DRAFTED Magazine Issue 12 by DRAFTEDmagazine

BLIPPE ON to B DRAFTED THIS R for COVE ge 7

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T H E E V E RY D AY A-LISTER KEIRA KNIGHTLEY: MIXING GLAMOUR WITH THE GRAFT E LLA HENDE RS ON RU SS E LL K AN E ST UART H ER ITAG E FACES CH R ISTMAS FASHION S H O P P I N G B E AU TY E N T E RTA I N M E N T G O I N G O U T

CONTENTS Issue 12

K E E P I N T O U C H www.draftedmagazine.com • Twitter @draftedmagazine • Facebook /draftedmagazine

36 = Denotes interactive content BLIPPAR Blippar Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CELEBRITY Keira Knightley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Ella Henderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 FASHION Women’s Gift Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Men’s Gift Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Pembridge Files: Part Two . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

EDITOR’S LETTER

you issue 12 of DRAFTED in the 12th month of the year, as we all prepare for the 12 Days of Christmas. But although December is a month of festivities, it also marks the end of an extraordinary year. From Scotland’s referendum to the breakthrough Rosetta comet landing; to George Clooney and Ryan Gosling being

of the past 365 days have come thick and fast. As we prepare to enter a new dawn, strengthen our resolve - making 2015 a year of health, happiness and peace for all. See you next year...

Rivkie Baum

FEATURES A Father Christmas Carol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Go Hard or Go Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Don’t Forget To Swear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The Descent To Hell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 The Future Of Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Away Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Kate Temple Gets Angry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Many Hopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT The Madden Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Fuse ODG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 On Screen And On Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Russell Kane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 BEAUTY Beauty Essentials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Male Grooming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Tried And Tested . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Moon Shine and Molly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 LIFESTYLE Nusu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Dine Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Bars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Inside Your City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Staycation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Editor Rivkie Baum rivkie@draftedmagazine.com • Managing Editor Kyle Goodwin kyle@draftedmagazine.com • Deputy Editor Hannah Slapper hannah@draftedmagazine.com

Chief Contributing Editor Sarah Blinco sarah@draftedmagazine.com • Beauty Editor Kate Temple kate@draftedmagazinecom • Picture Editor Jay McLaughlin jay@draftedmagazine.com Chief Sub Editor Hannah Slapper hannah@draftedmagazine.com • Sub Editors Sam Jones, Kyle Goodwin • Creative Direction Nick Cannons design@draftedmagazine.com

Designer Tom Hay design@draftedmagazine.com • Designer Danny Nash design@draftedmagazine.com • Interactive Design Michael Bartlett michael@draftedmagazine.com Feature Contributors Stuart Heritage, Rebecca Holman, Henry Fry, Amy Bonifas, Edward Ripley, Jess Johnson • Illustrations Rory Taylor, Melanie Manning Photographic Contributors Simon Wisbey, Arron Dunworth • Videographer Andy Herby • Online Editor Sarah Blinco sarah@draftedmagazine.com Commercial / Sales Director Lena Robinson lena@draftedmagazine.com • Head of Communications Matt Russell matt@draftedmagazine.com Published by Drafted Media Limited • General Enquiries info@draftedmagazine.com

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Illustration: Melanie Manning

A Father Christmas Carol GU ARDI AN COLUMNI ST, ST U AR T H E R IT AGE , T AKE S U S ON A J OU R N E Y TH ROUGH CH RI STM AS P AST , P R E SE N T AN D F U T U R E … Words: S t u a r t H e r i t a g e

CHRIS TMAS -Pasth

ere’s a handy tip: if you ever want to stop enjoying Christmas, try being older than Jesus. I promise you, it works a

be honest, it’s turned Christmas into a little bit of an arse-ache. Worse, it’s an arse-ache that lasts for about a third of a year. My heart sinks when I see selection boxes in supermarket aisles in September. It sinks

usual anticlimactic tedium of sitting around making bored small talk with equally bored relatives until it’s time to watch someone get bludgeoned to death on EastEnders. Not that I’m blaming it entirely on my

FEATURE

put down to a combination of modern medical advances, and a learned tendency to not loudly proclaim myself as the literal son of God in front of people who have access to weapons. Instead, it’s probably just a sign that I’m getting old. I don’t get excited about airports name of the song and the name of the singer when I watch music videos, and Christmas I know how this story ends, of course. It ends with me in a nursing home, stubbornly half-asleep next to a tatty string of tinsel, while a disinterested nurse shouts “Come on Mr Hermitage, won’t you have a bit of turkey?” as she slops a plastic spoonful of mechanicallyreclaimed chicken against the side of my face

CHRIS TMAS -FUTURE-

xcept it won’t. All of a sudden, this miserable pathway has been diverted to a much brighter future, and it’s all thanks to the miracle of my inexplicably functioning reproductive system. This Christmas, all being well, will be my last one as a non-parent. Come 2015, I’ll be the exhausted father of a little boy, and Christmas will once again be the whirlwind of excitement it was when I was a child. It won’t, of course, be like that straight away. In actual fact, during Christmas 2015 I’ll play the part of a vaguely recognisable, yet far too excited, pink blur that makes lots of loud noises and keeps waggling massively impractical toys in front of my son’s uncomprehending face. For Christmas 2016 and Christmas 2017 I’ll play the part of an exasperated professor, explaining for the millionth time who Father Christmas is, and

deferring to Wikipedia whenever I’m asked why there’s a tree inside our house, and why Boxing Day is called Boxing Day, which will happen approximately once every 90 seconds. But, as of Christmas 2018, I’ll be in for a pretty decent 12-year stretch of experiencing

Christmas the way it should be experienced: through the eyes of a child. A child who wakes up at the crack of dawn, and doesn’t have to feign excitement about any of his presents, who still likes carols, and reacts with something other than a weary groan whenever he’s confronted with the slogan ‘Holidays Are Coming’, and who is the precise opposite of his grumpy, cynical father. He’ll believe in Santa Claus. He’ll spend the whole of Christmas day playing with toys. He’ll admittedly have to spend a decent segment of that day choking down sprouts, and watching cockneys getting murdered in a bleak snow-covered nightmarescape, but that’s only because some traditions are sacred. However, it means that Christmas will be Christmas again. Actual non-ironic Christmas, complete with bin-bags full of wrapping paper and gifts that aren’t just a load of f**king socks. Finally, this day won’t just be a prolonged exercise in selfmedicating the constant symptoms of early-onset hangover with endless glasses of gin. This might be incredibly naive of me, but I have a feeling that it’s going to be slightly excellent.

CHRIS TMAS -P resent-

hich brings me to this year. Given that 2014 will be my last child-free Christmas, I have absolutely no idea how to attack it. On one hand, I could spend the whole period being the sort of obnoxious almost-parent who stockpiles loads of toys and decorations in preparation for when their child actually does arrive. Then again, a huge part of me wants to just zone out completely, barely acknowledging that the bloody thing even exists. My excitement about having a kid at Christmas is almost entirely rooted in a sort of nonsense nostalgia for the time that I was the kid, all wide-eyed and breathless and hypnotised by magic. And that makes me think that, somewhere down the line, I’ll probably get quite nostalgic for these last few Christmases as well. The non-Christmases. I’ll think about the Christmas where I didn’t get up until midday, the Christmas

where I couldn’t be bothered to put a tree up. The Christmas where I ended up buying a tuna sandwich for dinner, because going through the whole palaver of cooking an entire roast seemed like a bit too much of

PEACE, PROSPERITY AND POP-UPS THIS YEAR’S FESTIVE MUST-DOS Words: S A R A H B L I N C O

C H RI S T MA S SY C I N E M A

‘Tis the season to get away from the telly and through the magic wardrobe of this Notting Hill pop-up and, once inside, enjoy the gently falling snow, and sparkling surroundings. Indulge in this celebration of Christmas spirit from December 12-23, as Pop Up Screens www.popupscreens.co.uk

FA S HI ON FI RS T

The hotly anticipated annual festive pop-up from London College of Fashion will appear on Carnaby Street from December 12-16. It’s your chance to snap up chic and unique clothes, accessories, fashion photography and illustrations directly from the style innovators of the future. Brilliant gift ideas for loved ones (or for yourself). Keep an eye on the website for full details. www.arts.ac.uk/fashion/about/college-shop

ALPINE ESCAPe

break a child’s heart. So maybe that’s what I should do this year. Maybe I should have a full week of violent laziness. I’ll buy everyone vouchers, and refuse to wrap them. I won’t decorate my house, except perhaps for a single shopsoiled dancing Santa that only exacerbates a tube of Pringles, eaten in my pants, with That way, in 2030, when the novelty of completely lost its charm, I can look back to this year, when I got drunk and ate a chocolate orange on the toilet, and know that I did Christmas properly.

Copious quantities of melted cheese and hot of festive feasting. Jimmy’s Underground PopUp presents The Lodge Balham through to January 6. Firecracker Works have designed an amazing bespoke lodge setting so Jimmy’s team can serve us fondues, hot cocktails and a selection of unique signature dishes. Cosy doesn’t even cover it. www.jimmyspopup.com FEATURE

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IF YOU’RE DREADING THE THOUG H T O F L E AVI N G B E H I N D T H E E XC I T E M E N T O F LONDON THIS CHRISTMAS THEN T H I N K AGA I N – T H E D E B R I E F ’ S R E B E C CA H O L M A N DIS COVERS THAT THOSE PRECIOU S F E W DAYS WI T H YO U R FA M I LY C O U L D B E J U ST WHAT YO U R B O DY N E E DS… Words: R e b e c c a

f you ask me when I’m at my most hedonistic, when I’m closest to contracting gout, it would always be December 21. It’s usually my last day in London before I drag my bloated, hung-over, spotty self along the length of the Metropolitan line to my my Christmas gluttony. the big house party; the Christmas dinner with girlfriends, where you swap presents and wear nice dresses (incidentally, I’m pretty sure we only started doing this as a way to channel Sex And The City and that ‘Here Come The Girls’ Boots advert). I’ve done the ‘pop into the pub on my way home from work for a quick pre-Christmas drink, s**t how is it 1am? I still haven’t wrapped my presents and I have to be at work in seven hours!’ drinks. I’ve eaten many cheeseboards, I’ve glugged so much port that my blood feels like treacle, I have indulged, I have gorged, and I have lived. Then, when I can’t take any more, on December 21, I go home, and it’s game over. When I sit down for dinner with my sister and my parents that evening, there’s a good

Holman

wine. Opening a second would be indulgent in the extreme: it would be pointless, excessive, and greedy. Something that goes against everything our family stands for. Do you know what the Holman family do stand for? A nice cup of peppermint tea before bed, to aid digestion. In fact, if we had a family crest, it would probably depict some peppermint tea bags, some rolled porridge oats and a jar of manuka honey. Our motto would be non opus est ut ab sumo loosely translates as there’s no need to go over the top. And this is why my personal postChristmas detox starts about ten days before everyone else’s and, actually, I quite like it. I like the fact that I get a quick breather before New Year’s Eve, when I inevitably revert back to shoving mince pies, Stilton and brandy into my gaping maw. I like the fact that, for breakfast. It makes a change from the 21 hangover-curing bacon sandwiches and tomato and mozzarella croissants in the of not following every meal with an antacid

sweats. And it means on January 2, when I join the rest of the country on an ill-advised health kick, the shock to my system won’t leave me puking behind a tree in too-tight gym gear, 15 minutes into a run. All of that aside, it’s a tribal thing. I might eat enough at a Sunday pub lunch that it gives me a migraine, but that quintessential lower middle class; slightly puritanical fear of excess never really goes away. It comes from the same place as people apologising to their cleaner for the

a perfectly good spot on the sofa ‘in case someone else arrives later’. It’s fuelled by guilt, and the idea that one should always be a little bit uncomfortable, everything should be. Otherwise, we’d have nothing to stoically not complain about. So, I’ll indulge, gorge and glutton myself weeks of December, and I’ll probably enjoy it, to a certain extent. But it’s only when I’m sitting in my childhood bed at 10pm, with a peppermint tea, feet sore from that bracing Christmas Day uphill walk, that I’ll truly feel at home. FEATURE

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PERFECTLY IMPERFEC

SHE ’ S O NE OF TH E WORLD’S MOST F AM OU S ST AR S, B U T WH AT M AKE S K E IRA KNIGHT LEY UNI QUE I S H ER I NSP IR IN G AB ILIT Y T O J U ST B E H E R SE LF .

Words: H A N N A H S L A P P E R

t’s easy to think that they’re

A-listers. When you’re scrolling through hundreds of photos of stunning stars dolled up in designer gear on soft, velvety red carpets, it’s nigh on impossible to imagine them settling down in front of Downton Abbey with a mug of tea. Celebrities don’t do things like that, do they? Celebrities spend all their spare time wearing diamonds at parties and being photographed. Occasionally they’ll go on holiday, wear skimpy swimwear and be photographed. That’s about it. Unless, of course, you’re Keira Knightley. Somehow, this incredibly famous 29-year-old actor manages to encapsulate all the glamour of Hollywood while remaining, in the nicest possible way, quite normal. Born in Teddington, Surrey, Knightley requesting an acting agent before she’d even reached 10 years old. We’ve seen her navigate her way through a melange

strange but brilliant mix of all three. The Imitation Game tells the fascinating story of Alan Turing: the father of computer science and a World War II hero. Up until Code and helping the Allies work towards victory were shrouded in government secrecy, and the revelations of his genius put an even more tragic twist on his untimely end: suicide following a conviction for homosexuality in 1952.

“I BECAME SO FASCINATED BY THE STORY, AND SHOCKED THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD OF HIM” 18

CELEBRITY

years ago, when there had been a big push to get him pardoned,” Knightley recalls. “I remember I became so fascinated by the story, and shocked that I had never heard of him and didn't know

“I think it was a meeting of minds,” she explains. “Back then, the best thing you could hope for was being a housewife, and all of a sudden she

information as I could. And then when I had heard have this life where both of them were completely obsessed by the same thing. I totally understand

to be a part of it.” Clarke, the cast includes Benedict Cumberbatch in the protagonist role, Matthew Goode and Charles Dance as fellow cryptanalysts and Mark Strong as the chief of MI6. “I knew Benedict because we worked on Atonement, but I loved being part of their gang; they were very lovely to let me in. They found a bottle of wine helped. It always does.” Of course, sharing a bottle of vino with a bunch of gorgeous male actors sounds like a dream, but it wasn’t all fun and games. Despite all the drama and intrigue, the crux of Turing’s incredible codebreaking story rests in the realm of mathematics and computing. Not the sexiest of subjects. “I spent two weeks desperately trying to understand what they were talking about, and get my head around some of the theorems.” Knightley admits, bashfully. “I bought a mathematics book to try and get the technique, and at the end of the two weeks I still didn’t understand a word!” She pauses, amused. “I knew that if I studied for about three years, I might get to the door of understanding, but even then I wouldn't get through the door.” It’s somewhat comforting to know that Knightley will happily describe her knowledge of maths as “non-existent” and confess that she spent most of her time pretending to understand the incredibly highbrow complexity of the dialogue. The cast even tried to get their brains moving a little faster on set: “For two seconds we all thought, yeah, let's bring crosswords. I think it took two days to do half of one quick crossword, so that’s

understand that decision to stay. It’s better than being chained to a sink.”

her personal life, as well as her professional life. settled down with Klaxons’ band member James Righton, marrying him in a very small and private French ceremony in 2011. Unlike many of her fellow celebrity friends, rather than relishing in a huge heavily-publicised wedding and then taking a back seat in her career to concentrate on raising a family, Knightley has carried on working at full pelt. She even wore her pink tulle Chanel wedding dress several times after the ceremony. More recently, she has received praise after posing topless for photographer Patrick Demarchelier, on the condition that the published images were unedited. Speaking to The Times about her shoot for Interview Magazine she shared her opinion that “women's bodies are a battleground and photography is partly to blame. Our society is so photographic now; it

“BACK THEN, THE BEST THING YOU COULD HOPE FOR WAS BEING A HOUSEWIFE”

varieties of shape.” doing the topless shot so long as you don't make them any bigger or retouch. Because it does feel important to say it really doesn't matter what shape you are.”

smooth skin, perfectly formed meekness of famous females is not only refreshing, it’s actually quite endearing. Keira Knightley doesn’t always The character of Joan Clarke, of course, is get it right, but the spirit is there, and the attitude classic Knightley. Have a think back to even her earliest breakout roles and you’ll start to see a intelligence and an inspiring independence makes her all the more likeable. in Bend It Like Beckham, swashbuckling outlaw “The nice thing about getting older is you learn sympathiser in Pirates of the Caribbean, kinky to pace yourself,” she laughs. “Well sometimes, debutant in Atonement and even the classic role slowly sometimes, only for little periods and then of the outspoken, opinionated Elizabeth in Pride & you get manic again.” Prejudice: all her roles are female outsiders, going As she approaches 30, there’s a genuine against the grain. Not only is Clarke an ‘alternative’ feeling of industry excitement that this will be

CELEBRITY

the decade where Knightley really shines. Fully established as one of the most famous, sought-after actresses in the world, she can and will maybe be more inclined to choose interesting projects like her upcoming thriller Everest, about the 1996 mountain climbing disaster, or, indeed, like the intelligent fable of Turing’s heroic deeds and eventual demise. “It is arguably one of the most important things that happened in the Second World War for the allies,” she states, strongly. “It will take a long time and a lot of people writing a lot of history books and biographies until it gets into the curriculum. But I think it will gradually happen, particularly as computers are taking over the world, the history of computers becomes more and more important. His place in history, and their place in history, will obviously become better known as well.” “Actors who normally play very big roles

The nic e thing ab ou t getting old e r i s you learn to pa c e yourse l f have come in for tiny cameos and I think that's because everybody felt like it was a story that was very important to put out there, and one that people really wanted to be a part of.” Keira Knightley might occasionally wear diamonds and head to big parties. She might

pout. For someone who describes her work as such an “immersive experience” that she refuses to take on more than one project at a time, who will happily revisit her B in GCSE maths to try and give a better performance,

is there, but so is the graft. The Imitation Game is out now. Blipp page 16 to watch trailer...

Three things you didn’t know about Keira Knightley SHE WAS NATALIE P O RTMA N’S D OU BL E Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, Keira Knightley made a small, surprise appearance as a decoy role as Queen Amidala. The two young actresses, aged 14 and 18 respectively, looked so similar in their on-screen makeup that even their mothers couldn’t tell them apart.

SHE LOVES F O OTBALL -

Anyone who has seen 2002’s Bend It Like Beckham knows that Knightley is pretty hardcore when it comes to football. Her passion extends beyond the silver screen, however, as she’s a fervent West Ham fan, alongside several other famous names, including Alfred Hitchcock, Russell Brand, Ray Winstone and Phill Jupitus.

HER MOTHER IS A P LAYWRI G HT -

Born in Scotland in 1951, Sharman Macdonald was an actress for seven years before embarking on a writing career. Married with a son, Caleb, she wanted a second child, so her husband bet her the selling of a script in exchange for a baby. When I Was A Girl I Used To Scream And Shout became an instant hit and soon after Keira was born.

CELEBRITY

DON’T FORGET TO SWEAR ALIBIS, EXPLETIVES AND WEDDING

Words:

ANNIVERSARIES; YOU’D BE SURPRISED WHICH

HENRY FRY

ONE WE’RE MOST LIKELY TO REMEMBER.

R O RY TAY L O R .C O M

am often accused of forgetfulness, a trait that appears to haunt my family’s male line. Our absent mindedness has caused some friction, though nothing quite as dreadful as some of history’s big blunders. Alexander The Great, for example, famously caused the fall of the Roman Empire by forgetting to name an heir before his death at the tender age of 32. The McCallisters caused many delightful comic mishaps by twice forgetting Kevin. And, even though my mother annually drops almost manages to forget their anniversary after 46 years of marriage. “That’s longer than you get for murder,” she observes wryly. Let’s hope he doesn’t forget next year. What we remember, and what we forget, may not always seem deliberate; yet it can reveal our most deeply held convictions. Since the study of the brain began, neurologists have noted that those who have forgotten how to form sentences, some cases more violently than ever. In his book The Seven Words You Can’t Say On Television, linguist Steven Pinker investigates this phenomenon. One patient who had their entire left hemisphere removed due to brain cancer and could only say monosyllabic words somehow remembered how to say ‘God!’, ‘S**t’, and ‘Goddamnit’. The words’ taboo nature made them so powerfully lodged in the brain that they could not be removed. Similarly, out-of-the-ordinary events stay with us more clearly than mundane ones. Cult hit podcast Serial radio station WBEZ Chicago’s This American Life, explores this using a real-life case study. The show follows each mystery for ‘as long as is of a high school senior in Baltimore, Adnan Syed, who was accused of murdering his ex-

FEATURE

Illustration :

girlfriend Hae Min Lee. The problem is that he just can’t remember what he was doing on the afternoon on the murder, or so he claims. Now I know what you’re thinking, ‘Oh, he can’t remember? How convenient’. But consider this: if he did do it, wouldn’t he lie about his whereabouts to at least attempt

YOU START TO REALISE FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS UNVEILED OVER THE WEEKS THAT MEMORY IS A VERY SELECTIVE PICTURE WE PAINT

However, Adnan does not remember being there, despite it being in his favour, which is what becomes so fascinating about the story.

accounts unveiled over the weeks, that memory is a very selective picture we paint. It is not, as we would believe, a camera that records all the details of our life accurately. Instead, it constantly alters over time to suit our present situations. As such, who knows if the truth about Hae Min Lee’s murder will ever be revealed. Or if my father will make it to his next wedding anniversary. One thing is for sure, we can always rely to help her recall seeing Adnan in the library on taboo topics, controversial curses and when he was supposedly committing the emphatic expletives to keep us company in our darkest moments. Even if our lives are on was unlikely to remember this detail at all. the line, we’ll never forget to swear. to give himself an alibi? Forgetting seems more like the action of an innocent person. Regardless of truth, he has been in prison for the last decade as the evidence against him was found to be too overwhelming at the time. However, the notable element of the case is that a witness remembered it was the

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The AMerican dream TEAM F R OM HU MB L E B EGI NNI NGS TO TH E SH I M M E R IN G LIG H T S OF B E VE R LY H ILLS, JO E L MA D D E N E X PLAI NS H OW ROCK’N’ROLL IS T H E T R U E AM E R ICAN DR E AM . Words:

Jess Johnson

“W

e don’t feel like we have anything to prove to the world anymore.” If Joel

free from the constraints of the music business, he certainly has good reason to. Alongside twin brother Benji, the two have come a long way since 1995, when they decided to form a band after a attending a Beastie Boys gig. That night marked the beginning of Good Charlotte: the radio-friendly pop-punk whirlwind that swept the charts with their The Young and the Hopeless. The album went triple platinum, and immediately propelled them headlong into fame and fortune. 10million records later, Joel and Benji are now performing as The Madden Brothers, with the debut album, Greetings from California, released in September this year. “You know,” Joel continues. “I don’t even feel like we need to sell another record. These days I care more about the records we create being experienced in the right way.” that, for the Maddens, California is a place that allows for fantastical transformations of circumstance. Their website bio insists that, “California is a magic place. We still believe in the dream, that some kid somewhere can

leave home, hitchhike down the road with forty bucks and a guitar like we did, and make it in California.” From oil prospectors to movie starlets, dot-com entrepreneurs to troubadours, they know there is a long list of people who have drifted west to the Golden State before them, in the hope of making a better life. Joel and Benji have been drawn towards this hub of the American Dream since they were teenagers, despite (or perhaps due to) their humble beginnings. “We started Good Charlotte when we were 15,” Joel explains. “We went out into the world and just worked and worked, and didn’t stop. We came from the middle of nowhere, with no education, no direct route into the music business.” With Joel now married to Nicole Richie and Benji dating Cameron Diaz, the brothers

into the celebrity thing,” he laughs. “We’re just Greetings from California evidences a departure from the PG-rated pop-punk genre that initially characterised their former band. With its stripped back and relaxed sound, it seems that the brothers are content to explore new ground. Now no longer restricted by the

musical expectations of Good Charlotte fans, they’ve been able to truly express themselves. “We just wanted to make a record for the sake of making a record,” Joel smiles. “We wanted to do something artistic, for ourselves; something we would be proud of. And, looking back at it now, that’s exactly what we’ve done.” The apposite twin sides that make

with

blissfully

sun-drenched

1960s

pop

rich masculine Americana of 1970s rock’n’roll. Packed with references to cultural touchstones such as Lilac Wine and Good Vibrations, the album wears a love of musical history proudly on its tattooed sleeve. There is a clear and fervent respect for the transformative power of instruments and song, both as something that can elevate the spirit and unite people thousands of miles apart, but also as a force that has literally transformed Joel and his twin brother’s entire lives. There is little wonder that Greetings from California seems like a paean to the glittering possibilities of rock’n’roll, as well as a nostalgic homage to an American state that has been perfecting the art of ambition for decades. Greetings From California is out now... www.themaddenbrothers.com MUSIC

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B E TTE R L E FT U

P h o t o g r a p h y : Simon Wisbey, F i l m i n

Bart wears: Waistcoat, Trousers & Shirt

he dge Files

U NO P EN ED . . .

g : Andy Herby, S t y l i n g : Rivkie Baum

Diego wears: Suit and Shirt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Marks & Spencer

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James wears: Suit & Shirt

Topman

Annie wears: Blouse, Skirt, Fur Jacket Marc Cain Tights and Boots

, Bra worn as Top Myla

Maddie: Trousers Seb: Shirt

, Blazer & Trousers

Mayson: Dress â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bershka Ollie: Suit, Shirt & Bow Tie Agnes: Sheer Dress

, Lingerie Set

Bruno: Shirt - Topman, Suit Angelika: Bustier

, Skirt

, Shoes - Clarks

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James wears: Suit & Shirt - Topman Annie wears: Blouse, Skirt, Fur Jacket - Marc Cain

Seb: Shirt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; H&M, Blazer & Trousers - Topman James wears: Suit and Shirt Annie wears: Blouse, Skirt, Fur Jacket Maddie: Trousers

, Bra worn as Top

Mayson: Dress Ollie: Suit, Shirt & Bow Tie Agnes: Sheer Dress

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Bruno: Shirt - Topman, Suit Angelika: Bustier

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Annie wears: Blouse, Skirt, Fur Jacket Ollie wears: Shirt & Jacket

Ollie: Suit, Shirt & Bow Tie

Bruno: Shirt - Topman, Suit

Seb: Shirt

, Blazer & Trousers

Annie wears: Blouse, Skirt, Fur Jacket Bag

James wears: Suit & Shirt Annie wears: Blouse, Skirt, Fur Jacket Tights & Boots Bag

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Ollie: Suit, Shirt & Bow Tie Bruno: Shirt - Topman, Suit Seb: Shirt

, Blazer & Trousers

Topman

P h o t o g r a p h y : Simon Wisbey, S t y l i n g : Rivkie Baum, H a i r a n d M a k e U p : Shawnna Downing, Emma Borley and Kelly Sadler V i d e o g r a p h y : Andy Herby, V i d e o g r a p h y A s s i s t a n t : Richard Parsons Models in order of appearance (Left to Right): B a r t - Nevs, D i e g o - Models 1, J a m e s - Models 1, A n n i e - Milk Model Management, M a d d i e - Milk Model Management S e b - Models 1, M a y s o n - Lenis, O l l i e - Nevs, A g n e s - Lenis, B r u n o - Models 1 and A n g e l i k a - Lenis

ESCENT D E T H O T

E V E R F E LT L I K E YO U W E R E T H E P RO TAG O N I S T I N YO U R OW N E P I C S T O RY ? W E L L , M AY B E YO U A R E … A N D I T ’ S A L L T H A N K S T O YO U R C O M M U T E . Words: H A N N A H S L A P P E R hen people say that they enjoy their commute, my instant reaction is to distrust them. They’re lying. They might have convinced themselves that it’s all very pleasant, reading a heavily-thumbed Penguin Classic while listening to a specially crafted ‘ready for the day!’ Spotify playlist, but take away those distractions, and that person will wake up in a nightmare: trapped in a small tin cylinder shuddering along at 40mph deep underground. It sounds pretty dramatic, but, if you underground journey is pretty, well… epic. Of course, ‘epic’ is not being used here in the way people might describe an online fail. It’s being used in its original sense that, of course, relates to poetry. If you’ve ever read The Odyssey, Dante’s The Divine Comedy or Beowulf then you might have been subject to the dizzying highs and the (quite literal) lows of this particular genre. The oldest text on that list was written around the 8th century BC, and Homer’s Odyssey epic poetry to this day. Generally, the tale 34

FEATURE

begins in medias res (right in the middle of things) and features a hero(ine) travelling his movements from the “dreamy ramparts of destiny, complete a vital task or uncover a hidden truth. Along the way they’ll meet an array of characters, challenges and cherished moments and, to really seal the deal, an episode of katabasis. Katabasis comes from the Greek, meaning to ‘go down’ and, in a literary sense, heroes of epic poetry need to face hell before they can be reborn stronger, better, cleansed and ready for the rest of their lives. Odysseus chats to an array of souls who share wisdom, Dante navigates through the nine circles of hell and discovers a lot about the human condition, Beowulf gets dragged to the bottom of a lake to have a violent romp with Grendel’s mother, and you, you defeat an army of seatstalking commuters, hazardous handbags and red-signal juddering, shuddering breaks. Even some of our most famous writers and poets have alluded to the London Underground’s transcendental status. In his 2007 poetry collection District and Circle, Seamus Heaney’s titular poem conjures the

Through the galleried earth.” At the end of the day, we’re happy to admit that it’s just a train. An often late train with oddly retro seats and terribly Photoshopped dating website adverts. But, when you consider the fact that these trains carry over a billion passengers and travel over 45million miles every year, that they worm their way around medieval street patterns, miles under the ground, and that preparations are underway to make them run for 24 hours a day, it doesn’t feel quite so ridiculous to call them epic. Maybe your commute isn’t so bad after all? Ok, your band of merry men might be sweaty, angry commuters desperately shifting The previously unknown truth you discover may or may not be something you’ve read on the paper over someone else’s shoulder. But epic adventures come in many forms, and whose to say that monsters and magic are any more exciting than minding the gap.

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SPIRITED AWAY FRO M X FA CTO R 2 0 1 2 ’ S S I X TH RU N N E R-U P TO A NUMBER O NE DEBUT A LBUM – DRAFTE D C HAT TO E L L A HE N DE RS ON ABO UT GETTI NG CA UGHT U P I N FAM E , HE R C OL L AB ORATI ON WI TH ONEREPUBLI C’S R Y A N T E DDE R AN D WHY S HE ’ S DE TE RM I N E D TO CREA TE S ON G S WI TH S P I RI T Words: a m y b o n i f a s

ost X Factor contestants tend to vanish from our TV screens as quickly as they

usually emerge dazed, make a pitch for the revered Christmas number one spot with an over-produced ‘hit’ and then fade into our distant memories. That’s just the way the pop world spins. But Ella Henderson stood out from the the judges with a song she penned in honour of her late grandfather. Despite being the favourite to win, and Dermot O’Leary hailing her as the most talented performer on the sixth place. experience was priceless,” she says. “It’s like the boot camp of the music industry. Without that show, and that opportunity, I wouldn’t be sat here right now, promoting a number one album.” Two years on, Henderson is re-energised and already carving her own success. Signed to single, Ghost has sold over 600,000 copies in the UK. The second, Glow, has become

CELEBRITY

another Top 10 hit, and she’s performed renditions for US audiences on Dancing with the Stars and The Ellen Show. Unlike so many of the X Factor winners, who are thrust into the music world faster than O’Leary can close the show, Henderson was able to take a more natural approach when shaping her debut record. “I think it’s

M Y FA M I LY PL AY A H U G E PA RT I N K E E PI N G M E SA N E down to you as an artist, what kind of person you are, and what you’re on this Earth to do,” part of my life growing up as a young girl, as was songwriting.” Stepping in line with pop’s new breed of sharp-tongued artists, her story-telling skills

shine just as brightly as her singing talent. singing your own songs, and singing someone else’s song,” she explains. “I’d feel like I was a robot if I wasn’t creatively involved with my album. I didn’t want to just go through a machine and come out the other end, which is something you hear a lot.” Though he gives contestants little say on creative direction during the competition, ensuring they follow the show’s strict protocol, it was the X Factor creator himself who encouraged her to take the time to saying, ‘It doesn’t matter how long the wait, you just have to take your time. Whether it takes three months, or three years, it doesn’t matter.’ It really made me feel at ease.” It seems she spent the years sharpening potential rise to fame while staying true to her strong sense of spirit. “There’s no blueprint to this industry, you have to create your own opportunities,” she highlights. “I was in the fortunate position of being wanted to do. I spent two years travelling, spending time in the studio, and meeting all

sorts of writers and producers.” Aware that the end of the show could also spell the end of her music career, she instead rose to the challenges it brought. “I wanted to grow with my music.” Enter singer-songwriter, producer and OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, who’s worked with to co-write and produce Henderson’s debut record, Chapter One. “It all happened organically with Ryan,” she explains. “He came over to the UK, we had dinner and talked, and got to know one another. We became friends before we sat down and started discussing the songs we were going to write.” Without skipping a beat, Henderson has a way of stripping back the layers and getting to the heart of what she loves to do. “We just sat around the piano, and wrote the chorus for Ghost in about 20 minutes. I knew immediately when we were writing the song The lyrics are raw and build to a spinetingling chorus, sparking Entertainment Weekly to call her a game-changer in the pop world. But Henderson’s perhaps more interested in the magic of collaborative writing. “Ultimately, I’ve realised that when you get into the studio, you’re both there for the same reason: to create an amazing song. You become very much on the same wavelength as each other.”

MY JAW WAS ON THE FLOOR AT THE TIME. IT WAS EXCITING. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BEING IGNITED And it’s this sincerity that prevents before the panel of judges, shaking the nerves was when I was 16. You just grow and learn new things.” Chapter One, week, unusually the only place she wanted to be was home. “My label had arranged a surprise party for me, but when the album went to Number One I ended up just taking “They play a huge part in keeping me sane. I think it’s important to still do a lot of normal things. It’s a crazy life otherwise; I’m always here, there and everywhere. So wherever That’s not to say that fellow songwriters showing their support on social media doesn’t leave her a little star-struck. “The tweets from people like Adele and Cher, those iconic artists; it’s the biggest compliment in the It was exciting. It felt like something was being ignited.” Now with a career that’s simmering healthily, we can only ask, what’s next? A few more trips across the pond, she assures us. “America is so huge. I’m just taking it in little steps.” “I’m learning new things every single day. Things I think are right today, I’ll learn are wrong tomorrow. It’s just how it works.” Contrary to the lines of her haunting single, Henderson won’t be giving up the ghost any time soon. Chapter One is out now... www.ellahenderson.com

CELEBRITY

“A panoply of alternative arts delights.” The Guardian Guide

“Amazing.” Time Out

“You should be there.” Shortlist

“A pageant of the bizarre and brilliant.” Great Little Place

S I G N U P N O W F O R VAU LT A N N O U N C E M E N T S & U P D AT E S AT

W W W. VA U L T F E S T I VA L . C O M FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN ALL-ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS

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The New Africa FUSE ODG’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RELEASE, T.I.N.A., CELEBRATES A LOVE FOR HIS MOTHERLAND, AND SHARES IMPORTANT MESSAGES ABOUT THE AFRICA OF TODAY… Words:

Sarah Blinco

usic trends come and bass to grunge, punk to disco. Undeniably, having

His latest tracks and contemporary on the ground in Ghana, where he lived as a child, and more recently in 2011 when his

moment,

airwaves the world over is Fuse ODG.

pop, rap and dance music, he met with leading

and a heavily-anticipated new album on the brink of release.

Azonto: “I was looking for that Western-meets-Africa sound,” Abiona explains. “I kept seeing the Azonto dance everywhere in Ghana, but no-one was talking about it, so it seemed the perfect thing to make a song about and show to the world.”

become an award-winning, mainstream star, Antenna,

Million

I was growing up was so negative,” he recalls. “But these kids have grown up now, and they’re showing the successful and positive side of Africa. It’s about being proud of where

people the world over, including Ghana, response is pretty much the same between having a universal language. It lets me know I’m representing Africa in the right way because

Pound

Girl

kind of fun, but Abiona is serious about using

sound. According to Abiona, though, his success Demonstrating he’s more than just ‘all talk’, Abiona presented at Stanford University

Since his earliest foray into music (an open mic night in Croydon), Abiona’s style has

“and started to feel more free to express my Which

brings

the

exciting dreams. At his most basic, Fuse ODG is a chart-

origins and my London experience.” musical content is a celebration of Abiona’s love

MY MUSIC CROSSES OVER A LOT OF

“If you didn’t know anything about the movement, you’d think I was talking about a woman,” he smiles. “But the name is a wider reference for what’s going on right now. The

DIFFERENT

TERRITORIES

world, but at his best, this young musician has enough energy, drive and integrity to actively inspired Africans. Music with the power to change the giving this new record a spin.

make music to make people move, I also want to make people listen.”

T.I.N.A. is out now… www.fuseodg.com

MUSIC

THE FUTURE OF FINANCE

WHILE BANKING REMAINS AT THE HIGHEST RISK OF DISRUPTION OF ALL SECTORS, ONE CREATIVE AGENCY IS WORKING TIRELESSLY TO CHANGE THE CONCEPT OF MONEY FOREVER... Words:

Edward ripley

t’s a well-known fact that the millennial generation are dubious of the current banking system - but where should they put their trust instead? There’s a ton of research out there suggesting that people would prefer to invest in brands instead of banks, but this growing vibe has been erring away from speculative gossip and moving into genuine action. In early November, creative agency Rufus Leonard decided to go beyond the existing research and do something. Instead of asking people what they want, they have encouraged them to actually reinvent the monetary experience. Teams of millennials were drafted in

Lloyds Bank and peer-to-peer insurance specialist Hey Guevara, and the impact they had was impressive. In pole position with the judges, and billed as ‘Klout for credit’ was YouScore, a next generation credit rating system designed to enable people to get better access to loans, insurance and contracts. The idea involves replacing the existing system’s emphasis on a person’s spending patterns with an aggregated platform drawing on data from multiple sources such as eBay and LinkedIn.

from Brazil, Scandinavia and Australia to name just a few - to spend a week creating an full-scale start-up that would match up

ties into restaurant point-of-sale systems, enabling a group of diners to quickly and easily split the bill using their phone. As well as enabling diners to choose between ‘On Me’, ‘Let’s Split It’ and ‘What I Had’, PayPosse’s integration into social means that individuals can use the app to invite their friends to

into account the short-term nature of modern living. Lifestyles that can typically involve renting, freelancing, travelling and studies abroad. The other favourites with the judges

an appeal. Adding to the payment process concept was another contender - Stash, a new silent saving platform that adds a small percentage to all card transactions and stashes it away for a rainy day, enabling consumers to save without actually saving. The other competitors were Narwhal service, helping consumers to invest in the brands that they love because of their ethics, and Dink, a service that uses customer’s spending data to recommend alternative purchases based on an individual’s particular It’s exciting to think that the concept All it takes is one change to the system, and

should work. The resulting concepts, which were pitched to a panel of experts including Oracle,

FEATURE

climate.

out more.

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON FAST FOOD

FAST FOOD AND JUNK FOOD ARE NO LONGER SYNONYMOUS: THERE’S A NEW BATCH OF EATERIES IN TOWN THAT REDEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO EAT QUICKLY WHILE KEEPING THINGS HEALTHY. Words:

t was all very well and good tucking into a greasy kebab and chips for dinner back in the day, but times have changed and so have you. Even as little as a decade ago, our nation’s attitude towards food was relatively reckless. Many of us would happily chomp down on fast food even if it was “only now and again”. But these days it’s

are happy consuming mystery meats and Generally, having a healthy diet comes down to time and money. Londoners in particular are monstrously busy, and cooking can end up being low on the priority list. A recent study from the Centre of Diet and Activity Research at Cambridge University found people who spend less time preparing food at home were more likely to eat at fast food restaurants. Of course, an increasing awareness of

Hannah Slapper

that US citizens still consume on a daily basis food, that’s natural, fresh and full of vitamins,” explains Marc Bates, CEO of nusu. “We want to food dye, brominated substances and certain create an experience where you can eat good preservatives. Brands now have to actively to a restaurant and sit down for an hour.” food enhancers, E-numbers, MSG and all Of course, ask any Londoner whether the other junk that’s easily hidden in the they’d rather have a sweaty burger or a small print. fresh, vegetable-heavy meal cooked to order And, naturally, there’s been a reaction in exactly two minutes, and you’ll probably to supply and demand, with eateries popping get a unanimous vote for the latter. By using up in the capital who aim to satisfy the urges state-of-the-art induction woks, nusu are able to whip up a fresh curry or wok infusion them with salty, chemical-saturated food. in a matter of minutes, and all for under a It’s surprising how easy it is to provide healthy fast food relatively cheaply, as demonstrated conscious of what they eat,” Marc continues. “But the time element of eating well can be Located just a short stroll from Aldgate an issue, of course. On the whole, it’s not station, nusu is modern and convenient quite as convenient as eating at McDonald’s. But people want real food. It’s why we well as comfortable dine-in options. Most pride ourselves on providing fast food that importantly, the menu is fresh, nutritious and is high quality.” healthy. “What we aim to deliver is high quality Crucially, nusu (whose slick interior was designed and constructed by EDO LTD), are also tapping into those who are conscious of

cheap food that seems nutritious is having an

WE WANT TO CREATE AN

EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU C AN EAT GOOD FOOD, AND GET IT QUICKLY

for example: rather than buying it in bulk from abroad, it’s freshly roasted in Hackney by Climpson & Sons, and at £2.29 for a latte, is competitively priced against some of the larger, surrounding outlets. Gone are the days when a questionable for lunch. Now we want food that sustains the environment, the local economy and our hungry bodies, and we want it fast. Thank goodness we’ve got places like nusu who, quite literally, cater to our needs. Looks like we can eat fast food and be healthy after all. - For more info visit www.nusufood.com, or blipp this page…

- MARC BATES, NUSU

LIFESTYLE

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AWAY

DAYS PREMIER LEAGUE’S NEW INNOVATIVE APP CLEVERLY ENCOURAGES FANS TO GET OFF THE SOFA AND ACTUALLY ATTEND AN AWAY GAME… Words: D o m i n i c s a u n d e r s

ootball. It’s the beautiful game and a maelstrom of political drama. It’s a passion, a bonding experience for family and friends and a great day out. However, when your favourite team plays an away game, the experience can often fall short. Most people tend to squeeze into a packed local pub, or watch the away match on a grainy, dodgy site that seems to be

the country. As part of a wider initiative to encourage high levels of away attendance, traditionally associated with English games, the Premier League has created an app, Away Days, to enhance the experience for travelling fans, regardless of the team they support. to travel information, places to stay, pubs to visit and stadium details, as well as moneyto make these trips cheaper and easier to plan. It’s somewhere between a motivational incentive and genuinely handy little guide. And the best news is that it’s free to download, for both iOS and Android devices. Created and developed by Future Platforms, the app has been designed with fans and their needs at its core. The result is 44

FEATURE

an experience that’s slickly designed, intuitive to use and, most importantly, very useful. Anyone who has stood outside an unfamiliar stadium in the biting cold wondering where the nearest pub is will appreciate the clean, easy design. Fancy a curry? Two taps and a list appears, with price points and star ratings to help you make a decision, plus a map view and phone number to really get the ball rolling. No idea on how to even get to the stadium? With a simple swipe, a list of options appears, with a scrolling status bar showing you updates on the local public transport. It even gives you stadium details, from a history of the club, to how much a programme costs, to a review of how comfortable the seats are. Commenting on the role fans played in the development of the app, Adam Croxen, managing director at Future Platform said “Developing the app from a fan’s perspective was a crucial part of the process for the Premier League. Without their input we wouldn’t have known what it meant to make them feel at home, no matter which stadium they were visiting.”

KEY FEATURES . Fixture and ticket information for all away matches 2. Discounts and exclusive deals - from Premier League clubs and national suppliers parking, food and drinks 3. Where to eat, drink, park, and stay the venues will be tailored to suit the needs of visiting fans 4. Journey details - from how to get there by car, train or coach, to which gates away fans should use 5. Stadium information to improve their day, showcasing information such as facilities available, and top-line stats on the stadium 6. Match day updates - including all the on-pitch action, team sheets and scores

this app is a clear winner.

Kate Temple

G ETS ANG RY WE FI ND OUT W H AT’ S M AKIN G KAT E T E M P LE AN G R Y ... Words: KATE TEMPLE

papers this year was the iCloud hacking scandal, with several famous names having their pictures stolen from a storage space in the sky. While this is a clear

with Jennifer Lawrence, one of the victims

to someone, is okay, especially if you’re in the public eye? Come on, guys. Let’s learn a lesson from history. If the Queen couldn’t stop a naked picture of her grandson, Prince Harry, being leaked to the press - do the Hollywood elite really think they’re going to be able to halt the spread now we’re even more advanced in our stalking skills? If you haven’t seen the pictures, or you’ve been hiding under a rock for the latter half of this year, celebrities from Rihanna to High School Musical’s Vanessa Hudgens have been embarrassed on the internet by iCloud hackers. These young women had taken pictures of themselves completely nude, with the intention of sending the photographs to someone - I can only presume.

IT ’S NOT JUST THE TAKING OF

THE PICTURE THAT BAFFLES ME.

IT ’S THE IDEA OF PURPOSEFULLY

C APTURING A PHOTO OF YOURSELF NAKED AND SENDING IT ON ACTIVELY SHARING IT

Unfortunately it’s not a modern phenomenon, this picture-hacking malarkey. Christina Aguilera had her nudes smeared all over the net nearly four years ago, and Vanessa Hudgens has been scorned three times in three years. who, at the time of writing, has not yet been

their knickers for fear of embarrassment. You wouldn’t catch Lizzie Bennett exposing her gusset or Nancy Drew bearing her nipples for a free shot of watered down tequila. Ultimately, there are two ways around this. Option one: Don’t take the picture. Or, if you absolutely have to see yourself sans clothes just don’t, for God’s sake, WhatsApp it to your prospective boyfriends. I tell you what. Here’s an idea. Go to a life-drawing class and have someone draw you in all your glory. It’s much classier, has connotations of a certain Kate Winslet work of art, and you don’t have to worry about the world seeing on the front pages of the breakfast table tabloid. do a Kim Kardashian. Pose naked and leak the pictures yourself, purporting that it’s ‘art’. Her series of instantly infamous shots for Paper magazine entitled ‘Break The Internet’ show her completely naked: vagina and

you leaked them yourself. Disclaimer: I don’t recommend this option.

My question is not: what were the hackers thinking? It’s why take the bloody is awkward and probably 99 percent of us are uncomfortable with just being naked and running to the loo in the night in front of a

of our downstairs area, for all and sundry to see. It’s not just the taking of the picture of the hack. It’s a crime for people to steal something that doesn’t belong to them. But has this not happened numerous times? When will these snap-happy A-listers learn? Let’s get one thing straight: I do not endorse what these hackers have done. But who thinks taking a naked picture and storing it anywhere, or God forbid sending it

capturing a photo of yourself naked and It’s a minor mistake to take the picture. major mistake to foolishly send it through the tangled web of ‘the internet’ to another discovered.

sending one anyway? Enhance the experience with either of these handy apps...

— SKTCHY Follow Kate’s advice and get an artist to draw your portrait by uploading your your pic and make it a masterpiece. — LINE This colourful and quirky app allows more. It even has the ability to cut out images and layer them - like a tiny, easy version of Photoshop. FEATURE

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TANGLE ANGEL XTREME £18.95 A hairbrush that’s not just a hairbrush - longer, denser bristles and an extra large head take on those winter-hat tangles without tearing or terrifying pain. www.tangleangel.com/shop

BEA

ESSE N

BIRCH & BROOK FIRESIDE £36 Draw yourself a bath, shut the door to the world and strike a match on the latest Birch & Brook natural wax candle. www.birchandbrook.co.uk

CARVEN LE PARFUM GIFT SET £46.80 With a body cream to match the light, refreshing Freesia scented L’Eau de Toilette, this gift set is a true luxury. www.debenhams.com

BIOEFFECT DAYTIME CREAM £55 This is the perfect moisturiser for the long, winter nights as it retains your skin’s youthful glow, It’s best used with the night serum too. www.selfridges.com

BEAUTY

UTY

TED BAKER HANGING TREATS £23 A collection of four miniature ladies fragrances, perfect for a spritz on-the-go. www.very.co.uk

NT IALS Words: K

PRIMPING SALONS Phew! You’ve bought all the gifts and wrapped everything nicely but it’s the

ATE TEMPLE

Ho, ho… oh no. It’s Christmas again. While that might send shivers of fear down many readers’ spines, there is the minority who just lurve that festive feeling. Regardless, if you’re in Team Scrooge or Team Santa, we’ve collected together the best beauty buys, so you don’t have a meltdown on Oxford Street. Hit the Christmas festivals, grab a mulled wine and jolly around with friends, safe in the knowledge that DRAFTED has compiled the best of the best for all your grooming and festive party needs.

busy looking after everyone else, you may have forgotten about yourself.

BURT’S BEES LIP SHINE £6.99 A gorgeous glossy colour enriched with moisturising apricot wax in six glorious autumnal shades. www.burtsbees.co.uk

primping salons, ready to cater to your every need.

RICHARD WARD HAIR CHELSEA BLOWDRY BAR - £25 Experts are prepped and waiting to give your hair the winter oomph it probably needs after all that shopping, for a pleasingly reasonable price.

ISSA ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH FOREO £149 Brushing your teeth will never be the same again thanks to this revolutionary new silicone design. structure and eight speed settings make this a dental dream. www.net-a-porter.com

INSTAGLAM HYDRAFACIAL PRICE ON REQUEST The HydraFacial treatment is ‘clinically’ proven to

SANCTUARY LITTLE BAG OF TREATS £8

and enlarged pores. Put your feet up and let someone else do the hard work for a change.

Perfect for the stressed-out sisters, with a cute bag including travel-sized body wash, bath scrub, body lotion www.boots.com

THE CHEEKY PARLOUR HOLBORN - £50

relax with friends, food and a treatment or two. We recommend the High Tea, which includes half a bottle of Prosecco per person.

BEAUTY

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Male GROOMING Words: K

JET SET TRAVELER JACK BLACK £28

ATE TEMPLE

K WEST HOTEL AND SPA SHOP N’ SPARKLE CHRISTMAS PACKAGE - £99

Weekend away? No problem! Grab this travel-size trio of skincare and shaving essentials for every facial need. www.mankind.co.uk

not turn a chore into an exciting adventure with an executive guestroom with full English breakfast in the morning, a treatment in the spa

VOLUMISING THEKKU HAIRWASH MOLTON BROWN 300ML £18 struggle with, but this rich woodyscented hair wash contains a strengthening teak bark extract to keep your locks thick and healthy. www.johnlewis.com

WINDSOR SHAVING KIT D R HARRIS £130 Add a bit of class to your morning routine with this delightfully old-school shaving kit, including a beautiful Mach 3 compatible razor, badger brush, post-shave milk and a citrus and black pepper face soap. www.mrporter.com

ULTIMATE HAND SALVE KIEHLS £14

URBAN RETREAT MURAD BLEMISH CONTROL BACK TREATMENT £75

Chapped, dry hands are not the sign of a well-groomed man, and a bitter London winter won’t exactly help. Luckily, this hand cream, packed with avocado and sesame oil, creates a glove-like barrier against the cold. www.kiehls.co.uk

This treatment is designed to reduce acne blemishes and improve skin clarity while Kick back, let someone else do the hard work and be assured your body will be ready for

T LONDON DARJEELING REED DIFFUSER £26 Natural reeds in an elegantly understated bottle, Darjeeling. Perfect for impressing guests and creating a soothing atmosphere. www.t-london.com

TED BAKER HANGING TREATS £23 A collection of four miniature men’s fragrances, perfect for a spritz on-the-go. www.very.co.uk

REFINERY SHAVING EXPERIENCE £60 A facial with a wet-shave as a luxurious added bonus. This experience takes place in the barber’s room so groomworthy guys can enjoy the treatment in a truly traditonal manner.

BEAUTY

TRIED& TESTED

MAS CARA M IGHT HAVE B E EN YO UR SAVIN G G RACE, BUT TH AN K S TO A LEADING NEW TREATME N T, I T ’ S S O O N TO B E A T H I N G O F T H E PAST…

DAXITA LASH EXTENTIONS LONDON Words:

KATE TEMPLE

hristmas is known as ‘the party season’ for a reason: those long encourage you to play as hard as you work, and all that drinking, dancing and debauchery can really take a toll on your appearance. With a few measly hours of sleep leaving you no time to paint yourself into perfection, it’s sometimes essential to plan out a few handy beauty shortcuts, for the days when your usual half-hour morning makeup routine is an impossible dream. So we thought, what better way to take lash extensions? Softer than false lashes, celebrity-endorsed craze is something we just had to try out. Based at luxury Bond Street beauty salon, Atherton Cox, lash expert Daxita has spent name for herself as the go-to lash extender for the ‘Russian Lashes’ treatment, is an amazing development in the industry. The extensions are softer, more resilient and it’s doubtful the natural lashes. All this, plus the fact that she created her own unique technique for gluing the lashes onto the base of the lid, makes it pretty clear that Daxita is a pro. Greeting me at the salon’s entrance, Daxita prepared me for the long two hours when I would lie, with my eyes shut, unable to blink or move, as I tested the treatment. It was a daunting prospect, but in the quiet and soothing private room, Daxita placed a roll of towels under my knees, forcing my body into the ultimate relaxed position, and began the long process. We had spoken about the shape, size and thickness of the lashes I wanted before the appointment, and she worked on creating my bespoke look, placing two soothing white pads over my eyes to ensure they stayed shut.

FOR FIVE WEEKS AF TER THE APPOINTMENT, MY LASHES CONTINUED TO MAKE A STRIKING STATEMENT over a month, the lashes slowly and gently Over 300 lash extensions were attached to

thick, dark eyelashes. Making my way home, I felt like appointment, my lashes continued to make a striking statement. I didn’t change anything about my daily routine: I continued to swim, shower and apply kohl eyeliner, although it’s advised you should steer clear of liquid eyeliner and various makeup removers. After

months later there’s no trace of them, but the almost natural way that they disappeared guaranteed that it was a graceful transition. Time really is precious around Christmas, and even if I saved a few precious minutes of mascara or false lash gluing, the stunning quality and impact-making lusciousness of Daxita’s treatment really felt worth it. There’s

Full Set (2 hours) - £325.00 www.athertoncox.co.uk BEAUTY

Team Credits: Model - Molly @ Milk www.milkmanagement.co.uk Photography - Arron Dunworth www.arrondunworth.com Makeup and Words - Lauren Kay www.laurenkay.co.uk Makeup Assistant - Charlotte Tomkins Hair - Georgiana Teers using Bumble and Bumble www.georgianateers.com Nails - Lauren Kay using Ciate and Elegant Touch

CONSTELLATION Eyes - bareMinerals Shimmer Eye Colour in Soul Sister £14 Lips

- Glitter Lips Ruby Slippers £12.50

Cheeks Highlighter - Lily Lolo Mineral Shimmer in Star Dust £13.49 available at thisisbeautymart.com

NIGHT Eyes - Eye Kandy Cosmetics Glitter in Berry Blast £6.50 available at www.eyekandycosmetics.co.uk Lips – Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Unknown Pleasures Lip Tar in Lament £11.95 available at www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk Nails - Ciate Nail Polish in Looking Glass £9 available at www.ciatelondon.com (Nail gems customised)

ICICLE Skin - keep winter skin fresh with Bareskin Beauty Perfectly Pure Aloe Vera water Eyes - Bella Pierre Eye Shimmer Powder in Calm (lower lid) and Ocean (upper lid) £12.99 Eye Kandy Cosmetics Glitter in Marshmallow £6.50 available at www.eyekandycosmetics.co.uk Lips - bareMinerals Shimmer Glaze Lip Topcoat in Diamond Glaze from In the Spotlight set £49

WHITE CHRISTMAS Silver Tone Gemstone Statement Necklace, River Island (worn as hairpiece) £35 Lilac Jewelled Contrast Drop Earrings, New Look £5.99 Skin - Radiance Restored Face Serum £36 www.bareskin-beauty.co.uk Base - Living Nature Soft Lights Illuminating Foundation - £29.50 available at www.naturisimo.com

Eyes - Lily Lolo Enchanted Eye Palette - £19.99 and their Natural Mascara - £10.99 available at www.feelunique.com Lips - Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar Matte in Anita - £11.95 And Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Glitter both available at www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk Cheeks - bareMinerals Ready Blush in The Close Call - £22

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DINE OUT

FA N CY A BI T E TO E AT ? H E RE A RE S OME OF LONDON’S NEWEST CULINARY OFFER INGS…

Edited by H A N N A H S L A P P E R

An essential part of party season is a good brunch spot. Without one, you’re a lost soul on a hungover weekend, or scrambling to find a suitable present-swapping location over good coffee and eggs. Luckily, this French-style bistro caters to all these needs, and beyond into 2015. Squeezing through the crowds on Portobello Road is worth it just for the ambience – one of laid back, friendly service and cosmopolitan serenity. Soak it up, and enjoy the creamy strong coffee as you wait for your food to arrive. Depending on how delicate you feel, the

food might be a little rich, although it is shockingly delicious. A thick, mayonnaiseswirled crab cocktail comes laden with avocado on a buttery slab of brioche, while the poached eggs in the ‘Royale’ come cleverly buried in their bread baskets – oozing out at the first prod of a knife. An incredible weekend treat, but not for the faint-stomached.

Nearest Station: Ladbroke Grove 271 Portobello Road, W11 1LR 0207 7275552 www.goodeandwright.co.uk 56

Goode & Wright

ENTERTAINMENT

Gallery Mess

The Saatchi Gallery’s restaurant could be an understandably daunting dinner location to take a date, friend or family member. That is, until you enter its incredibly romantic, welcoming atmosphere. Not lofty enough to be pretentious, but aesthetic enough to feel special – the airy exposed-brick space is large, but each table feels private, with fragrant white-flower trees and pieces of striking artwork littered around to break up the buzz. The stand-out feature has to be the staff, who guide you through the extensive menu with genuine passion and pride. We enjoyed a variety of dishes that prove small portions aren’t just for people with small stomachs. Our food: gin and tonic smoked salmon, lavender honey-glazed duck, cod and crab mash, and a saccharine crème brulee, were all simultaneously exquisite and overpowering. Luckily there’s a great wine list, and the sharpness of a bottle will cut through the richness of the food. Hedonism at its finest.

Nearest Station: Sloane Square Duke of York Square, Kings Road, SW3 4RY 0207 7308135 www.saatchigallery.com/gallerymess

Bond & Brook

One of the major pitfalls of Christmas shopping is not having anywhere to recuperate. Squeezing into a crowded coffee shop is uncomfortable, but trekking to your favourite restaurant feels like an immense effort. Our perfect solution is to saunter down to the famed Fenwick’s on New Bond Street and check out their incredibly versatile restaurant. One of a growing number of luxury ‘rhubarb’ restaurants – you can rest assured that the quality is high and the experience will be relaxing. Our tip is to book for a late lunch or afternoon tea. Their collection of small plates, ranging from smoked trout terrine to steak tartare, are perfect to sample over chitter chatter, and you’ll find fashionable people ordering anything from Moroccan mint tea to Martinis to accompany their snacks. The location makes it perfect for peckish Oxford Street punters seeking peace of mind.

Nearest Station: Bond Street 36 New Bond Street, W1A 1RQ 020 7629 0273 www.rhubarb.net

bars OH I T ’ S A D R I N K YOU’R E AFTER ? TRY THES E OUT. . . Edited by H A N N A H S L A P P E R

The Alchemist

Everyone enjoys the hassle-free process of choosing a classic cocktail, but sometimes gentle encouragement to try new things is as refreshing as the beverage itself. With The Alchemist, the clue is in the name. Attempting to ‘make the ordinary, extraordinary’, the food, drinks and general ambience is one of extra-special familiarity, or slightly challenging comfort. Sticking to the modern trend for a central ‘statement’ bar – the green cabinet seems almost overflowing with unusual looking concoctions and contraptions, expertly mixed together by the staff to create a series of moreish cocktails served in creative receptacles, including copper kettles and science beakers. The magical chemistry continues with the food – from filling ‘gourmet’ sandwiches to lighter, intriguing salads – in a welcoming restaurant towards the rear. As far as city haunts go, this one is incredibly pleasant, and a wonderful escape from the everyday.

Nearest Station: Liverpool Street 6 Bevis Marks, EC31 7BA 0207 2838800 www.alchemist.com

TwoRUBa

The City and Soho always seem to get the best ‘all-rounder’ bars, but this newest acquisition to Tower Gateway provides a much-needed suave hangout to an oftneglected part of London. The stand-out feature is an extensive drinks menu that boasts everything from retro favourites to imaginative combos – such as the blending of citrus and hazelnut in ‘YBT’ (You’ve Been Tango’d). Excellent for the indecisive, there’s a real focus on sharing finger foods and tasting titbits. There’s a tempting selection of platters that showcase the international offerings of nearby Borough Market: from Mexican mini tacos to Cajun chicken bites. They even have an option to try four mini champagne cocktails with some small plates, if you fancy sampling a bit of everything. The universally high quality makes it perfect for private parties, for which The Snug can be hired – up to 25 people with some flexible and reasonable drinks packages on offer too.

Nearest Station: London Bridge Hilton, 5 More London Place, Tooley St, SE1 2BY 0203 0024407 www.tworuba.com

Winter Cabin at the york & albany

Anyone who is a fan of Gordon Ramsay’s refined Camden restaurant/bar has to go and visit its new neighbouring popup. Everything you could possibly desire to offset the plummeting temperatures

surrounds you in this redesigned 18th century coaching inn. From scatterings of faux fur blankets to spice-infused scented candles, the atmosphere is instantly festive. Drinks are comfortingly traditional, with mulled wine, steaming apple cider and a Bacardi-infused hot chocolate all on the menu. One for the carnivores, the food represents the hunting culture that inspired the interior. Venison meatballs and wild boar burgers are just some of the game on offer, served to a standard that’s synonymous with a Ramsay establishment. It’s only up and running until the end of February, so keep checking the forecast for the first snow of winter and cosy up in this Christmas cocktail haven. Nearest Station: Camden Town 127-129 Parkway, NW1 7PS 0207 5921227 www.gordonramsay.com LIFESTYLE

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inside your city

THE BEST OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IN LONDON THIS MONTH… Words:

Josie Jones

WINTERVILLE

CHRISTMAS AT KEW

Winter Wonderland better watch out because there’s a new magical Christmas kingdom in town. Winterville is Victoria Park’s festive

extravagance.

It’s easy to forget that Christmas isn’t all about If there’s one thing Christmas calls for, it’s some serious shopping. But that whole ‘shop Head to Kew Gardens to reconnect with your ‘til you drop’ mentality can get a little tiresome inner child, and reawaken the Christmas spirit. Take the night trail walk, guided by adds a touch of magic and fun to what could easily become a chore. Aside from welcoming inspired, large-scale light installations. With back the usual ice rink to their west London store, the Stratford branch is gearing up to is 12 metres tall, the structures look like launch an exciting new immersive experience inspired by Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Hidden House of light, twinkling holly bushes, Christmas will take audiences on a unique 15 minute trees festooned with lit up presents, and journey in an abandoned house to experience epic storytelling inside a sensory theatrical The Nutcracker - all in front of the iconic Palm world. Both excursion options are only open House, this is an event not to be missed. until January 4.

www.winterville.co.uk

www.kew.org/christmas

youngsters are kept content with the usual fairground rides, arts and crafts, and outdoor street food and a Bar Humbug pub where adults can soak up the Christmas spirit(s). Entry to Winterville is free with tickets available for some of the many exciting priced events, including special club nights, roller discos, live gigs, comedy and cabaret. Head down from

CANCER RESEARCH GREAT CHRISTMAS PUDDING RACE

WESTFIELD

CHRISTMAS AT KENSINGTON PALACE

One thing we love about Christmas is how having fun becomes far more important than taking yourself seriously. In December it’s perfectly acceptable to dress up as a Christmassy character and attack an obstacle

As always, there is a huge array of activities happening at Kensington Palace to celebrate this cheerful time of year. Events range

along Covent Garden’s main road. Yes, the Cancer Research Great Christmas Pudding Race is not only a fantastic charity event that sees teams of six crazily-dressed friends or colleagues raise money for a great cause, it’s also a ridiculously fun way to get that festive feeling. It’s too late to sign up for this year, but we recommend you head

frock and celebrate like a Royal at a decadent

ghosts that may still walk the halls, to Strictly

dancing. There are also more traditional activities, such as festive 18th century music festivals that encompass choral works and carol singing to really get you in the mood for all things Christmas, and of course plenty of mince pies and mulled wine to seal the deal.

don’t forget to donate!

www.xmaspuddingrace.org.uk

www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace LIFESTYLE

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TIRED O F S I TT I N G I N F RO N T O F T H E TV ? T H E R E’S PLENTY OF ENTERTA I N M E N T O N YO U R D O O RST E P, J U ST H EAD TO THE TH EATR E OR YOU R L O CA L C I N EMA A N D C H EC K OU T TH ESE NE W R E L E ASES…

Edited by H A N N A H S L A P P E R

1. BIG EYES Released: December 26 Tim Burton is back with another quirky classic in the making, this time about the controversial 1950’s artist Margaret Keane. Famous for painting pictures of young children with big, pleading eyes, it was actually her husband, Walter, who took all the credit. The demise of their marriage sparked a real-life legal battle that’s rife with twists and turns. With Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz in the lead roles, we’re expecting some dramatic on-screen chemistry.

Big Eyes

1. THE WIND IN THE

WILLOWS

GODS AND KINGS 3. THE HUMBLING 2. EXODUS: Released: December 26 Released: December 31 One of the Bible’s best-known tales is given a Hollywood makeover in this epic adaptation. Christian Bale stars as Moses, the man who rises up against the Egyptians to save 600,000 slaves. With everything from the parting of the sea to the deadly plagues – the expensive special effects are guaranteed to bring the parable to life. Prepare for the kind of narrative rollercoaster that only the Old Testament can bring.

Golem

2. GOLEM

Al Pacino is perfectly cast as a haggard, aging but still charismatic actor who finds himself embroiled in an affair with a no-nonsense much younger lesbian. Excitingly, Greta Gerwig, the woman behind modern cult classic Frances Ha and a rising star of 2015 rises to the lead female role. Pacino and Gerwig’s sizzling dialogue gives credence to the pithy screenwriting of Buck Henry, the genius behind the The Graduate and Catch-22 screenplays.

The Possible Impossible House

3. THE POSSIBLE

IMPOSSIBLE HOUSE

For those who wish to eschew the usual Nutcracker or Swan Lake ballets, opt for this family-friendly but universally charming production of the traditional animal tale. Housed in Covent Garden’s luscious Duchess Theatre by The Royal Opera House for a limited Christmas season, this riveting ballet will take you on a nostalgic journey, narrated using Andrew Motion’s distinctive poetics. With elements of music, singing and even puppetry layered throughout the epic tale, its unashamedly festive.

Anti-traditionalists will enjoy this departure from the usual dancing fairylight clad offerings of the December theatre season. Brought to you by 1927, the critically acclaimed production company responsible for one of London’s most exciting recent offerings: The Animals and Children Took to the Streets, this medley of animation and acting explores the inescapable and growing relationship between mankind and machinery. A bold Christmas move for the Young Vic, but one that will certainly pay off.

If you have or know kids that have a freakishly adult sense of humour, then pantomimes might not be most sensible option. Instead, try this eccentric and offbeat comedy which will appeal to those with overactive imaginations thanks to the ‘what next?’ plot and multimedia experience. It comes from Forced Entertainment – one of the UK’s most notorious experimental theatre companies, and marks its first attempt at creating a show that’s suitable for kids.

Covent Garden November 26 – January 17

Waterloo December 9 – January 17

Barbican December 17 – December 28

Vaudeville Theatre, 404 Strand, WC2R 0NH

020 7304 4000 www.roh.org.uk

Young Vic Theatre, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ

020 7922 2922 cms.youngvic.org

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS

0207 6388891 www.barbican.org.uk ENTERTAINMENT

Drift off gently Wake up brighter New Lumie Bodyclock Iris creates a calm and fragrant bedtime experience by using aromatherapy and simulating a gradual sunset and sunrise. So you can start your nights relaxed and your mornings fully refreshed. Breathe new life into your day. See the full range at lumie.com Also available at John Lewis and

lumie.com

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JOLLY AND DELICIOUS D IN E OU T T H IS C H R IS T M A S. . .

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Words: S A R A H

BLINCO

THE PRINCE’S HEAD

Head to Richmond for a regal experience overlooking the gorgeous Green. Christmas is peaceful and pretty at The Prince’s Head. The special December 25 menu boasts decadent delights the whole family will enjoy, including Roast Turkey, Beef Wellington, Honey Glazed Bacon Loin

PART PUB, PART PARADISE D RA FT E D VI SI T RI CH MOND’S MOST B E LOVE D P U B , T HE O RANGE TREE, AND RELI SH IT S R E LAX IN G A N D RESTORATI VE ATMOSP H E R E . Words: H a n n a h

ondon is a busy place and, let’s be honest, sometimes it can wear you out. However, amongst the pedestrians, puddles and prominent atmosphere of

The Orange Tree really is one of them, even if it is in Zone 4. Entering the warm, welcoming and buzzing ambience of this inn on a cold and drizzly winter evening is an overwhelmingly pleasant experience, and DRAFTED were lucky enough to be spending the night. Beyond the main drinking hall, thronging with jovial regulars, there’s a maze of bedrooms and a spacious restaurant at the

choose between the equally delicious looking options. With temperatures plummeting, a selection of winter warmers was sampled, including an beautifully rich and moreish chocolate pudding. We might have entered a pleasureinduced food coma if it wasn’t for the sharp and sensual ‘shrub’ cocktails. Inspired by a traditional method of creating a vinegarbased syrup infused with fruit juice and spices, The Orange Tree’s Steven Gellett has created a unique six-item drinks menu. Each expertly-crafted concoction inspired the taste buds with a fruity, fragrant and

Slapper

any alcoholic beverages we’d ever tried and were worth the visit alone. However, after our Tudor-style feast, nothing felt more necessary than collapsing onto a soft and luxurious king size bed. Navigating our way through the labyrinth of beautifully decorated corridors to our spacious, climate-controlled room was the hardest part of our stay, and once we were ensconced in its elegant surroundings, even that was forgotten. The gargantuan bed, adorned with satin pillows and soft, white bed linen, beckoned, as did a bubble bath in the huge white rolltop, positioned rather excitingly at the foot of the bed. It’s not always easy to get a good night’s sleep in unfamiliar surroundings, no matter how comfortable they are, but something about the relaxed and helpful manner of the the much-needed escape from everyday life sent us into a slumber that was so deep and so necessary we woke up feeling refreshed and full of energy. Even if you’ve had the most stressful week in the world, we challenge you to wake up to a crisp newspaper, a Classic FM lateset alarm and an espresso using The Orange

desserts, puddings and all the festive trimmings. Why bother cooking? www.princeshead.co.uk/christmas

SKANDILICOUS

No one does Christmas like the Scandinavians, and we’re excited to check out this one-of-a-kind Christmaslicious journey for all senses. Carefully selected chefs will prepare a mouth-watering smorgasbord of traditional meats, salads and desserts for guests to indulge in until 21 December in Farringdon. The set-up is entirely Christmas-themed; and there are cocktails too! www.skandilicious.co.uk

PUBLIC HOUSE

Touted as one of the top ten places to go in London for a Sunday roast, Islington’s coveted fare at Christmas. Head chef, Tim Parsons, is excited to present a quality set menu with tantalising options for everyone. At just £32 per person for three courses to avoid disappointment. www.boutiquepubs.com

reinvigorated. One heavenly night is all you need, and you really do feel ready to face Zone 1 again. www.orangetreerichmond.co.uk LIFESTYLE

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MANY HOPES THE CHARITY COMMITTED TO MAKING THEMSELVES UNNECESSARY… Words: K y l e G o o d w i n

t’s rare, among the myriad of had met a group of homeless children who charities in the world today, opened his eyes to the sheer brutality of street life. on the root of an issue, Struck by the systemic injustices the rather than just the surface children faced, he took them under his wing: symptoms. Of course, many problems call for quick action: hurricanes, droughts and earthquakes, for instance. But to give these children a voice. when the issues are ingrained in a system At the time, street kids were being denied National ID cards due to having no address. corruption, long-term and long-lasting action When the police would ask to see their cards, becomes a necessity. they were arrested and put in prison for not For decades the problems in Kenya have having one. There was nothing the children been vast and seemingly unruly. Only three could do, and the vicious cycle continued, with the network of youngsters forced to country’s independence in 1963, with many steal in order to bribe the police into releasing leaders born from the same family. Over 60 their peers. percent of its population survives on under a Alongside two lawyers he knew, Anthony dollar a day, and while the education system took one street child’s case to court, suing the remains uncared for and mismanaged, the government in the process. They won, the poor remain forever in a perpetual cycle system changed, and homeless children are of poverty. no longer refused ID cards. However, in 2007 a meeting took place “Three of us did this,” Anthony later that would change the futures of many declared, “imagine if there were 300 or 3000.” Kenyan children. Thomas Keown, founder of Thomas, also a journalist at the time, Many Hopes, was travelling in the beautiful went back to Boston where he was working African country when he met Anthony at the time, and wrote a piece about Anthony and the tribulations facing children in Kenya. up his prestigious career to pursue justice The overwhelmingly positive response to the for Kenyan children. They quickly became story sparked the idea that formed the friends. “He was probably the smartest foundations of their ethos: shaping and person I’d ever met,” Thomas recalls. “I was nurturing the next generation of Kenyans While reporting in Mombasa, Anthony of cash.

Since then Thomas and Anthony have been working endlessly to change the future for children in Kenya; using 100 percent of the charity’s donations to build new homes, schools and local businesses to provide the kids with long-term sustainability, education and helping them form a community of young people who are lobbying for change. “We’re about systemic change,” Thomas states. “We’re about looking 20 years down the road and thinking, ‘What needs to be on building a network of relationships with people who are essential to our success in the future; like clean police and the local court system. This network ultimately becomes the solution.” It’s clear the issues facing Kenyan and Many Hopes are dedicated to replacing a bleak future with one that’s bright and positive. “Estimates are that a trillion dollars of aid has been received by Africa over the last 60 years,” Thomas concludes. “If money alone was the problem, there wouldn’t be a problem anymore.” - One day of excellent education for one child costs £2.72, how many days can you help with? - Blipp this page to donate to Many Hopes via Givey (www.givey.com) www.manyhopes.org FEATURE

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the last laugh

COMEDI AN RUSSELL KAN E DISC U SSE S WE DDIN GS, N OT H AVIN G A MENTOR AND WH AT M AKE S H IM LAU G H … Words: N i c k

Ay t o n

SO GOOGLE MENTIONED YOU GOT MARRIED THIS SUMMER…

do the TV side of it without performing on stage. The two are very closely linked.

I did. What an idiot.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL DEFINES THIS GENERATION OF COMEDIANS?

DID YOUR BEST MAN MANAGE TO CRACK ANY GOOD JOKES? I felt so sorry for him. We wanted a traditional wedding, and the best man has to follow the groom’s speech, so he had to follow me. OUCH. HOW DID HE DO? How do you reckon? It’s like me trying to follow Michael McIntyre! WHAT KIND OF COMEDY MAKES YOU LAUGH?

possible: really dry, violent, intellectual

but it’s not really what I would go and watch. YOU’RE ON TELEVISION A LOT, RUSSELL. IS THERE A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WRITING COMEDY FOR TV AND WRITING FOR LIVE SHOWS?

A liberal outlook, I’d say. We’re very much on the same page, on the whole. It’s a shame, really, because it would be nice to have some dissenting voices that are funny it’s really boring for everyone else listening. THE WORLD OF BRITISH COMEDY SEEMS QUITE CLOSE-KNIT. WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT, DID YOU HAVE A MENTOR WHO COULD OFFER YOU ADVICE AND HELP YOU THROUGH THE EARLY STAGES OF YOUR CAREER? Nope. Nothing at all. I was completely on my own. I’d never been to see comedy, and didn’t really know anything about it. I just wanted something interesting to do after work, so tried it out and kind of fell into it by accident. SO YOU HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY… Oh yeah. But it did make me look more original than I was, because I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.

Well you can’t swear on TV for a start. They tell you, ‘You can’t do this, and you can’t do that’. You can’t do much, really.

YOU’VE COVERED SO MUCH GROUND IN COMEDY ALREADY, WHAT’S NEXT FOR RUSSELL KANE?

ARE YOU JUST AS COMFORTABLE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AS YOU ARE ON STAGE?

Sitcom. I’d love to write a sitcom around my Dad and I. It would certainly be interesting!

saying to someone in advertising, ‘Do you prefer coming up with the idea, or showing the idea to the client?’ It’s almost one in the doing the TV side of things, and you can’t

ENTERTAINMENT

moment, but hopefully some of it will be edible.