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for up to 36 guests Location of Private Dining Room The Private Dining Rooms are located on the first floor within the Main Restaurant Guide price of set menus per head £49 - £55 per head Wines starting at £29.00 Champagne starting at £65.00 Room hire No room hire charge (excluding Christmas) Minimum spend No minimum spend (excluding Christmas) Michelin stars 1

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12a Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London W1J 6BS Tel: 020 7629 8886 Email: events@ benaresrestaurant.co.uk Restaurant opened 2001 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 4 Private Dining Rooms: Chef’s Table with capacity for up to 6 guests Sommelier’s Table with capacity for up to 10 guests Berkeley Room with capacity for up to 16 guests Dover Room with capacity

THE N TH DEGREE 75

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Location of Private Dining Room Top floor of the restaurant Guide price of set menus per head £59 - £80 per head Wines starting at £24.00 Champagne starting at £49.00 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend No minimum spend

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11-15 Swallow Street, London W1B 4DG Tel: 020 7734 4756 Email: privatedining@ bentleys.org Restaurant opened Refurbished by Richard Corrigan in 2005, founded in 1916 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 1 Private Dining Room with capacity for up to 14 guests

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piccadilly circus

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THE N TH DEGREE 77

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capacity for up to 10 guests Location of Private Dining Room The Private Dining Rooms are located on the first floor within M&E centre and Pompadour Ballroom on 2nd floor Guide price of set menus per head £65 - £80 per head Wines starting at £36.00 Champagne starting at £70.00 Room hire Dependent on the time of year Minimum spend Receptions only – dependent on the time of year

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68 Regent Street, London, W1B 4DY Tel: 020 7406 3333 Email: enquiries@ hotelcaferoyal.com Restaurant opened December 2012 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room Possible 6 Private Dining Rooms: Pompadour ballroom with capacity for up to 100 guests Queensberry room with capacity for up to 80 guests Mayfair and Soho rooms with capacity for up to 40 guests Nash and Nicols with

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cafe royal piccadilly circus

THE N TH DEGREE 79

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80 THE N TH DEGREE

back of the restaurant Guide price of set menus per head £48 - £70 per head Wines starting at £28.00 Champagne starting at £40.00 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend No minimum spend

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157-159 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3LF Tel: 020 7229 2115 Email: reservations@ chakralondon.com Restaurant opened 2011 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 1 Semi Private Dining Room with a capacity for up to 20 guests Location of Private Dining Room Alfresco area towards the

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chakra notting hill

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with views of Wandsworth Common Guide price of set menus per head £45 upwards per head Wines starting at £22.00 Champagne starting at £55.00 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend £1000 minimum spend Michelin star 1

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2 Bellevue Rd, Wandsworth Common, London, SW17 7EG Tel: 020 8672 0114 Email: enquiries@ chezbruce.co.uk Restaurant opened 1995 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 1 Private Dining Room with capacity for up to 16 guests Location of Private Dining Room First floor of the Restaurant

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THE N TH DEGREE 83

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84 THE N TH DEGREE

Guide price of set menus per head £45.00 to £70.00 per head Wines starting at £20.00 Champagne starting at £55.00 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend £600.00 to £1000.00

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55 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BB Tel: 020 3641 5845 Email: info@thedelaunay.com Restaurant opened 2001 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 3 Private Dining Rooms with capacity for up to 8, 14 and 24 guests Location of Private Dining Room Towards the front of the restaurant

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the delaunay

THE N TH DEGREE 85

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86 THE N TH DEGREE

Guide price of set menus per head £60.00 to £118.00 per head Wines starting at £32.00 Champagne starting at £70.00 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend £3500 Michelin star 1

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8 Hanway Place, London, W1T 1HD Tel: 0207 927 7010 Email: groups@hakkasan.com Restaurant opened 2001 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 1 Semi Private Dining Room with capacity for up to 20 guests Location of Private Dining Room Towards the front of the restaurant

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THE N TH DEGREE 87

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Restaurant with views of the Thames Guide price of set menus per head A la Carte menu as the Main Restaurant Wines starting at £32.00 Champagne starting at £69.00 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend No minimum spend for groups over 12

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The Savoy, Strand, London, WC2R 0EU Tel: 020 7420 2111 Email: savoy@fairmont.com Restaurant opened 2013 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 1 Private Dining Room with capacity for up to 14 guests Location of Private Dining Room Located just off the

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kaspar ’s the savoy

THE N TH DEGREE 89

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back of the Restaurant and 1in the Wine Cellar Guide price of set menus per head £50.00 - £90.00 per head Wines starting at £22.00 Champagne starting at £60.00 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend £500

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1 Snowden St, London EC2A 2DQ Tel: 020 7422 7000 Email: info@lanima.co.uk Restaurant opened 2008 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 3 Private Dining Rooms with capacity for up to 15, 12 and 7 guests Location of Private Dining Room 2 rooms located towards the

THE N TH DEGREE 91

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locations in this stunning converted Presbyterian Church Guide price of set menus per head £60.00 - £108.00 per person Wines starting at £35.00 per bottle Champagne starting at £59.00 per bottle Room hire £170 to £1500 Minimum spend No minimum spend

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11B West Halkin Street, Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8JL Tel: 020 7235 9625 Email: pdr@mosimann.com Restaurant opened 1988 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 7 Private Dining Rooms with capacity for up to 2, 6, 12, 14, 30, 50 Location of Private Dining Room All rooms located in various

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THE N TH DEGREE 93

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Guide price of set menus per head £79.00 to £99.00 per head Wines starting from £32.00 Champagne starting from £61.00 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend £3,500

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13-14-15 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NQ Tel: 020 7838 1500 Email: enquiries@nozomi.co.uk Restaurant opened 2004 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room One room for up to 20 people Location of Private Dining Room First floor of the restaurant

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nozomi chelsea

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Guide price of set menus per head £38.00 to £75.00 Wines starting at £30.00 Champagne starting at £145.00 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend No minimum spend

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14 Old Park Lane, London W1K 1ND Tel: 020 7491 8586 Email: events@ playboyclublondon.com Restaurant opened 2001 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room The Judy Joo Private Dining Room seating up to 12 guests Location of Private Dining Room Towards the back of the casino

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the playboy club

THE N TH DEGREE 97

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of the restaurant Guide price of set menus per head £50.00 - £70.00 per head Wines starting at £19.50 Champagne starting at £42.75 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend £3,500 minimum spend

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Stratton Street, London, W1J 8LT Tel: 020 7915 3892 Email: events@ themayfairhotel.co.uk Restaurant opened 1927 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 1 Private Dining Room for up to 8 people The Salon can holder larger groups Location of Private Dining Room Towards the back

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quince

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Carlos Place, London, W1K 2AL Tel: 020 7499 7070 Email: events@ the-connaught.co.uk Position of bar Past Reception on the

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Drinks Wines start at £20.00 Champagne at £65.00

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75 Sloane Street, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 9SG Tel: 020 7245 0994 Email: info@cadogan.com Position of bar Behind the reception of the Hotel

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St James’s Place, London, SW1A 1NY Tel: 020 7491 4840 Email: bookings@ dukeshotel.com Position of bar Lower Ground floor of the hotel

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17 Mercer Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9QJ Tel: 020 7520 5450 Email: enquiries@ crazybear-coventgarden. co.uk Position of bar Bar is situated on two

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crazy bear

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19 Old Park Lane, London, W1K 1LB Tel: 020 7447 1000 Email: metbar.met.lon@ comohotels.com Position of bar Ground floor of The Metropolitan Hotel

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the met bar

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Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7TA Tel: 020 7259 5599 Email: info@ lanesborough.com Position of bar To the right of Reception

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2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1A 2TS Tel: 020 7870 2900 Email: events.trafalgar@ hilton.com Position of bar Top Floor of The Trafalgar Hotel

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Stratton Street, London, W1J 8LT Tel: 020 7915 3894 Email: events@ themayfairhotel.co.uk Position of bar Lower Ground floor of the hotel

rockwell bar

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Guide price of set menus per head £49.00 – £175.00 Wines starting at £30.00 Champagne starting at £47.50 Room hire £250 Minimum spend No minimum spend

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Stockcross, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG20 8JU Tel: 01635 528770 Email: events2@the-vineyard.co.uk Restaurant opened 1976 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room Private Room for capacity of up to 60 guests Location of Private Dining Room Ground floor of the restaurant

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Main Restaurant across the courtyard Guide price of set menus per head £95.00 - £158.00 per head Wines starting at £50.00 Champagne starting at £70.00 Room hire From £750.00 Minimum spend No minimum spend Michelin stars 2

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Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Church Road, Great Milton, Oxford, OX44 7PD Tel: 01844 278 881 Email: events@blanc.co.uk Restaurant opened 1984 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 1 Private Room for up to 50 guests Location of Private Dining Room The Private Dining Room is a separate building from the

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Guide price of set menus per head AED450 to AED900 per head Wines starting from AED70 Champagne starting from AED180 Room hire No room hire Minimum spend AED 5,500 for lunch and AED 7,000 for dinner

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At.mosphere Burj Khalifa, P.O. Box 888 333, Burj Khalifa 1 Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai Dubai, UAE Enquiries: atmosphere@ atmosphereburjkhalifa.com Restaurant opened 2011 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room Up to 14 people Location of Private Dining Room 122ND Floor of Burj Khalifa

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THE N TH DEGREE 113

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Guide price of set menus per head $95 to $115 US per head Wines starting at $60 US Champagne starting at $145 US Room hire No room hire Minimum spend No minimum spend

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St. James, Barbados, West Indies, BB24024 Tel: 0808 234 5132 Restaurant opened 1961 Seating capacity of Private Dining Room 1 Semi Private Room with capacity for up to 6 guests Location of Private Dining Room Located in an alcove within the main area

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H.R. Owen is Britain’s leading luxury motor dealer and the Nth Degree were very pleased to welcome Claus Anderson the General Manager of HR Owen to Le Manoir and The Vineyard. H R Owen is the world’s largest retailer in Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti brands and supplied a Lamborghini Aventador, Bentley Mulsanne and Bentley Continental GT Speed. As you can see the cars and the Venues worked perfectly together.

Claus drove The Nth Degree founder Bob Walton home in the Lamborgini Aventador whose only comment was ‘ this car is amazing’ .

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for “Making the world more original, one space at a time.”

The vision of A Space For Art is simple; to build the world’s largest and most exclusive exhibition space by utilising the empty walls and floors of the world’s most prestigious hotels, michelin starred restaurants and members clubs.

The hospitality industry is hyper competitive and it is increasingly important to differentiate oneself from the competition. A Space For Art has a

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network that spans the globe, enabling them to transform your venue into a unique exhibition space, acting as an extension to the world’s most exclusive galleries and artists studios.

A Space For Art offers an opportunity to exhibit original, prestigious and conversation worthy artwork without the cost of ownership.

The hassle free service allows for

rotation of artwork keeping your space fresh and unique to you.

A Space For Art will: • Source artwork from young emerging talent, through to the world’s most esteemed artists • Arrange logistics and installation • Provide insurance • Create elegant and informative material to promote your exhibition

A Space For Art collaborates among other prestigious spaces, with multiple Michelin star restaurants around the world, providing a unique and memorable aesthetic experience to their clients.

“From the way we set the tables, to the presentation of the food, everything we do in the restaurant is an art form. A Space For Art brings an extra artistic dimension to our space adding value to our guests experience, aligning with the restaurant’s ambience and style of my food.”

CLARE SMYTH, Chef-Patron at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, and one of only four women in the world to hold the coveted three Michelin stars.”

At A Space For Art, we understand the importance of relationships.

In keeping with this, if any Nth Degree members want to learn more, please feel free to contact Founding Director Charlie Smedley on: Email charlie.Smedley@ASpaceForArt.com Tel +44 (0) 79 219 70542 web www.ASpaceForArt.com twitter @ASpaceForArt

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berkshire’s best kept secret Trunkwell House has become one of the most recognised entertaining venues in Berkshire. This stunning Victorian country home is set in 36 acres of beautiful Berkshire countryside and prides itself on immaculate presentation of the house and gardens.

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With over 25,000 visitors a year, Trunkwell House has become one of the premier venues in Berkshire for weddings, corporate events, Christmas parties, proms, conferences, and summer balls. It also provides the location for an extensive collection of charity days as well as one of the biggest Christmas gift fairs in the area.

2014 is set to be an exciting year for Trunkwell House with the addition of it’s first ever festival, Show Fest. With a fair ground, vintage cars, children’s activities, day time fairground and live music from 6pm, Show Fest fuses all the elements of a Great British country show in the beautiful grounds of Trunkwell House. With a line up of wellknown artists and even the opportunity to do some Glamping, Trunkwell House is gearing up for this extremely exciting new event.

The original Trunkwell House dates back to 1190 and was unfortunately destroyed by a fire. In 1878 the new Trunkwell House was built and remains almost exactly the same today. Based in the tiny village of Beech Hill, it was a family home until 1963. Trunkwell was sold to the Udall family in 1935

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for £35,000 and during the Second World War the house was opened up to provide shelter and safety for the war evacuees. The original house was bigger, with evidence showing that up to 20 staff were hired to look after the entire family. The house was sat in over 200 acres and so Trunkwell Farm and Trunkwell Cottages were also once part of the estate.

The present owner brought Trunkwell in 1990 and has transformed the

Trunkwell House, Beech Hill Road, Beech Hill, Reading, RG7 2AT Email: info@trunkwell.com Telephone: 0118 988 3754

property and grounds into the perfect location for all the customer’s needs.

With a permanent marquee built in the grounds, Trunkwell led the way for marquees to be in style, with other venues following suit soon after. The beauty of the marquee is that it’s so versatile that it can look completely different for every event.

Private dining and service is high on the agenda at Trunkwell with the quality of local produce no matter what the quantity they cater for. Whether it’s a large function or private dinner, the quality and attention to detail is what sets Trunkwell apart from other local venues.

With the size and layout of the grounds,

Trunkwell has the ability to adapt itself to almost any event and occasion.

Over the last 20 years the diversity of events and activities has made Trunkwell the most versatile venues in the South East of England. From a private dinner or special party in the house, to an Asian wedding seating 1400 people and from a charity masquerade ball for 200 people to a corporate family fun day for 2000 people, Trunkwell has the ability to cater for all companies and individual requirements.

The secret of Trunkwell’s success is that it is a family run business that will go to the Nth degree and back to create an unforgettable event experience.

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& 2013 opens a new chapter in the story of one of Britain’s most illustrious and iconic brands.

It’s a story that began in 1775, when Jonathan Mappin opened a silver workshop in Sheffield with the mission to create the most beautifully crafted silverware for British high society. It would see the company expand internationally, receive royal warrants and commissions from monarchs around the world, and become synonymous with excellence, craftsmanship and all things truly greatly British.

The first of those centuries was spent quietly expanding, establishing premises across London, and trading via agencies from America to Australia.

The company’s fine silverware, candelabras and vanity products were gaining in renown, and the first Mappin & Webb shop opened in 1860 at 77-78 Oxford Street.

Queen Victoria was the first monarch to commission Mappin & Webb. She bestowed a Royal Warrant in 1897, and her passing in 1901 was marked with a solid gold casket and key presented to the Palace.

Its silverware continued its unparalleled success story. The trademarks Prince’s Plate, Trustworthy and Sun Mark were registered, and orders were fulfilled for the Titanic and leading London hotels including The Ritz, The Carlton, The Savoy and The Berkeley.

At the turn of the new century, Mappin & Webb also began to stock jewellery.

A pin was designed for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 and in keeping with the modern spirit of female emancipation; a special catalogue of suffragette jewellery was produced in 1908.

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The company’s silverware experienced a new golden age in the 1960s, as Mappin & Webb was commissioned to supply tableware and cutlery to the QE2, as well as entire fleets of the world’s leading cruise companies, and the capital’s great hotels.

Today, Mappin & Webb holds two royal warrants, of Silversmiths to HRH the Prince of Wales, and Silversmiths to HM the Queen. The brand continues to supply the Royal household and the British military with commemorative items for key ceremonial and regimental needs, in a long-standing tradition of service to the Monarchy.

Mappin & Webb continues also to celebrate key moments in history, be they jubilees and coronations, military events or race days and in 2013 the company became the official supplier of Trophies and Silverware to Ascot and Royal Ascot.

The company’s longstanding royal connection was further cemented by the appointment of Martin Swift, Mappin & Webb’s master craftsman, to the position of Crown Jeweller in 2012. Having worked within the London workshop for 20 years, Martin is now custodian of the Crown jewels: a fitting appointment and a great honour for Mappin & Webb.

Today, Brand Director Elizabeth Galton is reinventing Mappin & Webb’s heritage in new and unexpected ways.

Her debut collections set the intention for things to come: extraordinary jewels that reinterpret historic motifs from the company’s archives, and make them relevant to a modern audience through contemporary designs.

The exotic and ornate Empress collection was inspired by a bespoke Mappin & Webb design for the Queen of Siam. Commissioned in the 1920s and rediscovered in the company archive, the delicate and decorative circular motif unites the mythical exoticism of the East with the more playful spirit of our times.

CEO Justin Stead says, “Mappin & Webb

is a truly British treasure with over 200 years of tradition and historical significance in the silver and jewellery world. Mappin and Webb is now undergoing a renaissance and as guardians of this iconic brand, we feel we have a compelling moral obligation to return it to its rightful place at the forefront of British life.”

THE N TH DEGREE 125

In the footsteps of Orpheus The land where the legend of Orpheus began is the inspiration behind luxury hotel Villa Gella Nestled within the patchwork quilt of Eastern Europe is Bulgaria, a land of beautiful beaches, Alpine mountain peaks, verdant valleys, lush plains and a tumultuous history that can be traced back through Soviet rule and the Ottoman Empire to the epics of the Classical Age. If this is a country you’ve never seriously considered visiting before, then now is the time to go. Capital city Sofia – which takes on the title European Capital City of Culture in 2019 - is rapidly evolving into an exciting destination ever since it joined the EU six years ago. And if the recent opening of the Sense Design Hotel in Sofia is anything to go by, Bulgaria is starting to expand its luxury offer too.

Gela is a shining example of the richness Bulgaria has to offer. Beyond the cities, you’ll find a country of hidden jewels thanks to its natural beauty and rich historical and cultural history.

A short helicopter ride or picturesque two hour drive through mountain forests and gorges, the tiny hamlet of Gela is situated in the Rhodope Mountain

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range – a dramatic complex of terrain stretching 240 miles across the south western side of the country and through into Greece.

Perched on the slopes some 1,700m above sea level, Villa Gella is surrounded by snowy peaks and pristine lakes, nature reserves, deep canyons, and historical sites.

Urban luxury meets rural retreat The property has been extensively designed and renovated to immerse you in the best Rhodope Mountains has to offer without any compromise on urban luxuries.

Styled by interior designer Marja

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Walters of MBB Design, Villa Gella has six bedrooms and extensive gardens that have been carefully designed to complement the stunning landscape beyond.

The white on white dining room with its permanent backdrop of mountain views opens out onto large linencovered sofas facing the welcoming, open hearth. The spacious living and dining room is at the heart of the house, a place to enjoy superb cooking by the villa’s private chef, afternoon tea brewed from local medicinal herbs, or get-togethers with local musicians, historians and archaeologists.

The ways to enjoy Villa Gella are many; swim in the indoor pool overlooking the highest Perelik snow-capped peaks or enjoy a sundowner, or yoga session, on the heated terrace or even a dip in the penthouse hot-tub or fully relax and recharge in the spa.

The Villa’s distinctive bedrooms all enjoy spectacular views and each one provides a luxurious bed, ample space for relaxation and the warmth of a woodburning fireplace. They are furnished in different styles and named after a main feature of their interior such as the Terrace Room with its covered sitting area complete with fireplace and

Jacuzzi. And if you’re not lulled to your bedroom by the fresh mountain air, then you can keep in touch with the outside world with all modern technology at your fingertips.

Cuisine fit for heroes Nothing tells the story of Bulgaria’s past more than its cuisine which blends tastes and flavours from the Orient with the Mediterranean. Villa Gella’s resident chef champions the best of Rhodopian dishes, many of which use the herbs of the Orphean legend.

The menu is accompanied by wines from the vineyards of Terra Tangra – one of the new generation Bulgarian wineries quickly gaining acclaim in the international wine scene. Winemaking in this part of Bulgaria has been a tradition since the days of ancient Thrace. There’s an opportunity to sample both single varietal and blends, all carefully selected to match the dishes available on the daily menu.

Terra Tangra’s signatures are the Rosé and the Single Barrel – a golden trophy winner from Bordeaux, France. The Rosé comes from an organically-grown local grape variety called Mavrud and has a delicate blush and crisp, clean taste. The Single Barrel offers a nicely composed and well-balanced red, which can be drunk now or in years to come.

From caves to choirs.

While the comforts on offer at Villa Gella make it hard to leave, there are many other activities to enjoy, some just minutes away.

The neighbouring ski-resort is a short, complimentary ride away, and matches any other European resort for quality, and the nearby Pamporovo resort hosts the European Slalom Cup every year.

If snow sports are not to your taste, then try other outdoors pursuits such as caving, cycling, hiking, horse riding, trout-fishing and shooting. Most are available throughout the year.

Culture junkies will enjoy the historical and mythical sights and stories at seemingly every twist and turn of the region’s snaking rivers and roads. Four of the nine Bulgarian UNESCO heritage sites are within easy distance from Villa Gella including the city of Plovdiv, the seat of human activity for the past 8,000 years.

Mythical Orpheus was famous for his music and the mountain villages near Gela are home to Bulgarian folk music including the haunting choral singing tradition. Catch a concert, a local foodmarket, or visit one of the many folk festivals in the region and, like the legend of Orpheus itself, your visit to Rhodope will remain in your mind long after your return home.

Getting there: Bulgaria is served by flights into Sofia from British Airways and Easyjet. Villa Gella also arranges private flights with Jet Charters into Plovdiv airport and linked helicopter transfers from the airport to Villa Gella, direct into the mountains. www.villagella.com

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phone a friend With a TV and Radio career spanning back almost 40 years, Chris Tarrant is a man who has earned some time to relax. As one of our members, he was kind enough to invite the Nth Degree to his home in an undisclosed part of Southern England, to discuss the merits of country life, travel and of course the fine dining opportunities that this affords.

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“I was very much a country kid. I was very close to my parents, but it was my Granddad who taught me to fish and watch badgers and look for birds. He was the one who taught me my love of the countryside.”

City living is usually a necessary consequence of a busy career in TV and radio. The time commitments can be formidable; nevertheless it was always Chris Tarrant’s desire to return to the countryside.

“Whatever I was doing for most of my life, the countryside was where I wanted to get back to,” he tells us.

Returned he has, and in some style. The nine-bedroom property exudes charm, backing onto 40 acres of English countryside, featuring a large woodland and a lake.

“I bought it because I like the land,” he recalls, “It was a very small cottage, most of it falling down.”

He and the man known as Roy the Gardener, have put a lot of work into regenerating the land over the last decade. “He’s a wonderful man who works incredibly hard, but I think he also likes the fact that I really respect the property. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the place grow up.”

Chris Tarrant’s current residence is a far cry from the cityscape that dominated his career, from the early days of “Tiswas”, to “Capital FM” to “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”, a career-defining project that has now been replicated in over 100 different countries, even down to Chris’s original catch phrases.

In those days it wasn’t so easy to retreat to such tranquillity. Chris has loved fishing all his life, and tells us about his desperate attempts to escape the metropolis during the busiest years to pursue his passion.

“Nowadays I live 5 minutes from a river, which is not a coincidence, but I used to drive two hours each way, blasting down the M4 in rush hour traffic, just to get an hour’s fishing in.” He also tells us of the love for walking that his surroundings have inspired, although admits that he is not a patch on his

grandfather in that regard.

So what is it about the countryside that Chris finds so irresistible? “As I became busier, and I suppose more well-known, being able to escape to a river or a lake became just fantastic. It doesn’t matter whether its golf or flower arranging, you’ve got to have somewhere that’s away from emails and telephones. I can switch off here and be as busy, or not, as I want.”

Slotting into village life has not been difficult, “I haven’t signed an autograph round here for years, which is nice.

I don’t mind when I’m in London and people do ask, but around here it’s

London, so there really is an opening in the market there!”

Chris admits to being a fan of creating his own curries, but does not claim to be particularly accomplished. “I’m not great at it, but it’s great when you just throw some things together and it tastes really nice. You can faff around, that’s the great thing!”

Chris’s greatest culinary experience however, took place in the Mediterranean.

“There’s a fish restaurant, right on the beach in the north of Majorca. It’s basically a tin shack, and they do the most fantastic fish and lashings and lashings of wine.

It’s not unusual to go in at midday and leave at ten in the evening. The whole world walks through. Right from locals, to the likes of Michael Douglas and Richard Branson. You never know who you’ll meet.”

One thing he can’t abide even in any setting however, is pudding. “When I did James Martin’s Heaven and Hell, my hell was deserts. I haven’t got a sweet tooth I suppose.” Suddenly he remembers something. “Rum Baba,” he says. “It’s just a great thing dripping with rum. I have no idea what’s in it, but it’s lovely.

It’s the only desert I would eat.”

So was it simply the love of unique dining experiences that prompted Chris to join the Nth Degree Club? Not entirely, he tells us. “There’s just the most extraordinary cross section of people under one roof. Having such a range of people of all sorts of interest, and actually each of them high achievers in their fields was fascinating. I’ve talked to the most extraordinary people.”

So what does the immediate future hold for Chris? “My old lady says I’ll never retire, but I’m certainly not working as hard as I used to,” he says. “It would be pointless.” With a book about his father’s exploits in WW2 to work on, which seems to be turning into something of a personal journey, and more TV work in the pipeline, it seems Chris will enter his fortieth year of broadcasting as active as ever, safe in the knowledge that he is not short of a retreat or two.

“When I did James Martin’s Heaven and Hell, my hell was deserts.”

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never been an issue. I’m down the local all the time and they treat me just like anyone else.”

“The pub grub around here is fantastic,” he adds with a smile.

Chris’s joy in a sense of escapism does not end with the countryside. He is a keen traveller and is currently working through a bucket list of places he has never visited. “There aren’t many left!” he tells us. When pushed where he would return too, he answers, “Safaris.

I love Safaris. The time zones are basically the same, so when I was really busy we could fly down on the Friday evening, and by Saturday afternoon you would be seeing elephants and lions.

It’s so different from anything else you’ll do.” The pull of an African Safari seems similar to that which sent him down the M4 in rush hour just to fish for an hour.

“There are no phones and no email, you are totally cut off from the outside, just watching nature.”

Travel has also opened the door to a variety of world cuisines. “I love Thai food and I love Indian food, but the best curries we’ve had were in Cambodia.

Cambodian food is fantastic. Very different from anything else, it’s really beautiful. I looked it up as soon as we got back and there was only one in

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valderrama Club de Golf Valderrama is located in Sotogrande, Andalucia, the largest and southernmost region of Spain. A few miles north of Gibraltar, it is approximately one hour’s drive from Malaga International Airport.. Valderrama is a private Members’ club with a limited number of starting times offered for visitors.

The climate is ideal for year-round golf Valderrama has been consistently ranked as number 1 in Continental Europe since the late 80’s and has been included in the Top 100 in the World since 1999. The Par 71 Championship Course measures 6356 meters from the professional tees. The fairways have been described by top pros and leading golf writers as the best in Europe, if not the world.

It is not an easy course - nor was it intended to be. It is designed so as to call forth thought and precision for every shot.

The course was designed in 1974 by Robert Trent Jones, Sr, one of the great golf course architects, and was originally known as Las Aves (Sotogrande New). In 1984, Mr. Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, acquired the golf course and committed to bringing the course to an extraordinary level, never seen before in Europe. Robert Trent Jones willingly agreed to come back and redesign his original layout of ten years earlier. Together the two men spent many hours walking around the course and discussing where and how improvements should be made.

The course was renamed Valderrama, after the ancient estate on which the land is situated.

The pair shared a common aim: to create a course that would present a test of golf to the everyday golfer and the first-class player alike, and would bring out the best golf that is in him. Valderrama has since risen in the Golf World rankings to become the No.1 golf course in mainland Europe, a position proudly held since 1989.

No championship course in modern times has so swiftly achieved such recognition. As early as 1988,

Valderrama began to host the newly-launched Volvo Masters, the flagship tournament of the PGA European Tour, and continued to do so until 2009. In 1997 the Club hosted the 32nd Ryder Cup, won by Europe in a most thrilling finish. Valderrama remains today the only club ever to have hosted golf’s pinnacle event outside its traditional homelands, USA and Britain.

The tone for the Ryder Cup event was set by Severiano Ballesteros, the Europe captain, when he walked the course with John Paramor, the chief tournament director. “I found everything perfect” he said. “It’s impossible to imagine a golf course in better condition” Next, in 1999 and

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2000, Valderrama went on to host the first two editions of the World Golf Championships - American Express Championship, which were won by Tiger Woods and Mike Weir respectively. Since 2010, Valderrama is home of the Andalucia Masters, one of the European Tour’s most prestigious tournaments.

Valderrama launches major renovation plan to upgrade the golf course and practice areas Andalucia Masters, one The number 1 golf course in continental Europe will invest over 3 million € in a four year plan to raise the standards of the golf course to an even higher level Club de Golf Valderrama, the venue for the 1997 Ryder Cup, two World

Golf Championships and 16 editions of the Volvo Masters, is currently undertaking major investments.

Valderrama has been consistently ranked among the best courses in the World since 1988. The fairways and greens have always received unanimous appraisal from players and experts. However, the Board of Directors of the club has approved a major investment plan to upgrade the golf course and improve its position among the best manicured courses in the World.

The first investment undertaken at this famous course in southern Spain, has been the complete renovation of the pumping system. A brand new pumping station, with the most

advanced technology available on the market, was installed six months ago and it has produced excellent results.

Fairways and greens are now much more consistent in colour due to the absence of dry spots or waterlogged areas. Apart from the visual effects and the improvement in the playing conditions, the new system has significantly reduced water and energy costs.

The second major improvement on the course has been the new bunkers.

All traps have been renovated by installing new drainage, liners and sand. The new sand conforms with USGA specifications and has been chosen after months of testing.

Valderrama’s bunkers are now

sand and we concluded that the current one fulfilled our expectations in terms of quality, playability and aesthetics.

I’m confident the overall standard of the course has dramatically improved with this in vestment” However, this is only the first phase of the renovation project, Valderrama is currently working on the improvement of many cart paths and the landscaping of the course. During the coming three years, the course will be improved in many areas; several greens and collars will be renovated so they remain completely free of Poa-Annua, which has always been one of Valderrama’s main a sets. “One of Valderrama’s stamp of identity,” says Javier Reviriego, “is that all greens and

it will be redesigned and changed from the current hydraulic one to an electric system. This will considerable improve the optimization of water and the uniformity of fairways and greens.

“We believe there is still significant margin for improving the golf course.

Our goal is not just to be number one in continental Europe, as we are now, but to be among the very best in the World.

Our members and visitors demand the highest quality and we will do all within reach to provide it” notes Reviriego.

Valderrama has been recently ranked in 45th place in the World and number 1 in Europe by “Golf Architecture Magazine”; this top 100 ranking is elaborated with votes from the most prestigious golf course designers and

consistent in colour, texture and playing conditions thus improving the overall standard of the course.

“Bunkers have always been an issue at Valderrama. We have built the bunkers following the strictest and highest specifications and I am proud to say they are now matching the quality of our greens and fairways” says Valderrama’s general manager, Javier Reviriego.

“We conducted many tests in our Par 3 course with different types of

fairways are free of bad weeds, so all areas that are slightly contaminated will be re-turfed with healthy grass” Planned for the immediate future is the construction of a new pitching and chipping green, in a large area next to the current practice range.

The new area will be designed by a renowned golf course architect and will resemble the playing conditions of the actual course. The last phase of the program will include a major renovation of the irrigation system;

architects in the World.

With a total investment for the golf course of over 3 million €, one would think that a major golf tournament might be soon announced for Valderrama.

Club de Golf Valderrama Avda. de los Cortijos s/n. Sotogrande, Cádiz (11310) Spain Tel: + 34 956 79 12 00 Fax: + 34 956 79 54 56 greenfees@valderrama.com www.valderrama.com

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tv, the lamborghini aventador and the new range rover sport Two articles a year of only 750 words each is all I have to keep members of the Nth Degree up to date with the high Octane career and life of Rebecca Racer, so I have picked out the best of the summer automotive antics for you. Therefore starting with the Lamborghini Aventador, quite possibly the most aggressive, largest and striking Lamborghini ever made. The acceleration alone is extreme enough to give you whiplash! Does that make it hard work to live with everyday?

Well I wouldn’t know many people that would choose to drive such a beast on a daily basis, but if you did, what would it be like? Boot space is surprisingly good, because the engine is mid mounted, freeing up under the bonnet for a small amount of luggage. It’s easy to spot as it stands out even against other super and hyper cars; you can almost sense the Italian passion lurking behind every contour of the bodywork. The VW Group ownership has definitely not hampered that. It’s not for any of those reasons actually that you could learn to love this car; it’s the noise. The 700hp, V12 engine is reminiscent of Formula 1 cars of not so distant years. I had the pleasure – which could quite easily be a word solely in capital letters – of driving it two

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miles through the Hindhead Tunnel in Hampshire. Any car enthusiast would appreciate the roar that the sports exhausts gave as the rev range was fully enjoyed by the petite racing driver behind the wheel. There are not many cars that can move me in quite this way; the Aventador did and almost provoked tears of delight as I had a magical moment with a masterful piece of engineering.

The new Range Rover Sport cannot match up to that in terms of performance, although the supercharged 5.0 litre V8 504bhp version does share the BMW M3’s 0-60 time. Impressive for a four-wheel drive vehicle with off road capabilities that would both impress and shock in equal measures. The launch was very British, as the brand still feels despite Tata ownership. It was set in Gloucester and Wales, encompassing extreme off roading at Land Rover’s facility in Eastnor, Hertforshire and fantastic dynamic country road driving – exploiting the Sport’s new nimble handling characteristics. The supercharged one laps the Nurburgring in less than 9 minutes, quicker than some ‘hot hatches’. As if driving down hills you would struggle to walk down,

wading through almost 3 foot of water (it can manage 850mm – 2.8 [metres] in ‘old school money’), accelerating to 100mph and braking with no hands on the wheel back to 0 with the Sport’s latest plethora of sophisticated technology keeping it dead straight wasn’t enough.

The grand finale was driving through a Boeing aircraft. Yes you did read that correctly, we drove through a plane, a plane with two Land Rover Defenders and ramps placed inside with another providing the exit out the nose. It was not a huge surprise when at the Headline Auto Awards, of which I was a guest of Michelin’s; they announced that Land Rover Press had won ‘Launch of the Year’!

Not TV programme of the year yet, but most watched ITV4 programme on its debut showing was I Want That Car, on Wednesday nights at 9pm, presented

by Mat Watson – Editor at Large for Autoexpress Magazine – and myself – racing driver and Director of RJ Prestige Cars. The Phil and Kirsty to the car world, Mat and I scoured the country all summer and negotiated with the dealers to obtain our buyers the best used cars for their budget. Filmed at motoring events staged at the top circuits in the

country, viewers can enjoy my pickings from the paddock and some exciting track driving.

The final summer pickings relate to Project Le Mans and the Production Boxster Championship. 2013 is year one of the four-year plan and so far the team is precisely where we want to be. A combination of media following, sponsors namely my title sponsors Cheap Couriers UK and Basingstoke based bodyshop Spraytech who damage insured the car all season, as well as several other product sponsors whose logos are splashed all over the car, Robert at Quintech Motorsport and finally the driver – me – secured 9 wins by the penultimate round and several extra points for fastest laps meant my name could be added to the elite group of lady drivers who over the years have won their Championships.

Rebecca Jackson will be a name that goes down in history as a Champion, a very happy moment for sure. No time to ‘let the laurels lie’ though, as plans for next year are already in full swing and new sponsors are welcomed to Project Le Mans. www.rebeccaracer.com

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down and out Hospitality Action supporting workers in the hospitality industry

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Hospitality Action is the industry charity offering a crucial lifeline to people of all ages, working and retired. Whether approached by a chef, chambermaid, waiter or kitchen porter, Hospitality Action will endeavour to support, whatever the difficulty. Sometimes all it takes is a very small change in circumstances to tip the balance and turn a manageable situation into an unmanageable one. An extended illness such as cancer can lead to a drop in pay, while other circumstances such as a relationship breakdown, bereavement or redundancy can also put a strain on the household budget.

Penny Moore, chief executive of Hospitality Action explains: “Changes in circumstances can affect anyone, but with customers being at the forefront of the hospitality industry, sometimes employees can go unnoticed. We help hospitality workers that are facing personal issues that impact their ability to work and ultimately their household income.”

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Offering grants, counselling and advice, Hospitality Action provides a real lifeline to thousands of hospitality industry workers in need. The charity receives tragic pleas for help on a daily basis and every year Hospitality Action manage to help over 1,500 industry members across the UK who find themselves in crisis through no fault of their own.

People like Tony Adams who owned and managed a vibrant hotel in Blackpool for nearly 40 years alongside his wife Joan.

Their friendly, family run establishment was well known for its warm approach and accommodating staff. Yet when the recession struck fewer guests came to stay. Tony and Joan worked tirelessly to stay in business but with increased overheads and a tough economic climate they were forced to give up their beloved hotel.

Throughout their struggle to stay in business Joan had been suffering with a constant cough. It was at this point that Joan was diagnosed with lung cancer. Already in a state of turmoil

the unimaginable happened and Joan tragically passed away.

The family were devastated by their sudden loss and were faced with a large funeral bill. Tony applied for several jobs but with bad arthritis previously resulting in both knees being replaced, he was unsuccessful. With a significant funeral bill and a temporarily frozen income, Tony turned to Hospitality Acton. We were able to help with a grant towards Tony’s on-going expenses and also contributed towards Joan’s funeral costs.

In what had been a horrendous year Tony was delighted with the birth of his granddaughter Molly and is looking forward to a positive future. Tony says: “Word’s aren’t enough to convey my gratitude to Hospitality Action for their kind help at a very difficult time.”

The charity also helps in the following ways: Family Members Scheme Hospitality Action provides a contact scheme for people who have worked

within the hospitality industry and are now retired. It is a free scheme and is open to anyone aged over 60 who have worked within the hospitality industry.

There are many benefits including a bi-monthly newsletter, a befriending service and invites to local lunches which provide a rare opportunity in older age to make new friends and socialise.

Alcohol and Drug Awareness Seminars The hospitality industry can be a demanding place to work, with many employees exposed to drink and drugs. These seminars help tackle the problems of the excessive effects of these substances via educational seminars which are carried out by experienced industry professionals.

Since 2001 the seminars have offered catering students advice regarding how to avoid peer pressure and cope with heavy workplace demands.

Employee Assistance Programme Hospitality Action’s Employee Assistance Programme (“EAP”) provides a niche

specialist, independent, confidential advice, support and assistance service 24 hours a day; 365 days per year comprising of assistance advice, online on the telephone or face-to-face.

It has been developed by hospitality people for hospitality people who are in crisis or need support when they do not know where to turn. The EAP helps with a variety of issues such as health and wellbeing worries, work related problems, financial challenges, personal issues and addiction and works via online information, telephone assistance and a counselling service.

Fundraising Hospitality Action receives no government funding and relies solely on fundraising to carry out its vital work. The charity holds a number of bespoke events across the year to raise much needed funds. Previous events have included exclusive dinners with Raymond Blanc OBE, Marco Pierre White, Jason Atherton, Phil Howard, Angela Hartnett and Anton Mosimann

amongst others. These fundraising events take place countrywide and include an annual tour of HRH gardens at Highgrove with lunch at a nearby luxury establishment and the annual Polo Day with lunch prepared by local awarding winning chefs Sam Moody of The Bath Priory, Michael Stenekes of Calcot Manor, Hywel Jones of Lucknam Park, and Martin Burge of Whatley Manor.

To show your support and browse Hospitality Action event listings please visit: www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/events For further information and ways to support please contact: Hospitality Action 62 Britton Street London EC1M 5UY Tel: 020 3004 5500 Fax: 020 7235 2094 Web: www.hospitalityaction.org.uk Email: info@hospitalityaction.org.uk Facebook:www.facebook.com/ HospitalityAction Twitter: @HospAction Registered charity No: 1101083

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words Jason Li

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1) Why do the Chinese like private dining?

Chinese people love to eat, they like a noisy and upbeat atmosphere when having a gathering, and meals are no exception. Being surrounded by lots of loud talking and laughing is a typical ambience at a Chinese restaurant. People regard it as a rule of thumb that if the dishes of a restaurant are good and tasty then the restaurant will be noisy and busy. Any small or large events will be held in a private room. Nowadays, private rooms are becoming more fashionable in the UK and represent a standard of hospitality not only for business purpose, but also for private or individual usage. Some Chinese restaurants have more than one private room. Royal China Club at 40 Baker Street has a large private room hosting up to 24 people, and can separate to two rooms as 12 people.

2) What are the favourite shops in UK? Chinese tourists’ favourite shops and brands are: • Harrods • Selfridges • Liberty • Harvey Nichols • Fortnum & Mason • Westfield Shopping Centre • Bicester Village 3) What is means Tu Hao and Tu Hao Jin? Tu Hao - the newly-emerged proper name for Chinese to describe Nouveau Riches In 2013, the big Chinese word seems to be ‘土豪’ = “Tu Hao” is a newly-emerged proper name for Chinese to describe nouveau riches who consume regardless of cost and consequence. They are always in pursuit of things that are precious, grand, and costly, because they are rich enough to afford them and like showing off their property. The goldcovered model of iPhone 5S is teased as “Tu Hao Jin” (nouveau riche gold).

Now it more commonly indicates a person who has lots of money, but no taste. Funnily, it seemed to be an obvious attempt to suck up to the ‘new

money’ market in China, which favours crass ostentation over the typically understated and minimalist design that the iPhones have had up until now. In Chinese, you’d refer to that type of person as a 土豪 in today’s vernacular. So get started to know your “Tu Hao” more, and sell your luxury brand even better.

4) What are Chinese visitors’ favourite restaurants in London?

Chinese tourists’ favourite restaurants are Chinese, followed by Michelin star French and Italian restaurants. In UK, the most popular form of Chinese food is ‘Cantonese’ and ‘Sichuan’ Chinese tourists prefer authentic Chinese food, rather than more experimental fusion food. Starting from Chinese Breakfast, at Royal Garden Hotel we have one of the best Chicken congee on the breakfast menu, other five star hotels also have already put Chinese breakfast on the menu.

Jason’s recommended restaurants are as following: Min Jiang (at Royal Garden Hotel) Royal China Club (40 Baker Street) Hunan (Sloane Square) Bar Shu (China Town) Hakkasan (Mayfair) Yauatcha (Soho) 5) How many Chinese tourists are set to come to the UK over the next few years?

For the Chinese people to the UK visa issues of concern, David Cameron said during his Beijing business trip: “In 2012 the number of Chinese visitors to the UK increased by 20% in the UK to promote tourism and economic development. The Chinese people are now applying for a British visa success rate of about 96 %.” Last year, 210 thousand visas were issued to Chinese nationals who contributed about 300 million pounds to the UK economy.

The UK’s new joint visa system with the EU will give Chinese tour groups easier access to the country. That could be good news for British businesses and luxury shops and the tourist industry are preparing for a bigger influx of Chinese visitors. Travelling to the UK is set to become much easier for Chinese visitors. British

businessmen have already sniffed the coming opportunities. Britain is to streamline the visa application process for visitors from China, caving in to pressure from irate UK businesses and grasping for a larger share of the high-spending Chinese tourists, not just “Tu Hao”.

6) How would we be preparing for Chinese visitors coming into the UK over the next few years?

Gordon Innes, CEO of London & Partners, said. “To welcome the possible influx of tourists, UK businessmen have worked out more than a third of them had hired mandarin speakers employees last year, and more than a third of them are planning to hire mandarin speakers in the year ahead.”

As the Royal Garden Hotel, we have done it specifically for the Chinese guests, come up with Chinese VIP welcome cards & amenities. Chinese customers can use their China UnionPay credit cards. When they arrived our hotel, they will receive a complimentary Chinese magazine, with a selection of Chinese tea, which is Green tea or Wulong tea, besides we have a selection of Chinese Dim Sum menu. In additional, our training department has identified that our employees could benefit from doing Chinese Culture & Awareness training for FOH and F&B teams. And our new Chinese landing page will be on board in shortly.

The above points are specifically tailored to the Chinese market and their special needs. In the meantime they will help the British economy expand.

Mikael Hannequin

“ We, as Sommeliers, have witnessed such a massive change in our customers’ behaviour over the last 10 years...

What is the new trend now ? What are our new guests’ expectations and why ?

Although some of my colleagues in the on-trade sometimes still sell the big names we can find in Bordeaux, Tuscany or California, it is very true to mention that now people are more and more educated and are truly looking for a bargain or something new!

Furthermore, we have seen a constant growing new market of wine bars and restaurants specialising in “Organic” products. Combined with a recession which hit in 2009, our dear consumers are now paying attention to any bill, even the smallest. In this complex equation, even a top fine dining spot like The Gherkin must have a wide spectrum of wine offering from £30 to £70. This has had such an impact on wine suppliers, tightening their margins to the strict minimum and obviously increasing the competition so much, therefore making London surely the best city in the world if you want to have fun with your wine drinking on any type of occasion. Our open-minded and much aware guests have been given in all these years all the needed tools to simply get the best there is ... Good value for money! “ Laure patry For the past year in London, we have seen openings of small bars and

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restaurants focusing on an easy cuisine with a more natural/terroir style of food and wine.

Lots of people are looking for a more casual style of dining which is most of the time cheaper as the food is less complicated and more interesting with a natural style of wine.

The other thing that’s interesting is natural and biodynamic wines and appreciating the work that the producers have to do to get the results they get. This is also important for our health and the respect of our planet.

Sometimes it is difficult to approached guests in the restaurant and tell them that the wine is natural or biodynamic, most of the time they will look at you wide-eye, maybe not knowing what it is. So I generally explain it in a different way, of which steps the producer goes through.

At the end what matters, in my opinion, is that the sommelier knows the producer and the way he works and can relay that to our guests.

That’s generally the way I build up my list, of course what comes first is the style of cooking of the chef as well as the concept of the restaurant, and then in my case working with small producers and unusual style of wines that you can introduce to your guests.

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Words Andie Jones Images Capella Pedregal

Capella Pedregal, is Cabo San Lucas’s premier spa resort, located on the most southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. Only a short flight from Los Angeles, the resort is built on 24 spectacular mountainside and oceanfront acres. Los Cabos resort rests at the very point where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez, near the legendary rock formations known as Land’s End. The resort, with its own beautiful sandy beach, has exclusive access via the only privately owned tunnel in Mexico, Dos Mares. Carved through the heart of a mountain, the tunnel is a 300-meter long engineering feat that separates the town of Cabo from the Pacific Ocean and the resort, which all guests will experience after the short 45 minute drive from San Jose Del Cabo International Airport.

The dramatic entrance to Capella Pedregal drops you directly at the resort’s entrance courtyard, overlooking a long expanse of beach and the beautiful Pacific Ocean, simply a breathtaking arrival!

The resort have their own drivers on hand to transfer you in air conditioned comfort.

Cabo Pedregal is without doubt a world apart. The 66-room flagship luxury beach resort from the newly unveiled Capella brand will also be complemented

by Cabo San Lucas villa rentals, 31 shared-ownership Capella Residences and 20 private, full ownership Capella Casonas. Capella is immersed in the natural environment of Los Cabos, where desert meets the ocean. The San Lucas villas, rooms and casitas each feature a terrace with a spectacular ocean view with refined upscale touches, such as specially chosen reading material, luxury amenities, premium bedding, and a private plunge pool. For even more privacy and exclusivity, there are luxury villas and casitas, from two to four bedrooms.

I recently stayed in a spectacular two bedroom beachfront suite which had two master bedrooms, a large sitting room, and terrace with an infinity edge swimming pool and our own private garden with a fantastic coffee table fire pit.

The completely detached property was over 2,500 square feet in size, which was more than adequate. Each bedroom had a rainforest shower as well as a separate bath tub, LCD television, complimentary wireless internet access, your very own telescope, a complimentary soft drink refreshment centre, and cable television with a good variety of channels for kids and adults alike.

When guests book a Beachfront Suite at Capella Pedregal, they receive a unique Beachfront Attendant. The Beachfront Attendant personally greets you upon arrival to the property to assess your

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desired beach services during your stay. He will be on call to set up beach chairs, provide towels, suntan lotion, and refreshing snacks and beverages throughout the day. Additionally they are also available to set up bonfires for guests at night – either directly on the beach or at the fire pit located on your beachfront suite terrace. Snacks are all included in this service. It’s a bit like having your own butler but far less intrusive as the Beachfront Attendant is only around when you require him to be.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the resort and accessible only via a private walkway, is the must visit eatery El Farallon. The restaurant is stocked daily with the best catch from the local fishermen. ‘Farallon’ in Spanish means ‘a rock that comes out of the ocean.’ El Farallon is situated cliffside on a rock that emerges straight out of the Pacific Ocean. Fish and crustacea rest on mounds of shaved ice and beside them sits an old fashioned balance with which they weigh your chosen produce.

The selection of the day is quite simply handwritten with chalk onto a blackboard and other selections from the day’s catch are displayed on ice in El Farallón’s market-style fish display, or “La Panga,” as it is known. Expert chefs and waiters are on hand to answer your every question and assist in your dining decisions. Having made your selection, the seafood is weighted and bagged and sent directly to chef to be prepared on an open charcoal grill. As your meal cooks, the grill spreads the charred aroma and the pungent flavours around the restaurant, leaving

your mouth watering in anticipation.

The food, the setting and the service are exceptional and consequently El Farallon has become one of my top ten restaurants in the World!

Guests and residents who want to experience true “Cabo culture” will find the vibrant shops, dining and entertainment of Cabo San Lucas village all within easy reach by foot, bike, car or resort valet. However, for the ultimate in relaxation, The Auriga spa is the place to head for.

Designed by Sylvia Sepielli, known for drawing upon indigenous cultures for therapies, treatments and rituals, she has brought to life a spa steeped in the tradition of Mexican folk healers, known as Curanderos, who support healing in the three realms, material, spiritual and mental. Upon entering the Spa through its beautiful swivel-blueglass door you will find an environment

that will immediately wash away the pressures of the most enduring day.

With a variety of treatment rooms that face out to the pool and the ocean beyond, you begin your journey with a traditional Mexican foot treatment.

The Spa includes a Salon and a wide range of treatments many created just for the Auriga Spa by the local Curandero. Water plays a pivotal role at Capella Pedregal. After indulging in a treatment, just a few steps take you to a shimmering pool. You float out under waterfalls into the sunshine and complete your journey facing a pristine beachfront.

Quite possibly the most interactive spa in the world, truly transforming and beyond compare.

Every moment. Every experience. Capella Pedregal brings together a constellation of amenities to create a truly personal experience, crafted with only your unique preferences and desires in mind.

Camino del Mar 1, Fraccionamiento El Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Tel: 01 624 163 4300 www.capellahotels.com/cabosanlucas

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world as a members’ book featuring the

Special thanks went to to one of America’s

Degree Book. Two personal books covers

gathered for the first Nth Degree Club

the most beautiful and exclusive rooms in

private dining room guide.

top chefs Daniel Boulud for being at the

were produced for our Ambassadors

book launch at the Mandarin Hotel in

London and the UK.

The Nth Degree Founder Robert Walton

launch of the book. Further thanks went

Dennis Guise (seen above collecting his

London’s Knightsbridge. The book features

This book is the first of many to be produced

MBE did a presentation and thanked

to Andie Jones and Callum Walton who

book) and Richard Stevens, which featured

the World’s Leading Private Dining Room

in the UK and will be replicated around the

all who came to this exciting occasion.

without them there would not be an Nth

the Nth Degree racing car.

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Members enjoyed the launch and it was

given out on the night and the publication

the stunning Killik offices on Grosvenor

great to see not only a great turn out of Nth

received an incredibly positive response,

St, London. The event took place in the

Degree members but also old friends from

with many loving the members’ features

music room of the old Japanese Embassy.

the hospitality industry. 100 books were

along with the private dining room guide.

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The event was organised by Nth Degree

weekend included music by the one and

World Series by Renault. It is the last race

Nth Degree is so excited about seeing him

the sun at the highly prestigious Monaco

Luxor champagnes was without doubt

Ambassador Nigel Essen and his company

only Eddie Jordan and commentary before

before the F1 Grand Prix and included Will

race at Monaco again in 2014, this time

Grand Prix. Watching the race from a

the perfect cocktail for an unforgettable

43 Degrees North and was one of the

the race by ex F1 driver David Coulthard.

Stevens racing in the Nth Degree car. Will

for Caterham.

200 ft super yacht whilst eating the most

experience.

highlights of the Nth Degree calendar. The

The highlight of the weekend was the

finished 4th in the World Series and The

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gorgeous foods and supping away on

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Members of the Nth Degree lapped up

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Jean Queen as she is otherwise known)

Guests from all over the world came to this

had the perfect occasion to get some of her

stunning occasion where some of the most

fellow Nth Degree Patrons together for what

celebrated chefs in the UK joined forces

was a very special birthday.

to create a spectacular menu. We were so

Patrons Charlie Carter, Chris Tarrant OBE

pleased to have Thomas Keller at this event,

and Christian Nellemann all attended the

one of the greatest chefs in the world, who

party, which went on until the early hours.

flew from California to be there.

Many

celebrated

chefs

and

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the annual National Restaurateurs Dinner.

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Patron of the Nth Degree Donna Ida (or the

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The glitziest night in town took place for

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patrons party

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hospitality names were at the Savoy for this

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Dr Tim Ryan President, Bill Anton, Josh

at Kensington Palace. Every Aston Martin

Algura, Mick Partridge, Tony Emmanuelle

from the past 100 years was displayed and it

and Charles Darby. Otherwise known as

turned out to be an incredible occasion.

‘the home of golf’, St Andrews is arguably

On a beautiful summer’s day our host David

one of the most beautiful places to play golf

Field (patron of Nth Degree ) from Nestle and

in the world. We all stayed at the Fabulous

Viaggi welcomed a table of culinary greats.

Eden Club, where Josh from Tailor-Made

Anton Mosimann (Owner of The Mosimann’s

arranged the most magical trip. Special

Club), Mark Flanagan (The Queen’s Head

thanks to the Wine Guild of South Africa for

Chef) and Benoit Violier (3 Michelin starred

supplying a range of stunning wines.

chef) were all in attendance.

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lifetime event of 100 Years of Aston Martins

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Scotland and included chef Thomas Keller,

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Our corporate partners Viaggi joined the

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Nth Degree Ambassador Rishard Camball

the launch of Nth Degree City. Wines were

and started with the first course and wines

kindly supplied by our member Simon

at the Goring Hotel. Following this, a Rolls

Turner (owner of the Sumaridge Wine

Royce took the group onto Claridges for

Estate). The event was filled with Nth Degree

the main course with Executive Head Chef

Patrons, Ambassadors and members and

Martyn Nail. The final course was dessert at

was the perfect occasion to showcase the

the Pollen St Social with Jason Atherton and

uniqueness of the networking possibilities

as if that wasn’t enough, it was back to the

of the Nth Degree. From January 2014 the

Goring Hotel for an overnight stay.

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looked after at the City of London Club for

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food safari

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the City of London every month, bringing the to Harry Parshall who kindly arranged the

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venue for the Nth Degree launch.

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dining events up to 4 per month. Many thanks

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