December 2010 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

WE L CA LO

DECEMBER 2010

FISH FOOD

BROTHER GRIMM

THE FISH PEDICURE TRIED AND TESTED

HANGING WITH NICK GRIMSHAW INTERVIEW

MY SWEET LORD

THE RESTAURANT AT ST PAUL’S

JUST ADD SPARKLE N1 CENTRE – YOUR No.1 CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DESTINATION

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FASHION FOOD & DRINK LOCAL SPOTLIGHT GADGETS KIDS INTERIORS SHOPPING PROPERTY

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CHRISTMAS ISSUE

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2010

FEATURES 7

EDITOR’S PICK

The must-see events of this month

12 GRIMBLE AT CHRISTMAS

We interview local resident and TV personality, Nick Grimshaw

CITY & ANGEL COMPETITION

Your chance to win an iPod Nano from MR Systems

16 WHAT THE DICKENS! A forgotten tale set in Islington

25 FASHION GIFTS FOR HER & HIM Ideas and Inspiration for Christmas

30 SPRUCE UP FOR CHRISTMAS… With our ultimate guide to Party Wear

38 HUNGRY SOULS

We check out the restaurant at St Paul’s Cathedral

REGULARS  EDITOR’S LETTER  FAMILY  HEALTH & BEAUTY  FASHION  FOOD & DRINK  INTERIORS  GADGETS  MOTORING WE

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 WHAT’S ON  PROPERTY

30/11/2010 12:37

EDITOR’S LETTER

easons Greetings Christmas Angels! The last three months have felt seasonally eventful, what with Halloween, Bonfire Night and now Christmas on the horizon. December 25th comes but once a year, and yet somehow still manages to creep up on us – so this issue is jam-packed with handy festive tips to help you stay on top of things. Our fashion pages offer some inspiring gift ideas and, as Islington boasts such a wonderful mix of shops, we fully encourage you to buy local and invest in the businesses on your doorstep! In line with that sentiment, our fashion shoot this month took us to the N1 Centre for statement party-pieces from Next, Monsoon and French Connection (p30-35). We went for a superglam vibe, to put you in the mood for all the celebrating to come – so now there’s no excuse not to look your best! Our history spotlight (p16-17) is also Christmas-themed, as we head down to The Charles Dickens Museum in Holborn to find out more about the legendary London author’s lesserknown Christmas story, The Lamplighter, set just around the corner in Canonbury. There’s no better fireside reading this month! Continuing the festive theme (well, it is the season to be jolly) we found ourselves at St Paul’s restaurant (p36-38) for our monthly food spotlight. If you’re planning to make it to any of the numerous services, why not try the restaurant’s Christmas specials while you’re there? The food is truly excellent and fantastic value for money – and as if that wasn’t enough to set your sleigh bells ringing, we also popped into Islington’s Country Living Christmas Fair to eye up a ton of beautiful handmade crafts and decorative homewares. It was a great day out – and the perfect way to immerse ourselves in the Christmas spirit. In case you’ve had enough of the Crimbo stuff (bah, humbug!) our celebrity interview sees us hanging out with TV presenter, Radio One DJ and deliciously cheeky chappy, Nick Grimshaw. We also snagged an interview with electropop duo and Converse models Hot City – you might have seen them adorning the walls of Angel tube – for our Behind the Scenes feature. Last but not least: don’t forget to check our What’s On page if you’re on the hunt for festive or New Year events to attend; we’ve rounded up the best in the borough for your delectation. We’ve got a good feeling about next year here at The City & Angel, but in the meantime we hope this issue proves to be a handy accompaniment to your yuletide merriment – and of course, we wish you a very merry Christmas! WE L CA LO

DECEMBER 2010

FISH FOOD

Helen Baron helen.baron@zest-media.com

FIND US ON FACEBOOK THE CITY & ANGEL MAGAZINE Photography by Dan Williams, danwilliams40@me.com

HANGING WITH NICK GRIMSHAW INTERVIEW

MY SWEET LORD

THE RESTAURANT AT ST PAUL’S

JUST ADD SPARKLE N1 CENTRE – YOUR No.1 CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DESTINATION

the

Christmas

ISSUE

FASHION FOOD & DRINK LOCAL SPOTLIGHT GADGETS KIDS INTERIORS SHOPPING PROPERTY

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BROTHER GRIMM

THE FISH PEDICURE TRIED AND TESTED

25/11/2010 19:06

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29/11/2010 23:47

What's On CHRISTMAS AT ST. PAUL’S (THROUGHOUT DECEMBER)

A key event of the calendar at St. Paul’s Cathedral is the Celebration of Christmas, (16 December, 6.30pm). Carols for the congregation and choir as well as celebrity readers make this a fantastically festive occasion. Other Christmas services include a Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten (11 December, 5pm) and the Family Carols service (18 December, 1pm) – as well as the Christmas Carol Service (24 December, 4pm). Finally, the famous Christmas Eve Carol Service and Midnight Eucharist are popular ways to mark the arrival of Christmas Day itself, with well-loved carols sung by the magnificent Cathedral Choir. stpauls.co.uk, St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Churchyard EC4M 8AD

EDITOR’S PICK CHRISTMAS

Three of the best local things to do this month

THE HAGGERSTON CHRISTMAS JAZZ AND BLUES NIGHT (17 DECEMBER)

WILTON’S VINTAGE C HRISTMAS (6 DECEMBER – 18 DECEMBER)

For a period in December, this beautiful old venue on the City fringes will be transformed into a Christmas-themed Victorian music hall, complete with gallons of mulled wine and tasty roast chestnuts. Expect musical performances, dramatic interludes straight from the pages of Charles Dickens and Henry Mayhew, wandering minstrels and traditional music hall singalongs – does the season get any more merry than that?

wiltons.org.uk, Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley E1 8JB

Blues, jazz and Christmas jollity are set to combine in style at trendy Dalston boozer The Haggerston. There’ll be mince pies and mulled wine on the menu, carols and singing as well as the music of the Alan Weekes Quartet to keep everyone in fine spirits. And it’s all in aid of homeless charity Crisis – the spirit of the season at its finest. The Haggerston, 438 Kingsland Road, Hackney E8 4AA

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Local Offers

MY LITTLE BLACK BOOK This month’s best deals, bargains and must-haves – get your pens at the ready!

SPITAL

FIELDS CANTEEN The Canteen excel at staple British food like bubble and squeak and bangers and ma meal deal for this month pro sh. Their ves the old adage that it pay s to be an early bird as they’re offe 2 courses for £10, if you eat ring between 3pm and 7pm. canteen.co.uk, 2 Crispi n Place, Shoreditch, E1 6DW

SOS CLINIC AT LOOPwonderful knitted

ue that sells Loop is a gem of a boutiq world. work from around the art ding bud and crotchet trinkets and se tho all for s of workshop ce pla ing They also hold a number tak is ic, which this month in lf rse knitters. Their SOS clin you got ’ve you if ber, is a must on Sunday 12th Decem ts. jec pro a pickle with any home om, 15 Camden free, loopknitting.c 8EA Passage, Islington, N1

THE POWDER ROOM

For the ultimate glamour fix book a Christmas makeover at The Powder Room. Get your hair, makeup and nails done in one sitting and receive a complimentary Mavala glitter nail polish. Just what we need now that the party season has descended on us. £45, thepowderpuffgirls.com, 136 Columbia Road, Shoreditch, E2 7RG

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29/11/2010 21:45

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02/10/2010 00:28

LocalFocus

LOCAL NEWS

LOCAL

A round-up of what Islington Council is doing for the borough…

ISLINGTON BECOMES UK’S FIRST 20MPH BOROUGH Islington has become the first borough in the country with a 20mph speed limit on all side roads to help boost safety for pedestrians, cyclists and road users. This new measure also aims to improve quality of life for residents by reducing traffic speeds, and may also help reduce noise and air pollution. Julie Townsend, campaign

ISLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHALLENGES NEW PARKING CHARGES

The Islington Chamber of Commerce is an active voice for local business in Islington and often called upon to represent the community. Recently the local body have observed the steep rise in parking charges and a change to parking policy. They are

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STREET FOOD STALL TAKES ISLINGTON’S MARKET TRADER OF THE YEAR AWARD

director at road safety charity Brake, has welcomed the new speed limit: “Slowing down to 20mph or below when driving in communities is a life-saving act, and one of the best ways we can protect people on foot and bicycle - especially children.” The new speed limit now covers 150 miles of Islington’s streets. The number of people killed or seriously injured on Islington’s roads fell from 227 in 2001 to 77 in 2009, thought to be partly as a result of lower speeds. concerned that the following amendments may have an impact on local businesses: Allowing residents with permits to park in Pay & Display business spaces between 10am - 2pm. Increasing Pay & Display charges by up to 50%. Increasing business parking permits. With midday proving to be a crucial

www.islington.gov.uk

Mouthwatering meals and sparkling service have earned a family-run Indian street food stall the title of Islington Market Trader of the Year 2010. Husband-and-wife team Kuntal and Mohini Vyas serve up vegetarian dishes to hungry lunchtime diners at Whitecross Street Market. The contest, now in its third year, was open to all of Islington’s 200-plus council-licensed stalls in markets also including Chapel, Exmouth and Archway. Customers voted for their favourite stall with a judging panel that included Cllr Joan Coupland making the final decision. She presented Kuntal and Mohini with their prize adding: “Islington has amazing markets. We had great entries and it wasn’t easy to make a decision - but these winners really do deserve it.” Kuntal, Mohini and their team start setting up at 7am each day, cooking rice and paneer on their stall ready for the lunchtime rush. According to Mohini, the secret to their success lies in their commitment to producing homemade food. She has absolutely no regrets about leaving her office job: “I could never go back now, not with the freedom that this allows and the people you get to meet,” she commented. “In Whitecross Street all the traders are like a local community everybody looks out for each other.” period to businesses, the Chamber feel that not enough has been done to make local business owners aware of the purpose of these changes. They also fear that the increasing charges may discourage new customers from visiting local stores. In a time of economic uncertainty, that has seen many small businesses struggle to survive, the Islington Chamber of Commerce believe it is important that this issue be taken seriously.

Enquiries: 020 7527 2000 29/11/2010 21:47

Culture

ALL’S FAIR

An opportunity to view and buy direct the work of contemporary artists and designers

he Candid Arts Trust is hosting The Angel Christmas Fair where an array of truly dazzling and tempting gifts will be available to buy. This is a one-stop shop for everything you’ll need this festive season. With fifty artists and designers selling contemporary mixed media paintings, photography, badges,

stickers and postcards, alongside the latest fashions and stunning semi-precious jewellery, you’ll be sure to find something to suit even the most picky individual. You’ll want to wrap up all your wonderful finds from the fair in the beautiful handmade wrapping paper they will be selling too. And be sure to pick up your Christmas cards here, all of which are one of a kind. The fair will have an extensive selection of arts and craft products such as prints, wood blocks, screenprints, carved stone and plaster objects.

Of Cabbages & Kings Art & Design Market The Crypt, Upper Street & Abney Hall, Church Street

11th (The Crypt), 18th and 19th (Abney Hall) DECEMBER

Add to the mix mulled wine, Christmas cake and mince pies and The Angel Christmas Fair promises to be a truly unique and jolly shopping experience without the bustle and stress of the high streets!  Candid Galleries, 3 Torrens Street, London EC1V 1NQ ADMISSION FREE Opening hours: Saturday and Sunday 12-6pm

ENFR TREE Y

Christmas Gifts and Decorations - Original Artwork and Limited Edition Prints Vintage and Costume Jewellery - Designer Home Wares and Accessories - Ceramics - Handprinted Stationery - Childrens Clothes - And Much Much More! Knit With Attitude will be holding knitting workshops throughout the day on the 19th December so if youÍ re a total novice or want to pick up some new tricks come along and get involved. MINCE PIES, HOT SOUP AND ALL THINGS CHRISTMASSY WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE MELZA BEAN BAKERY

www.ofcabbages.co.uk

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29/11/2010 20:15

GRIM OUTLOOK

Eloise Baumann meets up with North London resident Nick Grimshaw, the Radio 1 DJ with his finger firmly on the pulse...

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Interview

It’s the kind of career kids up and down the country dream of: TV presenter, radio and club DJ, friend to the stars and all-round glowing personality. And yet it’s also the kind of career that most often belongs to a person we love to hate. The cheesy grins, the endless unfunny ramblings, the lack of any insight or opinion, the celebrity sucking up - it’s great for the gossip pages, but it doesn’t inspire much... respect. So it’s with very great pleasure that The City & Angel heads to Camden to meet TV presenter, radio and club DJ, friend to the stars and all-round glowing personality Nick Grimshaw – one of the few people in his field who isn’t cheesy, unfunny or a celebrity tagalong. In fact, as our interview unfolds, it becomes clear that he’s quite the opposite: intelligent, warm, down-to-earth, opinionated and very, very witty. A radio DJ who doesn’t make you want to claw your ears off or cringe yourself to death? What’s his secret? As anyone who’s heard Grimshaw – or Grimmy, as he’s known to legions of young fans – on one of his Radio One shows will know, he’s not a native Londoner. Born and raised in Manchester, the youngest of three siblings, his first taste of London life came through a chance meeting with London indie DJs and sometime sceneleaders Mairead Nash and Tabitha Denholm – aka the Queens of Noize – while he was a student at university in Liverpool. In a neat foreshadowing of things to come, Grimshaw ran into the party-loving duo when he interviewed them for a student radio station. “I remember reading their column as an impressionable kid at university and thinking… wow… they have the best job ever… they get drunk and make out with pop stars!” he says today. “I interviewed them for my uni radio show and they were just as I imagined: noisy, silly, super fun. We rampaged out that night for about twenty hours and became

the closest of friends. Even now they’re some of my best friends. Mairead and I speak about six times a day. It’s funny how one random meeting sparked such a great friendship.” This friendship proved the final catalyst in Grimshaw’s decision to head further south after university. He took a dingy room above a pub in Camden Town and set about exploring the local nightlife. His timing, as ever, was spot-on. Camden had recently been reinvigorated by the rise of ramshackle new indie stars The Libertines, and a vibrant musical scene meant that the area was the perfect place for the young and hip to party with likeminded souls - and to forge a network of friendships that would go on to provide the basis for a new generation of alternative-

place to work. It felt and young and really ‘London’ to me.” Cue much laughter as he adds, “People were saying stuff like, ‘Yah yah, sushi later?’ and I was like ‘SUSHI? Like in FILMS?!’ Because everyone was a similar age, the interns would all go out together every night – like literally, every single night. We’d party at [celeb-packed local pub] The Hawley Arms before it became the indie Met Bar – and afterwards, of course – then go on to all these parties that seemed like the most wonderful thing to a twenty year old. It was one of the happiest times of my life, making friends and partying with no responsibilities.” Grimshaw’s MTV internship was in the Creative department, though when I ask a mutual acquaintance what his job entailed, she laughs and says something about turning up late for meetings and suggesting everyone order pizza. This insouciance is, of course, a big factor in his success: you can see how hard it would be for any boss to get mad at him. He’s possessed of a charm that’s not so much ‘winning’ as ‘decimating all opposition’. It’s not just that he’s funny – though he certainly is that, constantly firing off laugh-out-loud comments on everything from Justin Bieber (“I introduced him onstage at a festival in the summer and I’m still a bit deaf from the screams. I’m probably going to put a claim in”) to The X Factor (“It feels like Christmas every week in that you have to get everyone together to watch it; it’s wildly depressing to watch it on your own”). It’s that Grimshaw’s humour comes hitched to an easygoing confidence and an obvious desire to put whomever he’s talking to completely at their ease. I wonder aloud if he ever feels he was ‘born to do this’. “I was always the loudest at school and at home. I come from a very vocal, music-loving family, so I guess I had the qualifications that you need for this job: the ability to show off. I remember being quite lost at school, thinking ‘What

“WHEN I ARRIVED IN CAMDEN, I WALKED OUT OF THE TUBE AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE SCARIEST PLACE IN THE WORLD. I WAS SO TERRIFIED! I’D NEVER REALLY BEEN TO LONDON AND THOUGHT CAMDEN LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF MAD MAX!” minded media darlings – among them TV presenters Rick Edwards and Alexa Chung, model Agyness Deyn and musicians Amy Winehouse and Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machine). High times, then, for a young Mancunian with fuzzy aspirations but a big taste for fun. How did Grimshaw adapt to life in the Big Smoke? “When I arrived in Camden, I walked out of the tube and thought it was the scariest place in the world. I was so terrified! I’d never really been to London and thought Camden looked like something out of Mad Max!” He adjusted quickly, however, and got down to the serious business of enjoying London’s party scene. At the same time, there was work to be done, and it was music broadcaster MTV that provided. Grimshaw is clearly still grateful for the environment his old employer provided. “MTV was a really inspiring, creative

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Interview

am I going to do?’ I had no hobbies and wasn’t good at anything. My sister had encouraged me to try for TV and radio since I was about eleven, but weirdly I never really considered TV presenting – and that was the first job I landed after working at MTV.” All it took to catapult the young Grimmy from an MTV desk job into the nation’s living rooms was a video showreel submitted to TV production company Remedy, makers of Channel 4 youth and music programmes including Freshly Squeezed and T4. Needless to say, he got the gig and was soon presenting alongside comparative veterans such as Miquita Oliver and George Lamb. The tabloids were not blind to what was happening, and soon realised that here was someone worth keeping an eye on: they even sent gossip columnists along to his 23rd birthday party at The Hawley Arms. Soon he was being snapped armin-arm with friend and fellow Camdenite Sadie Frost – as well as a host of other famous pals. But no matter how many starry types Grimshaw might know, he wasn’t the usual media luvvy. There were (and still are) few interviews, few soundbites and absolutely no scandalous gossip for the public to chew over. Could it be possible that he was exactly what he seemed – an outgoing young guy enjoying life and his first taste of success? And if so, does he ever find it irritating when the newspapers act as if he spends all his time hob-nobbing with the stars? “No, not really,” he says with no trace of insincerity. “Everyone I hang out with I already knew before I started doing TV and radio; we all came through at the same time. I do have friends with ‘normal’ jobs but obviously that’s not as interesting to magazine editors.” Still, his advancing profile couldn’t have hurt in securing him his current flagship gig, as a Radio One DJ working two shows – one broadcast 10pm to midnight Monday to Thursday, the other (presented alongside Annie Mac) broadcast 10pm to midnight every Sunday. These shows – which see him play songs by the cream of the country’s new musical talent as well as unveiling exclusives from a host of established acts – have been widely praised in the press

WITH FRIENDS AGYNESS DEYN AND ALEXA CHUNG

and have seen him win hordes of new fans (his @grimmers Twitter following stands at 79,835 at time of writing). He’s become what’s known in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’ of the nation’s musical tastes: a heavy responsibility. Does he ever question his ability to do the job? His answer is immediate. “No, it never feels like that, like a burden. I never wonder ‘What will people think of this?’ or ‘Can I play this record if Zane [Lowe, fellow Radio One DJ] is playing it?’ I just play records I like and that I want to listen to during the two hours I’m on air. It’s as simple as that. If you over-think it, you risk becoming pretentious in your choices. And I think it’s important to listen to songs, writing and melodies for what they are – not for how cool they’re supposed to be.” It must be daunting though, taking on such a high profile role for an institution as venerable and exacting as the Beeb? “Going to the BBC felt like I actually had to stop going out and maybe think

about the show and what I was doing!” He laughs and continues, “I always had this feeling at the back of my mind like ‘One day I must get a proper job’ and when the BBC gigs started I thought, ‘This is it: I have a proper job.’ Obviously it was the first time my Dad accepted the media or music as career choices! The BBC has such a solid reputation for quality broadcasting and has been such a great investor in music and pop culture… it really was a crazy day when I started there. I can remember leaving my first Radio One show with my mind blown.” The answer comes as no surprise, even if the man himself does. Young, fresh and fun, Grimshaw in person is that rare thing: a consummate professional who manages to infuse all he does with his own singular style and personality. As a fan of and commentator on pop culture, he’s nearly always a hop or three ahead of the competition, and therefore an amazing gauge of what’s going to be important to everyone else in six months. And yet, despite the attentions of the press and public and the weight of his unasked-for authority, this accidental leader has the easy manner and charm of your best friend in the world. Could that be it then: the secret of his rapid and astonishingly assured ascent? If so, it’s only one half of the story – with the other half stemming from something altogether more simple: his boundless enthusiasm for his first and greatest passion, music. I close our chat by asking him what artists he tips for 2011, and what has been, for him, the song of 2010? “I love TEED – or Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – who signed to Greco-Roman this year. He could well be the future of dance music. I’m also loving Chad Valley, SBTRKT and the wonderfully named Cerebral Ballzy. It’s going to be a big year for Nicki Minaj, Katy B and James Blake… Zola Jesus and Salem too. As for song of the year… Tinie Tempah’s ‘Pass Out’ was the first time I’ve been overly excited about a British MC since Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Boy in da Corner’. Also Katy B’s ‘Katy on a Mission’ and Sleigh Bells’ album ‘Treats’. I hope they cross over next year.” And with his track record, would you bet otherwise? 

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29/11/2010 22:20

Inæ Theæ Spotlight

WHAT THE

DICKENS

Eloiseæ Baumann discovers the ﬁreside delights of a forgotten tale by one of London’s greatest writers – set right here in Islington

hrough her centuries as the nation’s grandest and most populous city, London has been home to many celebrated artists. The metropolis has provided temporary asylum to fugitive French poets, creative inspiration to Impressionist painters and a stage for the imaginative efforts of a certain poetic playwright from Stratford-upon-Avon. But even among such stiff competition, there remains one artist with whom London is associated above all others: writer, social reformist and arguably the most gifted storyteller of his or any other generation, Charles Dickens. It might come as a surprise, then, to learn that Dickens wasn’t born in London. He spent his earliest years in the altogether more idyllic surroundings of Portsmouth, Hampshire, only moving to London in 1815 when his father, John, was transferred to a London post at the Navy Pay Office. The family moved again to Chatham, then returned to London in 1822 when John

took a job at Somerset House. The Dickens family were, by Charles’ own account, a happy lot, and life continued at an easy pace – until 1824, when a debt to a baker led to John’s imprisonment at Marshalsea Debtors Gaol. In a moment, Charles’ world was overturned.

His mother and siblings soon moved to join his father in the prison, and Charles was lodged with family friend Elizabeth Roylance in a tiny attic room in Camden Town. He knew a little of London already, but now the experiences began that would shape so much of the fiction that was to come. Forced to leave school and take up employment at Warren’s Blacking Warehouse, near present-day Charing Cross, Charles suddenly knew first-hand the trials and tribulations of the poor. He would go on to infuse his famous stories – from Oliver Twist and Great Expectations to A Christmas Carol and Bleak House – with his own colourful but incisive commentary on the social inequalities of the age, combining his trademark descriptive flair and withering wit to raise up to his Victorian readers the spectre of the poverty and cruelty that surrounded them. And it was in his ever-evolving, career-long portrayal of London – the burgeoning, bustling, brooding, splendid metropolis that so often loomed above his rich and eccentric characters – that the adult Dickens would

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In The Spotlight most completely capture the conflicted, hypocritical, frequently unjust but ultimately hopeful nature of his age. Dickens’ London is, of course, worldrenowned. From the river scenes that open his final completed novel, Our Mutual Friend, wherein a swarthy scavenger and his daughter fish for lucrative corpses in the murky Thames, to Fagin’s pickpocket’s den in Clerkenwell, Dickens’ images of London life are famous not only from the books themselves, of course, but also from numberless stage adaptations, television series and big-screen blockbusters. Perhaps most memorable of all Dickens’ journeys through Victorian London is that which follows Bill Sikes, villainous antagonist of Oliver Twist, on his escape from the city following the murder of Nancy beside London Bridge. We are told that Sikes “went through Islington, strode up the hill at Highgate on which stands the stone in honour of Whittington, turned down to Highgate Hill, unsteady of purpose and uncertain where to go…” Sikes winds up skirting ‘Caen Wood’ (better known today as Kenwood) and heads out into the countryside beyond. He eventually returns to the capital, of course, and to his death. But Oliver Twist is not the only Dickens work in which Islington provides a location. In fact there exists another story, often overshadowed by the classics that surround it, which takes place right here in The City & Angel territory. The Lamplighter, A Farce in One Act was first penned as a play while Dickens was living in Doughty Street near Holborn, during the period 1837 to 1839. Created with the aim of providing a hit comedy for his friend, the actor William Macready, who was recently installed as manager of the Covent Garden Theatre, the play was ultimately deemed unfit for purpose by its author and his friends before it was ever staged. Dickens and Macready withdrew the work, only for the former to revisit it later as a short story – one of his celebrated ‘Christmas tales’. Even today, The Lamplighter is a

lesser-known work, but the humour of its plot and the warmth with which its author painted such characters as the mischievous lamplighter Tom Grig makes it a rewarding read, especially as winter nights draw in. In the words of the tale’s narrator, the ‘chief’ of a group of lamplighters gathered at a cosy pub fireside, “Tom’s new beat, gentlemen, was - I can’t exactly say where, for that he’d never tell; but I know it was in a quiet part of town, where there were some queer old houses. I have always had it in my head that it must have been somewhere near Canonbury Tower in Islington”. What ensues is a comic farce in the best tradition, wherein the young Tom crosses paths with a mad astrologer and his quirky family, is promised love and riches, does his best to hang on to them… and then sees everything take a turn for the worse a short while later. Filled with witty one-liners and belly laughs, it’s Dickens at his glowing, bighearted best, and a must for all Islingtonites

seeking a magical bedtime story in the runup to Christmas. Available to read for free at many places on the web, it’s all the more fun when you recall that the author knew the area well – and might even have been referring to your Victorian home when he talked of the ‘queer old houses’ on the hapless lamplighter’s beat. 

THE DICKENS MUSEUM

Find out more about the life and work of Charles Dickens by visiting the fantastic museum in his old home at Doughty Street in Holborn. You can see a little attic window from Charles’ boyhood lodgings at 16 Bayham Street, in Camden Town and original iron window bars from Marshalsea Debtors Prison, where Charles’ father was incarcerated in 1824. But most special of all are the pages and pages of original manuscript, letters and notes referring to the writer’s many classic works of fiction – some of which, such as Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby – were written in the Doughty Street house itself. The Dickens Museum is open from 10am to 5pm every day. Entry is £6 for adults, £4.50 for concessions and £3 for children. Family tickets are available priced at £15. 48 Doughty Street WC1N 2LX, dickensmuseum.com 020 7405 2127

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29/11/2010 22:32

Health&Beauty

THIS WORKS CRACKERS £9 EACH, SPACE NK, 299 UPPER STREET, N1 2T

LIZ EARLE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION HAMPER £245.75, EXCLUSIVELY AT JOHN LEWIS

L’OCCITANE CHERRY BLOSSOM STAR GIFT £46, LOCCITANE.CO.UK

Beauty

LALIQUE FLEUR DE CRISTAL £68, HARRODS, 87-135 BROMPTON ROAD, SW1X 7XL

READY GIFT-SET GO!

Have yourself a beauty-licious Christmas with these great gifts NAILS INC COVETED COLLECTION £30, LOOKFANTASTIC.COM

FRESH SAKE RITUAL £70, 92 MARYLEBONE HIGH STREET, W1U 4RD

OTIS BATTERBEE ULTIMATE GIFT SET £95, OTISBATTERBEE.COM

For Him L’OCCITANE STAR GIFT £46, LOCCITANE.CO.UK

PENHALIGONS MALABAH FRAGRANCE £60, 112 ISLINGTON HIGH STREET, CAMDEN PASSAGE, N1 8EG 020 7359 6547

REN BIO MINI BODY SET £15, SPACE NK, 299 UPPER STREET, N1 2TU

CA DEC 10 Beauty Product.indd 19

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Health&Beauty

THE SILENT KILLER

Highæ bloodæ pressure,æ alsoæ knownæ asæ hypertension,æ isæ often consideredæ aæ silentæ killer.æ Ifæ leftæ untreated,æ peopleæ sufferingæ from thisæ conditionæ canæ developæ seriousæ complications.æ Theæ expertsæ at Theæ Wellingtonæ Hospitalæ takeæ aæ closeræ lookæ atæ theæ dangersæ

our blood pressure levels will vary during the day. That’s only natural as the stresses and strains of life take their toll. That said, anyone can develop high blood pressure and it doesn’t have an obvious cause. Hence it has been labelled the silent killer and deserves more attention than it typically receives. A common condition, high blood pressure is said to affect 1 in 3 adults in England. What is more alarming is that an estimated 18 per cent of adult men and 13 per cent of adult women have high blood pressure but are not getting treatment for it. According to NHS statistics, in 90 to 95 per cent of cases, there is no single identifiable reason for a rise in blood pressure, however all available evidence shows that lifestyle (factors such blood pressure, age, poor diet, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol) play a significant role in regulating your blood pressure. Intrinsically linked to these lifestyle factors and high blood pressure is high blood cholesterol, and the UK population HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? You may feel perfectly well, as high blood pressure usually causes no symptoms and generally will go undiscovered until a doctor happens to take your blood pressure. If you have very high blood pressure you may experience dizziness, headaches, blurred vision and possible breathlessness. The only way you can tell for sure if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured by your doctor.

has one of the highest average cholesterol concentrations in the world. “From the evidence available to us today, it is apparent that heart diseases are not caused by a single factor, but rather a combination of them,” says Dr Al-Obaidi, consultant cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital. “Whilst there are factors that at the moment we cannot influence, for example familial tendencies, there are many treatable disorders and lifestyle changes that could make a substantial impact on the development of heart disease. Lifestyle changes are at the forefront of any measure to reduce heart illness, including healthy diet, regular exercise and sensible drinking. There are also conditions where medicines could be required. The most common of these are high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. “My advice to people who have heart problems is that there is a whole variety of options and treatments which can restore your lifestyle to normal, and my advice to people without a heart illness is to not wait for it to happen; act now and we can help you avoid it.” WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF HAVING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? High blood pressure in itself is not a disease, but it can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and strokes. You are also more likely to suffer from kidney damage or failure. One of the most common and life- threatening

complications of high blood pressure is the damage caused to the brain. High blood pressure can affect the normal flow of blood to the brain, which in turn can lead to various complications. This includes transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ministroke, which can be an indicator of a more severe stroke in the future. Other problems are strokes, dementia and cognitive impairment. High blood pressure is also one of the main risk factors as far as heart attacks and heart failure is concerned. The consistent strain on the heart muscles, due to high blood pressure, may weaken them, causing arrhythmias and may also cause heart failure over the course of time. Dangers of high blood pressure are not mild symptoms, but are very severe conditions, which can sometimes have serious or fatal results. High blood pressure is on the increase; don’t get caught out. For more information call The Wellington Hospital Enquiry Line on 020 7483 5148 or visit www. thewellingtonhospital.com Dr Al-Obaidi is a Consultant Cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital. His postgraduate research was undertaken at the National Heart and Lung Institute and his specialist training at the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals. His practice specialises in patients with a variety of heart disorders, including coronary artery disease, heart failure and patients requiring pacemaker implantation.

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Health&Beauty KANGOO JUMPS These are as fun as they look and are a great way to build up your stamina as well. £165, kangoojumps.com

STRIP WAX BAR We’re thrilled that Strip have opened a concession in One New Change. It’s some feat that they’ve managed to make waxing seem like the ultimate in decadent pampering. This must be in part due to the gorgeously decorated rooms and the lingerie boutique. stripwaxbar.com, One New Change, EC4M 9AF

Fitness

FEELING GOOD... this month, with the latest tips and trends

ORGANIC PHARMACY SKI KIT If you’re heading to the slopes this Christmas then be sure to take this with you. It includes everything you need to soothe those aching limbs and heal any bumps and bruises. £45, organicpharmacy.com

FITDECK EXERCISE YOGA PLAYING CARDS A really handy resource for remembering all those tricky positions. £14.95, johnlewis.com

DYNAFIT MUSTAGH ARA SUPERLIGHT TOURING SKI Amazing graphics on these light as feather skis. £500, 47degrees.com, 907-909 Fulham Road, SW6 5HU IAMSUPERCHICK REINVENTION PROGRAMME If you need a quick-fit fix to squeeze into this month’s essential party LBD but don’t fancy splurging on a personal trainer then you might just want to make a start and give this 8 week course a go. Just download the weekly online training videos for a full body work out, which can be completed in the comfort of your own home. £9.99 per month, iamsuperchick.com

CA DEC 10 Health and Beauty News.indd 21

TOP TIP DABBING ARNICA UNDER YOUR EYES, REDUCES DARK CIRCLES AND PUFFINESS.

29/11/2010 20:24

Health&Beauty

FISH FOOD Tried & Tested

Helen Baron heads to Malika Spa at One New Change to sample the latest in beauty crazes: pedicure by fish

’d been meaning to get a pedicure for ages by the time I arrived at Malika Spa. The wintry weather and mounting appointments had so far curtailed my efforts, so you can be sure my feet were in need of some pampering. The question is, were fish the right creatures for the job? ‘Doctor Fish’ (as they’re sometimes known in the trade) have been used for years in natural spas in Asia and Turkey, nibbling away at dead skin as we humans pursue the perfect pedicure. They’re even used to treat serious skin ailments like eczema or psoriasis. Recently, though, the trend has travelled, going down a storm in Japan, where spas offer full body treatments for customers who want to immerse themselves entirely among dead skineating carp. It sounds like something from a horror movie, of course – but now these weird and wonderful (so their proponents say) fish pedicures have come to the UK, there’s no excuse not to find out what all the fuss is about. And Malika Spa is the place to do it. With branches already open in Westfield, Bluewater, Covent Garden and Canary Wharf, it seems natural that Malika should add to their collection with a spa based in the brand new shopping mall at St. Paul’s, One New Change. Swarming with city workers, many of them surely high-flying business women looking for a lunch time spruce-up. With the fish pedicure not yet widely available, it’s a no-brainer, surely? I tell myself that life is never so predictable, but when I arrive two smart-looking ladies are sat with their feet submerged in tanks full of finned technicians while they sip from glasses of champagne. I’m glad I’m in company as I dip my feet in, and my fellow fish-samplers reassure me that, although the sensation is odd at first, you quickly get used to it. It’s a nice reassurance to have when you feel the first tiny teeth take hold. One unexpected aspect of the fish pedicure is that it’s such good fun. First, it encourages all kinds of strange mindwanderings. Sat in the swish salon, my feet submersed, I start to think things like, what

happens if I fall in? With champagne being bandied about, this is not a completely implausible concern. What happens if they’re not hungry? Are they okay in there? They might consider dead skin a delicacy, but do they really want to graze on it all day long? Quite simply, is this a bit grotesque? “Wait until they get in between your toes!” one of my tank-buddies offers. Eek! The other thing to note is that a fish pedicure is undeniably social. It’s the novelty of the thing – during my treatment, I attract a gaggle of onlookers. One lady comes over to take a peek and looks faintly aghast. “Bon appetit!” she chirps as she ducks out. But then a funny thing happens: after a few minutes it begins to feel normal

– and yes, relaxing. By the time I pluck up the courage to look down at the fish, all munching away happily at, I hate to say it, my dead skin, it’s oddly therapeutic to see them at work. I admire their pluck and work ethic. I go as far as to offer a toe to the few who have scampered away. With a few more treatments either side, this fish pedicure malarkey would make a great part of any pampering session. It’s satisfying to know that I’m well on my way to a softer pair of feet, and I can see how this could get addictive. A quick dip in the pool with the Hoover-fish or a tiring arm workout with the file at home? Is the answer ever really in doubt? Suddenly my mind wonders whether or not it’s easy to install this get-up within the comfort of your own home (probably not advisable). As my two tank-pals tuck into their sushi lunch (no kidding – they’re starving), we have a chuckle at the comedy of it all. The fish pedicure is a great thing to do ‘with the girls’: an ‘experience’. The Malika Spa ladies are wonderful hosts, the drinks keep flowing and an initial first five minutes of giggling seems more or less guaranteed. The spa itself offers threading, eyelash extensions, lash and brow tints as well as waxing and Indian Head Massage so there’s something for those who aren’t quite ready to take the plunge. The 10-minute option is more of an introductory taster (for the fish as much as the person, I’m guessing), so I would recommend the full 40 minutes (priced at £38) for maximum tootsie softness. I had been imagining a brand new pair of feet, which didn’t quite happen, but they definitely looked and felt pedicure-fresh – something made all the more gratifying by the fancy new shoes I spied in the window of Kurt Geiger, conveniently opposite.  Garra Rufa Fish Pedicure 40 mins £38 Malika City, One New Change, Cheapside, St Pauls, London EC4M 9AF 020 7236 4008

CA DEC 10 BEAUTY TRIED & TESTED.indd 22

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Untitled-1 1

29/11/2010 22:51 5266 HCA Well Canary Wharf advert.indd 1

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City

&A ’s X ngel mas

For Her

GIFT VOUCHERS FROM CALM AND CLEAR COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

Looking for the ultimate Christmas gift that everyone will love? Spoil someone special with the chance to relax, refresh and revive by treating them to a Calm and Clear Complementary Therapies gift voucher. Tailored to the recipient, it can include a number of treatments at a price of your choosing. This is a gift voucher with total flexibility ensuring a truly bespoke gift for a loved one. On offer are a variety of top to toe treatments; it’s the perfect gift which won’t disappoint. Who needs more! Based at various locations around London and Hertfordshire. Contact Rima Shah on 07947 359 838 or visit www.calmandclear.co.uk

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New Arrival

WOODEN CITY OF LONDON TRAIN SET

The capital’s most famous attractions are included in this delightful train set from The London Transport Museum. With the Gherkin, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, as well as black cabs and the Queen’s Guard all being included, this is the quintessential London gift for children this Christmas. £39.99, www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk

Xmas feature.indd 1

THE MACBOOK PRO The new MacBook Pro, available in 13-, 15- and 17-inch models, sets all-new benchmarks for Mac notebooks. The 15and 17-inch MacBook Pro feature Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, which boost performance up to 50 per cent and reach Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.33GHz. Next-generation NVIDIA graphics bring high performance to everything from 3D games to photos and videos. And the built-in battery lasts up to 10 hours (8 to 9 hours on the 15- and 17-inch models). Starting at £999.00. Talk to a Mac Expert at MR Systems – your local Apple Reseller - www.mrsystems.co.uk.

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FESTIVE TREATMENT PACKAGE FROM CALM AND CLEAR COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES The Festive Treatment Package from Calm and Clear Complementary Therapies is the perfect antidote to the hectic festive season. The two hour Festive Treatment Package includes an exquisite Facial Rejuvenation massage, a soothing Ayurvedic Kansa Vatki foot massage and an uplifting Indian head massage. Or why not go for the optimal bespoke pampering session by creating your own rejuvenating, indulgent and relaxing treatment package. With either option you’re guaranteed to feel totally relaxed, refreshed and revived. Based at various locations around London and Hertfordshire. Contact Rima Shah on 07947 359 838 or visit www.calmandclear.co.uk

29/11/2010 22:58

Fashion

MARNI DOUBLE BREASTED COAT The sharp tailoring on this coat gives it a timeless appeal. £805, matchesfashion.com

WAX WORKWEAR JACKET A fantastic eye-popping orange coat with roomy pockets that is waterproof as well, making it perfect for town or country. £135, 286 Upper Street, N1 6TZ, albamclothing.com

LOCAL

JANISSARY BLACK LAPTOP TOTE Laptop bags needn’t make you look like a travelling IT nerd – The Bedouin Foundry range has saved us from ugly-bag-lugging- hell! £320, bedouinfoundry.com

Christmas Ideas & Inspiration DARK BLUE PARQUET SILK SCARF The geometric pattern on this scarf is one of the best prints around. £195, liberty.co.uk

For Him

J. LINDEBERG MIX KNIT WOOL SOCKS J. Lindeberg are the go-to brand for knitwear as these super luxe socks prove. £18, jlindeberg.com

We give you the insider knowledge on the Best Fashion Gifts for Him...

SHERMER HIGH BREAKFAST CLUB T-SHIRT Practice the art of laidback cool in this Breakfast Club memorabilia t-shirt. £13, arcaneprojects.com VINNIE 9 BROWN LEATHER SHOE Brogues with a contemporary twist. Perfect for the modern dandy. £90, swear-london.com

CA DEC 10 Fashion Gift Ideas for Him.indd 26

J. LINDEBERG HERRINGBONE CASHMERE BOW TIE This bow tie is a classic, unlike the paisley print variety. £90, jlindeberg.com

iPAD HOLDER Salvatore Ferragamo’s classic envelope design has been resized to make the perfect fit for the ipad. £tba, salvatoreferragamo.com

OAK LEAF CUFFLINKS One of a kind cufflinks with a seasonal spin. £29, simoncarter.net

29/11/2010 20:45

Snuggle up with this Kantha Vintage Saree Shawl, £49, Toast, 133 Upper Street Islington N1 1QP

This contemporary shoulder frame bag is super soft and features an antique finish brass clasp, shiny powder coated metal frame, and inside zip pocket, £297, allycappellino.co.uk

Fashion

LOCAL

DON’T LET HER GO WITHOUT these Chie Mihara

‘Kabut Miura’ boots are that winning combo of stylish and practical; and the nod to the hiking boot craze scores points too, £253, chiemihara.com

Give her fashion credentials a reboot in the New Year; this gorgeous Claudia dress from Minna will have the office talking! £350, thelbd.co.uk

Christmas Ideas & Inspiration

THE GIFT TO DIE FOR

– The Ferragamo Ipad folder is the most luxurious of our gifts; and we’re jealous of the lucky girl who bags one! Tba, ferragamo.com

& For Her ...and the Best Fashion Gifts for Her!

BAGS MAKE GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS –

LOCAL

surprise her with this amazing Joanna Loucca Clutch. You’ll be supporting an independent designer and the purchase won’t break the bank £250, Labour of Love, 193 Upper St, N1 1RQ Bring out her inner animal in these spicy beauts! £95, office.co.uk

She can still wear her party frock and keep toasty in this glam Jaegar Faux Fur Coat £175, jaegar.co.uk

CA DEC 10 Fashion Gift Ideas for Him.indd 27

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29/11/2010 20:47

Kids

LITTLE ANGELS – THE DAY NURSERY AS AN EXTENDED FAMILY

years ago two young mothers, Caroline Thompson and Gayna Meyrick, found it difficult to find the kind of childcare they wanted for their own growing families. For them, there just wasn’t the quality of hands on care when Mum couldn’t be there herself. So, as the old Hollywood cliché goes, they asked themselves the question, “Why don’t we do it ourselves right here?” And the rest, as they say, is history. Admittedly the two co-founders of what is now Little Angels Day Nurseries and Pre-prep Schools were somewhat ahead of the game, as both are fully qualified NNEB early years nursery nurses. Their respective careers to date included bags of experience; Gayna as a private nanny to a number of local North London families and Caroline’s included a 2 year stint at Gt. Ormond Street Hospital as a play therapist. “20 years ago the choice was pretty much limited to nannies, childminders or a small number of nurseries. ‘Few of which took children under 3,” Caroline recalls. “What we realised was that there was hardly anywhere a working mum could safely leave pre-school age children, especially the very young, in a properly organised and secure environment.” When Little Angels opened its doors the first customers were, of course, the two founders themselves (who between them have an impressive 7 children in all). But it didn’t take long for word to get around that the new operation was special and the nursery rapidly became established with a growing register. First there were 20 children, their original capacity, then after just eight years, Little Angels moved

into their first purpose designed property at Blackstock Road, Highbury, with room for fifty children, soon after expanding capacity to seventy-two children. In just 8 years Little Angels had gone from cottage industry to respected business. Gayna’s husband, Cal, also came on board full time. His strong accounting background made him the ideal candidate for taking on the financial and administration affairs. Demand continued to grow and the second nursery at Bredgar Road, Highgate was opened in 2004 and, at the time of writing, has a healthy waiting list. So what is the secret of success? The key is almost certainly in the way the nurseries are still run as a family business with the founders in charge day-to-day. Parents can and do talk direct to the owners about every aspect of the childrens’ care and early education. Secondly, of course, good staff are essential. The ‘hands on’ approach to management ensures the staff selection process is conducted at the highest level - not left to the HR Department - and the commitment to finding dedicated staff who believe in what they do, is paramount. Good staff make a good nursery. National Day Care Standards require that 50% of staff have relevant NNEB, NVQ or Btec qualifications. At Little Angels, 90% of staff reach these standards. Each staff member has an enhanced CRB police-check and 3 written references, which are taken up. As a matter of principle, agency staff are not employed. Many of the staff and managers have been with the nursery for years and promotion is nearly always from within.

Furthermore, there are two key workers, often mothers themselves, for every child. This is just another example of how the nursery policy makes a difference and a testament to it’s philosophy - to provide for the community, what parents’ would want for their own children.æ For the most

part everybody knows everybody. It creates a family atmosphere with no strangers in the buildings, which obviously helps the children feel comfortable. Little Angels’ staff-to-child ratio is amongst the highest in London, so babies in particular are always closely supervised. Little Angels is for children from 3 months to 5 years, for whom safety and wellbeing is obviously of prime importance. The welcoming and warm environment reflects the all round good relations between children, parents and staff. Often the ‘family feel’ is further enhanced by the return of older siblings during holiday periods, a service with strong busy-parent appeal. Parents are also encouraged to visit anytime and discuss their child’s progress or welfare. These guidelines have served Little Angels well over the years but, as Managing Director, Caroline Thompson says, “We think our roots are our strength and the main point of difference between us and the big businesses in the UK market.” Little Angels Day Nursery and Pre-prep School 217 Blackstock Road, London, N5 2LL 70 Bredgar Road, N19 5BF. For further details please call Caroline Thompson on 0207 354 5070 littleangelsdaynursery.co.uk

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Kids

6 ’ S I D K 5 CORNER Everything you need to keep your children entertained and looking stylish this Christmas

7 9

10 11

1. FABRIC TREE ADVENT CALENDAR A different take on the chocolate advent calendar. £65, grahamandgreen.com 2. CHRISTMAS STOCKING Be prepared for Father Christmas’ delivery with this stocking and sack. £18, bombayduck.com 3. DAFT DISGUISES Keep the kids entertained over the Christmas holidays with these fun masks. They make a great stocking filler too. £7, talkingtables.co.uk 4. WALL CLOCK This pirate clock will look good on any youngsters’ bedroom wall. £18.99, beckyandlolo.com 5. SKY KING TRIKE The kitsch factor of this pale blue tricycle makes it a sure winner. £385, pumkinpatch.co.uk 6. SNOWMAN LEATHER SHOES Shoes with a festive twist. From £17, inch-blue.com 7. PIN THE TAIL ON RUDOLPH GAME The perfect Christmas party game. £4, talkingtables.co.uk 8. FIOCCHO & LUNA LUXURY CASHMERE GIFT SET This cashmere bobble hat and matching socks are just as adorable as the teddy bear. £70, stellinababy.com 9. CROTCHET TEA SET This adorable tea set is sure to be a playtime hit. £35, lauraashley.com 10. THE GRUFFALO CHUNKY PENCIL AND SHARPENER SET All the colours of the rainbow are included in this set of colouring pencils. £9.99, littlesunflowers.com 11. FELTED DECORATIONS SET These felt decorations have a real homemade feel to them. £14, thewhitecompany.com

CA DEC 10 Kids Product.indd 19

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CA DEC 10 Fashion Shoot.indd 30

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The City & Angel have teamed up with Islington’s No.1 retail destination – the N1 Shopping Centre, to bring you the best in party dresses for the festive season

All that

Photography:æ Dan Williams Hair/Make-up:æ Helen Rance

T Bella Jersey Max Dress, £150, French Connection Location: Yo Sushi

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Ophelia Print Dress, £65, Monsoon (Fusion) Polar Express Belted Coat, £220, French Connection Shoes, Black Brocade Shoes, £45, Next Location: Tinderbox

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Runway Collection Dress, £40, Next Faux Fur Jacket, £100, Monsoon (Fusion) Gold Clutch Purse, £32, Accessorize Location: Tinderbox

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Samantha Sequin Dress, ÂŁ160.00, French Connection Location: Sunglasses Hut

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THIS PAGE: Purple Rockafella Beading Dress, £140, French Connection Location: Shakeaway FRONT COVER: Noelle Red Dress, £60, Monsoon --------------------

CREDITS: PHOTOGRAPHY: Dan Williams (danwilliams40@me.com) HAIR/MAKE-UP: Helen Rance (helenrance@yahoo.com) MODEL: Laura J at First Model Management LOCATION: THE N1 SHOPPING CENTRE, ISLINGTON

ALL CLOTHES/ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE FROM THE N1 SHOPPING CENTRE, N1

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Little Black Dress 25 years of

Dream bikes for perfect memories

THE LBD GIRLS ARE

ELEGANTLY WAISTED

o what have we been up to in the run-up to Christmas and have we given our trusty LBDs their due chance to shine during the festive saeson. Well, we hit The Barnsbury for owner, Steve Coxshall’s, birthday. Guests were on fine form and we managed to spy Duncan from boy-band Blue. The Barnesbury is a wonderful gastro-pub with eternally festive decor. The antique finishing touches make it a venue conducive to a bit of self-adornment, which is just as well, because all the holiday hijinks put us in the mood to trade our jeans in for a bit of sparkle. Generic Heart In A6 (Vert).indd 1 December we’ll definitely be visiting the Geffrye 12/18/09 Museum for their Christmas past exhibition - 400 years of Seasonal Traditions In English Homes (how jolly). The exhibition runs from November right through to January 5. We’ll aslo be making space in the diary for some LBDwearing events. On December 4 Madame Geisha and Spindle magazine present unique one day pop up shopping and party experience at 82 Great Eastern St in Shoreditch. London. There’ll be free cocktails, a Flying Eyeball Private View after-party featuring music from Roots Manuva. The event finishes at 9pm which would lead you on nicely to the Ladybird Bar on Upper St. The Saturday sees the venue reminiscing in style as it hosts a night of Electric Swing. With music from Jim Wood and The Soap Box Allstars the evening promises to be a little bit different as well as a celebration of the bar’s 3rd birthday. And if you are still searching for that last-minute perfect party dress, take a look at our madeto-order Alexandra Bailey “Eleanora” dress. Furthermore, you can take advantage of our 2-4-1 Christmas deal; all UK orders placed in December will get a vintage dress for free too! Now that’s the Christmas spirit. Ho Ho Ho! Visit our online boutique and blog at thelbd.co.uk and sign up to the mailing list for 10% off your first purchase. Please remember to get orders on made-to order dresses in asap as they can take up to two weeks.

The all new Fixie Inc Backspin. Now in London exclusively at Mosquito Bikes. Mosquito Bikes for everything cycling – commuting bikes, repairs, clothes and accessories.

Mosquito Bikes est 1984

123 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 2SN tel: 020 7226 8765 mail@ mosquito-bikes.co.uk

www.mosquito-bikes.co.uk

8:22:16 AM

Uniquely London Fabulous gifts at the London Transport Museum shop Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB Shop opens daily or buy online

ltmuseum.co.uk

CA DEC 10 LBD COLUMN.indd 36

29/11/2010 21:35

motoring

Motoring

The

CONTINENTAL It’s a case of ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss’. This, believe it or not, is the all-new Bentley Continental GT, though the casual observer might be hard pushed to tell the difference between old and new

ome seven years after the original was launched comes the new footballer’s favourite. It’s the same length and height as before, but is a little wider. The radiator is more upright and the bonnet marginally longer as a result, while the body’s lines – notably over the rear haunches and the bold strake across the doors – are crisper than Xbefore. There are changes to the headlights with LED inserts, in line with the recently launched Mulsanne, and a smart new dashboard. The seats are thinner and lighter with the dual benefits of contributing to the car’s 65kg overall weight loss, as well as offering more knee room for those in the rear. Under the bonnet, the thirsty turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine has been tweaked to give a little more power (it’s up to 575PS) with, claims Bentley, no increase in fuel consumption. But the really big news is that towards the end of 2011, the Conti will be offered with a new 4.0-litre V8 engine with somewhere in the region of 450PS on tap… Bentley is being no more specific at the moment. Performance will suffer a little, but that will be more than offset by lower emissions and much better economy. Not that many of the Premier Division will worry too much about that.  37

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29/11/2010 23:44

Food&Drink

MY SWEET LORD

Helen Baron takes a trip to the Restaurant at St Paul’s – and finds that sustenance here isn’t all spiritual in nature

f you fancy going somewhere delightfully festive this month, why not try the restaurant at none other than (drum roll please) St Paul’s Cathedral? Though rather humble-looking – in the manner of museum cafes and the like – the toned down approach makes immediate sense. This is a place of worship after all, and the main attraction is the splendiferous cathedral itself, the architectural wonder that has become one of the capital’s most recognisable (and best loved) monuments. Here, out of sight is most definitely not out of mind, and it remains something very special to dine in the vaulted space below the famous landmark, imagining Wren’s celebrated dome arching high above your head. It

was this combination of the culinary with the historical that first saw me add the Restaurant at St Paul’s to my list of things to do this year – and indeed, which saw it march grandly into the Top Ten. Quite a lot of expectation now rested on the shoulders of the restaurant’s proprietors Harbour and Jones, who launched the establishment in 2009 with the aim of creating a dining experience that would live up to the unique location – as well as catering for the hordes of hungry tourists (not to mention in-the-know local businesspeople) who throng the area every day. Specialising in working at distinguished venues including RADA, The Hoops Inn at Perry Green, Chicheley Hall, Portland

Place and Carlton Gardens, Harbour and Jones are no strangers to an important address – but would fine dining beneath St Paul’s be biting off more than even they could chew? I was curious to find out… As I mentioned earlier, the décor is undeniably simple, the main feature being the whitewashed brick, the curved finish of the brickwork offering a subtle suggestion of the cathedral’s famous dome. Clean lines dominate, so that rather than trying to outdo its host venue for grandeur, the restaurant is possessed instead of an almost ‘Ikea’ simplicity. If one does hanker after something more grandiose (no, unfortunately you can’t eat in the cathedral itself), there are private dining rooms available to hire which

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Food&Drink

“SUPERB FOOD IF YOU’RE IN THE AREA.”

ONE OF THE CRPYT ROOMS FOR HIRE (BELOW)

will take you at least some of the way there, but it’s best to dispel images of you and your pals eating in the Sistine Chapel before you arrive. Besides, the restaurant doesn’t open for dinner – its servings are limited to café hours, so it’s lunch or afternoon tea only. Christmas lunches, brunches and parties are available, however, priced at a very reasonable £55 for three courses, with menu highlights including the St Paul’s fruitcake, plum pudding and Chestnut Delice. A handy tip though: it’s probably best not to quaff too much champagne; the cathedral is not the appropriate venue for the usual office party highjinks. Is it possible to imagine a less enticing scene: an eyesore of drunken colleagues staggering out from beneath this great spiritual landmark… next stop: Slug and Lettuce. If you’re prepared to behave yourself though, and can get down there early enough, you’ll find St Paul’s is no slouch when it comes to the crunch: serving great food. On my recent visit, a very appealing menu expounded the values of seasonality and local provenance, offering an interesting take on traditional British cuisine. My dining partner and I plumped for a merlot from a healthily-sized wine-list to accompany our heritage pumpkin soup and treacle-cured salmon with kohlrabi and apple salad on Hoxton rye; followed by grey mullet with celeriac, pine nut and purple broccoli, and West Sussex pork belly with Aspall’s cider red cabbage and apple sauce. Perfectly-sized plates of deliciousness. The mullet was light and fluffy, the celeriac beautifully blended; the pork belly, too, was exquisitely tender and flavoursome. Our charming waiter took obvious pride in the food and its British origins, to the extent of offering us an aperitif made with Carter’s sparkling wine (from Essex) and Chegworth Valley apple and rhubarb juice. This offering - dubbed ‘Britain in a Glass’ – was so sweetly lappable and refreshing, I found myself feeling rather Britishly merry by the end of it. A fortunate real surprise came with the desserts. We tried various options 39

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Food&Drink

on the menu which was clever thinking on our part as otherwise I may have overlooked the Bakewell tart, thinking it to be a rather staid and dreary choice in the face of the more excitingly named Regent’s Park honey ice and gingerbread sandwich. I’m a BIG fan of the ice-cream sandwich, let alone one made with honey from the bees of Regent’s Park. But I have to say, the tart was the smoothest, most flavourrich thing of its kind I have ever had the pleasure to try. Who knew a Bakewell could taste so exciting? Mr Kipling has sold his almond charges short by some distance. Added to that was further taste sensation with a little pot of vanilla pod custard – its consistency perfectly judged: thick, creamy but somehow also light. Our sweet odyssey didn’t end there, however: a Victoria plum compote served with set yoghurt and melt-in-the-mouth orange shortbread thins was not to be outdone – to the extent that I think a tasting board featuring all three desserts should be made a regular menu option. Either that or we’ll all just have to go back frequently and devise some kind of pudding rotation (while hoping that that Bakewell tart works its way onto the Afternoon Tea selection). By now, my conclusions must be clear. I entered with grand expectations and the Restaurant at St Paul’s provided. Superb food and great value for money (at £20 for two courses and £24 for three) make it well worth a visit if you’re in the area. After coffee and gorgeously fluffy lavender shortbreads, my companion and I strolled over to the tombs of Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren himself before wending our way to the exit and gazing up at one of the finest examples of artistic achievement the world has to offer; little had we known the culinary achievements that we would find below. The perfect destination, then, for hungry souls. In a word: divine.  The Restaurant at St Paul’s, restaurantatstpauls.co.uk, Saint Paul’s Churchyard EC4M 8AD (020 7248 2469) See the Editor’s Pick Page for information on Christmas events at St Paul’s. 40

CA DEC 10 Food and Drink INTERVIEW.indd 40

REGENTS PARK HONEY ICE & GINGER BREAD SANDWICH This recipe was inspired by a childhood ice-cream that evoked such pleasure it still makes my mouth water. Obviously the updated version is a much more grown up affair with the spicy ginger undertones being soothed by the warmth of the honey. Harbour and Jones sponsor hives at Regents Park in support of British honey. So this recipe, we think showcases something amazing. My sous chef Guillaume provided me with this delicious Honey Ice recipe. The ginger cake is a traditional one that is best cooked days in advance and left to mature wrapped in paper. At St Paul’s restaurant we dress this pudding with ginger syrup made from a basic sugar syrup, ginger and spices, but you can substitute this with stem ginger and its syrup CANDICE WEBBER, HEAD CHEF, THE RESTAURANT AT ST PAUL’S Yield : Temp : Cooking time:

21cm x 21cm square tin lined with baking paper 160oc 45 minutes

FOR THE REGENTS PARK HONEY ICE 220g Honey 4 Egg yolks 400ml Double Cream 200ml Milk 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Gently warm your honey and slowly pour over your yolks whisking the while. Gently heat 300ml cream and 200ml of milk until boiling point Then gradually add your hot cream mixture to your honey & yolks. Return to a clean pan and cook over a low heat, stirring consistently, until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Strain through a fine strainer into a bowl and allow to cool. Whisk the remaining cream to a firm but not buttery consistency and fold through the chilled custard. Place in the same sized tray as the ginger cake.

FOR THE GINGER CAKE 110s Butter 110g Sugar 110g Black treacle 1 Egg 170g Plain flour 1tsp Ground ginger 1/2tsp Ground cinnamon 145ml Warm milk 1 tsp Bicarbonate soda 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Melt butter, sugar and treacle in a saucepan. Then allow to cool. Add egg whisking to incorporate. Sift flour, cinnamon and ginger into the treacle mixture Warm the milk so it is just above body temperature. Once the milk is warm add the bicarbonate of soda.(This will activate the bicarb almost like sherbert in your mouth. Making the cake rise once combined together and heated.) Add milk to your treacle mix pour into your tin and bake till a skewer once inserted comes out clean. The cake should have a sticky top. Cool in tin. Once cool wrap in silicone paper and store till needed.

To assemble slice ginger cake in half length ways and fill the ginger bread with the ice as you would a sandwich. dress with ginger syrup to finish.

29/11/2010 20:36

Food&Drink

FEATURED RESTAURANTS T HA HE M PER BU F RG EC ER T

BYRON 341-342 Upper St, London N1 0PB 020 7704 7620 byronhamburgers.com OPENING TIMES: Mon – Thu: 12:00 – 11:00pm Fri – Sat: 12:00 – 11:30pm Sun: 12.00 – 10:30pm

k, so it is another burger joint, but BYRON in Angel takes things to a somewhat more exciting level with its “building site chic” interior design. Winner of The Observer Food Monthly’s Best Cheap Eats Award last year, its high profile fans include Giles Coren, Tom Parker Bowles and the Metro newspaper’s Marina O’Loughlin. The restaurant’s claim to fame is its obsession with doing a simple thing really well - creating the perfect hamburger. Capitalizing on the nation’s desire for exactly that: simple food well done, BYRON have also launched a mobile hamburger kitchen, Burger Shack, which tours the festival circuit in the Summer – delivering meaty goodness to the masses. If you haven’t tried the Oreo Cookie Milkshake, then seriously get to it – it wins our vote for the best milkshake in the area! ALMEIDA FRENCH RESTAURANT & WINE BAR 30 Almeida Street N1 1AD 020 7354 4777 French

DI MONFORTE 70–72 Liverpool Road, Islington N1 0QD 020 7226 1475

PROJECT A Gainsborough Studios West 1 Poole Street N1 5EA 020 7033 7880

LE SACRÉ COEUR 18 Theberton Street N1 0QX 020 7354 2618

FIG & OLIVE 151 Upper Street N1 1RA 020 7354 2605

THE OTTOMAN 302 Upper Street N1 2TU 020 7354 2260

☎

French

☎

Italian

☎

European

☎

Thai

Turkish

CAMINO 3 Varnishers Yard, Regents Quarter, King’s Cross N1 9FD 020 7841 7331

LE MERCURY 140a Upper Street N1 1QY 0871 332 7745

CLUB GARCON 57 West Smithfield EC1A 9DS 020 7796 0600

MAGHREB RESTAURANT 189 Upper Street N1 1RQ 020 7226 2305

SMITHS OF SMITHFIELD 67-77 Charterhouse Street EC1M 6HJ 020 7251 7950

DOLLAR GRILLS AND MARTINIS 2 Exmouth Market Farringdon EC1R 4PX 020 7278 0077 American

☎

MERCADO BAR & CANTINA 26-30 Church Street Stoke Newington N16 0LU 020 7923 0555 Mexican

ST. JOHN BAR & RESTAURANT SMITHFIELD 26 St John Street EC1M 4AY 020 7251 4090

YUM YUM THAI RESTAURANT 183-187 Stoke Newington High Street N16 0LH 020 7254 6751

MORGAN M RESTAURANT 489 Liverpool Road N7 8NS 020 7609 3560

THE PEASANT 240 St John Street EC1V 4PH 020 7336 7726

☎

Spanish

☎

FIFTEEN LONDON 13-15 Westland Place N1 7LP 020 7251 3909

☎

French

Thai

Italian

☎

French

Moroccan and Mediterranean

☎

French

OISHIII 67 Stoke Newington Church Street N16 0AR 020 7254 3488

☎

Japanese

SABOR RESTAURANT LTD 108 Essex Road N1 8LX 020 7226 5551

☎

Pan American

Modern European

☎

ZILOUFS 270 Upper Street N1 2UQ 020 7226 1118

☎

British

Gastro Pub

Pan Asian 41

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Little Bay Restaurants would like to wish all their patrons a Merry Christmas Modern bistro-style food at low prices is the defining feature of this unpretentious restaurant. A flat price for each course rises by a pound or two after 7 pm, so starters become £3.55, main courses £8.45 and desserts become £3.55. Roasts every Sunday. STARTERS All @ £2.55 from Noon until 7 PM, £3.55 after 7 PM Soup of the Day Baked Garlic Mushrooms served with Mixed Leaves Salad Choux de Crab with Ginger, Chillies and Citrus Hollandaise Parson Pastry of Smoked Chicken, Mushroom and Herbs in a Filo Pastry Goats Cheese and Caramelised Onion with Salad Pig’s Cheeks with Garlic Mash and Crispy Bacon Smoked Salmon Terrine with Salad and Toast Avocado Prawns and Marie Rose Sauce

Moules Mariniere with Shallots, Garlic, White Wine and Fresh Parsley LIGHT DISHES All @ £6.45 all day Organic Lamb Meat Balls in Tomato Sauce served with Cauliflower Mornay Fresh Egg Tagliatelle with Cep Mushrooms Grilled Burger of 100% Aberdeen Angus Beef served with Cheese and Home Cut Chips fried in Goose Fat Mediterranean Butter Beans and Home Made Grilled Sausage MAIN COURSES All @ £6.45 from Noon until 7 PM, £8.45 after 7 PM Traditional Norfolk Turkey with all the

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY “Zany” décor and “consistent tasty food” at “how-do-they-do-it” prices, make this budget bistro chain one of “the best bargains in London”.

Trimmings Grilled Lamb Steak with Moroccan Carrot Salad and Chickpeas Breast of Duck with Steamed Pak Choi, Honey and Ginger Jus Fillet of Salmon with Artichoke and Green Beans Chicken Supreme stued with Spinach and Cottage Cheese Plaice Fillet with White Crab, Spinach and Veronique Sauce Beef Bourguignon with Boiled Potato Vegetable Moussaka with Macedonian Salad SIDE DISHES All @ £2.45 Home Cut Chips - Fried in Goose Fat

Mixed Leaves Salad Selection of Vegetables DESSERTS All @ £2.55 from Noon until 7 PM, £3.55 after 7 PM Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce Apple Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream Proteroles with Banana Cream and Chocolate sauce Chocolate Log with Poached Pear and Vanilla Ice Cream White Chocolate and Pistachio Parfait Cheese Platter

Zagat 2010 Guide: “Each boasting a different “funky” décor, these “eccentric” eateries are “ popular with the “25-35”- year-old set, thanks to a “simple, bistro-style” Modern Euro menu that’s a “true bargain” –“how they do it at this price is one of the great unfathomables”.

FARRINGDON | 171 FARRINGDON ROAD, EC1R 3AL | 020 7278 1234 ALSO AT CROYDON AND KILBURN

www.littlebay.co.uk

” but where are my folks going to stay?”

THE ROSE & CROWN

A local land-mark pub and boutique guest house overlooking Clissold Park and fashionable Stoke Newington

Just a thought... page 42.indd 22

199 STOKE NEWINGTON CHURCH STREET, N16 9ES 020 7254 7497

roseandcrownn16.co.uk

29/11/2010 22:26

Food&Drink

FEATURED BARS

WAX JAMBU

THE HANBURY ARMS

Linton Street, Islington, N1 7DU ☎ 020 7288 2222 LUCKY VOICE

173-174 Upper Street N1 1RG ☎ 020 7354 6280 KESTON LODGE

131 Upper Street, Islington N1 1QP ☎ 020 7354 9535 THE FELLOW

24 York Way, London London N1 9AA ☎ 020 7837 3001

he Christmas party is already well under way at Wax Jambu, with a host of festive treats lined up including a glittering array of upand coming DJs and cocktail offers. Beat the freeze with one of Wax’s winter fix’s, including spiced hot rum punch & mulled wine. When it comes to party bookings Wax Jambu makes it easy, offering anything from cosy booths, ideal for a small gathering to Wax’s Rum Cove - a private hire bar bringing a little bit of the Caribbean to Islington. Christmas bookings qualify for extra special offers - enquire online through their website to avoid disappointment. For those staying local this Christmas, the Wax Jambu drinks will be flowing till late on Christmas Eve so why not join in the celebrations? The big winter climax however, will be on New Year’s Eve with a musically inspired ‘Decades’ party hosted by DJ Oli P. Taking you on a journey through the decades, revisiting and refreshing the best beats of years gone by. Advanced tickets are £10 and you’re encouraged to dress to suit your favourite decade, along with the Wax Jambu bartenders.

OPENING TIMES: Mon – Wed 5pm – midnight, Thursday 5pm – 1am, Friday 4pm – 2am, Saturday 2pm – 2am, Sunday 2pm – 1am. HAPPY HOURS: Sunday to Thursday from opening until 8pm. ADDRESS: 44-145 Upper Street, N1 1QY 020 7226 7660 waxjambu.co.uk

LADYBIRD BAR

THE LONDESBOROUGH

☎

36, Barbauld Rd, London N16 0SS ☎ 020 7254 5865

BIG CHILL HOUSE

THE REGENT PUB

70 Upper Street, N1 0NY1 020 7359 1710

London N1

☎ 020 7427 2540

201 Liverpool Road, Islington, N1 1LX ☎ 020 700 2725

LOUNGELOVER

ALBERT & PEARL

257-259 Pentonville Road

1 Whitby Street Shoreditch E1 6JU ☎ 020 7012 1234 VINOTECA

181 Upper St Islington N1 1RQ ☎ 020 7354 9993 THE WINCHESTER

7 St John St London EC1 ☎ 020 7253 8786

2 Essex Road, N1 8LN ☎ 020 7704 8789

EMBASSY BAR

LEXINGTON

COTTONS

WAX JAMBU

119 Essex Road, London N1 2SN ☎ 020 7226 7901

70 Exmouth Market, Farringdon EC1R 4QP ☎ 020 7833 333 WENLOCK ARMS

96 Pentonville Rd Islington N1 9HS ☎ 020 7837 5371

144-145 Upper St, Islington N1 1QY ☎ 020 7226 7660 ANAM BAR

26 Wenlock Road, Shoreditch N1 7TA ☎ 020 7608 3406

3 Chapel Market, Islington, N1 9EZ ☎ 020 7278 1001

THE COACH & HORSES

AULD SHILLELAGH

BAR MUSIC HALL

THE LORD CLYDE

178 Stoke Newington, High Street, N16 7JL ☎ 020 7254 6697 134 Curtain Road, Shoreditch EC2A 3AR ☎ 020 7729 7216

105 Church Street, Stoke Newington N16 0UD ☎ 020 7249 5951

340-342 Essex Road, Islington N1 3PB ☎ 020 7288 9850

CA DEC 10 BAR LISTINGS.indd 43

01/12/2010 12:26

THE BARNSBURY Traditional Pub and Dining House

A great British boozer with fantastic food

• GUEST ALES • GREAT WINES • A LA CARTE MENU • BEER GARDEN NOW TAKING XMAS BOOKINGS!!!

“THE BARNSBURY TAKE PRIDE IN OFFERING A SELECTION OF REAL ALES” 209-211 Liverpool Road, Islington Tel: 020 7607 5519 | Email: thebarnsburypub@hotmail.com

www.thebarnsbury.co.uk

02/10/2010 00:26

Interiors

ALL THE FUN OF THE FAYRE City and Angel takes a tour of Country Living Magazine’s Christmas Fair 2010

ast month saw Country Living Magazine’s Christmas Fair come to Islington’s Business Design Centre for four full days of festive fun. Being based in the same building, we saw the exhibition grow from the bare bones of construction into a fully-fledged grotto of seasonal delight – replete with giant trees, green and red banners and charmingly decorated stalls. It certainly put us in the mood for Christmas! The fair offers something for everyone, from stocking filler gifts to beautiful ornaments and seasonal foods to festive decorations. Featuring 819 different exhibitors, most of which specialised in homewares and home accessories, there were interiors

ideas and cosy Christmas pieces in abundance – as well as beautiful jewellery, silverware, clothing and some truly adorable old-fashioned kids’ pyjamas. Many of the items on sale were handmade by the people selling them, which meant that there were plenty of friendly experts on hand to give tips on anything from wreathmaking and card-crafting to giftwrapping in style. Highlights for the City and Angel team included the Orkney Craft Village, showcasing the islands’ diverse and meticulous crafting skills, and the embroidered cushions and hand-painted porcelain of Cheshire’s Jan Constantine, whose heritage-inspired ‘heirlooms of the future’ have been snapped up by retailers as prestigious and demanding as

Harrods, Liberty & Co. and Selfridges. Happily for the show’s hosts, the many thousands of visitors who visited over the fair’s four days seemed to enjoy it just as much as we did. We caught up with one of the stallholders... COMPANY: MIRJAMI DESIGN How did you start doing what you do, and for how long have you been doing it? Laura: I started out re-upholstering antique furniture – which I still do. I used the vintage fabric cut-offs to make my first teddy bear in 2008. It stemmed from that really. I began making more – I thought of them as ‘interior bears’ – and I went on to make other animals! 45

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Interiors

Where do you source fabrics? Where do you find inspiration? The Woodland Trust! I love animals, and being Finnish I’m inspired by tales from folklore. Each of my animals is unique and handmade. I began using the fabric left-over from upholstering. I moved to the Cotswolds for my career and a friend told me about a lovely local mill in the area where they hand-weave fabrics the old-fashioned way; fabrics are even dyed in the old way. I get to use such lovely woollen off-cuts from sample runs. How would you describe your own interior styling? My home is a mixture of auction and flea-market items; I know each piece’s story. I’m like a magpie and there is a bit of a mix of period and Victorian styles with modern. I suppose you can see a hint of Scandinavian influence. Do you have any interiors tips? The main thing is to create something in your home that you are comfortable with. Other than that I’d say be brave with colours to keep things cheerful. I personally am always changing things – it’s inherited from Finnish tradition I think. At Christmas, the deep plush red cushions come out, in Spring it’s more stripped back and I bring out plainer, crisper, lighter colours to evoke more of a fresh feeling.

Describe your typical day? I start off checking emails and catching up on enquiries before I head to my studio. I’ll either be working on reupholstering or on one of my animals. It takes a long time with the animals – I’ll cut out the pattern of fabric together but each one gets its individual attention. It’s like building a character. mirjamidesign.com Check out Laura’s amazing paperweight owls and shrews!

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CH RIS BOO T 2 m PAMAS &K YOU e Pric nu RTY NE R es f s to NO W rom ch W YE AR £9 oo ! .95 &

se f

£24 rom .95

This Christmas, if you’re looking for a restaurant that’s offering something different, there’s only one place to go – for the finest in Moroccan food head to Maghreb. With a menu that includes harira, taboulleh and tanjines, the richness and diversity of this phenomenal cuisine is captured beautifully. The bar is also the perfect spot to open a bottle of wine from their extensive wine list that covers Morocco and beyond.

“Maghreb, is a dream of a restaurant... ...tackling the full repertoire of Moroccan classics with a flair and attention to detail that few can rival.” – Time Out Magazine

Maghreb Moroccan Restaurant & Bar 189 Upper Street, N1 1RQ, 020 7226 2305 www.maghreb-restaurant.co.uk

Architects Planners Interior Designers

Jack Schneider

Architect of Sir Elton John’s Woodside Gallery of Modern Art.

Free Consultation

CHARTERED PRACTICE

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Lower Ground Unit • 15 El don Gr ove London • NW3 5PT 0207 435 7105 www.schneiderdesigners.co.uk architects@schneiderdesigners.co.uk

01/12/2010 11:24

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Interiors FIRESIDE SET, £26, gardentrading.co.uk

CRYSTAL GARLAND LIGHTS, £25, coxandcox.co.uk

MAGICAL CRACKERS, £18 for 6, talkingtables.co.uk

Christmas

WHITE DOVE CHRISTMAS CARD HOLDER, £11.50, bottlegreenhomes.co.uk

INTERIOR MOTIVES

PAPERCHASE CHRISTMAS TREE FELT TABLE RUNNER, £8.50, paperchase.co.uk, N1 Centre, Parkfield Street, Islington N1 OPS.

for the home December’s must-haves

EXTENDING TOASTING FORK, £6, coxandcox.co.uk

CHRISTMAS STORY LIMITED EDITION BAUBLE, £14.95, reikookaneko.co.uk

BE MERRY PRINT, £20, keepcalmgallery.com

CHRISTMAS NAPKIN RINGS, £9.99, zarahome.com

FREDDY CHRISTMAS TEALIGHT, £5.99, zarahome.com

DIPTYQUE MINI CHRISTMAS SCENTED CANDLE SET, £58, liberty.co.uk

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Spotlight

BEHIND THE SCENES You may have seen the latest Converse ads emblazoned across the walls in Angel, Old Street and Camden Town tube stations. Featuring up-and-coming bands as well as established acts like Hot Chip and Bernard Sumner (of New Order and Joy Division fame), the yearlong campaign further cements the company’s long affiliation with musical talent.

ccompanying the tube station takeover is an exclusive new song, ‘Didn’t Know What Love Was’, a collaboration between Sumner, Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard of Hot Chip and producer-of-the-moment Hot City. The track, which is free to download from the Converse website, makes the campaign (itself already a talking point) something more than just a promotional push. It’s a great example of how a credible brand can have a direct, positive input in the arts while also putting something tangible into the hands of fans. “Being able to work alongside Bernard, whose music has been a huge influence on us since we were young, and Hot City, who are creating some of the most ground-breaking music of today, was an amazing experience,”

BEHIND THE SCENES OF HOT CITY RECORDING THE ‘DIDN’T KNOW WHAT LOVE WAS’ TRACK IN THE STUDIO

says Alexis Taylor. “As soon as we entered the studio, we connected immediately and began weaving together various influences and genres.” Converse have also released a series of three short films to coincide with the release of the song, each starring the musicians involved in the project. These films are being distributed alongside the track, with the third and final instalment set to focus on Hot City. In early November, the City and Angel team popped down to the Vice/Converse party at Camden watering hole The Lock Tavern and caught up with the electronic duo for a quick Q&A. WHAT DREW YOU TO THE CONVERSE CAMPAIGN? The opportunity to work with Hot Chip and Bernard Sumner. Both are amazing at what they do and are pioneers in electronic music. It’s great to be involved in a creative process that has no rules to follow and allows you to try something new. WHAT WAS THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS LIKE FOR “DIDN’T KNOW WHAT LOVE WAS”? The song was written by Bernard & Joe and Alexis from Hot Chip; we went to hang out

with them down at Peter Gabriel’s studio in Bath (which was pretty epic) and get an idea of where the track was going, and then headed back to a studio in London and worked on our version of the mix. We tried to stay true to what the guys had created but at the same time we knew Alexis and Joe had got us involved because they were into what we do, so the end result is a nice mix of everyone’s sound. WHAT’S COMING UP FOR YOU IN THE NEAR FEATURE? Plenty of gigs around the world including Switzerland, Australia and Japan. We’re also working on an album for Moshi Moshi featuring artists like Kano, VV Brown and Slow Club. Converse have a second track – featuring legendary Blur guitarist Graham Coxon, Paloma Faith and Bill Rider Jones (formerly of psychedelic Liverpool band The Coral) planned for January of next year. The current campaign song, Didn’t Know What Love Was, is available to download now at converse.co.uk and authorised Converse websites around the world.

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Fulham Islington Notting Hill Richmond Wigmore Street Cheltenham Guildford

020 7736 7362 020 7704 8260 020 7229 2123 020 8744 9993 020 7297 6220 01242 521 900 01483 573 584

www.roundhousedesign.com

Made in Britain,Built to Last

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Gadgets

MOBILE CINEMA DVD PROJECTOR, £149.99, FIREBOX.COM

THE ONE FOR ALL UNIVERSAL MULTICHARGER, £49.99, COMET.CO.UK ’ LEICA M9 ‘TITANIUM M CAMERA, £4850 FRO RED DOT CAMERAS, 68 , OLD STREET, EC1V 9AN .UK REDDOTCAMERAS.CO

LOCAL

I WANT ONE

OF THOSE! s Christmas’ hottest gadget

LEGRIA HF M32 CANON CAMCORDER, £829, JESSOPS.COM

GAGGIA RI8155 BABY ESPRESSO COFFEE MAKER, £249, JOHNLEWIS.COM

MR SYSTEMS TOP APPLE PRODUCTS

The MacBook Pro

Apple OS X Snow Leopard

Available at MR Systems www.mrsystems.co.uk 020 7697 2230 53

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WHAT’S ON THE Wonderful WEB?

Technology

Iain Scott looks at the 3 best things on the net this month

A FEW WORDS FROM RICHARD BRANSON

Hats off to Richard Branson and his team on this one. An innovative, yet uniquely placed campaign has been launched by the guys down at Virgin Media in the hope to expose companies who don’t provide a broadband service to the level they say they do. Now, your internet speed may not be top of your list of household gripes, but upon my own investigation, I was very surprised to find how slow my own internet connection was compared to what I’d been promised – 1.5Mb vs. 20Mb I’d hoped for! StopTheBroadbandCon.org has teamed up with the SpeedTest website to allow visitors to check the speed of their Internet and rate it. If you’re not happy, Virgin encourage you to sign their online petition. So, where’s all this going? Support from the Advertising Standards Authority to put pressure of the likes of BT, Sky and other providers to tell the truth. No more ‘theoretical max’, more’ typical and expected speeds’. Take the speed test now at www.stopthebroadbandcon.org

ONLINE PROBATE SUPERMARKET

Price comparison sites which simply give you the cheapest price for a type of service – not necessarily the best indicator of the quality of the service. A new and welcome addition is a price comparison site that will actually match the appropriate service to your situation. probatesupermarket.com is a service comparison website for probate specialist services. Through a network including nationwide suppliers as well as local probate firms throughout Great Britain, the site brings a unique offering to the market including practical and logistical guidance to those who wish to do their own probate; a comprehensive fully-inclusive fixed price service, along with an aftercare service for the family of the deceased and other beneficiaries. Choosing professional help when someone dies is not easy. How do you know if a firm is efficient, technically competent

and will charge a fair price? There has been a lot of publicity recently about extortionate legal fees and probate cases taking years before those entitled get their inheritance. This is where Probate Supermarket can help. Take a look at www.probatesupermarket.com

YOUR ONLINE ADVENT CALENDAR

Admittedly, this is our own site. But as we’re giving away £1,000 to charity, I thought I’d let you know! Log on to the Base Creative website (link below) and each day there’ll be prizes, jokes, and other hilarious fun and games via our 2010 online advent calendar. Getting into the festive spirit as much as we can, Base Creative will donate £1,000 spread across 5 of the charities and voluntary organisations it has been involved with in the past 8 years. Throughout December (and with the focus of it being on the 24th), you can vote for the charity you would like to receive the donation. Based on percentage of votes, the £1,000 will be spread across each of the charities - that way, everyone benefits. Open the doors of your online advent calendar at www.basecreative.eu/advent Iain Scott is managing director of Islington based web design agency, Base Creative. Iain’s role is helping businesses make more of their online marketing. If you have a suggestion for a featured website, email Iain personally at iain.scott@basecreative.eu. 55

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Fair Angel Angel Chri Fair Angel Christmas Fair The The The

ember

2010 11-12 11-12 December December2010 2010

Preview Evening Preview PreviewEvening Evening ay 10 December Friday Friday10 10December December 6.30-9pm 6.30-9pm 6.30-9pm

p painting pr ain iceramics t ceramics n ing t photography m photography cera a mk i sculpture c si n pprintmaking ho g togra painting sculpture printmaking ra fashion fa t si h textiles i o o nn jewellery t e x t ifurniture furniture g l e sl a jillustration ew s es lle glass ry fashion textiles jewellery illustration glass

did

Galleries Candid Galleries Opening hours: hours: Opening hours: Candid Opening 3 T orrens Street 3Galleries Torrens Street

Sat-Sun 12-6pm 12-6pm Sat-Sun 12-6pm Sat-Sun

3 Torrens Street Islington, London Islington, London Islington, London EC1V 1NQEC1V 1NQ EC1V 1NQ office@candidarts.com office@candidarts.com office@candidarts.com www.candidarts.com www.candidarts.com www.candidarts.com 020 7837 4237 020 7837 4237 020 7837 4237

AdmissionAdmission Free Admission Free

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WHAT’S ON • WHAT’S ON • WHAT’S ON • WHAT’S ON • WHAT’S ON Diary

THEATRE

20 NOVEMBER – 30 JANUARY LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Lewis Carroll’s most enduring work gets a puppet makeover. littleangeltheatre.com, 14 Dagmar Street, N1 2DN

COMEDY

13 DECEMBER PLEASANCE THEATRE JOE WILKINSON: MY MUM’S CALLED STELLA AND MY DAD’S CALLED BRIAN

Expect comic musings on the mundane from this stand up who is developing quite a following and has been likened to Stewart Lee. pleasance.co.uk, Carpenters Mews North Road, N7 9EF

WHAT’S ON

DECEMBER CLUB

31 DECEMBER HOXTON PONY

NEW YEARS EVE AT THE HOXTON PONY A New Years Eve party which definitely won’t be an anti- climax thanks to DJ sets from Hot Chip and Foals.hoxtonpony. com, 104-108, Curtain Road, EC2A 3AH

EXHIBITION

25 NOVEMBER – 23 JANUARY WILKINSON GALLERY PHOEBE UNWIN

Phoebe Unwin returns to the Wilkinson Gallery for the second time. wilkinsongallery.com, 50-58 Vyner Street, E2 9DQ

XMAS MARKET

11, 18 AND 19 DECEMBER OF CABBAGES & KINGS CHRISTMAS MARKET DAYS

EXHIBITION

15 OCTOBER 2010 – 6 FEBRUARY 2011 BARBICAN FUTURE BEAUTY: 30 YEARS OF JAPANESE FASHION Famed for their daring designs and exceptional tailoring, this exhibition celebrating Japanese fashion features some of the most illustrious designers of recent years including Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Junya Wantanabe. High on theatricality, and above all, skill. barbican.org.uk, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS

MUSIC

3 days of the best Christmas shopping in town. Over 60 designers and makers peddling their wares at two venues in Islington and Stoke Newington. For a full list of venues visit ofcabbages.co.uk

5 DECEMBER SCALA THE RADIO DEPT

These guys may have first caught your attention on the Marie Antoinette soundtrack. Known for beautiful but haunting melodies, this is their biggest UK show to date. scala-london.co.uk, 275 Pentonville Road, N1 9NL

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showroom at 326 Dukes Mews / London N10 2QN / 10am â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 5pm / or by appointment / 020 8444 9911 / furniture @timmoss.co.uk / www.timmoss.co.uk

Tim Moss Bespoke kitchens

CITY&ANGEL

PROPERTY THE CITY, ANGEL & ISLINGTON

HILL HOUSE, MALLOW STREET, LONDON EC1 A stunning loft apartment, meticulously renovated by the present owner, whilst retaining many of the building’s original features including high ceilings, exposed brickwork and steel girders. The apartment has a large open plan living space with a modern kitchen, luxurious bathroom suite and large double bedroom with a walk in closet. Hill House is a popular development situated on the corner of Mallow Street and Featherstone Street. Whitcross Street food market is nearby as are Shoreditch and Clerkenwell.

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DECEMBER 2010

£650,000

Clerkenwell Office: 0207 549 0606 StirlingAckroyd.com

29/11/2010 10:21

Highbury 020 7989 7000 highbury@winkworth.co.uk Islington 020 7354 2480 islington@winkworth.co.uk

Enclave Court EC1V ÂŁ2,000,000 Leasehold A luxurious two bedroom two bathroom duplex apartment offering superb entertaining space; semi open plan high specification kitchen, reception area, large mezzanine level, decked terrace and secure underground parking.

Oakley Road N1 ÂŁ680,000 Leasehold A stunning well proportioned period property arranged over three floors comprising spacious kitchen/diner, large reception room, two generous double bedrooms and an attractive south facing roof terrace. Presented in immaculate condition.

Over 80 Winkworth offices independently owned and operated

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Highbury 020 7989 7000 highbury@winkworth.co.uk Islington 020 7354 2480 islington@winkworth.co.uk

Caledonian Road N1 ÂŁ850,000 Freehold A stunning period property boasting an open plan kitchen (with Aga), large double height reception room onto a private patio, four good sized bedrooms, bathroom and shower room.

Sudeley Street N1 ÂŁ600 Per Week Set over three floors of a period building this two bedroom two bathroom property is simply stunning throughout. Flooded with natural light and furnished to an immaculate standard the house further benefits from a private patio.

Over 80 Winkworth offices independently owned and operated

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Highbury 020 7989 7000 highbury@winkworth.co.uk Islington 020 7354 2480 islington@winkworth.co.uk

St Paul’s Road N1 £850 Per week This gorgeous three bedroom house is full of stunning original features complemented by contemporary design, high ceilings and sound proofed windows. The property boasts a sizeable garden, double reception room and ample storage space.

Provost Street N1 £570 Per week Offering impressive living space that is well placed for both the City and Angel this apartment comprises of two large bedrooms, two bathrooms and open plan kitchen/ reception. The property has a modern feel and is finished to an exceptionally high standard.

Over 80 Winkworth offices independently owned and operated

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Phone. Home.

Introducing the Hamptons App. Small, but perfectly informed, the Hamptons International app for iPhone allows you to search for properties of all sizes. Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk/iphone iPhone is a trademark of Apple, Inc.

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CITY & ANGEL

Find your perfect home by speaking to a City & Angel recommended agent and using our map of the area to guide you from viewing to viewing.

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agents directory 1 HugH grover AssociAtes 325 Upper Street N1 2XQ Tel: 020 7226 1010 www.hughgrover.co.uk 2 tHomson currie 313 Upper Street N1 2XQ Tel: 020 7354 5224 www.thomsoncurrie.co.uk 3 next move 320 Upper Street N1 2XQ Tel: 020 7226 5050 www.nextmove.com 4 next move 63 - 65 Stoke Newington Church Street Stoke Newington N16 0AR Tel: 020 7254 9709 www.nextmove.com 5 WHere next Leroy House, Unit 3Q, 436 Essex Road, N1 3QP Tel: 020 3176 4150 www.wherenextislington.co.uk 6 BAirstoW eves 108-109 Upper Street N1 1QN Tel: 020 7704 0154 www.bairstoweves.co.uk 7 WinkWortH 65 Upper Street Islington N1 0NY Tel: 020 7354 2480 www.winkworth.co.uk 8 islington properties 111 Upper Street N1 1QN Tel: 020 7812 0480 www.islingtonproperties.com. 9 currell residentiAl 321 Upper Street N1 2XQ Tel: 020 7226 4200 www.currell.com 10 HAmptons 87 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0NP Tel: 020 7359 5675 www.hamptons.co.uk stirling Ackroyd Clerkenwell Branch - 020 7405 1288 Shoreditch Branch - 020 7749 3838 www.stirlingackroyd.com Felicity J lord 67-71 Goswell Road EC1V 7EP Tel: 0207 251 9449 www.fjlord.co.uk Bridge 98a Curtain Rd, Shoreditch EC2A 3AA Tel: 020 7749 1400 www.bridge.co.uk

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Buying, Selling, Letting... LE T SO EN AG

TIBBERTON SQUARE, N1

C. . T S. S.

£385,000

A beautifully presented two bedroom conversion in this Grade II listed Georgian building, situated in this popular square location, being within easy access of the Angel, Highbury & Islington Station and Upper street with its array of vibrant bars & restaurants. The property has been maintained to a high standard by the current owner and an internal inspection is recommended to be fully appreciated. www.tibbertonsquareapartment.co.uk

W ON NE UCTI TR INS

GLASSWORKS, KINGSL AND ROAD, E2 £595PW

Fantastic Value Penthouse Apartment (with Lift) in the Heart of Shoreditch. Superb Location; Moments from Restaurants of Hoxton, Brick Lane, Old Street and The City. Spacious Living Room with Floor to Ceiling Windows, Hard Wood Flooring Throughout for Easy Keep. Ample Room for Dining and Entertaining. Leading on to Private Roof Terrace to Relax and Unwind.

CALDY WALK, N1

£370,000

Generously arranged over three floors, this well presented three bedroomed house offers a great location in the heart of Canonbury. The property comprises spacious living room, bright kitchen with dining area, three bedrooms, bathroom, guest cloakroom and patio which is ideal for dining al fresco. Perfectly located, the property is well facilitated by the trendy amenities of Upper Street and Essex Road.

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HACKNEY ROAD, E2

£450 PW

A 2 DOUBLE BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT LOCATED IN SHOREDITCH E2. Situated at the top of Hackney Road where it meets Shoreditch High Street, very short walk to Spitalfields Market, Columbia Road, Hoxton and Liverpool Street station. Fantastic specification throughout, wooden flooring, luxury fitted kitchen and bathroom suites, available furnished.

www.wherenextislington.co.uk Where Next.indd 1

30/11/2010 12:29

W ON NE UCTI TR INS

W O NE UCTI TR INS

NEW NORTH ROAD, N1

£335PW

situated in a converted building, the large property has recently been refurbished with a new kitchen. the modern interior boasts an entrance hall, large living area, separate kitchen, double bedroom and bathroom. to the rear of the property is a large garden area. available furnished.

ELMORE STREET, N1

E UC

NEWINGTON GREEN, N16

£275PW

one bedroom garden level flat set within a quiet tree lined street just off essex road within a few minutes’ walk from Highbury and islington underground station. the property comprises a large double bedroom with sash windows and shutters a reception, kitchen/conservatory leading to private south facing garden, it also has a tiled bathroom with shower.

E UC

£195,950

newly refurbished ground floor one bedroom apartment located in the heart of newington Green close for local shops, bars, restaurants, Clissold Park, Canonbury train station only a 1/3 of a mile away and numerous bus routes .the apartment comprises living room/open plan fitted kitchen, bedroom, shower room and WC .Features include air conditioning, oak flooring and access to communal gardens.

CARNOUSTIE DRIVE, N1

£159,950

a spacious fourth floor one bedroomed ex local authority apartment situated just off Caledonian road. the flat is quite spacious with a 17’ Living room and a 15’7 bedroom and is within walking distance of Caledonian road and Kings Cross underground stations.the property is offered chain free.

Leroy House, unit 3Q, 436 essex road, London n1 3QP teLePHone: 020 3176 4150 Where Next.indd 2

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Queensbridge Rd

Clarissa St

Jeger Ave

Gun St

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Yorkston St

Scawfell St

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110 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3AH T: 020 7613 1798 www.nelsonssales.com

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