Providing a co-ordinated and centralised suite of regulated professional services to our discerning clients across the globe.
Drawn from lawyers, accountants, wealth managers, tax and fiduciary advisors and other experts across the globe, we come together to provide a seamless service for all our clients’ business and personal needs. With a history dating back to the 1770s, and Headquartered in the heart of London’s West End, we also have representative offices in Almaty, Geneva, Gibraltar and Malta and a wider international reach through our trusted professional partners.
CEO Burlingtons Group (deborah.mills@burlingtons.group)
As CEO of the Burlingtons Group, it will not surprise you to learn that I value strong women. From the cover star of our Autumn issue, Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson, to the many outstanding professionals in politics – including the UK’s first female Chancellor, Rachel Reeves – as well as in the business, entertainment and hospitality sectors, it seems fitting to celebrate the importance of women who are making their mark on the world.
In this issue of Burlingtons, meet our employment partner Jo Mackie, who has recently been promoted to director of business development, driving growth across the whole business (pages 50-53). We also profile Naomi Heaton, creator of The Other House, in Kensington, who is bringing new meaning to the phrase ‘a home away from home’ (pages 38-43).
Burlingtons’ family law partner Terina Kiss, profiled in our Summer issue, explains why Burlingtons is proud to have recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant (pages 24-27), while Deena Iqbal, partner and head of private client, offers advice and insight for preserving wealth for future generations (pages 20-23).
Don’t miss an important update on pages 18-19, where I explain how Burlingtons Legal will move from being a limited liability partnership to Burlingtons Group Limited.
We also bring you our usual range of luxury lifestyle features – the best destinations for wine tourism (pages 72-78), rising stars in musical theatre (pages 54-59), and a look at the famed Aston Martin brand (pages 28-33).
We have a team of exceptionally talented people here at Burlingtons, on hand to assist you with your plans. We look forward to hearing from you.
Deborah
Mills Chief executive officer, Burlingtons Group Limited
Articles and other contributions published in this journal may be reproduced only with special permission from the Burlingtons Group. Burlingtons Group and the publishers (CPL One) accept no responsibility for any views or statements made in the articles and other contributions reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is accepted for the claims in advertisements appearing in this journal and the publishers reserve the right to accept or refuse advertisements at their discretion.
Burlingtons magazine is published by CPL One Ltd. www.cplone.co.uk
Burlingtons magazine is printed on FSC®
BURLINGTONS GROUP
Deborah Mills CEO Burlingtons Group (deborah.mills@burlingtons.group)
Plan your visit to some of the top arts, cultural and sporting events this autumn
GOLD RUSH
Celebrating the successes of Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics
To see how we can help with our wide range of professional services, please go to our website, available on your computer, tablet or smartphone, at www.burlingtons.group
CEO’S DIARY
The latest Burlingtons news and updates from Deborah Mills
We take a look at the history of that iconic British brand, Aston Martin
Some of the best bars and restaurants in Madrid
A guide to managing inherited wealth for the next generation
Burlingtons is an official signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant
Meet our Employment partner and Burlingtons’ new director of business development
The experiences and purchases that are the pick of the season
Discover the very best destinations for wine tourism, to combine new sights and new tastes
THE SEASON
Essential dates for the diary
OCT
■ 9-26
OCTOBER – FIDELIO, ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, LONDON
Tobias Kratzer’s production of Fidelio gives a contemporary edge to Beethoven’s only opera, which is based on a true story from the French Revolution. Enjoy the beauty and majesty of this production before heading to the Middle Eight Hotel, Covent Garden. With the hotel’s luxury suites all featuring an indoor walled garden or outdoor terrace, it is the perfect place to relax in the city.
■ 22-27 OCTOBER – LAPADA
BERKELEY SQUARE FAIR
Since 2009, London's LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair has offered a boutique opportunity to secure art and antiques. With each item having been authenticated by a 70-strong specialist committee, you can shop with confidence, choosing items from a range of jewellery, furniture, carpets, tapestries, antiquities, clocks, ceramics, silver and fine art.
If you have not had your fill of eyecatching art, why not reserve a table at nearby Bacchanalia, where Damien Hirst’s sculptures of Medusa and Bacchus oversee decadent dining.
■ 10 OCTOBER-19
JANUARY 2025 – FRANCIS BACON: HUMAN PRESENCE, NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
Lose yourself in the work of Francis Bacon, as London’s National Portrait Gallery stages an exhibition of the acclaimed artist’s oeuvre. Featuring works from private and public collections, the paintings showcase Bacon’s life story. While the famed Colony Room Club in Soho, frequented by Bacon and his contemporaries, may be long gone, raise a glass to their memory at Bar Lina, which boasts cocktails to suit every artist’s muse.
■ 18-20
OCTOBER, FORMULA 1, AUSTIN, TEXAS
With only two stops on the Formula 1 circuit taking place in October, head to Austin, Texas, to enjoy 56 laps of the Circuit of The Americas on Sunday, 20 October. Book a stay in one of the individually styled suites at Hotel Ella to enjoy some of the best the city has to offer away from the circuit. One of Austin’s original landmark estates, the mansion was remodelled in 1900 in the Greek revival style and now offers luxurious escapes.
NOV
■ 2
NOVEMBER, AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS, TWICKENHAM
Rugby Union kicks off its Autumn Internationals with a clash between England and New Zealand at Twickenham. Ensure you don’t miss a minute of the action by booking pitch-view hospitality in the East Wing at Twickenham, where you can enjoy a four-course, British-inspired menu from Michelin-star chef Tommy Banks, with past heroes of the game who will be on hand to share their thoughts on the match.
■ 15-17 NOVEMBER – PADDY POWER GOLD
CUP MEETING, CHELTENHAM
The cradle of National Hunt racing throws open its doors for the first time each season in late October. But, as every aficionado knows, the November meeting is the real start of Cheltenham's season, which culminates in the Festival in March. The Paddy Power Gold Cup is the feature race of the meeting, so why not book a private box to watch all the action while enjoying a sumptuous lunch.
■ 6-9 NOVEMBER – QATAR BOAT
SHOW
A new fixture on the circuit, the inaugural Qatar Boat Show promises to be a lavish celebration of ‘marine life, leisure and luxury’. Taking place in Old Doha Port, the three-day show will showcase superyachts, alongside all manner of seafaring vessels. Book a stay in an over-water villa at the Banana Island resort to relax in the ultimate in luxury, while enjoying breathtaking views from your island getaway.
■ 26 NOVEMBER – THE GIORDANO COLLECTION, SOTHEBY’S, PARIS
One of the most important groups of Italian classical decorative art ever offered at public auction will come under the hammer in Paris, when Sotheby’s offers The Giordano Collection: Une Vision Muséale. Including art, furniture, hardstones, and micromosaics from the 18th century, the sale will also be accompanied by Italian and French Old Master paintings.
DEC
■ 3 DECEMBER-16 JANUARY –CINDERELLA , ROYAL
OPERA HOUSE, LONDON
Get swept up in the magic and sparkle of Cinderella, as the Royal Ballet brings the traditional fairytale to life with exquisite costumes and sets for a worldclass performance. Enjoy the original choreography devised by Sir Frederick Ashton, founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet, and debuted in 1948, set to Prokofiev’s timeless score to get in the festive spirit.
■ 5 DECEMBER – TRAFALGAR
SQUARE TREE LIGHTING
The Christmas season in London really gets under way with the lighting of the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. A gift each year from the city of Oslo in gratitude for Britain’s support to Norway during World War II, the 20m tree is lit in a ceremony that includes traditional carolling. Round off your evening with dinner in the Michelin-starred Restaurant 1890 at the Savoy, for a perfect curtain-raiser to the festive season.
■ 5 DECEMBER – HOLLAND & HOLLAND CHRISTMAS SHOOT
Pair a day of sport with a touch of luxury by attending the exclusive Christmas Shoot at Holland & Holland’s Shooting Grounds, set in 120 acres on the outskirts of London.
Whatever your experience level, you will enjoy a fantastic day on the prestigious shooting ground, before relaxing with a lavish three-course Christmas lunch from a Michelin-trained chef, accompanied by the finest English sparkling wines.
■ 31 DECEMBER – NEW YEAR, LONDON
Why not ring in the new year with the magnificent firework display on the banks of the Thames? Book into The Goring Hotel and enjoy a decadent seven-course New Year’s Eve dinner, including citrusglazed native lobster, Dover sole, and stuffed Anjou pigeon, before making your way down to the riverbank to see out the old and ring in the new.
BURLINGTONS CONTINUES EXPANSION
Burlingtons CEO Deborah Mills outlines some exciting news for the organisation and looks ahead to busy times to come
The past quarter has been tremendously busy for all at Burlingtons – as it has for the whole of the UK. We have a new government with many political, economic and legal changes to pursue, so we must be prepared for whatever changes are instigated.
LATEST WEBINAR
A big push in social housing and development across England is on the cards. With that in mind, we hope you all enjoyed the latest quarterly webinar, hosted by some of the Burlingtons team on 12 September (see pages 34-37). This provided an open forum for several senior figures from our Burlingtons team to discuss the impact that the new Labour government will have on certain key areas of the law, particularly real estate, environmental, employment, family and, of course, the really contentious one – tax.
During the webinar, Rob Prince, managing director of our real estate division, gave an overview of the Labour government’s initiatives on creating affordable housing. Jo Mackie (profiled on pages 50-53), employment partner at Burlingtons, gave her opinion on the potential impact of the Employment Bill, announced as part of the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament in July.
Other matters discussed during the forum included family, corporate and tax matters. If you were not able to attend and would like a link to the live recording, please contact our office manager, Katie Archer, at katie. archer@burlingtons.legal .
NEW ARRIVALS
We are pleased to announce the arrival of two new partners to the Burlingtons legal team.
Bhavini Taylor joins us a real estate partner and we are delighted to advise that Eda Komurcu has been promoted to partner from junior partner. In addition, Leonard Scudder joined us as head
of litigation, an exciting step, as his ability to cross-refer is already proving substantial.
In our Summer issue, I introduced Jo Mackie as an employment partner at Burlingtons. I am delighted that Jo has recently been promoted to the role of director of business development. This is a key – and very exciting – role for the whole organisation, and I look forward to working closely with Jo to drive business forward and develop new avenues for the organisation.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Apart from the webinar, other events held recently included our monthly lunch clubs, held in our Churchill boardroom, and our quarterly private dining club at Scott’s, Mayfair, which was attended by 40 people in early October. The focus for our first private dining club was real estate and corporate structures, as well as the impact the non-dom status is having on our clients.
On 14 November, we will be hosting our annual champagne reception at our headquarters at Stratford Place, London, so if any of our readers would like an invitation to this prestigious event, please let Katie Archer know. The reception will be showcasing our ‘up-brand’, with the launch of our new website and refinement of our social media materials, including regular podcasts.
MOVING AHEAD
The Burlingtons Real Estate team continues to extend sizeable mandates, as well as launching a biodiversity project that Henry Mills will be discussing in detail in the Winter issue of Burlingtons magazine.
We also welcome home Joyce Cheung, head of our Asia Desk, who has spent the past three months in Hong Kong and will return in December to launch our Hong Kong office. Our litigation partner, Evveline Loh, will be travelling to Indonesia in December for a HNW conference. So, as you can see, much is happening as we continue to develop the Burlingtons business and brand globally, particularly as we focus on making the transition from a limited liability partnership to a private limited company in November. More on that from me over the page.
Bhavini Taylor
KEEPING GOOD COMPANY
From 1 November, Burlingtons Legal will transfer from a limited liability partnership to the private limited company Burlingtons Group. CEO Deborah Mills explains the reason behind this exciting development
Here at Burlingtons, we are pleased to announce that we will be transferring the legal business of Burlingtons Legal LLP, a limited liability partnership, to Burlingtons Group Limited, a private limited company, effective 1 November 2024.
We are delighted that our legal regulator, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has given us the green light to do so. Historically, solicitors could only trade as a sole trader or in a formal partnership. However, with the introduction of the limited liability partnership (LLP), many solicitors chose to adopt this structure – as we did at Burlingtons, when the firm was established in 2011.
As a result of being partnerships, LLPs offer flexibility and confidentiality to their members, while limited companies have shareholders and directors at the core of their structure. LLPs resemble normal partnerships, with liability limited to the members’ investments, making it a fusion of a partnership and a company.
Under English law, LLPs and limited companies differ in various aspects, particularly in terms of agreement, taxation treatment and liability. Both entities have similarities in terms of incorporation, but the LLP requires at least two members, whereas a limited company can be established with just one. Understanding these key differences and similarities is essential for investors, as it impacts profitsharing, governance and tax treatment.
In comparing LLPs and limited companies, several key differences come to light.
For instance, in terms of profit allocations, LLPs and limited companies differ in how they distribute gains among their members/shareholders. Moreover, when it comes to tax implications and liability structure, each entity is unique. LLPs are renowned for their flexibility in membership alterations, particularly regarding the withdrawal or inclusion of members, whereas limited companies tend to have more rigid structures in place for such scenarios.
One significant contrast between LLPs and limited companies lies in the level of liability each offers. LLPs limit the liability of their members to their investments, ensuring that personal assets are safeguarded to a certain extent.
Conversely, limited companies and their shareholders have their liability limited to the amount unpaid on their shares. Additionally, in terms of dividend payouts and profit-sharing, LLPs and limited companies have distinct guidelines in place. While LLP members share profits based on their capital contributions, the dividends of limited company shareholders are determined by the number of shares they hold.
The legislation governing LLPs and limited companies outlines specific requirements regarding ownership and management. LLP partners are governed by the membership agreement that dictates the sharing of profits and management responsibilities. For limited companies, corporate governance rules apply both in statute and through the shareholders’ agreement, specifying the procedures for holding meetings, making decisions and managing the company shares.
Despite these variances, both entities must adhere to regulations concerning financial accounts, capital maintenance and the registration of changes through Companies House.
It is for these reasons – further limitation of liability
and transparency on accounting and taxation – that we, at Burlingtons, have taken the management decision to transfer the legal business of Burlingtons Legal LLP to Burlingtons Group Limited.
As we continue to expand the business, we want our investors to be able to see, with clear information, how our private company is being managed financially.
Similarly, for all our staff, a private limited company with shares, rather than membership interests under an LLP, allows us to create an employee benefits trust (EBT), which we will launch for our staff in the new year.
An EBT is a legal agreement, a trust deed, under which the Burlingtons Group will settle up to 10 per cent of its shares into the EBT and the trust will be managed by our trustees, and protected by a protector. Shares are then made available to the employees, who take a beneficial ownership in them, which is relinquished if they leave.
Cash can also be deposited in the EBT and can be used as a tax-efficient vehicle for both the company and employees to receive bonuses and commissions.
The move to a limited company from the LLP will align our staff interests with the Burlingtons Group’s long-term success, providing them with a slice of the pie and allowing us to attract and retain talent.
All this naturally feeds into the quality of service we provide for our clients – a win-win for all of us!
PRESERVING THE FUTURE
We all want to ensure our families are looked after once we are gone. But what is the best way of doing this, and what considerations must you take into account to preserve your wealth for your family?
Words: Deena Iqbal, Partner and Head of Private Client Burlingtons
Iam often asked for advice about how best to pass assets to the next generation, and there are various factors that should be considered, including succession and taxation. Burlingtons’ Private Client department can help in this area, using a number of tools that will help preserve wealth down your bloodline.
People tend to have a natural inclination to want to keep their will ‘simple’ – and for very small estates this can be perfectly sufficient. However, what can be perceived as a simple will can lead to complexities in administration, because the structure is too rigid. For larger estates of around £3m or more, it can be beneficial on many levels to consider a discretionary trust-type structure.
TRUST IN THE FUTURE
A discretionary trust can be set up to take effect either on death via a will, or in lifetime (with different tax consequences). The trust structure will hold monies or properties, which are then managed by trustees for the benefit of successors, and members of the broader family or friends.
The trust bestows very flexible powers upon the trustees to do pretty much whatever is needed to manage the assets in the best interest of the beneficiaries. They could make distributions of capital
or income as and when they see fit, but there are many other options.
There are multiple advantages of discretionary trusts, including:
• Allowing the trustees to benefit a child without making outright distributions of capital before they are mature enough to handle it. For example, the trustees could purchase a property in the name of the trust and allow a grandchild to live in it while at university.
• As an inheritance tax-saving vehicle for an adult child who is financially well off in their own right and does not need an inheritance, passing monies direct to their child and skipping a generation if requested or necessary.
• Offering protection of your monies in the event of divorce of one of the beneficiaries. Careful drafting and advice is required here.
• Offering protection of your monies against creditors if a business interest of a beneficiary is at risk.
• Helping to balance competing interests in blended families with second marriages and children from previous relationships.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
1. Who would you like to appoint as trustees to manage the monies in trust?
2. Who would you like to appoint as guardians?
3. Consider how you could pass monies to your children to benefit them while minimising any negative impact.
4. If you have foreign assets, advice will be needed as to how to structure a will.
5. If you have a blended family, trust structures can balance competing interests quite well and in a flexible way.
IMPLICATIONS OF AN INHERITANCE
With a simple will, you could end up releasing a large amount of money to your children at a very young age (although not before they are 18). Some clients are happy to do this, as they wish to make their child’s life as comfortable as possible on their journey into early adulthood.
Others, however, have found that releasing too much too soon can disincentivise their child from working or finding a career path. It could also make them vulnerable to predatory partners.
In some circumstances, hard-earned money that has been carefully saved can end up having a negative impact on children’s lives if it is released without sufficient thought and planning.
Trustees can seek the counsel of a trusted family member, named by you, in helping them with their decisions as to when and how to distribute from the trust, so as to pass to the next generation safely.
For those reasons, when the options are explained, I find that people with appropriate asset level tend to prefer the discretionary trust option. The will itself contains no instructions as to distributions; these are set out in the letter of wishes. If this document is crafted with thought and consideration, it can be an opportunity for you to have your voice heard from beyond the grave, to ensure the security of your successors as far as you can.
Letters of wishes are not legally binding, so appointment of professional trustees would avoid putting your children in a position of conflict, and ensure that your wishes are followed – unless there is a good reason not to. It also allows them to consider the particular circumstances of beneficiaries that may be relevant if they have changed since you drafted the letter, or even if they have changed after your death. As the document is not binding, your choice of trustees is crucial.
It is for you to set out clear instructions, explaining to what extent you wish your children to be provided for, and to what extent you want them to take responsibility for themselves. Would you want them to carry the
responsibility of a mortgage, or would you prefer to have a property purchased outright for them? If the latter, at what age would that become a suitable option?
These are the types of issues you may need to think about when explaining your wishes to the trustees. The letter of wishes can act as your guidance to the trustees. It would not, of course, cover every eventuality, but would explain, for example, the extent to which you prioritise tax against other factors.
There is a strong argument for having professional trustees involved, and not appointing your children as trustees if they are to be the main beneficiaries. The reason for this is that, in the event of one of your children getting divorced at some point in the future, it is likely –if they were a trustee – that the monies would be taken into consideration when dividing up the matrimonial assets. This would mean some of the protective nature of the trust would be lost. There are certain ways of drafting to maximise this protection, but choice of independent trustees is key.
HERE TO HELP
Death and money remain two of the great ‘taboo’ topics for discussion in many families, but avoiding potentially difficult conversations can just mean storing up trouble for your loved ones further down the line.
Contact me at Burlingtons to discuss how to tailor a trust to suit your family’s needs. We will also talk through other means of inheritance tax planning as appropriate, from using tax exemptions to lifetime gifting, or gifting into trust.
Whatever your family situation, we would be happy to assist.
PROTECTING THOSE WHO SERVE
In September, Burlingtons broke new ground by becoming an official signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. Learn more about the Covenant and what it means for Burlingtons
Words: Terina Kiss, Partner, Burlingtons Legal
Lieutenant Colonel James Coleby, Commanding Officer of the London Central Garrison, left, and Burlingtons CEO Deborah Mills at the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant, with Terina Kiss, standing left, Warrant Officer Class 2 Natasha Campbell from the London District Engagement team, and Burlingtons managing partner Andrew Pike
As of September 2024, Burlingtons is a proud official signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. Naturally, all at Burlingtons are incredibly honoured to be a part of, and contribute towards, such a superb endeavour. It truly is an opportunity to express our gratitude to the remarkable men and women who serve, or have served, this country, as well as remembering those who have lost their lives in its service. Having signed this important document, Burlingtons is committed to honouring the Armed Forces Covenant. This means supporting the Armed Forces community, which is instrumental in providing assistance and recognition to serving personnel, both regular and reservists, as well as veterans and military families who serve, and have served, our country and contribute to our business.
WHAT IS THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT?
Quite simply, it is an enduring pact between the people of the United Kingdom, the government and all those who serve or have served in the armed forces of the Crown and their families.
It represents a promise from the nation to ensure that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, whether regular or reserve – along with their families – are treated with fairness and respect and are not disadvantaged compared with other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
This achievement marks an incredible milestone, highlighting the growing support Burlingtons is committed to providing to the armed forces across the country. The first duty of government is the defence of the realm. Our armed forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, as well as facing danger and, sometimes, suffering severe injury or
death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our armed forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army, and the Royal Air Force, as well as their families. As stated in the Armed Forces Covenant, they deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BURLINGTONS
Burlingtons has pledged in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are: no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared with any other citizen and, in some circumstances, special treatment may be appropriate, especially for the injured or bereaved.
Burlingtons has tailored its pledges prior to signing the Covenant, including specific services or discounts and free legal clinics on military bases, and pledges to guarantee veterans a job interview should they fulfil the criteria. Other organisations that have pledged support span multiple sectors of society, including healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, transport, financial services, and education. In the case of the latter, a school may pledge to provide extra support to children of service personnel around deployment.
Aside from organisations, all government departments have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, as have all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, with Northern Ireland having separate arrangements.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The Armed Forces Covenant began life in 2000, when it was introduced as the Military Covenant, referring to the mutual obligations between the UK government and its armed forces.
In 2011, the Armed Forces Covenant, as it then became known, was formally enshrined in law as part of the Armed Forces Act 2011. Since then, the Covenant has reinforced the moral obligation between the nation, government and armed forces, and has resulted in UK organisations of all sizes committing to the fair treatment of our armed forces personnel and their families.
The 2011 act established a legal requirement for an annual report to be published by the UK government, illustrating how service personnel and veterans are being supported. This report provides visibility to Parliament and the public about how the Covenant is being used to directly support the armed forces community.
By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, signatories are recognised by the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). An ERS award shows that the recipient is delivering tangible support for the armed forces community, publicly recognising employers’ efforts to support defence personnel issues, such as employing reservists and veterans, while encouraging others to do the same.
The scheme encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support for the defence and armed forces community, and align their values with the Covenant.
Currently, Burlingtons is a proud Bronze award holder. This means the organisation promotes being armed forcesfriendly and is open to employing reservists, armed forces
veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.
THE ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY
Who is included in the armed forces community? The list is extensive: regular personnel; individuals currently serving as members of the Naval Service, Army or Royal Air Force; reservists; volunteer reservists, who form the Royal Navy Reserve, Royal Marine Reserve, Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force; and regular reservists, who compromise the Royal Fleet Reserve, Army Reserve and Royal Air Force.
Veterans are classified as those who have served for at least a day in His Majesty’s armed forces, whether as a regular or a reservist.
Families of regular personnel, reservists and veterans are the immediate family of those in the categories listed above. This is defined as spouses, civil partners and children for whom they are responsible, but this can, where appropriate, extend to parents, unmarried partners, and other family members. The list also includes the bereaved – the immediate family of service personnel and veterans who have died, whether that death has any connection with service.
THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT AND BUSINESS
Burlingtons has demonstrated its intention to support the armed forces community and is committed to the voluntary promises that we have pledged, set out within our Covenant.
We actively support members of the armed forces community, past and present, and their families, encourage reserve service, support employment of veterans and service spouse/partners, and provide access to our products and services with discounted rates. We offer free legal clinics, currently on two bases at Royal Marines Barracks Chivenor, in Devon, and RM Norton Manor in Somerset, with scope for more.
The transferable skill set and wealth of knowledge that the armed forces community can add to any business, as employees and customers, is paramount to the two-way relationship encouraged by the Armed Forces Covenant.
In the transition from the armed forces to employment and civilian life, the Ministry of Defence pledges to continue to support business needs and provide training and support to those leaving the armed forces.
As a purpose-driven business that prides itself on inclusiveness, Burlingtons offers a wealth of opportunities to individuals from all backgrounds, recognising how business can benefit from the skills that colleagues with military experience bring to civilian employment.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you need further information about the Armed Forces Covenant, our pledges, or the support provided to the armed forces community, please contact Terina Kiss at terina.kiss@burlingtons.legal or call 07557 801119
Part of the exhibits at the Household Cavalry museum, in Whitehall, London
Aston Martin
A true British icon, an Aston Martin offers aspirational luxury, both on and off the silver screen
Words: Peter Taylor-Whiffen
LIVE AND LET DRIVE
James Bond actually owned a Bentley, according to Ian Fleming’s books. But in the 1959 novel Goldfinger, he was given a choice of motors from the Secret Service car pool. Offered the Jaguar 3.4 and an Aston Martin DB3, he chose the latter – and created an icon.
Bond opted for the DB3, says the book, for its range of gadgets – lights that changed colour to confuse enemies, reinforced steel bumpers for ramming assailants. Oh, and under his seat, a secret compartment hiding a Colt.45.
Obviously, no other Aston Martin customers have expected, or got, that same specific level of extras. Nor even, in fact, this car itself – the DB3 never existed as a road vehicle.
But the mere detail that James Bond drives an Aston Martin – especially when he first did so on film (Sean Connery at the wheel of a DB5 in the 1964 movie version of Goldfinger) – turned this British luxury brand into the height of aspiration, and the epitome of cool luxury.
EXCLUSIVITY
It’s an image that, after more than a century in business, the company is still very keen to promote today. ‘Our customers have told us very loudly, “we like the exclusivity, we like the personalisation”,’ executive chairman Lawrence Stroll told journalists shortly after his appointment in 2020. ‘That’s always going to be a very big part of the business for us to focus on.’
As a result, he has ramped up the brand’s exclusivity by, in his words, ‘always making a few less than needed’, and suggesting a matching price-tag. ‘I would never see an Aston Martin opening for anything less than something that begins with a two — meaning, $200,000,’ he said, but added: ‘There’s no end that seems to be too high for an Aston Martin.’
But the company has always offered something extraordinary since it was founded just before World War I by a couple of keen cyclists – ironically while one of them was banned from driving.
A HISTORY OF SPEED
Lionel Martin loved speed – in 1902 he cycled the 300 miles from Land’s End to Hyde Park in a record 22 hours, and the following year broke the mark for the fastest ride from Edinburgh to York.
He also loved cars and had set up his own motor dealership as early as 1901. But in 1909 he’d been caught in south-west London doing six miles over the 20mph speed limit and, when he didn’t pay the fine, was banned for two years.
During this enforced lay-off, he found a regular cycling partner in Robert Bamford, and a year later the pair launched their own car sales and servicing company. Within months, they decided they could make something better than the vehicles they were selling.
By 1915, with a Midlands engineering firm called Coventry Simplex, they’d created a vehicle which, because of its apparent resemblance to a common household implement, sported the unlikely nickname of the ‘Coal Scuttle’.
Martin’s testing ground for this car was Lord Rothschild’s Buckinghamshire estate, on a steep uphill section that rose 80m in just over half a mile. Since 1904, Aston Hill had been a favourite site for early motorists who challenged themselves to complete the climb as quickly as possible. After the Coal Scuttle’s impressive performance there, Bamford and Martin registered the car officially as the Aston-Martin (complete with hyphen).
The car was fast – it won a London-Edinburgh time trial in 1919 – and would set the tone for a racing pedigree that runs through Aston Martin’s history.
Financial difficulties would force Bamford and Martin to sell the company in 1926 to a group of investors headed by an Anglo-Italian car designer, Augustus Bertelli.
He renamed the company Aston Martin Motors but enhanced its reputation for style – two-seater sports cars, and long-chassis tourers and saloons – and speed, including class victories at Le Mans.
In 1947, Aston Martin’s true legendary status was secured, when the company was bought by a Yorkshire vehicle manufacturer, specialising in farm machinery. Under David Brown’s leadership, the Aston Martin began branding its vehicles with its owners’ initials – and became a British icon.
STYLE ICON
First came its now legendary racing cars. The DBR1 won the classic Nürburgring 1000km three years in a row between 1957 and 1959, twice with Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel. In 1959, an Aston Martin won the Le Mans 24 Hour race for the first time and a golden year was topped off by the company’s debut in Formula 1 (with the DBR4) and by first place at the RAC Tourist Trophy. The latter made Aston Martin the first British manufacturer to be crowned world sportscar champions.
It then stepped away from the track to focus on its road cars, with arguably even greater impact. In one week in September 1964, they suddenly became the height of aspiration. As if Sean Connery speeding off to the golf course to meet Goldfinger didn’t already make the DB5 the coolest
DBR1
One-time owner of Aston Martin, Sir David Brown
car in the world, five days after the movie came out, Paul McCartney took delivery of his. Then a few months after that, George Harrison, Mick Jagger and Lord Snowdon bought theirs. Now it was the world’s most fashionable car, driven by the world’s most fashionable people. At a then eye-watering £4,500, the DB5 became a true status symbol.
Other successes have maintained that iconic tag today. Aston Martin returned to Le Mans in 2005 with the DBR9, its V8 Vantage GTE earned a class win by more than two laps in 2014, and in 2016 it returned to Formula 1 and a partnership with Red Bull Racing.
‘Formula 1 is the right place for Aston Martin to be,’ said Stroll. But for those of us who are not Grand Prix drivers, the real excitement comes when that technology filters down to the road cars.
ICONIC LUXURY
For today, Aston Martin – which still has its global headquarters in the heart of England in Gaydon, Warwickshire – is about hypercars.
Unlike other supercars with their mid-engines allowing
for extreme design, Aston Martin’s distinctive look is based around its traditional front-engine layout – yet its classic design still looks like a car of the future. The Vanquish, the Vantage, the Valhalla, the Valkyrie – their sleek lines are continuing Aston Martin’s century-long history combining style, with speed,
Yes, Aston Martin is classically stylish. Yes, it’s fast. Yes it’s exclusive – a new custom design package, called Q by Aston Martin, allows buyers to personalise not just the colour, trim, material and finish, but even design their own bespoke decorative stitching. And yes, it’s expensive – the lowestpriced model, the Vantage, will set you back £143,000.
But above even all this, one thing gives Aston Martin a level of cool all its own. Sixty years on, in the latest Bond movie No Time To Die it remains the car of choice for the world’s coolest spy.
‘Do you expect me to talk?’ Sean Connery famously asked Goldfinger.
No, Mr Bond. We expect you to drive.
MODEL: DB2
Engine: 2.6-litre Lagonda straight-6 Launch: 1950
Fact: Its design was overseen by Walter Bentley. Yes, that Bentley.
Price then: £1,900
Cost now: £200,000
MODEL: VALKYRIE
Engine: 6.5-litre V12, offering 1,000hp
Launch: 2016
Fact: Only one of these is registered in the UK
Price £3.2m
FIVE TOP ASTON MARTINS
MODEL: ULSTER
Engine: 1.5-litre, four cylinder
Launch: 1934
Fact: Only 24 were made
Price then: £750
Cost now: £2m(ish)
MODEL: DB5
Engine: DOHC Straight-6
Launch: 1964
Fact: According to Ian Fleming’s novels, James Bond owned a Bentley, but the DB5 was a Secret
Service pool car
Price then: £4.500
Cost now: £750,000
MODEL: DBX707
Engine: M177 generating 697hp
Launch: 2024
Fact: Reaches 60mph in 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of 193mph
Price: £208,500
70 THE FIRST DAYS
The Burlingtons Group presented a webinar discussion on 12 September 2024, addressing key strategies emerging from the new UK government in its first 70 days in power
Words: Rob Prince, managing director of Real Estate
Following on from the success of Burlingtons’ real estate webinar in spring, Deborah Mills, Burlingtons Group Ltd’s CEO, welcomed attendees to the group’s latest webinar, which focused on the UK government and its first 70 days in power.
The Labour Party, under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, won a landslide victory at the general election on 4 July, returning to power after 14 years by winning 411 seats, up from 202 in the 2019 general election.
It was evident from the outset of the webinar that interest was high in this topic, with the number of private clients joining the event a reflection of this.
The event focused on the emerging key strategies being brought in by our new Labour government and how its new policies will impact on Burlingtons’ legal and real estate private clients.
Deborah Mills outlined the group’s commitment to long-term working relationships, offering commercially astute advice on every aspect of legal and real estate, before introducing the ‘team table’ discussion.
The government had only been in power for a ‘brief’ 70 days when the webinar took place in September, but it is evident that its planning before being elected had been in-depth, enabling it to hit the ground running.
REAL ESTATE A PRIORITY
The first topic that came under discussion was real estate, a promoted central priority for the new government. Rob Prince and Henry Mills, from Burlingtons Real Estate (BRE), are excited by the change in leadership and could see two big factors already under consideration.
‘A return to mandated targets for house building, supporting 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, which would be a big positive, including unlocking big sites,’ said Prince, before speaking of his ‘hopes on planning reforms; government targeting to get that done’.
‘Investors would welcome this focus on home building, particularly in areas where building has stalled,’ he added.
Henry Mills agreed. ‘What investors want is more focus on housing and delivering the homes the nation needs, and leveraging in as much private investment as possible to create an attractive investment for more capital – supporting the ambitions of the new government,’ he stated.
Prince also raised the proposed ‘planning passport’ for urban brownfield development, with possible fasttrack approval and delivery of high-density housing on urban brownfield sites.
It is also evident that some housebuilding stocks may see a boost because of Labour’s plans to build new, affordable homes.
Still on the housing delivery side, while there could be a ‘brighter future’ in terms of real estate transactions and growth, there is always a potential sting in the tail
possible capital gains tax changes. The levy is charged on profits made from the sale of an asset that has increased in value, such as second homes or shares not held in individual savings accounts (ISAs). While the government has not yet announced any changes, it has confirmed that it is not yet ‘off the table’.
‘Whether or not a rise in capital gains tax [CGT] is on the cards for this October’s Budget, this increased speculation may well convince some to bring forward their plans to dispose of property or other assets,’ commented Prince.
Mills continued: ‘In fact, this could be very useful for a government keen to maximise tax revenues in the current year, with CGT on the sale of a second property due within 60 days of completion. Of course, it’s also possible to reduce your tax bill by deducting losses, so this could encourage people to hold onto loss-making assets pending any eventual rise in CGT rates.’
Ultimately, we hope the initial impact on the real estate sector is one of positivity and delivery.
PROPOSED RIGHT-TO-WORK UPGRADES
The webinar continued with Jo Mackie, partner in employment at Burlingtons Group Limited. She could foresee, according to Labour pledges, the ‘biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation’.
Mackie gave a run-down of each, including reform of employment status to create a single status of ‘worker’ for those not self-employed.
‘What is the impact for employers?’ Mackie asked. ‘There seemed to be increased impact and risk, particularly in regard to areas including unfair dismissal, ban on zero-hours contracts, increased trade union rights, and other emerging plans and proposals.
‘Measures set out in Labour’s “new deal for working people” include banning zero-hours contracts, ending policies of fire and re-hire, and extending protections such as sick pay and maternity leave.
‘The government has committed to banning “exploitative” zero-hour contracts, to ensure that all workers have the right to a contract that reflects the number of hours they regularly work.’
According to the government, the number of people on zero-hours contracts has risen to more than a million in the past decade. It wants to end the scourges of ‘fire and rehire’ and ‘fire and replace’. These practices are used by some employers to let workers go and then rehire or replace them with new workers on reduced terms and conditions.
Mackie commented: ‘New laws will ensure that protections for workers is in place from their first day on the job. Parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal will all be available from day one under the proposed plans. The government has said employers will still be able to operate probationary periods to assess new hires.’
LEGAL REFORMS
The webinar then moved to family law, with Terina Kiss, a partner at Burlingtons. She commented:
‘Cohabitation reform, better investment in family courts, and Legal Aid reform were among the main asks of the sector to the new government, alongside a halt to court closures across the UK.’
Prior to the general election there were rumblings in the family law sector that Labour hadn’t laid out a clear pathway for cohabitation reform in its manifesto, as well as worries that it had made a U-turn on former Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry’s promise to prioritise the 3.6 million cohabiting couples in the UK.
‘Although it seems that the rights of cohabiting couples were not mentioned in Labour’s manifesto, we hope that the new government takes appropriate action in this area,’ said Kiss.
‘Emily Thornberry had said previously that the Labour government would reform the law for cohabiting couples, and we really hope it does so and brings the law into the 21st century.
‘There are more than 3.6 million cohabiting couples in the UK and, despite being the fastest-growing type of family, they are ignored by the law as it stands. This means that there is very little protection available if a relationship breaks down, and the financially weaker individual will lose out significantly.
‘Under the current law, there is very little legal protection for unmarried couples who separate after cohabiting, in comparison with married couples. Instead of being able to rely on the Matrimonial Causes Act, which provides clear protections, separating cohabitants can only look to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.
‘While we await legislative reform, I would recommend consideration be given to a cohabitation agreement with your partner if you are living together and not married. This is an agreement that can set out both parties’ intentions regarding property, finances and children in the circumstances that you decide to separate.’
POTENTIAL TAX RISES
For the group discussion element of the webinar, the previous speakers were joined by Paramjit Sehmi, partner and head of Corporate at Burlingtons.
The date of Labour’s first Autumn Budget is set for 30 October 2024, amid fevered anticipation about what it may include on tax rises for individuals and businesses.
Sehmi explained: ‘For non-doms, the previously announced transitional rule regarding the 50 per cent reduction on tax due on foreign income and gains in Year 1 will not now be introduced.
‘There will also be a review of the transfer of assets abroad and settlements legislation, and further announcements, especially on the impact to trusts, will be made at the Budget.’
Thanking attendees, and looking forward to further information as it emerges, Deborah Mills said: ‘The future is hopefully showing signs of a strong return to growth, particularly in real estate, with more confidence around interest rates beginning to appear.’
For further information on any of the topics discussed, please contact:
Deborah Mills, CEO, Burlingtons Group Ltd: deborah.mills@burlingtons.group
Rob Prince, managing director, BRE: rob.prince@burlingtons.realestate
Henry Mills, senior associate, BRE: henry.mills@burlingtons.realestate
Terina Kiss, partner, Family Law: terina.kiss@burlingtons.legal
Jo Mackie, partner, Employment Law: jo.mackie@burlingtons.legal
Paramjit Sehmi, partner, head of Corporate: paramjit.sehmi@burlingtons.legal
Credit: Nick Smith
Naomi Heaton in her sitting room at home
SIGNIFICANT OTHER
Naomi Heaton upended the hospitality sector when she launched The Other House – but what drives her success?
Words:
Peter Taylor-Whiffen
‘One of my favourite ever holidays,’ says Naomi Heaton, ‘was to Rajasthan. From Jodhpur to Jaipur, all chaos, colour and cows, yet alongside the most beautiful palaces. I adored it all. I love being immersed in the adventure of local life.’
She stayed at a luxury hotel, she clarifies, ‘but I love that it was embedded in its location. I don’t like resort hotels. I want to go to the tavernas and markets where the locals go, experience the culture and get a real sense of place.’
Then a pause. ‘Actually, that’s really interesting,’ she muses almost to herself, as if the connection has only just occurred to her. Maybe it has. ‘My ideal holidays are the exact concept of The Other House – luxury hotel meets local lifestyle.’
It’s now more than two years since Heaton, already the doyenne of London’s property market, upended the hospitality sector with the launch of The Other House, comprising stylish apartments you can book for any period from a night to a year or as long as you want. Your stay includes complimentary access to an exclusive private members’ club offering lounges, a vitality pool, a gym, a spa, a wellness studio and a calendar of community events from yoga classes and sound baths to whisky tasting, art workshops and jazz brunches.
‘Even if you’re at The Other House for just one night, you don’t stay here, you live here,’ says Heaton. ‘In a hotel, you walk straight into a bedroom with maybe a sofa. Here you’ve got a beautiful sitting area with well-equipped kitchenette and then a bedroom with ensuite bathroom. It’s absolutely set up to feel like your own place. You even have your own address. It’s your unique space to live in how you choose.’
Actually, it’s 200 spaces – called ‘Club Flats’ – in Harrington Hall, a huge block of 11 former Victorian townhouses in the heart of South Kensington. The interior is just as stylish, with each flat enjoying a sleek, maximalist interior design.
‘We want every resident to feel at home but we don’t want it to be “homesy” – I would shudder if people felt it looked like their home,’ she says. ‘But it doesn’t feel remotely “hotelly” either. It actually really surprised me how much
of a personality The Other House had from the moment we opened our doors. When you walk in, you immediately feel this fantastically warm, relaxing atmosphere, one that you can just stay in as you choose. The interiors are completely whimsical, somewhat exotic and there is a surprise around every corner, whether it be the brasserie, the cocktail bar or the private club. Each Club Flat too is essentially a very sumptuous, very lovely pied-a-terre.’
The Other House – smart, stylish, engaging and with a hint of fun – seems to mirror Heaton herself. She’s a lively, chatty and friendly interviewee, but also comes across as supremely professional and fiercely focused. Heaton presents enthusiastically as someone with an unshakeable belief that as long as you work hard enough, you can achieve anything.
‘I am extremely driven, very determined and I don’t give up easily,’ she agrees. ‘And I am prepared to take risks – although to me they’re thought-out plans. Where other people might see risk, I don’t feel I’m doing something dangerous. But then I suppose most other people are not entrepreneurs.’
That confidence seems to stem from an innate talent to be both analytical and creative – ‘or a jack of all trades and master of none!’ she laughs. ‘I’m lucky that I’ve always been interested in everything. When I was at school, I was very mathematical, but I could also do art. And I carried this on when I went to university and chose to read human sciences. It was a completely new course, multidisciplinary – not very Oxford, really, but it suited me because it embraced both arts and sciences. Just having the opportunity to carry on with all of that speaks a lot for the person I am.’
After graduating from Oxford in 1977, Heaton went into advertising, working first with high-end creative agency Leo Burnett before joining Saatchi & Saatchi, where she became a board director by her mid-20s. But while she enjoyed the creativity, she’d already discovered another passion – property.
‘I had been lured to the bright lights and glamour of London but quickly realised it was preferential to pay a mortgage than a landlord. So, I pretty much begged, stole
and borrowed to buy my first property, a garden flat in Camden Town,’ says Heaton.
‘I did it up, and then sold it on for a profit, and got the bug. I realised I had an eye for spotting opportunities and making things beautiful – it seemed I could do space optimisation and interior design better than the next person, so I did up another, then another. I liked advertising and worked with some big blue-chip clients, but you were always chasing them up, or you’d work really hard and then suddenly they’d want you to change it all. I quickly came to the conclusion I’d rather set up by myself and do my own thing.’
So she moved full-time into property, and, in 1990, launched London Central Portfolio (LCP), which began as a real-estate investment firm – but Heaton quickly identified other opportunities. ‘It didn’t take long before I noticed there were no companies representing the buyer in the residential sector,’ she says. ‘If you wanted to invest in bricks and mortar, especially if you were a foreign investor, how did you identify property in central London? How did you find the contractors? How did you then manage it? There was a very clear gap in the market.’
Heaton vowed to fill it, expanding into property sourcing and acquisition, development, refurbishment, letting and rental management. As a result, LCP and its list of central London properties grew so successfully over the next 25 years that, in 2017, the company was reported to have around a billion US dollars’ worth of assets under management.
But by then she’d spotted another gap.
They’re modern – there’s an app that can check you in and out, call the lift, book a restaurant table or even your own private dining space if you’re entertaining and lets you see when the gym and the pool are free – but that flexibility means if you’re tech-phobic, you can call 24/7 for one of the staff – known as ‘house Jacks’ – to help.
The Other House, which was funded by a partnership between LCP Hospitality Holdings and Dutch pension provider APG, subscribes to modern values, too.
Sustainability runs through the company, from the whole concept of refurbishing old buildings to using British-made furniture, installing green roofs, running low-waste kitchens serving seasonal food – even enabling each resident to monitor energy usage.
And the varying length of stays mean more and more multinational companies are paying for their staff to enjoy one longer stay in the private ‘home-from-home’ comfort of The Other House rather than jet them into London hotels numerous times, meaning they save both airline fares and the planet. Corporates relocating to London may even live there for a year or more while country dwellers can simply use it as their midweek pied-a-terre.
‘EVEN IF YOU’RE AT THE OTHER HOUSE FOR JUST ONE NIGHT, YOU DON’T STAY HERE, YOU LIVE HERE’
‘I could see the needs of our international tenants were changing,’ she says. ‘They were moving into smaller and smaller units because, for them, being centrally located was the most important aspect. They wanted more and more interior design, and they were looking for service at the click of their fingers. I looked at our portfolio and thought that actually what they wanted was just to live in a hotel.’
Heaton could see there was nothing currently available to meet that need. ‘If you’re a long-stay residential tenant, you feel like a local and have a great sense of place, but you don’t necessarily have the service. On the other hand, in a hotel you’ve got all the service but you’re always a visitor, you never feel like a local and the community certainly doesn’t come in to visit you.
‘So I thought, why don’t we just mash it all together, combining the best of long-stay residential living with the best of hotel staying, to create this hybrid place where you could stay for any length of time but also have all the experiences and amenities you’d enjoy as a local? And that was how The Other House was born.’
The Club Flats are flexible enough to serve as a temporary or long-term home – many are interconnecting apartments, meaning a large group can stay together at one ‘address’.
Starting at around £250 a night for an overnight stay, it’s also a competitively priced rival to central London’s luxury hotels. ‘I always knew it would transform the sector,’ says Heaton, matterof-factly. ‘Hospitality has been doing the same old thing for such a long time. This is about more than bricks and mortar, it’s a different experience behind the front door.’
But not everything has run the way she expected. ‘I like to think we got about 80 per cent of it right, and we’ve had to finesse the other 20 per cent,’ she says. ‘But that 20 per cent isn’t negative. Someone once told me that when you see a roadblock, find a way around it and the likelihood is that the new way round it will be a better solution than the one you came up with.
‘There are things about The Other House I thought would run in a certain way but have actually evolved into something different. Our private club – to which every resident is automatically signed up, accessing all the facilities – was just for residents but then we realised the locals wanted to join. So we turned it into a private members’ club that people can belong to whether they’re living there or not. It’s another thing that makes those spaces part of the community.’
One of the liveliest spaces is The Other House’s cocktail bar, The Owl and Monkey, which is more than a name, says Heaton – it’s a brand philosophy. ‘We feel that the people who come to us care about the planet, environmental and social impact, so they’re wise owls. But they’re also mostly in constant search of new experiences so they’re curious monkeys. The Owl And Monkey is a phrase that permeates everything we do and embodies who we are – on the one hand serious, but also very curious to explore and try new things.’
Club flat at The Other House South Kensington
The destination cocktail bar, the Owl and Monkey
Heaton will soon be spreading that curiosity through central London. Next year, a further 150 Club Flats will form The Other House Covent Garden – ‘seven different buildings combined into one, right near the piazza’, beams Heaton excitedly.
LCP is also seeking planning permission for another property in Belgravia, will ‘certainly’ open one in Marylebone, is also considering Notting Hill and might then start thinking internationally, potentially starting in New York. Which means this burgeoning hospitality revolution will give Heaton the chance to return to some of the skills she learned all those years ago in advertising.
‘I’m passionate about developing The Other House into a brand, rather than one independent property in one location,’ she says. ‘Covent Garden is quite different from South Kensington and will be its own thing, but they will share values, and one will shine a spotlight back on the other.
‘Suddenly, with a second location, the story gets better and better because we are rolling out a concept. Each one is different, they will never be cookie-cutter, but they will connect through guest touchpoints. That’s another lesson I’ve learned, that you need that scalability to tell the story you really want to, so people will recognise your brand and get what we’re doing. We’re developing our own “tribe”.’
With so much activity, how does Naomi Heaton switch off?
‘I don’t!’ she laughs. ‘I find it very difficult to stop thinking about everything. I do like socialising, and going out to dinner, and travelling – but I love being creative, so actually when I am not working on the day-to-day running of the business, I’m always thinking about designs for it. Although that doesn’t feel like work; that’s a different part of my brain, always trying to turn up new and interesting things.’
Heaton clearly values the support she’s had to come this far, and during the interview gives a grateful nod to Burlingtons. ‘They are a terrific group of people,’ she says. ‘They’re responsive and their advice is sound, but more than that, we have a great relationship. The people I speak to there know their stuff, but they’re also fun, hard-working, go-ahead and, like me, entrepreneurial so they know what I’m about; they’ve been on that journey.’
She also cites a mentor back in those advertising days, a role model who very obviously shaped the person Heaton is today. ‘She was gutsy, outspoken and got the job done,’ she says. ‘Seeing those qualities has lived with me ever since. And there’s so much more that I want to do.’
Naomi Heaton’s hospitality revolution is already conquering London. It might yet conquer the world. Literally, watch this space.
Naomi on site at The Other House Covent Garden, due to open in 2025
The private members’ club at The Other House
Postcards from Madrid REAL MADRID
Astunning blend of the old and new, Madrid is the capital of Spain and also the second-largest city in the European Union, behind only Paris.
While the site of modern-day Madrid has been occupied since prehistoric times, it was in the latter part of the 9th century that the Muslim ruler Emir Muhammad I built a fortress in the village of Mayrit, close to the river Manzanares. With such a rich and storied past, Madrid was first linked to the crown in 1123, during the reign of Alfonso VII, and the royal family still lives in the city to this day, at Zarzuela Palace. The official residence – the Royal Palace of Madrid – is now used only for ceremonial occasions.
by: Peter Davies
While it is a modern and thriving city, Madrid has preserved many of its finest historic streets and neighbourhoods, including some buildings dating back to medieval and Renaissance periods. However, the majority of Madrid’s historic buildings were built during the reign of the Habsburgs (1516-1700).
Madrid is also the central hub for government in Spain, and home to a wide range of multinational corporations and financial institutions. It boasts no fewer than 17 universities and more than 30 research centres, and, of course, is also home to two leading football teams. One of them, Real Madrid, enjoyed another outstanding season in 2023/24, winning the Champions League for a record 15th time.
El Retiro Park
Royal Palace
AFTER HOURS
Madrid is home to a wide range of outstanding bars and restaurants, from Botín, the world’s oldest restaurant, to quaint tapas bars, numerous Michelin-starred venues and sophisticated drinking lounges. Whatever your fancy, Madrid has something to offer…
Words: Sophia Barnett
■ DIVERXO
DiverXO, on the Padre Damián, may be the proud holder of three Michelin stars, but this restaurant is a long way from a stuffy fine dining establishment.
Chef Dabiz Muñoz, who, at the age of 33, became the second-youngest person in the world to receive three Michelin stars for his restaurant, has created a hedonistic and diverse tasting menu, which welcomes diners into a dream-like world of his creation.
The very best in local ingredients are enhanced by exotic flavours from around the world to create stunning, memorable dishes that are perhaps best classified as edible theatre.
Settle in and enjoy the creative magic, surrounded by the DiverXO motif of flying pigs.
diverxo.com
■ DEESSA
The exquisite surroundings of the Alfonso XIII salon overlooking the garden at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz provides the perfect canvas for chef Quique Dacosta to flex the culinary muscle that has earned the establishment two Michelin stars.
Guests can choose from either the “historic” or “contemporary” menu, paired with an exquisite array of wines – well deserving of their description “liquid harmonies” – chosen by a team of sommeliers. The contemporary menu features such delicacies as sole with aged sake beurre blanc, while those who opt for the historical option can enjoy dishes including roasted veal sweetbread and truffle. Or, opt for the “Chronos” menu, celebrating the god of time, by selecting a meal in four acts.
Housed in an industrial loft in the Saleas district of the city, DSTAgE has earned its two Michelin stars through the genius of chef Diego Guerrero.
Deriving its name from the acronym of ‘days to smell, taste, amaze, grow and enjoy’, the venue offers three set menus – Dtaste, Dstage and Denjoy – with wine pairings to match. These tasting menus of 16, 18 and 22 dishes, offer a culinary journey around the world, showcasing stunning ingredients and perfect flavours.
The ground floor of the two-storey restaurant is home to DSPOT – a studio and event space that can be used for private dining, drinks receptions or for cooking classes. There is also a large wine cellar, while the courtyard entrance houses some of the plants and herbs showcased in the menus upstairs.
dstageconcept.com
■ 1862 DRY BAR
‘Dry bar’ may not sound the most promising name for a cocktail bar, but don’t be put off –the ‘1862’ appellation gives a much better clue to what lies within.
1862 was the year that the first book of cocktails was published, How to Mix Drinks –The Bon Vivant’s Companion, by Jerry Thomas, and several of the offerings on the extensive menu hail from that publication. Expect classics such as the Mint Julep or a Gin Fizz, as well as more modern creations, all served in elegant surroundings under high ceilings in a split-level setting.
Email 1862drybar@gmail.com
■ AZOTEA DEL C Í RCULO
For one of the most breathaking views of Madrid, head to the Azotea del Círculo (literally, ‘Circle Roof’) for 360° views of the city. The bar is on the rooftop of the cultural institution, the Círculo de Bellas Artes, and is the perfect spot to enjoy drinks or dinner. Start the day the right way with a delicious brunch, or while away the afternoon after selecting from a tapas menu that showcases the finest Mediterranean ingredients. Or wait until sunset to make the best of the panoramic views while sampling crispy octopus or snapper with squid ink, or simply sip on a classic cocktail or something from the extensive wine list.
azoteadelcirculo.com
DRIVING NEW GROWTH
Jo Mackie, a partner in employment law at Burlingtons, has recently been announced as director of business development
Words: Amy Bennett
It is less than a year since Jo Mackie joined the Burlingtons team as a partner, but in just five short months she has already made a significant impact.
‘I wanted to work with a firm that would let me grow and develop the business, and that was what Deborah [Mills, CEO] wanted as well, so it was an instant marriage between the two of us really,’ she says.
‘I was recently promoted to director of business development, which gives me oversight of the whole organisation in terms of business development. It is a major role to increase growth at the firm, but I feel really driven and dynamic. I’ve almost got too much energy sometimes, so it is good for me to be able to direct it into something that will bring growth and benefit the whole organisation.
‘Burlingtons is now a full-service firm and, in a way, we have become victims of our own success. The more that
clients like you, the more clients you will get by word of mouth, so we have some really big growth areas at the moment that we will keep pushing forward. It is a very exciting time to be at this firm and to be able to drive business development, because the team has a lot of energy, and the hunger to succeed.’
ROAD TO THE LAW
Mackie was born in Malta and holds dual nationality. Her father was a Royal Navy clearance diver, and enjoyed the claim to fame of having been a body double for Sean Connery in the James Bond film Thunderball, filmed in the Bahamas.
The family returned to Britain when Mackie was a child, settling in Bournemouth, with her father working as an instructor in bomb disposal for naval divers in Portsmouth. 〉
A talented artist, Mackie faced a tough decision in her teens – whether to pursue her passion at St Martin’s School of Art or to study for a more academic degree at the University of London.
‘I have always drawn and painted; I find it really compelling, and easy as well – I don’t understand how other people don’t because it’s just what my brain and hands do! At school, I was always the one who was going to go to art college, but, in the end, I decided on a degree in philosophy.’
After graduation, Mackie forged a career in the NHS, working on strategy and regulation.
‘I did all the strategic planning for what was then called the East London and City Health Authority, which was Barts, the Royal London, Newham and Homerton hospitals. It was a case of “this is how much money we’ve got, so this is how we are going to deliver these things”,’ she explains. ‘It was a problem-solving exercise, a jigsaw if you like, of how to make everything fit with the limited resources we had.’
In her late 20s, Mackie made the decision to return to education, completing a law conversion course. So was there a light-bulb moment that persuaded her to switch to law?
‘I had always wanted to do law, but I didn’t think I would get into law school because I didn’t have very academic A Levels – I did art, English, and biology,’ Mackie explains. ‘I wasn’t ready for law school then anyway, so I’m glad I did philosophy first.
‘However, it began to bother me that I wasn’t really doing what I wanted, and I knew that law was what I wanted to be doing. In my late 20s, I thought “it’s now or never”, so I jumped, and I did it. I was old enough by then to know I really wanted to do law, and I knew from day one that it was the right thing for me. I absolutely loved it.’
After qualifying, Mackie found herself drawn to employment law, a field in which she has now amassed more than 20 years’ experience.
‘During training, I enjoyed employment and corporate law, so, really, I have merged the two,” she explains. ‘I act mainly for employers rather than employees. Some people like employment law because they enjoy the HR side of things and the people element; I prefer to work with businesses on solving their problems. I like the big problems and the big organisations; I’m much more interested in how businesses work than how individuals work.’
Mackie is that rarest of things – someone with true artistic flair who has a mind that enjoys exploring philosophical concepts, as well as the more black-and-white dictates of the law.
‘Not that I believe in horoscopes, but I am told I am the archetypal Libran,’ she says with a laugh. ‘I have got both bits in me – I have the creative vibe, but also enjoy the law and politics, and exploring the philosophy and ideas behind them, as well as problem-solving.’
CHANGING FACE OF LAW
The law is an ever-evolving discipline, affected by a range of influences, including, of course, the recent change of UK government.
‘[Labour] has said that it wants changes in employment law, and some of it is laudable – but we shall have to see how much of it they can do. For example, making unfair dismissal a first-day right is going to be hard to do in practical terms, because there would just be too many claims to handle,’ Mackie notes.
‘Currently, there is a probationary period when you start a new job, and you should be entitled to this – you should be allowed to walk away if it isn’t the right fit, and you should be allowed to dismiss someone with a week’s notice during that three- or six-month probationary period. But that doesn’t tally with the plans for dismissal because, currently, it is two years before you can bring that claim. So, it is going to be
Above and below left, some of the art created by Mackie
Mackie’s father, CPO William ‘Gabby’ Haines, RN Clearance Diver First Class, pictured in Malta in 1967
interesting to see how Labour makes that change in the law.
‘I do think they are much more people-focused than business-focused, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, because we had swung quite far the other way.
‘I think they’re going to change a lot of the trade union legislation, which concerns me somewhat. During times of austerity, people have had enough, and we saw a lot of industrial action in the past few years. There are the doctor strikes, for example, and rail strikes. Labour understands that it is damaging to the economy, but also the reason for it, so is trying to address both issues. It’s hard to find the balance. I think [Chancellor of the Exchequer] Rachel Reeves is a smart cookie and has credible banking experience. I hope she gets to improve the economic outlook for all our sakes.’
KEEPING BUSY
The law’s gain may have been the art world’s loss, but Mackie still enjoys creating art in her own time. She also keeps fit and active with running and walking, as well as playing football for the Crystal Palace Veterans team.
‘My dad was a semi-professional footballer before he joined the navy and won plenty of awards in the navy for sport. My brother was also a semi-professional footballer until he got injured, so I grew up playing football with them both all the time. I just had a natural ability for it, but this was before it was a professional game for women, so, although I played well, there was nowhere to go with it.’
Keeping fit by running also allows Mackie to fundraise for charities; having previously run the London Marathon, she now focuses on races at around the 10km mark.
Mackie’s fundraising from running goes to Breast Cancer Now, a charity close to her heart as a breast cancer survivor.
‘To have breast cancer young, before the screening process begins, is rare. I noticed something and checked with my GP, who told me I was fine. I didn’t believe them, so saw another GP who agreed that there was something wrong. I was lucky and it was caught early, but only because I made a big fuss.’
While waiting for her surgery, following her diagnosis, Mackie met a woman whose GP had also dismissed her concerns. Unlike Mackie, however, the woman had not pushed back; consequently, her cancer went undiagnosed until it had spread throughout her body.
‘That’s why I tell every person I know who is worried to go and do something about it – I feel like I’ve got to do something for that woman,’ Mackie says. ‘I think that is one of the reasons I am so full of beans now – it’s like I’ve been given a second chance at being alive. Had I followed the first doctor’s advice, I may well be dead now.’
LEGAL COMMENTATOR
Alongside her day job, Mackie has become a familiar name and face, offering expert legal commentary on stories of the day in outlets such as Raconteur magazine, which appears in The Times and Sunday Times. She is also the go-to employment law commentator for TalkTV and on BBC and LBC radio programmes.
‘At my previous firm, I was asked for comment from a newspaper via a PR firm that they used. I did it, and they asked if I could come in and talk about it. The interview was recorded and was used on Sky TV, and I really enjoyed doing it. Then I became friends with the interviewer Vanessa Feltz, who put me on her TalkTV show every week, and it just went from there. I still do her radio show on Saturdays on LBC when I can.
‘There is always a story in the news that relates to employment law – for example, it could be someone who has done something naughty at work, or changes to the ways people are allowed to bring claims at work. Whatever it is, people want an employment lawyer to comment on it or explain, and I seem to have become the go-to person for a few places. I really enjoy it though; it’s a fun aspect of the job!’
Jo can be contacted at jo.mackie@burlingtons.legal
A keen runner, Mackie completed the London Marathon in 2011
TAKING CENTRE STAGE
Musicals are the most popular form of theatre in the UK. So who are the rising stars of the musical-theatre world? We shine a spotlight on the names and faces to watch
Words: Kayleigh Dray
Five, six, seven, eight! Love them or loathe them, there’s no getting away from the fact that musicals are the most popular form of theatre in the UK. According to Arts Council England, more than 34 million people attend London’s West End every year.
That means a crowd bigger than the population of Australia makes the trip to our capital city’s theatre district every 12 months – doing wonders for the economy in the process. Total box office revenue for the West End in 2022 was an eyewatering £892,896,521 across 19,224 performances, according to the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) annual box office statistics.
It’s not an art form that will be dying out any time soon, either. While the average age of the West End theatregoer is 43, about a third are 15 to 34 years old, with more and more musicals being released with younger audiences in mind.
‘The popularity of musical theatre is on the rise among young people for myriad reasons, but largely because of its readiness to tackle contemporary issues, such as identity, mental health and social justice… themes that really resonate with younger audiences,’ explains Daniel Bowling, Gatsby
‘Inclusivity and representation are of paramount importance to young people, and many recent productions have quite rightly focused on diverse casts and stories that promote an inclusive environment, which is especially appealing to younger generations.’
Marco Morbidelli, joint course leader, BA Performance, and joint head of singing at Mountview, agrees, and adds that we will probably see more and more young people treading the boards, as well as watching the shows from those plush red-velvet seats. ‘At a time when young people seem excited to be investigating issues of identity and self-expression, it seems that musical theatre provides an ideal platform for these personal and artistic investigations,’ he says.
‘Something about storytelling through different disciplines gives students an experience of choice and agency, as well as the excitement generated by very intense physical and emotional training. The work that young people are coming up with is terrific.’
Who, then, are the ones to watch on the West End stage? Meet the UK’s best young musical-theatre stars…
chair of musical theatre and head of musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music.
ED LARKIN
The first wheelchair user in 350 years to lead a West End musical, Ed Larkin dazzled critics and audiences alike with his performance in The Little Big Things – so much so that he has just been nominated for Best West End Debut in The Stage Debut Awards.
‘To be in this position in my career really feels like a childhood dream come true. As a wheelchair user, I didn’t see anyone like me in the industry when I was younger, so I pinch myself daily and feel truly blessed to call this my job,’ says Ed.
Ed will be seen in a fab new role in London theatres this winter, but it hasn’t been announced, so we can’t really say any more on that just yet…
GRACE HODGETT YOUNG
Just 21 years old, Grace Hodgett Young has been riding a rollercoaster to stardom ever since she graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
She dazzled audiences as Betty Schaefer in Jamie Lloyd’s radical reinvention of Sunset Boulevard for the Savoy Theatre last year – her first professional role. She’s also led the charge for the West End premiere of Hadestown, as Eurydice. From September, she will reprise her role as Betty Schaefer when Sunset Boulevard is transferred to Broadway, at St James Theatre New York City.
We recommend grabbing a signed photo now, before she reaches stratospheric levels of fame!
CASEY AL-SHAQSY
A graduate of the Arts Educational (ArtsEd) School, London, Casey Al-Shaqsy showcased her powerhouse vocals as Jane Seymour in the 2022-23 UK tour of Six The Musical. So it should come as little surprise that she is currently defying gravity as standby Elphaba in the Wicked UK tour until January 2025.
JONTY PEACH
After performing with the National Youth Music Theatre in The Battle of Boat, Jonty Peach trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he was a recipient of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship. He’s currently performing in Operation Mincemeat, this year’s double Olivier Award-winning show (not to mention the best reviewed show in West End history), as first cover for Hester Leggatt and second cover to Charles Cholmondeley. You’ll have to be quick if you want to catch him, though, as the show continues to run to sellout audiences.
TOM FRANCIS
Tom Francis only graduated from ArtsEd in 2020, but he’s already an Olivier Award winner. That’s right; the indisputable star on the rise was named Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard, a role that he will be reprising on Broadway at St James Theatre, NYC, from late September.
HOPE DAWE
Hope Dawe is stepping out of Mountview and into the shoes of Olivia Newton-John this year, with her professional debut in the UK and Ireland tour of Grease the Musical, arguably one of the biggest shows going.
‘When I found out I had the role of Sandy, I couldn’t believe I was entering my debut in such an iconic role,’ she told stage review website Lost in Theatreland.
‘I find that you put a lot of yourself into the characters you play, and I’m finding that with Sandy. She’s a loveable, yet determined, young woman and it’s been a joy to bring her to life.’
ROB MADGE
Best known for their show My Son’s A Queer, which was nominated for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play at the 2023 Olivier Awards, Rob Madge is a Royal Academy of Music graduate with the world at their feet. Over the next 12 months, Rob will be performing in Buyer & Cellar at the King’s Head, and then as ‘The Spirit of Sherwood’ in Robin Hood, at the London Palladium, this Christmas.
If you can’t wait until then, though, you can get a taste for Rob’s work via their social media channels, where they have amassed a following of more than 300,000 for writing and performing their own skits. Watch this space for 2025...
VIOLA MAISEY, starred as Grace in Babies The Musical at The Other Palace
Waiting in the wings…
EVE HUMPHREY, currently in the London revival of Starlight Express at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, playing the role of Dinah
GRACE TOWNING, covered Leah/ Grace/Becky in Babies The Musical at The Other Palace
MAX EADE, starred as Michelangelo in Pop Off, Michelangelo! at EdFringe
WILL THOMPSONBRANT, starred as Daniel in Savoy! Everybody’s Doing It at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
SAVANNAH HALL, on tour with The Book Of Mormon as ensemble/first cover for Nabulungi
We have enjoyed a sensational summer of sport this year, capped by weeks of pulsating action in Paris as the very best athletes in the world battled it out for gold at the Olympics and Paralympics.
Team GB equalled its haul from London 2012, with 65 Olympic medals, its joint third-highest tally at a single Games, behind Rio in 2016 (67 medals) and the staggering 146 earned in London in 1908. By total medals won, Team GB finished third behind the US and China, with 14 golds the high points among the hardware won.
Things got even better for Team GB once the results of the Paralympics were added in, with a stunning 124 medals heading back to Britain from the Games, including 49 golds. Team GB finished second overall in the rankings at the Paralympics, adding to its seventh place at the Olympics.
The youngest medallist for Team GB was 16-year-old Sky Brown, who scooped bronze in skateboarding just a week after dislocating her shoulder. Brown is no stranger to Olympic success, despite her youth, having become Team GB’s youngest-ever summer Olympian when she competed at the Tokyo Games at the age of 13.
At the other end of the scale, dressage rider Carl Hester was Team GB’s oldest medal winner of the 2024 Games, taking team bronze aged 57. Competing at his seventh summer Games, this time partnering Fame in the freestyle dressage event, Hester bagged his fourth successive Olympic medal.
With Team GB winning medals in 19 different sports at both the Olympics and Paralympics, there are a host of outstanding moments to celebrate. Here we take a closer look at just a handful of some of those exhilarating days.
GOLDEN GIRL HODGKINSON
Keely Hodgkinson is no stranger to impressive performances. In winning the 800m silver medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021, aged 19, she ran 1 minute 55.88 seconds to smash Dame Kelly Holmes’ British record, which had stood for 26 years.
The Wigan-born runner had already broken the world under-20 record for 800m in January 2021 and became the youngest Briton to win gold at the European Indoor Championships two months later.
These achievements catapulted Hodgkinson from the back pages of newspapers to centre stage, and she put on another scintillating, front-running display in the Stade de France to win gold in Paris.
Hodgkinson is only the third British woman to win Olympic gold in the 800m, following in the footsteps of Holmes and Ann Packer.
‘I’ve worked so hard for this,’ Hodgkinson said after the race. ‘The crowd was just absolutely incredible. It felt like a home Olympics for me. There are that many Brits in the stadium.
‘It just spurs me on, and to celebrate with all of them makes the moment so special. I’m super happy that I’ve been able to fulfil what I feel like I could do.’
SENSATIONAL FINISH FOR ALEX YEE
After a 1.5km swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run – in 30˚C heat – a sprint finish is a big ask. Yet that was exactly what the crowds were treated to when Alex Yee put in a sensational final lap to take gold in the triathlon.
As the bell rang out on the Pont Alexandre III bridge to mark the final lap, Yee had 15 seconds to make up on the New Zealand competitor Hayden Wilde. However, with the crowd roaring him home, he crept ever closer to his rival before passing him 400m from the finish. Incredibly, he kept accelerating, powering home to a remarkable victory with six seconds in hand over his closest rival.
‘It was just one of those magic moments where you hear about… people finding extra stuff within themselves… I just decided that I was going to give myself one last chance just to do it,’ Yee told reporters.
To cap things off, the 26-year-old went on to bag bronze in the mixed relay triathlon.
DREAMS COME TRUE FOR ANDERSON
Surely one of the most moving moments of the Paris Games came in the post-victory interview with Lola Anderson, moments after she had earned gold in the women’s quadruple sculls with teammates Georgie Brayshaw, Hannah Scott and Lauren Henry.
Anderson revealed that, at age 14, she had written in her diary that she wanted to win an Olympic rowing gold. Feeling embarrassed at the scale of her dreams, she later ripped the page out. The story could have ended there, but, seven years later, her father, Don, handed the note back to her shortly
Alex Yee after achieving Olympic gold in the triathlon
“HOPEFULLY, TODAY, SOME NEW DREAMS HAVE BEEN BORN”
before he died in 2019. Also a rower, he had found the page and saved it to return to his daughter.
The team scored a last-gasp victory at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, defeating the Netherlands in the last stroke by the fractional time of 0.15 seconds, with a photo finish required to crown the winners.
HALES SHOOTS TO THE TOP
Nathan Hales was making his Olympic debut in Paris this summer, but the trap shooter hit 48 out of 50 targets to set a new Games record and finish atop the podium.
His success was the first Olympic shooting gold for Team GB since Peter Wilson won the double trap at London in 2012, and the first in the men’s individual trap since 1968.
In a six-man final, Hales scored a run of 15 perfect shots before missing two and hitting one more to finish four ahead of China’s Qi Ying.
‘It was very intense and there were a lot of nervy moments, but you don’t get better than an Olympic gold and an Olympic record,’ Hales said. ‘I tried to keep everything as we always do and treat it exactly the same as any other event, and enjoyed every second of it.
‘I knew I had a bit of buffer over the others, so that was a great comfort, but you need to focus on yourself and not think about the others.’
COCKROFT TOPS SUPER SUNDAY
Sunday 1 September was a red-letter day for Team GB at the Paralympics, with 12 gold medals bagged during the course of a spectacular few hours.
Hannah Cockroft led the podium charge in the T34 100m, landing her eighth Paralympic gold medal and fourth consecutive 100m gold. She went on to also win the T34 800m, repeating her success in Tokyo 2020 at that distance.
Hannah Cockroft after winning her eighth Paralympic gold medal
“OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD... EVERYONE HAS COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE”
Cockroft’s gold rush began at the London 2012 Paralympics, when she won the T34 100m and 200m, and it carried on through Rio 2016 (three golds) and Tokyo 2020 (two), before she added to her tally in Paris.
Cockroft is an ambassador for wheelchair service Invacare, and she summed up the impact of her huge success saying: ‘Someone told me, “I watched you in 2012 and that’s why I am here.” I really hope there are some girls at home who are doing the same, because that’s what it’s all about. Hopefully, today, some new dreams have been born.’
THIRD-TIME CHARM FOR HEWETT AND REID
After earning silver medals in the wheelchair tennis men’s doubles at the Paralympics in Rio and Tokyo, the dynamic duo of Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid landed a hugely deserved victory in Paris, defeating Japanese players Tokito Oda and Takuya Miki 6-2 6-1 in the final.
The first set proved a battle royal; the 60 minutes of play included eight break-point opportunities for both pairs, although Hewett and Reid put the second set to bed much more quickly.
‘It’s something we have been desperate to win for a long time now, and we have come so close twice and felt that heartbreak, felt that pain,’ said Reid after the match. ‘That’s been some of the toughest moments in my career. To sit here
with the gold around our necks, it’s up there with one of the best.’
JUMPING FOR JOY IN PARIS
Team GB’s equestrian teams enjoyed another strong Games, winning gold in the team eventing and the team showjumping, as well as bronze in the team dressage and for Laura Collett in the individual eventing.
Going into the final day of the team eventing, Team GB had high hopes of defending its Olympic title for the first time since 1972, and the three-strong team duly pulled it off.
Rosalind Canter, Collett and Tom McEwan shrugged off intense pressure in searing temperatures, and in front of a very vocal home crowd, to bag gold, ahead of France in second and Japan in third.
Ben Maher, Harry Charles and Scott Brash also secured gold in the team showjumping, seeing off strong teams from Germany and the US against the spectacular backdrop of the Palace of Versailles.
‘It’s pretty unbelievable; it’s going to take a few days or weeks to sink in,’ Charles said after their success.
‘Olympic champions sounds pretty good. We’ve got the horses to thank, a lot of background staff, teams, grooms, farriers, vets – everyone has come together to make this possible. You see us with the medals, but it is really a village behind us. We’re very grateful.’
Rosalind Canter, Laura Collett and Tom McEwan
THE ULTIMATE
The experiences and purchases that are the pick of the season
Words: Andy Morris
1MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD, GLOBE-TROTTER REMAIN THE LIGHTEST AND BRIGHTEST TRUNKS TO TAKE ON YOUR TRAVELS
Both a veteran – and a celebration – of the bygone era of travel, Globe-Trotter has established itself as the chic homegrown alternative to bigger international labels. The making of each suitcase involves 98 different processes, including the vulcanised fibreboard carapace, conceived in 1859 and resulting in cases as robust as leather but light as aluminium.
Made in Hertfordshire, the latest collection takes inspiration from the Cotswolds in autumn: harvest abundance, basket weaving, thatched cottages, fallen leaves, log fires, marmalade on toast... This is a British celebratory collection done right – and if you’ve ever checked into Estelle Manor or eaten at Le Manoir, this is the range for you.
From £1,595, globe-trotter.com
A PRE-EMINENT VISUAL CINEMATIC STYLIST TURNS HIS HAND TO A ROMAN HOTEL
Filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, behind Zendaya’s tennis throuple drama Challengers and Timothée Chalamet’s peachy romance Call Me By Your Name, is also responsible for an interior design practice.
Palazzo Talia is a protected landmark, a 16thcentury former school building that boasts a main hall with a 36-foot ceiling and ancient Roman busts. What’s most impressive is the bold use of colour and how the bespoke furniture and furnishings have been used to soften the space and make it feel more approachable.
Look out for a 1940s vintage chandelier, Sicilian ceramics, Venetian glass, Spanish tiles and a courtyard garden. And yes, on request, you can get a room for three.
From £542 per night, palazzotalia.com
INDEPENDENT, SUBTLE, EXQUISITE: JACQUES MARIE MAGE SUNGLASSES ARE THE PERFECT PAIR
Considering one last overseas jaunt before the year is done? Invest in a pair of sunglasses that make you feel like a nineties A-lister – before the rise of the camera phone. Founded by LA-based Frenchman Jerome Mage – who calls them ‘objects with soul’ – these limited edition, lightweight, thin frames are handmade in Japan, using machines that date from World War II. The likes of Austin Butler, Barry Keoghan and Jeff Goldblum have all fallen for the tinted lenses and double-laminated temples. Our favourites are from arch-stylist George Cortina, particularly ‘The Ritz’.
From £600, jacquesmariemage.com
AND JUST LIKE THAT…JIMMY CHOO HAS RETURNED TO THE NINETIES
The elusive notion of what is considered ‘ladylike’ has been the starting point for Sandra Choi’s latest collection, modelled by no less than Winona Ryder. ‘I was reminiscing on that moment in the 1990s when different worlds collided – models, the YBAs and socialites,’ explains Choi. Whether it be Chelsea in London or New York for clubbing in heels under mirror balls, this is about bringing back carefree nightlife decadence. Order the Amel, a pointed satin pump embellished with crystals, then hit the dancefloor.
£1,175, jimmychoo.com
DE BEERS FORCES OF NATURE CELEBRATES CONSERVATION, INDIVIDUAL SPIRIT
The natural world has long been a source of inspiration to jewellers. But as a South African jeweller with a deep commitment to conservation, De Beers goes further than most.
The ‘Forces of Nature’ collection includes necklaces, cuffs, earrings, cocktail rings, lapel pins and brooches. They are themed around eight animals and the concepts they embody: buffalo (stability), elephant (tenderness), giraffe (dignity), kudu (spirituality), leopard (magnetism), lion (protection), rhino (fortitude) and zebra (individuality). Secure the big five for the full, showstopping effect. POA, debeers.com
ABTANY’S SWIMWEAR HELPS YOU MOVE FROM POOL TO RESTAURANT TO BAR AND BEYOND
No matter the boldness of the print nor the whimsy of the design, swimwear should never, ever be silly.
Abtany (coined from the Persian aab tani or ‘playing in water’), was founded in 2022 by Sourena Ghaffari and attempts to make the whole experience more elegant by offering a ‘set’ – whether a pair of hand-painted smaller briefs for Mediterranean excursions or more relaxed shorts for occasions where you’ll need more covering than budgie smugglers. Flattering on all body types and made from recycled ocean waste, an Abtany set also means you can actually properly swim in the water, before heading to the bar.
From £140, abtany.com
THE DEATH OF THE GREAT BRITISH PUB HAS BEEN EXAGGERATED: THE WIGMORE GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
Seemingly on social media, the only pub worth visiting in central London is the Devonshire. Not for the first time, the algorithm is flawed. Consider this high-end alternative: a chic, relaxed environment with ample space, a warm welcome and Michel Roux-refined comfort food.
Order a couple of pints of Wigmore Saison, begin with an XXL stovetop toastie (you will be warned of its size) and a Masala scotch egg that resembles a sea anemone. Try the beef brisket pie with fat chips for a main course and you’ll not be disappointed. The Sunday lunches also come highly recommended.
The Wigmore is launching a ‘Toastie Takeover’ series in the autumn, with a portion of the profits going to hospitality mental health champions, The Burnt Chef Project. A true delight right in the heart of the capital. the-wigmore.co.uk
THE EMORY, MAYBOURNE’S LATEST MASTERPIECE, REDEFINES CHECKING IN
The final hotel project from the visionary architect Richard Rogers is London’s first all-suite hotel – and it has just had another upgrade. The sister property to Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley, The Emory boasts an all-star cast of designers, including André Fu, Pierre-Yves Rochon, Alexandra Champalimaud, Rigby & Rigby, Rémi Tessier and Patricia Urquiola (look out for the staircase in Rogers’ signature ‘shocking pink’).
The masterstroke is that they have now partnered with Flexjet to offer helicopter arrivals from the capital’s private jet terminals, where you will be greeted by The Emory town car, rather than having to battle through London traffic. Arrive in style to be greeted by your ‘Emory Assistant’. Then head straight to the private rooftop bar for unparalleled views of London, before heading downstairs to restaurant abc kitchens for posh pizza.
From £1,440 per night, the-emory.co.uk
NEW YORK DESIGN AESTHETE JONATHAN ADLER BRINGS MODERN AMERICAN GLAMOUR TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Ever since he threw his first clay pot aged 12 at summer camp in New Jersey, Jonathan Adler has been trying to make the world a more beautiful place. With the simple premise – ‘Will the world be a better place with this object?’ – he has also brought a much-needed sense of fun and frivolity to the interiors sector.
His Fall collection sees him return to one of his favourite collections, inspired by Adam and Eve’s unwanted guest. Appreciate the pottery and signature serpents on bold colourful backgrounds.
From £250, jonathanadler.com
BRUNELLO CUCINELLI REDEFINES A MORE RELAXED STYLE OF AUTUMNAL SUITING
For a designer who insists on traditional, handcrafted materials, cashmere king Brunello Cucinelli has never been more in demand. He is currently offering his philosophy on everything, from the pursuit of a holistic luxury to how artificial intelligence can be used to truly appreciate human-led craftsmanship.
This handsome blazer, in a silk/wool/cashmere blend, comes complete with the ‘Solomeo shoulder’ – named after the hamlet where the company is located – which means a flattering aspect without any additional padding. It manages to look effortless and elegant at the same time. Pair with a turtleneck and a Ferrante paperback and you’re all set for la Passeggiata £3,300, brunellocucinelli.com
BRAVE NEW WORLD
For wine lovers keen to explore, there’s a plethora of new kids on the block, just waiting to be discovered…
Words: Giles Cross
Nothing delivers a sense of place quite like wine. Every bottle captures the essence of its origin, distilling the unique characteristics of soil, climate and culture into every sip. It’s a liquid expression of the land from which it comes, telling a story of the seasons that shaped it and the people who crafted it.
As you swirl the contents of a glass, you’re not just tasting the wine; you’re experiencing the landscape, the history, and the spirit of a place. Wine is more than a drink – it’s a passport to places unknown, a key to unlocking the extraordinary.
The answer to whether you pair wine with food or food with wine depends on your perspective. However, a refined approach suggests the latter, acknowledging that a carefully chosen wine is the star of the experience, with its unique characteristics setting the tone.
THINK OUTSIDE THE GLASS
But let’s turn that notion on its head for a moment. Instead of food, think destination. Consider adventure and contemplate the ultimate pairing, where excellent, surprising and relatively unknown wines play second fiddle
to experience, culture and the beauty of the place itself. Imagine savouring a glass of robust Tannat while surveying the windswept plains of Uruguay, or enjoying a luscious ice wine amid the crisp, wintry landscape of the Niagara Peninsula. These moments transcend traditional tasting experiences, as the wine becomes inextricably linked to the environment, culture and history that surround it.
Wine tourism is nothing new, but by looking beyond the glass, by pairing wine with the place from which it originates and with the unique experiences found there, travellers can elevate their understanding and appreciation of both. Every sip becomes an exploration of new horizons, where the essence of the land and the spirit of adventure are as vital as the wine you taste.
So, in our digitally dense world of information saturation, where even the less well known can seem startlingly familiar, let us seek out the surprising, beyond worlds ‘old and new’.
Discover the extraordinary that exists beyond the welltrodden paths, unearthing eight lesser known but emerging treasures; destinations, rich in history and culture, that will weave exquisite wines into a tapestry of new and exciting travel experiences.
■ GEORGIA
THE CRADLE OF WINE
In the shadow of the Caucasus Mountains, Georgia boasts an ancient winemaking tradition that dates back more than 8,000 years. This small country offers a profound connection to the origins of viticulture. Here, in the Kakheti region, traditional qvevri winemaking methods – the fermenting and ageing of wine in clay vessels buried underground – are still practised, producing vintages of remarkable depth and character.
Wines to try:
• Pheasant’s Tears Rkatsiteli 2019: an amber wine with a full-bodied, earthy flavour profile, embodying the Georgian terroir
• Schuchmann Saperavi 2018: a robust red with notes of dark fruits and spices, reflecting the bold character of Georgian reds.
Stay at… the Schuchmann Wines Chateau, a boutique hotel that blends modern luxury with Georgian charm. Wander through the Alazani Valley, visit the medieval monasteries, and partake in a supra where wine flows as freely as the stories of the land.
■ URUGUAY
A SOUTH AMERICAN SECRET
Uruguay is a revelation for the discerning oenophile. The country’s temperate climate and mineral-rich soils create the perfect conditions for cultivating Tannat, a robust red wine that has become Uruguay’s signature varietal.
Wines to try:
• Bodega Garzón Tannat Reserva 2018: a powerful yet elegant wine with notes of blackberry and plum, showcasing the unique native soils of Uruguay.
• Narbona Pinot Noir 2017: a silky red with hints of cherry and raspberry, reflecting the refined elegance of Uruguayan winemaking.
Explore... the Carmelo region, where boutique wineries like Narbona Wine Lodge offer intimate tastings and luxurious accommodation. Stroll through the vineyards, enjoy a sunset horseback ride along the Río de la Plata and discover the blend of European and indigenous influences that shape Uruguayan culture.
■ SLOVENIA
EUROPE'S GREEN HEART
Slovenia is blessed with a diverse landscape that produces some of the continent’s most intriguing wines. The rolling hills of the Goriška Brda region are home to winemakers who balance innovation with tradition, crafting exceptional whites such as Rebula and rich reds such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wines to try:
• Movia Veliko Bianco 2015: a complex white blend with notes of citrus and honey, reflecting the rich biodiversity of the region.
• Edi Simčič Duet Lex 2016: a bold red blend with layers of dark fruit, tobacco, and spice, embodying the robust character of Slovenian reds.
Stay at… the Gredič Castle, a boutique hotel perched atop a hill, offering panoramic views of the vineyards. Pair your wine journey with a visit to Lake Bled, the Škocjan Caves and the vibrant capital, Ljubljana, where history and modernity dance gracefully, hand in hand.
■ ROMANIA THE REBIRTH OF TRADITION
Romania, with its storied past and emerging viticultural potential, is reclaiming its place on the world wine map. The country’s diverse microclimates and rich soils produce a wide variety of wines, from crisp whites to bold reds. In the Transylvanian Highlands and the sun-drenched plains of Oltenia, indigenous varieties like Fetească Neagră and Tămâioasă Românească shine alongside international favourites.
Wines to try:
• Liliac Fetească Neagră 2017: a deep red with notes of black cherry and spice, showcasing the potential of Romania’s indigenous grapes.
• Avincis Tămâioasă Românească 2018: a fragrant white with floral and tropical fruit notes, reflecting the aromatic diversity of Romanian wines.
Stay at… the Conacul Brătescu in Bran, a boutique guesthouse steeped in local charm and history. Explore the medieval castles, vibrant villages and the bustling city of Cluj-Napoca, and experience the warm hospitality of Romanian winemakers.
■ TASMANIA: A NEWER WORLD AT ITS VERY EDGE
Tasmania, Australia’s island state, offers a cool climate ideal for producing elegant Pinot Noir and crisp Chardonnay. The pristine environment and innovative winemaking practices have positioned Tasmania as a rising star on the global wine scene.
Wines to try:
• Moorilla Muse Pinot Noir 2016: a delicate yet complex wine with red berry flavours and a touch of earthiness, reflecting Tasmania’s cool climate.
• Stefano Lubiana Estate Chardonnay 2017: a vibrant white with citrus and stone fruit notes, showcasing the island’s pristine growing conditions.
Venture to… the Coal River Valley and stay at the MONA Pavilions, where cuttingedge design meets the serenity of the landscape. Visit the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), explore the rugged coastline and immerse yourself in the island’s rich history and thriving artisanal food scene.
■ CANADA: THE LAND OF FROZEN WONDER
In Canada’s Niagara Peninsula and Okanagan Valley, the frigid winters have given rise to a truly extraordinary wine: ice wine. Harvested from grapes frozen naturally on the vine, ice wine is a rich, sweet nectar that embodies the harsh beauty of the Canadian winter. The country’s cool climate and pristine environment create wines of unparalleled purity and intensity.
Wines to try:
• Inniskillin Vidal Icewine 2017: a luxurious dessert wine with layers of apricot, honey, and tropical fruits, epitomising the magic of Niagara.
• Mission Hill Reserve Riesling Icewine 2016: a luscious wine with vibrant acidity and notes of peach and citrus, showcasing the elegance of Okanagan ice wines.
Stay at… Peller Estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where you can tour the winery, savour ice wine in a custom-built igloo and dine in the world-class restaurant. In the Okanagan Valley, relax at Spirit Ridge Resort, where the stunning landscapes provide a perfect backdrop for enjoying Canada’s frozen symphony of flavours.
■ SOUTH AFRICA: THE CAPE'S HIDDEN CORNERS
While South Africa’s Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are renowned, the Swartland region remains a well-kept secret among wine aficionados. This rugged, arid area north of Cape Town produces bold, complex wines from varieties like Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, and Grenache.
Wines to try:
• Sadie Family Wines Palladius 2017: a rich white blend with layers of stone fruit, spice, and minerality, showcasing Swartland’s unique flavours.
• AA Badenhorst Family Wines Red Blend 2016: a robust red with notes of dark fruit, leather, and herbs, reflecting the region’s bold winemaking style.
Experience… the essence of Swartland at the Babylonstoren Farm Hotel, where farm-totable dining and luxurious accommodation create a perfect harmony with the surrounding vineyards. Discover the natural beauty of the Cederberg Mountains, the rich heritage of Cape Dutch architecture, and the vibrant art scene in Cape Town.
■ MEXICO:
GO LOOPY FOR GUADALUPE
In the heart of Baja California, Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe is an unexpected treasure for wine enthusiasts. This burgeoning wine region, often dubbed the 'Napa of Mexico', is gaining international acclaim for its bold and diverse wines. The region’s unique climate – where the Pacific Ocean meets the desert – creates an ideal environment for producing robust reds and crisp whites that defy expectations.
Wines to try:
• Monte Xanic Gran Ricardo 2016: a complex red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, offering rich flavours of black cherry, chocolate and spice, embodying the bold character of Mexican reds.
• Casa Magoni Chardonnay 2018: a vibrant white with notes of tropical fruits and a hint of minerality, reflecting the refreshing qualities of Valle de Guadalupe’s whites.
Experience… the essence of this hidden gem at Bruma, a luxurious boutique hotel nestled among the vineyards, where modern design meets rustic elegance. Explore the region’s innovative wineries, dine on world-class cuisine that fuses traditional Mexican flavours with contemporary techniques, and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and wildlife opportunities offered by the Baja Peninsula.
BOTTLING ADVENTURE
The allure of wine extends well beyond the glass. It tells a story that enriches every sip, not just of the vineyard and the vintage, but of the people who poured their hearts into crafting it, of the land that nurtured the vines, and of the culture that shaped its creation. This connection between place and palate is what makes wine tourism so compelling and transformative, opening a gateway to understanding the world in a deeper and more meaningful way.
Steppes Travel has been creating bespoke, beautiful and transformative travel experiences for more than 30 years, helping clients ‘discover extraordinary’, the way they want to find it. Specialists in offthe-beaten-track wildlife and cultural adventure, Steppes Travel was, in 2023, recognised by Condé Nast Traveller magazine as one of the Top Five Specialist Tour Operators in the world.
