American In Britain Summer 2022

SUMMER 2022

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN Serving the American Community in the UK

FEATURES INCLUDE American Expatriate Clubs’ News • Eating Out Health • Hotel Review • Property • Reader’s Lives • Taxing Issues The Ultimate Safari Staycation • Theatre • Travel • Wealth Management A D V I S O RY PA N E L

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN

SUMMER 2022

CONTENTS 3 7 17 29 23

33

3

Eating Out

7

Port Lympne, The Ultimate Staycation Safari

12

Health

13

Wealth Management

17

Property

20

Taxing Issues

22

Reader's Lives

23

Travel

27

Hotel Review

29

Theatre

33

Take Five

38

American Clubs' News

40

Useful Numbers

IBC Free Annual Subscription

PUBLISHER: Helen Elliott Telephone: 020 8661 0186 Email: helen@theamericanhour.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & SALES Ben Everson Telephone: 07921 694823 Email: ben@theamericanhour.com American in Britain, PO Box 921, Sutton, SM1 2WB No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers.

Origination by Debbie Morgan and Printing by Gemini Group

Helen Elliott

Ben Everson

Cover: Port Lympne Safari Park

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EATING OUT

EATING OUT

The Franklin Restaurant

by Alfredo Russo 24 Egerton Gardens, Knightsbridge, London, SW3 2DB Telephone: 0207 584 5533

Sometimes, when in London, you need to expect the unexpected, and when visiting The Franklin Hotel to dine at The Franklin Restaurant by Alfredo Russo, that is particularly true, because if you blink you could easily miss the hotel as apart from a flag proudly fluttering with an F, there is nothing to hint that there is a hotel here, despite it occupying four of the town houses in the road.

The Franklin Hotel is a 5-star boutique hotel that re-opened in 2016 after having an extensive make-over, and what a wonderful make-over it has had. I have always felt it would have been great to have been at my prime in the 1920’s, as the music was exciting and the décor so extravagant, and on entering The Franklin Hotel you are transported back to these times, and the Great Gatsby era of classic suits, spats and stylish dresses for women.

The hotels décor, designed by the actress turned hotelier, Anouska Hempel, has created an uber stylish space of monochrome colours with stone floors and grey velvety furniture, and as we entered the cosy bar at the back of the hotel we were faced with a mixture of mirrors, and décor of black, white and grey, which totally contrasted from the unexpected vibrant green of the communal gardens visible through the back windows.

The bar looks like a set from the Great Gatsby, and it serves a mean cocktail as well as offering many of the usual tipples.

I would recommend coming early to your reservation at The Franklin Restaurant to WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

give yourself time to experience this bar, as it is visually spectacular as well as serving some of the best drinks in London.

It was a short walk from the bar to the intimate restaurant, which is decked out in a similar design to the bar, and only has room for 30 covers. This is the domain of Michelinstarred Chef Alfredo Russo, and presents wonderful Italian food influenced from the North Western part of Italy which is known for richer and more indulgent food than that in Southern Italy.

The menu is simple and compact and focuses on quality, with only four selections for each course.

Before our Antipasti course we were given a taste of what was to come, in the form of a spectacular amuse bouche, a wonderfully light and delicate bun encasing fresh smoked salmon and a smoky chickpea hummus.

For our Antipasti my wife chose the Insalata di Tuberi (£15) and I selected one of Alfredo Russo signature dishes, Polpo e Patate (£18). The Insalata provided a clever contrast between the pickled beetroot and the creamy caramelised Melusine goat’s cheese in a balsamic reduction, but the star was definitely the Polpo (or octopus in English). The octopus was insanely fresh, and because it was cooked slowly had a delicate texture and was full of flavour, but the special part was the potato foam it was surrounded by, which was so light and frothy it was like eating fluffy clouds.

For our Primi course I selected the Risotto Scampi e Burrata (£26) and my wife chose the Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe (£17). The risotto here is made from carnaroli rice, which is mainly used in the northwest region of Piedmont, and is considered the ‘king’ of risotto rices’, as it contains a little more starch and makes the risotto creamier, and was the perfect accompaniment to the generous chunks of perfectly cooked Cornish Langoustine.

My wife’s pasta was cooked perfectly and served just al dente, with a pecorino cheese sauce and well-seasoned with black pepper.

Our Secondi course was equally expertly cooked and beautifully plated as you would expect from a Michelin-starred Chef, and my recommendation is the Fassona alla Milanese (£34) which is a Fassona Piemontese fillet with traditional grissino crumb served with a smooth carrot purée.

The Fassona Piemontse cow is native to the Piedmont region and provides a lean meat that has an intense red colour, and this tender beef has been moulded into a rissole shape and coated in a crunchy breadcrumbs, giving the dish a strong texture juxtaposed by the smooth carrot purée and the foam that balances precariously on the top.

Desserts are equally special, and our favourite was the Crema Caramellata (£11) which is an inspired twist on a crème caramel with fresh wild berries, strawberry ice cream and layered with soft caramelised cream.

The service was efficient, but also warm and welcoming, which is a difficult balance to strike. If you need help with the menu they are there with clear explanations of the dishes, but if you are on an intimate date night (this is the perfect place to have this by the way), they keep their distance enough to allow you to enjoy your time together.

I have eaten at many Italian restaurants in London in my time, so it is easy to become a little complacent about visiting another one, but The Franklin Restaurant is truly a hidden gem (literally), and is truly impossible to be blasé about as it really is that good.

From the moment you walk through the door everything oozes class. The décor, the service and the food are all on point, and as an experience is right up there as one of the best Italian restaurants I have been luckily enough to experience. www.collezione.starhotels.com WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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Cocotte

271 New Kings Road, London, SW6 4RD Telephone: 020 7610 9544 Many would say that there are too many chicken restaurants in the world, but I suspect that they haven’t visited Cocotte, a chain of restaurants that prides itself on specialising on serving wonderful chicken, lovingly rotisserised (a verb that may not exist, but should), alongside healthy homemade dishes made from the freshest ingredients.

When I see the word healthy, I can’t help having the image of food that doesn’t tickle the taste buds, as all the naughtiness that tasty food has, has been removed, but here healthy and tasty still go hand in hand. This wonderful taste comes from the chickens being free range and sourced from the Loire Valley in France, and every chicken is marinated for 24 hours in a secret blend of herbs and spices.

The taste is then maintained by also being slow cooked on giant rotisseries.

The Cocotte we visited is situated in Parsons Green, and is a place that I used to frequent many years ago when I was training as an accountant. I hadn’t been back until I did this review, but it was just the same as I remembered it - a trendy suburb near to Fulham and Hurlingham, that has a delightful mix of smaller boutique shops and restaurants, including Cocotte, that sits on a corner of New Kings Road. In summer there are a few tables outside Cocotte, but when we visited frankly only Eskimos, and hardy ones at that, would even have considered sitting outside, so we walked in to enjoy the warmth and ambience of the restaurant.

The space is well proportioned and once you pass the large bar/open kitchen area that is dominated by the large rotisserie, you move into the dining area which has a trendy café/ bistro vibe with a Mediterranean-esque feel.

One side of the restaurant has large windows that provide a warming light illuminating the wooden floors and seats which have a distinct 1970’s G Plan feel to them.

We settled into a comfortable corner bench and were given our menus to peruse.

This was, as you would expect in a chicken restaurant, dominated by chicken, but there is also something for vegetarians and vegans which is a nice touch.

For starters our waiter recommended the Chicken Soup (£6.50) and the Foie Gras & Mushroom Croquettes (£7), and to that we added the Chicken Wings (£7.50) and the Spinach & Goats Cheese Croquettes (£6). The chicken soup was rich and flavoursome as it had been simmered for 10 hours to enhance the flavour and was packed with chicken, carrot, celery and onion, and reminded me of the hearty soups my mother used to make me when I was a child. The interior of the foie gras croquettes were rich and indulgent, and the spinach and goats cheese croquettes creamy, and the contrast with the crunchy exterior made these a must order. I like to feel I am 4

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somewhat a devotee of chicken wings, and the 7 pieces you are served here are well cooked and meaty and are served with a trio of sauces, Honey Mustard, BBQ or Spicy Mayo. The sauces are good, but I personally would have preferred one with a little more spice.

The clever concept that sets Cocotte above a common and garden bistro is that for the main course diners can create their own meal as they can order their rotisserised chicken and sauces and then add different sides to make a variety of different meals.

On the menus there are all the sides that would make a lovely roast chicken dinner, or if you decide to opt for salads or ratatouille you can make a Mediterranean feast, and if you just opt for fries as your side you have a chicken and chips meal (although it will be one of the best you have had!).

We decided to go down all these routes in the same meal by selecting a wide selection of sides. All solely in the interests of providing a complete review! We chose a half of chicken (£14) along with the Cocotte Ratatouille (£5), Truffled Mac & Cheese (£6.50), Tenderstem Broccoli (£5.50) and Fries (£4.50). We would have selected baby roast potatoes as well, but fries and roast potatoes are not a great combination in the same meal!

The chicken was perfectly cooked and the flesh was succulent and falling off the bone whilst encased in a rich crispy skin, and was served on a rustic wooden platter with a rich chicken jus. The tenderstem broccoli was slightly crunchy and seasoned well with a little Dijon mustard and oregano, and the ratatouille that was packed with courgettes, aubergine and peppers was full of flavour. The fries were light and delicate and really crunchy, but the true star was the truffled mac & cheese. The macaroni was smothered in truffle cheese sauce and baked in the oven with a crispy grated cheddar cheese top, and the only issue I had with it was there should have been more!

Cocotte also has a wide range of salads that can be eaten as a meal on their own or as an accompaniment to the chicken. Classic salads such as Caesar Salad (£5.75/£11) and a Walnut Green Salad (£4.75/£9) are available, as well as more inventive ones such as Roast Cauliflower & Oyster

Mushroom Salad (£6/£12) and Courgette, Pea & Burrata Salad (£6.50/£12.50). These can also be customised with additional toppings such as boiled eggs, feta and avocado to name but a few, and so every taste and preference is covered.

The dessert menu is packed with options which will test the most health conscious of you, and has five choices, all of which I would happily order. After much sole-searching we finally selected the Cinnamon Caramel Apple Slice (£6.50) and the Chocolate & Hazelnut Tart (£6.50). Caramel and Apple is a match made in heaven, and this warm slice is ably supported by a vegan vanilla ice cream. The tart is a chocoholics dream, comprised of a chocolate cheesecake with a crunchy biscuit base with shaved coconut. What’s not to love?

Cocotte is a great place to meet and have a relaxed lunch or dinner with friends in a classy, but relaxed atmosphere. The food is hearty, and the way the menu is set out allows the diner to pick and mix dishes to create their perfect meal so you can come back time after time and create different combinations of dishes safe in the knowledge all of them will be top quality. I loved the concept, but I loved the food and atmosphere more, and this chain will go from strength to strength as they have all of the basics covered, and covered well. www.mycocotte.uk

EATING OUT

Haché

Unit 5, Riverside Walk, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 1QN I am a big fan of burgers and have tried enough to feel I am a bit of a connoisseur of them, so when I see a restaurant saying they serve great burgers I want to see if that is just talk, or is in fact true, so it was with great expectations that I visited Haché in Kingston last month.

Kingston is just up the road, and river, from Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s spectacular palace situated on the River Thames, and over the last few years a number of good restaurants have started to sprout up in this area. Kingston’s ‘Riveira’ is Riverside Walk, which, as the name suggests, is alongside the Thames near Kingston Bridge, and is the perfect location for many of these new restaurants, and is where you will find Haché.

The décor is modern and stylish, but relaxed, and the large glass doors at the front promotes a lovely inside to out flow giving almost every table an unobstructed view of the Thames. When we visited, we were lucky enough to have brilliant sunshine and so were able to have a table on the large outside terrace to enjoy our food watching the rowers toiling, and the sun twinkling on the Thames.

Before testing out those famed burgers, there was the not so small matter of the first course, and there are a number of good options to choose from. I was sorely tempted with the Chargrilled Halloumi with chilli peppers (£7.50) as I love the meaty texture and the slightly salty taste, but instead I went for the Croque Monsieur Arancini (£7). I love aranchini balls, but this twist with the rice surrounding a heady mixture of gruyere, cured ham and bechamel, takes them to a new level and they were a delight.

The lightly fried outer layer was crunchy and once you break the surface the gooeyness of the cheese/ham and bechemel oozes out giving an explosion of different tastes and textures. They were so good I nearly ordered another portion! My wife selected the Grilled Goat’s Cheese Toasts with crispy kale and hot honey (£6.50) and again the combinations worked well with the crispy kale, the lightly toasted farmhouse bread, and the creamy goats cheese complimented well by the sweet honey sauce.

Following this excellent start, my excitement was almost palpable, as the moment of truth about the quality of the burgers was nearly upon us. Haché caters for all diners with a wide range of inventive burgesr for vegetarians/vegans, including a Hot Cauliflower Cheese Burger and the Secret Garden Burger, where the patty is a Panko crusted portobello mushroom, but my attention was focused on the meat burgers.

The meat burger selection also has a large choice and it took a little while to make our final selections, but eventually we went for WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

the Steak Le Fume (£16) which consisted of a succulent steak burger atop caramelised onions, smoked bacon, Gruyere cheese, slaw and Bloody Marie ketchup, and the second choice was The Big H (£16) which consists of a double patty, triple bun, red Leicester cheese, shredded lettuce, diced onion, gherkin and Haché’s secret burger sauce.

The Steak Le Fume is theatrically served in a smoked filled dome and the burger truly lives up to Haché’s initial claims, as the meat was succulent with a light smoky tang, encased in a light brioche bun. The Big H bears a striking resemblance to another well know ‘Big’ Burger from a well-known chain, but tastes infinitely better and is packed with high quality fresh ingredients. To accompany our burgers we selected the Rosemary Sea Salt Fries (£4.50) which were light and fluffy inside and crisp on the outside.

Having devoured every morsal of my burger (and even some of my wife’s!) I sat back and reflected that Haché’s burgers do live up to their billing and are truly excellent.

Haché doesn’t disappoint on the choice of desserts either as there is a good choice, but please believe me when I say there is really only one choice you should make here! Your choice must be Stuffed Brioche Ice Cream Sandwiches (£6). Your Mini Sally Clarke brioche bun is either stuffed with Double Chocolate Nutella and Hackney Gelato chocolate sorbet, or Hackney Gelato Raspberry Sorbet and crunchy peanut butter, and although seems a strange combination it just works, and works really well.

Our chocolate sandwich was a delight and was rich and indulgent and although I was fairly full from what had come before, I finished every bit!

Haché is the perfect place to take the family, dine outside with friends, or have a romantic meal, and occupies a prime location along the riverside serving quality food at a reasonable price. The burgers are the star of the show, but the starters and desserts are able support acts, and along with the relaxed vibe and wonderful views is a must visit if you are in Kingston. www.hacheburgers.com

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THE ULTIMATE STAYCATION SAFARI

THE ULTIMATE STAYCATION SAFARI Port Lympne Reserve, Lympne (Nr Hythe), Kent Despite the feeling that covid has “gone away now”, which we all know is not entirely the case, many people are still opting for a staycation rather than travelling abroad, and that is ok when it would have been a week’s holiday in the sun to Spain or the like, but what about if you want to go on safari to see the ‘Big 5’ (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo)? Well, for those who want this incredible experience, I now have the most perfect UK option, namely Port Lympne, not in deepest darkest Africa, but in the sunny depths of Kent near to Folkestone.

The first thing I need to be very clear about at the outset is that Port Lympne is not a zoo. It is instead a breeding sanctuary set up to protect endangered species from extinction, where it lets visitors see, and learn about the animals they are saving, in enclosures designed with the animals in mind. This means that the enclosures are large and full of natural foliage, allowing the animals privacy to protect their wellbeing by recreating their natural habitats in the wild as much as they can. This makes it sometimes harder to spot some of the animals, but you will see them, and searching for them is an integral part of the fun of going on safari and a small price to pay to protect their mental health. Many of the animals here will be sent back to the wild, to boost numbers and ensure breeds do not become extinct. To that end, at Port

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Lympne, animals come first, and the love and respect that all their staff have for the animals they look after is a joy to see, and for me makes this a place not only to visit, but to support as well.

Port Lympne is set in over 600 acres and is home to over 900 rare and endangered animals, creating a unique family adventure, either in one day, or several days if you opt for a season pass. The cost of a day ticket is £29 for an adult and £26 for a child (which includes a 10% donation for animal conservation), and this enables you to walk around the park all day, visit the dinosaur zone as well as having a 1 ½ hour escorted safari through the park.

Alternatively, you can stay a few days, as Port Lympne have truly amazing and diverse options for staying on site. There are 14 different types of accommodation around the reserve so your party can choose the accommodation that would suit your party’s size and requirements best. These include glamping at Bear Lodge, two-bedroom Treehouses, up to the sumptuous luxury lodges such as Lion Lodge and Tiger Lodge, that are truly amazing, with spectacular, private viewing opportunities to some of the more spectacular animals. There will definitely be one which caters for your taste and pocket, with some more geared to families and some more romantic breaks for couples.

We originally visited Port Lympne six years ago when we stayed in a Treehouse, so we know how much there is to see, and we were delighted when we were invited back to stay in the newly built, luxurious Wigwams at Leopards Creek.

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We had a great schedule planned, that started at 2pm for check-in, but we were so excited we arrived at 12pm, which gave us time to follow in the footsteps of luminaries such as Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin by having a classic Afternoon Tea in the historic Port Lympne Hotel. The tea is a full selection of fresh finger sandwiches and savoury bites, along with dainty pastries, and my personal favourite the scones, with as much cream and jam as you want.

What a perfect way to start our safari break, especially as it was a beautiful day so all this was enjoyed in the courtyard.

At 2pm we were asked to meet a ranger who gave us our own golf buggy that was ours for the duration of our stay, which is fantastic as it means you can take your time and visit the animals you are most interested in, especially as residents are allowed to drive around the grounds once they are closed to the public for the day. Please note that not all of the accommodation offers the golf buggys, so do check with Porty Lympne when deciding what accommodation suits your needs best.

I have to say they are a great addition to your stay, so I would highly recommend staying in a property that does offer them.

Our journey to our accommodation was about ten minutes, and en-route we passed by brown bears, a lion, tigers, gorillas, buffalo and horses, until we reached one of the two wigwams at Leopards Creek. This is one of Port Lympne’s premium locations, next to the Amur leopard enclosure, which gave us amazing access to view these rare and majestic creatures. The wigwams are spectacular, with a true wow factor, as they have amazing panoramic views of the Kent countryside, and are lavishly furnished along with top end appliances, a monsoon shower and a large and welcoming king-sized bed where you can look through the huge glass windows at the reserve all around.

As part of the accommodation package, you are able to take advantage of the large jeeps that take you on a safari around the reserve, driven by rangers who have great information on all the animals, and do remember to take your camera as there are fabulous photo opportunities.

After our safari we had time to enjoy our wigwam and the complimentary bottle of Gusbourne wine, (my favourite English Sparkling wine, and in my view one of Kent’s finest), whilst sitting outside looking over the beautiful Kent countryside. After an hour enjoying and relaxing in the outdoor space, we headed to dinner at the Garden Restaurant, back in the Hotel. This former stable yard has been converted to a light and airy glass roofed restaurant with a welcoming Mediterranean feel, serving locally sourced ingredients from ‘The Garden of England’.

I started with the confit chicken, tarragon and leek terrine with chutney and grilled sourdough (£9) and my wife chose the buratta with heritage beetroot, lamb’s lettuce and 8

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THE ULTIMATE STAYCATION SAFARI pomegranate molases (£11). Chicken and tarragon are a classic combination as the tarragon brings out more of the chicken’s flavour, and my terrine was chunky and packed with flavour and the sourdough was light and airy. The buratta and beetroot combination is also a classic combination with the sweetness and crunchiness of the beetroot against the creamy, but sharper buratta, and this didn’t disappoint either. The choice of mains is extensive and eventually I selected the roast cod fillet with chorizo, saffron and mussel risotto, and chimichurri dressing (£21), and my wife the twice baked Ashmore cheese soufflé, leek fondue and tenderstem broccoli (£17). My cod was well cooked and flaky, and the risotto good, but I wished that it was a little creamier and that the rich flavour of the chorizo and mussels had come through more than they did, because as a combination they should have elevated the dish and packed more flavour than they did. I know from painful experience that soufflés are not simple to cook, and so it is always interesting to see how a professional will fare with this and here it was light and full of the cheese flavour. This was well supported by the leek fondue which was creamy and provided some texture to a dish that would lack any otherwise.

For dessert we were seduced by the milk chocolate and caramel delice with passion fruit (£8) and the garden room cheese platter, where we selected 2 cheeses from a selection for £7 accompanied by chutney’s and grapes. Port Lympne is always promoting local produce, and the cheese platter offers you the chance to select however many cheeses you would like from 5 classy English cheeses, all of which are locally made and all lesser known, but ones you will want to remember long after your meal.

Wines are also available from many of the smaller Kent vineyards, so be brave and choose one as you won’t be disappointed.

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One of the treats of staying at Port Lympne is that you can continue to enjoy the park and the animals long after the day visitors have left, and on our drive back to our wigwam after our meal we were able to see a few of the animals who are more active at night, and as we were the only people around it was like we were in our own personal animal park. One tip is to make sure you have a map and plan your route home, as at night paths look very different!

After a truly restful night’s sleep in our luxurious sheets, and following a generous breakfast at the Garden Restaurant, we were raring to go again, and were looking forward to the AAA safari (Access All Areas) which includes the chance to feed some of the animals. This safari takes 2 ½ hours and is an absolute must, as you are in very small groups and visit the animals with a ranger who takes you up close and personal with the animals whilst all the time educating you about them and their habitat. We learned how not to agitate a silver backed gorilla (for the record you mustn’t stare directly into their face as it is apparently a challenge to them!), watched the amazingly gentle brown bears playing, and drove through the Asian

and African Experiences where giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and even ostriches’ roam freely across the Kent savannah.

The highlight of this trip for me however, was feeding the rhinos and the giraffes, which was a truly humbling and magical experience, as you get up close and personal with these majestic and gentle creatures. The giraffes are fed in the open, and although the first time we did this trip they took their food from our hands in the jeep we were in, this time we were lucky that they were in a holding area, so we got to see their true magnificence simply separated by wooden fencing. Guests can also feed the Lions and Tigers, but rest assured there is a stronger fence between you and them in this case!

After giving the animals their food, and all the excitement, we had worked up an appetite, so stopped off at the Italian inspired Babydoll’s Wood Fired Pizza restaurant. This ski chalet styled restaurant didn’t disappoint and the pizzas were light and crispy and generously topped, and this is the perfect option for families visiting the park as it is situated close to the brown bear enclosure, the tiger enclosure, and the Dinosaur Park (spoiler alert: none of these dinosaurs are alive!!).

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Port Lympne is a unique place where vital conservation work goes hand in hand with a visitor attraction, and what shines through is the love for the animals from everyone who works and visits Port Lympne. The safaris, the accommodation the food are all of the highest quality and provide visitors a 5 star experience, but these almost feel secondary to the important conservation work that is performed here, where hundreds of endangered animals have been reintroduced into the wild.

Seeing animals in their natural environment on a safari is magical and unique, but a staycation safari at Port Lympne is almost as good, but has the added benefit that whilst you are enjoying the animals you are contributing to saving them.

A win-win in my opinion.

Port Lympne Reserve, Lympne (Nr Hythe), Kent www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/

About The Aspinall Foundation

The Aspinall Foundation was founded out of a deep love for wildlife and a respect for nature.

Their global wildlife conservation work, spanning thirty years, covers issues such as the illegal wildlife trade, the “re-wilding” of wild and captive born animals, and the recovery of threatened species and their habitat through community-based conservation. The Aspinall Foundation is one of the world leaders in wildlife reintroduction and they are extremely proud that they are at the forefront of breeding animals in captivity and reintroducing them back into the wild whilst protecting vital ecosystems around the world.

One of the projects that they are most proud of is their work in the Congo and Gabon. When everyone else told them it was impossible, The Aspinall Foundation has for over 30 years, been successfully reintroducing over 70 gorillas from both in and ex-situ populations, into the wild, with a 95% annual survival rate, and over 30 births to released animals. Not only are they responsible for the world’s first gorilla reintroductions, but also the added conservational value includes the protection of the whole reintroduction site.

The Foundation protects over a million acres over the Batéké Plateau, which spans the borders of Congo and Gabon, and by reintroducing a keystone species like gorillas, this provides umbrella protection for iconic species such as hippos, elephants, chimpanzees, forest buffalo, pangolins, leopards and lions. Since its launch, The Aspinall Foundation has worked on similar ground breaking reintroduction projects across the world with black rhinos, Javan gibbons, Javan langurs, grizzled langur, European bison, brown hyenas, and Przewalski horses.

The Batéké Plateau is their flagship conservation project, once an area where wildlife had been driven out due to hunting 10

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and poaching, it is now a thriving ecosystem, where gorillas, forest elephant and even a lion have been spotted. In 2019, they sent a pack of 7 African painted dogs bred in the UK at Port Lympne to a protected reserve in Gabon. Painted dogs are the only living members of the genus Lycaon and are so genetically divergent from wolves and dogs.

This is the first time African painted dogs have lived in Gabon for over 25 years.

In Madagascar, their community-based conservation projects have helped to conserve several of the most endangered species on the planet through cost-effective in-situ work without resorting to captive breeding. As a result, the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur population has recovered from only 100 wild individuals to over a thousand in a decade.

These reintroductions are implemented with a gold standard in planning and execution.

Reintroductions are bold and not without risk, but, as they have proven, can yield enormous returns not only for the individual animals now living back in their natural habitat, but for species returned to areas from where they have been hunted to extinction.

The Aspinall Foundation has successfully reintroduced five Eastern Black Rhino, a critically endangered species into Tanzania and three into South Africa. It is estimated there are only about 5,000 black rhinos left in the wild and the eastern black rhino is the rarest of all. Of the 5,000 only 800-1000 are eastern black rhinos. These rhinos are not only living free, but producing healthy wild offspring. The first bull rhino rewilded in 1996 has sired in excess of 15 calves, some of which have since been relocated to areas where they can continue to breed freely, maintaining genetic diversity. Among the six rewilded female rhinos, the first of whom arrived in Tanzania in 2004, there have been 25 noted successful births to released black rhino with a total of 60 descendants.

The project in Java centres around saving the endangered Javan Langur and Gibbon, also known as the Moloch or Silvery Gibbon.

With fewer than 2,500 mature Javan gibbons in the wild, these primates are one of the most endangered species of primate in the world.

The Aspinall Foundation’s Primate Project has two sites in Java. One in the East and one in the West. Their in-situ team rehabilitates and releases primates rescued from the illegal pet trade. The work of their in-situ team is supported by their UK wild animal parks, which are the world’s number one breeders of Javan gibbons. Since their Javan Primate Project began in 2012, up to the end of 2019, they have released 159 primates into the forests that they protect, so that they can live in the wild – where they belong.

European bison are the largest living land mammal in Europe. Hunting for food and skins drove them to extinction in the wild in 1927. Since 2003, The Foundation have helped to reintroduce six bison to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in the Carpathian mountains of Romania.

The 6 bison have now produced 5 calves and the project is a fundamental step towards increasing the population of a species that was once extinct in the wild. The bison population has recovered substantially in Romania, and there are now at least 42 European bison in the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park.

The Aspinall Foundation, in collaboration with a team of international conservationists, rescued 11 elephants, 4 giraffe, 19 buffalo and 29 wildebeest from a barren, halfabandoned reserve in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The rescued animals were all safely translocated to safe new homes within days.

The Aspinall Foundation provides educational outreach to local communities, both in the UK and overseas. Their work helps raise awareness and encourages communities to protect vulnerable animals and habitats.

In the UK they work with schools to host talks, trips and workshops. Overseas, they work with schools and local communities to raise awareness of the importance of conservation.

In Madagascar, they have distributed 4,000 lemur notebooks to school children. They have developed community-based microprojects to strengthen local community associations, improve training, support improved agricultural methods and support local education programmes. One project saw them distribute over 4,000 seedlings of native tree species to local communities as part of their community-based reforestation programme. They have also donated 40 beehives that help develop alternative income streams for local communities.

To find out how you can help or support The Aspinall Foundation, please email; Samanthab@aspinallfoundation.org or visit www.aspinallfoundation.org

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HEALTHCARE Helping You Heal Post-Stroke It’s a tough reality that many of those who have had a stroke face life-altering consequences – two in three people in fact. These can be unseen and relatively mild through to more dramatic changes.

Thankfully, with the right care and support, rebuilding your life is possible.

We spoke to Dr Sageet Amlani, Lead Consultant at John & Lizzie’s Stroke Clinic, to find out more about the service and how best to recover after having a stroke.

‘After the medical emergency of a stroke has passed, it’s really important to uncover the root cause and tailor a rehabilitation programme around this. The Stroke Clinic provides an intense level of support with a whole team of experts, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, speech and language therapists, and neuro-psychologists, as well as a dedicated stroke consultant, who will visit at least once a day. It’s possible to make big gains in the early stages of recovery, so having the expertise of a specialist multidisciplinary team is truly invaluable’.

A Typical Day In The Stroke Clinic

‘In the morning, the nurses will wake the patients and everyone will have breakfast.

Often, people will have spent a long time in hospital, so doing something normal like going to the shops can give a huge confidence boost and make a world of difference 12

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The food here is very good and people can also make off-menu choices if they have allergies or particular likes or dislikes.

It’s common for people to have trouble swallowing after a stroke (dysphagia), so if this is the case, the dieticians and speech and language therapists will work with the chefs to ensure dishes are modified so they’re easier and safer to eat.

When a patient first arrives they’ll have a thorough assessment, as well as a full review of previous investigations and results to ensure continuity of care. Then a timetable for the week ahead will be created that’s tailored around their specific needs. At this point, they’ll also meet with me to talk through their plans for the day and set goals for their recovery.

At the end of the first week, I meet with patients, their family and our staff team to talk through what they’ve achieved and set further goals. Progress is measured throughout the length of stay, so whether a person stays a few days or a few weeks, they’ll always have a clear picture of what they’ve accomplished and what they can work towards next.

If people decide to stay with us for longer than a week, they won’t be stuck inside the whole time. One of the things we do is take people outside to St John’s Wood High Street, where there are many lovely shops and cafés. This helps to improve spacial awareness and aids with navigating roads, but the ultimate aim is to help people get back to a normal life. Often, people will have spent a long time in hospital, so doing something normal like going to the shops can give a huge confidence boost and make a world of difference’.

Unrooting The Cause

‘In the NHS, some medical investigations will be done in outpatients, so it can take a while to get the results. This means it can be some time before the cause of the stroke is understood. At John & Lizzie’s Stroke Clinic, investigations are done immediately and acted upon straight away. When people come to the clinic, as well as a full assessment, which will include extensive investigations (such as blood tests, respiratory function test and echocardiogram), I will conduct a full review of previous investigations and results. This is essential to determining why the stroke took place, and means I can work on fixing the root cause straight away; as well as hopefully preventing any future strokes’.

Lifestyle choices, such as smoking and frequent drinking, also play a part. For some people though, it just comes out of the blue Know Your Risk Factors

‘Generally, there are risk factors for stroke which accumulate over a lifetime, such as having diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol. Lifestyle choices, such as smoking and frequent drinking, also play a part. For some people though, it just comes out of the blue.

For example, a stroke could be linked to cancer (which increases the risk of blood clots in the legs); it could be due to a hole in the heart; it could even be a result off too-vigorous exercise which has led to a tear in a vessel; or it could be caused by neck manipulation, which can happen to older people when they go to the hairdresser. My job is to find out why the stroke has happened, analyse its location and size and use this information to guide the rehab process.

As a general rule of thumb though, you can hugely reduce your risk of stroke by leading a healthy lifestyle; so cut down on foods high in salt, sugar and fats, reduce your alcohol intake and make sure you’re getting your 5-a-day every day’.

Stroke Respite And Rehab Care

‘St John & St Elizabeth Hospital’s Stroke Clinic is one of the UK’s best equipped private facilities for post-stroke care and rehab, and offers an extensive range of services, personalised treatment programmes, and all the clinical and emotional support necessary for a speedy recovery.

HEALTHCARE

It is a state-ofthe-art facility designed for people who have had emergency treatment for a stroke and need a calm space to focus on recovering during the crucial following days WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

It is a state-of-the-art facility designed for people who have had emergency treatment for a stroke and need a calm space to focus on recovering during the crucial following days. The clinic also provides ongoing care for people once they’ve returned home, so that they can keep making progress.

The clinic is a fully accredited BUPA rehabilitation unit, and our multidisciplinary team is led by Consultant Physicians and Neurologists who hold senior positions in London Teaching Hospitals. We are more than happy to show you round the facility before you make any commitments to your stay’.

Act FAST

In the UK, someone has a stroke every 5 minutes. The FAST test can help you recognise the most common signs: Facial weakness – can the person smile?

Has their mouth or eye drooped?

Arm weakness – can they raise both their arms?

Speech problems – can they speak clearly and understand what you’re saying?

Time to call 999 if you spot any of these signs.

When someone has a stroke, the faster they get help, the more likely they’ll survive and make a full recovery. If you think someone is having a stroke, call 999.

Dr Sageet Amlani is a Stroke Medicine Consultant at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital and the Stroke Clinic’s Lead Consultant.

Call the Stroke Clinic on 020 7806 4075 Find out more at: hje.org.uk/services/stroke-unit WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT As An American, Should I Invest In A UK Occupational Pension Scheme?

Welcome to the UK! As an American having just arrived either for a long or short period of time, you might be wondering how you can leverage some of benefits your employer in the UK can offer, particularly regarding retirement planning. In speaking with clients, we are often asked whether it makes sense to contribute to a UK Occupational Pension Scheme. So, in this article we cover the basic characteristics of UK Occupational Pension Schemes and considerations for Americans living and working in the UK.

UK Occupational Pension Basics

An occupational pension scheme is an arrangement established by employers to allow you to save for retirement and are most commonly divided into two categories: Defined Benefit Pension Scheme and Defined Contribution Pension Scheme. You may sometimes encounter Hybrid schemes, but these are not discussed here.

Defined Benefit Pensions: These schemes are designed and promise to pay a specified level of benefit either on retirement, or on death, based on how long you’ve participated in the scheme and the salary you’ve earned. Most defined benefit schemes are ‘final salary schemes’ which provide by way of a pension a proportion of your income at retirement, usually dependent on the length of your membership of the pension scheme and earnings near your retirement date. Defined benefit pension schemes are becoming less and less common and you are unlikely to have one unless you’re a member of an older workplace pension or work in the public sector.

Defined Contribution Pensions: These schemes are much more common and are similar to a US 401(k) plan in that you allocate a percentage of your pay into the scheme. Enrolment into schemes is automatic under UK law, although your UK employer will give you the option to opt out and you and your employer will be required to pay a minimum amount into your scheme. How much your pension is worth at retirement will depend on how much you (and your employer) have contributed and how your investments have performed.

Contribution limits: Whether you participate in a defined benefit or defined 14

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contribution pension scheme the contribution limits are the same. Under automatic enrolment the minimum total contribution that must be added to a pension scheme is currently 8% of earnings up to £50,270 (with at least 3% coming from the employer). Many companies will structure these contributions based on base salary which can result in a higher contribution if your earnings are in excess of the minimum requirement. The standard annual allowance for the 2022/23 tax year (which includes money paid into your pension scheme every tax year by you, your employer and any third party) is currently £40,000 capped at the amount you earn if this is less. Any contributions in excess of this limit will be subject to income tax at the highest rate that you pay. Each year you are allowed to contribute up to 100% of your relevant UK earnings into a pension or the annual allowance (whichever is lower) and receive tax relief. The contribution allowance is tapered down for adjusted income over £240,000 per year. For every £2 of income over £240,000, the annual allowance is reduced by £1. For those with adjusted income of greater than £312,000, the allowance is reduced to a maximum of £4,000 per year.

Unlike US retirement plans, where you can

How much your pension is worth at retirement will depend on how much you (and your employer) have contributed and how your investments have performed

only make contributions for the current year allowance, with UK Pensions, in a current year, you can contribute your annual allowance plus any unused allowances from the previous three tax years, provided you were UK resident, were deemed to have a UK pension in place, and you have earned income to support the contribution.

The way in which the UK government provides tax relief on your contributions depends on how the contributions are being made. If your contributions are made on a net pay basis, this will lower your UK taxable earnings automatically before you pay any tax regardless of whether you are a basic rate, higher rate or additional rate taxpayer without having to claim further tax relief.

However, if your contributions receive relief at source, then your pension contributions are deducted from your after-tax pay. Your pension scheme will add in basic tax relief (at 20% - so that a £100 contribution effectively costs £80). If you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer, you can reclaim further tax relief on your annual HMRC selfassessment tax return.

Distribution provisions: Currently distributions can be taken from age 55 and this will increase to age 57 by the year 2028.

UK pension rules allow individuals to take a 25% tax free lump sum (on the amount of your lifetime allowance) once you’ve reached the relevant age threshold with the rest of your withdrawals subject to income tax at your marginal rate. So, for example, if you accumulate a pension worth £1m, you can withdraw £250k tax free. There are several distribution options to choose from for UK Occupational Pension Schemes. These include taking a full lump sum, a gradual flexible drawdown as and when desired, or purchasing an annuity. It is perfectly acceptable to choose any combination of these options to suit your needs.

Lifetime Allowance: The UK lifetime allowance is established by the UK government and affects the amount of money you can accumulate in and across your UK pensions before paying an additional tax charge. The current lifetime allowance threshold of £1,073,100 is frozen until April 2026 and is expected to rise in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) thereafter. The rate of tax you pay on pension savings above your lifetime allowance depends on how the overage is paid to you:

WEALTH MANAGEMENT • 55% if paid as a lump sum • 25% if paid via periodic pension payments To be clear, you are only liable for the tax charge on amount in excess of the lifetime allowance when you crystallise your pension, or at age 75 (if you have not crystallised before that point).

There are differing opinions on whether to adjust your contributions to a pension in light of the lifetime allowance. Some advisors think it might make sense to check the value of your pension from time to time to ensure you are not in breach or nearing the lifetime allowance and adjust/ reduce your contributions accordingly and allocating that savings elsewhere.

However, there are situations where it might make sense to contribute irrespective of a possible breach of the lifetime allowance. For instance, perhaps your employer has a matching provision that you would otherwise have to forfeit; or, if you plan to pass on the full value of your pension as an inheritance, as the value of your pension falls outside of UK inheritance tax.

Making pension contributions could also reduce your income to preserve entitlement to the personal allowance or reduce income so you do not incur the high-income child benefit tax charge.

In any event, the nuances of planning around the lifetime allowance make it important to consult a dual US/UK qualified tax adviser and Wealth Manager for guidance on your specific situation.

Considerations For Americans

The good news is that UK Occupational Pension Schemes are generally recognised and protected under the US-UK tax treaty, and as such, any underlying holdings in the pension will not be subject to Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) rules. PFICs are investment funds that are domiciled outside of the US (such as the UK) which are taxed punitively by the US when held in a taxable account. So, this is one less thing you have to worry about.

You can think of UK Pension Schemes as tax-deferred vehicles much like a 401(k) or another similar plan in the US. As long as you live and work in the UK, you can also receive tax relief in the US for contributions to your UK Pension Scheme, up to the amount of tax relief that would be allowed in the US. However, because UK tax rates are generally higher than the US, many Americans working in the UK will build up excess foreign tax credits. If this is applicable you can consider forgoing tax relief on the contributions in the US and using foreign tax credits to offset the tax owed on the contributions. Should you use foreign tax credits for this purpose, you would eventually be able to withdraw the money you’ve contributed free of further US WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

tax in the future. This would be beneficial should you decide to spend your retirement years living in the US. As with any other tax considerations, it is important to seek advice from a dual qualified US/UK tax adviser before making any decisions.

If a pension is taken as a single lump sum, the US/UK tax treaty assigns the taxing rights to the country where the pension originates One of the things the US/UK tax treaty makes clear is that provided you distribute your pensions as periodic payments (as opposed to a single lump sum) the country of residence at the time of distribution has the primary right of taxation to tax distributions.

If a pension is taken as a single lump sum, the US/UK tax treaty assigns the taxing rights to the country where the pension originates. So generally, if you live in the UK at the time you begin taking periodic distributions, the UK will have primary taxing rights. If you live in the US at time you begin taking periodic distributions, the US will have primary taxing rights. For US individuals, the US-UK treaty is not crystal clear as to whether the 25% tax free lump sum distribution afforded to UK residents is tax free in the US as well. This remains subject to interpretation and it is therefore important to seek advice from a qualified dual US/UK tax adviser.

Of course, there are other retirement planning options for Americans to consider, including potentially contributing to IRAs, Roth IRAs, or a UK personal pension, but you should seek specific advice for your situation. In some cases, it can be advantageous to incorporate a UK Occupational Pension Scheme as part of a comprehensive wealth plan to make sure you are setting yourself up for success in retirement. To explore these options within the context of your individual situation, you should seek advice from a Wealth Management team who is knowledgeable about cross border wealth planning, such as MASECO Private Wealth.

Further information please contact: Ben Lightfoot Email: Ben.lightfoot@masecopw.com The Legal Stuff This document is for the use of the recipient only and may not be forwarded, copied or distributed without our prior written consent. This document has been prepared by MASECO LLP for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax or any other type of advice and should not be construed as such. The information contained herein is subject to copyright with all rights reserved.

The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of MASECO as a whole or any part thereof. All investments involve risk and may lose value. The value of your investment can go down depending upon market conditions and you may not get back the original amount invested. Your capital is always at risk. Information about potential tax benefits is based on our understanding of current tax law and practice and may be subject to change.

The levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation is subject to change. The tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each person and may be subject to change in the future. MASECO Private Wealth is not a tax specialist. We recommend that anyone considering investing seeks their own tax advice.

MASECO LLP (trading as MASECO Private Wealth and MASECO Institutional) is established as a limited liability partnership under the laws of England and Wales (Companies House No. OC337650) and has its registered office at Burleigh House, 357 Strand, London WC2R 0HS. The individual partners are Mr J E Matthews, Mr J R D Sellon, Mr A Benson, Mr D R B Dorman, Mr H Q A Findlater, Mr T Flonaes, Mr E A Howison, Ms A L Solana and Mr N B Tissot. Telephone calls may be recorded for your protection.

MASECO LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of investment business in the UK and is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Advisor.

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AMERICAN IN BRITAIN

PROPERTY

PROPERTY The In-Demand London Locations To Bookmark For Rentals As offices across London fill up and international audiences return, the capital is roaring back to its brilliant best. Summer in the city means park life, open-air dining and vibrant culture: London is buzzing once more.

As the city shakes off its lockdown lethargy, rental markets are buoyant.

Average rental values in prime central London registered a 4.2% rise in the three months to October 2021, the highest quarterly figure since March 2011, with low supply and increasing demand adding a further 3.5% increase in the first three months of this year according to Knight Frank’s Prime London Rental Index.

We take a look at the super six areas of London where we have registered the strongest rental growth to understand their enduring appeal.

King’s Cross

A Regeneration Success Story In The City Centre Welcome to one of central London’s most transformed areas where substantial investment has added new buildings and renovated historic warehouses to create a regenerated, diverse neighbourhood.

Camden and Islington are near neighbours, Marylebone is to the west and Oxford Street is a level walk away. Excellent transport links - five tube lines and fourteen bus routes - make getting to every corner of the city a breeze, and there’s the bonus of wonderful WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

rail connections with trains from St Pancras Station ready to whisk you to Kent, and even across to Europe on the magnificent Eurostar. Heathrow and Gatwick airports are around one hour away.

Cultural highlights within touching distance include the British Museum and British Library with Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks among its haul of 14 million books, while revamped restaurants and cafés make King’s Cross a perfect evening out. Don’t miss those on the cobbles of Coal Drops Yard, a “shopping and lifestyle district”. There’s a bustling student population – one reason why the nightlife is especially stirring and why rent demand is high – with Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design and the Central School of Ballet adding distinct artistic flair.

Schools include King’s Cross Academy, Camden School for Girls and Queen’s College London, and for further family entertainment consider a stroll along Regents Canal or dodge the jet fountains on Granary Square.

Shops, boutiques, culture, nightlife and fun: there’s a reason why Google and Meta have moved into King’s Cross. This is London at its most exciting, still with a touch of its edgy past, but totally swinging.

Bayswater

A Cosmopolitan Neighbourhood With Genuine Community Spirit Leafy garden squares, glorious Royal Parks, spacious apartments and some notable

high-end developments: Bayswater offers a front row seat in central London with a decidedly green edge. This W2 postcode is centred around 350-acres of world-famous Hyde Park, established as a 16th Century hunting ground for King Henry VIII, and today a venue for summer picnics and spectacular music events. Row across the Serpentine, view the contemporary art in the Serpentine Galleries, watch the horses canter along Rotten Row or go for a jog.

Elegant property options include classic white-stucco houses, apartments in 1930 mansion blocks, mews homes and superprime penthouses.

There are fine dining and designer shopping options nearby with Mayfair, Kensington and Knightsbridge all encircling Hyde Park, and the bright lights of Oxford Street are on hand.

Excellent transport connections include access to Heathrow airport, the Cotswolds and the West Country by road or by rail from nearby Paddington, and the long awaited Elizabeth Line should provide a real spur, connecting to Liverpool Street in the City in 10 minutes and Canary Wharf in 17 minutes.

Bayswater is a favourite with international families and the range of schools is pleasingly wide. Look at Weatherby Prep, Connaught House and Pembridge Hall for younger children, and for senior schools, International Community School and a little further afield, St Paul’s Boys and Girls Schools.

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appealing work-life balance and promote community spirit. There’s also real attention to sustainability with water refill stations, coffee cup recycling schemes, living walls and thoughtful landscaping. Canary Wharf has the largest density of green roofs in the UK, and supports habitats for wildlife including birds, bats and bees.

Yes, Canary Wharf is high-rise and new, but it’s also thoroughly modern in the very best way.

Notting Hill

Wapping

A Return To City Offices Reinforces The Appeal Of Lofty Warehouse Conversions On The Thames For far-reaching views along the Thames, taking in Tower Bridge, the Shard and the London skyline towards Westminster, head east to the converted warehouses of Wapping.

On the northern banks of the river, Wapping’s south-facing views are magnetic, and for its many fans this urban waterfront area represents the very best of East London living.

Unlike other nearby areas, which are awash with shiny high-rise apartments, Wapping is first and foremost a much-loved historic area with charming cobbled streets and artfully renovated Georgian warehouses, and an area where novelist Charles Dickens would call in regularly at The Prospect of Whitby, the city’s oldest pub. Wapping combines a maritime history with green spaces and a strong community spirit, and is where many of London’s earliest warehouse conversions were done, a beautiful blizzard of high ceilinged lofts, exposed bricks and industrial glamour.

Local transport options include London Overground trains to Canary Wharf, tube links from Tower Bridge and the DLR at Shadwell taking you straight to London City Airport, while cyclists jump on the cycle superhighway at Cable Street. This is a great location for anyone based in The City or Canary Wharf. As London returns to the office, demand for a base in Wapping has increased with resulting pressure on rents - while the marina at St Katharine Docks serves up plenty of restaurants and bars.

Schools include St Paul’s Whitechapel Primary, Hermitage Primary and top private schools of the two City of London Schools in the Barbican.

Canary Wharf

Perfecting The Work-Life Balance A bustling financial district, a collection of tall glass towers, a place of work for thousands: all true descriptions of Canary Wharf. Yet it’s equally accurate to describe 18

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Canary Wharf as home to London’s largest collection of outdoor art, a hyper local neighbourhood with a passionately united community, and the venue for a culturally rich events programme headed up by the annual Winter Lights festival. Emerge from the Underground station – the Jubilee Line connects to central London in 15 minutes – to browse the shops, grab a table at one of the many stand-out restaurants or stroll along the waterfront.

There’s notable architecture. Among the modern towers, the gorgeous curves of One Park Drive are the first UK residential development by star-architects Herzog & de Meuron, while British architects Foster + Partners designed the futuristic Crossrail Place Gardens, the first Elizabeth Line station to be completed.

Families are joining the young professionals who have always appreciated Canary Wharf’s lifestyle with Canary Wharf College and Canary Wharf Glenworth among local schools. Canary Wharf is a 128-acre private estate managed by a single landlord, Canary Wharf Group, who curate the Estate with a long-term vision. The lifestyle at Wood Wharf, the newest district, comes with a true taste of the USA. Residential buildings have stylish communal lounges and bars and well-designed workspaces that offer an

The Stylish, Affluent And Celebrity-Filled Neighbourhood Everyone loves Notting Hill. Elegant white stucco houses on private garden squares, the pretty pop of pastel terraces, antique shops and a boho-chic vibe all make this most stylish neighbourhood an enduring favourite. The Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant film ‘Notting Hill’ highlighted the appeal.

During lockdown, the leafy green space that Notting Hill offers saw it become even more in-demand – part of the much documented ‘race for space’ - and coupled with restricted supply, rents climbed steeply.

Portobello Road runs through Notting Hill and includes the famous antique market, while the Notting Hill carnival is unmissable, with the streets resonating to the reggae beat. There are Michelin-starred restaurants (start at The Ledbury) and buzzy gastropubs, award-winning artisan food shops and chic boutiques on Westbourne Grove. Just walking the streets, dropping in at the Electric Cinema or working out at any of the on-trend studios (quite possibly next to a celebrity or two), will make you feel a little more hip.

Excellent schools include Montessori nurseries, well-regarded Thomas Jones Primary School, Colville Primary and high-achieving private schools. Transport links from nearby Paddington Station link to Heathrow in 15 minutes and on to the West Country, and there’s easy access to three tube lines. For many international residents, charming Notting Hill is indeed the complete package.

PROPERTY

St John’s Wood

Home To The American International School With A Leafy Village Vibe Close to Regent’s Park north-eastern edge and two tube stops from the heart of Oxford Street, the space, greenery and convenience St John’s Wood offers saw its well-established popularity soar ever-higher over the past two years. It’s multi-cultural, community minded and home to many celebrities, but everyone keeps a low profile, apart perhaps from the Beatles’ fans lining up to get a picture walking across the Abbey Road zebra crossing made famous by the Fabulous Four.

Proximity to Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill and London Zoo makes this neighbourhood a family favourite and school choices are excellent. The American School in London is here with other nearby state and private schools, including St John’s Wood Pre Prep and Francis Holland.

The neighbourhood combines easy access to central London via the Jubilee tube line with quick escape routes from Paddington and Marylebone train stations to Bicester Village, the West Country and Heathrow. St John’s Wood is a Conservation Area with many of its houses protected by English Heritage. Property options range from large houses with gardens, terraced houses, bijou mews homes and apartments, both mansion blocks and contemporary new-builds.

Knight Frank’s Relocation Service

Finding a property in the current market can be a trying process, with unprecedented tenant demand and a shortage of stock across the board. Our relocation team are here to help navigate the competition and ensure our clients find the right property and that your experience is as smooth as possible.

Sacha Hawkins, Associate, Relocation Inspired by my parents’ love of property, I started out my real estate career in Cambridge, first working as an estate agent. I jumped at the opportunity to move into the world of corporate relocation and now have over eleven years’ experience in the industry and six of those working with corporates, relocating their employees.

A vital part of what I do is to listen to my clients’ individual needs, so that when they are matched to their perfect property, they have the best start to their new journey in London.

For any of your property needs or advice, please get in touch. I’d love to help you.

E: sacha.hawkins@knightfrank.com T: +44 20 3504 7337 www.knightfrank.co.uk

ROBERT MCGUIRE Associate Director/ Global Employer Services Robert.McGuire@bdo.co.uk

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TAXING ISSUES Foreign Tax Credit vs. Foreign Earned Income Exclusion A Comparative Analysis The following is designed to provide general tax information for Americans living abroad or contemplating a foreign move. As with all tax and legal issues, seeking tailored advice from qualified counsel is advisable.

As an American Expat, you are required to comply with long-standing US tax policy that creates an obligation to continue filing US tax returns, even after a permanent move abroad. With the potential for double taxation to arise, taking advantage of the various tax breaks available in the United States is crucial. To this end, one of the most important tax planning opportunities impacting American Expats at all income levels is often neglected.

The choice between electing the foreign earned income exclusion or opting instead to claim a foreign tax credit can produce a variety of different outcomes that will continue to influence your tax situation for years after this initial decision is made.

While both options may have the ability to reduce your US tax exposure to zero, the nuances of each and the underlying tax planning opportunities will vary. This article will provide an overview of the basic eligibility guidelines for these two important benefits and outline some of the specific scenarios that might lead you to choose one option over the other.

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

The foreign earned income exclusion allows employees and self-employed individuals to exclude up to $112,000 (2022) of earned income from US tax. To qualify, the following requirements must be satisfied: 1. The taxpayer must receive earned income; 2. The taxpayer’s tax home must be located outside the United States; and 3. The taxpayer must meet either: a. The physical presence test, or b. The bona fide residence test.

Earned Income Requirement For this purpose, earned income means payments for the performance of personal services. This can come in the form of salaries and wages or other taxable benefits provided through employment.

Interest, dividends, capital gains, and other investment income are not treated as earned and not eligible to be excluded. Pension distributions, though attributable to services 20

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previously performed, are also classified as unearned income.

This is a straightforward determination for freelance service providers or individuals drawing a salary. However, it can become a bit more complicated for partners in a partnership or owners of businesses that require a substantial initial investment.

Income will not qualify as earned if capital is a material factor in its production.

Tax Home Requirement Tax home is defined as the city or general vicinity of the taxpayer’s principal place of business or employment, regardless of the location of his or her residence. An overseas assignment that is less than one year generally will not result in a change of tax home.

Tax home is defined as the city or general vicinity of the taxpayer’s principal place of business or employment, regardless of the location of his or her residence Physical Presence Test The physical presence test is based exclusively on time spent outside the United States.

Taxpayers qualify by spending 330 full days in a foreign country during a consecutive twelvemonth period. Time spent in international waters or airspace and partial days of presence will not be counted. The 330 days can be spent in any foreign country that is not subject to US travel restrictions. A two-week holiday in Italy would still be counted for purposes of this test for someone living and working in London.

Importantly, the twelve-month period does not need to coincide with the calendar year. This means that partial exclusions can be claimed when a foreign work assignment commences or concludes during a given year. If a partial exclusion is claimed, the maximum exclusion amount for that year will be prorated to account for the days from the other tax year that are used to qualify. A twelve-month period that runs from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, would allow for an exclusion of $56,000 in 2022 (exactly half of the maximum exclusion amount of $112,000).

Bona Fide Residence Test The bona fide residence test does not require presence in a foreign country for the entire 330-day period. Instead, it obliges the taxpayer to demonstrate considerable, ongoing connections to that country, looking to the nature of in-country housing, whether family members have also made the move, and general personal and economic connections. Meeting the bona fide residence test requires a full calendar year of residency in that country, though shortterm trips can be taken to the United States during the qualifying year.

Notably, taxpayers cannot qualify as bona fide residents if they have taken a position that they are nonresidents of that country for tax purposes. This would be an issue for someone who has taken a treaty-based position that they are not UK residents, but electing remittance-basis in the United Kingdom would not eliminate eligibility as a bona fide resident.

Waiver Of Time Requirements The time requirements for both tests are only waived if one must leave the country due to war, civil unrest, or similar adverse conditions. The IRS publishes a list of the countries where the waiver will be available during any given year. Historically, the list has been limited, including only Burma, Chad, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ethiopia, in 2021.

The Foreign Tax Credit

The foreign tax credit offers a dollar-for-dollar offset against US tax for UK income and capital gains taxes paid or accrued in that year. The credit can be claimed for tax paid or accrued both on foreign earned income as well as foreign investment income.

TAXING ISSUES Tax Credit Baskets Although the credit is available for all types of taxable income, multiple “baskets” of foreign tax credits have been established to prevent income tax attributable to one type of income from offsetting tax due from another. The two main baskets are the general category, which applies to wages and pensions, and the passive category, which applies to investment income. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 created a new basket for “foreign branch” income that may broadly impact the calculations for selfemployed individuals. A separate category also exists for foreign tax attributable to US source income for which a credit is available under terms of a US income tax treaty.

Tax Credit Carryovers Foreign taxes within a given basket that are in excess of the effective US rate on that basket of income can be carried back one tax year and forward ten years. As will be discussed below, these credit carryovers can produce tremendous tax planning opportunities in later years.

Making the Best Decision Under the Circumstances

With respect to earned income, most American Expats living and working in the United Kingdom will be eligible for both benefits.

However, credits are not available for foreign tax paid on excluded foreign earned income, meaning that both benefits cannot be claimed for the same earnings. The option that makes sense for you will depend on the attributes of your specific tax situation, with the following elements driving the decision-making.

1. You want ease of tax compliance – exclusion. If you are working as an employee and your only income source is a UK salary below the foreign earned income exclusion threshold, you will have a straightforward tax compliance obligation. Just report your salary in USD, provide some basic information about your employer and your travel dates, and call it a day. For self-filers looking to easily eliminate their annual US tax liability, this will be the path of least resistance.

2. You receive tax-protected UK income or US investment income below the standard deduction threshold – exclusion. US source income or taxprotected UK income would generally produce a US tax liability. In some scenarios, the interaction between the foreign earned income exclusion and the standard deduction can shield up to $12,950 (2022) of these income sources from US tax exposure. For example, if you earn a $100,000 salary, generate $5,000 of US source capital gains and $3,000 in interest from a UK ISA account, the salary would be exempt by claiming the WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

foreign earned income exclusion and the standard deduction would fully offset the US gains and UK interest income. In this scenario, US tax would likely be due if the foreign tax credit were to be claimed.

3. You have already been claiming the foreign earned income exclusion and will soon move to a low-tax country – exclusion. If you have been claiming the exclusion and opt instead to claim the foreign tax credit in a particular year, this is treated as a revocation of the exclusion election. When a revocation occurs, you would be unable to claim the exclusion again for five years without requesting IRS consent. If you end up working in a country with lower tax rates than the United States during this window, the inability to claim the exclusion would have serious negative tax consequences.

4. You may be working in a country with tax rates relatively lower than the US in the future – credit. Subject to the exclusion revocation issue discussed above, if a possibility exists that you will be relocating to a country with low personal income tax exposure, being able to leverage the prior ten years of excess foreign tax credit carryovers from your time working in the United Kingdom can produce a considerable windfall. Foreign tax credits for UK tax paid in prior years could be carried over to offset US tax on income earned in a later year in Dubai, Hong Kong, or Zurich.

5. You have children and are eligible for refundable tax credits – credit. The child tax credit is available to American Expats and can produce cash payments from Uncle Sam without having actually paid in any US tax. Eligibility for the child tax credit was broadly expanded to higher income individuals with the 2017 tax reform package, but the pandemic-era legislation increasing the amount of the credit requires the taxpayer to live in the US for over half the year. Nevertheless, the original provisions and $1,400 refundable credit remain available to American expats. Importantly, the credit requires that you have reported earned income on your US tax return. If you claim the foreign earned income exclusion, you will not qualify for the refundable portion of the child tax credit irrespective of whether you meet the other eligibility requirements.

6. You want to continue funding a US Traditional or Roth IRA account – credit.

Funding an IRA also requires that you have generated earned income. This means that you either need to opt to claim the foreign tax credit or have generated income in excess of the foreign earned income exclusion threshold if you still wish to participate. Excess contribution taxes would be due on contributions to an IRA in a year that you have excluded all your UK earnings from US tax.

7. You are funding a UK pension – credit.

Because of the relatively higher rate of tax in the UK, it can potentially be beneficial to forgo treaty-based benefits that would otherwise shield contributions to registered UK pension arrangements from US tax. Instead, using the excess UK tax credits to offset the US tax on the contributions in that year can result in the build-up of an amount that would not be subject to US tax once distributed at retirement age, potentially producing meaningful future tax savings for you.

8. You are receiving equity compensation from your employer – credit. The foreign earned income exclusion is only available for income received less than one year after it was earned. Claiming the foreign tax credit will often be the only way to reduce US tax on the compensation component of stock options and grants that vest over several years.

9. You are working in a self-employed capacity – it depends. For self-employed individuals, the foreign earned income exclusion is applied against gross income with expenses attributable to excluded income being disallowed. For example, if you were to generate $200,000 in revenue, with $100,000 of expenses, although your net income is below the exclusion threshold, you would still be showing taxable income. Furthermore, with the new “foreign branch” basket impacting foreign tax credit calculations and carryovers for self-employed individuals, examining the details of the specific business operations is necessary.

10.You have retained state-level residency back in the US – it depends. If you are still filing tax returns at the state level, it will be imperative to first determine whether your state of residency permits its residents to claim one of these benefits. With all states having different rules for handling foreign income, you may need to start the credit v. exclusion analysis with a determination of state tax exposure.

Many American Expats will often be balancing several of these competing intentions. Making a choice that will provide you with the best overall benefit and create the greatest opportunity for future tax planning should ultimately be the goal.

Roland Sabates, Expat Legal Services Group Expat Legal Services Group offers serves the American expat community in the areas of international tax, immigration law, and cross border business and estate planning, leveraging a suite of modern technology solutions. Contact Expat Legal Services Group today at info@expatlegal.com or visit the website at www.expatlegal.com.

The choice of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising.

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READER’S LIVES but we’ve been pleasantly surprised. We’ve also found a nice balance between travelling back to the US and having our friends and family coming to visit us here. It was much tougher during the pandemic, but we’ve gotten back into a nice routine since.

What Challenges Did You Face During Your First Year In The UK?

Cindy Sightes, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at HCA Healthcare UK, moved to London from Austin, Texas in 2019. Here she tells us about overcoming technology struggles, learning British phrases and discovering dog-friendly restaurants as she settled into life in the UK.

How Did You Decide On An Area To Live In?

My employer, HCA Healthcare UK, helped me and my husband, Billy, to find a house when we relocated to the UK in 2019. There was one available in St John’s Wood in north London, which is a very nice neighbourhood and is in a really convenient location, so we decided to live there.

Did You Have Any Initial Concerns About The Move?

We’d never even visited the UK when we decided to make the move, so we were excited, but a little anxious about living and working here. We were going to be away from family and friends, the house we were going to be living in was being remodelled (and we hadn’t seen it), plus, we were moving with no car and going to be dependent on public transport, which was a big change for us. We love St John’s Wood – it doesn’t feel like we’re living in a major city. We’ve figured out public transport and now actually quite enjoy not having a car. We didn’t realise how good London’s public transport system was here before we moved, 22

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Initially, we struggled with technology, such as transitioning phones, setting up new Amazon accounts, and using US credit cards on some UK websites. Then there were the odd things, like needing a TV licence, which isn’t a thing in the US. It’s also very difficult to set up a UK bank account. I’ve been very fortunate to have the support of my husband to take that pressure off of me. Billy didn’t work for the first six months after we moved, so he was able to figure out the day-to-day living issues and learn which is our best local grocery store. There’s also language used in the UK that you have to decipher as an American. For example, we say “primary care clinic” in the US, but here it’s a “GP surgery”.

Were There Any British Phrases That Amused You?

Yes! “Chalk and cheese” and “teaching your grandmother to suck eggs”. The British say “cheers” to mean “thank you”, not just as a toast. I found myself raising my hand during meetings to ask what these things meant

just so I could follow the conversation! I now say, “we’ll get it sorted”, instead of, “we’ll figure it out” – much to the amusement of my family and friends.

Have You Embraced Anything In Particular About British Culture?

We have a bit of menu intimidation and we’re sometimes wary of trying new things.

Since being in the UK, however, we’ve become much more adventurous. We love Indian food and eat it at least once a week. We also love Chinatown in central London, and the amazing restaurants there. And then there are the pubs, both for the food and the friendly atmosphere. We have a border collie, Luna, and we’ve been amazed by how many dog-friendly restaurants there are in London.

What Do You Like About Living In The UK?

Our favourite thing is the people – ever yone’s been so welcoming and friendly. We love the melting pot of cultures here. You can hear 10 different languages being spoken while walking one block. That’s been really interesting and educational for us. It’s also great for travel.

You can be almost anywhere in Europe in a couple of hours from London, but we also love our weekend trips travelling around the UK by train – it’s a very beautiful place.

Is There Anything You Would Like To Change About Living In The UK?

If our family was living here, it would be perfect! We’re just hoping another pandemic doesn’t hit, so we can still make it back to the US to see our family and friends, and they can continue to visit us here.

Do You Have Any Advice For Professionals Relocating To The UK?

Talking to people who have already made the transition is extremely helpful. Having a supportive employer is so important, and a partner who can figure out all the UK-specific, day-to-day issues while you settle into your new job is a life saver! I’ve been extremely lucky to have both.

TRAVEL

TRAVEL Venice, Featuring Hotel Excelsior, Venice Lido Venice, Italy (not the one in Florida!), regularly comes in the top 10 most romantic cities in the world, and tops the polls as being the most romantic in Italy, which says so much when Rome is displaced to number two!

Gondola rides down the narrow waterways, balmy nights sipping wonderful wines, pink-hued skies at sun set, and the wonderful Italian cuisine, all contribute to making Venice number one. But Venice is not just for lovers, it is an all-year-round destination catering for everyone as it is steeped in history and truly unique.

It has been dubbed with many names including, The City of Water, The City of Masks and The Floating City (although unfortunately if the scientists are to be believed it may be more apt to call it the Sinking City), and much of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Venice was also well known for the arts including several important artistic movements, especially during the Renaissance period as well as being the birthplace of the Baroque composer, Antonio Vivaldi.

Venice is to be found in the north-eastern part of Italy and is the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on 118 small islands separated by canals, and boasts over 400 bridges and an eye watering 77 churches. Its location at the mouths of the River Po and WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

the Plave Rivers has made it strategically important for much of its life, and made its rulers, or Doges as they were known, very influential throughout Italy and beyond. The actual origins of Venice are unknown, but the city as we know it started around 421BC, and over the following years it became an important centre of commerce, especially in silk, grain and spices, and from that wealth many of its buildings were born.

My last visit to Venice was 14 years ago with my then girlfriend, now wife, and so this trip had a lot to live up to as our last trip was magical, and I am pleased to say it didn’t disappoint in any way.

Flights from the UK are frequent (albeit a little disrupted at the moment!) and take around 2 hours. The airport is approximately 10km from Venice and you can get there either by land or sea. If you prefer the land route you can take the bus, but in my view, there is only one way to reach the ‘Floating City’ and that is by water. The choices here are either a private water taxi or via the Alilaguna water bus, or vaporetto as it is better known. The Vaporettos do take approximately 1hr 20 mins to reach St Mark’s Square as they stop a number of times on the way, and although slightly pricey I would use a private taxi boat, as what better way to reach Venice than in style. We opted for the

private taxi that was organised by our hotel, and as you leave the dock you do feel extra special, and once you have left the slightly ugly initial waterway near to the airport you start to reap the benefit of the water route as you wend your way past a number of the 118 islands, with a grandstand view. One of the islands that you actually drive through is Murano, but more about that island later.

Our destination was Hotel Excelsior, on Venice Lido, which is one of the larger island’s not far from the island housing the main city, and having left the main lagoon and cruised our way down one of the narrow canals we turned a corner and a couple of minutes later saw the magnificent Hotel Excelsior with its large and colourful dock.

On leaving the boat we were welcomed by the concierge who whisked away our luggage and directed us down the red carpeted hallway adorned with pictures of famous film stars enjoying Venice, to their reception desk.

Hotel Excelsior is the only purpose-built hotel in Venice and was built in 1908, and quickly became the ultimate destination for the world’s rich and famous, and indeed this remains to this day, as it hosts Venice’s world-famous film festival and welcomes many A list celebrities who appreciate the finer things in life.

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Hotel Excelsior is unique in terms of Venice hotels as it is only 15 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Venice town centre (via one of the hotels courtesy boats which run every 30 mins from 10am to 11.30pm), but is also situated on the sandy beach on the sparkling Adriatic sea, so, if you stay here, you get the best of both worlds, as you are close to the sights and sounds of Venice, but can stay in the peace and tranquillity of the Venice Lido right on the beach. The hotel has 196 rooms including 8 junior suites and 15 suites with most overlooking either the Adriatic Sea or Venice. There is a distinct Moorish feel to the rooms and the ceilings are high and the windows large which creates a light and airy feel to every one. Rooms are well appointed with luxurious toiletries and a coffee making machine which produced wonderfully rich coffees.

Having settled in we decided to relax a little before getting ready for dinner and walked down to the pool to enjoy the evening sun.

The pool is a good size and is overlooking the beach which affords calming views over the sparkling waters whilst you relax on well-spaced out comfortable sun loungers, enabling you to get over the stresses of the day.

Guests at Hotel Excelsior are spoilt for choice when looking for dining options as you can take the shuttle over to Venice if you so choose, as the last shuttle back is 11.35pm, but why do that when the options at Hotel Excelsior are so good and you have a wonderful view as well?

Choices include the Elimar Beach Restaurant, and The Blue Bar for a more casual option, and the Adriatico Terrace for fine dining.

Before dinner we decided to walk in the footsteps of many stars by having a cocktail at the Blue Bar, which has been delighting people for over 100 years. The bar is actually listed, and the décor is a wonderful throw back to the 1930’s with a curved padded bar

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with mushroom shaped leather bar stools and tiled tables surrounded by large curved leather armchairs. Here they serve probably the best cocktails in Venice with the stand out one being the Cool as a Cucumber. Not only did it look amazing, but the combination of Midori Melon, vodka, pineapple juice, peach liqueur and fresh cucumber made it taste amazing too.

Having finished our cocktails, we left the bar via the double doors onto the large, spacious sun terrace overlooking the sea to eat. The food is casual, but very fresh and full of local dishes. For starters we selected two Venetian specialities, the Baccala Mantecato, Focaccia soffice e pappacella, which was traditional Venetian cod with focaccia and peppers, and a variety of seafood fried in a light batter.

The cod was smoky and served on a slice of light focaccia with the peppers providing some soft texture and was delicious, and the assorted fried fish was different from what you would get in the UK as it comprised of squid, silversides and whole small shrimp in their shells all encased in a very light batter giving off a wonderful smell of the sea. For our mains we chose something from the pizza section.

Here there are three sections, the classics the Sfiziose (‘the tasty’ is the literal translation) and the Gourmet which are cooked twice as they are first steamed and then put in the oven. Our choices were the margherita and from the Sfiziose selection, the Veneto. The art to a quality pizza must always start with the base and here both were light and doughy, but cooked just long enough so that they were crispy - perfect. The final part is quality and abundance of toppings, and with a margharitta there is nowhere to hide as it is just tomato and cheese and it didn’t disappoint. My Veneto pizza was a mixture of aubergine, sausage, radicchio and Valpolicella wine sauce and lived up to its billing as Sfiziose!

After dinner we retired as we had a busy day ahead of us visiting all that Venice has to offer.

Venice is packed with history and culture and so any excuse will do to wander round its wonders. From Saint Mark’s Square to the Rialto Bridge, from the Doge’s Palace to the evocative Jewish ghetto, you will find magic down the small streets called ‘calli’ and along the picturesque canals of the city. There is truly something for everyone so maybe pay a visit to the Gallerie dell’Accademia, now housing a museum gallery, to enjoy the vast collection of Venetian art dating from the 14th to the 18th century. More works of art, as well as artefacts reflecting the history of Venice, are found at Museo Correr that you can access from the former royal Palace. For lovers of modern art, on the other hand, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is the ideal location to let your imagination fly.

Hotel Excelsior shuttle drops you off just outside St Marks Square dominated at one end by St Mark’s Basilica and adjacent Doge’s Palace and looked down on by The ‘Campanile’ (bell tower) (this was the place for the Venetian aristocracy to see and be seen).

Now it is surrounded by fancy restaurants and bars with live music all adding to the feeling that this is the place to be, and everything in Venice revolves around it. The Basilica San Marco is one of the most stunningly beautiful and intricately designed cathedrals in the world; no wonder it is the city’s top attraction.

Pure Venetian, the church’s architectural style encompasses Byzantine, Islamic, and Western European influences, and has more than 500 columns and 85,000 square feet of intricate, golden mosaics adorning the main portal and the interiors of its five domes. Adjacent to Saint Mark’s Basilica is the opulent Doges’ Palace (Palazzo Ducale), the erstwhile

TRAVEL headquarters of the Doges, rulers of Venice.

The Doge essentially functioned as the King of Venice, and his massive palace functioned almost like a self-contained city. The former assembly halls, apartments, and harrowing prisons are part of the self-guided or guided tours available here.

My one tip in this area is be careful of the seagulls in the square. My wife was eating a baguette whilst walking through the square and was dive bombed by one of these large birds who snatched her baguette from her hand!

On leaving St Marks square we made our way across to another one of Venice’s main sights, namely the Rialto bridge, which is now one of the most famous bridges in Venice, if not the world. Dividing the districts of San Marco and San Polo, this elegant stone bridge is formed of three sets of stairs divided by arcades. The central stairs are lined with shops and vendors and so densely packed that it’s easy to miss the fact that you’re crossing over the Grand Canal, and the two side stairways afford lovely views of the Grand Canal and the hustle and bustle of the gondolas, vaporettos and commercial boats jostling for supremacy on the water, and at sunset, especially, there are few more beautiful and romantic places to be in Venice.

There are so many bridges in Venice it is almost impossible to put a number to them, but another bridge you must visit is the Bridge of Sighs. The bridge was named by the locals as Ponte dei Sospiri and was built in 1600. It was so named as it was the bridge that connects the Doge’s Palace to the historic prison across the canal, and despite this history, it is considered romantic to kiss your loved one as you pass under it in a gondola (although it truly isn’t an intimate moment as everyone else has the same idea!).

There is so much to see in Venice you do need to be strict with yourself and resist the temptation to walk into every church you pass by as otherwise you won’t get very far, but do pop your head into one or two as they are all visually stunning with ornate carvings and wonderful paintings.

Our final destination of the day was the island of Murano. Many visitors only spend their time on the main island, but do take the time to go over to Murano as this is where all glass making, for which Venice is rightfully famous, was moved so as to reduce the fire risk to the main island. Murano’s street are far less crowded and you get a better feel for the Venetian’s way of life. If you come from the airport by water you will pass through Murano’s own version of The Grand Canal, but you don’t get the true experience unless you disembark and walk the narrow streets. Murano glass is famous the world over and it is here in Murano that you can not only shop for wonderful souvenirs you can also see how the pieces are made. Hotel Excelsior has a boat you can request that will take you directly to Murano from the hotel and this includes a visit to a factory where you will see glass being blown as well as being taken around the shop. There WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

is no hard sell if you don’t see a piece you are interested in, so is a great inexpensive way to get to the island. We took the boat and were treated to a demonstration of glass blowing. It is truly amazing to see these skilled craftsmen making intricate pieces from what initially was a glowing blob of molten glass and the skill involved defies belief. We then walked the streets searching for our Murano glass piece to go with the one we bought 14 years and found a wonderfully decorative seal. Murano glass pieces are hand blown and require real skill and time to make, and so prices reflect that.

Unfortunately, the market has been infiltrated by replicas from China so when buying a piece please ask about how they can prove it is original Murano and always follow the great adage ‘If the price is too good to be true, it probably is’.

Tired but contented, we got the hotel’s water taxi back from Murano and got ready for our final evening meal. This was at the Adriatico restaurant which is also located on the grand terrace in front of the hotel overlooking the sea.

The food here is excellent and my selection of raw Mediterranean fish for starters was a great opener as it was visually stunning and so fresh it felt like the fish had been caught only a few seconds ago. The Italians love food and it isn’t hard to see why when you taste really fresh pasta. The ravioli filled with cod and the fresh and crisp green pea risotto were the stand outs on the pasta course. It is always sensible to order fish in a restaurant near to the sea and my Sea Bass with water melon and beef tomato didn’t disappoint. Our dessert was the wonderfully named Chocolate in various textures and temperatures, pears and chilli peppers and was a fabulous end to the meal.

The service was unobtrusive and it was nice to be left a little time between courses to rest and enjoy the lovely live music from the pianist, and allow the last course to be digested.

For our final day in Venice we booked one of the hotel’s beach cabana’s situated at the edge of the beach. These give the best view of the sandy beach and the twinkling sea.

These structures date back many years and are also listed by the Italian Government and consist of a place to change, table and two sun chairs along with two sun beds. The sun beds out the front of each cabana are insanely comfortable and staff continually come round to take your food and drink orders.

Venice is a magical place to delight everyone. It is full of history and wonderful buildings, classic art, wonderful music and delicious food, and with Hotel Excelsior you can add to that dazzling list a wonderful sandy beach and tranquil haven. They say on their website it provides the best of both worlds, Venice town and a 5 star beach resort and I have to agree, and to add to that both worlds are pretty special.

Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort, 5 star hotel in Venice, Italy (hotelexcelsiorvenezia.com) WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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HOTEL REVIEW

HOTEL REVIEW Beachcroft Hotel Beach Huts Bognor Regis, West Sussex Ben and I have had the great pleasure of reviewing many of Peter de Savary’s hotels over the years, including The Cary Arms in Babbacombe, the Shepherds Huts at the Merry Harriers, and Mount Cinnamon in Grenada, so we were delighted when we were invited to review the new Beach Huts at the Beachcroft Hotel in Bognor Regis, West Sussex.

Situated on the beach front of Bognor Regis’s beach, these three storey beach huts are perfect for a family get away on the south coast, as they have a bunk bedded room and bathroom on the ground floor, a lounge with bi-folding doors on to a private decked terrace with sun loungers on the second floor and a double bedroom on the third floor, all open plan so you can see the bed from the lounge, and whilst lying on the bed, if you have the doors open, you feel like you are floating on the sea because when the tide is in that is the view you have from the bed!

The private decked terrace is very close to the esplanade that many people use to stroll along the beach front, so much so that you can have a chat with those walking past.

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One walker asked if our croissants that we brought from breakfast to enjoy in the sun were for him, and many said hello, and although at first we thought it would be intrusive, it ended up being good fun saying hello to others who were enjoying the glorious sunshine as much as we were.

If you walk along the pebbly promenade to the right of the hotel you will come to a traditional British pier, with an arcade full of games to entertain the family, and on the other side there is crazy golf for £5.50 per person, which we really enjoyed, although I enjoyed it slightly more than Ben as I won, and he is a golfer who plays off six! I do admit there are no windmills, water wheels or helter skelters on a normal golf course, but I will take any win I can!

Having enjoyed a stroll along the seafront (there is a seven mile stretch of coastline for walkers to enjoy) we decided to enjoy a drink in the hotel’s outdoor bar, that again overlooks the sea and welcomes dogs. Blakes Beach Bar and Restaurant has a lunchtime menu here, as well as an Afternoon Tea menu, and after 6pm it

becomes a pizza only restaurant, with a choice of four pizzas – margarita, vegetarian, pepperoni or prosciutto and rocket. We enjoyed our pizza in the one pod they have on the terrace, although sitting inside the pod or outside is equally enjoyable.

It is an extremely relaxing hotel, and just what we needed having just run our American Finance and Networking Event two days before, and in keeping with relaxed vibe the pizzas are served in boxes, which again I initially thought was odd, but actually it made it a bit more fun, but I am sure if you would rather have a knife, fork and plate, the staff would happily oblige.

The attention to detail the de Savary family have is what sets their hotels apart from many others, in my opinion. Little things like real milk in the fridge, rather than the cartons that are hard to open, and then usually spit milk all over me once I am successful in lifting the top off, quality toiletries in the bathrooms, buckets, spades and fishing nets for the children, and dog bowls around the hotel for our furry friends, who are welcome to stay at the hotel.

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There is a television in both the lounge area and upstairs bedroom with many extra viewing options you don’t usually get in a hotel, including Netflix, a Magimix coffee making machine with proper mugs, and sloe gin with two shot glasses.

For the more active of our readers, there are bikes and paddle boards to hire, and an indoor swimming pool that can be booked on the half hour. This is great, as it means you and your family have the pool entirely to yourselves, so if you are a serious swimmer you can swim without others getting in your way, or if you have children they can swim and splash around to their hearts content without parents worrying about them disturbing other guests. There is also a pool table and table tennis table in the hotel, along with a restaurant.

For those wishing to dine in the hotel’s restaurant, Tamarisk Restaurant offers a traditional selection of English dishes freshly prepared by chef Damian Czerny who has worked around the continent and has brought his experience and flair to the Beachcroft Hotel.

If you are looking for a more relaxed meal, then Monty’s bar and bistro offers a selection of light bites and home cooked classics, in a cosy ambience and has something for all the family, and their four-legged friends. The restaurant is even named after the de Savary’s own beloved dog Monty, which enhances the fact that they are incredibly pet friendly.

Free parking is also available at the hotel, and for those in the beach huts the parking is opposite the main hotel’s reception, which is also where the beach huts are situated.

We have had a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing 24 hours staying in our five star Beach Hut, sitting on the terrace enjoying the sun and listening to the waves, and we hope to return in the near future.

For further information please visit www.beachcroft-hotel.co.uk

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THEATRE

THEATRE REVIEWS

By Tim Baros & Ben Everson

LtoR (front centre) Jessica Croll as Patty Simcox, Olivia Moore as Sandy and Eloise Davies as Frenchie, with the company in GREASE, credit Manuel Harlan

Grease Is THE Word!

Yes that’s right - Grease is the word, is the word that you heard, its got a groove, it’s got a meaning, Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion, Grease is the way we are feeling.

‘Grease the Musical’ will have you dancing in your seats to the songs you know and love from the 1978 film of the same name. And while its stars are no Olivia Newton John or John Travolta, you’ll still have an excellent time!

Sandy (Olivia Moore) and Danny (Dan Partridge) have hot ‘Summer Nights’ during a fleeting summer romance, but surprisingly they meet again at school, unexpectedly, in the fall. Will their short-lived summer romance survive the trials and tribulations of high school? Who actually cares, because we already know the ending! Sit back and have fun while the actors, and especially the dancers, work very hard and very successfully win over the crowd. The musical numbers of ‘Greased Lightning’ and ‘You’re the one That I Want’ will wear you out - the dancers perform dizzying dances that seem to defy gravity - they are so in step and in sync that kudos must be given to choreographer ‘Arlene Phillips’.

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And while not one actor stands out (star billing goes to Peter Andre who makes brief appearances as the DJ and then host at the high school prom), with good direction by ‘Nikolai Foster’.

Moore smashes ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’ but it’s a team effort from the cast and crew that will ensure you have a fabulous time. And we sure did! www.greasemusical.co.uk

LtoR (centre) Dan Partridge as Danny, Paul French as Kenickie and Damon Gould as Sonny, with the company in GREASE, credit Manuel Harlan

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Lucie Jones. Photo by Matt Crockett

Wicked For over 16 years Wicked has been wowing audiences at the Apollo Victoria Theatre and it isn’t hard to understand why. The story intertwines with that of the Wizard of Oz and helps to explain a little bit about the origins of the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin Man, and is packed with infectious songs. Wicked is loosely based on a Gregory Maguire book, Wicked the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the London Company. Photo by Matt Crockett

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West, and tells the story of Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) and her relationship with Galinda (the Good Witch of the North). The story takes us through the ups and downs of their relationship as they move through school into adulthood and the situations arising from their very different personalities. Galinda is a popular, vain, ambitious blonde, and in a nice way a little bit dippy, whereas Elphaba is a decent hearted idiolistic loner who is shunned because she is green, and much of

the humour comes from the attempts made by them to initiate the other into their way of thinking. One such attempt provides one of the best songs in the musical, Popular, where Galinda dresses Elphaba up in more fashionable clothes and tries to get her to act more ‘girly’.

Its longevity is testament to the quality of the songs, the costumes and the staging, and the fact that things are livened up every once in a while, with a new cast. It is also the epitome of girl power as all of the main characters are women and strong ones at that. I was lucky enough to see the first night of the new cast which includes Lucy Jones as Elphaba (of Pop Idol Fame), Helen Woolf as Galinda and Gary Wilmot as the Wizard, and although this was my fourth time seeing the show, I still had butterflies and that expectancy for the start of the show.

Unlike some other musicals which only have a few good songs, every song in Wicked is great, and some of them are even better than that with the playful ‘Popular’, the haunting ‘With the Wizard’ and the magical ‘Defying Gravity’, which ends the first half with a bang - my stand out songs.

My first ‘Wicked’ experience was with my daughter for her 8th birthday, and although she is now 19, her words that night still ring in my ears when she said ‘That was great Dad, can we come again next week?’. The best, and most accurate review I can think of! www.wickedthemusical.co.uk

THEATRE Matthew Bourne’s THE CAR MAN. The Company. Photo Johan Persson

The Car Man I’m glad to have finally seen ‘The Car Man’ as it is a sight to see!

‘The Car Man’ is sexy, sultry and very dramatic. The show literally ropes you in

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during the first five minutes where we get to see about a dozen men take their clothes off to shower - and from then the show kicks off!

The first production of Mathew Bourne’s dance sensation was back in 2000 at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth, and then

transferred to London’s Old Vic. And it has come and gone, most recently at Sadlers Wells in 2015. It’s now back on one of the famous stages in London - The Royal Albert Hall - and it’s not to be missed!

Blending in romance, violence, skin - lots of skin - the show is a nod to the dark and erotic film noirs of the 1950’s and 1960’s with lots of dancing, and lots (over 30) of performers, in a show that’s a take on ‘Carmen’.

We are in a diner in an Italian American city called Harmony in the 1960’s. A stranger arrives into town who takes a job as a mechanic, hence the title of the show. His arrival affects everyone in town, where the rest of the story is beautifully told through dance and via a well-tuned orchestra led by Brett Morris in a show that also has touches of ‘West Side Story’. There is dancing everywhere on stage - it’s hard to take it all in - but the dancers manage it all beautifully, all their way through to the compelling climax.

Music is composed by Terry Davies in a show brought to us by the comparable Sir Matthew Bourne.

It’s a thrilling show with an excellent score and an emotionally dramatic storyline. I want to see it again!

For tickets, please go to: www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/ events/2022/the-car-man/

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TAKE FIVE

TAKE FIVE The Joys Of Summer

by Judith Schrut Joyful British summertime! featuring Ava, Jonah & Max, photo by Sarah Stanton Plotkin

Country fairs and village fêtes, scones and clotted cream in a quaint tearoom, fish and chips on a pebble beach, Wimbledon, cricket, pond dipping, birdwatching, be it in cottages, tents or under umbrellas, come rain or shine, nothing compares to summertime Britain.

You’ll find the upcoming season packed with summer joys: shows, concerts, festivals, sports and other summerlicious treats. Let us help you make the most of these glorious long days and late, light nights, with our Take Five summer preview.

1. Awesome Anniversaries

Make a date with history this summer as Britain toasts a truck load of birthdays and anniversaries, such as illustrious Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

The world witnessed its first Quidditch match 25 summers ago, when the first Harry Potter book was published. This year also marks the 100th birthday of James Joyce’s Ulysses, and the 150th of George Eliot’s Middlemarch. The British Broadcasting Corporation - our beloved BBC - turns 100, as does that most British of condiments, Branston Pickle. This year is memorable too for fans of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, whose 150th birthday will be fêted with many performances of his works including rarely heard tuba and oboe concertos.

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Whether you’re new to the UK or have been around since the Queen’s Coronation, visiting historic houses, castles and stately homes is an unmissable and uniquely British experience. From perfectly restored fairytale fortresses to crumbling medieval wrecks where much is left to the imagination, these are attractions you definitely can’t get Stateside.

Waddesdon Manor, one of my favourite’s, is a stunning French-style château, splendidly set in Buckinghamshire countryside and just an hour’s train or car ride from London. Waddesdon has a distinguished history, most notably as home to banker, politician, philanthropist and art

Mia Jackson, Curator of Decorative Arts, in the Exhibition Room, Alice’s Wonderlands at Waddesdon © Waddesdon, A Rothschild House & Gardens

collector, Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild.

This summer Waddesdon presents “Alice’s Wonderlands”, a salute to the Baron’s little sister Alice on the centenary of her death.

The Baron’s young wife and only child died in childbirth, so at his death he bequeathed Waddesdon to Alice. Alice (18471922) was a strong, smart, independent and free-spirited woman, a passionate art collector and gardener, who soon gave Waddesdon a memorable stamp of her own. Alice’s fascinating story has long been overshadowed by her brother’s, until now.

Charming, enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff are on hand to guide you around Alice’s extraordinary life, collections and legacy.

Leave plenty time during your Waddesdon visit to explore its wondrous grounds, gardens and Rococo aviary teeming with exotic birds; to sample its vast wine cellar including top notch Rothschild wines; and to savour a sumptuous Afternoon Tea or traditional Sunday lunch in its awardwinning Manor Restaurant. Throughout the year, Waddesdon hosts music, theatre, open air movies and other events, indulgent food and wine tastings, seasonal fairs and the UK’s annual Chili Fest.

But it’s only natural that the year’s biggest celebrations are reserved for our devoted, long serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Across the UK and throughout 2022, we’re honouring Her Majesty’s 70th year on the throne, the first time in history that any British WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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Last but not least, Heinz have produced limited editions of two of the nation’s favourite condiments, HP Sauce and Salad Cream, rebranded as “HM Sauce” and “Heinz Salad Queen”. Not to be (pardon the pun) outgunned, Virgin Records has re-released the Sex Pistols’ notorious 1977 single “God Save the Queen”.

Further information: Alice’s Wonderlands, Waddesdon Manor, to 30 October 2022, waddesdon.org.uk The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022, platinumjubilee.gov.uk The State Rooms and Garden at Buckingham Palace, 22 July-2 October 2022, www.rct.uk The Queen’s Green Canopy Project, queensgreencanopy.org Happy 70th to You Ma’am! HM Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, credit Jacob King, PA Wire, PA Images

monarch has celebrated a Platinum Jubilee.

So, join the nation as it shouts “Long Live the Queen!” and Her Majesty generously shares her love of horses, corgis, marmalade sandwiches and pageantry with her subjects for one heckuva party.

Royal revels continue above and beyond June’s big Jubilee Weekend. The 16th Queen’s Baton Relay, carried by thousands of selected baton bearers, each with an inspiring background story, completes its thrilling journey across 72 Commonwealth countries with a whirlwind sprint through 180 UK cities, towns and villages. The journey ends on 28 July in Birmingham for the start of the XXII (22nd) Commonwealth Games.

The Queen’s Green Canopy project also continues. This timely planting scheme invites people from across the UK to “Plant a tree for the Jubilee” and will dedicate and preserve 70 Ancient Woodlands and 70 Ancient Trees to mark Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.

Grab a ticket for Buckingham Palace’s annual summer opening and see great treasures from the Royal Collection and visit the lavish State Rooms – where the Queen and Royal Family entertain guests on state and ceremonial occasions. A dazzling display celebrates the Queen’s Accession of February 1952, including the Queen Mary’s ‘Girls of Great Britain and Ireland’ tiara. Queen Mary gave the tiara to her granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth, as a wedding present in 1947. Companion exhibitions take place at Windsor Castle and Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse.

St Paul’s Cathedral’s exhibition, “The Monarch and the Changing World”, apprises the Jubilees of four British monarchs, George III, Victoria, George V and Elizabeth II, while Sotheby’s exhibits rare royal manuscripts, jewellery and portraits. The Royal Mint Experience explores the Queen’s reign through coins. Historic Royal Palaces proudly shows off “Superbloom”, a spectacular summer garden in the moat of the Tower of London, sown from more than 20 million seeds.

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2. All That Jazz

We think summer and jazz are natural partners. This season you’ll find jazz galore on village greens, riverside barges, pub gardens and other chilled out venues across the UK, from long-established stardraw fests like Glasgow Jazz Festival and Edinburgh Jazz and Blues, to intimate indie gigs in London cafés and small clubs from Mood Indigo Events, to Europe’s biggest outdoor jazz festival, Love Supreme.

Making an exhilarating return after two years’ pandemic postponements, Love Supreme is set for its 8th and most fabulous festival yet, at its gorgeous country house space near Brighton. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz vet or a jazz’n blues newbie, you’re sure to love this relaxed, weekend extravaganza. We look forward to three days of fresh air, green fields and Sussex Downs

Jazz-Americans Gregory Porter and Eryka Badu, Headlining Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2022, photo courtesy Baxter PR

Love Supreme Jazz Festival, photo courtesy Baxter PR

backdrop along with the very best of jazz, soul, R&B and beyond. American talent is generously represented by jazz superstar, gentle giant and previous American in Britain interviewee, Gregory Porter, the electrifying Erykah Badu in her only UK show of the year, triple gold sax royalty, Charles Lloyd, Gary Bartz and Rudresh Mahanthappa, and solid silver Soul from Sister “We are Family” Sledge.

Expect soulful sets too from EthioJazzfather Mulatu Astatke and rising Blue Note saxophonist Melissa Aldana, plus an exclusive double act from two leading lights of the UK jazz scene, Nubya Garcia and Sons of Kemet.

Love Supreme’s other offerings include a wellness and yoga area, secret swimming and guided hill walks across the stunning Sussex Downs. Wake up your day with a bout of Reggae Aerobics, witness top hoofers at Tap Jam and rev your rhythm with a Swing Dance lesson. Eat your heart out at Darby Kitchen’s long table restaurant or chill in the Jazz Lounge, with its artist interviews, talks, and film screenings. If you’re not exhausted after all that, why not boogie the night away in the secret woodland setting of the Blue in Green Bar? As part of its In the Black Fantastic season, London’s Southbank Centre mounts an evening of Jazz Legends, “an exciting collaboration that celebrates true titans of black sonic experimentation and imagination”. Appearing will be American sound icons Sun Ra Arkestra, jazz drummer and arranger Norman Connors and the Starship Orchestra, R&B legend Jean Carne and many more.

Further information: Love Supreme Jazz, 1-3 July 2022, lovesupremefestival.com In the Black Fantastic, 29 June-18 Sept 2022, www.southbankcentre.co.uk Mood Indigo Mondays, Jazz on the Plaza & Riverside Arts Jazz, moodindigoevents.co.uk Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, 15-24 July 2022, edinburghjazzfestival.com

TAKE FIVE

3. Groovy Gardens

Summer’s a ravishing time for garden lovers. If you’re a member of that club, you’re in luck: Britain is blessed with an infinite variety of gardens open to view, at stately homes and medieval castles, urban parks and neighbourhood allotments, all keen to show off their rainbow wares.

Amongst my many favourites are the subtropical paradise of Glendurgan Gardens, Cornwall, Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, with its matchless collection of trees and breathtaking treetop walkway, and Studley Royal Water Gardens, Yorkshire, reverberant with comforting, cascading water sounds. For gardens dripping with roses of every variety, hue and scent, visit Nymans Rose Garden, Sussex or Mottisfont, Hampshire. You’ll find magical sunflower and wildflower meadows at Rhosili Bay and the loveliest lavender fields at Cotswolds’ Hill Barn Farm.

Bloomsbury fans should make their way to Charleston Farmhouse in Sussex and Sissinghurst Castle Gardens in Kent.

At various times a Saxon pig farm, Elizabeth mansion, prison and Victorian poorhouse, Sissinghurst was transformed

by Vita Sackville-West in the 1930s to its current magnificence, attracting garden lovers from all over the world.

Charleston is the former home of 20th century artists, lovers and creative partners Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell. It’s a unique and unforgettable chance to get up close and personal with Bell, Grant and the wider Bloomsbury circle (which includes Bell’s sister, Virginia Woolf), as you tour Charleston’s fabulously decorated interiors and astonishing gardens, created by the artists as a living painting, voluptuously filled with plants, sculpture, mosaics, tile-edged pools and touches of Bloomsbury humour.

In summer the gardens are in full glory, especially in mid-July when Charleston hosts its annual Festival of the Garden, celebrating the natural world through walks, talks, demos and more.

Charleston is also the setting for three exhibitions by artists Langlands & Bell.

Ben Langlands and Nikki Bell have been in a vibrant creative partnership for over 40 Rhosili, Wales, photo National Trust images

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Isn’t that Vanessa Bell in the Straw Hat? Charleston, photo credit Lewis Ronald, Charleston Trust

years, working on imaginative ventures in a range of media. Their lifelong fascination with how buildings, design and the space interact with our lives is apparent in their Charleston shows. Ideas of Utopia explores the intriguing concept of utopias - idealistic communities - real and imagined, from 18th century Yorkshire cloth halls to the Headquarters of Facebook and other tech giants. In Absent Artists, L&B have curated a thought-provoking display, through photographs, prints and other media, of artists’ studios - minus the artists themselves. It’s as if Hockney, Hogarth, Picasso or Bonnard have stepped out of their studios, to return shortly, leaving us to take a private look. The third show, Near Heaven, is an installation in Vanessa Bell’s attic studio, allowing us an intimate peek into a part of Charleston House rarely open to visitors.

Further information: Charleston Farmhouse: Langlands & Bell to 29 August 2022; Festival of the Garden, 14-17 July 2022, charleston.org.uk Sissinghurst Castle, Glendurgan Gardens, Mottisfont, Studley Royal Water Gardens, the Vile, Rhossili, Nyman’s Rose Garden (all with free entry for National Trust members), nationaltrust.org.uk

4. The Wonderful World Of Womad

Roll up for the 40th anniversary edition of WOMAD! The greatest international music festival on the planet makes a jubilant comeback, after two silent summers, on the last weekend in July, bringing together dozens of performance artists and thousands of world music fans to its beautiful open air site in the heart of rural Wiltshire.

This year’s gargantuan global line-up includes Gilberto Gil, Godfather of Brazilian music and his family of musicians, multi award-winning musical polymath Nitin Sawney, swinging juke-joint jivers King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, and the WOMAD debut of Ukrainian folk band Folkney.

There’ll be powerful homegrown beats from Johnny Kalsi and the Dhol Foundation, Afrorock royalty Osibisa, and Joji Hirota’s thrilling London Taiku Drummers, and a rainbow of strong woman sounds from West Africa’s Les Amazones Afrique, top Gambian kora artist Sona Jobarteh and Europe’s only all-female mariachi band, Mariachi Las Adelitas.

But WOMAD is much more than a chance to surround yourself with a wall-to-wall feast of sound from the four corners of the globe.

It’s also the place for dancing and drumming the night away, communal singing in a Bedouin tent, soaking up wordly wonders at the World of Words and Hip Yak Poetry Shack and savouring music-inspired cooking at Taste the World.

WOMAD is famously family friendly, free for Under 13s and packed from dawn to dusk with joy-filled workshops and activities at its dedicated World of Children.

Although WOMAD’s a big place, you’re never far from its glorious Global Market, where you can eat and drink your way around the world as well as browse the tempting range of crafts, clothing, musical paraphernalia and worthy causes on display.

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Wonderful WOMAD, the Sunday Children’s Parade, photo credit Trevor Eales, courtesy Borkowski Arts & Ents

And when you’re in need of a break from the hullabaloo, relax in style at the Womad Spa, or slip into the World of Wellbeing, a cool, calming oasis among the trees of the Arboretum where you can sample body and spirit delights such as laughter yoga, didgeridoo healing, gong baths, sound meditation and some outstanding tea and cakes.

Further information: WOMAD, 28-31 July 2022, womad.co.uk

5. Family-Flavoured Fun

Families with school-agers will want to make the most of Britain’s shorter-than-US summer vacation time, and I’ve got some great ideas on how to do just that.

UK’s family fun is distinctly natureflavoured this summer, with everything from forest bathing and star-gazing to bat walks and moth mornings.

The folks at UK’s Wildlife Trusts are passionate about getting us all outdoors. They offer hundreds of wild family events around the country, such as Nature Tots, Little Bugs and Wild Babies sessions, forest schools, rockpooling, minibeast workshops and more.

Little ones will especially love the Superworm Trail at Westonbirt Arboretum and close encounters with pigs, goats, donkeys and llamas at Mudchute Farm, East London, while older kids may prefer an amble with alpacas at Abbots View Alpacas in Buckinghamshire, a beekeeping experience at the Bee Centre or an adventurous shepherding walk at Borough Farm, Devon. There’s breathtaking falconry displays for all at Leeds Castle.

Fancy hanging out with bats? Dozens of enthusiastic local bat groups put on amazing hands-on events dedicated to these fascinating creatures, including bat paddles on the River Avon, bat walks in Highgate Woods and bat-detecting boat trips in Kent.

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For a wonderful way to introduce your youngsters to classical and other great music, choose from several family focussed BBC Proms this summer. There’s an Earth Prom presented by naturalist and natural treasure, Chris Packham, and a magical, ocean-going adventure with CBeebies’ Journey into the Ocean Prom, plus free family workshops and Prom Extras, where you’re encouraged to bring instruments and voices and join in, whatever your age or ability.

Summer Screens brings favourite family friendly movies to choice outdoor venues around the UK including Bristol Zoo, Coventry Cathedral Ruins and University Museums, Oxford.

Speaking of museums, if you’re on the lookout for something completely different this summer, why not treat your brood to a museum sleepover? There’s DinoSnores at London’s Natural History Museum, AstroNight at the Science Museum, Archaeology Adventures at the British Museum or Kip in a Ship on

the Imperial War Museum’s HMS Belfast. If you prefer daylight frolics, how about Snorkel Safari, Ocean Todds or Aquarium Boat Trips at Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium or Children’s Stories: Family Walking Tours from the Bodleian Library in Oxford?

Young visitors to Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum can enjoy a circus-themed Family Art Week, Science Detectives Day, dedicated children’s tours and storytelling sessions as well as kids-only Nature Yoga in Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

For the best in ‘udderly’ fabulous, family friendly theatre, circus, cabaret, music and comedy, follow the herd to the huge Purple Upside Down Cow and the return of the Underbelly Festival. Taking place at multiple venues in London and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Underbelly proudly presents affordable live entertainment for all ages, along with buzzing bars and mouth-watering street food. This year’s highlights include Circus Abyssinia, Amazing Bubble Man, Comedy Club 4 Kids, and the Gruffalo, the Giant and the Mermaid featuring author Julia Donaldson.

You’ll also find side-splitting musical comedy from Fat Rascal Theatre’s Unfortunate: the Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch, and magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts in Dragons and Mythical Beasts.

Further information: The BBC Proms, 15 July-10 September 2022, bbc.co.uk/proms Summer Screens, 22 June-17 September 2022, summerscreens.co.uk The Wildlife Trust, wildlifetrusts.org Underbelly Festival, London/Edinburgh, underbellyfestival.com, underbellyedinburgh.co.uk Take Five is our quarterly feature bringing the best of British to Americans in Britain. Have you been to any of our featured places or events? If so, I’d love your feedback. Get in touch with me at judith0777@gmail.com.

Family at Waddesdon,©Waddesdon, A Rothschild House & Gardens, Photo Chris Lacey

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AMERICAN EXPATRIATE CLUBS’ NEWS CAWC ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BAZAAR SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA CAWC International invites all to a fabulous day out to get a head start on Christmas shopping at its annual Bazaar Sunday, on 13th November 2022 at the Crowne Plaza, Gerrards Cross On Sunday, 13th November, CAWC International will be holding their annual Charity Christmas Bazaar at the Crowne Plaza in Gerrards Cross. Last year they raised over £25,000 at this event. All of the money raised will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Breathing Support Project, delivered by the Palliative Care Service based at Florence Nightingale Hospice, part of Buckinghamshire NHS Trust. The project has the backing of the Chiltern Branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Sue Eddy, a physiotherapist involved with the MND Breathing Support Project, attended the bazaar and said: ‘The CAWC Christmas Bazaar was absolutely amazing! Beautiful, beautiful stalls and fabulous food and drink. Every bit of the funds raised will go to expanding and deepening the support we’re able to give MND sufferers and their loved ones’.

Typically the Bazaar comprises over 60 artisan vendors selling a wide range of unique items making wonderful Christmas presents for your nearest and dearest. In addition, members curate over 350 themed festive hampers which are ideal gifts for family members, teachers, hostess gifts and that oh so difficult to buy for loved one! There will be a Texas style café selling homemade chilli, snacks and soft drinks.

The homemade theme is continued with the Bake Sale stall. Delicious home baked delicacies prepared by their members will also be on sale. There will be not one but two fantastic raffles and a silent auction. An event not to be missed!

Originally founded in 1987, the club has raised over £350,000 for various charities in the Chilterns area, including: • Community First Responders • Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity • Epilepsy Society • The Pepper Foundation • Horizon Sports Club • HESTIA • William’s Fund – Cancer Research for Children • Medical Detection Dogs • Scannappeal 38

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AMERICAN EXPATRIATE CLUBS NEWS The club has regular meetings and activities including crafts, hiking, golf, cinema, tennis, and more. They also arrange outings to places of interest, including Ascot, The Potteries at Stoke-on-Trent, Blenheim Palace, Bletchley Park, and walking tours of London. New members are always welcome.

The club is multi-national with members from over 20 different countries. Anyone who wishes to enjoy the activities and help with philanthropic projects is encouraged to join. More information is available at https:// cawc.co.uk as well as on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/CAWCInternational Instagram: cawc_international Twitter: @cawc_intl For more information: MNDA: www.mndassociation.org CAWC Philanthropy: https://cawc.co.uk/ about/philanthropy/ Contacts: Bazaar Chairpersons: Robin Smirnov: robinsmirnov@hotmail.co.uk Kate Harman: kateeschuman@gmail.com Membership: cawcmembershipuk@gmail.com

KCWC KCWC is an organisation of international women who want to enjoy everything London has to offer. A list of upcoming speakers and activities is available for view on our website www.kcwc.org.uk. We offer a variety of topical lectures, cultural and sport activities, history, and language groups. KCWC invites women of all ages and nationalities to join our organisation. Please log onto www.kcwc. org.uk for more information or email info@ kcwc.org.uk. We look forward to welcoming you to experience all that London has to offer as a KCWC member.

E:info@kcwc.org.uk www.kcwc.org.uk

If you are a member of an American Expatriate Club and would like to share your news, events and photographs with fellow Americans in the UK, please email ben@theamericanhour.com

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USEFUL CONTACTS CHARITABLE GIVING CAF AMERICAN DONOR FUND 10 St Bride Street London EC4A 4AD Contact: Joe Crome, Senior Manager, CAF American Donor Fund Telephone: +44 (0) 3000 123 150 (Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm excluding UK bank holidays).

Email: cadf@cafonline.org Website www.cafonline.org/cadf With over 20 years’ experience, we are the smart, tax-effective way for dual UK and US taxpayers to achieve greater impact with their charitable giving.

The CAF American Donor Fund is a dual qualified Donor Advised Fund which can help you maximise the value of your gifts to charitable organisations. If you pay tax in the UK and the US, the CAF American Donor Fund enables you to claim eligible UK and US tax relief on your global giving, including adding 25% through UK Gift Aid where applicable.

We have a range of flexible products available, starting at one-off giving through to long-term invested funds. We accept donations of cash (any major currency); stocks and shares as well as non-cash gifts.

Whatever stage you’re at with your philanthropy journey, we can help. Our specialist team of Relationship Managers will be with you every step of the way to guide you quickly and efficiently throughout the management and administration of your giving, using our established and trusted service.

EDUCATION - SCHOOLS TASIS THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN ENGLAND Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Surrey, TW20 8TE Contact: Sarah Travis Telephone: 01932 582316 Email: ukadmissions@tasisengland.org Website www.tasisengland.org The educational pathways TASIS England offers to day (3-18) and boarding (13-18) students include a broad-based American curriculum, AP courses, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and EAL support.

Taught in small classes, every student in our diverse community from 50 nations is encouraged to reach their academic potential. Participation in co-curricular activities, the arts, athletics, and leadership programs provides balance, fosters curiosity, and develops Individual talents.

With excellent exam results and one-to-one 40

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college counseling, 97% of TASIS graduates gain acceptance to their first- or secondchoice university in the US, the UK, and worldwide. Extensive summer opportunities are also offered to students from all schools.

Located close to London on a beautiful and historic 46-acre estate.

TAXATION

BUZZACOTT LLP 130 Wood Street, London, EC2V 6DL Contact: Carlo Gray Partner - Expatriate Tax Services team Telephone: +44 (0)20 7556 1200 Email: enquiries@buzzacott.co.uk Website: www.buzzacott.co.uk Buzzacott is a top 20 UK accountancy firm in London, with a team in Hong Kong. For more than 50 years, our dual-qualified US/UK tax experts have helped individuals, companies, partnerships and trusts to comply with everincreasing tax regulations and minimise their tax liabilities. We specialise in preparing US/UK tax returns and providing bespoke advice tailored to individual circumstances. Rely on us for exceptional service with empathy and authenticity.

EXPAT LEGAL SERVICES GROUP Website: Expatlegal.com Telephone: 1.888.502.8579 Contact: Roland Sabates Email: roland@expatlegal.com Expat Legal Services Group, with its background in international taxation, offers unique legal services for American expatriates and foreign nationals with financial interests in the United States.

We leverage a suite of modern technology solutions that enable us to bring our international expertise directly to you no matter where in the world you might be living.

US TAX & FINANCIAL SERVICES 3 Harbour Exchange Square, London, E14 9GE Telephone: +44 20 7357 8220 Contact: Joni Trulock Email: j.trulock@ustaxfs.com Website: ustaxfs.com Twitter: @ustaxfs With over 35 years’ experience, our US/UK expat tax specialists provide US and UK tax return preparation, planning, compliance, and expatriation as well as all US business tax services, wherever you are in the world.

Email: invest@londonandcapital.com Website: londonandcapital.com The core of our expertise at London & Capital is managing investments for wealthy families and our clients generally share similar requirements; they have amassed wealth or capital and now need it to be structured and invested in a way that preserves and grows it for the future.

We build investment strategies that are designed to be resilient and help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Many of our clients are international, with finances, business interests, property and family across multiple countries. We provide clear comprehensive financial strategies and global reporting regardless of currency or location.

US CONNECTED FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS We are also one of the few wealth managers who actively welcome US clients and are both SEC (US) and FCA (UK) regulated, with a dedicated team looking after the wealth of international American families since 1989.

Whether you are a US Citizen or Green Card holder living abroad, a British expat in the US or a foreign entity with US reporting, we are uniquely positioned to work you to organise your wealth into a coherent global strategy, invest with a focus on capital preservation and provide clear, concise global reporting.

MASECO PRIVATE WEALTH Burleigh House, 357 Strand, London, WC2R 0HS Telephone: +44 (0)20 7043 0455 Email: enquiries@masecopw.com Website: www.masecoprivatewealth.com MASECO Private Wealth gives peace of mind by providing expert guidance to US families on how to simplify their cross-border wealth management needs. We serve and care for Americans living at home or abroad through the planning and implementation of rational, practical and tax efficient wealth management strategies.

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT LONDON & CAPITAL Two Fitzroy Place, 8 Mortimer Street, London, W1T 3JJ Telephone: +44 (0) 207 396 3200

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