FC
PROPERTY /PROFESSIONALS
SUMMER 2016
Deliciously Marylebone
Ella
Woodward
on her new London deli
ALSO
PERIOD HOUSES SPECIAL LONDON GARDEN SQUARES DEXTERS NEW MAYFAIR SHOWROOM
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One Hyde Park, SW1 ÂŁ19,500,000
A sumptuous apartment at One Hyde Park, the world renowned address in Knightsbridge. Residents are supported by a staff of 60 who provide chauffeur, concierge and security services 24 hours a day. There are business, dining and cinema facilities, as well as a full health spa with a 21 metre swimming pool. Mayfair Office 66 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JL T: 020 7665 6633 E: mayfairsales@dexters.co.uk
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Ella Woodward: social media star, food writer and now deli owner
40 Green interiors: the best in luxury sustainable design
31 Eaton Square: among the capital’s most sought-after garden squares
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DEXTERS
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42 Laura Mvula: at Somerset House in july
Summer 2016
CONTENTS 06 Dexters: our story
Introducing the Capital’s biggest Estate Agency 10 Russell Ball’s Bloomsbury In praise of WC1 15 What Ella did next Ella Woodward on her new Marylebone deli 19 Period houses Why Dexters is passionate about London’s historic homes 23 Alastair Mercer’s Mayfair Exclusive, vibrant and the home of Dexters new showroom 24 Katy Birch and Ed Bezzant’s Chelsea The best of SW3 28 Joanne Lilly’s South Kensington A small village in the heart of the city 31 Life in squares The enduring charm of the city’s garden squares 34 Heart of gold Why Central London is the place to be in 2016 36 Capital delights Perfect places for a lazy weekend brunch 40 Dexters interiors Great ideas for a greener home 42 Dexters dozen 12 top outdoor events for summer in the city 45 Summer exhibitions The season’s hottest tickets
34 Fitzroy Place: built on the site of Fitzrovia’s old Middlesex Hospital
36 The Full English: 10 top venues for weekend brunch
DEXTERS MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED ON BEHALF OF DEXTERS BY WORDWIDE PUBLISHING; WWW.WORD-WIDE.CO.UK ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED, COPIED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHERS.
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Jeff Doble CEO, juggling in Covent Garden
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OUR STORY
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Dexters: our story Founder and Chief Executive Jeff Doble charts the company’s extraordinary journey from a single office in south west London to the Capital’s leading Estate Agency PHOTOGRAPHY VICKI COUCHMAN
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exters began life back in 1993 when, after a stellar career in a large Estate Agency, Jeff Doble opened his first office in West London. From the start the office was set up as a busy workplace, rather than a flashy showroom. Jeff set out to change people’s view of Estate Agents and 23 years later Dexters still sees itself as the antidote to ‘established’ agents. After opening its first office Dexters went on to expand rapidly, first in West London and then right across the Capital. In fact, Dexters has been London’s fastest growing Estate Agency over the past 20 years and now has 28 offices in Central London and over 60 across London. The business has grown entirely organically and, Jeff says, ‘This is down to what we do and how we do it. We are very customer focused and it is our customers who have promoted our business and fuelled its growth.’ Today over 70 per cent of Dexters business comes from recommendations and referrals, which is a testament to what Jeff set out to do. When looking for the key to the success of this company, you have to look no further than its people. Estate Agency is a people industry and Dexters has always trained and developed its own staff – it estimates it spends 10 times the industry average on training and has its own London Training Academy. Over 90 per cent of its managers have grown up in the company
DEXTERS IN BRIEF Dexters has 28 offices in Central London and over 60 across London, selling and letting more than 12,000 properties a year. Dexters is London’s only major firm of residential Chartered Surveyors. Dexters Corporate and International Lettings team gets over 200 requests a week for prime London properties.
and Dexters looks to work with its people throughout their careers. What all of Dexters staff share is a tremendous work ethic and great communication skills, both qualities that are much appreciated by its customers. Jeff is a qualified Chartered Surveyor and uniquely in London; Dexters is the only major residential Estate Agency that is a firm of Chartered Surveyors. This means that customers can rely on a very high standard of regulation and ethical behaviour. Jeff is quick to point out that Dexters isn’t a ‘corporate’ Estate Agency. As he says, ‘We are an independent owner-run business with local expertise and we have grown entirely through our own efforts without any external input. Anyone who deals with us recognises our passion and commitment and is quick to pass on the good news to friends, family and colleagues. Has Jeff succeeded in his original aim to change people’s view of Estate Agents? ‘I’m getting there. Everyone at Dexters is proud to work for the company and to call themselves Estate Agents.’ There are many unloved professions, but just as there are good people in banking, journalism and car sales, so there are exceptional Estate Agents and Dexters certainly seems to have more than its fair share of them.
dexters.co.uk
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Smith Square, SW1P ÂŁ19,950,000
A magnificent, historic London mansion of ambassadorial proportions, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The splendid period interiors have been preserved and contrast with the smart modern kitchen and luxury bathrooms in the seven bedroom suites. There is staff accommodation and the house occupies a prime corner position on the secluded Smith Square. Westminster Office 12 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB T: 020 7590 9579 E: westminstersales@dexters.co.uk
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Great College Street, SW1P ÂŁ16,750,000
A grand double fronted Georgian house overlooking College Garden with views of the Houses of Parliament. This spacious family house, built in 1722, is Grade II listed and has a fascinating history. The location of this house and its large living rooms make it ideal for entertaining. Westminster 12 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB T: 020 7799 2691 E: westminstersales@dexters.co.uk
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BLOOMSBURY
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Russell Ball’s Bloomsbury The Director of Dexters Coram Street office extols the virtues of an area that is just 12 minutes’ walk from the West End and ‘extremely handy’ for the City PHOTOGRAPHY VICKI COUCHMAN ILLUSTRATION HEATHER GATLEY
Why Bloomsbury? I’ve worked in Bloomsbury for more than 20 years, first at Banbury Ball, the company I founded in 1994, and now at Dexters. When we first opened, there weren’t many agents in Bloomsbury and the area tended to be overshadowed by nearby Covent Garden, but its potential was obvious: not only is the West End just 12 minutes’ walk away, but it’s also extremely handy for the City, the Inns of Court and all of the northern mainline rail stations. I soon discovered it had a uniquely broad range of properties, too, from studio flats to large Georgian houses, and everything in between.
So it’s a bit of a hidden gem? Perhaps not so much these days, but it’s true that outsiders can’t always place us on a map. Think of a square bounded by Euston Road to the north, High Holborn to the south, Gray’s Inn Road to the east and Tottenham Court Road to the west. In the middle is Russell Square, the second-largest square in London. And that’s Bloomsbury.
Superb location. Great mix of property. What else is on offer? Bloomsbury is crammed with restaurants, cafés and bars. One of my favourite places for a morning coffee is Café 49, a great little Italian on Marchmont Street. For lunch we often get a takeaway from the Hare & Tortoise, a Japanese restaurant in Brunswick Shopping Mall, though if it’s a Thursday I’m usually to be found at one of the
food stalls in the Torrington Square Farmer’s Market. After work we might have a drink at the Marquis Cornwallis in Marchmont Street, or supper in The Lamb, a Grade II-listed pub on Lamb’s Conduit Street. My kids love Coram Fields, a vast children’s play area, park and city farm, but our most famous attraction is the British Museum. It just so happens to be the UK’s top tourist attraction as well.
Describe a typical day in the office One of the joys of working in Bloomsbury is that there are no typical days. The phone rings and I could be talking to a potential buyer or tenant in China, Singapore, mainland Europe – anywhere in the world, in fact. Most of the properties we sell or let are within a 15-minute walk of the office, but there’s a Santander cycle station right outside the office so if I’m pressed for time I hop on a bike. We’ve always been the market leader in Bloomsbury, but now we are a part of Dexters we have access to buyers and tenants across London and globally, so we provide a service second to none.
NOW WE ARE A PART OF DEXTERS WE HAVE ACCESS TO BUYERS AND TENANTS ACROSS LONDON AND GLOBALLY
And when you’re not in the office? Dexters keeps me pretty busy. If I have any spare time, I love wandering about in Lamb’s Conduit Street which is full of quirky, original shops including a really cool tailors called Oliver Spencer. But on a summer’s day you really can’t beat Russell Square – just as long as you get there before the crowds.
Dexters Bloomsbury 55 Coram Street, London WC1N 1HB. Tel: 020 7833 4466.
dexters.co.uk
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Myddelton Square, EC1R ÂŁ6,500,000
This handsome Georgian house was completely renovated in 2014, bringing a contemporary look to complement the lovely period features. At just under 5,000 sq ft, the property is set across five floors and comes with two private garages, secure gated access and includes six bedrooms, four bathrooms and a cinema room. Clerkenwell Office 1 Britton Street, London, EC1M 5NW T: 020 7566 0052 E: clerkenwellsales@dexters.co.uk
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John Street, WC1N ÂŁ5,750,000
This Grade II listed Georgian house, known locally as The Clock House, was originally built in 1799. It is a prominent property on John Street in this attractive conservation area. The house could do with some updating but it is a lovely home, has great living space and five bedrooms. Bloomsbury Office 55 Coram Street, London, WC1N 1HB T: 020 7833 4466 E: bloomsburysales@dexters.co.uk
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George Street, W1H ÂŁ2,995,000 To the west of Marylebone this classic three bedroom mansion flat is a short walk from the High Street and Hyde Park. The property is arranged over two floors, with the living room and kitchen on one floor and three bedrooms, three bathrooms on another. Marylebone Office 55 Weymouth Street, London, W1G 8NJ T: 020 7224 5544 E: marylebonesales@dexters.co.uk
Great Cumberland Place, W1H ÂŁ2,450,000 This attractive Grade II listed Georgian townhouse was virtually rebuilt in 2012. Originally the show home, this apartment has an open plan kitchen and reception room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a cloakroom. Marylebone Office 55 Weymouth Street, London, W1G 8NJ T: 020 7224 5544 E: marylebonesales@dexters.co.uk
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What
Ella did next Food writer and social media sensation Ella Woodward reveals why she has opened a deli in Marylebone
PHOTOGRAPHY SOPHIA SPRING
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THE MAE DELI For most of us, that would be plenty to be going on with. Instead, at the end of 2015, Ella and her then fiancé – now husband – Matthew upped their stress levels further by opening The Mae Deli in Marylebone. Tucking into a late breakfast of chia pudding with almond butter, granola and compote, she explains why. ‘A deli is something I’d always thought about doing but I didn’t have the expertise. Spreadsheets are not my thing and I knew I would never want to relinquish control of my business to an outsider. Then about a year ago Matthew and I were in the West End trying to find somewhere to eat. Even in Central London, the choice for vegans is pretty much limited to raw food restaurants and Matthew – who isn’t vegan – definitely wasn’t keen. So we started talking about opening something that would suit us both.’ It helped that Ella’s husband, Matthew Mills, is a former banker and certainly knows his way around a spreadsheet. Much has been made of the fact that Mills, the son of Labour peer and former cabinet minister Tessa Jowell, eats meat, though as Ella has pointed out on several occasions, she’s not running a cult. One surprise is that The Mae Deli is tucked away next to a hardware store in Seymour Place, a quiet street just off Marble Arch. Surely hip Marylebone High Street would have been a more natural fit? ‘We did think about Marylebone High Street because it has such a great vibe, but then we thought, no, it was better to start
somewhere small and a bit more off the beaten path so we could learn the ropes. After all, we’d never run a café before. We didn’t even know if anybody would want to come.’ In fact, so wary was Ella that the project might fail, she didn’t tell anyone about it until the deli had been open for three weeks. She needn’t have worried: even at this time on a Monday, the queue stretches back to the door. Most are here, I suspect, not because they’re committed vegans, but because they ‘know’ and love Ella. They’ve followed her on social media and now they’ve come to try the recipes and say ‘hi’ to the author. Would a non-vegan, non-Ella fan in want of snack in Central London necessarily view The Mae Deli as an option, I wonder? Ella thinks they would, and says she hopes to open more outlets in the future. PICK ’N’ MIX FORMAT ‘The point of it is to make healthy food accessible to everyone,’ she says. ‘The dishes we sell in a kind of pick ’n’ mix format are packed with ingredients that everyone recognises. They’re not made of weird plants and seeds with names nobody can pronounce.
PHOTO: CL ARE WINFIELD
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EHIND THE COUNTER is a blackboard. Chalked upon it is a 10-point plan for healthy eating. But at 10am on a Monday morning, customers at The Mae Deli are too busy choosing between buckwheat pancakes, almond and cacao energy balls and ‘chocolate’ brownies to notice. In any case, most of them have their own, one-point plan: ‘I’ll have what Ella is having’. Ella is 28-year-old Ella Woodward, champion of healthy eating and social media sensation: her blog, deliciouslyella.com, gets more than two million hits a month, her You Tube channel gets thousands of views, while her app went straight to number one in the Food & Drink charts. Her first book, Deliciously Ella, meanwhile, was the fastest selling cookery book ever, shifting 32,144 copies in the first week of publication. Her Unique Selling Point? A plant-based diet which she claims helped her overcome illness and turn her life around.
MARYLEBONE HIGH STREET HAS A GREAT VIBE...BUT WE WANTED TO BE A BIT MORE OFF THE BEATEN PATH...
dexters.co.uk
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I can’t see us running a whole chain of delis, but a couple more would be great.’ Having polished off her breakfast, she takes a swig of her pond-green smoothie. ‘My philosophy isn’t about depriving yourself or being hungry and grumpy. It isn’t “all or nothing” and you don’t have to reach straight for the kale. You can just make small changes; have porridge rather than cereal for breakfast, for example, or swap white rice for brown. It’s about counting goodness not calories.’ Ella’s own changes were rather more radical. Virtually bed bound by a rare condition called Postural Tachycardia Syndrome four years ago, she cut out refined sugar, gluten, dairy, processed foods and meat, adopting a plant-based diet. She began to feel better almost immediately, she says, and within 18 months, she was off all medication. The blog came later – once she had taught herself to cook. ‘Sometimes, when I’ve been overdoing it, I can tell things aren’t quite right. The difference now is I know what I need to do to feel great again,’ she says. Inevitably, Ella is frequently hailed as the New Nigella, the Mary Berry of Veganism, but she claims a television career isn’t for her. ‘It’s that loss of control thing again. With social media I’m in charge. It’s my vision, my voice. The books are a collaborative process; we all work together as a team. But I know that wouldn’t necessarily be the case with TV.’ This summer Ella will be taking The Mae Deli to the Good Roots festival in London and the Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire, as well as launching a Mae Deli Wellness Series, to be held in various venues in the Capital. So for now at least, Deliciously Ella has quite enough on her plate. The Mae Deli, 21 Seymour Place, London W1.
Dexters on Marylebone
Clockwise from main picture: Ella in the kitchen; the deli counter where a 10-point plan for healthy eating is chalked up on a blackboard; and Ella and husband Matthew outside The Mae Deli
Deliciously Ella: Every Day by Ella Woodward (Yellow Kite; £20)
‘The Mae Deli is part of the 110-acre Portman Estate, a vibrant and cosmopolitan area of Marylebone made up of shops offices and flats. At Dexters we work closely with the Portman Estate as their residential lettings agent; they appreciate our experience and expertise in the Marylebone property market.’ Alex Cooke, Director
Dexters Marylebone 53 Weymouth Street, London, W1G 8NJ. Tel: 020 7224 5544.
dexters.co.uk
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Westmoreland Street, W1G ÂŁ6,000,000 A lovely three bedroom Marylebone townhouse just off the High Street. A family kitchen adjoins the playroom-cum-gym and the grand living room opens out onto a sunny secluded garden. There is the added attraction of a double garage. Marylebone Office 55 Weymouth Street, London, W1G 8NJ T: 020 7224 5544 E: marylebonesales@dexters.co.uk
Devonshire Close, W1G ÂŁ4,595,000 This impressive five bedroom, four bathroom mews house is just off Marylebone High Street. It has a wonderful living room covering one whole floor, with French windows opening onto a private west facing roof terrace. The double garage is useful for parking and storage. Marylebone Office 55 Weymouth Street, London, W1G 8NJ T: 020 7224 5544 E: marylebonesales@dexters.co.uk
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PERIOD HOMES
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Period houses Dexters specialises in selling London’s historic houses and has experts in Mayfair, Westminster and across the capital.
A
S DEXTERS has grown in
London, the company has joined forces with established agents like Hathaways and Field & Sons, who are London’s oldest Estate Agents dating back to 1804. This unique heritage brings with it expertise and a sympathetic approach to the features of the many wonderful properties in and around Central London. Dexters Mayfair showroom coordinates the work of our 28 Central London offices, matching prime property to high net worth individuals, both local and international. The attractions of owning prestige historic properties are evident from the strong demand from buyers who, like us, want to preserve these beautiful buildings. Here we select a few of our recent favourites. Derek Fletcher, Director, Dexters Mayfair
QUEEN ANNE’S GATE, SW1 No.30 was built in 1702/3, right at the beginning of Queen Anne’s reign, and is one of the oldest houses in London. With its fine brickwork and crisp, white woodwork, the house is a superb example of the simple but elegant Queen Anne style. Inside, there is a magnificent
staircase, though design throughout is very much on a domestic scale. The house has been through our hands many times over the years and has now been restored to provide a fine family home with views and terraces overlooking St James’s Park.
dexters.co.uk
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‘BUILT IN 1685, THIS IS THE OLDEST LONDON HOUSE WE’VE EVER SOLD’
BARTON STREET, SW1 No.8 dates from 1909 and displays strong Arts and Crafts influences as well as many Queen Anne period features. It has an ecclesiastical history: at one time, it was owned by the Church Commissioners and home to the Bishop of London. Despite its superb heritage, the 10,000 sq ft mansion languished on the market for almost a year until we were instructed. We sold it within a week to a previous client.
ST JAMES’S PLACE, SW1 This beautiful house at No. 42 dates from 1685 and is the oldest London property we have ever sold. It was originally one of a number of houses clustered around St James’s Palace, which was the principal London residence of the monarch in the late 17th century. Set next to Green Park, St James’s Place was one of the best addresses of the day: lavish Spencer House, commissioned by the first Earl Spencer in 1756, is a stone’s throw away at No. 27.
OLD QUEEN STREET, SW1
JOHN STREET, WC1
No.38 is a faithful reproduction of a house built in 1772. Its first occupant was the preacher and royal chaplain, Reverend Dr William Dodd. When he tried to buy the lucrative position of rector of St George’s Church in Hanover Square, he was fired from his existing posts. Penniless, he forged the Earl of Chesterfield’s signature on a bond for £4,200, a crime for which he was executed in 1777. All subsequent residents have led blameless lives, content to enjoy the house’s beautiful architecture and views over St James’s Park.
The Grade II-listed Clock House was built between 1799 and 1824, and is one of a terrace of 20, though no two houses on John Street are the same. The house was rebuilt and extended after the Second World War, when John Street suffered extensive bomb damage. Intriguingly, the clock from which it takes its name does not form part of the building’s listing. The Royal Oak Benefit Society used the building as commercial office space between 1901 and 1980 and it put up the clock. dexters.co.uk
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Chesterfield Hill, W1J ÂŁ12,950,000
Located in the heart of Mayfair and close to Hyde Park, this newly refurbished six bedroom Georgian family house has beautifully designed interiors and outside space. There is lift access to the bedrooms from the grand hallway and the house feels light and spacious, having five separate living rooms in total. Mayfair Office 66 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JL T: 020 7665 6633 E: mayfairsales@dexters.co.uk
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Hyde Park Street, W2 ÂŁ8,950,000
This exceptional freehold family home is for sale for the first time in 25 years. All four floors have been imaginatively created by an interior designer and there are three living rooms, seven bedrooms and three bathrooms. The spectacular double-height conservatory opens onto a secluded garden and the house has views over Hyde Park. Mayfair Office 66 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JL T: 020 7665 6633 E: mayfairsales@dexters.co.uk
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MAYFAIR
Alastair Mercer’s Mayfair The Director of Dexters in Grosvenor Street knows the area better than most: he’s worked here for more than 25 years
PHOTOGRAPHY VICKI COUCHMAN ILLUSTRATION HEATHER GATLEY
Dexters Mayfair 66 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 3JL. Tel 020 7590 9590.
Why Mayfair?
What are buyers and tenants looking for?
I have spent all of my working life in Mayfair. I started out at Lassmans of Davies Street and set up Mercer Pasqua in Berkeley Square in1996. In 2015, we joined Dexters, which has brought a new positive dimension to the business, enabling us to promote our properties through a wider network of Central London offices. What do you love most about the area? I love the Georgian architecture, the peaceful garden squares, and the world-class art galleries, museums and historic buildings, including Handel House Museum on Brook Street and the Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly.
We deal predominantly with international and corporate tenants and buyers and we operate a discreet private office. Customers are looking for the very best property and are prepared to pay premium prices.
Describe your typical Mayfair day
My daily walk to work is from Green Park through Berkeley Square and sets me up nicely for the day. I like to get into the office early so I can respond to clients’ emails before the phones start ringing and the day gets going. I sometimes meet clients for coffee in the Courtyard at Dunhill on Davies Street or at the Mount Street Deli. I don’t Has it changed much in usually go out for lunch, but on the your time? odd special occasion we’re spoilt IT HAS CHANGED A Yes, a great deal. When I first came for choice. Le Gavroche never GREAT DEAL... BUT IT to work here, Mayfair was the predisappoints. I am based at our new REMAINS A VIBRANT serve of art and antique dealers. Grosvenor Street office, having PLACE TO LIVE Now it’s the centre of international recently moved from Berkeley fashion: Mount Street, Bond Street, Square. This is the new Dexters Dover Street and Albermarle Street Mayfair Showroom and it acts as a are filled with luxury brands and designer stores. focal point for our 28 Central London offices and Five-star hotels have opened or been refurbished over 60 across the Capital. Dexters has one of the and there are dozens of world-class restaurants. The best selections in town and it is all featured here. We’re often incredibly busy and the office is usually atmosphere has changed, too: 26 years ago this charged with adrenaline. The day flies by and soon was where foreign royalty, prime ministers and a large diplomatic community lived. Now it’s home to it is time to wrap everything up, after which we might have a quick drink at our favourite local, wealth managers, young business owners, advertisthe Guinea Grill on Bruton Place. ing directors and ultra-wealthy overseas students. So is a Mayfair address still desirable? What does the future hold for Mayfair? Definitely. There is so much diversity within the area In Grosvenor Street we have an amazing team of with the mix of residential, commercial and retail, experts and a residential property advisory service but it remains a vibrant place to live. Owning a for sales, lettings, management, search and property in this exclusive London neighbourhood relocation, development and investment. With over remains a challenge though, as Mayfair only has 400 new homes soon to be built in Mayfair, we approximately 4,000 residential dwellings, with over expect to take a lead role in what remains London’s 40 per cent now privately rented. most exclusive district.
dexters.co.uk
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Ed Bezzant & Katy Birch’s Chelsea Having worked in the area for nearly 30 years between them, the Directors of Dexters Chelsea offices know exactly what makes this desirable location tick PHOTOGRAPHY VICKI COUCHMAN ILLUSTRATION HEATHER GATLEY
Why Chelsea? Katy: I’ve worked in Chelsea for more than 25 years, 10 of which I’ve spent at Dexters. I enjoy working for a company where everyone is very like me: we all really care about our clients and strive hard to provide them with an exceptional service. Ed: I am in my fourth year at our office off Sloane Square, Dexters is an exciting company where everyone is passionate about property and our clients.
What makes the area so special? Ed: Chelsea is one of the world’s most sought-after locations and it is easy to see why, with its beautiful period buildings ranging from enormous red brick mansion blocks to Georgian houses, its garden squares and its lovely white stucco-fronted streets. It also has a unique history. Katy: Even as a child, I remember thinking how beautiful Chelsea was. Like Ed, I love the handsome red brick buildings off Sloane Square and, for me, Cadogan Place is the finest square in London.
Who lives here? Ed: It varies a lot. We deal with a lot of French and Italian families and individuals, as well as Russian and Middle Eastern clients, but there are lot of British residents, too. Once here, people tend to move locally, whether they’re upsizing or downsizing. Katy: It’s definitely true people love the area. When international clients leave Chelsea, I always say how lucky they are to be going home to their families – most reply that they don’t want to go. A lot of well-known artists and rock stars live in the area and it’s great fun spotting the famous faces strolling by. And which are the most popular streets? Katy: The pretty Victorian streets that run off King’s Road are always popular, as well as the streets surrounding Chelsea Green.
Ed: The most sought-after locations for flats are Cadogan Gardens, Cadogan Square, Lennox Gardens or Eaton Square, where you find large lateral apartments with high ceilings and beautiful façades. For houses, buyers love a garden square, such as Markham and Wellington Squares, though Carlyle and Chelsea Squares offer more square footage.
Where are we most likely to find you at lunchtime or relaxing after a busy day in the office? Ed: Our office is next to Sloane Square, so for a quick salad or sandwich I might pop into Partridges on Duke of York Square. For a proper lunch, then perhaps I’d head for The Botanist or Colbert, both on Sloane Square. After work, the Dexters team tends not to stray too far from the King’s Road, where favourites include The Ivy Chelsea Garden and Bluebird. There are some great sushi restaurants in this area, too: we had our office party at Eight over Eight, down towards World’s End. Katy: At lunchtime you might well find me in The Brasserie up on Brompton Road, Ziani’s, a Venetian restaurant in Radnor Walk, or Frantoio on the King’s Road. For an after-work drink with the team, I like The Builders Arms in Britten Street, The Surprise in Christchurch Terrace, The Phoenix in Smith Street or, my favourite, The Coopers Arms, a lovely Victorian pub in Flood Street. Can you imagine working anywhere other than Chelsea? Ed: I enjoyed working in another of our Central London offices earlier in my career but once I moved to Chelsea I knew immediately I wanted to stay here! Katy: I can’t imagine working anywhere else – I always feel that being in Chelsea is like being on holiday. It has such a positive energy – people seem to smile here more than they do in other parts of London.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER LOCATIONS IN THE WORLD. ONCE HERE, PEOPLE TEND TO MOVE LOCALLY
Dexters Chelsea 14 Culford Gardens, London, SW3 2ST. Tel: 020 7590 9510.
dexters.co.uk
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Victoria Square, SW1W ÂŁ6,100,000
A classic Regency Belgravia house set in this handsome garden square. The house has beautiful dĂŠcor and grand living rooms, all retaining period detail and fireplaces. There are three reception rooms, a lovely modern kitchen, four bedrooms and on the lower floor a self-contained flat. Westminster Office 12 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB T: 020 7799 2691 E: westminstersales@dexters.co.uk
Chelsea Office 14 Culford Gardens, London, SW3 2ST T: 020 7590 9510 E: chesleasales@dexters.co.uk
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Upper Cheyne Row, SW3 ÂŁ4,999,950
A four bedroom Chelsea family house located between the King’s Road and the river. A large kitchen and living area open out onto the garden, with a garage to the rear. The house feels spacious, particularly on the lower floor where there is a wonderful family-cum-media room. There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Chelsea Office 14 Culford Gardens, London, SW3 2ST T: 020 7590 9510 E: chesleasales@dexters.co.uk
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Joanne Lilly’s South Kensington The area’s appeal to international residents means meeting new and interesting people on a daily basis, says the Director of Dexters Old Brompton Road office PHOTOGRAPHY VICKI COUCHMAN ILLUSTRATION HEATHER GATLEY
Why South Kensington? I’m originally from Dublin. I came to work for Chard, now Dexters, in 2005 and 11 years later I’m still here. South Kensington is such a fantastic area – it feels like a small village in the heart of the city – and the longer I live here, the more I love it. Working for Dexters is very rewarding: I really like the way the company leads each local market through word of mouth as it makes us part of the community. And it’s great to be working in such a busy, buzzy environment, meeting new and interesting clients from all over the world on a daily basis.
What do you think makes other people want to live in the area? South Ken is particularly popular with international clients who appreciate its perfect mix of great properties and all the local facilities they need, including the French Lycée and the excellent Bousfield Primary School. Wherever you live, the vast expanse of Hyde Park is only a five-minute walk away, and the transport links with just about everywhere in the Capital are great: it’s only a 30-minute commute to Canary Wharf, for example. You’ve been here 11 years. Has it changed much in that time? The development of One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge brought a huge number of foreign investors into this area. One of the main changes in South Kensington itself has beenthe pedestrianisation of the area behind the Tubewhere people can stroll about or sit at one of the pavement
cafés and watch the world go by. Looking ahead, I think the redevelopment of Earls Court Exhibition Centre on Warwick Road will greatly benefit the borough as a whole.
Name three typically South Ken experiences I’d say the South Kensington Farmers Market in Bute Street on a Saturday – it’s always full of local residents picking up fresh ingredients and getting their Saturday morning fix of the market’s famous sausage sandwiches. Then there are the lovely communal garden squares – if you are lucky enough to live on one you get invited to the annual summer party which is an iconic South Ken experience. And finally, an Indian restaurant called Noor Jahan in Bina Gardens. All the residents love it and it’s packed every single evening.
IT FEELS LIKE A SMALL VILLAGE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. THE LONGER I LIVE HERE, THE MORE I LOVE IT
Where do you go to unwind at the end of a busy day? I don’t go very far. If it’s a warm summer’s evening then it has to be the Anglesea Arms in Selwood Terrace, where I know I’ll find a sea of people standing on the street outside with drinks in their hands, looking happy. On a regular evening I might take a walk towards Hyde Park, or head up to King’s Road for one of my regular Kobox boxing sessions.
And when it’s time to move on? I’m lucky enough to have a flat just five minutes from the office on Old Brompton Road and I genuinely can’t see myself living or working anywhere other than South Kensington.
Dexters South Kensington 144 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 4NR. Tel: 020 7373 8883.
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Eaton Terrace, SW1X ÂŁ9,650,000
This impressive Belgravia house has a wonderful feeling of light and space. The living room and kitchen open out onto the rear garden and, above that, a grand reception room and bedroom suite then occupy a whole floor each. There is staff accommodation, a media room, study and five bathrooms. Chelsea Office 14 Culford Gardens, London, SW3 2ST T: 020 7590 9500 E: chelsealettings@dexters.co.uk
South Kensington Office 144 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 4NR T: 020 7373 8883 E: skensales@dexters.co.uk
What
Life in Squares Designed more than four centuries ago for the Capital’s elite, garden squares are still the crème de la crème of London addresses
PHOTOGRAPHY GRAHAM SMITH
Eaton Square, in Belgravia, was built by the Grosvenor family in the 19th century and is one of the city’s largest garden squares
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HE APPEAL OF A HOUSE or apartment on a garden square never changes. In a city where buildings are crammed into every available square inch, these properties offer residents an open outlook, a feeling of space and a valuable sense of community. The fact that they also provide some of the finest living space in the capital is an added bonus. As Dexters MD Andy Shepherd points out, garden squares vary enormously in size and character, from the classics, such as Belgrave and Eaton Squares, to the hidden gems like the communal gardens behind Kensington Park Gardens and the nearby Ladbroke Square Garden, which at seven acres is more of a park than a garden. ‘But,’ he says, ‘all of them break up the urban grid of London’s roads and create attractive views, as well as oases of light and space.’ The first garden squares date back to the early 17th century, though the garden square as we know it today owes its existence to two catastrophical events: the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666, after which London’s elite decided it no longer wanted to live in the cramped, unhealthy conditions typical of the time. Spacious houses arranged around half an acre of greenery seemed the perfect solution. But life in squares, as the Georgians discovered, had its downsides. By the early 1700s, residents were beginning to grumble that squares attracted both rubbish and n’erdo-wells. The denizens of St James’s Square grew so fed up with the filth and crime they petitioned Parliament to allow them to take over the maintenance of their square. Residents of other squares followed their lead, and by the mid-1700s many of the gardens were either patrolled by watchmen or had been completely enclosed, accessible only to key-holders.
RESTORE AND PRESERVE The Victorians loved a square even more than the Georgians and built them in their hundreds. Unfortunately, their passion for squares wasn’t entirely shared by the Edwardians, many of whom viewed the gardens as opportunities for development. Despite the Squares and Enclosures (Preservation) Act of 1906, squares remained vulnerable and in 1927 another act was passed which prevented some 461 parks and squares being built upon. But the act could do nothing to prevent the damage done by the First World War. Not only were the squares’ railings taken away to be
melted down for armaments, some of the gardens were used for air raid shelters, while others were dug up and planted with vegetables. Belgrave Square suffered the ignominy of being turned into a tank park. After the war, many square residents simply found the large houses too expensive to run and moved out, leaving their homes to be converted into offices or turned into foreign embassies or consulates. In some instances, trees were felled to make way for underground car parks (the 1927 act said nothing about building under the squares). By the late 1980s, Lincoln’s Inn Fields had became a cardboard city, and it was beginning to look as if other squares would go the same way. Then in 1995 something rather miraculous happened: the London Parks & Gardens Trust (LPGT) pledged new commitment to restore and preserve the squares. A few years later the LPGT joined forces with English Heritage to organise the Open Garden Squares Weekend (see above), during which hundreds of the city’s
Clockwise from top left: Sculpture by Naomi Blake in Fitzroy Square, W1; statue of Charles II in Soho Square, W1, originally the centrepiece of a fountain erected in 1681; and Magnolias in Belgrave Square, SW1
‘THEY BREAK UP THE URBAN GRID AND CREATE OASES OF LIGHT’
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Did you know? London’s squares are not all square; Bedford Square is round, Grosvenor Square is oval, and Charterhouse Square is pentagonal. The oldest square is thought to be Bloomsbury Square, laid out in 1661. Tavistock Square, also in Bloomsbury, boasts both a statue of Gandhi and a bronze bust of Dame Louisa AldrichBlake, Britain’s first female surgeon. Oliver Cromwell is thought to be buried under Red Lion Square, WC1, and his ghost is occasionally seen in the gardens. The plane trees in Berkeley Square are more than 200 years old.
Open Garden Squares Weekend
Dexters Chelsea 14 Culford Gardens, London SW3 2ST. Tel: 020 7590 9510.
PROPERTY PORTFOLIO
Whether you’re looking to buy or rent, Dexters always has a great selection of flats and houses in London Squares all across the Capital
EATON SQUARE, SW1
On June 18 & 19, 200 gardens, many of which are not normally open to the public, will throw open their gates for Open Garden Squares Weekend. It’s not just squares either: participants include roof gardens, barges, museums, schools, allotments, even skip gardens. The annual event is organised by the London Parks & Gardens Trust and tickets cost £14 (or £12 in advance) for unlimited entry over the weekend. Further information from www.opensquares.org.
private squares open to the public. The current trend for converting commercial properties back into high-end residential use has contributed greatly to the renaissance of the garden squares. In Soho Square, for example, a Grade II-listed townhouse used as offices since 1945 has been transformed into five luxury apartments; in Grosvenor Square, the old US Navy HQ, built as flats in the 1930s, is currently being developed into 41 apartments. Meanwhile, dozens of private residences have been restored to their former glory and more: in Belgravia’s Chester Square, developers have spent millions turning Margaret Thatcher’s former home into a veritable palace. The asking price is £30m, but then again, it is on one of London’s most desirable garden squares.
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SPOTLIGHT ON GARDEN SQUARES
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This large Belgravia apartment overlooks one of London’s most famous garden squares. Behind the classic stucco façade is a magnificent apartment spanning one whole floor of the building. There are two fine living rooms and three bedrooms. As well as a porter there is off-road parking and a private garden.
£6,350,000 Dexters Chelsea 020 7590 9510.
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PEMBROKE SQUARE, W8
MARKHAM SQUARE, SW3
£7,950,000. Dexters South Kensington 020 7373 8883.
£6,500,000. Dexters Chelsea 020 7590 9510.
Located on Pembroke Square and Earls Walk, in the heart of Kensington, this property comprises a newly developed, five-bedroom, Grade II-Listed Kensington townhouse and a newly built twobedroom mews house. A blend of tradition and modernity, both have been designed and built to meet the demands of contemporary living.
Properties like this four-bedroom family home on the well-known Markham Square don’t come up often. Spanning 2,500 sq ft across five floors, it offers a great feeling of light and space. In addition to access to the communal gardens, which are filled with rare shrubs and plants, the house has its own private courtyard garden.
MONTAGUE SQUARE, W1
CADOGAN SQUARE, SW1
£2,199,999 Dexters Marylebone 020 7224 5544.
£3,300,000 Dexters Chelsea 020 7590 9510.
A large two-bedroom garden flat set on this classic Georgian garden square close to Marylebone High Street. The flat has two bathrooms, a study and a utility room and overall there is 1,400 sq ft of space.
Set on the west side of this famous square, just off Sloane Street, this is a wonderful three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. The building has a porter and there is direct lift access into the flat which has a magnificent living room and a terrace.
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Heart of gold Massive investment and sympathetic redevelopment have made Central London the place to be in 2016
J
UST BEFORE THE Second World War, the population of inner London stood at nearly five million. By the beginning of the 1980s, it had dropped by almost half, as Londoners headed for the outer reaches of the city and the suburbs. What a difference 30 years makes. The population of inner London now stands at 3.2 million and continues to rise, with many choosing to move to its very heart, in particular young, hip Londoners and international twenty- and thirtysomethings who wouldn’t have been caught dead in this part of Zone One a decade ago. And it isn’t just people who have returned to Central London, businesses have too, with some of the world’s most recognisable names, from Google and Facebook to Estée Lauder, setting up their HQs in the area. The fact is, Central London is not the same place it was 30 years ago. Massive investment has transformed pockets that were once virtually no-go areas into vibrant locations in which people want to live and work. London’s emergence as a top tech city has given the area another significant boost, as digital companies look beyond London’s established Tech City. Then there is the not-so-little matter of Crossrail 2, which will provide a 10 per cent increase in rail capacity into Central London,
giving a major fillip to areas where new stations are planned. Nowhere is this boom more evident than in Fitzrovia, a once sleepy slice of real estate just north of Oxford Street and a stone’s throw from the new Crossrail station at Tottenham Court Road.
NOTABLE DEVLOPMENTS One of the most notable developments here has been the transformation of the former Middlesex Hospital into a complex of private apartments, retail, restaurant and commercial space. Christened Fitzroy Place, the glossy development has set a new benchmark for the area, with a price point circa £2,500-£3,000 sq ft. And there are plenty of others, either close to completion or in the pipeline, including Rathbone Square, currently being built on the former site of the Royal Mail sorting office. Again, a massive blend of retail, residential and office space, with 142 apartments priced at around £2,000-£2,500 sq ft. Says Leon Bell, Director of Dexters in Fitzrovia in Bloomsbury: ‘When I first started selling property in the area 20 years ago, there simply wasn’t the stock to keep up with willing buyers, but with the various new residential developments popping up everywhere, I’ve noticed a marked increase in the number of
CENTRE POINT WILL SOON BE TRANFORMED INTO STATE OF-THE-ART LIVING
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Centre Point gets a major make over and Google are at home in the Central Saint Giles development opposite St Giles church
Left to right: Seven Dials in Covent Garden, an area which has become ‘more of the moment’; Fitzroy Place, one of the most notable new developments in Fitzrovia; and Soho, now a world hub for the arts, music and film.
PHOTOGRAPHY GRAHAM SMITH
people who want to live just about as centrally as it gets. The media companies and the rag trade that used to typify Fitzrovia are still here, but there has been an explosion of world-class hotels and restaurants, particularly on Charlotte Street, where there is a now a real vibe.’ As Bell points out, it’s a similar story just across Oxford Street in Soho. Gone are the peep shows and sex shops, and in their place restaurants, hip private members’ clubs and chic boutique hotels. The area has become a world hub for the arts, music and film; somewhere Steve Marmion, Artistic Director of the Soho Theatre which moved to its Dean Street home in 2000, calls ‘the best place to have a theatre on the planet’.
LOCAL FEEL Next year, all eyes will be on Centre Point – which straddles the border of Fitzrovia and Soho – where the cranes are currently hard at work transforming the Brutalist Sixties tower into a state-of-the-art living at circa £3,000 sq ft, with unrivalled views across London. A short walk from Centre Point is Covent Garden. For more than a decade, developers Capital and Counties have been buying up chunks of the main piazza and the surrounding streets and slowly transforming
the area into what they say is ‘a bit more of the moment’. It’s no coincidence that Covent Garden is now home to the largest Apple store in Europe, or that Chanel has opened its first beauty and fragrance-only store in the market square. Says Hannah McDougall at Dexters in Covent Garden, ‘The area is definitely a lot smarter than it was but it still has a local feel. Residents who have been here for years have been joined by younger, international buyers and tenants, who have heard that Covent Garden is now a great place to live. They like the fact that we’re within walking distance of both the West End and the river and the transport links are also excellent.’ Of course, while Fitzrovia, Soho and Covent Garden are prime examples of Central London’s renaissance, there are many others, not least Aldwych, Clerkenwell, Victoria, currently undergoing a £4 billion regeneration programme, and Mayfair which has successfully reinvented itself as London’s luxury retail quarter. The Capital, as former Mayor Boris Johnson put it, ‘is the financial, commercial, cultural, artistic, media, educational, scientific and innovation capital of the world’, and in 2016 Central London is once again its beating heart, both literally and metaphorically.
Dexters Fitzrovia/Soho 66 Goodge Street, London, W1T 4NG. Tel: 020 7067 2401. Dexters Covent Garden 22 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5BH. Tel: 020 7067 2424.
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Capital delights What could be better at the weekend than a leisurely brunch? Here are 10 of Dexters favourite venues for a Bloody Mary and a Full English
1 ASIA DE CUBA WC2
2 NEW ST GRILL EC2
Asia de Cuba’s Chino-Latinoinspired Bottomless Brunch includes a three-course menu, unlimited Mojitos, Mimosas, Bellinis or bespoke Bloody Marys (or unlimited Perrier -Jouët if you opt for the Champagne version), and as many Mexican doughnuts as you can eat.
New Street Grill is set in a historic 18th-century warehouse near Liverpool Street. On offer at weekends is a very British brunch menu, including Duck Eggs Benedict and a mouthwatering New Street Grill Full English. Stylish terrace for alfresco dining in warmer weather.
45 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N; 020 7300 5588; www.asia decuba.com/ london. Bottomless Brunch, 6.30am-2.30pm; £48-£70 per head.
16 New Street, London, EC2; 020 3503 0785; www.newstreetgrill.co.uk. Weekend brunch, 11am-4pm; from around £25-£30 per head. dexters.co.uk
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The Northall at Corinthia Hotel London offers a very jolly Jazz Brunch every Sunday. It’s really more of a full-on lunch than a brunch, with a choice of three courses and a glass of Champagne included in the price, accompanied by a live jazz duo. 10 Northumberland Ave, London, WC2; 020 7321 3100; www.corinthia.com. Sunday brunch, 12.30pm-4pm; from £50 per head.
5 BALTHAZAR WC2
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7 DUCK & WAFFLE EC2
This Covent Garden restaurant takes brunch so seriously it offers two versions: a Petit Brunch from 9am-10am and a full-on Brunch from 10am4pm. Cuisine is predominantly French, but they also serve a mean Full English Breakfast.
At the top of a 40-storey skyscraper, the Duck & Waffle is the place to go for brunch with a view. The weekend brunch menu ranges from duck egg dishes to Belgian waffles and the Full English, plus a number of dishes for the whole table.
4-6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2; 020 3301 1155; www.balthazarlondon.com. Weekend brunch, 9am-4pm; £20-30 per head.
110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2; 020 3640 7310; www.duckandwaffle.com. Weekend brunch, 9am-4pm; £15-20 per head.
8 OXO TOWER RESTAURANT, BRASSERIE AND BAR SE1
Brunch is served in the Brasserie and while the menu isn’t vast, it’s perfectly chosen, from waffles, corned beef hash and smoked salmon to eggs Benedict and the full London English. Live jazz, great river views and an outdoor terrace. Barge House Street, London, SE1 9PH; 020 7803 3888; www.harveynichols.com/ restaurant. Weekend brunch, noon-3pm; from £15 per head.
9 PROVIDORES W1
One of the most original brunches in town, serving everything from French toast stuffed with bananas and pecans to boiled eggs and Vegemite soldiers. Order puddings from the full Providores dessert menu. 189 Marylebone High St, London,W1; 020 7935 6175; www.theprovidores.co.uk. Weekend brunch, 9am-3pm; from £15 per head.
4 THE IVY MARKET GRILL WC2
6 THE CHILTERN FIREHOUSE W1
Sister to the legendary Ivy in West Street, The Ivy Market Grill offers all-day modern European dining in a relaxed brasserie-style environment, with brunch served practically all day at weekends. Walk-in diners are postively encouraged, though you can book if you prefer.
Just off Marylebone High Street, trendy, New York-style Chiltern Firehouse offers brunch with an American twist, with emphasis on seasonality and healthy eating. Dine indoors or on the garden terrace, then take a trip up the firehouse’s watchtower for great views over the Capital.
1 Henrietta Street, London, WC2; 020 3301 0200; www.theivymarketgrill. com. Weekend brunch, 8am-12pm; £15-£20 per head.
1 Chiltern St, Marylebone, London, W1; 020 7073 7676; www.chilternfirehouse. com. Weekend brunch, 11am-3pm; from around £20 per person.
10 BLUEBIRD SW3
Bluebird’s courtyard garden on King’s Road is the only place to be on a sunny Chelsea Sunday. Order the legendary Big Bird Breakfast and watch the world go by, or if it’s Wimbledon Fortnight, watch the matches live on the restaurant’s big screen. 350 King’s Road, London, SW3; 020 7559 1000; www.bluebird-restaurant.co.uk. Weekend brunch noon-3.30pm; from around £20-£30 per head.
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Durham Place, SW3 ÂŁ12,950 per week
A magnificent Chelsea house overlooking the grounds of Burton Court. The kitchen and living rooms are open plan and lead out onto lovely gardens. A grand reception room spans the first floor and the entire second floor is a wonderful master suite. Chelsea Office 14 Culford Gardens, London, SW3 2ST T: 020 7590 9500 E: chelsealettings@dexters.co.uk
For more information on our fees please visit our website or one of our local offices.
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Adams Row, W1K £8,000 per week
Finchley Road, NW8 £8,000 per week
This large Mayfair house has four bedrooms and great living space arranged over four floors with 3,800 sq ft of space. It is located in the heart of this exclusive area.
Queens Court in St John’s Wood is a luxury development by Seqoya. There are two wonderful penthouses which have four bedroom suites and panoramic views over Central London.
Mayfair Office 66 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JH T: 020 7665 6633 E: mayfairlettings@dexters.co.uk
St John’s Wood Office 4 St Ann’s Terrace, London, NW8 6PJ T: 020 7483 6330 E: stjohnswoodlettings@dexters.co.uk
Queen Elizabeth Street, SE1
Farm Street, W1J
£1,100 - £2,000 per week
£4,000 per week
We have a wide selection of modern flats to rent right across London, including this warehouse conversion close to Tower Bridge with a selection of superb two and three bedroom apartments.
A newly refurbished and interior designed four bedroom townhouse close to Berkeley Square. The kitchen/living room opens out onto a private rear garden.
Shad Thames Office 50 Shad Thames, London, SE1 2LY T: 020 7403 8571 E: shadthameslettings@dexters.co.uk
Mayfair Office 66 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JL T: 020 7590 9595 E: mayfairlettings@dexters.co.uk
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Dexters interiors Dexters Design and Refurbishment Team selects some eco-friendly fittings for healthier homes
Flatweave carpet in Wool Pebble Brighton, ÂŁ79.85 per m2, part of a collection of ethical and sustainably sourced wool rugs, carpets and runners. Alternative Flooring; 01264 335111; www.alternativeflooring.com
Hyatt Canning Industrial table and two benches made from reclaimed wood and recycled steel by Little Tree Furniture, ÂŁ1,909. Barker & Stonehouse; 0333 355 9113; www. barkerandstonehouse.co.uk.
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Wisteria wallpaper by Farrow & Ball, £112 per 10m roll, made using traditional block and trough printing and eco-friendly paints. Farrow & Ball; 01202 876141; www.farrow-ball.com.
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Aubier low coffee table (200x80x30) in solid assamela by Christian Liaigre, £5,830. Christian Liaigre, 52-53 Conduit Street, London W1; 020 7287 6392; www.christian-liaigre.fr/en.
Bio Ethanol is a renewable, clean fuel produced from crops and food waste. Retro-inspired Globe Flame, £295, comes in white glossy finish and can also be used outdoors. Bio Fires, 100 Crawford Street, London W1; 020 7724 1919; www.biofires.com.
Azur oak bed by Adventures in Design, specialists in sustainable design, £1,231. Adventures in Furniture; 0845 164 9062; www.aif.london.
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dozen We select 12 outdoor events for a sizzling summer in the city
Kew Gardens feels the music at its festival of evening concerts
REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE Until September 17
TROOPING THE COLOUR: THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY PARADE June 11
AEGEON TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE QUEEN’S CLUB June 13-19
WIMBLEDON June 27-July 10
Sixteen of the world’s top singles and doubles players, including Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal, are scheduled to play at The Queen’s Club in Fulham this year. For many players, this tournament is the first time they have played on grass this season and the event is usually a key indicator for Wimbledon later in the month.
One of the most prestigious events in the British sporting calendar and one of the few left where you can still buy tickets on the day: the legendary Wimbledon Queue sells a limited number of tickets for Centre Court, No 1 Court and No 2 Court, as well as passes to the grounds which get you access to all of the outer courts and to the famous Murray Mount.
£25-£60; www.openairtheatre.com.
Free; procession starts at 10am
£30-£130; www.queensclub.co.uk.
£8-£175; www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
Set in the heart of Regent’s Park, the Open Air Theatre stages four productions throughout the summer; included in the programme this year is Henry V, with Michelle Terry in the title role. There is a selection of food and drink available on site or bring a picnic. The theatre is completely uncovered so warm clothing is advisable.
British pomp at its finest in this annual event to mark the Queen’s birthday, and all the more poignant in this, her 90th year. Watch the procession from either side of The Mall, or from the corner of St James’s Park facing Horse Guards Parade. Royal Air Force flypast at 1pm, watched by the Queen and her family from the palace balcony.
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Laura Mvula performs at the Summer Series at Somerset House on July 10
BST HYDE PARK July 1-10
Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and Olly Murs are just some of the big names performing in the 10-day concert to showcase the best in rock, pop and dance music. Plenty of food and drink outlets on site, as well as a funfair.
SUMMER SERIES AT SOMERSET HOUSE July 7-17
Annual series of concerts by headline acts and emerging artists, held in the The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court and surrounded by the magical Neoclassical architecture of Somerset House.
From £59; www.bst-hydepark.com.
From £29.50; www.somersethouse.org.uk.
HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW July 5-10
KEW THE MUSIC June 18-19
Held in the grounds of the palace, this is the largest annual flower show in the world with masses of display gardens, marquees and talks.
This year’s festival of evening concerts includes performances by Will Young, Simply Red, Bjorn Again, The Corrs and Gipsy Kings. Bring your own picnic or buy one at the event.
£20-£38; www.rhs.org.uk.
£31-£80; www.kew.org.
SOUTHBANK PHOTO: FLORENCE MONTMARE
A great way to catch a movie on a summer’s evening: The Rooftop Film Club
The Southbank Centre gets all romantic with a Festival of Love
WEST END LIVE, TRAFALGAR SQUARE, W1 June 18-19
FESTIVAL OF LOVE July 9-August 29
Get ready for dancing and sing-alongs in this annual event to showcase all the major West End musicals.
The Southbank Centre explores its softer side with pop-ups, installations and performances, all celebrating the emotion that makes us human.
Free; www.westendlive.com.
Free; www.southbankcentre.co.uk.
THE ROOFTOP FILM CLUB Until the end of September
LAMBETH COUNTY SHOW July 16-17
£15; www.rooftopfilmclub.com.
Free; www.lambethcountyshow.co.uk.
The Rooftop Film Club is one of the best ways to catch a movie on a summer’s evening. The four London venues include Kensington Roof Gardens where a free BBQ and access to the rooftop bar are included in the price of the ticket.
Now in its 42nd year, the Lambeth County Show in South London’s Brockwell Park infuses all the fun of a traditional country fair with a more urban vibe: think sheep dog and owl displays to a reggae beat.
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GALLERIES
Summer exhibitions Dexters picks eight of the capital’s hottest tickets, from photography to pop ephemera EAMONN DOYLE ‘END’ AT MICHAEL HOPPEN GALLERY Until July 15
SERPENTINE SUMMER HOUSES 2016 June 10-October 9
‘End’ is Eamonn Doyle’s first solo exhibition and the final instalment of three bodies of work set in his native Dublin. “The pictures show only fragments of possible narratives, but for me, every life has weight and drama, even if its meaning is ultimately elusive,” says Doyle.
The Serpentine Architecture Programme continues with four Summer Houses, each designed by a different architect (Asif Khan, Barkow Leibinger, Yona Friedman and Kunlé Adeyemi). The structures have all been inspired by a nearby 18thcentury summer house called Queen Caroline’s Temple, though the results are far from classical in form.
3 Jubilee Place, London SW3; 020 7352 3649; www.michaelhoppengallery.com. Free.
Kensington Gardens, London W2; 020 7402 6075; www.serpentinegalleries.org. Free.
CONCEPTUAL ART BRITAIN 1964-1979 AT TATE BRITAIN Until August 29
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE AT TATE MODERN July 6-October 30
This fascinating exhibition explores this pivotal period in the Sixties and Seventies in which artists took art beyond its traditional boundaries. Spanning Harold Wilson’s first Labour government to the election of Margaret Thatcher, this show aims to reveal conceptual art’s lasting legacy, with 70 works by 21 artists, including Sue Arrowsmith, Hamish Fulton, Ed Herring, John Hilliard and Margaret Harrison.
A 100 of the American artist’s most important works, over 60 years, and includes Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 1932 , the most expensive painting by a female artist ever sold at auction. An exceptional chance to discover one of the female artists of the 20th century. Bankside, London SE1; 020 7887 8888; www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern. From £17.
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS SUMMER EXHIBITION June 13-August 21
Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1; 020 7887 8888; www.tate.org.uk/visit/ tate-britain. From £10.90.
DUTCH FLOWERS AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY Until August 29
Dutch Flowers explores the art of flower painting in The Netherlands, drawing connections between the development of the art and increased interest in botany, horticulture and 17th-century ‘tulip mania’. Trafalgar Square, London WC2; 020 7747 2885; www.nationalgallery.org. uk. Free admission.
EXHIBITIONISM: THE ROLLING STONES AT SAATCHI GALLERY Until September 4
A rare glimpse into the life of one of the world’s biggest rock and roll bands, featuring a vast array of ephemera, from original stage designs to rare guitars and iconic costumes. Also on show are unseen video clips and exclusive cinematic presentations. Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London SW3; www.saatchigallery.com. £19.
The world’s largest open submission exhibition gives artists lucky enough to be chosen an unrivalled setting in which to display and sell their work. Styles run the whole gamut, from figurative to abstract and conceptual, with works by established and emerging artists often being hung next to each other. Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London W1; 020 7300 8000; www.royalacademy.org. £13.50.
BOOK NOW: THE PICASSO PORTRAITS AT NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY October 6-February 5 2017
This exhibition focuses on the artist’s portrayal of family, friends and lovers and ranges from well-known works to those that have been hidden away in private collections. Demand for tickets will be high and advance booking is highly recommended. St Martin’s Place, London WC2; 020 7321 6600; www.npg.org.uk. From £17.
dexters.co.uk
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