Essential Magazine June 2016

N º 202 - JUNE 2016

COMPLIMENTARY EDITION

SOTOGRANDE

GEARS UP

HYUNDAI EURO 2016

STUNNING SILK

GENESIS G90 KICKS OFF FROM TWIN-SET

LA YOUNG GUNS SANTA MARÍA TROPICAL ISLAND POLO CLUB PARADISES ZAGALETA + VALDERRAMA

HOLLYWOOD

essential magazine® marbella

ISSUE 202 • JUNE 2016

ESSENTIAL FOR LUXURIOUS LIVING

essential

w THE TREND p THE FOCUS d THE STYLE n THE SPA z THE PRO h THE LEISURE b THE GOURMET . THE GUIDE

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MARBELLA

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Ag So en le cy Built: 200 m² Terrace: 127 m² Price: € 2,500,000

BEACHFRONT GOLDEN MILE

Spectacular apartment in Port Oasis offering 3 en-suite bedrooms and breathtaking views to the Mediterranean Sea. The complex offers lovely communal gardens, swimming pool, garage and concierge service. Walking distance to Puerto Banús. Ref. ES6127

An International Associate of Savills

Ag So en le cy Built: 2,644 m² Terraces: 300 m² Plot: 16,967 m² Price on application

SIERRA BLANCA Marbella’s most magnificent estate enjoying amazing views to the coast and offering 24-hr security.

Set on a plot of almost 17,000 m2 with beautifully landscaped gardens and tennis court. Stunning courtyard, central patio, drawing, dining, billiard and breakfast rooms, dining terrace, library, master suite with his & her dressing areas, 6 guest ensuite bedrooms, Turkish salon, spa area with indoor pool, cinema room and staff quarters. Ref. ES7853

Offices at the Puente Romano Hotel & opposite the Marbella Club Hotel Tel. (+34) 952 863 750 info@panorama.es www.panorama.es

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Issue 202 • June 2016

S T A F F PUBLISHER AND DIRECTOR

YEARS

GENERAL MANAGER ASSOCIATE EDITOR PRODUCTION MANAGER

U ANNIVERSARY U

SALES SUPPORT

IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com ANDREA BÖJTI sales@essentialmagazine.com MARISA CUTILLAS editorial@essentialmagazine.com SUSANNE WHITAKER design@essentialmagazine.com JAN DENDAUW jan@essentialmagazine.com RÉKA VIDÁTS reka@essentialmagazine.com

ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR DESIGN & LAYOUT STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PRINTING DEPÓSITO LEGAL

MARIANO JEVA cuentas@essentialmagazine.com MONIKA BÖJTI info@essentialmagazine.com

ANDREA BÖJTI INMA AURIOLES KEVIN HORN (www.photographermarbella.com) IAIN BLACKWELL, BELINDA BECKETT, MICHEL CRUZ, CRISTINA FALKENBERG, RIK FOXX, RUSSELL GRANT, ALI PARANDEH, CARLOS READ, MIGUEL REYNOLDO, ALISTAIR SPENCE CLARK, TONY WHITNEY, KEVIN WOODFORD JIMÉNEZ GODOY A. GRÁFICAS, MURCIA D.L. MA-512-99

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES COMPLEJO LA PÓVEDA, BLQ. 3, 1º A, CN 340, KM 178, 29600 MARBELLA, MÁLAGA. TEL: 952 766 344 FAX: 952 766 343

ESSENTIAL MARBELLA MAGAZINE

@ESSENTIALEDITOR

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CONDITIONS

The publishers make every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct, but cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information published herein, or be held accountable for any errors, omissions, or claims for damages.

Marbella Magazine cannot accept responsibility for the claims, goods or services of advertisers. © Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. for Marbella Magazine.

No part of this magazine, including texts, photographs, illustrations, maps or any other graphics may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. Printed on recyclable paper, produced without wood and bleached without chlorine.

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LA CERQUILLA MASTERPIECE · Nueva Andalucia, Marbella · Beds: 6 · Baths: 6 · Built: 1.021 m2 · Plot: 2.454 m2 Ref: SV0256 · Price: ¤ 6.500.000 Features Include Panoramic Sea & Golf Views Tennis Court · Indoor Pool · Gym · Spa Cinema · Wine Cellar · Garage

OFFICE +34 952 765 060 MOBILE +34 618 886 885 EMAIL info@solvilla.no WWW.SOLVILLA.NO Hotel Marbella Club, Oficina 10, Blvd. Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, 29602 Marbella, Spain

FRONTLINE BEACH VILLA IN EL PARAÍSO BARRONAL · New Golden Mile, Marbella West · Beds: 7 · Baths: 7 · Built: 860 m2 · Plot: 1.676 m2 Ref: SV0410 · Price: ¤ 7.900.000 Elevated beachfront villa with imposing coastal views and private access onto the beach.

A true gem, must be seen!

OFFICE +34 952 765 060 MOBILE +34 618 886 885 EMAIL info@solvilla.no WWW.SOLVILLA.NO Hotel Marbella Club, Oficina 10, Blvd. Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, 29602 Marbella, Spain

You only live once,

Los Monteros Beach: Situated close to the beach, this magnificent villa is one of the most attractive beachside properties currently on the market. Superb contemporary design, very stylishly decorated and built to the highest specifications. 4 beds, 3 baths. Built 300 m², plot 1.000 m².

E&V ID: W-0256KG. Price: 2.150.000 €. Tel.: 952 83 20 40.

Marbella Hill Club: A beautiful small villa, easy to maintain, designed and decorated by a renowned architect offering breathtaking sea views and very stylish living. 3 beds, 2 baths. Living area 178 m², terrace 55 m².

E&V ID: W-01HB7X. Price: 795.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Nagüeles: A newly built villa with panoramic sea views, just below Sierra Blanca, offering contemporary design created by the prestigious architect Carlos Lamas. 6 beds, 5 baths. Built 614 m2, plot 1.265 m2.

E&V ID: W-023XUC. Price: 2.850.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Frontline Puerto Banús: Opportunity! Fantastically priced apartment, spacious and bright rooms, own car park space and private lift access. 3 beds, 3 baths. Living area 145 m2, terrace 48 m2.

E&V ID: W-01EX8U. Price: 1.295.000 €. Tel: 952 85 98 60.

Golden Mile - Mansion Club: Unique duplex penthouse with two large roof terraces and magnificent sea views. Prestigious community, indoor pool, gym, sauna. 2 beds, 2 baths. Living area 163 m², terrace 185 m².

E&V ID: W-02564F. Price: 1.085.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Office Elviria: 952 83 55 80 · Office El Rosario: 952 83 20 40 www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

we will show you where!

Sierra Blanca: The most spectacular panoramic sea views available in Sierra Blanca. Best priced villa, modern and elegant, built to high standards. Heated pool, bodega, gym, big garage for 3 cars. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. Built 702 m2, plot 1.456 m2.

E&V ID: W-0245KP. Price: 3.490.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Nueva Andalucía - Las Brisas Golf: A beautiful new villa in a prestigious location. Offers high qualities throughout and attractive indoor and outdoor entertainment areas. 6 beds, 6 baths. Built 451 m², plot 1.391 m².

E&V ID: W-0251JA. Price: 1.895.000 €. Tel.: 952 85 98 60.

Sierra Blanca: Fantastically priced! One of the only contemporary, recently built villas with panoramic sea views. High qualities, Spa, indoor pool, sauna and gym. 5 beds, 5 baths. Built 880 m2, plot 1.314 m2.

E&V ID: W-024EIM. Price: 3.700.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Beachfront Río Real: Best priced beachfront apartment in Río Real Playa, luxurious complex with direct beach access. Very spacious, bright with large terrace. 2 beds, 2 baths. Living area 123 m2, terrace 35 m2.

E&V ID: W-023Z67. Price: 950.000 €. Tel.: 952 83 20 40.

Beachfront Elviria: Situated in an exclusive gated community, this penthouse boasts magnificent sea views and spacious, bright rooms and ample terraces. 2 beds, 2 baths. Living area 160m2, terrace 100m2.

E&V ID: W-024QFL. Price: 625.000 €. Tel. 952 83 55 80.

Office Puerto Banús: 952 85 98 60 · Office Marbella: 952 86 84 06 www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

® essential marbella magazine W W W. E S S E N T I A L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

17 YEARS OF PORTRAYING MARBELLA’S BEST

essential magazine is the longest established publication dedicated to Marbella’s opulent lifestyle, mixed with lively features from all around the world. Always in great demand, we continuously strive to produce quality content that will inform and entertain you. Available free from all the best commercial locations and in luxury hotel bedrooms along the Costa del Sol, we present your brand to a high-end market, benefitting from the unrivalled prestigue and recognition we have achieved over the last 17 years. Don’t miss out!

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Sierra Blanca, Marbella Golden Mile 5 Bedrooms

4 Bathrooms

561 m2 Built

Price: 3.650.000 € Ref: DM3730

1.546 m2 Plot

Beautiful and luxurious villa with sea views in prestigious address, built with great attention to detail. Private plot with tropical gardens and heated pool. Impeccable, ready to move into. Staff accommodation, lift to all 3 levels.

Nagüeles, Marbella Golden Mile 6 Bedrooms

5 Bathrooms

614 m2 Built

Price on application Ref: DM3851

1.265 m2 Plot

Contemporary style, spectacular sea views and open spaces highlight this extraordinary home in the heart of the Golden Mile. A functional family house with high specifications, flexible layout and energy-efficient features.

Over 417 Offices in 58 Countries

Av. Cánovas del Castillo, 4 29601 Marbella, Málaga, Spain

New Golden Mile, Marbella West 12 Bedrooms

14 Bathrooms

2.339 m2 Built

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4.125 m2 Plot

Spectacular in every way, this beachfront home sets a new benchmark for luxury living. Modern design and the highest specifications are being used to make this one of the finest properties on the coast, integrating comfort and leisure.

Sierra Blanca, Marbella Golden Mile 5 Bedrooms

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820 m2 Built

Price: 4.150.000 â‚Ź Ref: DM3125-02

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Splendid newly built home in the most sought-after address in Marbella. Ready to move in, 24h security, high quality materials, latest technology and convenient layout with spacious indoor and outdoor living areas.

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PUERTO BANUS

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CC LA CAÑADA

CC MIRAMAR

25/05/16 11:05

Built: 884 m² Plot: 11,094 m² Price: € 4,500,000

EL MADROÑAL 7-bedroom cortijo-style mansion with panoramic sea and mountain views. Magnificent gardens.

Exclusive gated community, surrounded by nature and with 24-hour security. Possibility to build two further houses on the plot!

Ref. ES9001

Built: 617 m² Plot: 2,002 m² Price: € 3,300,000

SIERRA BLANCA 5-bedroom villa with

panoramic sea views, security, privacy and mature tropical garden. Ref. ES9272

Built: 403 m² Terrace: 200 m² Price: € 2,100,000

SIERRA BLANCA DEL MAR 5-bedroom

Built: 341 m² Plot: 2,000 m² Price: € 1,395,000

SAN PEDRO DE ALCANTÁRA 5-bedroom family home on a south-facing corner plot in Alta Vista, walking distance to amenities. Ref. ES9130

Built (including terraces): 206 m² Price: € 1,795,000

PUERTO BANÚS 3-bedroom beachfront duplex penthouse in Ventura del Mar. 24-h security, gym, spa and games room. Ref. ES8496

An International Associate of Savills

townhouse with excellent views. Top quality materials. Private garden 75 m2. Ref. ES8967

Built: 1,548 m² Plot: 2,700 m² Price on application

LOS MONTEROS Impressive 7-bedroom, beachfront villa set in a prime location on one of Marbella’s best beaches. Chill-

Built: 1,846 m² Plot: 5,107 m² Price on application

SIERRA BLANCA Spectacular 7-bedroom

mansion. Sea & mountain views. Terraces 873 m2.

Spa, gym, independent staff quarters. Ref. ES8976

Built: 950 m² Plot: 4,237 m² Price: €6,750,000

LA ZAGALETA 5-bedroom villa within this exclusive country club. Spa, guest apartment, unbeatable panoramic views. Ref. ES6648

Built: 960 m² Plot: 5,577 m² Price: € 5,000,000

GUADALMINA BAJA 9-bedroom beachside villa. Further plot of 2,618 m2 available. 24-hour security and tropical garden. Ref. ES8957

Built: 192 m² Terrace: 62 m² Price: € 1,598,000

MARINA PUENTE ROMANO Magnificent,

out area by the pool, gazebo with BBQ, Spa area, gym, massage room, Turkish bath and sauna, indoor heated pool. Amazing sea views. Ref. ES8838

3-bedroom beachside duplex penthouse with sea views. Steps to the beach. Ref. ES8986

Offices at the Puente Romano Hotel & opposite the Marbella Club Hotel Tel. (+34) 952 863 750 info@panorama.es www.panorama.es

D

contents the trend Cinema 36

Top Musicals of All Time 38 Music News 42 Reading 44

Bio Super Computers 46

Hyundai’s Genesis G90 48

the focus Sotogrande S.A. 52 La Zagaleta and Valderrama Join Forces 58 Santa María Polo at Sotogrande 60 Euro 2016 66 Hollywood Young Guns 72 Icon Signature Villas at Santa Clara 78 Les Rivages: Shorefront Opulence in Estepona 80

the style A Beautiful Villa in Sotogrande Transformed by Patricia Darch 88 Fashion: The Latest Collection from Twin-Set Simona Barbieri 96 Fashion News 106

the spa Lymphatic Drainage 110

the pro

122 Enterprise 132 Consuelo Silva Real Estate in Sotogrande 134 Tax Evasion 136 Your Brand Name and Trademark 138 The Vibe

the leisure 146 Escape to an Island Paradise 152 The Almenara Hotel in Sotogrande 154 Dining: Top Tables in Sotogrande

the gourmet 165 Sutton 167 Macaao Beach 168 Food News 170 Kevin Woodford’s Lisbon 172 Albert Croquet of El Gaucho Sotogrande 174 Wine: Pedro Balda 176 Beronia – Wine for all Seasons

the guide 178 Listings 187 Pet News 188 What’s On 190 Stars for June 192 Family Fun

Beauty News 112 Stress is in the Mind 114 Health News 116 The New PureSkin Spa in Marbella 118 Dr. Hami Eghdamian of the R&H Dental Clinic 120

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Y PL AP !

W NO

We are recruiting!

If you are interested to join our success, we are delighted to invite you to a

Recruitment Cocktail Presentation on June 16th at 7 pm in H10 AndalucĂ­a Plaza Hotel.

Interested? Please send us your CV in advance to confirm your participation!

Office Marbella Golden Mile: +34-952 86 84 06 MarbellaGoldenMile@engelvoelkers.com ¡ www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

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D WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL PUBLISHER

SOTOGRANDE Soaring W

hile Marbella enjoys a renaissance, Sotogrande is in full expansion mode, with the focus on very much in maintaining and enhancing its exclusive resort status, as we will see in this issue.

The original development company of the luxury urbanisation, Sotogrande S.A., is now under new ownership and we interview CEO, Marc Topiol about the exciting plans being put in place to bring the resort ‘back to the future’. Meanwhile, La Zagaleta’s recent acquisition of legendary Club de Golf Valderrama, will involve a €200 million project at Valderrama 2, and, not to be outdone, Santa María Polo Club has announced a €500 million investment with the new Puente de Hierro Equestrian Centre.

As well as bringing our readers up to speed on all of these major milestones for the family-friendly retreat, we also check in to the beautiful life at the Hotel Almenara, dine out at Sotogrande’s top tables, take a tour round a sumptuous Sotogrande villa fully refurbished by Patricia Darch Interiors, and talk with local personalities, Albert Crouquet, co-founder of famed eatery, El Gaucho, and Consuelo Silva, who owns and manages Consuelo Silva Real Estate.

Elsewhere in an edition packed with more content than you could shake a polo stick at, we preview the first big event in what will be a memorable sporting summer, Euro 2016, expose some of Holywood’s hottest young male talent and get our shirts off in a number of tropical island paradises. Test Drive with us Hyundai’s new flagship saloon, Genesis G90, marvel at Twin-Set’s latest colourful collection, find out what Bio super computers are capable of, and sample some highly recommended restaurants here in Marbella.

Finally, if you would like to enjoy an evening out under the stars at a Gala event with top operatic performances while contributing to a very worthy cause, please consider attending this year’s Annual Sotogrande Charity Gala on 25th June - see page 145 for more information.

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w the trend READING MUSIC FILMS GADGETS MOTORING TRENDS

36 Cinema 38

Top Musicals of All Time

42

Music News

44 Reading 46

Bio Super Computers

48

Hyundai’s Genesis G90

Summer is upon us and that means more free time to enjoy fantastic films, reading and music releases. If technology is your thing, see how Bio Super Computers will soon help us live better and longer, while if cars are more up your street, check out the design, comfort and speed of the new Genesis G90.

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w THE TREND cinema

WORDS MA RISA CUTIL

e BLOCKBUSTER OF

LAS

THE MONTH

» GENRE Animation w Stanton, » DIRECTORS Andre Angus MacLane neres, Albert » VOICES Ellen DeGe Brooks, Diane Keaton

of t Finding Nemo was one Those of us who though ut its abo ited exc ra ns ever, are ult Disney’s best animatio getful blue for but y ndl frie a ut abo sequel – Finding Dory, learns with her loved ones and tang fish who reunites ily. fam of ng ani me ut the important lessons abo

ory Finding D Nemo) (Finding

» GENRE Action » DIRECTOR Duncan Jones (Source Code) » ACTORS Toby Kebbell, Paula Patton, Ben Foster

Warcraft: The Origin

The peaceful kingdom of Azeroth is about to engage in battle to defend itself against a group of warriors who have decided to destroy their Planet to colonise another one. A portal connecting both worlds opens up, and two heroes battle it out to save their respective families, homes, and worlds.

» GENRE Adventure » DIRECTOR David Yates (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two) » ACTORS Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Christoph Waltz

The Legend of Tarzan

Gorgeous Swedish Actor, Alexander Skarsgård, plays the orphan boy who grew up in the jungle, only to return to London in his adult years. Although he struggles to adapt among humans, his life is made infinitely sweeter by the beautiful Jane, who helps him realise that all humans seek the same essential things in life – love, health and happiness.

» GENRE Thriller » DIRECTOR Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown) » ACTORS Blake Lively, Óscar Jaenada

The Shallows

Blake Lively plays a young woman who is trying to overcome the loss of her mother. Things become complicated when she is out surfing and she gets stuck on a buoy… when a giant white shark approaches her, she must muster all the courage she has to stay alive.

» GENRE Animation » DIRECTORS Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon (in their debut feature film) » VOICES Kristen Wiig, Salma Hayek, James Franco

Sausage Party

In this crazy cartoon, a little sausage falls from a shopping cart and struggles to make his way back home – to the supermarket! His goal is to return before the Fourth of July sale. The starstudded voice cast includes everyone from James Franco to Edward Norton and Jonah Hill. An excellent film choice for the young and young at heart.

36 / JUNE 2016 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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Bedrooms: 4 • Bathrooms: 4 • Built: 680 m2 • Plot: 1460 m2 Terrace: 208 m2 • Price: 2,595,000 €

Bedrooms: 5 • Bathrooms: 5 • Built: 1030 m2 • Plot: 2195 m2 Terrace: 255 m2 • Price: 5,490,000 €

FRONTLINE VILLA IN LOS NARANJOS GOLF A beautiful and very well built house front line to Los Naranjos Golf in a small gated and private urbanisation. The house has been decorated in a modern style and is being offered fully furnished. The villa features under floor heating, state of the art AC system, central vacuum cleaner and a heated pool. Ref: 176-01258P

VILLA IN LOS NARANJOS HILL CLUB This breath-taking villa was designed and built in 2015 by the renowned architect Gustavo Kloster. It is truly a masterpiece of modern architecture with a very privileged position on the top of a hill in Nueva Andalucia, overlooking the valley below with panoramic views of the sea and mountains.

Ref: 176-01234P

Bedrooms: 5 • Bathrooms: 5 • Built: 467 m2 • Plot: 1027 m2 Terrace: 186 m2 • Price: 1,895,000 €

Bedrooms: 5 • Bathrooms: 5 • Built: 515 m2 • Plot: 1520 m2 Terrace: 120 m2 • Price: 2,250,000 €

VILLA ON THE GOLDEN MILE Beautiful villa project that has commenced all according to the 1986 PGOU on the Marbella Golden mile within walking distance to the beach. The unique open plan design still has room for a new owner to make changes.

All materials and fittings will be of the highest quality creating a luxury feel.

Reference: 176-01249P

LOS NARANJOS GOLF VILLA A classic style villa in privileged position front line golf to the 17th hole at Los Naranjos Golf. The wide living and dining room feeds out onto the covered terrace and down to the large heated pool. The house was renovated approximately 10 years ago to a classic contemporary look.

Ref: 176-01237P

Tel: 952 816 250 / 619 553 065 admin1@andadev.com • Website: www.andadev.com

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w THE TREND cinema Most of us are familiar with the popular musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber, yet their origins can no doubt be traced to the great Hollywood musicals that began gracing the silver screen almost as soon as silent film was replaced by talkies. This month, we relive the glory of some of the best musicals of all time, hoping many will be inspired to watch them for the first time, or relive their magic with younger members of the family.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

BEST HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS OF ALL TIME Z SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952): When you’re having one of those days in which ‘raindrops keep falling on your head,’ there is one sure way of making you feel like life is wonderful again: watching Singin’ in the Rain.

The film, directed by Stanley Donen and starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, centres on the difficult transition from silent film to sound.

Gene Kelly plays a successful silent film actor who is paired up with a beautiful but bratty co-star he can’t wait to get rid of. He enlists the help of his best friend and a young chorus girl to give life to his new film, and helps the young girl achieve the stardom she deserves.

Singin’ in the Rain is a magnificent story of David beating Goliath.

The amazing dance routines and the major charisma of Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds are simply unforgettable.

Z WEST SIDE STORY (1961): The 1950s and 1960s sparked the dawn of the rebel film. Montgomery Clift and James Dean made good

old-fashioned angst look cool, and the glamour surrounding youthful nonconformity found its apotheosis in West Side Story, a modern tale inspired on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The young protagonist, Tony, falls in love with the sister of a rival gang leader and the young couple attempt to battle social inequality and prejudice without much success. The musical (directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins) features some of the most beautiful songs we can recall, including Maria, America, Tonight, Somewhere and I Feel Pretty.

Z THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965): Anyone who is a fan of musicals probably knows every single song in this one by heart: My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi and of course, The Sound of Music (which begins, ‘The hills are alive… with the sound of music!’). The film, directed by Robert Wise, is the story of Maria, an incorrigible nun who accepts a post as nanny in the home of a wealthy Austrian widow with a

bevy of kids. Maria (played by the gorgeous Julie Andrews) not only charms the little monsters, she wins their father’s heart. Meanwhile, Hitler and the Nazis threaten the stability and happiness of the newly formed family.

Z CABARET (1972): It’s hard to believe that this Bob Fosse-directed musical is almost 45 years old.

Its themes (the difficulties of a stage career, clashing egos, love vs career) resound today, in films such as Alejandro González Iñárittu’s Birdman or Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. Liza Minelli is out of this world as Sally, a young American cabaret actress who falls in love with Brian (Michael York), a young academic, during the final days of the Weimar republic. As the Nazis begin gaining power, Sally makes a difficult choice in which art triumphs over love.

Z MARY POPPINS (1964): Robert Stevenson’s Mary

Poppins is both a children’s film and a surreal caper intended to show parents the extent to which bad behaviour can be blamed on disconnection from their children. The magnificent Julie Andrews shines as Mary Poppins, a governess who takes charge of a London banker’s two children: Jane and Michael Banks. She teaches them to clean up, takes them to have tea served by dancing penguins, makes them laugh until they float to the ceiling and most importantly, helps unite them with their parents. e

38 / JUNE 2016 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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WHEN HISTORY MEETS CONTEMPORARY

BRAND NEW VILLA IN THE HEART OF THE ORIGINAL GOLDEN MILE Walking distance to numerous restaurants, shops and the beach.

Excellent sea and mountain views, fantastic garden.

Villa 826m2 + porches & terraces, plot 2000m2.

4.750.000 EUR

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¿QUÉ PASA? WORDS RIK FOXX

Sticking with TV: fans of THE BLUES BROTHERS can look forward to a cartoon series in which the film’s original star, DAN AYKROYD, is heavily involved – he said “it will include the band’s classics and other blues standards to give each episode a unique soundscape”.

THE KILLS Real concert action finally kicks-off this month (see below). Meanwhile, lots of tribute acts are playing along the coast and it’s best to check your local weekly publications to see what’s going on. All information on this page was correct at the time of writing.

Spanish artist PASION VEGA will play at the Estadio Municipal De Marbella on June 4.

Ticket info: www.ticketmaster.es If you fancy a weekend away, the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid (June 16 – 18) features THE WHO, NEIL YOUNG, THE PRODIGY, THE KILLS and JANE’S ADDICTION. Ticket info and full line-up: www. madcoolfestival.es Nearer to home on June 24 & 25, the Festival de Trafalgar in Barbate (between Algeciras and Cadiz) has CRYSTAL FIGHTERS, SLEAFORD MODS, and the 1970s/80s power pop punksters, THE BUZZCOCKS. Ticket info and full line-up: www.trafalgarfestival.com Next month: the Weekend Beach Festival (July 6 – 9) in Torre del Mar will see another member of the MARLEY clan, KY-MANI, along with UK electronic rock outfit THE QEMISTS and Spain’s CELTAS CORTOS, LOQUILLO and LOVE OF LESBIAN. Ticket info and full line-up: www.weekendbeach.es There are still tickets left for the SEAL gig at Marbella’s Puente Romano venue on July 18. Ticket info: www.crazymusicproductions.koobin.com

THE BLUES BROTHERS

w THE TREND music

The Gibraltar Music Festival (September 3 and 4) has named STEREOPHONICS, ALL SAINTS and KT TUNSTALL. Ticket info and full line-up: www.gibraltarmusicfestival.com At the AC/DC gig in Sevilla on May 10 AXL ROSE did what was asked of him from his 'rockin’ chair' but it didn’t feel the same without BRIAN JOHNSON up front – then again he was no BON SCOTT. Sticking with that late legend, his Scottish hometown of Kirriemuir, Angus has unveiled a life-size bronze statue of the singer who joined AC/ DC in 1974, serving as the frontman until his death at 33 in 1980.

THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS FLOYD are joining the vinyl revival by reissuing their entire back catalogue with the first four albums landing on June 4.

Back to AXL ROSE, his contract with AC/DC has the iron-clad stipulation that he won’t get a penny until the tour is over as he is known for his bad time keeping (he was once late for a GUNS N’ ROSES gig because he was busy watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and his health problems. Also, there was talk that BRIAN JOHNSON has been laid off for good as he was not happy with the work load that band leader ANGUS YOUNG insists on. And around 7,000 fans got a refund for a concert in Belgium as they were unhappy with the choice of stand-in vocalist.

And film news: ARETHA FRANKLIN wants either HALLE BERRY or JENNIFER HUDSON to portray her in a biopic which has been in the making since 2011 and many are interested to see how the WHITNEY HOUSTON “unvarnished and authentic" documentary will turn out.

It will chart her rise from a gospel singer to an international star and will include interviews with friends, family and collaborators; also on the horizon, a hologram concert of the singer who died in 2012. And RIHANNA is getting an “unfiltered documentary film about her life and how she’s ascended to become a global icon”.

Glastonbury takes place between June 22 & 26 with ADELE, COLDPLAY, DISCLOSURE, ELLIE GOULDING and MUSE headlining.

The latter has invited ADELE to join them on stage – could be interesting, her vocal range along with that of MATT BELLAMY. The BBC was contacted regarding broadcasting info but nothing was available at the time of writing.

The RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS are back on the radar with a new album, The Getaway, which will drop on June 17 and will include their current single Dark Necessities. On the same date RADIOHEAD will give a full release to their new offering, A Moon Shaped Pool after it appeared in some formats last month. And PINK

D. TRUMP continues to upset the music world by using songs without permission on his campaign trail to the Whitehouse. The latest include THE ROLLING STONES, REM, NEIL YOUNG, AEROSMITH and THE HOUSE OF PAIN called him a “piece of sh*t” after he used their 1992 anthem Jump Around. e

It seems the door to the PRINCE vaults may have been opened as there is talk of numerous works he did with MILES DAVIS, such as Penetration, a song the legend sang live in 1991, just two months before he died of a stroke. Also THE REVOLUTION, the backing band of the Purple One in the 1980s are said to be reforming for a series of tribute shows dedicated to their late leader who disbanded them in 1986. And, of course, a hologram is on the cards.

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w THE TREND books

Books on Books

Marisa Cutillas brings readers a list of reads centred on all things literary.

The Complete Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby

Best-selling writer, Nick Hornby (About a Boy, Fever Pitch) caters to the inner nerd in all of us with this homage to reading. This is a kind-of diary about what Hornby has been reading over the past two years and about how enriching the world of books can be. The following excerpt highlights Hornby’s inimitable wit and love for the written word: “Books are, let’s face it, better than everything else. If we played cultural Fantasy Boxing League, and made books go 15 rounds in the ring against the best that any other art form had to offer, then books would win pretty much every time. Go on, try it. The Magic Flute v.

Middlemarch? Middlemarch in six. The Last Supper v. Crime and Punishment? Fyodor on points. And every now and again you’d get a shock, because that happens in sport, so Back to the Future III might land a lucky punch on Rabbit, Run; but I’m still backing literature 29 times out of 30.”

The Man Who Loved Books TOO MUCH by Allison Hoover Bartlett

You say you love books but how much do they actually mean to you? Even the most ardent readers’ passions are bound to pale in comparison to those of John Gilkey, a book thief who has stolen hundreds of thousands of euros worth of rare books from sellers across the U.S. This is a true story that steeps the reader in the fascinating world of literary obsession. Discover the intricate world of book collection and theft, and find out what some people are willing to do to get their hands on their favourite books.

Where I’m Reading From by Tim Parks

This brilliant collection of essays tackles serious questions about reading and writing, such as “What’s wrong with the Nobel?”

“Why do we need fiction?” and “Does copyright matter?”. Parks notes: “The literary world is so full of piety, and snobbism, and in general a defensive need to describe everything we do as terribly important. The experience of reading books, of putting them down before we’ve finished them, of feeling that a book is very good, but nevertheless not really wanting to finish it, or again feeling it is very bad, but devouring it. These were the things I wanted to concentrate on. Why we can never agree about the books we like, why our opinions about books shift over the years.”

A Solemn Pleasure: To Imagine, Witness, and Write by Melissa Pritchard Melissa Pritchard defends the art of writing, highlighting the power of language and the soothing therapy that writing can be for so many people. The series of essays covers everything from the rich inner world of the writer, to strange obsessions such as bibliomancy meaning (in which a book is opened randomly to divine the future), bibliophagy (a disorder involving the compulsive consumption of books) and anthropodermic bibliopegy (the ancient practice of binding books in human skin).

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

If reading has always been a kind of escape, and books a friend in times of loneliness, then this entertaining work is a must. Anne Fadiman relates that she grew up in a family in which all things literary were seen as mana from Heaven and all books, a treasure to be sacredly devoured. Fadiman admits that one of her most memorable presents was a pile of dusty books from her husband, and that she once resorted to reading her flatmate’s Toyota Corolla manual because it was the only text in the flat she hadn’t read at least twice. An honest, fun account of the deep joy and salvation that books can bring to our lives.

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w THE TREND technology

A computer, by definition, is anything capable of processing data, performing calculations, or using ‘logic gates’ – i.e. performing a logical operation on one or more input signals and producing a single output signal. These days, however, the buzzword is ‘living computers’. Cells, animals and other living things are being used to create the first-ever biological computers. The hope of a group of visionary scientists is that, one day, these super computers will take over the work currently fulfilled by circuitry and chips.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Data Processing Has Come to Life!

BIO SUPER COMPUTERS

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n 2011, researchers illustrated the abilities of animals to emulate computers by constructing mazes in the shape of the wires in the logic gates of a computer. They forced two groups of crabs (inputs) from one end of a maze to another and when the swarms met, they joined to form a new group (output), which often went in the direction of the sum of their vectors. Adam Baer of Popular Science notes that the experiment demonstrated that living things can produce the kind of order previously thought to be the exclusive realm of computers.

In another fascinating experiment, researchers discovered that slime mold is amazingly adept at producing maps! The scientists took a map of Canada, placed food on the major cities and placed slime mold on Toronto. The mold managed to ooze into the cities using the most convenient paths possible, forming a complex network of roads which closely paralleled the country’s vast road system. The scientists noted that slime mold might be used in the future to create road systems, since they can probably perform the task better than today’s computers!

Cells are already being used to perform complex tasks; in 2012, Swiss Bioengineers were able to programme cells to perform binary addition and subtraction tasks in the same way computers do. They created genes that only turn on if two inputs are present simultaneously, thus imitating the ‘and’ function. They created others that compute other functions. By combining the functions ‘and’, ‘or’ and ‘not’, they enabled cells to perform addition and subtraction tasks, and to show the right answer by glowing red or green.

Researchers have also demonstrated that a plate of E. coli bacteria can trace the edge of a picture, and created DNA elements that function as toggle switches that can be turned on or off. Another biocomputer developed in 2008 allowed scientists to programme molecules to carry out commands within cells.

How exactly can these biocomputers help humanity? The possibilities are endless, say the scientists. They might be used in the future to work in difficult environments such as the human body or other planets where

computers would not survive.

Biocomputers will also have a vast medical scope; in the future, ‘smart cell implants’ could detect and treat various problems all at once. They could detect cancer cells, for instance, eradicating them before they spread. Cells might be programmed to selfassemble to create spare organs for transplantation, or to create medications which are currently impossible to manufacture.

Others might eliminate the type of cholesterol that blocks arteries.

Biocomputers will also have a big effect on industry, since they can be used to create everything from food (think of how much land could be saved) to fuel. ExxonMobile is currently in a partnership with Synthetic Genomics, to research the development of fuel from algae.

They will even help us look and feel better – imagine a biocomputer that could prevent skin from smelling or that would continually produce your favourite perfume?

In February this year, a team of scientists from Germany, Britain, Sweden, Canada and the Netherlands, developed a biological super computer that is much faster

and more effective than traditional computers. The creation is able to solve complex problems involving cryptography and mathematical optimisation, which traditional computers are unable to do because they can only fix one problem at a time. This computer relies on ATP, the same chemical that provides our cells with energy, to move protein filaments along specific paths, as well as a 1.5cm2 microchip that is powered by myosin – a protein that uses ATP to make mechanical energy.

Biocomputers require much less space – electronic computers can sometimes require a space the size of a football field to function, while these new computers can do the same job while taking up the space of a book!

Biocomputers also need very little energy to function (less than one per cent of the energy used by an electronic transistor to carry out a calculation step).

Molecules are cheap, small and fast – and they could soon be taking over the work we once thought would be undertaken by Quantum computers, which were seen to be the future of ultra-fast computing. e

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w THE TREND motoring

GENESIS G90 LUXURY FLAGSHIP SALOON PREVIEW

Hyundai Motors has been well established in Europe for many years now and after making a start with fairly basic economy cars, gradually started building more ambitious vehicles and established a name as a manufacturer of products with high levels of quality and reliability.

WORDS TONY WHITNEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HYUNDAI

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t’s no surprise then, that Hyundai is following other Asian vehicle builders by spinning off a premium brand for global markets. For some time, Hyundai must have viewed with envy the achievements of Toyota (Lexus), Nissan (Infiniti) and others that have been highly successful with luxury brand

offshoots. Honda has a luxury nameplate – Acura – but these products are only sold in North America right now. Now, Hyundai has made the move, launching the Genesis brand to compete with the best the world has to offer. Genesis has been used as a model name before by Hyundai, but the new vehicles will be sold at

dealers as a ‘stand alone’ product with a new badge. Following the current craze for alphanumeric designations, the vehicles will use G followed by a number for the specific segment the product is competing in. The Genesis plan is to have six vehicles in the range by 2020.

First out of the gate for

Genesis is the 2017 G90 saloon, a large and stately car developed to compete with rivals like the Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ and the like. Genesis aims to match or exceed the quality and refinement associated with the market leaders and more likely, they’ll do it at a very competitive price.

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The G90 is certainly a large vehicle – longer, even, than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class but about the same height. Exterior styling is handsome and conservative, though up front, there’s a very large hexagonal grille. Overall, it looks like the right styling approach for the market. People who buy cars in this class aren’t usually looking for flash and dash. What seems to push the right buttons with large luxury saloon buyers is restrained elegance and understated opulence.

For the markets in which the car will be initially sold, two engines will be available – a 365-horsepower dual turbo 3.3-litre V-6 and a 420-horsepower 5.0-litre V-8.

No diesel has been mentioned at this stage, but if demand is

strong in Europe, one will surely be added. The transmission is an 8-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is an option. Genesis has paid a lot of attention to quietness and smoothness and the new car is likely to be one of those rare models that insulates occupants completely from the road and the noisy world outside. Helping achieve this aim is double-pane glass in the windows.

The interior is well up to class standards and judging by other Hyundai upscale vehicles sold under Genesis and Equus nameplates, it’ll compete well with rival makers of large luxury saloons. Even inexpensive Hyundai vehicles have very well appointed interiors, so the G90 is bound to offer something very special. The interior is

lavishly trimmed in a high grade leather and the driver’s seat has no less than 22-way adjustment. It’s just as well a memory setting is provided!

Even the rear seats adjust to a dozen different positions. Other highlights include a huge 12.3inch dashboard display screen.

The Genesis G90 is going to be an interesting product to watch as far as its acceptance by luxury buyers goes. It could just become ‘the next big thing’ and even steal market share away from the big guys. After all that Hyundai has done to develop this car, it would be well-deserved. It’s a pity that Genesis is a little vague right now about European distribution plans because the car surely has a place in this market. e

Z ENGINE: Choice of two, a V-6 and a V-8.

Z TRANSMISSION: 8-speed electronic automatic.

Z ACCELERATION: Zero to 100 km/h in 6.0 secs.

Z TOP SPEED: TBA. Z I LIKED: A handsome large saloon with an imposing ambiance about it. Hyundai’s proven expertise in building quality vehicles and technical prowess with engines and transmissions should make the G90 well worth consideration in the ‘flagship’ market.

Z I DIDN’T LIKE: Whether or not Genesis can generate the same prestige as the established Asian and European premium car makers remains to be seen. It could take years for people to accept Genesis as a premium brand, but given Hyundai’s speedily-built reputation, it could win recognition sooner than we think.

Z MARKET ALTERNATIVES: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS and similar rivals.

Z WHO DRIVES ONE? People who want to move up from an old Genesis or Equus. Luxury buyers who want something ‘different’ in their next vehicle. Thrifty buyers who can get ‘Mercedes quality’ in something less expensive.

Z PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: Yet to be announced.

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p the focus CULTURE HISTORY FEATURES CELEBS INTERVIEWS HUMOUR

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Sotogrande S.A.

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La Zagaleta and Valderrama Join Forces

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Santa María Polo at Sotogrande

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Euro 2016

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Hollywood Young Guns

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Icon Signature Villas at Santa Clara

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Les Rivages: Shorefront Opulence in Estepona

SOTOGRANDE IS A FAMED LUXURY HOLIDAY RESORT AND ALSO AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR FOREIGN BUYERS AND INVESTORS SO IT IS FITTING THAT THE START OF THE SUMMER SEASON SHOULD BEGIN WITH A HOMAGE TO THIS BEAUTIFUL AREA. WE PROFILE THE COMPANY SOTOGRANDE S.A., AND DISCUSS LA ZAGALETA’S RECENT ACQUISITION OF VALDERRAMA; WE ALSO HIGHLIGHT SOTOGRANDE’S FAVOURITE PASTIME: POLO. SPORT LOVERS WILL ENJOY OUR FEATURE ON THE UPCOMING EURO 2016 AND CINEMA BUFFS WILL MARVEL AT HOLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST YOUNG MALE STARS. CLOSER TO HOME, WE PREVIEW THE STUNNING ICON SIGNATURE VILLAS AT SANTA CLARA AND VISIT THE LUXURIOUS APARTMENTS AT LES RIVAGES.

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SOTOGRANDE SEQUEL T

hey say you can tell a lot about a person from their taste in décor so I’m having a nose around La Reserva before meeting the man who signs the cheques. I’m hoping the refurbishment of Sotogrande S.A.’s flagship golf and country club will reveal more about the commander-in-chief and his plans than his bio tells me.

He certainly comes with a pack of credentials: more than 25 years experience in resort development, asset management and real estate for ritzy retreats like the Andermatt Swiss Alps Resort and the Ritz Carlton Club St Thomas.

He’s assuredly welcome. Sotogrande has been in limbo since 2008 due to the perfect storm created by global recession, the property crash and the need of owners NH Hotels to retrench and focus on their core assets. In November 2014 they sold their local

holdings for €225 million to powerful private equity companies Cerberus and Orion. José María Aznar Botella, son of Spain’s former Prime Minister, is a board member.

Since Marc Topiol arrived, it’s all been happening. The pop-up ice rink this winter, the pop-up food trucks at the marina last summer, the evening markets and kids zones in the port; along with the first official Christmas tree lighting that’s ever been held in the place that’s not a town but a mere urbanisation in the municipality of San Roque, and therefore not automatically entitled to main road signposting.

You may also have noticed the paddle and tennis courts looking sprucer, the new improved Almenara hotel pool and golf academy and, if you’re a boat owner, the upgrades at the marina. Mr Topiol seems to be a man of action.

I already know he is a Parisian, so

the understated chic of La Reserva’s refurbished Olive Restaurant is no surprise. The décor suggests a man of impeccable taste who likes to make bold statements – the sassy bar stools upholstered in vivid mandarin orange velvet qualify as one.

Rustic farmhouse tables big enough for several generations of golfers to gather round suggest that families are welcome. Families with well-behaved children – the chairs are upholstered in softest, saddle-stitched coffee-coloured kid leather and the chairs glide – as smoothly as a golf ball on a putting green! With Jerez sherries chilling in an elegant silver tureen on the bar counter and a menu showcasing the region’s star produce – and, less typically, croque monsieur – I deduce that Monsieur Topiol is a connoisseur of Andalusian cuisine but occasionally hankers after a taste of home.

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Sotogrande from the sky

Belinda Beckett meets Marc Topiol to see how the CEO of Sotogrande S.A. is bringing the place ‘back to the future’ with a touch of Parisian savoir faire.

Marc Topial – bringing Sotogrande back to the future

WORLD CLASS STATUS Marc arrives, dressed ‘Sotogrande style’ in a sporty golf club sweater and jeans, and confirms that my ‘through the keyhole’ assessment was spot-on – although it was hardly rocket science.

Naturally the (French) interior designer was briefed to create a ‘look’ reflecting Marc’s vision which, I’ve already read, is ‘a unique fusion of Andalusian culture and history with world-class resort standards’.

“It’s important for guests and residents to experience a sense of place, a strong connection with this beautiful region,” Marc tells me, barely a soupçon of French in his accent.

“For decades, Sotogrande was one of Europe’s most desirable year-round destinations. We aim to return it to the distinctive status it first enjoyed 54 years ago… although we won’t be going back to tuxedos and after-dinner

cigars,” he adds with a laugh.

Rather, he will be going ‘back to the future’ to make up for eight lost years and create a resort for a new generation.

Show cooking weeks at the Olive Restaurant headlining a parade of popup Michelin star chefs is one idea gently simmering. Daniel Boulud, Jérôme Bocuse and Dani García, whose latest book is lying on the coffee table, may be among those soon to visit La Reserva.

Fittingly as we chat, over the road at Valderrama they’re getting ready for the Spanish Open. It’s precisely half a century since this prestigious European Tour event was last held within Sotogrande’s borders.

The year was 1966, the course was Sotogrande Royal Golf Club – the first in Europe to be designed by Robert Trent Jones, predating Valderrama by eight years. Argentinean Roberto De Vicenzo

won but there were no prouder couple on the course than Scotsman Joseph McMicking and his Spanish-Filipino wife, Mercedes Zóbel de Alaya. A marriage of two powerful business families, their love affair with the wild natural scenery around the Guadiaro river estuary is how the Sotogrande story started in 1962.

At that time, Málaga airport consisted of one Iberia desk and the N340 didn’t reach this far but there were good links to Gibraltar from London and soon the Domecqs (sherry), Fords (cars) and the cream of European café society were flying in for the polo, golf, tennis, sailing and socialising. Palatial summer mansions sprouted along pink and yellow oleander-lined avenues and extravagant parties were thrown.

Sotogrande real estate still fetches among the highest prices in Spain today.

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“We aim to return Sotogrande to the distinctive status it first enjoyed 54 years ago” La Reserva’s chic clubhouse

The New Vision

Olive Restaurant sports a luxurious new look

Plenty of action for yachties

Fashions and tastes are more volatile and, since he arrived, Marc has been working on a renewed vision for Sotogrande and La Reserva in particular – one that meets the demands of today’s sophisticated traveller yet stays true to the principles of its founders.

“Integration with nature, ease of use, relaxed sophistication,” lists Marc.

“Those have always been central to the Sotogrande philosophy. Nowadays we also have to bring security, content, children’s safety and environmental considerations to the ongoing sense of quality and privacy. But Sotogrande will continue to be a discreet retreat thanks to its residents and memberowned clubs, such as world-famous Real Valderrama and Real Sotogrande Golf and the Real Yacht Club Sotogrande, allowing them to reconnect with themselves, their family and friends and enjoy beautiful moments.”

Topiol is well up to the challenge. He has a law degree, financial savvy, contacts, a creative streak and he’s as well-travelled as the clientele. He was a professional golfer in his youth before deciding it wouldn’t make the cut as a career. But he’s still passionate about the game and one of his first moves was to appoint Manuel Piñero as resident pro at La Reserva. The legendary Spanish golfer will be working with him to bring an excellence in quality and service that will properly complement the unparalleled golf experience already offered.

The Sunday market

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BIG SPLASH Moving mountains is also on Marc’s agenda – quite literally. One of his more audacious plans for La Reserva is the creation of an inland beach club with a swimmable water feature and real sand, to compensate for the natural beach being across the other side of the N340.

“Parents spend their lives ferrying their children to ballet and music lessons and sports practice,” says Marc with a knowing look. His three grown-up children live in America. “We are bringing the outside in to create a destination within a destination where children can safely walk or bike to all the amenities.”

The first diggers in action here since 2008 will shortly be at work to create a new tennis centre and the first of several lagoons designed by water feature specialists Cloward H2O. A 1,500m2 wellness spa and 250 villas in the €2-15million price range are also envisaged. The low-density build will tick all the eco boxes and has created 55 permanent and 175 temporary jobs in a municipality with high unemployment, says Marc. “Our 15 hectare landbank is all urbanisable but we are preserving forested areas for our guests to enjoy on pony treks and nature trails.”

The project will complete the final phase of La Reserva. “We are saving the best for last,” he enthuses.

There are exciting plans, too, for La Marina shopping centre with five new restaurants set to open this summer, while a series of monthly events will keep the place buzzing year-round.

Some may say it’s about time. Sotogrande always seems spookily quiet when August ends and the polo glitterati depart but Marc disagrees. “Sotogrande’s seasonality is a myth.

We have close to 6,500 residents, with many coming for Christmas and Easter as well as summer. Spring and autumn are also very active, mainly driven by golf.

“Sotogrande will always seem quiet, it is part of who we are as a destination,” he continues.

“But many of our residents and guests spend their lives in the public eye. They come here not to be seen, to drop the mask and immerse themselves in nature. They could choose to buy a residence anywhere but this specific profile, its quality and ease of access, are our big strengths. There are direct flights into Málaga from 130 cities and we’re only an hour away by the motorway.”

It’s 20 years since Marc was last in Sotogrande, while working for Marriot Resorts.

“It was always on my mind as the next destination for Marriott but I was never able to acquire a site, so it’s wonderful to now be part of its future,” he says. “It’s more developed than I remember it but in essence it hasn’t changed a bit.”

In his downtime, Marc chills out with long beach walks, keeps his hand in on the golf course and enjoys exploring the attractions of Cádiz Province with his wife. He has persuaded his management team to make Sotogrande their base, too, the better to understand the community’s needs.

It will take some time to complete the sequel to the Sotogrande story but Marc has already written the first chapter.

“It’s a long journey but at least I’m starting on the fourth floor, not with a hole in the ground,” he laughs. “Oh, and I’m working on those road signs.” e

NEW PORTS OF CALL

One iconic family-friendly event every month will keep Sotogrande Marina buzzing year round.

Marc Topiol’s team has created an exciting programme of gastronomic festivals, night markets, sailing regattas and golf tournaments to involve the entire community – with free parking.

The popular Kid’s Zone, at the entrance to La Marina shopping village is open every weekend until mid-October and daily through July and August. The little ones can draw, paint, bounce around in harnesses on trampolines and act their age in complete freedom.

For grown-ups this month, La Marina promenade will be converted into an open air art gallery, while the pop-up food trucks which attracted 30,000 diners last summer will return in July, along with twice-weekly night markets in addition to the Sunday daytime market.

“It’s our way of giving back to the community,” says Marc, who kick-started the calendar with a fun-packed 40-day Christmas/New Year programme featuring Santa, carol concerts, a charity fun run, children’s workshops and more.

“Our ice rink kept 100 children entertained daily and we donated entry fees to The Kindred Project to help Hogar Betania foster home in San Roque. We are not out to make money from these events. We hope residents will adopt them as regular fixtures and make them bigger and better.”

All events will be listed on the sotogrande. com website which is set to become a community platform, enabling users to post details of charity events, reserve restaurants, book tickets to events and catch up on the latest local news.

Meantime, here are some dates for your diary: Z JUNE 3-5 3rd Annual Tapas Festival, La Marina Z JUNE 25-JULY 2 J80 Yacht Class World Championship, Sotogrande Port Z JUNE AND OCTOBER Sculptures exhibition, La Marina Z JULY 6-SEPTEMBER 8 Twice-weekly night markets, La Marina Z JULY 27-AUGUST 28 45TH International Polo Tournament, Santa María Polo Club

La Reserva Golf Club is pitching for top tournaments

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THE GRAND COLLE CTION Enquire today for more information on the Grand Collection at Benahavís Hills Country Club.

There are currently 6 Grand Co llection properties available for sale with a choice of 3 mansion layouts. These properties have been specifically designed to represent expansive style and great investment value, there are no comparable properties at this price per square metre across the whole of the region.

The internal layout is distributed across 3 light-filled floors, with uninterrupted views of the breath-taking Andalucian countryside & Mediterranean Sea. Each has a huge basement suitable for playroom/ gym/ cinema room and a private swimming pool. In addition, the clubhouse including restaurant, spa, gym & owners’ concierge service is just a few steps away.

Grand Collection prices from €1,298,000.

Sales office open 7 days a week: +34 618 654 363 w w w . b e n a h a v i s h i l l s . c o m

SPP Benahavis Ad Essential May 2016.indd 1

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p THE FOCUS la zagaleta

T

here are many luxury homes in and around Marbella, but to create a living environment that has in itself become associated with luxury, privilege and excellence is a rare feat. And yet, this is exactly what La Zagaleta has achieved over the years, having established a brand that is associated across Europe with the highest standards in residential development. Based upon an American concept of upmarket living, the La Zagaleta Golf and Country Club ranks among the finest in Europe, flying the flag for Marbella as it draws an international elite to these shores.

Long established as one of the very best golf courses in Europe, Valderrama is another brand that belongs to the jewels in the crown of this region, a name not only revered among golfers but also imbued with exclusive refinement.

The course and the unfaltering philosophy of perfectionism behind it achieved global allure as a result of the memorable Ryder Cup competition it hosted in 1997. After that epic event, Valderrama entered a golfing hall of fame that places it

among the most exalted venues in the rich history of the sport.

THE BEST OF MARBELLA AND SOTOGRANDE Though La Zagaleta is of course situated within the beautiful and well-managed municipal confines of Benahavís, it in many ways symbolises the pinnacle of the famed Marbella lifestyle, just as the sophistication and breeding of Valderrama is synonymous with that of Sotogrande. With the coming together of La Zagaleta and Valderrama – following the acquisition of the golf course by the property development group – two uniquely distinguished brands with international élan yet roots in this area are joining to blend the very best of Marbella and Sotogrande in one spot.

Indeed, when the €40 million acquisition was announced at the beginning of 2016, following two years of legal and financial background work, it seemed to symbolise the renewed flowering of both luxury destinations. The quality of concept, execution and attention to detail that inspired its reputation

at La Zagaleta will be replicated as part of a €200 million project at Valderrama 2, which besides one of the world’s great golf clubs also consists of a country club with luxury villas, a unique golf course and a hotel.

It is here that a superlative new luxury residential country club will arise following the combined philosophy of excellence of the Valderrama and La Zagaleta brands.

An example of this exclusivity can be found in the history of La Zagaleta itself where, back in 1990, the developer reduced the initially permitted density of homes from 3,000 to 420, making the project truly unique at the time. “We want to ensure the same standards are maintained as that upon which we have built our name,” says Ignacio Pérez Díaz, Zagaleta Group’s Head of Business Development.

He stresses that while the unique ambience and characteristics of Valderrama will be nurtured, the intention is to create a living environment of superlative quality.

One major difference will be the topography, which in Benahavís is hilly and at Sotogrande gently

undulating. “This creates a setting unique in its own views and landscapes,” says Ignacio, for whom the combination of golf and exclusive living fits like a glove. “We are joining two concepts that are made for each other, two brands that offer the promise of the highest expectations supported by having other top quality facilities on its doorstep.”

In this, he refers to the stylish marina of Sotogrande, the renowned Santa María Polo Club, the beautiful natural surroundings and unspoiled panoramic beaches with views over Gibraltar and North Africa. “For La Zagaleta as a company, the new venture offers an opportunity to expand the scope of our operations and apply our style and philosophy to another environment. While for a Sotogrande already enlivened by new investments in Sotogrande S.A. and the polo club, this is a truly exciting, defining moment in its history. In the coming years something truly exceptional will take shape here.”

i www.lazagaleta.com

WHEN

TWO TOP

BRANDS BLEND INTO ONE

A reputation for excellence is not earned overnight, nor is it easily maintained, so when two internationally recognised luxury brands come together it is a rare opportunity to create something truly outstanding.

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LA ZAGALETA

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5/24/16 12:58 PM

Crossing borders.

In good company.

Life moves in good company, especially when you choose to live in another country.

World Citizen Services will be your point of contact to help you with anything to set you up and beyond. Whether it’s about financing your (second) home, succession or wealth structuring, we will use our well-established global and local network to assist you in realising your dreams.

Please contact your local World Citizen Services team to discover how we can help you.

ABN AMRO Private Banking, Avenida José Banús, Edificio Màlaga Local 2-B, Marbella, Malaga, Spain. For more information visit our website at www.abnamro.es or call us at +34 952 90 88 43.

Life moves in good company

Horses and riders are arriving now © PabloRamirez

p THE FOCUS polo

POLO

FOR ALL SEASONS

Santa María Polo Club is in full gallop to ensure next month’s 45th International Tournament is a family favourite, with concerts, gastronomy, after-parties and fun for the kids, set against a backdrop of Grand Slam polo. And the sporting action starts now, with tournaments every weekend in the build-up to the glittering Bronze, Silver and Gold Cups, as Belinda Beckett reports.

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Clash of the Titans Adolfo Cambiso and Juan Martin Nero © PabloRamirez

E

very year during the last week of July, a chic white-tented entertainments village pops up between four polo fields at Los Pinos grounds, as if by magic. And in a way it is. For 33 long summer days and magical nights this spectacular sideshow to polo becomes the centre of the summer movida, with a nightlife that rivals Puerto Banús.

A Who’s Who of Spanish high society and their significant others turn up in this tiny corner of Cádiz Province to sip Pimms and circulate while gladiatorial horsemen built like Russell Crowe do battle on mint-green polo fields. If that sounds like an excerpt

from a Jilly Cooper novel, she partially researched her blockbuster novel, Polo, in Sotogrande. And her purple prose is not so very far removed from the glamorous scene at Santa María Polo Club during the International Tournament.

But along with royals, aristocrats and A-listers, an increasingly cosmopolitan crowd of ordinary families are taking an interest in polo. Everyone’s welcome – including dogs (allowed in on a lead). Polo aficionados love animals and children and the more the merrier, as you can tell from the Landrover count in the car park. Sporty Sotogrande would be green welly country if

it got more rain.

And this year, with the Gold Cup tournament’s new Grand Slam status and a 45th anniversary to celebrate, they’re really giving it some welly with a feast of family entertainment: A bigger and better version of last year’s hit Gastro Plaza, with live music and funky vintage trucks selling gourmet street food from around the world A shopping village offering 20 brands of designer-everything, from clothes and jewellery to shoes and handbags, where you can also have a pedicure and get your nails done

Gladiators on horseback line up for battle

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Polo Power Top players have been champing at the bit to come since the Gold Cup was upgraded to Grand Slam status, making it worth serious extra points on the competition circuit for the first time this year. The US Open in Florida and the UK Open at Cowdray Park are the only other polo Grand Slams outside Argentina.

Some 20 teams of 80 players and 850 polo ponies will be arriving from 15 nations, including Dubai, Brunei, Venezuela, America, Russia,

Morroco and Europe, to play 160 matches. This year’s event (July 27-August 28) is expected to top 2015’s 88,000 visitors and might hit six figures.

But you don’t have to wait until then to see some serious sporting action. It starts now, as horses and riders arrive to play in tournaments over the next two months and limber up for the triple-trophy event. There’s one at the club every weekend through June and July, including children’s matches and women’s polo.

It’s a great opportunity to enjoy this thrilling sport in a more tranquil setting and get your head around the oddball rules and terminology before the crowds arrive. Although socially lower-key, wherever you find beefy polo players there’s always Argentinean steak and good wine nearby. The local Mara restaurant group opens up at Los Pinos fields on match weekends, and daily from July 10.

In fact, there’s polo at Santa María every season, as of this year.

March’s debut European Tour event ushered in a brand new winter season that is expected to grow exponentially, as Santa María Polo Club is the only one in Europe where polo can be played all through the winter months.

Equestrian Expansion And more sports spectacles are coming this way. Before the decade is out, we’ll be able to watch top European competitions in dressage, show jumping, eventing and endurance riding competitions at the new Puente de Hierro Equestrian Centre. A €500 million project announced by Santa María Polo Club last year is set to transform an area the size of 70 football pitches in neighbouring Guadiaro Valley into the biggest arena for horsey sports in Europe, modelled on polo’s premier club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Players, ponies and entourages will all be accommodated right next to the competition fields in a new equine village which will boast a 200room five-star hotel, spa and health club, premium apartments and villas, a club house and business centre, a riverside park, shops, restaurants and offices, all with new access from the A-7.

“We will make equestrian sports a year-round attraction, just as we have done with golf,” says Óscar Nieto, Director of Santa María Polo Club. “Once European players realise how easy it is to stable their horses here for

the whole winter and fly in and out for weekend tournaments, they will come. We are going to build a powerhouse for the horse in Sotogrande.”

Appropriately, in a region where the Andalusian horse has iconic significance, equine sports across the board will find a world-class home.

Galicia’s top DJ Carlos Jean

© Mar Gomez

A concert space for regular gigs.

New York guitarist Gary Lucas, Sevillana singer Airyn and Galicia’s top DJ Carlos Jean were on stage last summer Kids will be spoiled rotten with their own 5,000m2 play zone fitted out with a climbing wall, zip wires, games tent and go-kart track. Mums and Dads can keep an eye on them from the depths of a sofa in the Grey Goose After Polo lounge, where the carousing continues until way past bedtime.

And for a real taste of the highlife, this year’s Bacardi, Indi and Bombay Sapphire bars will be ensconced in a watchtower with polo and après polo views. Sip fabulous cocktails while you enjoy an overview of the action on the field or scan the crowd for famous faces.

Dubai Polo Team will be back to defend their Gold Cup title

Designer shopping © Mar Gomez

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arita ss Marg njou lan heire fA Venezueand the Duke o Vargas

ed odel-turn u ñ oz Vogue m pher Astrid M ra photog

When to see polo this summer JUNE 3-5 *XVII Andrés Parladé Memorial Low HCP (handicap) JUNE 10-12 Dña. María de las Mercedes Memorial Medium & Low HCP Los Pinos JUNE 17-19 Patrick Gerrard Hermès Tournament Medium HCP Los Pinos JUNE 24-26 XIII Conde de la Maza Memorial Low HCP Los Pinos *JULY 1-3 XII Copa de Jerez Low HCP JULY 8-10 XXIV Enrique Zóbel Memorial Medium HCP El Rio Sotogrande JULY 15-17 Manuel Prado Memorial Medium HCP El Rio fields JULY 22-24 European Women’s Polo Tournament El Rio fields JULY 27-AUGUST 28 45th International Polo Tournament High HCP finals days: August 11 - Bronze Cup August 13 - Silver Cup August 28 - Gold Cup *Location not confirmed at time of going to press See www.santamariapoloclub.com

ess se Princ Dior mu D’Orleans iz Beatr

write ista and Fashionerrer Fiona F

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t sé at las hite part y imba Bo w Model Br’s Grey Goose summ e

WHO’S WHO AT THE POLO Every year some 400 media representatives arrive in Sotogrande for the International Summer Tournament – but most of them wouldn’t be able to tell you the score.

They’re less interested in the game than the celebrity action off the field.

An incredible 90 per cent of press coverage focuses on the social side to the game and only one per cent on the sport, according to Santa María Polo Club. Polo has historically attracted an elite following with the press in hot pursuit. Indeed, with so many Spanish ‘media celebrities’ present, it’s hard to tell who’s there for business and who for pleasure.

TV presenter Ana Rosa Quintana, writer and fashionista Fiona Ferrer and Vogue model-turned photographer Astrid Muñoz have all been snapped during Gold Cup week for Spain’s society magazines.

One regular royal polo aficionado frequently sought out by the prensa rosa is Louis Alphonse (or Luis Alfonso de Borbón, as the Spanish press call him) the dashing Duke of Anjou, one of four claimants to the defunct throne of France. The 42-year-old banker is married to Margarita Vargas, whose father Victor is patron of Lechuza Caracas polo team, last year’s Gold Cup finalists. Vargas is President of Venezuela’s fourth-largest private bank and he will be banking on victory in this summer’s Gold Cup. Argentinean Adolfo Cambiaso, recently named his country’s top sportsman, will also be back this year to help Dubai Polo Team defend their 2015 Silver and Gold Cup wins. As

well as being the world’s top player, Cambiaso and his model wife María Vázquez are the most media-courted celebrity couple in their homeland, christened ‘Argentina’s answer to the Beckhams’ by the media.

British Princes Charles, William and Harry often play at Santa María, and although they generally avoid times of year when the paparazzi outnumber horse flies, you might just get lucky. The Duchess of York plays a more high-profile role, having presented one or two of the trophies.

‘Fergie’ is a huge polo fan and she and her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are regular summer visitors to Sotogrande.

Princess Beatriz D´Orleans, who lives in Spain, rarely misses the polo either, although the model who was the ‘face of Dior’ for nearly 30 years is now in her 70s.

Other familiar faces seen at Los Pinos grounds have included ex-British premier Tony Blair and England international and Liverpool player Glen Johnson who have summer homes in Sotogrande, supermodel Jodie Kidd whose brother Jack is a top polo player, and the ubiquitous Katie Price, who seems to get around everywhere.

Wealthy polo backers and their glamorous partners also add colour to the social scene. Patrons spend millions of euros flying their teams around the world to competitions.

And, as most players require a fresh horse for each of the six, sevenminute chukkas that make up a match, it’s easy to understand why the sport of Kings costs a King’s

María Vázquez and Adolfo Cambiaso, Argentina’s answer to Posh & Becks

ransom to finance. Mike Rutherford of Mike and the Mechanics is both a patron and player, as is Australian James Packer, son of media tycoon Kerry, and Prince Jefri Bolkiah, younger brother of the Sultan of Brunei, who will be fielding his Brunei Team in this year’s contest.

Finally, there are the tournament’s big corporate sponsors who arrive with their entourages of PRs, hospitality hostesses and marketing campaign models to entertain top customers and shareholders in VIP enclosures. This year, look out for Maserati, Bacardi, Coca Cola, Indi, Grey Goose Vodka, La Zagaleta, Turismo de Andalucía and Aerolineas Argentinas.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be rich, royal or famous yourself to enjoy this great spectator sport, as all but high goal cup final matches are free to see. So grab your Panama hat – the one fashion item that’s de rigeur at the International Summer Tournament if you want to blend in with the polo crowd – and you’ll be all set for some serious celebrity spotting this summer! e

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A Kingdom for sale near Gaucin

I

The House of the Rising Sun

n the late 80’s, looking for properties to build up my portfolio, I discovered a large piece of land that stunned me by its beauty.

It had it all; interesting ruins, endless views, mountains, valleys, a small river, a forest and some ancient carob trees.

This area around Gaucin and the Genal river still bears the rich heritage of the hordes of Phoenicians, Romans and Moors who invaded the south of Spain and I adopted this part of Andalusia in the early 70’s when I started my estate agency in the village of Gaucin.

I often describe my potential buyers as pioneers, as in the Old Wild West, with their intrepidness and sense of adventure. They need to be a bit mad to buy

The land: +/- 100 ha (1,000,000 sq.m.)

The buildings: in excess of 1.500 sq.m.

Water plans: 1.500 sq.m.

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a few old walls in a foreign country and decide to make it their dream house. Well, I did eventually find a buyer enterprising enough to buy the one million square metres of land. He was a diplomat and when I showed him and his wife the ruins it only took them a few minutes before they told me they liked it!

Two years later, my wife and I went to the housewarming and it was my turn for once to be speechless! The result of their hard work was beyond my imagination; the magnificent cortijo they had created looked as if it had been standing there for a hundred years and it featured its own 9 hole golf course!

Now this fabulous property is on the market and looking for younger buyers.

If you are looking to buy a large Andalusian country estate, click on www.fincasgermaux.com Sole representative: robert.germaux@gmail.com Tel: 639 729 523

5/25/16 1:33 PM

(Please note this article was written before all squads were named and some players mentioned may not have been selected or are injured)

p THE FOCUS euro

More teams, more matches and possibly more upsets. But who will be the new Kings of our Continent?

WORDS MIGUEL REYNOLDO

A HISTORIC HAT-TRICK FOR SPAIN?

After the shock of being the first to pack their bags at the Brazil World Cup two years ago, Spain are hoping to return to the winner’s podium they have enjoyed since first winning Euro 2008.

After retaining the trophy in 2012, they have aspirations to become the first nation to lift it three consecutive times. Much has been said since that shock exit in Brazil – especially now the midfield maestro pairing of Xavi and Xabi Alonso no longer perform on the international stage.

In European club football, Spain rules and many believe the Selección has the manpower to return to the top to match them. But manager Vicente del Bosque, has been heavily criticised by the national press for being too loyal to the World Cup-winning generation, especially between the sticks, where he has played Iker Casillas more than David De Gea, who is regarded by many as one of the best goalies in the world. The central defence should see Gerard Pique alongside Sergio Ramos with Jordi Alba and Juanfran on the flanks. Anchor midfield will be Sergio Busquets with Andrés Iniesta, Cesc Fàbregas and Thiago Alcántara in front of him. The attack could be a problem with question marks over the fitness of David Silva and Diego Costa but during the March friendlies, Aritz Aduriz and Álvaro Morata played well together. Will they make it three Euros in a row? Winning Group D will put them in the top half of the draw and a possible easier run-in until the semis, where possibly Portugal, Italy or England could be waiting.

Andrés Iniesta has Spain’s hopes riding on his boot

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DOES FRANCE HAVE ANY CHANCE?

Host nations are always expected to do well and France has a good record in that department.

In Euro 84, Les Bleus got over world cup semi-final heartbreak two years earlier to beat Spain 2-0 in a Paris final which saw the competition expanded from four to eight teams. Sixteen years on, the French hosted the 1998 World Cup finals where they got the better of the much-fancied Brazil line-up in the final with a 3-0 victory. Having made home advantage count on those two previous occasions, can France make it three wins in three competitions in their own backyard?

They are the competition favourites and should they win their group (A), a third place team from Group’s C, D or E will be next in the Round of 16. But they will be in the much harder bottom half of the draw. The quarter finals could possibly pitch them against Hungary or Russia, then it’s highly likely that Belgium or Germany will be waiting in the semis.

So do France have the players to lift another trophy? All could revolve around Paul Pogba, who is regarded by many as one of the best midfielders in the world – helping him in the engine room will be Blaise Matuidi. They will try to supply the front-line of Antoine Griezmann and André-Pierre Gignac; he will replace Karim Benzama who is not available after his involvement in a sex-tape scandal. Extra artillery could come from Dimitri Payet, Olivier Giroud and Anthony Martial. Hugo Lloris will try and marshal an ageing defence which could be France’s weakness. But they will still probably be playing come the latter stages in July.

Gylfi Sigurdsson hopes the Gods are on his side

France is betting on Paul Pogba

Wales is hoping Gareth Bale will do them proud

Aritz Aduritz: Can he kick his way to victory for Spain?

Yevhen Konoplyanka is Ukraine’s shining hope

Robert Lewandowski hopes to take the cup home for Poland

THE 12 YEAR SURPRISE Twelve years ago the football fraternity was sent into a state of shock when, against all the odds, an unfancied Greece side beat hosts and favourites Portugal 1-0 in the final of Euro 2004. And 12 years before that, Denmark, who were given back-door entry to replace a war torn Yugoslavia, gave us a fairytale-type story that even Hans Christian Andersen would have found hard to better by beating the then world champions Germany 2-0 in the eight-nation Euro 92 final.

So are we in for a surprise winner this year?

Many countries believe they have what it takes to win including several minnows. Football pundits are always looking for an underdog and many think the following four might just have something.

Slovakia won their first six qualifying games before running out of steam and finished second to Euro 2012 winners Spain. They, themselves, believe there is no pressure on them and they have nothing to lose.

Croatia reckon their squad is better than the one that finished third in France 98 (World

Cup) but they will be fighting for second or third place in Group D (which Spain should win) with Turkey who were 13th in the FIFA rankings on May 5. The Turks are optimistic as, prior to their friendly in England on May 22, they were unbeaten for over a year and have taken the scalps of fellow qualifiers the Czech Republic and Iceland plus Holland in group games, in addition to friendly wins over Sweden and Austria. We could see some Turkish delight in the group games but they will get gobbled up come the knockout stages.

Talking of Austria, the nation’s people have hopes as high as The Alps but the team itself is not so confident. In May’s FIFA rankings, they were 11th thanks to an unbeaten run in a qualifying group that included Russia and Sweden (they won away 4-1).

So will the 12 year surprise after 1992 and 2004 continue? This scribe thinks not

SO WHOSE TROPHY IS IT ANYWAY?

The new 24-team format is making prediction even harder than normal but it has to be done so here goes…

With four of the third placed teams joining the top two from each group, will some countries try and box clever with the hope of an easier passage to the later stages of the competition?

but…

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GROUP A

GROUP B

GROUP C

GROUP D

GROUP E

GROUP F

For: Home advantage will no doubt help them in a group whose other teams can blow both hot and cold. Against: Home nation expectations.

Star: see DOES FRANCE HAVE ANY CHANCE?

For: In a group of death with a difference – instead of fighting for the top, there are three teams trying to keep away from the basement. Against: The media has always put pressure on the team.

In 1966, football was a different game – get used to it! And if they do get close, penalties could loom! Star: A lot of Premiership watchers might not agree, but Eric Dier could back-peddle to help the defence when needed.

For: This Nationalmannschaft golden generation has strength in depth that will be hard to match. And like Group B, this has threeteams fighting for the other possible two-places.

Against: Two years of ups and downs since winning Brazil 2014 – but would you bet against them?

Star: A strong backbone from net to net.

See the A HISTORIC HAT-TRICK FOR SPAIN? paragraph.

For: An array of talent with many household names.

Against: Will the injury of team leader Vincent Kompany unsettle the team, especially the defence?

Star: Take your pick.

For: A new generation of players who are spurned on by CR7. Against: No out and out striker and if CR7 is blanked out the game, they may struggle.

Star: There is only one.

ITALY For: A strong on-field camaraderie without an outstanding star as in years gone by. Against: If they finish second in the group, a game against Group F winner (Portugal?) awaits in the next round. Star: Veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

For: Since co-hosting Euro 2008, they have gradually built up a team that has confidence. Against: Lack of game time against more established opposition that could be their downfall. Star: The versatile David Alaba plays in defence for his club and midfield for his country.

SWEDEN

HUNGARY

For: Having Zlatan Ibrahimović in the team unsettles most opponents.

Against: If he has an off day, so does the team.

Star: No need to say who.

For: Will just go out and enjoy the experience and may spring a surprise or two. Against: Inexperience at the top level could go against them. Star: Captain Balázs Dzsudzsák likes to attack from the right midfield.

FRANCE

SWITZERLAND For: Confidence is high with the breakthrough members who have an aggressive approach but this might be a tournament too soon for them. Against: Negativity from the media does not help (former legend, Alain Sutter: “Defence isn’t satisfactory, midfield lacks creativity and the attack is not clinical enough”).

Star: Xherdan Shaqiri can come in from the flanks if the central attack is lacking.

ROMANIA For: A solid defence helped them get here and many famous players from the past are giving encouragement.

Against: Top players lack form and there’s a possibility they cannot improve after finishing second in a weak qualification group.

Star: ? – but Nicolae Stanciu made his debut in March, scored, and could be a name to remember.

ENGLAND

WALES For: Pride and passion plus Gareth Bale Against: If Bale bails out, will the dragon’s fire be distinguished? Star: You know who.

RUSSIA For: Their media thinks no team is unbeatable – quite possible with two not-up-to-scratch nations plus one who is known to underachieve. Against: Not going to say anything just incase Mr Putin reads this. Star: All of them (see above).

Going Home First: Slovakia will play to their abilities and remember the experience.

Going Home First: Albania will enjoy this first major tournament experience, but they may as well leave their luggage in the hotel lobby.

GERMANY

POLAND For: Robert Lewandowski is currently regarded as the best striker in the world. Against: High expectations from back home and a dodgy defence. Star: As above.

UKRAINE For: Will push forward from the flanks when given the chance.

Against: An average team. Star: Winger Yevhen Konoplyanka is known for his vision and finishing touch.

NORTHERN IRELAND For: The same nothing-tolose attitude of Spain 82.

Against: Inexperience in major competitions.

Star: All of them for just getting here.

SPAIN

TURKEY For: Confidence is high after an unbeaten 12 months. Against: Over confidence. Star: Captain and playmaker Arda Turan.

CROATIA For: Optimism in a squad that gels well together.

Against: Press pressure from back home and could their hooligans unsettle the side on the pitch?

Star: Mid-park director Luca Modrić.

Going Home First: The Czech Republic may be checking out of their hotel come June 21.

BELGIUM

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND For: Great team spirit with a good work rate who will go out there and enjoy the games.

Against: Might be packing their bags first due to their three opponents style of play. The Sweden match could hold the key.

Star: No outstanding player but Jon Walters will be known to many.

PORTUGAL

AUSTRIA

ICELAND For: Not much is expected but a well organised line-up will play their hearts out. Against: Their physical approach could see a few cards of both colours heading in their direction. Star: Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson will run their central show.

Sweden has Ibrahimović on its side

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Built 740 m² Plot: 1.618 m² Price: 1.550.000€

El Paraiso, only a few minutes’ drive from Marbella and Estepona. Very nice 5 bedroom villa located in the established El Paraiso

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Built: 195 m² Plot: 812 m² Price: 675.000€

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Estepona beachside. Ground floor 2 bedroom apartment

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with direct access to the swimming pools a few meters from the sea, gated with 24 h security, several pools and gym and walking distance to amenities only a 5 minutes’ drive to Puerto Banús. R735040

villa under construction, ready in March 2017. Located 400 meters from the beach, large solarium on the upper floor with fantastic sea views, private swimming-pool and parking . R2392439

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THEN, IT’S A KNOCK-OUT THE ROUND OF 16

QUARTER- FINALS

The top two finishers in the six groups progress to the Round of 16 along with the best four third-placed teams. The group winners from A, B, C and D could get an easier passage to the quarter finals as they will be matched-up with one of those four third-placed teams (see table below). The winners of groups E and F will play the runners-up from groups D and E respectively. That leaves the runners-up from A and C, plus the second-placed nations from B and F to play each other.

With the new format, who knows who will play who but Spain should have the easier match in the top half of the draw. The other game could see England against Portugal or Italy.

In the bottom half, Belgium and Germany are on a collision course, with France possibly up against Hungary or Russia.

THIRD PLACE FACTOR

On paper form suggests Spain and take your pick from England, Portugal or Italy and Belgium or Germany against France. As for the final – you can choose! e

The best four third-placed teams are determined according to the following criteria: 1st. Obtained points 2nd. Goal difference 3rd. Most goals scored 4th. Fair play 5th. UEFA 2015 Rankings

SEMI-FINALS

OPTIONS FOR ROUND OF 16 PAIRINGS, DEPENDING ON WHICH THIRD-PLACED TEAMS QUALIFY FROM GROUPS:

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s e s a e el

w e R N

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by Real Capital Solutions Spain. Launching 2016.

Estepona Sophisticated Villas · Benahavís Ultra High Luxury Apartments · Mijas Costa Modern Apartments

R EAL

C APITAL SOLUTIONS

SPP RCS Advert 230x3100.indd 1

For sales information please visit:

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13/04/2016 16:57:40

p THE FOCUS people

YOUNG GUNS Hollywood Move over Robert De Niro, Adrien Brody and Daniel Day Lewis; there’s a hot new breed of actors lighting up the silver screen with their quirkiness, style and undeniable acting talent.

These are just a few of Hollywood’s hottest young faces. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

His eyelids are puffy, his face slashed by scars from a car accident he sustained in his teens, and his chin a little weak. Still, Miles Teller is a big presence on the screen; a face you cannot take your eyes off. He grows on you, given the right role, and you begin to see signs of De Niro or Elvis in this kid, for he possesses oodles of charm – the kind that acting classes just can’t buy.

Miles Teller has been on screen a long time. In his first major role (in Rabbit Hole), he was hand-picked by Nicole Kidman to play a young boy who unwittingly runs over and kills her son. Teller says that Kidman was distant and cold to him during the shooting but it all makes sense in this film, which is about how her character seeks out and grows fascinated by the boy who unwittingly took her son’s life.

In the film, Teller is gentle, tremendously sensitive, shy… he is also drawn to the woman, seeking her redemption for an accident that anybody could have committed.

Teller’s next big break was in The Spectacular Now (a film on my To Bring to a Deserted Island list). Nobody else could have played highschool senior, Sutter Keely (one of the best people many of us have ever met onscreen) with so much generosity. Teller is perfect for the role: that of a young man who is too much in love with the beauty of the present moment, to trade it in for something as mediocre and scary, as the future. Sutter is one of the most popular kids in class, but he continually lets himself down… until he meets Aimee (played by the wonderful Shailene Woodley), who does have plans for the future but is also wise enough to love Sutter for who he is.

The performances from Teller and Woodley were so powerful, they granted The Spectacular Now cult status, garnering positive reviews from some of the world’s most renowned critics. For a more recent example of Teller’s talent, catch him in Whiplash – the Academy Award-winning film about a megalomaniac music professor and his ambitious student (a talented drum player determined to be the best in the word). Teller, who plays the student, gives a breathtaking performance and, incidentally, plays all the drum sets in the film, revealing his tenacity and unbreakable spirit. He often muses about how it is nigh-on-impossible to receive an Oscar before the age of 30; we only wish he realised that he has done much more than that… he has inspired those of us who see a unique talent that astounds with its depth.

Miles

Teller

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Ezra

Miller His odd, exotic looks matched him perfectly to the role of Kevin in the film We Need to Talk About Kevin, probably his most famous and disconcerting role. The film delves into the nature of the serial killer (Miller plays Kevin, a boy who takes a bow and arrow and wreaks havoc in his school, causing multiple deaths): in this case, we are asked the question directly: was Kevin born a hateful psychopath, or was his mother’s early rejection of him as a child responsible for the hatred that boils over? Few young actors but Miller (also a singer, musician and model) could arguably have pulled this role off – so hateful is he, that he will probably always remain in our collective memory as the young boy devoid of feelings, of a conscience… it was such a powerful role that we doubt Miller will ever be cast in run-of-the-mill parts. He seems innately suited to darker, rebellious roles (he was also excellent as Sam’s wild stepbrother in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or as a confused teen in Every Day (2010)). Miller, the son of a successful head of a publishing company and a modern dancer, clearly has art in his blood and he has plenty of street cred to boot, choosing roles sparingly and wisely.

We are due to see him next in Fantastic Beasts, the hotly awaited fantasy film based on a book of the same name

by J.K. Rowling (the book is a prequel to the famous Harry Potter series).

It’s hard to believe Shia LaBeouf is only 29; it seems like he has been gracing the big screen for at least a couple of decades. This actor and director actually made his acting debut in Disney series, Even Stevens at the age of 15. His inspiring performance led him to receive a Young Artist Award nomination and, soon after, he took home an Emmy. Just six years later, he was already cast as the lead in 2007 blockbuster, Transformers, and in two of the franchise’s sequels.

He has shone in commercial films such as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull or Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, yet true Shia fans know that we come closer to his real essence in more alternative films like Lars von Trier’s spellbinding Nymphomaniac (2013) or David Ayer’s Fury (2014). Shia is a raw, angst-ridden actor who is in the news for disorderly conduct one day, and for starring in a Sia video the next. In case you haven’t seen it yet, check out the Aussie singer’s Elastic Heart video, in which Shia gives a powerful physical performance alongside child dancing sensation, Maddie Ziegler.

In addition to being an intense actor, Shia is also a performing artist. Recently, he offered

audiences a Marina Abramovic-style exhibition which he entitled #IAMSORRY. He sat in a Los Angeles gallery in a tuxedo with a paper bag over his head. The public was invited to choose an item from a table of tools which included a bottle of whiskey, a ukelele and a bowl filled with tweets lambasting the actor. His aim was to reveal the dehumanising effect of fame.

At one point, Shia claims that a woman raped him during a performance, which caused him great anguish. The event was described by critics as ‘genuinely disturbing’ and as a true communion between the artist and his public during which LaBeouf “was immensely present.”

Shia has given lectures to university students on metamodernism, presented a virtual exhibition during which he jumped rope for an hour (inviting visitors to a gallery to do the same via Skype) and held a marathon showing of all his films, clapping like a madman at the end of the exhausting exercise. Call him what you will but this young star is definitely unique; an artist who is continually pushing the boundaries and seeking to hold up a mirror to the deep flaws of celebrity.

Shia

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He only played a supporting role in Academy Award-nominated film, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) yet his character, the powdery white, alien-like young man doomed to die of cancer yet raging against the dying of the light by battling alongside Max and his army, is probably the most memorable in the film.

Nicholas Hoult is another young British actor who has shone on the big screen since he was barely old enough to read a script. He was officially discovered at the age of three, while he was watching his elder brother perform in a play. Agents in the audience were impressed by his concentration and his piercing blue eyes, and at seven, he was chosen to star in the film Intimate Relations (1996).

Soon after, Hoult would wow audiences alongside Hugh Grant in About a Boy, a beautiful film about the friendship that forms between a rich playboy and a 12-year-old child. Hoult’s performance garnered him a nomination by the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer. He would then savour commercial success in the X-Men series, and obtain a Teen Choice Award nomination for Warm Bodies (in which he plays a teen zombie who falls for a non-infected girl). Hoult is ready to impress us once again in the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse, but we hope to continue to see him in the kind of sensitive, edgy roles he plays so well.

Paul

Dano Nicholas

Hoult

It takes a really special actor to outshine somebody the calibre of Daniel Day-Lewis but to this spectator’s eye, Paul Dano does just that in There Will Be Blood. In the film, Dano sinks to the pits of despair, playing a pitiful yet repulsive young man with great ambitions but with not enough cunning to defeat a devil-like corrupt gold miner and oil exploiter, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis). ‘Desperate’ is what Dano does best; all of his best roles are on-the-edge. Think Ruby Sparks, in which he plays a delicate intellectual who creates a character he falls in love with; to his amazement, the character comes to life! Another great film is Prisoners, in which he co-stars with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. Dano plays a mentally disabled young man who is the primary suspect when two young girls go missing. His character is then kidnapped by the father of one of the girls, and undergoes the kind of physical and mental torture that is sometimes difficult to watch. As always, the young actor’s unique ability to inspire attraction and revulsion, make him an ideal choice for difficult, uncomfortable films which invite us to enter ‘the heart of darkness.’

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Your dream home now for sale

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For Inquiries please contact: Developer: Antima Property www.antima.no

Sales (ref. number V6162): Peter RosĂŠn/ Nordica.

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He’s got boy-next-door looks and an undeniable innocence that makes him a good choice for many roles, including that of dying teen, Augustus Waters, in The Fault in Our Stars (once again opposite Shailene Woodley) or of cowardly intellectual, Caleb Prior in the Divergent series.

Born to a father who worked for Vogue as a Photographer and a mother who was an Opera Director, it is easy to see why Ansel was attracted to the arts from an early age. At the age of just nine, he auditioned for the School of American Ballet and soon after, he was enrolled in a performing arts school. His acting career began onstage, in Matt Charman’s Regrets and, following this he was cast in Divergent.

Not many of his film fans are aware that Ansel is also a famous DJ who works under the name Ansolo, recently scoring a record deal with Staar Traxx and Size Records.

He has played at the Electric Zoo Festival, the Ultra Music Festival and many shows alongside friends Nicky Romero and Martin Garrix. Far from being a distraction from his acting career, music helps him evade boredom; many of his best electronic music dance tracks were produced in trailers while he waited for his scenes to be shot. He spoke to Teen Vogue of his sometimes dichotomous lifestyle: “The day of the Oscars, I go from looking like a slob to wearing a gorgeous Prada suit.” Ansel’s appeal undoubtedly has to do with his simplicity, his ‘devil may care attitude’ and the serenity that comes from knowing who you are, without trying too hard to succeed. He credits his father with giving him the best advice he could ever receive: “Do what you love in life!”

Logan

Lerman Ansel

Elgort

This gorgeous young actor made his first forays into film in the Percy Jackson series of adventure films, though he first made international audiences sit up and take notice in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), a coming-of-age tale about Charlie, a young boy and aspiring writer who is fearful of attending his first year of highschool. One day, while at a football game, Charlie meets two seniors: Sam (played by Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller). They introduce him to a frenetic and wild world, but things start to turn sour when Charlie falls in love with Sam and begins to recall suppressed memories from his childhood.

Lerman exudes a fragility and intellectual depth that few other actors this young manage to capture. These same qualities once again shone through in Fury, in which he plays a young soldier whose innocence is shattered by the horrors of war. Somehow, in the midst of the violence and loss of fellow soldiers, he manages to maintain humanity and compassion, and through his soulful expression, reveals the innate foolishness of war and all it seeks to uphold. Fans take note: Lerman is due to appear this year in James Schamus’ Indignation, based on the Philip Roth novel about a Jewish college student who falls for a suicidal young woman and is eventually sent to Korea, where he is killed in combat. e

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ANUNCIO VILLA ZENSEA nuevo.pdf

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Exclusively marketed by

p THE FOCUS property

A stunning Icon Signature Villa by Manuel Burgos Cornejo

ICON SIGNATURE VILLAS Luxury Living in Santa Clara Golf WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF URBANIA INTERNATIONAL

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uxury home developers, Urbania International, have certainly tapped into a unique market of homebuyers: those after luxury, designer homes with all top quality finishing and home automated systems. Their prestigious properties are perched in the lofty Santa Clara golf area, with heavenly views to the glistening Mediterranean and to the verdant beauty of the golf course itself. The urbanisation is actually ensconced in the midst of three golf courses (Santa Clara Golf, Marbella Golf and Río Real Golf), and is refreshingly close to Marbella itself, as well as to a host of restaurants, hotels and leisure centres, including the gorgeous La Cabane Beach Club at the Los Monteros Hotel.

Urbania is currently marketing three sets of villas: Icon Signature Villas, The Private Collection and Icon The Residences. They are also working

on a fourth project, as yet unnamed, which will comprise another 130 dwellings.

Icon Signature Villas comprise a set of 20 villas designed by some of the most prestigious architects on the contemporary scene: Rodolfo Amieva Jacobson, Eduardo Oria, Hugo Torrico Camacho, Manuel Burgos Cornejo, José Muñoz Campos and Patrick Murphy. Each of the villas reflects the vision and style of their respective architects, yet they share in common a passion for light (which floods into the homes thanks to double height windows measuring around 2,90m), magnificent views, and the beauty of natural materials such as bare stone, crystal, Mediterranean white floors and light wood.

The developer for this magnificent project, Urbania International, boasts over 25 years in the industry. The

company, backed by one of the United States’ largest funds in this project, purchased land in Santa Clara with a view to building properties there over the next five to six years. The villas are being sold by NVOGA Marbella Realty. Kandy Paterson, Sales Director, explains the unique advantage of purchasing in this area: “All of Santa Clara has been built in accordance with the PGOU of 1986, and the aim is to put East Marbella back on the map with this project.”

Clearly, buyers are in agreement; some 12 of the 20 homes have been sold as we go to print.

The merits of each home are difficult to compare and, ultimately, your favourite will depend on personal taste. All, however, are made with top quality materials, including nonslip floors in bathrooms, underfloor heating, saltwater pool with night lighting, pre-installation home

automation system, pre-installations for elevators, security systems, basements, central airconditioning or by zones, etc. Kandy adds, “All homes developed by Urbania International in Santa Clara will also offer Concierge Services with no fee for the first three years. The latter will include administration of accounts and payment of all bills, utilites contact management, concierge services (golf, restaurant reservations) and so much more (lifestyle services such as cleaning, pool maintenance, stocking of fridge prior to arrival, etc).

Icon Signature Villas have a built area of over 350m2, with large terraces boasting dreamlike views of the golf course and sea. All homes have five bedrooms and five bathrooms. Construction has already commenced on the first phase, with prices ranging between €1.73 and €1.93 million.

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Pool view of one of the Icon Signature Villas

Icon Private Collection Also developed by Urbania International and sold exclusively

by NVOGA is The Private Collection: a set of only nine villas in a small, highly exclusive, gated area. Villas have a built size of up to 300m2 plus generous terraces with impressive views. All homes have been designed by prestigious firm Broadway Malyan, famed for its outstanding values and innovative approach. All will have four bedrooms and come with Icon’s famed bespoke concierge services.

Icon the Residences The third phase of the residential complex is strategically located near the golf course and once again offers

beautiful views over the course to the sea. There are 24 villas in total, all designed by González & Jacobson Architecture and boasting a built size of 250m2. Families will feel right at home here, with gorgeous seawater pools, carefully manicured gardens and all the privacy they could desire.

Materials, as in all other Icon homes, comprise natural stone, wood and glass, with home automation, underfloor heating, etc. Three- or four-bedroom villas are available.

Prices start at €900.000. Icon The Residences is currently in the prelaunch stage.

Kandy tells me that the fourth phase of the Icon project, currently in the pre-launch stage, will comprise

villas and semi-detached villas, also offering the exquisite views afforded by Santa Clara’s unique positioning. The nature of the homes will be determined by the results of the second DOM3 International Architecture Prize, which has attracted 130 competitors from 17 different nations and 25 different cities. DOM3, the Association of Businesspersons for High-End Villas, celebrates quality and innovation in design through its prestigious prize.

Kandy beams as she reports the sales success thus far, and tells me about the new Icon App, a complement to the villas that helps homeowners manage consumption and maximise security. Interact with

your home from anywhere in the world thanks to the handy new App, and avail of all Icon’s pampering services while you are absent. Their innovative approach will ensure that your home will always be cared for, whether you are home or away.

g For further information on the villas, contact the team at NVOGA Marbella Realty.

Avda. Boulevard de la Fama, Urb. Jardines del Puerto, Local 2, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 951 271 824. www.nvoga.com.

Icon: www.icon-marbella.com Urbania International: www.urbaniainternational.com

The main entrance to one of the Icon Signature Villas

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f the ultimate measure of value and desirability in real estate is defined by the old maxim Location, Location, Location, then it doesn’t get much better than a prime beachfront setting.

That much is evident in sea fronting areas across the Costa del Sol and in particular along the venerated Golden Mile or the New Golden Mile, but the growing stature of Estepona in recent times is in large part built upon the rise of a veritable Golden Mile along the most exclusive part of its coastal stretch.

Set along a beautifully maintained, palm-lined boulevard with attractive pedestrian walkways and cycling tracks, this hotly desired area extends from the pretty sandy cove of Playa del Cristo to the H10 Estepona Palace spa resort. Close to golf, the marina and the historic centre of Estepona, it is so in demand for a spectacular beach fronting location that offers direct access to the shore and spectacular true-south views that take in a panoramic swathe of the Mediterranean Sea right up to where it meets the Atlantic at the Straits of Gibraltar.

LES RIVAGES Shorefront Opulence The small but exclusive cluster of luxurious properties in a prime beachfront location is creating a new ‘Golden Mile’ in Estepona.

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LES RIVAGES

A LIFESTYLE CONCEPT “This really is one of the best vantage points on the Costa del Sol,” says Michel Dupey, who together with Regis Letellier is responsible for creating Les Rivages. Not only is this highly exclusive complex of luxurious contemporary apartments one of the landmark developments of Estepona, it has also garnered great admiration throughout the greater Marbella area for its styling, lifestyle concept and attention to detail. “With Les Rivages we wanted to establish our credentials as a specialist developer that creates homes around the concept of added value both in terms of investment and lifestyle,” says Michel, whose many years of experience in the construction of high-end residential projects in Southern France have transported well to the Spanish environment.

“When you come from abroad you always bring some fresh, innovative ideas with you, and we wanted to be generous with these to create a luxury lifestyle environment that is fully contemporary and makes the most of this fantastic beachfront location.” As a result, quantity was shunned in favour of quality and design used to optimal effect. Fitting perfectly into its setting, which slopes gently from the coastal boulevard down to the beach, Les Rivages blends a prime spot with attractive contemporary styling and amenities that create the ideal canvas for a very privileged way of life. “As always, especially in the luxury segment, it is not so much what you do but how you do it,” says Michel, “and the difference between good and excellent comes down to the strength of the original concept and the subsequent attention to detail.” The fact that Les Rivages is a fine example of both is born out by the success it has enjoyed.

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What the market wants Built around a philosophy of sleek modern architectural styling, opulent finishing and spacious open-plan living in which the indoor and outdoor spaces blend together along a wide seafacing frontage, the original 18 apartments in a variety of sizes and configurations were snapped up by buyers and investors from across Europe and the Middle East. What attracted them were features such as the aesthetically appealing white plaster and stone cladding supported by the tasteful use of glass, spacious living areas in which the lounge, dining room and kitchen flow into one lifestyle space that also includes panoramic terraces, and a level of finish that sets a new standard.

“We wanted to create a design that answers to current tastes but is also timeless,” and in so doing innovative features such as a car lift to the private underground parking and panoramic glass lifts were included. Such features are a first for residential developments in this area, yet they

also include a pyramid style shape that follows the natural gradient of the land and pleasantly cascades towards the subtropical gardens bordering the sea. This configuration reduces any vertical effect and creates a connected sense of privacy in which the flowered terraces maintained by the community merge with the lush gardens to great visual effect.

Another rather unique feature is a heated outdoor pool, while the indoor spa and gym area stands out not only for the quality of its amenities, styling and finishing, but also for clever design that allows you to gaze up at blue skies or stars as you float in a warm, cosseting pool. Inside, the finest marbles, tiles, open-plan Gaggenau kitchens, topend carpentry and luxurious modern bathrooms set the tone for homes worthy of their privileged setting. One-way windows allow those in the bathrooms to combine sea views with privacy, while top of the range Villeroy & Boch ceramics includes a two-in-one toilet and bidet.

Floor-to-ceiling windows highlight the magnificent views to be enjoyed from almost every room in the two, three and four-bedroom apartments and duplex penthouses, the latter of which also include rooftop terraces with private pools, chill-out lounge and bar. “Les Rivages has a captivating setting that we have worked hard to honour with contemporary luxury and style built around the desire to offer a superlative quality of life,” says Michel, and given the fact that some buyers have even bought more than one apartment to merge into a super property on the edge of the Mediterranean shows that the concept has certainly hit a chord with today’s lifestyle investor – creating a landmark development at the heart of Estepona’s very own Golden Mile. g Avda. del Carmen, 95, Estepona.

Tel: (+34) 952 937 825. info@lesrivages.es www.lesrivages.es

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Location is a vital element for quality of life

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construction company builds houses, a property developer originates the concept for them and a real estate agent markets and sells the homes to buyers, but a property brand like Lifestyle Homes is a specialist in creating living environments designed around quality living.

Normally the above takes place within the confines of a primary housing market – where people look for a fulltime residence close to work – but the Costa del Sol is characterised by a dominant secondary home market in which the prime commodity is an apartment or villa situated within a beautiful, sunny part of the world.

Though a growing proportion of such properties are now also

becoming permanent residences, many are by definition used as holiday homes for a discerning international public.

It is this kind of real estate that forms the backbone of the Costa del Sol’s property market, making this an area where uniquely the main focus is not just on the bricks and mortar house itself but also very importantly on the lifestyle it offers. Such considerations are increasingly important throughout the world, but nowhere more so than in places such as Marbella, where it is precisely the interaction between the property and its surroundings that provides the opportunity to make the most of a wonderful natural setting and the best climate in Europe.

In other words, how well the

property ties into the famous indoor-outdoor lifestyle of Marbella.

Creating the palette for a way of life Different companies focus on such details to a greater or lesser extent but, for Lifestyle Homes, it is the central concept that is at the very core of the company’s working philosophy.

“We are neither builders nor real estate agents,” says a company principal. “As specialists in bringing luxury home projects to the market, we fit in between these fields, but we believe we are as much a design and marketing company as a technical and financial investment one, as we create homes from within a concept that always begins with

the lifestyle perspective.”

The Lifestyle Homes team has a clear picture of the kind of features a first class Costa del Sol property should offer, and use this as their guiding principle when designing the luxury apartment complexes for which the company has earned such kudos from clients and peers alike. “As a result, all our projects are designed to blend into their natural surroundings, offer pleasant architectural styling and make the most of the views while also providing the latest comforts and luxuries, communal amenities and easy access to all the best facilities the coastal region has to offer.

This includes being within easy distance of beaches, shopping, dining, practical services and

A lifestyle brand

LIFESTYLE HOMES

Merging the best of design and our region’s natural beauty, Lifestyle Homes is a prime example of a property brand built around quality of life.

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LIFESTYLE HOMES

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PUBLIRREPORTAJE

also sports facilities such as golf courses, but very important are also details such as open-plan living and clever space-saving design.”

To Lifestyle Homes, the balanced marriage of form and function, style and practicality, is therefore of prime importance.

“We create homes that offer elegance and comfort while being convenient and easy to maintain, with lots of storage space and eye-catching design features in which the interior and exterior living spaces flow into one lifestyle area that is perfectly suited to our climate and forms of entertaining.” Much thought goes into creating homes that are appealing and provide added value, and this focus on seeing the finished product through the eyes of the buyer/occupant has also proven to be a success formula in commercial terms, for properties created by Lifestyle Homes are greatly in demand,

selling quickly and commanding good prices in the process.

Product development in real estate With many years spanning projects such as Sotoserena and Mar Azul on Estepona’s New Golden Mile, Monte Halcones near La Zagaleta and Hoyo 19 at Villa Padierna, Casas del Mar in Casares and various developments in La Alcaídesa, the company has the expertise to produce detailed market and feasibility studies for any proposed project, culminating in strategic consulting that outlines the ideal product mix, price segment, return model and marketing plan.

“The cornerstones of this are innovative conceptual thinking, strict operational planning and developing the product around an optimal lifestyle concept. Too many projects are not properly studied or grounded in reality, and

Modern styling and architectural detail make the difference

as a result never realise their full potential. The extension of this is that you don’t simply replicate success formulas in different places but adapt the product so that it perfectly matches its setting, surroundings and the people who will feel drawn to it and buy there.”

This kind of focus is one of the main reasons why the developments created by Lifestyle Homes have such an impressive track record in sales and subsequent resales, retaining high desirability and values. “Many of our buyers are investors, but ultimately we design homes for end-users, and in this we have both vacationers and fulltime residents in mind.” A good example of the concept flexibility of Lifestyle Homes is the fact that the company – which specialises in apartments – has a portfolio of projects that varies greatly in size, location type and price range.

“We have created golf,

beachside and hill club urbanisations in a variety of locations, from Marbella to La Alcaídesa, and they vary from affordable one and two-bedroom apartments to sumptuous penthouses in five-star serviced complexes. It goes without saying that we didn’t paint by numbers but designed each around a unique concept, and the same is true of our new developments, Casas del Mar and Alcaídesa.” As always, they are the product of a desire to find the optimal blend of setting, architectural design, community features and interior layout and comforts. In other words, offering the perfect home within a specific price range that makes the very most of its setting to create the optimal Costa del Sol way of life.

i LIFESTYLE HOMES Tel: (+34) 951 607 013. www.lifestylehomes.es

Landscaping plays an important part in creating a living environment

Homes created around a privileged way of life

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LA FINCA de MARBELLA

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INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE ART DESIGN GARDENS FASHION

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A Beautiful Villa in Sotogrande Transformed by Patricia Darch

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Fashion: The Latest Collection from Twin-Set Simona Barbieri

106 Fashion News

WE FEATURE A BEAUTIFUL VILLA WHOSE INTERIOR DESIGN WAS CONCEIVED BY PATRICIA DARCH AND DELIGHT YOU WITH TOP FASHION FROM TWIN-SET SIMONA BARBIERI. WE ALSO SUGGEST THE SUMMER’S TOP BUYS IN OUR FASHION NEWS SECTION.

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CONTRACT I COMMERCIAL I HOSPITALITY I RESIDENTIAL I RENOVATIONS I ARTCHITECTURE I PROJECT MANAGEMENT INTERIOR DESIGN I CONSTRUCTION I FIXTURES I FITTINGS I FURNISHING I KITCHENS I BATHROOMS I LIGHTING

CONSTRUCTION + INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES FROM NEW BUILDS TO RENOVATIONS AND INTERIORS. WE HAVE IN-HOUSE BUILDING CONTRACTORS.

Excellent service and a high standard of finishes with our team of top professionals working in all areas of renovation and bespoke, design and build.

Visit the studio to see a range of furniture, fixtures and fittings.

BLACKSHAW INTERIOR DESIGN Avda. Canovas del Castillo 25 Marbella 29601, Mรกlaga, Spain Tel: +34 951 403 787 Mob: +34 681 662 000 info@blackshawinteriordesign.com w w w. b l a c k s h aw i nt e r i o rd e s i g n . co m

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d THE STYLE decor

PATRICIA WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

DARCH and the art of creating a lifestyle In over 30 years, Patricia Darch has become a name synonymous with creativity, style and meticulous attention to detail. It is a reputation that now stretches far beyond Sotogrande.

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M

any of the finest homes in and around Sotogrande feature interiors conceived and decorated

by Patricia Darch and her enthusiastic team of skilled designers, upholsterers, carpenters and technicians. “We even have our own resident artist,” says Patricia, for her stepdaughter Jessica Darch is a gifted artist whose visually evocative work is a popular complement to the finest European furniture and decorative pieces that are carried by what is one of the coastal region’s most distinguished interior design studios.

“The majority are leading Italian brands such as Natuzzi and B&B Italia, while the soft furnishings mostly come from France and Italy,” says Scarlet Ireton, one of five designers currently working on a series of prestigious projects from Gibraltar in the west via Sotogrande to Reserva de Higuerón in the east. She is off to the famous Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, the world’s leading furniture and decoration fair, after the interview, and is palpably excited about the prospect of seeing the finest, most inspiring new collections all in one place.

“I will be meeting with existing and potentially new suppliers, of which Armani might become one,” beams the designer who recently collaborated closely with McLundie Architects in the reconstruction of a beautiful Sotogrande villa. “We work as a team but always have one appointed project leader,” says Patricia, who founded the company almost 35 years ago. “We have completed a great many wonderful projects of which we are very proud, but Casa de las Plumas really stands out as a joy both in terms of the process and the end result.”

Uncluttered interiors that make a statement

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Personal design style and decoration set the tone for the home

Casa de las Plumas

Contemporary elegance with retro chic references Bespoke designs for every room

An elegant villa in classic Sotogrande style, the property was completely redesigned both inside and out, with Patricia working alongside architect Colin McLundie and his team to create something truly special. “The owners, Cristopher and Sandy Featherstone, are wonderful people who really know how to enjoy the good things in life,” says Scarlet. “They wanted to create a beautiful home in which to enjoy true quality of life in a setting that inspires the senses.” The project, from concept through rebuilding to the final dressing took almost 18 months, but it was certainly worth it.

“Sometimes we just receive a brief but Christopher and Sandy were very much involved, so much so that they enjoyed the process as much as we did and couldn’t wait for the final unveiling of their ready-to-move-into home.” When the couple did lay eyes on their dream home brought to life, it stirred strong emotions.

“It’s been a very fulfilling project to work on, not just in design terms but also because we contributed to two lovely people realising their ultimate lifestyle setting,” says Patricia, who counts many of her clients as long-time friends. “We decorated the Featherstone’s holiday apartment in Sotogrande several years ago, and when they decided to move here semi-permanently and upgraded to a villa we were called upon to help them create the ideal home.” Indeed, Patricia and her team work on a wide range of projects, not just large Sotogrande villas.

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Home Optimisation “We work on projects ranging from small apartments to expansive mansions, including restaurants, retail outlets and especially show flats, and while our main base is naturally Sotogrande we cover the entire coastal region including Gibraltar.” The latter is not an easy market to enter due to the logistical issues thrown up by the border crossing, but a good flow of projects and a reputation for doing things right ensure Patricia Darch maintains two designers in the bustling enclave. “We are currently working on some truly stunning properties in Gibraltar,” says Patricia.

But her company is not only popular among private clients; property developers also seek the input and skills of her talented professionals, and not just in the decorating of show flats alone. “It doesn’t stop with furnishing a recently finished apartment. In many cases we work closely with other professionals to polish a jewel, so to speak, and add our practical and aesthetic perspective to that of the developer. They often see a project, which they are passionate about, but we look at it more through the end-user’s eyes, so I guess we consult on how to optimise the properties.”

The perfect palette for a private study Quality soft fabrics characterise the bedrooms

The last word in kitchen design

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A luxury villa styled from top to toe

Specially sourced designer pieces

Relax in style

Les Rivages The luxury beachside apartments at Les Rivages in Estepona are a case in point.

“You can’t better the location,” says Patricia, “but the developer was new to the area and came to rely on us for much more than decoration alone. After all, our experience and expertise extend to all manner of paperwork, logistics, materials sourcing, installation and technical problem-solving involved in the work we do, so we were able to provide information and practical solutions to those questions that arise all the time during a construction project of this kind.”

Patricia Darch’s project manager at Les Rivages was Sara Santamarta, who helped develop not only the presentation of the show flat and other parts of the complex, but also played an important role in the look and feel of the bathrooms that complement these popular luxury homes. “It’s been a very successful development and we feel a part of that success, so once again it is hard, exacting work that like all project-related tasks you have to live, not work at from nine to five, but it’s also tremendously rewarding.”

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Rooms that breathe space, style and sophistication

Varied inspiration More varied inspiration comes from the local Sotogrande International School, where Patricia Darch has been called upon to ensure the boarding facilities finally come up to par with the rest of the college. “The boarding hotel has always been a bit of a thorn in the side of the school,” says project leader Scarlet, “so it’s a wonderful challenge and something quite different from the luxury apartments and villas we normally work on.” She regards this as a refreshing change, and has thrown herself into the task of creating a hardwearing yet attractive environment for children.

“It’s a project where function is dominant yet form plays a very important role too, so we’re working hard to make a contribution to our local community that we can be proud of for many years to come.” This sense of tight-knit community pervades Sotogrande, and it is reflected again in Patricia’s commitment to the José Carreras Leukaemia Foundation, in support of which she has organised fundraising gala events in Gibraltar and another in Sotogrande this coming June.

“It’s wonderful to be working with such beautiful items as we do, but at the end of the day it isn’t about the accessories or even the furniture but about the lifestyles they help to make possible.

Even more, it is about the people, and though we have had demanding clients they have also given content to our work, for without them an interior is not a home but a succession of rooms.” It’s a philosophy that is at the heart of a design team that welcomes you in to the showroom whether you want to buy a single accessory or decorate an entire home. “For us it’s all about a celebration of one of the most ennobling things in life – design.” g 32/33 Blue Marina, Ribera del Merlin, Sotogrande.

Tel: (+34) 956 615 350. pdi@patriciadarch.com www.patriciadarch.com

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d THE STYLE fashion

COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

Twin-Set Simona Barbieri brings us one of the most colourful collections we can recall. Silk and lace catch the eye with the brightest emerald, pink and red hues.

Take your pick from this visually stunning set of outďŹ ts.

Nature

THE COLOURS OF

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Simona Barbieri

TWIN-SET

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Flowing

Silk

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INSTANT

GO!

INSTANT

CHILL

Find your nearest Sunglass Hut store at www.sunglasshut.com Vanessa is wearing Ray-Ban RB3025. Georgia May Jagger is wearing Emporio Armani EA4068 and Ray-Ban RB3539.

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18K gold

TAMARA COMOLLI BOUTIQUE MARBELLA · Marbella Club · Blvd. Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe · marbella@tamaracomolli.com

SOUTHAMPTON · LAKE TEGERNSEE · SYLT · PALM BEACH · MUNICH · MARBELLA

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g Muelle de Ribera, Casa F, Local 19, planta baja, 13, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 929 408. www.twinset.com

Pastel Lace

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Pretty Eccentric

Pretty Eccentric

Monsoon

Oxygen Boutique

DRESSED TO THE

Pretty Eccentric

Oxygen Boutique

Nines

Pretty Eccentric

CONTACTS: JOY THE STORE www.joythestore.com MONSOON www.monsoon.co.uk OXYGEN BOUTIQUE www.oxygenboutique.com PEOPLE TREE www.peopletree.co.uk PRETTY ECCENTRIC www.prettyeccentric.co.uk

Monsoon

The arrival of Summer means that those long, shapely legs can ďŹ nally be seen once again, as can vertiginous curves, more visible than ever in dresses and gowns. Marisa Cutillas brings the fashionistas among you a few gorgeous must-have items.

People Tree

Joy the Store

d THE STYLE fashion

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Bracelet by Dior

Shoes & ACCESSORIES

Earrings by Dior

CONTACTS: ACCESSORIZE www.accessorize.com DIOR www.dior.com MONSOON www.monsoon.co.uk MISS SELFRIDGE www.missselfridge.com NEXT www.next.co.uk

Bag by Next

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Polish off your look with these gorgeous accessories.

Bag by Next

Belt by Next

Shoes by Miss Selfridge

Sun

g las

ses

cc

by A

es s

e o r iz

Bag by Monsoon Travel Wallet by Accessorize

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n the spa

PRODUCTS BEAUTY SPA SCIENCE TREATMENTS HEALTH

110

Lymphatic Drainage

112

Beauty News

114

Stress is in the Mind

116

Health News

118

The New Pure Skin Spa in Marbella

120 Dr. Hami Eghdamian of the R&H Dental Clinic

We present the many benefits of lymphatic drainage and discover why stress levels are ultimately a matter of how we perceive life’s many daily challenges. We also visit PureSkin’s new Spa on The Golden Mile and RH Dental’s state-of-the-art clinic in Marbella.

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n THE SPA beauty Most women spend a considerable amount of time and money on trying to stay beautiful. Creams, serums and gels are just a few products we tend to purchase, though often, lasting beauty is hard to achieve when we don’t enhance it from within. Experts like Leslie Kenton (author of bestselling book, Skin Revolution) notes that beautiful skin must be approached through our lifestyle – by avoiding foods which are high in sugar and salt, and those made with unhealthy trans fats such as margarine. Keeping our lymph system in tip top shape is also crucial if our skin is to glow with youth. This month, we highlight the importance of lymphatic cleansing.

BOOST YOUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM for Beautiful Skin

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

WHAT IS THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM? The lymphatic system is one of the body’s most important elimination systems and a network through which nutrients from the digestive system are absorbed into our tissues to keep skin young and healthy. The primary role of the system is to transport lymph (a fluid containing white blood cells, which fight infection and illness) throughout the body. The lymph facilitates vital interchange of oxygen and food between our cells and the fluid that surrounds them, and enables the elimination of toxins. When the lymphatic system is sluggish, not only do we look old, we also feel fatigued. Moreover, we can grow less resistant to flus, colds and other illnesses.

WHAT IS THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM MADE UP OF? The lymphatic system includes the tonsils, spleen, adenoids and thymus.

The lymph nodes produce and store white blood cells, which battle disease.

The spleen also contains white blood cells, the tonsils are a large group of lymphatic cells, while the thymus is the home of the T-cells, which destroy cancerous and infected cells.

Lymph nodes, meanwhile, are located throughout the body and can be found near the lungs and heart, as well as under the arm and many more places.

HOW CAN WE HELP OUT OUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM? Some ways to stimulate optimal lymphatic functioning include:

Z LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE: This gentle massage encourages natural drainage of the lymph and must be carried out by a qualified professional.

Having received this treatment in the past, I can testify to it being one of the most relaxing and sleep inducing therapies ever; it feels a little like being nudged ever so softly along specific points of the body and it can be very helpful when water retention is an issue (for instance, after surgery).

Z DRY SKIN BRUSHING: This daily habit helps rid the skin of toxins and promotes circulation and skin exfoliation. Buy a natural fibre brush, brushing in circles from the soles of the feet to the chest, including your limbs, back and stomach. Brush toward the heart in a firm manner, without causing pain. A typical session should last around 20 minutes. After brushing, jump into the shower and once you feel nice and warm, alternate between hot (for two minutes) and cold water (for 15 seconds) to further stimulate circulation. Repeat the hot-cold cycles around three times.

Z TRAMPOLINE JUMPING: Who would have thought this so-called childish pastime could be so good for your health? A trampoline allows your body to change its gravitational force for a few magical minutes, closing and

opening the valves that control lymph flow and moving lymph along in a dramatic fashion!

Z AVOID HIGH SUGAR AND TRANS FATS: There is little point in brushing daily and staying active if you are feeding your body more toxins than it can’t get rid of.

Eat plenty of organic fruit and veg and lean proteins and try do reduce high-GI foods and grains, which can exert a negative influence on your metabolism. Also, avoid processed foods and meats such as hot dogs, canned foods and pre-cooked dinners.

Z INDULGE IN A TURKISH BATH OR SAUNA: Perspiring can help eliminate toxins through your skin.

Z EXERCISE DAILY: Few things like the sedentary lifestyle promote lymph stagnation quite as much.

Remember that movement is life; we were never meant to be in one place for too long! e

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Your Health and Beauty Clinic in Marbella

love of Beauty is Taste the Creation of Beauty is Art Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery Orthopaedic Surgery Vascular Surgery Bariatric Medicine & Surgery Aesthetic Medicine

Av. Ramรณn y Cajal, 7 - 29601 Marbella 0034 951 775 518 - Mรณvil : 670 770 455 info@oceanclinic.net - www.oceanclinic.net

n THE SPA beauty

PLUMP IT UP Top Voluminising Hair Products

If you miss the thick, lush locks you used to sport in your teens, stock up on these amazing products, which will turn back the hands of time and help your hair look the best it ever has.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

3

1 1 – SHU UEMURA ART OF HAIR FIBER LIFT: This lovely gel gives hair a lift and protects it against the roughest weather.

2 – BUMBLE AND BUMBLE BB PRÊT-À-POWDER: We love this unique product, which is a dry shampoo, style extender and voluminiser all at once. A great choice for girls and guys on the go.

3 – SUAVE PROFESSIONALS VOLUME 24-HOUR VOLUME & HOLD: A weightless spray that will keep your hair styled and add all the volume you need, all day long.

4 – OGX THICK & FULL BIOTIN & COLLAGEN SHAMPOO: A shampoo containing Vitamin B7 biotin, collagen and hydrolysed wheat protein, to create the illusion of thicker hair.

5 – REDKEN BODY FULL SHAMPOO: Lift fine hair and leave it silky soft with this anti-gravity shampoo with a lovely fresh fragrance.

6 – BAMBOO BLOWOUT KIT: This amazing kit contains an abundant volume shampoo, conditioner and 48-hour spray. Best of all, it is free of parabens and other harmful products.

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n THE SPA health

Stress is a monster that is linked to many more conditions and diseases than we’d like to imagine, including inflammation, heart disease, and Type II diabetes. Yet for most of us, it is an inevitable part of daily life that we just can’t seem to shake off. There is good news for those who feel like they are in a Catch-22 situation, though; new research has proven that the key to happiness isn’t about avoiding stress, but rather, about learning how to face it. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

STRESS IS ALL IN THE MIND S

cientists from Penn State and Columbia University recently sought to ascertain whether or not heart rate variability (the variation in pauses between heart rate) and stress, are related. Higher heart rate variability is a sign of good health, since it shows that the heart is able to respond to challenges and stimuli in an adequate manner. Those with low heart rate variabilities, on the contrary, have a higher risk of heart disease and death.

The researchers collected data from 909 patients aged between 35 and 85, reporting their findings in the journal, Psychosomatic Medicine. During the study, participants were interviewed daily by phone and asked to rate how stressful each event was to them. They were also asked if they had felt other negative emotions such as negativity, anger, sadness.

Most participants faced at least one stressful experience on 42 per cent of the interview days, rating their experiences as ‘somewhat stressful’. The researchers found that the number of stressful events faced per day was not decisive; rather, the crucial factor was how the participants perceived stress – those who rated events as more stressful or who had stronger negative reactions to

events, were those with lower heart rate variability. Scientists concluded that even small worries can pile up, causing major damage to our health. Never has it been better summarised than in the sage piece of advice: ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff.’

Even if you have low heart rate variability, help is at hand. Biofeedback and neurofeedback are two excellent techniques that can reduce stress and promote a more relaxed and peaceful state of mind. Yoga is another practice that is fast gaining ground in the world’s most prestigious centres for recovering addicts and those with eating disorders, since it has been found that its unique combination of asanas (poses), controlled (or pranayamic) breathing, and mindfulness meditation (or the encouragement of a mindful state) leads to a dramatic drop in stress hormone, cortisol.

Mindfulness meditation in its own is also a proven technique for stress reduction; the aim in this practice is to focus on simply being ‘in the here and now’, permitting both positive and negative emotions to flow without letting them promote a state of anxiety.

Ayurveda is also becoming more popular

in the Western world as a way to battle stress. Modern psychiatrists such as Dr. Henry Emmons, rely on Ayurveda to treat different types of anxiety. Dr. Emmons notes that according to Ayurvedic traditions, there are three different body types (or doshas): Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth).

Each of these body types manifests stress differently. Vatas tend to escape owing to the worry that overtakes them, pittas become angry and agitated, and kaphas slow down, often gaining weight and finding it hard to take positive steps towards greater health.

Dr. Emmons proposes that Ayurveda (which targets particular natural medications for each different dosha) can function well when it comes to addressing anxiety in a personalised fashion. To battle stress, he says, we need to make a solid commitment to leading a mindful life, opening our hearts to others and commencing yoga or another holistic therapy, for a minimum period of between six and 12 months. Once we restore our inner balance and stress begins to affect us less, the sky is the limit in terms of the personal happiness and health we can achieve. e

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THEY ARE NOT FROM ANOTHER PLANET, THEY USE MEDICAL THERAPIES THAT ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO YOU!

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) consists of a patient being placed into a hyperbaric chamber where increased atmospheric pressure in used in order for the patient to breathe100% oxygen. Under these conditions, oxygen becomes a medicine and begins therapeutic treatments on the body. The treatment is particularly recommended for reducing inflammation, generally helping wounds to heal, as well as wounds that are difficult to heal, such as ulcers or diabetic foot.

It can even be used to prevent cases of amputation.

Furthermore, its effects on the post-operative recovery process have been proven as have its support for plastic and reconstructive surgery. It is also recommended for sports injuries, bone fractures, neurological damage, autism, providing relief from the effects of radiotherapy or burns, and reducing stress and chronic fatigue.

Specifically, it is the oxygen going through the blood in greater concentration that helps the body on a general level. The hyperbaric chamber at the Hyperbaric Medical Centre is made from entirely transparent material, and has room for one person, allowing for direct communication with medical staff; as well as offering hygienic, comfortable and exclusive conditions with the greatest possible availability of times.

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CENTRO MÉDICO HIPERBÁRICO Avda. de España 242. Estepona (Málaga) Tel.: 952 806 796 / 663 418 023

www.centrohiperbarico.com

5/23/16 12:37 PM

n THE SPA health WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Scared of the Flu?

GET A WATER FOR LIFE! TATTOO! We’ve always known the importance of drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, but a new study undertaken by researchers at the University of Illinois, has shown that there are many more benefits to staying hydrated than we imagined. The study, which observed the habits of 18,300 adults, showed that increasing water consumption by just one to three cups daily reduces our total energy intake by between 68 to 205 calories daily and our sodium intake by between 78 to 235 grams. The researchers therefore recommend that those who want to reduce their weight or control their intake of sugar, salt or saturated fat, tap into the benefits of life-giving H2O.

WHEN YOUR BRAIN SAYS ‘AHA,’

Tattoos are gorgeous works of art that adorn some of our best friends and family members, but did you know that they can also ward off colds? According to scientists at the University of Alabama, tattoos can strengthen your immune system, helping you stave off common infections. However, make sure to go the whole hog: having just one tattoo can temporarily make you weaker. The researchers pointed out that the body’s response to tattooing is similar to when we head back to the gym after a long period without working out. The muscles hurt and our body feels sore, but the more we return, the stronger our body becomes. When we get a tattoo, the initial response is stress and we can become weaker for a short period of time. However, if we continue to subject our body to ‘punishment’, our tolerance becomes higher, strengthening the body’s response to illness in the long term.

If you enjoyed the blockbuster Matt Damon film, The Martian, then you probably wonder whether life can, in fact, exist on Mars.

The answer is a resounding Yes! Scientists in the Netherlands have been able to grow at least 10 different crop species on Mars and moon soil simulants. Some of the vegetables grown include tomatoes, peas, radish and garden rocket! It’s good to know that if we ever need to colonise the red planet, we’ll still be able to get our five daily portions of good health.

LISTEN!

Do you recall experiencing that ‘Eureka’ moment, when you finally chance upon the solution to a pressing problem, or conjure up an idea that could make a major improvement to a situation in your life? Research indicates that this ‘sudden insight’ often yields more satisfying solutions than methodical thinking. Apparently, lengthy analysis is fine when known strategies can help you find the solution (for instance, when a mathematical problem is involved) but for new problems that don’t have a set path, insightful thinking works best! The findings were based on experiments with four different types of timed puzzles, which revealed that answers which arose as sudden insights were most likely to be correct.

COULD THERE BE

LIFE ON MARS?

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n THE SPA health

PURESKIN Opens Fabulous New Spa on Golden Mile

Beauty buffs will already have heard all about PureSkin, the savvy spa owned and managed by ITEC-trained Beauty Therapist, Sofia Saide, who boasts over 30 years’ experience as a spa owner in London. She decided to settle in Marbella with her young daughter and, three years ago, she opened PureSkin at Los Naranjos, building a regular client base. The need for expansion led her to establish a stunning new spa on the Golden Mile, designed by the renowned Blackshaw Interior Design.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

S

ofia, who has a lovely personality which is incredibly well suited to her profession, smiles as she recalls her first spa in London: “I was the only one working there and I’d sit by the phone all day, waiting for it to ring or for someone to walk in!” Her wish was destiny’s command: soon, she would expand her team, hiring eight other therapists. She has enjoyed the same success in Marbella, which has enabled her to open her new spa in one of Marbella’s most beautiful locations: the Oasis Business Centre.

A NEW LOOK FOR PURESKIN The spa certainly bears the stamp of Blackshaw Interior Design, famed for its contemporary yet inviting interiors.

Taupe and gold metallic tones exude luxury and warmth all at once and details like beautiful pedicure chairs (the exact same chairs at the Dorchester spa) show Sofia’s commitment to offering a relaxing experience for her clients and bringing them the very best technology, equipment and products. The new spa has three treatment rooms and separate manicure and pedicure areas, which means that clients can enjoy many more body treatments, as well as age-busting treatments for the face.

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FACIAL TREATMENTS PureSkin brings beauty buffs a select range of facials by the world’s leading brands, including Ling Chan from New York, Deborah Mitchell from the UK and now, the Natura Bissé Diamond Collection (born in Barcelona).

Ling facials combine the best of the East and West, with products made according to a holistic philosophy that blends Asian beauty principles and state-of-the-art ingredients.

Deborah Mitchell is a prestigious UK brand; its Heaven’s Famous Bee Venom facial is favoured by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham, owing to its powerful antiageing effects.

Natura Bissé, meanwhile, is famed for its innovative products and rejuvenating facials, including the Citrus Vita-Essence Facial (which hydrates the skin, infusing it with Vitamin C) and its Diamond Life Infusion Ritual, comprising a thorough cleanse, a lifting Japanese massage which results in more luminous, younger looking skin, and a relaxing hand and foot massage.

PREMIUM FACIAL TREATMENTS Sofia has also introduced treatments such as Hydrafacial, Intraceuticals

Oxygen Infusion Facials, and Medik8 Skin Needling. The latter, in case you were wondering, is a pain-free treatment using the special Medik8 titanium dermaroller and dermastamp, which together restore firmness and tighten flaccid skin. The treatment is ideal for ageing, sagging, dull or scarred skin, as well as open pores and pigmentation.

PureSkin additionally offers Medik8’s White Balance Facial (especially designed for hyper pigmented skin), which relies on top quality active products such as Retinol and Vitamin C to penetrate deep into the skin and make a real difference, stimulating the production of collagen (the building blocks of skin).

Also very popular is the AntiGravity facial, which relies on highpowered radiofrequency technology to rejuvenate the face and neck.

The Hydrafacial is a cutting-edge treatment which combines the benefits of next-level hydradermabrasion, a chemical peel, automated painless extractions and a special concoction of antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and peptides, followed by LED light therapy.

Intraceuticals is another renowned treatment line, favoured among stars such as Eva Longoria and Madonna.

All facials include a deep cleanse and steam. Hyperbaric oxygen pressure is used to deliver special serums deep into the skin, plumping it up and greatly improving its moisture levels.

A NEW BEAUTY ROUTINE AT HOME One of the best things about PureSkin spa is that if you like a product applied during a treatment, you can probably take it home!

Sofia stocks the very best creams and serums by Natura Bissé, Intraceuticals and other brands, as well as a beautiful make-up line by top fashion make-up artist, Ellis Faas. Her gorgeous lip glosses and eyeshadows, presented as a shiny silver pen, are the sexiest item to pop into a designer bag (or better yet, to give as a present to your BFF).

As luxurious as PureSkin is, it is reasonably priced and you can spend as much or as little time as you need for a beauty boost. Pop in for a manicure, pedicure or wax, or take the afternoon off and book an indulgent two-hour face and body treatment. The friendly, highly experienced team will give you a free initial half-hour consultation, suggesting the best treatment for youthful, firmer, more luminous skin.

g Oasis Business Centre, Local 3B, CN340, km 176, Marbella. Tel: 951 134 983. www.pureskin.es

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Enjoy the Relaxing Shanti-Som Wellbeing Retreat RESTAURANT - SPA - YOGA - HOTEL

Ctra. de Ojen km 22 - A355 Monda - Marbella Tel: 952 86 44 55 or 628 79 30 13

www.shantisom.com

Open daily for lunch to the public

...only 10 minutes from Marbella

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WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF R&H DENTAL CLINIC IN MARBELLA

HAMI EGHDAMIAN OF THE R&H DENTAL CLINIC IN MARBELLA

“Treat the Patient First and the Tooth Second.”

D

r. Hami Eghdamian, cofounder of the renowned R&H Dental Clinic in Marbella alongside his wife, Dr. Rebeca Daemi Zabalza, has travelled far and wide to bring cutting edge dentistry to the Coast. Raised in New Zealand, Hami also operated for five years in Australia before meeting his wife in Portugal at a conference, and deciding to call Marbella home.

His University in New Zealand was officially recognised in 2015 as the eighth best for Dentistry studies in the world, beating Harvard itself by a point. “I always knew my University was special, but didn’t know exactly how well it was ranked until the list came out, just two years ago.” At R&H Dental Clinic, Hami and Rebecca practise aesthetic dentistry, implantology, orthodontics, dental hygiene and general dentistry.

In his studies in New Zealand, three important key values were stressed. Dr. Eghdamian elaborates: “The first value is that you cannot compromise on quality. It is not acceptable to rely on quick yet ineffective solutions that won’t go the distance,” he notes, adding, “When Rebecca and I decided to open R&H Dental Clinic, we knew

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from the start that we were not interested in a fast-paced clinic where dentists took on more work than they could handle, leading to speedy yet impersonal service.

We spend the time we need to with patients and carefully plan and explain all procedures to them.” The equipment at R&H is equally impressive: “We have a 3D radiography unit which is vital to our implantology work; panoramic scans are not as helpful when it comes to assessing how much bone is available to sustain implants.”

The second value involves empathy. “It is important that clients feel relaxed and listened to; communication goes both ways and it is also vital to carefully explain everything a patient needs to know. There is an invisible power disparity between dentists and patients; the latter often feel like they have no say. Dentists must work from the first moment to break down this disparity, by really taking all the time a patient needs. The most important thing for a Dentist is to gain their patient’s trust; this is key to reducing tension and pain.

Patients should also be completely pleased with treatments. Thus, they

are free to tweak veneers until they are absolutely satisfied with the results.”

It is also vital to lower anxiety levels. “At R&H Dental Clinic, we offer free oral sedation for any procedure a patient desires – even if it is just a cleaning. They just pop a pill under their tongue and feel very relaxed for the duration of the treatment, whether it be a root canal or another procedure. For larger operations, we have an anaesthetist come in to administer intravenous sedation. Our patients actually love it as it produces a sensation of elation.”

The third pillar of good dentistry is communicating in a language patients understand. “My first language is English and Rebecca is half Spanish yet she grew up in Ireland, so she is very popular among our Irish patients. Dentists should never use terminology that is too technical, nor should they remain silent; constant communication is key.”

At R&H Dental Clinic, Dr. Eghdamian specialises in aesthetic dentistry (veneers, whitening, etc.) and Dr. Daemi in implantology (she is a Periodontist/Implantologist).

“Each specialist at the Clinic only

practises within their realm – be it orthodontics, root canals, implantology, etc. We also have a dedicated Dental Hygienist.”

Establishing a good reputation is of vital import for Dr. Eghdamian and Dr. Daemi. “This is our home; we plan on being here a long time, so building a reputation for excellence, personalised service and safety is key. We have managed to do that, recently winning the Gold Star award from the Institute of Professional Excellence for our work. At the moment we have four treatment rooms but since we own another part of the building, we will be increasing that number by at least six more.”

Dr. Eghdamain and Dr. Daemi, who have a lovely 17-month-old son, are happy to call Marbella home and clearly, the type of serviceoriented and technically advanced treatments they offer, has raised the bar in terms of general and aesthetic dentistry in our area. Dr. Eghdamian stresses the importance of patience and creating a pleasant environment, yet it must come easy to him, as he exudes kindness, professionalism and empathy – qualities you ultimately cannot learn, imitate, or buy.

g Avda. Ricardo Soriano 54, Marbella (opposite Zara). Tel: 952 000 000. www.rhclinicadental.com

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the pro

ENTERPRISE LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILES FINANCE/LAW THE VIBE

Compiled by Marisa CUTILLAS

IV Ambassadors and Entrepreneurs Forum at the Villa Padierna Palace Hotel The Villa Padierna Palace Hotel recently hosted the IV Ambassadors and Entrepreneurs Forum, attended by over 20 ambassadors, diplomats, executives and businessmen, who joined forces to analyse new possibilities of investment on the Coast. The Ambassadors of India, Russia, Thailand and Uruguay were just a few dignitaries who lent their time and effort to this worthwhile event, which aims to take Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís to new economic heights. i www.villapadiernapalacehotel.com

Import Montes Celebrates 25 Year Anniversary Import Montes, the Coast’s premier beer and beverage distributors, recently celebrated their 25th anniversary with a whole-day event at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Marbella.

Members of the tourism and hotel industry attended the party, to support a business which has done plenty to boost the economy and provide employment. Company founder and Director, Pepi Montes, expressed her wish to support clients, who hail from all over Málaga. A series of awards were given to establishments which have been important to Import Montes over the course of their history. These included famed restaurant group, Da Bruno, whose prize was collected by Bruno Filippone and his wife, Giuseppina. Special mention was also given to Import Montes’ longest standing employee, Antonio Martín. i www.importmontes.com

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Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa Deemed Best Resort in Spain by Condé Nast TravelLer The Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa was officially deemed the Best Resort In Spain at the 2016 Condé Nast Traveller awards, held at the Conde Duque Cultural Centre in Madrid.

The Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa stands out for various reasons, including its quaint Andalusian charm, its proximity to the Mediterranean sea, and its lush sub-tropical gardens.

During the awards ceremony, Jorge Manzur, General Manager of the resort, expressed his gratitude: "This prize is deserved recognition for the refurbishment and reforms project we started three years ago, as well as the effort and dedication of our team, who know how important it is to make sure the customer is offered top quality service. I feel very proud and grateful to accept this award on behalf of this wonderful family.”

250 Teachers Attend Digital Gaming Conference Some 250 teachers recently attended the ‘Innnovative Teacher Tour on Digital Gaming,’ a conference in Málaga featuring talks by eminent experts on using digital games in the classroom, including Ángel Gónzalez de la Fuente (who spoke on Five Secrets for Gaming in the Classroom), Juan Fernández Galera (a primary school teacher who spoke about the importance of fostering socio-emotional competencies in class) and José Luis Redondo (a Social Sciences Professor who gave a talk on a dystopian game inspired by Blade Runner). The event was part of the Telefónica Foundations’ Educational Challenges Tour, which involves training teachers in the latest digital technologies. i www.telefonica.com

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z THE PRO enterprise ART BY ELIZABETH BASSADONE AT THE HOTEL CLUB MARÍTIMO IN SOTOGRANDE Danish artist living in Spain, Elizabeth Bassadone, is pleased to be exhibiting her latest collection of paintings at the Hotel Club Marítimo in Sotogrande; the launch will take place on June 2, 7pm to 9pm. The collection, entitled Nature Meets Abstract, features colourful, heavily textured abstract works that take their inspiration from the wild outer world we live in. The exhibition will last for six to eight weeks. i For further information, www.elizabethbassadone.com

NEON NIGHT MÁLAGA LIGHTS UP MUELLE UNO The lively Muelle Uno in Málaga will be the starting point for Neon Night Málaga, a fundraising walk organised by Fundación HARENA. All proceeds will go to Soledad 0 - Vida 10, a charity which is dedicated to helping the elderly. Walkers will meet at 7:30pm at Marina Málaga (Explanada Atraque de Cruceros) and the walk will kick off at 9pm. i For further information, www.neonnight.es

EMMA SÁNCHEZ FROM ALOHA COLLEGE WINS TENNIS FINALS IN MADRID Local player Emma Sánchez Jiménez, aged 11, recently won the final of the under-12 Madrid Open Tennis tournament. Emma trains assiduously under the guiding hands of highly experienced brotherly duo, Bernard and Frank Frances (the ‘Tennis Brothers’ at Aloha Garden, whose father played at Roland Garros and was the trainer of the French tennis team). Emma is also the top in Spain in the Nadal tour. i www.aloha-college.com

MISS ELI’S CHILDREN’S STORY COMES TO LIFE You may have read in an earlier edition about the colourful children’s stories published by local teacher, Miss Eli, who is now excited to report that her story Lucía, The Bravest Princess (written in English and Spanish), is being made into a short animation, produced by Ándale (Kike Mesa, winner of the International Latino Prize). The star of the story is Lucía, a beautiful girl with no hair who saves the fairies from powerful foes. Miss Eli has also recently founded a charity called Princesas Valientes, to provide emotional support to children with cancer. She is currently trying to raise funds for her short film, all profits from which will go towards the charity. i If you wish to be a

HOTEL INFO ANNOUNCES MOST CHARMING COASTAL VILLAGE IN SPAIN International reservations portal, HOTEL INFO, received votes from over 16,000 users regarding their favourite coastal town. The winner was Nerja, which received 5,173 votes. The runner up was Ortigueira (La Coruña-Galicia), then Rota (Cádiz-Andalucía), Ribadeo (LugoGalicia) and Conil (Cádiz-Andalucía). Anyone who has not visited Nerja’s beautiful beaches or enjoyed the serene view from the Balcón de Europa should definitely schedule a visit; don’t miss out on the stunning Nerja caves while you’re there. i www.hotel.info

sponsor, please contact Eli on luciaprincesasvalientes@gmail.com

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ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE – 300mm x 230mm June

z THE PRO enterprise TRIPLE A CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF DEDICATION TO ANIMALS There can be no doubt that Triple A, founded 25 years ago by a group of dedicated animal lovers, has done plenty of good to the thousands of dogs and cats who have called the shelter home; some pets have found their ‘forever home’, yet sadly, too many dogs and cats still need to find someone to love them. The staff recently held a party to celebrate so many years of commitment, alongside friends, supporters, and those who have adopted the pets that have made a magnificent change to their lives. Triple A is always in need of a helping hand so whether you can spare a few hours to walk the dogs or you can volunteer at the shelter, try to do your share to keep the animals as happy as possible. i www.tripleamarbella.org

SPAIN LEGAL BUYING GUIDE NOW RE-EDITED Raquel Pérez of Pérez Legal Group is pleased to announce that the Spain Legal Buying Guide has just been re-edited. The guide contains invaluable information on everything from purchasing a resale property in Spain, to purchasing a new property, selling your property, annual property and income taxes, tax advantages, Spanish wills and inheritance tax, and much more. i For further

information, www.perezlegalgroup.com

ROTARY CLUB MARBELLA GUADALMINA GIVES TO KENYA Rotary Club Marbella Guadalmina has been busy as usual helping those in need. Recently, the Club was approached by Mikael Segelström and Camilla Selander of Timeless Gallery in Puerto Banús, with a view to holding an auction of modern paintings and sculptures, all proceeds from which would go to a charitable water project in Africa. Rotary has over one million members worldwide and Swedish branch, the Uppsala Carolina Rotary Club, suggested supporting the Mutomo Water Project in Africa. Timeless Gallery raised an amazing sum of €54.000, which has enabled girls and women to avoid an arduous 20km walk to obtain water. Now, the girls can go to school and the women can look after their homes. Water is also available for irrigation, which will ensure that the farmers can have more reliable harvests.

ART OF LIVING FOUNDATION PRESENTS HAPPINESS PROGRAMME IN JULY

MARBELLA EN FLOR OLIVE OIL PRESENTED AT THE GRAN MELIÁ RESORT DON PEPE The elegant Gran Meliá Resort Don Pepe was the perfect setting for the presentation of Marbella en Flor, an olive oil inspired on the beautiful coastal town of Marbella. The product has been launched

by D.Oliva Marbella, which makes many of its own oils. Marbella en Flor is an ecological extra virgin oil made from the Arbequina olive, bearing a touch of orange blossom. i www.dolivaonline.com

The Fundación El Arte de Vivir (Art of Living Foundation) will be holding a workshop from July 23 to 25, which aims at reducing stress and anxiety and promoting mental tranquillity and vitality.

The programme will centre on Sudarshan Kriya, a unique and highly powerful breathing method that transforms negative emotions, oxygenates cells and frees the body of toxins.

Also featuring yoga and meditation. g At The

Farmacy Marbella from 7pm to 10pm on Monday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Tel: 601 077 909.

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z THE PRO enterprise Exciting Line-up for the Gibraltar World Music Festival

Ease Up Your Life with TRVLinspirator TRVLinspirator.com makes your Marbella getaway more unique and enjoyable. The company provides concierge services, fulfilling requests for a private driver, yacht service, babysitter, private chef (with Michelin-starred experience), beauty and spa treatments at home, etc. Members have access to a wealth of exclusive treatments and every membership is customised. The staff’s local expertise enable them to organise the best reservation service, home management, (sport) activities and private events. They can also arrange for VIP tables at big events like Armin van Buuren’s world tour. i For further information,

Gibraltar Productions is pleased to announce that this year’s edition of the Gibraltar World Music Festival will celebrate the cultures of Lusophones (Portuguese speaking people) through music, workshops and a street party. The edition will be called ‘Obrigado!’ and will have Spotify as a ‘streaming partner’ so music lovers can enjoy a live experience in a whole new way. The artistic program will include exceptional musicians from Portugal, Brazil and Cape Verde, including Carmen Souza, Márcio Faraco, Carminho, and more. There will also be special activities for kids, organised in conjunction with the Department of Education and sponsored by Kusuma Trust. g Tickets for the

festival will be available at 92 Irish Town for £30 (general public) and £25 (senior citizens). Ticket prices will be inclusive of Shuttle Service to the Cave.

The pick-up will start at 7pm at Coach Park.

www.TRVLinspirator.com

Sunny Production Creative Advertising (SPCA) Presents Flashes of Art The team at Sunny Production Creative Advertising recently presented an art exhibition by talented contemporary artist, Imre Muller, at their stunning photographic studio. The unique settings and the technical installations allowed the artist’s work to be viewed in a dynamic, innovative light. The event was attended by over 100 persons, including Enikő Győri, Ambassador of Hungary in Spain, and Patricio Baeza, Honorary Consul of Hungary (who gave a speech presenting the artist to the audience). i www.sunnyproduction.es

Sotogrande International School Shines in Verona Busy Days for Cudeca Volunteers at Cudeca have been busy as usual raising funds to enable them to continue to give cancer patients ‘that special kind of caring’. The hospice recently celebrated the event Voces por Cudeca, a competition held at the sala Unicaja of the María Cristina concert hall. The winner was Doménica Padilla, a 16-year-old talent who sang Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man. The second prize went to 14-year-old Julia Mateo, who performed Hozier’s Take Me to Church. i www.cudeca.org

Boys and girls from Sotogrande International School recently attended the Mediterranean Cup football tournament, held in Verona Italy. The competition is the largest of its kind for children aged under-14. Playing a total of 12 matches, the SIS Boys team were crowned Elite Tournament champions out of 29 teams from all over Europe and North Africa. Out of 17 girls teams, the SIS girls finished fourth. Congratulations to the players, their managers, and their sponsors (DeVere finance). i www.sis.ac

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z THE PRO enterprise BMI GROUP NOW EXCLUSIVE AGENTS TO MAIDA VALE, THE SANCTUARY, GIBRALTAR BMI Group are proud to announce their appointment as exclusive agents to Maida Vale, The Sanctuary, Gibraltar. The property comprises five ultra-luxurious villas ensconced within Gibraltar’s Nature Reserve, boasting unique views across the Bay and Strait of Gibraltar. i For further information, www.bmigroup.gi/thesanctuary

HOTEL ALANDA PRESENTS LEISURE FACILITIES TO THE PRESS The Hotel Alanda Marbella, Spain’s first halal hotel, recently held a press conference to present to the media some its most dazzling leisure installations. The event was held at the beautiful Jaima and invitees were delighted with gourmet deli halal dishes. General Director, Fernando Portal, also spoke of the Hotel’s magnificent spa area, where guests are pampered with everything from aromatherapy treatments to chromotherapy, music therapy and many more treatments aimed at restoring peace in body and mind. i www.alandahotelmarbella.com

VERTICAL GARDENS WORKSHOP AT AGROJARDÍN Agrojardín recently held a fun workshop on vertical gardens, which are ideal for beautifying small spaces. In addition to purifying air, they boost the mood, increase positive energy and creative an ambience which is conducive to creativity and communication. Alberto Castro, specialist at Agrojardín, noted that vertical gardens are extremely versatile. Moreover, they “decorate the exterior and interior of buildings and comprise a system of textiles that fix plants to a supporting structure.” i For

further information, www.agrojardin.com

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ABN Amro hosts BCC Brexit Seminar Press, financial experts, businesspeople and interested citizens attended the Brexit seminar organised by the British Chamber of Commerce and hosted at the ABN Amro offices in Puerto Banús on Thursday 12th May. The event, which featured introductions by cohosts Kurt Looyens, Country Executive and Head World Citizen Services Spain at ABN Amro Bank, and Derek Langley, Regional Vice-President of Andalucía for the BCC, focused on the impending UK referendum on continued membership of the European Union. Derek Langley revealed the results of a British Chamber of Commerce commissioned survey carried out by AFI, in which BCC members almost unanimously rejected the idea of a British exit. The reasons given included the disruption to the free movement of British expats living in countries like Spain, the trade barriers and the steep reduction in mutual Foreign Direct Investment between the UK and Spain. This sentiment was reemphasised by main speaker Nick Kounis, Head of Macro & Financial Markets Research at ABN Amro. He sketched the economic cost of an exit, possible post-exit trade negotiation scenarios and the impact this would have on the rest of Europe. In spite of the above, the British public remains split down the middle, so the referendum on June 23rd will be a close run race watched by the entire world. i www.abnamroprivatebanking.com/www.britishchamberspain.com

Make the Most of Summer with Cape Reed Summer is around the corner and now would be the perfect time to get that outdoor living space ready that you’ve always dreamed of! It doesn’t need months of construction, noise and dirt – Cape Reed has mastered the art of transforming mundane properties into havens of relaxation and style, as they recently did with this property in Sotogrande. In a little over a week, the team created this beautifully inviting structure. Be it a sun-soaked pool party or a more sophisticated dinner party that you are hosting this summer, Cape Reed’s beautiful structures will not only leave a lasting impression on your guests, but will also improve your quality of life in a way that you would never have imagined. g Call for a free consultation and quotation on

Tel: 951 775 495. www.capereed.com

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CONSUELO SILVA

REAL ESTATE

Finding the Perfect Home in Sotogrande WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

S

otogrande is a unique area on the Coast, perhaps not as well known as Marbella as a whole, yet one that nobody who knows well, would forego. This privately owned residential development is famed for its wide avenues flanked by lush greenery, its leisurely pace, its centricity to the Coast’s most prestigious golf courses (Valderrama, recently purchased

by La Zagaleta, and the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, to name just a couple). It is also the home of elegant polo matches, swish private soirees and galas, where you might just as well bump into the same newsstand owner you’ve been visiting for decades, as an A-list celebrity eager to truly unwind, away from the limelight and the all-seeing eye of the paparazzi.

Consuelo Silva, who owns her own real estate firm, located in the charming Galerías Paniagua, knows Sotogrande profoundly, instinctively.

She spent many years working for Sotogrande S.A. before deciding to open her own real estate business in 1999, a reflection of her passion for finding the right home for buyers.

Despite her experience in the industry, she is still surprised by one thing: the vast difference in price between homes in Marbella and Sotogrande. She states, “A fully furnished seafront apartment that

might cost you €3M on the frontline of Marbella would be priced at around €1.2M or €1.4M here and a golf frontline villa costing €7 million in Marbella would set you back between €3.8 and €4.5 million in Sotogrande.” She adds, “An apartment in a good area (but not the seafront) might cost €700.000 in Marbella but only €450.000 or €500.000 here.” Marbella may have a very happening vibe and atmosphere for both family life and partying, but Sotogrande is just 40 minutes away and trendy kite surfing capital, Tarifa, and Gibraltar can be reached in half an hour.

In many ways, Sotogrande was never meant to be a party haven; its limited size and strict urban plan mean that buyers can be sure their beautiful view will never be sullied by high rises, massified urban dwellings and the like. “Marbella has its Old Town but the only ‘pueblo’ in Sotogrande (Pueblo Nuevo) was built to cater to the needs of dwellers of the urbanisation.”

Sotogrande’s pulling power for families is additionally strengthened by the magnificent Sotogrande International School, which attracts students from as far as Marbella and even Gibraltar. “They also have a boarding service and they can place pupils from abroad into homes with families, so they can

receive that extra bit of care.”

Sotogrande is almost the antithesis of Ibiza in terms of ambience, yet a home purchase here makes an equally great investment, with apartments rented at between €5.000 (for a small beachfront apartment) and €14.000 (for a three- or four-bedroom apartment) per month during peak season (from mid-July to the end of August). Villas, meanwhile, rent for a cool €25.000, though this figure can rise to €60.000 or more, depending on location and characteristics.

Consuelo, who is fluent in Spanish, English and German, works alongside her son, attending to clients from as far afield as Finland, Norway, Belgium, Germany and the UK. She is able to show stunning apartments as well as villas and she also deals in rentals. She notes that since many villas were built over two or three decades ago, a trend among buyers involves purchasing homes, converting them and completely refurbishing them to taste.

When it comes to style, Sotogrande used to be characterised by its traditional Andalusian-style homes, but the seaside resort is not impervious to the new penchant for modern architectural designs. Thus, the future is poised to see a blend of traditional and

contemporary homes. Consuelo also deals in leasehold moorings; it is not uncommon for homebuyers to arrive via luxury yachts, so long occupation of moorings is crucial.

Prices vary greatly, she tells me, depending on the size of the boat.

When asked what properties are selling fastest, Consuelo says that apartments ranging in price from €300.000 to €400.000 are garnering plenty of interest. Now is a good time to buy, she tells me, since the end of the crisis means that prices are increasing again, particularly in the exclusive Kings and Queens area, which boasts proximity to the sea and golf. Other buyers prefer the Sotogrande Alto area, which is higher up and which boasts panoramic views of the coastline.

If the sound of silence, leisurely strolls to the beach and private parties in the company of good friends appeals, make it a permanent pleasure and consider a second home or real estate investment in Sotogrande. With prices rising and fewer homes available, it may be now or never to take a bite out of this apple.

g Galerías Paniagua Local 3, Sotogrande, San Roque, Cádiz.

Tel: 956 785 035. www.sotograndeonline.com

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z THE PRO law

HAVE I g n i x a t GOT NEWS FOR YOU? The sensational Panama Papers are causing national scandals all over the World, implicating politicians and the famous. Beyond the titillating headlines in the press, serious consequences are now inevitable for those whose names are being revealed as tax evaders.

WORDS ALISTAIR SPENCE CLARKE

T

he story is that in 2015 the firm’s database of 2.6 terabytes of data was stolen. The data included 11.5 million confidential emails and other documents that go back to the 1970s. The data was handed anonymously to a German newspaper, which has since shared everything with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in Washington and subsequently it has found its way to various Governments, which are now analysing the information to track down tax evaders.

Mossack Fonseca has 40 offices Worldwide and is reported to manage 5%-10% of the World’s shell companies, foundations and trusts. They handle corporate and other legal structures in most of the World’s tax haven jurisdictions so it is important to understand that the confidential information that has been leaked relates to most tax haven jurisdictions, and not just Panama.

The data has been mined and indexed using advanced software that provides Google-like access to all the documents, allowing inquisitive journalists or tax officers simply to search the data by entering a person’s name to see what comes up. In tax terminology, this is the absolute ultimate in fishing expeditions!

Cristóbal Montoro, the minister responsible for the tax system in Spain, recently held a press conference during which he explained how Spanish tax officers will use the data in conjunction with the now infamous form M720 data, to track down tax evaders.

A little background on the M720: In early

2012, Spanish tax residents were offered a general amnesty on undisclosed foreign capital.

They had the opportunity to make a one-off payment of 10% of the undisclosed asset value and then all sins would be forgiven.

This amnesty was immediately followed by the introduction of the form M720, which forces the disclosure of non-Spanish assets.

The sting in the tail is that the failure to file details of all foreign assets, if discovered by the tax office, will result in tax assessments treating as income the undisclosed capital value of hidden foreign assets. By the time fines and interest are added to these assessments, taxpayers finish up with tax bills that usually exceed the value of their undisclosed foreign assets.

Many will now regret not taking advantage of the 2012 tax amnesty. It may seem almost unbelievable, but some foreigners living in Spain were advised not to make use of the amnesty scheme and to completely ignore the M720 obligations.

Those who have made this mistake should review very carefully the possibility of making voluntary disclosure to regularise their affairs, before the tax office takes the initiative to contact them. Time is of the essence.

Spanish Lawyers and tax advisers have had a natural affinity for Panamanian based advisers and company managers, given that Spanish is their common language.

Spanish tax law also makes professional

advisers who facilitate tax evasion arrangements for their clients subject to criminal prosecution.

All these factors mean that the next few years will certainly be interesting in Spain for the headline tax fraud cases, as the Government delights in giving such prosecutions maximum publicity. The other side of the coin, sadly, is that Spain continues to do nothing but frighten off the wealthy from becoming permanent residents in Spain.

I don’t want to be all doom and gloom so I should close my comments by saying that there is good news too.

With a little guidance on the law, it is not hard to avoid becoming a tax resident of Spain and avoid all these nasty tax problems. The Spanish economy will still lose out, but in this case legitimately and not through tax fraud.

Panama lawyers and company managers Mossack Fonseca will now probably disagree with the old adage “There is no such thing as bad publicity”.

g Readers may like more information on tax residence rules, the old tax amnesty, the M720 and many other tax related subjects.

See http://www.spenceclarke.com/articles Alistair Spence Clarke, FCA Spence Clarke & Co, Chartered Accountants, Marbella www.spenceclarke.com

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z THE PRO branding

YOUR BRAND NAME AND TRADEMARK

Creating a brand for yourself is almost as important as your product. I have been in many brain-storming sessions where entrepreneurs rattle their brains to come up with a unique name. A good name can go a long way but of course is not everything. However, copying someone else’s name or not doing your homework can be worse than you think and even end up with you having to close your business. WORDS ALI PARANDEH

F

irst of all let’s get one thing straight. The name that you use to register your company is almost irrelevant. This trade name is a registration for legal purposes, such as communication with the tax authorities, social security, banks, invoicing, etc. Consider the well-known newspaper on the coast, Sur In English (trademark) which is owned by a company called Corporación de Medios del Sur, S.L, which is their trade name.

As such, you should not confuse a trade name with a trademark, the latter being any word, design, slogan, sound or symbol that serves to identify the source of goods or services. (For further clarification on this, you might want to look up trade name vs trademark articles on the web).

If you need to get your company name registered to get going, then just register it as COMPANY ABC S.L. This will allow you to start trading and communicating with the legal entities and generating invoices. However, this is not your trademark. When registering your trade name, do not try to copy any known trademarks. For

example, as a mechanic, if you repair BMWs and Mercedes, you are not allowed to call your company BMW Repairshop S.L. or BMW Mechanical Services S.L. It is an obvious infringement of trademark and at some point they will notice it and come after you. Therefore, it is important that when you register your trade name you also do a quick search to make sure you are not infringing on anyone’s trademark rights.

Once you have your trade name sorted, you should make sure that you find a trademark that you are able to use and register. This is your brand name and this is the name by which you want your customers to know you by. Remember that you are not automatically granted the right to use COMPANY ABC as your trademark. This is not just about protecting your own trademark, but also making sure that you do not use someone else’s.

To explain this, I will tell you how we came up with our trade names. In 2007, I embarked on a new project. Knowing very well how important it was to get the naming right and having it registered, we

had to make sure of a number of things: Z The name was unique enough so that it would not be confused with other brand names Z It could be used to register the top-level domain names extensions Z The name was viable in as many languages as possible or where we wanted to market ourselves – we checked words in the dictionary Z We checked search engines to see if the name had been used in other text or logo designs Z We checked trademark databases and variations of the same name So, we registered our trademarks: Urbytus; UrbAdmin; and The Presidents Club, among others. In the process of registering our trademarks we even had to reach an agreement with United Artists because the logo of our trademark UrbAdmin was made up of the two letters UA. Given that we were not competing in the same line of business, we came to an out-of-court agreement limiting our use of the trademark to software services and the property market.

Another thing to consider is any

additional words like International, Country names, The, and other generic words. These words do not make your name unique and could be considered as a blatant copy and trademark infringement and it is very unlikely that a judge would give you any right of use. The trademark rules are pretty much the same worldwide.

Now that you know the steps and the differences between a trade name and trademark, you can start your brain-storming session. Follow the steps above and remember that you cannot take a known trademark or any name from existing businesses or products and try to imitate them as we explained earlier.

Happy name finding and if you need any assistance with registering your trademark, I would be more than happy to help and point you in the right direction. g Ali Parandeh is Founder of Urbytus™, The Presidents Club™ and Electronbox & PC Doctor. He has written five books in the fields of Internet and Biotechnology and can be contacted at ap@businessdevelopment.es

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z THE PRO vibe

Virginie: French Gourmet & Decoration Launch Virginie is one of the most stunning new shops in Marbella, featuring a range of lovely gourmet products and décor items for the home. Owners Virginie and Bertrand Demonchaux welcomed guests to their recent launch, where a host of French specialties and drinks were sampled. At Marbella Real on Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe. i virginiesmarbella@gmail.com

“In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport” – Julia Child

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vibe THE PRO z

Welcome to Marbella Networking Event at the Hotel Gran Meliá Don Pepe Small and large businesses alike gathered at the recent Welcome to Marbella networking event held at the Hotel Gran Meliá Don Pepe. Attendees tucked into bellota ham by Ibéricos Covap and dried octopus

by Grupo Mivi, sipped on wine by Bodega Vetas and savoured tapas by Grupo Horeca. They were also treated to delicacies by T-Bone Grill, whisky by Macallan, bourbon by Maker’s Mark, Gin by Puerto de Indias and tonic by The Original Tonic. Cohen & Cunild wowed guests with the presentation of the spectacular Maserati GranCabrio. i www.melia.com

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others” – African Proverb

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z THE PRO vibe

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vibe THE PRO z

Ocean Club White & Silver Party The Ocean Club White & Silver Party marked the start of their iconic beach season once again, with DJ-spun music, a plethora of live entertainment throughout the night, and the sexiest of Marbellís showing off their gorgeous alabaster and metallic fashions i www.oceanclub.es

“I love the beach. I love the sea. All my life I live within – in front of the sea” – Rafael Nadal

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z THE PRO vibe

Open House by Antima and Nordica Antima real estate developers and Nordica Sales & Rentals Marbella recently held an open house event to show off Villa Esmeralda and Villa LB: exclusive designer homes boasting panoramic views to La Concha Mountain, the Real Club de Golf Las Brisas, Los Naranjos Golf Club and the Mediterranean Sea. The houses are sold fully furnished and feature gorgeous Scandinavian and locally designed furniture. i www.antima.no i www.nordicamarbella.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best journey takes you homeâ&#x20AC;? - Anonymous

PHOTOGRAPHY kevin horn 142 / JUNE 2016 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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z THE PRO vibe

The Taste of Hungary at Ambrosía Ambrosía Gourmet Market in Puerto Banús was the perfect setting for an event called Sabores de Hungría (Taste of Hungary), hosted by the Ambassador of Hungary, Enikő Győri, and Honorary Consul, Patricio Baeza Herrazti.

Invitees enjoyed a variety of Hungarian food, including gulyás and kürtőskalács. For four days in May, typical Hungarian fare was offered at the different market stands. i www.ambrosiamercadogourmet.es

“It’s not enough to have talent, you also have to be Hungarian” – Robert Capa

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events THE PRO z

“

Out of difficulties grow miracles,” said Jean de la Bruyère, and there is little doubt that the greatest of sufferings can either knock us down or inspire us to make a change in the world – the latter is certainly the inspiration for Interior Designer Patricia Darch, who sadly lost her grandson to leukaemia three and a half years ago. Arturo Darch would have been 21 years old this April and to celebrate his life, Patricia is organising the first Annual Sotogrande Charity Gala, a black-tie event featuring a scrumptious dinner and magnificent operatic and musical performances,

on Saturday, June 25 at the Santa María Polo Club, Los Pinos.

All proceeds will go to a very worthwhile cause: the Fundación Josep Carreras Contra Leucemia, which has been tirelessly working to benefit leukaemia research and support patients with the disease, for over 25 years. Patricia explains, “Josep Carreras actually battled leukaemia successfully, and he is fully committed to helping out patients and their families.” She adds, “His Foundation was delighted when we expressed that we would be organising the Gala. We hope to raise considerable funds for this disease, which is so aggressive and which takes so many lives every year.”

The gala evening will begin at 7:30pm, with a Champagne reception and tapas and refreshing cocktails.

Afterwards, dinner will begin and guests will enjoy magnificent performances by Stefanie KemballRead (Soprano), Aurore Lacabe (Mezzo-Soprano), Nicholas Ransley (Tenor) and James Cleverton (Baritone). The spectacular Málaga Symphonic Orchestra will also be playing.

In addition to the gala, there will also be a live televised silent auction on Ta-Dah TV until the end of May, featuring fantastic items such as a luxury yacht day cruise for six persons (with all food and drink included), a wedding dress (the auction winner can choose from a variety of styles and sizes), a sponsored horse trek and picnic, designer accessories and even pearls… a special item belonging to Josep Carreras will also be auctioned.

How far has research advanced when it comes to leukaemia, you may ask. Very far indeed. In February this year, scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research made significant strides, using living T-cell therapy to halt the disease, even at an advanced stage. In their trials, researchers tested the therapy on 29 patients.

Some of them were not expected to survive more than a few months. With the new immunotherapy treatment, there was dramatic improvement as 27 out the 29 patients are now in remission! Lead Researcher and Oncologist, Dr. Stanley Riddell, notes that immunotherapy is proving to be an important pillar of current cancer therapy. His team is refining

their processes, though their work is showing immense promise.

There can be no doubt that we should continue to support cancer research, since leukaemia and other diseases are so prevalent and cut so many lives short. You can start by supporting the gala, which, according to Patricia, “is not about sadness but rather, about having a great party to celebrate the birthday my grandson would have had.” Patricia, a successful businesswoman who has ruled the interior design scene in Sotogrande and Gibraltar for over 15 years, is a born mover and shaker, yet despite all the amazing projects she has completed, June 25 may just be her biggest achievement to date. Support Patricia, her family and the Josep Carreras Foundation by booking your ticket to what is bound to be a very special evening under the stars.

g To view and bid on the Ta-Dah online auction, www.ta-dah.tv/events-europe/ For tickets. Tel: 626 781 554/ charlotteingram2010@gmail.com For further information on the event, www.sotograndecharitysummergala.org

Patricia Darch Presents a Magical Night of Opera to Support Leukaemia Research WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PATRICIA DARCH

THE ANNUAL SOTOGRANDE

CHARITY GALA 2016

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h THE LEISURE travel

Bali, Indonesia

Rather larger than the other islands on our itinerary, Bali requires little introduction, for its virtues as a tourist destination are well documented. Even so, few will know that this beautiful corner of South East Asia so popular with Australian, American, European and Far Eastern tourists is in many ways unique within Indonesia. This stems mostly from the fact that the vast majority of the population is Hindu, with an ancient culture that stretches back into classical times.

The cultural mix of Bali is therefore an enticing one, blending Indonesian heritage with the kind of temples, festivals and Hindu traditions that you would expect to see in India. Beautiful resorts line the gorgeous coastline, where they cater to tourists alternatively looking for tropical sunshine, water sports, spa retreats, romantic escapes, culture, enlightenment or simply youthful beach-and-club partying. Above all a surferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise, the importance of Baliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uniquely rich ecosystem is increasingly recognised by local, national and international government agencies in an effort to protect the environment from overdevelopment in tourism, agriculture and industry, as well as from overpopulation.

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ESCAPE TO AN

ISLAND PARADISE There’s a little bit of Robinson Crusoe in all of us, so why not pick a tropical island for a once-in-a-lifetime paradise experience. In our quest for the world’s most inspiring yet also accessible tropical islands, we imagine ourselves to be like the maritime explorers of old and follow their course across the seas, comparing the various island paradises each ocean has to offer as we search the globe for the perfect island escape. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

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Whitsunday Islands, Australia

As beautiful as it is, Bali is too big to qualify as a private island escape, so off to the Whitsunday Islands we go. Located off the coast of Queensland, they form part of the Great Barrier Reef, and hold true to its famed natural beauty.

Unlike Bali, this is a sparsely populated area, originally inhabited by Aboriginal tribes and now largely a designated nature reserve. It is very much a water world paradise loved by yachters, scuba divers and kayakers, yet those who like to stay on land have beautiful tropical beaches and largely unspoiled hills draped in lush vegetation to choose from.

Though there are stylish resorts both large and select, the area is also a popular hiking and camping destination, but you would have to be a dedicated lover of the great outdoors to forego the pleasures of some of the simply stunning modern resorts on offer overlooking azure waters, clear blue skies, lush tropical vegetation, coral reefs and sweeping sandy bays. As island escapes go, the Whitsunday Isles are very much the real thing, albeit within a shout from the Australian mainland.

Emerald islands dotted off the coast of Australia

A paradise for yachting fans, hikers and lovers of nature

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Heaven is a place on earth

Seychelles, Indian Ocean

The trade routes between Europe and Asia that merchant ships plied for centuries would have taken sailors south through the Atlantic before Africa was rounded at the Cape of Good Hope and the exotic waters of the Indian Ocean entered. Once here, Asia was beckoning, as it would have done when Vasco da Gama passed these islands en route to India. The French later took control of them, rooting out piracy and establishing a colony they named after Jean Moreau de SĂŠchelles, a minister under Louis XV. Another tropical spot imbued with both British and French

influence, this tiny island state nonetheless counts a total of 115 islands. In classic desert island style, it is rich in dense tropical vegetation that rises up from white sandy beaches fringed by tall palm trees and washed by clear waters. Coral reefs are popular with divers staying at the luxurious but sensitively laid out beach resorts nearby, yet one of the most emblematic sights associated with the island is the Anse Source dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Argent granite cliffs and islets that mark the coastline on La Digue, also famous for its colonies of giant tortoise.

The iconic granite formations of the Seychelles

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Five-star luxury Bora Bora style

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Famed for its beauty and luxurious exclusivity, Bora Bora is the gentlemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s island retreat of choice.

Though first spotted by a Dutch fleet in the eighteenth century and visited by British missionaries, it was the French who colonised the island group that had previously existed in splendid isolation from the rest of the world. Today, it is best reached by plane via Tahiti, some 230 kilometres to the east.

In essence Bora Bora consists of an island surrounded by a lagoon that is protected by an almost circular barrier reef.

It is from this shallow turquoise water that the island derives much of its legendary aspect, yet the swaying palm trees and lush tropical peaks rising up inland play an important role too. A protected World Heritage site, the lagoon forms the basis of the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed luxury tourism industry, which is most famous for its so-called aqua-centric resorts, where private thatched bungalows extend over the clear blue waters. Apart from some French naval vessels and luxurious yachts, you will mostly share the lagoon with scuba divers and those out on excursions in small open boats. Bora Bora really is tropical island beauty personified, but it does come at a cost, for paradise is popular and prized at a premium. The days when Robinson Crusoe had a desert island all to himself are long gone.

Just the sort of site mariners of old wanted to see

St Lucia, British West Indies

With its aquamarine waters and emerald peaks dressed in dense tropical vegetation, St Lucia is a more classic and better-known island paradise, with luxuriant resort hotels lining its beautiful bays and coves. Popular with those who dream of a Caribbean holiday, the island is also a glamorous destination for honeymooners, many of whom take their vows on the soft white sand as the sun dips behind the horizon.

St Lucia is the real thing; a sugar plantation island once inhabited by Carib Indians and infested with pirates and buccaneers. Fought over by the English and French, the island fell under the British crown in the 19th century yet still retains a distinctly French influence. The main culture, however, is Afro Caribbean; so expect a lot of music and dance during events such as carnival, held in July, and the St Lucia Jazz Festivals.

All the classic Caribbean forms of music are represented, and in addition to lazing on picture perfect beaches, enjoying water sports and soaking up the Caribbean vibe, the interior offers beautiful tropical landscapes topped by the two Piton peaks. If you were a sailor, it would be hard to head out into the ocean and leave this green-andblue paradise behind. e

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h THE LEISURE hotel

Sotogrande is famed for its tranquillity, privacy and celebration of family life, yet lovers of the sport know that it is also the place to be when it comes to enjoying the elegant game of golf. Valderrama, La Reserva Golf Club and the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande are just a few names making it big on the national and international circuits, though those seeking the comfort of living right on a beautifully designed golf course can always cut to the chase and spend their entire holiday at the Hotel Almenara.

THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE AT THE HOTEL

ALMENARA T

his Hotel fits right into its serene surroundings; run by the prestigious NH Group and owned by Sotogrande S.A., its quaint pueblo-like structure, comprising semi-detached abodes instead of standard rooms, makes for a luxurious yet incredibly cosy atmosphere, while dreamlike views to the bejewelled Mediterranean and the serene mountain ranges inspire a state of mindfulness.

The ‘rooms’ (or, should we say, villas) all boast views to the sea, poolside or golf course and they are built around the main building, where the elegant reception and common areas are located. There are 145 villas in total, nine of which are Junior suites (featuring a separate living room) and three of which are Family suites (with two bedrooms and a separate living room).

The décor is refreshingly simple but modern. Dark wood is married to touches of cream and red in

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fabrics and decoration and primary importance is definitely given to golf, with many rooms boasting a terrace that looks out onto the greens.

As you make your way to the reception of this Hotel, expect to see many couples wheeling their clubs along or enjoying a buggy ride to their desired area of the golf course. The latter boasts no less than 27 holes, divided into three zones: the pine, oak and lakes zones, lushly verdant and contrasting in their coolness to the sparkling waters of the sea.

Not everyone is a golfer, of course, so proximity to the sea is important; the Hotel is just a few kilometres from the coast, and there are shuttles that take guests to various areas of the resort, as well as to the beach, throughout the day. One of the most popular areas among fitness buffs is the gym, fitted with the very latest equipment

by Technogym. Natural light and views to the gardens certainly make

SOTOGRANDE

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE HOTEL ALMENARA

a workout much more enjoyable.

Guests love rewarding themselves after a long game of golf or a tough workout, at the Elyisum Spa, featuring a gorgeous circuit pool, sensation showers, Turkish bath, etc. There are also 10 treatment rooms so you can have a relaxing or energetic massage, or turn back the hands of time with an anti-ageing facial.

When guests aren’t out on the greens, they can usually be seen socialising at Veinteeocho (a play of words, since there are only 27 holes to play, the 28th being the restaurant itself). The diner offers a hearty buffet at breakfast time and à la carte meals for lunch, and there is ample space indoors as well as a sunny outdoor terrace – the perfect spot to chase a golden tan. At night, the elegant Restaurante Gaia, serving fine Mediterranean fare, is the place to be. Here, a large bonsai tree takes centre stage and instils a

sense of peace.

The Hotel Almenara is more than a place to stay while you’re on holiday; it boasts many dedicated spaces for meetings, weddings, banquets and events of all kinds.

On my visit, the friendly Marketing Manager, David Pedreño, shows me two beautiful events halls, located in the gardens and boasting a capacity for up to 450 persons. There are four events halls in total, with a capacity of 800 persons.

The Hotel Almenara is a true jewel in Sotogrande, a necessary vestige of luxury and beauty in what has come to be Andalucías most coveted holiday getaway for golfers. There is so much to do, even if golf isn’t your thing: chilling out at the spa, enjoying a fun day on the beach or dining in style at the Trocadero Sotogrande Beach Club. As soon as you arrive, you’ll probably discover that at this Hotel, relaxation has never been so much fun.

g Avda. Almenara, s/n, Sotogrande, Cádiz. Tel: 956 582 000. www.hotelalmenara.com

5/24/16 11:55 AM

BOUTIQUE INFANTIL

C/ Huerta Chica, 12. Marbella. Tel: 952 507 063.

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h THE LEISURE gourmet

Sotogrande’s

TOP TABLES

There aren’t many urbanisations that can boast 50 restaurants on TripAdvisor but Sotogrande has that claim to fame. Founder Joseph McMicking would be delighted to see the old place maturing “like a good Camembert”, just as he forecast when he bought five fincas to create the ultimate family sports resort in 1962. Back then, when there were no restaurants, summer residents partied at home and the Camembert would probably have been served with port and Carr’s water biscuits by a butler. Now you can enjoy it from a tapas bar stool deep-fried in filo pastry. The discreet summer haunt of Europe’s aristocracy is more adventurous and inclusive these days. In fact you can have your steak and eat it in the ultimate home of ‘surf and turf’ which serves up ocean, fairway and super yacht views. Or book a table at the edge of a freshly-mowed polo field and feast your eyes on the sport of Kings. A Who’s Who of royals, TV personalities, movie stars and politicians still descend to sail, golf, tan, wine and dine against the backdrop of Santa María Polo Club’s summer International Tournament. And when the Duchess of York and her daughters could be sitting at the next table, the gastronomy’s got to be good!

Belinda Beckett dissects the dining scene.

Little Venice in the Med

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PORT AHOY! For a Little-Venice-in-the-Med vibe, chart your satnav for Sotogrande’s multi-coloured marina and drop anchor for a culinary voyage.

Hugging the Guadiaro estuary, canals channel the river through the port to provide waterfront moorings for homeowners and a beautiful backdrop for the Mercado de Levante, the traditional hippy market which sets up under candy-striped canopies on Sundays, and two nights a week from high July.

Sleek yachts bob along a promenade lined with boutiques, art shops and trendy cafes where you can sit under shade sails and do lunch, brunch or full English breakfast, or pop into Jan Staels bakery for warm croissants and homemade pastries.

There’s a lot cooking this summer, with five new dining spaces opening at La Marina shopping centre. Trapnet tuna from Cádiz will star at a new sushi bar, satellite branches of La Quinta and La Cabaña will be respectively offering Argentinean and Andalusian fare and there’s talk of a new Italian.

The gourmet street food concept introduced last summer is also returning with a new twist.

Buy snack-sized world cuisine from vintage caravans in miniature garden settings, complete with hay bales and potted geraniums. With the Kids Play Zone in full swing just around the

corner, the whole extended family can enjoy a relaxed summer’s evening.

Over in the main port, there’s a whole regatta of waterfront restaurants. Mara is your Galician oyster for fruits of the sea. A Sevillano familyrun chain with branches in Pueblo Nuevo and Los Pinos polo grounds, they do tataki tuna, fish stews, rice dishes and every kind of shellfish.

Midas ups the sophistication with crisp white tablecloths and a waterfront terrace sheltered from the elements by glass curtains. Fresh from a spring refurb, with a new chef and separate areas for tapas and full restaurant service, the aromas of wild fish and local meats roasting on their new wood-fired grill should tempt you in.

The mussel casserole – served five ways with traditional Belgian fries – is one of the signature

dishes at Mytilus, also noted for its wild game, Châteaubriand and Belgian specialities. Tuck in on the terrace (with heat lamps) or book a corner window table inside, beneath twinkling chandeliers, for a more private rendezvous.

Brasserie La Terrasse’s corner terrace provides front row seats and double-aspect views of the marina and is the full-on Italian job with pizzas, pastas, fresh fish, grilled meats and gelato to finish. For a pub atmosphere with big screen TV sport and a mind-bendingly long menu of tapas, head for the Hairy Lemon, set back from the waterfront in a garden square. But wherever you go, everyone ends up at Ké, the port’s social hub with great views, a trendy fusion menu and its own glossy magazine. Catch up on the gossip over your wagyu steak teriyaki.

Street food goes gourmet

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Cancha II is high on ambience

POLO PANACHE Tuck into prime Argentinean cuts while beefy horsemen flex their gladiatorial muscles beside your table – only in Sotogrande!

Asador Cancha II, at Ayala Polo Club, currently tops TripAdvisor’s list of favourite Sotogrande restaurants. Turn off the N340 to San Enrique de Guadiaro to discover this stunning restaurant, ensconced in woodland overlooking a manicured polo field. High on ambience with a vaulted wood-beamed ceiling and wrap-around terrace, it reputedly serves some of the best char-grilled Argentinean steak you’ll eat outside its country of origin. Salmon miso and duck with nectarine sauce are other interesting options to enjoy with

wines from the well-stocked bodega.

Set up by Paola Zobel, daughter of the club’s millionaire owner, this is where the local glitterati come to wine, dine and party until the wee small hours, and the garden chill terrace with outdoor bar and cool music makes a magical setting. asadorcancha2.com La Quinta (a.k.a. La Parrilla 5th), borders Santa María Polo Club’s Canchas Rios fields and you’ll enjoy the best seats in the house as this quirky restaurant nestles inside a block of grandstand seating! The pitch-side terrace is made for carousing over cocktails and chukkas in summer.

Run by Argentineans Sebastián Gallardo and chef

Lucas Martín, meat from their homeland is the star attraction and don’t miss Tango Tuesdays for a live performance of this sensual Argentinean dance. Notoriously difficult to find, get directions at the security gate and programme your satnav or you’ll get lost in the network of avenues, although you’ll see some awesome real estate. laquintarestaurante.com A further opportunity to mingle with the horsey set comes throughout August with the pop-up tented village at Santa María Polo Club, where you can dine on the hoof at the Food Truck space (with live music) and drink cocktails beneath white tented pergolas until la madrugada.

Dine in the home of Sotogrande’s founder

HERITAGE DINING Restaurant La Cabaña brings history back to life in the beautiful old farmhouse where the Sotogrande story was written. Founding father Joseph McMicking lived at Cortijo Valderrama in the 1960s, while he was planning the resort. Now everyone can enjoy the views that inspired the millionaire Scotsman. You can picture him poring over his charts beside the fireplace in the dining room and enjoying his beautiful terrace and gardens. Creative starters, hearty grilled meat and fish dishes and a Scots welcome are all on the menu – maître d’ José Antonio Martínez Rojas trained at Skibo Castle in Scotland. Mr McMicking would have approved. grupomolinodelconde.es

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El Gaucho is an institution in Sotogrande

GOURMET GALLERY Meandering up and down steps to multiple galleries and secret courtyards, Galerías Paniagua is no ordinary commercial centre. It’s where people you read about in the financial pages and celebrity columns go to buy their morning papers when they’re here on holiday. It’s also the birthplace of Sotogrande’s fine dining scene and two of the original restaurants are still doing a roaring trade.

El Gaucho was Sotogrande’s first restaurant, opened in 1985. Although many famous guests have

dined here over the years, it has never strayed from its original intention to offer ‘the uncomplicated and simple luxury of a great meal’ – the way the Sotogrande set likes it. Argentinean steak, the way hungry polo players like it, is one of the specialities.

Dine in the courtyard beneath a bower of bougainvillea or indoors in the cosy bodega with a real fire in winter. alinecrouquet.wix.com/elgauchodesotogrande Lombardo’s is nearly as old (1989) and this charming little Italian place has now passed from

parents Enzo and Sara Lombardo to son Stefano.

Choose from 50 dishes, they do everything from carpaccio and langoustines to linguini, pizza and Italian wines.

The New Delhi is the new kid on the block but already currying favour with customers on TripAdvisor.

Comments like ‘at last, a decent curry house’ and ‘blow your brains out’ cannot be ignored. Eat in or takeaway, with price and service also highly praised, it seems to be top of the papadums.

FAIRWAY FEASTING

Restaurant Olive is setting a new benchmark in golf club dining. As well as serving hungry golfers playing Cabell Robinson’s 18-hole La Reserva, the hilltop golf and country club’s restaurant is open on Friday and Saturday nights and it’s worth going for the views and elegant surroundings alone. Plus, for showing off Andalucía’s authentic cuisine to friends and visitors, this is the real D.O. McCoy with Jabugo ham, Cádiz retinto beefburgers, Grazalema wild boar tart, pueblo bread and great Spanish wines. Meat and fish dishes are cooked to perfection in high-speed Josper ovens that lock in the juices and flavour. sotogrande.com Of course, the Ryder Cup course of Valderrama is every golf aficionado’s holy grail. Back in the spotlight this spring with the Spanish Open, and with the prestigious La Zagaleta group set to invest €240million in Valderrama 2, these are exciting times for the legendary club. And with the restaurant fresh from a facelift, it’s the perfect excuse to check out those famous fairways over an aperitif on the terrace.

The menu offers Andalusian classics, locally-sourced game, meat and wild fish.

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Cool gardens at Trocadero

Beach club dining at Trocadero Sotogrande

Chambao pops up on the beach in summer

BEACHCLUB CHIC

When the surf’s up and the sun’s out, there’s no finer place to dine than right on the ocean and Sotogrande’s original beach club, opened by Frank Sinatra, is not showing her age. The old Cucurucho has been reinvented as Trocadero, a new out-ofAfrica experience. Chill out on sunbathing lawns as smooth as a billiard table beneath thatched sunbrellas emulating Zulu warrior huts. The cocktail bar is modelled on a traditional African boma stockade with ceiling fans and safari prints. The menu showcases regional specialities including locally-caught blue fin tuna. trocaderosotogrande.com The flock of noisy green parrots flitting through the neighbouring trees lend a Caribbean flavour to El Octógono, tucked away in a residential area of Sotogrande Marina. Restaurant Qvo brings a sophisticated twist to beach dining with a fusion of Asian wok dishes and Mediterranean specialities.

Also with sunbathing lawns (surf and turf is Soto’s signature style), there’s an adult-only zone and supervised children’s play areas so you can sleep off lunch in peace.

Chambao’s enticing white-curtained Balinese beds pop up on Torreguadiaro beach, east of Sotogrande Marina, in early summer. Lay back while a DJ spins cool sounds into the late afternoon, upping the tempo as the sun dips below the horizon – the perfect spot for a barefoot boogie. The all-day bill of fare includes seafood, sushi, burgers, grilled meat and fish and main course salads.

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Stylish El Molino del Condé

VILLAGE VITTLES

Sotogrande’s satellite Spanish villages add yet another twist to the eclectic dining scene.

Social butterflies flutter to Mariposa’s chilled bar and terrace

Gastro tapas at La Terraza de Teo © David Cussen

Torreguadiaro, bypassed by the A7 in the late 1990s, has blossomed into a little gastro paradise by the sea. The long, straight road through town follows the route of the Via Augusta which once ran from Cádiz to Rome but the Emperor wouldn’t recognise this restaurant strip today.

And with most restaurants tuning into the tapas craze, its a great place to dine on the hoof – the very thing in the home of polo!

Working boats on the beach are a promising sign for seafood fans and they won’t be disappointed. The local fishermen still supply half the village with the catch of the day. Indeed, El Boquerón at the eastern end of town still upholds the tradition of the Cádiz freiduría, where you can choose your fish, have it cooked and take it home.

Fish baked in salt, grilled meats and ocean views are among the specialities at El Trasmallo, one of the old guard of restaurants from the days when the coast road ran past the front door, now happily enjoying a renaissance. La Verandah, opposite, is another vintage favourite. Despite its roadside café look, its tapas terrace and à la carte restaurant serving Andalusian fare are always well patronised.

Two of the strip’s most popular gastro bars sit cheek by jowl on the kerbside so you don’t need to do more than change seats to try both. Pura Tapa, sleek and minimal, chalks up its mouth-watering options in rainbow colours on a blackboard inside (tuna ceviche, deep-fried goats cheese in filo). At Inboca, rustic and retro, you get a menu (ajo blanco, truffle-filled ravioli, gooey chocolate brownie). Either way, a stroll along the beach boardwalk linking Torreguadiaro to Sotogrande Marina is the perfect finale to lunch.

Pueblo Nuevo, due west of the port over the river bridge, is the modern extension of prettier Guadiaro. It may not be the most picturesque pueblo in Spain but its ‘high street’ has several good cafes, a trendy pastelería, a branch of Overseas Stores selling expat goodies and an English butcher.

Mariposa Bar and Grill fluttered into the west end of town last summer, settling opposite the Sotogrande NH Hotel. It has already won the hearts and minds of social butterflies with its cool fountain courtyard, speciality lighting and Ibiza sounds spun by a live D.J. on Saturdays. This summer, its new Moët Chandon bar will be serving Champagne cocktails, fizz by the glass and an upscale menu. This is also the place to go for a posh Sunday roast, with all the trimmings, including live music. Eat your fill, then drift away to the chords of Spanish acoustic guitar on a Balinese bed. All-day brunch and a trendy à la carte menu are available weekdays. Benjamin and Danielle Nicholson have given great thought to the ambience and décor, including the stunning butterfly mural indoors (and there’s a touching story behind the motif). They also do weddings and private celebrations through their events division, Mariposa Diamond. mariposabargrill.com Guadiario’s restaurants are also creating a stir on the local dining scene. At Si Siam, fragrant Thai cuisine is served in a relaxing secret garden that hides behind an unpromising-looking brick wall. And at El Molino del Condé, you can enjoy rice cooked 30 different ways, prepared by a world paella champion.

That’s chef Carlos Otaolaurruchi Barbadillo, who also impresses diners with fish and seafood from his hometown of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The restaurant is trendily decorated with terraces front and back.

Leaving Guadiaro on the back road towards San Roque, La Terraza de Teo is another real find. It doesn’t look much from the outside, with a terrace the size of a car driveway, but the necessity to book testifies to the quality of the food. Spacious inside, half the tables are laid with cloths for à la carte dining, the rest are dressed more casually for tapas.

The Parmesan-sprinkled cherry gazpacho and the mi-cuit duck liver with caramelised fruits are my personal favourites. www.laterrazadeteo.com” e

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ANDALUSIAN MUSICAL NIGHTS

JULY AUGUST 2016

DINNER & SHOW A NEW GASTRONOMIC CONCEPT

EL PATIO · PUENTE ROMANO BEACH RESORT & SPA Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n - 29602 · Marbella · Málaga · Spain · (T) +34 952 820 900 · hotel@puenteromano.com · puenteromano.com

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Sutton

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Macaao Beach

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Kevin Woodford’s Lisbon

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Albert Croquet of El Gaucho Sotogrande

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Wine: Pedro Balda

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Beronia – Wine for all Seasons

WE SAMPLE THE FARE AT TWO AMAZING RESTAURANTS: SUTTON IN MARBELLA AND MACAAO BEACH IN SAN PEDRO. MEANWHILE, KEVIN WOODFORD SAVOURS THE BEST OF LISBON AND ALBERT CROQUET OF EL GAUCHO IN SOTOGRANDE TELLS US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HIS FAMED RESTAURANT. WE ALSO TALK WITH WINE PERSONALITY, PEDRO BALDA, AND SAMPLE SOME EXCELLENT VINTAGES FROM BERONIA.

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AT THE PLAZA VILLAGE IN THE HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

Puente Romano Hotel, Blv. Principe Alfonso Von Hohenlohe, Marbella. www.thaigallerymarbella.com

Tel: 952 818 392

TAI PAN chinese cuisine polynesian bar

Serving Marbella in a Select Atmosphere for Decades.

Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500 Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella.

Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00 www.taipanmarbella.com

SUKHOTHAI Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine

Tel: 952 770 550 Open Mon-Sat. C.C. Marbellamar, L-3A. Marbella. www.sukhothaimarbella.com

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Elegant Marbella with a lot of Heart Set on Marbella’s famous Golden Mile, Sutton is an elegant restaurant that ticks a great many boxes. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

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ne of the newest additions to the Golden Mile’s growing reputation as a fine dining hotspot in Marbella is Sutton, also the latest offering sired by Momo, the restaurant that has in a few short years earned both an enviable reputation and a loyal following.

While very different from its Old Town siblings Momo and Lima, Sutton shares the same passion and philosophy that went into making them local icons of fine dining – and it has every indication of doing the same! As founder and chef José María Chazarreta says, “Both Lima and Sutton were born out of Momo, and the inspiration that created it.”

Most chefs and restaurateurs have a love of food and life in general, but it takes something extra to stand out from other good professionals in this highly competitive field, and the engaging José María has this mysterious quality in abundance. He and his wife Katrin, who runs front of house in the restaurants, would say it is down to passion and hard work, and perhaps admit to a natural born talent, but creating the right concept of quality, service and setting is such a delicate balancing act that it extends beyond cooking skills alone. What makes this husband and wife team special is that they work from a central concept to produce very different yet equally attractive dining experiences in each of their establishments.

THE CENTRAL CONCEPT Food is a bit like art or architecture; you can theorise and provide endless rationales to explain what you’re doing, but the ultimate test is sensory. Art and architecture evoke strong emotions through visual and sometimes tactile engagement, but food has an even more direct impact, so distilled to its core, the pivotal theme in every restaurant is the quality and flavour of the dishes offered. A further refinement in a good modern restaurant is the standard of execution (read, cooking skills), the presentation and the inventiveness of the menu (reflecting the chef’s credentials) and the culinary pleasures and flavour sensations offered as a result.

Naturally dining is not about the food alone, so fluent, attentive service and a pleasant setting and ambience are of vital importance too, completing the appeal of any restaurant that aspires to the highest standards. José María and Katrin are no different in their desire to achieve this, and at Sutton they have got it right again, managing to replicate the high standards achieved in their other restaurants while offering something new and distinct.

GOOD FOOD AND AMBIENCE If good food and ambience are the cornerstones of a pleasant dining experience, Sutton scores very high, for this elegant eatery sports the

g Urb. Marbella Mar, 9, Milla de Oro, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 760. www.suttonmarbella.com

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SUTTON kind of décor and layout that makes it stylish and cosy in the winter and languidly refined in the summer, when the terrace comes to life and sliding doors open up to let the evening breeze in. A pleasant bar and seating area complement the dining rooms, while most nights are accompanied by a live pianist who adds a suave, jazzy soundtrack to the experience.

On the night of our visit we enjoyed a little sampling of José María’s kitchen that began with an amuse-bouche in the form of a crispy pork ball with a lemon and soy sauce. Though small it packed a great deal of taste, providing the first accompaniment to the house wine, a dry fresh white wine selected for us by the chef. Thus awoken, our taste buds were next treated to the fresh speciality of the day: carpaccio of sea bass in a papaya and mango dressing. José María derives the inspiration from his menu from a great many different cultures and cuisines, sometimes blending them and sometimes giving his own twist to proven classics.

Food ranks high during most people’s travels, but for this chef it is the chief souvenir as he absorbs the culture, the setting, the people and the experience to add to his repertoire. This much is visible in dishes such as the Indian style rack of lamb served with crispy rice and a curry sauce. Beautifully presented like all his dishes, it bursts with

flavours that really get your taste buds going. This light and delicious dish was followed by fresh sea bass with a lobster bisque, orange cava foam and spinach risotto – offered with a citrus lobster truffle sauce.

From simple sensations to more complex ones, it is a delight to sit here on a summer’s eve and feel the breeze gently cool the day’s heat as the piano plays in the background.

Often getting something right depends not so much on what you do as how you do it, and José María leads his cosmopolitan kitchen team by example as he conjures up plate after plate of inventive, delicious dishes drawn from the world’s best ingredients, traditions and flavours.

Add a friendly serving staff led by Katrin and a prime Golden Mile location, and it’s no wonder that you relax here while leisurely enjoying your chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream – as we did – in the best combination of Marbella style and innovative dining.

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each season has already begun and that means we can look forward to lively family meals by the sea, our feet sinking into the warm sand as we enjoy the sun, conversation, and wonderful cuisine at Macaao Beach. Owner Michel Dhondt is the ‘life’ of this cosy restaurant, located on the seafront between Guadalmina and San Pedro; he greets every customer and dashes between tables with his equally friendly staff, ensuring no glass is left unfilled, no wish unattended.

Michel and his wife, Christine, certainly know their business.

They have founded many beach restaurants and once ran the renowned Zoutestrand in Belgium’s St. Tropez (Knokke Le Zoute).

Their experience shows in their ability to create a magnificent dining experience in which great food, fantastic service and top quality wines and drinks are given

paramount importance. It is the middle of May on the day of my visit and nearly all the tables are taken – mostly, I note, by groups of friends or families tucking into scarlet carabineros, juicy hamburgers with Belgian fries, hearty salads, or a variety of freshly caught fish dishes.

Macaao Beach takes the chiringuito experience up several notches, with top quality produce prepared with love and care by talented Chef, Peter Cernak. Dishes are decidedly Mediterranean, with Belgian, French and Asian influences abounding. The menu is select yet marvellous, and there are daily specials; having lunch with a good friend, we were seriously tempted to give in to the crevette croquettes or the tomato aux crevettes, two specialties featuring the tiny shrimp that Belgians hold so dear to their hearts.

I ordered the beef carpaccio, served with ruccula and paper-

fine slices of parmesan cheese.

My companion opted for the tuna tartare, comprising the freshest fish layered with avocado and served with a homemade cracker topped with guacamole swirls – all this downed with a crisp Sauvignon blanc that certainly hit the spot on such a sunny day.

As a fervent fish lover, I was delighted with my main – a fresh, grilled fillet of sole in a light beurre blanc sauce – smooth and supple and livened up by the irresistible tanginess of lime. My partner tried the tenderloin – juicy and tender and served with Belgian fries. There were many desserts to choose from as well – all homemade, though as the portions were so hearty, we settled on a cool lemon-and Champagne Coupe Colonel, which would have to be the ideal way to end a fine meal on the beach.

Despite it being a busy day at Macaao, the service was certainly

on form. We never had to wait too long to request a top-up, and our waitress asked us if we wished to wait between our starters and mains.

The ambience at Macaao Beach could best be described as cosy and joyous with diners of many nationalities enjoying the lively atmosphere, and nearby, a table broke out into the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. The great weather, comfy seating beneath the welcoming shade of a parasol and the welltimed food and wine sparked excellent conversation and a sensation of freedom to unwind after a hectic morning.

Macaao Beach has proven that laidback and top quality are not mutually exclusive concepts; in fact, many diners seeking a high quality meal can think of no better place to enjoy it than by the sea – after all, isn’t that what we came to the Coast for in the first place?

MACAAO BEACH Seafront Dining with a Splash of Belgian Magic WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

g Opening Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ José Echegaray s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 113 618.

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b THE GOURMET news

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Hotel Amàre Marbella Adds Messina

to its Gastronomic Offerings Two giants in Marbella have joined forces to offer food lovers an extraspecial experience: the Hotel Amàre will now be offering guests the chance to make a reservation at Michelin-starred restaurant, Messina, from the reception desk, and to have the bill automatically added to their hotel bill. The alliance makes the most of the proximity of both establishments (which are a mere 15 metres apart!). i www.amarehotels.com/www.restaurantemessina.com

New Summer Menu for Hanuri!

Hanuri has fast become the leading choice for diners seeking an authentic, top quality Korean meal and now the restaurant has a brand new summer menu to entice food buffs. The selection includes more starters (in addition to the nowfamous calamari salad and wasabi prawn), new à la carte dishes (such as crispy bossam and spicy buldak), a new Kimbap section (Korean maki roll featuring cooked ingredients only) as well as Wagyu beef and market fresh fish items for the barbecue line-up. i www.hanuri.es

Wellness haven, Shanti-Som retreat, recently held a Washoku traditional Japanese cooking experience, which took foodies on a culinary voyage to achieve spiritual and physical wellbeing. Attendees approached the task in a step-by-step fashion, planning, preparing and presenting a complete traditional ichiju-sansai menu with miso soup, sashimi, gohan rice, gyozas and sushi. Afterwards, they sampled their fare in the peaceful surroundings of the retreat, guided by Chef, Carlos Navarro. If you missed out on the experience, fear not; Shanti-Som will be holding similar experiences on a monthly basis. i www.shantisom.com

Origen:

Washoku Experience

New Meat Lovers’ Paradise Comes to Marbella

at Shanti-Som

Lovers of fine meat know that few countries come close to Argentina in terms of quality cuts of meat and preparation. Popular grill restaurant, Hacienda Patagonica, has certainly shown off this culinary tradition to perfection, with tapas- and largersized grilled dishes which are as succulent as they are flavourful. The team behind Hacienda Patagonica is now opening a new restaurant: Origen, in Marbella, bringing you the very best of firewood Argentinean grilled cuisine. g Open Monday to Friday for dinner from 7pm and weekends for lunch and dinner; lunch starts at 1pm and dinner at 7pm. C/ Gregorio Marañon s/n, Marbella. Tel: 951 352 164.

Bistronomique Cuisine at

La Tienda in La Virginia Bistronomique is a fusión of the words ‘bistro’ and ‘gastronomique’ and that is exactly what talented Chef, Emiliano D’Alessandro, has brought to La Tienda restaurant in La Virginia. Emiliano, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, seeks to share his creative international dishes with diners after bistro-style food made from the highest quality ingredients. Some of the restaurant’s most exciting dishes include Latino sushi (which is actually served warm!), free range egg cooked at 63º for 45 minutes and served with a truffle crème, and lamb served with apple coulis. At La Tienda, Emiliano is joined by his lovely wife, Kristina Serena, the ‘face’ of the restaurant but also a talented handbag designer and commercial illustrator in Paris (Kristina travels frequently between the Coast and Paris). g La Tienda is open every night for dinner except Mondays. C/ La Tienda 1, Urb. La Virginia, Marbella. Tel: 626 273 882. Facebook: Club de Cenas en La Tienda.

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LISBON

© Gary Edwards

b THE GOURMET travel

A

s the second oldest capital in Europe, the city has a wealth of cultural heritage and modern amenities. Its compact size makes it perfect for a short break and if, like me, coffee culture is essential then fear not as Lisbon is blessed with great cafes on every corner. My favourite part of the city is the Baixa region with an abundance of terracotta roofed properties and fabulous views across the river to the old port lodges. However, I also enjoy strolling around the other parts of the city and admiring the 14th century blue tiled churches set amidst the modern buildings.

There’s a wide range of hotels available to suit all pockets, but as a creature of habit I head for the Corinthia Hotel. Situated only 7 Km from Lisbon Portela airport and right in the heart of the historic city centre, it’s perfect for exploring all that the city has to offer. If the

WORDS KEVIN WOODFORD

For me, Lisbon is one of those places that wasn’t particularly high on my ‘must visit’ list.

Yet once I’d spent a weekend getting to know the city, I have to admit to warming to it.

Presidential Suite is beyond your budget, then it’s worth splashing out for an executive room which gives you access to the Club lounge.

In my opinion, there are three things that have to be achieved when visiting this city. The first is a river cruise as this is a really relaxing way to see the most interesting aspects of Lisbon. I particularly enjoyed the Parc de Nacoes, Lisbon Bridge and the Monument to the Discoveries.

Secondly, a visit to one of the renowned port lodges, where you can spend an enjoyable couple of hours contemplating which port you enjoyed the most! Plus, finally sipping an excellent coffee while devouring a delicious ‘pastel de nata’ (Portugal’s version of a custard tart!).

In addition, if you have sufficient time then I would suggest a visit to the nearby seaside village of

Nazaré in order to sample the tart on offer at nearby Pasteleria Alcôa.

They picked up the Gold Award for the finest tart in Portugal. History has it that this delicious recipe was, allegedly, created by nuns and monks at Jerónimos Monastery during the late 17th century. It appears that they used egg whites to starch their clothes and as such had a surplus amount of egg yolk that they needed to find a use for!

As for the serious business of dinner, then I usually head for the Belcanto. Originally opened around 1958, the restaurant has always been a popular venue with the locals, but now attracts international clients. It was renovated and given a new lease of life in 2012 under the control of José Avillez and within two years he had achieved two Michelin stars along with a host of gastronomic accolades. José is a culinary traditionalist who somehow

manages to give classical dishes a modern twist while retaining the authenticity of the recipes, a skill that is sadly lost to many of today’s chefs. For those on a budget, he has recently opened Cantinho do Avillez, a casual bistro where his gourmet experimental canapés are fun to try and exceptional quality.

g Kevin is an Internationally renowned chef, former Head of Department for one the UK’s most prestigious Colleges of Higher Education and more latterly one of the BBC’s most versatile television presenters, having presented Holiday, Ready Steady Cook, Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook, Big Kevin, Little Kevin, Planet Cook, The Heaven & Earth Show and a host of other network shows. He was the recipient of a National Television Award and the subject of This is Your Life and acts as a consultant to several International Hospitality Companies.

Kevin Woodford is also a Presenter at BBC Watchdog.

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Spanish food with a touch of Asian flavour….

An exquisite combination of Asian flavours with superb traditional Spanish dishes.

Begin your journey of taste at Oushi Toro.

Open from Tuesday to Saturday, al fresco dining.

Free Valet Parking Reservations: 952 809 500 Ctra. de Cádiz Km. 159 | 29680 Estepona | Málaga Spain www.kempinski.com/marbella

b THE GOURMET profile

Albert Crouquet of El Gaucho de

Sotogrande

Fanning the Flames of the Authentic Sotogrande WORDS Marisa cutillas Photography kevin horn

T

he first time I visited Sotogrande, some 15 years ago, I was immediately taken by the unique beauty of this coastal resort, where nature, silence and peace abound. Little has changed since then; new shopping centres and golf courses may have made life for locals a little more practical, but the essence of the Sotogrande of old remains very much alive: it is encapsulated by the word ‘family’, which here means much more than a biological family. In Sotogrande, friends congregate every year at the beach club, the polo ground or the many elegant soirees that make summer the highlight of the year. It is this value that entrepreneur and restaurateurs like Albert Crouquet of El Gaucho de Sotogrande, seek to uphold.

El Gaucho is famed for its succulent steaks, cooked barbecuestyle in front of diners’ eyes, yet it is also a haven of comfort and social interaction, a place where everyone from Prince Andrew to King Baudouin of Belgium have called home for a night. The restaurant was opened 30 years ago by Albert and his mentor, visionary Hotel Manager and Restaurateur, Peter Hans Blagatinshegg Kaiserfeld, who was the creator of El Gaucho in Puerto Banús in 1977. At the time of their meeting, Albert was working at the reception of a Holiday Inn

Hotel in Liège. The two hit it off, so much so that Peter didn’t hesitate to propose a new venture to his new friend: that of opening a grill in the coastal area of Sotogrande.

“Peter was like that,” muses Albert, who sadly adds that his partner has passed away. “He was very creative.

I was the more technical of the two, and that’s why we hit it off. Peter was largely inspired by the people of Sotogrande. They reminded him of those he had met in Puerto Banús in the early 1980s.”

Peter had already made his first forays into the gastronomic world at this point, having managed many restaurants and hotels, some of which were in Sotogrande.

Eventually, he decided it was time to open his own business and he dreamed of offering diners something new in Andalucía at the time: thick, juicy meat, hung fresh in a cold room and served medium rare as in northern lands.

Peter may have provided the spark for the idea to open El Gaucho, yet Albert, too, had an entrepreneurial streak in him. He grew up in Belgium, as part of a family dedicated to making spirits.

“Back then, spirits were made by families, on a small scale. I was interested in joining the family business but the industry was tough and my father suggested I went out into the world and made it on my

own. I took his advice and studied Hotel Management in Brussels. My first job was with Wagon-Lits (the famed company that created the famous Orient Express passenger train).”

Back in 1985, Sotogrande was run by the Ayala Company; the latter offered Peter and Albert use of the Beach Club during the summer, and eventually an English promoter offered them their current locale, ensconced in the quaint Galerías Paniagua commercial centre. “Our menu hasn’t really changed in 30 years,” boasts Albert, keen to preserve El Gaucho’s reputation for top quality meat, served with lovely sides such as baked potatoes (made in the old-style oven, whose iron door is reminiscent in appearance of the famous oven in Hansel and Gretel), which has stood the test of time. The restaurant is a hub for prominent politicians, dignitaries and members of royal families, yet it is also very much a revered institution for those who play the sport of Kings: polo. Albert ushers me to a corner where two wooden mallets hang: one was given to Albert by Nacho Domecq: “That’s Sotogrande for you,” he smiles, adding that regardless of social backgrounds and wealth, at El Gaucho, everyone unwinds – Formula One racing car drivers, famous celebrities, or simply

members of local families who, generation after generation, continue to call El Gaucho home. And homey it is indeed; gorgeous paintings of Argentinean gauchos (copies of illustrations by Tito Saubidet) grace the restaurant and there are nods to the cowboy lifestyle in everything from ropes hanging on the walls, to the array of copper details that grace the corners, remnants of Albert's family's spirit making days.

As is to be expected, wine is big at El Gaucho, where excellent Spanish and French vintages are served.

Albert has customers from all over the world; one client, the owner of the famous Outback chain of restaurants, once agreed with Albert that expansion isn’t for everyone.

“I’m happy with this restaurant alone,” says the restaurateur, who can think of nothing better than living in a place where his house is five minutes away, tranquility abounds, and the love of family prevails. “I have seen three generations of families dining at El Gaucho and to this day, the love of good food and the friendships I have made here, continue to inspire and fulfill me.” g Centro Comercial Paniagua, Local 4, Avda. Paniagua, Sotogrande.

Tel: 956 795 528. www.alinecrouquet.wix.com/ elgauchodesotogrande

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b THE GOURMET wine

PEDRO BALDA COSECHA

Man on a

Mission

Born in 1982 in the picturesque Riojan hill-top village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Pedro Balda is one of a handful of relatively youthful Spanish winemakers who is quietly making his mark.

PEDRO BALDA WORDS CARLOS READ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PEDRO BALDA

P

edro hails from a farming family, which owns some 30 hectares dedicated partly to the cultivation of cereals such as wheat and barley, but increasingly to high quality Tempranillo sold primarily in bulk in the late 1970s and during the 1980s to the likes of La Rioja Alta and Carlos Serres. Despite being regularly roped in to helping out in the family vineyards from a young age while all his school friends were simply enjoying growing up, Pedro ended up (much to his own surprise) studying Agronomy.

His studies led him to spend the whole of 2007 experiencing winemaking as far afield as Chile, California, Australia and New Zealand; and reinforced his conviction that wine should be made with dignity, using natural, unhurried processes.

In 2008, his formal studies concluded and he embarked on three separate projects: becoming an oenology lecturer at Logroño/La Rioja University; taking over around half a hectare of the family’s old Tempranillo vineyards – from which he would harvest some 1,400 to 1,500 kilos annually to produce two quite different wines; and embarking on a doctorate in ampelography, which he finished in 2014.

Ampelography, incidentally, is a field of botany concerned with the identification and classification of grapevines. Traditionally effected by comparing the shapes and colours of both leaves and berries, in recent years this has become much more high tech thanks to the advent of DNA fingerprinting.

Pedro’s impressive work includes a major study of Rioja’s 26 minority red varieties. In 2014 and 2015, he worked on harvests at the fascinatingly remote Ermita del Conde winery some 30 minutes north west of Aranda del Duero, where one of his most spectacular offerings was a

strikingly fragrant white made from Albillo Mayor, a parent of the Tempranillo grape variety.

Currently engaged in a Chilean project in association with up-and-coming Spanish producers Vintae, he is most enthused about the possibilities of not just Carignane/Cariñena and Cinsault but also the País variety. This was the first ever grape variety to be cultivated in Chile, having been brought over by the earliest Spanish colonists and it now seems almost certain that it is in fact the Listán Negro of the Canary Islands, once a major staging post on the voyage from Spain.

Finally, he is occupied with the two renowned limited production Rioja reds that he makes back in San Vicente de la Sonsierra.

Since the total production of both wines amounts to less than a thousand bottles, they are pricey, very much sought after and extremely hard to find.

The current vintages of both are 2012 but a few bottles of 2011 are still out there!

Both wines are made from un-irrigated 75 year-old Tempranillo bush vines that grow on limestone clay soil at around 550 metres. Hand picked, this is fermented with its own native, wild yeasts, no sulphur (“It’s not on the agenda”, he states quite simply), cooling systems or filtration. Malolactic fermentation happens when it happens. e

Made from the most compact clusters of grapes which retain more freshness and are destalked mechanically.

Z 2012 – WITH SOME 13 MONTHS IN FRENCH OAK Dark violet and plum coloured, fresh, and immensely fruity with a suggestion of something akin to carbonic maceration. Good but not excessive tannins with just a hint of astringency soon giving way to distinctly sloe-like fruit and admirably restrained oak.

Z 2011 – WITH SOME 14 MONTHS IN FRENCH OAK Crimson again, but lush and freshly mineral with savoury slightly herbal minty overtones and pronounced red fruits, most notably strawberry.

Most alluring and accurately described by my friend Margaret Rand as “a concentrated, sleek essence of a particular spot on our planet.”

Z PEDRO BALDA VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA Made from smaller less compact bunches that are picked rather earlier and destalked by hand and with 16 to 19 months in French oak from the likes of François Frères and Boutes.

Z 2014 – NOT YET RELEASED AND CONSISTING OF JUST THREE BARRELS Dense, much higher tone purple with most attractive forthright, coconut oak, darker brooding fruits, a lovely freshness and great acidity.

The delightful thing about Pedro is that despite his many projects and clearly enyclopaedic knowledge, he is totally down to earth, exceptionally friendly, and refreshingly unpretentious. “I guess,” he says in typically disarming fashion, “that ultimately I just set out to do precisely the opposite of what I was taught at university, and though some may regard me as a kind of rural terrorist, I just make wine.”

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b THE GOURMET wine

BERONIA A Wine for all Seasons

WORDS IAIN BLACKWELL PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF GONZÁLEZ BYASS

T

he landscape of Rioja is something else, somewhat surreal with endless lines of vines stretching to the horizon under the glistening sun, interspersed with impressive installations, the family fincas that proudly portray the dynasty of the wines being produced there.

Mostly situated on a plateau, which is protected by the Cantabrian Mountains to the north, many of its vineyards are located along the Ebro valley between the towns of Haro and Alfaro. The area is also the home of the Oja River (Río Oja), a tributary of the Ebro, believed to have given the region its name. This territory has been under cultivation since the earliest of times and today comprises around 600 wineries encompassing some 61,645 hectares amounting to an annual production of 250 million litres of wine, of which 85% is red. The Denominación de Origen was granted in 1970 and Rioja is recognised for its three distinctive areas: Rioja Alta, known more for its ‘old world’ style of wine that is lighter on the palate; Rioja Alavesa with fuller bodied wines and higher acidity; and Rioja Baja, which is drier with a more Mediterranean-type climate, giving rise to wines that are generally deeper in colour with a higher alcohol content.

Bodegas Beronia was established in 1973 and integrated into the González Byass Family of Wine group in 1982. Today, it oversees almost 900 hectares of vineyards in prime Rioja Alta sites surrounding the winery, producing a range of distinct vintages with a fine pedigree that are renowned in both international and domestic markets. The soils have a balanced structure of sand, sediment and clay, with low alkalinity, making them ideal for the elaboration of quality wine. The vast majority of the grapes grown are

Tempranillo, with some strains of Graciano, Mazuelo, Garnacha and Viura. With a strong commitment to sustainability, Beronia employs environmentally friendly techniques during the vinification process, and even bottles its own certified organic Tempranillo, labelled Ecológico.

However, it is the highly rated Classic and Premium wines which are prized by gourmets and critics alike.

Under the supervision of Matías Calleja, Technical Director since 1996, Beronia has flourished and now boasts an extremely impressive underground cellar with almost 30,000 barrels of French and American oak. Matías carefully controls the ageing process of each wine and the vineyard has become recognised as a pioneer in the art of storage in barrels of mixed origin, using American oak staves and French oak ends, as opposed to blending wines matured in different types of oak. The current production comprises a complete range of 15 different wines, providing a diverse selection for all seasons, including three whites, one rosado and 11

reds. These consist of a Rueda Verdejo, a Blanco Viura and a Barrel Fermented Viura, a Tempranillo Rosado, and Classic, Collection and Premium sets of Tinto. The Classic Line features Tempranillo, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva, while the Collection Line includes a Special Production Tempranillo, a Graciano and a Mazuelo Reserva, the only Mazuelo of Reserva category to be produced in Rioja. The top-of-the-range Premium Line exemplifies Rioja Alta at its very best with three iconic wines that all aficionados should endeavour to taste: Selección de 198 Barricas, a special selection only produced in superlative years; Beronia III A.C., an enigmatic wine which is also only produced in excellent years from a selection of the finest grapes from the oldest vineyards; and Viñas Viejas, a limited edition wine produced in the best years from more than 50 year-old vines.

Bodegas Beronia also offers wine tourism where you can experience a personalised visit to the winery, enjoy an authentic Riojan lunch in the charismatic confines of the finca, taste some of their excellent wines and be taken on a tour to witness the different elements in the full production process. g For further information: www.Facebook.com/BeroniaWines www.beronia.com www.beronia.com/en/winetourism

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. . THE GUIDE listings

the guide

Price guide per head for a three-course meal with wine

*restaurants

under €25

€25 – €40

€40 – €60

LISTINGS PET NEWS WHAT’S ON STARS FOR may FAMILY FUN €60 plus

Yanx

origen

Calderón Estébanez 19, Marbella. Tel: 952 774 578

american

Open from 9am Monday to Saturday and Sunday from 11am for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Centro Plaza, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 818 861

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Gregorio Marañón s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 968

le bistroman

Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

C/ Ramón Areces, esq. Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 908 024

argentinean

HARD ROCK CAFÉ

Jacks Open seven days a week from noon till late. Puerto Banús, Tel: 952 813 625, Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 563 673

Mr. gourmet burger Open from 6pm ‘til late every evening.

Avda. Luis Braile 20, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 785 257

ROUTE 66 Open 10am until midnight every day.

Plaza Antonio Banderas 17/29, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 951 136 333

Buenos Aires South Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

C/ Virgen del Pilar, 6, Marbella. Tel: 952 779 297

el banco Open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to midnight. Urb. Aloha Pueblo, Local 35, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 907 570

gauchos Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village. CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 897 744

Hacienda patagonica Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ de la Acera de la Marina 2, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 968

ruta 40 Open from 9am to 12 midnight daily. C.C. El Zoco, Sitio de Calahonda. Tel: 951 133 737

belgian El Coto

Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Ronda (El Madroñal), San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 786 688

mytilus Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plaza de Los Naranjos, Puerto Sotogrande. Tel: 956 790 212

french

Casa mono

Open daily for lunch and dinner. El Corte Inglés, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 909 990

LEs deux Open daily from 10am to 8pm. At the Puente Romano Beach Resort. Tel: 951 194 760

Valderrama Restaurant Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner only and on Sunday for Buffet Lunch. Apartado 1, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 132.2 Sotogrande, Cádiz. Tel: 956 791 200

gluten-free celicioso

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

At the Puente Romano Hotel on the Golden Mile.

Tel: 952 820 900

Open Monday to Saturday from 1pm to 11pm. C/

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listings THE GUIDE .

greek

Red Pepper Open daily for both lunch and dinner.

Muelle Ribera, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 812 148

grills

Asador Criollo Grill

Open for lunch and dinner every day. Muelle Benabola 4, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 816 252

Grill del puerto Open for lunch and dinner every day. Muelle Ribera 47H, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 811 686

MARBELLA CLUB GRILL

Open nightly for dinner. CN340-A7, km. 166, Cancelada, El Saladillo. Tel: 952 784 463

Open every night for dinner. Marbella Club Hotel. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 211

Asador guadalmina

Old Town Grill

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Urb. Guadalmina Alta, C.C. Guadalmina, Local 3, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 883 003

Open Monday to Saturday for dinner and Sunday for lunch. C/ San Lázaro, 3, Pza. Victoria, Marbella.

Tel: 952 867 306

cabaña nagüeles

Restaurante Rancho

Open Monday to Thursday from 11am to 2am and on Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 3am. Urb. La Carolina, Marbella. Tel: 951 134 083

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Ctra. Cádiz, exit Las Chapas. Tel: 952 831 922

El Carnicero

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Odeon, Locales 9-10, C/ Las Yedras, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 003 434

Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Pueblo Viejo Cancelada. Between San Pedro & Estepona.

Tel: 952 886 307

El Carnicero 2 Open every day for lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 176, Marbella. Tel: 952 867 599

El Gaucho Open daily for dinner from 7.30pm. Galerías Paniagua. Sotogrande. Tel: 956 795 528

El gaucho de banús Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle Benabola 9-11, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 812 167

el rancho del puerto

VOVEM

indian

Jaipur palace

(Sabinillas seafront). Tel: 952 897 358

Mumtaz Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Casa No.7, P. Banús. Tel: 952 812 090

international 11&11 Restobar

Open Monday to Thursday from 7pm ‘til late, on Friday and Saturday from 1pm to 4pm and from 7pm ‘til late and on Sunday from 10am ‘til late.

Dársena de Levante, Local 39, Estepona Port. Tel: 951 703 060

Aidan’s bar & Grill

8.00pm. Calle del Pilar 3, Benahavís. Tel: 952 856 026

amigos Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday.

C/ Málaga 3, Benahavis. Tel: 952 855 175

aroma Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Moncayo 23, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 665 502

baboo lounge and restaurant Open every day for lunch and dinner, closing Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 8pm. Ctra. Arroyo de la Miel, s/n, Benalmádena. Tel: 902 102 675

Open Thursday to Tuesday for dinner from 5:30pm. Closed Wednesdays. C/ 4/5 Montemayor, Cancelada (opposite the Farmacia). Tel: 952 887 828

Bahia beach

Al Rolo

Open every day for lunch and dinner. C/ Jacinto Benavente 5, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 656

Open from 1pm to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm daily.

At Reserva del Higuerón. Avda. del Higuerón 48, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 661 174

Albert & simon

Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 146.5, Casares. Tel: 951 704 884

barbq artesanal burgers beach house Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Coto de los Doles, Carril del Relojero, Elviria, Marbella.

Tel: 952 839 458

Open every night except Tuesday for dinner.

CN340, km 194, next to Camping Cabopino, Marbella. Tel: 951 310 004

Open for lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday and for dinner only on Saturday. Closed Sundays.

Urb. Nueva Alcántara, Edif. Mirador, Bloque 4-B, Marbella. Tel: 952 783 714

Open Monday to Sunday for dinner. C/ Camilo José Cela 4, Marbella. Tel: 952 868 898

Jaipur Purple

alberts

Besaya Beach

Open daily for dinner. CN 340, km. 166, Estepona.

Tel: 952 888 353

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Puerto Cabopino.

Tel: 952 836 886

Massala

Amanhavis

Open daily for dinner. 57, Duquesa de Arcos

Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday from

Open Monday to Thursday for lunch, Friday and Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for lunch. Urb. Coral Beach s/n, km 176, Marbella.

Tel: 952 777 299

beckitts

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. THE GUIDE listings

BIBO

C/ Ancha, 8, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 450

Open every day for lunch and dinner except Sunday afternoon and all of Monday. At the Hotel Puente Romano. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 951 607 011

celima

Black and white Marbella

cerrado del águila

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle Benabola, under the Torre de Banús, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 815 607

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Urb. Cerrado del Águila, Camino del Acevedo, s/n, Mijas Costa. Tel: 951 773 521

EL CASTILLO

bono’s beach

c’est la vie

El Corzo

Open daily from 11am to 9pm. Urb. Costabella, Avda. Cervantes s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 839 236

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Paseo Las Palmeras, 15, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 783 394

Open daily for dinner. Hotel Los Monteros, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 187. Tel: 952 771 700

cortijo fain

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle de Honor, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 778 797

bora bora beach Open daily from 11am to 2am. Paseo Marítimo de San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 789 100

Brunings Kitchen continuously open Monday to Friday from 1pm to 11pm. Saturday – dinner only. Closed Sunday. Las Palmeras 19, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 786 156

CAFÉ DE RONDA

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Hotel Hermitage, Ctra. de Casares, Casares.

Tel: 952 895 639.

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Algar, km. 3, Arcos de la Frontera, Cádiz. Tel: 956 704 131

del mar Open daily for lunch and dinner. At the Hotel Puente Romano. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

Open daily for breakfast and lunch until 7pm.

Avda. Ramón Gómez de la Serna 23, Marbella.

Tel: 952 862 149

Don Leone

Cafetería ke

D-wine

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Puerto Deportivo de Sotogrande, s/n. Tel: 956 790 333

Casanis

Open Monday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. C.C. Azalea, Edif. A, CN340, km 173, Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 951 339 309

Open every day from 6pm except Sundays.

El Bolero

Open every night for dinner. Puerto Banús, Marbella. Tel: 952 811 716

Open every night for dinner from 8-11pm. The San Roque Club, CN 340, km. 127, Cádiz. Tel: 956 613 030

El Campanario Open every day for lunch. Open for dinner on Friday and Saturday. CN 340, km. 168, Estepona.

Tel: 952 880 126 Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. C/ El Pilar s/n, Benahavís. Tel: 681 294 442

EL GRAN GASTBY EL JINETE Open daily for dinner except for Friday. Ctra. La Cala Golf, km 45, La Cala de Mijas. Tel: 952 119 170

El lago Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. Urb. Elviria Hills. Avda. Las Cumbres s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 832 371

EL MIRADOR Open for breakfast every day. At the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Resort. CN 340, km. 159, Estepona.

Tel: 952 809 500

Miraflores Playa, Mijas Costa. Tel: 952 587 550

EL OLIVO Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for lunch. At Marbella Golf & Country Club. CN 340, km. 188, Marbella. Tel: 952 830 500

El Restaurante del Casino Open every day for dinner from 8pm-4am. Hotel Andalucía Plaza s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 814 000

Fabiola Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and on Sundays for lunch. Cortijo Los Canos, Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro, CN-340, km. 132, Sotogrande, Cádiz. Tel: 956 695 114 / 619 694 484

Finca Besaya Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Rio Verde Alto, s/n. Tel: 952 861 382

Finca El Forjador Open daily for lunch from 1-4pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Ctra. de Casares, km. 10. Tel: 952 895 120

fonda restaurante el postillón Open Tuesday to Sunday from 7:30pm to 11pm.

Ctra. de Mijas, km. 1, A-387, Alhaurín El Grande.

Tel: 951 254 520

funky tapas

El oceano beach hotel Restaurant & Spa

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Avda. Miguel de Cervantes, 68, La Campana. Tel: 952 814 041

Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN 340, km 199,

Galeria San Pedro

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listings THE GUIDE .

Open from 11am until midnight. Closed Sundays.

Avda Las Palmeras 15, San Pedro Alcántara.

Tel: 952 780 927

GD Gourmet deli marbella Open 9:30am to 9pm from Monday to Friday and Saturday from 12am to 6pm. Closed Sundays.

Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 7, Marbella. Tel: 952 774 049

hermosa Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner from 7pm.

Closed Monday. Local 1A. Puerto de Cabopino.

Tel: 952 837 483

Herrero del Puerto Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Casas de Campos, 1, Málaga. Tel: 952 122 075

hills cafe Open every day for breakfast and lunch, except Monday. Dinner by reservation is possible on Friday and Saturday. Tel: 952 856 171

Horizon steakhouse Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Antonio Machado s/n, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 560 094

hotel marbella club buffet

karma

La Loggia

Open every day from 10am until late. C/ Las Violetas 7, Conjunto Andalucía Garden Club, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 815 736

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks. Hotel Villa Padierna & Flamingos Golf Club, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 166 (Cancelada exit), Benahavís. Tel: 952 889 150

LA biznaga Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and on Sunday for lunch only. Ctra. Ronda, km. 46, Urb. Las Medranas, local 4, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 951 275 750

La Terraza

la brisa

Open daily for dinner. La Cala Resort, La Cala de Mijas, Mijas. Tel: 952 669 000

Open for dinner Thursday to Monday from 7pm.

Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona. CN 340, km. 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

Open everyday lunch and dinner. Golf Hotel Guadalmina, Marbella. Tel: 952 882 211

La Terraza

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm to 12am and for lunch on Sunday from 12pm to 5pm.

Plaza Practicante Manuel Cantos 2, Marbella.

Tel: 952 866 630

les cubes Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Oasis Club, CN340, km. 183, Marbella. Tel: 952 868 396

los arcos Open every night for dinner. Hotel Meliá La Quinta, Urb. La Quinta Golf s/n, Marbella.

Tel: 952 762 000

la tienda

los bandidos

Open nightly for dinner except Mondays. C/ La Tienda 1, Urb. La Virginia, Marbella. Tel: 626 273 882

Open every night for dinner. Muelle Ribera, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 815 915

Open every day for lunch and for dinner from Monday to Saturday. Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona CN 340, km 159, Playa El Padrón, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

La Veranda

Los naranjos restaurant

Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner.

Hotel Villa Padierna, Urb: Flamingos s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 889 150

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Urb. Los Naranjos de Marbella. Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 952 816 105

LA CANTINA DEL GOLF

La Verandah

Macaoo beach

Open for breakfast and lunch until 8pm. Closed Sunday. Flamingo Golf Club, Cancelada, Benahavís.

Tel: 951 318 815

Open week days for dinner at 7:30pm and weekends for lunch and dinner, closed Tuesdays.

Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 136. Playa Guadiaro, Torreguadiaro, Cádiz.

Tel: 956 615 998

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Sunday. C/ Jose Echegaray, San Pedro de Alcántara.

Tel: 952 113 618

La cabaña del mar

la FAMIEKE

Open every day for lunch. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 211

Open Monday to Saturday for dinner from 7pm.

Closed Sunday. Calle Cruz, Plaza Puente Ronda, Marbella. Tel: 952 775 412

il mare

LA GRANADA DIVINO

Open every evening for dinner. Playa del Rodeo, Marbella. Tel: 951 319 372

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Tuesday.

C/ de las Piedras, Gaucín. Tel: 951 709 075

La veranda lobby bar Open every day for lunch and dinner. At the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona. CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

LIMA

Magna Café Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C/ Calderón de la Barca, s/n. Tel: 952 929 578

Mare nostrum Open daily for breakfast and dinner. At the Hotel Amàre Marbella. Avda. Severo Ochoa 8, Marbella.

Tel: 800 843 493

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. THE GUIDE listings

Mc café Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Marbella Club Hotel. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n. Tel: 952 822 211

Messina Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. Avda. Severo Ochoa, 12, Marbella. Tel: 952 864 895

MOJO Open from Monday to Saturday for dinner from 8pm ‘til late. Monte Paraíso Golf, Marbella. Tel: 951 217 272

momo marbella Open Monday to Saturday from 6pm to midnight. C/ Tetuán 7, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 560

mos eisley Open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm to 12am. Closed Mondays. Urb. El Pilar, C/ Ojén, km 166, Marbella. Tel: 951 196 609

Miraflores Golf Restaurant Open daily for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 199.

Urb. Riviera Golf. Tel: 952 931 941

NELI Gs Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Benavista, Estepona.

Tel: 952 928 576

nōmō brasserie Open for lunch and dinner every day except for Sunday. Bulevar de San Pedro, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 951 702 168

NUEVA CAMPANA Open daily for lunch and dinner, except Tuesday. Avda. Miguel de Cervantes, 68, La Campana. Tel: 952 814 041

ocean club Open daily for lunch and snacks. Avda. Lola Flores s/n, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 908 137

OCHO Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. C/ Moncayo 12, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 460 232 / 648 502 822

passion café Open for lunch and dinner every day. C.C. La Colonia, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 781 583

puente romano beach club Open daily for lunch. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

PURO BEACH Open daily for lunch and dinner. Laguna Village, Playa El Padrón, CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 800 015

Restaurante royal Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the Hotel Torrequebrada, Benalmádena Costa. Tel: 952 441 414

Rojo Open every day for lunch and dinner except Sunday. C/ Granada, 44, Málaga. Tel: 952 227 486

Sea grill At the Puente Romano Beach Club. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

CN340, km 187, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

shanti-som – amrita Open Monday to Thursday from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, Friday and Saturday from 1:30pm to 4.30 pm and 8pm to 10.30pm. Ctra. de Ojén, km 22, A355, Marbella-Monda. Tel: 952 864 455

Skina Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Friday and Saturday for dinner only. Closed Sunday and Monday. C/ Aduar 12, Old Town, Marbella.

Tel: 952 765 277

smart café Open 8:30am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9:30 am to 6pm on weekends. C/ Los Olivos 1, above the Enjoy Golf Academy in front of Aloha College. Tel: 690 001 045

sollo Open nightly for dinner except Sundays. Urb. Reserva del Higuerón,

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listings THE GUIDE .

Málaga. Tel: 951 385 622

Suave Open every day for lunch and dinner. Paseo Maritimo Rey de España 93, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 866 627

SUite Dinner and afterwards dance to music by resident DJ. Thursday to Saturday. Hotel Puente Romano, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

sutton Open nightly for dinner. Urb. Marbellamar 93, Marbella.

Tel: 952 770 760

tanino Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. CN 340, km 168, Benamara, Estepona. Tel: 952 883 259

Terra Sana Open Monday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nueva Andalucía next to the Casino. Tel: 952 906 205. Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 977. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 951 901 050.

C.C. Mary Sol, Sotogrande. Tel: 956 796 931. C.C. La Cañada, Marbella.

Tel: 952 868 663. C.C. Parque Miramar, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 663 937

the little geranium Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. C/ Ronda, La Cala de Mijas, Mijas Costa (pedestrian street behind the Town Hall). Tel: 952 493 602

The meeting room Open 9am to 11pm every day except Sundays. Avda. Ricardo Soriano 1, Local 1 (Edif. Portillo), Marbella. Tel: 952 772 577

The orange tree Open every evening from 6:30 pm-11 pm. Plaza General Chinchilla 1, Plaza de los Naranjos, Marbella. Tel: 952 924 613.

THE PLAYWRIGHT Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Manzana, Locales 8-11, Pueblo Los Arcos, Elviria. Tel: 952 830 868

tikitano Open every day for lunch and dinner. Urb. Guadalmansa, CN340, km 164, Estepona. Tel: 952 798 449

Trocadero arena Open every day for lunch and dinner. Torre Real Beach, Marbella.

Tel: 952 865 579

trocadero beach Open daily for lunch and dinner. Playa de la Carolina, Marbella.

Tel: 610 704 144

Trocadero Entre dunas Open daily for lunch and dinner. Playa del Pinillo s/n (CEPSA exit next to Marbella Arch), Marbella. Tel: 608 100 945

Trocadero Sotogrande Open daily for lunch and dinner. Paseo del Parque s/n, Sotogrande.

Tel: 956 795 012

UNI Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. At the Puente Romano Hotel on the Golden Mile. Tel: 952 820 900

Venta garcía Open daily for lunch and dinner every day except Monday. Ctra. de Casares km 7, Casares. Tel: 952 894 191

villa padierna club de mar Open daily for lunch from 1pm to 6pm.

CN 340, km 166, Marbella. Tel: 647 791 515

zest Open Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 4:30pm and for cocktail hour from 4:30pm to 8pm. Centro Plaza, Marbella. Tel: 951 319 151

zozoI Open Wednesday to Monday for dinner. Closed Tuesday. Plaza Altamirano 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 858 868

italian Al Dente

Open every day for dinner. Closed on Mondays. Urb. Jardines del

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. THE GUIDE listings

Puerto, local 12, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 906 181

Da Paolo

Amore e Fantasía

Open everyday for lunch and dinner. Muelle Ribera, casa G-H, local 43, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 816 453

Open every day for lunch and dinner from 7pm onwards. Muelle Benabola, Casa 5A, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 813 464

aragona

Don giovanni

Monday. C/ Las Malvas, Edif. Online, Local 4, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 591

Leonardo da vinci Open every night for dinner. Urb. Doña Lola, Local 21-22, Calahonda, Mijas Costa.

Tel: 952 934 667

Rosmarino della piazza Open every day from 12pm ‘til midnight for lunch and dinner. C.C. Pinogolf de Don Carlos 34, Elviria.

Tel: 952 850 148

seraFina

Open every day for dinner. Avda. del Mar 3, Marbella. Tel: 951 134 322

Open Friday to Monday for dinner. At Hotel Finca Cortesín. Ctra. de Casares, Casares. Tel: 952 937 800

Aretusa

Frascati

Open daily for dinner. Front line P. Banús.

Tel: 952 812 898

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plaza de Los Naranjos s/n, Sotogrande. Tel: 952 790 392

Carpaccio

gold restaurant

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Frontline Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 813 357

Open every day from 10am to 12 am. Complejo Benabola 13, Beach Side, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 929 055

Metro

Il Tartufo

nunos

Open from Monday to Saturday for dinner from 6:30pm. C/ Tetuán 9, Marbella. Tel: 951 087 323

Open daily for lunch and dinner. At the Caleta Hotel. Catalan Bay, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 76501

la fiorentina

O mamma mia

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. El Pilar, Local 11 (opposite the Crown Plaza Hotel), Estepona.

Tel: 952 885 765

Open every day except Sunday for lunch and dinner. At El Corte Inglés Food Hall, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 909 990

la pappardella di estepona

Pizzeria Picasso

Asia Food

Open every day for lunch and dinner from 1pm to midnight. Puerto Deportivo de Estepona.

Tel: 952 802 144

Open daily from 12 noon. Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 813 669

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Centro Comercial, Pinares de Elviria, Marbella. Tel: 952 850 060

portofino laguna village

Asian fusion bing

LA pappardella sul mare

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 952 808 035

Open 12.30pm-4.30pm and 6.30pm to 12am daily.

Fuengirola, Paseo Marítimo, L-42C. Tel: 952 470 218

ristorante san martino

asiatico zen

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Pinares de Elviria s/n, Elviria, Marbella. Tel: 952 832 702

Open every day for lunch and dinner except Tuesday lunch. C/ Lirios s/n, Nueva Andalucía.

casa tua Open every evening for dinner. C/ Ortiz de Molinillo 14, Marbella. Tel: 951 712 227

CONRADS IL Ristorante Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Avda. del Prado s/n, Edif. Sport Café, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 628 593 409

Da Bruno Open all day. Da Bruno Cabopino: CN-340 Km. 194,7. Tel: 952 831 918. Da Bruno a Casa: Marbella Mar, Local 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 857 521 – closed on Sunday. Da Bruno A San Pedro: Avda. del Mar, local 1E, San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 860 – closed on Monday. Da Bruno Sul Mare: Edif. Skol, Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 318/19. Da Bruno Mijas Costa: Ctra. de Mijas, km. 3.6, Mijas. Tel: 952 460 724

Open every day for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 952 807 354

la trattoria de marbella Open daily from 1pm to 12.30am. Closed on

Lombardo’s Open daily from 7pm. Galerías Paniagua, Sotogrande, Cádiz. Tel: 956 795 924

MADE IN SARDINIA Open every night for dinner. C.C. Cristamar, Avda.

Julio Iglesias, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 906 608 Open every day for lunch and dinner. Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 446 460

Open from Monday to Saturday for dinner at the Puente Romano Hotel on the Golden Mile.

Tel: 952 771 798

valparaíso Open nightly for dinner. Ctra. Mijas – Fuengirola, km. 14, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 485 996

Villa Tiberio Open Monday to Saturday for dinner. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 178, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 799

mediterranean

Restaurante bar carmen Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, CN 340, km 159, Estepona.

Tel: 952 806 739

oriental

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listings THE GUIDE .

Tel: 952 817 691

BAMBOO Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Ctra. Istan km 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 906 674

Dragón de Oro Open every day from 12.30-4pm and 7pm until midnight. Closed Monday lunchtime. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 141, Urb. Hacienda Guadalupe, Manilva.

Tel: 952 890 956

golden wok Open every day for lunch and dinner. Urb. Marbellamar, Marbella. Tel: 952 866 840

Hanuri KOREAN BBQ & BAR

Roque Club, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 127, San Roque, Cádiz. Tel: 956 613 030

Makitake Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Ribera s/n (above disco Seven), Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 811 592

meca Open every day for lunch and dinner. C.C. Pino Golf, Don Carlos, Local 1, Elviria, Marbella.

Tel: 952 830 365 / 658 646 829

Namazake Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner. Hotel Puente Romano. Tel: 952 820 900

Open Tuesday-Friday dinner only from 6pm ‘til late and Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. C.C. Los Jarales 6, Calahonda.

Tel: 951 406 082/ 952 932 011

Osaka

HIDEYOSHI wagyu

Sakura

Open every day for lunch and dinner.

CN 340, km 178.5, Marbella. Easy parking.

Tel: 952 857 403

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Avda.

Jardines del Puerto, L.5, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 817 536

KABUKI raw

Sapporo

Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner. At Finca Cortesín Hotel. Ctra. Casares s/n, Casares.

Tel: 952 937 800

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Costa del Sol, upper level. CN-340, km. 166 (Estepona).

Tel: 952 888 710

Kaiden Sushi

Sukho Thai

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Centro Com. Guadalmina Alta, Guadalmina 4, local 2, lower floor, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 896 508

Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday.

Centro Comercial Marbellamar. Tel: 952 770 550

Kama Kura

Open for lunch from Monday to Friday and for dinner from Monday to Saturday. C/ Ramón

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 8-11pm. The San

Open every day 13:30-16:00 & 19:30-24:00. CN-340, km. 166 (Benavista). C.C. Costa del Sol. Tel: 952 885 751

Sushi Katsura

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. THE GUIDE listings

Gómez de la Serna, 5, Marbella. Tel: 952 863 193

Tai Pan

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Paseo Marítimo Rey de España, Fuengirola.

Tel: 952 660 084

vegetarian

HAPPY DIVER’S CLUB

loving hut

Atalaya Park Hotel, Marbella. Tel: 609 571 920

HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

palapa

Open daily from 10.30am to 11.30pm. Avda. Miguel Cano 11, Marbella. Tel: 951 245 889

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 808 165

*cinemas & theatres

KRAV MAGA SELF-DEFENCE CENTRE

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL MIJAS

MANOLO SANTANA RACQUETS CLUB

Plaza de la Libertad 2. Mijas. Tel: 952 590 380

Ctra. de Istán, Km 2. Marbella. Tel: 952 778 580

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL TORREMOLINOS

MARBELLA GUN & COUNTRY CLUB

Plaza de España, Recinto Ferial. Tel: 952 379 521

Monda. Tel: 952 112 161

AUDITORIO PARQUE DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN

MARBELLA SPORT

Bahía

Marbella. Tel: 952 825 035

Km 171.5. San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 788 315

At Plaza Village at the Hotel Puente Romano.

Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella.

Tel: 952 818 392

Open every evening for dinner. At Hotel Don Carlos. Avda. Zurita s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

CENTRO CULTURAL EL INGENIO

MULTI SPORT

Garcia Morato, s/n. San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 968

Avda. Picasso 27. San Pedro. Tel: 952 782 801

Casa de la era

CINESA LA CAÑADA

New Concept Training

Thai Style

Open only for lunch – call for times. Ctra. de Ojén, km 0.5, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 625

La Cañada. Marbella. Tel: 902 333 231

cines teatro goya

Monte Paraíso Country Club, Camino de Camoján s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 866 843

Casa Fernando

Avda. Julio Iglesias, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 196 665

02 CENTRO WELLNESS

Open from Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Avda. del Mediterráneo s/n, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 853 344

cinesur

Plaza del Mar. Marbella. Tel: 952 900 420

C.C. Miramar, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 198 605

P-E SPORTS CLUB

MULTICINES ALFIL

DGust

Avda. Camilo José Cela, s/n. Fuengirola.

Tel: 952 800 056

Urb. Parcelas del Golf, Aloha Gardens, N. Andalucía. Tel: 952 818 357

Open seven days a week for dinner. H. Puente Romano, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 177, Marbella.

Tel: 952 777 893

Ta-kumi Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Gregorio Marañón 4, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 839

Teppanyaki samurai Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Manolete 20, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 816 549

thai gallery

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Playas del Duque s/n. Edif. Gaviotas IV, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 813 675

tHapa thai Open every day for lunch and dinner. Urb. Puerto Deportivo 13, Edif. Poniente, Estepona.

Tel: 951 318 445

top thai Open daily for lunch and dinner. Centro Plaza, 64, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 951 319 778

Tse yang Dimsum club Open daily for lunch and dinner except Sundays.

At El Corte Inglés Food Hall, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 909 990

Santiago Open daily for lunch and dinner. Paseo Marítimo, 5, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 078

spanish

Open Monday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. Avda. Duque de Ahumada, Marbella.

Tel: 952 863 780

CN340, Km77,5. Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900 At Hotel Pyr, Puerto Banús. Tel: 655 689 455

qi sport

MULTICINES MEDITERRÁNEO

Urb. La Alzambra, Marbella. Tel: 952 907 090

Mijas. Tel: 952 663 738

SATURNIA REGNA

El Portalón

PALACIO DE LA PAZ

Marbella Tel: 952 761 475, Elviria. Tel: 952 834 835

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch 1-4pm and dinner from 8pm-midnight. Ctra de Cádiz, km 178, Marbella. Tel: 952 827 880

Recinto Ferial. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 589 349

SEVEN STARS SCHOOL

TEATRO ALAMEDA Calle Córdoba 9, Málaga. Tel: 952 213 412

Tai Chi & yoga. Pasaje Estrecho, Estepona.

Tel: 952 923 055

Hacienda

TEATRO CERVANTES

Sport Club Reserva del Higuerón

Open from 1-4.30pm and 7.30 -11pm. Closed on Sunday afternoons and Mondays. Urb. La Alcaidesa, La Linea de la Concepción.

Tel: 956 582 700

Ramos Marín, 199, Málaga. Tel: 952 224 109

Avda. del Higueron, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 565 761

TEATRO CIUDAD DE MARBELLA

SPORTCLUB ROUTE 66

Plaza Ramón Martínez, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 159

Ctra. Mijas, 1.5km. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 461 648

TEATRO SALON VARIETES

SPORTING CLUB ATALAYA PARK HOTEL

La máquina

Emancipación 30. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 474 542

CN340, Km 168,5. Estepona. Tel: 952 888 212

VERACRUZ CINES

TICKET-TO-RIDE

scandinavian

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Sunday.

At El Corte Inglés Food Hall, Puerto Banús.

Tel: 952 909 990

Veracruz. Estepona. Tel: 952 800 056

Cristamar, Pto. Banús. Tel: 952 905 082

YELMO CINEPLEX

Vitality studio

Aloha restaurant

la moraga bistró

Plaza Mayor. Tel: 902 220 922

C.C. Le Village, Marbella. Tel: 952 902 362

Open every evening for dinner from 6pm to 11.30pm. Avda. del Prado s/n, Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 952 811 285

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Ramón Areces s/n, in front of El Corte Inglés, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 448

*gyms & sports clubs

*post offices

Skandies

La red

C.C. Alhamar, CN-340 km 197. Tel: 952 934 684

C.C. El Zoco. Tel: 952 932 175

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 7pm to 11pm. Closed Mondays. Avda. Antonio Belón, 26 (behind the lighthouse), Marbella. Tel: 952 776 323

Open daily from 9.30am to 6pm. Playa La Fontanilla, Marbella. Tel: 952 821 450

ATENAS

El corte inglés

Barquilla 1. Marbella. Tel: 952 776 240

Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 909 990

La Taberna del Alabardero

AZTEC COUNTRY CLUB

Fuengirola

Open everyday for lunch and dinner except Monday. San Pedro Playa, Urb. Castiglone. Tel: 952 785 138. Also at Ctra. de Ronda, km. 167, San Pedro.

Tel: 952 786 265

Urb. Riviera del Sol, Mijas-Costa. Tel: 952 934 477

Tel: 952 467 843

CENTRO DEPORTIVO EL FUERTE

Estepona

Av. El Fuerte s/n. Marbella. Tel: 952 861 624

C/ Málaga 82–84. Tel: 952 800 537

CENTRO DE YOGA Y SALUD INTEGRAL

Fuengirola

Mesón el adobe

Ramón y Cajal 21. Marbella. Tel: 952 773 804

Pza. los Chinorros. Tel: 952 474 384

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Tuesdays.

Avda. La Fontanilla, Edif. Balmoral, Bajo 3, Marbella.

Tel. 600 003 144

Cerrado del águila

Marbella

Mijas Costa, Málaga. Tel: 951 773 523

Jac. Benavente, 14. Tel: 952 772 898

CLUB DEl SOL

Nueva Andalucía

mi taberna

Tennis /paddle classes. Calahonda.

Tel: 952 939 595

C/ Jazmines. Tel: 952 810 887

Dy Gym marbella

Pizarro, 41. Tel: 952 780 39

Paellas y Más

Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 074

Open daily from 10:30am to 11pm. C/ Jacinto Benavente 33, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 511

Dynamic training centre

*train

La Torre

Vila do grove

FITNESS CENTRE NEW STYLE

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle de Honor, Club de Mar, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 811 561

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. C/ Las Malvas, Edif. On Line, Local 2, Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 952 813 415

Amapolas, s/n Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 916

wagamama Open daily for lunch and dinner. 19 Ocean Village promenade, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 44182

Wasabi Open daily from 1.30 pm for lunch and dinner.

C.C. Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 908 577

seafood

cervecería ostrería santiago Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. del Marzo, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 078

El Barlovento Open from 11am-4pm and 7.30-11pm every day except Mondays. Puerto Deportivo de Sotogrande, Cádiz. Tel: 956 790 370

Restaurante La Marina Open every day from 1-4.30pm and 8pm until midnight. Paseo Marítimo s/n, La Atunara, La Linea de la Concepción, Campo de Gibraltar.

Tel: 956 171 531

Marisquería La Pesquera Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plaza de la Victoria, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 170

Restaurante El bote

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

CN340, km 178, Marbella. Tel: 952 827 880

ALHAMAR GYM

C.C. Le Village, Marbella. Tel: 952 775 021

Fuerte Gym Avda. El Fuerte, Marbella. Tel: 952 861 624

GIMNASIO ESTADIO Trav. Huerta de los Cristales, Marbella.

Tel: 952 828 217

Calahonda

San Pedro

Customer assistance T: 952 128 267 General Info T: 902 240 202 Reservations T: 902 240 202 Ave T: 952 128 079

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Top Ranking Pet Blogs If your Facebook or Twitter wall is filled with images of cute pups and kitties, it may be time to take it a step further and start reading some of the world’s most popular blogs. These include: Z Pawcurious: Veterinarian, Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, provides a wealth of information and tips on everything from pet health to cooking, exercise, and more.

There is also a cool humour section and photography of some of the cutest little critters you are likely to come across on the Web! Z Mousebreath: A blog catered exclusively to cat lovers, with columns, humour, news, food and treats, and even cat art and crafting! They also have a cute online store, which is great news for those seeking to please the cat lover who has everything.

Z The Road Forks: The writers of this blog have visited 18 countries to date, providing lots of pics of their adventures alongside their furry friends. They aim to show that you can see the world and bring your pets along with you.

Z My Brown Newfies: This blog is focussed on pet health, products and dogs, but also includes a series of “totally crazy stories” that celebrate the joy that pets bring to our lives.

Z That Mutt: If your dog is cute but a little unruly, you really should read this blog, which centres on how to quell behavioural problems such as barking, biting and furniture chewing. Raw food recipes abound and there is a strong pro-dog adoption feel.

WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

pets THE GUIDE .

Gorgeous West Highland Terrier Wins Crufts Crufts, arguably the most prestigious dog show in the world, took place recently. This year’s Best in Show was a gorgeous West Highland White Terrier, who has finally brought the win back to this breed after a staggering 26 years! Over 22,000 dogs took part in this prestigious fourday event in Birmingham, now in its 124th year. Congratulations to the pooch, Devon, and his owner, Marie Burns, from County Durham.

Children Closer to Pets than Siblings?

Those of us who are lucky enough to have grown up with siblings know how important they are to our lives, yet fascinating new research indicates that children are often closer to their pets than to their brothers or sisters! The 10year longitudinal study of children’s social and emotional development revealed that children who had encountered difficult times in their lives, including divorce, illness or death of a loved one, were more likely to have a close relationship with their pets than their peers, though they fared less well academically and could have more mental health issues. These children were more likely to rely on their pets in tough times than on their siblings. The reason for the results could be that pets accept children as they are, making no judgements and ‘listening’ every time children need them.

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what’s on...

. THE GUIDE what’s on

Events in JUNE

Until June 9 ART – LA CALA del moral

View impressive sculptures from Robert Harding’s Vegetal y Mineral collection, at La Sala Ibn al Jatib. Featuring works inspired on nature. Tel: 951 293 501.

Until June 30 ART – MARBELLA

ceramics, illustrated books and more.

Also until this date, view Jackson Pollock’s mural. Energy Made Visible, a large-scaled painting commissioned

by Peggy Guggenheim. www.museopicassomalaga.org

Until September 30 HOLISTIC RETREATS – MIJAS COSTA

Artist Roger Cummiskey will be exhibiting his colourful work at The Golfer Sports Bar on C/ Pablo Casals.

The title of the exhibition is Abstract Oil Paintings made with a Pallet Knife in Marbella. From 7pm to 10pm every evening. www.rogercummiskey.com

Throughout May and until the end of September, sign up for a four-day holistic retreat, where you will learn asanas, pranayama, meditation, silence, yoga, nidra and mantras, with the aim of achieving a balance of body, mind and spirit. For further information, Tel: 625 853 353.

ART – SOTOGRANDE

NEW AND REGULAR EVENTS

Danish artist living in Spain, Elizabeth Bassadone, presents her latest collection of paintings at the Hotel Club Marítimo in Sotogrande, from June 2 onwards, 7pm to 9pm. The collection, entitled Nature Meets Abstract, features colourful, heavily textured abstract works that take their inspiration from the wild outer world we live in. www.elizabethbassadone.com

Until September 11 ART – MÁLAGA

The Museo Picasso de Málaga presents Juego de Ojos. Fondos de la Colección – a new exhibition exploring the prominence of eyes in many of Picasso’s works. Featuring drawings,

Monthly on different days AMERICAN CLUB – MARBELLA

The American Club Costa del Sol Chapter meets monthly for excursions, sports and social events. Tel: 952 772 789. www.americanclubcostadelsol.com

AMIGOS DE LA CULTURA – COSTA DEL SOL

The members of this cultural group meet at different times and places for lunches, lectures, concerts, ballet, theatre, opera, etc. Further information, Tel: 669 445 809.

Until June 5

SHARK WEEK – BENALMÁDENA Sea Life in Benalmádena invites you to learn hidden facts you may not have known about sharks – for instance, that every year, over 70 million sharks are killed by humans. This special week will feature talks, activities, and 3D shark swimming technology. www.visitsealife.com/benalmadena/en

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE – MARBELLA

Integral Psychotherapist Gabriella Kortsch helps you with everything from relationship breakdowns to depression, poor communication with loved ones or financial stress, at her weekly group meetings, which start at 7:30pm.

For information on locations, info@advancedpersonaltherapy.com

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday JIVE – MIRAFLORES, ESTEPONA AND LA DUQUESA Learn to dance with Colin and the team from Jive Spain at Miraflores Restaurant on Tuesday, El Campanario on Wednesday and El Goleto at Duquesa on Friday. For precise times, colin@jivespain.com

Every Wednesday ART – MÁLAGA

The Museo Picasso de Málaga offers free guided tours in English (included in the entry price), from 11:30am to 2pm.

Tickets cost €8 for adults. Children enter for free. www.museopicassomalaga.org

FLAMENCO – MIJAS

Every Wednesday at 12pm, a dazzling flamenco show takes place at the Plaza Virgen de la Peña in Mijas Pueblo. www.mijas.es

Every first Wednesday of the month CULTURE AND COCKTAIL – MARBELLA The Association of Art and Culture Marbella holds a monthly cocktail at Magna Café at Magna Marbella Golf, from 8pm-10pm. Tel: 627 833 262. www.artandculturemarbella.com

Every Thursday NETWORKING – MARBELLA

The Marbella Business Group holds its weekly breakfast meeting, which features presentations, discussions and introductions of new members. At 8am at the Hotel Senator in Marbella.

To become a member, www.marbellabusinessgroup.com

Every last Friday of the Month COFFEE MORNING – ESTEPONA

ADANA animal rescue charity coffee morning at Plaza Manilva (outside Longman’s Bookshop) 11am – 2pm.

Kennels open 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday and 10am – 2pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Further information, Tel: 952 800 975. www.adana.es

BUSINESS LUNCH – MARBELLA

Marbella Business Institute holds an invitation-only lunch club for local and visiting business people, active and retired. To apply, visit www. marbellabusinessinternational.org

Wednesday June 15

ART FESTIVAL – SOTOGRANDE DFAS De la Frontera presents a fun art festival and garden party at La Cabaña de Sotogrande, located between Mar y Sol and the Sotogrande Hipica (exit 130/131 from the A7). Artists’ stalls open from 11am to 2.30 pm. Come and view the wonderful artwork and maybe even buy an original work to take home. Admission is free, parking is ample and refreshments and tapas will be offered.

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Every Saturday MARKETS – PUERTO BANÚS

Head for the Puerto Banús bullring every Saturday for a fun street market featuring everything from clothing to music, accessories and home ware.

Starts at 9am and ends at 2pm. www.marbella.es

Every First Sunday of the month OPEN DAY – MIJAS

PAD animal shelter, Cerros del Águila, welcomes visitors from 12pm-3pm.

Further information, Tel: 952 486 084. www.padcatsanddogs.org

OCEAN CLUB SATURDAYS – PUERTO BANÚS

Catch some rays by the pool and enjoy a fabulous lunch every Saturday while you enjoy live DJ music and a superb party atmosphere. www.oceanclub.es

dedicated to older people who live alone.

The meeting point is the Marina Málaga, RCM (Explanada Atraque de Cruceros).

Be there at 7:30pm. The walk will commence at 9pm. www.neonnight.es

rolling stones tribute – fuengirola

Enjoy a night out celebrating 50 years of the Rolling Stones with The Honky Tonk Cats, starting at 8pm. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

Charity car run – marbella

The Rotary Marbella – Guadalmina is holding a fun car run from Marbella to the Guadalhorce Valley to raise funds for destitute people in La Línea. For precise information, contact Alan on Tel: 647 284 642

PASIÓN VEGA – MARBELLA

Enjoy two days of dance workshops and performances at San Pedro Boulevard’s outdoor amphitheatre.

Pasión Vega is undoubtedly one of Spain’s most highly regarded singers and on this night, she will be performing at the Estadio Municipal de Marbella at 10pm. Tickets start at €33. For tickets, www.elcorteingles.es

Saturday June 4 CHARITY WALK –MÁLAGA

Saturday June 4 to Saturday June 30 ART – MARBELLA

Friday June 3 to Saturday June 4 DANCE – San pedro

Málaga’s stunning Muelle Uno will set the scene for the start of Neon Night Málaga, a charity walk organised by Fundación Harena. All proceeds will to towards the programme Solitude 0 – Life 10,

The Museo Ralli presents the exhibition Portraits of Women, featuring a host of classical and avante-garde works created between 1900 and 1980.

Featured artists include Marie Laurencin,

Louis Latapie and Nicolas Tarkhoff. www.museoralli.es

Sunday June 5 FLEA MARKET – MIJAS

If you’re free on Sunday, visit the flea market at Valparaíso Restaurant in Mijas, to raise funds for Cudeca. Bring your own 3m table and sell your collectables. www.cudeca.org

MIAMI GRILL – ESTEPONA

Puro Beach at Laguna Village presents a Miami grill evening, featuring fantastic meat dishes and sides, as well as live music. For reservations, Tel: 952 800 115. www.purobeach.com

CLASSICAL MUSIC – Sotogrande

Coro y Orquestra Collegium Musicum Costa del Sol Chamber Orchestra present Messa Di Gloria by Puccini, and Morceau de Concert by Saint-Saens, at 8pm at the Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Merced in Sotogrande. www.colmus.org

Saturday June 6 to Sunday June 12 FERIA – MaRBELLA

Marbella’s yearly San Bernabé fair will feature dancing, fireworks and fairground rides. At the Marbella fairgrounds.

Thursday June 9 to Sunday June 12 YOGA AND AYURVEDA – MARBELLA

hand of master Sudhir Tiwari, who hails from a long line of renowned traditional yoga masters. The focus of the workshop will be on pranayama, asanas, kriyas, Ayurveda and meditation.

Sunday June 12 CHARITY PARTY – MARBELLA

Villa Tiberio restaurant on Marbella’s Golden Mile will be hosting a fun summer party, all proceeds from which will go towards Children with Cancer UK. Featuring a lovely dinner and entertainment by West End performer Lauren Samuels, Britain’s Got Talent’s Charlotte Jaconelli, and actress Clair Huckle. www.villatiberio.com

Thursday June 16 to Thursday July 28 ART – FUENGIROLA Double Tree by Hilton Resort & Spa Reserva del Higuerón will be hosting a joint exhibition by modernist painter Kay Hutchinson and sculptor, J. Hilera. The event has been organised by Art Moves.

Tel: 629 087 246.

Thursday June 30 RAT PACK LIVE – BENALMÁDENA

The Hotel THB Torrequebrada will be hosting The Rat Pack Live with Big Band Concert at 9:30pm. For tickets, www.elcorteingles.es

Clínica Buchinger will be holding a yoga and Ayurveda event under the guiding

Friday June 24

Thursday June 23

The ’King’, Elvis, is back in the form of Mark Connor and the Visions of Vegas Band, who will be playing as the only fully licensed, live Elvis tribute show at the Mijas Auditorium. The band will provide the complete Elvis Vegas experience, playing hits such as Suspicious Minds, Devil in Disguise, Viva Las Vegas and many others that made Elvis Presley so famous during his years in Las Vegas. Tickets available at El Corte Inglés and many more establishments. For further information, elvistribute1@hotmail.com

La Noche de San Juan is one of the most celebrated along practically all the Coast’s beaches every summer, to mark the feast day of Saint John with beach bonfires, fireworks and more. Puro Beach at Laguna Village will be hosting a special evening featuring live entertainment and excellent cuisine. For further information, Tel; 952 800 015. www.purobeach.com

ELVIS TRIBUTE – MIJAS

SAN JUAN NIGHT – ESTEPONA AND ALONG THE COAST

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. THE GUIDE stars

www.russellgrant.com

Russell Grant’s Monthly Horoscope June 2016

Striking a balance between your personal and professional lives will be challenging during the second half of June. You can find an innovative solution to this problem on the 20th

GEMINI May 22nd - June 21st It will be difficult to move ahead at work in early June. Your best bet is to lay low and wait for stronger leadership. If you’re facing an intolerable situation, it may be necessary to quit. Resist the urge to burn bridges, especially around the 5th, when the New Moon will make you very headstrong. Don’t undermine your professional reputation for the sake of telling someone off. Asserting your needs will become easier this month, when a passive/aggressive authority figure is removed from the mix. Although it will take some time to establish a rapport with your new leader, you won’t feel nearly as defeated. Striking a balance between your personal and professional lives will be challenging during the second half of June. You can find an innovative solution to this problem on the 20th, when the Full Moon allows you to let down your defences with a loved one.

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ARIES [21 mar - 20 APR]

Stubborn fears could hold you back in the opening days of the month. It’s time to face the phobias that have prevented you from taking risks and acquiring new skills. Be gentle with yourself, especially on the 5th. That’s when the New Moon will force you into unfamiliar territory. It may be difficult to absorb some complicated information. Resist the urge to throw in the towel. Arguments over money management could erupt during the first half of June. Try to remember you and a romantic partner are on the same team. Break free of a limiting cultural, religious or political belief system in mid-June; you should adopt a more receptive attitude towards people who are different from you.

The Full Moon on the 20th will prompt you to pursue a more liberating philosophy of life. It will be easier to get financial assistance from a bank or lending institution as June turns to July.

TAURUS [21 apr - 21 may]

Money will be tight in early June, so be as conservative as possible with your resources. Lending money to a loved one could end in disaster. It’s better to keep friendship and finance separate. The New Moon on the 5th will force you to spend money as quickly as you make it. This financial uncertainty could take its toll on your love life. Arguing about bills can cause resentment.

The two of you need to come together as a team and create a budget. Cutting back on luxuries is painful, but it’s also necessary, especially around the middle of the month. On the 20th, the Full Moon could allow you to pay off a sizable debt. The sense of liberation could be overwhelming. Going on an overseas trip will be great fun towards the end of June. A change of scenery will improve your outlook and restore your confidence. Take control of your destiny.

CANCER [22 Jun - 23 Jul]

It may be difficult to get a good night’s sleep in early June. Problems at work are weighing on your mind. It’s possible you are out of your depth.

Getting additional training is critical to your success.

Unfortunately, it may be difficult to find an affordable course. You might feel isolated and alienated on the 5th, when the New Moon pushes you onto the sidelines.

Instead of resenting your solitude, try to embrace it. You can be very productive when left to your own devices.

Developing a unique product or service will increase your stature at work. Turn a deaf ear to a stuffy colleague who mocks your efforts. This naysayer is just jealous of your initiative. The Full Moon on the 20th may result in a job offer. Seize this opportunity to venture into a rapidly growing field. Your best friend or romantic partner will offer their full support. Let their encouragement push you forward.

LEO [24 Jul - 23 Aug]

Arguments in your social circle will erupt at the beginning of June. You’re about to learn who is loyal and who is not. Don’t be afraid to break off a relationship with someone who is in the grips of an addiction or involved with criminal activity. Think how your reputation has been affected by associating with this troublemaker. The New Moon on the 5th will show you the price of such friendships. Don’t let someone blame you for their bad behaviour. Getting a change of scenery will be a good remedy for this problem. Take an interesting trip with someone special in June. You’ll reap the rewards of a gamble on the 20th, thanks to the

supportive Full Moon. A moneymaking opportunity is on the horizon at the end of June. Be ready to accept this offer at a moment’s notice. You’ll be eager for a change during the final days of the month.

VIRGO [24 AUG - 23 SEP]

Work will be a source of stress at the beginning of June. Your boss will want you to put in as much time as possible at the office, which will undermine your personal life. Try to explain the situation to your best friend or romantic partner. Be honest about your lack of availability. If the situation is temporary, you can ride out this storm. Are you facing an indefinitely busy time? You may want to seek a less demanding job. A well-connected friend could lead you to a good position that will allow more personal freedom. Launching a home-based business is also possible, particularly near the 20th. That’s when you can use the strength of the Full Moon to strike a better balance between work and home. Spending quality time with your amour will be enriching for you both as June turns to July. Think about taking an extended break together.

LIBRA [24 SEP - 23 Oct]

It will be difficult to find a channel for your expertise at the beginning of the month. Don’t be surprised when you’re expected to perform jobs that are beneath your skill set. By adopting a humble attitude and working where you are needed, you’ll make a good impression. The New Moon on the 5th may require you to come into work on your day off. Resist the urge to complain. Things will improve around the middle of June. Meeting a debt could be difficult; instead of skipping a payment, contact your creditor. It may be possible to avoid some hefty penalty fees. On the 20th, the Full Moon will bring an end to a neighbourhood construction project. It should be easier to get around after this pivotal day. A home improvement project will be successful towards the end of June. Improve the plumbing, upgrade the electrical system or repair structural damage. Moving to a peaceful neighbourhood is also a possibility.

SCORPIO [24 Oct - 22 NOV]

Money will be tight at the beginning of June. This isn’t a good time to splash out on luxuries. Be as resourceful as possible with your income and make resources stretch as far as possible. A demanding relative or romantic partner will try to make you feel guilty about these reduced circumstances. Don’t take the bait. You may be tempted to make an expensive purchase on the 5th, due to a challenging New Moon.

Instead of shopping, you will be better off spending quality time with a supportive friend or relative. The Full Moon on the 20th can improve your financial situation, but only if you’re willing to accept an unorthodox job offer. Working unusual hours can give you a chance to pay some bills and put some money into savings. You’ll make a very good impression on job interviews. If you play your cards right, you could have your choice of several employment offers.

SAGITTARIUS [23 NOV - 21 DEC]

A close friendship or romantic relationship will experience stress in the opening days of June. No matter how hard you try, it will be difficult to resolve your differences. The two of you may decide to part ways

on the 5th, when the New Moon underscores these conflicts. If you decide to stay together, you’ll have to be more respectful and encouraging towards one another. Be honest about the situation; prolonging it will only cause more pain. Your home will be a comforting place to recover and heal. Let your family pamper you throughout June. Self reliance is overrated. Putting your needs first will be imperative on the 20th, when the Full Moon makes you realise the full extent of your sacrifices. Take this opportunity to enjoy your favourite hobbies, food and pursuits. An exciting job offer will be a welcome diversion at the end of the month. This position will improve your financial situation.

CAPRICORN [22 DEC - 20 Jan]

Your health will be delicate in early June. Don’t tax your system with sugar, fat and alcohol. A diet that is mainly comprised of fresh produce, lean protein and whole grains will keep your strength up. It’s also important to take exercise each day. Instead of throwing yourself into a vigorous workout, simply take a brisk walk on your lunch hour. Getting more sleep is also advised. The New Moon on the 5th could draw your attention to a nagging ache or pain. Get a medical consultation as soon as possible, so a small problem doesn’t develop into a chronic condition. The Full Moon on the 20th will be good for dealing with a bureaucratic institution. This will be a good time to submit paperwork or apply for a license. You may be offered a teaching opportunity at the end of the month. Getting paid to share your expertise will be profoundly fulfilling.

AQUARIUS [21 JAN - 19 FEB]

Resist the urge to take emotional and financial risks at the beginning of June. As much as you crave adventure, it’s better to maintain the status quo. If you’ve been harbouring a crush on someone, stay silent. Hidden facts about the object of your affection could soon come to light, changing the way you feel. Are you already in a relationship? The two of you could undergo a rough patch. The New Moon on the 5th may prompt you to go your separate ways, due to a basic incompatibility.

Instead of running right into another relationship, concentrate on building friendships with neighbours and colleagues. Old alliances could fall by the wayside during June; you no longer want to mix with people whose views you find offensive. On the 20th, you’ll have an opportunity to end some toxic alliances. Money from a grant, loan or scholarship could become available as June turns to July.

PISCES [20 Feb - 20 Mar]

Home life will be stressful at the beginning of June. It will be impossible to get your needs met by self absorbed relatives. Instead of looking to them for support, seek to satisfy your own needs. You might decide to move into your own place. Resist the urge to sign a lease on the 5th, when the New Moon will tempt you into making a hasty decision. Hold out for a place that is within your budget and well located. Your boss or your own business affairs could put pressure on you in June, demanding you work extra hours. If you satisfy their demands, a pay rise or promotion could arrive near the 20th. Alternatively, you may become so frustrated with your employer that you find a different job during the second half of June.

Either way, you will emerge more successful than you did at the start of the month. Steering a friendship into romantic waters is possible as June turns to July.

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. THE GUIDE family

June Calendar JUNE 3-4 SAN PEDRO DANCE FESTIVAL Enjoy two days of festive fun and free dance workshops, shows, performances and the semi-final’s of Bachata held at the outdoor amphitheatre on the San Pedro Boulevard.

JUNE 6-12 FERIA DE SAN BERNABÉ Don’t miss one of Marbella’s most famous fairs – by day or by night.

This week is chock full of fun and kicks off June 6 with fireworks on the beach! At the Marbella Fairgrounds.

MARBELLA

ADVENTURE

&

SPORTS

The sun is out to stay so it’s time to play!

With summer officially beginning and the kids finishing off their final exams, you’ll want to make sure you have a shortlist of engaging activities in your diary this month. Here you’ll find our top tips for adventure and sports activities for the whole family.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Whether you’ve never been on a horse or are an experienced rider, Pony Club Villacana is a recommended equestrian centre that has quickly gained notoriety as a family-friendly destination. They offer a complete riding school, kids camps and a venue that is perfect for a birthday party or event. www.marbellahorses.com

FAMILY BIKE TOURS

A delightful and healthy way to experience the charm of Marbella up close. You can also head up to the nearby mountains and enjoy the incredible scenery on well marked paths. This rental company has bikes for all ages and will pick-up and deliver them right to your doorstep. Don’t forget to ask about recommended trails for spectacular views of the Mediterranean. www.marbellarentabike.com

DOLPHIN TOURS

Not only can you easily charter a luxury yacht for your family, you can also introduce them to one of the most incredible species on the planet. The Mediterranean is teeming with sea life, making it a perfect habitat for glistening dolphins. It’s awe-inspiring to see hundreds of them playing just meters off the Marbella coastline. www.marbellacharter.net

RIVER CANYONING

The active rivers in and around Marbella offer a truly unique experience for adventurists seeking this unique sport. If you haven’t done it before, it’s best to go with a guide who can advise you on the preferred local rivers and provide you with the necessary safety precautions so you can enjoy the ride. The photos you’ll take will be unforgettable and it’s one of the best ways to get cool under the scorching Spanish sun! www.teamxtreme.es

JET BOAT EXPERIENCE

This is an all-new, fun and exciting way to get the sea breeze blowing in your face in a fast-paced jet boat. The boats are

equipped with turbocharged engines that pump out an astonishing 50,000 litres of water per minute, propelling you at up to 40 knots. The captains are well trained and the boats are equipped with security precautions to make the experience safe and enjoyable. www.jetboat.es

RONDA BY GO KART

These street legal go karts are a big hit with those who like speed and the exhilaration of sport driving on a circuitous mountain road. Rather than simply drive to Ronda, you can get behind the wheel of one of these sporty karts and have fun all the way. It’s a head-turning way to drive through local villages as you soak up the local charm. www.kart4fun.es

Want more? For details on any of these activities as well as other family-friendly recommendations, download the complete ADVENTURE & SPORTS GUIDE at www.marbellafamilyfun.com

JUNE 7 CHILDREN’S MUSICAL The kids can enjoy a magical book performance starring singer, Elsa Anka, on the first evening of the Marbella Fair. Free entrance for those that arrive early. At 9pm, Marbella Fairgrounds.

JUNE 8 CHILDREN’S PARTY Here’s a great way kids can enjoy meeting up with other Marbella children. This event will feature trampolines, bouncy castles, a huge slide, rock climbing, fun workshops, entertainment, food and lots of surprises. At 7pm, Marbella Fairgrounds.

JUNE 10 SWEET CALIFORNIA MUSIC CONCERT Three young singers will be performing a funky, fresh and fun music concert at the Marbella Fair.

At 11pm, Marbella Fairgrounds.

JUNE 11 BEAUTIFUL SINGER MERCHE IN CONCERT Another great musical performance is scheduled at the Marbella Fairgrounds. Free entrance for first arrivals. Merche will be performing Quiero Contarte to get everyone into a festive mood. At 11pm, Marbella Fairgrounds.

JUNE 12 DANCE WORKSHOPS & FINALE PERFORMANCE If you love dance, this will be the day you can enjoy performances by professionals and even take part in a free dance workshop. At 8.30pm, Marbella Fairgrounds.

JUNE 23 NOCHE DE SAN JUAN This is a Spanish tradition unlike any other. The beaches will be ablaze on the first night of summer as Spaniards gather to celebrate around huge bonfires before jumping in the sea at midnight. Numerous Beaches along the Costa del Sol e

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Welcome to the Marbella Club Kid’s Club Memories to last a lifetime

Come and join us as we open the doors to our Kids Club, a place where

all the ingredients have been carefully chosen to form a playful and dynamic space that invites to explore, discover and experience. There will be something for everyone to enjoy and to be inspired by. Our programme has been specially designed to help develop and nurture special talents, teach essential life skills and offer a truly extraordinary childhood experience.

Open 365 days of the year from 10am to 6pm and intended for children aged 4-14, the Kid´s Club has something to suit the personality and interests of every child.

Be ready to roll up your sleeves and get creative in the Garage Kitchen or let your imagination run wild in the arts and craft studio.

We are delighted to announce a unique

opportunity to become a member of our Kid’s Club. We are now offering a limited number of memberships for families here in the Marbella area and also for those who are not based here but who visit Marbella on a regular basis.

Sport lovers will burn off excess energy with the extensive range of action-packed sports and seaside activities on offer, including sea kayaking and paddle surf.

If you wish to receive further information about our Memberships please contact Marta Arrese / arrese@marbellaclub.com

Marbella Club Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, 29602, Marbella, Málaga, Spain (34) 952 822 211 Fax (34) 952 82 88 84 marbellaclub.com

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BORA BORA BEACH CLUB MARBELLA Paseo Marítimo de San Pedro de Alcántara. Marbella T. 952 789 100 www.boraboramarbella.es

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