The Riverside Journals - Mayfair Edition 35

The Riverside Journals

Mayfair edition

Winter 2015 • Edition 35 • Complimentary

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directed and styled by Laoura Starling www.lavinomoda.com photographed by Gabor Szantai

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Nicole Farhi vest top Ralph Lauren embellished shorts Carvela Kurt Shoes

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www.le-spose-digio.it

Georgia May Jagger

THOMAS SABO FLAGSHIP SHOP LONDON 65 SOUTH MOLTON STREET W1K 5SU LONDON WWW.THOMASSABO.COM

Features Luxury Travel

Bali till your heart’s content, is the title for Abena Bailey’s piece which shows us how to fulfill our every desire in just six days on the mystical Indonesian island.

Designer Fashion Alexander McQueen’s forthcoming Savage Beauty Exhibition opens in March at the V&A Museum London.

Fashion designer Gyunel: blurring the line between art and fashion, 33-year-old Gyunel Rustamova is originally from Baku in Azerbaijan, and has chosen London as her base to create.

Homes Luxury beds for that extra special night’s sleep. Fancy chairs from Cassina, and luxury wallpaper.

Dining With a multitude of fabulous restaurants to choose from in the centre of London we reviewed two of our favourites: Ozz and Gigi’s – one in the heart of Mayfair, the other the heart of Marylebone.

Sporting/Charity Geoff Thomas – an incredible life. For most people any one of a successful football career, a struggle with cancer, which at one stage appeared terminal, or taking on unimaginable physical challenges to raise millions for charity, would be enough. There are still places with Geoff on his Le Tour – One Day Ahead challenge to raise £1m for the Cure Leukaemia charity: check out www.beforethetour.com

What to See, Where to go Marylebone Village combining years of history with modern day luxury shopping and entertainment; a perfect place in London to soak up the dynamic atmosphere.

A winter visit to Stoke Park or Oakley Court is so picturesque this time of year.

Regular Features

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Beaconsfield, Chelsea & Kensington, Henley to Oxford, Elmbridge, Mayfair, Marlow, Richmond and Windsor Journals are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form, either in part or whole without permission from Redbrook Media Limited. Whilst every reasonable precaution has been taken, no responsibility is taken for any service or product featured in these publications or any loss arising therefrom. Articles that have been individually authored may contain personal opinion, thus relevant to the piece, but not an opinion or belief shared by Redbrook Media Limited. The Publisher reserves the right to decline any advertisement or article which is deemed unsuitable, prior to publication.

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Richard Lucas: Keep busy in the garden getting ready for spring.

Sassoon Salon: Launch Blow & Style. Coach on the Couch: Creating calm from chaos, Alex shows us how. What’s on in and around the areas.

BLEWCOAT

Editors’ Letter

S

assoon is renowned for expertise in cut and colour but we are also masters of finish. The new Blow & Style menu of salon services is no quick blow bar fix. Our expertly trained team can now offer blow drying and styling services designed to either subtly enhance or totally transform your own hair look.

Choose from an extensive blow dry menu that ranges from Signature Sassoon, straight and sleek, the VIP gloss of the Voluminous to the relaxed and easy elegance of the Dishevelled. If you opt for the Beach, the result will be a head of natural tousled waves; if you prefer a more defined curl try the Curly Wave.

Our style menu taps into the editorial styling of catwalk hair with a selection of versatile braids, waves and ponies for mid length and longer hair. The undone fishtail Braid adds a touch of youthful insouciance; the polished gloss of the Sleek Pony speaks executive chic and the Dressed Wave is perfect finishing detail for your own premium red carpet look.

Visit: www.sassoon-salon.com/en/salon/uk Book now at Sassoon Salon South Molton St 020 7491 8848 Prices start from £35

Creative director & stylist Laoura Starling www.lavinomoda.com Photographer Gabor Szantai Richmond, Beaconsfield, Elmbridge, Mayfair covers: Make-up artist Nikki Wollf Hair stylist Kristopher Smith Model Wingshan at Leni’s Model Management Chelsea, Marlow, Henley, Windsor covers: Make-up artist Stephanie Stokkvik Hair stylist Michelle Burke at Pearson Clark Model Elle at Leni’s Model Management/Chelsea, Marlow, Henley covers Model Gwen at Profile Model Management/Windsor cover

Director – Michele Brooks michele@redbrookmedia.com Editorial – editorial@redbrookmedia.com Editorial Team Jill Menghetti Richard Yarrow Abena Bailey Anne Noakes Alex Bailey-Staines Sarah Coughlan Richard Lucas Rav Tiensa Nina Koo-Seen-Lin Associate Publisher – Kay Woods kay@redbrookmedia.com Business Development Manager – Tina Moore tinamoore@redbrookmedia.com Business Development Manager – Lynda Foskett lynda@redbrookmedia.com Sales Executive – Leslie González leslie@redbrookmedia.com Design – John Dunne design@redbrookmedia.com Production Manager – Karen Rolfe Twitter: @riversidej Facebook: RedbrookMedia Limited production@redbrookmedia.com

RBM REDBROOK MEDIA.COM

Redbrook Media Limited Palladia, St Mary’s Court Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP7 0UT TeI: 01494 784920 / 793936 Fax: 01494 582020 www.redbrookmedia.com

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launch Blow & Style

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Sassoon Salon

Dear Readers It’s time again to relax and enjoy your favourite drink with of course your magazine of choice, the Riverside Journals, which as usual, is full of exciting and interesting information from near and far.

We bring you some fabulous articles from unusual wedding venues in Italy to an interview with the fascinating London fashion designer Gyunel.

Gigi’s Restaurant in Mayfair entertained us to a most enjoyable evening sampling modern Italian food, and we are pleased to include our Reader Offer of a meal for two at the magnificent Brasserie Blanc in Beaconsfield.

We were very privileged to be invited to the Bravo 22 Company event at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury where we met Alice Driver, the mastermind behind this phenomenal project, and interviewed the ambassador to the production the talented charismatic actor, Ray Winstone. Bravo 22 Company is the Royal British Legion’s Recovery through Theatre programme and members of the Buckinghamshire Armed Forces Community (AFC) are invited to participate directly in the creation, production and performance. Also, the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe hosted recently Saturday Night Fever; what a fabulous night that was, a trip down memory lane.

Sassoon Salon launch Blow & Style designed to subtly enhance or to totally transform your own hair look, and our motoring journalist Richard Yarrow shows us round the Bentley Continental GT V8S and gives us some good tips on how to entertain the kids on that long journey.

For some lovely hotels, venues, and restaurants we take you on a walk around Marylebone village where we spent a delightful evening in nearby Ozz restaurant.

A big Redbrook thank you goes to fashion photographer Gabor Szantai, and creative director and stylist Laoura Starling, who kindly supplied striking images for our front covers.

Enjoy reading.

Team Redbrook Cover Credits

Gothic Charm and Travelling Gargoyles Blurring the line between art and fashion, 33-year-old designer Gyunel Rustamova is feminine strength and artistic flair personified.

Originally from Baku in Azerbaijan, she has chosen London as her base. Travelling from a young age she has found London very cosmopolitan and welcoming: a city where people are very open to new ideas.

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Jeannelise Edelsten

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Her style is surrealist art and the current collection is based on a post apocalyptic panorama story starting at the bottom with an underworld bunker followed by a nightmare childhood scene, including a walking wooden house with metal chicken legs, followed by a Baku contemporary cityscape, and finally melting into a darker space scene where gargoyles fly on magic carpets. Astonishingly this wildly drawn poetry makes for a beautiful fabric.

To accompany the apocalyptic material, a more repetitive pattern has been created with different sized cogs inspired by the Hadron Collider exhibition at the Science Museum – a stone’s throw away from the atelier. Nothing escapes Gyunel’s imagination and the richness of the material is palpable: different gradients of colours, blacks, greys, blues, reds, which are further complemented by the cut of each garment, one harmonizing with the other.

I am told that some collections have an array of different materials and patterns (maybe between 10 and 20) such as the collection shown in the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel where the original oil paintings were exhibited alongside the garments. The collection hanging in front of us, however, only used one basic pattern and was turned around in just a few months. A large sample of the pattern is printed on paper and adorns the wall behind me. Gyunel explains it is inspired by the seaside and her travels and has very evocative nautical connotations with compasses, boats, mermaids, the signature gargoyle, and verses rhyming with Gyunel such as ‘bête et la belle’, a pun on the French 18th century romantic fantasy book ‘Belle et la Bête’. It is another evocatively dreamy, poetic fabric full of personal meanings embellishing shorts, bomber jackets and dresses. continued on page 16

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yunel is very personable and is happy telling me all about her journey into fashion. She has always liked art; her parents, however, were not convinced and wanted her to establish a good business background so, after graduating from the Azerbaijan State Economics University in Baku, she pursued her dream at the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins where she developed her love of painting oil on canvas. She feels that fashion and art fuse terribly well together and she enjoys creating her own patterns.

I have noticed that she likes drawing gargoyles. She explains that on a trip to Paris she visited the famous gothic Notre Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la Cité. She bought a souvenir fridge magnet which, back home, was sketched repeatedly and gave birth to a beautiful motif eventually printed onto fabric then used to create the garments standing beside us.

She tells me collections can take from a few months to as much as four years to come to life. They generally start with pencil drawings and canvas paintings, such as the Paradox dress with chastity belt unrolled on the floor in front of our eyes. Gyunel has in the past worked for three months solidly on a series of paintings in her attic studio back in Baku: the intensity of hard graft seems to be primordial to the creative process and she uses her subconscious and her travels to guide the brush.

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I can tell Gyunel is very hands-on. She confirms she can be very controlling, getting involved with every aspect of the business from the original paintings to the material cutting and a high volume of sampling and testing. She insists on keeping the essence of the original artwork but always listens to the advice of her committed team. She is undoubtedly a workaholic and takes work home daily.

She knows work/life balance is a little tricky at the moment but believes the sacrifice is worth it.

I enquire which age group the lines are aimed at. “Hopefully they can appeal to all” replies Gyunel, but she knows age is a very emotive topic especially in the fashion arena. She believes women should wear what they want regardless of their age and is inspired by her fabulously glamorous and fashion-conscious mother who dresses well for her age.

Gyunel London is now expanding into developing bags, shoes and accessories. We are shown beautifully handcrafted handbags first, long black and turquoise clutches to match the black and turquoise handbags with metal clasp and black opal adornment – the black opal is actually blue, another twinkle to ambiguity that Gyunel likes so much. A little hexagonal black and gold leather number topped with a stunning metal clasp catches my eye and I notice the quality of the bags is second to none. I notice all the details, from the 360 degrees clasp, which had to be patented, to the hand embossed leather logo inspired from Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code book cover. John Langdon devised the logo, Professor of Typography and ambigram maker, his surname was the inspiration for Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code’s main character, Robert Langdon – a lovely anecdote which doesn’t go unnoticed and shows Gyunel’s insatiable mind for riddles. She confirms all bags were manufactured in Italy by a hand picked leather specialist, who also produces bags for Fendi and Russell&Bromley amongst others.

To finish with, I am shown a stunning white high heel shoe. The heel is a metal figure of Atlas carrying the world and supports a white satin top. I can’t stare for too long as the interview is coming to a close. I ask Gyunel what the future holds. She would like to get more stockists on board and also might like to venture in the bridal arena. A forthcoming wedding, for which she will be making the dress, might help her make her mind up on that front.

Fashion and Perfection is what Gyunel strives for and I attribute her success to four things: one, her amazing artistic talent; two, she only needs a few hours’ sleep a night to feel refreshed; three, she has the total support of her family and, lastly, she has an amazing team that is equally hard working and enthusiastic. For my money, watch out for this new kid in town. Gyunel London won’t be taking any prisoners! www.guynel.com

DISCOVER THE NEW BLOW & STYLE MENU SIGNATURE SASSOON TO VA VA VOLUME BEACHY WAVES TO FISHTAIL BRAIDS HIGH GLOSS CURLS TO SLEEK PONYTAILS BLOW & STYLE WILL BLOW YOU AWAY...

#blowandstyle SASSOON-BLOWANDSTYLE.COM/UK

Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques | Jewellery | Watches

Visit us in London or Birmingham for free valuations of antiques, jewellery or watches.

To arrange your appointment, please call us on 0203 733 6118.

Saleroom & Head Office 19 Augusta Street, Birmingham, B18 6HA | +44 (0) 121 212 2131 London Office 2nd Floor, 3 Queen Street, London, W1J 5PA | +44 (0) 20 7172 4198

Putting on the Style avino Moda is a specialist fashion styling agency which combines all the different elements that need to be blended together in order to make one look a million dollars. Working with private individuals, as well as with corporate clients, Lavino Moda’s aim is to transform its customers into figurines ready to strut the red carpet.

Lavino Moda is a specialist creative direction and fashion styling agency which combines all the different elements that need to be blended together in order to make one look a million dollars. Working with private individuals, as well as with corporate clients, Lavino Moda’s aim is to transform its customers into figurines ready to strut the red carpet.

Laoura has herself had to recreate herself a number of times. Born and brought up in Russia during the terminal days of the communist era, she opted to move to Israel when was 17. That’s a difficult age for a teenager to have to change peer group, culture, climate, cuisine and political arena, but her new home offered her the opportunity to explore the arts in an ethnically diverse environment. And so commenced Laoura’s love of identity, expression and impact.

For those who haven’t visited Israel, its own image is often overshadowed by regional conflict and religious tensions. Yet, Tel Aviv is also known as the city that never sleeps and offers plenty of opportunities for the fashion conscious young adult to live the Hollywood lifestyle, albeit in the Middle East!

Laoura’s personal life brought her to British shores a decade ago and once again she had to perform another act of metamorphosis and rediscover herself.

Image, however, is a universal language and one which Laoura mastered. Eventually establishing her own outfit, Lavino Moda, she offers styling and creative direction for fashion editorials, commercial advertisements, and catalogue collections, as well as helping private clients stage events in London, Paris, Monaco, Cannes and Tel Aviv.

Laoura has put together teams of leading photographers, make-up artists, and hairstylists, forged relationships with the country’s top model agencies and is now able to source iconic brands, from D&G to Valentino and from Versace to Ted Baker, to dress her clients to impress.

Lavino Moda produces fashion editorial spreads for commercial and fashion magazines, taking care of the whole production process from creating mood boards, establishing the crews, scouting the cast, arranging venues and props, directing on set and overlooking the post-production stage, ensuring the images are of an excellent quality.

The company also provides photo-shoot production services for catalogues and look books. Whether you are an aspiring or an established designer, Lavino Moda aims to make your collection eye catching and help it to be successful.

Meanwhile, if you have ever desired a change in look, hankered after a strong business or artistic image, or simply imagined yourself, or your family, starring in a fashion photo-shoot similar to those conducted for top glossy magazines…now you have the chance to do so!

Laoura and her team can make this dream a reality. Along with an unforgettable, unique experience you receive high-end images of yourself and/or your beloved ones, which will serve as marvellous memories for you and your family. In short, Lavino Moda converts you into a star...for your corporate meeting, awards ceremony, charity ball or even for that most important day of all – your wedding.

www.lavinomoda.com laura@lavinomoda.com

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Where does one go when one needs to create an impact?

To a hairdresser?

To a shop?

To a beautician?

Or, perhaps, to Lavino Moda?

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McQueen – moments of genius As Savage Beauty, the much anticipated exhibition of works by Alexander McQueen, will arrive in London this March we have for you our top four McQueen moments

Lee Alexander McQueen, Lee to his friends and Alexander McQueen to his fans. We all have specific memories about him that will always stay in our minds.

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Number four on our list of moments is back in 1999 when in his spring/summer ready-to-wear show two robots spray painted a white dress worn by a model revolving on the catwalk. For the world it was a ground breaking moment in fashion as never before had a model become the art itself. It paved the way for designers to bring technology and entertainment as a mainstay in shows. It makes you wonder how his imagination would have used holographic techniques and video mapping to present his concepts today.

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Who can forget the shock of the ‘bumster’ trousers that rode so low one could see the top half the wearer’s derriere? It comes in as our number three McQueen moment purely because this explicit idea became an ongoing trend through the nineties and noughties. When it first appeared tabloids had a field day with the style that was reminiscent of a ‘builder’s bum’. McQueen told David Bowie in a 1995 interview for Dazed and Confused that these cheeky trousers were his first professional design. They actually debuted in his first collection, which was a simple set of clothing rails at The Ritz in London.

His reason behind the super low cut was to elongate the silhouette and also to exaggerate what he believed was the most erotic part of a male or female’s body.

Our number two McQueen moment is not a design but something he admitted to that again made polite society recoil in shock. He told the world that when he worked at a Savile Row tailor he sewed profanities into the lining of suits destined for Prince Charles. All of a sudden designer fashion became rock and roll because this working class man – with a taxi driver father and science teacher for a mother – who wore baggy jeans and trainers yet made waves among high society, started to blur the lines of opportunity in the fashion industry between the rich and poor.

McQueen was a maverick, a rebel, an atheist and a royalist and Savage Beauty at the Victoria and Albert Museum from March 14 to July 19 will present 10 sections to showcase the dominant themes and concepts within his extraordinary body of work.

The sections are built around garments which span the breadth of McQueen’s womenswear collections, from his MA graduate collection in 1992 to autumn winter 2010 and McQueen’s final, unfinished collection.

The ‘London’ section, will focus on McQueen’s roots in the capital city and his early development as a designer.

Garments on display will demonstrate signature McQueen silhouettes – including that of the ‘bumster’ trousers – and highlight his innovative cutting techniques. The interplay between dark and light will be explored in ‘Romantic Gothic’. McQueen’s frequent references to the Victorian Gothic tradition are particularly drawn out in this section and it will also include pieces from his final, unfinished collection.

‘Romantic Primitivism’ will explore McQueen’s fascination with the animal world, while his love of his Scottish heritage, ancestry and the colonial past will be explored within ‘Romantic Nationalism’.

The ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ will form the heart of the exhibition and will showcase more than 100 garments and accessories as well as film footage from McQueen’s many catwalk presentations.

The designer’s longstanding interest in eastern cultures will be examined in ‘Romantic Exoticism’, ‘Romantic Naturalism’ will represent McQueen’s lifelong passion for nature and his last fully realised collection, Plato’s Atlantis, will be the finale.

Abena Bailey

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Our last fashion moment is when McQueen must have had the likes of Manolo Blahnik shaking in his boots when McQueen put 12cm-heel ‘armadillo’ stilettos down the runway. First seen in his Plato’s Atlantis show in 2010, the hoof-like shoe dwarfed the highest heel, even at a time when newspapers were publishing warning stories about how bad high heels were for the body.

Buisness Profile

Bringing

Springtime

scents

Stephen Flower to Riverside Readers Ashford Kitchens What inspired you to go into your profession and to start your own business?

I started my career in the kitchen industry at John Lewis High Wycombe, where I was a kitchen planner for three years. I then went to work alongside my parents at their established kitchen business in Ashford. I gradually got more involved in the business and made some changes to improve the systems and modernize the business. Soon after, my wife also joined the company and we found the perfect spot to open up our second showroom.

I see that it is a family run business, including your pup Winnie Flower, do you find this is a great advantage to the company?

We are a family run business, but we also have some exceptional staff who are not family. People do seem to warm to a family run business and it works very well for us, even our dog Winnie comes to work with us and she has been very popular with our customers! My brother-in-law now runs the Ashford showroom and my wife and I run the Farnham Common showroom. My parents are still very much involved in both showrooms. It does mean that conversation normally turns to ‘kitchens’ when the family gets together, much to my brother and sister’s frustration!

Do you have a lot of repeat business, and what keeps the customers coming back?

We rely heavily on recommendations – in fact over 70% of our business is from recommendations alone. We are very proud of this and recognize the importance of it. We focus on offering an excellent level of personal service to all our customers and we are constantly trying to improve our processes and get feedback from customers.

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What do you think sets your business aside from others in your field?

We are a local, family run business and we genuinely care that our customers receive the best possible service and are happy with their experience from the moment they step into the showroom. We offer a complete project managed service in terms of design, supply and installation and, unlike some kitchen suppliers, we can take care of the entire project including any plastering, tiling, gas and electrics.

Is there something special in the growing of your business that makes you most proud?

It was a very proud moment the day we opened our new showroom in Farnham Common. It was a long journey and took a lot of planning and preparation but it was absolutely worth it. We had amazing support from the local community and our customers have been a pleasure to deal with.

www.ashfordinteriors.co.uk

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John Bailey, Perfumer

otters Crouch Candles have been making divine scented candles for over 25 years. Since then they have sold well over one million candles worldwide. The secret to their scented success is their skill at combining the finest French fragrances, created in partnership with their own in house perfumer, together with the very best candle ingredients to produce a product of unrivalled quality. Each candle will provide fragrance for a remarkable 50 hours of burning time, all for the very affordable price of £8.50. With over 40 fragrances to choose from you will definitely find your perfect scented candle here.

Based in the historic cathedral city of St Albans, their new retail outlet, The Perfume House, was officially opened in autumn 2014 and is well worth a visit. It is a real treasure trove of unique and exclusive handmade gifts. Former President of the British Society of Perfumers, John Bailey, has been the creative advisor and perfumer behind the new Sensory Garden and Scent Bar, based on the 1930’s cocktail bar of Jean Patou fame, offering affordable luxury fragrances. John also offers, by appointment, a unique customisation and bespoke scent service – for more information email him at parfumjohn@aol.com To bring a little Springtime scented happiness to readers of The Riverside Journals, every candle purchased, either by mail order or at The Perfume House, quoting “Riverside Offer” will give you an entry into a prize draw to win a Hamper of Springtime Candles with a £60.00 value.

Closing date for entries is 5.30pm on 15th March 2015.

The Perfume House is open Monday to Friday 9.00-5.30 and some Saturdays – call to confirm.

Find them at Prae Wood Farm Barn, Hemel Hempstead Road, St Albans AL3 6AA For mail order see the website: www.potterscrouchcandles.co.uk, email info@potterscrouch candles.co.uk or call 01727 836454

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: BLOSSOM COPENHAGEN Rose Gold Plated ‘Falling In Love’ Pendant £93, use discount code BLOSSOM20 for 20% off all Blossom Copenhagen items. CHRYSALIS 14 Carat Gold Plate & Rhodium Plate Expandable Charm Bangles from £25.

ERIN COX Serendipity Plaited Pearl Necklace £323, use code ERIN10 for 10% off all Erin Cox items. NORDIC GEMS Sterling Silver Drop Heart Earrings with Crystals £155. VIRTUE LONDON Rose Plated Sterling Silver Interchangeable Locket £234. AURUM BY GUDBJORG Icelandic Raven Necklace £110.30, use code AURUM20 for 20% off all Aurum By Gudbjorg items. HIHO SILVER Sterling Silver Heart Clip Bracelet £55, use code HIHO10 for 10% off all Hiho Silver items. BRIDGET WHEATLEY Open Heart Drop Earrings £115, use code BRIDGET10 for 10% off all Bridget Wheatley items. MANJA JEWELLERY Kazo Ring in Sterling Silver with Amethyst, Iolite and Rhodolite £110. (All discount codes can be entered at the checkout and are valid until 31st March 2015).

THE MARKETPLACE FOR PROFESSIONAL JEWELLERY - JEWELSTREET.COM

Make a Statement in Stone

B

ook matching, where twin sheets of marble cut from the same block are placed side by side so that the veins meet, is the latest trend in bathrooms. This look enhances the best features of marble by highlighting the veining and is often used with a white marbles such as Calacatta or Arabescato to make a classical statement. However, it can be used with many different stones as this beautiful book matched onyx slab in the Newbury gallery demonstrates.

If you are hankering after natural stone but want something subtler in feel than book matched onyx, you can view hundreds of different types of stone in slab form and choose the one that you want in the Newbury showroom stone gallery where you can also see examples of the natural and engineered stone products that the company manufactures such as kitchen worktops, bathroom vanities and fireplaces, as well as Chesney’s fireplaces and stoves. The Basingstoke showroom has a similar but smaller selection of products.

More information can be found on www.stone-circle.com/stone-to-life, or call 0333 003 0632* sales@stone-circle.com.

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* The call will be charged at a local call rate from a landline and your standard network rate from a mobile.

Bang & Olufsen of Hanover Square is the U.K’s new flagship showroom located in the heart of Mayfair, specialising in luxury home audiovisual solutions.

The new showroom delivers a sensory experience through sound and design with a dedicated revolving speaker wall and fascinating demonstration zones.

Our uniquely furnished home cinema room lets you relax and immerse yourself into a great sound and visual theatre experience.

This month we will be celebrating our 90th anniversary with a unique collection of limited edition products.

We invite you to experience the exciting world of Bang & Olufsen of Hanover Square.

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21 Hanover Square, Mayfair, London, W1S 1JW. 0207 495 8898 hanoversquare@bang-olufsen.com www.bang-olufsen.com

Come to the dark side, we have

chocolate!

Montezuma’s This classic chocolate shop was founded in 2000 by a family in a little shop in Brighton. The owners made all their products by hand from one machine. Since then, they have moved to Spitalfields in London and are established as Britain’s leading and most innovative family luxury chocolate maker. Montezuma’s prides itself on handmade chocolate from bars to truffles and even fudge and drinking chocolate.

One of their best products is their Great British Pudding Truffle Collection which features so unique combinations like apple crumble, spotted dick and treacle tart.

Philip Neal Luxury Chocolates

Paul A Young Fine Chocolates

This quaint luxury chocolate shop in Chiswick is an original and vibrant chocolate artisan boutique.

Innovation meets chocolate in this shop where amazingly beautiful and delicious chocolate sculptures are born. The company, founded in 1999 by Philip Neal who is a proprietor and chocolatier, uses recipes designed and developed by him. The boutique makes everything from beautiful truffles to delectable chocolate tarts and even macaroons. They offer something different to from most chocolate shops. They sculpt and paint the most amazing chocolate figures from chocolate shoes and animals to chocolate theatre masks and chocolate Buddha figures.

Out of sight in Camden Passage in Islington, this shop, run by Paul A Young, who has been named as Britain’s best chocolatier, is a chocoholic’s dream. The shop offers its customers chocolate ranging from truffles, brownies and cupcakes. Some of the interesting and powerful flavours include white chocolate and masala spices, salted caramel and pecan brownies, and PBJ truffles.

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Rococo Chocolates Rococo’s beautifully presented assortments of fine quality chocolate, which come in over 20 flavours, make wonderful treats and adorable gifts. With shops in Chelsea, Belgravia and Marylebone there is no excuses to not to visit the old fashioned shops which are complete with the heavenly smell of chocolate pouring out of the doors. They have some unusual flavours such as Persian lime and Arabic spices. Not only do they produce chocolate bars, but some more of their confectioneries include Provençal chocolate olives and mocha coffee beans.

Melt This shop in Notting hill Hill is the picture perfect luxury chocolate shop. The clean white exterior of the shop with its full length display window is the height of sophistication and elegance, making it look like a high end clothing boutique. As you step inside you see it is like no other chocolate shop. Melt is unique in that the kitchen is in the shop front so you get to see the chocolate creations being made before choosing your selection. They specialise in beautiful gift boxes as well as uniquely shaped chocolate bars.

Artisan du Chocolat Located in a small shop in Chelsea is a sweet surprise. Artisan du Chocolat was opened in 2000 by Irish-born pastry chef Gerard Coleman and started out as a Saturday stall at Borough Market.

Their most famous products are the Liquid Sea Salted Caramels which were first served by Gordon Ramsay at Claridges.

Their chocolates are intricately decorated and equally delicious.

There is nothing more decadent than chocolate slowly melting in your mouth. Milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate and everything in between, it has long been the dessert choice of many people around the world. Chocolate has always been a luxury in life, tracing back to its origin in Central America as far back as 1900 BC. But chocolate these days is so much more than just something sweet to eat or drink, it has become an art over the years, with more flavours, fillings and shapes being made by ‘chocolate artisans’.

We have scoured London in search of the best sweet treats and found the top 10 luxury chocolate boutiques in the city for you to explore.

Choccywoccydoodah

Prestat

La Maison Du du Chocolat

One of the most well known and busiest chocolate boutiques in London, the store rose to an international awareness with their first shop in Brighton, soon after opening their London store near Oxford Street. This boldly coloured and intriguing shop draws you in with its fantastic window displays and amazing chocolatey smell. They specialise in cakes decorated with the most detailed and intricate chocolate sculptures you have ever seen.

Customers entering Prestat will think they have stepped right into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. A dazzling multitude of bright colour meets you and immediately brightens up your day. Their products are just as dazzling with their best flavours being pink Pink Mark Marc de champagneChampagne, banoffee and peppermint. It’s no wonder that this luxury chocolatier is favoured by the Queen.

Straight out of Paris, this shop greets its customers with a deep and decadent aroma and equally impressive chocolate displays. You can browse the complete collection and create your own special box of individually chosen chocolates. Other works of art in this haven of delight include heavenly macaroons in five luscious flavours.

The Melange

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Situated on Bellenden Road in Peckham it is the finest chocolate shop in the South East of London. Run by French artisan chocolatier Isabelle Alaya, The Melange is a small, unpretentious café. Look out for the thick, rich hot chocolate and chocolate cakes. They specialise in flavoursome bars, with some of their best flavours being cumin and mint and lavender and lemon.

Sindhu celebrates the very best of traditional Indian cuisine in a contemporary manner.

Perfectly situated on the picturesque banks of the River Thames, within the luxury Macdonald Compleat Angler hotel, Marlow.

Sindhu Restaurant, The Compleat Angler, Marlow Bridge, Marlow SL7 1AG 01628 405 405 info@sindhurestaurant.co.uk www.sindhurestaurant.co.uk F /SindhuMarlow T @SindhuMarlow

Rowley’s Restaurant Our specialities lie in our chargrilled 28 day matured entrecôte steak, served with unlimited French fries and our famous Roquefort butter sauce

25% off

your food bill until 30 June 2015.

Offer valid for up to 6 people. To redeem this offer, please quote ‘Riverside Journals’ to a member of staff when making your booking or upon your arrival. Not valid with any other offer. Rowley’s restaurant’s decision is final

Rowley’s Restaurant, 113 Jermyn St, St James’s, London SW1Y 6HJ t: +44 (0) 207 930 2707 • e: managers@rowleys.co.uk

Win dinner for two

Join us for delicious three course lunch with Chef’s appetiser and pre-dessert, and a glass of Rhone Valley Wine

per person

at Brasserie Blanc Beaconsfield

One lucky reader has the chance to enjoy a delicious three course dinner for two along with a bottle of wine to share. With seasonal and hearty French cuisine in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, Brasserie Blanc is the perfect choice for a leisurely meal.

Please call 0118 988 8500 or book a table online quoting ‘Rhone Valley’ 5 minutes from J11 of M4 L’Ortolan, Church Lane, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9BY

w w w . l o r t o l a n . c o m

• • •• •• •

Terms and Conditions The prize is a meal for two with a bottle of wine up to the value of £100. Any additional expenses must be paid for The prize must be taken by 31st May 2015 and excludes Easter weekend Subject to availability The prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer The prize is non-transferable and has no cash value Voucher can only be used on one occasion and at BB Beaconsfield only Booking required Please send name and address to competitions@redbrookmedia.com by the 21st of March.

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For more information visit www.brasserieblanc.com/location/beaconsfield or follow us on Twitter @BBBeaconsfield.

Available Tuesday to Saturday lunchtimes until 26th February 2015. Maximum 6 people per booking

Hustle and Bustle in Combining years of history with modern day luxury and entertainment, Marylebone Village is the perfect place in London to soak up the dynamic atmosphere.

I

t is a haven of shops, restaurants, hotels and cultural institutions displaying a unique character, individuality and balance not often seen in a major city. With an emphasis on high quality, independent retailers, it is both distinctive and highly accessible.

From the stylish and eclectic shopping streets around Marylebone High Street, to the world renowned medical destination of Harley Street, Marylebone Village truly is a delight of London.

The Village is a vibrant retail community in the heart of central London filled with everything you need for an exciting day out in the city. It is all managed and nurtured by the Howard de Walden Estate from Marylebone High Street in the west to Robert Adam’s Portland Place in the east and from Wigmore Street in the south to Marylebone Road in the north.

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From top end fashion designers to world class theatre productions, Marylebone Village has it all.

Shopping in Marylebone Village offers visitors a retail experience with a difference. Its collection of shops has contributed to it being seen as a blueprint for unique boutique shopping in London.

Among the many boutiques in Marylebone Village is the must have brand for vintage collectors of fashion, WilliamVintage. Described as the ‘jewel box’ of the vintage haute couture world, the store is appointment-only and is set over two floors. Its beautifully presented vintage clothing is surrounded by velvet sofas, silk rugs and Valrhona chocolate, for the ultimate shopping experience. Celeb customers include Tilda Swinton, Victoria Beckham and Rihanna.

Marylebone Village’s fashion district is only all about celeb customers. Rachel Riley’s chic shop for children’s clothes is the perfect place to shop if you are looking to spoil your little ones. The designer still hand embroiders, knits and sews all her samples, and will also design custom outfits for any occasion. All her slippers are made in one of the last handmade slipper factories in France. She also does the slippers and some of her vintage inspired dresses for adults so that you and your child can match.

Along with amazing fashion, there are also plenty of homeware stores, jewellery stores and many more for all your retail therapy needs. McGlashans Interiors offers furniture from renowned Belgian furniture and home accessories company Flamant, and New Cavendish Jewellers is one of Marylebone’s oldest retailers, offering jewellery in platinum, white, yellow and rose gold.

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WilliamVintage Rachel Rile McGlashans Interiors Tommi’s Burger Joint The Orrery Marylebone Farmers’ Market Sherlock Holmes Museum Thompson’s Gallery The Divertimenti cookery school La Cucina Caldesi cookery school

Marylebone Village Once you have shopped up an appetite, there are plenty of places to choose from to grab a bite.

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Marylebone Village has an unrivalled reputation as one of the top foodie quarters in Central London. From snacks and foodie gifts to gourmet dinners, there is something for everyone in Marylebone.

For the best burgers in town, head to Tommi’s Burger Joint. The classic American-style burger menu is short and simple, allowing for the quality of meat to speak for itself.

For a more refined lunch or dinner experience, find The Orrery which is perfectly located in a beautifully lit room on the first floor of a converted stable block overlooking the St Marylebone Church gardens. The restaurant offers one of the area’s most attractive dining spaces and the beautifully presented modern French cuisine lives up to the setting, paired with a well-chosen wine list, that makes for the perfect dining experience.

What would such a perfect combination of history and modern shopping be without a farmers’ market? On Sundays, the Marylebone Farmers’ Market can be found in Cramer Street car park with as many as 40 stalls selling fresh, locally sourced produce, from meat and fish, poultry and game, fruit and vegetables, honey and preserves to hot food and baked goods.

Once you have eaten and shopped to your heart’s content, it is advisable to wander into the area’s cultural aspects.

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One of the most well known addresses in the world is 221b Baker Street. In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous novels, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson lived here from 1881 to 1904. It is now the official museum of Sherlock Holmes dedicated to the life and times of the famous detective and the interior is maintained exactly as described in the novels.

If you are a lover of art, Thompson’s Gallery is a great place to stop by. A bright and airy gallery run by a family, they deal in 20th and 21st century paintings, sculptures and photography by British artists. Its exhibitions change regularly and are open to the public whether you’re looking to buy or simply passing by.

Looking to find your hidden culinary talents? Marylebone Village is home to two of the top class cookery schools in the city.

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The Divertimenti cookery school caters to all levels and abilities. Sessions on offer include hands-on masterclasses, cookery demonstrations, classes for kids and gastro tours around London’s culinary hotspots.

As the only specialist Italian cookery school in central London, La Cucina Caldesi offers an exciting range of Italian themed food and wine courses for all levels of cooking competence, as well as children’s activities and tailor-made classes for corporate and private events.

These are only a few of the many exciting things to do and see in Marylebone Village, so head down for an exhilarating day out.

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u

Meadow is proud to serve great fresh food in a fantastic location

Located nearby Kensington Gardens and opposite Hyde Park, we are an all day dining venue open for stylish farmhouse fare and superb drinks from breakfast through to late night. Our spacious patio area provides the perfect calming environment to relax while dining alfresco. We also offer a grab and go service for those in a rush or who want to enjoy a coffee or meal in Hyde Park itself.

www.urbanmeadowcafe.com

T: +44 2077 927 066

150 Bayswater Road, London, W2 4RT

E: eat@urbanmeadowcafe.com

f Urban Meadow, CafĂŠ & Bar

@UrbanMeadowCafe

A short walk from Marylebone Station in Lisson Grove is the small and very friendly restaurant called Ozz.

Restaurant Review

Ozz is the brainchild of Chef E Amélio de Oliveira, a gifted and talented young man born in Brazil – a country famous for its meaty culture – who has worked for some of the best known chefs in London.

By Lorraine Fleming

Ozz 41-43 Lisson Grove, Marylebone, London, NW1 6UB T: +44 (0) 207 724 6764 E: info@ozz.uk.com

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Ozz T

he restaurant is cosy yet airy at the same time, the Tiffany lampshades giving off just the right illumination to set the mood for a stylish yet unpretentious dining room experience.

To say the food served by the very informative and knowledgeable staff is some of the best I have tasted would be an understatement. We had their Taster Menu of 5 courses (there are 4, 7 and 9 available and the magnificent list of unusual dishes can be viewed on their website www.ozz.uk.com) with a wine pairing menu to complement each dish. I left it in the capable hands of our waiter to choose for us but had secretly earmarked what I would have selected and he managed to present every course as I would have chosen it, and it has to be said I was in food heaven. Most of it is sourced locally with the fish supplied by Billingsgate Market, the meat and main vegetables from Covent Garden Market and interesting cheeses sourced from around the British Isles.

I would highly recommend the option of having wine to complement each course. As the sommelier explained, it was a rare opportunity to sample some wines we possibly hadn’t tasted before and experience how they can be matched up with different dishes.

The wines are carefully selected from small, sometimes lesser known, vineyards and it pays to keep an open mind here. As most of us know, it doesn’t have to have a top price tag to be a better wine. With this in mind, Ozz are as particular about their choice of wine supplier as they are about their food and this all adds up to a perfect marriage on the table.

In the daytime Ozz is available for private dining functions and can cater for between 10 and 30 people seated, and with the services of a personal waitress. Equipment such as projectors or TV screens can be set up for business or corporate meetings as they offer exclusivity during the day.

I live in South Buckinghamshire and to my delight found Ozz to be just a short train ride for me on Chiltern Railways – a journey that I will definitely make again and you should too, it’s a food lover’s fantasy.

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Spring Exhibitions at the Tate

Millbank, London SW1P 4RG

Bankside, London SE1 9TG

Marlene Dumas: The Image as Burden

Sculpture Victorious

Tate Modern 5 February - 10 May 2015

Tate Britain 25 February – 25 May 2015

Marlene Dumas Evil is Banal 1984 Collection Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands © Marlene Dumas Photo credit: Peter Cox, Eindhoven,The Netherlands

William Reynolds-Stephens A Royal Game 1906-11 Bronze, wood and stone © Tate Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1911

Born in South Africa in 1953, Marlene Dumas moved to the Netherlands in 1976 and has become one of the most prominent painters of her generation. This large-scale survey will be the most significant exhibition of her work ever to be held in Europe, charting her career from early works, through seminal paintings to newly finished canvases. The arresting and potent imagery of Dumas’s painting stresses both the physical reality of the human body and its psychological value. Her subjects tend towards the extreme fringes of life’s cycle, and reflect contemporary anxieties about life and death, gender and sexuality, and the influence of mass media and celebrity.

Salt and Silver: Early Photography 1840-60 Tate Britain 25 February - 7 June 2015 Roger Fenton Cantiniére 1855 Photograph, salted paper print from a glass plate negative © Wilson Centre for Photography This is the first exhibition in Britain devoted to salted paper prints, one of the earliest forms of photography. A uniquely British invention, unveiled by William Henry Fox Talbot in 1839, salt prints spread across the globe, creating a new visual language of the modern moment. This revolutionary technique transformed subjects from still life portraits, landscapes and scenes of daily life into images with their own specific aesthetic: a soft, luxurious effect particular to this photographic process. The few salt prints that survive are seldom seen due to their fragility, and so this exhibition, a collaboration with the Wilson Centre for Photography, is a singular opportunity to see the rarest and best early photographs of this type in the world.

Sculpture Victorious is the first major exhibition devoted to the innovative and compelling sculpture produced during Queen Victoria’s reign.

The show features a wide array of materials and shows how the art of sculpture featured in all aspects of Victorian politics, empire and industry.

The giants of Victorian sculpture, from Francis Chantrey to Alfred Gilbert, are exhibited alongside lesser-known artists such as Mary Watts and William Reynolds-Stephens. Star works from the great exhibitions are reunited and popular Tate works, such as Frederic Leighton’s An Athlete Wrestling with a Python, are given fresh context. Among the exhibits are Hiram Powers’s The Greek Slave and a large ceramic elephant manufactured for the Paris Exposition of 1889.

Organised in collaboration with the Yale Center for British Art

The EY Exhibition: Sonia Delaunay Tate Modern 15 April - 9 August 2015 Sonia Delaunay Propeller Air Pavilion 1937 Skissernas Museum, Lund, Sweden © Pracusa 2014083 Photo: Emma Krantz Sonia Delaunay (1885 – 1979) was a key figure in the Parisian avant-garde, from the early years of abstract art through to its continuing development in the post-war era. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, she celebrated the modern world of movement, technology and urban life, exploring new ideas about colour theory together with her husband Robert Delaunay. This will be the first UK retrospective to assess the breadth of Her vibrant artistic practice across a wide range of media. It will feature the ground breaking paintings, textiles and clothes she made across a sixty-year career, as well as the results of her innovative collaborations with poets, choreographers and manufacturers, from Diaghilev to Liberty.

Exhibition organised by the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris-Musées and Tate Modern

Birds, Beasts and Butterflies Thursday 12th February until Sunday 8th March Delightful exhibition of some of the most respected UK wildlife artists including Caroline Kannreuther, Jill Meager, Fletcher Prentice and Ingebjorg Smith

Allez La France!

Thursday 12th March until Sunday 12th April Rare opportunity to see the work of five French artists: Georges Cabot, Noëlle d’Aboville, Aude Grasset, Elisabeth Lecourt and Gérard Mortier 340 Old York Road, Wandsworth Town, London SW18 1SS www.oilandwater.co.uk

020 8704 4327

www.byelise.com

penny@oilandwater.co.uk

01757 633239

Aim High

with ArtsEd

ArtsEd’s independent day school is the most academically successful performing arts school in the UK, offering an outstanding vocational and academic education designed around the performing and visual arts for 11-18 year olds.

“We all work together, not only to make each play successful but to make each day successful.”

Year 8 Pupil

Tours available throughout the year

020 8987 6600 | www.artsed.co.uk

:ĂǀŝĞƌ ĂŶĞŐĂƐ ͞Colours VII͟ oil on panel 85 x 190 cm

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Specialist in Hyperrealist Art

ůĞdžĂŶĚƌĂ <ůŝŵĂƐ ͞Evi the Cow͟ oil on canvas 130 x 100 cm

T. Martin ͞Safety Blanket͟ acrylic on aluminium 105 x 135 cm

PLUS ONE GALLERY | 89-91 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8PH | Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 7656 info@plusonegallery.com | www.plusonegallery.com | www.facebook.com/plusonegallery

Christian Marsh Inner-city Tranquillity 120 x 95cm Oil on canvas right

Andrew Tift Yakusa 60 x 90cm pencil, charcoal ink and carbon on paper below

lus One Gallery is one of the leading galleries specialising in hyperrealism art today, representing the top artists in this genre from all around the world such as Ben Johnson, Pedro Campos, Ben Schonzeit, Steve Smulka and Carl Laubin including three winners of the prestigious BP Portrait Award; Craig Wylie, Andrew Tift and Philip Harris.

The gallery holds several group exhibitions and solo shows each year. It has been featured on various art programmes on television worldwide including the BBC and has also published three art books, notably Exactitude: Hyperrealist Art Today by John Russell Taylor and Maggie Bollaert (Thames & Hudson and Plus One Publishing); sold in book shops worldwide.

There are three main themes in Hyperrealism; Urban Landscape/ Landscape, where we can see the modern city with its eccentricities and exuberances; a good example of this would be “Autumn Reflections” by Christian Marsh. Some artists give their back to the bustle of the city and return to the tranquillity of nature such as “Surface Rings Shimmer” by David Kessler and “The Island” by Paul de Roy. Still Life, with its objects of everyday life; flowers, cars, glasses, food, as we can see in Cynthia Poole’s and Javier Banegas’ paintings.

Portrait/Human Figure, which has evolved in the 21st Century introducing us to the social portrait, as it can be seen in “L (phase)” by Craig Wylie, “Urban chic” by Simon Hennessey, and “Drawing from Detroit” by Paul Cadden.

What defines the hyperrealism of these days is the contemporaneity of the subjects on the paintings, how current the objects and scenes are as we can see in “Displaced Mints II” by Cynthia Poole and “Yakusa”

by Andrew Tift where they all show the contemporaneity of their works exceptionally well.

Monumentality plays an important role in hyperrealism especially in Still Life where we get overwhelmed by the surprise of seeing Pedro Campos’ two meter Coca Cola cans or Paul Beliveau’s monumental books. Ultimately the monumentality of the objects brings us close to Surrealism.

Reflections is another technique that hyperrealist artists have developed to perfection breaking our visual interpretation of what is real or not. These reflexions are mainly present in Landscapes and Still Life as we see in “Covent Garden, London” from Christian Marsh and “Minerva” by Francois Chartier.

The gallery is located in 89-91 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8PH, the nearest tube stations are Sloane Square and Victoria. Our opening hours are from Monday to Friday 10:00-18:00 and Saturdays 10:00-15:00. If you are interested in viewing more artworks you can log in to our website www.plusonegallery.com. For any further information you can contact us on 020 77 30 76 56 or email us to info@plusonegallery.com

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Paul Beliveau Vanitas - Dylan-Lennon 76 x 152cm Acrylic on canvas above

P Plus One Gallery

Francoise Chartier Minerva 152 x 152cm Oil on canvas

Antonio Castelló Pineapples 97 x 195cm Oil on linen

Art exhibition

John Myatt, 14th to 29th March.

John Myatt is the (in)famous forger who made over 200 paintings in the style of famous post war artists such as Giacometti, de Stael and Ben Nicholson, which were then sold as genuine by ‘Professor Drewe’ through major auction houses and dealers, fetching hundreds of thousands each.

Drewe was eventually caught and sentenced along with Myatt who served 3 months at HMP Brixton for his part in what has been dubbed the ‘biggest art con of the 20th century’.

John will be at the gallery on Saturday 28th March to talk about his life and work.

Prices from £4950 for original artwork and £995 for signed prints.

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3 Golden Court, Richmond upon Thames TW9 1EU +44 (0)20 8226 5566

www.canvasgallery.com

SHORT COURSES CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS Online Weekends Daytime Evenings Bespoke training Courses for under 19s Dual city and Study abroad Art, Design, Fashion and Performance www.arts.ac.uk

Search: csm short courses

Caf è Lotus

Bali to your heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s content

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Abena Bailey on how to fill your every desire in just six days on the mystical Indonesian island

Potato Head Beach Club

Day one

Ubud paddy field

Day two Desperate to remove ourselves from touristy Legian, we went in search of a more authentic Bali so we hired a driver for the day (costing about £25) and headed to Pura Luhur Temple in Uluwatu, in the south of the island.

This sea temple, which sits on a clifftop 250 feet above the sea, was built in the 11th century to ward off evil spirits and today is popular with tourists and well worth a visit for the views alone.

We had heard that Pandawa Beach was secluded so we headed there for a little tranquillity. The drive rewarded us with dramatic views of cutaway cliffs that had numerous Balinese statues carved into them.

Unfortunately the beach was so packed full of people, hawkers, cafés and red umbrellas courtesy of Air Asia, we could barely see the sand. We jumped back in the car and sped away to Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park.

This manmade feature set in over 240 hectares is still in the making after 22 years of the project being founded yet it does not fail to impress. It has breathtaking monuments of Hindu Gods and wild animals, an amphitheatre, regular performances, restaurants and even segway tours. We ended our day dining at Jendela, a beautiful restaurant on the site with a gorgeous panoramic view of the region.

A must do – GWK Cultural Park.

Top tip – see the sunset at Uluwatu temple.

Day three I pulled on my trainers and went jogging around Legian in search of the beach but what I found was literally a dumping site for rubbish next to the sea. Shocked and disappointed by my discovery, I took a taxi to both Kuta and Seminyak beaches only to find the same thing.

Saddened by my discovery I called our driver to take us away from the area.

He drove south and stopped at a coffee plantation, which produces the famous luwak coffee. For those who are unfamiliar with this delicacy, it is the most expensive coffee in the world and is made with the droppings of the civet cat after it has feasted on coffee beans.

Gimmick or not, it did taste awesome.

Our next stop was Tanah Lot temple in Tabanan. It is one of seven sea temples along the coast and fun to visit. The temple itself sits on an offshore rock so wading through the sea is necessary to get to it. There are also dozens of restaurant surrounding the site giving plenty of opportunities to enjoy a sunset dinner.

We opted for a glass of wine at The Cliff Restaurant, which has the most romantic setting of all but not the best food. We ate at Potato Head beach Club again and then popped into The Red Carpet Champagne Bar for a glass of bubbly. It’s a buzzing place and I ended up dancing the rest of the night away in La Favela with some new-found friends!

Must dos – Tanah Lot at sunset and Seminyak nightlife.

Top tip – Have a picnic at Tanah Lot.

Day five I wanted to plug into the source of Balinese spirituality with a blessing at Tirta Empul Water Temple, which is one of the holiest temples in Bali, built around a spring that people believe was created by a Hindu god – it is the Lourdes of the east.

I met a holy man who guided me through 15 minutes of meditation before explaining that I was to pray, drink and dunk my head under the water of each of the temple’s 30 spouts as they all had different meanings, such as wisdom, health and love.

After my purification I certainly felt revitalised and humbled at having the opportunity to engage in a centuries-old Balinese tradition.

Suckling pig is available all over Bali yet Ibu Oka is the eating place everyone talks about. It has two branches so we enjoyed the underground roasted pig at the second prettier location on the outskirts of the town.

Must do - Tirta Empul Temple.

Top tip - Make an offering at the temple, tip your guide and do some shopping

Day six After champagne bars, beachclubs, temples and blessings we were all feeling lethargic and took this as the perfect opportunity to have some much needed spa time.

Bali is a world leader in spa destinations and has so many to choose from. My favourite is Karsa Spa in Ubud because it is set on a backdrop of terraced rice fields and is designed to bring outdoors in so you can benefit from the fresh air and natural surroundings. Of the hundreds of massages I have experienced in my lifetime of being a lifestyle writer, the treatments I have had at this spa are in my top five.

A few months back I had enjoyed a calming Balinese massage so on this occasion I went for the intuitive heart massage that is a mix of Reiki, Swedish massage, Balinese massage, deep tissue, lomi lomi and shiatsu. The therapist enters a high state of consciousness to hone in on your body to give it the technique it needs where it needs it. Bliss.

We all flopped into the car and took in the scenery as we made our way to the volcano in Batur where we enjoyed lunch overlooking the active mountain.

A must do – Karsa spa Top tip – stop off and buy fruit and art along the way to Mt Batur.

Day four We found a new base further north in Ubud, which is my favourite place in Bali for its creativeness, spiritual vibe and traditional culture. To this day this area of Bali is still the most beautiful place on earth to me. It is covered in rice paddies, fruit plantations and temples. The architecture is mesmerizing.

Ubud is also a foodie destination with suckling pig and duck being specialities people travel from miles around to feast on.

We dined on suckling duck at Café Lotus in central Ubud so we could enjoy the traditional kecak dancing show at the restaurant in its incredible lotus pond setting.

A must do – Café Lotus Top tip – book a table at the front of the restaurant for the best seat in the house.

Ibu Oka

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I have holidayed in Bali before but this trip was out of wanting to share my love of the island of the Gods with my parents.

We arrived at Denpasar Airport to relentless traffic. As the taxi crept along the road we kept an eye out for a fun bar or restaurant. Kuta and Legian beach towns both appeared scruffy and the latter was devoid of life yet packed to breaking point with establishments.

We finally came across a gorgeously designed beach club called Potato Head in Seminyak.

This prestige bar restaurant and boutique hotel has been designed by one of Bali’s acclaimed architects and is a modern take on a coliseum.

It has spacious lawn and beach beds overlooking the crashing waves along the shore, a mezzanine and upstairs area with great views. People stay here all day sunbathing and all night partying.

The menu is to die for – we got addicted to the wagu beefburger topped with brie and red onions caramelised in red wine. It was all very westernised yet design-led and artistic, which fitted into the Balinese spirit.

A must do – Potato Head Beach Club.

Top tip – arrange a hotel pick up if they offer 300,000 rupiah or less.

Abena at Tirta Empul

Start 2015 the best way with a Health Membership at Stoke Park’s world class Gym! Stoke Park are delighted to announce our £500,000 gym upgrade is now open! Our newly refurbished Gym features the latest in fitness technology which includes: • Latest state-of-the-art StarTrac cardio vascular equipment with HD televisions • Human Sport resistance equipment for multi directional resistance training • Functional training area • Body composition testing via Boditrax allowing fat, bone, water and metabolic rate analysis • Running Unlimited Pod for immersive jogging experience • New StarTrac Spin Bikes allowing accurate power tracking • HotYoga Studio • Expert PersonalTraining available • 60 studio classes every week includingYoga, HIIT and Studio Cycling.

There is no gym in the Home Counties quite like it!

To arrange a show round and to learn more about Health Membership at Stoke Park, please contact the team on 01753 717179 or by email membership@stokepark.com

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‘Top 10 Romantic Hotel Rooms in the World’ THE SUNDAY TIMES

STOKE PARK

WEDDING SHOWCASE Sunday 22nd March 2015

Stoke Park’s Palladian Mansion is truly one of the most breathtakingWeddingVenues in Buckinghamshire An intimate event showcasing Stoke Park as a Wedding venue along with some select prestigious suppliers and our Wedding Co-ordinator on hand to answer any questions.

Entry from 10:30am until 3pm, there is no entry fee and no need to book.

All visitors will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast stay at Stoke Park Please contact our Wedding Co-ordinator on 01753 717171 or weddings@stokepark.com Stoke Park, Park Road, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4PG 35 minutes from London and 7 miles from Heathrow Airport

www.stokepark.com

Wed in Italy

D

estination weddings are more popular than ever. The recent weddings of Amal Alamuddin to George Clooney, Chrissy Teigen to John Legend, and Kim Kardashian to Kaney West, to name a few, has proven that Italy is a favourite destination due to its beauty, art and history and, of course, the delicious food and sunshine! But it definitely takes someone who knows the destination inside and out to ensure that the big day goes off without a hitch!

Raffaella Alflatt founded WedinItaly with a single purpose: to grant couples their wish of having the perfect destination wedding in Italy. Since 2006, they have guided couples through every step of planning a wedding in Italy; travel arrangements, paperwork, logistics, décor and styling, ensuring that when they and their guests arrive for their big day, everything is ready and waiting for them to say, “I do.”

From the shores of Lake Como, to a cliffside terrace on the Amalfi coast, to a 16th-century villa nestled in the hills just outside Florence, to a charming Roman villa, to a superb Palazzo on the Gran Canal; sometimes it seems like there is nowhere in Italy Raffaella and her team have not planned a wedding.

Their collection of unforgettable weddings include Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox services held in magnificent Roman and Venetian churches. Hindu and Jewish ceremonies have been officiated in exquisite villas. Blessings, symbolic marriages and, of course, civil services, have been arranged in lavish Italian gardens, on roof terraces with breathtaking views and in the most beautiful historic buildings.

Unfortunately civil gay marriages are still not possible in Italy. However, the country is very welcoming to gay couples and romantic symbolic ceremonies are very popular. The team are very happy to suggest the best locations.

Raffaella says, ‘What I love so much about my job is how every wedding is unique and special. It is a great privilege and I feel very lucky to contribute to the success of the happiest day of a couple’s life. Even after so many years of wedding planning, I still have the same enthusiasm and excitement for every new event we help to arrange.

‘What makes WedinItaly so successful is that we start by really understanding our clients’ desires. We do our job with professionalism, dedication and attention to detail, but above all with passion. We have selected the best vendors in each region and we enhance their services with our expertise and understanding of the clients’ requirements.

‘I think my favourite part of helping couples plan their wedding is seeing how thrilled they are that even though they’re getting married far from home, we are able to incorporate family traditions, blend cultures, feature treasured keepsakes, and organise the arrival of guests from all corners of the globe to create an event that is as unique as they are.’

WedinItaly have an office in London, Mayfair, where Raffaella and her planners meet the couples, and a permanent team based in Italy who manage legalities and local suppliers. This allows the team to be on hand to assist couples during the entire process, from the early stage of selecting the destination and inspection of venues, to the rehearsal dinner and the post wedding brunch.

The first consultation with the team is a complimentary ‘getting to know each other’. It is a great opportunity to ask all your initial questions and explain your expectations for your big day. If you are considering a wedding or any other private celebration in Italy, have a look at the website www.wedinitaly.co.uk and contact their friendly team either via email info@wedinitaly.co.uk or by calling the London office on 0207 495 00 29.

46 the riverside journals

Photo: David Bastianoni, www.davidbastianoni.com

www.wedinitaly.co.uk

|

Massimiliano Magliacca at Nabis Photography: www.nabisfotografia.com

WED in ITALY

tel. 0207 495 00 29

Enchanting special occassion clothes designed for you in the heart of London www.littlebevan.co.uk • 020 7821 9499

artnered

n

April 25th

earn how to prepare exciting dishes with

Rosemary Shrager cooks up a storm at Chateau Lou Casteou

ll-inclusive accommodation, champagne

ROSEMARY SHRAGER ous Fortville market in CannesCOOKS and lunch UP A STORM AT CHATEAU LOU CASTEOU

ts £5,650 per couple (or two sharing) or

uxury Cote D’Azur residence Chateau Lou Casteou has partnered

on morag@loucasteou.com. with renowned Celebrity Chef Rosemary Shrager, to host an

exclusive food and wine appreciation event running from April 25th

o May 1st 2015. Guests will enjoy excellent cuisine and learn how to prepare exciting dishes with

Rosemary and her executive chef John Rogers. Six nights all-inclusive accommodation, champagne

Luxury Cote D’Azur residence Chateau Lou Casteou has partnered with renowned Celebrity Chef Rosemary Shrager, at a Michelin-starred restaurant are included. The event costs £5,650 per couple (or two sharing) or to host an exclusive food and wine appreciation event running £3,250 per single guest. To book contact Morag McLaren on morag@loucasteou.com. from April 25th to May 1st 2015. www.loucasteou.com/cookery-school.asp Guests will enjoy excellent cuisine and learn how to prepare exciting dishes with Rosemary and her executive chef John Rogers. Six nights all-inclusive accommodation, champagne reception, wine tasting visits, coastal treks, a trip to the famous Fortville market in Cannes and lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant are included. The event costs £5,650 per couple (or two sharing) or £3,250 per single guest.

eception, wine tasting visits, coastal treks, a trip to the famous Fortville market in Cannes and lunch

To book contact Morag McLaren on morag@loucasteou.com www.loucasteou.com/cookery-school.asp

CHATEAU LOU CASTEOU Chateau Lou Casteou TENNIS ACADEMY, Academy, COTE Tennis D’AZUR, FRANCE

Cote D’azur, France

Thurs 7th May – Mon 11th May, 2015

7th May – Mon 11th May, 2015 Four nightsThurs luxury accommodation in the Four nights luxury accommodation in the chateau. chateau.

Daily professional tennis coaching Daily professional tennis coaching sessions. Champagne reception.

All meals, drinks,reception. wines and aperitifs. sessions. Champagne

Tennis Tournaments and Award Ceremony.

Transfers fromand Nice airport.

All meals, drinks, wines aperitifs.

Price: £1,180 inc. VAT per person, per room

Tennis Tournaments andfor Award Ceremony. or £980 inc. VAT per person, two guests sharing a room.

Please contact Morag@Loucasteou.com Transfers from Nice airport. with questions and for reservations.

Price: £1,180 inc.

VAT per person, per room www.loucasteou.com or £980 inc. VAT per person, for two guests sharing a room.

Please contact Morag@Loucasteou.com with

THE OAKLEY COURT WINDSOR

Where your fairy tale wedding beginsâ&#x20AC;Ś Step into a wedding wonderland at the Oakley Court Hotel. From intimate civil ceremonies in the traditional setting of The Library to a full wedding breakfast layout in the grandeur of the Windsor Suite.

A truly magnificent Victorian Gothic mansion, set amidst 33 acres of stunning landscaped gardens with manicured lawns that wander gently down to the banks of the River Thames.

Your wedding day should be full of love, laughter and happy ever afters and we will do everything to make sure your day is perfect.

THE OAKLEY COURT Windsor Road, Water Oakley, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 5UR, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1753 609 988 Email: weddings@oakleycourt.co.uk Web: www.oakleycourt.co.uk

Savile Row: In Pursuit of the Perfect Suit

50 the riverside journals

Nina Koo-Seen-Lin heads to Savile Row, the home of bespoke tailoringâ&#x20AC;Ś

The Birth of Bespoke British Tailoring Say the word ‘suit’ and it’s likely you’ll think of Savile Row. In fact, the street in Mayfair has been the place to go for a bespoke, custom-made suit crafted by the finest of skilled tailors. In today’s world where throwaway fashion is prominent, Savile Row has become a beacon in the fashion industry for high quality clothing that lasts.

The founder of Savile Row is often purported to be Henry Poole, who inherited his father’s firm in the mid-19th century. Poole & Co became the tailor for the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII, who was a style icon in his time. Henry has been credited for the dinner jacket and smoking jacket and the company is one of the longest surviving tailors on the Row. The term ‘bespoke’ is said to have originated in Savile Row when a particular cloth for a suit was labelled as ‘to be spoken for a particular customer’. The Savile Row tailor prides himself on making a suit that best fits their client. His or her job goes beyond recording leg measurements.

They have to quietly assess the client’s body shape, type and mannerisms in order to create the perfect suit that matches the precise customer specification. This time honoured tradition from first measurement to the finished article takes a minimum of 52 hours’ labour, and at least three fittings. The result is a piece of wearable art.

Traditional Tailors to the Rich & Famous When it comes to names, the tailors on Savile Row are as well-known as those who wear their clothing. Dege & Skinner, Gieves & Hawkes, and Norton & Sons are all traditional tailors that still remain on the Row today.

Famous clients include British and foreign royalty, prime ministers (such as Winston Churchill), US presidents as well as Hollywood film stars and entertainers (Cary Grant, Robbie Williams, Alexander McQueen, Colin Firth and Michael Jackson to name a few).

Tommy Nutter, aka the rebel of the Row, and Edward Sexton were responsible for the modernized style and approach to traditional Savile Row style and tailoring in the late-sixties. Clientele included heartthrobs of the day including Steve McQueen, Michael Caine, Terence Stamp and The Beatles.

Huntsman is famous for its house tweeds, woven on the oldest working mill in Britain, Islay. Hollywood’s 20th century leading men, for instance Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Rex Harrison and Gregory Peck, favoured this tailor.

As well as bespoke suits, the label has a ready-to-wear collection and there’s a range of overcoats – a garment that’s often overlooked nowadays, but one creative director Roubi L’Roubi is determined to put back on the style map.

The New Establishment The call for bespoke suits dwindled with the arrival of ready-to-wear fashion brands and fashion houses such as Versace and Armani. But the early to mid-nineties saw the arrival of Cool Britannia (Brit Pop, the Primrose Hill set, and the Supernova Heights clique). The revival for a love of all things British meant Savile Row became a popular fashion destination again.

A new establishment of tailors came to kick-start the bespoke movement once again. Patrick Grant, Ozwald Boateng and Richard James are the ones who are leading the way to draw a new generation of suit wearers. For apprentice tailors Savile Row is the Oxbridge for suitmaking studies. Eithan Sweet and Emma Martin are the names to look out for in the future.

When it comes to cost, a Savile Row tailor-made suit is far from cheap. The average price is in the range of £3000 to £4000. However, the emergence of Highstreet brands on the Row such as Ben Sherman and Abercrombie & Fitch means men can now buy a customized suit in the price region of £800. Good quality clothing that’s made to measure can be affordable if you look for it.

There’s something special about a man in a suit. The perfectly fitted jacket with a pair of trousers to match makes a man look and feel good. And most women love a man in a suit. Any store that caters to men’s fashion can design and sell suits, but one glimpse through the shop windows on Savile Row, and it’s clear that not all suits are created equal. Some are tailored to be the absolute best.

51 the riverside journals

Savile Suits You, Sir

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Edwards English Oxhorn Comb with Oxblood Leather Case £25 at www.edwardstraditionalshavingemporium.co.uk

Feather and Knock Sea Salt Shaving Soap Edwards Traditional Shaving Emporium’s, long awaited, Charcoal and Sea Salt Shaving Soap. Charcoal detoxes the skin, and sea salt encourages growth, whilst like time, it’s a great healer. It’s an unscented, truly masculine product, which will not clash with the bite of your chosen musk.

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Simpson Commodore, Best Badger This is an incredible sturdy brush, best badger is the next grade up from pure badger. Simpson are the oldest brush company in Britain, they know how to make shaving brushes, and this compact brush is testament to that. £50 at edwardstraditionalshavingemporium.co.uk

Penhaligon’s Endymion Cologne Spray - 100ml Enjoy the delectable scent of this Endymion cologne from Penhaligon’s. Offering sweet bursts of mandarin wrapped in sage & lavender, it’s soothed by creamy notes of nutmeg, dark coffee and soft, sumptuous leather. A sensual fusion of citrus & spice, this seductive night time fragrance is also available as an aftershave balm, shower gel & shaving cream and makes a wonderful gift idea for any man in your life. £85 at www.amara.com

Old Windsor Eau de Cologne - 100ml

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Agraria Golden Cassis TasselAire

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by Agraria. Fresh oranges and berries mingle with cassis, rose, jasmine and lily to create this calming and contemporary fragrance. At the heart of this scent is Galbanum, an ancient spicy and earthy aroma associated with reducing stress. There are also notes of sandalwood, warm amber and white musk drifting through the background. TasselAire is the stylish way to fragrance your home, ideal for hanging on a doorknob, closet hook or an armoire key. Incorporate it into your curtain tie backs at your window; a great way to give your room perfume whilst adding practical style. For a truly unique Agraria fragrance experience combine more than one TasselAire. £40 at www.amara.com

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for

An aromatic scent enriched with classic bergamot and lavender.

Set upon the river, surrounded by an ancient oak forest, the village of Old Windsor was once the domain of kings and queens. Today this area of natural beauty within castle grounds continues to be a muchloved place for more than just gentry. Traditional English pursuits in Old Windsor’s parklands remain the same today as long ago, where both sports and leisure time are enjoyed on land and water. The aroma of this exhilarating scent is inspired by the timeless facets of eau de cologne, created with a sense of British tradition.

Old Windsor Eau de Cologne exudes English refinement and luxury with a freshness that captures the scents of the great outdoors.

Effervescent notes of bergamot and bitter orange precede a herbaceous and subtly floral bouquet of English lavender, verbena and rose. A soothing background of cedarwood and sandalwood create a regal finish to this elegant scent. £45 at www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

Does your insurer value Does your insurer value your most precious assets your most precious assets as much as you Do? as much as you do?

Four out of five owners of valuable possessions arrange insurance policies that under insure their assets.

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Insurance is essentially a promise. But it’s a promise that’s only tested when you need to make a claim. Finding out that your most precious assets are inadequately insured when it’s too late can be tremendously stressful and financially damaging. Don’t fall in to the trap of trusting off the peg insurance to properly protect you.

Quantum is the leading specialist insurance broker for the award winning, Chubb Masterpiece Policy in Europe.

We provide a bespoke personal service with no call centres and we offer all prospective clients a complimentary review to custom fit their insurance exactly around their lifestyle and assets. Frequently, we see that under valuation is a result of the meteoric rise in the price of property, jewellery, watches, art, classic cars, couture clothing, wine and other collectables.

Our personal review, ideally conducted in your home, will ensure that your most cherished assets are comprehensively protected.

Our clients tell us that not having to worry about insurance allows them to truly focus on enjoying what they have.

Contact one of the Berkeley Square Team on 0203 384 1725 or BSQ@quantumplc.com Quantum Plc, Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6BD www.quantumplc.com

I

’ve stripped wallpaper almost as many times as I’ve managed to get it up. Once up, it’s exceedingly hard to get down so we find layers built up over years, in various patterns and styles, a catalogued palimpsest waiting to be revealed, a narrative through time. It’s also a story I like the idea of being a part of, as a discovery waiting to be found. It is a committal akin to a marriage and seems to remain in fashion for roughly the same duration.

I studied Fine Art at Bath Spa University where I began, like so many art students in front of a canvas attempting something seminal in paint. Having failed, within a matter of weeks as a painter, I jumped to sculpture, had a brief period of doing nothing during an existential crisis, took a few photographs then stumbled upon print making. From here I could drag some offcuts of MDF out of the skip, chip away at them with a chisel and make endless numbers of prints in all manner of colours.

By the end of three years I had sheathes of prints in all manner of sizes and so staged my first solo exhibition in the public conveniences in Bath.

Using wheat paste to slap them up in both male and female toilets, I hired in a violinist and had cheap Cava taken round on trays. I had successfully vandalised the public toilets and went home content. Coming back the next day to review the exhibition in relative peace, I found to my horror the toilets had been closed ‘for cleaning’. My work had been taken away, but not willingly and after a full assault by the council, traces of it remained. A seed had been planted.

After university I started a job as a draughtsman for a fine artist and managed to save enough money for a trip to New York; a period that allowed me to ponder the post university life I wanted to live when I got back.

Interning at a small contemporary gallery in Chelsea, one thing I knew was that I certainly didn’t want to sell bad art to vulgar people.

It also occurred to me at this time that I wouldn’t be able to get by on print exhibitions alone, that there needed to be something else, something more commercially viable.

I have a memory as a child of looking up and seeing a Grecian frieze depicting a chain of perpetual buggery in profile. Whether I conceived it myself or not remains a mystery, but what matters is that the idea for my first repeat pattern was born and morphed itself into my very first wallpaper; Grecian Love.

I moved to London immediately after returning from New York and being broke was forced to take a job in a restaurant that left me working full time, on minimum wage and without tips.

It was during this time that I began frequently to visit Babette Kulik, proprietor of The Society Club, a members’ bar and bookshop in Soho. It was here that I would neck a couple of glasses of wine during my break between shifts, just to soften the blow for my return to work. After talking about my designs she finally gave me the chance I’d been waiting for and allowed me to paste up two of my wallpapers in her downstairs loos.

From this point Babette campaigned ceaselessly for my cause, leading to commissions from Mark Hix to The Academy Club and still continues to propel me forward. At present there is an exhibition of my woodblock prints at the bookshop, some of which have made their way from their humble beginnings in Bath’s public conveniences.

To date most of the wallpaper has found its way into bathrooms and toilet cubicles, so take a seat; I have a few minutes of your undivided attention to view the toilet paper. www.tommaryniak.com

55 the riverside journals

Tom Maryniak

Do you have ÂŁ100,000+ available and an interest in being involved in property investment or development in Southern England?

We offer private investors the opportunity to be either shareholder/investors or just investors in residential development opportunities in Southern England.

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Investors have security of either a First or Second charge on the land and interest payable of 10-18%pa.

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Amber House

Beaconsfield’s Brightest Gem

S 60 the riverside journals

et within Beaconsfield’s prestigious “Golden Triangle”, Amber House is a stunning and luxurious seven bedroom, Georgian style townhouse perfect for both spending time with the family, and entertaining friends. Just 200 yards from Beaconsfield’s traditional town centre, Amber House offers 8,500 sq ft of contemporary living space, including a self-contained annexe, and a large blissfully secluded garden. Built by exclusive developer, Zafiro Homes, Alexander James Interiors was appointed to design, style and accessorise the interior.

The brief to Alexander James Interiors was for a contemporary and edgy scheme with a hint of “Crazy Bear” feel – moody and dramatic to resemble the popular hotel! The interior scheme is bursting with elegance and opulence, while also remaining homely and welcoming. Working from a palette of greys and accented with red, the house is set to impress at every turn.

Making an entrance The AJI designer used the impressive and tall galleried entrance hall as a starting point for the scheme, commissioning a bespoke, oversized chandelier with signature red gems. Cascading down in excess of six metres, this lighting feature is sure to “wow” the moment you walk through the door. The opulence continues into the reception room, with a palette of sophisticated greys throughout the paint finishes, accessories and furniture. On entering the room, the eye is drawn to the two luxurious, gently curved sofas that provide a formal yet comfortable area to welcome guests. Oversized lighting is again used for dramatic effect, and the red of the chandelier is mirrored in the cushions to bring a vibrant pop of colour.

Living in Luxury In the spacious master bedroom, the designer utilised the large space by cleverly positioning a seating area in front of the large double windows, an ideal area to wind down and admire the beautifully landscaped gardens. A large bespoke bed is the focal point of the room, accessorised with a luxurious faux fur throw, and rich red cushions. With stunning pendant lights framing the bed and light grey walls contrasting with dark furniture, the master bedroom is airy and bright, creating a tranquil and atmospheric retreat.

Contemporary cooking The luxury fitted kitchen by Lida Cucina was designed fantastically with entertaining in mind. The large central island, with its bridge unit, has been ergonomically designed to incorporate a breakfast bar and table in oiled wenge, Spekva wood. The cabinetry in high gloss lacquered ebony wood, sabbia gloss lacquer, and leather makes a sophisticated statement, when combined with the sophisticated wall mounted bronze mirrored glass. There is an abundance of Miele appliances – for casual family lunches or more formal entertaining. The ultra-modern kitchen seamlessly links to the open plan family room – a homely combination of leathers, woods, and faux fur effect cushions with a real safari feel.

Alexander James Interiors 8 The Pavilions, Ruscombe Business Park, Twyford, Berkshire, RG10 9NN

0118 932 0828 • www.aji.co.uk

British Proud SUNFLOW’S UNIQUE FEATURES INCLUDE ● Specially developed heat

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British made refractory clay electric heaters With energy prices fluctuating year on year and gas a diminishing resource, it’s not easy to choose how best to heat your home. At Sunflow, our experts in heat technology have created an outstanding heating solution to keep your home cosy, comfortable and affordable throughout the winter months and for many years to come.

business you can rely on ● Free home advisory service

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For your FREE brochure call our 24 hour Brochure Line on: 0800 158 8270 Questions or FREE no obligation survey?

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www.rockandroserestaurant.co.uk Rock & Rose, 106 - 108 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2PQ

Lorraine Angliss Award Winning Restauranteur

Food Passion & Glamour; a business woman’s mission to create the perfect dining experience...

‘I’d

love for my guests to walk across the threshold of the restaurant and think, ‘yes, this is where I want to be’. Says Lorraine, the proud owner of Rock & Rose restaurant in Richmond. As you arrive at the restaurant you are already given an idea of what the interior might look like, palm trees, outdoor floor lamps, lanterns and a beautiful statue of Pandora.

A warm welcome invites you into an eclectic array of shabby chic meets glamour. A glitzy cocktail bar equipped with mixologists shaking away the martini’s, big bouquets, floral wallpaper and beautiful red roses; delightful to say the least.

Rock & Rose host a number of fantastic parties, events and special occasions and seems to have made a household name for themselves

within the area and further afield!

Lorraine has designed the interior herself, using extensive experience and knack for what looks good. From decor to menu Lorraine insists on constantly editing, upgrading and progressing her business to constantly take it to new and high standards.

‘I constantly have my head in recipe books, trying to find the next big trend. I look for a menu that my guests will enjoy and feel adventurous to try new things,’ Lorraine.

and cheese or January favourite, a light chicken tikka salad. Through careful menu development Lorraine and her team have managed to create a menu that caters to all taste buds.

Monday to Friday from 5 to 7pm, is cocktail hour, where guests can enjoy a wonderful selection of classic tipples as well as fancy new additions of deliciousness!

There appears to be a lot on the horizon for this Richmond gem, so if you’re in the area it comes highly recommended. All you need to do is read the reviews!

Enjoy the pan Asian cuisine, start at the beginning by sampling the likes of chilli salt squid or tuna and salmon sashimi, before heading onto lamb two ways, lobster mac

www.rockandroserestaurant.co.uk Rock & Rose, 106 - 108 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2PQ

Facebook Rock & Rose Twitter @rockandrosenews Instagram @rockrichmond Five star rated & certified certificate of excellence award.

The Olde Bell is a modern coaching inn, set in historic timber framed buildings providing eating, drinking, gatherings & lodgings. Located only 45 minutes from central London, in East Berkshire, The Olde Bell has great access to Henley on Thames, Maidenhead & Marlow. The Olde Bell has 48 bedrooms, a celebrated restaurant & 7 private rooms seating up to 150 people for weddings & parties.

In the Dining Room, you will experience the finest foods, served with a generosity of spirit in both flavour and portions. Afterwards, either relax in the 12th Century Bar and find out the history of this truly unique setting or meander around our beautiful gardens.

Facilities Include: • Complimenatary WIFI & Parking • A Range of Stunning Bedrooms • 2 Rosette Restaurant • Alfresco Dining •

We look forward to seeing you...

T: 01628 825881 W: www.theoldebell.co.uk E: oldebellreception@coachinginn.co.uk

A superb location for both business and leisure visitors. You can be in central London or Heathrow in superb both leisure visitors. be inattractions central London or Heathrow in little overAhalf an location hour. Iffor you arebusiness visitingand with family, thereYou arecan many nearby.

52 comfortable little over river halflocation anviews hour.for If both you are visitingall with family, visitors. there many attractions nearby.

52 comfortable A with superb business and leisure You can beFreeview in central London or Heathrow in bedrooms and balconies, equipped withareflat screen TV and complimentary bedrooms with river views and balconies, all equipped with flat screen Freeview TV and complimentary little over half an hour. dining If you are visiting family, are manythe attractions nearby. 52 comfortable Wi-Fi. All-day at the Bluewith River Café,there overlooking River Thames.

Wi-Fi. at the BlueallRiver Café, overlooking the River Thames. bedrooms with riverAll-day viewsdining and balconies, equipped with flat screen Freeview TV and complimentary Wi-Fi. All-day dining at the Blue River Café, overlooking the River Thames.

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66 the riverside journals

Gigiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

We are always looking for something new, and recently our friend at Bonhams Mayfair recommended the new Italian Gigi’s at 22 Woodstock Street.

Gigi’s restaurant is a stone’s throw from Oxford Street and New Bond Street yet tucked away so not everyone would know it was there. On entering the restaurant to the left was a long bar, with a buzzing atmosphere.

We were shown to our table and had a lovely chilled glass of champagne and Chef’s Amuse Bouche while we mulled over the great choices on the wine list – Oh, and the dinner menu!

The menu introduced by restaurant manager Cesare was created by Ivan Simeoli, a young Italian with 15 years’ experience in London.

So, I started with the Vitello Tonnato with Radicchio Salad while my friend had the Chef’s interpretation of a Full English Breakfast – 62 Degrees Egg, which was cooked evenly, and instead of bacon had crispy grilled parma on a bed of Girolles with green, not red Tomato, which was something she had never tried or seen before.

We are very excited and look forward to being welcomed back.

The modern Italian with influences of Asian presentation and ingredients at Gigi’s are both creative, amazingly tasty and Mayfair trendy. Dishes are full of flavour and stand out with well balanced textures, and are accompanied by affordable yet good quality wines to complement every element of the meal.

The staff were very conscientious and as soon as our glasses were low the attentive lady behind the bar would appear like a genie from nowhere and look after us or recommend a change – now that’s what I call service.

I would feel comfortable going to Gigi’s just for drinks, especially cocktails of which they have a great selection, or for the delicious meals they serve throughout the day. We are invited back to Gigi’s in February when Chef Simeoli will launch the first of London’s Italian restaurants to have a dedicated vegetarian menu, supporting seasonal local produce.

We are very excited and look forward to being welcomed back.

22 Woodstock Street, Mayfair, London W1C 2AR Tel: 020 7491 8638 Seated: 50 • Reception: 120 • Mon to Sat 12pm -12am www.gigismayfair.com

Italian cuisine compared to other cuisines is probably the most vegetarian friendly, and at Gigi’s as well as modern Italian dishes you can indulge yourself with the innovative and healthy seasonal vegetarian a la càrte menu, Gigi’s recommended dishes are; Trompette Mushrooms Broth Fregola Poached Egg Yolk Salt Baked Beetroot Buttermilk Pistachio Crumble Flamed Leeks Tortelli Vegetable Charcoal Pumpkin Soufflé Pecorino Cheese Black Truffle

67 the riverside journals

by Lorraine Fleming

We moved on to a deliciously homemade pasta with Veal Ragú to share, after which I chose the White Park Rib Eye which was cooked just the way I like it, rare, and was served with turnip tops, gently lemon dusted light-as-air mash, and black cabbage. The Miso Marinated Black Cod with kale and sea lettuce was my friend’s choice, a rather eccentric dish for an Italian restaurant but now very fashionable and both dishes were exceptionally well presented and tasted heavenly.

- TH E M ALT H O US E -

2015 a year of seasonal pies Delicious Pie with matching beer or wine for £10 Wine selected by Berry Brothers expert ADAM HOLDEN Beers selected by JANE PEYTON Britain’s Beer Sommelier of the Year

– FEBRUARY –

Steak and ale pie Dublin Porter – MARCH –

Cotswold venison, celeriac and orange pie Brakspear Triple – APRI L –

Guinea fowl, leek, parsnip and pancetta pie Vista Hermosa, Pinot Noir Available lunchtime Mon to Fri To see what we have in store for the rest of the year and to read why our experts have matched these wines/beers pick up a leaflet in the bar. Normal lunchtime menu also available.

Terms and conditions apply.

T:020 7084 6888 reservations@malthousefulham.co.uk 17 Vanston Place, Fulham, London, SW6 1AY Find us on Facebook: malthousefulham Follow us on Twitter: @MalthouseFulham *Soft drink alternatives available

Casa Nova Restaurant

Casa Nova is every inch an Italian restaurant serving a good blend of tempting modern and traditional dishes to satisfyany palate. The portions are sized most generously andcooked to perfection.

Casa Nova is positioned in the middle of a quaint parade of shops in the heart of Virginia Water; less than a mile from the beautiful Virginia Water Lake and the famous Wentworth Golf Club, with ample parking immediately in front of the restaurant. Inside, the restaurant is modern and surprisingly spacious. The décor is warm and inviting – just like the welcome you will receive from Joseph and his staff. Joseph is front of house, always keen to meet and greet the guests with his genuinely friendly personality.

Fully air conditioned.

Mother’s Day Menu 3 courses £29.95 Dinner 3 courses set menu £19.95 Sunday Lunch 3 courses £21.95 • Open every day for full à la carte lunch and dinner • Set menus available

Contact Casa Nova on 01344 843407

Casa Nova is at 10 Station Approach, Virginia Water, GU25 4DW

WHAT’S ON

AT CROWNE PLAZA MARLOW

MARCH MOTHERING SUNDAY 1pm – 3pm, Sunday, 15th March Treat Mum to a sumptuous 3 course lunch in Glaze Restaurant, with a bouncy castle to keep the children entertained, while Mum gets some time to relax.

3 course lunch, including a little gift for Mum - £21.95 £14.95 per child (3-12); 0-2 YEARS OLD FREE

‘A DAY WITH MUM’ SPA DAY Available throughout March Treat your Mum to a day of pampering, a spot of lunch and some time well spent catching up, because she’s worth it.

• 1 x 25 minute treatment • Glass of fizz • Lunch in agua café & bar* • Full use of Quad Club Facilities

APRIL EASTER SUNDAY FAMILY FUN DAY LUNCH From 12.30pm, Sunday, 5th April Join us for an Easter Sunday to remember, with an Easter Egg Hunt in our extensive grounds, face painting, bouncy castle and a delicious 3 course lunch in Glaze Restaurant.

3 course lunch £21.95. £14.95 per child (3-12); 0-2 YEARS OLD FREE

EASTER SUNDAY FUN DAY Easter Egg Hunt at 11am

*Set menu applies. This package is available throughout March, subject to availability.

Join in the Easter Egg Hunt in our extensive grounds, face painting and bouncy castle.

£49.00 per person

£7.50* per child (3 – 12); 0 – 2 YEARS OLD FREE *Admission free with Easter Sunday Lunch. Please show your Lunch Booking Confirmation on entry.

Book now for our fabulous events at Crowne Plaza Marlow.

Call 01628 496 860 or email enquiries@cpmarlow.co.uk Crowne Plaza Marlow, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1GJ

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NEW SHOWROOM OPEN

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New showroom open at our Hampton riverside office, please call or email to book an appointment.

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©Fondation Le Corbusier

Cassina celebrates the 50th anniversary of the LC Collection Italian industrialization for the research and development of contemporary design

Top: Le Corbusier portrait Below: LC2 armchair with new eco-friendly materials

by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand – Cassina I Maestri Collection

Middle: LC4 chaise-longue by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand – Cassina I Maestri Collection Bottom: LC9 by Charlotte Perriand – LC Collection/ Cassina I Maestri Collection

www.cassina.com

71 the riverside journals

2015

is an important year for the Italian furniture brand Cassina which will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the LC Collection (Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand), this will also coincide with the commemoration of the 50 years since Le Corbusier passed away.

Cassina accepted the challenge to produce these revolutionary items, unfamiliar at the time, from 1965, introducing over the years a series of technical innovations to advance the products from a small artisanal production to an industrial manufacturing process.

Thanks to the collection’s commercial success, which went hand in hand with the internationalisation of the company, these products were distributed worldwide, making them the familiar icons that they have become today.

Among the initiatives announced by the brand green innovation: from the transfer to trivalent chrome (CR3) for all of the collection’s frames – a safe and considerably less toxic alternative to hexavalent chromium, to the introduction of organic leather and a new soft microfiber fabric, innovations that have a reduced impact on the environment.

Cassina’s commitment is in fact to pro-actively develop the LC Collection with product innovation and support cultural initiatives to diffuse the culture of authentic design.

Cassina is the only authorised company to produce these designs by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret, Perriand, working in close collaboration with the Le Corbusier Foundation and the heirs of the co-authors. Right from the very beginning, the models were branded with a progressive production number, an innovative instrument to recognise the artistic value of the pieces and to ensure control of the original production.

It is vital to fight against imitations and protect the culture of design as an important historic and cultural heritage in order to sustain innovation and quality.

The intense historical research carried out by Cassina, the Le Corbusier Foundation and the heirs of the co-authors, has led to a series of product upgrades for the LC Collection with the aim of discovering the authentic spirit of the project. For example, a reviewed palette of colours has been presented for the collection’s frames, discovered during the analysis of models from the archives and museums, which will update the nuances originally identified in 1978 by Charlotte Perriand.

Another novelty includes the LC9 stool, designed in 1927 by Charlotte Perriand with an Indian cane seat for her apartment in Paris and later exhibited in 1929 at the Salon d’Automne where it was adapted with a removable sponge seat for the bathroom, became part of the LC Collection in 1973. Confectioned in its own personalised box, the LC9 has been proposed for this anniversary in its original version with a cane seat and also redesigned with a leather seat, making it adapt for all areas of the home.

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74 the riverside journals

Keep busy whilst wishing Winter away!

t the time of writing I have just recovered from the first cold snap of the winter. It only lasted a few days but perhaps it is a gentle nudge to remind us that, despite the mild temperatures throughout December and into early January, the cold, the frost and the snow can arrive suddenly and with very little warning.

Although the sight of bare branches and twigs bristling with standing needles of frost was very evocative of the season, I know that I am not one for the colder months. I constantly long to get back to long hours of daylight and to feel the warmth of the sun upon me.

It is still a comforting thought however that despite what Winter may yet have to throw at us, we are only 8-10 weeks away from Spring being upon us! Now that does excite me!

I am also comforted by the fact that I already have an increasing stream of seed catalogues dropping through the letterbox. This allows me to dream of better days ahead and of course to plan my seed and â&#x20AC;&#x153;plug plantâ&#x20AC;? purchases from my favourite suppliers. For those of you not familiar with plug plants, they are simply small cuttings or seedlings that arrive already in growth in their own little phial or plug of compost, they may be flowers, vegetables or herbs. You then just pot them on and grow them further, under cover, before planting out in your desired position as soon as weather and temperatures allow.

There is much to do to prepare myself for the arrival of seeds and plug plants. I have the outside of the growing tunnel and the greenhouse to wash down with a mild solution of warm soapy water to ensure that all surfaces are clean and free from all dirt, debris and algae accumulation from last year. By doing this task I know that light penetration will increase by at least 10 percent, which will be of enormous benefit to seedlings in the short daylight hours in the days ahead before the clocks go forward.

Perhaps the more important task, however, is the cleaning down of the inside of the growing tunnel and the greenhouse. This is vital to ensure that all traces of bacterial and fungal residues are removed prior to introducing new plants and seedlings. You should also remember to clean down all staging, pots, seed trays and hand tools.

I prefer to use an organic cleaning agent for the inside as I can then be assured that the cleaning agent itself will not be harmful to plant material or soil. There are many suitable products available from good garden centres and nurseries. My favourite one is organic and based on citrus oils, it has the added benefit of a clean and fresh lemony smell left in the air long after application.

Having done all of this I will then be ready and able to proceed with my seed sowing and planting as soon as my orders arrive from my various suppliers.

Outside in the garden I have identified a selection of herbaceous perennials that have either outgrown their planting area or have become choked and need splitting into smaller clumps. Throughout the summer and autumn months, I make endless notes in a pocketbook and take pictures with my smart phone to remind me of plants that need attention.

I will now use these reference aids to take the necessary action to ensure that my herbaceous plantings will be prepared and made ready to have a vibrant growing season with renewed health and vigour.

After splitting and replanting I will then top dress the beds with two or three inches of very well rotted horse manure to complete my preparation. The rest of the work will then be done by the gardenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best friend, the humble earthworm! The activity of the worms will, slowly but surely, incorporate much of the top dressing into the top soil below. This will improve the structure of the soil and increase its nutritional value for the months ahead, thereby allowing the plants to perform to their ultimate capacity.

One personal benefit that I do gain from the winter period is particular to me as a garden designer. Having obviously designed my own garden, the Winter allows me to look at the garden when it is largely bereft of leaf, colour and content.

The bare bones of my original design are there for me to see and consider afresh. Every garden design is created from the initial layout that you decide upon. There are, of course, many influencing factors in deciding upon a layout, but having created it, it is mainly in the Winter that I can see the garden pared back to its basic structure and shape. This allows me to implement any advantageous changes or amendments that may have crossed my mind, or indeed to leave it alone, satisfied in the knowledge that the structure and layout of the space is still relevant and appropriate.

Having said all of this, I have already confessed to being more of a lizard than a polar bear, so my dearest wish is for Winter to move on apace so that I can look back at it from my preferred seasons of Spring and then Summer.

Richard www.richardlucasgardens.com Images by Allan Pollak-Morris and Richard Lucas.

75 the riverside journals

In the meantime I will carry on with my preparations!

Happy Potting, Cleaning, Planning and Gardening!

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Time to Relax, Indulge, Think and Escape

78 the riverside journals

W

hen choosing a new bathroom and looking for inspiration, look no further than Surrey based Walton Bathrooms. This year sees them celebrating 30 years in the bathroom industry and they have recently refurbished their showrooms with a stunning display of new products including the latest trends, as well as timeless classics and practical bathroom solutions.

Situated in The Hersham Centre, Hersham, Surrey, the immaculate showroom is a perfect place for customers to see the extent of sophistication and luxury that Walton Bathrooms offers. Over 60 new displays include the new Amadea Royal from Villeroy & Boch with its opulent and classically glamorous splendour whereas their Soho Collection brings together a combination of simple, stylish products which can be easily tailored to suit most bathrooms.

The choice is endless with further displays from Keuco, Hansgrohe and Zucchetti plus so much more.

Whilst some of Walton Bathrooms’ displays are styled with space and grandeur in mind, they also offer a number of compact solutions. Burgbad’s Guest ranges offer the styling of the main ranges but in compact versions to suit a small cloakroom or en suite.

There is also a dedicated tile studio showing both wall and floor tiles. The comprehensive range of tiles are used in conjunction with ceramic colours and brassware to co-ordinate different schemes along with samples of many different material finishes, from quartz, marble and granite to Corian and glass. Individual samples can be lifted to put next to your tiles or furniture choices to assure a perfect look for your complete new bathroom concept, making the process of selection a tactile experience.

Having chosen your bathroom, you need to be sure that installation will be trouble-free. Walton Bathrooms offer a complete service, via one of their approved bathroom installation teams. With over 15 years’ experience working in private houses, they know how important it is to give continuity of work and provide a full service to valued clients.

If you are looking for premier products, with service to match, this is the one place you must visit.

For more information on Walton Bathrooms visit them at: Walton Bathrooms Ltd The Hersham Centre The Green, Molesey Road, Hersham Surrey KT12 4HL Showroom tel: 01932 224 784 Contract sales tel: 0208 481 7970 e-mail: sales@waltonbathrooms.co.uk Open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (easy parking next to Waitrose).

Alternatively you can buy on-line at www.waltonbathrooms.co.uk where many ranges are on special offer.

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More than any other room in your home, your bedroom needs to be calm and considered â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where you start and finish every day.

So stick to a simple palette of colours and materials, selecting your furniture wisely and not over cluttering, after all a good nights sleep can be life-changing.

Chaplins, one of the largest modern furniture and lighting showrooms in Europe, give you their top tips for planning your perfect bedroom.

82 the riverside journals

Chaplins offers the complete home design service. From room design, interior planning to installation their expert designers will guide you through the experience from conception to completion. With the help of in-house software, you can quickly and easily imagine what your new sleeping space could look like.

Each commission is made to your individual requirements.

1. Let your bed do the talking This look is all about the bed as the focal point of the room, so to maintain balance other items are kept deliberately minimal.

The colour of your bed can also help dictate your choices when it comes to rugs and bed linen.

2. Make the most of your space Wardrobes with mirrored doors and beds with clutter-busting storage containers built into the base are great for those who are tight on space.

3. Sitting pretty A beautiful dressing table will put the finishing touch to any bedroom. Bedrooms should be restful places so aim to keep surfaces clear, save for those really special pieces, such as your favourite perfume and jewellery.

4. Benches aren’t just for sitting on If you have the room, a bench at the end of the bed is a luxurious extra, which can be used as both a seat and a place to leave books, breakfast trays or discarded clothes from the night before!

5. Pick the perfect mattress The quality of our sleep affects how we feel physically and psychologically so it’s vitally important to pick your ideal partner.

Don’t be too shy to try out the beds on display; you should compare at least three options before you buy.

6. Set the mood Opt for a beautiful pendant as the lead light (preferably on a dimmer) and add mood lights such as bedsides and floor lamps. Soft lighting is important when creating a calm atmosphere so try to avoid bulbs, which are too bright.

7. Bring the outdoors in For a room with views over a garden or a leafy outlook, bring the outdoors in by choosing a wooden or upholstered bed frame to bring a sense of warmth and nature into your bedroom.

8. A whole new perspective

Contact their bedroom department for further information, where you can view a wide range of bedroom furniture from big brands such as Hulsta, Molteni & C and B&B Italia.

Chaplins Furniture Ltd 477 – 507 Uxbridge Rd, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 4JS Tel: 020 8421 1779 www.chaplins.co.uk

83 the riverside journals

A big trend to come out of Milan this year was sleeping with a 360° perspective. Standing freely in a room away from any walls, your bed can showcase the place you sleep and open up a whole range of possible connections to other pieces of furniture in the bedroom.

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Do you wear hearing aids? Are you always losing them, or forgetting to put them in?

Are you fed up of changing batteries and are conscious of the way your hearing aids look?

And do you find they don’t work for you when you need them the most, such as at a restaurant or drinks party?

If you have answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions then you need to know about Lyric, the latest state-of-the-art hearing aid developed in Silicon Valley by world leading hearing instrument manufacturer Phonak.

Lyric is a new type of implantable hearing aid that can be worn for up to three months at a time, without the need for daily insertion or removal, or the need to change batteries.

What’s more, its placement deep in the ear canal means it has a totally natural sound quality, improving your hearing in even the

“Lyric is a new type of implantable hearing aid that can be worn for up to three months at a time, without the need for daily insertion or removal — or batteries” most challenging of listening situations — and it is TOTALLY invisible.

Lyric is now available for trial at Pindrop Hearing, a hearing consultancy based at 107 Harley Street in central London. Pindrop Hearing is the UK’s leading expert in this new technology.

Contact details: Pindrop Hearing 107 Harley Street, London W1G 6AL www.pindrophearing.co.uk T: 0207 487 2660 E: info@pindrophearing.co.uk

We are offering 50 Riverside Journals readers a 50% reduction on our initial assessment fee AND, if suitable, a FREE 30-day trial of the Lyric hearing aids (normally £300).

This is a limited offer for 50 people only. So, don’t delay call Pindrop Hearing on 0207 487 2660 to book your appointment, quoting ‘Riverside Journals LYRIC offer’.

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Coach on the Couch

Overcoming Creating Calm Addictions from Chaos and Eating Disorders in the New Year

Trying to get things done from a state of chaos is exhausting and counter productive. Living in chaos is, for most of us, a big cause of stress, so learning how to create calm from chaos will allow a more organized, productive and happier existence.

The start of a new year is traditionally a time when we all look to spring clean our lives, workspace and homes. So, the first step towards the new calmer, tidier, and happier you is to clear the clutter. Be ruthless; if it’s broken, bin it. If you haven’t worn it for years, eBay or donate it, and if you’re not sure, stick it in a box and if you haven’t missed it in six months, you can almost certainly live without it.

Don’t allow your new de-cluttering regime to overwhelm you; take it one step at a time, start with the kitchen, wardrobe or computer – whatever you like. Once you have started the clearing process stay with it until it’s complete. But give yourself a break before you move on to the next project.

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T

he New Year offers a new start, a new beginning, and the possibility to do amazing things in life. If you are one of the many people that is struggling to cope with an addiction or eating disorder there is hope and there is help. It may be difficult to imagine your life without the addiction but an addiction free you is very possible with therapy, professional holistic support and interventions that have been uniquely created for you.

Overcoming an addiction, which may be to alcohol, drugs, food, sex, gambling, shopping or any other harmful behaviour, is not a simple task. It is going to be a lifelong endeavour, but one that will allow you to be happy, content and feel great about yourself.

Treatment for addictions and eating disorders needs to be designed to look at the whole person, not just the symptoms or the addiction. It needs to integrate different approaches to treatment that resonate with you as the client. You need to be the centre of the treatment plan and the program developed around your unique situation, your individual strengths, and the goals that you have set for yourself in therapy and recovery.

Often in treating addictions the underlying issues that are driving the addiction are finally identified. For many people this includes therapeutic treatment for issues such as depression, anxiety and perhaps even past trauma from childhood. By working with a therapist that specialises in addiction recovery you can learn effective coping strategies that will support your new addiction free life both in the New Year and into your future. www.phillippejacquet.co.uk 020 72062438

It is not just physical clutter that can create chaos in our lives; sometimes we need to reduce our commitments too. We can find ourselves in situations where we take on too much; we forget how to say no. Take a moment; think about your current commitments – keep the things that bring you joy or add value – bin the things that drain and exhaust you. Ask yourself why you are doing so much? Do you really need to? Could you delegate some responsibility?

Life is for living, doing things that make us happy, and spending time with people who inspire us. Don’t let the chaos and the clutter take over. When you look back it should be at a life well lived, at memories of good times.

Need some support to make it happen?

Coach on the Couch, Alex Bailey Staines, is available by appointment for private consultations and motivational meetings. alex@baileystainescoaching.co.uk www.baileystainescoaching.co.uk 07710 328 586

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Bravo 22 project

Ray Winstone and The Bravo 22 team meet supporters of the ground-breaking project from the Buckinghamshire community

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By Janine Connolly

W

e at the Riverside Journals were delighted to attend a presentation for a new project driven by mastermind producer, Alice Driver, hosted at the Waterside Theatre Aylesbury. The Bravo 22 project, run by the British Legion in partnership with the theatre, and funded by the Bucks Community Covenant, involves a pioneering artistic performance from our military community in Buckinghamshire, taking to the stage and telling their heartfelt stories through their acting. Alice has been working with the military since 2010 and is the brains behind a fantastic play ‘The Two Worlds of Charlie F’ from the Bravo 22 Company, which has helped many of our injured service personnel with their recovery through theatre.

This was phenomenal and received many accolades and has been seen by an audience of 35,000 people and has proved to be a huge success.

We were fortunate enough to listen to Alice Driver’s story of how she wanted to provide the first theatre recovery project, and also joining Alice, celebrated actor Ray Winstone, Ambassador to the project, along with his colleague Amanda Redman MBE, a representative from LAMDA and leading actor Darren Swift.

Alice approached Ray Winstone in the early days of the project as he had an insight into life in a war zone when he visited Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. He was interested and wanted to get involved with this unique idea and took on the role as Ambassador.

Why bring the show to Buckinghamshire? Because of the success of The Two Worlds of Charlie F, Alice decided to bring the show to Bucks as the county has several military bases. The idea of the scheme is to act as a recovery programme for our servicemen/women/families or whoever is involved in any way in our armed forces, so that they can tell their stories and through this build their confidence to go back into the outside world – in a way giving them a voice.

Bravo 22 member Darren Swift, known as Swifty, told us how he was blown up in Northern Ireland in 1999 after 10 years’ of service and sustained serious injury losing both of his legs as well as suffering various other serious wounds. After this life-changing incident he went into acting and this is how he learnt to deal with his emotional journey through being a professional actor and through his performance in the original play of Bravo 22 at the Haymarket Theatre.

The Riverside Journals and other chosen media were afterwards invited to talk with Ray Winstone: Ray, did you ever for one minute imagine as ambassador to this project that the show would have been such a huge success?

I thought it was a great idea. I can relate to it.

As a kid I was a herbert and my mum and dad persuaded me to go into acting to channel my anger. So, yes, I did think it would be successful. I thought it would work.

How would you feel if someone close to you came and told you that they were thinking of joining the forces?

That is a really good question, because I would have gone b------s. “You are not going in there!”

But if you asked me now my view has changed.

Nobody likes war and they shouldn’t have to, we are more barbaric now than we have ever been, with the weapons and tools that are used.

You quoted in your presentation that you’re proud to be an Englishman?

Well, I’m proud to be British you could say.

Yes, there’s enough Scots, Welsh and Irish, Canadian, and Australians out there. I’m proud to be British. I think sometimes that we are embarrassed to be English. I ain’t embarrassed!!

Ray, you brought Amanda along today. Are you aiming to get any of your actor friends involved with the project?

You have got to be passionate about it! I’ve known Mandy for years and I know what she’s like and her passion is for the country and the armed forces and what she knows about theatre, as she has done it herself. She helps kids from all over the place – all ages and all walks of life, learning disabilities, she handles them and coaches them through theatre.

She has actors now that have gone on to the London Academy and who are now on the telly all of the time. I think it’s commendable to help kids that have no chance and have now gone on to be actors, directors, and producers like Phil Daniels, cast in Eastenders.

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Is it true you gave the cast a telling off for not learning their lines?

Yes. It is. They needed a focus and this I believed helped them up the anti and rehearse.

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Geoff Thomas

Geoff Thomas has had an incredible life.

For most people any one of a successful football career, a struggle with cancer which at one stage appeared terminal, or taking on unimaginable physical challenges to raise millions for charity would be enough. But Geoff has done all three, and is now training for yet another monumental challenge.

We asked Geoff to explain why: First of all I should provide a bit of background. For those who don’t follow football, or those who are too young to remember, I used to play a bit. I was captain of Crystal Palace during what was arguably the club’s most successful time. We reached the 1990 FA Cup Final, and finished third in the First Division the following season – Palace’s highest ever finish. I was also lucky enough to represent my country and won nine England caps.

It is perhaps what happened after I finished playing that I am best known for however. Just one year after hanging up my boots I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia, and was at one stage given just three months to live. Thankfully due to innovative treatment from Professor Charlie Craddock and a bone marrow transplant from my sister I was able to beat off the disease.

Once in remission I was determined to mark this in some way. During my treatment I had been greatly inspired by Lance Armstrong and decided to follow his tyre tracks and ride all 21 stages of that year’s Tour de France.

I took on this huge challenge despite having very little cycling experience – I had to borrow a bike for the announcement photo shoot as I didn’t even own one yet! Also, having just been through chemotherapy, I was not in my best physical shape (to put it lightly!). However, along with a brilliant team, I did it. We got through the very long days, the impossibly steep climbs and a couple of navigational hiccups, to eventually roll into Paris. It gave me an immense sense of achievement, but more importantly raised lots of money to help fight Leukaemia.

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Which brings me to what we’re doing now. The 2015 Tour de France will mark the 10th anniversary of my ride, and I have decided to do it all over again. The team and I will ride every mile and tackle every climb of the 2015 route just one day ahead of the main peloton. The experience will be as close as possible to riding for a real pro team on the Tour.

This brings me back to the question I most often get from people – why are you doing this again? Why are you putting yourself through the months of training, a lot during the middle of our beloved British winter? Why do you want to experience the mental and physical torture of getting back on your bike when your whole body is screaming not to?

www.beforethetour.com

Raising £1 million for Cure Leukaemia There are a few answers to these questions, but the simplest and easiest is this: We’re doing it to raise £1 million for Cure Leukaemia.

Cure Leukaemia is the charity founded by my old doctor Professor Charlie Craddock, and it is at the cutting edge of the brilliant work being done to find a way of beating Leukaemia. Funding will enable the expansion of the haematology centre of excellence which will in turn give more space for more employment of clinical research nurses. This will crucially result in the ability to increase the number of clinical trials taking place, delivering new hope to thousands diagnosed with blood cancer.

My team is currently taking shape, but there are still places available to join me. www.beforethetour.com

Above: Professor Charlie Craddock (left) and Geoff Thomas.

Above: The Team.

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Burnham Beeches Golf Club OVER 120 YEARS OF QUALITY AND TRADITION

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Please call or email Patrick Dawson, General Manager, to arrange to visit the Club or to organise a game – you can be assured of a warm welcome.

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Bentley Continental GT

W

By Richard Yarrow

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e’ve all had that ‘if I won the lottery’ conversation, either out loud with friends and family or in our heads. What would I buy, where would I go on holiday, would I ever come back? The answer to those questions, for me, is this Bentley Continental GT V8 S, somewhere warm that I could drive it to, and probably not.

First launched in 2003 to near-universal acclaim, the Continental GT turned Bentley from a niche luxury brand into a global performance car player. The all-new second generation model debuted in 2011, sharpening the design and improving on almost every other aspect.

From the drawing board, part of the programme was the arrival of a second engine option, a 4.0-litre V8 engine to sit below the 6.0-litre W12. At ‘only’ 500bhp – rather than 553bhp from the W12 – it’s no shrinking violet, and has proved extremely popular with customers who want improved fuel economy and a car that’s notably lighter at the front end.

Perhaps inevitably, Bentley couldn’t leave it alone so now we get the V8 S, available as a coupé or convertible. The most obvious change is the extra 21bhp, so now it’s 521bhp, but no one driving it on a public road will notice. What’s far more evident is the work that’s gone on under the skin to improve the all-wheel drive powertrain.

V8 S

By Richard Yarrow “Are we nearly there yet?” – the whining words no parent wants to hear from the back seat, usually followed by “Can we play on the iPad?”.

You don’t have to give in and say yes; there are plenty of ways of engaging with the kids on that long journey. Here are 10 top ideas.

• • • • • • • • • •

Build a story: start with the first line of a tall tale then take turns to add the next sentence.

Bags of fun: needs preparation, but give the kids a small paper bag every so often – eg, every 25 miles – with a treat in.

Car colours: challenge them to find vehicles of a certain shade and first to 10 wins.

Choose pink for yourself for an easy ride.

Print out a map: do it before you leave home, picking out some landmarks on the way for them to spot.

Audiobook CDs: classic stories for all ages and usually available from your local library.

Podcasts: the modern equivalent of the CD, and a vast online library of words and music for kids. Search on iTunes. i-spy: great for getting younger kids to think about spelling and language.

Times table tests: if your child like maths – and some actually do! – quizzing them can help the miles pass.

Talk to each other: pick a topic – like where you should go on your next family holiday – and get everyone contributing.

A game of ‘Who can keep quiet for the longest gets a treat’ – the last word in practical parenting!

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The sports suspension has been lowered so the S rides 10mm lower to the ground. Also, the suspension and damping have been revised and stiffened, while the steering has been recalibrated. Bentley’s desire was to offer a more engaging and responsive behind-the-wheel experience, and I think they’ve succeeded.

On the road, the V8 S is an astonishing machine which offers a truly spirited ride.

You can simply select D on the eight-speed automatic transmission’s knurled-finish gear selector and do nothing else, but you’re missing out on half the fun. Switch it to S mode for a sharper throttle response, gears held for longer and faster shifts between them. The V8 S will sprint to 60mph in just 4.3 seconds and power on to a top speed of 192 mph, though I only have Bentley’s word for that.

What hasn’t changed is the engine’s clever variable displacement technology. It means the twin-turbo unit has the power to automatically shut down four of the eight cylinders when cruising, reducing fuel consumption. When more power is required, the engine seamlessly switches back to eight. The result is official Combined Cycle fuel economy of 26.8 mpg and CO2 emissions of 246 g/km, or 25.9 mpg and 254 g/km on the convertible.

Bentley reckons you can get more than 500 miles from a full tank of petrol.

The V8 S also benefits from a distinctive styling upgrade to mark it out from other Continental GTs. The new front splitter, side sills and gloss black rear diffuser are certainly striking, but also boost aerodynamic performance by reducing front-end lift and providing greater stability at higher speeds. My test car, a coupé, came with gloss black door mirror caps to complement the look.

Add in the black grille with single chrome divider bar at the front, plus the ‘figure of eight’ exhaust at the back, and you’ve got a stunning looking machine.

As always with Bentleys, it’s the last word in elegant and sophisticated luxury.

The cabin is completed in soft-touch leather – mine had the optional contrasting stitching – wood veneers, polished metals and deep-pile carpeting, all handcrafted in Bentley’s factory in Crewe.

Externally, 20-inch ‘open-spoke’ alloy wheels are unique to the V8 S, revealing distinctive, red-painted brake calipers behind. My car was actually riding on optional 21s, which look stunning and don’t compromise the ride at all. Subtle ‘V8 S’ badges are applied to each front wing and door sill, and as with other members of the Continental V8 family, the famous Bentley Wings badges feature a red centre.

Needless to say, all this doesn’t come cheap. The V8 S is £139,000 and mine had another £40,000 of options. I suppose that could be back-of-the-sofa change for a lottery winner…

Entertaining kids on long journeys

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New Collections at Eurotiles & Bathrooms

f you’re revamping your bathroom or need tiles for your kitchen or conservatory floor, look no further: Eurotiles & Bathrooms is the one place that you ought to visit.

We’ve just introduced some ceramic wall tiles in gorgeous glazes on rustic style biscuit: Madrid is a cute mini 7.5 x 15cm and Bellagio a more substantial 10 x 30cm.

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Biggest stockist in the area | Free local delivery | Free parking Eurotiles & Bathrooms Twickenham, Unit 2c Twickenham Industrial Estate, Rugby Road, Twickenham TW1 1DG Email: twickenham@eurotilesandbathrooms.com Phone: 020 8744 0088 Eurotiles & Bathrooms Guildford (We’ve taken over the old County Tiles showroom), Unit 6, Riverside Business Centre, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4UG Email: guildford@eurotilesandbathrooms.com Phone: 01483 455424 Other branches in Braintree, Brighton, Rustington, Stevenage and Twickenham. www.eurotilesandbathrooms.com

Ever wondered, how is chocolate made?

W

e talked to Chris Bachmann, of the multi award winning Bachmann’s Patisserie, of Thames Ditton and Weybridge to discover how chocolate is prepared for the professional chocolatier. We are sitting in the glorious shop in Weybridge, across from the gleaming counters full of delectible confections, watching the pastry chefs at work in the kitchen.

Let’s pick up with the arrival of the cacao beans at the factory. The cacao is weighed and sorted by type so that the manufacturer knows exactly what type of cacao is going into the chocolate. Like wine, some manufacturers use up to 12 types of cacao in their recipes and they must carefully measure and blend so that the flavour is consistent time after time; others use a single bean when the flavour varies from year to year. For example, we use the Grand Cru chocolate, Maracaibo, one of the world’s finest dark chocolates, for most of our range but we also make a signature truffle using a Maralumi single bean chocolate.

Next, the cacao beans are roasted in large, rotating ovens, at temperatures of about 210°290°F. Roasting lasts from half an hour up to two hours. The heat brings out more flavour and aroma, and it dries and darkens the beans.

The Cacao beans are cracked and winnowed, that is their outer shells are cracked and blown away, leaving the crushed and broken pieces of cacao beans, called “nibs”. At this point we have something edible and really chocolatey, but they’re also really bitter.

But how is chocolate we recognise made?

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The cacao nibs must now be crushed and ground into a thick paste called chocolate liquor (there is no alcohol in it). What happens next, though, depends on what type of chocolate we’re making. To make cocoa, the powdery stuff you mix up into hot chocolate, the cocoa liquor is slammed by a giant hydraulic press. This removes much of the fat, or cocoa butter.

The cocoa butter will be used in making chocolate, but it is also used in cosmetics and medicines. What’s left of the slammed chocolate liquor is very dry and can be ground into cocoa.

Now, on to the chocolate. Chocolate liquor by itself is bitter and not very smooth and creamy. To sweeten it up and, improve the texture, the manufacturer will add sugar and cocoa butter to make dark chocolate, and milk powder to produce milk chocolate. You could eat this now, and it would taste pretty good, but it wouldn’t have the texture you associate with a chocolate bar.

The cocoa and the sugar are still pretty grainy at this point, so the manufacturer runs the mixture through a series of steel rollers to refine the texture. To further refine the texture, and to really bring out the flavour, the mixture is then ‘conched’ - run through a machine that mixes and mashes and swirls and aerates the chocolate. At this point, fat will be added to give the chocolate its silky smooth texture – and this is the major difference between fine and cheaper chocolate. Our chocolates are made purely with cocoa butter, which is expensive; cheaper chocolate will substitute alternatives such as vegetable or palm oil. Conching can last a just few hours for cheaper chocolates, and up to six days for the expensive stuff!

Once the chocolate arrives at Bachmanns, the chocolate is then retempered by melting it completely, stirring it, letting it cool, and heating it back up gently and precisely before being used for our creations. This gives our fine chocolate a beautiful shine and ‘snap’ when it sets into Easter egg moulds, chocolate bunnies, dispaly pieces and boxed chocolates.”

The great thing about chocolate is its versatility- we can layer, mould, sculpt and pour the chocolate into almost any shape, and combine it with so many ingredients that there is always something new on showthis keeps our customers interested and coming back for more!

Chris Bachmann MD Bachmanns Ltd, 6 Criterion Buildings, Portsmouth Road Thames Ditton KT7 0SS tel 0208 398 1988 fax 0208 224 6853

www.bachmanns.co.uk

Discover our award-winning Continental patisserie and chocolate creations, all hand-made on the premises to Mr Bachmannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own recipes.

As well as gateaux, desserts and chocolates, our range of freshly baked breads, croissants and Danish are available from 9am, while celebration cakes are available to order.

6 Criterion Buildings, Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton KT7 0SS Tel: 0208 398 1988 3 2 C h u rc h S t re e t , We y b r i d g e K T 1 3 8 D X Tel: 01932 820247

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www.bachmanns.co.uk

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Bringing Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cuddly Friends To Life

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Cheques also accepted 107 the riverside journals

Three hundred happy children with teddy bears in their uniforms.

Absolutely Wonderful!

Miss Y. Richards

t all begins with the words: “Wow, mummy, daddy! Where did you get that from? I will love and cherish my cuddly friend forever & ever!” That special moment, when you see the amazement on your child’s face after they have received the cuddly gift you have chosen from our adorable selection.

Welcome to the world of Cuddly Bear Wear, a unique British based soft toy and gift company. We have over 60 specially selected cuddly stuffed teddy bears, plush cuddly animals and rag dolls for you to choose from to make your child feel special, happy and proud.

We also provide outfits, costumes and accessories for all stuffed teddy bears & ragdolls as well as a totally unique recycling service. Parents, children, schools and businesses can send us all unused school uniform clothing or work wear and we will tailor your items to fit any 14”–18” stuffed cuddly toy (including all standard Build a Bear stuffed animals).

We love what we do here at Cuddly Bear Wear. For us, every day is a happy day as we put smiles on children’s faces.

Our cuddly gifts are perfect for celebrating that special occasion, whether it’s for a child’s birthday, a graduation or for Holy Communions.

Or maybe for celebrating a Christening or to welcome a newborn baby.

Whatever the occasion, big or small, you will find that our stuffed cuddlys, clothing and accessories make ideal presents for special or personal moments that your loved ones will treasure.

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What to See, Where to Go selected by Jill Menghetti

February 28-March 21 Romeo and Juliet: Rose Theatre Kingston February 4-14, 26-28 Much Ado about Nothing: Reading, Basingstoke and Greenwich

February 20 Rigoletto – Russian State Ballet and Opera House: Cadogan Hall, London

Our boys are back from the war, but there’s a new battle brewing ... the battle of the sexes! This is a barnstorming new production of Shakespeare’s comedy by the Reading Between The Lines Theatre Company, playing first at St James’ Church, Reading, before transferring to Basingstoke Haymarket and the Greenwich Theatre.

Location: Garrison town, Messina-Upon-Thames.

Situation: British troops returning from Afghanistan after final withdrawal. Relevant political factors: Women fighting front line/close combat . . . still to be reviewed.

Focusing on the vital topic of women in the army, this production could not be more relevant to audiences today.

Verdi’s best-loved opera is a tragic tale of misunderstanding, revenge and sacrifice.

Based on Victor Hugo’s play, the story revolves around the hunchbacked court jester Rigoletto, his beautiful much-loved daughter Gilda (whom he had kept secret from the court) and the womanising Duke of Mantua he serves.

Verdi’s first masterpiece was written for the 185051 season in Venice, and opera lovers the world over have taken it to their hearts. You are bound to be drawn in and immersed in the atmosphere that this production radiates.

With a large live orchestra, it will be sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Box Office: www.readingbetweenthelines.co.uk

Information and tickets: www.opera-tickets.co.uk

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February 12-May 25 Sargent – Portraits of Artists and Friends: National Portrait Gallery John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was the greatest portrait painter of his generation. Acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic, he was closely connected to many of the other leading artists, writers, actors and musicians of the time. His portraits of these friends and contemporaries, including Auguste Rodin, Claude Monet and Robert Louis Stevenson, allowed him to create more intimate and experimental works than possible in his formal, commissioned work.

These paintings show Sargent at his most radical, including actress extraordinaire Ellen Terry in character as Lady Macbeth and La Carmencita, the wild Spanish dancer.

Booking and information: 020 7766 7344, www.npg.org.uk

February 24-25, March 2-4 Coppelia, Swan Lake and La Fille Mal Gardée – Russian State Ballet: New Wimbledon and New Theatre Oxford One of Russia’s leading companies returns with three much-loved classics showcasing outstanding quality of soloists and corps de ballet alike.

Coppelia is a light-hearted tale of mistaken identity and confused lovers set in a doll-maker’s workshop.

Comedy masterpiece La Fille Mal Gardée tells of love thwarted, unrequited and found in a world of pastoral simplicity where a farm boy woos a farmer’s flirty daughter, complete with virtuoso pas de deux, maypole and clog dances.

The emotional intensity of Swan Lake is quite a contrast, set to Tchaikovsky’s haunting score. The dual role of Odette/Odile is one of ballet’s most technical challenges.

Box Offices: 0844 871 7646, www.atgtickets. com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre; 0844 847 1585, www.atgtickets.com/venues/ new-theatre-oxford

Celebrated for bold and dynamic re-imagining of all-time classics, director Sally Cookson brings her inventive story-telling and modern approach to the most beautiful and powerful of Shakespeare’s plays, set to breathtaking music by Benji Bower.

Audrey Brisson and Joseph Drake play the starcrossed lovers in an explosive story of intense passion between the son and daughter of sworn enemies.

Risking everything to be together, their tragedy is played out in a divided city where lives are ruled by secrets and fear.

There will be a post-show question and answer session with the director after the evening performance on March 19.

Box Office: 0871 230 1552 www.rosetheatrekingston.org

March 9-14 and 16-21 Rebecca: Wycombe Swan and Richmond Theatre Rebecca is timeless; the book is beloved by generations and the iconic Alfred Hitchcock film is a classic of the genre. Now Rebecca bursts onto the stage, conjuring up Cornish romance and theatrical magic.

Award-winning director Emma Rice has created a spellbinding new production of Daphne du Maurier’s masterpiece, performed by the internationallyacclaimed theatre company Kneehigh.

A young bride becomes consumed by jealousy on arriving at Manderley, where she is surrounded by memories of her husband’s late first wife, the glamorous Rebecca. She sets out to uncover the secrets of the house and a past fiercely guarded by sinister housekeeper Mrs Danvers.

Box Offices: 01494 512 000, https:// wycombeswan.co.uk; 0844 871 7651 www. atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre

March 14-August 2 Alexander McQueen – Savage Beauty: Victoria and Albert Museum This is a hot ticket celebrating the extraordinary creative talent of one of the most innovative designers of recent times. The original show saw audiences queue round the block in New York in 2011. Now, in the designer’s home town, it has an additional 30 garments and a new section on his early days.

As well as the iconic pieces he created for David Bowie and Bjork and examples of the infamous bumster low-rise jeans, it also focuses on McQueen’s outrageous catwalk shows – a life-sized hologram of Kate Moss dressed in yards of rippling fabric is one of the highlights.

Bookings: www.vam.ac.uk

March 16-21 Dreamboats and Miniskirts: Theatre Royal Windsor It’s 1963 and the world is changing. Bobby and Laura’s single, Dreamboats and Petticoats, has not taken off. Norman and Sue have settled down with a baby while Ray and Donna seem blissfully happy.

The advent of the Beatles and the Merseyside sound is inspirational – but will it inspire Bobby and Laura to have one more shot at stardom, and Norman and Ray to realise their ambitions?

This follow-up includes hits such as A Picture Of You, Don’t Ever Change, Do You Love Me, It’s In His Kiss, Go Now, When Will I Be Loved and Hippy Hippy Shake.

Box Office: 01753 853888 www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

March 17-21 and ApriL 14-18 Calamity Jane: New Wimbledon Theatre and Wycombe Swan Watermill Theatre returns with a brandnew production that gets to the heart and soul of this classic musical, starring Jodie Prenger (Oliver! and One Man Two Guvnors), Tom Lister (The Water Babies, Emmerdale) and a cast of multi-talented actor/musicians.

Calamity Jane can outrun and outshoot any man in Deadwood. But she struggles with jealousy and pride after recruiting a star actress, Adelaide Adams, for the frontier town’s theatre. It takes her long-standing enemy Wild Bill Hickok to make her see sense.

The Oscar-nominated score includes The Black Hills Of Dakota, Just Blew In From The Windy City and Secret Love.

Box Offices: 0844 871 7646 www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre; 01494 512 000, https://wycombeswan.co.uk;

Monthly, from March 18 Diner des Protégés: Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Great Milton To celebrate 30 years of his two-Michelin Star Oxfordshire restaurant, Raymond Blanc is welcoming back members of his brigade to host a series of Diner des Protégés. The evenings include a champagne Laurent-Perrier reception with canapés and a signature dinner with wines, coffee and petits fours.

Chefs include Michael Caines MBE (March 18), Ollie Dabbous (April 15), Martin Burge (May 27), Paul Heathcote MBE (June 24), Adam Simmonds (July 15), Eric Chavot (September 16), Bruno Loubet (October 21) and Alan Murchison (November 25). Menus include courses from Raymond Blanc, executive head chef Gary Jones and pastry chef Benoit Blin.

Bookings: 01844 277484 www.belmond.com/lemanoir

March 20-April 6 The Ideal Home Show: Olympia, London Now in its 107th year and with more than 600 exhibitors, this iconic show has everything you need, whether you have a substantial home project or want to add those finishing touches that make a house a home. From kitchens and bathrooms, to bedrooms and basements, from fixtures and fittings to fine food, gardens and the latest gadgets, plus fashion, beauty and gifts, you’ll find it all under one roof.

If you’re looking for inspiration, you can take a wander through some magnificent show homes, watch celebrity and industry experts in action or pick up some exclusive show offers.

Booking and information: 0844 858 6763, www.idealhomeshow.co.uk

March 21-29 Oxford Literary Festival: Various venues Among the star attractions this year are National Theatre director Nicholas Hytner and playwright Alan Bennett, making his first appearance at the festival.

Major events include former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey discussing religion and science with theologian Alister McGrath, and American opera singer Jessye Norman talking about her life and selecting music to be performed by the Orchestra of St John.

Other big names are novelist, playwright and literary critic David Lodge, sci-fi writer Diana Gabaldon, TV comic Tony Hawks, actress Celia Imrie, TV and radio personalities Paul Heiney and Anita Anand, and children’s authors Philip Pullman and Liz Pichon.

Booking and information: 0870 343 1001, http://oxfordliteraryfestival.org

Rachel Wagstaff’s stage adaptation of the best-selling novel by Sebastian Faulks is a stunning piece of theatre that justifiably became a hit with critics and public alike.

Set both before and during World War I, it’s a mesmerising story of love and courage, including a heart-stopping portrayal of soldiers’ lives in the trenches.

In pre-war France, a young Englishman embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire. When the war breaks out over the idyll of his former life, he clings to the memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around him.

Box Office: 01483 44 00 00 www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

March 18-22 Country Living Spring Fair: Business Design Centre Islington Enjoy a colourful day out and pick up inspiring ideas for simple country style including vintage finds and handmade creations. Furniture, furnishings and accessories are hand-picked from makers and companies that you won’t find on the high street. You can add pretty touches to living space with fabrics and throws, or delicate details to your kitchen with handpainted china and rustic earthenware.

The fair will also feature a spring garden, craft and create rooms where you can try everything from block printing to chocolate making, and a Country Living theatre for discussions and lifestyle tips from contributors to the magazine.

Booking and information: www.countrylivingfair.com

All the family can enjoy these fun events in the beautiful grounds of National Trust properties including Greys Court, Cliveden, Runnymede, Osterley Park, Ham House, Polesden Lacey and Box Hill.

To inspire children’s inner adventurer they’ll be given the tools they need to transform them into Eggsplorers. Every trail starts at Base Camp where they will receive their Eggsplorer Trail Journal containing their eggspedition trail map and clues.

After successfully completing the trail each Eggsplorer will be rewarded with a Cadbury Egghead.

Booking is not necessary for these sessions. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Only assistance dogs.

Information: www.eastereggtrail.com

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March 16-21 Birdsong: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford

April 3-6 Cadbury Easter Egg Trails: National Trust venues

Set right next to Chelsea Harbour, Blue Harbour Health Club and Spa is one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top spas

Pure Indulgence Blue Harbour Health Club & Spa The Chelsea Harbour Hotel, Chelsea Harbour, London SW10 0XG +44 (0)20 7300 5011 spa.chelseaharbour@millenniumhotels.com

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www.blueharbourspa.co.uk

B

lue Harbour Health Club and Spa provides an essential combination of luxury, comfort and relaxation. Offering a warm and inviting spa ambience with an array of therapeutic experiences, holistic treatments and pure pampering. There is a real focus not just on relaxation but also healthy living and wellbeing.

As soon as I walked in I felt a sense of calm. The stylish but comfortable decor and superfriendly staff ensured that I felt immediately at home and relaxed.

The spa is sheer heaven, housing a 17-metre indoor swimming pool with swan neck body jets, a comprehensive health club facility and treatment experience, as well as a fitness suite.

Sauna and steam rooms are located in each changing room, and are complemented by six treatment rooms (including one for disabled customers), a relaxation suite and Figaro hair salon. The gymnasium is equipped with state-of-the-art cardio-vascular equipment giving you the time and space to concentrate on your very own fitness regimen. And the superb Spa Café is ideal for a healthy snack and refreshing cold drink. The spa is perfectly designed in every way possible.

For beauty lovers who want the very best spa treatments then Blue Harbour Health Club and Spa is the one.

There is an extensive and varied choice of treatments available from facials, body treatments, massages, deluxe massages, express treatments, manicures and pedicures, and waxing. The extensive range of therapies has been carefully selected for their integrity, therapeutic principles and holistic benefits, and all are delivered within a culture of expertise and wellbeing.

The 2015 Detox Package is superb; this includes a vitamin C or collagen facial, an invigorating and detoxifying Blue Harbour detox massage, and a unique detox tea selection, designed to enrich, nurture and boost. Prior to your treatment your therapist will assess the needs of your skin to recommend the best facial and smoothie options for you. There is a super range of Spa Day Packages, the Ladies Spa Day includes one 30-minute treatment per person, cream tea in the Spa Café and use of the spa facilities for the day.

If you are aiming to get fit this year then the Blue Harbour Health Club offers The Best of Both – Monthly Membership £200 per month, unwind and treat yourself to a little pampering after your hard work in the gym.

Membership includes: One month’s health club membership 5 x 30 minute ‘Spa Credits’ Redeemable on any 30-minute and one-hour treatments from the spa treatment menu

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The Thames-side location of the Blue Harbour Health Club and Spa places it in close proximity to King’s Road and Fulham Broadway, and only a short distance from some of London’s main attractions such as the V&A and Natural History Museums, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Big Ben and Knightsbridge are 20 minutes from the spa by taxi.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the spa and if you want to be pampered, or to get fit or you just want a lovely break Blue Harbour Health Club and Spa has it all. I would thoroughly recommend this to our readers for a spa break, whether you just go for the day or perhaps a lovely Valentine’s weekend.

Lyn Foskett

BEAT

THE JANUARY BLUES

Enjoy great value set lunch menus, relax on the heated terrace with a hot cocktail and delicious baked cheeses and kick back with live jazz every Tuesday!

t 0207 368 3993 e babylon@roofgardens.virgin.com www.roofgardens.virgin.com @Babylon_London

7th Floor, 99 Kensington High Street (Entrance on Derry Street) London W8 5SA

Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques | Jewellery | Watches

Visit us in London or Birmingham for free valuations of antiques, jewellery or watches.

To arrange your appointment, please call us on 0203 733 6118.

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PHILIPPE JACQUET & ASSOCIATES HARLEY STREET PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Call Philippe Jacquet on 020 7206 2438 www.philippejacquet.co.uk