. The colours look incredible together and the eucalyptus gives off a great relaxing aroma. You can also add in fruits such as pomegranates, walnuts, oranges – here I’ve spray-painted some of them gold too. Then add a selection of candlesticks (marble or metallic) of different heights to create some atmospheric lighting.

LOOK THREE

TIP 2

THE HANGING D I S P L AY

I’ve used a small bunch of willow branches attached to two leather straps (or you can use ribbon) to hang above the table or kitchen counter. Select a colour palette of 2-3 colours (we’ve used gold and orange) and attach a selection of lightweight baubles to the branches at different heights using invisible thread. Here, we’ve also added in some miniature Christingles. Alternatively if you have a pendant light or chandelier, you can always hang baubles from them using the invisible thread.

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NATURAL SHADES BROSTE COPENHAGEN

Broste Copenhagen's Christmas aesthetic strikes a fine balance between sober and extrovert. Beautiful linens in muted shades make a great bacdrop for gold cutlery, shiny candlesticks and a stylish range of coloured glasses, plus lots of pretty ceramics. brostecopnhagen.com

TH E C H RI STMAS TAB LE A B E A U T I F U L TA B L E S E T S THE SCENE FOR THE ANNUAL BIG FEAST

CHEESE COURSE LSA INTERNATIONAL

LSA's Tatra cheese dome is big enough to accommodate all the Christmas cheese you can eat. Its hand-carved ash base with folklore-inspired engravings is a stylish piece and the large glass dome makes an impressive centrepiece. ÂŁ115 lsa-international.com

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BEAUTY • PRODUCTS

POLAR EXPRESS TALKING TABLES

If you need single-use paper plates, Talking Tables' Nordic ones have an authentic Scandinavian feel, perfect for a stylised Christmas celebration.

The range includes polar bear shaped napkins, bottle brush Christmas trees, and a polar bear figurine. talkingtables.co.uk

ACCESSORIES MATTER JONATHAN ADLER

A touch of whimsy doesn't go amiss at a festive table and we love Jonathan Adler's cute Muse Brass Place Card Holders. Each set includes four solid brass place card holders—two mustaches and two lips. £98 jonathanadler.com

MONOCHROME MANIA KATIE LEAMON

Choose a monochrome theme for your table and Katie Leamon's beautiful crackers will fit right in.

Fairy lights stretched along the table are a winning look too – as long as there's enough space. katieleamon.com

GOLDEN YEARS THOMAS GOODE

Thomas Goode is synonymous with classic luxury tableware and anyone wanting the ultimate in Christmas glamour should visit the Mayfair showroom for golden talbleware and glitzy plates. thomasgoode.com

LUXE LINEN OTTOLENGHI

Ottolenghi's sumptuous new line of Christmas table linen is crafted from the highest quality Italian organic linen and is hand painted using a rich indigo, decadent gold and white colour scheme. The luxury linen hamper includes the full set as well as some edible treats. £450, ottolenghi.co.uk

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L I G H T F A N T A S T I C When 2LG Studio needed lights for their new kitchen, they went to Cameron Design House.

HOME admires the results Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E P h o t o g r a p h y M E G A N TAY L O R

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INTERIORS • LIGHTING

The lights would be at home on a spaceship from the future or on the set of a Kubrick movie

T

his kitchen takes up most of the ground floor of a Victorian house in south London belonging to Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead of 2LG Studio. It showcases a range designed by the studio for John Lewis of Hungerford, and its beautiful scheme is complemented by specially designed lighting by Cameron Design House. The challenge was to take the classic strip light and re-imagine it in a contemporary context.

“We love to disrupt the norm and wanted to do just that with our Victorian property. The lights are a key part of that for us, bringing an ultra modern edge to the period architecture.” say 2LG. “We wanted to create lighting that was functional and beautiful. We started with a fluorescent strip light as a base and went from

there,” say 2LG. The idea was to create something that felt at once familiar and alien; and it had to feature colour. “We are often drawn to what other may see as ugly.

This intrigues us. So we loved the idea of taking a strip light and making it sexy.”

The elegant lights come in green, pink, brushed brass and blue, which have become 2LG’s core colours over the past five years.

The lights have a pill shape and look almost as though you could break the glass in case of emergency to release a life-giving substance. They are beautifully crafted, yet playful.

This collaboration between Cameron Design House and 2LG Studio has captured the attention of the design world with its promotion of the importance of individuality through interiors. 2LG say: “We like to disrupt spaces and for us this light works in both modern and period settings. There is an exciting tension when you place a bold modern statement in a classical or persion setting. They would be equally at home on a spaceship from the future or on the set of a Kubrick movie.”

The kitchen range features curved tops and fluted glass and is available in 2LG’s signature colour palette of pale pinks, garden green and electric blue. The star piece is the freestanding larder unit with fluted glass doors and a painted interior.

2LG The couple, former actors, launched their business in 2014. Taking their name from the suffix of their first postcode, 2LG, they became known to their friends as the 2 Lovely Gays.

2lgstudio.com Capsule lights by Cameron Design House in collaboration with 2LG Studio, from £2,600.00; The Rise Kitchen designed by 2LG Studio for John Lewis of Hungerford with Flooring by Havwoods; Paint by Mylands; Colour-matched radiators by Bisque; dining chairs by Menu; counters and backsplash by Caesarstone camerondesignhouse.com

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INTERIORS • GIFTS

1 H I G H

1

FLEXI-CHARGE N AT I V E U N I O N

Made with beautiful woven fabric in two colourways (rose and slate), this wireless fast-charging dock features built-in temperature control. Complete with genuine leather strap so you can adjust the legnth of the cable or wrap it up to suit your needs. £70; nativeunion.com

T E C H Luxury accessories to suit every home

2

2

RETRO RADIO RUAR K AU DIO

This desktop radio offers a retro throwback in its orange high gloss lacquer finish. The sound quality is exceptional, and this edition allows you to alter both tone and volume to suit your taste. With a headphone port and alarm options, it's a multifunctional and stylish addition to your bedside or desk. £219; ruarkaudio.com

3

BLUETOOTH BEAUTY PIET HEIN EEK

3

Encased in a slender metal tube and crafted from brass plated steel, this bluetooth speaker was designed in collaboration with LEFF Amsterdam. It produces extraordinarily good sound for its small size and matches the designer's tube clock. £88; limelace.co.uk

4

HEAD IN THE GAME BANG & OLUFSEN

These exceptionally beautiful wireless headphones play tribute to the rich colours found in the ancient natural world. Complete with advanced noisecancelling abilities and an innovitave aluminium touch interface. £499; bang-olufsen.com

4

5

HIGH-SPEC TECH NAI M AU DIO

5

Naim audio's first wireless music system has to be heard to be believed.

This premium speaker is understated in style but not to be underestimated in its ability to impress, promising to extract every last drop of performance from your music. £995; naimaudio.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS • CHRISTMAS

ON THE

P U L L The best crackers of the season MATILDA GOAD/TART

Compiled by P E N D L E H A R T E

Each cracker contains an exclusive Tart recipe card designed by Scribble & Daub with accompanying spice mix by Rooted Spice that are cleverly designed to incorporate Christmas leftovers. £56 matildagoad.com

KATIE LEAMON

These Confetti crackers are Katie Leamon's most luxurious ones yet, with dinky gifts including indoor sparklers, a wooden puzzle, wooden dice, wooden spinning tops, colouring pencils and bumble bee soap. £42, katieleamon.com

FEVER TREE

Fever Tree's crackers contain a miniature bottle of craft gin and the perfectly paired Fever-Tree tonic to go with it. £7 each johnlewis.com

CLARIDGES

Claridge’s first ever crackers are filled with a host of stylish surprises inspired by the hotels’ culinary heritage. From a mother of pearl caviar spoon to a crested Claridge’s egg cup, these gifts are a cut above. £75 claridges.co.uk

JO MALONE

HARRODS

Harrods' colourful Circus crackers come with fun gifts such as a silver yoyo, a wooden ruler and some stylish hatpins. £11o harrods.com

Jo Malone's annual cracker is filled with tiny treats: Basil & Neroli Cologne, Blackberry & Bay Body & Hand Wash, and compelling, addictive Mimosa & Cardamom Body Crème. £33 jomalone.co.uk

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DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS FIVE STEPS TO A MORE S U S TA I N A B L E H O L I DAY WORDS HELEN BARON

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INTERIORS • CHRISTMAS

2 . S U S TA I N A B L E S T Y L E

D

W

e love Christmas.

Like, really love it.

It’s the diamond nestled among the grubby coals of an English winter, the thing that gives colour to those colourless months of grey skies and sodden ground. But there’s no denying Christmas is complicated.

Years ago, we could enjoy the festive period in relatively straightforward style, complete with plastic trees, plastic decorations, plastic toys and every other throwaway (probably plastic) novelty the high street could muster. But those guilty times were also, ironically, more innocent.

Many of us didn’t realise the impact of our actions – and our consumption. Now we do. And with rising awareness about the environmental effects of unfettered consumption comes a tricky relationship with this most wasteful of holidays. So how to create a Christmas brimming with magic and fun (not to mention toys) without wrecking the planet? Here are five simple (and easily achievable) starting steps...

1 . K E E P YO U R T R E E

P

otted trees are better for the planet, as they can go on absorbing carbon dioxide when they’re replanted in your garden after the holiday. But even if you don’t have the space to keep your tree forever (think how cool it is for kids to welcome a tree back into the home like an old friend, year after year), there are ways to ensure a cut tree doesn’t go to waste completely. Namely, your local council’s recycling programme or a homegrown alternative: chop your tree into logs and use them to fuel a fire or wood-burning stove. You’ll be releasing carbon dioxide into the air when you burn it, but if you buy your tree from a local, responsible provider – one who can assure you they plant a new tree for every one they sell – you’ll at least know that your tree’s replacement will absorb an equal amount.

ecorations provide ample opportunity to ditch synthetic materials and embrace natural, eco-friendly alternatives. Use beeswax or soy candles instead of paraffin ones, layer your tree with Scandi-style paper chains instead of tinsel and invest in keepsake decorations of brass, wood, paper and shatterproof glass. Kids will love getting crafty with wool, felt, cardboard and foil paper, making decorations you can treasure rather than trend-led, cheaply made tat that’s probably travelled from China to reach your tree.

C H EC K O UT • FERM LIVING

for decorations fermliving.com MERI MERI for plastic-free crackers and partyware merimeri.com

3 . D I G I TA L G R E E T I N G S

G

reetings cards appear to be on the decline, which is a shame in one sense – it’s always good to stay in touch. But we still send hundreds of millions every year, so if you fancy getting back in the game (or if you never got out of it), the key is to ensure your cards are printed with non-toxic inks on sustainably sourced paper. Cards you receive should of course be reused or recycled after the season – one tip is to save them for your kids to make new collagestyle cards or gift tags the following year.

Or you could move beyond the material realm entirely, and opt for digital greetings cards – which are usually much more costeffective too.

C H EC K O UT • PAPIER POST for digital

greetings cards paperlesspost.com NATURAL COLLECTION for sustainable stationery naturalcollection.com

C H EC K O UT CHRISTMAS FOREST christmasforest.co.uk PINES AND NEEDLES pinesandneedles.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Grate Expectations - A Family run business established for over 30 years The UK’s leading suppliers of luxury gas fireplaces, wood burning stoves and bioethanol fires manufactured by DRU, Spartherm, Ebios, Dik Guerts, Gazco, Stovax and many more.

1-3 Station Buildings, Kingston Road, Wimbledon Chase, SW20 8JT 020 8540 8387 | sales@grateexpectations.com | grateexpectations.com

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• CHRISTMAS • XXXXX INTERIORS CULTURE

4. GIFT LIST

U

nwanted gifts are depressing on every level, and each Christmas in the UK alone more than 80,000 tonnes of unwanted clothes – most of which will have come from the other side of the world – are sent straight to landfill.

Surprises may carry a certain romance, but it’s worth getting your kids (and other loved ones) to provide some sort of list so as to avoid buying stuff they simply don’t want. When shopping, try to focus on locally produced gear that hasn’t got many miles under its belt. Organic materials are obviously better all-round, and for kids there are a host of independent businesses focused on producing top-notch toys from sustainably sourced materials. Failing all that, subscriptions to digital services (Netflix, Spotify etc.) are a safe bet.

C H EC K O UT • HAPPY LITTLE FOLKS for beautiful, London-made wooden toys happylittlefolks.com • WHIRLI for a pioneering (and waste-reducing) online toy-library whirli.com • MINI STITCHES for sustainable, UK-made clothing ministitches. org PIPPINS for beautiful recycled kids denim pippinschildrenswear.com

5 . E AT W E L L

T

he same rules apply here: opt for local, organic produce wherever possible. One study estimated that the average British Christmas dinner featured ingredients that had travelled a combined total of around 45,000 miles to make it to the table, so choosing (often better quality) seasonal groceries has definite upsides for the planet. But what of all the food that gets thrown away? Compost it. Compost bins are widely available or you could try donating your food waste to a local allotment. Failing that, invest in a food waste disposal unit – they’ll grind your organic matter so finely, it can eventually be recovered from the waste water and used as soil conditioner.

C H EC K O UT • FARM DROP for seasonal, organic produce from local farms, direct to your door farmdrop.com

Chop your tree into logs and use them to fuel a fire or woodburning stove A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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KIDS & EDUCATION

FAIR FASHION VELVETEEN

Velveteen works with fair-trade organisations whenever possible; their clothing is finely crafted and handembroidered, using a combination of Indian artisan techniques. velveteenclothing.com

Small Talk 91 · Gifts for kids 93 · Gifts for teens 95 · Education 97 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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DISCOVERMORE

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

Open Days

Our state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre

November 1st/7th (9.30am/ 9.30am) November 15th/21st (7.00pm/ 9.30am) November 29th (9.30am)

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

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KIDS & EDUCATION • NOTES B RA N D F O CU S

ALL THAT GLITTERS

MIMI & LULA Mimi & Lula is the brainchild of two accessory designers, who between them have created ranges for many famous high-street brands. The duo are known for their playful style and little ones will love their glittery dinosaur bags, superhero masks and pom pom hair clips, perfect for party season. mimiandlula.com

SMALL TALK Glitter accessories, cosy PJs, Christmas books and haircare for tots

DANDYDILL WAY

C

reated by high profile celebrity make-up artist Tania Rodney, Dandydill Way is an award-winning range of skin and hair care inspired by childhood freedom and potential. These products look good in their super stylish (and recyclable) packaging and smell improbably beautiful, a culmination of Tania’s experience both as a make-up artist and as a mum. Inspired by her own childhood in rural Yorkshire playing endlessly outside with her sisters picking berries and building dens, Tania drew inspiration from the nature that was all around her when developing Dandydill Way. A key ingredient in the range is the hawthorn berry which grows wild in the hedgerows and countryside of Britain.

The range includes shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath and hair detangler plus a clever liquid powder, a natural spray-on deodorant that's chemical-free and designed for children who aren't ready for harsh deodorants yet. From £18, dandydillway.com

COSY UP N I G H T S BY W I L D E R

Featuring classic chambray, stripes, folky florals and a magical star print, the sleepwear collection from British brand Nights by Wilder is made for snuggling up in on Christmas Eve. Each piece is made in London using hand-woven, organic and sustainable cotton from India. nightsbywilder.com

MOUSE STYLE

H OW W I N S TO N

DELIVERED CHRISTMAS

By Alex T Smith

Winston is a plucky, homeless young mouse, on a mission to deliver a lost letter to Father Christmas on Christmas Eve. Gorgeously illustrated, this is a poignant and heart-warming story. £14.99

panmacmillan.com

EDITOR’S PICK

SKETCH BOOK THE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS Illustrated by Tony Ross

This lavishly produced hardback book is the perfect keepsake gift to treasure. Illustrated in colour by Tony Ross, The Nights Before Christmas has 24 classic tales, songs and stories to enjoy. £12.99; andersenpress.co.uk

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

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LUXURY HANDM ADE FURNITURE | GORGEOUS HOME ACCESSORIES LUXURY HANDM ADE FURNITURE | GORGEOUS HOME ACCESSORIES

U S E T H E C O D E A B S O L U T E LY C W 1 0 F O R 1 0 % O F F * U S E T H E C O D E A B S O L U T E LY C W 1 0 F O R 1 0 % O F F * UNIT 15, THE ME TRO CENTRE, ST JOHN’S ROAD, ISLEWORTH, T W 7 6N J UNIT 15, THE ME TRO CENTRE, ST JOHN’S ROAD, ISLEWORTH, T W 7 6N J W W W.SWEE TPE A ANDWILLOW.COM 0345 257 2627 W W W.SWEE TPE A ANDWILLOW.COM 0345 257 2627 *Cannot be used in conjunction with any other sales or promotions. *Cannot be used in conjunction with any other sales or promotions.

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KIDS & EDUCATION • GIFTS IMMI DRESS Velveteen, £88 velveteenclothing.com GROCER'S STALL Flexa, from £136 flexaworld.com

LUGGY BASKET Oli Ella luggy, £45 olliella.com

WINNIE SWEATER Mango Kids, £22.99 mango.com

MIRROR BACKPACK Tiba + Marl, £40 tibaandmarl.com

TIGER HEAD Make Your Own, £9.99 clockworksoldiershop.co.uk

GIFTS FOR KIDS

LES PARISIENNES: MADAME CONSTANCE Moulin Roty, £49 folkinteriors.co.uk

DOLL'S HOUSE Moulin Roty, £119 cottage-toys.co.uk

Spark their imagination this Christmas with these inspiring gifts

By HELEN BARON

MONTGOMERY BEAR Charlie Bears, £225 charliebears.com

EDITOR’S PICK

DRESSING UP KITS Meri Meri, from £12 merimeri.co.uk

ATOM BIKE Raleigh Bicycles, £135 raleigh.co.uk

YOUNG SOLES Sidney Brogue Boot, from £81 youngsoles.co.uk

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

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RAVENSCOURT PARK

preparatory school

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

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

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

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

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - March 2016

Open Mornings Open Mornings

9.15am Tuesday 14th November

9.15am Thursday 17th January 2019 9.15am Tuesday 5th February 2019 9.15am Thursday 7th March 2019 9.15am Thursday 9th May 2019 9.15am Tuesday 11th June 2019

9.15am Thursday 18th January 2018 9.15am Thursday 1st February 2018 To register your attendance at one of our open mornings,

To register your attendance at one of our open mornings, please please phone 0208 846 9153 or mail secretary@rpps.co.uk phone 020 846 9153 or mail secretary@rpps.co.uk

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

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KEW GREEN preparatory school

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

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

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

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

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - July 2015

Open Morning Open Mornings

9.15am Wednesday, 15th ‘19 November 9.15am Wednesday 16th January 9.15am Wednesday 6th February ‘19 9.15am Wednesday, 17th 9.15am Wednesday 6th March ‘19January 2018 9.15am Wednesday 15th May ‘19 9.15am Wednesday, 7th‘19 February 2018 9.15am Wednesday 12th June To register your attendance at one of our open mornings,

To register your 020 attendance at oneorofmail our secretary@kgps.co.uk open mornings, please please phone 8948 5999 phone 020 8948 5999 or mail secretary@kgps.co.uk

Kew Green Preparatory School

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

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KIDS & EDUCATION • GIFTS BAN.DO Desk accessories, prices vary bando.com

PENELOPE HOPE Laptop case, £45 penelopehope.com

17 PATTERNS

VETEMENTS X REEBOK

Cushion, £135 harrods.com

Socks, £90 harrods.com

VANRYKE Alphabet necklace, £410 harrods.com

HERSCHEL Heritage backpach, £49.95 harrods.com

BAN.DO

ICON Soul Slouch armchair beanbag, £94.99 beanbagbazaar.co.uk

HARRY POTTER

Good Mood sweatshirt bando.com

GIFTS FOR TEENS No longer kids, not quite adults...

CULT LIVING

Hufflepuff make-up bag, £10 boots.com

Good Vibes star lightbox, £35 cultfurniture.com

By PENDLE HARTE

BABYLISS PRO Hot pink conical wand, £24.99 hairtrade.com

LEXON Mino bluetooth speaker, £29.95 stonegift .com

LEICA ADIDAS I-5923 shoes, £99.95 adidas.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

Sofort instant film camera, £250 harrods.com

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

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GROUT GROUT TILES TILES -- high high quality quality porcelains, ceramics & porcelains, ceramics & GROUT TILES - high quality accessories at prices. accessories at excellent excellent prices. porcelains, ceramics & ChoosingTILES tiles can be a daunting GROUT - high quality Choosing tiles can be a daunting accessories at excellent experience soceramics we are committed to porcelains, & prices.

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T: 020 3005 2955 store to offer a friendly and attentive contact@grouttiles.com contact@grouttiles.com service - to both Trade and Retail. www.grouttiles.com T: 020 3005 2955 www.grouttiles.com contact@grouttiles.com T: 020 3005 2955

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EAST SHEEN SHOWROOM EAST SHEEN SHOWROOM

OPENING HOURS OPENING HOURS

315 Upper Richmond Rd W 315 Upper Richmond Rd W East Sheen EAST SHEEN SHOWROOM East Sheen London | SW14 8QR SW14 8QR EASTLondon SHEEN| SHOWROOM 315 Upper Richmond Rd W East Sheen Rd W 315 Upper Richmond London | SW14 8QR East Sheen

Monday- Friday: 0730 - 1700 Monday- Friday: 0730 - 1700 Saturday: 1000 - 1700 OPENING HOURS Saturday: 1000 - 1700 Sunday: 1000 - 1600 Sunday: 1000 - 1600 OPENING HOURS Monday- Friday: 0730 - 1700 Saturday: 1000 - 1700 MondayFriday: 0730 - 1700 Sunday: 1000 1600 Saturday: 1000 - 1700

London | SW14 8QR

Sunday: 1000 - 1600 17/08/2018 17/08/2018

14:01 14:01

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KIDS & EDUCATION • AGENDA

School NEWS

W H AT ' S H A P P E N I N G I N T H E W O R L D O F E D U C AT I O N

REMEMBER

This iconic photograph taken on 4 March 1914, shows 21 Abingdon School students posed prior to their annual boat race. Five years later nine of the young men in the photograph were dead.

Abingdon School

N E W N U R S E RY

Teacher’s Pet

St James Preparatory School is extending its early years provision by opening a nursery in September 2019.

It will share the prep school’s specialist performing arts, music and language teaching provisions. Minisha Bist is to be Head of Nursery, bringing a wealth of experience.

After extending her paw and acting as a therapist for students at Bickley Park School, Selkie, a fouryear-old Labrador, has become an honorary member of staff. She has proved particularly helpful for children suffering from familial loss, as students report Selkie makes them feel special.

F L I G H T C LU B

A R T S AWA R D

Lawrence ‘Benny’ Goodman, now 98 years old and the last surviving 617 ‘Dambuster’ Squadron pilot, opened Abingdon School’s new flight simulator suite donated by former pupil, Tony Edwards.

Tony also donated a portrait of Benny Goodman, painted by renowned artist Jeremy Houghton, to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force.

Congratulations to Bredon School for winning a prestigious Independent Schools Association Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Fine Arts in recognition of the school’s innovative teaching techniques and opportunities to enhance pupils’ learning.

OLD BOYS The Bibliomaniacs of Papplewick School’s latest sortie to Eton College saw the boys study many and varied treasures in the College Library, including the Eton Choir Book and some ingenious modern bindings. Afterwards, the Bibliomaniacs met four former members of their club who are now King’s Scholars at Eton College.

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TRAVEL

OFF PISTE THE DOLOMITES

The Italian Dolomites is the destination heating up with more Michelin stars than you can count on one hand and a clutch of high-end hotels. Here’s what we made of a snowy escape to the world’s largest ski area.

Skiing in the Dolomites 100 • UK Getaway 105 • Amsterdam 106 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Piste PERFECT We get a taste of la dolce vita on the slopes of the Dolomites

Wo r d s H E L E N B R O W N

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TRAVEL • WINTER

I

f top-grade skiing, exceptional food and a sophisticated but welcoming ambience are your thing, I can recommend no place better than the Italian Dolomites. Consisting of 450 lifts and 750 scenic miles of piste, this is the world’s largest ski area and arguably one of the most impressive mountain ranges around. Rapid access to the slopes is guaranteed by way of a modern lift infrastructure and with one ski pass you’ve access to 12 ski resorts, each as beautiful as the next and suitable for all ski levels.

More laid back than its rival snow-capped regions in France, Austria and Switzerland, the Dolomites offer a quieter and less-crowded alpine experience. Having returned to the French Alps season and after season and on occasion to the the Swiss, I’m well-versed with the flashy resorts in the western region - France’s Courchevel, Switzerland’s Verbier - and their Moët-swigging, Prada-wearing clientele. And while you’ll find that a lot of these ostentatious snow bunnies choose to sit beside the run, their top-of-the-range skis propped up somewhere on a sun-drenched restaurant terrace, the pistes cutting through the Alps are renowned for their congestion and long queues, especially during school holidays. Quieter Dolomite villages like San Cassiano attract Italian families season after season to ski its powdery slopes and make the most of its exceptional food scene.

Of course, technically speaking, the Dolomites are still very much a part of the Alps, flourishing from the chain’s southeast foothills. But like the estranged branch of a family tree, the region feels very separate.

Geographically they sit in northern Italy but remain Austrian in character after Mussolini annexed the region from the latter in 1918. His intent for Italianization never quite stuck and even today most of the locals speak in the mountain dialect, Ladin, rather than in Italian.

A total new-comer to the area, I’m beholden to my

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

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REFURBISHMENT

DESIGN PLANNING

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

R O S CA R D E V E LO P M E N T S LT D C RO W N H O U S E | 72 H A M M E R SM I T H ROA D | LO N D O N W 14 8 T H U K + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 70 43 1613

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TRAVEL • WINTER

snowboard instructor for showing me what this vast, snowy playground has to offer, and boy does it deliver. Since the Dolomites are protected from unbridled northerly storms, we are blessed with clear, blue skies and soft, well-blanketed pistes for the entirety of the trip. I’m told that 100 days of sunshine during winter is the norm. The vistas are staggeringly beautiful, the lines dramatic and sharp. I imagine the place loses none of its charm come summer. Peppered across the pistes are traditional mountain restaurants serving cuisine from Ladin, Tyrole and the Mediterranean, along with exceptional wines. Like most, we take the opportunity to rest tired limbs and remedy nervous ski legs with a Glühwein (or three), a plate of hearty ragù and the requisite espresso between runs. Thankfully the area accommodates non-skiers too, as one in our group wishes to forgo the risk of broken limbs. She is perfectly at ease to hop on a lift and let it whisk her to the top of the mountain where she can bask in the alpine gorgeousness of it all and sip hot chocolate while the rest of us hit the slopes. From our excellent instructors to the incredible mountain food and spectacular weather, it’s safe to say that I am completely sold on the Dolomites as a ski destination.

Although this also has a little something to do with our home-from-home for the week which is the sumptuous Rosa Alpina.

Almost 170 years old, this family-run hotel epitomises quiet glamour. It sits in San Cassiano, one of the six villages that make

up South Tyrol’s Alta Bada municipality and is conveniently placed for flights into Venice and Innsbruck airports.

On entering, the place is utterly charming.

A welcoming log fire crackles in the lobby which leads through to the wine bar and grill, a cosy and comfortable restaurant famous for its wood-oven pizzas. After an early start and a delayed flight from London, we devour said pizza, mounds of prosciutto and a Pinot noir Riserva (the wine list, by the way, is extensive) among fellow guests and locals. Warm and convivial, the wine bar and grill epitomises the delightful, smalltown charm that oozes from every brick and fibre of Rosa Alpina, thanks no doubt to the Pizzinini family who live upstairs. The hotel has been in the family’s keeping for three generations and while they’ve added luxe touches and all of the mod-cons you’d expect from a 5* stay, it’s heritage and original features take pride of place.

The two Michelin-starred St. Hubertus Restaurant is undoubtedly the culinary highlight of not just the hotel, but of the region. Celebrated local chef Norbert Niederkofler is at the helm and has been since it opened in 1996. With just nine tables and a chef’s table, you’ll want to book well in advance. Expect food at its most innovative and indulgent thanks to Niederkofler’s resolution to serve only that which has been sourced from the Dolomites. It really is exemplary dining.

Rooms are elegant, spacious havens for relaxation with large seating areas, wood panelling and open fireplaces. Luxury apartments come with their own Turkish bath and sauna but to really ease away the aches of the day, guests can head down to the spa. Located in the basement of the building and kitted out with an indoor swimming pool, Finnish sauna, steam bath and luxurious treatment areas, there really is nowhere better to rest and rejuvenate.

Kick your skis off for an afternoon, enjoy mountainous views from the pool and book yourself in for one of the hotel’s signature Alpine Herbs Muscle Relief massages; it’s so worth it.

From now until April, regulars will be getting their winter fix at this astounding region of excellent skiing, phenomenal eating and exuberant Italian hospitality. For an even greater taste of la dolce vita, Rosa Alpina offers all of this and more. There is no place better for your next snow-filled holiday. I will wholeheartedly be back and I can guarantee, you will too.

ROSA ALPINA Abercrombie & Kent (abercrombiekent.co.uk) offers 7 nights B&B at Rosa Alpina in a Deluxe Double Room from £3,322 per person, based on two sharing and including return flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck and transfers. For further information on the hotel please visit rosalpina.it.

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he country house and series of Cotswold stone buildings that form the hotel and spa are understated, calming and luxurious, the decor is both pleasing and characterful and the staff impeccable in being helpful and always to hand. Perhaps the most delightful aspect of The Calcot is its setting, which is deep in the Cotswolds and can be viewed and explored in many different ways. The gardens are quintessentially English, articulated by yew, beech and pleached lime hedges, with plants attracting butterflies at every turn. Swallows fly overhead and there are many birds everywhere you look. You can choose to explore by bike or on foot, and there is a 3km trail to be followed through the countryside – just long enough to convince yourself you have worked off your breakfast.

There is a gym for the keen, an outdoor swimming pool and clay shooting arranged within the hotels extensive grounds.

scheme of muted yellow and grey, a luxuriously sized bed with all comforts considered.

Each cottage has a little private garden has its own table and chairs.

THE FOOD

T

here is the Conservatory for breakfast and other meals, and the less formal The Gunstool Inn as an alternative, and food served in the spa. Our dinner and breakfast were delicious and there was plenty of choice. The fish soup, bread made on the premises were particularly good and service swift. If you sit outside then you have a view from the terrace across the hills which is a delight. If you have children you will find that they are well catered for with a high tea in the late afternoon, and if you have none then you can sit comfortably in a number of places to eat and chat.

THE SPA

T

weekend

THE HOTEL

he extensive spa is quiet and luxurious with a large steaming hot tub, indoor pool, treatment rooms, dining, an outdoor fireside and gym. My pedicure was excellent with Leyton Deny products and there’s an outdoor pool on site that is always heated.

THE AREA

J

DESTINATIONS

TRAVEL • UK GETAWAY

ust 90 minutes from London and with numerous delightful Cotswold villages to explore nearby, Calcot is ideally located for day trips.

CALCOT HOTEL & SPA GLOUCESTERSHIRE

All the charm of the Cotsowlds ByA L E X A N D R A HUNTER

THE ROOM

O

ur suite was a delightful cottage and on two floors. The bathroom was very luxurious with a vast bath in the centre and Aromatherapy products.

Upstairs the room had ancient beams, and attractive soft furnishings with a colour-

Rooms start at £209 per night, based on two guests sharing and including VAT CALCOT HOTEL & SPA Near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8YJ calcot.co A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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TRAVEL • EUROPE

Amsterdam is an excellent place to visit with the family, especially now that the Eurostar takes you straight there

A

Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

msterdam might be less than an hour’s flying time away, but you’re still hard pressed to get there in time for lunch without getting up madly early. Or at least without feeling stressed and grumpy.

You’re likely to spend longer at passport control than you are in the air, and fiddling with miniature bottles of contact lens solution and emptying your water bottle while holding your coat and abandoning your too-big tube of hand cream can wipe out much of the joy of travelling.

And that’s travelling without children. Managing your kids on the way to a family weekend in Amsterdam is frankly barely worth the airport hassle.

So hurrah for the Eurostar’s new direct St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal route, launched last April. In just three hours and 40 minutes the train drops you right in the centre of town, making the Dutch city a weekend equivalent of, say, Devon for Londoners. The only slight hitch is the return leg, which involves changing at Brussels because currently there’s no passport control at Central Station, a situation that’s not likely to be helped by Brexit.

It’s a simple change though it adds more than half an hour to the journey. But the advantages of the train are countless, especially when travelling with children. Walk up to the restaurant car for coffee and snacks, play cards at your table, bring as much luggage as you can carry – no fussing about liquids – and enjoy views of the French, Belgian and then Dutch countryside from the windows.

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CURTAIN CALL

INSPIRED INTERIORS

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

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

CURTAIN CALL MAY.V2.indd 1

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TRAVEL • EUROPE

AMSTERDAM’S BE ST AT TRACTIONS FOR FAMILIE S 1 THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE This is one of the best-crafted museums in the world. The new section makes it spacious and accessible; its approach is sober and respectful – there are no excess exhibits, no fillers, just the stark reality of 20th century history as seen through the eyes of one of its young victims. Children too young to know about the holocaust will need a bit of forewarning, but the museum is an excellent introduction.

2 VONDELPARK Amsterdam is small and manageable, an easy city to navigate and a pleasure to get around by bicycle. A report by UNICEF shows Dutch children to be the world’s happiest, and its likely that the freedom found in cycling everywhere is a contributing factor. But of course it’s hugely popular with tourists and cycle paths are inevitably crowded. A premium hire charge for bikes with handlebar brakes as opposed to back-pedal ones is a clever tax for British tourists who traditionally fear the Dutch brakes – most bike shops stock varying sizes of child’s bikes as well as toddler seats, baby trailers and everything that the cycling family might need.

RESTAURANT JANSZ, PULITZER HOTEL Once you’re saddled up, where to go?

It’s easy to spend a day cycling around as a family. A few laps of the Vondelpark will help with confidence and after that it’s geography that’s the main problem: with so many similar canal vistas to deal with, getting lost is inevitable.

The Pulitzer Hotel in Prinzengracht is arguably the best place to stay in Amsterdam. Brilliantly located for just about everything, the hotel can provide bicycles and makes a brilliant starting point. Not least because it even has its own boat, an iconic wooden luxury saloon dating back to 1909 that takes a daily 75-minute tour of the canals. This is all the introduction anyone could need, with its friendly and knowledgeable captain offering enlightenment on everything from the history of the sugar trade to contemporary cannabis culture.

Eurostar makes the Dutch city a weekend equivalent of, say, Devon

Eurostar travels to Amsterdam from St Pancras twice daily; fares start at £35 one way; eurostar.com

Summer or winter, Amsterdam’s famed park is a magnet for people of all ages. Not only are there several playgrounds and cafes, but it’s a great place to cycle and also just to people-watch.

3 THE FLOWER MARKET It might be a cliché, but it’s important to bring home some tulips. Whether bulbs or cut flowers, this is where you go to buy and browse.

4 APPLE PIE AT THE WESTERMARKT Westermarkt is one of the city’s best markets – cheese, vegetables and organic food as well as antiques, vintage clothes and jewellery. On Saturdays a huge queue forms outside small café Winkel – it might be long but it’s worth joining for the excellent warm apple pie with cream that’s famed all over town.

5 INDONESIAN FOOD Don’t leave without treating yourself to a reistafel, an Indonesian feast that you won’t find in London. The Dutch colonial past means that this traditional meal with its countless dishes – lots of peanuts, egg and chilli – has become an Amsterdam staple.

6 MUSEUMSPLEIN The Rijksmuseum reopened in 2013 after a ten-year makeover and its scope covers 800 years of Dutch history, all brilliantly ordered to make a super user-friendly experience.

Don’t miss the 17th century dolls houses.

7 CANAL TOUR BY BOAT This has to be done. Peer into the houseboats from the water and plan your new life as a barge dweller. We all do it. pulitzeramsterdam.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Festive Celebrations at Clayton Hotel Chiswick

Festive Dinners at Grill Restaurant

£36.

From

95

per adult

Christmas Day Lunch

£64.

From

95

per adult

New Year’s Eve Celebration

£64.95

From

per adult

BOOK NOW +44 20 8996 5200 events.chiswick@claytonhotels.com

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PROPERTY Living the Dream

STERNDALE ROAD W14

ÂŁ2.75M

114

Prime Property: Whitman & Co

substantial Victorian family home comprising of five double bedrooms and three bathrooms. Complete with excellent living/entertaining space including a media/playroom and a walled garden. There is also a decked and railed roof terrace just off the first floor half-landing. This well configured house of approximately 2,895 sq. ft. is one of the more luxurious houses on Sterndale Road.

128

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FINLAY BREWER Brook Green 020 7371 4171 Paul@finlaybrewer.co.uk

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WALDECK ROAD, CHISWICK A fantastic opportunity to acquire a period home nestled within a very desirable cluster of roads in Strand on the Green, close to the local amenities, shops, pubs and restaurants along the river. EPC = D

3

1

1

GUIDE PRICE

£875,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

EVELYN ROAD, CHISWICK A remarkable link - detached three to four bedroom modern house arranged over four floors situated on this quiet road bordering Acton Green and the west of the Bedford Park conservation area. EPC = B

4

4

2

GUIDE PRICE

£1,195,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

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Chiswick Hammersmith West Kensington Fulham Chelsea

Battersea Clapham Putney Barnes Richmond

Kew Sheen Twickenham Teddington Kingston

featherstoneleigh.co.uk

ST ELMO ROAD, CHISWICK A charming Victorian family home currently arranged as two apartments, easily converted if desired into a four bedroom house with further potential STPP. EPC = D

3

2

1

GUIDE PRICE

£1,225,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

STRAND ON THE GREEN, CHISWICK A matchless and exquisite wide detached double fronted Georgian house, in part dating back as far as 1697, benefitting from fabulous sweeping south-facing views overlooking the River Thames. EPC = E

5

3

2

GUIDE PRICE

£3,650,000 CHISWICK 020 8994 6567

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LIVING THE

DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market

1

SOUTH SIDE

W6, ÂŁ 1 , 62 5 ,0 0 0

A

highly sought after four bedroom, semi-detached period home which can be extended.

The property has two reception rooms, a large kitchen and breakfast room and a beautiful rear garden. The loft has been boarded out and has the potential to be converted. The property also has side access, a shared driveway and relaxing views overlooking Stamford Brook Common.

FLETCHERS Chiswick, 020 8987 3000 fletcherestates.com

LONG ISLAND HOUSE W 3 , G U I D E ÂŁ 1 , 5 5 0,0 0 0

L

ong Island House is a recently converted building offering stunning loft apartments. The current owners have connected two apartments to create a larger and more luxurious living space. The reception area is generous and benefits from natural light, with large glass panels and doors at the east and west terraces. The property also benefits from a bespoke kitchen and three double bedrooms.

KNIGHT FRANK Chiswick, 020 3757 6236 andrew.wilkins@knightfrank.com 1

114

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PROPERTY • NEW TO THE MARKET

LYNTON AVENUE

W 1 3 , £4 2 5 ,0 0 0 F R E E H O L D

A

bright and airy first floor conversion flat, beautifully updated and modernised throughout. Located close to West Ealing and its future Crossrail station, the property offers a spacious lounge and a large double bedroom. There is a modern fitted kitchen/diner and family bathroom and double-hung sash windows. This is a great opportunity for a first time buyer.

JOHN MARTIN ESTATES

Ealing, 020 8998 3333 johnmartinestates.com

ATLAS MANSIONS

MERTON AVENUE

W 4 , £ 1 , 2 0 0,0 0 0

W

ithin walking distance of Stamford Brook and Turnham Green stations, this four-bedroom house has been fully renovated creating contemporary, light-filled living spaces that complement the numerous period features. A loft conversion offers a flexible space that could be used as a master suite or children’s play room. A further extension is also possible.

FEATHERSTONE LEIGH Chiswick, 020 8994 6567 featherstoneleigh.co.uk

W 1 4 , G U I D E £9 9 5 ,0 0 0

A

stylish and contemporary apartment situated on the second floor of Atlas Mansions.

This apartment has a well equipped open-plan kitchen and full width reception. The master bedroom has a dressing area with ample storage and a doublebasin en suite bathroom. The second bedroom has generous cupboards and a large bathroom across the hall. There is also a bright private terrace.

FINLAY BREWER Brook Green, 020 7371 4171 james@finlaybrewer.co.uk

LIGHT-FILLED LIVING SPACES COMPLEMENT THE NUMEROUS PERIOD FEATURES

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Heathfield Terrace, W4

£1,615 per week Burlington Road, W4

£1,700 per week

This four double bedroom house has two reception rooms, an eat-in Located in the heart of Chiswick, a stunning six bedroom Victoria kitchen with great entertaining space and patio doors leading to a house set over four floors. There is a double reception room and garden. There is also a balcony and three bathrooms, energy rating e. off-street parking for three cars, energy rating e.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

Queen Annes Grove, W4

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

£1,499 per week Sutton Lane North, W4

£2,000 per week

A five bedroom Grade II Listed house with a mature garden, set Set close to Chiswick High Road, an attractive and substantial five within the Bedford Park Conservation area. There are two reception double bedroom Victorian home with two reception rooms, rooms with a fireplace and original wood floors, energy rating f. off-street parking and a west facing garden, energy rating f.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

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

fletcherestates.com

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Talgarth Road, W14 This unique three bedroom house is one of a small number of Grade II Listed period studio buildings, designed by a renowned architect Frank Wheeler. Set over three floors, there is an open plan kitchen/reception/dining room, perfect for entertaining friends and family.

Duke Road, W4 Arranged over three floors, a well presented four bedroom family home which has been extended into the side return and loft to create over 1,600 sq. ft of living space. There is a double reception room, three bathrooms and a garden, energy rating d.

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

ÂŁ1,550,000 020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

fletcherestates.com

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The house with views of The Green.

6

5

4

Pembroke Villas, TW9 • Large private rear garden • Spacious reception rooms • Approximately 5,028 sq ft This beautifully presented Grade II listed period house stands prominently overlooking Richmond Green, which has been described as "one of the most beautiful urban greens surviving anywhere in England" and is positioned in the centre of Richmond close to all amenities.

Our Richmond expert, Luke Ellwood, looks forward to helping you. luke.ellwood@knightfrank.com 020 8022 1375 07826 875 007

knightfrank.co.uk

Guide price £6,250,000

Connecting people & property, perfectly.

Freehold

KF.indd 1

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Connecting people & property, perfectly.

The Orchard, W4

5

An expansive house set behind secure gates in Bedford Park. Freehold.

4

• Grade II listed • Lateral living

• Private parking • Excellent condition

Guide price £3,750,000 andrew.wilkins@knightfrank.com

3

A luxurious loft apartment offering generous space and storage throughout. Leasehold.

1

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• 2 roof terraces • Private parking

Guide price £1,550,000 oliver.spanswick@knightfrank.com

Sutton Lane North, W4

4

An immaculate semi-detached period house.

Freehold.

3

3

• Recently refurbished • West facing garden • Bespoke modern kitchen • Double garage

020 3757 6236

Long Island House, W3 • Recently refurbished • New development

4

020 3757 6235

Guide price £2,250,000 andrew.wilkins@knightfrank.com

020 8115 5298

The Orchard, W4

3

3

A first-floor apartment in a highly regarded mansion block. Share of freehold.

• Balcony • Communal Garden

• Private garage • Bedford Park

Guide price £1,500,000 oliver.spanswick@knightfrank.com

020 3757 6235

19/11/2018 16:07

The contemporary family home.

6

4

2

Cambridge Park, TW1 • Large landscaped garden • High specification kitchen with built-in wine fridge • Total living space of 2,206 sq ft Cambridge Park Road is a short walk from St Margaret's train station which connects into London Waterloo and also offers easy access to the M4 and Heathrow airport.

Our Richmond expert, Debbie Pinkham, looks forward to helping you. debbie.pinkham@knightfrank.com 020 8939 2810 07824 609 604

knightfrank.co.uk

Guide price £5,200 per calendar month

Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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

Knight Frank is a member of the ARLA Client Money Protection Scheme and our redress scheme for consumers is Property Redress Scheme.

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The apartment with garden views.

1

1

2

1

Renaissance Square, W4 • Fully equipped on-site gym • 24-hour concierge • Total living space of 657 sq ft Chiswick Gate is located within walking distance of Chiswick High Road and Turnham Green Terrace. Local Transport links include Turnham Green which is within walking distance (District and Piccadilly Lines) and the A4 offering easy access in and out of London.

Our Chiswick expert, Jon Gittins, looks forward to helping you. jon.gittins@knightfrank.com 020 3757 6234 07970 107 673

knightfrank.co.uk

Guide price £485 per week

Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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

Knight Frank is a member of the ARLA Client Money Protection Scheme and our redress scheme for consumers is Property Redress Scheme.

KF.indd 4

19/11/2018 16:07

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

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

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

COBBOLD ROAD W12 GUIDE £1.15M FREEHOLD UPPER MALL W6 • 4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS £1,500PW / £6,500PCM • DOUBLE RECEPTION UPPER MALL W6 • OPEN PLAN KITCHEN/BREAKFAST/FAMILY ROOM •£1,500PW FAMILY •WONDERFUL 2 BATHROOMS ENHOME SUITE) / (1£6,500PCM • •• •• ••

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

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

COBBOLD ROAD W12 GUIDE £1M FREEHOLD HAARLEM ROAD W14 • 3 DOUBLE BEDROOMS £625PW / £2,708PCM • DOUBLE RECEPTION HAARLEM ROAD W14 • FULL WIDTH KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM •£625PW BEDROOM •2 DOUBLE 2 BATHROOMS (1 ENFLAT SUITE) / £2,708PCM • •• •• ••

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

ASKEW ROAD 020 8749 7719 LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • •• •• ••

• GUEST CLOAKROOM • SOUTHERLY WALLED & PAVED GARDEN LETTINGS 020 • EPC RATING D 62 2 COURTYARD GARDENS EASY ACCESS TO HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK UNFURNISHED 2 COURTYARD GARDENS EPC 57 HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK EASYRATING ACCESSDTO AVAILABLE NOW UNFURNISHED

7371 4071

• EPC RATING D 57 • AVAILABLE NOW

ASKEW ROAD 020 8749 7719 LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • •• •• ••

• 29’ GARDEN • EAVES STORAGE LETTINGS 020 7371 • NO ONWARD CHAIN •BALCONY EPC RATING D 58 UNFURNISHED WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY BALCONY EPC RATING C 79 UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE NOW WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY

4071

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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

• EPC RATING C 79

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

• Finlay_Brewer_4P.indd 1

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12/11/2018 16:40

FAROE ROAD W14 GUIDE £1.725M FREEHOLD • • • •

4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 2 BATHROOMS (1 EN SUITE)

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

• • • •

GUEST CLOAKROOM WESTERLY GARDEN ROOF TERRACE EPC RATING D 55

POPLAR GROVE W6 GUIDE £1M SHARE OF FREEHOLD • 2 DOUBLE BEDROOMS • OPEN PLAN LIVING SPACE • CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN

BROOK GREEN 020 7371 4171

• BATHROOM • SHOWER ROOM • EPC RATING D 70

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

• Finlay_Brewer_4P.indd 2

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

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

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

UPPER MALL W6 £1,500PW / £6,500PCM UPPER MALL W6 •£1,500PW WONDERFUL FAMILY HOME / £6,500PCM • •• •• ••

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

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

HAMMERSMITH GROVE W6 £3,500PW / £15,167PCM HAARLEM ROAD W14 • 6 BEDROOMS £625PW / £2,708PCM • OPEN PLAN RECEPTION & KITCHEN HAARLEM ROAD W14 • SEPARATE DOUBLE RECEPTION •£625PW BEDROOM FLAT • 2 3 DOUBLE BATHROOMS / £2,708PCM •• •• •• ••

RECEPTION WESTERLY GARDEN & OFF STREET PARKING CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 2 DOUBLE BEDROOM FLAT MASTER WITH EN SUITE BATHROOM & DRESSING AREA RECEPTION SHOWER ROOM KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM CONTEMPORARY

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

2 COURTYARD GARDENS EASY ACCESS TO HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK UNFURNISHED 2 COURTYARD GARDENS EPC 57 HAMMERSMITH & CHISWICK EASYRATING ACCESSDTO AVAILABLE NOW UNFURNISHED

• EPC RATING D 57 • AVAILABLE NOW

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

NANNY FLAT WITH SEPARATE ENTRANCE WINE CELLAR LETTINGS 020 7371 EXCELLENT TRANSPORT LINKS BALCONY AVAILABLE NOW UNFURNISHED EPC RATING D 57 WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY BALCONY EPC RATING C 79 UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE NOW WALKING DISTANCE TO HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY

4071

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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

• EPC RATING C 79

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

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LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

12/11/2018 16:41

AYNHOE ROAD W14 £1,500PW / £6,500PCM • • • • •

5 BEDROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION WITH WOOD FLOORING BRIGHT FULL WIDTH KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 3 BATHROOMS & SEPARATE WC COURTYARD GARDEN

LETTINGS 020 7371 4071

• • • • •

GOOD STORAGE EXCELLENT TRANSPORT LINKS UNFURNISHED AVAILABLE NOW EPC RATING D 58

LOCAL . INDEPENDENT . INVOLVED

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12/11/2018 16:41

SALES SALES

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

FAIRLAWN W4 ST PETERS AVENUE, HOUSE, W6

£465,000 £3,250,000

LETTINGS

St Houselight, is an exciting contemporary St added Peters Square taking spaceThree and generous bedroom AnPeters amazingly well presented triple house aspectover flat looking with the benefitwith of abreath balcony andentertaining private garden. bedrooms, luxurysuites. bathroom, Spectacular galleried x 21’ Reception room, height dining room with meter windows, Fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room, Utility room, 14' reception room, hall, fully21’ integrated kitchen, gasDouble fired central heating, share in5the freehold, balcony and private garden with side access.

Ideally Summer Four double bedrooms, Four station bathrooms, 3500 sq ft,shopping Limestoneand andrestaurant oak floors,facilities Under floor situated room, withinCloakroom, close proximity of Chiswick Park tube and Over the extensive on heating, ChiswickGated High access Road. with video entry phone. Ideally situated in this historic square close to all amenities. No chain.

LINDENCOTTAGE, GARDENS, W4 LAMB W4 NOBLE HOUSE, W4

£330 PER WEEK £1.600,000 £899,950

newlytwo decorated lower ground floor flat this withboutique private development west facing garden. with wardrobes, reception room with AA luxury bedroom centrally located flatgarden set within of just 14Large units,double with thebedroom added benefit of secure underground parking. wood floors, bathroom with shower over, kitchen, The flat isLuxury on one of Chiswick's best located roads, moments from 18’ theTerrace, shops, 20’ Master bedroom with luxury wet room andfitted terrace, Secondgarden. double bedroom, bathroom, 24’ Reception room, Fully integrated kitchen, restaurants cafés on the High Road and 5 minutes Turnham Greenroom. station.

The situated propertyinisthis available September, furnished.

Gated allocated underground parking, Communal rooffrom terrace and summer Ideally central early Chiswick location close to all amenities.

No chain. EPC - B

• WHITMAN.indd 2

15/11/2018 17:18

SALES LETTINGS POINT WHARF LANE, TW8 BOLLO LANE, W4

£350£599,950 PER WEEK

An immaculately presented bedroom purpose built flat with private balcony communal terrace within close proximity amenities.

Twoplan Beautifully presented twotwo double bedroom second floor flat in this highlyand sought after roof riverside development.

Boastingtoa all stunning open double Reception Fullyensuite integrated kitchen,Large 12’ Private Large communal rooffitted terrace, Long with lease.granite Ideally work kitchenbedrooms, receptionLuxury room, bathroom, a river side25’ balcony androom, a master bedroom. openbalcony, plan reception room, fully kitchen situated nextwardrobes to Gunnersbury Triangle, Chiswick Park Tube Station and space all the included.

High Road facilities. No chain. EPC - B tops, fitted and riverside views. Underground parking

QUEENCOTTAGE, ANNESW4 GROVE, LAMB W4 W4 BOLLO LANE,

£430 PER WEEK £1.600,000 £849,950

large, light and beautifully two double bedroom flatand on close this highly desirable road in the heart of Bedford Park, just minutes AAwell presented three bedroom presented period house with West facing garden proximity to all amenities.

Three double bedrooms, Large loft, White from Turnham suite, Green25’ underground station.

Top 12’ floor position ensures beautiful the reception and bedrooms. bathroom Through reception room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Utility views room, from Cloakroom, Host of original features, Private West facing garden.

Close proximity to numerous transport facilities and Chiswick High Road with its extensive shopping facilities, restaurants and bars. EPC - E

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15/11/2018 17:18

PROPERTY • PRIME FOCUS

SPECIAL AGENTS It’s official. Whitman & Co is one of the very best Estate Agents in the country

W

hitman & Co has been independently identified as one of the top estate agents in the country. Recently awarded Gold status for being the ‘Best Single Agent in West London’, the agency prides itself on its exceptional customer service. This award has put them in the top 0.5% of estate agents in the country – and they also achieved an exceptional sales rating and a highly rated branch classification for lettings.

These results can all be found in the Best Estate Agents Guide, a website (bestestateagentguide.co.uk) that lists the top estate agency branches in the UK. It was compiled by the Property Academy, an organisation set up to improve business performance and service standards in the property industry with the support of the UK’s leading property portal Rightmove.

25,000 estate agents and letting agents – and over three billion data points – were analysed by Rightmove, looking at factors including marketing, property views, enquiries and performance to ascertain the best performing agents. In addition,

the Property Academy carried out 50,000 mystery shops to assess customer service levels.

This is the biggest assessment of the sector ever conducted and Whitman and Co is delighted to have been recognised following such a rigorous examination.

The agency's Chris Chalmers said: “This award means the world to us. As a local independent estate agent we thrive on offering an outstanding level of customer service and I believe this coupled with our brilliant, open and knowledgeable team has resulted in us achieving these fabulous results. We will continue to keep up the good work.”

This remarkable award, backed up by the latest Rightmove data, certainly proves that Whitman & Co maintains its position as Chiswick’s leading estate agent. The latest Rightmove report shows that Whitman & Co have agreed 101 sales this year to date, while its next closest competitor has agreed 29 sales. Whitman continues to thrive despite the unstable property market because they maintain an abundance of registered buyers across all price brackets from £300k to in excess of £3 million which means they are able to spend time building chains with great success. The ceaseless effort that the team puts in every day has meant that despite the market they are on course for a record year.

If you’re thinking about selling, buying or letting a property then please get in touch we will be very happy to provide you with our advice and you can be confident that you’re dealing with the best estate agent in your area. Contact us on 020 8747 8800 / whitmanandco.com

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19/11/2018 14:48

Donate any unwanted winter coats to help keep vulnerable Londoners warm Drop off your winter coats at any Chestertons branch this November Find your nearest branch on chestertons.com Please only do so whilst the branch is open.

All coats in clean and good condition are welcome.

#Igavewarmly

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23/10/2018 11:14

www.johnmartinestates.com

EALING W5

ÂŁ1,400 PCM (*Fees apply)

A beautiful two bed second floor flat on this prime residential road right beside Ealing Common. The property offers spacious west facing lounge, well arranged fitted kitchen, two bathrooms and two good sized bedrooms.

There is also electric heating, double glazed windows, rear communal garden and unallocated off street parking. Offered either part or unfurnished. Available immediately. EPC - D.

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

16/11/2018 14:26

“PITSHANGER’S COMMUNITY ESTATE AGENT”

EALING W5

£1,500 PCM (*Fees apply)

A stunning two bed apartment situated in the heart of award winning Pitshanger Lane, recently fully refurbished to a high specification. The property offers fully fitted open plan kitchen/living room, modern shower room and two double bedrooms. There is wood flooring in living areas, carpets in bedrooms, gas fired central heating, double glazing and unallocated on street parking. Offered unfurnished. Available immediately. EPC - C.

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

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

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T: 020 8998 3333 16/11/2018 14:26

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19/11/2018 09:28