FESTIVE GIFT GUIDE
L ondon’s largest circulation property magazine
MERRY & BRIGHT A VERY LONDON CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 2020 £4.95
Christmas with the city’s top chefs • Iconic St James’s • Landmark property sales of the year • A history of gin
thelondonmagazine.co.uk
From the
EDITOR I
t has been a year none of us will ever forget. As we head towards Christmas, with hopes of better times ahead, a little celebration is in order. Let us raise a glass of something special. As part of our festive feasting coverage, we look at the rise of wine auctions and seek expert advice on exceptional bottles to try this year. We toast the history of London gin and its flourishing distilleries of today. In Notting Hill, we go behind the scenes at Biscuiteers, whose gingerbread men will be bringing joy all over the capital this Christmas. And we talk to top chefs – from Sally Clarke to Gaetano Farucci at Le Gavroche – about what will be on their own Christmas table this year. We round up the properties of the year which have sold for eye-watering sums, admire the smartest front doors in town and explore the iconic streets of St James’s All this, plus a luxurious gift guide to help you spoil your loved ones.
Editorial Editor Anne Cuthbertson Art Director Rhian Colley Features Editor Oonagh Turner Publishing Chairman Paul Dobson Chief Financial Officer Vicki Gavin Director of Media James Dobson Publisher Caroline Scott Circulation Manager Daniel Webb Acting EA to Chairman Sophie Easton Advertising Managing Director, Sales & Create Steve Ross 020 7349 3730 steve.ross@chelseamagazines.com Partnerships Director Lyndal Beeton 020 7349 3741 lyndal.beeton@chelseamagazines.com Group Account Director Caroline Warrick 020 7349 3792 caroline.warrick@chelseamagazines.com Senior Sales Executive Danni Thirsk 020 7349 3774 danielle.thirsk@chelseamagazines.com Sales Executive Laurna Barry 020 7349 3712 laurna.barry@chelseamagazines.com The London Magazine is published by The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ Web: www.chelseamagazines.com Tel: 020 7349 3700 Email: info@chelseamagazines.com The London Magazine (print) ISSN 1350-360X Distributed by Seymour Distribution Ltd. 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT Tel: 020 7429 4000 Fax: 020 7429 4001 Production All Points Media. Printed in England by William Gibbons. ©The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2020. All rights reserved
OUR AGENTS
Anne Cuthbertson
Editor
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a connection this Christmas Christmas is a time for celebration. Make eyes light up, smiles erupt and laughter fill the air, even when you can’t be there. Make it memorable with royalmint.com C E L E BR AT E | C OL L EC T | I N V E S T | SEC U R E | DISC OV E R
The
Christmas Edit
Spoil your loved ones this December with the finest luxury gifts and experiences
COSY IN COTTON
This white sea island cotton dressing gown can be piped in the colour of your choice and is available for men, women and children. Gowns can be gift-wrapped and hand embroidered and can come with matching pyjamas. The winter nightwear collection includes dressing gowns, pyjamas and boxer shorts in linen, Swiss cotton and silk. £850, emmawillis.com
BAGS OF STYLE
IACOBELLA’S range of hand-crafted bags are oneof-a-kind pieces adorned with a natural hand-cut quartz crystal and created at their atelier in Florence. Choose from hand-woven leather, sumptuous velvet, pony or, as pictured, the Tikuna crossbody in leopard print on pony hair with Citrine crystal clasp, lined in black suede. £357, iacobella.com
SOFT AND SUSTAINABLE
Give a loved one the gift of a sustainable jumper in yak yarn, made using the soft dense undercoat of the yak for a luxurious feel. It is a statement piece in a substantial seven-gauge knit to make for the perfect present, plus a gift wrapping service is available. £220, mistycashmere.co.uk
FUN FOR THE FAMILY
At a time when our homes have become welcoming castles, Prometheus Concept is an innovative game that will bring enjoyment to the family. Prometheus is the ideal present to help bring people together with strategies and the design has been manufactured to an exceptional standard. £245, prometheusconcept.com
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[GIFT GUIDE PROMOTION] THE PERFECT NOTE
Czech Speake is London’s best kept secret. Their signature and most iconic fragrance, o.88 is a complex combination of spicy, oral and citrus notes, set against a warm and woody base to create a truly unique, timeless scent of sophisticated sensuality. A beautiful gift for a friend this Christmas. From £85, czechandspeake.com
A TIMELESS PIECE
Gift your beloved a wristwatch made by a newly revived family brand that began in 8 7. Currently, there are three new models in production and each one fashions a di erent aesthetic. Each watch is enclosed in a handmade wooden box in order to replicate the feel of vintage wristwear. From £ , 00, eugenwegner.com
LUXURY SCENT
Sophie ames’s exclusive festive candle The Christmas Stocking’ is beautifully decorated with 2 carat gold stripes, and makes for a luxurious gift. Filled with plant-based waxes and giving o warming notes of orange, cinnamon, jasmine, clove and musk. £55 220g or £ 30 00g , sophiejamesmayfair.com
LONDON MADE
The Bennett inch watch roll is handmade in London by a small team of master craftsmen and a great gift for the watch collector in your life. Tuscan leather panels surround a exible eviar core and cushioned Alcantara suede lining. The resulting structure can transform from a rigid protective shell when closed, into a soft preparation surface when rolled at. £550, bennettwinch.com
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CRYSTAL CLEAR
Embracing Irish heritage, craftsmanship and spirit since 783, aterford is renowned for glass of unrivalled brilliance and clarity. The nest quality crystal and elegant contemporary designs are coveted around the world, creating a sense of magic and make a touching gift for a loved one. This stylish Circon Coupe Pair are ideal for serving a classic um Espresso artini. £ 20, wa erford.com
PRECIOUS STONES
Augustine ewels is a luxury British jewellery designer, shortlisted for ewellery esigner of the ear. These ready-to-wear rings are from the South of France collection and make for a beautiful present. Each is available in sky blue topaz, citrine, green amethyst and rose quartz. Silver £250 , gold plate £300 , 8ct gold £850 . a s nejewe s.com
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
L’Orbe odka Caviar is the rst vodka naturally infused with caviar, making for an extravagant gift. This patented innovation combines the nest spirits with the most precious ingredients, making impossible pairings possible. A unique addition to your cocktails, this exceptional spirit is best served alongside caviar, oysters or smoked salmon. £ 5, lorbe.com
DINING IN
ore than a timeless modern and sleek metal dining table, this hybrid concept o ers a high quality, seven-foot American pool table. The Fusion table features a rigid metal-coated frame, a single piece slate covered by competition worsted cloth and real natural rubbers. Table tops are made of varnished veneers, ceramic, or tempered glass. From £5,220, f sion ab es.com
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[GIFT GUIDE PROMOTION]
ROYAL DELICACY
A lus Caviar is the famous name that gourmet chefs and connoisseurs associate with exquisite caviar. They are one of the few producers in the world o ering real’ Oscietra caviar to its loyal customers. oyal Oscietra is renowned for its excellent egg quality and the grain has a slightly nutty avour with a mellow length that lingers beautifully on the palate. The nest caviar that makes for an indulgent treat for a foodie friend this Christmas. £24 for 20g, a sca iar.co. k
SET THE TABLE
Glazebrook Co o er a deligh ul range of classic and elegant cutlery, designed for modern living. This design boasts old English mirror nish stainless steel with dishwasher safe cream handle knives. A set for four people costs £240, a set for six people costs £3 0 including six seven-piece place se ngs and two tablespoons, glazebrook.com
BEAUTIFULLY DISTILLED
alf of London ry Fifty 50 Gin has been matured in oak casks for 20 years giving new depths of avour. The other half is a freshly distilled classic London dry gin. The combination is like no other, with spicy citrus giving way to honey and vanilla and ending with a rich earthy juniper. Fifty 50 Gin and gift box from £55, ho seofmacd .co. k
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[GIFT GUIDE PROMOTION] TEST OF TIME
Father and son, ohn and avid Silver have been carefully amassing one of the largest pictorial records of vintage olex watches in the world. The book contains a collection of vintage olex watches that have passed through the shop. A great Christmas gift for lovers of luxury retail and olex collectors. £50, vintagewatchcompany.com
SUPERFOOD SAUCE
For friends and family who can handle their spice, a new collection of designer hot sauces has launched. Inspired by global cuisines, Chilli o. 5 o ers temptingly named hot sauces. Each sauce is made from the nest chillies and includes superfoods and supplements to help hot sauce lovers live a healthy lifestyle. £30, chilli-no5.com
WHISKY EXPERIENCE
Give the gift of experience with the opportunity to explore the home of The acallan, renowned across the globe for its extraordinary single malt Scotch whiskies. The acallan Estate’s bespoke, intimate experiences include a private tour of the architecturally acclaimed distillery and a whisky tasting. Private experience from £ ,500 for up to six guests, themacallan.com L
TIPPLE OF CHOICE
I I has just been voted the best Tequila of 2020 at the prestigious Class Bartender Brand Awards and makes a fabulous gift. The range was created by two friends who have worked with Agave for over years, taking them over three years to perfect their spirits. Their A ejo is perfect neat or in an Espresso artini.
£44, vivirtequila.com
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