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ABSOLUTELY Notting Hill & Kensington

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GLASS

Cinematic

HOUSE Dale Chihuly’s colourful creations

ODYSSEY Stanley Kubrick at the Design Museum

Going

GREEN S P R I N G F LO R A A N D FAU N A

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents

36

APRIL 2019

102 C U LT U R E

14 ABSOLUTELY LOVES

FOOD & DRINK

60 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

18 AGENDA

63 EASTER TREATS

10 things we’re coveting this month

Diary dates for April

20 KUBRICK'S VISION

The Design Museum's new exhibition 30 CHIHULY AT KEW

The glass artist returns to the gardens

News from the industry

Eggs, bunnies and more chocolate

INTERIORS 76 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

News and views from the world of design

78 MARGO SELBY

Beautiful woven fabrics

40 STRANGE FRUIT

Jewellery inspired by the fruit bowl

K I D S & E D U C AT I O N 95 SMALL TALK

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y 47 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

T R AV E L 102 VIVA LAS VEGAS Helen Brown visits the desert city

All your tots could ever want

ABSOLUTELY

Chelsea & Fulham APRIL 2019 / £3.95

GLASS

Cinematic

HOUSE Dale Chihuly’s colourful creations

ODYSSEY Stanley Kubrick at the Design Museum

Going

GREEN ZEST.LONDON

This month’s best beauty buys

The online guide to inspirational London living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes.

APRIL 2019

83 LIVING CORAL

Pantone's colour of the year

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

CHELSEA & FULHAM

FA S H I O N 36 THE SHOOT Summer looks from Borgo de Nor

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ON THE COVER

S P R I N G F LO R A A N D FAU N A

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Racil SS19

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RESTORING AND REPLACING TIMBER WINDOWS AND DOORS EDITOR IN CHIEF PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR HELEN BROWN EDUCATION EDITOR AMANDA CONSTANCE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT FLORA THOMAS GROUP SALES DIRECTOR CRAIG DAVIES GROUP SALES MANAGER ANABELA KOLECI ART DIRECTOR PHIL COUZENS SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA

Conservation Area and Period Property Specialists

MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN MARKETING MANAGER LUCIE PEARCE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTOR JAMES FUSCHILLO NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS EVA LEHOCZKY For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 3397 8706 or email: craig@zest-media.com

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

We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

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

01344 868 668

We b si t e

a b s o l u t e l y. l o n d o n

www.sashwindow.com

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CHIHULY AT KEW

Editor’s

Beautiful glass creations in the gardens page 30

LETTER ABSOLUTELY’S April issue highlights

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PIERRE MARCOLINI’S EASTER EGGS

This year: a rabbit in a hat. page 63

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aster is very late this year, which is universally agreed to be a good thing. There's unlikely to be snow, and we'll probably hunt Easter eggs outside (we'll hope to find some truly fabulous ones, such as maybe the Claridges one featured in this issue, or anything by Pierre Marcolini).

And over the Bank Holidays we'll certainly visit Kew Gardens to see the Chihuly installations, which are bound to look beautiful in the spring sunshine. There's a lot of colour and optimism in this issue, ranging from weaver Margo Selby's bold, graphic textiles to Jo Malone's new rose fragrance, our edit of jewellery inspired by fruits and a bright focus on Pantone's colour of the year, Living Coral. Culturewise, we're looking forward to the exhibition about Stanley Kubrick's life and work at the Design Museum, while still raving about the new production of Betrayal starring Tom Hiddleston (a word of caution: it's intense). We have left town to seek out some of the best country pubs and travelled all the way to Las Vegas to find out exactly what happens on a girls' weekend.

All this and our usual mix of fashion, beauty, interiors and food makes our April issue a pretty special one, if we do say so ourselves.

PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

2

CAMP WILDERNESS

Thinking ahead: what to do with the kids this summer? page 97

4 MAGIC CIRCUS

Great balls of light page 84

3 BETRAYAL

Tom Hiddleston, Zawe Ashton and Charlie Cox in a literary love triangle. page 25

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love

THAT 70' S S H OW This season, Sanne London has drawn inspiration from the 60s and 70s and the iconic designers of these decades.

Expect bold colours, bright prints and playful features such as leather patch pockets, strong shoulders, feathers and wide flares. sannelondon.com

THE LONG LINE With its over-sized fit, full-length sleeves and notched collar, you’ll get a just-borrowed-from-my-boyfriend-look with this wool Zeynap Arcay blazer. £1,560; modaoperandi.com

VELVET TOUCH Andrew Martin’s burnt orange Halston chair is a cool throwback to the 60s, with winged sides intended to look like flared trousers. It’s also seriously comfortable, upholstered in soft velvet and with panels that will shape to the curve of your back. £895; andrewmartin.co.uk

PAT C H WO R K Natacha Ramsay-Levi channels a freespirited bohemian mood inspired by Ibiza and Morocco for Chloé's Spring '19 collection. We love this maxi skirt for an outfit that's as suitable for the city as it is for the beach. £1,320; net-a-porter.co.uk

COMPILED BY

H E L E N B R OW N

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES TIMELE S S D E S IGN The first Montunas bags were made on a cattle ranch in Costa Rica, created with both practicality and timeless style in mind. 25 years later, the brand is as strong as ever, foregoing fast fashion in favour of classic shapes and high quality materials. montunas.com

E A R N YO U R STRIPES We’ve got summer in our sights with the Oasis one-piece from Yamamay.

Even pool-side, you’ll stay on trend with its mix-and-match print and slick silhouette. £49.95; yamamay.com

B E LT U P Acne Studios' Olicia trench coat comes in a pretty dusty-pink hue that will work perfectly with the season's pastel shades. Wear yours with off-white jeans and trainers. £775; net-a-porter.com

EDITOR’S PICK

B R OW N I S T H E N E W B L AC K Dries Van Noten’s gold-tone sunglasses have a cat-eye frame to accentuate cheekbones. Play up the retro feel of the light-brown lenses with a printed shirt. £255; net-a-porter.com

MONKEYING AROUND WO R K H A R D, P L AY H A R D The Colorado Tencel shirt by SUNAD is great for teaming with smart trousers at work or jeans for a relaxed vibe. Not only is the fabric sustainable, it’s also breathable and comfortable. £108; neutrestore.com

Produced by Black Forest Distillers and with notes of juicy raisins and worn leather, Monkey 47 was created for Commander Montgomery Collins, who lived in Berlin at the end of the Second World War. He even sponsored an egret monkey called Max at the local zoo. £69; ›harveynichols.com

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

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The magniďŹ cent Hampton Court Palace, spectacular and truly unique events hrp.org.uk/hireavenue 020 3166 6507

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C U LT U R E MODEL HOLDING A BAZAAR BAG C.1959 (C) MARY QUANT ARCHIVE

What’s On 18 • Theatre Review: Betrayal 25 • Chihuly at Kew 30 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Agenda

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

T H E AT R E

All My Sons

From 13 April OLD VIC Joe and Kate Keller are a success story.

They have built a home, raised two sons and established a thriving business. Nothing lasts forever though, their contented lives, already shadowed by the loss of their eldest boy to war, are about to shatter. Long buried truths are forced to the surface and the price of their American dream is laid bare.

The Cut, SE1; oldvictheatre.com

EXHIBITION

SMOKE & MIRRORS F RO M 11 A P R I L • W E L LCO ME COLLECTION

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic is the first exhibition of its kind to focus on the relationship between magic and psychology with artefacts from the world of magic from the likes of Derren Brown, Tommy Cooper and Paul Daniels. Through spirit photography and magic props, the exhibition will seek the truth about deception, ask how bias and suggestion affects our senses and consider what it is that makes us believe in magic.

183 Euston Road, NW1; wellcomecollection.org

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Cocktails in the City 4-6 April T H E VA U LT S The spring edition of Cocktails in the City brings 25 of the capital’s best bars, speakeasies and clubs together to celebrate the art of the cocktail. This two-day celebration invites you to get shoulder-toshoulder with the world’s best bartenders and enjoy exclusive drinks, tastings, masterclasses and more.

Leake Street, Lambeth, SE1; cocktailsinthecity.com

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

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

T H E AT R E

HOME, I ’ M DARLING Until 13 April N AT I O N A L T H E AT R E Every couple needs a little fantasy to keep their marriage sparkling. But behind the gingham curtains, things start to unravel, and being a domestic goddess is not as easy as it seems. Katherine Parkinson of The IT Crowd and Humans fame plays Judy in this unsettling new comedy about one woman’s quest to be the perfect 1950s housewife.

Upper Ground, SE1; national theatre.org.uk

AROUND

TOWN D E S I G N

CHRISTIAN DIOR: DESIGNER OF DREAMS Until 1 September V& A The V&A announces it will extend its sell-out Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition. Originally scheduled to run until July, the exhibition has been extended by seven weeks to Sunday 1 September. So far, 121,566 visitors have experienced the exhibition since it opened in February.

Cromwell Road, SW7; vam.ac.uk

EX H I B I T ION A RT

K ALEIDOSCOPE

This month’s must-see

From 15 March S A AT C H I G A L L E R Y Nine international contemporary artists working across a variety of mediums showcase their work in Kaleidoscope, a major new exhibition at Saatchi Gallery. Laura Buckley’s interactive large-scale kaleidoscope, Fata Morgana will dazzle and disorientate. alongside dynamic paintings from Tillman Kaiser and tempestuous seascapes from Whitney Bedford. Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3; saatchigallery.com

D AY

OUT

OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE BOAT RACE

IN AND OUT OF WARHOL’S ORBIT

7 April This month sees two of the UK’s most prestigious universities battle it out in the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Races. Watch crews from both universities go head-to-head in eightoared rowing boats across the Thames in the traditional race which began in 1829 and now attracts around 250,000 spectators every year. theboatrace.org

F RO M 11 APRIL • PROUD CEN TRAL

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his compelling and intimate exhibition reveals the complex characters behind the welldocumented tensions and hedonism of Andy Warhol’s studio.

In and Out of Warhol’s Orbit captures the period when Nat Finkelstein worked as the house photographer at the Silver Factory, documenting this fascinating and pivotal period of cultural history.

32 John Adam Street, WC2N;

D AY

OUT

LONDON MARATHON 28 April Whether you’re running or spectating, the London Marathon is one of the capital’s biggest sporting events. Soak up the party atmosphere and cheer on the runners as they pass by some of London’s top landmarks. virginmoneylondonmarathon.com

proudonline.co.uk

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

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2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, DIRECTED BY STANLEY KUBRICK (1965–68;GB/UNITED STATES).

SCREEN PHOTO. © WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.

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The Design Museum is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Stanley Kubrick. Absolutely has a preview Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB, DIRECTED BY STANLEY KUBRICK (1963-64; GB/UNITED STATES). THE CONFERENCE TABLE IN THE WAR ROOM. © SONY/ COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES INC.

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2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, DIRECTED BY STANLEY KUBRICK © WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.

tanley Kubrick is an enduring subject of fascination for film enthusiasts. And not just his work: the man whose vision brought us some of the most exciting cinematic offerings of the 20th century was widely rumoured throughout his life to be a recluse, a hoarder, a Napoleon nut and possess various other eccentricities. It’s said that he refused to fly, so the entire interior of a vast Yosemite hotel was recreated at Pinewood Studios and became the Overlook Hotel so that Kubrick wouldn’t have to cross the Atlantic to make The Shining. It was Kubrick who took the unprecendented and unilateral decision to declare a self-imposed

20

ban on his own film when A Clockwork Orange was said to have inspired copycat crimes. Kubrick who sparked endless cosmic questioning with his film 2001 yet refused to ever comment himself.

And now, to mark the 20th anniversary of his death, the Design Museum is hosting an exhibition dedicated to Stanley Kubrick.

For the first time, the internationally acclaimed touring exhibition about the life and work of Stanley Kubrick is coming to Britain, Kubrick’s home and workplace for over 40 years. It opened in Frankfurt in 2004 and since then it has taken in Mexico City, San Francisco, Seoul and Melbourne.

Exploring his unique command of the whole creative design process of filmmaking, from storyteller to director to editor.

The exhibition includes important works by designers Hardy Amies, Saul Bass, Milena Canonero and Ken Adam, art and photography from Diane Arbus, Allen Jones and Don McCullin, designs from Saul Bass, Elliot Noyes and Pascall Morgue alongside contributions from renowned directors.

It focuses on iconic scenes and unseen THE SHINING, DIRECTED BY STANLEY KUBRICK (1980; GB/UNITED STATES). GRADY (PHILIP STONE) AND JACK TORRANCE (JACK NICHOLSON). STILL IMAGE. © WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC

material from genre-defining films including The Shining, Barry Lyndon, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Full Metal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange.

It was in the UK that Kubrick created the battlefields of Vietnam for Full Metal Jacket (1987), an orbiting space station for 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Dr Strangelove’s War Room (1964). The exhibition tells the story of Stanley Kubrick the obsessive genius. It shows step by step how he created genre-defining worlds for his films and how London was his endlessly inventive canvas.

The exhibition features several themed rooms, each shaped around a separate film, including Barry Lyndon, 2001: Space Odyssey, Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Lolita, Eyes Wide Shut, and Dr Strangelove. Visitors will enter the exhibition while walking on a replica carpet from the iconic scene in The Shining, before entering a ‘one-point perspective’ corridor mirroring Kubrick’s famous camera technique.

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

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ARTS & CULTURE • FOCUS

Commenting on the exhibition, Steven Spielberg said: “Nobody could craft a movie better than Stanley Kubrick. He is an inspiration to us all. Stanley was a chameleon with the astonishing ability to reinvent himself with each new story he told. I defy anyone who just happens upon a Kubrick film while channel surfing to try with all your might to change the station.”

Alan Yentob, Executive Curator said: “If you want to step inside the mind of one of the greatest film directors of all time, this exhibition will take you there. Stanley Kubrick’s imagination was boundless.”

Featuring more than 500 objects, projections and interviews, the exhibition brings to the fore Kubrick’s innovative spirit and fascination with all aspects of design, depicting the in-depth level of detail that he put into each of his films. From predicting the modern tablet and defining the aesthetic of space exploration a year before the Moon Landing, in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), to the use of NASA-manufactured lenses to

MATTHEW MODINE AND STANLEY KUBRICK ON THE SET OF FULL METAL JACKET, DIRECTED BY STANLEY KUBRICK © WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.

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THE SHINING, DIRECTED BY STANLEY KUBRICK (1980; GB/UNITED STATES). STANLEY KUBRICK AND JACK NICHOLSON ON THE SET OF THE SHINING. © WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.

film by candlelight in Barry Lyndon (1975), Kubrick was just as much an inventor as a filmmaker.

Expect to see the Centrifuge-set that Kubrick had developed for 2001: A Space Odyssey; film props such as the platoon flags and the infamous Born-to-Kill helmet worn by Private Joker in Full Metal Jacket, costumes worn on set during Barry Lyndon as well as pre and post production materials loaned from the Stanley Kubrick Archive at University of the Arts London Archives and Special Collections Centre.

Stanley Kubrick’s philosophy and his ability to create complete worlds with each of his films will be explored through a vast archive of research and production documents, props, set designs and storyboards. Visitors will be able to relive key scenes from The Shining (1980), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), A Clockwork Orange (1972), hear personal anecdotes from those close to him and find out who Stanley was as a person and how he used innovative techniques to create his films.

STA N L E Y KU B R I C K : THE EXHIBITION Runs from 26 April – 15 September 2019 At the Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street W8 designmuseum.org

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Discover the home of gift lists.

Townhouse now open, 312 Fulham Road.

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CULTURE • FOCUS

Little lives

The Kensington Dollshouse Festival returns to W8 Wo r d s EVE HERBERT

T

he Kensington Dollshouse Festival returns on 10 and 11 May with its 52nd show. Established in 1985, the festival has grown into an international event with makers attending from the US, India, Japan, New Zealand, Argentina & Europe: a total of 66 makers from outside the UK will be attending with over 170 exhibitors in total.

It is a place where “Miniacs” can come to see the latest work from the top craftspeople, discuss their projects and commission special items, but it is also a great place for families to enjoy together. Even people who aren’t interested in dolls

Have a go at making something yourself houses find it a fascinating day out.

You will find everything you could possibly need and lots that you don’t but have to have.

There are also activities to keep children of all ages interested.

Saturday’s Gingerbread Craft Club on Saturday encourages children to have a go at making something themselves; throughout the show the now famous Marvellous Mouse Hunt continues.

10 & 11 MAY 2019 Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 7NX

Friday 10th - 11.00 – 18.00 Saturday 11th - 10.00 – 17.00 TICKETS: Friday 10 May - £13.00 (£11 in advance) 2 day ticket - £16.00 (in advance only) Saturday 11 May - £7.50 (on the door only) Child - £5.00 (aged 3-16, fri or Sat) Family - £20.00 (2 adults & 4 Children, Saturday only) dollshousefestival.com

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

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CULTURE • THEATRE

ABSOLUTELY reviews…

B E T R AYA L

by Harold Pinter A tense 90 minutes at the Pinter Theatre

By PENDLE HARTE

T

his is possibly the hottest ticket in town right now, and it’s worth it. Tom Hiddleston, Zawe Ashton and Charlie Cox put each other through 90 minutes of understated emotional torment in one of theatre’s best-loved relationship dramas in a tense, interval-free crescendo.

This is a bare stage production, making no use of the potential for a backdrop of middle-class interiors. There are no mantelpieces, no pictures, no books, no plants. The much-mentioned home-thatisn’t-a-home in Kilburn isn’t indicated on stage with anything more than a folding table and a souvenir tablecloth.

It’s an almost monochrome set, stark and purist and even if it sometimes feels

like an exercise in drama theory, the atmosphere is stripped back and intense, even claustrophobic. Most scenes happen between two characters while the third actor lurks in the background instead of offstage, serving as a constant reminder of the complex circle of ongoing and reciprocal betrayals.

During a brief ellipsis between scenes, the stage goes dark and Scandi Noir-style music plays; it sounds like the haunting theme to The Bridge. The reverse narrative order is signposted by moving projections – “a year earlier” – and the backwards narrative structure creates a mounting sense of intensity.

Pinter’s economical, restrained dialogue and devastating disconnect between what the audience knows and what we think the characters know creates the play’s

Tom Hiddleston is in turns charming, broken and menacing unique tension. Tom Hiddleston is in turns charming, broken and menacing as Robert, while Zawe Ashton veers between smilingly unknowable and intensely emotional.

Charlie Cox’s Jerry is the most transparent of the three and the unseen presence of his wife looms over the action. Themes of time, loyalty and memory are highlighted with the repeated story of Jerry lifting Emma’s small daughter into the air – in his kitchen?

Or her kitchen? Memories fail, Jerry and Emma’s affair is doomed, people betray each other. It’s a cold, intriguing drama and a mesmerising production.

VERDICT

Mesmerising, gripping and clever ★★★★★ HAROLD PINTER’S B E T R AYA L UNTIL 8 JUNE

pinteratthepinter.com

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

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The International Hip Dysplasia Institute acknowledges this baby carrier as a hip healthy product.

Keep them close Introducing You can’t hold your baby all the time. Even though you may want to.

CUDL™ makes it easy to keep baby close and secure, all while keeping your hands free. It’s comfortable and customisable with mesh fabric, padded shoulder straps and waist belt and the magnetic buckles ensure an easy and secure attachment.

Keep baby facing in and snuggled up starting with an integrated infant booster for newborns, which then easily unzips as your child grows. As baby wants to explore the world, have them face out (up to 18 months) or switch to backpack mode (up to 36 months) for growing toddlers.

Find out more at nuna.eu

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MUST SEE

ROUND UP

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

By H E L E N B R O W N

CULTURE • THEATRE

The Half God of Rainfall From 25 April KILN THEATRE

When Demi, the half Nigerianmortal, half Greek-God, is angry, rain clouds gather. When he cries, rivers burst their banks.

The first time Demi takes a shot on the local basketball court, he unknowingly sparks Zeus’ wrath.

His mother, Modupe takes matters into her mortal hands and the consequences change their lives forever. From award-winning poet and playwright, Inua Ellams comes a contemporary epic.

Weaving poetry and storytelling, this majestic journey transports us from a tiny village in South West Nigeria to Mount Olympus and beyond. 269 Kilburn High Road, NW6; kilntheatre.com

A German Life From 6 April

BRIDGE THEATRE

In A German Life, Maggie Smith plays Brunhilde Pomsel, a secretary in 1930s Berlin who struggles to make ends meat. Her many employers include a Jewish insurance broker, the German Broadcasting Corporation and, eventually, Joseph Goebbels. Christopher Hampton’s powerful play is drawn from the testimony Pomsel gave when she finally broke her silence, shortly before she died. 3 Potters Fields Park, SE1; bridge theatre.co.uk

A GERMAN LIFE ARTWORK

The Phlebotomist Until 20 April

HAMPSTEAD THEATRE

The Phlebotomist is a newly announced Olivier Award Nominee written by Ella Road and directed by Sam Yates. It follows Bea, Aaron and Char as they navigate a ratist world where health, wealth and happiness depend on a single blood test - dictating everything from bank loans to dating prospects. Road’s debut play is a powerfully provocative exploration into how far people will go to beat the system.

Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, NW3; hampsteadtheatre.com

Cry Havoc Until 20 April

PARK THEATRE

In present day Cairo, two men are forced to confront their cultural identities, traditions and a repressive government in a gripping search for love and faith. Cry Havoc is a passionate love story between a spirited young Egyptian and an idealistic British writer. Tom Coash’s poignant, intimate play explores the relationship between the Western world and the Islamic Middle East through the eyes of two people, asking if love can bridge even the widest cultural divide.

Clifton Terrace, N4; parktheatre.co.uk

Sweet Charity From 6 April

DONMAR WAREHOUSE

New York, 1967. Charity Hope Valentine is a dance hall hostess who “runs her heart like a hotel” with men checking in and out all the time. At the raw end of a long line of users and losers, she meets Oscar, a mildmannered tax accountant, and Charity Hope Valentine once again puts her faith into love.

With choreography from the world-renowned Wayne McGregor, Josie Rourke reunites with Anne-Marie Duff as Charity for her farewell production as Donmar Artistic Director.

41 Earlham Street, WC2H; donmarwarehouse.com

SWEET CHARITY

CRY HAVOC

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Left: Bowl of Salted Peanuts, 2019 by Patrick Doyle; acrylic paint on canvas; 120 x 152cm Above: Vestalia Chilton

ART HOUSE Absoultely quizzes Vestalia Chilton, founder of Kensington + Chelsea Art Weekend

Now in its second year, Kensington and Chelsea Art Week 2019 has undergone a rebrand – can you tell us about it?

Following the success of the first Kensington + Chelsea Art Weekend, we wanted to mark the 2nd year with a bold new identity. The rebrand of Kensington and Chelsea Art Weekend embodies the overall aim of the festival – to get more people engaging with the art being produced and exhibited in the borough. We arrived at the concept of ‘getting closer to art’ as the main inspiration behind the design.

Collaborative duo Kelly Barrow and

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Antonia Uber of AH-KB deign studio have developed visual identities for the likes of the Photographers Gallery, Somerset House and Royal College of Art. Passionate about typography, layout compositions and strong experimental concepts, they came up with a rebrand for KCAW that works across print and digital platforms.

How does the new identity relate to the Royal Borough?

The colour palette is bold and inspired by the cultural layers of the borough.

The blue and red are brightened,

modernised versions of the borough colours representing the area’s heritage and the fact that it i s the Royal Borough, whereas the yellow and green are a subtle nod to the 70s Punk aesthetic and are taken from early Sex Pistols posters.

The logo letters K–C–A–W have been enlarged, cropped and abstracted with a contemporary colour palette that fuses the edgy cool of the Sex Pistols poster colours with the more traditional heritage colours of the borough. Their bold shapes and forms have been highlighted and paired down to contemporary angles and lines to reflect the festival’s key values of encouraging the public to ‘look more closely at art.

What can we expect from this year’s KCAW? Our focus this year is on the unusual or unexpected - the hidden gems of Kensington + Chelsea. We have expanded our very popular walking tours, each dedicated to surprising facts concealed within the streets. Our public art programme is bigger and more prominent this year too, it includes special commissions in Sloane Square, in Exhibition Road, on Walton Street and other locations.

New partnerships have been forged and include Royal College of Art, Museum of Architecture, London Architecture Festival, The Great Exhibition Road Festival to name but a few. The Friday Lates Gallery Tours will culminate in a KCAW party with a surprise visual and musical performance.

By popular demand the KCAW Art Bus will be returning all thanks to West London

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CULTURE • ART

Galleries Association. It will connect 7 key zones of the borough taking visitors on a seated guided tour on a Routemaster while listening to a broadcast by Portobello Radio’s Piers Thompson. Stops include Masterpiece Fair, Lots Road, Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, South Kensington and Holland Park.

The full programme for the art weekend as well as the Art Bus Route will be announced in May so make sure to sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date and to reserve your place for the opening party.

Tell me about your mural project with Royal College of Art alumni Love Kensington + Chelsea Street Art project is an ongoing public art initiative that celebrates the histories of the borough with murals on construction hoardings by local artists, selected by public vote. ​For our second mural we collaborated with Royal College of Art by inviting their students to explore local history and use it as inspiration to create site-specific murals linked to the area. Using construction hoardings in Walton Street as our first site, five RCA students submitted very high quality proposals of which two were shortlisted for the public vote. This time the winning proposal was Cremorne Gardens by Tor Ewen’ - it depicts Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea which opened in 1843.

The gardens were a place of entertainment that attracted a wide range of visitors.

Covering a site of twelve acres, it provided a range of entertainment including theatres, dancing, gardens and mazes. The most popular attraction were the balloon ascents.

Cremorne Gardens still exists today, and the mural aims to uncover and portray a sense of the gardens as they were in the 1800s, as well as celebrate the importance of gardens and public spaces in London today.

Who can join KCAW how and when?

Any venue or artist studio or creative institution can join. It is very simple, fill out a registration form on our website. We can assist with how to get the most of your event. The deadline for listings is the end of April. This deadline is for those events wishing to be included in the printed Guide distributed across all participating venues.

KCAW’s website deadline is more flexible. www.kcaw.co.uk

The colour palette is bold and inspired by the cultural layers found in the Royal Borough

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CERULEAN BLUE MACCHIA WITH SPECTRA YELLOW LIP WRAP © CHIHULY STUDIO

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Dale Chihuly’s beautiful glass pieces go on show around Kew Gardens this month.

Absolutely has a preview Wo r d s E V E H E R B E R T

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major exhibition of work by one of the world’s most celebrated contemporary glass artists comes to Kew Gardens this month.

Seattle-based glass artist Dale Chihuly’s impressive luminous artworks go on display in a perfect marriage of art, science, and nature. Famous worldwide for his dazzling coloured glass sculptures, Chihuly’s work has been exhibited in an incredible 240 museums around the world over the course of his 50-year career. As well as glass, Chihuly uses paint, charcoal, graphite, neon, ice and Polyvitro to explore possibilities and realise his vision.

At Kew, Chihuly’s artworks will truly sing – unrestrained bursts of colour commanding a space of luscious greenery, showing visitors one of London’s few UNESCO world heritage sites in an entirely different way; its rolling vistas and ornate glasshouses transformed into a contemporary outdoor gallery space like no other.

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CULTURE • SPOTLIGHT

SUMMER SUN. MAKER'S MARK DISTILLERY, LORETTO, KY. © CHIHULY STUDIO

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CULTURE • SPOTLIGHT

GREEN HORNETS AND GOLD WATERDROPS, 2010. CHEEKWOOD BOTANICAL GARDEN AND MUSEUM OF ART, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. © CHIHULY STUDIO

A reverie of form, colour, and light, Chihuly’s exquisite artworks are often described as exaggerated celebrations of what is found in nature. As the most biodiverse postcode on the planet, Kew’s breathtaking landscape is the ideal home for such work. Visitors will make discoveries in their own time as they explore the gardens, experiencing surprise and wonder at what they find – graceful, luminous colour juxtaposed with the solid earthiness of nature. A total of 32 art installations will be situated across the gardens in a wide variety of locations.

Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art (the world’s only gallery dedicated to botanical art), will host 12 bodies of work developed over 40 years, as well as a film detailing Chihuly’s creative process. Visitors to the gallery will experience the expressive lines and abstract forms of Chihuly’s Drawings, as well as the Rotolo series - the most technically challenging work Chihuly and his team have ever created, and Seaforms, delicate undulating forms that conjure underwater life, among others.

Other stunning locations for the artworks include the ornate Waterlily House, and the resplendent Palm House lake. The iconic

ROSE QUARTZ SOFT CYLINDER WITH OLIVE LIP WRAP, © CHIHULY STUDIO

Temperate House will be home to a brand new, specially designed sculpture, inspired by the cathedral-like space, as well as nine other installations.

Artist Dale Chihuly says: “I am honoured to bring my work once again to Kew, with its magnificent landscape and extraordinary glasshouses--structures which have always captivated me. How do you describe a beautiful building like the Palm House or the Temperate House? We are planning something special for the centre of the newly-restored Temperate House and I’m excited to see it come to fruition.”

CHRYSANTHEMUM BASKET SET WITH CARBON LIP WRAPS, 1993. © CHIHULY STUDIO

‘Exaggerated celebrations of nature’ C H I H U LY AT K E W REFLECTIONS ON NATURE 13 April – 27 October 2019 kew.org A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FASHION

VAMP IT UP

T H E VA M P I R E ' S W I F E

The Vampire’s Wife is the vision of Susie Cave, named after an abandoned book project by her husband Nick Cave. The styles all speak to the brand’s subversive femininity in exclusive Liberty prints, emerald corduroy, printed velvets alongside silk metallic chiffon in frosted pink. net-a-porter.com

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LUXURIOUS MATERIALS, INTELLECTUAL INSPIRATIONS AND STATEMENT DESIGNS FROM BORGO DE NOR B O R G O D E N O R .CO M

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SUMMER IN THE CITY

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ALL AVAILABLE AT NET-A-PORTER.COM

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FASHION • JEWELLERY

Rich Pickings Forbidden fruits for the taking...

ALISON LOU

FENDI

ALEXANDRA HAKIM

14kt Gold and Enamel Cherry Earrings, £225

Embellished Fruit Earrings, £341.54

Silver Lemon Pendant, £148.14

farfetch.com

alexandrahakim.com

net-a-porter.com

GIRLS CREW

ALEXANDRA HAKIM

GUCCI

Cherry Pop Necklace, £44.07

Gold Lime Peel Earrings, £167.28

Crystal Fruit Charm Bracelet, £765

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ALEXANDRA HAKIM

FENDI

TESSA PACKARD

Silver Lemon Earrings, £262.19

Dangling Fruit Earrings, £430

High Ball Earrings, £150

alexandrahakim.com

farfetch.com

tessapackard.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

HIGH BROW CHANEL

Chanel's Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer Lucia Pica created a fresh look for the AW19 ready-to-wear collection, showing a strong masculine touch with groomed and defined brows. chanel.co.uk

Beauty notes 47 • Jo Malone on 25 years of fragrance 48 • Fitness 57 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

BEAUTY NOTES

A magic serum, stylish hair tools and the shampoo revolution B y H E L E N B R OW N

T R E AT M E N T REVIEW

FACE UP

Elena Von London

BALANCE ME

Balance Me's 98% natural Tri-Molecular Hyaluronic Serum gets deep beneath the skin's surface to replenish and deliver a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in one hit – perfect for sensitive, dehydrated and stressed-out skin. £30;

B y C H A R LOT T E R I S S B R O O K

balanceme.co.uk

POWER TOOL GHD

If you are the type to take a hairdryer to a festival, then make sure it's the one from GHD's new festival collection. The salon-quality professional air hairdryer now comes with special kaleidoscope -coloured details for added summer fun, £99;

EDITOR’S PICK

ghdhair.com

NO SHAMPOO H A I R STO RY

Are you brave enough to quit shampoo?

There's no courage required with Hairstory's revolutionary New Wash, a 100% biodegradable, detergent-free cleanser that leaves your hair soft, sweetsmelling and healthy with no need for conditioner and no grease. The starter kit comes with a massage brush and a volumising powder – and though it may seem steep at £83, you will need less and less product as your hair adapts to its new shampoo-free state. We are converts.

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rriving at the stylish Elena Von London salon, I am greeted by the lovely Elena. The décor is both elegant and warm, with mirrors hanging from the ceiling and a nail bar at one end of the room. Quickly Elena offered me a choice of tea and guided me through what she thought the best options for my cut.

She's highly skilled and every element of the cut has a purpose. In order to design a style, Elena believes that the principles behind the technique must be acknowledged. She suggested that I would benefit from some keratin treatment and recommended Virtue, which is essentially pure, whole human protein. When colouring hair at Elena Von they use this product, so essentially you are also receiving a beneficial treatment whilst having it dyed and with my hair being very easily damaged I thought this was an exceptional service, one I haven’t seen anywhere else. Elena cut my hair beautifully before passing me onto her colleague Ben who recommended we go for a golden blonde to compliment my style. Ben’s technique was elegant and understated and I was extremely happy with the outcome.

Elena and Ben refularly fly out to any part of the world to get their clients ready for events; if someone needs their hair done on a private jet she will make it happen. That's dedication to her craft.

E L E N A VO N

107 Lots Road, SW10 020 7352 9415 elenavon.com

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E N G L I S H R O S E Jo Malone CBE is celebrating 25 years in the business of fragrance by launching a new perfume Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

Q Congratulations on 25 years in fragrance! How has the industry changed since you first began?

A Thank you so much, this year is a special one. The industry has definitely changed since I launched the first brand. There was very little competition then and we created a marketplace along with other brave entrepreneurs.

When I launched Jo Loves, I realised it was much harder. I assumed I could step back into the market in the same place I left but I had to work my way back up and earn the right to stand there. Passion, resilience and creativity are all qualities that helped me to build again.

Q And how have you changed? Have your tastes changed? Or your sense of smell?

A I still have the same spirit and same integrity, but the creativity is very different.

If you look at an artist or a musician their work doesn’t stay the same and that’s the same for me. I’m braver now and more courageous. Jo Loves is about innovation and inspiration. I’m telling you the story of my life through it and I’m not the 22 year-old kid any more. I’m a woman in her 50s who travels around the world and my incredible adventures lead me to think, how do I tell this story through the sense of smell?

Q Which of your own creations are you most proud of?

A I am most proud of the Jo Loves Fragrance Paintbrush. When I first came up with the idea everyone looked at me and thought ‘what is that woman on?’ and

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they said, ‘no one’s going to do it!’ Well how wrong they were. That paintbrush has completely changed the way people wear fragrance.

Q Tell us about the new fragrance.

A Rose Petal 25 encapsulates so many cherished memories I have of roses, from me as a little girl hand-picking petals in the garden to mixing my first Bulgarian rose oil face mask. I have loved the scent of rose petals all my life, so I knew this would be the perfect fragrance to celebrate 25 years of being a shopkeeper.

I went on a sensorial journey to Grasse in the south of France last year to discover the magical Rose de Mai flower and drew inspiration from picking the perfect blooms at dawn to extract the first drops of precious oil. That’s when the creative process began and Rose Petal 25 was born.

Q Which are your favourite smells/ fragrance ingredients?

A I love citrus notes, grapefruit being one of my favourite ingredients, and floral notes such as rose.

Q Do you believe that there is an ideal scent for each individual, or should we change our fragrances regularly?

A People usually have a preference, such as citrus or woody scents. I tend to always wear Pomelo or Jo by Jo Loves in the daytime, as citrus makes me feel safe, but always add to my fragrance throughout the day depending on my mood – and I often wear a floral fragrance in the evening.

Q What perfume are you wearing today?

A Rose Petal 25 Q What’s next for you and for Jo Loves?

A I set out to build a global brand and eight years on, that is exactly what we are doing.

Jo Loves is a springboard of creativity and I’m always looking for new and innovative ways for people to wear fragrance.

R O S E P E TA L 2 5 launches in May; £115 for 100ml; joloves.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • Q&A

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

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skinade.com

Beautiful skin from the inside We all know the importance of looking after our skin on the outside. To achieve your perfect complexion, you must also support your skin from within.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • TREND

TOM FORD Sheer Cheek Duo, £60; harrods.com

J.ONE Jelly Pack, £32; cultbeauty.co.uk

EGYPTIAN MAGIC All Purpose Cream, £30.47; feelunique.com

RODIAL SOFT FOCUS Glow Booster Drops, £45; rodial.co.uk

ALLIES OF SKIN

SARAH CHAPMAN SKINESIS Liquid Facial D-stress, £42; lookfantastic.com

MULTI TASKERS

Promise Keeper Blemish Sleeping Facial, £110; cultbeauty.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

The beauty products giving us more bang for our buck B y ROSIE REYNOLDS

GIORGIO ARMANI Fluid Sheer, £40; selfridges.com

RMS BEAUTY Living Luminizer, £36; naturisimo.com

Cream with SPF 50+, £31; itcosmetics.co.uk

SUMMER FRIDAYS Jet Lag Mask, £42; cultbeauty.co.uk

ALLIES OF SKIN

BRIOGEO B.WELL Organic + Cold-pressed 100% Castor Oil, £25; spacenk.com

IT COSMETICS CC+

111 SKIN Meso Infusion Lip and Plumping Duo, £95; 111skin.com

Fresh Slate Clay and Manuka Honey Cleanser & Masque, £38; feelunique.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • SCENT

PERFUME

A Touch of Class Take a nostalgic journey through Tocca's enchanting scents; there's a fragrance for every woman B y M I C H A E L D O N OVA N

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occa means touch in Italian and has been one of my favourite fragrance collections, ever since I worked with the brand back in the early noughties. From the delightful bottle, based on an antique cognac decanter, to the exquisite embossed metal caps which are, quite frankly, the best in the business, the Tocca collection is a masterclass in how to get it right.

The scents themselves were my go-to gift for family and friends. Even today, some 15 years after unwrapping their scent, my nearest and dearest often ask me where they can find what became their favourite fragrance. This is the mark of a great perfume. ‘Stella’ was my first love, because this freshly ravishing fragrance is everything a summer scent should be.

Witty, fun and flirtatious, this is a fantastic rendering of blood orange, with all of its juicy energy and a touch of its bitter zest.

It lays across a field of white freesias and a pool of sheer and languid musk. She is a great holiday companion and will keep you smiling from sunrise to sunset: at the pool, on the beach, shopping in town and out for moonlit cocktails. She is sling-backs and a kicky skirt and I always imagine Gina Lollobrigida whenever I sense her presence. ‘Florence’ is a best seller and she deserves to be. She is a slice of Parisienne sophistication; extremely seductive and knowing. She is a siren’s call and I’m not sure if even being strapped to a mast could prevent complete captivation!

What can I say about ‘Cleopatra’? Queen of the Nile and lover of both Caesar and Mark Antony, this is a tough name to live up to. However, rise to the occasion this fragrance does, as a remarkably modern femme fatale that uses a quality jasmine,

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brushed with the sparkle of grapefruit and a purr of patchouli to still the senses.

'Cleopatra' bewitches all in her wake.

Just add a slash of eyeliner and you are good to go.

I was a big fan of Colette’s novels and recently rediscovered them after watching Keira Knightley’s magnificent portrayal.

This feisty feminist defied convention. Her extraordinary talent and drive ensured that she became known as the greatest female writer of her generation. She was even nominated for the Nobel prize for literature.

It was her strong and rebellious spirit that raised ‘Colette’ to iconic status and here the eponymous fragrance uses a spicy glamour to evoke our heroine. A piquant lily sits astride a warm and beguiling sandalwood.

This is a mysterious, intriguing scent with a vital and intelligent allure.

Giulietta Masina was a fantastic Italian actress and the great love of legendary Film Director Frederico Fellini. She starred in ‘La Strada’ in 1954 for which she won Best Actress at Cannes. The film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in that year. ‘Giulietta’ was a woman of charm and charisma and her acting has a natural, nuanced quality that is reflected in Tocca’s perfume. The innocence of lily of the valley is teamed with the natural beauty of Bulgarian roses.

These sweet florals are grounded by a base of cedarwood that suggests a measured and serious facet to a charming personality.

Although inspired by passionate romance, this is the scent of a vital and sophisticated woman of complex character.

The concept here is that each scent in the Tocca range represents a different facet of the same woman. The collection forms a capsule olfactory wardrobe to be donned, according to mood and occasion. Ravishing, romantic, adventurous and beguiling. By degree, I can think of no better way to overhaul one’s closet this spring.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • WELLBEING

Thinking often makes me sad, but doing rarely does

MIND GAMES Why we need to continue talking about mental health W o r d s R AC H E L K E L LY

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ive years ago, it was unusual to talk about mental health. I know, because when I wrote a book about my own experience of depression and anxiety, people told me I was brave.

Now, the good news is that stigma is largely on the wane. Everyone from the Prime Minister to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge realise the importance of our psychological wellbeing.

You might have thought by now, given this new focus on mental illness and the increased government expenditure - the Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced in January this year that the biggest single rise in budgets was in mental health services – that those who suffer would be delightedly discussing their improved care.

Yet in my role as an ambassador for SANE and Rethink Mental Illness, I find some disillusionment among those who are anxious and depressed with the help they are receiving. It is not just about long waiting lists, multiple referrals from pillar to post, and a lack of hospital beds, but the standard approaches on offer.

For the past twenty years, these have been medication, chiefly in the form of antidepressants, and cognitive behaviourial therapy: a talking treatment which aims to change the way people respond in thought and action to the world. These are the best options we have, but neither are perfect, nor do they work for everyone.

I myself was helped by these conventional treatments, and my argument here is not to disregard them. But I do increasingly think we need to change the way we think about mental illness altogether.

Feeling passive and a victim, and powerless to do anything about my condition, was part of being depressed.

But the more I discovered my own ability to nurture my psychological wellbeing, the better I felt.

This insight is the basis for my current approach to managing my own mental health. Every day I remind myself that I can make a difference. This begins as soon as I wake.

The first thing I do is to make my bed, the white duvet perfectly aligned and my pillows plumped. A small gesture to be

sure, but one that reminds me that if I take control of small decisions in this way I will feel my own power to affect larger decisions.

In addition, I can take care with the language I use, to others and myself. Instead of saying ‘I’m at the mercy of my depression’ I might say ‘I can choose how to respond to my low mood’. Or instead of saying ‘I can’t deal with this stress and worry’, I might say ‘I can’t deal with this stress and worry yet.’

My belief that people need to develop a sense of agency and empowerment about their mental health has led to my first workbook for anyone who is feeling less than jolly. Singing in the Rain: 52 Practical Steps to Happiness has evolved with the help of mental health nurses, psychiatrists, therapists and psychologists, and those who come to my wellbeing workshops.

Together we have developed practical steps of stuff you can do. Thinking often makes me sad, but doing rarely does. The workbook is about action, full of accessible activities, one for each week of the year, to help you rediscover your own ability to thrive. You might even find yourself singing in the rain….

R AC H E L K E L LY is a writer, and mental health campaigner. Her latest book Singing in the Rain: 52 Practical Steps to Happiness is published by Short Books, £12.99 and is available in Waterstones and Amazon rachel-kelly.net twitter.com/rachelkellynet A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • ACTIVE

FITNESS NOTES

By H E L E N B R O W N

The brand to know now…

NIMBLE A C T I V E W E A R WHAT IS IT ?

ounders Vera Yan and Katia Santilli have come a long way with Australian brand Nimble Activewear. Having started out in an “office” that was actually the kitchen bench, the pair are celebrating Nimble’s fifth year as the go-to brand for stylish and sustainable activewear.

It offers everything from sports bras and leggings to tank tops, outerwear and accessories.

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“NIMBLE ACTIVEWEAR HAS SAVED 300,000 PLASTIC BOTTLES FROM ENDING UP IN LANDFILL”

WHY WE LIKE IT ?

aving committed to making positive changes to the environment, Nimble Activewear has saved 300,000 plastic bottles from ending up in landfill in the past year, thanks to its Compresslite fabric. Each garment in the Compresslite range has been created with fabric knitted from yam using post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Every pair of leggings made in this unique way stops six recycled plastic bottles ending up in landfill and every sports bra, two.

Not content with just saving the environment, Nimble Activewear has raised over $26,000 to support and empower women through charities including National Breast Cancer Foundation and i=Change. Through its partnership with i=Change, one dollar from every online purchase supports women escaping domestic violence through Women’s Community Shelters, educates young women in East Africa through Akilah Institute and provides muchneeded essentials to Syrian refugees through CARE Australia. nimbleactivewear.com

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Y O G A for R U N N E R S Ahead of the London Marathon, Another_ Space yoga instructor, Daisy Hughes talks us through the benefits of yoga for race training

By H E L E N B R OW N

Q Where should a runner start with yoga?

A Ideally go to a class, there are loads to choose from to suit your schedule.

Tell the teacher before the class that you’re doing the marathon so they can incorporate some running specific elements into the session.

Equally, if you are working with an injury, they will be able to offer modifications to accommodate your needs. I would recommend a slowpaced class and ideally some heat - preferably, infared heat.

Q And how many times per week?

A Aim for two sessions; the day after your long run and on your rest day.

Also, try incorporating a two minute forward fold into your lunch break (from standing, bend your knees, fold your torso forward trying to connect thighs and chest, let arms dangle and relax neck focus on your breathing - if it is strained then ease off the stretch).

Q What are the benefits of adding yoga into a training plan?

A Yoga acts as effective injury prevention by strengthening the main supporting muscles for running, as well as the more underused ones.

For example, balancing postures help strengthen the ligaments and tendons around the ankle joint which will reduce the likelihood of a sprained ankle. Twists will alleviate back pain too, which can be common in runners. Building core strength will also enable you to run with increased efficiency and decreased energy expenditure.

Q What sort of yoga preparation is beneficial before a long run?

A General mobility, oiling the synovial fluid in the hip joints, ankles and shoulders to prime the body for running. Activation for the hamstrings and glutes which tend to be lazy in runners. Three sun salutations would be a good

start, with five breaths held in downward-dog so you can extend the calf’s and hamstrings. Also, a hip flexor stretch via a low lunge.

Q Are there any specific postrace flows for recovery?

A A short and gentle Hatha flow, 30 minutes would suffice.

Stretches for the quads - saddle pose is particularly effective here, Arda Hanamanasana for the hamstrings and cat/cow to release the back. A five minute Shavasana to finish will help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) which tends to suffer under an over active sympathetic nervous system in long-distance runners.

Q Are there different types of practice for running and nonrunning days?

A This depends on your energy levels and time available. Rocket Yoga or Power Yoga is a good option for non-running days. It is a cardiovascular workout while being non-impact. For running days, I would go for a yin practice, passive poses held for a longer time requiring less energy. anotherspace.london

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FOOD & DRINK

CLOUD NINE THE NINTH

Absolutely eats out at Jun Tanaka’s Michelin-starred Charlotte Street restaurant this month, and we leave on cloud nine. theninthlondon.com

Food notes 60 • Food review 69 • Country pubs 72 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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WHAT TO DRINK

GRAPE news Wine recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

London’s food news and most exciting openings this April

By FLORA THOMAS

By BERRY BROS. & RUDD

2017 Berry Bros. & Rudd New Zealand Pinot Noir

by Greystone Wines  £17.95 Aromas of fresh cherry and raspberry mingle seamlessly with cedar and sweet spice while the concentration of fruit on the palate speaks of the vineyard’s rich clay soils. This is drinking beautifully now, but has the structure to age gracefully.

2017 Anthonij Rupert, Protea, Merlot, Groenekloof, South Africa  £11.95 This juicy and approachable Merlot offers aromas of mulberry and plum. Well-balanced and structured throughout, there is a lovely freshness which runs all the way to a rich cocoa finish. This is one of our first wines to be sold under Helix closure.

2017 Reuilly Blanc, Les Pierres Plates, Denis Jamain  £15.50 A bright and expressive wine with lashings of citrus fruit aromas. The palate may be relatively round and generous, in keeping with the warm vintage, but there’s plenty of acidity, and a steely, mineral character to the long finish.

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

bbr.com

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Ritorno CULINARIO M O R T I M E R H O U S E K I TC H E N

Lello Fafuzzi has been announced as head chef at Mortimer House Kitchen. The Italian chef spent a decade running L’Anima which closed last year. Now, Lello’s return to simple, irresistible plates aims to reflect an honest dialogue between Italian and Israeli cuisines. All this in the beautiful Avro-KO designed space in the heart of Fitzrovia.

37-41 Mortimer Street, W1T mortimerhouse.com

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FOOD & DRINK• NOTES Our pick of the best

HOME-GROWN PRODUCERS

CRAFT

East meets east

At Craft - a project by Steve Parle with Tom Dixon - they grow their own vegetables on The Jetty on Greenwich Peninsula. The kitchen team work with local foragers to source produce, and they cure meats on-site. Rooftop beehives mean they to make their own honey, and they even make their own butter. craft-london.co.uk

FATT PUNDIT

There’s a new kid on the block in Soho this month: Fatt Pundit. The Indochinese restaurant specialises in momos - little, spicy, meat-filled dumplings, served alongside lip-smacking chutneys. Expect the unexpected at Fatt Pundit: shredded chilli venison and smoked rabbit wantons are a must-try.

77 Berwick Street, W1 @fattpundit

ITALY IN W1 SANTO MARE

Santo Mare opens this month in Marylebone, a sister restaurant to one of the same name in Sardinia.

It’s an Italian venue with a focus on seafood and decor reminiscent of an Italian fishmongers - think display counters and a large terrace. Dishes include salt-crusted sea bass and prawn gnocchi.

87-89 George Street, W1U santomare.com

ROGANIC Foraged ingredients create ethereal, modern British food at Simon Rogan’s Michelin-starred Marylebone restaurant. Using the freshest produce from Simon's Lake District farm, dishes are strictly seasonal. simonrogan.co.uk

WEST LIFE ORASAY

All hail KEBAB QUEEN

Manu Canales’ most adventurous project to date marries his love for the flavour of kebabs with his rigorous Michelin training. Kebab Queen sees dishes plated directly onto a bespoke heated countertop: “We want you to relax and get stuck in; it’s about combining high-end dining with the elbow-to-elbow, communal fun of the kebab shop,” says Manu.

4 Mercer Walk, WC2H kebabqueen.com

T H E DA I RY Full Circle Farm in Sussex provides The Dairy with almost all of the vegetables and fruit on the menu.

Dishes change and adapt in line with the produce, rather than the other way around. Food waste goes back into the ground in the form of rich compost, adding to the natural, full-circle nature of food prep at this neighbourhood favourite. the-dairy.co.uk

Orasay is an island in the Scottish Hebrides – and the name of a new 50-seat dining room in W11, brought to us by Jackson Boxer and Andrew Clarke.. The space is unpretentious, the food is reliant on their organic farm in West Sussex and there's a strong emphasis on seafood.

31 Kensington Park Road, W11 orasay.london A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FOOD & DRINK • EASTER

DAYLESFORD Milk chocolate hen lollipop, £3; daylesford.com

ROCOCO Bruce Bogtrotter's chocolate fudge cake Easter egg, £25; rococochocolates.com

LE CHOCOLAT ALAIN DUCASSE Four praline Easter eggs, £32; lechocolat-alainducasse.com

EDITOR’S PICK CLARIDGES Limited edition Easter eggs, £55; claridges.co.uk

HARVEY NICHOLS Sunny side up on brown chocolate egg, £8.95; harveynichols.com

MARIAGES FRERES Le Fabuleux, £9.5o; mariagefreres.com

DOMINIQUE ANSEL Marshmallow chicks, £20 for 5; dominiqueansellondon.com

SHELL SHOCK All the best Easter eggs and treats B y PENDLE HARTE

PRESTAT Pink popping Prosecco Easter egg; £17.50 prestat.co.uk

PIERRE MARCOLINI Milk chocolate magician's hat, £89; eu.marcolini.com

FORTNUM & MASON Butterscotch popcorn egg, £15; fortnumandmason.com

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Butternut curry with spinach and cashews Colourful, fragrant, and full of texture, this dish shows you don’t need meat to make a good curry. Lentils, chickpeas, and nuts add protein to the melting pot of vegetables and spices for a healthy, balanced meal.

INGREDIENTS •medium butternut squash, about 21⁄4lb (1kg) • 1 onion • 4 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil • 1 tbsp butter • 2 cloves garlic • 1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger • 1 small hot green chile • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 1 tsp cumin seeds • 1 tsp ground coriander • 2 cinnamon sticks • 1 tbsp freeze-dried curry leaves (optional) • 1⁄2 cup (100 g) red lentils • 3 or 4 ripe tomatoes • 1 (14-oz/400-g) can chickpeas, drained • 3⁄4 cup (100 g) cashew nuts • 2 large handfuls baby leaf spinach • salt and pepper

METHOD 1 Peel the squash and cut into 4 pieces.

Scoop out the seeds. Cut the flesh into large cubes about 3cm across.

2 Halve and slice the onion. Put a large frying pan, or wok over medium-high heat. Add the oil and butter, wait for 30 seconds, then add the squash and onions, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables are starting to soften.

Simple &

CLASSIC Well-explained and reliable recipes for cooking perfection Wo r d s J A N E H O R N B Y

3 Thinly slice the garlic and finely grate the ginger. Slit the chile, without cutting through the stem (stalk) end.

4 Boil a saucepan of water. Stir the garlic, ginger, chile, spices, and curry leaves into the pan and cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant.

5 Stir in the lentils, then pour in 400 ml boiling water. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring a few times. Preheat the oven to 180°C and coarsely chop the tomatoes.

6 Stir the tomatoes in with the chickpeas, then simmer for another 10 minutes Season the curry with salt and pepper.

7 Sprinkle the nuts over a baking sheet and roast them in the oven for 5 minutes.

8 Stir in the spinach leaves and sprinkle the nuts over the top. Serve with chapatis, naan breads, or rice and your favorite relish or chutney.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

Shrimp Pad Thai Give tofu a try in this quick Thai café classic. Leftover cold roast chicken could be added to the noodles, too.

INGREDIENTS • 14 oz (400 g) wide rice noodles • 1 (9-oz/250-g) pack firm tofu, drained • 3 cloves garlic, crushed • 1 bunch spring onions • 1 small bunch fresh coriander • 1 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil • 3 tbsp tamarind paste (optional) • 3 tbsp sweet chili sauce • 3 tbsp nam pla (Thai fish sauce) • 11⁄2 tbsp sugar • 1 handful roasted peanuts (optional) • 4 large (UK medium) eggs • 200 g (7 oz) uncooked large shrimp (prawns), shelled and deveined • 1⁄2 tsp dried chili flakes (or more if you like) • 2 limes

METHOD 1 1 cup (100 g) bean sprouts Boil a saucepan or kettle of water. Put the noodles into a large heatproof bowl, then

pour over enough just-boiled water to cover. Stir gently and let soak until you get to step 8.

chili flakes, and half the scallions. Cook for a few seconds, stirring, until the garlic and scallions smell fragrant.

2 While you wait, cut the tofu into cubes about 3⁄4 inch (2 cm) across. Crush the garlic and thinly slice the scallions (spring onions). Pick the leaves from the cilantro (coriander).

6 Transfer the shrimp to a plate, then add the beaten eggs to the pan. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, moving the eggs around the pan a little with a wooden spoon until just set, like an omelet.

3 Put a large nonstick skillet, frying pan, or wok over medium-high heat. Add the oil, then the tofu. Fry for 6 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the tofu is golden all over. Lift the tofu onto paper (kitchen) towels using a slotted spoon.

This will absorb any excess oil.

7 Lift the omelet out of the pan and transfer it to a cutting board. Roll it up like a pancake, then cut across the roll to make long thin strips. Take the pan off the heat if you feel you need to concentrate on this part.

4

Meanwhile, put the tamarind paste, chili sauce, nam pla (Thai fish sauce), and sugar into a small pitcher (jug) and stir together. Coarsely chop the peanuts, if using. Crack the eggs into a bowl and loosely beat them with a fork.

5

Put the pan back over high heat. It shouldn’t need more oil. Add the shrimp (prawns) and fry for 2 minutes, until they turn completely pink. Now add the garlic,

8 Return the pan to the heat, drain the noodles, and add them to the pan. Add the sauce, most of the cilantro leaves, the shredded egg, tofu, shrimp, the remaining scallions, and a squeeze of lime juice, then toss well.

9 For an authentic look, serve the peanuts and bean sprouts in little piles alongside the noodles, then sprinkle with the rest of the cilantro. Cut the remaining lime into wedges and put a wedge on each plate.

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LISA’S KITCHEN & BAR

Happy Hour every Wednesday & Thursday 6PM - 8PM & 10.30PM - 11.30PM

50% OFF ALL HOUSE BEER, WINE & COCKTAILS

LIVE MUSIC

THURSDAY: Jazz FRIDAY & SATURDAY: Lisa’s Jukebox

LUNCH SET MENU

THURSDAY & FRIDAY 12.00-15.00, 2 courses £15 and 3 courses £18

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

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

There’s no secret –all that’s needed is the patience to wait 5 Spoon the hoisin sauce into a serving dish. Serve the sauce, shredded duck, sliced cucumber, scallions, and pancakes separately and let everyone assemble their own. To assemble, spoon about 1 teaspoon of hoisin sauce onto a pancake, then spread it out with the back of the spoon. Arrange a couple of sticks of cucumber, a few shreds of scallion, and a little duck in a line across the middle of the pancake. To roll, tuck the bottom of the pancake up, then roll the sides over, leaving the top open.

TIP

CHINESE PANCAKES

Crispy duck pancakes There’s no secret to making this classic Chinese dish—all that’s needed is the patience to wait while the duck slowly cooks to crisp, melting perfection.

INGREDIENTS • 2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder • 2 tsp salt • 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper • 4 duck legs • 1 large cucumber • 2 bunches scallions (spring onions) • 24 Chinese pancakes • 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) hoisin sauce

METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 325°F/160°C/ Gas Mark 3. Mix the five-spice powder with the salt and pepper. Put the duck legs into a roasting pan. Rub the duck legs all over with the salty spice.

2 Roast the duck for 11⁄2 hours, or until the skin is dark golden and crisp and the meat is tender. The fat will have run out of the skin. A convection or fan-assisted oven will give a really crisp result, so if you have the option, use a convection oven, not forgetting to reduce the temperature by 25°F/20°C.

If you can’t find thin Chinese pancakes in the store, try flour tortillas instead. Chinese pancakes are also made with flour, so the flavour is similar. If the tortillas are larger, cut them in half and wrap around the filling in a cone shape instead of a roll.

3 Meanwhile, cut the cucumber into thin sticks and trim, then finely shred the scallions (spring onions). Cutting the scallions into thin strips can be difficult, so slice into rounds if preferred.

4 When the duck is cooked, cover the pancakes with aluminum foil and put into the oven for 10 minutes to warm through (or follow the package instructions). Use 2 forks to pull the duck flesh and skin away from the bones. They should come away from the bones very easily. Keep the duck warm on a plate in the oven. Don’t cover it with foil, or the skin will lose its crispness.

SIMPLE & CLASSIC 123 Step-by-Step Recipes by Jane Hornby is published by Phaidon phaidom.com

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

Thin pasta parcels stuffed with delicate langoustine

Cloud Nine Jun Tanaka’s Charlotte Street restaurant

FOOD French-influenced Medittereanean

B y F LO R A T H O M A S

J

un Tanaka is an American-born, BritishJapanese chef who cut his teeth as Chef commis at Le Gavroche. His ninth venture is, fittingly, called The Ninth. It’s Michelin-starred and perhaps unsurprisingly full on an ordinary Wednesday evening.

We arrive anticipating an evening of gastronomic flare and we’re not disappointed.

All the dishes here are made for sharing, the menu is helpfully sectioned into salads, pasta, raw and cured, fish, meat and vegetables.

Helpful as the sectioning may be, it all looks so enticing that it requires some serious decision making.

Thankfully all that is preceded by a snacks section. We ask for some Cantabrian anchovies and panisse to snack on while we decide what to order and we’re off to a solid start, they’re completely addictive, the panisse is light and crispy – like a very upmarket oven chip – while the sharp anchovy makes for a wellbalanced mouthful. You can order them individually and they arrive quickly, so without hesitation we order two more.

Snacks devoured, it’s time to pay some attention to the rest of the menu. Initially we order from the meat, fish and vegetable sections but our waiter implores us to order from the list of pasta plates, and thank

DECOR Pared-back and elegant

PRICE Pasta from £12, meat from £19

God he did. The ravioli is utterly delicious; thin pasta parcels stuffed generously with delicate langoustine go down a treat. We can’t resist burrata and this version comes with pear and hazelnut for a little texture, it’s sweet and creamy and we clean the plate with shameful speed.

My personal favourite is the mackerel dish. The fish has been precisely sliced sideways so that each morsel melts in your mouth, the skin is crispy and ever so slightly burnt while the meat is only just cooked, the intense flavours of dill and capers make for a well rounded and very moorish dish. Mackerel isn’t for everyone: my companion prefers the yellowtail carpaccio, which comes with a sharp salsa verde, pickled fennel and apple. Often I think pickled vegetables taste the same as each other, but it’s a different story here – I love fennel, and the flavour has only been intensified by pickling.

The food at the Ninth really is simple, vibrant and really, really good. As we leave safe in the knowledge that it won’t be our last time at this Charlotte Street restaurant.

VERDICT

THE NINTH

Fine dining at its best

22 Charlotte Street, W1T theninthlondon.com

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

DRINKS CABINET

What to drink and how to drink it

fabulous

FIZZ

By PENDLE HARTE

THREE OF THE BEST CHAMPAGNES

THINK PINK

B y T H E C H A M PA G N E G U R U

Champagne Colette Bonnet Organic vintage 11/12, £40

B E E F E AT E R LO N D O N P I N K

This fresh and elegant organic champagne is bursting with floral aromatic notes of chamomile, midsummer blossoms and hints of wonderful fresh citrus zest, apple and pear.

Colette Bonnet 11/12 pairs excellently with poultry, veal, seafood or accompanied by a cheese platter.

Pink-coloured gin is a regular on the shelves of bars around the captial, so it's no surprise to see Beefeater step into the fray with this strawberry-infused number. The aptly-named London Pink's aroma doesn't defy its look - it's vivid, boisterous and delivers exactly what you might expect. The sweetness of stawberry emerges a little late, and you won't need reminding that this is a solid gin. beefeatergin.com

Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois, £65 This unique cuvée, which is entirely aged in oak casks for seven years, is composed of the three Champenois grape varietals in equal proportions. With finely buttered, seductive aromas of dried fruits, it is an ideal accompaniment to seafood, poultry or Girolle mushrooms.

DIVE IN

SILENT POOL GIN

Nestled at the foot of the Surrey Hills is the Albury Estate, and within it, Silent Pool Distillers. The gin produced there is rich, clean and juniper-driven, complemented by floral layers of lavender and chamomile, fresh notes of citrus and local honey for a wonderful, smooth finish.

Champagne Frerejean Frères Blanc de Blancs, £55

silentpooldistillers.com

REUSE RECYCLE HYKE

HYKE is a brand new, premium, English gin. It ingeniously re-invents the equivalent of 1.4 million punnets of grapes, per year, that are surplus to the requirements of the supply chain. HYKE contains a unique blend of botanicals inspired by the grapes' African origins. foxholespirits.com

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This elegant champagne is crafted exclusively from Premier Cru and Grand Cru Chardonnay. A blend of vintages and reserve wines contributes to generous and complex aromas of passion fruit, mango and papaya.

THE CHAMPAGNE GURU The Champagne Guru is a champagne and food pairing expert, specialising in hosting special champagne events in luxurious surroundings.

thechampagneguru.com

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

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L I F E

C O U N T R Y

Absolutely heads out of town for the country pub experience, weighing up the Hind’s Head in Bray, the Greyhound in Letcombe Regis and 15 Queen Street in Maidenhead

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THE HIND’S HEAD

THE HIND’S HEAD Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

eston Blumenthal’s pub dates back to the 15th century, when it opened as a hunting lodge and coaching inn. It’s less than 30 miles from Hammersmith, which makes it an easy destination for Sunday lunch, and Bray is a sweet little spot for a post-feast wander. Inside, the cavernous pub is dark and cosy, timberframed and low-ceilinged with small doorways, open fires, wood panelling and lots of cosy corners. On the walls are photographs, illustrations and clippings celebrating the site’s long history.

The Sunday roast is Michelin-starred and comes as a set three-course meal.

After some delicious crusty sourdough, there’s a high class pea and ham soup, a lovely bright green broth dotted with whole peas and small pieces of smoky ham, accompanied by an excellent Scotch egg – it’s a quail’s egg, perfectly soft boiled inside a well-

judged crust and served stylishly with sharp yellow mustard. The Hind’s Head has won awards for its Scotch eggs and these are a world away from the poor examples that are often offered up. The main act is roast Aberdeen Angus sirloin with Yorkshire pudding, horseradish cream, roast potatoes and lots of vegetables. It’s a large feast and everything is fine, if perhaps a little underwhelming in comparison to the memorable Scotch egg. Pudding, however, is seriously impressive: the quaking pudding is lusciously wobbly, eggy and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and compressed apple, served warm.

It’s a comforting dish, much like the pub itself – just right for urbanites seeking a touch of rural escapism.

THE HIND’S HEAD High Street, Bray SL6 2AB 01628 626151 hindsheadbray.com

THE HIND’S HEAD

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FOOD & DRINK • PUBS

15 QUEEN STREET Wo r d s H E L E N B R OW N

THE GREYHOUND INN

THE GREYHOUND INN Wo r d s R O S I E R E Y N O L D S

B

ased in the stunning Vale of the White Horse, The Greyhound Inn is an idyllic 18th century free house located in Letcombe Regis.

Recently refurbished and awarded with the 2019 Michelin Plate award, the pub offers a sophisticated experience whilst still retaining a traditional warm and cosy atmosphere. The bar is well stocked with a wide variety of gins and local ales, or if you prefer, a carefully selected wine list. The lovely rooms offer you the chance to have the perfect weekend break away from London.

If you want to make a day of it, go for a long walk along the Ridgeway and witness breathtaking views of Oxfordshire, before coming back for a drink and delicious meal.

On the menu was a diverse range of interesting a la carte options, as well as the traditional pub grub for those wanting to keep it simple.

We started with salt and pepper squid, garnished with squid ink

mayonnaise, pomegranate, coriander and a seaweed salad. A more interesting and refreshing update on calamari and a dish that I will certainly order again. For my main course, I had cider braised shoulder of lamb, which came with beetroot dauphinoise potatoes and curly kale. The lamb was delicate and rich in flavour and the cider was a successful accompaniment.

For pudding, we both opted for the Seville orange marmalade steamed sponge drizzled with orange sauce and a scoop of toast flavoured ice cream. I was particularly intrigued to try the ice cream, which was delicious and complemented the zesty orange beautifully. Excellent food, attentive staff and a fun, welcoming atmosphere make for a well-rounded diningexperience.

W

ith its crackling fire, genuine welcome, dark oak panelling and jolly locals, 15 Queen Street has all the charm and trappings of a good country pub, all the while set in Maidenhead town centre. In what was formerly the Hand and Flowers, 15 Queen Street is new to the area, run

by Hendrik and Julie who have done a brilliant job in maintaining the history and character of the building. They’ve given it a new look with heritage interiors, low lighting and dark leather.

First and foremost a steakhouse, the place does an excellent roast beef.

However even better is the vegetarian offering for Sunday lunch. It starts with warm sourdough and rosemary butter and a Waldorf salad. This stylised dish defies its name with more goats cheese than actual salad, expertly poached wedges of pear and a smattering of walnuts for crunch. The mushroom wellington that follows is a lesson in pastry perfection and stuffed with a rich and moreish mushroom duxelle. It’s certainly the star of the show but the plate-sized Yorkshire p udding and the oozing side of cauliflower cheese put up a good fight. Mains are served with a generous smear of bread sauce on the plate and sides of roast potatoes and parsnips. A pear tarte tatin is arguable one carb too many but its sticky and gleefully sweet, warm so that a quenelle of vanilla ice cream quickly trickles into every crag and chunk of caramelised pear; exactly the sort of dish that a Sunday deserves.

THE GREYHOUND INN

15 QUEEN STREET

Main Street, Letcombe Regis, OX12 9JL, 01235 771969 thegreyhoundletcombe.co.uk

15 Queen Street, Maidenhead, SL6 1NB, 01628 623800 15queenstreet.co.uk

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Photography by Paul Craig

Engineered Walnut Pre-lacquered

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

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INTERIORS

RETRO LIVING ANNA BURLES X RETRO LIVING

Interior designer Anna Burles from Run For The Hills has launched a collaboration with vintage store Retro Living. The duo have come together to curate a range of beautifully restored and collectable furniture pieces, reupholstered, reinvented and restyled using a selection of fashionforward fabrics and finishes. retroliving.co.uk

Interior inspirations 76 • At the loom with Margo Selby 78 • Flowers at home 86 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS NOT E S Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

GREY SCALE MYLANDS

Mylands, the world’s oldest family-owned paint manufacturer, has launched a new Greys & Neutrals paint palette, an exquisite collection of 24 subtle architectural shades, which expands the London-based paint maker’s collection to more than 170 colours. mylands.com

P OT H E A D FERM LIVING

Ferm Living's Hourglass Pots are elegantly crafted to give plants an elevate position.

Position them on the floor or on a table, inside or outside, and dsiplay your plants in style. From £87.90 connox.co.uk

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INTERIORS • NOTES

E A R N YO U R STRIPES Embrace the two-tone trend

MARGO SELBY Hastings double duvet cover, £90 margoselby.com

LI G H T FA N TA S T I C MADE.COM

HIGH GLASS

Manhattan Kids Stripe Shade, £25 made.com

CURIOUSA AND CURIOUSA

Curiousa and Curiousa's new Tor Light is a slick design developed by Esther Patterson. The glass shades are hand-blown in Derbyshire without moulds, making every piece unique. The Tor Light has a refined look with modern sweeping lines combined with a bold yet natural colour palette. curiousa.co.uk

BEAUMONDE Rainbow striped cotton throw, £51 beaumonde.co.uk

HARRIS & HARRIS

The Wharf Lighting collection is the latest addition to the growing Harris & Harris product range, designed in house by the Harris & Harris studio. It fuses classic glass elements with minimal metal work to produce a sophisticated yet playful lighting range with a focus on craftsmanship and quality. harrisharrislondon.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

CARPETRIGHT Westmoreland Twist Carpet In Zebra Stripe, £7.99 per m2 carpetright.co.uk

M AG I C LAMPS ALEXANDER JOSEPH

MADE.COM Keana vase made.com

If you hate unsightly wires, these lamps are the solution. Working with a team of British designers and artisan craftsmen, inventor Mark Robinson has developed the ultimate cordless lamp, featuring specialist patented battery cells for longer life. The ceramic and glass bodies are all hand-made by master craftsmen in small workshops, and the finished product is 100% British. alexanderjoseph.co.uk

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

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INTERIORS • PROFILE

FRUIT OF O THE LOOM Margo Selby’s woven fabrics are characterised by their intricate patterns, strong colours and bold designs. Absolutely visits her in her Whitstable studio Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

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

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W eaving is having a moment. Tate Modern’s recent show of Anni Albers’ work threw weaving, and particularly women weavers, into the spotlight and Margo Selby is one of the UK’s best and most successful weavers. Her work spans large-scale commissions and major licenses as well as an ongoing stream of one-off, hand-woven pieces. She is both a talented maker and a savvy entrepreneur.

Having started her business 15 years ago, straight out of college with a large floor loom taking up a lot of space in her bedroom in Willesden, she now manages a serious business from a studio in Whitstable. She produces designs for companies ranging from Osborne and Little to the Royal Opera House, via the London Transport Museum and Bert Frank, while continuing to weave her own blankets, scarves and lengths of fabric for framing. Her colourful, graphic patterns have a strong signature that’s immediately identifiable, even in the vast variety of her output – and her dedication to the craft is enormous.

She’s also hugely friendly and fun.

Welcoming me to her studio, she is clearly loved by her employees, all of whom, she insists, must spend some time on the loom every week. It’s fundamental for her that the business won’t lost sight of its roots in hand weaving. Because it all started with

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technique. It was a fascination with making fabric, though not specifically woven fabric, that interested her at first. She tells me: “My family have always had a tradition of women making textiles at home. My granny taught me crochet, knitting and cross-stitch.

I was interested from a young age, so when I found out I could do a degree in textiles I thought that was really exciting.” Weaving didn’t immediately appeal because of what she assumed would be a restrictive method.

“You do have to be very disciplined and follow a lot of rules and I’m not really like that, but somehow that discipline gives me a big sense of security and my work a lot of structure. I’m very mathematical. I like it to make sense and be ordered and have a structure. I don’t like designs that are too organic.”

The loom, she explains, was essentially the first computer. It works to a binary formula; designs are drawn on paper in the form of grids representing different squares of pattern, warp or weft. Working a loom all depends on the complex threading of it, with the warp thread on the loom and the weft thread going through it.

But what is it actually like, sitting at a loom and weaving? “It’s very meditative, rhythmic, you can get lost in it.” Do you have to count? Is it forgiving or are mistakes

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INTERIORS • PROFILE

rectifiable? “There is some counting,” she admits. “But yes, you can unpick it.” She encourages me to have a go and it’s quite physical: first you pull the beater towards you and push it back, then you push the foot pedal and throw the shuttle carrying the weft thread through the warp structure, and then repeat: pull the beater again and so on.

It’s a rhythm and I can imagine continuing happily for some time, once you’re in the swing of it. What I can’t imagine, however, is conceiving of a pattern and working out how to thread the loom to create it. “One of the most difficult things when you’re learning is to have an idea in your head and translate it to the loom. I have found that as long as the vision is really clear then the result is successful. Understanding pattern and graphic design has become an important part of the business.” Mills can do more complex patterning with jaquard looms, while Selby’s own main loom has 24 shafts that can be lifted differently, to create separate weaves side by side. When working with a mill, she will provide them with a sketch created in Illustrator, and then instruct them to apply certain weaves. “So I can combine my work on the handloom with the industrial. Some people think of manufacturing as a dirty word, but for me, the mills are run by amazing craftspeople with many years of experience in developing techniques.”

Margo runs weaving workshops for complete beginners as well as more

experienced weavers, not because she needs to fill her weekends with weaving but because she wants to keep the craft alive, and because she just loves it. “It’s a bit of a dying craft, it’s a slow process and one that’s easy for people to forget so we feel like we’re keeping it alive.” She also mentors younger weavers through a Crafts Council scheme.

While Margo Selby fabric has become a staple in the interiors industry, it was accessories that came first for her. In fact, she wasn’t particularly interested in what the fabric would be used for at first – all she cared about was making different fabrics and patterns, experimenting with threading the loom to get different results. “I thought I wasn’t going to worry about the end use, I’d just make pieces,” she says, and though her first pieces did become scarves, that was mostly because of the simplicity of the scarf size and shape. Today she makes fragments of cloth that are designed to be framed as art pieces; last year she held a solo exhibition of them. “I feel as though I’m painting with yarn, exploring how colours and threads react to one another when I place them together. I’m fascinated by the process of blending yarns on the loom rather than dyeing them.”

It wasn’t until she started being approached by people asking her to apply her fabrics for interiors that she began to think about using them. She started with headboards and soon people began commissioning for hotels and bigger

I LOVE EXPLORING HOW COLOURS AND THREADS REACT TO ONE ANOTHER WHEN I PLACE THEM TOGETHER

projects, and she started to think about making fabrics that were more suited to that. Durability is hugely important for upholstery and interiors fabrics. “We have just made our first rug out of recycled bottles. It’s a wool imitation and it feels nicer than some of our wools,” she says with enthusiasm. That was woven in India, though she uses mills in the UK wherever possible.

“I’d like to see more decorative cloth woven here,” she says. “The decorative mills I know of make gorgeous silks, but not durable ones, nothing you could use for upholstery. Even in India weaving is in decline. It’s rare to find weavers under 50 now.”

How does she approach commissions?

Her signature style is so strong, and yet it has been incorporated into pieces by so many different brands. “If you continue to make things yourself, no matter how many things you try your signature will stay strong.

You can’t get away from it really. I like to have texture on texture, pattern on pattern, little stripes on little stripes. I guess I’m a maximalist. I try hard to do neutral, but my neutrals have about 12 colours in them.”

Ultimately, she simply enjoys working with yarn, any construction of yarn. What next for Margo Selby? Predictably, it’s all about the looms. “This year, I want the looms to be working all the time,” she says. margoselby.com

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INTERIORS • STYLE

ANNIE SLOAN Chalk paint, £19.95 per litre anniesloan.com

COPENHAGEN GLASS COLLECTION Rowan large glass pendant light, £469.60 bespokelights.co.uk

KNOLL Wassilly lounge chair, £2,052 conranshop.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

ANTHOLOGY FIVE Punched coffee table in orange, £525 anthologyfive.com

LIVING CORAL

NORMAN COPENHAGEN Cap table lamp, £315 skandium.com

URBANARA Sontra cashmere blanket, £199 urbanara.co.uk

Give your interiors an update with Pantone’s colour of the year LIGNE ROSET

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

Coral Ruche sofa, £794 chaplins.co.uk

JULIETTES INTERIORS Modern Italian Velvet Armchair, £3,976 juliettesinteriors.co.uk

ADICO Portuguese 5008 chair, £125 conranchop.co.uk

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

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Absolutely swoons over Marie-Lise Féry’s dreamy Magic Circus Editions

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INTERIORS • FOCUS

In the manner of Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel, she blends together elegance, humour and unexpected details

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ith Pop-Up, MarieLise Féry takes us on journey through a fantastic world full of references. For her third collection, the Lyon-based designer is diving into the hedonism of the 1970s.

Her view of the period is both ironic and vivacious, offering a subtle, yet showy perspective: are these eye-shaped lamps looking at us? Is the reflective surface of the glass really a distorting mirror showing us the narcissism of the time?

With the slender and elegant lines calling attention to every little detail, Marie-Lise Féry creates contemporary designs with the trademark “retro-for-tomorrow” approach, which has earned Magic Circus Éditions its name in the lighting industry since its foundation in 2015.

The Pop-Up pieces consist of between one and three domes of lacquered brass (in pistachio, pink, light blue, dark blue and lemon), each attached to a brass stem (gold or slate-coloured), highlighting the delicate shape of the mouth-blown glass. Floor lamps and table lamps stand on a Carrara

collection: Pop-Up. Magic Circus Editions lamps question the changeable status of objects – between function and aesthetic, balance and lightness, drama and reverie.

Magic Circus Éditions founder Marie-Lise Féry was born in Paris. After studying art business, she moved to New Yorko.

Fascinated by the city’s architecture, she found an endless source of inspiration in the Big Apple’s monumental décors. Returning to France, based herself in Lyon, where she opened an antiques gallery named Un Château en Espagne, and started telling her own stories through objects she gleaned here and there. A way for her to perpetuate her mother’s motto: “Objects with a soul will always find their place”. Since 2015, the year she established Magic Circus Éditions, she has moved on to lighting as a means of telling her stories, bringing the magic of the show into home interiors. With her love for the theatre, the circus, turnof-the-century cabarets and music halls, Marie-Lise Féry imagines each new original creation as a way to stage her vision. In the manner of Wes Anderson in Grand Budapest Hotel, blending together elegance, humour and unexpected details, her designs never fail to surprise. Like magic lanterns – precursors to modern-day cinema –, MarieLise Féry creates a succession of illusions, with immense, lightweight compositions conjuring silent references. Attentive to the look of her pieces both in daylight and at night, Marie-Lise Féry takes us on a journey through space (from outside to inside) and time (from yesterday to today).

marble base. Finishes include a hallmark stamped on each piece to identify it. Like jewellery, each hand- crafted item tells the story of the very best European artisans who shaped it. The fine glass craftsmanship, paired with brass, resonates with earlier creations by Magic Circus Éditions.

Drawing on the heritage of urban landscapes, shifting our perspectives by playing on scale and use, using lighting to tell stories, Magic Circus Éditions creates beautifully hand-crafted pieces from weightless and playful designs, offering an alternative perspective on everyday objects and inventing 21st-century vintage. Each collection draws from a singular inspiration: early street lights for Collection 01, the Far East for Collection 02 and the glossy polychrome allure of the 70s for her latest A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS • STYLE

A SELECTION OF GLASS JARS AND A GERANIUM PLANTED IN AN OLD PAINT KETTLE.

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hen our little shop on Columbia Road first opened, little did we know that we’d expand after the first year and move across the street to an old upholstery workshop. With more floor space and a small backyard we were now able to stock the kind of items that felt right for visitors to the flower market as well as larger salvaged objects that our existing customers hankered after.

They loved the large 8-, 10- and 15-litre vintage preserve jars for flowers. They wanted original washtubs for olive trees and Japanese maples. They asked for galvanized metal troughs and reclaimed water tanks and landscape gardeners sought out unconventional items for their clients’ gardens.

We use a variety of ceramics and terracotta in the shop – anything from Victorian plant pots to cast-off cooking vessels – their worn surfaces and textures look fabulous with flowers and greenery.

Look out for old flour bins, casserole dishes and baking trays at vintage fairs and thrift shops – all look beautiful when planted up. Yellow and green glazed

F LOW ER FA I RY The founder of Columbia Road’s Mason & Painter advises on styling plants and flowers with ceramics, glass, metal and reclaimed objects Wo r d s & i m a g e s M I C H E L L E M A S O N

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

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ArlingtonKitchensLtd

Keep your high street local Phone us and arrange a free consultation and design

Visit our showroom 48 High Street, Hampton Hill, TW12 1PD 020 8614 5757 | info@arlingtonkitchens.co.uk | www.arlingtonkitchens.co.uk

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INTERIORS • STYLE

TERRACOTTA POTS, STILL CAKED IN EARTH, DISPLAYED WITH A STAGHORN FERN AND AN OLD PAIR OF LEATHER BOOTS ECHOING THE SAME WARM, EARTHY TONES.

ELEGANTLY ARCHED LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING AND POPPY HEADS IN A GREEN-GLAZED POT

THE COPPER POTSWERE WERE ONCE USED TO COOK OVER OPEN FIRES AND HAVE AN INTERESTING COMBINATION OF DARK, SMOKY COLOURS AND GREEN VERDIGRIS TARNISH. GALVANIZED BUCKETS WITH HANDLES MAKE FANTASTIC HANGING PLANTERS.

confit pots were commonly used in France to cook duck or goose. The pots were then buried up to the glazed line in cool cellars to preserve the confit in the days before refrigeration.

Adding a little floral decoration at home needn’t take up lots of time or cost the earth, if anything at all. A little bit of imagination and resourcefulness and you can create small posies, single stem arrangements and interesting looks with cuttings in jars, recycled glass bottles, even a pretty drinking glass from your kitchen cupboard.

Experiment with fallen leaves and twigs from the park, cuttings from a friend’s garden or allotment, shoots from potted plants, flowers from the market or window box herbs. Anything goes.

If you enjoy collecting reclaimed ceramics, plant pots or metal containers chances are you’re already using them as planters.

I personally can’t resist the graphics and typography on old tubs, tins and boxes and have a least a dozen planted up with succulents, ferns, hostas or spring bulbs at any one time. Metal tubs can easily be picked up from junk shops and antique fairs and make great outdoor and indoor planters. To guarantee good drainage it’s good practice to drill or hammer several holes in the base before planting. Galvanized buckets, troughs, water tanks, food tins and olive harvest baskets make ideal containers.

These look great teamed with vintage metal garden furniture – ours have often come from old French cafés – complete with several layers of paint and faded sherbet colours they create a lovely setting for patio plants and serve as a reminder of sunny Riviera holidays.

Old flour bins, casserole dishes and baking trays all look beautiful when planted up

FLOWER MARKET Extract taken from Flower Market: Botanical Style at Home by Michelle Mason, published by Pimpernel Press at £20, pimpernelpress.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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marblehill fireplaces the most impressive & extensive selection of fireplaces in the uK

With over 7 different shoW areas and more than 55 mantels on display With 14 actually under fire, marble hill is one of the leading london shoWrooms for all your fireplace needs.

We are constantly striving to shoWcase innovative and neW designs.

70-72 Richmond Road, Twickenham TW1 3BE

Tel: 020 8892 1488 info@marblehill.co.uk www.marblehill.co.uk

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Editions INTERIORS • PROMOTION

DECO ELEGANCE Add a dash of vintage chic to your kitchen with decoSHEER…a new take on a classic style perfectly adapted for 21st century living Wo r d s P E A R L B OY D

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hen planning the kitchen extension for her 1930s detached house, the client went straight to Tomas Kitchen Living.

She had asked Tomas Hinton to design the kitchen in her previous house and was so pleased with the result that he was her obvious choice when she moved.

Her old kitchen was the naturalSHEER model, Tomas’ classic modern look, and she had intended to install the same range again until she became intrigued by the brand new decoSHEER model, which better suited the style of her 1930s house.

The ‘deco’ styling details feature a few vintage flourishes without being too ornate. These include brush brass trims beautifully set off

KITCHEN DETAILS

by Foreshore Mid Green cabinets.

Other ‘deco’ features include a top trim in walnut, reeded glass doors and cascade end pieces.

The client wanted to display her glasses and best china, so reeded glass doors were the perfect choice for this. Under-cabinet lighting provides excellent task lighting and internal lighting behind the reeded glass doors adds drama and glamour. A ‘butterfly’ curved door arrangement on the peninsula completes the period feel of the design.

The client said: “The installation process was handled very well and I’m very pleased with my new kitchen – it’s timeless, in 20 years it will still look good. It doesn’t shout at you and blends in well with the other end of the room, so whichever way you approach, it all ties in together and works well as a surprisingly spacious living area.”

The design is a

TOMAS decoSHEER kitchen

Colours: Foreshore Mid Green units with Brushed Brass and Walnut trims Reeded Glass Doors Cascade End Pieces ‘Butterfly’ curved door arrangement on the peninsula complete the period feel of the design.

Quartz Bianco Drift by Caesarstone countertops Kahrs engineered oak flooring

TO M A S K I TC H E N S 0800 023 6471 tomas-kitchen-living.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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KIDS & EDUCATION

SPANISH SERENADE LA COQUETA

As a mother of five, Celia Munoz, Founder and Creative Director od La Coqueta Kids, knows how important it is to find easy-care clothes that stand the test of time, can be passed on to the next baby and still look great. lacoquetakids.com

Small Talk 95 · Camp Wilderness 97 · Education 99 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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DISCOVERMORE

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

Open Days

Our state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre

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

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

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KIDS & EDUCATION • NOTES

FACTORY GIRLS L I T T L E C R E AT I V E FAC TO RY

Little Creative Factory built the soul of their company around the spirit and innocence of childhood, consistently inspired by the creative, curious minds of all the little people around the world. Their collections encourage children to express themselves and have fun. littlecreativefactory.com

PREVIEW

KAOS

SMALL TALK Creative clothing, Moomin mugs, Easter workshops and new reading matter

MOOMIN MANIA M O O M I N BY A R A B I A

New to the family of Moomin mugs are collections based on Ninny, the invisible child, and Moomintroll and the Martians.

Both stories centre on the power of caring, and their messages are as positive as the illustrations are charming. shop.moomin.com

POND LIFE

EDITOR’S PICK

J

oin he Amazing Art Cart for a morning of flowery fun with an Easter bonnet making and spring bouquet making special with The Flower Appreciation Society. The Amazing Art Cart are very excited to collaborating with The Flower Appreciation Society in their De Beauvoir workshop for a child and parent joint workshop this Easter holiday. It’s an opportunity for parents and children to slow down, take time out to make and create together. The children will use paper craft to make their own wonderful easter bonnets while the adults will be busy learning how to make and package a Spring Bouquet using lovely seasonal blooms and foliage.

Sunday 14 April, 10am. Suitable for ages 8-12; all materials provided.

More than one child per adult welcome; booking is necessary. theflowerappreciationsociety.com

LISTEN IN

TA D

THE GREEN GIANT

by Benji Davies

by Katie Cottle

Tad is the smallest tadpole in the pond. As her tad-brothers and tad-sisters get bigger and bigger, and eventually disappear, she worries that she could be left all alone. With vibrant illustrations, it's a heart-warming story. £12.99

A timely tale about a little girl who discovers a giant made entirely of plants, in her grandfather’s greenhouse. The girl and the giant become fast friends as they attempt to bring a bit of colour back to the grey city. £6.99

 harpercollins.co.uk

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

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GROUNDS FOR CELEBRATION BANQUETING

|

WEDDINGS

|

PRIVATE DINING

|

ACCOMMODATION

For nearly 900 years Leeds Castle in Kent has been famous for welcoming royalty, peers of the realm, politicians and stars of the silver screen to celebrate special events. Now it is available for all to hold their own special events, from dinner parties in the Castle dining room to anniversary banquets, group gatherings and launches for up to 200 guests.

Within easy reach of London, for further enquiries or to book please call 01622 767855 or email hospitality@leeds-castle.co.uk.

“The loveliest castle in the world” leeds-castle.com

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KIDS & EDUCATION • ACTIVITIES

Returning from Camp Wilderness, my daughters are exhausted, filthy and beside themselves with happiness

INTO THE

WILD As the summer holidays draw near, Absolutely investigates Camp Wilderness’ summer camps Wo r d s PENDLE HARTE

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rriving at the car park having not seen our children for a week, we don’t know what to expect. The camp is quite deep in the woods – a 15 minute trek – and they have been there for five days. Will they have been miserable and homesick? We’re fairly certain they won’t, but you never know.

Sending children off to summer camp with no phones means they can’t spend their days staring at tiny screens, but it also means that they can’t phone home. Old school style.

In the car park we hear them before we see them. There’s a chanting and stomping coming towards us. As they emerge, we catch some lyrics: a song about baked beans. A rowdy bunch is striding towards us, their skin partially decorated with amateur tribal markings, large sticks in their

hands, among them our children, entirely unrecognizable from the shy, uncertain ones we left here a few days ago and smelling of bonfire.

What happened to them?

Summer holidays should be about spending time outdoors. They should not be about homework or keeping to the bedtime routine. Our children’s lives are so scheduled, so full of

improving activities and timetabling that the six-week break is the only time for them to experience the childhood freedom that, as adults, we fantasise about. Returning from Camp Wilderness, my daughters, aged 9 and 12, are exhausted, filthy and beside themselves with happiness. The best thing, they say, is having no rules and no clocks.

“Whenever we asked the time, we’d be told ‘evening time’ or ‘morning time’. They said it was because time was a social construct. Mummy, what’s a social construct?”

The five day camp involves nonstop games, delicious meals (the favourite? dolphin, they insist, which on further questioning turns out to be a creamy potato dish. Everybody of course loves dauphinoise) and lots of freedom. There isn’t even a set bedtime, they report proudly.

Children are split into small groups – tribes – and collective activities include shelter-building (those with the most successful shelters actually electing to sleep in their own structures) and lake swimming (freezing) as well as lots of campfire time and the joy of sleeping in a small forest village of teepees. There are also skills: the girls report learning first aid and knots.

And the friendships? When we get home to the iPhone, the messages have already begun. Our elder daughter has a whatsapp group chat entitled ‘Wilderness friends’. They are going back this year.

CAMP WILDERNESS Three-day camps £175; five-day camps £300. Discounts for siblings and groups campwilderness.co.uk

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St. Nicholas Preparatory School an outstanding education for boys and girls up to Year 6

020 7225 1277 www.stnicholasprep.co.uk 23 Prince’s Gate | South Kensington | SW7 1PT

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INDEPENDENT DAY SCHO OL FOR GIRL S AGED 4 TO 18 IN SOU TH KENSINGTON — Queen’s Gate School offers girls a warm, supportive environment where individuality is nurtured, academic standards are high and a broad-based curriculum ensures a well-rounded education.

Senior School Open Mornings · 9.30 am Wednesday 8 May · Friday 21 June 2019 To book, please visit www.queensgate.org.uk For a prospectus or to arrange a private visit, please contact the Registrar, Mrs Ceili Roberts-Beresford: — registrar@queensgate.org.uk · 020 7594 4982

Queen’s Gate School, 131–133 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5LE

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EDUCATION • OPINION

TEACHING AT LATYMER UPPER

H A BITS

The Deputy Head of Latymer Upper School on teaching a growth mindset A N D R E W M AT T H E W S

A

t Latymer Upper School, our approach to learning is based around the needs of the individual learner. In one sense our approach is traditional; we believe the bedrock of education lies in the acquisition and understanding of knowledge, concepts and skills related to specific academic disciplines or co-curricular activities.

However, we believe that learning involves pupils’ development of more generic skills and dispositions, which we refer to as ‘habits’, involved in intellectual endeavour and study.

These include; inventiveness, problem-solving, critical thinking, curiosity, collaboration and teamwork.

In addition to these is the development of our ‘habits of heart’,

by which we mean character education. These qualities include; courage, resilience, reflection and meta-learning (a pupil’s reflection on how they learn), personal and social responsibility (including leadership), concern for others and a disposition to service. Habits of heart can only be realised when we help pupils develop positive attitudes to learning. So, developing a growth mindset is fundamental.

We took the seminal work on growth mindsets from Carol Dweck, as our initial inspiration. Then, we invited Professor of Psychology in Education, Barry Hymer, to lead our staff training programme in 2016.

We wanted teachers to incorporate a growth mindset approach in their lessons and for them to introduce it to pupils at the earliest opportunity by teaching them about its benefits from Year 7 onwards. To evaluate the effectiveness of our mindset

“We want our pupils to develop positive attitudes to learning”

GOOD

teaching our Head of Lower School designed a six-part growth mindset course for our Year 7s. Alongside a team from Harvard University, we designed a research project that enabled us to assess its impact on our pupils. Half the year group received the course in their first term and the other half acted as a control group (they received the course later in the year).

The course was found to have a significant effect on each of the three growth mindset variables measured: mindset about intelligence, mindset about one’s own intelligence, and mindset about personality traits. In other words, pupils who took the course experienced significantly greater increases in growth mindset than pupils who did not receive the course. Those who were taught the course showed a shift in their attitudes about effort and mistakes; an increase in their knowledge about how the brain learns; and a more growth-minded understanding of personality traits.

Less expected were various other positive effects: an increase in pupils’ prosocial attitudes, specifically shown in their willingness to help their peers; a decrease in stress levels; and, a decrease in academic self-handicapping (in order to provide an excuse in case of failure).

The positive endorsement of our approach has enabled us to continue teaching pupils about growth mindsets and refine our methods of doing so. Our teachers have growth mindset in the forefront of their minds whilst planning and teaching lessons. The growth mindset Latymer Upper has adopted means that our entire community is always seeking to improve and to learn.

ANDREW MATTHEWS Deputy Head Latymer Upper School

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

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TRAVEL

CITY OF LIGHTS LAS VEGAS

Of the world's 10 biggest hotels, seven are in Las Vegas. Helen Brown visits Sin City on a girls' weekend and has a ball.

Viva Las Vegas 102 • UK Getaway 107 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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W H AT HAPPENS IN VEGAS

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TRAVEL • USA

We take in the sights and splendour of the world’s most famous strip on a girls' weekend to Las Vegas Wo r d s H E L E N B R OW N

N

o place on earth has quite the magnetism of Vegas. It’s the real city that never sleeps and the HQ of hedonism, made for a ‘go hard or go home’ getaway. The Las Vegas of old built a reputation on bright lights and poker tables, but today, spectacular gastronomy, sumptuous high-end spas, swanky shopping outlets and fashionable music residencies are the mainstay of the place. Once associated with boys’ weekends and stag parties, Las Vegas is quickly becoming a mecca for a fabulous girls’ trip, as groups jet off for whirlwind weekends on the strip.

Creating a comprehensive guide to Vegas is impossible; an abundance of restaurants, nightclubs, shopping malls and shows means that you could spend a year there and still never know all its secrets. However there are a number of things to tick off the bucket list first.

STAY Vegas is big on hotels. They’re the city’s cornerstones with most of the restaurants, clubs and casinos housed within them. Astonishingly, of the 10 largest hotels in the world, seven call Vegas their home. The Venetian and the MGM Grand have nearly 14,000 rooms between them – so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a bed for the weekend. True to its name, The Venetian has been kitted out to make tourists feel at home in Venice complete with Grand Canal, lifesize gondolas and singing gondoliers who will sweep you downriver beneath bridges, beside cafes, under balconies and through a vibrant Venetian streetscape. In the world of celebrity hotels, The Bellagio A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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is another A-Lister, known for the countless films (The Hangover, Ocean’s Eleven, Rat Race, to name a few) set within its glitzy premises. Others, like New York, New York and Caesars Palace, are theme parks in themselves and well worth a visit. But bringing a cool, new aesthetic to the strip is the Park MGM. It’s the latest hotel to settle into the area, housed in what was formerly the Monte Carlo. Park MGM is one of the venues working to rebrand Vegas for a new type of visitor, targeting those who seek well-designed but low-key experiences that offer a certain quality over quantity. The casino floor is more upscale than those of its counterparts yet the original chandeliers and ceilings from the days of the Monte Carlo, inspired by the famed Monaco casino, remain. Still, the vibe is distinctly modern, with found art, commissioned works, and contemporary art pieces, including iPad drawings by David Hockney and a multimedia dreamscape by Iranian artists Shoja Azari and Shahram Karimi.

PLAY A trip to Vegas isn’t complete without taking in a show or two, and if you’re looking for the largest congregation of women in one spot on the strip then it’s at Magic Mike Live. Based on the eponymous hit film

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franchise that catapulted Channing Tatum onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it’s prime fodder for a girls’ weekend itinerary.

If you think sculpted men oiled up to the gills and thrusting around on stage in bow ties is tacky entertainment, how wrong you are. The 90-minute show is funny with a feminist slant, showcasing exceptional choreography from both guys and girls.

And be sure to take a spin around the Hard Rock Hotel on your way out. It’s unlike any other hotel thanks to the millions of dollars worth of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia stashed around the casino and lobby.

That should set you up nicely for a night on the tiles and thankfully there are more than enough bars to choose from.

A cocktail crawl around the trio of slick bars that make up The Cocktail Collection will get you started. All set within The Venetian, the Dorsey opened first with New York barman Sam Ross of Attaboy and Diamond Reef at the helm. The success of this venue, a swanky outlet where you can order punch in a disco ball, led to the debut of Rosina one year later. Rosina embodies old-school allure with Art Deco flair while Electra serves up a cocktail menu that is ahead of the trend, centered around rums, agricoles and mezcals. Vegas groans under the weight of nightclubs, almost all located within the bowels of various giant casinos, so again there are rich pickings. Booking a VIP table at TAO Nightclub means you needn’t leave The Venetian.

PAMPER Atone for last night’s sins at The Juice Standard in The Cosmopolitan hotel; their cold-pressed juices will bring you right back to life. Or, if it’s not a stretch too far, you can sweat it all out at SoulCycle, the spinning craze that took America’s wellness scene by storm. Classes here are high-energy evocations of a club night, albeit on a spin bike. If that does all sound a bit ambitious, sweating it out in a sauna is another perfectly viable option that no

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TRAVEL • USA

DINE

Just as club nights are the order of the day, so too is swanning around in a robe and slippers

one will judge you for. Just as club nights and casinos are the order of the day, so too is swanning around in a towel robe and slippers. Afterall, Vegas does pampering the way it does everything else: with total excess. If you’re going to book into just one, it has to be The Spa at ARIA Resort & Casino. Having recently been awarded the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award, it’s the largest five-star rated spa in the U.S and offers a deliciously indulgent treatment menu and the chance to blow away the cobwebs in a Shio salt room, relax on a heated-stone Ganbanyoku bed, or savour a quiet moment sipping herbal tea on the spa’s balcony.

Relaxed, revived and raring to go again, Violet Hour salon inside The Cosmopolitan will get you looking your best with its team of master hair stylists and make-up artists.

You and your girlfriends can enlist your very own glam squad to prepare you for a night out. Champagne on the side is optional but highly recommended.

Spas, casinos and super clubs aside, the culinary scene alone is an overwhelming course to navigate. The strip is a smorgasbord of incredible restaurants run by some of the world’s most highly-regarded chefs. Nobu Matsuhisa and Guy Savoy jostle for airtime with Gordon Ramsay, José Andrés, Bobby Flay and Michael Mina. But feeding the tourists of Las Vegas – a staggering 42.12 million in 2018 – is no easy endeavor, no matter how many establishments you’ve got under your belt (Mr Ramsay alone has five). As such, the restaurant scene is a beast that continues to snowball with more spectacular dining rooms, themed restaurants and culinary concepts than you would deem possible.

So where to start? A Lip Smacking Foodie Tour will do a lot of the leg work for you.

Their tour, Savors of The Strip, hits the highlights of the Strip, starting at Bardot Brasserie where you can snaffle wild Burgundy escargots blanketed in flaky puff pastry and smothered in garlic butter.

From here you’ll swing by Julian Serrano for innovative Spanish tapas and a convivial atmosphere, and on to Estiatorio Milos for a feast of Greek classics. Sweet teeth are satiated at Cucina by Wolfgang Puck with tiramisu, torta Caprese and mini doughnuts.

Wolfgang Puck’s Spago is another hot ticket, while Beauty and Essex and the newlyopened Catch will score you major points in the social media stakes. Catch, with an entrance lined with cascading florals and its reputation for being one of LA’s trendiest eateries, is especially noteworthy.

Las Vegas loves a brunch as much as London does and one of the best can be found at Giada De Laurentiis’ eponymous restaurant inside the Cromwell Hotel. It offers everything from lobster hash to Marmite cheese toasties. Accompany it with a glass of Giada’s own take on Frosé (frozen rosé wine, Grand Marnier, Limoncello and peach purée) and you’ll be more than ready to do it all over again.

LAS VEGAS For further information on Las Vegas, visit visitlasvegas.co.uk • GETTING THERE Norwegian operates four weekly flights during winter direct from London Gatwick to Las Vegas. Fares start from £165 one-way and £309 return.

To book visit norwegian.com/uk or call 0330 828 0854

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The Maserati of SUVs LEVANTE V6 2019 The Maserati STARTING FROM £500 A MONTH, 0% APR† WITH 3 YEARS FREE SERVICING**

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tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted HROWEN.CO.UK/MASERATI (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. *There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures shown however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. †Offer available on Maserati Levante V6 MY19 range ordered and registered between 01/01/19 and 31/03/19.

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lot has happened since 1834, not least the monumental £80 million transformation of University Arms. It’s a landmark hotel, advantaged by a prime location overlooking Parker’s Piece in the historic centre of Cambridge. In the summer of last year, the hotel reopened with a defining theme centred on Cambridge’s literary and academic prowess.

Our home-from-home for a weekend escape is the Stephen Hawking suite. It’s an impressive room, cleverly designed around Hawking, with subtle nods to space and his literature blending in with dark woods and a sophisticated colour palette. Undoubtedly the centre piece is a carefully curated bookcase stocked with Hawking’s works and the likes.

Each named suite has its own micro-library, individually curated around its icon and their subject by Mayfair’s Herwood Hill.

THE DESIGN

F

rom the Churchill-inspired porters’ uniforms to the recordings of Alan Bennett reading The Wind in the Willows in the lavatories, the hotel is quintessentially English. The redevelopment has been designed by the nation’s foremost classical architect, John Simpson and includes the replacement of the building’s 1960s and 1970s extensions with

THE FOOD

A an attractive, new classically designed building that fits with Cambridge’s better-known architectural heritage. Leading interior architect, Martin Brudnizki has tackled the interiors with great aplomb.

Brudnizki’s work is a charming evocation of the famous colleges of Cambridge University with mahogany furniture, deep leathers and eclectic art.

destination restaurant in itself, Parker’s Tavern is an all-day British brasserie helmed by Chef Tristan Welch. Once a popular stopping point for coaching passengers travelling to and from the capital, the restaurant marries contemporary and classic in what’s intended as a clever conjuring of a college dining hall. Brudnizki has filled the place with marble, pewter and shades of Cambridge blue to match Welch’s fresh and witty menus. On which, you’ll find British classics reimagined.

weekend

THE HOTEL

D ESTINATI O N S

TRAVEL • UK GETAWAY

UNIVERSITY ARMS CAMBRIDGE

By H E L E N B R OW N

Contemporary cool meets classic collegiate aesthetic in this landmark city hotel UNIVERSITY ARMS Rates at University Arms, Cambridge start from £205 per night; universityarms.com

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

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PROPERTY Living the Dream

DRAYCOTT PLACE SW3

ÂŁPOA

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n exceptional Chelsea townhouse, which has been recently rebuilt behind the front and rear facades to the very highest specification, incorporating a lift to all floors with cinema, spa and gym in the new basement extension. Draycott Place is an elegant and luxurious family home with outstanding amenities and a wonderful balance of entertaining rooms and bedroom suites.

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YOUhome Notting Hill Gate 020 7908 9280 YOUhome.co.uk

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Maisonette with private entrance in a prime location.

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2 Walton Street, Knightsbridge SW3 A delightful maisonette, with private street entrance, presented in superb condition with an exceptional quality of finish and attention to detail. Walton Street runs southwest from Walton Place to the junction with Draycott Avenue and Brompton Road.

• • • •

Excellent views towards Lennox Gardens Mews Arranged to utilise the space to its full potential Located in the heart of Knightsbridge Approximately 1,418 sq ft (131.7 sq m)

Roly Ingleby-MacKenzie looks forward to helping you. roly.im@knightfrank.com 020 8128 0935

Guide price

£2,500,000

Leasehold: approximately 92 years remaining knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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The penthouse flat with far-reaching views.

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2 Winchester Court, Kensington W8 A beautifully presented two bedroom apartment which is situated on the top floor in a prime Kensington location. Winchester Court is conveniently located for the many shops, restaurants and transport links of Kensington High Street and Notting Hill Gate.

• • • •

Michael Sands looks forward to helping you. michael.sands@knightfrank.com 020 8115 3277

Newly refurbished to a high standard Situated in a desirable block with a porter South-facing apartment Approximately 923 sq ft (85.8 sq m)

Guide price

£1,550,000

Share of freehold knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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An immaculate flat with lift in a prime address.

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Petersham House, South Kensington SW7 A recently refurbished charming apartment in the heart of South Kensington with modern finishes. Close to shops, bars, and restaurants.

• • • •

Giles Barrett looks forward to helping you. giles.barrett@knightfrank.com 020 8033 2677

Benefiting from open plan living Plenty of natural light Excellent nearby transport links Approximately 890 sq ft (82.7 sq m)

Guide price

£1,195,000

Leasehold: approximately 149 years remaining knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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Did you know?

70% of all prime London developments are for sale with Knight Frank.

Kingwood at 55 Hans Place, Knightsbridge: a development by Finchatton

Register with us for the widest choice of exceptional new homes. We’d love to help you.

Contact Rupert des Forges, Head of Prime Central London Developments, on +44 20 3463 0234

knightfrank.co.uk Statistic based on developments that Knight Frank are directly mandated on in London zone 1 at an average list price in excess of ÂŁ2,000/sq ft.

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LIVING THE

DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market

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BOLANDER GROVE SW 6 , £ 3 ,98 5 P M C

COLEHERNE MEWS SW 1 0 , £ 3 , 5 0 0,0 0 0

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FEATHERSTONE LEIGH

KNIGHT FRANK

Fulham, 020 7610 9755 featherstoneleigh.co.uk

Chelsea, 020 7349 4300 robert.french@knightfrank.com

n exceptional three double bedroom apartment in the exclusive newbuild development, Lillie Square. This ground-floor property offers high-end living with its open-plan reception room. There are three spacious bedrooms, two luxurious bathrooms and a very large private balcony. Lillie Square benefits from a 5* clubhouse exclusive to residents which includes a gym.

his Mews house has been completely refurbished and redeveloped by the current owners to the highest standards. The house is wider than a standard frame and so offers spacious and flexible accommodation. There has been a full basement conversion to create a large eat in kitchen and reception room with excellent ceiling height (2.64m). The property has three double bedrooms, each with their own ensuite bathroom.

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PROPERTY • NEW TO THE MARKET

CADOGAN PLACE SW 1 X , £ 1 ,75 0 PW

W 1 4 , £ 1 ,9 9 5 ,0 0 0

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HLR

HUMBERTS

Chelsea, 020 7351 7822 hlrlets.com

Heracles Estates, 020 3284 1888

n extremely light, newly refurbished maisonette close to Sloane Square and Knightsbridge.

The period building looks out onto Cadogan Place's awardwinning communal gardens and comprises a large west facing reception room with balcony, kitchen/breakfast room with an east facing Juliet balcony, three bedrooms, two shower rooms and excellent storage throughout.

CHENISTON GARDENS

FITZJAMES AVENUE n elegant four bedroom lateral apartment with long corridors and high ceilings on the second floor with a communal lift. Gated and portered with balcony views onto both the tree lined street and courtyard.

Consisting of master bedroom with an ensuite, three separate bedrooms, a separate bathroom and an open plan sitting room and dining room.

clemence.bordet@heraclesestates.com

W 8 , £4 5 0 PW

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well-presented period conversion two bedroom flat located just off High Street Kensington. The property comprises two double bedrooms, open plan kitchen and reception room and family bathroom.

Further benefits include a private balcony, wooden flooring, built-in storage in the larger bedroom and living areas, and gas central heating. The property is close to High Street Kensington station.

GATED AND PORTERED WITH BALCONY VIEWS ONTO BOTH THE TREE LINED STREET AND COURTYARD

LOCKETT ESTATES

Fulham, 020 7736 2810 lettings@lockettestates.co.uk

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CARNWATH ROAD, LONDON Description- Featherstone Leigh are delighted to present this stunning three double bedroom penthouse apartment with a wraparound terrace, stunning river views and a beautiful modern finish stretching over 1,600 square feet. As you proceed through the property you find a vast eat in kitchen with double oven and all appliances by Miele, a large and bright reception room and three double bedrooms. The master bedroom benefits from an en-suite and a fully fitted dressing space, the second comprises a further en suite and fitted storage.

GUIDE PRICE

ÂŁ5,417 PMC

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FULHAM 020 7610 9755

28/03/2019 17:10

Chiswick Hammersmith West Kensington Fulham Chelsea

Battersea Clapham Putney Barnes Richmond

Kew Sheen Twickenham Teddington Kingston

featherstoneleigh.co.uk

BOLANDER GROVE, LONDON An exceptional three double bedroom apartment in the exclusive newbuild development, Lillie Square. This ground-floor property offers highend living with its open-plan reception room. There are three spacious bedrooms, two luxurious bathrooms and a very large private balcony.

Lillie Square benefits from a 5* clubhouse exclusive to residents which includes a gym, swimming pool, bar and much more. Available in late February, EPC = B.

GUIDE PRICE

ÂŁ3,985 PMC

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FULHAM 020 7610 9755

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CADOGAN LANE, SW1X

£1,750 per week

A newly decorated and well-presented house situated in a peaceful street in Knightsbridge ideally located just off Sloane Street. The house has four bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms, two reception rooms, eat-in kitchen, patio garden, garage, cloakroom and access to communal gardens.

4 BEDROOMS • 2 BATHROOMS • CLOAKROOM • TWO RECEPTION ROOMS • GARAGE • COMMUNAL GARDENS • UNFURNISHED

ST MARY ABBOTS TERRACE, W14

£2,250 per week

A fabulous refurbished house located close to Kensington High Street and Holland Park. The house is extremely light and neutrally decorated with a spacious open plan kitchen/family room with doors leading onto the garden.

The first floor reception has south facing views and the master bedroom has a walk in wardrobe and ensuite shower room, there are three further bedrooms and two bathrooms as well as parking for two cars.

4 BEDROOMS • 3 BATHROOMS (2 EN-SUITE) • LARGE KITCHEN/ FAMILY ROOM • RECEPTION ROOM • STUDY • GUEST WC • GARDEN • UNFURNISHED • OFF STREET PARKING FOR TWO CARS

117 Sydney Street London SW3 6NR Lettings: +44 (0)20 7351 7822 or information@hlrlets.com hlrlets.com HLR.indd 1

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ST LUKES STREET, SW3

£1,850 per week

A light and bright house which is located in a quiet street close to Chelsea Green and the King’s Road and has west facing views over the grounds of St Luke’s church. The property is unfurnished and has a fabulous kitchen/ family room, with a first floor reception overlooking a west facing roof terrace as well as an integral garage/utility room.

3 BEDROOMS • 2 BATHROOMS • RECEPTION ROOM • DRAWING ROOM • KITCHEN • TERRACE • GARAGE • UNFURNISHED

OVINGTON STREET, SW3

£3,250 per week

Lovely light recently refurbished family house in quiet Chelsea Street. Contemporary in style with wood floors in the reception areas and neutrally decorated throughout. Open plan kitchen/dining/family opening out onto a good sized paved garden. Ground floor reception room leading onto good sized conservatory. It includes a separate area for a nanny with a small seating area with kitchenette, single bedroom with en-suite shower room.

5 BEDROOMS • 2 BATHROOMS • 2 SHOWER ROOMS • GUEST W/C • RECEPTION ROOM • LARGE KITCHEN/ FAMILY ROOM • STUDY • UTILITY ROOM • GARDEN • UNFURNISHED

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OCEANIC HOUSE ST JAMES’S SW1 A UNIQUE DUPLEX PENTHOUSE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF ST JAMES’S This exquisite duplex penthouse is located within the iconic Oceanic House, built as the offices for the famous White Star Line shipping company. This unique penthouse offers open plan living space flowing seamlessly throughout, creating the perfect space to entertain family and friends. The penthouse further benefits from four double bedrooms and direct access to the terrace boasting excellent views of London’s skyline.

Accommodation: Entrance hall, reception room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, sitting room, master bedroom with ensuite his & her bathrooms and dressing rooms, 3 further bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and dressing rooms, 2 studies, utility room, guest WC. Amenities: Lift, roof terrace, terrace, porterage.

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£16,250,000

Paul Finch

Leasehold

paul@beauchamp.com

Joint Sole Agents

+44 (0)20 7499 7722

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MONTEM TERRACE WIMBLEDON SW20 AN EXCEPTIONAL, NEWLY BUILT, FIVE BEDROOM PROPERTY IN WIMBLEDON Thoughtfully arranged by the developer, Coronado, to maximise space and create impressive proportions across all floors.

Constructed to a high specification, the property features panelled walnut doors, engineered European solid oakwood flooring, large format Italian polished porcelain tiles, and recessed adjustable LED down lights throughout.

Accommodation: Entrance hall, reception room, kitchen/dining room, 5 bedrooms, dressing room, 3 bathrooms, 2 shower rooms, study/bedroom 6, media/family room, utility room, 2 guest cloakrooms. Amenities: Gym, balcony, landscaped garden, CCTV, 10 year build warranty, off street parking.

Paul Finch

£3,825,000

paul@beauchamp.com New Homes

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+44 (0)20 7499 7722

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THE DRIVE WIMBLEDON SW20 A LUXURIOUSLY DESIGNED, DETACHED SIX BEDROOM PROPERTY Located on a quiet Wimbledon road, The Drive has been meticulously designed by boutique developer Coronado to maximise space and create impressive proportions. Set over four floors this six/seven bedroom property offers a large reception room and kitchen/breakfast room is ideal for entertaining family and friends.

Accommodation: Entrance hall, reception room, kitchen/family room, 6 bedrooms, dressing room, 2 bathrooms, 4 shower rooms, study, games room/cinema, utility room, 2 guest cloakrooms.

Amenities: Wine cellar, 2 balconies, landscaped garden, CCTV, 10 year build warranty, off street parking.

£4,200,000 Freehold

Paul Finch paul@beauchamp.com +44 (0)20 7499 7722

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country house town house period house modern house dream house moving house?

Estate agency has moved on. house. is different We know people are starting to consider online only estate agents, but still want the reassurance of face-to-face help from local experts.

You get both with us, because we provide that personal service without expensive high street locations that customers have to pay for.

We also go further to ensure your property and the lifestyle it enables is shown in the best possible light.

Sumptuous photography and video, and a contemporary web experience not only shows buyers how your home looks, but how it feels to live there. It’s the new, innovative way to add value when selling your house.

The premium online estate agency.

London, Surrey and Sussex 0800 917 0447 info@housepartnership.co.uk

housepartnership.co.uk

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PROPERTY • MOVING

Smooth

MOVE Why you need an interior designer for your move, according to Neil Pertoldi of Abels Moving Services

By EVE HERBERT

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nterior designers can help homeowners enhance both their lifestyle and the overall value of their property through sophisticated redesigns, as Neil explains. “Abels moves some of the UK’s most beautiful homes, involving fine art and commissioned furniture pieces requiring specialist care. As a result we often work with home stylists and interior designers for private client projects or directly with the designers to support their moving, storage and specialist installation requirements”.

Previously considered an option simply for the wealthy, using a home stylist is seen by a growing number of homeowners as a way to enhance sale values before moving.

Creating an expertly curated style with unique pieces or renting striking art can help a property stand out in a crowded market.

Abels collaborates with a range of home stylists, helping to deliver a return on investment by boosting property value.

“For one client having immense trouble selling their home, we worked with a stylist to re-imagine the space, reposition crowded items and store pieces that detracted

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from the desired style. The property sold amazingly quickly and shortly afterwards we moved the delighted family into their new home, including their stored possessions" If you are looking to add a touch of luxury and style to your home, Accouter Group of Companies and their interior design brands Accouter Design, A.LONDON and BoxNine7 can help. They work with high profile clients in some of the world’s finest locations to create unique and personal spaces. Drawing on the significant expertise of experienced designers, artisans and storytellers, your ideas and inspirations are brought stunningly to life.

Susan Fisher from Iridium Luxury Interiors comments: “We often work with clients looking for their home to fit their lifestyle; they may have an ambition, but need someone to help bring it together, or perhaps create something from scratch.

Very often clients invest in commissioned pieces of furniture and art – involving a designer in these big purchase decisions helps to get it right”.

When it comes to installing furniture, sculptures and works of art a specialist moving partner brings expertise and has the resources to manage the most complex situations - lifting a grand piano into a city apartment on the 15th floor via crane, handling a Fendi Casa – Boca do Lobo or safely transporting an original and delicate piece of fine art. Here Abels delivers.

The right interior designer will not only achieve the perfect look, but if you are

considering investing in larger statement pieces, their connections and knowledge might even save you money.

Whether you are looking to move home, store items, install fine art or transport heavy and complex pieces, with Abels you are assured of an impeccable service and expert guidance, across the UK or internationally. Moving discerning customers for generations.

ABELS 0800 626 769 • home@abels.co.uk abels.co.uk • agofc.com iridiumluxuryinteriors.com

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THE ONE BEDROOM COLLECTION NOW L AUNCHED BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY 020 3944 5712 | sales@chelseacreek.co.uk

Discover waterside living at Chelsea Creek with a selection of contemporary one bedroom apartments in the heart of the development.

• Prime zone 2 location, just minutes from the King’s Road • Imperial Wharf Station on your doorstep • Residents’ facilities including a 24-hour concierge service, spa and fitness centre PR I C E S F RO M £ 8 4 0 , 0 0 0 Chelsea Creek Marketing Suite, 9 Park Street, London SW6 2FS Computer Generated Image is indicative only and photography is of Chelsea Creek one bedroom apartments.

Price correct at time of going to print.

www.chelseacreek.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

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Rated ‘Excellent’ by our customers

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