Tempus Issue 49

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WEALTH

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FEMME

OCEAN

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SPORT

BRITISH

SPORT EDITION

THE NEW FACE OF MOTOR RACING OLIVER ROWLAND

ISSUE

49

ASCOT STYLE Exclusive timepieces THE GREAT BRITISH SUMMER


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I S S U E 49 FROM THE EDITOR The great British summer. There’s nothing quite like it. When the clouds of winter slip away to reveal the glorious sun beating down on our green and pleasant land, the UK really comes into its own. Unsurprisingly, summer is a key season in the British sporting events calendar, and that’s why we’ve made this issue our British Sport Edition. Our cover star is Oliver Rowland, whose success in the Monaco Formula 2 is still fresh in the minds of motorsports fans On page 22 we talk to the rising star about his Formula 1 aspirations. Will the British driver join Lewis Hamilton on the starting grid in 2018? We also delve into the revolutionary world of long drive golf, with a little help from ‘gladiator’ Joe Miller (page 30), and speed into the world of superbikes (page 36). And as this edition is all about the best of Britain, we explore the world of British craftsmanship. From luxury boat building (page 44) to the Queen’s favourite brands (page 68), there’s plenty to discover. We also head to Scotland to take an unforgettable drive through the countryside (page 50), before indulging in a generous serving of the nation’s famous liquor, Scotch whisky (page 92). Finally, don’t miss our guide to the best events on the British social calendar this summer (page 130). From the polo to Royal Ascot, we’ve got the inside scoop on what to wear (page 62) and the perfect hamper for every alfresco occasion (page 86).

Enjoy the issue.

Rachel Ingram

CONTRIBUTORS Kyle Fortune For twenty years, motoring journalist Kyle has driven pretty much every vehicle under the sun and called it work. Some drives stick in his memory though, and a chance to experience the millionth Porsche 911 in homeland of Scotland was one he’ll never forget. Re-live his adventure on page 50. Craig Barnett With two decades of reporting on the luxury products and services industry, particularly the yachting and private aviation sector, Craig sure knows his boats. So when we wanted an article on the evolution of British boatbuilding, there was nobody better to turn to. Read his story on page 44. Tim Southwell Award-winning journalist and golf enthusiast Tim, more widely known as the founder of GolfPunk, was, for obvious reasons, the perfect man to pen our article on the revolutionary sport of long drive golf. Discover his article on page 30.


Editorial Director Scott Manson scott@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Director Joe Beal joe@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Editor Rachel Ingram rachel@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Publisher Jay Boisvert jay@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Chief Executive Officer Shaun Prince shaun@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Business Development Director Ashley Collin ashley@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Creative Director Ross Forbes ross@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Senior Consultant Mark Hutchings mark@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Design Jake Farrugia jake@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Video Editor Paul Canaan paul@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Office Address: Tempus Media International Ltd 3-5 Wardour Street London, W1D 6PB Phone Number: +44(0)20 7993 4183

tempusmagazine.co.uk @tempusmagazine tempus magazine @tempus_media_

Finance Officer Emi Nika emi@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Š 2017 Tempus Media Limited Articles and other contributions published in this journal may be reproduced only with special permission from the Publishers. The Publishers Tempus Media Limited, accept no responsibility for any views or statements made in the articles and other contributions reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is accepted for the claims in advertisements appearing in this journal and the Publishers reserve the right to accept or refuse advertisements at their discretion.

Printed by Symbian Print

Cover image Oliver Rowland, DAMS Copyright: Paolo Pellegrini


THE BEST POSSIBLE SOUND, WHEREVER YOU ARE

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SPORT FAST & FURIOUS 22 - 28 THE LONGEST DRIVE 30 - 35 GEARED FOR GREATNESS 36 - 38 FIGHTING FIT 40 - 41

MOVE

STYLE

COOL BRITANIA 44 - 48

RACE INTO STYLE 62 - 66

THE GATHERING 50 - 55

BY ROYAL DECREE 68 - 72

THE HIGH LIFE 56 - 59

CREDIT TO THE EDIT 74 - 76


I

INDULGE

EC

HOLY SMOKE 80 - 84

CHAMPERS & HAMPERS 86 - 90

RETURN TO THE SOURCE 92 - 95 FISHY BUSINESS 96 - 97

ESCAPE ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY 100 - 103 SHORE THINGS 104 - 106

WHAT LIES BENEATH 108 - 109

SMART LIVING

C U LT U R E THE SEASON 128 - 137

THE LUXE FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE 112 - 117

THE RISE OF THE MINDFUL BILLIONAIRE 138 - 141

FRONT ROW SEAT 118 - 122

THE ELITE LONDON 142 - 143

INSIDE OUT 124 - 125

SAVE THE DATE 144 - 145



S P O R T FAST & FURIOUS 22 - 28 THE LONGEST DRIVE 30 - 35 GEARED FOR GREATNESS 36 - 38 FIGHTING FIT 40 - 41


Fast&furious Words: Rachel Ingram

After speeding up the Formula 2 rankings, Tempus-sponsored driver Oliver Rowland is gearing up to grab Formula 1 by the horns


SPORT

s Sebastian Vettel was rejoicing on the Formula 1 podium in Monaco last month, Oliver Rowland was celebrating his first FIA Formula 2 win after a gripping race one victory. Making history for DAMS racing, the Tempus-sponsored driver landed the victory during the feature race, scoring not just his first Formula 2 career win, but the premier Formula 2 trophy for his team. Following two podiums in Barcelona ( for second place in the sprint and third in the feature race), Rowland now stands at number two on the leaderboard, leaving him hot on the trail of current leader Charles Leclerc, of team Russian Time, who’s just three points ahead. With success on the horizon for the British racer, we take a closer look at the man poised to be the next face of British motor sports.


he current Formula 1 starting grid includes just two British names, Lewis Hamilton and Jolyon Palmer, racing for Mercedes AMG Petronas and Renault Sport Formula One respectively. As Jenson Button, who’s has been driving reserve for McLaren this season, moves further and further away from the spotlight, it seems there could be a spot opening up for a third Briton to complete the hat trick in 2018. Hoping to join Hamilton and Palmer on the start line next year is Oliver Rowland, a 24-year-old driver from Sheffield. A rising star in the racing world, Rowland was making waves and burning tires in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

Born to be wild For Rowland, racing was always in his blood. He grew up with a motorbike-obsessed father, who introduced him to engines as a toddler. “I fascinated with its noise,” Rowland reflected. When he was old enough to watch TV, it wasn’t kids’ shows or cartoons he was watching, it was the Isle of Man TT and videos of bikes and cars. “You could say I was a bit obsessed with speed all that way back then, when I was just three. On my third birthday my parents, bought me a quad. [My dad] would follow me around absolutely everywhere with a kill-switch, I loved it.” “I was riding around on two wheels at the age of around four and a half not a motorbike, but by riding a pushbike on two reckoned I could push the parents for a motorbike. Mum really wasn’t keen on me

making the leap to powered twowheels at that age and that decision was probably the first one that started me down the longer path that reaches here and now. We settled on me getting a Go Kart.” From then, it was four wheels all the way. Rowland started racing at the age of six and was competing for medals as soon as he reached the minimum age requirement of eight. For him, it couldn’t have come any sooner. “It’s hard to say exactly how obsessed I was with motor racing back then, well in fact not just motor racing, my obsession was in fact to become an Formula 1 driver. I was utterly focused on achieving that, and thought about how I might get there every single day – I knew exactly where I wanted to be and from a very early age was totally focused on getting there.” He kick-started his racing career by throwing himself into competitive karting, where he dominated the English circuit. In 2010, he left karting and stepped into the world of Formula Renault, racing through championships and scooping up awards in his race to the top. Rowland finally made his Formula 2 debut in 2015 at world-renowned British circuit Silverstone with MP Motorsport. After impressing by finishing in the points in both races, he was snapped up by MP and Status Grand Prix, eventually joining DAMS, owned by Jean-Paul Droit, for the 2017 season.

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Tempus-sponsored driver Oliver Rowland

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Rowland burning rubber in Monaco

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Geared for greatness After impressing in Formula 2, Rowland was invited to attend the Renault Sport Academy – a prestigious programme where selected young drivers are given the chance to prove their potential on the race track. In April, after completing the course with flying colours, Rowland was given the exciting news that he’ll be signed to the role of Development Driver to Renault’s F1 team. This incredibly accomplishment, for which he beat many other capable driv-ers, will see him fulfil a simulator programme for the team as well as drive on track. The Development Driver contract is famous for being used to recruit and train up the next generation of F1 drivers. Lewis Hamilton was, famously, the youngest ever driver to secure such a contract with McLaren, and the move fast-tracked him into an racing career that’s still going strong. While Rowland is a few years older than Hamilton was when he started, he’s got all the drive and ambition needed to succeed.

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Cyril Abiteboul, Managing Director, Renault Sport Racing, said: “We know Oliver very well and we are very pleased to reward his work with this position with Renault Sport Formula One Team. Development Driver is an important position in a team and it is very interesting to have someone who already knows us.” Rowland said: “My aim has always been to get a role in Formula 1 so it’s great to see all my hard work pay off. The Renault Sport Academy was the perfect training ground and the role of Development Driver is another great step after being within the Renault family for so many years with Formula Renault 2.0 and 3.5 and then the Academy too. I learnt a lot last year including working at Enstone in the simula-tor, so I feel well prepared for this role. I’m proud to be part of the team and I’ll be working hard to do everything I can to assist the team in their development of the R.S.17.” Speaking of moving on from Formula 2, where he’s currently getting podiums left right and centre, to dive in with the top dogs of the racing world in Formula 1, he added: “GP2 is fantastic but this does take me, at the age of 24, into the exact environment I’ve worked so hard to be in.”


The sky’s the limit Determination, it seems, is in surplus with this driver, and that’s a good thing because by scoring a spot on Renault’s development team, Rowland is one step closer to achieving his dream. With ambition burning a hole in his pocket, he’s laid out his ultimate target – to win a full-time Formula 1 seat in 2018. The major challenge that faces Rowland is qualifying. In previous races, disappointing times set him further back on the starting grid than he should have been, making chances of a podium more difficult. “I need to improve my qualifying, and me and the team need to improve our performances because the first two rounds have been a bit strange in qualifying,” Rowland said in Barcelona. “If we start on the first two rows I’m sure we can be on the podium every weekend because we’ve been starting from 6th, 8th, 10th and finishing on the podium, so if I start at the front I’ll win races, and that’s the target to improve.” In Monaco, however, he pulled it back, qualifying in second and going on to win the feature race. It seems his tactic is already working. Speaking of the win, he said: “Today is a day I will never forget! Thank you

to all my team DAMS racing and everyone that has helped me to reach this point. Today was just the start.” “It’s been a while coming! It feels great, and to win here is mega special, every year I’ve been here I’ve been slightly unlucky. It’s never been that kind but I think today it repaid me, but right now I can’t explain how good it feels to win this.” Rowland has now closed the gap in the Drivers’ Championship to just three points behind Charles Leclerc, making him in second position on the leaderboard. He added: “It’s all about getting as many points as you can, making sure that you’re there and can build on everything, build the confidence within the team, and to try to make a good season for them and for me, so it’s a positive weekend.” With Formula 2 picking up speed and Formula 1 stars such as Jenson Button moving off the circuit, there’s set to be a shake up on the starting line in 2018. It seems more and more likely that next year, there could be space for a young Briton, such as Rowland, to complete the British hattrick on the Formula 1 grid. Watch this space. Follow Oliver and the DAMS racing team at dams.fr


Race to the top A step-by-step look at Rowland’s race weekend in Monaco Feature race With qualifying being pivotal at Monaco, and with Monégasque driver Charles Leclerc securing his third pole position in three rounds, Rowland left himself plenty to do. Starting in third, the DAMS driver recovered from a somewhat sluggish start to grab the win against the odds. With Leclerc having to pit on lap seven as soon as the safety car was deployed, Rowland became the leader, driving a faultless race to secure his first Formula 2 career win.

Sprint race There was disappointment and misfortune in the sprint race for Rowland as Dutchman Nyck De Vries dominated from the off at the Circuit de Monaco, securing his maiden Formula 2 triumph for Rapax. A clash with Spanish Trident driver Sergio Cana-masas meant the DAMS driver could only secure 9th place, finishing outside the points. Meanwhile, Canamasas was forced to pit for a new front wing and eventually finished the race in 17th, being handed a 10 second time penalty for prompting the collision with Rowland.

The result However all was not lost as following Rowland’s pole success in the feature race, he remains second in the championship. He’s now closed the gap in the Drivers’ Championship to just three points behind leader Charles Leclerc. Meanwhile, his team mate Nicholas Latifi comes in at 8th on the leader board and, as a team, DAMS stands at 2nd.

Leaderboard Oliver Rowland’s results during the FIA Formula 2 Championship 2017 so far.

Sakhir International Circuit, Bahrain April 14-16 Feature race: 5th Sprint race: 3th Qualifying: 8th Practice: 1st

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain May 12-14 Feature race: 3rd Sprint race: 2nd Qualifying: 6th Practice: 11th

Circuit de Monaco, Monaco May 25-27 Feature race: 1st Sprint race: 9th Qualifying group A: 2nd Practice: 3rd

Up next: Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan June 23-25


The

Longest Drive

Words: Tim Southwell


SPORT

Into the tiger’s den with golf ’s gladiators

I

f there’s one thing you don’t want to be at the World Long Drive Series, it’s a golf ball. Think about it. There you are happily sleeping in your nice warm box when all of a sudden an extremely large and muscular dude with an evil look in his eye grabs you by the curlies and puts you on a golf tee. You look around and there is a seething mass of spectators chanting the name of your new master. Your relationship will be brief. Brief and extremely painful. You are the golfing equivalent of a Christian being thrown into the death pit for the pleasure of the gladiators. The gladiators in this instance are the Long Drive World Series exponents.


“IF YOU WANT TO HIT THE BALL REALLY, REALLY LONG,” SAYS JOE. “THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER IS YOUR

ANGLE OF ATTACK.

WE KNOW THAT 85% OF AMATEURS SLICE IT

Some people call them freaks of nature. Beasts. But they are gladiators. Golf ’s gladiators. Gladiators like Tim ‘Blonde Bomber’ Burke, Ryan ‘The Big Deal’ Reisback and Lucas ‘No discernable nickname’ Dornan. These men are the size of small houses, pumped up on adrenalin. Men with thousand yard stares and one simple intention: To launch the poor ball as far into the stratosphere as humanly possible. This sport combines sheer brute strength with a hand-eye coordination most of us can only dream about. As these golfing gladiators prepare to wind up their crazy-long back swings, you can only imagine what is going through the golf ball’s mind: ‘Did I really spend two years at Golf Ball Academy for this?!’ Every golf ball dreams of living a long and happy life, and to be used in several triumphant rounds. Maybe even be the hero and be a hole in one! You’ll be proudly put in a frame and displayed over the mantle piece. But this? One journey? One incredible, painful journey?! There is no justice for the golf ball. The long drive exponents reach club-head speeds of up to 150mph. If you’re the golf ball right now, you better just say your prayers and strap yourself in for the ride. You may never roll again after this but you never know, you might be the ball that goes furthest. The winner. That would be some consolation. Anyway, just close your eyes now and wait for the great kaboom. Chief gladiator in the world of Long Driving is England’s 32-year-old Joe Miller (nicknamed ‘The Total Package’) who won last year’s World Long Drive Championship (no relation to the Long Drive World Series, though a lot of the same players participate in both), winning a cool $125,00.00 by propelling a golf ball 423 yards. To put it into perspective, the longest tour players on the PGA Tour average about 310 yards. What the Long Drive World Series strives to do is bring the best ballers from around the world and put them to the test in a 4 event series. The first went off with a bang in Dubai in March. Now, for us mere mortals, the idea of smashing a drive 270-yards on a hot day with a big down hill incline would be tantamount to a miracle. But these guys are no mere mortals. “My longest in ever recorded in competition is 474-yards at the European Finals,” says Joe. “My longest drive not in a competition…560-yards at the London Club.” To put that into perspective, both of those drives are longer than 90% of golf holes in the UK. Once they’ve launched their drive, the ball will travel at over 215 miles per hour. That’s faster than a Formula 1 car. It is a mixture of pure aggression and finess. If you are off line with your drive it simply won’t count. You have to be a very decent golfer to make it in this business. But if you’re not quite good enough to make it on the regular tour and you don’t fancy selling Mars Bars and giving lessons to flailing grandmothers for a living, you need to figure out another way. If you have the physical

attributes, the Long Drive World Series gives you a way. Hitting the ball absurd distances is that way. The Long Drive World Series works like this: The best long hitters in the world assemble at some fancy golf resort. The organisers put up grandstands and create a party atmosphere. Each player has three minutes to hit their longest drive in a specific landing grid. Those with the longest drives go through to a sudden death round, semi finals and final. Fireworks and music juxtapose every booming drive. So how do you get powerful enough to do this? Joe might be the Long Drive World Champion, but at 6 foot 4 and 265lbs, but he isn’t even one of the biggest guys out there. Getting into the kind of shape needed to hit a golf ball over 400 yards on a regular basis takes dedication. “You kind of have to live it,” says Joe. “I’m three hours a day in the gym, five, six, sometimes seven days a week. If I wasn’t as big I’d still be able to hit the ball a long way but to get to that real, top level, I think the gym and the workouts, that’s where they really start counting.” The Long Drive World Series is undoubtedly bringing golf to a new, younger audience. Golf is often perceived as stuffy – ‘boring’ to the uninitiated - and the sport has struggled to engage with millennials whose expectations of participating in and watching sport are not necessarily mirrored by your average golf club or televised tournament. After all, golf is pretty much the only sport that when you attempt to join a club, the first thing they do is give you a long list of things you can’t do. Then, when you watch it on TV you are invariably seeing a stroke play event, which may or may not be close or dramatic. Millenials want a quick fix from sport and the World Long Drive Championships delivers drama and excitement in spades. When the guys crush it off the tee there is pandemonium in the grandstands. A lot of hooping, and hollering, chanting and goading. Wentworth it isn’t. So, Joe, let us in on the secret? Tell us mere mortals (who do a lap of honour if we nail a drive 250-yards)... tell us how we can be, well... like you… “If you want to hit the ball really, really long,” says Joe. “The first thing you have to consider is your angle of attack. We know that 85% of amateurs slice it. That’s largely caused by a negative angle of attack cutting across the ball. You want to be working on a positive angle of attack so that you clubhead is smashing up into the back of the ball and launching it high and hard. “Check your ball position is opposite your left toe (if right-handed) and get your spine tilt leaning back away from the ball with your driver as this will get your swing bottoming out just before the ball and smashing the skin off it. “But before you do any of that, you have to prepare. You have to train. Two things first. Don’t go in cold and have an appropriate diet to match your training. I don’t want to be responsible for physiotherapy bills everywhere! “But do get as strong as you can to add some yards. Get in the gym and do all your power moves. Squats, deadlifts, bench press, shoulder press. Push yourself with each session. That will give you a solid power you can unleash on course.”

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BY THE TIME HE’S LAUNCHED THE BALL OVER

400 YARDS

IN A DEAD STRAIGHT ARC, THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF MY NECK ARE LITERALLY BREAKDANCING

Let’s face it, at 52-years of age and with a slightly dodgy back, I’m not really in the target market for Joe’s line of work. But I can do the diet bit... In order to create such drama you have to be ‘built’. Like all of his peers, Joe Miller eats for his country, consuming over 8,000 calories a day. His breakfasts are the thing of legend: Several plates of T-bone steaks and eggs are devoured each morning. Red meats and chicken form a huge part of Joe’s protein heavy diet. These red meats provide Joe with the protein required to help build his muscle bulk, and to provide him with his impressive frame, to which he accredits much of his success. Joe claims to have a superior technique than most tour pros. This he demonstrates to us on the range by hitting his mid-irons some 250-yards

(mere mortals will hit a 6-ron 170-185 yards at best) as he works up to hitting his driver. The big-dog. His precious Callaway XR driver. When he does hit his driver you are immediately mesmerised by a) the sheer over-swing length of his backswing as the club head virtually touches the ground before beginning its journey back round his body to the ball, and b) the incredible sense of artistry. By the time he’s launched the ball over 400 yards in a dead straight arc, the hairs on the back of my neck are literally breakdancing. And Joe’s exploits have attracted long-ballers from all over the world to get involved. longdriveworldseries.com

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SPORT

A week in the muscles of Joe Miller Monday: Chest and triceps Tuesdays: Back and biceps Wednesday: Shoulders Thursday: Legs and abs Friday: Arms Saturday: Day off/extra upper body session Sunday: Day off/extra upper body session

A typical chest and triceps session Warm-up weights Bench press: Five sets. 20, 15, 10, 8, 6 60kg up to 180kg final set Incline dumbbells: Four sets. 12, 8, 6, 6, 80kg up to 120kg Lateral side raises: Four sets. 30, 20, 15, 10 20kg up to 60kg Military press: Four or five sets. 15, 12, 10, 10, 8 40kg up to 120kg Tricep pushdowns: Four sets. 30, 20, 15, 10 40kg up to 100kg Skull crushers: Four sets. 20,15,10,10 30kg up to 80kg

Joe’s greatest lifts Bench press: 200kg Dead lift: 280kg Squat: 290kg

Fact-file Height: 6 Foot 4 Inches Weight: 20 Stone Waist Size: 36 Inches (a generous 36…) Chest Size: Too many Inches

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Jack Kennedy, MV Augusta

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SPORT

Geared Greatness For

The British Superbike Championship sets the stage for the next generation of Moto GP medalists Words: Rachel Ingram

otoGP is to the motorcycle world what Formula 1 is to car racing. At once extremely alike and vastly dissimilar, both championships are at the top of their game. To climb the ranks, a rider must race his way through national and global championships – in British motorcycle racing, this starts with British Superbikes. One of the many elements that makes motorcycle racing so exciting is the danger factor. While race car drivers are somewhat protected by the metal cages of their vehicles, motorcycle racers are naked to the elements. Like a dance between a lion and its tamer, riders attempt to control a powerful beast – that’s itching to reach speeds of 200mph and more – between their knees. Riders often lean so close to the road that their elbows drag on the track surface, while with 23 on the grid (instead of 20 for Formula 1), the added element of close contact means crashes can be not only life-changing, but deadly. In the motorcyle arena, the Superbike championship is arguably the most exciting arm. With speeds and lap times almost matching MotoGP, the main difference is in the vehicles. While MotoGP riders race prototypes designed and built from scratch, Superbikes is all about production-based racing using highlymodified vehicles. The British Superbikes Championship is the most competitive domestic tournament in the world and has seen many of its riders go on to dominate the world series and, subsequently, MotoGP. One racer pitted for great success in the current racing season is Tempus-sponsored rider Jack Kennedy, part of the Dave Tyson’s Tsingtao MV Augusta team. As the 2017 championship gains speed, we speak to Tyson about the world of British superbikes and what to expect from the coming season. »

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Tempus: What makes the sport of superbike racing so exciting?

and he will, over the next 18 months be a championship contender at the world level. I think Glenn Irwin is another one in British Superbikes who will end up in World Superbikes in the next couple of years. There’s some great, young British talent coming through.

Dave: It’s fast, it’s noisy, but most people will say it’s because of crashes. When you stick 23 guys who’ve got a lot of testosterone running through their bodies onto a track and tell them to go as fast as they can, accidents can happen, but it’s exciting. You watch it on TV and it looks all nice and happy, but until you’ve been ,you don’t realise how fast it is. We get 40-45,000 people who come along on race day weekend and it’s not like car racing where everybody seems to be at a big distance. You can come up to our garage and meet Jack and the team. The BSB does a great job at allowing people to walk down the pit lane at every race day, so they get to meet their heroes, these guys who are putting their lives on the line to entertain everybody.

T: This year MV Augusta is supporting just one rider. Why Jack Kennedy? D: Jack’s a great lad. He’s almost won the championship before. He’s a good solid, fast rider with the right mentality. He treats it as a professional job. His fitness is second to none. He’s very analytical with the riding and he understand what the bike needs to compete. Our bike is the only one of its kind in the championship so working with someone like him is really crucial because we need good feedback from the rider in order to develop the bike. Its taken us a while to get the bike the way Jack wants it but we’re pretty much there now.

T: How else does motorcycle racing differ from car racing? D: In Formula 1 you potentially have three or four people who could win a race. If you look at the Superbike Championship, there are certainly are seven or eight guys who could win a race, and they’re all on different machinery. This makes it quite an exciting championship. What you tend to get is people that follows brands of motorcycles, and also the riders themselves.

T: What do you enjoy most about managing MV Augusta? D: For me, it’s the challenge. It’s about having the bikes that not everyone else is using and biking to win. We did it in 2014 and I want to do it again. The challenge for me is to get the right people and build the right team around the right rider. We have highs and the lows and they don’t always balance out, but when you do get a win, the highs last so long it will see you through all the low times. We describe it as a drug. It’s one of those things that you want to do again and again because of the enjoyment factor.

T: How does the British championship rate on an international level? D: Ours is definitely the best domestic championship in the world. The current top four or five drivers in World Superbike are all British. What you tend to find is that the riders who leave our championship tend to perform at the world level at a very high level. We’ve got a great example that’s happening now – Tarran MacKenzie, who’s left McAMS Yamaha, is bypassing World Superbike and going straight to Moto2, after winning British Supersport last year.

T: Speaking of which, what have been your biggest highs and lows? D: Without a shadow of a doubt, the biggest high was winning the championship in 2014. My biggest low was not putting Ian Hutchinson out in 2015 at the Isle of Man TT. We had a deal in place but it didn’t work out and Ian went to the TT with Yamaha and won every single supersport race. That, for me, is still the golden chalice.

T: So is there something about the British character that makes the Brits so great at the sport? D: It’s a funny thing – you tend to find that the Spanish and Italians are very good on prototype machines because that’s what they’re brought up with. In the UK, we tend to be brought up with production-based machines. The British usually dominate World Supersport and World Superbike, while the Spanish and the Italians tend to dominate the prototype classes in MotoGP. There are some people starting the break the mould, however, such as Cal Crutchlow, Sam Lowes and Danny Kent.

T: Will you be heading to the Superbike World Championship in 2018? D: It all depends on sponsors and budgets. We’d love to go but we’d need a budget of about £3 million. In my eyes, if you’re going to do it, you want the best engineers and the best people involved. You want everything to be 100 percent and you’ll spend a lot of money doing it. If budget wasn’t an issue, we’d be out there in Moto2 now. That is the ultimate goal.

T: Who are the rising stars in the superbikes arena?

Watch Jack Kennedy compete at the British Superbike Championship at Knockhill Racing Circuit, Scotland, June 16-18.

D: I think Tarran MacKenzie is going to go places. He’s going to go into Moto2 now,

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Fighting

FIT

As the fight for the English Championship title heats up, Joe Mullender’s got his eyes firmly on the prize

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Tempus: Hey Joe, congratulations on getting to the English Championship final. How are you feeling about the upcoming fight?

o consider Joe Mullender an underdog would be a gross miscalculation. Granted, the last time he came fist-to-fist with Lee Markham he faltered at the final hurdle, resulting in his opponent winning the English title, he didn’t go home defeated. The middleweight boxer is back and fighting fitter and stronger than before, his celebrated body punching techniques refined and readied for the upcoming English Championship final. The spectacle at Brentwood Centre has all the makings of a classic – two sworn rivals from the same club, coming together on their home turf to resettle old scores and fight for their country (or their country’s belt, at least). Anticipation is, understandably, high. As Mullender gears up to face his adversary – this time with the support of Tempus – we speak to the English champion hopeful about his love of boxing and how he plans to bring home the belt on June 2.

J: This fight is so big for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s for an English title, but secondly it’s a rematch – this fight has a lot of history. We’re both from the same membership club, we both know each other really well, we’re out of the same gym, we’ve spent a lot of time together. A lot of people think he’s going to win, a lot of people think I’m going to win. Everyone knows us who’s watching the fight. It’s a big fight and hopefully the highlight of my career so far will be winning this fight. T. So you’d say Lee is your biggest rival? J. I would say so. We could both go on to fight for big titles, for British titles and for Commonwealth titles, but I think the biggest fight for us is me and Lee fighting each other. Whoever wins this fight is English champion. Lee is English champion at the minute, but hopefully I’m going to hold the title after the fight.

I’M A GOOD BODY PUNCHER, IT’S WHAT I’M KNOWN FOR.

T. What have you done differently to make sure you come back fighting for round two? J. I’ve changed a few things. I’ve gone back to basics and worked more on the tactics of the fight and fitness. Old school training, really, and being as fit as I can for the fight, which I am.

T: What are your signature moves? J: I’m a good body puncher, it’s what I’m known for. That’s why this fight is such a good fight, because Lee’s a good body puncher, too. We’re both very alike and like fighting up close and getting in the dog fight. It got a lot of attention last time at the O2 and I’m sure it’ll get a lot of attention this time at Box Nation. T. What makes the English league so competitive? J. The weight division I’m in – the middle weight – is one of the toughest divisions in the whole sport. There are a lot of good fighters across the country at the English-British level. It’s a tough division to win anything, to be honest. If you do, it’s a great achievement. T: Do you get more of a thrill from the mental or physical challenges that boxing presents? J: The physical side of it I enjoy. I love being in a fight. It’s something that’s either in you or it’s not. I love being in later rounds when we’re both tired and fighting with everything we’ve got. When you’re cut and battered and blue, obviously you don’t enjoy, but that just goes with it. It’s part of the job. The mental challenge comes from the pressure I have on me to win to provide for my family. But that’s something you learn to deal with, as any professional athlete does. T. Tell us a little about your training regime. J. I normally train two or three times a day. First will be an early morning cardio session in the gym or a run. Later on I’ll go to the gym again and spar 10 rounds or 12 rounds, or do some bag sessions, and then at night I will either do strength training or running again, or just a recovery session. This is every day, six days a week. I have Sundays off. T. What are your ambitions going forward? J. My main ambition is to be the British champion. If I could win, starting my career as late as I did, it would be a big achievement. If I beat Lee Markham, I think it’s more than achievable. It’s a 50/50 fight, so I guess it’s about who does a better job on the night. Let’s see where that leads me. Watch Joe Mullender fight Lee Markham at Brentwood Centre on June 2.

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M O V E COOL BRITANIA 44 - 48 THE GATHERING 50 - 55 THE HIGH LIFE 56 - 59


The Aston Martin AM37


Cool Britannia From boutique boat builders to sensational superyacht producers, those carrying the ‘Made in Britain’ marque continue to set the standard in terms of quality and engineering

Words: Craig Barnett


RIVA’S NAME BELONGS IN THE PANTHEON OF

GREAT DESIGNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS

THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEDONISTIC AND CULTURALLY PROGRESSIVE YEARS OF THE 1960’S

In April of this year Carlo Riva, the legend behind the iconic Riva yachting brand, peacefully passed away in his hometown of Sarnico, Italy. Riva’s name belongs in the pantheon of great designers and entrepreneurs that contributed to the hedonistic and culturally progressive years of the 1960’s, and in particular the celebration of La Dolce Vita on the French and Italian Riviera. At that time, publications around the world were bursting with pictures of Sean Connery, Peter Sellers, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, et al lounging on their classic mahogany Rivas in Monaco, Portofino or St. Tropez. In his autobiography Life, Keith Richards recounts how he’d finish a night’s recording of the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street album with breakfast in Italy and lunch in Monaco, blasting around the Cote’ d’Azur at the wheel of his Riva speedboat christened Mandrax 2. While over the channel starlets hopped from Vespas and Lambrettas into stylish boats wearing little more than Louis Reard’s newly invented bikini and big sunglasses, the UK was enjoying its own Renaissance period. During the ’60’s Cool Britannia was in full swing and well into the 70’s English cities were the global epicentre of a fashion, music, design and cultural revolution. Being an island nation with rich naval heritage, it followed that our Sceptred Isle also be at the forefront of pleasure yacht and boat production. With the advent of new materials and technology in the 1970s, namely the use of fiberglass instead of wood in yacht and boat construction, great British brands were soon flooding the slipways and populating the marinas of the UK and well beyond. Aboard the likes of Fletcher, Picton and Shakespeare sports boats, a generation with newfound disposable income and leisure time skimmed over bays and lakes, thrilling at the sensation of speed these new craft offered. Many tried out newly introduced past-times like waterskiing, diving and fishing for the first time: likely with widely varying degrees of success! For the more affluent marine aficionado, and those who intended to venture further than just a day on the water, Sunseeker, Princess and Fairline were the British-built yachts of choice. Incorporating cabins, galleys and head facilities, they put extended cruising and weekend explorations of the UK’s coastline within reach for the upwardly mobile. Today, the British tradition of precision engineered, eminently seaworthy speedboats continues steadfastly in the hands of boutique builders. In Hampshire, Hunton Powerboats, led by Fiona Pool produce some of the most luxurious high-performance craft on the water – their naval architecture and design is still entrusted

to multi-World Champion Geoff Hunton. Nearby in Southampton, a recent collaboration between Quintessence Yachts and the iconic British sports car producer has resulted in the astonishing Aston Martin AM37 powerboat. “The new AM37 powerboats are the very definition of understated elegance and reflect the Aston Martin DNA in every way possible,” Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s EVP and Chief Creative Officer explained to us when introducing the AM37. “Their timeless style will be instantly recognisable to fans of the Aston Martin brand.” Equally widely recognisable, in marinas from Margate to Miami and the Maldives, is Sunseeker – Robert Braithwaite’s brainchild breeding a loyal following of discerning clientele amongst the rich and famous, no doubt aided by its close affiliation with the James Bond franchise and Formula 1 impresario Eddie Jordan. From its relatively humble beginnings in Poole, Sunseeker has since grown into an international success story and now exports the epitome of luxury in the form of superyachts up to 47m in length. Not to be outdone, Princess Yachts in Plymouth, now part of the all-encompassing LVMH portfolio, launched their salubrious 40m model to much international acclaim. When we’re in this league think onboard hot tubs, fully customised interiors and numerous uniformed crew to wait on your every whim. While Blighty may not be a prolific producer in the most prestigious megayacht sector, one will invariably find the occupant of the tender garage of the world’s largest yachts proudly bears a ‘Made in Britain’ plaque. Boatyards like Pascoe, Williams Performance Jet, Scorpion and Cockwells all supply uniquely customised craft to fulfil the specialist role of safely and elegantly transporting A-list guests between ship and shore. While the USA, Italy and Germany may dominate the production boat, superyacht and megayacht markets respectively, for durable RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) through to limousine tenders and high performance powerboats, Britain remains at the forefront for connoisseurs who appreciate true precision engineering and artistic craftsmanship. As throughout the entire luxury sector, the yachting industry had a tough time navigating the tempestuous waters of the post 2010 financial crash and many of those British shipyards that did survive changed ownership. More modest enterprises learned to trim their sail to the new market conditions under the direction of private investors, while the bigger brands benefited from the management expertise provided by corporate benefactors or the financial acumen of investment funds. »

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Sean Connery driving a Riva

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is now our fastest-selling model to date with over 80 retail orders in its first four months. Our 2017 forward order book is up 41 percent in retail units on the same period in 2016 and we are extremely positive about the year ahead.” Despite an encouraging start to 2017 and a confident and bright outlook for the future, the Brexit question is of course one that concerns the British marine industry moving forward. Andrew Harries, the BMIF’s (British Marine Industry Federation) Senior External Relations Executive, pointed out: “Most of the feedback British Marine has received from members indicates that maintaining access to the single market and customs union were priorities for the industry, so we will have to consider carefully what direction negotiations take. At the BMF we are building ever-closer ties with Ministers and civil servants in the key Departments. We and member companies have already had productive meetings with the Department for International Trade and we are making good progress towards setting up similar meetings with the Department for Exiting the EU and the Department for Business and Industrial Strategy.”

Arguably the best litmus test for the health of the UK’s marine industry is the success of its showcase event, the London International Boat Show, held in ExCel each January. Asked about this year’s event, Murray Ellis, Chief Officer of Boat Shows at British Marine commented: “The UK leisure, superyacht and small commercial industry is worth more than £3 billion. The current confidence in the market, and the importance of the Show as a sales platform, has been echoed in some of the good business reports… from our smaller exhibitors right the way through to the top end luxury brands.” Sean Robertson, Sales and Marketing Director at Sunseeker International told us: “Once again, we started the year with a highly successful London Boat Show – £25 million of confirmed sales and a further £15 million under contract; it’s very encouraging to see so much confidence in the Sunseeker brand and the leisure marine industry in general. We were especially delighted to debut two new models, the stylish 68 Sport Yacht and the eagerly anticipated Manhattan 66 which has already found 31 new buyers. Our new Manhattan 52 won the award for ‘Best Flybridge up to 55ft’ and this

Sunseeker 155

The Princess 40M

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www.zenith-watches.com

LEGENDS ARE FOREVER

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MOVE

The

Gathering Words: Kyle Fortune

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Porsche celebrates its millionth 911 with a road trip on Scotland’s most beautiful roads


our miles and 36 years from here I took a green Porsche 911 model to Corstorphine primary school for show and tell. Today, I’m standing on Edinburgh Castle esplanade witnessing a green Porsche 911 emerge from the castle gate. It joins a line of 911s, spanning every generation since its 1963 introduction – this new 911 a homage to the earliest cars. Painted Irish Green, it wears discreet 1,000,000 plaques inside and out, that number relating to its production number. One million Porsche 911s. The world’s most recognisable sports car, a badge that’s very much emblematic of Porsche’s vision of a useable sports vehicle. Over 70 percent of all those built remain around today and the 911 has notched up over 30,000 race wins around the globe. Porsche has remained true to the original brief, retaining the rear-engined six-cylinder layout, doggedly engineering around the interesting quirks that the powertrain situation poses. It’s become an icon, the shape familiar, simple and enduring. That millionth 911 is instantly recognisable as such which is a huge part of its enduring appeal. There are 20 more here, spanning the six generations of production, a 911 greatest hits wearing badges as varied as Clubsport, RS, GT3, GT1, 959, Targa, Speedster, S and GTS, each significant, each different, the 911’s ability to shape-shift from quick grand tourer to focused track car no better represented than by the line up here. The aim is simple, even if the early logistics aren’t, that group of 911s heading out of Edinburgh for a tour around Scotland’s roads. Easing the route off Edinburgh’s most famous landmark is a group of police motorcyclists, traffic stopped to let the Porsche procession snake its way out of town. I’m pinching myself, driving a 911 GT3 RS, following a GT1 racer in front and having a 959 filling my mirrors. The inner six-year old who took that 911 model to primary school so close to here is jangling with nervous excitement, the 42 year-old man he’s become struggling to comprehend what he’s seeing. »

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The UK’s best driving roads The A82, Scotland Heading north from Loch Lomond to Loch Ness is a stunning route, passing Urquhart Castle and reaching Ben Nevis at its end.

The Evo Triangle, Wales So named because performance car magazines famously use it for testing sports and supercars, it takes in the A5, A543 and B4501 for a scintillating mix of scenery and incredible roads, it’s difficult to beat.

A39, Exmoor, England Open moorland, and relatively short, but breathtaking all the same, the A39 is one of England’s most picturesque roads.

A93, Scotland Spearing through the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland the A93, or Old Military Road, towards Granton on Spey has to be seen to be believed. Sensational.

B3135, Cheddar Gorge Short, but brilliant, forget nearby Glastonbury and head off here in your car, instead.

If you only buy one Porsche A 911 Carrera GTS coupe (below) ticks every box. 450hp, huge ability and GT and sports car genes mixed in a useable day-to-day package, it’s the most rounded of the 911 range.

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Edinburgh is dealt with quickly, the famously difficult traffic of the historic city despatched thanks to those police out-riders. We’re heading West, towards Loch Lubnaig first, then past the Bridge of Orchy to Spean Bridge with Eilean Donan Castle our destination. The 911 is made for this kind of journey, the roads covering everything from dual carriageways to tight, undulating country roads, Scotland’s roads getting quieter and more beautiful the further you venture out from its big cities. It always amazes me the number of people in Britain who admit to never having been to Scotland, let alone exploring north of either Glasgow or Edinburgh. I’ve travelled the globe for work, driving some of the world’s most famous roads, and Scotland has an answer to all of them. Scotland’s landscape is beautiful, the scale of it humbling. Deep valleys walled by rugged mountainous landscape, vast lochs with island castles, Scotland’s majestic landscape is a national treasure that needs to be truly experienced to be believed. I’ve driven these roads many times, and they’re always different, always memorable, today they’re even more so because of the absurdity of the traffic surrounding me. Eilean Donan Castle is reached, a simple soup and sandwich grabbed before heading back east, towards Fonab Castle Hotel, a five-star mix of ancient and contemporary set in breathtaking surroundings in Highland Perthshire. Journey’s end, it’s difficult to truly comprehend the drive today, the 911 an amazing, enduring sports car that’s been the perfect accompaniment to some of Scotland’s finest roads and most breathtaking scenery. Go and drive them both, it’s the stuff memories are made of, and for that inner six-year old, dream fulfilled.

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The

HIGH After 30 years in the skies, the legacy of the Breitling Wingwalkers is still flying high Words: Rachel Ingram

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life


WHEN YOU GO UPSIDE DOWN, IT’S LIKE ZERO GRAVITY –

YOU’RE WEIGHTLESS AND IT SUDDENLY GOES QUIET

” ollowing the end of the first world war, the military found itself with a surplus of biplanes that were perfectly functional but had no use. Pilots, determined to give the planes a new lease of life, found a solution to keep them in the sky, aerial displays. In 1918, American daredevil Ormer Locklear took the notion one step further and created a stunt where he climbed out of a plane and onto the wing midair. In the 1980s, inspired by Locklear’s show, stunt pilot Vic Norman brought wingwalking to Europe for the first time, setting up a team using not one, but four planes. Fast forward three decades and the Breitling Wingwalkers still the only wingwalking formation team in the world, famed for their jaw-dropping routines. As they celebrate their 30th anniversary, Tempus speaks to fourth-year wingwalker Emily Guilding about life as a high-flying acrobat.

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Tempus: As one of only five wingwalkers in England, you’ve got one of the most unique jobs in the country. How did you get into it?

While they’re original, they’ve got an upgraded 450 brake horsepower engine which gives us an extra boost to do all the aerobatic manoeuvres with the wingwalker onboard. Depending on the manoeuvres we’re doing, the planes can reach about 160mph. The fastest moment is when we’re diving for the loop. It’s exhilarating.

Emily: I started after watching my sister’s display – Stella joined the team a few years before me. I got to have a go as part of the audition process and was absolutely hooked. I’ve always loved high adrenaline activities and I love the lifestyle of travelling and meeting lots of interesting people. It’s the best job in the world. I couldn’t face the thought of going back to an office.

T: When you’re flying at such speeds, how do you not fall off ? E: We have a safety wire so we’re always attached to the plane. It enables us to climb around the plane and out of the cockpit onto the wings, so if we lost our grip we wouldn’t fall off. Most of the time we’re also strapped into a five-point safety harness, which attaches to the rig, so we’re firmly in place when we’re doing aerobatics.

T: Tell us about your world-famous routine. E: The routine is about 17 minutes long and combines a variety of manoeuvres. We’ve got the loop the loop, which is the best thing ever because you go upside down – it’s such a great feeling. We also do rolls and inverted flights. We’re actually the world’s only formation wingwalking team, which means our displays involve two or more aircrafts, so we can do opposition passes where the planes fly head to head. From the crowd it’s really exciting because it looks like the planes are going to crash, but obviously we’re not. It’s a real spectacle. The pilots know exactly what they’re doing so it’s always safe. Although I must say, from the wingwalker’s perspective, it does look like they’re coming straight for you, so I do close my eyes occasionally.

T: Tempus has tried out wingwalking and we came off looking rather windswept. How do you stay looking so camera ready? E: To be honest, when we land after show I feel completely windswept but we get it down to a fine art, checking we haven’t got any bugs on our face in the mirror, for instance. When we do our hair we clip it up really tight to try and avoid the knots. We also end up re-doing our makeup very quickly before all the cameras are around. T: Can people come down and give it a go?

T: What’s your favourite manoeuvre? E: The loop the loop. When you go upside down, it’s like zero gravity – you’re weightless and it suddenly goes quiet. When you’re wingwalking it’s very windy, very noisy, but when you’re upside down it suddenly goes quiet, the wind stops and there’s a moment of peace. When you’re hanging upside down and the plane’s above you and the ground’s below, it’s really surreal.

E: Anyone can come and wingwalk at our air field – we just have a few height and weight restrictions. We fly throughout the summer until October and get all sorts of people of all ages and backgrounds down here. People have flown in from as far as from Turkey, Australia and Dubai because it’s one of the only places in the world where you can pay to do a wingwalk. It’s such a unique experience that people travel from far and wide to try it out.

T: What types of planes do you use?

Watch the Breitling Wingwalkers at Plymouth Armed Forces Weekend on June 24.

E: They’re original vintage air crafts from the 1940s – Boeing Stearman biplanes.

breitlingwingwalkers.com

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S T Y L E RACE INTO STYLE 62 - 66 BY ROYAL DECREE 68 - 72 CREDIT TO THE EDIT 74 - 76


Race

style into

Be the best in show with our essential guide to dressing for the Royal Ascot Words: Rachel Ingram

s the world’s fastest thoroughbreds and their jockeys race past the stands in a blur of colours, all eyes are on the field, but when the finish line is crossed, the real competition begins among the best-dressed racegoers on the sidelines. Each year, around 300,000 immaculate spectators from around the world congregate at Ascot Racecourse for a week of horse racing and socialising. As well as being a thrilling sporting event, the prestigious royal meeting is an opportunity for the elite to turn out in their finery and compete for the title of best in show off the race track. 


STYLE


Ascot Racecourse

CONSIDERING THE PRESTIGIOUS PEDIGREE OF THE GUESTS, SETTING

AN APPROPRIATE DRESS CODE

WAS A KEY PRIORITY.

Ever since horse racing became popular in the 16th century, the sport has been synonymous with fashion. When Queen Anne founded Ascot Racecourse in 1711, race days became an essential date on the social calendar for British royals, aristocrats and the elite of society. Considering the prestigious pedigree of the guests, setting an appropriate dress code was a key priority. Beau Brummell, an iconic arbiter of men’s fashion, dictated the original guidelines, which are still reflected to this day, with a few modern updates. As one of the richest horse racing events in Britain, the Royal Ascot demands a particular level of attention, both on and off the track. Whilst the world’s best race horses compete on the field, a very similar event is taking place on the sidelines – a competition of style. London-based Stylist Emma Pulbrook said: “Ascot always been an on the fieldoff the field event. People don’t necessarily always have a high interest in the horse racing itself, so having the fashion to go with it adds another dimension to the sport. Style spotting becomes another sport in itself.” In keeping with tradition, the racecourse commands a strict dress code that all attendees must adhere to, with varying guidelines for the different areas. As a general rule, the more exclusive the space, the stricter the rules.

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Dress to impress In the prestigious Royal Enclosure, where the best seats in the house can be found, the dress code is resolute. For women, this means formal daywear – dresses or skirts of modest length (or full-length trouser suits), topped off with a hat or headpiece with a solid base of four inches or more. Necklines must be demure, with no strapless cuts or spaghetti straps, and strictly no fascinators. For gentlemen, it’s a lot more specific – black or grey morning dress with a waistcoat. Ties (but no cravats) are also required, as well as black shoes and a grey or black hat, which must always be worn at all times except in private or enclosed spaces. Despite the long list of regulations, there’s plenty of opportunity to get creative. Joshua Kane offers a contemporary collection of Ascot-worthy attire that pushes the boundaries of what’s acceptable for a gentleman to wear, whilst still conforming to elements of the dress code. Ideal for the modern-day man, the British designer’s latest collection, Langtry, comprises a handsome selection of made-to-order double-breasted suits and waistcoats (and ready-to-wear options for those in a hurry) which capture the essence of a bygone era whilst showcasing a modern edge. For those seeking a more classic look, Mayfair tailors Philpotts Dowding creates bespoke suits that are hand-crafted using traditional time-honoured techniques. With each suit averaging 80 hours of craftsmanship, the tailors puts a lot of time and effort into customisation, so that clients can show off their individuality with pride on the sidelines. »

Joshua Kane

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All in the details For women, there’s more flexibility in terms of outfit choice, provided it meets the guidelines, but headwear that makes a statement is a style essential. Philip Treacy is London’s premier haute couture milliner and his boutique is the first port of call for many of the capital’s fashion darlings, as well as many royals and trend-setting celebrities. From the tastefully flamboyant to the glamorously classic, Treacy’s headwear collections encompass all manner of styles to suit any outfit. With so many options of hats and fascinators, sometimes the best way to maintain elegance is to go back to basics. Pullbrook advised: “I think classic is always best. Something that fits your head and complements your ensemble. I always love a really wide brimmed hat. Often too many bright primary colours are used when it could have been better to go for a classic black.” While the colourful sea of hats that washes over the racecourse may garner most attention, no detail should be overlooked when dressing to impress. Timekeeping is a fundamental part of horse racing so there’s no better adornment than a watch that was designed for, and worn by, equestrians. Luxury watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre originally created its Reverso watch for polo players. The distinctive model features a reversible dial that can be turned to protect the glass from damage during races. It’s available in myriad styles for men and women and makes for an exceptional accessory both on and off the track.

Philip Treacy

Sign of the times

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso

This year, for the first time, the Royal Ascot has added a major new item to its womenswear dress code, jumpsuits. This major style development sees the notoriously traditional event inching slowly but surely into the contemporary world. With this new Ascot look, finding a jumpsuit that isn’t too casual is key, Pullbrook explained: “I think a classic, full length silhouette is always a good look. If you can’t nail something alternative, you’re better off wearing something really classic like a V-neck jumpsuit or trouser suit. White or navy always looks good, unless you’re going to do try out vintage style with mixed patterns, which is a trendy look right now.” “There’s so much potential with this event to keep within the parameters of the dress code while doing something really interesting with it. What I’d like to see at Ascot is more boundary pushing. I know that’s easier said than done with something so traditional, but it would be interesting if people ventured out a little bit,” she added. With jumpsuits already on the approved list for 2017, it seems that the Royal Ascot is moving into a new sphere of modern style. However, despite recent changes, it remains important to respect the traditions of the historic event and uphold the foundations set by Beau Brummell, even if it’s to simply make the sport of style watching on the sidelines that bit more exciting.

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BESPOKE INTERIORS & FASHION MAYFAIR, LONDON

+44 (0) 2034 754 452

www.phillpottsdowding.com

studio@phillpottsdowding.com


By

Royal Decree

Awarded by the reigning monarchy, royal warrants are the ultimate seal of approval for British brands Words: Henry Hopwood-Phillips

nce reserved for flags, passports and other redoubts of officialdom, nowadays we see the Queen’s rampant lion, Philip’s Hercules and Charles’ ostrich feathers emblazoned on everything from pots of marmalade to rolls of wallpaper. But while the proliferation of crested labels is rather new, the concept of a royal warrant is not. First awarded when Henry II gave a royal charter to the Weavers’ Company for clothes and castle hangings in 1155, ever since, tradesmen from Britain’s first printer (Caxton) to the builder of the royal loos (a “Mr Crapper” no less), have aspired to stick the royal arms on their wares. The process is not complex. If one of the three top royals enjoys using a product or service for a period of over five years, the company which produces it can apply for one. The Lord Chamberlain advises the final decision, and if accepted, confers the privilege of a warrant on the grantee (the person), not the company, so that they are made personally responsible for upholding standards. Today there are roughly 850 holders who can boast that if their items are good enough for the Sovereign (as well as her nearest and dearest), they’re probably good enough for you. They cover the entire royal shopping list, from candles to lingerie, tailors to chocolates. And they all belong

to a club: the rather imaginatively named Royal Warrant Holders Association. Formed after Queen Victoria reinstated an old oath for warrant holders, the occasion – paired with the Queen’s birthday celebrations – spurred the worthies to hold their first meeting in the Freemason’s Tavern on Great Queen Street in the City. Sadly, none of their minutes disclose which particular biscuits, pies, shirts and swords the royals were enjoying, but successive ledgers do show how tastes changed in everything from butchery to hats over the years. Perhaps the biggest leap in royal warrants happened in 2014 when Scan Computers received one, having supplied Buckingham Palace with their hardware for several years. Elsewhere, Welsh Farmhouse Apple Juice recently joined the ranks of heavyweights that include Floris for perfume, Ettinger for leather goods, Price’s for candles, Holland & Holland for guns, Gieves & Hawkes for tailoring, Cole & Son for wallpaper, Barbour for raincoats and Hunters for wellington boots. Some will do almost anything to get into the club. The chocolatier Prestat, for instance, decided to change the packaging of its chocolates after the Queen Mother’s ex-steward informed its coowner, Nick Crean, that though she loved their mint fondants and violet cremes, she always hid the unappealing brown branding. »

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TODAY THERE ARE ROUGHLY 850 HOLDERS WHO CAN BOAST THAT IF THEIR ITEMS ARE

GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE SOVEREIGN

(AS WELL AS HER NEAREST AND DEAREST), THEY’RE PROBABLY GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU.

Ettinger London

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THIS EAGERNESS TO PLEASE SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE, AS IT’S NOT UNHEARD OF FOR A ROYAL WARRANT TO BE REVOKED.

Few holders rest on their laurels, either. Berry Bros & Rudd, for instance, are famous for having built a £30,000 case of a dozen wines and spirits, based on a mini-set made for the Queen Mary Dolls’ House, to mark the anniversary of the coronation. No doubt to keep themselves higher in the pecking order than their competitors, Justerini & Brooks, which are the longest continuous warrant holders having gained their first in 1761. This eagerness to please should come as no surprise, as it’s not unheard of for a royal warrant to be revoked. The most famous case was when Harrods’ was not renewed after Mohammad AlFayed’s comments on Princess Diana’s death. But Benson & Hedges also lost theirs in 1999,

CAPITAL SUCCESS Gieves and Hawkes

From gun-makers to wine merchants, from leather goods manufacturers to fine perfumeries, London’s collection of Royal Warrant holders is rich and diverse. Here are some of our favourites to discover on your next trip to the British capital.

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officially due “to a lack of royal demand”. And, more controversially, in 2007 when Garrard bowed to ephemeral trends and employed Jade Jagger as its creative director. Producing Satan-charms and gunpendants among other things, the firm soon lost favour in the palace and was summarily dropped. More unusually, some brands have kept their warrants but dropped the logo. When was the last time you saw the distinctive royal crest on a box of After Eight chocolates or a packet of Jacob’s cream crackers, for instance? It seems that whilst the appeal of a warrant is large in upscale, bespoke brands from equestrian sports to wellies, it ultimately has the potential to alienate customers in the mass market. »

Floris Perfumers since 1730, Floris has been crafting powerful fragrances for centuries. The only appointed perfumer to HM the Queen, Floris is the oldest independent family perfumer in the world. Visit boutiques on Jermyn Street or Ebury Street to discover collections of classic and modern scents. florislondon.com


STYLE

Berry Bros & Rudd

Holland & Holland Founded in 1835 by Harris Holland, and later joined by his nephew Henry, Holland & Holland are gun-making aristocracy that have been making everything from rifles to shotguns at their factory on the Harrow Road since 1898. It’s been granted warrants by monarchs both at home and abroad.

Rigby & Peller Founded in 1939, Rigby & Peller is synonoymous with style, quality and service. It boasts a client-list that contains royalty from both home and abroad. Originally granted the Royal Warrant in 1960, the honour is now held by June Kenton, who was granted it in 1982 as corsetiere to HM the Queen.

Cornelia James Founded by a Viennese refugee in 1939, the glove maker Cornelia James quickly gained the world’s attention when it supplied the Queen’s gloves whilst she dated Prince Philip. Now supplying the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Anne, the company has gracefully arched over the generations.

Berry Bros & Rudd Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop since 1698, today Berry Bros & Rudd stock over 4,000 wines for sale. Carefully selected by the firm’s seven Masters of Wine, they offer style, quality and individuality – hence boasting not just one Royal Warrant, but two.

Ettinger London Now in the hands of Robert Ettinger, the third generation of the family to run the eponymous leather goods company. Though it’s never had a shop of its own, in London the Ettinger range is available at Harvey Nichols, among other high-end stores. It holds a Royal Warrant from HRH The Prince of Wales.

hollandandholland.com

rigbyandpeller.com

corneliajames.com

bbr.com

ettinger.co.uk

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Warrants too, thanks to the Queen’s rather stolid virtues, can also appear burdened with an anachronistic image. Though she’s happy to grant eight Champagne brands (including Bollinger, Pol Roger and Krug) warrants, and is well-known for indulging in a glass of bubbles come sunset, in most cases the Queen is a rather frugal, disciplined consumer. Preferring the simple, smart and functional over all else, her cellar is known for being full of simple Bordeauxs and inexpensive Sauvignon Blancs rather than Chateau Margaux, and her taste generally favours quality and dependability over the innovation and buzz that’s vaunted by the markets. So, whilst an older generation might have happily paraded their Rigby & Peller bags on Hans Road

(SW3), their daughters tend to prefer the loud, sexy image of Victoria’s Secret or the wares of bespoke artisanal brands. This image, however, is often far from the reality. Instead of playing some sort of Canute against the rising tides of fashion, Queen Elizabeth keeps picking winners out of nowhere. Her dearest dressmaker Angela Kelly, the daughter of a docker, is a good example. So are glove makers, Cornelia James. Commissioned to make white mitts for Princess Elizabeth before her wedding to Prince Philip, Kate Middleton now uses them, as do the younger royals such as Princess Beatrice and Lady Helen Taylor, in a classic case of timeless style echoing down the generations.

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THE BROGUE COLLECTION

a l i f e t i m e o f r e f i n e m e n t . The discreet brogue motif epitomises a peerless marriage of modern design and timeless panache. The exquisite detail made possible by new craft, piercing the deep, rich tones of our Bridle Hide leather to reveal the brilliant London Tan calf beneath. To us, excellence is an endeavour without end. e t ti n g e r . to e ach th ei r own .

ETTINGER.CO.UK


Credit edit

Harrods has asked some of the world’s most iconic watch brands to do a storewide timepiece takeover. The results are astonishing

to the

Words: Scott Manson

f you were looking for a reason to visit London’s biggest luxury store, then the fine watch takeover at Harrods, running from June 30 - July 24 is surely it. The campaign pays tribute to the portfolio of watches that have made the store’s Fine Watch Room a leading horological destination. The store’s timepiece experts have worked closely with twelve of the world’s finest watch brands to set up an extraordinary exhibition of men’s and women’s timepieces. The brands have created an archival inspired re-edition of a timepiece that has defined their brand and become an integral part of its heritage – all of which will be available exclusively at Harrods in the UK during the campaign – and some of which have been specially designed for the occasion. Helen David, the Chief Merchant at Harrods, stated that: “Unveiling expert craftsmanship, the ReEditions designs take inspiration from classic and iconic collections from the brands’ archives; styles include art-deco diamond-set ladies creations, to historic reproduction military Pilot models, and intricately skeletonised grand complications.” From June 30, the extraordinary timepieces will take pride of place both in the Fine Watch Room (in the exhibition space) and along the Brompton Road window display. Here we take a closer look at some of the best.

AUDEMARS PIGUET Skeleton Tourbillon Offshore Yellow Gold £257,000

Inspired by the Royal Oak 1972 and Royal Oak offshore collection, the Skeleton Tourbillon Offshore Yellow Gold will be exclusive to Harrods during the month of July. The exclusive-production piece is in 18-carat yellow gold, intricately open worked to reveal the sophisticated handfinished decoration and engineering within.

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STYLE

CARTIER Panthere Joueuse CALIBRE 9918 MC

HUBLOT Classic Fusion Classic Fusion Racing Grey

£157,000

£7,600

Limited to two pieces, the Panthere Joueuse CALIBRE 9918 MC will be exclusive to Harrods during the month of July. Cartier brings the panther to life with a new movement exhibiting exquisite craftsmanship in a display of brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 1.00 carats, black lacquer and emeralds.

The limited edition Classic Fusion watches will be created in three variations and will be entirely exclusive to Harrods. Inspired by avant-garde designs first launched by the company in the early 1980s, these special editions come with grey sunray satin-finished dials with polished and satin finished titanium cases.

ROGER DUBUIS Knights Of The Round Table III £231,000

The one-of-a-kind exclusive watch from Roger Dubuis will be available in Harrods only and is inspired by the Excalibur 2005 collection and the legend of King Arthur. The dial has a black engraved Jade table with bronze engraved and sculptured knights with a self-winding mechanical calibre, finely adjusted in six positions.

Classic Fusion Chronograph Racing Grey £10,200

HARRY WINSTON Premier Precious Lace Automatic 36mm (Harrods Exclusive)

JAEGER-LECOULTRE High Jewellery Reverso – Reedition Of A Historic Piece £54,000

£POA

Limited to five exclusive pieces, a key feature is the exquisite lace artwork technique on the dial which features green and white mother of pearl enriched with marquise and brilliant cut diamonds. The Premier Collection was the first ever watch collection introduced by Harry Winston in 1989, and is now an iconic signature of the brand.

Classic Fusion Racing Grey Diamonds £10,200

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Limited to five pieces the High Jewellery Reverso with be entirely exclusive to Harrods. Since its creation in 1931, the Reverso is a true symbol of JaegerLeCoultre and its rectangular shape is slightly curved so it moulds to the shape of the wrist and is a tangible expression of elegance and refinement.


RICHARD MILLE RM 50-03 McLaren F1 ÂŁ996,500

The limited edition RM 50-03 McLaren F1 has been produced in collaboration with the famed Formula 1 constructor. The calibre is a technical masterpiece offering off-the-chart mechanical performance. The RM 50-03 tourbillon split seconds chronograph ultralight McLaren F1 weighs less than 40 grams which makes it the lightest mechanical chronograph ever made and is limited to 75 pieces.

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Swiss Watch Winder

Collection K10-7

Prestige watch winders Nobility and lightness characterize this high-tech winder in carbon fiber with irreproachable finish. So strong but infinitely lighter than the steel, the carbon fiber is a resolutely innovative material which, having made the beautiful days of the aeronautics and the car industry, makes an entrance noticed in the field of the design and the production of prestigious objects. Its robustness and its thermal high strength make the ideal case to shelter the most invaluable guard-time. Sports and distinguished, this new signed model RDICHARLES KAESER, besides the physical qualities of the used material, adorns himself with remarkable effects of material thanks to the meshing of carbon fiber which, by hanging on the light, produces subtle twinkling reflections.

www.rdi-watchwinders.ch – info@rdi-watchwinders.ch 77



I N D U L G E HOLY SMOKE 80 - 84 CHAMPERS & HAMPERS 86 - 90 RETURN TO THE SOURCE 92 - 95 FISHY BUSINESS 96 - 97



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HOLY SMOKE Ever wanted to get serious about cigars? Well, here’s a handy guide to enjoying the finest smokes on earth Words: Andrew Woods


“ “Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, and a good woman – or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle.” George Burns. Cigars are all about timing. The smoking of a cigar is not a mere pleasure of the moment; of any old moment. The smoking of a cigar is a momentous pleasure. One doesn’t draw in and swirl that fine-tasting smoke while waiting for a cab, say, as you might with a cigarette. The lighting of a cigar has significance. Maybe you’re enjoying a fine meal, a fine drink with a fine companion in a suitably fine location. The cigar is as much an acknowledgement of the best moments in life, as it is a pleasure in and of itself, which it undoubtedly is. Although the cigar is intrinsically linked to the high life, with its luxurious shape, taste and trappings, its origins are much more primitive. Over a thousand years old, you can trace the roots of cigar smoking back to the ancient Mayan culture of Central America. The tobacco was picked from the plant by the peasants, before being tightly wrapped into palm or plantain leaves to keep it fresh. The term ‘cigar’ is thought to have come from sikar; the name of the string the farmers used to wrap the leaves and tobacco together. Europeans were introduced to tobacco by the native Americans in the 15th century and the popularity of cigar smoking spread right across Portugal, Spain and England as a result. Cigars were, by now, big business and a sign of wealth and status. Cigars would be smoked in the drawing rooms of the rich and noble and many members of royalty would finish a meal with a smoke.

The legend of the ‘Cuban’ It is largely held that Central America and Cuba provides the perfect environment for cigar production and thus the ‘Cuban’ has an almost mythical quality, unavailable as it was (until 2015 at least) to Americans, due to its trade disputes with the communist country. US citizens can now consume Cubans on home soil, but are still prevented from buying or selling them. The significance of the Cuban is further heightened by the belief that each hand-rolled cigar goes through 222 stages before it is deemed ready. There are thousands of different types of cigars available, primarily produced in temperate environments such as Cuba, Jamaica, Honduras, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Even Europe (namely Italy and Spain) has produced many fine cigars. There are two generic types of cigar from which most of the thousands of blends and sizes

descend. The irregularly-shaped figurado was the smoke of choice in the 19th century. Expensive to produce, the figurado (including off-shoots such as the Presidente, Torpedo and Toscano) gave way to the more modern and cheaper to produce parejo, with its straighter sides. The parejo has that original cigar shape; a simple cylinder that closely resembles the cigarette. Popular parejos include Toro, Corona and Carlota. Due to its sometimes prohibitive cost, cigar smoking has long been associated with power and fame. The cigar was smoked in the boardrooms of big business and government, as well as backstage at theatres and film studios. From Mark Twain and Winston Churchill, through to Jay Z, Kanye West Tom Hardy and Sharon Stone, the cigar has always been a sign of well-heeled cool. A sign of success.

HAPPINESS? A GOOD CIGAR, A GOOD MEAL, AND A GOOD WOMAN – OR A BAD WOMAN; IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH HAPPINESS YOU CAN HANDLE.

Where to buy the best cigars So, who are the finest purveyors of cigars? A cigar shop is a very special place. Ambience is everything in these boutiques where time stands utterly still. Davidoff on the corner of London’s Jermyn Street and St James’s is regarded by many as the best cigar shop in the world, while The Wellesley Cigar Terrace in Knightsbridge is a great place to buy and have a smoke; you can even bring your own cigars. New York is possibly the cigar capital of the western world right now with some incredible shops, such as Barclay Rex (126 Pearl St, in the heart of Wall Street) and the Cigar Inn (334 East, 73rd Street) and three Davidoff stores (230 Vesey St, 515 Madison Avenue and 1390 6th Avenue). Unsurprisingly, the United Arab Emirates has a great choice of cigar shops and bars too including the Havana Club at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Of course, the ultimate cigar lounge is in Havana itself. The Partagas Cigar Lounge in Old Havana, Cuba has one of the world’s largest, and rarest, cigar collections. Traditionally, a cigar has always been synonymous with rich liquor and the ability to pair a cigar with the perfect drink is a skill. A seasoned smoker will know the exact cognac, whisky, wine or port to pair with their smoke of choice. Such is the powerful taste of a cigar, they tend to suit drinks of an equal strength, hence beers, vodkas and gins tend not to work so well. As a rule of thumb, the lighter the cigar, the lighter the drink. A wine would suit a light-bodied cigar whereas a full-bodied smoke would require a heavy single malt. Tequila works surprisingly well with some lighter blends. Whatever you choose to smoke, ensure you enjoy it slow. Cigars are a pleasure too good to be hurried. »

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© Oettinger Davidoff AG 2016

Ask the expert: Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, CEO of Davidoff, unveils his favourite cigar pairings “The most elegant and sophisticated pairing to celebrate our best-selling cigar in a classic way is a Davidoff Signature 2000 with Champagne. The sizzling acidity of the Champagne opens your taste buds to a quintessential taste sensation. Another extraordinary summit of pleasures is when a Winston Churchill Toro – a commander among the Winston Churchill cigars – and a Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban meet. The manylayered ‘Toro’ harmonises perfectly with the complex sweetness of the Quinta Ruban with exciting variations over the entire three thirds of the cigar. Try a Swiss-blended gin with a Davidoff Special R 702 Series. The gin surprises with delightful sweet and bitter orange notes and the cigar keeps pace with its typical roasted, milk coffee and wooden notes. For aficionados who prefer richer flavours: Santiago de Cuba extra-aged rum with a Davidoff Yamasá Toro – the cigar starts spicy and intense in flavours and is on par with the rum. An equilibrium with striking pepper notes combined with the sweetness from both the cigar and the rum. Neither cigar nor rum fight for attention, but instead complement each other like a good friendship.”


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The world’s finest cigars

1. Montecristo ‘80th Anniversary No.2’ Cigars This is a highly-thought-of smoke with a fullbodied blend of caramel, cream, leather, nuts and cedar. A box of 20 is £870 from cgarsltd.co.uk – and they’re worth every penny.

2. Davidoff Special R 702 The line made up of the Signature, Aniversario, Grand Cru and Millennium series contains complex aromas mixed with heady scents. Some subtle and delicate, while others flood your mouth with rich, dark creamy aftertastes. A box of 25 is £420 from us.davidoffgeneva.com.

4. E.P. Carillo Selección Oscuro Piramides Royal A dark and restrained Dominican blend that evokes chocolate raisins and dried fruit borne from a fantastically well-sourced array of tobaccos. A box of 24 trades is £141 from thompsoncigar.com.

3. Bolivar Coronas Gigantes Of the recent Cubans, we were mightily impressed by its notes of cinnamon, cappuccino, leather, coffee and spice. This is a powerful, yet understated smoke. A box of 25 will set you back £559 from cgarsltd.co.uk.

5. King of Denmark The blend is secret, which is not surprisingly as it will cost you a cool £3,452 for a box of 60. For another £6,520 you can get the 24-carat gold-plated humidor with a sterling silver crown sat on top. danishpipeshop.com

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How to choose, cut and smoke a cigar Always sample a few ‘singles’ before committing to buying a box of them. Cigars vary immensely in taste so you don’t want a box of something that you wouldn’t even give to the gardener for Christmas. Give the single a quick inspection to make sure there are no cracks in the wrapper. Give the end of the cigar a little pinch to find any hard or soft spots. “The quality of a cigar can be measured using clearly defined criteria,” Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard explains. “Criteria, such as the beauty of the wrapper, excellent construction and draw; the way the cigar is burning, which should be round. And the firmness of the ash. All the rest, such as the flavour and the aroma, is very subjective and depends on the aficionado’s preferences.” Only cut a cigar when you are ready to smoke it. A cigar cutter will take the ‘head’ off; the head being the end you put into your mouth. Do not cut into the body of the cigar, aim for an eighth of an inch down as you bring down the guillotine. When you’re ready to smoke, take a butane lighter or a wooden match (so as not to introduce any chemical tastes) to the end of the cigar once you’ve popped the other end into your mouth. Then light the cigar as you draw and twist it. It should take 50 seconds until it is fully lit. Then take the smoke into your mouth and exhale without inhaling. Now, sit back and relax. This moment is yours. So, when is the best time of day for a cigar? “In the morning, the palate is fresh so the first cigar of the day is often considered the most pleasurable,” says Hoejsgaard. “In this case a mild cigar is best suited but, as always, this is a personal choice. The cigar that follows a midday meal should be the meal’s apotheosis and crowning glory, complementing the food. Therefore, a meaty meal with rich sauces suits a robust cigar; while a complex meal needs a cigar with great intensity and strength; after a lunch light in calories, a delicate cigar is suggested. The time for a larger cigar in terms of size, power and complexity, is after a fine meal, in the evening, accompanied by wine and followed either by liqueurs or a simple cup of coffee, or both. If a second cigar follows, it must be strong enough to dominate the first.”

THE QUALITY OF A CIGAR CAN BE MEASURED USING CLEARLY DEFINED CRITERIA,

A Davidoff cigar being rolled

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West London Shooting School and Tempus Magazine are proud to be partners in supporting Great Ormand Street Hospital for our charity shoot on 8th June 2017. Please contact ashley@tempusmagazine.co.uk for more information on how to purchase tickets and support a wonferful cause. • Private tuition • Courses • Corporate events • Bespoke Events • Simulated Game Days • Gun Room • Restaurant • 020 8 8 45 137 7 W W W. S HOOTI NG SC HOOL .CO.U K W W W. S HO PFOR S HOOTI NG .CO.U K


Champers Hampers

&

Personal butlers, decadent spreads, vintage bottles… dining on the polo field never looked so indulgent

Words: Claire Bullen

Guards Polo Club/Tony Ramirez

icnics are often classed as one of life’s simple pleasures. But we say: why settle for simplicity when there’s room for some extravagance? More than just a celebration of alfresco indulgence, these six high-end picnic hampers make the fine dining experience portable. From chilled magnums of Louis Roederer to personal tins of caviar, from potted lobster to generous spreads of fine cheeses – even personal butler service – there are few better ways to dine outdoors during the summer months. That’s especially true when picnicking on the polo circuit, where an abundant hamper is both a necessity for a large party and an opportunity to impress. Whether you’ll be attending the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup at Cowdray Park or planning a jaunt to Guards Polo Club in time for the Cartier Queen’s Cup Final, do come prepared. Eat, drink, make merry – and enjoy a dash of competitive clamour alongside.

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DUKES London Mayfair

ACCOMPANYING BUTLER SERVICE ENSURES THINGS RUN SMOOTHLY, AND THE ADDITION OF

BLANKETS, PILLOWS, POP-UP GAZEBOS, AND OTHER COMFORTS

MAKE FOR A LANGUOROUS AFTERNOON EN PLEIN AIR.

Dukes is known the world over for the quality of its Martinis (even Ian Fleming used to quaff them), but the hotel’s sumptuous picnics are what we seek out come summertime. Hamper selection is bespoke, but you can expect to find dishes like poached Loch Duart salmon, scotch eggs robed in chorizo and goat’s cheese, and artisanal British cheese tucked in amongst chilled bottles of Champagne. Accompanying butler service ensures things run smoothly, and the addition of blankets, pillows, pop-up gazebos, and other comforts make for a languorous afternoon en plein air. Though Dukes’ picnics are traditionally hosted in the nearby Royal Parks, a more portable version of the service is available upon request – and makes for the perfect culinary solution during the polo season. Price on request dukeshotel.com

Corrigan’s Mayfair Eight years after opening, Corrigan’s remains one of London’s must-visit fine dining addresses – but you don’t need to linger in Mayfair to enjoy a memorable meal. Now, its exceptional cooking can be enjoyed beyond the confines of the dining room, thanks to the restaurant’s Luxury Picnic Service. Here, ‘luxury’ is expressed through an ample array of dishes that you’re unlikely to find in a more pedestrian parcel, from native lobster and citrus salad to Irish beef carpaccio with duck egg dressing. And then there’s your personal butler for the afternoon, who can accompany you to a location of your choosing. Fancy a polo pairing? Make the Ham Polo Club in Richmond – the last surviving club in London – your port of call for a relaxing afternoon in the sun, and leave it to your butler to ensure the Champagne never stops flowing. From £1,000 corrigansmayfair.co.uk

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Fortnum & Mason The grande dame on the London hamper scene, Fortnum & Mason has collected its most indulgent delicacies in picnic-friendly wicker baskets since the Victorians first sought sustenance during their society outings. Carry on the longstanding tradition, then, and tote the superlative Expeditions Hamper to your next afternoon of polo. Its abundant scale makes it ideal for large parties, who can nibble on potted Stilton and Fortnum’s own Cheddar, sample terrines of venison and fois gras en gêlée, and pick their way through boxes of fine chocolates or marzipan fruits. It’s to Fortnum’s credit that they’ve also packed the hamper with enough bottles to see through a lengthy afternoon at Beaufort or Cirencester Park. Toast to the riders with a magnum of Louis Roederer, crack open Fortnum’s bottles of Pommard, Pauillac, and Meursault, and finish off the feast with a nip of Tokaji or 10-year Highland Single Malt – whatever your preference. £1,000 fortnumandmason.com

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Forman & Field H. Forman & Son is London’s most storied purveyor of cured salmon, having spent the last century perfecting its techniques. It’s hardly a surprise, then, that its hampers – distributed through the Forman & Field online shop – are brimming with fine seafood. Our favourite summertime pick is the Deluxe Hamper, whose contents lean heavily towards indulgence. Forman’s wild smoked Scottish salmon is a clear highlight, as are the potted lobster and Swiss-sourced Zwyer Classic Temptations Caviar. Lest you prefer delicacies of a less briny nature, there’s also confit duck, Monmouthshire air-dried ham, and a range of tempting biscuits, chutneys, and compotes to peruse. We like to take this hamper on short jaunts from London – Cowdray Park should do just the trick. £240 formanandfield.com

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Coworth Park Few better picnic and polo pairings exist than a sporting afternoon at Guards Polo Club and a laden hamper from Coworth Park; it helps that the two are nearby neighbours. But beyond the proximity, what really distinguishes Coworth Park’s hamper is the quality of its gastronomy. Trade tired cucumber sandwiches for grilled asparagus and dressed crab, beef bresaola with Parmesan and rocket salad, and heritage beetroot salad with truffle honey and hazelnuts. Should you want to do more than merely spectate, don’t forget that Coworth Park is also the only hotel in the UK to offer its own polo lessons and facilities – if the spirit of friendly competition has you moved, book a lesson for the following morning. £80 per person dorchestercollection.com

La Fromagerie While the La Fromagerie Box is filled with classic picnic staples like wine and cheese, it can hardly be described as an exercise in minimalist restraint. From the shop’s storied cellars, mongers have plucked eight different fine cheeses, including washedrind Reblochon, exquisite Roquefort Carles, and nutty, complex Beaufort Chalet d’Alpage. There’s a bottle of P. Louis Martin NV Brut to make things interesting, and a selection of five other French wines to help carry on the festivities. And – because man can’t live on wine and cheese alone – culinary accoutrements like cheese biscuits, saucissons sec, olives, madeleines, as well as linens and a rosewood cheese slicer ensure things are done properly. This box is at once a crowd-pleaser and also a hamper of sybaritic substance; no matter where the polo circuit takes you this season, it remains a firm favourite. £450 lafromagerie.co.uk

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BERINGICE.COM


RETURN to the source If you’re going to sample whisky and Scottish smoked salmon, what better place to do it than Edinburgh’s finest hotel? Words: Julien James Davis

W

ith its iconic, quarried-stone clocktower standing proudly like a fortified pepper-pot, visible from all directions, The Balmoral by Rocco Forte Hotels is almost as recognisable a part of the Edinburgh skyline as the castle itself. In fact, as our driver happily points out on the ride from the airport, The Balmoral Clock is not only the timepiece by which Scotland counts down to Hogmanay, but it’s also famously set three minutes fast for the rest of the year in order to ensure that the people of Edinburgh don’t miss their trains. Clearly, this beautiful Victorian property is a landmark of which the locals are justifiably proud. Having such a prestigious address (1 Princes Street), it comes as no surprise that its flagship Michelin-starred restaurant should be allowed the honour of calling itself Number One. It’s a name that might seem a little immodest in any other establishment. Here, though, it’s backed up with such a deep history and pedigree that it’s simply stating a fact. The moment you set foot inside the sumptuous, red-lacquered walls of Number One, you know you’re in for an exceptional evening. The unhurried elegance of the surroundings feels deeply traditional on first glance, and yet the wrought-iron duckleg lamps subtly foreshadow that your experience here may be tinged with more modern twists and turns than you may imagine. »

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Head Chef Brian Grigor offers an exceptional taster menu that comes in four-course, seven-course and ( for the gastronomically ambitious) ten-course options. We elected for the four-course, which more than sated our eager tastebuds. After a delectable round of appetisers presented on an eye-catching art deco display stand, growing like a silver bonsai tree from the table, it was time for Chef Grigor’s signature dish, the Balmoral Whisky smoked salmon. I can offer no higher accolade than this: this dish alone is worth making the trip to Scotland for. Served beneath a glass bell jar, and shrouded in a cowl of smoke, the salmon is revealed with all the flair of a Vaudevillian magician. And once the Highland mists recede, one sees the masterpiece itself – an intricate, Byzantine construction so perfectly presented, it seems almost a shame to touch it. Using a technique so insanely complex I shan’t even attempt to explain it, the local, family-run Belhaven Smokehouse prepares all the salmon for The Balmoral in a process honed to perfection over generations, and handled each day with such swift efficiency that it takes mere hours for the fish to make it from river to table. The result is a dish so fresh and tender that it almost evaporates in your mouth, infused with a gentle, husky warmth from the slow burning whisky barrel wood chips. It feels like tasting a piece of Scotland itself. To accompany this culinary delight, what better than a glass of champagne? And head sommelier Glen Montgomery expertly pairs it with an excellent Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve that tickles and tantalises in all the right places. Keeping with the traditional-reimagined theme of the menu, the next course is Scallop Cock-a-leekie – two hand-dived Dingwall scallops served with a single chicken wing on a bed of sweet leek purée and puffed rice, then followed by a simply mouth-watering take on Scottish beef fillet, both of which were every bit as exquisite as they sound. For me though (and reader, it’s worth noting that I do have a rather sweet tooth), it was the Balmoral bees’ pear and honey dessert that utterly astonished. Arriving at the table looking every inch as though a pear had been dipped in an otherworldly, iridescent mother of pearl glaze, I was both delighted upon cracking it open to discover that its contents were instead a liquid confection of Balmoral honey mousse (so named on account of the honey literally originating from a beehive the hotel maintains on its own roof) and pear purée. How the dream-like contents were so perfectly encased inside this faux-sugarpear, left me perplexed and bewitched. This is dinner as pure theatre. And so it made complete sense to me when the concierge informed me conspiratorially the following morning: “You know, this is the hotel that J. K. Rowling came to stay in when she wanted to finish writing the final Harry Potter novel”. My eyes widened with delight. But of course – The Balmoral is clearly a hotbed of hospitality wizardry. roccofortehotels.com

Photo credits The Balmoral, Rocco Forte Hotels

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Where to drink whisky in Edinburgh

The Balmoral sports an excellent whisky bar by the name of Scotch, which boasts a mindboggling array of over five hundred varieties. The elegant bar offers informative tasting courses hosted by their in-house whisky ambassador, Cameron Ewen, a delightfully enthusiastic and knowledgeable man who comes complete with kilt and fulsome ginger beard. Even for the uninitiated, to hear an expert speak so eloquently and passionately about the subtle differences to the palate between a lighter, smoky Lowlands Glenkinchie and a twenty-one year old matured Highlands Glengoyne will have you reaching for the tartan and pledging your undying allegiance to William Wallace. With your whistle sufficiently whetted, what better city on Earth can there be to search out a wee dram of the ‘water of life’ than right here in Edinburgh? Nip across the bridge to the High Street to immerse yourself in the delightfully homely and rambunctious surroundings of Whiski Bar and Restaurant and order yourself a Dalmore King Alexander, a velvety mahogany little snifter, which boasts hints of chocolate in its varied palate. Of course, no visit to Scotland’s capital is complete without a trip to Edinburgh Castle, and for the true whisky connoisseur, it would be remiss not to stop by The Scotch Whisky Experience, literally a rampaging marauder’s throw from the castle ramparts. Its Amber bar and restaurant offers an excellent selection of both whiskies and locally sourced Scottish cuisine, but it’s the encyclopedic Diageo Claive Vidiz Collection of over three thousand bottles of whisky, held in an elegant marble and glass vault, that simply has to be seen to be believed. Reluctant though I am to make a single recommendation from such a distinguished selection but, personally, I found the Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength – 20 Años, with its subtle blend of Christmassy warmth, to be a breathless whisper of Speyside perfection.

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Fishy business One of Mayfair’s hottest restaurants, Sexy Fish will leave you begging for more Words: Shaun Prince

an a fish ever be sexy? That was the question I put to my dining partner on the way to Sexy Fish – the most high-profile of restaurateur Richard Caring’s empire. It’s a curious name for a dining room, but it hasn’t stopped London’s glitterati going there in their droves. The fish puns were flowing between us as we arrived at the door of this Berkeley Square venue but our conversation swiftly dried up as we took in the full majesty of the dining room. Some may call it OTT, I call it spectacular. There’s onyx – mountains of it everywhere – plus lava stone, Frank Gehry-designed artworks, bronze Damien Hirst mermaids and a massive shark relief, also by the Brit artist. Head downstairs for more excess – a beautiful subterranean hideaway lined with massive, coral-reefed fishtanks casting an atmospheric glow around the room. So the setting is spot on, as it should be for an estimated £20 million fit-out. But what of the food? Rest assured, it’s superb. As is the fashion these days, it’s all about sharing, with dishes arriving in twos and threes in no particular order. The lamb chops were superb, with salty miso and gochujang adding a piquant note. More surprising was the brussels sprouts tempura. I know it sounds like it shouldn’t work, but my word it does – it’s the little dash of curry salt that lifts it

from ‘what?’ to ‘wow’. We also enjoyed some quiveringly fresh oysters – Dungarvan, Papillon de Claire and native oysters are available – and a chunky prawn tempura that came with a dashi broth for dipping. Oh, and Instagram addicts should order the Sexy Fish sushi roll – its mix of salmon and yellowtail making for a colourful take on an old classic. In truth, we over-ordered. Because our groaning table also saw the arrival of a delicious (and Nobu-inspired) miso glazed sea bass, plus chicken wings and tiny smoked Japanese sausages, both of which were served, rather neatly, on skewers. Smoked eel covered in frozen foie gras was a clever twist and felt rich and decadent, while the crab salad with yuzu dressing helped to cut through the fattiness of some of the previous dishes. There have been some less-than-kind reviews of this place – mostly from reviewers who find the setting and clientele a little brash and gaudy. Granted, it may not be for everyone, but for me, Sexy Fish is a guaranteed good time. I suspect you will feel the same way. sexyfish.com

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E S C A P E ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY 100 - 103 SHORE THINGS 104 - 106 WHAT LIES BENEATH 108 - 109


Escape to the country Experience the finery of British aristocracy with a rural retreat at a stately home

Words: Rachel Ingram

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For all the comfort and indulgence that a luxury hotel affords, on occasion, the best way to really experience a country is to step, quite literally, into history. And what better place to start than the homes of Britain’s wealthiest families. While you may be led to believe that the monarchy owns the most impressive homes in England, aristocrats often live in houses that are just as extraordinary as the King or Queen’s, but more so. The English countryside is peppered with grand stately estates, home to centuries-old castles and regal manors surrounded by acres of landscaped lawns and manicured gardens. Each summer, a select few open their doors and invite visitors to experience a life of opulence usually reserved for Lords and Ladies of the land. The most famous stately home in England is Highclere Castle, the ‘real Downton Abbey’. When Downton Abbey hit television screens in 2010, it re-introduced the world to a life almost forgotten, where aristocrats ruled the lands and appearance and etiquette were everything. Period escapism at its best, the show, which followed a wealthy family in

post-Edwardian Britain, was an instant success and as viewers became increasingly fascinated by aristocracy, a fresh lease of life was granted to a historic world that had been struggling to stay afloat in a modern era. Located in the heart of the Berkshire countryside, Highclere Castle (where the series was filmed) has been the country seat of the Earl of Carnarvon since 1679. Its current residents, Lord and Lady Carnarvon, inherited the 5,000-acre Renaissance estate by line of succession. The castle is one of the dwindling number of estates that remains under the ownership of the original family, rather than the National Trust, who’ve taken over responsibilty for many such estates, due to the high cost of their upkeep. Every summer, the Carnarvons open their home to visitors. While day tours have been highly publicised, what many don’t know is that guests can actually stay overnight at the castle’s London Lodge. Built in 1793 by the first Earl of Carnarvon, the grand Georgian gatehouse stands at the entrance to Highclere Park. A night here offers a unique opportunity to play make believe and explore the grounds after hours as though it was your home. »

Highclere Castle

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Hampton Court Palace Hever Castle

Enjoy a similar experience across the English Channel at the magnificent Osborne House on the Isle of White. The seaside manor, designed to resemble an Italian Renaissance palazzo, was the official summer residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It was often used by the monarchy as a place to escape and relax, far away from the bustle and responsibilities of the mainland. At the Sovereign Gate – a private entrance reserved for the royal family – visitors will find two beautiful holiday cottages where guests can gain a glimpse into the private life of Queen Victoria. By booking a stay, visitors are granted after-hours access to private spaces such as the beach, where the Queen often played with her children. Here, guests can also find the Queen’s restored Bathing Machine, which she used to swim in the sea in modesty; or relax and sketch, pen letters or write in her journal, which contained many anecdotes of times spent on the sandy shores. On July 30 1847, she penned: “Drove to the beach with my maids and went in the bathing machine, where I undressed and bathed in the sea ( for the first time in my life)… I thought it delightful till I put my head under water, when I thought I should be stifled”.

Back on the mainland, visitors can step further back in time to the favourite escape of King Henry VII, Hampton Court Palace. The estate’s Georgian House, which was originally built as a lavish kitchen built for George, Prince of Wales, invites guests for a sleepover like no other. The beautiful manor features a private walled garden, elegant interiors and stunning views over the palace, where the illustrious King would often frequent. History enthusiasts can also choose to stay at the homes of some of Henry VII’s wives, including Sudeley Castle, the stunning Cotswolds home of sixth and final wife Katherine Parr; and Hever Castle, the charming childhood home of his notso-lucky second wife Anne Boleyn. Get a taste of the privileged upbringing that led Boleyn to charm the King – and eventually meet her untimely demise – by staying in the castle’s stunning Astor Wing. With a stay at one of Britain’s most impressive stately homes, the life of a Lord or Lady, or even a King or Queen, lies at your fingertips. Next time you’re considering booking a luxury hotel, opt instead to step into the history books and discover an old-world of glamour and hospitality in the heart of the countryside.

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Highclere Castle


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The great follies

The Orangery

We’re all going on a folly holiday, and here’s why you should, too Britain’s countryside is filled with stunning follies – historical buildings and fortifications maintained by the Landmark Trust. Here’s a selection of the most impressive follies in Britain which invite visitors to enjoy an alternative country escape.

The White Tower Built around 1506 as a lookout platform, The White Tower of Taymouth Castle is one of Scotland’s most unique follies. Towering over Loch Tay, the structure boasts magnificent panoramic vistas and luxury facilities, including two bedrooms, a lounge, a kitchen, a sauna and a library. The cherry on top? A bubbling Jacuzzi on the roof terrace. thewhitetower.co.uk

The Orangery The White Tower

The Pineapple

Located on the grounds of Frampton Court Estate, The Orangery is an 18th century architectural masterpiece. Dubbed “the prettiest garden building in England”, its elegant, secluded setting makes it an idyllic hideaway for the discerning traveller who seeks complete privacy. The Orangery, which sleeps up to eight guests, is steeped in history, with romantic parklands creating a beautiful juxtaposition with its Gothic Revival exterior. framptoncourtestate.co.uk

The Hunting Tower

Standing tall over the Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire, the Hunting Tower is a magnificent folly both inside and out. Built around 1582 for Bess of Hardwick, the stone tower was designed by English architect Robert Smythson and stands 400-feet above the Chatsworth manor. Originally used to host lavish banquets, it’s now an impressive holiday home with glamorous interiors that reflect those of the main house.

The Hunting Tower

chatsworthcottages.co.uk

The Pineapple A surreal summerhouse built in 1761 by the Earl of Dunmore, The Pineapple is one of Scotland’s most distinctive towers. At the time, pineapples were rare and exotic, so its extravagant shape was a reflection of the Earl’s wealth. Visitors still travel far and wide to gaze at The Pineapple. Keen historians can even stay overnight. nts.org.uk

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ShoreThings Oh we do love to be beside the seaside and our coastlines are host to a medley of unusual and luxurious hotels that are just a few steps from the sand. Here are six you shouldn’t miss

Words: Dawn Alford

Seaham Hall, County Durham

Overlooking the dramatic coastline in County Durham, Seaham Hall is a wonderful Georgian mansion with a wildly beautiful setting. Awardwinning dining, Serenity Spa and impressive suites that boast unique features such as duet slipper baths, private hot tub and incredible coastal views make this one of the finest places to stay in the North East. seaham-hall.co.uk

Talland Bay Hotel, Cornwall

With the most sublime views of the Cornish Coast and truly enchanting, sub-tropical gardens where you will find magical sculptures hiding, Talland Bay brings together adorable eccentricities, imposing scenery and seaside chic rooms in the most spectacular fashion. This is a pretty special place, which has also gained itself a bit of a reputation with food lovers for its 2AA Rosette dining. tallandbayhotel.co.uk

Coes Faen, Barmouth

On the edge of the Mawddach Estuary, Coes Faen is a striking Victorian lodge boasting the most fabulous architecture and contemporary interior design. Exposed stone walls and flagstone floors mingle effortlessly with carefully considered lighting and the latest in technology. What make the lodge even more impressive are the in-room spa features, such as Jacuzzi, hot tub, Aquavision TV, and cedar wooden bath. Greatly inspired by their love for Tuscany, the owners place huge emphasis on providing exceptional food and drink. coesfaen.co.uk

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South Sands, Devon

Boasting an unbelievable setting on its own Blue Flag beach, where you can dine in the restaurant as you look out to sea and listen to the waves crashing against the walls, South Sands is a boutique hotel enveloped by trees and water. The beachside rooms draw the outside in with Juliet balconies that look out across the sea, while many feature freestanding baths. Being in the perfect coastal location, it’s no surprise the hotel restaurant specialises in fresh seafood dishes. southsands.com

Isle of Eriska, Oban

Having notched up five Red Stars, two AA Rosettes and a Michelin Star, Isle of Eriska has not only proved it’s an outstanding hotel but its setting is pretty phenomenal too. Embraced on all sides by untamed beaches, woodland and mountains, there are few places quite as magnificent as this. The castle-like building resembles something out of a fairy tale, while its interiors have an almost country house feel. Guests can choose from various styles of accommodation, from the Hilltop Reserves with private hot tubs to the main house rooms and cottage suites. eriska-hotel.co.uk

The Pier, Suffolk

This is a seriously cool hotel, standing on the seafront and affording views of the most heavenly sunsets. Inside this Victorian building, the design mixes contemporary glamour with nuances of its nautical heritage. The restaurant overlooks the quayside and offers mouthwatering menus filled with seafood, fish dishes and meats cooked on the grill. NAVYÄRD has become the go-to bar where guests can enjoy a Nordic inspired menu of sharing plates and drinks. milsomhotels.com/the-pier

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Add Spice to Your Grenada Getaway

With well-appointed suites directly on the beach & Luxurious Private Pool suites Contact your travel agent for details.

Toll free from the United Kingdom: 0808-189-0088 | Toll free from the USA & Canada: 1-800-501-8603 or email reservations@spicebeachresort.com | SpiceIslandBeachResort.com


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What lies beneath All good hotels tend to have a decent wine cellar, but few have the sort of extraordinary offering found at The Vineyard Words: Scott Manson

I

f you live in London, it feels good to get away sometimes. In my case, as we eased our car on to the motorway, sat nav set for Stockcross, a small village near Newbury, I could feel myself decompressing after a particularly challenging week at work. What made the trip even more appealing was the hotel that awaited us – The Vineyard – something of an institution among wine buffs. To explain, bear with me for a short history lesson. In Paris in 1976, at a high-profile blind tasting, unknown Californian wines were chosen over some of France’s finest. As you can imagine, this caused something of a kerfuffle, with several of the judges receiving death threats. More than that, what became known as the ‘Judgement of Paris’ transformed the industry. Step forward Industrialist Sir Peter Michael, founder of a successful electronics company and a knowledgeable wine lover, particularly of Californian wines. Following the Paris upset, he decided to establish a vineyard in the Sonoma Valley in 1982. This investment also inspired his 1998 opening of the Vineyard, the five-star hotel is home to 30,000 bottles – visible through a stylish glass cellar – including some excellent Californian vintages. It’s a pretty, well thought-out property – although it feels a little dated in places – and is well situated for striking out to local attractions such as Highclere Castle (where Downton

Abbey is filmed) and Stonehenge. There’s plenty to occupy you at the hotel though, from wine tastings to a beautiful spa. We had a suite on the ground floor which was a decent size, although it backed on to a tiny concrete terrace that was shared with all the rooms on this level. It wasn’t really a place you’d want to sit and read the papers, for example, but luckily the hotel’s grounds have a few tables scattered around for just this reason, plus a number of intriguing artworks and sculptures that are worth a look. What the room did have though was REN toiletries – a lovely and unexpected treat – and a gorgeous bathroom complete with deep and comfy bath. In terms of treating mind and body though, you need to make a beeline for the spa. With its high vaulted glass dome ceiling and unusual circular pool, it’s a unique place. It comes complete with a big Jacuzzi and a gym, sauna and steam room. The treatment rooms are also lovely, and I enjoyed a men’s 60-minute facial in one of them. How relaxing was it? Put it this way, I fell asleep for the last 15 minutes. And woke up to glowing skin (plus a cup of herbal tea). Dinner that night was a Discovery tasting menu, with each of the six dishes matched with a great wine. Even better, each glass had a little cardboard tab around it with the name of the wine printed. It’s such a simple idea that saves the diner having to write down the name of everything they drink. To add some spice

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to proceedings, the final two wines were served in black glasses. I guessed the colour (thank goodness) but not the provenance and grape. Apparently, some guests do though. Clearly they’re the ones who I see in the dining room poring through the wine list like a Talmudic scholar. While the wine is the star attraction, the food is similarly strong. From the soft, just-baked bread – try the rye and the olive variants – to the stunning Loch Duart salmon served with English wasabi and dill, this menu is beautifully put together and executed brilliantly. Among the standouts was a big, pearly chunk of halibut, served with mussels and sea herbs and some earthy, roasted veal sweetbreads (prompting amused horror from my vegetarian partner), accompanied by bacon, peas and mint. Service was good and unhurried and our table was great, overlooking the whole room from what felt like our own private balcony. Looking back, I think the thing that I love most about this hotel is that it has been born from passion. One man with the knowledge and vision to build a hotel around that passion – there’s no cookie-cutter chain hotel mentality here – is something that we should cherish and celebrate. And the best way to do that is to pay them a visit yourself. And feel the pressures of the day fade away along the way. the-vineyard.co.uk



S M A R T L I V I N G THE LUXE FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE 112 - 117 FRONT ROW SEAT 118 - 122 INSIDE OUT 124 - 125


The Luxe Father’s Day

Gift Guide

WHILE YOUR DAD WOULD LOVE EVEN AN OLD BOOTLACE IF YOU’D HAND-PICKED IT FOR HIM OFF THE STREET (PROBABLY), THE MAN WHO LOVINGLY TAUGHT YOU ALL HE KNEW DESERVES SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL THIS FATHER’S DAY. IN THE LIST BELOW THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERY FATHER; MEN WITH EXCLUSIVE TASTE, ADRENALINE IN THEIR BLOOD, THOSE WHO ENJOY NOTHING MORE THAN A DRAM FROM THEIR FAVOURITE BOTTLE. YOUR DAD IS A SPECIAL MAN – AND SO ARE THESE GIFTS. HERE ARE 11 LUXURY FATHER’S DAY PRESENTS WE’RE SURE HE’LL FALL IN LOVE WITH (BOOTLACES ASIDE). Words: Matt Chappell


SMART LIVING Limited Edition HMS Victory Wine Rack In 1805, HMS Victory sailed into the Battle of Trafalgar in what would become Britain’s greatest naval victory. She was the fleet’s flagship, under the command of national hero Admiral Lord Nelson. Now, your father can command a piece of this historic ship too. DarbyMade’s master craftsman, Karl, has been given exclusive access by Royal Navy Dockyard in Portsmouth to original timbers salvaged from Lord Nelson’s warship during restoration. From these, he’s made this wine rack – a stunning piece of history. Each wine rack comes with a hand-signed certificate of authenticity by the ship’s Lead Curator and can be customised with a personal message. These are truly limited edition, only a small amount of timber was salvaged and usable. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

Limited Edition Talisker x Oliver Sweeney Boots Whilst we’re here dancing around the subject of alcohol, how about these limited edition Oliver Sweeney boots? Named ‘Made By The Sea’, they are a collaboration with Talisker Whisky and only 200 pairs are available. Burnished by hand using Italian calf-leather, each pair comes in a solid oak box with a 70cl bottle of Talisker’s signature 10-year old whisky. There is also a sterling silver etched hip flask, which sits in a pocket on the outside of the boots, and a traditional in-built compass. The boots have been crafted with adventure in mind, taking inspiration from the Isle of Skye’s rugged, wind-swept coastlines and storm-tossed seas.

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Pure McLaren Track Day For fathers with a penchant for adrenalinebuzzing experiences, this McLaren track day should do the trick. With a race calendar for 2017 spanning all over the globe, from Spa, in Italy, to Bahrain, dad can turn up and drive or take his McLaren if an owner. With the McLaren 650s – one of the models available – taking just 3 seconds to reach 62mph, a track really is the only place to unleash this magnificent machine. Packages range from the ‘McLaren Experience’ for those wanting their first taste to ‘Performance and Race Academies’ and ‘Owner Track Days’; all of which come with varying levels of tuition and training.

A SurfAir membership Fathers that like to travel are likely to rank highly in frequent flyer programmes so taking off in First may be nothing new. But, unless they own a private jet, SurfAir is the next level of luxury. SurfAir is the world’s first membership airline, offering an all-you-can-fly service across Europe, starting this June. SurfAir’s aircraft will fly between London, Zurich, Milan, Luxembourg and Munich. With check-in at private aviation terminals, just 15 minutes before a flight, and no lengthy security queues, the company’s CEO estimates it could save travellers up to two hours per flight. Obviously dad then gets to fly in total luxury, too.

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SMART LIVING S+ Sleep Tracker by ResMed If your dad already travels a lot, getting a good night’s sleep might be quite high on his list of things to do. To help with that, we recommend the S+ by ResMed. A fine choice for gadget-loving dads too, the S+ is the world’s first non-contact, fully comprehensive sleep tracking system – and it sits on the bedside table. No uncomfortable (sweaty) wristbands, electrodes or mattress strips needed. Respiratory and bio-motion sensors measure and analyse breathing (through chest movement), position changes, twitches and shrugs. It then delivers sleep scores and charts to its related app and personalised feedback and suggestions to improve sleep. It’ll also play out relaxing sounds synchronised to breathing patterns for drifting off to sleep, allow voice recorded messages for those with a busy mind and naturally wake its user up during light sleep, so they wake up feeling refreshed.

Maxwell Scott Italian leather wash bag Grooming, of course, is an important part to any man’s morning routine, be it a fresh shave or crisp hair styling. And, as your dad is a man of taste and sophistication, it only makes sense he has something refined to put all his mantoiletries in. This designer Italian leather wash bag, by Maxwell Scott, is handmade in Italy with fine hides and includes a spacious inner-lined internal compartment, external zip pocket and leather loop handle. It’s beautiful – and it can also be customized with up to five characters of your choice. There’s nothing more frustrating for a gentleman than to pop his razor, toothbrush and skincare products into a cheap and nasty wash bag. So, allow your dad this luxury and get him a wash bag he can proud of.

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ROB, the robotic lawnmower Over at McCulloch, a team of highly intelligent people have been designing a highly intelligent lawnmower. They named their creation ROB which, much like a robotic vacuum cleaner, will automatically work its way around cutting your grass, day or night, rain or shine. ROB will mow a lawn up to 1000m2, quietly, and will disperse your grass cuttings behind it (very neatly chopped into tiny bits) to promote healthy growth of that precious lawn. All your dad needs to do is set the area to mow by hammering in a boundary wire. Which we’re sure he’ll be happy to do.

The Haute Route For the keen road cycling father is this, entry to The Haute Route. While dad might not quite be ready for the Tour de France, this race isn’t far removed. Made up from six separate events across the Rockies, Pyrenees, The Alps, Dolomites, Alpe D’Huez and Ventoux, it is the first global series of multi-day cycling events for amateurs. It is a chance for all riders to be treated like the pros; timed and ranked stages, medical teams, mechanical support, rolling road security, film crews and, importantly, massages. This is the real deal.

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Front row seat Observe world-famous regattas and rowing races from the comfort of your waterside idyll on the Thames Words: Cheryl Markosky


SMART LIVING “You don’t realise how popular you are as a Thames-side homeowner until Henley, The Boat Race and other events come along,” says Russell Day of Riverhomes. Waterway properties are rare, making them not only liquid assets – Knight Frank reveals that a riverside home attracts a 74 percent premium – but superb entertaining spaces for wannabesailors cheering on the beefiest crews and sleekest crafts at shorefront gatherings. Activities on the water are something people buy into, Russell explains. “And if you’re lucky enough to own a residence where gardens run down to the bank, you can drop a kayak into the water and be part of nautical culture yourself.”

South Quay Plaza Survey the London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Great Britain v France J16 rowing match and Twilight Sailing on Wednesday evenings over the summer from one of the tallest residential towers in the world. Designed by Foster + Partners, Berkeley Homes offers the best vantage point in the capital from its club lounge and terrace on the 56th floor. A £1.5 million, three-bed apartment with views of the Thames is for sale through JLL. £1.5 million southquayplaza.london

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Queen’s Wharf Root for the ‘blues’ at the world famous varsity Boat Race that pushes past this 163-unit FABRICA and Mount Anvil scheme, overlooking Hammersmith Bridge and the Surrey Bend. It also incorporates Riverside Studios – originally the home of Doctor Who – with three brand-new studios, cinema, café and restaurant. From £1.15 million queenswharf.co.uk

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Petersham Road The Great River Race – London’s river marathon attracting 330 crews from around the globe – winds round from the Docklands to Ham on September 9th. A Grade-II listed, built circa 1727 and bursting with period features such as fireplaces, sash hung windows and tall ceilings has direct river access from the garden. And it offers a shore-side position where you can applaud boaters in fancy dress and colourful make-up rowing past what’s described as a less po-faced version of the Boat Race. £3.85 million hamptons.co.uk

Reve House It’s the 175th anniversary of Reading Amateur Regatta on the reach above Caversham Lock on June 10 and 11. Where better to witness the bank umpiring than from multiple balconies of a fivebed, New England-style house with a Marazzi kitchen, handmade windows and doors, and 3D cinema and SONOS sound system along the two-lane course. A watery plus is that you’re only minutes from Henley Royal Regatta. £3.5 million knightfrank.com

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MS Mouette Wolfgang Steck, outgoing owner of the Mouette – a 34-metre houseboat built in Germany in the 1930s – is lucky to be moored at the finish line of the Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race, the oldest rowing race in the world. His whitewashed gem at Cadogan Pier in Chelsea has many original Art Deco features, including wooden panelling, handles, the original ticket office and the wheelhouse serving as an office. £450,000 riverhomes.co.uk

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N O Ë L C O WA R D , W H O S E P L AY ‘ D E S I G N F O R L I V I N G ’ WA S FIRST PERFORMED IN 1933. W W W. B A N D A P R O P E R T Y. C O . U K

DESIGN

FOR

LIVING

At Banda we set the scene, the script is up to you.

Banda. Design for living.


INSIDE Out

Rossana is revolutionising kitchens with pioneering designs where not everything is always what it seems


Rossana K-n K-Out

SMART LIVING

t’s all very well having a state-of-the-art kitchen if you love to cook, but for those who hire professionals to prepare meals for them, often the kitchen becomes a redundant space. Rossana tackles this issue by designing semi-professional kitchens that are practical for chefs, while at the same time being decadent living spaces in which home owners can entertain and socialise, with no extra furniture required. The luxury brand was founded in 1953 by Italian engineer Fulvio Brembilla. Inspired by his wife, Rossana, Brembilla set out on a mission to re-write the rules of high-end kitchen design. By combining his years of industrial experience with the latest technologies and innovations, Brembilla was able to set the bar for futuristic kitchen concepts. In 1968, the brand was celebrated worldwide after collaborating with esteemed designer Giancarlo Illprandia to create a revolutionary range of kitchens. The ground-breaking designs grabbed the attention of luxury connoisseurs across the globe and solidified Rossana’s place in the design world. Fast forward a few decades and Rossana, now under the watchful eye of Creative Director Massimo Castagna, is still pushing boundaries. Earlier this year, the company unveiled its new K-In K-Out concept, a fresh generation of kitchens where the 'K' can be used either outdoors (K Out) or indoors (K In), whilst remaining the same in appearance. At the touch of a button, the luxurious stone worktop transforms from a striking, sculptural piece of art into a multi-functional kitchen island unit, complete with sinks, cooking appliances, dining spaces, and much more. In a world where the lines between art and design, creativity and functionality, are progressively blurred, Rossana’s pieces are not just emblematic of the future of luxury kitchens, they offer an introduction to a new way of life. rossana.uk.com

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C U L T U R E THE SEASON 128 - 137 THE RISE OF THE MINDFUL BILLIONAIRE 138 - 141 THE ELITE LONDON 142 - 143 SAVE THE DATE 144 - 145


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Cartier Queen’s Cup


CULTURE

TheSeason The British social season is now in full swing but there are a number of new events that are bucking tradition. Here’s 10 you need to know about

Words: Eleanor Doughty The Season has arrived, and it’s looking better than ever. But with so many opportunities to dress up – yes, it’s time for your very best hat to come out – you might need a little help in choosing where to go, and when. Here, to help, is a guide to the best spots of the Season. They’re not all you would expect. Nowadays, racing days are interchangeable with weekends in the mud at Latitude festival or at Wilderness, held at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire. Sure enough, still head to Ascot and Henley but have you heard of Port Eliot? We hear tickets are selling out fast.

Henley Royal Regatta

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Highland Games You don’t have to be Scottish to get into the spirit of the Highland Games. If you want to be super smart – and we mean really smart – then head to Aberdeenshire for the Braemar Gathering in September. The Queen goes every year. But there are 60 others to choose from all over the Highlands, so pick your favourite castle and gasp as men in kilts toss the caber in the name of Scottish tradition. May to September, shga.co.uk

Cartier Queen’s Cup Summer equals polo, and there’s plenty on from May, when the season starts, to September, when it ends. But the place to be seen, this and every year, is the Guards Polo Club in Egham, home to the Cartier Queen’s Cup. Dress to impress but make sure you brush up on the lingo because, trust us, these people are polo mad. May 23-June 18, guardspoloclub.com

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CULTURE The Game Fair If you’re into shooting, fishing or dogs, head to the Game Fair. This year the Marquess of Salisbury is hosting at his house, Hatfield, in Hertfordshire. It’s only 20 minutes from King’s Cross on the train, so you’ve no excuse not to pop down and hang out with the cleverest people in field sports. July 28-30, thegamefair.org

Port Eliot Festival The hottest place to be in Cornwall in July, Port Eliot is the arts festival with a bit of everything – food, fancy dress and the best books on the scene. It’s hosted by the Countess of St Germans at her estate and packed full of fun. July 28-31, porteliotfestival.com

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Burghley Horse Trials


Glorious Twelfth If you know what’s good for you come August 12, you’ll find yourself a grouse moor and a pack of pals with shiny shotguns. This is the Glorious Twelfth, the start of the grouse season – the smartest season in shooting. But be warned: there aren’t any grouse moors in the south of England, so off you go up to North Yorkshire, or to Scotland for the best shooting. August 12-December 10, gunsonpegs.com

Burghley Horse Trials Burghley is the biggest threeday event in the calendar, and the best. It’s held at the ravishing Burghley House in Lincolnshire, home to the super cool Rock family – Orlando is the boss of Christie’s in the UK, and his wife Miranda runs Burghley. Come on Friday for the dressage, on Saturday for the shopping and cross-country, and on Sunday for the showjumping. And do bring a dog, the more the merrier. August 31-September 3, burghley-horse.co.uk

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CULTURE Henley Regatta If the weather’s cheerful, there’s nothing better to do in Oxfordshire than Henley, the five-day regatta for the country’s best rowers. Get your glad rags on – below-the-knee dresses for women, and blazers for men – and hot-foot it to Henley. June 28-July 2, hrr.co.uk

Racing You wouldn’t dare make it through the season without going to the races, now, would you? Of course not. There’s a lot of choice. Royal Ascot, in June, is the smartest, so wear a hat. The Goodwood Festival (see below) helpfully has a helipad in case you’d rather not sit in traffic on the A3, and for out-of-towners head for the July festival at Newmarket. Miss at your peril. Various dates, britishhorseracing.com

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Goodwood The Earl and Countess of March’s estate in West Sussex is a mustvisit for anyone, any season. Not least because it’s open for fun stuff practically every weekend. If you miss the Festival of Speed ( for petrolheads) at the end of June, you can get there for the flat-racing at Glorious Goodwood in August, or the Goodwood Revival ( for vintage petrolheads) in September. Lord and Lady March are the best society hosts going, and they know how to put on a good day out. Smart dressing for all events encouraged. June to September, goodwood.com

Cowes Week Boats, boat shoes and people on boats wearing boat shoes. Need we say more? Pop to the Isle of Wight for the world’s biggest sailing regatta. Entry is free but you’ll want to be invited to a couple of parties while you’re there, so start making friends now. You can even watch the sailing from the water, if you fancy: hop onto a spectator boat and get the grand tour. The weather might even be nice and when the sun shines on the Wight, it really shines. July 29-August 5, cowesweek.co.uk

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Ferrari 250 GTO, Goodwood Festival of Speed


The rise of the mindful

billionaire

The high net worth community is changing, says Quintessentially founder Aaron Simpson Words: Scott Manson

hink of a billionaire and you might imagine an oligarch who’s obsessed with making money and flaunting the trappings of that wealth. But there’s a new, younger breed of ‘global citizen’ whose mindset is less about ‘what I have’ and more about ‘who I am’. Part of this is down to the notion of self-improvement, both physically and mentally. The new, younger global elite is less interested in spraying magnums of Champagne over each other at Nikki Beach, preferring instead to embark on experiential travel trips that feed the mind, body and soul. There are few people better placed to spot new trends among HNWs (high net worths) than Aaron Simpson of Quintessentially, a concierge service for billionaires. Founded in 2000 by Simpson, the Duchess of Cornwall’s nephew Ben Elliot and Paul Drummond, Quintessentially boasts 60 offices around the world and an annual turnover of £150m. He’s used to his team satisfying the often outlandish desires of clients but, increasingly, the super-rich are turning to them for spiritual nourishment, as well as reservations at ‘unbookable’ restaurants. We caught up with Aaron to find out more.

at the moment that they want to invest in things that will increase their awareness and social consciousness, and increase their life enjoyment. T: What form does this lifestyle take? What sort of changes are they making in their lives? S: We’ve seen a 20 percent decrease in nightlife requests, which in the past were always at the top of our members’ minds. Members aren’t going out and drinking anymore, gone are the days of getting VIP tables in clubs. There’s been a huge increase in requests for wellness activities – we work a lot with life gurus who advise on how to manage stress, anxiety and begin a process of emotional healing and strengthening relationships. There are also more requests for educational experiences – they want to learn, take part in master classes, learn new languages – and really challenge themselves mentally.

Tempus: When we talk of the new breed of ‘mindful billionaires’, what do you think has driven this change in attitude and lifestyle?

T: Ultimately, we’re talking about people who are, generally, good at making money. Presumably mindfulness can also be another tool in their business armoury. In other words, do you think mindfulness makes them more effective in business?

Simpson: I think there are a few reasons. For one, by nature, billionaires want to be the best they can be, and post-recession, I think there is more gratification through self-betterment than there is through the acquisition of luxury products. Being more mindful is way of ensuring a more productive way of life, and helps to adjust their perceptions of careers and personal life. I think also, there’s so much global turmoil

S: It can for sure. Ultimately, being more mindful increases awareness of others, which benefits relationships with employees, and encourages more respectful interaction with other people. It also means you’re probably more likely to handle things in a more rational way, and makes you more productive, which can only be a good thing. »



T: Can you embrace, say, Buddhist meditation, and still fire people? S: Sure – as long as you do it peacefully! If someone’s not right, they’re not right. T: Where do philanthropy and eco-concerns fit into all of this? I think there’s a deeper social consciousness, especially amongst younger members, where they are more willing to give back and are especially keen to get involved in charity work in a more hands-on way. We’ve actually seen a 26 percent increase in philanthropic requests in the past five years from our C-suite members – a lot of this is travel related, they want to visit endangered countries to raise awareness for the environment, or places that are in trouble, to encourage others to help T: Do you personally practice mindfulness? S: I’m trying! T: Some business experts suggest that having tension in a business is good, as tension creates change – which is necessary to evolve and prosper. This seems to fly in the face of the relaxed, mindfulness approach. What are your thoughts on that? S: I think you can take both approaches. Variety is key in business and different approaches work for different things. I think if people are generally more mindful in their personal lives it just means that when they’re in a professional situation they’re less likely to sweat the small stuff. I’ve always taken a relaxed approach to things at Quintessentially and it seems to have worked out pretty well for us! T: If premium experiences are becoming more valued by HNWs than consumer goods, how do you think that will play out for the luxury market? S: I don’t think it will be impacted negatively – the wealthy will always spend their money on bags, watches, cars etc, and there’s so much more awareness of luxury brands now globally because of increased access via the internet and social media, that the desire to buy will always remain. There’s always going to be badge status attached to luxury items. It’s more that people don’t show off as much about having them now. T: Are your teams finding that they are being asked to help with experiences more, rather than, say, obtaining hard-to-find products? S: Our Gifts team are constantly sourcing hard-to find products, it’s one of our ultimate specialties that I think we’re pretty unbeatable at. But our Travel and Lifestyle Teams are for sure getting a lot more requests for experiences – our members want to take part in things that engage their senses in every way possible, mentally and physically, that will really enrich them. T: Finally, what are some of the other big trends you’re seeing emerging in the HNW world? S: Investing wealth in concepts which will serve the greater good, like medical AI. Also, a new level of experiential, such as long holidays which are like extended games, For example, enormous scavenger or treasure hunts and murder mysteries. quintessentially.com

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Elite

The

London Inside London’s most exclusive jet-set lifestyle event


CULTURE

ast month, Tempus partnered with The Elite London for an exclusive private event at London Biggin Hill Airport. The unique and stylish celebration showcased luxury living at its best by bringing together super-cars, private jets, high-end brands and exclusive experiences at a striking venue accessible by both road and air. The Elite London's unique airport setting allowed aircraft owners and private pilots to fly directly to the event and land at London Biggin Hill's 1,800m runway, which can accommodate the world’s largest private jets. Visitors who chose not to fly had the opportunity to charter a helicopter from central London. Over 150 of the world’s most respected companies and sought after brands showcased their latest luxury lifestyle products and related services at the event. Guests were also invited to enjoy exclusive experiences such as supercar test drives, helicopter pleasure flights, pampering

treatments and delicious tasting menus. Highlights amongst the prestigious collection of exhibitors were Parsons Xtreme Golf, who craft some of the world’s finest golf equipment, and Stanford Coachwork, who presented a selection of their Monaco vehicles – handcrafted luxury motoring at its best. Sennheiser were also in attendance to showcase their new HE1 headphones. Carved from Carrara marble and packed with state-of-the-art technology and unique features, they come in a cool £54,000, which makes them some of the most expensive on the planet. The Elite London is set to become the society event of the year. If you missed the gathering in London in May, catch the launch of The Elite London’s sister event, The Elite New York, taking place at Essex Country Airport, NJ, 8th – 9th September 2017. theeliteevents.com

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S AV E T H E D A T E Yo u r l u x u r y e v e n t c a l e n d a r s t a r t s h e r e

Stars of the White Nights, St Petersburg

America’s Cup Match, Great Sound, Bermuda

26 May – 23 July

17 - 27 June

Celebrating its 25th edition this summer, Stars of the White Nights is an annual showcase of ballet, opera and classic music at St Petersburg’s prestigious Mariinsky Theatre. Attracting the world’s best performers from around the globe, the twomonth festival is an unmissable attraction for music and dance enthusiasts.

The 35th America’s Cup Match – the oldest trophy in international sport – couldn’t have a more stunning setting if it tried. As defending champions Oracle Team USA take on the top challenger from the qualifiers, catch the action on the water from the America’s Cup village, or enjoy a front row seat from your superyacht.

mariinsky.ru

americascup.com

British & Irish Lions, New Zealand 3 June - 8 July The British & Irish Lions tour will see the UK’s top rugby players – and their most dedicated fans – travel half way round the world for an action-packed tournament in New Zealand. With stunning scenery and 10 exciting matches, the anticipated event is set to be the best yet.

tours.lionsrugby.com

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Glamour in the Galleries, Royal Academy of Arts, London 19 June The Royal Academy of Art’s illustrious triennial fundraiser returns to Burlington House. Taking place in the Main Galleries, where the Summer Exhibition 2017 will be on display, the exclusive event will treat guests to an evening of fine food and drinks, entertainment – including a special performance by singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum –and a luxury raffle featuring money-can’t-buy prizes.

royalacademy.org.uk

Wimbledon, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London 3 – 16 July The most high-anticipated tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon attracts the greatest tennis players on the planet. Take a seat on Centre Court and rub shoulders with royalty and the crème de la crème of British society as you watch the greatest names in the sport battle it out on the famous grassy court.

wimbledon.com

Asia Cup Polo International Day, Guards Polo Club, Egham 1 July A highlight of the English summer social calendar, the Tempus-sponsored Asia Cup Polo is set to host its 10th edition in July at the prestigious Guards Polo Club. The event, which is under the patronage of the Jaipur royal family, attracts leading polo teams and enthusiasts from around the world for a thrilling day of sport and hospitality.

asiacuppolo.com

Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London 29 June - 5 July Known as ‘the millionaire’s art fair’, Masterpiece London brings together the most exclusive artworks from the world’s most coveted artists and galleries. A must-see for collectors, curators and art aficionados, the event is the ideal place to pick up a new selection of pieces spanning a variety of disciplines.

masterpiecefair.com

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Rock and Rolls-Royce

Secret escapes

All that glitters

The hot list

When music and motoring collide, it’s a symphony of style

Discover the beauty of seclusion at Europe’s most exclusive hidden beaches

The most beautiful jewellery watches in the world

50 things we can’t live without and you shouldn’t either

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