Essex Love Magazine - Issue 1

ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

E1OVE E S S E X

Take me, I’m yours

Bringing East to Essex

L O V E

Music Feeds The Soul: Gordon Mac Meditation: The Best Medication?

Design for Living: Galliard Homes

The Organic Kitchen EVENTS

SOCIAL

BUSINESS

ART & CULTURE

FOOD & DRINK

NIGHTLIFE

HEALTH & BEAUTY

INTERIORS

TRAVEL

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

MY

K

Award

Winning SALONS SALONS

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Contents p08 Get Involved: On Our Radar

p13 The Art of Property Success: David Galman

p19 Jar of Hearts: Dominique Eloise Alexander

p24 Stripes of Art: Zebra Gallery

p32 Come and TriYoga: Jonathan Sattin

p36 Have Piece of Mind: Meditation

p39 Escape the hustle and bustle: Travel

p46 It Started with a Kiss: Gordon Mac

p51 Fancy a ruby red? We’re going Out Out

EDITOR: Rosie Coxshaw SUB-EDITOR: Nancy Larman ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nicola Euesden DESIGN: Total Design Works Ltd BUSINESS WRITER: Eric Woollard-White FOOD & DRINK WRITER: Liam Barker FEATURES WRITER: Alex Larman , Emma Mills, Lily Robinson, Alasdair Carpenter Published by RC Publishing Ltd: 020 3011 1194; info@e1ife.co.uk COVER: Illustration courtesy of Claire Spake. Sponsored by The Organic Kitchen - theorganickitchenlimited.co.uk While every care is taken, RC Publishing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, omissions or errors. Prices correct at time of going to press. All rights reserved.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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Bringing the East to Essex

W

hat does Essex mean to you? For the uninitiated, it might connote excessive fake tan, white stilettos and an ostentation expressed through flashy cars and sizeable gaffs. Enter Essex Love, then, to refute the funthough-reductive TOWIE take on our beloved county.

We’re here to cut through the trappings of materialism and take it back to our roots I’ve lived in Essex all my life.

Although in some respects it has shifted dramatically over the years, other things never change. Against an ever-mutable backdrop, there will always be one constant and that is the hard working Essex folk grafting away for their lot in life. It’s in our DNA to be friendly, generous and approachable, proud of our achievements and good-humoured no matter what. Essex Love believes in representing the heart and soul of our life out east; in keeping it real; and in holding up a mirror to the people who make this inimitable community. Essex Love is a magazine for you and about you.

Essex Love follows its sister title, E1 Life, which we launched two years ago in east London. Our experience accrued over those two years enables us to testify unequivocally that the East End’s greatest asset is its people. We’ve had a blast getting to know these honest, quirky characters who form

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the rich tapestry of life in the area, and who are accepted regardless of their beliefs. Our lives are richer for the experience – and Essex undoubtedly has this depth of character too.

Many of today’s Essex residents grew up and experienced life in the East End. Back in the day, East Enders were born with traditional morals ingrained; they understood the value of a pound note, they respected their elders, and they started work at a very young age, ducking and diving to forge their way in life. In those days, east London was poverty-stricken, but whilst all that has changed, the attitudes and morals remain instilled in those who cut their teeth there. Subsequently, many of these honest grafters moved out to Essex with a view to a better life for themselves and their families.

Today, these East End émigrés still live among us in the Essex community, still revelling in the old cockney slang of their youth and upholding the morals they grew up with.

Essex Love is our take on the best of the east transported to Essex. Via our bi-monthly magazine, we keep you abreast of what’s on in east London and concurrently celebrate the charm of Essex, bring you the best of both worlds. I hope you enjoy it.

Peace and love, Rosie, Publisher

Introducing the new

Essex Love Experience E1OVE LIVES THE POWER OF PEOPLE With Rosie Coxshaw

PODCAST

DIGITAL

• Inspiring interviews • Insight into individual’s private and business life • Published across all digital feeds • Transcribed into print • Rights available for you to publish globally

• 2,500 visitors per month • 6,000 email addresses • 25-54: Age demographic • 60% female / 40% male

PRINT

EVENTS

• 30,000 copies printed • Est. 90,000 readership • Distribution across West Essex • Business and lifestyle content

• Reader events • Business networking events • Food & Drink events • Club Nights

Get Involved: essexlove.co.uk • Call: 0203 011 1194 @essexloveonline

Essex Love SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

7

Essex Salon Awards

The ever-brilliant Tikad Salon, based in both Ongar and Theydon Bois, has been shortlisted in the inaugural Essex Salon Awards.

The salon group, which already has a long and impressive list of awards under its star-studded belt, has been named as a finalist in three categories: Best Essex Salon, Best Salon Team and Best Creative Image. Salon Manager Hayley Quinlin said: “It’s always amazing to be recognised for our continual efforts to bring specialised and consistent education to our team.”

Winners will be announced on 5 November at a black-tie awards ceremony at Orsett Halll.

tikadi.co.uk

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EVENTS: ON OUR RADAR

ON OUR RADAR Only the hottest and most happening make the grade

LDN Block Party

Now in it’s second year, this one-day party, hosted by Goose Island Beer Co, brings the spirit of Chicago to east London.Beer lovers will be treated to a huge line-up of bands; White Lies headline, supported by Honeyblood, Superfood, The Age of L.U.N.A, Courts and Flashback Records DJs. With both indoor and al fresco stages at the iconic Red Market (Last Days of Shoreditch), revellers can also sample some mouth-watering street food and tasting sessions between sets. The liveliest way to keep those autumn blues at bay for the perfect end to the summer.

23 September, 3pm-10pm Red Market, 288 Old St, EC1V 9LA; eventbrite.co.uk

Essex Farmers’ Markets

Cooking with home-grown, organic produce is one of life’s simplest pleasures. And that joy is all the greater for knowing that by shopping at your farmers’ market once a month, you are both supporting local business and minimising your food miles. Here you can taste your way around the stalls, gobbling freshly picked fruit and vegetables; locally reared meats; and traditionally baked bread and cakes. Spend a morning shooting the breeze with knowledgeable locals before a spot of brunch at one of the many excellent high street cafés.

Wanstead High Street:1 October Loughton High Street: 8 October essexfarmersmarkets.co.uk, London EC1V 9LA. 0203 610 0185

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EVENTS: ON OUR RADAR

Wedding Open Day

Following a transformative £8 million refurbishment of its mansion house, Down Hall Hotel & Spa will host a Wedding Open Day showcasing its stunning event spaces decorated for the perfect wedding. Previously named ‘Wedding Venue of the Year’ at the Essex Wedding Awards 2016, the breath taking wedding venue is situated on 110 acres of thriving garden and woodland on the Hertfordshire/Essex border.

Upon arrival, guests will be greeted with complimentary refreshments and will take a tour of the stunning event spaces throughout the historic hotel.

The newly refurbished reception rooms will be beautifully decorated to help visualise what the venue could potentially look like on the special day. Time to share the romance…

Event: September 24th /11am – 3pm, Down Hall Hotel and Spa Matching Road, Hatfield Heath Essex CM22 7AS T: 01279 731441 www.downhall.co.uk

Gin masterclass

Greek Wine Festival

Calling all oenophiles! The UK’s only celebration of the lesser-appreciated yet glorious Greek wine returns for a third year, and the 2017 festival presents no fewer than 100 distinctive vintages – from the trendy Assyrtiko right through to the more well-known grape varieties, such as a Viognier by Domaine Gerovassilou. The Greek Larder restaurant will serve up a delicious array of sweet and savoury morsels including baklava, meze and Theodore’s traditional Greek spit-roast lamb. The event is hosted by Saturday Kitchen’s Olly Smith, who will lead tastings on both days.

13 – 14 October West Handyside Canopy, Handyside St, N1C; londongreekwinefestival.co.uk

The Trading House, renowned for its artisan gin, has launched a brand new masterclass for all devotees of mother’s ruin. With its in-house gin connoisseur as a spiritual guide of sorts, students of the hard stuff will learn all about the liquor’s history, which will be followed up with a tasting selection of carefully curated gins, chosen to showcase both craftsmanship and botanicals.

Each gin will be tasted first neat, then with a tonic and finally with an accompanied garnish.The perfect introduction to the spirit in the city in which it was invented.

The Trading House 89-91 Gresham St, EC2V 7NQ

thetradinghouse.uk.com

Wringer & Mangle

All hail Spitalfields’ newest new deli, pub and restaurant concept. Wringer & Mangle Spitalfields is the sister bar to the original Hackney hangout, Wringer & Mangle in London Fields, housed in a former laundry. The latest project from the Calabrese brothers, Gerry and Jon, whose previous projects include Hoxton Pony and Hoxton Gin, it features an inventive drinks menu offering variations on the classic “Collins” cocktail and seasonal British food.

94 Middlesex Street, E1 7EZ; wringerandmangle.com

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AUTHENTIC AND DELICIOUS MEDITTERANEAN CUISINE AUTHENTIC AUTHENTIC AUTHENTIC AUTHENTIC AUTHENTIC AUTHENTIC AUTHENTIC AUTHENTIC AND AND AND AND DELICIOUS AND DELICIOUS AND AND DELICIOUS AND DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUS MEDITTERANEAN MEDITTERANEAN MEDITTERANEAN MEDITTERANEAN MEDITTERANEAN MEDITTERANEAN MEDITTERANEAN MEDITTERANEAN CUISINE CUISINE CUISINE CUISINE CUISINE CUISINE CUISINE CUISINE

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BUSINESS: DAVID GALMAN

Design for living

Property never ceases to be a talking point in London. With a career spanning more than three decades in the industry, David Galman, Sales and Marketing Director at Galliard Homes, has plenty of insight to offer buyers at every level.

Words: Eric Woollard-White Podcast: Rosie Coxshaw

Listen to the Podcast at e1ife.co.uk/podcast

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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W

hen it comes to putting a touch of theatrical pizzazz into the art of selling property, David Galman knows a thing or two.

We’re sitting within one of the latest developments from Galliard Homes, The Stage, situated adjacent to Shoreditch High Street and designed around Shakespeare’s original Curtain Theatre.

Surrounded by concrete evidence of Galliard’s triumphant contribution to the market then, he confides that he has seen dramatic shifts, both upward and downward, on London’s ever-evolving property scene.

“I still get a buzz when it comes to sales launches,” he enthuses.

“We continue to be the market leaders in creating an atmosphere that gets a lot of people queuing up to buy our properties, usually because they know they are buying early enough to see a decent rise in value. I can’t see a day when I won’t get a thrill at opening the doors to let people in.”

Not straying too far from his roots as an East End boy, these days David calls Essex home. His first break in the property world came

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after leaving school and getting creative about finding a job – which initially meant learning to make tea and ensuring his boss got a glass of sherry every afternoon.

“I looked in the Yellow Pages after leaving school and started ringing round estate agents. Having no clue what I wanted to do or what I was capable of doing, and I eventually got a job as an office junior,” he explains.

“Growing up in east London, life there was very different to today. I know that once you reach a certain age you always hanker after the ‘good old days’ but this pocket of the capital – as well as the whole world, really – has just changed massively. Once upon a time, you could genuinely play out on the streets until ten at night. You just can’t do that anywhere now.”

David adds: “We are sitting here now in Shoreditch. It’s strange to think that my grandparents couldn’t wait to get out of here, it was the slum of London but it’s retailing property sales values at anywhere between £1,500 to £2,000 per square foot for some of these gleaming towers. Shoreditch is probably overplayed for somebody to come in and make quick money,

BUSINESS: DAVID GALMAN

Listen to the Podcast at e1ife.co.uk/podcast

so buyers have crept down to Dalston. It’s all about finding that next area.”

Through his first job, David met Stephen Conway the founder of Galliard Homes and the company’s CEO and the rest – as they say – is history. He has been with the company since its inception more than 25 years ago.

“We are very different from other housebuilders,” says David. “We’re not the kind of company to ‘land bank’ and sit on land. We are a developer and everything we have got we want to be developing at that time. I don’t think anything is recession-proof. What we’ve managed to do over the past 20 odd years is find – sometimes by luck, sometimes by judgement – the next regeneration area, the next

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BUSINESS: DAVID GALMAN

Listen to the Podcast at e1ife.co.uk/podcast

area that’s going to have a natural increase in value.”

But it hasn’t always been easy.

When the financial markets were shaken globally in 2008, leading to the collapse of the Northern Rock, which was the UK’s fifth largest mortgage lender at the time, developers like Galliard Homes needed to dig deep and rely on their entrepreneurial mettle, according to David.

The impact of the recession led to one of David’s proudest moments, which involved selling most of the riverside apartments within New Capital Quay at Greenwich – twice.

“We had 650 private apartments on a riverside location and we brought that to the market to sell off plan, which we did at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair,” he explains.

“Two weeks after the run on Northern Rock – when nobody really knew what that meant and nobody

really knew what we going on in the financial markets – we had people queuing from Friday night until Sunday night still purchasing our flats. We sold 400 flats in an entire weekend – it was unprecedented and we achieved really good values for a riverside location.

Unfortunately, the development had to be mothballed for a whole year because funding dried up.”

But, like David, London’s property market always bounces back. And maybe that’s got something to do with the culture at Galliard Homes, with its accent on daring to be different to stay one step ahead.

He concludes: “We are always trying something new. Where we differ from another developer is that we are inventive and we have great flexibility. We hold traditional family values in the business towards our staff and also our clientele.” galliardhomes.com

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INTERVIEW: DOMINIQUE ELOISE ALEXANDER

Jar of hearts Ever thought of filling a jar with healthy delights packed for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Meet Dominique Eloise Alexander, the food stylist and writer paving the way for young women in business. She tells Rosie Coxshaw about Jar Foods, her freshly launched book

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“

“

We all face failures and successes in our careers, but when you’re flying solo, it comes down on you and only you.

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INTERVIEW: DOMINIQUE ELOISE ALEXANDER Where did you grow up?

I was born in Bristol and shortly afterwards my family moved to Hertfordshire, just north of London.

I grew up there until I was 18. After school I made my way up north to Leeds University where I studied Philosophy, Psychology and History of Science for three years before heading down to Hackney, which seemed the obvious place to further my foodie dreams.

Tell us about the early days – how did you start out in the food industry?

I’ve always been interested in food, but the pivotal moment for turning my early passion into a career was when I got accepted for an internship with Bee’s Bakery whilst I was still at Leeds University. I also managed to secure a Business School Enterprise Scholarship in my final year of uni, which enabled me to set up my own business, Zing & Zest Bakery, which helped further my experience in the food industry.

After managing Violet Cakes in London Fields for a year, I finally went freelance as a food stylist and writer as these were the two areas of real interest to me.

Who do you most aspire to in your life and work – and why?

In my direct industry, I love what Rosie Birkett is doing at the moment and I’m huge fan of her cooking and styling. In terms of tenacity and determination, I have to say my dad. He’s taken huge risks over the last few years but always with a measured, calm approach and it’s an attitude that has served him well.

Describe yourself in one word...

Hungry. (All. The. Time.)

Tell us what you did prior to Jar Food?

I was really lucky – I was able to continue working as a recipe writer, demo chef and stylist whilst writing Jar Food. The process of writing the book has opened even more doors and allowed me to work with a number of new, amazing people. It has been really inspiring.

What made you want to set up your own business as opposed to working for someone else?

Setting up Zing & Zest Bakery in my final year at Uni was an incredible opportunity. It was so rewarding doing something of my own and being able to share my own work, creativity and ideas. After that I got the entrepreneurial bug! Working with Bee’s Bakery and Violet Cakes, I learnt so much, gained invaluable experience and also collated a fantastic little black book of contacts which all enabled me to go it alone as a freelance. The crux of going solo really came down to wanting to share my own thoughts, ideas, recipes and creations with those who love food as much as I do – not only sweet cakes, but savoury meals as well. I thought I’d just give it a go for summer but nearly two years on I’m still at it.

What is jar food?

Jar food is all about delicious, transportable, every-day food for those who love to eat but are, more often than not, on-the-go and darting from A to B around London.

It’s a really interesting idea. How did you arrive at the concept of using a jar to make and transport your food?

With meal preparation only gaining in popularity, Jar Food is all about delicious, balanced, convenient and beautiful recipes for busy Londoners to really enjoy meals on-the-go – a book for those who ‘live to eat’ rather than eat to live.

Using a jar allows you to portion up what you’re eating easily and to see your beautiful creations clearly. Little jars are perfect for transporting dressings, while the larger ones hold everything you need and don’t take up too much space in your bag (and sealed lids mean no leaking!). Crucially, they’re also easily recyclable as compared to plastic Tupperware – you can use them over and over again, and if there’s any way to eliminate the dreaded ‘lid hunt’ of a morning then I’m definitely all for it!

Do you think the concept will stand the test of time?

It’s growing every year – particularly in the summer when people are looking for fresh ideas, whether inside the office or outside for a picnic. I’ve filled the book with some wonderfully warming recipes too – jars are great for reheating so my Jar Food recipes will keep you warm from the inside out in the winter too.

What’s your favourite jar recipe?

It has to be the Burrito Jar. It has the most ingredients but takes very little time and the rewards are unbelievable – I couldn’t believe how much it tastes like a traditional Burrito when I was testing it – the finished recipe is a dream. I have to stop myself making it every week…

How would you define success?

Success for me is completing goals.

I’m a huge list maker and love being organised with both shortterm and long-term goals. I feel the most successful when this list is lovingly checked off – knowing that I’ve reached the end goal of a task and achieved what I set out to do, whether for myself or to help others, brings me great happiness.

What is it about east London that resonates with you?

After only a few visits in my teens, I took my job at Violet Cakes in east London because of the friendly, relaxed atmosphere around London

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INTERVIEW: DOMINIQUE ELOISE ALEXANDER Fields and the canal. Moving to Clapton and being so close to Hackney Downs and the marshes for the past three years has utterly convinced me I’ll never leave. The green space, the people, the food; it all adds up to feeling calm and peaceful whenever I’m out and about. They say in London you don’t know your neighbours but a quick wander around Broadway Market or along the canal proves that theory wrong for me – I’ve made friends with the producers in the markets, who kindly allow me to try new ingredients on a weekly basis – it’s fabulous for recipe inspiration.

Tell us what memories of your soaring trajectory you’ll always treasure...

For me, having my own cookbook on the shelves of Foyles is pretty surreal. I’ll never forget the day I was asked to write a book with the loveliest, most unexpected email from Pavilion Publishing. They had seen my work and wanted to give me a shot. It was amazing.

We all experience highs and lows in business. What battles have you come up against on your foodie path?

Being a young freelancer in London inevitably has its ups and downs.

As a self-taught cook, ultimately guiding myself through the foodie industry and pitching my own ideas to various employers, I’ve faced a fair amount of rejection and been overlooked due to lack of experience at the time. We all face failures and successes in our careers, but when you’re flying solo, it comes down on you and only you.

What’s your view on women in business?

We need more! I’ve had amazing women inspiring me throughout my life. My first role model at school was Mrs Berry, but there are so many, right up to the present with friends like baker Bee Berrie and stylist Valerie Berry (I must have an affiliation with ‘Berries’!) All three of these lovely ladies have shown me the ropes in various different

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ways and motivated me to believe in myself. For other young women in business I think that mentorship can be an invaluable source of inspiration and I’m really keen to do what I can when the time is right to help others in the way that these women have helped me.

If you hadn’t pursued your foodie dreams, what other industry do you think you would have worked in?

Theatre: it was my first love and I still try and get up to the Edinburgh Fringe every year to quench my thirst for it. The creativity projected on stage from performers is such a wonderful thing to witness and while I may have left the acting dream behind, I’m fortunate that I can dip my toe in as an audience member every once in a while and fall in love with it all over again.

Do you have an axiom in life that has stood you in good stead?

It’s actually one from my dad.

Simply: ‘We are where we are’.

If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Nigel Slater – not only could I listen to his voice for hours on end, but the way that he writes about food in his books is like a story.

Jar Food, £9.99, Pavilion Publishing; dominiqueeloise.com

Pure White Lines specialise in sourcing unique one off finds that our discerning customers can build a whole theme around.

Old statuary, vintage antlers, horns, weird and wonderful taxidermy, antiqued mirrors, French hanging lanterns, opulent chandeliers, eye catching objects and distressed painted furniture is just a taster of what you will find.

We have contacts throughout Europe and have our own Upholstery and restoration facilities along side top quality furniture refinishers and painters.

Come and visit us: 45 Hackney Road London E2 7NX 020 3222 0137 Monday – Friday: 11am-7pm Saturday: 10am-5.30pm Sunday: 9.30am-4.30pm @purewhitelines

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

INTERVIEW: ZEBRA GALLERY

Zebr...art Established in 1976, Hampstead’s Zebra One Gallery has featured works by some truly remarkable artists, from Picasso to Andy Warhol, becoming one of London’s leading destinations for contemporary art in the process.

Rosie Coxshaw caught up with Gabrielle Du Plooy, the creative soul behind Zebra One Gallery...

Can you tell us about the origins of Zebra One Gallery?

My father started the gallery 40 years ago. I took it over 11 years ago and since then I have changed the entire concept, from modern masters to photography. My first show was with the late Philip Townsend, one of the first photographers of the Rolling Stones. People said I was crazy and that no one would want to buy photos of rock stars. But, me being me, I went ahead, phoned the local newspapers and had a sell-out show.

How do you think the art industry has changed over the years?

It has changed massively. Artists have the internet now, so they can use social media to represent themselves. Artists are free spirits, so they don’t want to be nailed down by a gallery, especially now with so many different platforms to sell their art. We are lucky that we have been here for such a long time – we like to

build a good solid relationship with our artists and we are trusted in the industry so they don’t object and are happy to be guided by us.

Who are your regular clients?

As we’ve been in the business of art for 40 years in Hampstead, we have built up a great clientele of locals.

Some pretty impressive people have made Hampstead their home – everybody from actors and rock stars to designers and investment bankers.

We have a great international client base too, and we tend to work with a lot of interior design companies and interior stylists.

Do you have a certain style of art you like to feature/sell?

I have eclectic tastes and I am a very visual person. I love photography but right now, modern and contempary art, especially painting, is seeing a comeback to the market in a big way, which is exciting.

What do you offer that is different to other galleries?

We have such a rich history – forty years of knowledge, an unrivalled portfolio of blue-chip artists and an incredible clientele. We also offer art consultancy and picture framing, plus we have a bespoke advisory service.

Basically we cover all the possible needs of our clients. We support charities through collaborations with members’ clubs and hotels via highend art events. I do a lot of unseen photography exhibitions – it’s one of my big interests; the shots that didn’t make it, unguarded moments and forgotten images found later.

What events have you got coming up?

I am supporting the Mental Health Foundation. We’ve pulled together established artists, some of whom have suffered themselves and some of whom just want to lend support.

zebraonegallery.com

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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INTERVIEW: ZEBRA GALLERY

Inspiration…

From New York to London… street artist DAIN is gathering momentum both sides of the pond Who is DAIN? Born in Brooklyn, New York, DAIN combines glamour with grit. He features iconic black and white headshots of actresses from the past to the present with collage from a variety of media. In every work, whether it’s Brooklyn street art or a piece intended for a gallery, DAIN manages to balance fine, contemporary and street art.

The glamour As one of the most influential street artists to emerge from New York City, the artist intriguingly combines the visual language of graffiti with old Hollywood glamour. Often mingling a female face with male fashion styling, he creates distinct pieces with characteristics seen only in his inimitible works.

It’s in the eyes DAIN typically uses black and white photographs that speak to him; materials that he might just find and simply respond to. Often he won’t know who the model is, preferring to find an anonymous face that jumps out at him, through the eyes; which is always what grabs him first.

There is no rhyme or reason to the collage pieces, they just speak to him and putting those together takes the most time. Once he has his foundation image down, he begins choosing colours, painting and layering spray paint. Collage is the foundation; from there it gets easier.

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Bringing East to Essex…

Subscribe Now @ essexlove.co.uk Call: 0203 011 1194 @essexloveonline

Essex Love

Life Drawing Claire Spake started out as a journalist before returning to her first love: illustration. She tells Rosie Coxshaw why she feels like the luckiest person in the world

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ESSEX LOVE: CLAIRE SPAKE

What inspired you to become a designer?

As a child, if I wasn’t playing with He-Man toys, I was drawing. It was all I ever wanted to do. My dad taught me to draw by getting me to copy pictures of animals in columns on pieces of paper. The first thing he taught me was how to sketch a crocodile; I still haven’t mastered it 30 years later. When I got careers advice at school, no one said you could become an illustrator, so I became a journalist. I still kept drawing and painting every day and people began paying me for my work. In time I turned to designing full-time. I’ll never take it for granted that drawing and painting is my job. I often feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world.

What’s been the project you’ve most enjoyed working on?

I’ve enjoyed working on so many projects, but two particularly rewarding ones spring to mind. The first was a book I illustrated for Caroline, whose husband Twiggy had died of a brain tumour at 33.

The book was for children who had lost a special person in their lives and to encourage them to hold on to precious memories, but also to look forward and try and forge new ones.

Illustrating the book took months and some pages took up to 45 hours alone. It was also an incredibly painful project, as I had known Twiggy, and Caroline is a mate.

When the book was completed, Caroline and I couldn’t have been happier with it, and proceeds from the book go to The Brain Tumour Charity. The other project was called 100 Days of The Ruddy Nineties and involved me doing a drawing or painting of something from the 1990s everyday for 100 consecutive days. At the end of each day I’d put the image up on Facebook for sale and all the money went to charity.

Last year the charity was Freedom for Fistula; this year it was Action for M.E. In total I raised about £2,000.

What do you think is your greatest strength as a designer?

My strength is definitely in the old school. Everything I design starts off hand-drawn or hand-painted and is then touched up digitally.I mostly work in watercolour, gouache and pen and ink, but finish off most pieces with coloured pencil and marker pens.

Who do you aspire to most and why?

I don’t aspire to be anyone, I’m happy being myself. I could hope to be richer or more talented or funnier or prettier but it would be a waste of time as I’ll still be me at the end of the day. I’m inspired by lots of people though and some people’s talent is mind-blowing.

Do you have a guiding vision as a designer?

I’m inspired by the unusual and quirky and this comes through in my design. Most of my work is designing for clients direct, and I pride myself in taking the time to really get to know them and understanding what makes them tick. This is especially important when working on branding and rebranding projects where your work represents a whole company. My working style is very collaborative and relaxed – I keep the client as involved in the process as possible – and because of this many of my clients end up being mates.

What is your greatest dream?

All I want is as happy a life as possible with good mates, family, fun times and a career I enjoy. No one’s life is perfect, but I wouldn’t change mine.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would move to North Yorkshire as it’s full of history and drama.

My favourite parts of Yorkshire are the old fisherman’s huts at Port Mulgrave and Whitby, where Bram Stoker wrote Dracula.

Claire’s Little Black Book Favourite restaurant: City Spice, Brick Lane – it’s just a regular curry house but I’ve been going there for years. I also love Sketch for a really special afternoon tea Favourite market: Broadway market Favourite coffee shop: Has to be the Bloqs Café at the shared workspace I work at in Building Bloqs, in Edmonton Place to chill: The Wellcome Collection Place to escape out of London: A great tea room in Puckeridge Favourite area outside of the east? Margate.

It’s really on the up and Dreamland is amazing!

Desert island food: Japanese Describe yourself in one word: Talkative If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be? Freddie Mercury, as I have a mild obsession with him and I’d ask him to sing me Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy clairespake.com Follow Claire on Instagram @clairespakedesign

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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TRUE TO TYPE Dan Britton is a graphic designer with a deep social conscience and an abiding passion for Disney. Rosie Coxshaw meets the man behind the brands

What inspired you to become a designer?

In all honesty, on some subconscious level, it was probably Bugs Bunny.

As a child, I loved Looney Tunes and Wacky races. I was completely sucked in to Disney, even to the point where it used to make me late for school. I blame Channel 4 for that!

Who puts cartoons on at 8am? As I grew up, I fell in love with the work of Salvador Dali and the surrealist movement and later on, Paul Rand.

His work in the field of corporate identities was and still is so far ahead of its time. He wrote the modern rule book for branding and his work is as relevant now as it was in the 50s: simply outstanding work.

Tell us the most fascinating project you’ve worked on…

The best thing I’ve done so far is my dyslexia project. For those who don’t know, a few years ago I created a typeface that recreated the feeling of reading with dyslexia. It was lovely because I created the font out of shear frustration and I wanted to show people what it’s like to be dyslexic. Once I put it online it took on a life of its own and within two days I was doing radio interviews with the BBC and CNN. It was and remains so heartwarming to see something I created having such a vast impact and making a positive change to people.

What do you see as your forte?

That’s actually a very interesting question. I would like to say I don’t

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ESSEX LOVE: DAN BRITTON

have a specific area of design I focus on. I love variety and I work on things from brand identities to record sleeves. I’m pretty sure it was Massimo Vignelli that said: “If you can design a poster you can design a building” and that’s true; the laws of design are universal. Having said that, I do have a soft spot for branding and information design.

Information design requires an awful lot of process and simplification, which I love. Then you have branding, which is by far the most in-depth area of graphic design you can be involved in. With branding, the designer is the link between the product and its market, so it’s your job to listen to your client and help build and convey the product’s message to an audience. In doing so you have to think about everything.

Everything must be justified, consistent, logical and beautiful and it needs to communicate and convey an emotion. Ask yourself, does it excite? Does it make you laugh?

Does it make you fall in love? Does it make you fearful? Does it make you interested? Building a good brand has to be so many things which I think is fascinating.

Who’s the individual you aspire to most and why?

Michael Wolff. He is the exemplar of an English designer and he has this ability to humanise big brands in a nuanced way. I think I have listened to every single talk he has given and his level of sensitivity is breath-taking.

What does your vision look like as a designer?

Design is a wonderful field because it gives you an opportunity to help people, either in the sense that you are aiding someone communicate with their audience, or you can produce something like the dyslexic font and make a physical and mental change to someone’s life.

My design ethos is: form follows function, meaning that something should do its job first before it looks beautiful.

What is your biggest dream?

I know it’s leftfield but I have always wanted to set up a water charity project in a developing country. I would love to make a real-world difference to the people who need it the most and it’s this far-flung dream that keeps me going.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

Honestly, I wouldn’t. I am quite well travelled and I love culture but there is nothing quite like the city. With or without Brexit, London just has it! I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Europe, especially Croatia and nothing quite compares to London. I love how multicultural and accepting this city is. Putting the history, the financial opportunity and the architecture to one side, it’s the people that make the city and I simply wouldn’t be without it or them.

Dan’s Little Black Book Favourite restaurant: I am quite partial to Gaucho’s Favourite market: It used to be Greenwich before it was torn down, but now its Borough Favourite coffee shop: You can’t beat your own Italian percolated coffee.

Place to chill: Clapham Common/Battersea Park for those hot summer nights Place to escape out of London: Being from Kent I would have to say, Hartley. It’s a beautiful little village with lovely people Favourite area outside of the east?

South,easily. I love Brixton, Elephant, Clapham, Battersea. They are very colourful areas Desert island food: A Patty and Bun burger.

That’s all I would need to get me though Describe yourself in one word: Loving If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be: George Michael and I still can’t believe he’s passed away. The talent and the morals that man possessed were something to behold. Professionally, everything he produced was timeless and I mean everything, his albums are as good and as relevant now as they will be in 100 years. He was an icon in every sense of the word. danielbritton.info

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Come along and

Tri-Yoga

Jonathan Sattin embarked on the wellbeing industry, launching Triyoga in the year 2000, when yoga was an untouched market. Today he is creating beautiful spaces where everyone can belong.

Words: Nancy Larman Podcast: Rosie Coxshaw 32

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HEALTH & FITNESS: TRI-YOGA make it in the music industry – I don’t know why,” he laughs. “So I negotiated with my father that I would do law.”

It was while studying that, inadvertently, the seeds for an altogether different life were sewn – not that he’d have known it at the time. “When I was at law school I needed a better way to relax and so I began to meditate. Later, when I had my own law practice, one of my partners said to me that his wife was going to yoga classes. I think he told me because I was weird and flaky because I meditated.”

Intrigued, Sattin went along to a

T

he year was 1997 and Jonathan Sattin found himself on auto-drive, stuck resolutely in the fast lane. And it was as he was hurtling along at breakneck speed that he had an epiphany, although today the founder of Triyoga prefers to look back on it as a slower, more dawning realisation. “It’s like when you drive a fast car on the motorway and you put your foot down – you don’t see the directional signs. Then one day you see these signs and you think: “Oh I like that place, maybe I’ll go there.” It’s very easy to get stuck in the outside lane not knowing how to get off.”

For Sattin, his metaphorical outside lane was, in literal terms, the practice of law, perhaps an unlikely precursor to his later pioneering

of yoga-for-all and a profession at which he arrived circuitously, via medicine and, er, drumming. “My father was a doctor and for years, I was going to be a doctor. He wanted one of his three sons – of whom I was the youngest – to be a professional. My two brothers weren’t stars academically. Not saying I was either, but I did reasonably well. I had a place at Guy’s Hospital. And then I just decided one day that I didn’t want to do it.”

His father was duly “seriously not happy”, so Sattin Junior made him a deal. He would give himself a year to make something it in the music industry – at the time he was playing with some “great musicians”, though as a drummer, he professes that both his skill and drive remained “average”. After that, he’d agree to get a job. “Surprisingly I didn’t

“

“

Listen to the Podcast at e1ife.co.uk/podcast

I used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day and drink 14 cups of coffee each with at least two sugars in them and I stopped that within three months of starting my physical yoga practice. class (to contextualise, at the time there were just two yoga centres in all of London). As it transpired, the experience was transformative. “I went to see this woman in her house and it was amazing. At one point I was lying on my back with my eyes closed and I could see a wall of mirrors and I saw myself running and not wanting to look in the mirror. And I realised that was me. I had to learn to stop and look in the mirror and I knew that yoga was the way I was going to do it.”

It was a big departure. Although Sattin was au fait with more reflective and meditative aspects of

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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HEALTH & FITNESS: TRI-YOGA life, he was far from the poised yogi one might picture. “I used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day and drink 14 cups of coffee each with at least two sugars in them and I stopped that within three months of starting my physical yoga practice.”

He began in earnest with the gentle guidance of a great teacher above a cafe in Maida Vale before a meeting with a meditation teacher in India further stoked the yogic fires.

Sattin remains refreshingly selfaware, joking: “It all sounds clichéd maybe but that’s how it worked.” centres in London and they each Despite all the signs, he hadn’t, by taught one style of yoga and if you this point, conceived of any grand didn’t do it you were stuffed. The plan for the democratisation of the idea was that you could come to a experience of yoga in London. “I had place where you know you’re going this interest but I didn’t think, ‘Oh I to get good teachers – we’re very must open a yoga centre one day’,” precious about our teachers. You he says. “Then one day I got to my can get as much or as little as you office and I thought I don’t want to want from it. You don’t have to be a do this any more. I had no idea I was vegan, Birkenstock-wearing person. going to do. I agreed a year’s notice, But you can be. We want to get this which gave me time. I got involved balance.: in Yo Sushi! and a multi-media Seventeen years after founding talent agency. And then I started Triyoga, Sattin is on the brink researching into the health industry. of opening another studio in I always played football or Shoreditch. Why here? tennis and ran but I was “When I was training never a gym goer. as a lawyer they used Getting on a treadmill to send us down to was like…why?”

Companies House Listen to the After exploratory on City Road. You forays into shaking had to go once a Podcast at up the capital’s month and it was e1ife.co.uk/podcast gym scene – (“of like going to hell. course when you’re There was nothing a lawyer everyone happening here then believes you. You write in those days. When I a business plan and people set up my own practice, think ‘oh he must know what one of the clients I had was a he’s talking about’.”) – a friend in LA guy called James Lynch, and he lived gently nudged him towards the idea in Old Street – he was one of the first of doing what he loved. And what developers in the area. So I got to Sattin really loved, it transpired, was know it all very well – it was 1985 yoga. And just like that, Triyoga had and it was pretty funky. But there arrived. was an energy – partly a historic “Our aim has always been to be energy. It had history, it was fun, authentic and accessible. The idea you could be on one road that was was to create a place that anyone great and then another that was like could come to. You didn’t have to another world!” All the centres we’ve be a serious yogi – but you could be. opened so far are all in places that I We have a lot of different styles of know and love.” yoga because everyone is different.

We have a feeling that the love is When we started there were two yoga going to be mutual.

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Sattin is something of a pioneer. When Triyoga opened in 2000, yoga hadn’t yet garnered the modish territory it has occupied almost ever since. What does he make of the idea of it as fashionable hobby? “When we opened in Primrose Hill it suddenly became this very fashionable thing. I didn’t like it – if something is fashionable to me that means it has a sell-by date. I wanted to do something that means something. But I think people realise more and more that they need something more than just getting on a treadmill. Our world is pretty bonkers a lot of the time.

People go for these more and more intense workouts and then realize that there is something they can’t work out of themselves.”

triyoga shoreditch London’s top destination for yoga, pilates + treatments. Now in E1.

yoga ‘The centre for all things yogic. Whether you’re a beginner, an old hand, or a kid...this is the place for you.’ Independent on Sunday Over 125 classes a week London’s leading teachers Many styles, including hot yoga Workshops taught by world-renowned teachers

pilates + barre ‘Modern, light-filled studios and top-of-their-game teachers.’ TimeOut Mat Pilates for strengthening + conditioning Fun + challenging barre classes For any age, shape or fitness level

treatments ‘A beautiful and calming sanctuary.’ Balance Magazine Highest quality therapists Treatments including massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy, osteopathy + healing Pre + post natal treatments

new to triyoga? try 30 days unlimited yoga + mat pilates for £54 camden, chelsea, soho, covent garden + now shoreditch opening 09 october 2017 at unit 2, 10 cygnet st e1 6gw triyoga.co.uk

WELLNESS: EMMA MILLS

Meditation

the best medication?

Meditation takes many different forms and has a myriad of health benefits.

Emma Mills finds herself in the moment and soaks up the experience

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Inspirational Quotes What is meditation?

Meditation is a practice that teaches you how to focus, (like tuning in to an inner radio station) and then you begin to learn about yourself. It can be described in lots of ways, and the best way to know it, is to do it.

Why is it important?

Meditation brings you closer in touch with the most essential part of who you are. It’s an enjoyable and pleasant way to spend time.

Also, being able to sit still for five minutes, focus and develop a more positive relationship with your mind has lots of practical applications for everyday life.

How does it make you feel?

It’s about self discovery and until we sit down and tune in, we don’t know where we are going to go or what we will find. How do you feel when you get a new insight into your life?

It depends what the insight is, but you will gain ground. Rather than seeking a specific feeling, be curious about the feelings that arise and also aware of where those feelings are known.

Can you set the scene for us of a typical meditation?

Meditation could start sitting with your eyes closed. Keep the spine upright and the head level. Try to keep your eyes still and the breathing even to begin with. Then see if you can be observant. Don’t try

to change anything, just see what’s happening. It takes some practice to see what’s going on, with a gentle open mindedness. Slowly things will begin to occur to you, and this will grow as your ability to focus grows.

Be interested! What is happening within you, with a little viewing, is fascinating.

After a while of doing meditation something begins to change. It can feel a little like being home. You can’t force it to happen. It’s like learning to read, you practice and one day it just starts to happen. It’s a sense of being or presence that is hard to describe but it just arrives.

And then you sit quietly with it, until you have had enough, and that’s it.

It sounds like a great escape...

It does sound like that, but in reality it’s quite the reverse. It isn’t about loosing yourself or distraction. It is about knowing yourself and being intimate with the experience, which is subtle yet empowering. After sitting for a while in that space it becomes easier as you get more familiar with it. How you view and interact with life is different from this place, and you begin to be able to operate from there more and more.

If you seek peace, be still If you seek wisdom, be silent If you seek love, be yourself Becca Lee

Peace

It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work, it means to be in he midst of those things and still

be calm in your heart Unknown

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.

Rumi

If you feel interested in meditation and meditation-related pastimes like poetry, art, music and nature, you might like my blog emmamillslondon.com

Inhale Exhale Repeat, £9.99, Published by Ebury Press

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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TRAVEL: ELLENBOROUGH PARK

Old world charm Lily Robinson checks in to Ellenborough Park Hotel and Spa for a whirlwind wind down

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llenborough Park Hotel and Spa offers fivestar luxury set amid the exquisite rolling countryside of the Cotswolds. In keeping with the area’s famous honey-hued vernacular architecture, the hotel offers traditional English old-world glamour, all with a winningly modern twist and underscored beautifully by the friendliness and charm of the staff. The team is exceptional, the service is impeccable and always delivered with a smile.

Ellenborough Park is steeped in history. One of England’s finest stately homes, it dates back in parts to the fifteenth-century, its huge inglenook fireplaces, tapestry wall hangings and beautiful stone steps testifying to its heritage.

Our one-night escape is a tonic, leaving us feeling as though we’ve been away from the rat race for a week. That sensation is thanks to the wonderfully slow pace (of everything but the service) and not in small part courtesy of the outstanding spa. I take advantage and abandon myself totally to the luxury experience with a full body massage, before a well-

spent hour dipping in and out the plunge pool, sauna and abundance of other relaxation facilities.

Naturally, after all that exertion, we can’t resist wrapping up the day with dinner at Ellenborough Park’s The Restaurant, where the chef serves up an elegant repast befitting of the similarly sophisticated oak-panelled dining room. The modern British menu is exquisite, and though it hasn’t yet been garlanded with a Michelin star, the accolade can’t be far off. Breakfast is a similarly lavish affair; do ensure to indulge fully and opt for the Cotswold traditional full English. Set up beautifully for the day, make time to venture into nearby Cheltenham to explore the shops or the beautiful villages in the surrounding countryside.

Don’t shoot us for mentioning the C-word prematurely, but for the forward-planners in our midst, the enchantingly old-world atmosphere would make Ellenborough an ideal destination for a traditional Christmas. It’s more than worth getting lists in early to Father Christmas early about… ellenboroughpark.com

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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“We had an excellent teacher, very knowledgeable and skilled...

I learnt a lot.�

Do something you love Short Courses at The Cass Architecture | Interiors | Fashion | Textiles | Film | Photography | Fine art Printmaking | Furniture | Upholstery | Graphics | Illustration | Jewellery | Silversmithing Music | Instrument making | Restoration | RIBA CPD courses | Digital design londonmet.ac.uk/TheCassShortCourses @CassShortCourse

+44 (0)20 7320 1842

TRAVEL: DORSET

Beyond the Sea Rosie Coxshaw makes like Thomas Hardy and escapes the madding crowd

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all me judgemental, but I can usually tell if I like a place before I even get there based on its website typography. Weird?

Snobbish? Perhaps, but a quick glance at The Seaside Boarding House on Chesil Beach, Dorset, promises great things. Its unfussy and clean sans-serif Gill Sans speaks of easy breezy seaside holidays, of squawking seagulls and simple pleasures.

The drive as I approach our lodgings portends greatness too; the country roads, stretching from Abbotsbury to the hotel’s beachside spot, yields breath-taking and panoramic sea views, as the prophesied gulls swoop overhead, setting the tone.

The genuine enthusiasm of the welcome at the Seaside Boarding House is heartwarming; I feel as though I’ve been welcomed into a family home, rather than a hotel, as I am shown to my beautiful quarters. One of just nine rooms at this genuinely boutique affair set high on a hill above the pebble beach, the panoramic views are every bit as spectacular as those on the drive, while the sound of the lapping waves in the distance immediately lulls you into a complete and blissful state of also meditative relaxation. I also note the roll top bath with approval, vowing to have a long soak reading (Hardy – what else?) later, immersed in some bubbles.

The hotel’s renowned restaurant relishes the ease with which it is able to keep things local, fresh and seasonal thanks to nature’s bountiful supplies on its very doorstep; as it is keen to point out, all seafood hails from the sea at its toes, and much of its outstandingly fresh produce is sourced from the countryside at its back. And whether your repast is a simple egg on toast or a more lavish multi-

course matter, the quality of the ingredients and their provenance are assured. And that it’s the crux of the Seaside Boarding House; the blend of classic convention with fresh new twists.

The overwhelming sense here is of the removal of hurry; simply, things take as long as they need to. After a delicious cream tea I kick back in a quiet room with my books letting my mind wander – a luxury so rarely afforded in the city.

No wonder Mr Hardy found such inspiration here, so far from the madding crowd. theseasideboardinghouse.com

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122 NEWGATE STREET LONDON EC1A 7AA T: 020 7600 0026 W: scottcity.co.uk E: property@scottcity.london

OLD STREET, LONDON EC1 For Sale £575,000

BUNYAN COURT, BARBICAN EC2 For Sale £775,000

A very well presented top floor ONE BEDROOM apartment situated on the 4th floor of this CITY block on Old Street. This duel aspect flat has good light and with the bedroom overlooking a courtyard there is negligible noise disturbance. The apartment is spacious and well laid out and benefits from ONE large double bedroom, large open plan reception/kitchen.

A bright ONE bedroom (type M2b) duplex apartment situated on the third and fourth floors of BUNYAN COURT in the BARBICAN. The property offers entrance hall, one bedroom and a part refitted shower room on the third floor with stairs leading to the 4th floor reception room, good size south facing balcony original kitchen and dining area.

CROMWELL TOWER, BARBICAN EC For Sale £1,950,000

STEPNEY GREEN, E1 For Sale £850,000

This is a Superb refurbishment of a Tower Flat on the 22nd floor in CROMWELL TOWER in the Barbican (type 3A ). Fantastic Re-Fitted kitchen, Re-Fitted Showeroom and bathroom, full wooden floors, dropped ceiling incorporating new spotlighting and speaker system, built in storage & new wardrobes pull down bed, refurbished by the Thomson Brothers.

We are delighted to offer for sale this three storey Grade II listed Victorian terraced house close to Stepney Green Underground Station and within the Stepney Green Conservation area. The property offers reception room, dining room, kitchen three bedrooms and a good size bathroom with a west facing rear garden.

TRAVEL: RETREAT EAST

Thegoodlife The balance between urban and country life can be hard to strike – especially in these days when second homes tend to come with price tags as hefty as their London counterparts. Retreat East is set to change all that with its revolutionary approach to the rural escape. Rosie Coxshaw investigates

O

nly the positively – nay angelically – nonacquisitive among us hasn’t, at some point, daydreamed of owning a second home. Alas for all but the most affluent, the reverie remains just that – up there with scooping an Oscar or becoming a Pulitzer-winning author. Until now, that is.

Enter then Retreat East, a new real estate model set to change the face of second home ownership and transform the fantasy into an accessible reality. The trailblazing concept is to democratise the country house market, allowing city dwellers who covet a slice of the bucolic to invest in a share of the good life, without breaking the bank or over-committing. Predicated on a debenture system, this beautiful Suffolk retreat is designed so that you are able to approach the business of a bolthole in the

smartest possible way: by buying just as many nights as you wish to stay and no more.

The benefits of the system are myriad; it means that possessing a slice of the idyll comes without any of the attendant hassles of sole ownership. It is also a smart way to get more bang for your buck; where you might have been able to stretch to a modest second home, the part-time aspect of Retreat East means that you have access to a stunning private members’ club and spa into the bargain, complete with daily exercise classes, a Turkish hammam, a Finnish sauna, an outdoor hot tub and a gym, plus there is also a private cinema for cosy nights in – and all for less than a garage would cost you in the capital.

The beautiful sprawling 35acre estate comprises some 20 luxuriously converted barns, ranging in size from one bedroom

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TRAVEL: RETREAT EAST

for couples escaping the rat race, all the way up to five bedrooms for families seeking some time to be at one with nature. Children are welcome, but only during holiday seasons, meaning that for the rest of the year, blissful calm pervades. Even when the kids are in residence, there is so much space, city escapees’ quiet simplicity remains safely uninterrupted.

The brainchild of Dominic Richards, property innovator and architectural pioneer, it was conceived to enable Londoners – and particularly east Londoners who are on the right side of the city to make the journey just a quick zip down the M11 – to have access to the soul-soothing countryside, while keeping it sustainable. In these days of virtual social networking, it is also designed to encourage people to socialise for real, its communal bar and games room conducive to making new friends in an easy and relaxed manner. Better still, there can be no temptation to succumb to the lure of social media, since happily the phone signal is patchy

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at best in this rural sanctuary.

Once installed in your stylishly cosy and capacious barn, replete with wood burners, original wooden beams, oak panelling and impossibly high ceilings, you need do nothing but relax. Enthusiastic cooks can get busy in the kitchen, with vegetables grown on site at their disposal; while the less eager can trust on-site chefs to supply all the necessary ingredients along with specially devised recipes to guide them. Those who prefer a night out can instead book into The Great Barn, where local ingredients are handpicked from the kitchen garden which is, in turn, overseen by Peter Wrapson, Jamie Oliver’s food-grower, no less.

The best of both worlds is a well-worn trope, and often too good to be true in reality. Retreat East can honestly claim that accolade.

We’ve seen the future of the second home – and, Londoners, it is worth way more than a parking spot in the Smoke. suffolk.farm

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INTERVIEW: GORDON MAC

KISS IT STARTED WITH A

For Gordon Mac, a childhood love of music proved the catalyst for his part in kick-starting the UK’s commercial radio revolution. E1 Life tuned in to find out more...

Words: Eric Woollard-White Podcast: Rosie Coxshaw

V

ery few people working in any business can lay claim to having created the market that paved the way for all those who followed.

But in 1985, when Mac started up Kiss Radio as a pirate station along with nine other DJs, each contributing £200 as shares in the venture, commercial radio was still in its infancy.

At the time, only two other commercial radio stations existed in London: Capital Radio and LBC. By 1990, when the UK Government opened up the commercial radio market to other broadcasters, Kiss was well established and already setting the pace with its unique sound, growing audience and, ultimately, its profitability.

Not bad for a south-east London boy who freely admits he has been collecting records for as long as he’s

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been stealing them from his cousin.

“I had a really happy family and music was big for us,” says the man often-labelled the ‘Godfather of Music’. “I was born in the 1960s, so music was all soulful stuff like Aretha Franklin. I grew up on a diet of Dionne Warwick, Herb Alpert, love songs and, of course, reggae.”

He adds: “I think it was a big influence. My grandad was known for having a party at the drop of a hat – he would get his trilby on and dance.

He was a real party animal, so that is probably where I get it from.”

As with most successful entrepreneurs, the route to success was not a linear path. Mac’s cousin Mandy, as well as being the source of those ‘borrowed’ records, was instrumental in creating the eureka moment when he realised he wanted to become a DJ. Mac recalls: “Back in the late 60s, I went to a Butlins in Bognor

Regis with my nan, my aunt and my cousin, Mandy. One night, she sneaked me out of the bedroom window and took me to the Butlins disco and I remember walking into this room. I was only about eight or something like that, and it was loud music and dark with flashing lights. Everybody was dancing and I thought: ‘Oh my God, this is where I want to be’”.

After working as a pub DJ before stepping up to clubs, Mac tried to get jobs with various radio stations without success, before he spotted the opportunity with pirate radio.

“When Kiss came online in 1985, it was a different landscape, definitely,” he recalls. “Back then, when all the stations got licences back in 1990, Kiss was

INTERVIEW: GORDON MAC

Listen to the Podcast at e1ife.co.uk/podcast

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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INTERVIEW: GORDON MAC the first station to make a profit and it was the most successful out of all of them.”

The accomplishments of Kiss did not go unnoticed by other radio station operators. First, Emap acquired the station, before it was sold to Bauer Media for £40 million – although Mac had already cashed in his shares ‘at a good time’ before that sale took place.

These days, Mac is still doing what he loves best: DJing, naturally.

But this time, he’s pioneering in the new media space of digital radio with his Mi-Soul station. As a concept it is all-encompassing: a music platform broadcasting across London on DAB, online through its website (mi-soul.com) and mobile phone apps from a fully equipped studio based in the Stephen Lawrence Trust building.

With its team of over 70 DJs, the most experienced, credible and passionate in the industry present a wide range of ‘soulful’ music live 24/7, to audiences worldwide.

The DJ team brings with it vast experience, and each DJ has their own individual followings and a deep knowledge of their sub-genres.

With a fine balance between old and new music, all Mi-Soul DJs pay homage to the past, whilst actively pioneering the future.

Says Mac: “I think Mi-Soul started off as a dream, and now the dream is being realised. I began by wanting to prove a point, so I did some research on the radio market. I found that there wasn’t a station that catered for the ex-Kiss generation. Also, none of the DJs who were around at that time were active on any legal radio station.

Our average age is 45 years old and they love everything from old school to new cool.”

He enthuses: “I constantly try to build a business that can earn me money and pay me a wage but it’s something that I love doing. If there’s one thing I love, it’s music. I love new music, I love hearing new music, I love talking about it and I love playing it to other people.”

Listen to the Podcast at e1ife.co.uk/podcast

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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tequillafest.co.uk

NIGHTLIFE: OUT OUT

Sager + Wllde The husband-and-wife duo behind Sager & Wilde specialises in knockout vintages – minus any pretension. A daily-changing list features wines you’d never normally get by the glass, while the atmosphere is rustic and warm. Do try the cheese toastie; it’s the stuff our cheesiest dreams are made of.

93 Hackney Rd, E2 8J

Out Out

WORDS: LIAM BARKER

The East London bars shaking up wine o’clock

sagerandwilde.com

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P Franco Less wine bar, more drinks at a mate’s super-stylish, well-stocked pad. P Franco dispenses with menus and sommeliers, preferring instead to serve up minimum-intervention varieties from small producers around one communal dining table. A new chef takes up residency every six months in the tiny two-hob kitchen – yes, it really is a home from home.

107 Lower Clapton Rd, E5 0NP

pfranco.co.uk

Victualler

Newcomer Wines

Specialising in the best of the flourishing British winemakers, Victualler bar and shop’s staff exudes expertise. Settle into the eclectic up-cycled furniture and chat for hours about the stories behind each bottle. Better yet, all the cheese and charcuterie here is British, sourced from small-batch, artisanal producers. Sustainable and delicious.

Championing under-the-radar wines, this all-natural operation is run by a beautiful young Austrian couple with a passion for wine from their homeland. All bottles are sourced direct from Austrian vineyards and the selection changes daily, based on what they feel like pouring. If you’re lucky, you can even catch some sun on the terrace out back too.

69 Garnet Street, Wapping, E1W 3SY

5 Dalston Lane, E8 3DF

victualler.co.uk

newcomerwines.com

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Dinner

BDQ

B U S I N E S S LD I N N E R LQ U I R K Y

Our hot-right-now dining guide to sate every food whim Marcella This exciting little Italian eatery on Deptford High Street is as fresh and clean as a breath of fresh air.

When we arrive, there is plenty of seating at the bar, but we plump instead for one of the many cosy little tables. The menu, presented on a blackboard, offers just a handful of dishes, some of which are intended for sharing as tapas, others of which come as main courses.

We settle on grilled artichoke with aioli and a homemade ricotta served with squash; both are bursting with divine flavour. Next up is spaghetti with sardines, which not only looks

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beautiful but packs a serious punch, all salty bite with perfectly al dente pasta. We wash the whole dolce affair down with a robust red, but don’t neglect to try the cocktails, especially the vodka and blood orange. The perfect neighbourhood restaurant; small, intimate with an exceptionally welcoming staff.

165A Deptford High St, SE8 3NU

marcella.london

FOOD & DRINK: BDQ

Breakfast 90° Melt

Nidhi Sharma, the brains behind the 90° MELT concept, has lived a peripatetic life. Having moved from India to the US to London, all the while working in the finance industry, she finally found herself yearning to do something more creative.

90° MELT encompasses all the passions accrued over Sharma’s varied life: her lifelong vegetarianism, her immense love for food and her obsession with Americana. The idea here is all about delivering the casual, comforting and

Quirky Pasta Remoli

It’s not every chef who personally greets his guests as they arrive for dinner, but that’s just the chirpy kind of guy chef and eponymous owner Simone Remoli is.

The menu is presented in three easy steps: first you choose your home-made pasta; then you deliberate over the selection of delicious sauces; and finally you select from a range of cheeses (what other way to finish a hearty Italian dish?). The quality of ingredients and the care that has been put into each course is evident with every delectable bite.

Born and raised in Rome, Remoli’s culinary journey began in his family kitchen as he used to watch his mother prepare food with love and dedication. Later, when he moved to London, he saw a gap in the market for a restaurant serving up traditional Italian dishes in a quick, reasonable and authentic way. And thus was the Pasta Remoli concept born.

On the Wednesday evening that

we visit, the atmosphere is buzzing.

We vow to return to try Remoli’s pasta-making courses, although we’re certain that even with some new-found expertise under our belts, we’ll still be regulars at our new favourite Italian neighbourhood eatery.

7 Clifton Terrace, N4 3JP

pastaremoli.co.uk bellavita.academy/courses/remoli

inclusive spirit of US-style food to everyone – including vegetarians and vegans. Weekend brunches are a special treat – relaxed, fresh and so flavoursome that even the most committed carnivores wouldn’t believe there is no meat anyhere to be found. We try glutenfree and vegan pancakes; authentic AmericanFrench toasts; and a delicious cornbread and a chilli fry-up skillet, all of which make you suddenly understand why brunch is such a big deal Stateside. For proper American comfort food, do indulge in the ooey-gooey grilled cheese sandwiches (who could resist ripping apart the Donald Trump Mexican melt?).

235 Mile End Road, E1 4AA

90degreemelt.co.uk

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MARINA MEZE GRILL The marina is an authentic, independently-run mediterranean ‘oasis’ in the heart of woodford green, serving a versatile menu of traditional home-cooking and contemporary seasonal dishes using locally sourced ingredients.

352 High Road Woodford Green London IG8 0XQ 020 8505 8999 marinamezegrill.com Marina Meze Grill Turkish Restaurant

Quality food, service and atmosphere Wood Oven BBQ has a charcoal grill that provides freshly grilled meat and fish dishes.

We have a team of chefs with a combined cooking experience of over 20 years. We have an open grill approach to cooking where our customers can see their meal being cooked

during each visit. We are very popular in and around South Woodford, East London. Our take away service is unique providing exquisite cuisines like our dining experiences. We also offer stone baked pizzas cooked fresh in our custom made wood oven.

126 George Lane, South Woodford, London E18 1AD 020 8989 3083 woodovenbbq.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK: EAT STREETS

EatStreets WORDS: LIAM BARKER

Let’s go vegetarian

FED by Water FED started out with the objective of bringing the nutritional importance of water into the public consciousness. Let’s be honest though, water is water – right? If you’re in the market for a little more than rehydration, the menu offers pizza, cheesy garlic bread and carbonara amongst a raft of other comforting classics.

Pizzas come with a choice of mozzarella. The default is the homemade cashew mozzarella, but you can pick from soy or rice-based cheeses.

Don’t miss out on the Diavola with spicy seitan salami and chilli. Finally, do make space for the love child of tiramisu and martini to finish: the Tiramisex Martini (what else?).

Cook Daily Who says fast food has to be burgers or fried chicken? Cook Daily is busy changing perceptions with its SouthEast Asian-inspired vegan bowls.

Vegan it may be, but this is seriously hearty stuff. Think ‘chicken’ and mushroom pie made using homemade vegan chicken; or warming herbal curry sauces served up with your choice of puffed tofu, chicken or prawn on brown rice.

The confident menu is made up of just 10 dishes, none of which you’ll wait any longer than a couple minutes for – all cooked fresh. Cook Daily already has two sites; it feels like this is just the beginning. cookdaily.co.uk 48, 2-4 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6GY

fedbywater.co.uk 64 Kingsland High St, E8 2LX

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FOOD & DRINK: EAT STREETS

Palm Vaults You only have to cross the threshold of Palm Vaults, into a zingy landscape of vibrant palms and pink, to feel instantly healthier. And that’s before you try the food.

Expertly riding the crest of the zeitgeist, Palm Vaults’ Insta-friendly latte menu begs to be boasted about across all your social media channels. Vibrant pink beetroot latte or the earthy green matcha latte? It’s dilemma-inducing stuff. Gratifyingly, the plant-based food menu offers up more than avocado toast. Do try the heirloom

tomato and basil sourdough, and if you’re feeling adventurous, plump for bacon flavour coconut shavings. Finish with one of the delicious cakes, also made with veg. The healthy alternative to the boozy brunch. palmvaults.com 411 Mare St, E8 1HY

Gujarati Rasoi

Club Mexicana rewrites all the rules with its banging street food, leaving no stone unturned in its quest to bring contemporary Mexican cuisine to the capital. We kick off with some stellar street corn; charred corn cobs come coated in creamy chipotle mayo and an anchovy chilli crumb. Next up are the killer tacos. All the shells are hand made of course, and the Baja fish taco is made with beancurd, wrapped in seaweed and then deep fried and served with avocado salsa verde and chilli oil. It’s a dish we won’t forget – ever. Genius.

Gujarati cuisine is overwhelmingly vegetarian, so expect no meat substitutions here. The menu is based on traditional recipes, passed down through the generations to the mother/son team in the kitchen.

A fine balance of delicate spicy, salty, sour and sweet flavours is what they do best – all of which is perfectly expressed in the Pani Puri, which takes a classic street food dish to new heights. The salty paneer, made in-house, is a dream too. For honest and nostalgic Indian cuisine, this is the place.

clubmexicana.com 428 Kingsland Rd, E8 4AA

gujaratirasoi.com 10C Bradbury St, N16 8JN

Club Mexicana - Pamela Bar

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SAISAKI RESTAURANT EPPING Welcome to the only traditional Tachinomi in Essex. Tachinomi bars in Japan are traditional standing bars.

Internationally they are becoming ever popular with a wide range of clientele looking for a welcoming yet traditional drinking experience. Grab a space at the bar, and enjoy one of our many bespoke Japanese cocktails while perusing the menu before dining or just relax in our unique bar.

WWW.SAI-SAKI.COM info@saisaki.co.uk l Tel: 01992 561680 l 199 Cottis Lane, Epping, Essex CM16 4BL

In the hot seat

Rachael South went from art school to upholstery and now shares her experiences through teaching at The Cass School of Art based at the London Metropolitan University.

Words: Alex Larman Podcast: Rosie Coxshaw

R

achael South has established a significant reputation in the field of craft and upholstery, especially when it comes to the upkeep and repair of furniture.Yet, as the Harrow-born South says, it has been a long and eventful progression from her beginnings to actually making a career. “I set off on my upholstery journey by working for a lot of upholsterers, and I acquired experience from the workshops, which was very different from what I’d learnt at university. The more people I worked with, the more I learnt. Yet I always wanted to be selfemployed, and I’ve thrived running my own business; I’ve enjoyed that side as much as the ‘creative’ one, because I get to run it exactly how I want.”

The business that she currently runs was greatly inspired by her father. As she describes it, “I grew

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up in his workshop and observed the process there. My parents didn’t directly encourage me, but I always got the impression that they hoped that I’d join the business. Therefore, when I was being a bit rebellious, and went to art school, the impression that I was giving was that I definitely wasn’t going to join in. And then I decided that I wanted to be selfemployed, and changed my mind.”

Nonetheless, it wasn’t a massive shift from what she had done before. ‘I’ve always enjoyed working with textiles, and would have loved to work in textile design, and costumes, so it’s similar, but a slightly different angle.’

South runs her eponymous business under her own name, rather than a company name. “We do upholstery, re-upholstery of antique furniture – and especially chair caning and rush seating. We also do a lot of creative seat weaving, using old frames and contemporary material such as leather and ribbons.

Additionally, I teach an upholstery qualification at The Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design at London Metropolitan University, so it’s a bit of a three-pronged attack, really.” When it comes to unloved furniture that needs to be restored, she always strikes a balance between personal preference and what she’s been commissioned to do.

“I’m always working to my client’s requirements, really, and am always

EDUCATION: METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

requirements, really, and am always interested to see what they want.

Nonetheless, people often want quite a lot of guidance, and advice, and I’m always happy to work towards that.”

To ‘listen carefully’ has always been her golden rule, both in life and in business. To this end, her teaching has been a central part of her career for the two years that she’s been at The Cass. “I teach the AMUSF upholstery qualification, a three year part-time course, and it’s the training course that takes you through from having no upholstery to being able to go and work as an upholsterer.

It’s incredibly popular, as we get a lot of people who either want to begin a second career or to work for themselves. I also teach chair caning, a side part of the course; it’s fascinating.”

For someone as outgoing as South, the opportunity to deal with the students is another bonus. “Many of them have a business, or have

is the full definition of success, and travel gives me a bit of head space.

It brings me new ideas when I’ve got that time out, and it’s mysterious how it works; I’ll return, and I will have all sorts of new things in my mind.” She singles out Mexico as a particular favourite: “It’s so diverse, and there’s so much to see both there and in Central America, especially the way that the textile manufacture out there is done on an almost village scale.

It’s a place that lives and breathes design.”

The ‘self-motivated’ South is a successful, energetic presence, always searching for new experience, and looking for fresh ways to solve problems. Her favourite dinner guest would be Margaret Atwood – ‘”she manages to combine many different elements in her books” – and, defines kindness as her mantra in life. “I try to be kind to people, even if it’s proving difficult.” As she says that “I don’t want to have a creative life that I stop at some point”, one hopes that South goes on for ever.

Listen to the Podcast at e1ife.co.uk/podcast

worked in other industries, so it’s fascinating to see how upholstery changes.”

As for where she teaches, she couldn’t be more effusive.

“I think we’ve got a really great location in east London, a great range of students – some school leavers, but a lot of adult learners as well, a lot of interesting people – and the facilities are great. Also, we’ve got a long history of teaching craft courses, particularly the upholstery, which have a really great reputation.”

Teaching is something that South has been coming towards for a while.

“I began to think after a while that ‘I’ve worked hard, and I’d like to give something back’, so I began teaching. But I run it in tandem with my business, so it’s always a nice contrast.” When she’s not teaching or working, she occupies herself in a variety of ways; travel is a particular passion. She believes that “a full life, feeling inspired and motivated,

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Urban Myth puts the “plan� back in open-plan living The number of home renovations that include an open-plan area has risen by over 50% in the last decade. More and more of us are knocking down walls or extending our homes to create one big living space to cook, dine, entertain and relax

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ADVERTISING PROMOTION: URBAN MYTH

O

pening up the living area in your home is a great way to make the most of the space you have.

If you are considering going open-plan in your home, Urban Myth has some practical and inspirational tips to help you create the perfect kitchen space for your family.

A LAYOUT THAT WORKS Opening up your ground floor by removing dividing walls encourages a natural flow between living, dining and cooking. As with any major renovation, it remains important to get the layout of these areas just right.

You are probably familiar with the concept of the ‘work triangle’, whereby you can easily access the three most important areas in your kitchen: the hob, the sink and the fridge. For an open-plan layout it is more useful to think of ‘work zones’ when planning your kitchen. By grouping appliances according to their use and the tasks that you perform regularly, you can effectively create the most user-friendly kitchen experience. It is also important to ensure that heavily used items like crockery, pans and the dishwasher are in easy reach; nobody wants to have to walk around unwieldly pieces of furniture every time you need a plate.

The good news is that you don’t need masses of space to create the design you want. At Urban Myth, our designers have worked on projects large and small, so know exactly how to get the most from every inch of your room. When it comes to maximising your space, our senior designer, Peter Hill, recommends that you “utilise the full height of your room with tall storage units to store rarely used equipment”. He adds: “It can also be useful to think about a kitchen island or peninsular to add extra storage as

well as being a useful room divider and breakfast bar”.

THE PERFECT FINISH When you are considering your colour scheme for an open-plan kitchen, do think about the amount of natural light the space will receive. A light gloss finish will reflect light around the room, whereas a dark matt material will absorb that light and, as such, is better suited to areas with lots of windows.

White is still undoubtedly one of the most popular colour choices for kitchens. It is bright and fresh and perfect for any room size. If you want all the benefits of a white kitchen but with a twist, then a warmer undertone like cashmere is a fantastic option.

Urban Myth has an extensive London showroom where you can see and feel the quality of our kitchen ranges. Our friendly and highly skilled designers can help you decide on the perfect colour and material for your new kitchen.

THE POWER OF LIGHTING Lighting is an important consideration for creating the perfect kitchen – and one that is too-often overlooked.

You’ll need to balance practicality and ambience for both work and relaxation.

Dimmable lights are a great way to create atmosphere and also to separate your work/live areas.You must always ensure that you have adequate lighting over food preparation areas; a pendant light over worktops, in addition to recessed lighting, is a popular choice and also adds an always welcome touch of individuality to your design.

For more advice on planning your new kitchen, contact Urban Myth to make an appointment with a designer to view the showroom.

020 8531 3413; urbanmyth.net

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

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HE RE TO GE T

you

THERE

CITY OFFICE

020 7377 5788

DOCKLANDS OFFICE

020 7538 9250 lourdes-estates.com

Price Range: £1,000,000 to £5,500,000

Price Range: £500 per week to £800 per week

Principal Tower, 2 Principal Place, Worship Street, London, EC2A

Back Church Lane, London, E1

New the market, the first residential tower in London fully-designed, both inside and out, by world-renowned Foster + Partners. Principal Tower, located in Shoreditch, EC2 this soaring testimony to London’s continuing influence and vision combines spectacular architecture and breath-taking views with intelligent, elegant design of the highest specification.

Lourdes Estate Agents are very excited to announce the instruction of 42 modern state-of-the-art interior designed 1-3 bedroom apartments with balconies. All our apartments are furnished to the highest standard and have open plan fully integrated kitchens. Luxury features include contemporary cooling and heating system, double-glazed windows, fitted wardrobes in the bedrooms and heated floors.

This 50-storey tower offers luxurious 1 to 3 bedroom apartments with private balconies and penthouses with private terraces. The benefits of the development range from the residents’ gym and spa, screening room, lap pool, 24-hour concierge and the new, tree-lined piazza of shops, restaurants and bars. A City address, but within walking distance of trend-setting Shoreditch, Principal Tower offers fast, efficient transport links, as well as a wealth of cultural and culinary experiences. *Photos represent standard apartment finish and are for marketing purposes only

With Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Bank and Whitechapel Stations all a short distance away you will have easy access to 9 different lines of London Underground’s network, plus the Stansted Express for those holiday getaways! It’s just a short walk to the City yet close to the East End’s trendy Shoreditch and Brick Lane areas. All residents can also enjoy breath taking London views from the amazing roof garden which is made up of laid grass and colourful plants to give the garden a lovely feel and a restful place to sit and enjoy your leisure time. Additionally, the property has a built in secure cycle racks. *Photos represent standard apartment finish and are for marketing purposes only

PROPERTY: STEPNEY GREEN

Thefall rise and

of Stepney Once a down at heel district with none of the hip vibe of its fashionable neighbours, Stepney has recently emerged as the next big thing. Property expert Alasdair Carpenter on why it’s worth taking a serious look at this overlooked corner of Tower Hamlets

A

ll of East London is steeped in history, but Stepney’s goes back even further than most.

Its routes can be traced to medieval times while at the heart of the community, on the High Street, is the impressive St Dunstan’s Church, first founded in 923AD and where a small community grew. The building you see today dates back to the 13th Century and has the honour of being East London’s oldest surviving church.

BACK IN THE DAY The village that sprang up around the church expanded rapidly during the 19th century and became known as one of London’s most impoverished areas. Populated by communities largely made up of immigrant workers, Stepney suffered from a reputation of violence and political dissent, as well as being known as having one of London’s most diverse, cosmopolitan populations.

Fuelled by the growth of the nearby Docks, warehouses and clothing factories located

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PROPERTY: STEPNEY GREEN

in and around Shoreditch, Stepney also became synonymous with overcrowding.

Much of the East End was known as Stepney prior to 1900, when a small borough of the same name was created. In 1965, it was absorbed into the new borough of Tower Hamlets, and Stepney now covers a compact enclave between

Recent gentrification hasn’t dampened Stepney’s character; it still fosters a real sense of community belonging

Whitechapel Road and Commercial Road.

After the war ended, uninspiring council estates arose from the bomb sites.

Now however, the landscape and fortunes of Stepney are changing.

The gentrification of Shoreditch,

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Spitalfields and Aldgate are rippling through to this previously overlooked area. The ugly duckling is fast becoming the swan.

REGENERATION The Ocean Estate in the heart of the area is a typical example of regeneration, having undergone a £220 million transformation, including new landscaping and community facilities, and is now receiving accolades and praise for its design and sustainability.

Not surprisingly, savvy investors are flocking to the area as it still represents far better value for money than any of its neighbours.

In addition to property investors on the hunt for a bargain we are also seeing a vast number of first time purchasers, having been priced out of nearby Shoreditch and Victoria Park. Meanwhile the rental market is stimulated by the student population of Queen Mary University and health professionals from the Royal London Hospital.

Stepney Green is a stunning area, populated with Georgian Houses in the heart of a conservation area. This is very much the jewel in Stepney’s crown. It also benefits from the excellent transport links from Stepney Green Station and will be just a short walk from the forthcoming Crossrail station in nearby Whitechapel.

If you walk through Stepney today you will not fail but notice a marked change in its inhabitants.

The working class East Enders and immigrants are largely replaced with big beards, skinny jeans and thick NHS reading glasses (that’s just the men folk, obviously). You can’t help but feel it’s only a matter of time before the pubs get painted battleship grey and the menu is presented on a clipboard. The pop up restaurants and obligatory microbrewery are but a heartbeat away, mark my words.

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT New build developments in Stepney are selling like the proverbial hot

cakes. The aptly named ‘So Stepney’ and ‘So Old School’ have been a pillar of success for the respective developers. Typically new build one bedroom apartments in the area will start at around £345,000 with prices for two and three bedroom units rising to anywhere up to £850,000.

Although this seems expensive, be under no illusion, a few years from now these prices will be significantly higher.

You can still acquire a freehold house in Stepney for £600,000 whereas in neighbouring areas you will struggle to find any freehold property for under £850,000, while houses in Victoria Park and Shoreditch are selling for well over the £1,000,000 threshold.

The rental market is fast becoming more in line with the more established surrounding areas thanks to that aforementioned university and hospital on the doorstep and both providing a plentiful supply of prospective tenants looking for accommodation.

Despite the recent gentrification, Stepney has thankfully retained much of its no fuss, no thrills attitude. It feels much more real and genuine than many of its East London counterparts and as such, it still breeds a proud sense of community and belonging.

This goes part way to explaining its increasing popularity – it may be just a few stops away from London’s financial district and tech hub but it is a world away on almost all other counts.

Yes, Stepney has certainly come a long way from its humble beginnings, with the last few years witnessing a dramatic change to both the landscape and the demographic.

Those with an eye for the future would be well advised to keep a close eye on Stepney. Never in its history has the future looked brighter for what was once one of the worst slums in London.

Alasdair Carpenter is founder and sales director of Lourdes Estate Agents (lourdes-estates.com)

ALL OF LONDON, ALL AROUND CONTEMPORARY ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOM APARTMENTS IN LONDON’S MOST ECLECTIC QUARTER

Just three minutes’ walk from Aldgate East Tube Station, where the City meets the vibrant East End, London Square Spitalfields is a stylish collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments set around the beautifully landscaped grounds of Mallon Gardens and Grade II listed Toynbee Hall. Intelligently designed and well-appointed, each apartment has a private balcony, winter garden or terrace and all benefit from daily concierge service.

Prices from £695,000 To make an appointment call 0333 666 0929 The Sales Suite, Commercial Street, London, E1 7SA. Open Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 6pm, Wednesday late opening until 8pm.

0333 666 0929

www.londonsquare.co.uk

External computer generated images depict London Square Spitalfields and are indicative only. Internal computer generated image depicts Apartment 10 at London Square Spitalfields and is indicative only.

Details and price are correct at time of going to press, August 2017.

LAST WORD: EMMA AITCHISON

Eastender

Designer and maker Emma Aitchison creates jewellery inspired by the weather. Each piece is handmade – where possible from sustainably sourced materials – in her east London studio. Aileen Murphy meets the maker to discuss the message behind the brand, her new collection and how to shop more ethically

Emma’s Little Black Book Top cocktail: Espresso martini Perfect date night: Cycling along the canal on the hunt for ‘The Village Butty’ canal boat, and then enjoying their homemade beer and dancing to folk music under the stars Favourite place: Hackney Marshes Best bar: Brooksbys Walk Go-to restaurant: People’s Choice (for take away) or My Neighbour The Dumplings Secret gem: The Curve Garden Super shop: Chatsworth Road

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Tell us how you came to launch your eponymous jewellery label...

I’ve always had a creative project on the go, and it was usually jewellery making. But I couldn’t afford a studio so I started making my designs in a shed I built at the end of my garden. I sold my work at local markets and after some time I decided to take the plunge. Emma Aitchison Jewellery was born.

What can we expect from your forthcoming collection?

It’s all about rain, flooding and melting icecaps. I’ve gathered a lot of research and data about the melting icecaps, which I’ll use, alongside 3D technology, to transform the data into unique jewellery. There will be a mix of small pieces with large sculptural items and the materials will be sustainably sourced where possible.

What does an average day consist of?

No two days are ever the same when you run your own business. However, on a typical day I leave the house around 7.30am and cycle along the canal to my studio in Hackney Wick.

After responding to emails, I get started on my workbench, hammering and sawing away for the best part of the day. After a few hours I start doing admin for future projects and events; I have an exhibition coming up as well as lots of workshops so there’s always lots to do.

I try to make sure I have downtime in the evenings, spending time with friends, cooking or relaxing.

Give us your tips for ethical shopping...

Simple changes to shopping habits can go a long way.Buy fewer, better quality items. Shop with independent local traders, at vintage shops or swap with friends. Always take your own reusable shopping bags. Opt for items with the least packaging.

Don’t be afraid to ask where things were made or who by.

The work is inspired by the weather.

Can you tell us more?

The weather has endless possibilities! I like to look at the forces and their effects in an abstract way, and I attempt to capture those fleeting moments that pass us all by. I like to look at the weather as a universal language; everyone experiences it, and we all have it in common.

Given my love for nature, opting for sustainable production was just an obvious path for my brand.

You run creative workshops in your studio, teaching the art of silver jewellery making and leather belt production. Tell us more...

I’ve always loved teaching and encouraging others to become interested in design so I offer oneto-one jewellery workshops. Typically I teach clients how to make a silver ring or bangle using traditional silversmithing techniques. I also offer wax ring carving workshops – you learn the skills to carve an item from wax, and then have it transformed into metal. I have a lot of hen parties come in for workshops, as well as clients who want to make their own wedding bands.

emmaaitchison.com

PURVEYORS OF FINE TRADITIONAL PUNJABI CUISINE SINCE 1972

Much-loved Punjabi restaurant serving aromatic, spicy dishes in a no-frills, contemporary interior.

OPEN ALL DAY 12AM – 11:30pm Seven Days a week 83-89 Fieldgate Street, London, E1 1JU 020 7247 6400 www.tayyabs.co.uk @1tayyabs

funkydory Good times, party vibes

PRESENTS

An official Southport Weekender Festival & SuncèBeat reunion party

Party Classix & Nu Grooves:

The Love Floor

Deep and Soulful House, Boogie and Disco CJ Mackintosh Ricky Morrison Ronnie Herel Gordon Mac Terry Jones Martin Lodge DJ Coxy The Hoxton Pony, Curtain Road, Shoreditch Saturday 18th Nov 17 – 9pm-4am

SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER

FESTIVAL

Tickets available @eventbrite @FunkyDoryLove

Funky-Dory

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