Radlett & Elstree Life Mar 2011

radlett LIFE

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q uality

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THE LEGEND OF STANLEY KUBRICK SUPPORTING THE SARRIES THE 157TH BOAT RACE 2012 TICKETs APPLICATION

london fashion week

Autumn/Winter 2011Collections LO C A L

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Welcome to our March issue.

The vibrant and Internationally renowned London Fashion Week is always exciting and inspirational. Last month’s event proved to be just that. London Fashion Week presented another unrivalled opportunity for both established designers and newcomers to present their latest collections.

Stanley Kubrick was an American director, writer, producer, & photographer.

He lived in Harpenden during the last 30 years of his career. Nominated several times for Oscars for both writing and directing, we take a closer look at the fascinating career and legacy of Stanley Kubrick.

Origin leisure

The idea for a rowing race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge came from two friends - Charles Merivale, a student at Cambridge, and his Oxford friend, Charles Wordsworth. We take a closer look at the fascinating history and this years exciting event.

London Hilton on Park Lane is rolling out the red carpet for this year’s much anticipated Royal Wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.

In the heart of Mayfair, London Hilton, located on the prestigious Park Lane, the hotel is only a stone’s throw away from Buckingham Palace, making it an ideal location to celebrate the day as the wedding unfolds.

This gives you just a small taste of exciting events and articles featured in this month’s issue, until next month...

Origin

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Faye Manning Editor

PUBLISHED BY THE FISH MEDIA GROUP LTD, The Ridings, Woodfield Lane, Essendon, Herts , AL9 6JJ.

0844 800 8439 www.lifemagazines.com

Editor Faye Manning Editor Assistant Katie Miller Sub Editor Alex Lux Fashion Editor Hazel Englander Education Development Manager Corinne Sugar Design & Production Toni Perry Accounts/Admin Kathy Manning, Ken Fleet Sales Jason Trotman, James Marshall Directors Rory Smith, Patrick Smith

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local life

Be part of your local magazine!

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hen you read fascinating stories concerning local people, local businesses, good causes and the countryside, towns and villages that you are part of, don’t you sometimes think that there are other topics that would look good in print?

Are you perhaps a keen amateur photographer producing shots taken in the immediate area that would complement and enhance the articles in the magazine?

Well – Now’s your chance to see your name, or that of your organisation in print!

We have highlighted many of the exciting things going on in our area, and would very

much like to encourage more of you to bring your message to a wider audience. So, whether you are a new business in St Albans, a fund-raiser in Radlett, a charity organiser in Totteridge, a life-style coach in Harpenden or a successful community group in Hadley Wood, we would love to hear from you!

perfect grammar or spelling – we will check it before it goes to print!

All you have to do is write an article (something between 1000-1250 words), with photos, and e-mail it to rory@ fishmediagroup.co.uk or call 07817 625 568.

If you want to talk about what you have in mind, or would like some advice as to how to get the best from the topic you want aired, then please include a contact number so that we can help you. Remember, “Life Series” set of magazines publishes articles about stories of general local interest, so please don’t send us the account of great-aunt Maud’s birthday or your precious offspring’s coming of age!

You’ll get the idea of the sort of thing we are looking for by browsing through this edition of the magazine. Don’t worry too much about

So how about it? Why not get those creative juices going, sit down and start thinking of ways in which you could publicise the part of your Local Life that is most important to you?

We would also be delighted to receive photographs relating to the area, illustrating aspects of local life, commerce or nature. Again, please send your files to the above e-mail address – sorry but we are unable to accept printed media for inclusion in the magazine.

We look forward to hearing from you!

In all cases, material should be original and the work of the author/sender. Fish Media Group reserves the right to edit and/or amend any material and accepts no responsibility for errors or inaccuracies, however caused. Origination and copyright will be acknowledged where appropriate. Usual terms and conditions apply, and are available upon request.

6 march2011

events

8 march2011

events

ExpEriEncE ThE OpEn champiOnship in Style

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hether with friends, family or colleagues, golf ’s capacity for bringing people and business together is unrivalled. Eight years on since American Ben Curtis won on debut, 2011 will witness The Open Championship’s return to the Kent coast and Royal St George’s.

For golf and sports fans the only way to enjoy this golfing nirvana is with one of The Open Championship Official Hospitality finedining packages. The luxurious 10 march2011

Clubhouse package is hosted in a specially designed, intimate club-style facility within the Hospitality Village, which is a short stroll from either the first tee or 18th green and has private gardens, a large reception area and,

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The Open Championship Official Hospitality has teamed up with both PremiAir and Hilton Hotels and Resorts to extend the hospitality experience beyond the golf course by providing all your transport and accommodation needs.

PremiAir, the UK’s largest operator of executive helicopters are offering a “park and fly” service and with over 13,000 landing sites in its UK database, PremiAir can always source a suitable site close to the required address.

The heliport will be on site at Royal St George’s golf course and car transfers will be on standby for guests to transport them to the hospitality marquees. And whether it is the iconic landmark of The Waldorf Hilton in London’s historic centre, the salubrious surroundings and luxury of the Park Lane Hilton or the convenience of the Hilton Maidstone, Hilton Hotels and Resorts will have the right room for you.

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fL eoantdu or n e EVEnTS

London 2012 ticket sale dates announced Sports fans will be able to apply for london 2012 olympics tickets from mid-March!

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ondon 2012 organisers have announced that tickets for the Olympics will go on sale from 15th March 2011 while Paralympics tickets will become available on 9th September 2011.

Under the process, people will have six weeks to apply for tickets to all 650 Olympics sports sessions and can submit their application at any time, as tickets will not be allocated on a first come,

first served basis. Applications will close on 26th April and all oversubscribed sessions will be allocated via a ballot.

Full details of the process and the final schedule for all sporting events are set to be announced this month.The London 2012 Olympic Games will take place from 27th July to 12th August, and the Paralympic Games from 29th August to 9th September.

The action will centre on the Olympic Park in East London, home to the Olympic Stadium and key venues such as the Aquatics Centre. Other events, such as football and sailing, will take place across the UK. Organisers will reveal more details of the prices and application process for Paralympics tickets later this year.

Seb Coe, chair of the London Organising

“This is a once-in-a-LifeTime opporTuniTy To see The worLd’s greaTesT aThLeTes going for goLd in The uK” SEB COE

ThE GamES will invOlvE: ✱ more than 200 countries ✱ over 10,500 olympic athletes ✱ more than 4,200

paralympic athletes ✱ over 14,000 officials ✱ 26 olympic sports taking

place in 34 venues ✱ 20 paralympic sports

taking place in 21 venues

1 220m a rb cr hu2 a 0 1r1y 2 0 1 1 fe

Committee (LOCOG) said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world’s greatest athletes going for gold in the UK, a chance for people to see their favourite sport and perhaps try a new one. The message is simple – mark the date in your diary and sign up to receive all the information you need to help you with the process.”

Tickets for the London 2012 Festival events will go on sale in Autumn 2011, with further details to be announced in the coming months. www.london2012.com

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local life

stanley Kubrick a LEGEnD in oUR MiDsT

stanley kubriCk was an aMeriCan direCtor, writer, ProduCer, & PhotoGraPher of filMs, who liVed in harPenden durinG the last 30 years of his Career.

K

ubrick was noted for the scrupulous care with which he chose his subjects, his slow method of working, the variety of genres he worked in, his technical perfectionism and his reclusiveness about his films and personal life. He worked far beyond the confines of the Hollywood system, maintaining almost complete artistic control and making movies according to the whims and time constraints of no one but himself, but with the rare advantage of big-studio financial support for all his endeavors.

Nominated several times for Oscars for both writing and directing, his only personal win was for the special effects in 2001: A Space Odyssey, though his films have won many Oscars and other awards in other departments.

Kubrick is widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished, innovative and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. He directed a number of

highly acclaimed and often controversial films that have often been perceived as a reflection of his obsessive and perfectionist nature. His films are characterized by a formal visual style and meticulous attention to detail – often combining elements of surrealism and expressionism with an ironic pessimism, while also being among the “most original, provocative, and visionary motion pictures ever made”. early life Stanley Kubrick was born on July 26, 1928 at the Lying-In Hospital in Manhattan, the first of two children born to Jacques Leonard Kubrick (1901–85) and his wife Gertrude (née Perveler; 1903–85). His sister, Barbara, was born in 1934. Jacques Kubrick, whose parents were of Jewish Austro-Hungarian origin,[5] was a doctor. At Stanley’s birth, the Kubricks lived in an apartment at 2160 Clinton Ave. in The Bronx. Kubrick’s father taught him chess at age twelve, and the game remained a lifelong

obsession. He also bought his son a Graflex camera when he was thirteen, triggering a fascination with still photography. As a teenager, Kubrick was interested in jazz, and briefly attempted a career as a drummer. Kubrick attended William Howard Taft High School from 1941–45. He was a poor student, with a meager 67 grade average.

He graduated from high school in 1945, and his poor grades, combined with the demand for college admissions from soldiers returning from the Second World War, eliminated any hopes of higher education.

Kubrick won an Oscar for Special Effects in 2001: a Space Odyssey... march2011 15

local life

Stanley Kubrick & Tom Cruise on the set of Eyes Wide Shut

Later in life, Kubrick spoke disdainfully of his education and of education in general, maintaining that nothing about school interested him. His parents sent him to live with relatives for a year in Los Angeles in the hopes that it would help his academic growth. While still in high school, he was chosen official school photographer for a year. In 1946, since he wasn’t able to gain admission to day session classes at colleges, he briefly attended evening classes at the City College of New York (CCNY) and then left. Eventually, he sought jobs as a freelance photographer, and by graduation, he had sold a photographic series to Look magazine.

Kubrick supplemented his income by playing chess “for quarters” in Washington Square Park and various Manhattan chess clubs. He became an apprentice photographer for Look in 1946, and later a full-time staff photographer. Many early [1945–50] photographs by Kubrick have been published in the book Drama and Shadows and also appear as a special feature on the 2007 Special Edition DVD of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Personal life Kubrick infrequently discussed personal matters in interview, and rarely spoke publicly at all. Over time, the gamut of his public image in the media ranged from a reclusive genius to a megalomaniacal lunatic shut off from the world. Since his death, Kubrick’s friends and family have publicly denied both of these stereotypes. It is clear that the director left behind a strong family and a circle of close friends, and many of those who worked for him have spoken in his favor. Kubrick’s famous reclusive nature is largely a myth, and may have resulted from his aversion to air travel. Despite once holding a pilot’s license, Kubrick had a fear of flying and refused to take airplane trips.

As a result, he rarely left England in the last forty years of his life. In addition, Kubrick shunned the Hollywood system and its publicity machine, resulting in little media coverage of him as a personality. Upon purchasing the Childwickbury 16 march2011

Manor in Hertfordshire, England, Kubrick set up his life so that family and business were one. He purchased top-of-the-line film editing equipment and owned a number of cameras, which he sometimes used on his own movies.

Children and animals would frequently come in and out of the room as he worked on a script or met with an actor. His appearance was not well-known in his later years, to the extent that a British man named Alan Conway successfully impersonated Kubrick in order to meet several well-known actors and get into fancy clubs. Conway is the subject of the film Colour Me Kubrick (2005), written by Kubrick’s assistant Anthony Frewin and directed by Brian Cook, Kubrick’s First Assistant Director for 25 years. Despite his aversion to international travel, Kubrick was constantly in contact with family members and business associates, often by telephone, and contacted his collaborators at all hours of the day and night for conversations that lasted from under a minute to several hours. Many of Kubrick’s admirers and friends spoke of these telephone conversations with great affection and nostalgia after his death, especially Michael Herr and Steven Spielberg. In his memoir of Kubrick, Herr stated that dozens of people have claimed to have spoken to Kubrick on the day of his death and remarked that “I believe all of them.” Kubrick also frequently invited people to his house, ranging from actors to close friends, admired film directors, writers, and intellectuals.

It was little-known by the public during Kubrick’s life that he was also an animal lover. He owned many dogs and cats, and showed an extraordinary affection for them.Kubrick’s widow, Christiane, in her book version of Stanley Kubrick: A Life In Pictures, wrote that Kubrick brought his cats onto film sets and editing rooms with him in order to spend more time with them. Matthew Modine remembers Kubrick’s being deeply upset when a

family of rabbits was accidentally killed during the making of Full Metal Jacket. Kubrick was so beside himself that he canceled shooting for the rest of the day. Philip Kaplan, one of Kubrick’s lawyers and friends, told the story that Stanley once canceled, at the last moment, a meeting with him and another lawyer who had flown to London from the United States because he had sat up all night with a dying cat and was in no shape to participate. Also, according to Kaplan, the huge kitchen table at Kubrick’s home in Harpenden (Hertfordshire, United Kingdom) was supported by an undulating base with interior spaces, and housed within each curved space was a dog, most of whom were of no recognizable breed, and some not notably friendly to strangers.

Kubrick had a reputation for being tactless and rude to those he worked with. Some of Kubrick’s collaborators complained that his personality was cold and that he lacked sympathy for the feelings of other people. Although Kubrick became close friends with Clockwork Orange star Malcolm McDowell during filming, Kubrick abruptly terminated the friendship soon after the film was complete.

McDowell was deeply hurt by this, and the schism between the two men lasted until Kubrick’s death.

Science fiction writer Brian Aldiss was fired from Kubrick’s never-completed project A.I. for vacationing with his family in violation of his contract, even though Kubrick had put the project on hold at the time. James Earl Jones, despite his admiration for Kubrick on an artistic level, spoke negatively of his experience on Dr. Strangelove, saying that Kubrick was disrespectful to actors, using them as instruments in a grand design rather than allowing them to be creative artists in their own right. George C. Scott, who admired Kubrick in retrospect for reportedly being one of the few people who could routinely beat him at chess, famously resented Kubrick’s using Scott’s most over-the-top

local life

Childwickbury Manor, Harpenden Aerial photo of Childwickbury Manor, Harpenden

Actor Tom Cruise with Christiane Kubrick widow of film director Stanley Kubrick

performances for the final cut of Dr. Strangelove after being promised by Kubrick that they were warmups and would not actually be in the movie.

Kubrick’s employees and crew members have stated that he was notorious for not complimenting anyone, and rarely showed admiration for his coworkers for fear it would make them complacent. Kubrick complimented them on their work only after the movie was finished, unless he felt their work was “genius.” The only actors that Kubrick called “genius” were Peter Sellers, James Mason, and Malcolm McDowell.

Michael Herr, in his otherwise positive memoir of his friendship with Kubrick, complained that Kubrick was extremely cheap and very greedy about money. He stated that Kubrick was a “terrible man to do business with” and that the director was upset until the day he died that Jack Nicholson made more money from The Shining than he did. Kirk Douglas often commented on Kubrick’s unwillingness to compromise, his out-of-control ego, and his ruthless determination to make a film his own distinct work of art instead of a group effort. However, Douglas has acknowledged that a large part of his dislike for Kubrick was caused by the director’s consistently negative statements about Spartacus.

Many of those who worked with Kubrick have spoken kindly of him since his death, including coworkers and friends Jack Nicholson, Diane Johnson, Tom Cruise, Joe Turkel, Con Pederson, Carl Solomon, Ryan O’Neal, Anthony Frewin, Ian Watson, John Milius, Jocelyn Pook, Sydney Pollack, R. Lee Ermey, and others. Michael Herr’s memoir of Kubrick, and Matthew Modine’s book Full Metal Jacket Diary show a much kinder, saner, and warmer version of Kubrick than the conventional view of him as cold, demanding, and impersonal. In a series of interviews found on the DVD of Eyes Wide Shut, a teary-eyed Tom

STANLEY KUBRICK ON THE SET OF SPARTACUS

Cruise remembers Kubrick with great affection; Nicole Kidman shares his sentiments.

Shelley Winters, when asked what she thought of him, answered: “A gift.” Shelley Duvall, who played Wendy in The Shining, had a rocky relationship with Kubrick, but said in retrospect that it was a great experience that made her smarter—though she’d never want to do it again. Malcolm McDowell acknowledged in retrospect that some of his statements about Kubrick were “unfair” and were a “cry out” to Kubrick to reconnect with him.

Childwickbury Manor, Harpenden Film director Stanley Kubrick bought Childwickbury Manor in 1978. The Manor is located St Albans and Harpenden. Previous owners were the Lomax family who bought the house in 1666 and who lived there until 1854 when Joshua Lomax sold it to Henry Hayman Toulmin, a wealthy ship owner and High Sheriff of Hertfordshire and mayor of St Albans. Toulmin left the property to Sir John Blundell Maple around 20 years later. Toulmin’s granddaughter, the author Mary Carbery, was born at the house.

Sir John Blundell Maple bred and raced Thoroughbreds and built Childwick Bury Stud into a very successful horse breeding operation. Another prominent racehorse owner, Jack B. Joel, bought the estate including the stud farm farm in 1906. On his death in 1940, his son Jim Joel took over the operation. He too became a successful racehorse owner and breeder and maintained the property until 1978 when the stud and the manor were sold separately. It was advertised thus: “The Manor House, mainly 18th century has 12 Reception Rooms, 18 Bed and Dressing Rooms, 11 Staff Bedrooms, and 10 Bathrooms. Immaculate Timbered Grounds. Walled Garden. Courtyard with Garaging and Flat. Estate Office. Victorian

Dairy House with about 19 Acres. Two Coach House Cottages with Magnificent Stable Yard with Paddock and Woodland 16 Acres. Cheapside and Shafford Farms, 2 Well Equipped Corn and Stock Farms with about 724 Acres. 146 Acres of Timbered Parkland, 37 Acres of Railed Paddock and 104 Acres of valuable Commercial Timber”. In addition there were “18 Attractive Houses and Cottages, some with Paddocks. Old Mill and other Buildings for conversion, Stud Buildings, 30 Loose Boxes, Potential Riding School, and fishing in River Ver and Mill Race. Total 1,100 Acres” The stud was sold to the Marquesa de Moratella. He used the estate as both a home and a nerve centre for his film productions. He lived there until his death in 1999 and is interred on its grounds. His widow, Christiane Kubrick, still lives in the manor house.

Feature Films Kubrick made only thirteen feature films in his life.

His oeuvre was comparatively low in number, considering the output of his contemporaries such as John Ford or Federico Fellini, due to his methodical and meticulous dedication to every aspect of film production. A number of his films are recognized as seminal classics within their genre.

Year Title 1953 Fear and Desire 1955 Killer’s Kiss 1956 The Killing 1960 Spartacus 1962 Lolita 1964 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned

to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 1968 2001: A Space Odyssey 1971 A Clockwork Orange 1975 Barry Lyndon 1980 The Shining 1987 Full Metal Jacket 1999 Eyes Wide Shut march2011 17

l o c a l Wa l k

sUMMER waLKs WORDS NICK CORBLE

it SeeMS reaSOnaBle tO aSSuMe that the roman CitY oF VeruLamium, SOuth WeSt OF moDern DaY St. aLBanS, and the riVer that runS thrOuGh it, the Ver, are naMed aFter each Other – But whiCh Came FirSt?

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e can probably start by assuming that the river predates any human settlement, with the Ver running as a chalk stream with its source in Markyate and flowing through Redbourn, St. Albans and Park Street before joining up with the River Colne at Bricket Wood, a grand distance of twelve miles.

These days, the river itself may seem relatively insignificant, but it wasn’t always so. For a long time it was in fact navigable and it was this feature which contributed to the first settlement around St. Albans. This wasn’t the Roman city

we are familiar with today through the exhibits at the Verulamium Museum and the remnants of wall scattered around the site, but the capital of the Catuvellauni tribe and built by their leader Tasciovanus who gave it the name Verlamion. It was around this time that the first recorded usage of the name ‘Ver’ can be dated, with Tasciovanus issuing gold coinage with the three letters ‘V’, ‘E’ and ‘R’ stamped on the obverse, and in this pre-Roman form it was one of the earliest places to be recorded by a name.

Verlamion actually translated as ‘settlement

THE BRIdgE dIVIdINg THE TwO ARTIFICIAL LAkES NOw ON THE ORIgINAL SITE OF VERULAMIUM

18 march2011

wHERE ONCE wAS MARSH THERE ARE NOw TwO LAkES

above the marsh’, and the area below the Cathedral we now know as The Lake was at that time exactly that, a marsh. The Romans however had a preference for settling in valleys rather than hillsides and so, having subjugated the local Britons they set about controlling the river, giving their new settlement the new name of Verulamium.

At this point the link between Verulamium and the Ver became firmly established, making it difficult to prove which came first. Given the Ver’s importance at the time however, coupled

l o c a l Wa l k

THE VER UPSTREAM FROM ST.ALBANS

with the early use of the name by the Catuvellauni, the river probably has the strongest claim. But what happened to it after the Romans? It would seem that it continued its economic importance, with no less than eleven mills known to have existed along its length, including Redbournbury and Kingsbury, with the latter at the northern entrance to the modern park and the starting point for the walk described opposite and one of three mills in St. Albans recorded as early as the Domesday Book.

In more modern times the river’s significance diminished however. In the 1930s its marshy nature was tamed when it was channelled and the surrounding swampland was drained and later on over-enthusiastic extraction upstream led it to begin to dry up, a feature it was already prone to through its nature as a winterbourne (flowing only in Winter) north of Redbourn.

Closure of one of the guilty pumping stations in 2005 offered some hope and subsequently plans have been laid to restore the Verulamium site to its former marshy nature with a view to transforming it into a nature reserve.

The Ver is more than Verulamium however, and it rewards walkers prepared to follow its course either north or south of St. Albans. The following walk described a circular route to the south and gives a glimpse of the river once it is freed from its man-made constraints.

REdBOURNBURY MILL, ONE OF ELEVEN THAT USEd TO SIT BY THE VER

THE WALK This walk starts at Kingsbury Mill – follow signs for Verulamium and park along St. Michael’s Street.

DISTANCE OS ExPLORER

3¾ MILES 182 ST. ALBANS AND HATFIELD GR 139076

An easy walk, but sturdy footwear recommended.

1. Start by Kingsbury Mill and head over the bridge taking you immediately up and over the Ver. Look to your right on the other side of the road and see if you can spot the large clump of Hertfordshire pudding stone, a naturally occurring conglomerate particular to this part of the country. After the bridge head left into the park, with the river to your left and a pair of lakes up ahead of you.

2. The route continues with the lake to your right and the river to your left. There is no shortage of birdlife here, primarily various breeds of duck, geese and swans, and herons have been known to nest occasionally on one of the islands in the centre of the lake. In fact, the sheer quantity of birds became a problem around the turn of the millennium, attracted by the slices of bread offered by little children, and action had to be taken to redress the ecological balance. Continue to the end of the lake and head up and then right, picking up a public footpath down some steps behind the public convenience block.

3. The river now frees itself of its shackles, winding its way through various fallen trees and becoming a host to more reeds and weeds.

Stick with the river all the way to a road, keeping to the left of an open area of ground known as Westminster Lodge. Cross over the river using an elegant wooden bridge, cross the road and bear right, immediately crossing back

over the river. Pick up a path on your left and follow this to another bridge, an altogether more functional metal one this time, taking note of the old waterworks on your left. The river reappears after a short period of absence and there’s a good view of St. Albans Cathedral to the left, with allotments on the other bank.

4. Stick with the river along what the waymarkers describe as the Ver Valley Walk to reach another road where the disused City of St. Albans swimming baths stand on the left, along with an inscription dating them at 1905.

On meeting the road bear right and cross over the river and then over the road before picking up the path on the other side, again going down some steps. Follow the path and just before an old railway bridge turn left and climb the steps which take you up to a disused railway where you need to turn right. Keep going until you pass under another bridge after which you need to turn right, passing a youth club, following signs for Verulamium Park.

5. Enter a built up area and take the first left, Prospect Road, for a short urban stretch of the walk. On reaching a main road cross over, using the pedestrian crossing, and enter the other side of Westminster Lodge. Stick with the path passing a (functioning) swimming pool and then an athletics track until you reach a section of the old wall that used to enclose the Roman town of Verulamium. Bear right and rejoin the larger of the two lakes seen earlier, this time passing along the opposite shore, heading left.

From here it’s a simple matter of re-tracing your steps back to the pub.

This walk is featured in the forthcoming book ‘Waterside Walks in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire by Nick Corble, published by Countryside Books. march2011 19

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ast season, Saracens came within a minute of winning their first Premiership title in what many described as the ‘best ever’ final when a late Leicester Tigers try broke the hearts of the players and supporters at Twickenham – but this year the plan is to go one better.

Going into the closing matches in the Aviva Premiership, Saracens are in second place in the league table and looking to secure a home semi-final in the play-offs, but in their way are fellow contenders Bath and Gloucester.

Bath are the visitors to Vicarage Road on

Sunday 3rd April, kick off 2.15pm, for what will be a great day out on and off the pitch. It’s Mother’s Day so why not give your Mum a break and come along to the game. In fact, KIDS GO FREE with all tickets purchased between 14th and 18th March (Terms & Conditions apply).

march2011 21

f e at u r e

There will be plenty to keep everyone on the edge of their seats before the action starts on the pitch with music, dancing and other fun and games in the build-up to kick-off.

And at 2.15pm, Saracens and Bath go head to head in what always promises to be one of the best games of the season. The game sees current England captain Lewis Moody line-up for Bath while former England captain Steve Borthwick will lead out Saracens.

Some of the best players in the league will be on show in the game. With the likes of Butch James, Nick Abendanon and Lee Mears in the Bath line-up, they will come face to face with Schalk Brits, Brad Barritt and David Strettle wearing Saracens colours.

When the two teams met earlier in the season in Bath, a resilient display from the Saracens youngsters secured a 17-13 victory against the home side. Sarries were detail a blow on the morning of the game when Alex Goode and Brad Barritt were both ruled out through injury and then centre Adam Powell left the field with a shoulder injury midway through the first half.

But a second half try from Kameli Ratuvou and a score from James Short on his Premiership debut secured the win. The game also saw two other Sarries youngsters, Jackson 22 march2011

f e at u r e

Under new Director of Rugby Bryan Redpath they are now pushing for a place in the end of season play-offs.

Wray and Sam Stanley, make their Premiership debuts and both were in the running for the man of the match award, such was their display.

The young Saracens in the squad have been impressing all season with George Kruis, Jamie George, Andy Saull, Alex Goode and Owen Farrell just some of those English qualified players who have forced their way into the team on merit and have taken their chances.

When the two teams met earlier in the season, James Short’s score had seen Sarries go into the break 13-6 ahead, but a second half score from Charlie Sharples and two Nicky Robinson penalties earned the home side a 19-13 win.

It promises to be a fantastic climax to the

2010/11 campaign, so make sure you are part of it and join us at Vicarage Road for the two remaining fixtures of the season.

To buy tickets to Saracens matches visit www. saracens.com or give them a call on 01727 792800.

All of them will be desperate to play when Saracens round off their season against Gloucester at Vicarage Road on Sunday 24th April, kick off 3pm. You can buy tickets for this Saracens match for just £5 adult and £2 junior as a special offer between 4th and 8th April (Terms & Conditions apply).

Gloucester are currently the in-form team in the Premiership and until the end of March, had won nine successive matches. For many years Gloucester have been the nearly men of the competition having three times missed out in the play-off.

Those defeat seemed to have a deep effect on the team as they have struggled in recent seasons, but under new Director of Rugby Bryan Redpath they are now pushing for a place in the end of season play-offs. march2011 23

events

The 157th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

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t

events

he idea for a rowing race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge came from two friends - Charles Merivale, a student at Cambridge, and his Harrow school friend Charles Wordsworth (nephew of the poet William Wordsworth), who was at Oxford.

On 12 March 1829, Cambridge sent a challenge to Oxford and thus the tradition was born which has continued to the present day, where the loser of the previous year’s race challenges the opposition to a re-match.

The first Boat Race took place at Henley-onThames in Oxfordshire and contemporary newspapers report crowds of twenty thousand travelled to watch. The race was stopped soon after the start and, following the restart, Oxford were clear winners. Cambridge wore pink, the colour of Lady Margaret Boat Club (of St. Johns College), who their captain and two other crew members rowed for.

Oxford have always worn dark blue.

The event was such a resounding success that the townspeople later decided to organise a regatta of their own which duly became Henley Royal Regatta. After the first year, the early Boat Races took place at Westminster in London, but by 1845, when Westminster had become too crowded, the Boat Race moved six miles upstream to the then country village of Putney. In 1856 the race became an annual event (excepting only the war years). The Modern Boat Race still runs along the same lines but has now become a major international sporting occasion drawing millions of viewers from around the world.

The Boat Race course is marked by three classic bends, two in favour of the Middlesex station, on the north bank of the Thames, while the third favours the crew drawn on the opposite Surrey station. In spite of these bends the course is theoretically fair - the start and finish lines are exactly parallel, and in the unlikely event of the crews staying level throughout the race, they will both have covered the magic Boat Race distance of exactly 4 miles 374 yards.

The start of the race is marked by the University

stone, a few hundred yards upstream from Putney Road Bridge and for the first quarter of a mile, as the crews pass the historic boathouses of Putney Embankment.

The Finish Line is just a few yards downstream from Chiswick road bridge and here the crowds on Race Day are as densely packed as those near the Start. What those crowds witness as the crews cross the Line is the ecstasy of the victors and the despair of the losing crew. The Cambridge record breakers of ‘98 got here in 16 mins 19 secs, breaking the previous record by a staggering 26 secs.

Whether one of this year’s crews can come anywhere near that time remains to be seen!

On Race Day up to 250,000 spectators crowd the banks of the Thames from Putney to Mortlake to witness the action.

Cambridge currently lead the series since 1829 by 80-75.

Cambridge won the 2010 Race.

Enjoy the festival atmosphere of the Boat Race by watching for free from one of the many vantage points along the course. You should be able to find a place to watch on either side of the river along the full length of the course, but particular areas to note are: Putney Bridge, Putney Embankment and Bishops Park (at the start); Hammersmith and Barnes (mid-course); Dukes Meadows and Chiswick Bridge (at the finish).

Please do not drive to the race if you have a choice. Parking is limited and for non-residents on the day of The Boat race it is extremely hard to find. You risk listening to the race on the car radio instead of seeing it from the riverbank!

There are large screens at Bishops Park, Fulham and Furnival Gardens, Hammersmith which mean you will be able to watch the whole Race before and after the crews have passed. The parks will also feature food outlets, beer stands and merchandising stalls.

BBC1 will be showing the Boat Race live in the UK, including build up from around 2pm, visit www.bbc.co.uk for more information.

Images: Getty Images

On 12 March 1829, Cambridge sent a challenge to Oxford and thus the TRadiTiOn was born

How to get there...

Bus For the start in Putney, the number 14 bus from Tottenham Court Road and the 22 from Piccadilly Circus will both take you across Putney Bridge.

For the middle part of the Race at the surrey Bend, the number 9 bus from Charing Cross or the 10 from Euston and Oxford Circus or the 27 from Camden will take you to Hammersmith - close to the riverside at Chiswick Malls.

For the Finish in Mortlake, take the 209 or 190 from Hammersmith. Bus routes are shown on all maps.

TRain For the start in Putney, Putney railway station is on Putney High street at the upper Richmond Road. Trains arrive from Clapham Junction, Waterloo or Victoria.

West of Putney, the line divides at the next stop Barnes station - just over a mile away - going towards Barnes Bridge where the finishing stretch begins, or towards Mortlake for the Finish. stations are shown in all maps.

LOndOn undERgROund For the start, East Putney is south of the river and Putney Bridge is north - Putney Bridge is the closest station.

Ravenscourt Park and Hammersmith are closest to the viewing areas at Chiswick Mall. stations are shown on all maps. Hammersmith station is accessible for wheelchairs but the Putney tube stations are not.

For more information: www.theboatrace.org/ march2011 25

Fishpools has grown over the last 111 years and today we are the largest quality furniture store in the south east. Our 60,000 square feet showrooms feature over 200 room sets from classic to contemporary, minimal to vintage and rustic to romantic all designed to help you make your home unique. There are over 200 sofa collections, 120 dining ranges, 100’s of beds, 75 bedroom ranges, and a large carpets & rugs department. Choose from a wide range of linens, softs, pictures and mirrors plus cookware and gifts from our brand new Home Accessories department.

If it’s big name brands you’re after, we stock Stressless, Ercol, Natuzzi, G Plan, Duresta, Collins & Hayes, Nolte, Vi Spring, Tempur and many more.

As a family-run retailer our commitment to great service begins as soon as you enter the store to be greeted by our well trained, knowledgeable people, who will assist you on all aspects of your purchase until it is safely delivered to your home. So pop in, we have ample customer parking, an in-store coffee shop and we look forward to making your acquaintance.

Pescara corner unit in rich leather Just one of over 200 sofa styles in our range Visit our website to see all our ranges

The south east’s largest quality furniture store

High Street Waltham Cross . 01992 63 64 65 . www.fishpools.co.uk

food dr i n k

Gino D’Acampo’s recipe Hertfordshire’s only Michelin starred restaurant The Michelin Guide 2011 Refurbishment of St Michaels Manor Utterly mouth-watering at Thai Sunset march2011 27

food drink

Gino D’Acampo’s recipe for

Zuppa di cipolle e pastina onion and PanCetta souP with Pasta

SERVES

4

INGREDIENTS 150g conchigliette (small shells pasta) 150g of pancetta or bacon rashers, rinds removed 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil 700g of white onions, peeled and finely sliced 1.8 litre of chicken stock, made with 3 chicken stock cubes 1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 6 fresh basil leaves, shredded 4 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper to taste PREPARATION 1. On a chopping board, cut the pancetta into ½ cm pieces and place in a large saucepan.

2. Place the saucepan over a medium heat and start to

28 march2011

fry the pancetta for 2 minutes stirring constantly.

3. Pour in the oil with the onions and stir all together.

Lower the heat and cook for 20 minutes allowing the onions to get a beautiful golden colour. Stir occasionally.

4. Once the onions are coloured, pour in the chicken stock and the chopped tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil.

5. Lower the heat, half cover the pan with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.

6. Add in the pasta and continue to cook on a low heat, without lid, for approx 6 minutes until the pasta is al dente. Stir every 2 minutes.

7. Once the pasta is cooked, take the pan off the heat.

8. Stir in the basil with the cheese and serve immediately with some warm crusty bread.

For more information up to date information on Gino, please visit www.ginodacampo.com

EVEN MORE GINO

You can also get Gino’s lastest book Gino’s Pasta: Everything You Need to Cook the Italian Way, available nation wide and online.

‘Eating Italian’ is the new iPhone

& iPad app from Gino D’Acampo!

Available from the app store.

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John Ladbury & Co ESTABLISHED 1978 • OVER 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

Tel: 01707 262966 www.johnladbury.co.uk Showroom: Unit 11 Alpha Business Park, Travellers Close, Welham Green AL9 7NT

food drink

HERTFORDSHIRE’S ONLY MICHELIN STARRED RESTAURANT E

xecutive chef Phil Thompson and his team have good reason to celebrate since retaining their position in the culinary bible. The Michelin Guide, widely regarded as the most respected source of ranking the world’s most exceptional restaurants, yesterday awarded him a Michelin star for 2011 at Auberge du Lac – the idyllic lakeside restaurant on the Brocket Hall estate - for the third consecutive year.

Thompson, who transformed Hertfordshire’s flagship restaurant in Welwyn since taking over the reins from former Chef Patron Jean Christophe Novelli, adds the award - the most coveted honour for fine cuisine - to the string of accolades he has already garnered.

Of the Michelin star, Thompson, who started his career in the Lanesborough Hotel, Hyde Park,

30 march2011

Current Offers at the Auberge du Lac The Auberge Experience

Accommodation in Melbourne Lodge Dinner in the Auberge du Lac Restaurant Full English Breakfast Morning Newspaper Half bottle of wine on arrival Available Tuesday-Saturday £285.00 per couple

TOP CHEF PHIL THOMPSON STARS IN THE CULINARY BIBLE FOR HIS 3rd CONSECUTIVE YEAR

said, “I am thrilled. Each year is just as hard, if not harder with the bar being raised by adventurous chefs all around the world. This third consecutive year is just as special to me as the first year and highlights the commitment from my team, both front and back of house. I look forward to building on our success.”

Hearing news of the award, Ken Creighton, Managing Director of Brocket Hall International says, “We are all ecstatic. Phil Thompson is an excellent chef and thoroughly deserves the recognition from such a prestigious ranking system regarded as the most reliable source of recommendation”.

Auberge du Lac is located in an 18th century former hunting lodge overlooking the Broadwater Lake and the illustrious stately

The Gastronome

Accommodation in Melbourne Lodge Dinner in Watershyppes Restaurant - night 1 Dinner in the Auberge du Lac - night 2 Full English Breakfast Morning Newspaper Half bottle wine on arrival Available Tuesday-Saturday £495.00 per couple

home that is Brocket Hall. Known as the “foodie´s favourite” both restaurant and chef have received a steady flow of plaudits since Thompson took over as Executive Chef in 2005.

Recently described by the Good Food Guide as, “confidently sailing through the tricky waters of modern cuisine fashioning starstudded dishes that dovetail artisan British ingredients with contemporary French techniques and influences from the Orient,” Thompson seduces his guests with a heady cocktail of the finest gastronomy served in an aristocratic country retreat. That very mix once causing critic Michael Winner to comment, “The tart was totally superb. Close to historic.” A fitting tribute for a fine restaurant steeped in history. www.brocket-hall.co.uk

Pear & Roquefort Mousse Poached Pear 2 Pears 250g White Wine 1 Lemon Zest 1 Vanilla Pod 50g Sugar ½ Cinnamon Stick 1. B ring the ingredients to the boil and burn off the alcohol.

2. Cook for approx. a further 10 – 15 minutes - till pear softens 3. Allow to cool

Roquefort Mousse 75g White Chocolate 200g Double Cream 50g Roquefort 1. M elt the white chocolate 2. Semi-whip the cream 3. W hisk half of the cream into the chocolate and melt in the Roquefort 4. Fold in the rest of the cream and allow to set in the fridge.

To Serve 1. L ayer tempered chocolate using the pear, dice to build height 2. Melt a little chocolate and split with olive oil for the plate 3. Q uenelle the mousse onto the top layer, then serve. march2011 31

The MICheLIN guIde Great Britain & Ireland 2011 ES IT’S RY CELEBRANTN IVERSA 100TH A

i

It might seem bizarre that a company which sells tyres endorsed by a robust marshmallow-shaped mascot publishes one of the most respected dining guides in the world, but there is actually a very simple and logical reason behind how the Michelin restaurant guide, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, got its name.

The first Michelin guide to the British Isles was

3 2 2m m aA rR cC hH2 2 00 1 11 1

As the historic guide celebrAtes its centenniAl, we tAke A look At the origins of the book And whAt those 3 stArs reAlly signify.

published in 1911, with the aim of helping intrepid motorists on their travels.

It was dark blue and largely instructional in nature, with information on road quality and how to change a tyre, as well as details on hotels and repair shops for the inevitable breakdowns. Five editions were initially published, with a break for the First World War, followed by from 1922 to 1930. The current Great

Britain & Ireland guide was launched in 1974 and has been published every year since.

In 2011, the guide continues to respond to the needs of its readers. It recommends a large and diverse selection of hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and pubs in all price categories and across every region of the UK and Ireland. The 1911 guide pointed out amenities such as central heating or electric light but in 2011 is more likely to

highlight outstanding cooking and exceptional wine lists.

Commenting on the 2011 guide, Editor in Chief Rebecca Burr said: “This centenary edition underlines the UK’s greatest strength which is the rich diversity and variety of its restaurants. The country embraces all kinds of restaurants and every type of cuisine and the public’s appetite shows no signs of abating. “There is no doubt that

fOOD DrInK 2010 was a difficult year but those hotels and restaurants that represented value for money, at whatever price, were the ones who were best placed to weather the storm.

We found 12 new one star establishments and awarded 26 new Bib Gourmands which readers particularly appreciate for their moderate prices.”

Highlights in this year’s Guide include two new two-star restaurants, one with a French female chef and the other with a homegrown English chef at the helm: Hélène Darroze at The Connaught in London and Nathan Outlaw in Rock, Cornwall. Included in the list of new one stars is the Pony & Trap in Chew Magna, highlighting the fact that some of the best cooking can be found in our pubs. London continues to show off its diversity: new stars include the delicate, playful cooking of Viajante and the vibrant natural flavours found at Petersham Nurseries Café, its bucolic setting contrasting nicely with the ornate surroundings of Galvin La Chapelle, another recipient of a star.

What the stars mean

Forget five star - Michelin use their own three star ranking system. It may sound odd, but there is a very interesting explanation for the historical significance of its origin.

Currently, the UK has a total of 143 starred restaurants, with 14 new restaurants added this year. Four of these are three star, 16 are two star and 123 are one star. Twenty-six new ‘ Gourmands’were added, which signify restaurants that offer gourmet food at moderate prices.

Things are looking up too, because the UK now has more Michelin stars than ever before.

The 2011 edition is a very special one, because this year marks its 100th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, each guide comes with a booklet recounting the guide’s history.

The fIrsT MIchelIn guide to the BrITIsh Isles was published in 1911

mmAaRrCc Hh 20 2 01 11 13 3 3

food drink

sT MiChaEL’s ManoR T

£½ Million refurbishMent AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AT st alban’s faVourite hotel

he new orangery, known as the Lake Restaurant, at St Michael’s Manor Hotel will re-open more than a week ahead of schedule on 3rd April 2011 … just in time for Mother’s Day. Slightly larger than the old conservatory, the orangery offers even more diners improved views over the fabulous gardens and lake whilst integrating more sympathetically with the main building. Dining capacity will be increased from 90 to around 120.

“We’ve gone for a slightly more modern-classical style that is still in-keeping with the traditional design of the building and, of course, enhances the comfortable atmosphere we’re famous for,” stated Geoff Goddard, Marketing Manager. Along with the

redecoration many of the furnishings and décor throughout the ground floor of the hotel have been refreshed. Specially commissioned pictures of two famous local landmarks will be main features at the back of the restaurant as well as an original painting in the Cedar Suite.

“The positive reaction to the improvements from visitors has been amazing and many guests have also given us some stunning reviews. To add to this we’ve recently had an excellent report from Quality in Tourism. This was during all the renovations and before the work was finished! Credit for all this is mainly due to the staff for the outstanding service they’ve been providing”, continued Geoff.

The huge investment of £½ million during a difficult economy is a bold move but the Newling Ward family is extremely confident in their product and investment, especially after three generations have owned and run the hotel during the last 45 years. The extensive redecoration programme will continue with a refurbishment of twelve bedrooms over the next 18 months. It’s no coincidence that the new restaurant will reopen with a new A La Carte menu. Exciting new dishes have been created by talented young Head Chef, Daniel Park to compliment the usual classics, as well as the regular weekly favourite ‘Lake Menu’.

Celebratory dining offers will available on the web site from 2nd April.

And there’s more… a new Hotel Manager, Richard Marrett, will be introduced on 21st March who brings a wealth of experience from the luxury five star Stafford Hotel in London and the Crazy Bear Group. Exciting times ahead indeed…. further inforMation St Michael’s Manor is a 16th century building, converted to a hotel in the 1960’s by the Newling Ward Family, and sited in its own private five acre garden with one acre lake. Located only a short walk from St Alban’s Abbey and the city centre in Roman Veralum. Four star hotel, 30 bedrooms, 125 seat two rosette restaurant, A La Carte and brasserie style dining open to nonresidents as wells as cream teas & bar snacks. Weddings, conferences and meeting facilities.

Contact: Geoff Goddard, Marketing Manager geoffg@ stmichaelsmanor.com 01491 837453

34 march2011

food drink

Thai Sunset T

he warmth and hospitality of Thailand graces Bushey High Street in the form of Thai Sunset, one of Hertfordshire and North London’s little-known gastronomic gems.

Thai Sunset is owned and managed by David Krite.

Though passionate about great food, and especially great Thai food, he confesses to having no culinary expertise. That is where his Thai wife Anotai – which means morning sun - comes in.

The restaurant has a multi award winning chef who has been in residence for 18 months but she is master of the kitchen prowling serenely, tasting, testing, refining recipes and fine-tuning presentation to ensure every dish is the real deal – unique, authentic and utterly mouth-watering Thai food.

This really is a family love affair with food as Pornthip (which means angel), one of the couple’s three children, tends the tables and is happy to recommend dishes for those unfamiliar with the menu.

Thai Sunset has been open two-and-a-half years and business was booming until disaster struck on April 24 2010. A fire in the flat above meant the restaurant was flooded with water and rendered powerless. The fascia was shrouded in scaffolding for months while renovation works were completed but now Thai Sunset is well and truly on the rise again.

The décor is simple and tasteful with browns and

creams, contrasting dark mahogany tables and high-backed two-tone leather seats. The walls are decorated with stunning works of art all imported from the Chiang Mai district of Northern Thailand and full of vibrant colour and striking symbolism.

As for the food... wow. It is hugely varied and whether you are trying more familiar dishes such as green curry or putt thai or the less well known pbet makarm (crispy duck in tamarind sauce) or goong mungorn pongaree (lobster tail in yellow curry paste) each dish is guaranteed to hit the spot.

For those new to Thai food there are a number of set menus, including vegetarian options, which Pornthip will be delighted to talk you through.

The à la carte menu has 15 starters from which to choose including wonton delicacies filled with grated chicken, sweetcorn, peppers, onion and garlic.

Thai soups are a speciality of the house with prawns in a hot and sour broth with lemon grass, limes leaves, coriander and mushrooms (tom yum goong) being one of the most popular.

Thai Sunset offers more than a dozen curries from the fiery to the more delicately spiced and those rich in creamy coconut milk. The fish is also to die for, having been selected personally by David and his chef on their crack-of-dawn trips to Billingsgate market. Dishes with sea bass, red snapper and salmon are in abundance as are the sea food delicacies featuring giant prawns and lobster.

unique, authentic and utterly mouth-watering No Thai meal is complete without rice and noodles and Thai Sunset boasts many different styles, most good enough to be a meal in their own right.

To finish your meal a good selection of Westernstyle deserts are available but you can stay Oriental if you prefer, perhaps trying the coconut with palm sugar wrapped in a pandan leaf pancake and served warm with ice cream.

A meal in the charming company of David, Anotai and Pornthip is the perfect way to celebrate the Thai New Year on April 14, Or indeed Mothering Sunday where a delicious buffet will be on offer at £14.95 for adults and £7.95 for children under 11.

David is offering all LIFE magazines readers a 20% discount on all starters and main courses when they dine Sunday to Thursday. To qualify you must quote Life magazines at the time of making your reservation. This Offer ends on 31 May 2011.

Thai Sunset is at 39 High Street, Bushey, but can also be accessed from the rear via the free car park at Kemp Place.

It is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and with almost 100 covers it is ideally placed to cater for larger groups including weddings, birthday parties and business meetings. An extensive takeaway menu is also available with free delivery on orders over £20 to selected postcodes . To book phone 020 3188 0004 or visit www.thaisunset.co.uk march2011 35

f e at u r e

Get Your Handicap Down...

C

onsidered by many to be one of the most comprehensive practice facilities in the UK and the ultimate venue for taking up the game of golf or improving skills, the Palmerston Golf Academy (PGA) located on the Brocket Hall Estate, is about to elevate its status yet further.

Poised to become a venue for some of the world’s top golfers, the new look PGA, which is made up of a state-of-the-art indoor school supported by a V1 Swing Analysis computer, the newest Flight Scope Launch Monitor and the Titleist Sure Fitting Centre, dedicated short and long game practice zones, chipping and putting areas and a Six- hole Par 3 Course short course, will soon play host to some of the most respected names in golf, who will offer an expanded variety of clinics, schools and special events for golfers interested in improving their skills and all aspects of their performance’ European and Asian Tour winners, the glamorous twins Samantha and Johanna Head, who took the 36 march2011

combined with a stay in the luxurious Melbourne Lodge on the magnificent Brocket Hall country estate.

golfing world by storm when they turned professional 15 years ago, will be joining the teaching staff at the Academy. Jo and Sam are now distinguished teachers and will be offering Family and Friends lessons for lady beginners who want to learn together. Designed to be fun and confidencegiving, the lessons are offered with the option of a sociable lunch in Auberge du Lac – the Michelinstarred restaurant on the lakeside at Brocket Hall.

The girls will be joined by renowned golfing professional Barney Puttick, who is guaranteed to play a huge part in the development of the Palmerston Golf Academy. Voted one of the top 25 coaches in the UK, with over 30,000 lessons to his name, his teaching record is outstanding.

As a Herts County Coach he has taught over 150 county golfers since 1993, some of whom have gone on to play for England.

The twins´ One day Tour Experience clinics are sure to be popular with advanced golfers who want to learn how to master the game from world-class tournament players, and include technique lessons and course management advice, while the intensive Improve Your Golf clinics, which take place over two days and focus on all aspects of game-improvement, are

He has also nurtured the talent of a number of golf professionals and developed a reputation as a short game specialist. A Golf Monthly teaching panellist since 2003, Barney has held clinics on all aspects of the game including short game clinics with former Ryder Cup player Ken Brown, putting clinics with YES putter inventor Harold Swash and golf psychology sessions with Dr Karl Morris.

Tom Motley who will take up the position of Lead Teaching Professional...

THE NEW LOOK PALMERSTON GOLF ACADEMY AT BROCKET HALL UNVEILS ITS WORLD CLASS TEACHING PROGRAMME

Brocket Hall´s Club Director Peter Tschernitz with Barney Puttick who was voted one of the top 25 coaches in the UK...

A view of the 13th hole on the Palmerston course

Of his teaching philosophy Barney says, ¨I always try to work with the individual player and with what they have, rather than being a method teacher. To me a swing is like a finger print and is unique to the individual. We only have to observe the top players to see the different styles, for instance between Luke Donald and Graham McDowell. By using positive swing drills and muscle memory techniques each player can improve their understanding of the game and ultimately their enjoyment.¨ Following the Academy’s relaunch, Puttick will be providing lessons for all levels of golfers as well as staging an inspiring programme of specialist golf clinics to build skills and improve all aspects of the game. He added, “I couldn’t hope for a better environment in which to teach.

The unequalled facilities at the Palmerston Golf Academy have allowed my imagination to run wild. I have ambitious plans and will soon be announcing news of my clinics and residential golf schools.”

Brocket Hall´s Club Director Peter Tschernitz added, “Barney´s reputation as a highly-regarded coach and short game guru will be a great asset to us at the Palmerston Golf Academy. I am absolutely sure that everyone that enrols will gain skills that will last them a lifetime.”

Last but by no means least, the most recent appointment is that of Tom Motley who willtake up the position of Lead Teaching Professional at the Academy. A fully qualified (Class A) golf professional, Motley has a proven track record in golf coaching having worked with David Leadbetter coach Bob Lore, in Florida. He has a thorough knowledge of modern teaching techniques and a flexible approach to teaching golfers of all abilities; he is also a certified mind factor coach.

More details about the Palmerston Golf Academy at Brocket Hall and its tuition packages can be found by logging on to www.brocket-hall.co.uk 01707 368786. march2011 37

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fashion be a uty

London Fashion Week Hair loss at Riverbanks Clinic Treating pigmentation Dr Ariel Haus nose best Red carpet beauty

march2011 39

fashion HOUSE OF HOLLAND

ood Vivian Westw

highlights

london fashion week Autumn/Winter 2011 Collections

A world of celebrities And fAmous people, beAutiful And expensive clothes And generAl fAshion glitz.

40 march2011

The vibranT and internationally renowned London Fashion Week is always exciting and inspirational, and last month’s event proved to be just that.

London Fashion Week presented another unrivalled opportunity for both established designers and newcomers to present their latest collections. A constantly buzzing key event for those who haven’t got the patience to wait until the latest fashion designs and stylish fashion trends make it into the fashion magazines.

The magic of London Fashion Week is not merely thanks to the fashion designers’ and fashion stylists’ cutting-edge collections but the media excitement that accompanies them. The

fashion

allure of the show is exceptional and London Fashion Week continues to be the top fashion event pulling visitors from every corner of the globe.

It’s a week where designers are free to create at will and experiment with new trends for clothing. The world watches as fashion history is made.

While we are all thinking about our autumn wardrobes and digging out our winter jumpers in an attempt to stay warm, designers were showcasing next year’s spring/summer collections during this month’s London Fashion Week.

Although Tom Ford might have started something with his intimate shows, London’s designers showcased the capital to great affect with their choice of venues.

Alice Temperley celebrated her 10th anniversary and return to London Fashion Week with a show at the British Museum; Giles Deacon and Dame Vivienne Westwood both chose the stately Royal Courts of Justice; and Antonio Berardi chose Draper’s Hall in east London, where “The King’s Speech” was filmed.

You may not have had a ticket, but you could have watched a vast number of shows on live stream. Burberry, always at the forefront of fashion technology, live streamed its show on the giant Coca Cola screen at Piccadilly Circus.

Somerset House also got in on the big-screen action, broadcasting events inside the tents to those outside on a supersized LED monitor. Fashion Week tweets were also broadcast on CBS screens on the Underground.

So what we will be wearing this Autumn/Winter? Here are just a selection of those names that hit the catwalk! London’s answer to the rain?

The trench coat - there were plenty of high-street homages to the Céline creation with contrast leather sleeves.

Alexa Chung wore a Burberry trench to Matthew Williamson, and model Lily Donaldson sported a tomatored version to the Burberry show.

BURBERRY PRORSUM

OSMAN

42 march2011

The Burberry Prorsum Womenswear Autumn Winter 2011 show took place Monday 21st February. Burberry streamed its Prorsum Womenswear Autumn Winter 2011 collection to its widest audience yet, live from a new venue in London’s Royal Park of Kensington Gardens. Burberry is the first brand to use this London venue.

At Burberry, the beautiful people were out in force to show their support, including Kate Bosworth, Rachel Bilson, Alexa Chung, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Samantha Cameron, Mario Testino, Ellie Goulding and Jamie Hince.

The Trench, the field jacket and the Pea coat are Playfully reinvented with tonal colour blocking

PAUL SMITH

Paul Smith’s Womenswear collection focused on his trademark men’s suiting, and colourful knits.

The newly- refurbished, opulent Lancaster Ballroom at the Savoy Hotel played backdrop to the show.

Lapel-less, tailored winter coats and jackets in deep orange and cream were matched with pinstripe trousers and fine-knit waistcoats.

In the middle of London Fashion Week they have opened a lovely new shop at Claridges hotel in London selling their women’s collection along with accessories including a few items for men.

PAUL SMITH

JAEGER

PALOMA FAITH

Jaeger London tours the rich landscapes of the British Empire this season, marrying a rich, saturated colour palette of colonial climes with its reputation for sartorial elegance, noble fibres and exquisite detailing, to craft a collection made entirely feminine, modern and totally desirable for the worldly Jaeger London woman.

The great winter coat, ever-close to Jaeger London’s heart, plays a leading role in the collection and explores dramatic maxi-lengths as well as cropped proportions in rich and varied textures. The Jaeger London womenswear collection launched in Autumn/Winter 2005. Jaeger London was first presented at London Fashion Week in February 2008, to great critical acclaim, and continues to show on the international stage.

Since 2005, Jaeger has focused on UK brand expansion, including its return

JASPER CONRAN

redefinition of the essential pieces in the British winter wardrobe. The Trench, the Field jacket and the Pea coat are playfully reinvented with tonal colour blocking and exaggerated proportions.

Suit dressing with Immaculate matching separates for town and country are made ultra feminine with uplifting use of colour.

For the cocktail hour the silhouette is loose and effortless, with accessories making their debut on the catwalk.

Aquascutum was founded in 1851 by high quality tailor John Emary with the mission to provide stylish protection from the unpredictable British weather. The name Aquascutum originates from the two Latin words ‘aqua’ (water) and ‘scutum’ (shield).

Aquascutum continue to dress the powerful, from British Royalty and politicians such as HRH King Edward V11, Winston Churchill, Sophia Loren, Greta Garbo, Sean Connery, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart and Peter Sellers. Today, Aquascutum dresses the modern day stars of stage and screen including Duffy, Dev Patel, Noel Clark and Nicholas Hoult.

Aquascutum has been part of London city life for nearly 160 years.

As always the front row of Jasper’s catwalk show was packed with members of the fashion press and his family and friends who turned out in force, in spite of the drizzly weather, for a look at what Jasper has in store for next season.

Jasper’s Autumn Winter 2011 collection had distinct Sixties leanings, and so it’s no surprise that two of the most iconic, not to mention beautiful, women of that era - Francoise Hardy and Jane Birkin - were used as muses for the show’s hair and make-up.

The flagship store at 36 Sackville Street occupies one of London’s finest postcodes in the heart of Mayfair. It is just a stone’s throw from Fortnum and Mason, the Royal Academy of Arts and Saville Row. Jasper Conran blends contemporary with tradition, showcasing his bespoke womenswear, made-tomeasure menswear, bridal, living and dining collections here.

JAEGER

AQUASCUTUM COLLECTION

‘English Icons’, the inaugural collection under the design direction of Joanna Sykes, brings together a new, clean aesthetic with Aquascutum’s rich brand heritage to present a fresh British look for the house. The collection is outerwear and tailoring focused. It explores the

JASPER CONRAN

JOHN ROCHE

As part of 40 events, the show was streamed globally in Burberry flagship stores from Boston to Beijing, creating ‘buy from the runway’ in-store virtual trunk show events across 4 continents.

The 40th venue, London’s iconic Piccadilly Circus, streamed the show live onto the famous 32 metre digital screen viewed by an estimated 1.2 million people a week - a first for any brand The show can be viewed on demand online at Burberry.com as well as on news, fashion, music partner sites and through the iPhone and iPad Burberry, which is headquartered in London and a member of the FTSE100, was founded in 1856

march2011 43

fashion

to Harrods and Selfridges (the brand became the first retailer to operate independently within Selfridges in the 1930s). Jaeger has 45 premium UK freestanding stores, including the recently opened Jaeger London branded stores in prime London locations, and significant shop-in-shop presence in Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Fenwick, House of Fraser and John Lewis.

DUNHILL

HOUSE OF HOLLAND

AQUASCUTUM

MARIA GRACHvOGEL

The trend for 70s fashion continued at House of Holland where their autumn/winter 2011 collection had a retro edge.

House of Holland’s collection is nothing shy of colour - the clothes were fun and, as always, Henry isn’t taking fashion too seriously.

With sweetly tailored separates in pastel pink, lemon yellow, powder blue and pale purple, quirky orange striped calf-length socks, sharp coats and two-piece wool suits, the House of Holland girl looks to have grown up a little next season, but she’s still got her playful edge.

Neon geometric patterns and classic “House of Holland” alphabet prints dominated the tights. A majority of the models also wore knee socks, which were striped with bright colors. One model wore a signature Henry t-shirt, which read “Hawt Couture.”

Model of the moment Agyness Deyn was a vision in green as she opened the House of Holland show.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON

JOHN ROCHA

44 march2011

Samantha Cameron teamed up with Anna Wintour and Stella McCartney to launch the forthcoming Alexander McQueen exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York.

The exhibition, entitled Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty , will run from May 4 to July 31 and takes a look back over two decades of McQueen’s work, beginning with his graduate collection from Central St Martins College of Art, right through to his final collection which was shown in the weeks after his death. The museum has also borrowed a significant number of outfits from Isabella Blow’s personal collection, which were all bought by Daphne Guinness last year, as well as highlights from McQueen’s tenure at Givenchy.

ROYAL DESIGNER ROCkS LONDON FASHION WEEk

One of Kate Middleton’s favourite designers rocked London Fashion Week Saturday with a collection

of sweeping gowns in animal print with plunging necklines that would make a royal bride blush.

Issa London’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection was the hottest ticket in town after Kate wore their sapphire blue dress to announce her engagement to Prince William last November, prompting the frock to sell out almost instantly.

A packed crowd turned out to see if Kate herself would make an appearance for the catwalk show, but if they were disappointed by her noshow, Brazilian-born designer Daniella Helayel soon raised their spirits.

Embracing a seventies theme with gusto, Helayel kept to her trademark grown-up glamour with effortlessly stylish dresses in autumnal browns and oranges and bright animal prints sent out to a pumping disco soundtrack.

Whether full length gowns with boat or deep V-necks, or simple mid-thigh frocks, the clothes draped smoothly over the models’ bodies as they strutted down the runway to classics such as “I’m Every Woman” and “Celebration”.

The outfits were jazzed up with gold accessories, from big round earrings to bracelets, metal belts and draping necklaces worn on the front or on the back alongside the bare skin of cut-out backs.

In a recent interview with AFP, Helayel said the key to her clothes was “multi-function”.”They can be worn from morning till evening, from the office to dinner and updated only by changing the accessories,” she said.”Issa is all about effortless glamour, whether on the beach, in a board meeting or out for the evening.

At Issa I make dresses to suit women of all different shapes, sizes and styles.” The designer used older models Yasmin Le Bon -- looking sexy and curvy in a blouse and skirt -- and Brazilian Andrea Dellal in an orange, floor-skimming dress with cut out back to showcase her broad appeal.

After designing the engagement frock, Helayel was briefly a favourite to design Kate’s dress for the April 29th Royal wedding at Westminster Abbey, but most commentators now believe the bride will pick a British designer.

ASHISH

Ashish brought London Fashion Week’s womenswear collections for autumn/winter 2011 at Somerset House to a dazzling finale tonight with a glittering, sequinned, safety-pinned tribute to England and Scotland.

The India-born, London-based designer travelled the punk-Highlander route, via Bollywood. Mini dresses came in a rainbow patchwork of

fashion

BURBERRY

blue, green, red, purple and yellow tartans, shimmering with sequins.

T-shirts and boxer shorts featured sequinned Union Flags. Sweaters and jackets were ripped and torn, covered in holes or bristling with thousands of sequins.

‘HOME’

For one night only on 22nd February 2011, Alfred Dunhill opened the doors of its exclusive Mayfair Home to showcase its Autumn/Winter 2011 collection simply entitled ‘HOME’, signalling the start of the men’s focus during London Fashion Week.

The British luxury men’s house hosted a private and intimate salon style presentation - against the backdrop of their 18th century freestanding mansion in the centre of London’s Mayfair - for a selected guest list of industry defining figures.

This experiential event further illustrated Alfred Dunhill’s commitment to British menswear and defining male luxury.

Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council: “British menswear design talent is forging a reputation for innovation on a global platform. Alfred Dunhill is an aspirational British luxury brand and we’re delighted that they will join a showcase of Savile Row tailors and directional emerging British designers to show the breadth of talent on London Fashion Week’s Menswear Day.” London Fashion Week is one of the highest profile fashion events in the world and one of the ‘big four’ international catwalk influencers. The event is organised by the British Fashion Council (BFC) and funded by a number of sponsors (including Canon Europe current headline sponsor for seven consecutive seasons). London Fashion Week puts London and British Fashion firmly on the global stage, generating orders in the region of £100m; the event itself contributes £20 million to the London economy in terms of direct spend and attracts visitors from over 25 countries including US, France, Italy, Russia, Middle East, China and UAE. London Fashion Week visitors had access to many more designers through presentations, multi-brand and individual showrooms. In addition to the official and off schedule events London Fashion Week has become a focus for a broader base of fashion linked activities with international designers, media and other high profile brands choosing to host their own events during the weeks. The British Fashion Council co-ordinate an events schedule to help visitors experience London ‘the city’ as well as the showcase of British fashion design talents at London Fashion Week. march2011 45

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HAIR LOSS?

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o matter where you are, or what age you are, a good head of hair is thought to be a sign of health, youth and vitality. So it is no surprise that for the millions of men and women suffering from hair loss and hair thinning this can cause a real dent to their self-esteem leading to a poor self-image which can significantly impact on a person’s overall quality of life.

Recently a study conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) found that almost 60% of people would put a head of hair above money or friends!

Hair thinning can be as traumatic and embarrassing for young men and women as it can be for an older person, all wishing to restore their confidence through a natural looking and permanent hair transplant procedure. Even our TV and sports personalities are rumoured to have sought treatment for their once thinning thatches!

Something that many men are not aware of is that there is an 80% chance of maintaining and improving the hair that you have already using an advanced medication; such

48 march2011

medications are not available over the counter and must be prescribed by a medical professional and preferably with experience in hair loss. Some of the established nonsurgical medications work by slowing down and halting the cause of your hair loss and experts say that it stabilises your condition. Once you have stabilised your condition then you will be in a better place to decide whether hair transplant surgery is the next stage for you. feMale hair loss There can be many varied and complex reasons behind female hair loss such as hereditary factors, stress, hormonal changes and nutritional issues.

Although not as common as men, women still suffer from hair loss and at Riverbanks we appreciate how distressing female hair thinning can be so we strive to sensitively help you take control of this condition.

Women can have genetically determined hair loss while others may experience loss following illness, injury or even following a procedure such as a face lift can alter the hair line and cause small patches to be visible. By using the same surgical

techniques that will help a man we can also transplant hair follicles from denser areas and some medications can also benefit females with sometimes better results than a male. the Most CoMMon Male Condition The majority of men affected by premature hair loss, is due to a condition commonly caused by an irreversible inherited condition known as male pattern baldness (MPB).

Typically with this condition, hair is lost gradually from the top of the head but continues to grow at the back and sides.

Generally, men accept the condition with varying degrees of resignation, but increasing numbers have decided to take action – not surprisingly given the vital importance of personal appearance in today’s society.

With a surgical hair transplant procedure, hair follicles are extracted from the back of the head under local anaesthetic and reimplanted individually in the thinning or balding areas. Once these hairs activate, they will continue to grow permanently, leaving a head of hair which looks and feels perfectly natural like your hair used to do.

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health BeautY

Treating pigmentation words

Carolina Brennan

P

igmentation is just one of the side effects of too much sun exposure without sun protection. Prevention, through the daily use of sunscreen, is the best method of averting the occurrence of most types of pigmentation. Unfortunately, because most of us were not aware of the importance of adequate sun protection when we were growing up, many of us have a good chance of seeing a form of pigmentation crop up somewhere on our body.

PiGMentation Can take the followinG forMs: 1. Melanoma - Brown spots on the body 2. Melasma - Brown freckling patches that can appear on the face, upper lip and hands. When the patches are not raised, rough or crusted, they are considered to be benign.

3. Hyper Pigmentation - an increase in melanin production stimulated by sun exposure. It can also be stimulated by birth control pills, pregnancy and oestrogen replacement therapy.

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4. Chloasma, liver spots, sun spots or age spots - small brown patches on the skin which have nothing to do with liver function, but are always caused by unprotected exposure to the sun.

Causes of pigmentation can vary from sun damage due to lack of sunscreen or hormonal changes in pregnancy and during the menopause to external factors such as spraying perfume on the skin and it reacting with the sun. When it comes to treating different types of pigmentation it is important for us as therapists to consider the depth of the discoloured pigment. In most cases the discolouration is superficial but in a few cases, the discolouration lies deep within the dermis. ePiderMal PiGMentation If the pigment is in the epidermis then it can be treated with skin peels. We often combine microdermabrasion with skin peels as a way of penetrating the peel ingredients deeper into the skin to the area of pigmentation. derMal PiGMentation Deep pigmentation can be treated with peels but can take a long time to fade. It can sometimes be removed more quickly with the use of Intense Pulse Light (IPL) or Lasers.

These work by targeting the pigment in the skin with a wavelength of light that fragments the melanin in the melacyte, bringing it to the

surface where it eventually peels off. We usually recommend between three and six treatments, depending on the depth of the pigmentation.

It is important that you choose a therapist who has been thoroughly trained - they need to have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of how pigmentation develops and how to effectively remove it. Up until October 2010, every IPL practitioner had to be registered with the Health Care Commission to perform this type of treatment. However, this was deregulated last year, but all practitioners need to be thoroughly trained for insurance purposes so they should be happy to confirm this with you.

I regularly treat clients with pigmentation problems and although they often wish to see speedy results, pigmentation takes a while to develop and therefore takes time to be removed. It is not only important that they are patient, because they will see fantastic results if they are; but it is also absolutely essential that they learn to to protect their skin with sun block every day, even in winter, to inhibit the reoccurrence of the same problem.

For more information on specialised treatment for pigmentation or advanced aesthetic and anti ageing treatments, please contact The Anti Ageing Clinic on 01727 874507 or email theantiageingclinic@yahoo.co.uk. Readers are entitled to a free consultation worth £25 when quoting ‘Radlett Life’ on booking.

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health BeautY

D

Dr Ariel Haus explores a common issue amongst men and women – noses and their many shapes and sizes. A non-invasive, safe and efficient speedy solution is available at Dr Ariel Haus’ clinic on Harley Street in London using a Restylane Filler.

Thomas de Vasconcelos recently visited Dr Ariel Haus and outlines his account below:

DR. ARIEL HAUS

Nose best...

My Nose ProbleM

My nose has always been a slight talking point, for me anyway! Noses come in all shapes and sizes and they tend to really define the other features around the face. With all this in mind I started to notice a slight bump on my nose - it simply wasn’t flat. From this moment onwards I kept noticing other noses around me and they certainly do come in a variety of shapes. The bump to me was unnecessary and I felt a clean line would not only give me a fresher look but also a younger look and glow. I headed to Harley Street to talk to Dr Ariel Haus who sensed I was nervous but eager and he suggested a non invasive option i.e- no breaking of bones. Restylane Vital was the answer. Restylane Vital is clinically proven and a recent clinical study in Germany demonstrated that Restylane Vital improves skin elasticity and decreases skin surface roughness. The results are smoother, firmer, toned, healthy looking skin with an overall revitalised appearance. What also helped me make up my mind was the knowledge that the Restylane product range has a proven track record spanning over 12 years with over 10 million treatments worldwide, Restylane is a safe market leader in anti-ageing which is entirely non-animal derived.

5 2 2m faerbcrhu2a0 r 1y 1 2011

the deep dermis about 1cm apart. Once injected it flows smoothly and is distributed evenly in the skin. Lasting a period of months the Hyaluronic acid is completely broken down within the skin.

In this case I was given a local anaesthetic followed by the introduction of the Restylane with a cannula. Promoting the production of healthy skin by balancing the nutritional environment of the skin at cellular level by attracting and releasing water when needed, Restylane Vital boosts skin elasticity leaving it looking smoother. Skin condition is evidently improved and the lustre restored. Dr Haus had explained that the treatment was pain free and he was absolutely right. The results

The treatment is quick; I mean super quick- it was all over in 5 minutes.

The Nose TreaTMeNT

The treatment is quick; I mean super quick- it was all over in 5 minutes. As with all of Dr Haus’ treatments- Restylane is clinically proven and used by him in a safe environment.

Following my initial consultation with Dr Haus who thoroughly explained

the procedure I felt more comfortable and confident that the procedure was in fact going to make a big difference.

The treatment replenishes the Hyaluronic acid lost through ageing. The skin is hydrated and the elasticity and tone are improved. A very small amount of Restylane is injected into

were instant and looked excellent. That bump had disappeared and my nose looked thinner, more refined and I had a somewhat more elegant glow which made me look younger. All in all, Dr Haus had recommended the right procedure. A cosmetic doctor from Brazil, Dr Haus has carried out advanced training in Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine and also practices Anti-Ageing Medicine.

Dr Haus also offers all manner of non invasive treatments at his clinic including; VelaShape, Skin Peels, eMax including hair removal and vein removal and wrinkle and ageing treatments. www.drhausdermatology.com 10 Harley Street, London W1G 9PF 020 7467 1525

Children’s services at Spire Harpenden Hospital Spire Harpenden Hospital now offers a paediatric surgery service for 3-16 year olds, providing a wide range of treatments in the comfort of a private hospital environment.

We deliver an array of medical and surgical treatments for children – ranging from tonsillectomy and grommet insertion to hernia repair and orthopaedic surgery.

We are open to both privately insured and self funding patients and a GP referral is not always required.

From the first out-patient appointment, through to discharge, our experienced paediatric team is committed to ensuring that our young patients and their families feel reassured and comfortable.

To make an appointment, or for a guide price, please call

01582 714 420

or email info@spireharpenden.com

www.spireharpenden.com

Ambrose Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 4BP

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54 march2011

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The award season has arrived and the red carpet is where celebrity glamour is in full view. At the Bafta Award ceremony many celebrities flaunted the classic 1950’s Hollywood make up of bold red lips and flawless skin, whilst others showcased more current trends, one statement look being winged eye make up, as seen on the SS11 catwalks. Artistry Colour Cosmetics have the perfect products in their new SS11 collection and classic collection needed to achieve these prevalent looks.

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hoUsE GaRDEn antiques with John Bly faraway furniture Cheeky Monkey Treehouses Capture the sun The only way is down Right on trend aiming to build you a better future

march2011 57

house garden

i

was recently invited to give an after-dinner talk to the guests at Howard’s House Hotel, in Teffont Evias, near Salisbury. It is a most charming place to stay, set in such an idyllic village that you think the rest of the world has passed it by. Absolute bliss.

It is freshly decorated without pretension, the food is exceptional and, although there is no bar as such my criterion of a welcome was well met by a proper martini, stirred not shaken. In case this reads like an advertisement feature, I should say that the hotel belongs to the family of a dear friend of mine, and all the guests were ‘regulars’ and friends of his, and so it was a very jolly weekend. We were all joined together by a serious love of fine fare and good wine so it was only natural that I should speak on wining and dining with antiques. In this talk I covered a range of subjects such as why we have so many French terms to describe an English meal, for example aperitifs, bon bouches, entrees, petit fours and so on, why we drink champagne out of flutes and why dumbwaiters are so called. If you are a regular reader of this column you will know the answers to some of these anyway, but don’t let that stop you joining the party when I next go to Howard’s House. One of the objects that someone brought along for appraisal prompted quite a long discourse on its history and I thought I might share a little of that with you. The antique wine accessory in question was a small circular wooden decanter stand, to fit a bottle rather than a decanter, similar to the one illustrated. This has a simple turned shape to the

58 march2011

John Bly

These shielded coasTers are also rare, as so many goT heavily scorched if noT burnT To a cinder

by The fire. sides but a triple ring turning to the top edge which helps us date it to around 1810 – 25.

These ‘bottle sliders’, ‘wine coasters’ or ‘decanter stands’ first appeared during the middle years of the 18th century, when it became fashionable to dispense with waiting staff during mealtimes, so diners had to serve themselves, and all manner of materials were used to make them. From wood, silver, Sheffield Plate, papier mache, glass and enamel to, unbelievably, ceramics.

I say unbelievably because considering the hammering the coaster was likely to get when yet another refilled decanter was banged down onto it, there would seem no less suitable substance than china to make it with. Even more remarkable is that any have survived at all, but I have shown a pair here.

These are made of what is known as ‘creamware’ and each is stamped ‘Wedgwood’

and they date from around 1790. The pierced fretwork is achieved by cutting out the shapes required when the clay is ‘cheese hard’, and they are rare. These are rather more for collectors than users, whereas the wooden ones are the other extreme. While a single late 18th or early 19th century example can be bought for around £100, pairs can make many times that; indeed some will make well over four figure sums. This is governed by the age and quality, which can be detected by the complexity of the turning. The pair illustrated is late 18th century and each has a really well drawn double curved or ‘ogee’ side shape.

This requires the very finest close-grained timber and great skill in the turning, both of which reflect their superior quality, making them as expensive when new as indeed they are today.

A question sometimes asked

is why can’t you just make a new one and make it look antique? Well the answer is that wood will shrink across the grain rather than along it.

Therefore an antique wooden coaster will not be perfectly circular but a brand new one, turned on a lathe, will be.

Wooden ones get really pricey when they are ‘shielded’ as in the one shown with a tall back to it. This even has a silver label inset announcing ‘claret’ just to make sure you knew what you were drinking. Red wine was always considered best when drunk at room temperature and to achieve this in olden days it was customary to place it in front of the fire, but screened from its direct heat.

We call this to ‘chambre’, with the obvious and yet another derivation from the French for ‘room’. These shielded coasters are also rare, as so many got heavily scorched if not burnt to a cinder by the fire. In a previous article I dealt with the wine ‘wagons’ which were made from a pair of coasters fixed together and placed on a four wheeled carriage which could be shunted up and down the table. These are usually in silver, silver-gilt or, in the 19th century, papier mache. Huge fun to have and use, but you need a mighty big table and a good pair of decanters. They have such a mighty big table at Howard’s House. We’ll have to get a wine wagon for the next ‘Wining and Dining with Antiques’ there. That is if they invite me again.

John Bly Est Antiques 1891.

Tel: 01442 823030 Mobile: 07831 888826.

Website: www.johnbly.com Email:john@johnbly.com

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susan and timeless classic designs such their bestselling Barbuda 10 seater teak wooden dining set.

The Hertfordshire showroom also stocks a beautiful selection of reclaimed wooden handicrafts, solid wooden indoor dining sets and garden accessories including BBQ’s, parasols and garden cushions.

Many outdoor styles are available ranging from timeless classics to contemporary designs, including ultra modern stainless steel garden sets, Faraway Furniture are different as they pride themselves on providing excellent customer art deco inspired round tables with granite lazy

60 march2011

service and advice. Added extras such as a 10 year guarantee, free delivery on all sets, free white glove assembly service, fast weekend/weekday delivery and a two hour delivery slot means total peace of mind and ultimate convenience.

Visit their new showroom at Battlers Green Farm Rural Shopping Village, Common Lane, Radlett, Hertfordshire, WD7 8PH or Tel 0845 234 2323.

For showroom opening times and to view the full range of indoor and outdoor furniture please visit www.farawayfurniture.co.uk.

HOME

AND

GARDEN

FURNITURE

Visit our new Showroom at: Battlers Green Farm • Common Lane Radlett • Hertfordshire • WD7 8PH Tel: 0845 234 2323 www.farawayfurniture.co.uk

CRAFTED

BY

INSPIRATION

house garden

Cheeky Monkey Treehouses

62 march2011

house garden

D

o you ever dream of a secret hideaway, somewhere to loose yourself after a hectic day in the office? A place to hide from the rest of the family to have a moment of peace.

Somewhere to view the world from a different perspective and put life in order. Fancy the idea of swinging commando style from tree to tree or just sitting on a deck with glass of wine in hand.

If you can imagine it then Cheeky Monkey Treehouses can design and build it and it will be as unique and individual as you.

Mark Pollecutt the founder and draughtsman behind the innovative designs of Cheeky Monkey Treehouses can make your dreams come true. Mark’s hobby project to build a tree house in his garden for his two young sons back in the late 1990’s has gone from strength to strength and is now a thriving business creating outstanding quality tree houses that are built for both clients in the UK and many countries overseas including France, Greece and Dubai to name just a few.

“Just because we are based in West Sussex, doesn’t mean we are only limited to building in the UK, the workshop is only a small part of the operation, as over 90% of our tree houses are built onsite it means we are flexible and much more mobile than people think” Hand drawn plans of your tree house are created in 3D enabling you to see it evolve, creating a whole new world of fantasy and fun in front of you very eyes.

Imagine you are in the middle of the jungle or on a pirate ship or about to scale a fortress wall.

What ever you can imagine it can be done!

Sleepovers in custom made bunk beds will never be

the same and family nights out under the stars all year round something to remember forever. And as the children turn into teenagers so the tree house will become a cool place to hang out and ‘chill’ with their mates.

But who says tree houses are just for children! Everyone should have one and Cheeky Monkey Treehouse designs reflect this with specifications that include full insulation, rope bridges, swings, crows’ nests, zip-wires, secret hatches and climbing walls. For the less adventurous why not add a swinging bench, an access ramp or even a hammock or two.

Because the designs are all bespoke and original your personal specifications can be incorporated, and virtually anything goes!

The build team led by Ed Sheppard are all extremely skilled craftsmen with high attention to detail making sure all the tree houses are constructed with quality and sustainable materials. Safety is paramount in the construction of each build which can be built around a tree or self supporting, so if you’ve been wondering what would look great at the bottom of the garden then look no further.

Because Cheeky Monkey Treehouses are built to such a high standard and will last a lifetime, should the children initially claim it as theirs, don’t worry it will still be there for you to reclaim in years to come!

If you would like to find out more about Cheeky Monkey Treehouses and the services they offer then contact them at www.cheekymonkeytreehouses.com + 44 (0) 1403 732452 for a brochure and/or to arrange a site visit. march2011 63

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house garden

66 march2011

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march2011 67

Discover the freedom

A variety of seating alternatives to provide good back support, improve comfort and embrace a strong visual style

m of Active Seating

Ergonomic accessories designed to streamline your work environment

FineBack Furniture Limited

7-9 Haseldine Road, London Colney, St. Albans Herts AL2 1RR Tel: 01727 827744

Just one mile from Jct 22 of the M25 (Sainsbury’s Jct)

www.fineback.co.uk

house garden GOING ‘ UNDERGROUND ’....

Advertisement Feature

The only way is down Eric Tingley decides that the burgeoning demands placed on his home by his family – and the lifestyle he would like to lead – can only be met by dramatically increasing its floor space.

M

y conversion to conversions of the basement kind – when it came – was almost Damascene.

OK, I wasn’t exactly on the road to Damascus. I haven’t even been there. But I was on my way to the Promised Land – otherwise known as the pub – having taken flight. So there were parallels.

I had returned home from work, you see, to find my sitting room flooded with teenagers. I say flooded because they were all lachrymose with laughter as they gathered round my newly purchased super-duper flat-screen T V to watch a movie – whereas I...well, I was merely crying.

How do you tell half-a-dozen six-foot plus teenagers that you’d really like them to go out and play while you watch your TV? Answer: preferably under your breath and from a distance, in order to avoid “embarrassing” your own progeny.

I’m ashamed that I didn’t have the courage to risk the wrath and non-cooperation (I know, I know – like that’s ever gonna happen, as he would say!) of my own teenage son, but at least the experience of being unable to, concentrated the mind. Something had to be done – and soon. But traditional extensions, for various reasons, were not on the agenda.

Enter Mr Steven McDicken, for it is he who provided an elegant and financially astute solution to the age-old problem of growing families outgrowing accommodation that was once perfectly suited to their needs.

After a ten-minute chat with him I was converted. The bottom line, so to speak, was apparent: his firm, Metropolitan Basements would solve all my problems at a stroke and increase the value of my house by at least 30 per cent. Well, a 20-week stroke anyway – but 20 weeks that would, in addition to solving my space problems, earn me more than £100,000.

Because when building costs of around £250 per square foot (for a finish at the lower end of the scale on offer) were taken into consideration, that’s the extra equity I would have in my home – at today’s prices.

Contrast that with the wallet-busting costs of other methods of obtaining a similar amount of space: buying a bigger home, or indeed another home (for my son and his sister, of course).

Mmmm, what should I do? Reduce my equity, by giving some of it to an estate agent, some to a solicitor and a huge chunk to the government in stamp duty. In effect, pay out up to £30,000 and have to move from a house I am totally happy in, or put up with 20 weeks of minor

w2w 70 march 0 1w 1 .

richmondmagazine.co.uk

inconvenience and earn £100,000 plus? Difficult one that...not! Whoops, sorry, I lapsed into teen speak again, must be the company many of us are forced to keep in middle age.

It seems hard to believe, but 20 weeks is all it would take Steven – a quantity surveyor – and his team of architects, engineers and builders to wave their magic wands and design and create a further 480 square feet (that’s the size of a one bedroom flat) of living space under my already-extended-to-bursting-point house. I’d already gone up into the roof to create a large bedroom and a bathroom and extending to the rear or side was not an option, given that my end-of-terrace house has a garden the size of, if not a postage stamp, a postie’s sack and a side alley that does not belong to me.

What’s more, the process would not even be delayed by the machinations of the famed (should that be feared?) planners of Richmond Council, because if the basement remained within the perimeter of the house it would merely need to satisfy buildings regulations and planning permission would not be required.This was a real bonus for me, because having already extended into the loft, I am approaching the limit of my ‘permitted development’.

Of course, a party wall agreement would be necessary as my property shared a wall with my neighbours – but that would be a formality and an inexpensive one at that as they can be downloaded for £99 + VAT (http://www.vincentbrown.co.uk).

So, with visons of home cinemas, granny/student studios, live-in carers’ quarters

(we are all going to need them when we are 150, or whatever age we are expected to live to these days, unless we go into care) I formulated my plan. I, or rather Metropolitan Basements, would create a 12m x 4m space under my 1928 mock-Tudor dwelling that blended in with its surroundings in the leafy borough of Richmond upon Thames and contained at least a bedroom, a bathroom and a toilet and, if possible, a kitchenette.

But any future purchasers of the house would be at liberty to use the space for whatever they wished; a wine cellar ; a playroom; a cosy, relaxing area; a granny flat; an au-pair’s accommodation; a laundry; a utility room; a home cinema; private space for teenagers (come on, don’t put your head in the sand, time has moved on – and few schools have bicycle sheds these days); an entertaining room; a swimming pool; a large kitchen; a gym...the list is seemingly endless. And my wife would surely agree to me using it to garage my motorcycle, and as a combined wine cellar/snooker/darts/pinball room when the kids flew the nest, I mused. Yeah, like that’s ever gonna happen!

Unit 39 Sheraton Business Park Wadsworth Close Greenford UB6 7JB Tel: 0845 402 6799 www.metropolitanbasements.com

49

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house garden

Right on Trend T

wenty years ago there was a revolution in the home and people in the UK began to change the way they lived. “People began to regard their homes as somewhere to socialise regularly with friends,” says Jane Cheel, Managing Director at bespoke furniture manufacture Underwood.

“Homeowners started to invest more in their homes and their lifestyles, to share dinner and coffee and a chat, rather than having to go out.

We spotted this trend early on, supplying and fitting top-of-the-range bespoke kitchens and furniture to discerning people who wanted to enjoy this lifestyle and make more of their homes.”

72 march2011

The concept caught the public’s imagination and now, 20 years on, Underwood is celebrating its anniversary with an impressive list of satisfied clients to their credit. The company has many well known celebrities as regular customers, including TV chef James Martin. “But,” says Jane, “our kitchens are not just for the famous, they’re for anybody who has unique style and vision and appreciates absolute quality.”

This statement certainly echoes true when you know that 70% of Underwood’s business is from previous clients who call the company back in when they move, or buy a second home. Jane recalls the story of one couple, who initially called

in Underwood to provide a statement kitchen.

They then went on to buy a chalet in Verbier, and Underwood did the same for them there too. Just months later, local friends of the couple in Verbier came to visit, and were so impressed, they too ordered a kitchen for their chalet.

“That’s how it tends to happen,” says Jane, “we work extremely hard to make every detail perfect, and people appreciate that. We listen to our clients, and then bring their vision to life, inputting our experience and suggestions along the way. We work to a strict schedule, keeping people informed at every step. Clients are even welcome to visit our head office at Grendon

house garden

Underwood to see their kitchen taking shape.

It’s an ideal opportunity for them to see the quality of the materials we use, and the sheer craftsmanship.”

It’s a success story that shows no signs of stopping. And with a raft of truly happy customers, the company also prides itself on loyal, talented and dedicated staff – many of whom have worked at the company long-term.

“It’s the variety of work that keeps the designers happy,” says Jane, “and the craftsmen love the opportunity to create some really beautiful and challenging furniture. They work with gorgeous woods like maple and walnut, and produce

some amazing curved and flowing units, stunning dressers and the like.”

call our clients discerning, and our clients call us the experts.”

At Underwood the range of furniture is not restricted to the kitchen. Underwood designs for other areas like multi-media rooms; studies; bedrooms and bathrooms too, meaning they’re able to bring the ‘wow’ factor to any room in a client’s house.

For more information: Request a brochure from the website on www.underwoodfurniture.com

“We really do love what we do,” says Jane. “And when we design someone a room, they have the satisfaction of knowing it’s a totally unique, highend product. Nobody else will ever have a kitchen, study, bedroom or bathroom like it. That’s why we

Tel: 01727 893 400 Fax: 01727 864 585

Visit the St Albans showroom at: 11 Holywell Hill, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1 EZ

Or Call head office at Grendon Underwood on 01296 771801 march2011 73

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74 march2011

HF Vertical_Layout 1 25/03/2010 14:23 Page 1

Flooring and Carpets

LIVeBeresfordAdams1/4adElmbridgeLifestyle_Layout 1 23/02/2011 11:02

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Business

Can’t Take It with You

N

o one wants to think about what will happen when they die. Perhaps this fact explains the shocking results of the research carried out by unbiased.co.uk which highlighted that nearly two-thirds of Britons do not have a valid Will in place.

In many cases, these limited entitlements may leave an already-distraught spouse with no choice but to sell the family home. Unmarried partners (who may be as committed to one another as those who are married) do not receive any automatic entitlement.

Potentially, this means that nearly two thirds of Britons are not leaving their loved ones financially secure. Katie Khakpour-Smith of Taylor Walton solicitors looks at the frighteningly stark implications.

Drastically, if you die without a Will and you have no surviving relatives, your estate will pass to the ‘Crown’, regardless of whether you may have wanted your assets to pass to your partner, friends or charities.

Dying without a Will, known otherwise as dying ‘intestate’, means that your estate will pass according to the rigid rules of intestacy.

Dying intestate can have a devastating effect on individuals who are close to you and who you would otherwise have made provision for, had you put a Will in place.

Ensuring that a properly drafted Will is put in place is essential in order to provide for and protect loved ones, and benefit those who are not entitled under the intestacy rules

Sir Gerry Robinson’s current BBC TV programme, ‘Can’t Take It with You’ will hopefully go someway to curing the ‘Will-phobic’ nation.

It is commonly thought that if you die without a Will your spouse will automatically inherit everything anyway. This is not the case. Without making a Will, the amount your spouse will receive is capped so that, where there are children, your spouse will only be entitled to received £250,000 (plus your personal possessions) and where there are no children but there are other relatives such as parents, siblings etc, the spouse is only entitled to £450,000 (plus your personal possessions).

76 march2011

For the approximate one third of Britons that have drawn up a Will, it is as crucial to ensure that it properly reflects your intentions and that all possible outcomes and scenarios have been considered. It is sometimes sensible to provide an explanation (which can be in the format of a letter, stored with your Will) as to why your Will has been drafted in such a way (for example, to explain why one child may be receiving a larger share of your Estate than the other).

This may go someway to preventing disputes or upset on your death, when you are no longer around as a point of contact to justify your Will. During a recent interview, Sir Gerry Robinson said that it is “vital to write a Will and to get it right because a lot of unnecessary hurt can be caused to those you love and care

about if you don’t.”

As ‘Can’t Take It with You’ makes clear, consulting a suitably qualified firm of solicitors is highly sensible to avoid the many pitfalls in preparing a Will and to make sure that the Will is valid and unambiguous.

None of us can predict what is around the corner but we can control what will happen to the assets which we have spent a lifetime building up.

Taylor Walton can provide you with technical advice and guidance, tailored to your personal circumstances and the assets which you possess. We will ensure that the issues which you should consider in making your Will are discussed with you.

Seeking the expert advice which we can offer you will not only ensure that your Will is prepared validly and in line with your wishes, but it will also help you to minimise the portion of your Estate that may be liable to Inheritance Tax at 40%.

Taylor Walton’s Private Client Department has consistently been ranked in the top tier by The Legal 500 for law firms in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire and specialises in the preparation of Wills, the establishment of family trusts and charities for philanthropic purposes. If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised in this article please contact Katie Khakpour-Smith on 01582 765111, or by email katie.khakpour-smith@taylorwalton.co.uk

With experience comes

Wisdom

For wills, probate and tax-saving strategies, our experienced Private Client team can provide you with the wisdom you are looking for.

Offices in Harpenden, Luton and St Albans

Effective Solutions for Individuals Call 01582 731161 or visit www.taylorwalton.co.uk

SOLICITORS

PROPERTY LIFE T H E

L A T E S T

A N D

B E S T

S P O N S O R E D

P R O P E R T I E S

O N

T H E

M A R K E T

B Y

WALL HALL MANSION

Surrounded by humphry repton’s landscaped parkland and on approximately 55 acres of sprawling countryside, is this luxurious residence forming part of a magnificent grade ii listed neo-gothic revival mansion with an impressive castellated façade created in the early nineteenth century.

Price £3,500,000 march2011 79

SALES NEW HOMES LETTINGS

www.statons.com Totteridge Hill ·Hill Oakleigh Park · Whetstone Wood Totteridge Oakleigh Park Whetstone Arkley Barnet · Mill Mill · Arkley · Barnet · Hadley Hadley Winchmore Hill Brookmans Park Cuffl ey Winchmore HillWood Brookmans Park Cuffley Northaw Essendon Radlett · · · · · · Elstree Northaw Essendon and Surrounding areas Park Street · Aldenham · Shenley · Letchmore Heath and Surrounding areas

From Cottages to Country Estates

HADLEY WOOD

RADLETT

HADLEY WOOD

MILL HILL

A stunning 7 bedroom home fusing high quality finishes with delightful family living space and benefiting from extensive landscaped gardens of over half an acre.

Reception hallway, guest cloakroom, drawing room, family room, dining room, study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, master bedroom suite, (dressing room, & e/s bathroom, 6 further bedrooms (all e/s), gymnasium, cinema/games room, additional utility room, landscaped rear gardens, garage. Freehold.

With an impressive 120ft frontage set behind electric gates and built to the highest specification and using only the finest materials in one of Radlett’s premier locations is this stunning newly built Architecturally designed family home.The accommodation arranged over three floors comprises of 6 bedrooms all with individually designed en-suite bathrooms, 6 receptions, a sensational bespoke hand fitted kitchen/family room, gymnasium, utility room and integral double garage as well as a 34ft games room and sauna room. Freehold.

This substantial externally traditional yet internally contemporary individual architect designed mansion provides approx. 7,500 sq ft of modern living with panoramic views to the rear over Hadley Wood Golf Course and greenbelt views to the front. Reception hall, 2 guest cloakrooms, 5 reception rooms, fitted kitchen, utility room, 6 bedrooms (5 en suite), shower room, cinema/media room, double garage, front & rear gardens. Freehold. Sole Agent.

A detached family residence set within grounds of over 1½ acres, situated at the end of an exclusive private culde-sac, offering delightful views across adjoining green belt countryside.The house, designed by the English Property Trust, was recently built and offers a high standard of finish throughout. Reception hall, guest wc, 3 reception rooms, study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, preparation kitchen, terrace, garden room, staff flat, 7 bedrooms (2 e/s), 2 bathrooms, private roof terrace. Freehold.

£5,495,000 Hadley Wood Office 020 8440 9797

Price Guide £3,995,000 Radlett Office 01923 604321

£3,950,000 Hadley Wood Office 020 8440 9797

£3,750,000 Totteridge Office 020 8445 3694

LITTLE HEATH

HADLEY WOOD

RADLETT

FRIERN BARNET

An outstanding Victorian detached character residence of just under 4,000 square feet which has been the subject of a sympathetic and complete renovation with ‘no expense spared’. The property offers a wealth of original features. Entrance hall, drawing room, dining room, tv room, study, kitchen/ breakfast room, utility room, guest cloakroom, separate annexe, 5 bedrooms (2 e/s), 2 bathrooms, landscaped gardens. Freehold. Sole Agent.

A beautifully presented and skillfully extended 5 bedroom detached family residence in this peaceful culde-sac in the heart of Hadley Wood within easy reach of local shops, primary school and mainline station.

Reception hall, guest cloakroom, 2 reception rooms, gym/media room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, southerly aspect rear garden approx. 134’ in length. Freehold. Sole Agent.

A rare opportunity has arisen to purchase one of Radlett’s sought after properties. This unique and distinctive detached residence, offers generous family accommodation with 5 bedrooms, 5 receptions and 5 bathrooms. The property is located in one of Radlett’s premier roads and is situated within close proximity to Radlett High Street and Train Station.

Freehold. Sole Agent.

One of only four homes of its type in the area, this attractive 5 bed Victoria Villa offers a wealth of original features throughout and provides spacious, well proportioned accommodation ideal for family living. Entrance hall, lounge, dining room, family room, kitchen/breakfast room, basement, conservatory, 5 bedrooms (1 e/s), bathroom, shower room, self contained annexe with shower, rear garden approx.

70’. Freehold.

Price Guide £1,850,000 Brookmans Park Office 01707 661144

£1,750,000 HADLEY WOOD OFFICE 020 8440 9797

£1,600,000 Radlett Office 01923 604321

£1,175,000 Totteridge Office 020 8445 3694

NEW BARNET

NEW BARNET

BROOKMANS PARK

NEW BARNET

A detached property set behind electronic gates in a quiet residential turning.The property has been extensively modernised and extended and offers spacious accommodation throughout, comprising of 4 reception rooms, bespoke kitchen, utility ,5 bedrooms and a family bathroom.The property also retains many original features including high ceilings and original fireplaces. Externally to the rear is a landscaped private garden which is approximately 150ft. Freehold.

A beautifully presented semi detached Edwardian character residence.The property retains many original features such as high ceilings, original fireplaces and offers spacious living accommodation throughout comprising of lounge, drawing room, kitchen/breakfast, utility, w.c, family bathroom, master bedroom with en suite, four further double bedrooms. Externally there is a secluded and private rear garden which is approximately 100ft.To the rear of the garden is a contained timer built chalet style office studio.To the front has off street parking for several cars and a garage. Freehold. Sole Agent.

A well planned and beautifully presented 4 bedroom semi detached home situated in a popular road within walking distance of Brookmans Park village and its mainline station. Features include: Spacious Kitchen/Breakfast Room with breakfast bar, three reception rooms including an office, guest cloakroom, four bedrooms, two bath/shower rooms and rear garden of approximately 100’ in length.

Freehold. Sole Agent.

A secluded turning off of the High Road providing convenient access to a wide choice of amenities, a beautifully presented semi detached home situated in this sought after residential cul de sac offering 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge/dining room and a delightful rear garden. Freehold.

£1,100,000 Barnet Office 020 8449 3383

£820,000 Barnet Office:020 8449 3383

£579,950 Brookmans Park Office 01707 661144

£519,950 Totteridge Office 020 8445 3694

SALES OFFICES AT: BARNET 020 8449 3383 TOTTERIDGE 020 8445 3694 HADLEY WOOD 020 8440 9797 BROOKMANS PARK 01707 661144 RADLETT 01923 604321 NEW HOMES SHOWCASE: HADLEY GREEN 020 8441 9555 october issue | 81 PREMIER LETTINGS: HADLEY GREEN 020 8441 9796 ASSOCIATE OFFICES: MAYFAIR MOSCOW

Unlocking your Land wanted for Residential

development potential Development

The Land Office has a sound track record for helping clients unlock the development potential of their land from side gardens, large plots and complex site assembly between neighbours.

Described as ‘one of the most experienced agents around’ Lance Trendall heads up The Land Office across the Home Counties. Lance provides free initial appraisals before getting stuck in to turn your back-breaking garden into a very valuable development site.

Before – 1 house and garden

After – 2 large detached houses

Free Initial Appraisal and Consultation • Land sold to Developers There are many different approaches to selling your valuable development site each with different merits and pitfalls.

Our initial meeting can focus on the most advantageous strategy for your circumstances.

All matters are respected as confidential and your concerns and time scale are respected throughout.

Call us today and arrange your free land appraisal In many cases, landowners prefer our developer contacts to seek planning at their own expense so you can remain free from costs and planning expenses Lance Trendall

lance@thelandoffice.co.uk EXPERIENCE • INTEGRITY • ENTHUSIASM

01582 461581 www.thelandoffice.co.uk

Woodside Park Totteridge Whetstone Oakleigh Park Finchley Mill Hill Arkley

www.realestates-wsp.co.uk Arkley

oiro £1,700,000

S AG OL EN E T

S AG OL EN E T

Totteridge £2,600,000

Totteridge office 020 8445 3132

Totteridge office 020 8445 3132

Totteridge £1,500,000

Whetstone £849,950

A chain-free detached family home of approx 3600 sq ft just off Totteridge Lane close to transport & shopping facilities as well as South Herts Golf Club. 4 receptions, large kit/ breakfast room, 6 double beds, 3 baths, orig oak panelling, well maintained front & rear gdns, garage, off street parking.

A delightful 1,816 sq ft detached, double fronted bungalow offered in excellent condition, with potential to extend into the large attic (1,390 sq ft) STPP. The lateral accommodation includes lounge, dining room, fitted kitchen/breakfast room, 3 double beds, bathroom & shower room. 63’ x 34’ south facing garden, integral garage & driveway providing off street parking for 4/5 cars.

Totteridge office 020 8445 3132

Totteridge office 020 8445 3132

Totteridge £650,000

Totteridge £625,000

S AG OL EN E T

SO jo LE in AG t EN T

SO jo LE in AG t EN T

Situated in a gated development on a corner plot, a double fronted detached home boasting panoramic views to rear. Barnet High Road & Totteridge’s shopping & transport facilities are accessible. Guest clk, lounge, dining room, study, family room, fitted kitchen/breakfast room with Aga, utility room. Master bed with balcony & en suite, guest suite, 2 further beds & family bath to 1st floor. Bed 6/games room to 2nd floor.

SO jo LE in AG t EN T

A stunning detached family home arranged over 3 floors in the heart of Totteridge offering spacious and versatile living accommodation with 6/7 well proportioned bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, lounge/dining room, family room, kitchen/breakfast/tv room, utility room, guest clk, integral double garage, secluded garden.

An extended 4 bedroom family home with the benefit of an open plan kitchen/ breakfast/family room and conveniently located for transport & shopping facilities.

Guest clk, reception room, 3 beds & family bath to 1st floor, further bed with en suite to 2nd floor, approx 70’ rear garden.

Totteridge office 020 8445 3132

A well presented detached family home in a cul-de-sac, close to Totteridge & Whetstone tube and shops. Guest clk, lounge, dining room, fitted kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom/ wc, approx 70’ rear garden, garage, off street parking for 2 cars.

Totteridge office 020 8445 3132

ProPertY

DeďŹ nitive Luxury Living A

substantial detached family home set behind electronic security gates. Arranged over three floors the accommodation extends to approximately 3500 Sq Ft with a rear garden extending to some 200ft plus, the property also benefits from a brick pavior carriage driveway with parking for several cars.

Located directly opposite North Middlesex Golf Club the property is well located for access to the M25 a short drive away and the North Circular being a mere five minute drive. Both London Underground station (Totteridge & Whetstone) and mainline trains (Oakleigh Park) to Moorgate and Kings Cross are nearby. Offering wonderful accommodation for entertaining with a large Entrance Hall and open plan Dining Room/ Reception intercommunicating with the Kitchen/ Breakfast room there is also a TV Lounge and a separate Study. Guest Cloakroom, Master Suite with Bath and Separate Shower Cubicle and Dressing Area, second Suite, Two further Double Bedrooms sharing a Jack & Jill Shower Room. On

84 march2011

the second floor there is a large Studio/Bedroom also with an En Suite. Garage with a Utility Area.

Accommodation comprises of...

3/4 Reception Rooms Kitchen/Breakfast Room 5 Bedrooms all en suite 200ft approx Rear Garden Carriage Driveway Off Street Parking for several cars Electronic security gates.

Price on application For more information on this amazing property contact Winkworth Totteridge and Whetstone office on 020 8492 2399 or visit the website at www.winkworth.co.uk

Totteridge & Whetstone office

020 8492 2399

Mill Hill, NW7 £1,500,000 Freehold A five bedroom, three bathroom, Tudor style family home with carriage drive set behind electric gates. This property offers the best in contemporary living with an open plan layout consisting of lounge, dining room, cinema room/ family room, kitchen/breakfast room, study, guest cloakroom, open plan hall, master suite, two bedrooms sharing an en-suite shower room, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Playroom (formerly the garage) and utility room.

Totteridge & Whetstone office 020 84922399 totteridge@winkworth.co.uk

Whetstone, N20 £849,950 Freehold A delightful 1,816 sq ft detached, double fronted bungalow offered in excellent condition throughout, with potential to extend into the large attic subject to the usual Local Authority planning consents. The accommodation comprises of 18’ reception room, 18’ dining room, fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room, three double bedrooms, bathroom and shower room. The property is further enhanced by a 63’ x 34’ south facing rear garden, an integral garage and a driveway providing off street parking for 4/5 cars. This delightful home is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac, within walking distance of the shops, restaurants and transport facilities on Whetstone High Street.

Totteridge & Whetstone office 020 84922399 totteridge@winkworth.co.uk

radlett

01923 852434

Radlett

£3,950,000 Radlett

A brand new house located in the Ridgeway which offers superb accomodation over threee floors. The property has been designed to a very high specification with all the needs of modern living.The accommodation comprises of 6 bedrooms with 6 ensuite bathrooms, 5 reception rooms, gym, very spacious kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, utility room, double garage, garden

elstree

020 8207 0085

£ 2,850,000

This six bedroom house offering spacious accommodation and offered in excellent decorative order throughout. To the ground floor is a spacious hallway, lounge, dining room, beautifully fitted kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, family room, playroom, cloakroom, conservatory, gym and double garage. To the first floor is the main bedroom suite with ensuite bathroom, five further bedrooms with four bathrooms with 2 being en suite. To the rear there is a sunny garden with patio area and to the front a large driveway behind electric gates.

Radlett £1,750,000 Radlett £875,000 Radlett £850,000 A five bedroom character house located in the centre of Radlett in A four bedroom detached house located within easy walking need of modernisation. 5 beds , 2 baths (one en suite) 4 reception distance of Radlett’s centre. The house has been extended to provide excellent family accommodation. A large kitchen/breakfast room, rooms, kitchen, cloakroom, garage, large frontage, rear garden. lounge, dining room, family room, utility room, cloakroom, master bedroom with en-suite and 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom.

Radlett

A four bedroom detached property over 3 floors. Lower ground floor has a double garage, storage room, playroom/study. The ground floor there is a lounge/dining room, study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room. The first floor has 4 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms (one ensuite). Parking for two or three cars and rear garden.

£550,000 Radlett £449,500 Radlett

This modern 3 bedroom property within walking distance of the high street and train station. Ground floor accommodation offers a large entrance hall, an integral garage, cloakroom, large kitchen/breakfast room. Upper floor has a generous living room, en-suite master bedroom, two further bedrooms, a family bathroom and a South facing sun terrace.

This Victorian property situated close to the train station is in good decorative order and offers excellent accomodation. The property provides four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living/dining room and a modern kitchen/breakfast room. Externally there is a secluded rear garden and a small front garden providing screening from the road.

£399,500

A stunning top floor apartment with underground parking within walking distance of the high street and train station. The accommodation provides two double bedrooms, an en-suite shower room, living/dining reception room with panormic window, a fully fitted kitchen with granite worktops and a modern bathroom suite.

70d Watling Street, Radlett, Hertfordshire, WD7 7NP

www.village-estates.co.uk

ProPertY

25

ViLLaGE EsTaTEs MaRKs 25 YEaRs MaTChinG ThE RiGhT PEoPLE wiTh ThE RiGhT hoMEs

W

hen Neil Landau set up Village Estates in Radlett the average asking price for a modest home in the South East was around £36,000. Twenty-five years down the line Village Estates is still going strong, having outlived just about all the competition.

During that quarter century of booms and busts, full blown recessions, double dips and record interest rate highs and lows, one thing has remained constant, Village Estates’ proficiency and professionalism in matching the right people with the right homes.

Village Estates began trading from a tiny office just 100 yards from where it operates today in modern new premises at 70d Watling Street.

Neil still runs the company which has now turned into something of a family concern with his son Daniel working alongside him.

But it is Neil’s experience in valuing and marketing desirable homes and his unrivalled knowledge of the Hertfordshire property scene that forms the foundations of the agency’s longevity and success.

He recalls fondly selling his first home, in Regents Close, Radlett, for £285,000. Today it would be valued in excess of one million pounds. And bringing the company CV right up to date, he recently sold the most expensive house ever built in Radlett for £5.6 million.

Needless to say, with that sort of investment on the books, he has an impressive portfolio of clients. Neil has worked with many major

developers and has sold properties to celebrities and professional footballers who are reassured by his discretion, diplomacy and dedication.

He says the biggest thing to change during his career is how buying patterns have changed because of the internet.

Village Estates has absorbed these changes without compromising on the pleasantries of dealing with customers as valued clients, rather than faceless email addresses.

Jennie Barron is delighted to be working at, and feel at home with, Village Estates. She said: “Having originally enjoyed working for agencies in Central London my priorities changed when I had a son. “But I never imagined when I returned to work I could still be involved at the top end of the market.

“I am lucky to be working in a high calibre area such as Radlett and with a reputed and trusted family business such as Village Estates.”

Warren Rosenberg, the co-founder of Village Estates, has happy memories of working with Neil. He said: “His undoubted knowledge and expertise of the property scene in Radlett and wider afield in Hertfordshire is second to none.

as something of a cocoon in terms of the property market, said: “Having provided our service to thousands of satisfied clients you can be assured that we are experienced enough to have dealt with any type of property and any seller or buyer’s situation.

“It is our experience and expertise that enables us to maintain the highest levels of service and constantly enhance our reputation.”

Village Estates can be contacted on 01923 852434 for Radlett, 020 8207 0085 for Elstree, or 020 8953 1000 for Lettings and Management. Alternatively check out the website at www.village-estates.co.uk.

Village estates is unrivalled in its proficiency & professionalism in matching the right people with the right homes... neiL LanDau

“I am sure it will stand him in good stead for the next 25 years – whatever the economy brings.”

Neil, who describes this corner of Hertfordshire march2011 87

Hadley Highstone

A unique opportunity to acquire an outstanding sympathetic conversion of a local landmark building designed to create a five bedroom (four bath/ shower room), three reception room family home, arranged over three levels, of almost 4,000sq.ft. offering contemporary living whilst retaining many original features. This premier property is situated directly opposite Hadley Common yet is within easy level reach of Barnet High Street.

Hadley Wood

OPEN WEEKEND Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd April 10am-4pm

This beautifully presented detached home stands behind a gated carriage driveway and offers versatile accommodation arranged over two floors including ground floor en suite bedroom, four further first floor bedrooms (two en-suite), open plan landing/study with kitchen area, triple aspect drawing room, dining room, fitted kitchen/breakfast room, guest cloakroom and covered heated pool. The property benefits from a double garage, off street parking for numerous vehicles and a rear garden

£2,000,000

£1,495,000

High Barnet

Barnet

A beautifully presented period home which retains many original features and is located in this conservation area overlooking Ravenscroft Park within easy reach of High Barnet shopping and transport facilities as well as highly regarded schools including Foulds, and both QE Boys and Girls. The accommodation is arranged over two floors and includes drawing room, study, sitting/dining room, fitted kitchen, utility room and guest WC. There are four bedrooms (master with dressing room), family bathroom, separate shower room, a south facing garden and garage to the rear

£1,100,000 sales@seanheaney.co.uk www.seanheaney.co.uk

An imposing 1920s built ‘Art Deco’ detached family home standing on a prominent double width corner plot approached via a carriage driveway in this highly sought-after residential turning. The accommodation consists of four bedrooms, family bathroom and shower room, lounge/dining room, study, kitchen/breakfast room and an impressive ‘Amdega’ conservatory.

Externally, the property has a westerly aspect rear garden, a detached double garage with attached studio/office. The property is offered with no upward chain and has excellent scope for extension (subject to planning permission)

£945,000 234 High Street, Hadley Green, Barnet, Herts EN5 5TD

020 8441 7173

New Barnet

High Barnet

£799,950

£785,000

Mill Hill, NW7

Barnet

£750,000

£699,950

A well presented four bedroom detached family home occupying a spacious plot in this sought-after turning within easy reach of High Barnet underground, New Barnet mainline station and highly regarded local schools.

The property retains many original features and offers excellent potential for extension (subject to planning permission). The accommodation includes a spacious entrance hall, lounge, dining room and modern fitted kitchen with adjoining breakfast room. Externally, there is off-street parking for several vehicles, garage and a south west facing rear garden of approx. 45m (148ft)

A four bedroom timber framed detached Walter Segal designed residence (approx 1350 sq ft) standing on a mature, secluded plot of over quarter of an acre backing onto greenbelt countryside in this popular semi rural location. The property offers excellent development potential (STPP) and sits behind a deep frontage.

sales@seanheaney.co.uk www.seanheaney.co.uk

This spacious semi detached period home enjoys an elevated position with far reaching view across Barnet, retains many original features and offers versatile accommodation of approx. 3000 sq. ft. arranged over three floors. The property is located within a few minutes walk of High Barnet underground station and Q.E. Girls’ school and includes reception hall, dining room and lounge - all with period fireplaces, kitchen/breakfast room, four double bedrooms, family bathroom, and a lower ground floor studio apartment with two further rooms for conversion.

There is off street parking for two cars, car port, and a rear garden of approx. 97ft

A newly refurbished four bedroom (two en-suite) semi detached halls adjoining family home within easy reach of High Barnet’s shopping and transport facilities. The accommodation is arranged over three floors and includes lounge, dining room, fitted kitchen/breakfast room, guest cloakroom, westerly aspect rear garden and off street parking. The property is offered for sale chain free.

234 High Street, Hadley Green, Barnet, Herts EN5 5TD

020 8441 7173

Canons Drive

Edgware HA8

Situated on the prestigious, tree lined and sought after Canons Drive Estate. A rarely available, magnificent, detached Tudor style family house in one of the areas finest locations.

One of the largest houses offering in excess of 6000 sq ft. The property boasts a wealth of character and charm. The stunning property built

ÂŁ2,795,000 in 2003 by the current owners offers contemporary accommodation over 3 floors.

Presently arranged as 5 bedrooms with 4 bathroom suites, vast reception space, a games room, gymnasium, sauna and shower room. Residents of the estate can exclusively access the private seven acre lake, and woodland walk.

Master bedroom with

Tv room

en suite dressing room

Guest wc

& bathroom

Utility room

4 further bedrooms

Gym

3 bathrooms

Sauna & steam room

Lounge

Garden

Dining room

Off street parking for 6

Kitchen breakfast room

cars

Office/treatment room

Sole agents

Uphill Drive

Mill Hill NW7

An imposing 4 bedroom double fronted detached family house in this rarely available crescent set back from the road within moments from the shopping and transport facilities of Mill Hill Broadway.

The property has been extended by the current owners but still offers fantastic scope for improvement and benefits include 3 reception rooms, garage, driveway with off street parking for 4/5 cars and a wonderful large south facing rear garden approx 100 ft.

arge entrance hall L Guest cloakroom Kitchen/breakfast room Dining room Lounge Large garden room/playroom Utility room 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms (1 en suite) 100ft rear garden Carriage driveway Garage Sole agents

ÂŁ1,200,000

Hillside Grove A fantastic, 4 bedroom detached family house which has been modernised and refurbished by the current owners.

Offered in immaculate order throughout, the property benefits from a stunning large open plan kitchen / diner, 2 further reception rooms, utility room, large master suite with ensuite bathroom & dressing room and a pretty rear garden.

Mill Hill NW7

bedrooms 4 3 bathrooms(2 en-suite) Lounge Large kitchen opening to diner Playroom Utility room 90ft south facing rear garden Guest cloakroom Double width driveway Staircase to loft for further loft conversion potential Sole agents

ÂŁ895,000

harmsworth way aster suite including M dressing room and en suite bathroom 4 further bedrooms Family bathroom Dual aspect lounge connecting with separate dining room Family/tv room open plan to fitted kitchen/breakfast room Utility area Guest cloakroom Double length garage

Totteridge N20

ÂŁ2,495,000

Freehold

An imposing contemporary styled 5 bedroom detached family house, in a prestigious location, between Northcliffe Drive and Pine Grove Totteridge, situated on a large plot with carriage driveway and a heated swimming pool within its 200 ft landscaped rear garden, close to Totteridge Green and Common.

Barnet Gate

A rare opportunity to purchase a substantial detached family residence with separate detached granny/guest house, approached by private road through double gates. The property is approximately 2,000 sq ft and set

Arkley EN5

in extensive and secluded grounds of approximately one and a quarter acres, with outstanding views over nearby countryside.

There is great potential for further improvement or indeed re-development and we understand

bedrooms 4 2 receptions 3 bathrooms Guest cloakroom Kitchen/breakfast room Utility room Study Granny/guest annexe with bathroom South facing gardens Large gated driveway 1.25 acre plot Planning permission for a 2500 sq ft extension comprising of garaging and swimming pool complex.

ÂŁ1,795,000

that there is current planning for a 2500 sq ft extension including a swimming pool, garage and separate driveway (plans available on request). The house is set off Barnet Road with good access for the A1.

ProPertY

WALL HALL MANSION ALDENHAM, HERTS, WD25 SurrOunded By humPhrY rePton’S LanDSCaPeD ParKLanD and On aPPrOXiMately 55 aCreS oF SPrawLing CountrYSiDe, iS thiS luXuriOuS reSidence FOrMinG Part OF a magniFiCent graDe ii LiSteD neo-gothiC reViVaL manSion With an iMPreSSiVe caStellated FaÇade created in the early nineteenth century.

T

his grand residence retains many of its original features including the imposing front entrance, extraordinary high ceilings with original cornicing, original panelling, high set skirting and fireplaces. It has been sympathetically restored with period features reinvented in a contemporary and elegant design.

This elegant home is full of charm and character, providing 5915 sq ft of living space arranged over 4 floors, spanning the entire east wing of the mansion and enjoys the extra security of reserved car parking spaces and invaluable lock up storage rooms in a privately accessed underground car park.

The fully fitted kitchen incorporates a full range of

fitted units and stainless steel appliances. A solid double skinned ‘original’ safe door off the hallway leads down to a stunning TV room. There are two grand reception rooms. A superb staircase leads to a spacious hallway and to the master bedroom with its high ceilings and double aspect views. The master bedroom has a full range of fully fitted wardrobes and a beautifully appointed en-suite bathroom, with his & hers sinks, walk in shower and bespoke tiles to the floor and walls. Bedroom three has fitted wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom with a walk in shower.

The end of the hallway leads to double doors allowing access to a self contained bedroom suite with its own front door which leads back to the beautifully maintained first floor communal area

that has a lift allowing access down to the private car parking spaces in the basement, this part of the property also has a separate kitchen/ laundry room as well as the fourth bedroom with walk in wardrobes. On the top floor is Bedroom two, and from here the views are even greater, with fully fitted wardrobes and a stunning en-suite bathroom.

This triple aspect room completes this truly impressive residence. Externally, the property benefits access to walled garden and two privately accessed underground parking spaces with additional visitors parking. The development provides exclusive use of tennis courts, private gym, bespoke children’s recreational area, grassed area for ball games and a landscaped Italian garden which is set amongst 55 acres of woodland and countryside.

ProPertY

ACCOMMODATION Stunning Communal Entrance Hall Feature fireplace Exquisite wood panelling to walls

Ground Floor

Entrance hall Guest cloakroom Drawing room Dining room Fitted kitchen/breakfast room

Lower Ground Floor Television room

First Floor

Spectacular master bedroom suite with en-suite bathroom Bedroom three with en-suite bathroom Staff Accommodation/Bedroom Four Bedroom four with dressing room and en-suite bathroom Laundry room/kitchenette

Second entrance door leading to communal hallway Lift access to ground floor and underground parking

Second Floor

Bedroom 2 with en-suite bathroom

Exterior

Walled garden Two privately accessed underground parking spaces Additional visitors parking Two lock up storage rooms Exclusive use of tennis courts and private gym Bespoke children’s recreational area Grassed area for ball games Landscaped Italian garden 55 acres of woodland and countryside

Price ÂŁ3,500,000 For further details and a full colour brochure please contact Statons on 020 8445 3694.

London LT iof ef i n i S H

Aston MArtin city car on sale

a

ston Martin will begin production of the Cygnet city car with two limited edition versions, priced at £30,995.

The Cygnet is the British performance car maker’s smallest ever model. It has divided opinion since its unveiling because it is so obviously based on the Toyota iQ city car - which costs just over £10,000.

The order book for the limited edition Cygnet White and Cygnet Black versions is open now, with deliveries scheduled for April.

Aston says that these editions will be made for a limited time, although there is apparently no restriction on who can buy the car. It was initially thought that only existing Aston owners would be invited to buy a Cygnet.

Aston refers to the Cygnet as a ‘Bespoke luxury commuter car’.

Every car involves stripping down the bodywork and the 9 8 2m m aa rr cc hh2 2 00 1 11 1

interior of an iQ donor car, before a team of coachbuilders applies the custom interior and exterior by hand. That happens at Aston’s headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Every Cygnet gets nine airbags and stability control for safety. Standard equipment includes heated leather seats, satellite navigation and push button engine start.

Buyers can choose either a manual or a CVT automatic gearbox. The iQ’s 97bhp 1.33-litre petrol engine remains untouched.

The real transformation comes by way of full leather upholstery which also covers the dashboard and door linings - and the addition of the trademark Aston Martin grille and bonnet vents.

Every car comes with a custom made Bill Amberg five-piece luggage set, designed to fit the car perfectly and match the colour scheme of the interior!

A new Polo with free insurance and servicing, plus £500 off.

Yes, a new Polo.

That’s right, a new one.

Unbelievable Value

Alan Day Hampstead Telephone 0207 644 7800

www.alandayvw.co.uk

Representative

7.9% APR

Price advertised includes £500 off. *One years free insurance is available from Volkswagen Insurance for drivers over 21, excluding Northern Ireland. Go to insurewithvolkswagen.co.uk/polo for full terms and conditions. Volkswagen Insurance is sold, underwritten and administered by Allianz Insurance plc. Offers apply to stock vehicles only when ordered by March 31st, 2011. †3 years or 30,000 miles (whichever comes soonest). Free servicing is available for customers who purchase their car with Solutions. Indemnities may be required. Subject to status. Available to over 18s in the UK only.

Offers may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Terms and conditions apply. Retail sales only. Volkswagen Finance, Freepost VWFS. Whilst stocks last.

Official fuel consumption in mpg ( litres/100km) for the Polo range: urban 35.3 (8.0) – 67.3 (4.2); extra urban 60.1 (4.7) – 91.1 (3.1); combined 47.9 (5.9) – 80.7 (3.5). CO2 emissions 139 – 91g/km.