www.gievesandhawkes.com www.gievesandhawkes.com www.gievesandhawkes.com
H4F_2P_CanaryWharf_Aug_20150722.indd 1
TOM A S Z F URM A NE K Photo by: Tomasz Furmanek
7/22/15 3:51 PM
18
CONTENTS FEATURES
REGULARS
018 | Life is but a dream Dreamsmith create lavish celebrations in the most unique settings across the globe
010 | Contributors 012 | Editor’s letter 015 | The agenda
034 | Cyber chic Examine the world of wearable technology and discover what’s in store for the fast-growing industry 052 | Top to toe The ultimate beauty regime ahead of your summer holiday 060 | Inside Wimbledon Go behind-the-scenes at the annual sporting event and meet those responsible for making it a success 092 | Work well Businesses with a relaxed take on the standard working day spearhead the rise of wellbeing at work
6 | CANARY WHARF
AUGUST 2015
BEAUTY & GROOMING
Health & Fitness
049 | Beauty news 050 | Beauty hot list 057 | Well groomed
058 | Health and fitness news
FASHION 031 | Back to the future Mary Katrantzou collaborates with Adidas on a second sportswear collection
57
60
032 | Style him 033 | Style her 038 | Fields of gold Achieve the perfect British summertime style with Bohemian prints and quirky accessories
50
34
33
52
NOW RECRUITING
If you think being a secret agent is about sipping cocktails on a private island all day, you’d be right.
It’s really no secret that we’re all about impeccable service at Small Luxury Hotels of the World. That’s why we’re looking for a further 20 mystery inspectors to embark on free undercover missions at our 520 luxury hotels around the world. It’s not a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. Apply now at slh.com/mi
CONTENTS
CONTENTS AUGUST 2015 COLLECTION
TRAVEL
MOTORING
PROPERTY
023 | Pure shores Two distinctive techniques characterise Piaget’s new high jewellery collection
077 | Best of both worlds The perfect compromise between a city break and beach sojourn
105 | Alfa goes back to its roots What you can expect from the Alfa Giulia
110 | Property news Budget repercussions and home innovation
079 | Travel news
106 | Tanks for nothing Volvo reveals its biggest and boldest model yet
130 | Interview: Franklyn James The agency reveals its brand new look
FOOD & DRINK
135 | State of the market The experts’ views
024 | Watch and jewellery news 026 | Luck be a lady Designer Carolina Bucci celebrates the 130th anniversary of her family business with a Superstellar collection
BUSINESS 089 | Alice Temperley MBE, ambassador How the designer is doing her bit for charity 090 | Business digest
080 | A Hollywood story Exploring the glitz and glamour Los Angeles has to offer 084 | Best of British A round-up of the very best British getaways, including York, Bath and the New Forest
79
065 | Health kick Learn how to eat yourself healthy 066 | Food and drink news Sticks ‘n’ Sushi launches a breakfast menu 068 | On the grape vine Nicole Sierra-Rolet describes the reality of swapping banking for fine wine cultivation
146 | Interview: MyLondonHome A new branch from the award-winning agency 160 | Raising returns Smart property investment choices 162 | London horsepower Berkeley Homes unveils a new addition to Goodman’s Fields
66 106 8 | CANARY WHARF
London • Liverpool • Manchester • Altrincham • Chester • Southport www.davidmrobinson.co.uk
contributors
Published by
RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP
Contributors Matthew Carter
Editor Gabrielle Lane contributing editors Richard Brown Lauren Romano Acting assistant editor Melissa Emerson
A motoring expert and former editor of Autocar and Classic & Sports Car, Matthew is well-positioned to examine the mighty credentials of Volvo’s bold new XC90 SUV, and determine if anyone else really has a chance on the school run.
Editorial assistant Gabriella Dyson Motoring Editor Matthew Carter Collection Editor Annabel Harrison General Manager Fiona Fenwick Senior Designer Lisa Wade Production Oscar Viney Hugo Wheatley Jamie Steele Alice Ford
Abigail Butcher Abigail, a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph, specialises in writing on health, fitness and travel, having raced a yacht across the Atlantic and skied the Indian Himalayas. This month, she weighs up the various wellbeing perks being offered by businesses.
Leo Bear
Property Director Samantha Ratcliffe Executive Director Sophie Roberts Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood Managing Director Eren Ellwood
One Canada Square, Canary Wharf London, E14 5AX
Leo, a writer for publications which include Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler and The Telegraph, rekindles her love affair with West Hollywood this month, soaking up the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, while living like a local.
matilda temperley Dividing her time between personal projects and commissions, photographer Matilda captures quintessential Bohemian style in this month’s fashion shoot, with the British countryside as the backdrop for summery ensembles.
T: 020 7987 4320 F: 020 7005 0045 www.rwmg.co.uk
Other titles published by
RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP
MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSIONAL PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ACCREDITED BY THE AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS
Distributed by L2L 0203 203 0023, an ABC affiliate distributor. Runwild Media Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Runwild Media Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. Subscriptions: A free online subscription service is available for Canary Wharf magazine. Visit the subscriptions page on our website: rwmg.co.uk/subscribe
10 | CANARY WHARF
On the cover Dreamsmith specialises in the imaginative and the exclusive. The bespoke event company has overseen everything from dinner parties in the desert to the sourcing of private islands. On page 20, we enter the world of the discerning traveller.
ICONIC HOTELS IN ICONIC PLACES
ASCOT
CPA_0715_Couple_A4.indd 1
I
+44 1344 876 600
I
DORCHESTERCOLLECTION.COM
21/07/2015 09:52
From the
editor “Every summer has a story” – Anon
T
he quote above is very simple, but not unimportant. London may not experience quite the exodus which is seen among the inhabitants of Paris in August, but this month is a time of travel, and for many, an opportunity to embrace new experiences and make plans for next season. We begin this issue by speaking to Kit Harrison, co-founder of events company Dreamsmith. With a faultless combination of imagination and contacts – including the keeper of the keys at St Mark’s Basilica in Venice – his team manages to assemble lavish celebrations in deserts, on ice plains and in the midst of Brazilian carnivals. Harrison tells us what the most discerning travellers are asking for this summer, on page 18. Five years after meeting her husband while chasing her own dreams, Leo Blair revisits Los Angeles on page 80. Her nostalgia for the glamour and adventure of her past, as well as her guide on where to stay, will also serve as worthy inspiration. For former investment banker Nicole Sierra-Rolet, a vineyard in Provence is where she has found a passion, alongside husband Xavier, chairman of the London Stock Exchange. Restoring the medieval estate (allegedly also bid on by Prince Charles) has taken more than two decades and yielded the award-winning collection of Chêne Bleu wines; but also more than a few life lessons. On page 68, Sierra-Rolet shares her advice for those thinking about leaving corporate life behind. Thankfully, work/life balance is on the agenda for businesses, more than ever, just over a year after the government relaxed guidelines and enabled more of us to apply for flexible hours. Abigail Butcher looks at the new generation of lifestyle perks, and encourages us all to take more annual leave on page 92. Use it wisely.
Gabrielle Lane Acting Editor @Canarywharfmag
12 | CANARY WHARF
EDITOR’S PICKS
Signature Leather Bracelet in Black Nappa, £50, Aspinal of London, Cabot Place
Venetian Bergamot Eau De Parfum, £142, Tom Ford, tomford.com
Tiffany T Ring, from a selection, Tiffany & Co, Cabot Place
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
MY
K
Skate Enjoy Shop Party Enjoy Skate Shop Party
OPEN 31ST OCTOBER 2015 UNTIL 27TH FEBRUARY 2016 CANADA SQUARE PARK, CANARY WHARF ICERINKCANARYWHARF.CO.UK
08456 531 431
TICKETS ON SALE IN AUGUST SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER ONLINE FOR EARLY BIRD OFFERS
IRCW A4 Magazine Advert_V2.indd 1
15/07/2015 10:02:01
regulars
Sport: Set Sail Navigating 40,000 miles of ocean and taking almost a year to complete, The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is widely acknowledged as one of the planet’s toughest endurance events. Setting sail on Sunday 30 August, from St Katharine Docks, the 2015-16 race marks the biggest event so far, with over 690 crew members representing the UK and 40 different nationalities assembled to take part. Whether you’re a sailing enthusiast or simply intrigued by this courageous show of human spirit, the spectacle is truly inspiring. 30 August, St Katharine Docks clipperroundtheworld.com
THE AGENDA Words: GABRIELLA DYSON
Sport: On the Ball
tech: Picture Perfect Bang & Olufsen’s latest technological offering, the Beovision 11, promises to challenge your previous conceptions of what a television can be. Its LCD display provides razor-sharp images and its discreet in-built sensor analyses surrounding light to ensure that your viewing experience is comfortable and optimised whatever the conditions. Built-in Apps such as Spotify and Deezer allow you to seamlessly blend your musical database with your television to create the ultimate entertainment system and you can even sync your iPad or Android tablet with your screen too, to browse Facebook or change the channel with the touch of a finger. POA, Bang & Olufsen, 2 South Colonnade, E14
This month Jubilee Place and the West Wintergarden are once again set to host Ping! – your chance to gain professional coaching in the art of ping pong. Learn the tricks of the game and witness professional players battle it out in showcase matches. Alternatively, assemble yourselves into teams of three to compete for the coveted Canary Wharf Ping! trophy. The competition is fierce but there’s fun to be had. Jubilee Place & West Wintergarden, pingengland.co.uk
Tech: Go Go Gadget GoPro’s latest gadget is 50 per cent smaller and 40 per cent lighter than its predecessor, as well as being waterproof at up to 33ft – making it the only camera you need to take on holiday. The compact design renders the device more wearable, less noticeable and better equipped for weight-sensitive activities such as kayaking and rock climbing; and with its easy one button control you can power up, switch modes, take extraordinary photos and professional quality 1080p video. Other features include the Auto Low Light function and dual microphone technology, which reduces unwanted noise in windy or high-speed environments. From £256, gopro.com
CANARY WHARF | 15
regulars
Event: Life’s a Beach If you’re looking for the perfect summer getaway – without the long-haul flights – then head down to Montgomery Square to soak up the sun courtesy of Orlebar Brown’s beach bar. A range of specially crafted cocktails have been designed based on the brands’ classic swim shorts: Springer, Setter, Bulldog and Dane. Overlooking the water on Wood Wharf, next to Santa Monica Volleyball Court, the bar is the ideal place to sit back and relax at the end of a working day. Until October, Montgomery Square
Books The Traveller Now you can experience the world through the eyes of renowned concierges thanks to the third volume of Assouline’s Luxury Collection series. Organised by morning, afternoon and evening recommendations, the book takes readers on a journey of discovery, from hiking in the beautiful Runyon Canyon to visiting the magnificent Taj Mahal. As well as an introduction from Holly Stiel, the first female hotel concierge in the USA, contained within its pages you will find expert restaurant and shopping recommendations as well as top insider tips for making the most of local culture. With over 200 beautiful images, Certified Indigenous is an inspiring purchase for every traveller, leaving no corner of the globe untouched. The Luxury Collection Certified Indigenous, by Holly Stiel, £30 assouline.com
Also out this month Spider’s Web The fourth book in Stieg Larsson’s acclaimed Millennium series continues the story of Lisbeth Salander, described as the most ‘original heroine to emerge in crime fiction for many years’. The Girl in the Spider’s Web, by David Lagercrantz, £14.99, Waterstones, Cabot Place and Jubilee Place
Counterculture This thought-provoking read sees Stone examine the phenomenon of the ‘Unbrandables’ and how brands behave toward consumers who are sensitive to authenticity and hostile to relentless materialism. Unbrandable: How to Succeed in the New Brand Space, by Adam N. Stone, £14.95, thamesandhudson.com
16 | CANARY WHARF
we spy What we’re coveting this August
1
Frescobol Carioca's bat and ball set, £150, frescobolcarioca.com
2
Heidi Cardinal Orchid Bag, £295, L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place
3 4 5 Airborne Cargo Travis Mini Drone, £99.99, Parrot, parrot.com
Kaleidoscope Cushion, £320, Casahito, casahito.com
Blue Specchio Suede Sandals with Orange Tassel, £450, Alexander White, alexanderwhitelondon.com
PARIS / JANUARY 23-27, 2015 / SEPTEMBER 4-8, 2015 PARIS NORD VILLEPINTE
BORN AND RAISED WITH MAISON&OBJET PETITE FRITURE, AT M&O SINCE 2010
WWW.MAISON-OBJET.COM
INFO@SAFISALONS.FR SAFI ORGANISATION, A SUBSIDIARY OF ATELIERS D’ART DE FRANCE AND REED EXPOSITIONS FRANCE / TRADE ONLY / DESIGN © BE-POLES - IMAGE © FRANÇOIS COQUEREL
Life is BUT A DREAm The fairy godmother of travel, Dreamsmith is in the business of making its clients’ wishes come true, by creating magical bespoke events and celebrations in every corner of the globe WORDS: MELISSA EMERSON
A
treasure hunt winding up in Venice with a private performance of La traviata in the opera house for which it was written; a private tented camp in the desert outside Marrakech with a rock band flown in for the night; a float in the Rio Carnival Winners’ Parade, followed by dinner at the feet of Christ the Redeemer. These experiences might sound like expensive fantasies, but Dreamsmith’s co-founder Kit Harrison insists they are all absolutely plausible excursions. Specialising in creating extraordinary, tailormade celebrations for its clients, event consultancy
Image courtesy of andBeyond
Dreamsmith was launched earlier this year when Harrison partnered with Henrietta Loyd and Christopher Wilmot-Sitwell of cazenove+loyd, which had been creating similarly lavish spectacles for more than 20 years. The experienced trio “share the same vision for creating truly one-off moments,” although there is one crucial difference. Dreamsmith focuses on distant horizons. “Rather than theme an African or Indian party in a tent in the UK, we make sure the setting is in Africa or India,” says Harrison. “Hosting a lavish celebration in a marquee in the garden used to be all the rage, but we have found there is increasing
FEATURE
demand to celebrate in a more authentic way.” There are challenges of course. “A party overseas isn’t anything unless you know the lie of the land there, who and what makes it tick, and how to get things done. We draw on local culture.” Having to find unusual, and occasionally remote locations at a time of social unrest in some parts of the world, complicates matters further. “One must always be mindful of unrest and we have special advisers in each country to aid us,” says Harrison. “We are very sensitive to it and should an area become off-limits we will respond accordingly.”
However, the reality is that difficult plans are what Dreamsmith does best. “In a world where luxury goods are increasingly available, luxury has become experiential and about access. It’s this access that sets Dreamsmith apart. Armed with [knowledge] you can open doors to people and places that might otherwise remain closed.” Harrison believes that the market for ambitious international events has also flourished because time scales have changed. “At a higher level, it is more common to celebrate over a number of days rather than hours,” he
CANARY WHARF | 19
explains. “Closer to home Venice, Istanbul, Seville and Marrakech make for incredible destinations. Further afield, India, Oman and Mustique, where we have a very special relationship, offer something truly spectacular.” Although events will always vary depending on the occasion and nature of the host, Harrison suggests a guest list of around 50-100 people works well, pointing out that “Parties shouldn’t be for everyone you have ever met.” What’s the cost? “A useful guide is £5,000 plus flights per head.” Before I can total up the figure for the prospective 50-100 guests, he assures me that “curiously, a party overseas lasting three or four days can be less expensive than an evening in a marquee at home.” Dreamsmith’s remit extends beyond producing the actual event. “We look after every detail, from the initial concept, through to the save the date cards and invitations, the management of guest lists, coordination of all the suppliers, flights and any construction, and then the spectacle itself.” With a little black book of contacts including “masters of wine, airline owners, maharajas and the man who holds the keys to St Mark’s Basilica in Venice,” clients are assured a level of celebration
that they couldn’t have achieved alone, or at least without a great deal more work. “The host has to do remarkably little in the run up to the party,” says Harrison. This also makes maintaining an element of surprise that little bit easier. “One guest was simply told to block a week out in his diary and we then flew him to Rio by private jet, blindfolded, where the party began on the roof terrace of a hotel on Copacabana Beach.” Clients’ambitious dreams means Dreamsmithmanaged gestures seem to be getting grander. “We’re currently looking at building an ice palace in Norway where dinner is to be lit by the Northern Lights and we’ll be launching new opportunities towards the end of 2015 – there are some very special new relationships in the pipeline,” reveals Harrison. One of Dreamsmith’s existing partnerships is with the privately owned island of Mustique in the Caribbean. Twice a year, the island’s owners now allow the company to curate a small-scale event, with exclusive use of its luxury villas and white, sandy beaches for three to seven days. “On the one hand, we want to share the island’s beauty; on the other we need to ensure it remains a unique and private hideaway. In
FEATURE
Dreamsmith we found a discreet and experienced team with whom we can create fabulous parties on Mustique,” explains Roger Pritchard, managing director of Mustique Company. “The key to any experience is that it feels unstructured, while allowing for everyone to do as much as they may want to,” muses Harrison. “There are moments when the host will want everyone to be together – key lunches and dinners for example – but there are other times when some guests simply want to relax by the pool.” Once a location is sorted, Dreamsmith focuses on thoughtful finishing touches. I ask what is on Harrison’s list of must-haves. “A chilled glass of Champagne that sits on top of a dune you have
“A chilled glass of Champagne that sits on top of a dune you have scaled for the sunset” scaled for the sunset, and the scent of a flower captured in a bespoke perfume to remind you of a magical four days.” In terms of places, Harrison loves India. “It has an extraordinary number of forts, palaces and temples together with a breadth of colour, language and geography that is hard to beat. I’d also love to organise a rally of vintage cars through Havana, where we have insider access to the evolving arts and music scene. Or even take a boat to cruise the islands of Palau, to the east of the Philippines – now that really would be something.” 020 7384 8910; dreamsmithevents.com
CANARY WHARF | 21
M ESUR E ET D ÉMESUR E *
TONDA METROGR APHE
Steel Automatic chronograph movement Hermès calf strap Made in Switzerland www.parmigiani.ch
ATELIER PARMIGIANI 97 MOUNT STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON W1K 2TD, TEL. 020 7495 5172 EDINBURGH ROX DIAMONDS AND THRILLS | KENT RIZON JET UK LIMITED LONDON SELFRIDGES, THE WONDER ROOM | ARIJE | HARRODS, MONTREUX JAZZ CAFE WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND | FROST OF LONDON | BEAU GEMS, THE CITY WINDSOR ROBERT GATWARD JEWELLERS
collection
Pure Shores Unveiled just a few weeks ago at Cap Estel on the French Riviera, Piaget’s new high jewellery collection, Mediterranean Garden, takes us down a nostalgic path that recalls a stellar period of the maison’s history: the free-spirited 1960s and 1970s, when international jetsetters and celebrities would attend Yves Piaget’s glamorous parties on the Riviera. The pieces bring to life the luscious floral gardens of the resort, not to mention the iconic Piaget Rose. Two jewellery techniques characterise the collection – twisted goldsmithing and marquise-cut stones – the former of which has been illustrated in a spectacular gold cuff featuring a magnificent 14.82-carat oval-cut black opal at its centre (perfectly capturing the French Riviera’s shimmering, deep blue waters), as well as emeralds, tourmalines and diamonds. Radiant Azur cuff bracelet, POA; piaget.com
Fink Again With so many now on the scene, there aren’t many rising jewellery designers who really excite us; however, Nana Fink is one of the few who does. The Basel-based jeweller successfully launched her debut collection in 2011 and her name has quickly spread across the Channel, her pieces landing in London at Paul Smith’s flagship boutique not long after. Her third collection, available this summer, is named Adorée and, true to Fink’s individual style, brings together both vintage and contemporary elements to create timeless pieces, on this occasion drawing on designs from the 1880s through to the 1930s. The collection, encompassing bangles, earrings and rings, utilises a mixture of metals, in particular gold and silver variations, with prices ranging from approximately £1,200 up to £1,700. Adorée collection, available at Paul Smith, 9 Albemarle Street; nanafink.com
JEWELLERY & watches Timepieces to treasure and jewels to covet this month WORDS: OLIVIA SHARPE & richard brown
Recalling an icon
Parmigiani's Pièce de résistance
Spotting George Clooney sporting a vintage Omega Constellation in his latest sci-fi blockbuster, Tomorrowland, Canary Wharf Magazine was reminded of another Omega classic re-imagined earlier this year. Loyal to its original incarnation, the new Speedmaster ’57 has to be one of 2015’s best-looking chronographs, especially when paired with a brown leather strap. The watch’s self-winding mechanism can be viewed through its scratch-resistant, sapphire-crystal caseback. It’s available now. Speedmaster '57, £5,620, Omega David M Robinson, Jubilee Place
Haute horology specialist Parmigiani Fleurier has produced a £500k wrist watch. How does the brand justify the price tag? By incorporating four of the most revered complications in timekeeping into an 18-karat, white gold watch that's been hand engraved and enamelled in microscopic detail. The Tecnica Les Carpes de Sandoz is a tribute to sculptor Edouard Marcel Sandoz, founder of the not-for-profit Sandoz Family Foundation, parent company of Parmigiani Fleurier. Behind a hinged, double caseback, a 586-component calibre powers a minute repeater, a tourbillon, a perpetual calendar and a chronograph. Not only will the watch chime the hours, quarter-hours and minutes of the day, it will also only require one adjustment every century. Tecnica Les Carpes de Sandoz, £554,135 Parmigiani Fleurier, 97 Mount Street, W1; parmigiani.ch
COLLECTION
ONE TO WATCH This month Sandy Madhvani, Showroom Manager at David M Robinson in Canary Wharf, selects his watch of the moment:
"With a power reserve of approximately 70 hours, an instant date display visible through the aperture and improved resistance to shocks and vibrations, the new Tudor Pelagos in matt blue really is the ultimate diver's watch" Pelagos, £3,020, Tudor Available at David M Robinson, Jubilee Place
String theory Music provides the inspiration for many of Raymond Weil's creations, accounting for relationships with the Royal Albert Hall and, since 2008, the Brit Awards, where each winner receives a watch as a prize. The company recently unveiled its first tourbillon, the Nabucco Cello, which pays homage to the instrument via hands that are formed in the shape of a bow, a bezel grooved with the five lines of the musical stave, and four tiny strings that are stretched across its dial. Skeletonised and measuring 46mm in diametre, it's the family-owned brand's most serious, and certainly most striking, watch to date. Nabucco Cello Tourbillon, £27,500, Raymond Weil raymond-weil.com
cutting edge Last year saw Tiffany & Co. enter into an exciting new age of design with the launch of its contemporary Tiffany T collection, created by newly-appointed design director Francesca Amfitheatrof. A year later and the distinctive, graphic symbol has evolved further into two new pieces, exclusive to Tiffany’s new boutique in Selfridges.
Tiffany T is an icon of a new era, a vision of simplicity and sculptural modernity. The latest combination of sterling silver and black ceramic in the wide contoured cutout cuff and ring exude power and confidence. Tiffany T cutout cuff and ring in sterling silver and black ceramic, POA Exclusive to Selfridges
Garden State In a dazzling display of craftsmanship and exquisite precious gemstones, Bulgari’s latest high jewellery collection, Giardini Italiani, sees the romantic gardens of the Rinascimento (Italian Renaissance) immortalised in a series of 100 one-of-a-kind pieces. The gardens’ geometric hedges and vibrant flowerbeds have been evoked through the floral jewel motifs and colourful stones, while the collection’s standout piece, Love’s Paradise (as worn by Carla Bruni at the launch in Florence last month), featuring a magnificent 125.35-carat sapphire at its heart, conveys the true romance of an era in which artists would attempt to explore new concepts of nature and art through their work. Giardini Italiani collection, POA Available at all Bulgari UK boutiques
String to Her Bow Having worked for the likes of De Beers and the Sotheby’s jewellery department, where she oversaw some of the auction house’s most memorable sales (including the jewels of the Duchess of Windsor and the Graff Pink), it’s fair to say that Vania Leles is an authority on fine jewellery. Leles went on to found her own jewellery brand in 2010, Vanleles Diamonds, which as of this summer has opened its first boutique in Mayfair. The store currently houses the five core collections, including Lyla’s Bow and Enchanted Garden, along with a bridal range and bespoke pieces, all of which combine the jeweller’s commitment to sourcing the finest quality, ethically-mined diamonds and gemstones with innovative design. Vanleles Diamonds. By appointment only vanleles.com
CANARY WHARF | 25
Luck be a lady Born into a family of goldsmiths, Carolina Bucci was always destined for career greatness. Olivia Sharpe speaks to the jewellery designer as she celebrates her family business’s 130th anniversary with a new collection, Superstellar
C
arolina Bucci is a fortunate lady indeed. Born into a family of Italian goldsmiths, it was serendipitous, perhaps, that she didn’t consider doing anything but jewellery design: “I always knew it was something I wanted to do. It wasn’t imposed on me by any means but it never even occurred to me to do anything else.” Now a successful jeweller, she has by no means forgotten her roots. The Bucci family business was founded in Florence in 1885 and this year is its 130th anniversary; to celebrate, Carolina has created a collection entitled Superstellar. Having launched her company in 2007, Superstellar’s celestial theme seems apt given Carolina’s meteoric rise to success. And yet, the idea was actually conceived after she witnessed the astonishing annual Perseid meteor shower last August (the collection therefore, unusually, has its own birthday: 10 August 2014). As though she was being sent signs from above, Carolina began seeing stars everywhere, from Mario Schifano 1960s artwork to Jasper Johns’ flag painting. The star-studded range perfectly captures this natural phenomena through the explosion of dazzling gemstones on the random array of pieces, ranging from shield ‘pinky’ rings, chokers and ‘life’ pendants. It was these pendants, based on diamond gauges, that Carolina designed first and include holes that have deliberately been left empty so that clients can customise them with their chosen stones.
In many ways, Superstellar pays tribute to Carolina’s heritage. Several of the pieces have been made using the family’s vintage silk thread and the jeweller has also created a new Lucky bracelet (an iconic design of the Carolina Bucci house that is reinterpreted every year) to feature a miniature balloon charm.
“Ultimately, it’s about creating nice jewellery. That’s the first thing that needs to attract people” However, the jeweller has ensured that her own DNA has not been eclipsed. She has always wanted to “push the limits” in order to create something new and exciting; as she puts it, “if everyone were to make the safe version, it would be pretty boring”. Many of the Superstellar pieces therefore possess unconventional qualities, in particular the pearl necklaces. The jeweller last included pearls in the Nana collection eight years ago and she was initially reluctant to revisit them, finding them to be a challenging material: “They have a preconception of being very proper and traditional,” she explains. “So it was hard trying to capture a world where pearls are cool, fun and not traditional, while still not disrupting their form.” Carolina purposely used freshwater pearls because of their irregularities and imperfections, mixing the
COLLECTION
grey and white hues in a “non-symmetrical way” and punctuating them with multi-coloured pavé stars. The versatile pieces can be worn in a number of different fashions, either long, short or, in the case of the pearl scarf, tied around the neck with a knot. While her family wouldn’t think twice about incorporating a traditional clasp into the design, Carolina was adamant about the matter: “I hate clasps,” she states, vehemently. “My family has always made traditional 18-karat jewellery so what I have created is quite foreign to them.” For the first time in years, the collection features
chokers too, which arrive in two different sizes and are reversible. Finally, the range’s diamond studs are being sold separately, to be worn as single pieces or combined with others to encourage a mix-and-match approach. This passion for trying new things relates back to Carolina’s childhood when she would experiment in her family workshop. “I was always fascinated by the process of making jewellery,” she muses. “As early as my teens whenever I was given a gift by my parents I would say, ‘I love it’ but in turn think to myself, ‘How can I change it?’ That has been my nature
CANARY WHARF | 27
from the very beginning.” Carolina has always stood firm in creating jewellery that she wants to wear, something that is “fun but fine”. Having never been allowed to wear costume jewellery growing up, her jewellery is in some ways a rebellion against this but at the same time retains its timelessness. “Wearing jewellery isn’t about being seasonal. It’s something that constantly evolves and expands as part of your personal collection.” Sitting opposite Carolina, I cannot fail to notice her eye-catching gold necklace, consisting of her favourite pieces from all her collections to date, including the Scarab charm, an owl from the Lucky collection and the newest addition, the Superstellar Drop pendant. Since launching her iconic Lucky bracelets 13 years ago, Carolina has often been struck by talismanic symbols but she assures me that she is by no means spiritual. “Ultimately, it’s about creating nice jewellery. That’s the first thing that needs to attract people.” While fortunate in her
“When it comes to the future of Carolina Bucci, the possibilities seem infinite” upbringing, she insists her career was never handed to her on a plate. “I was lucky to be born into a family of jewellers, yes. But we were three kids and we were never pushed into being involved in the business. From an early age, my father would make me work for it and have me do sketches for him.” At 21, Carolina went off to New York to study at the Fashion Institute
of Technology and having already done the preliminary groundwork, she was resolutely set on the path she wanted to take and so would avoid taking certain classes, such as learning how to use CAD design, believing it would be of no use to her in the long run. “I knew it wasn’t something that interested me. I was very focused and good at bargaining so my tutor would let me skip certain classes. I think there are some amazing techniques out there but they’re just not for me.” Her refusal to use modern techniques when designing extends to her personal life; despite having an iPhone, Carolina admits to favouring her paper diary. When it comes to the future of Carolina Bucci, the possibilities seem infinite. The jeweller is currently focused on growing her presence globally with more retail outlets but when it comes to London, Motcomb Street will remain the sole flagship. She is also working on a new project which, while keeping specific details close to her chest, hints will be under a separate umbrella from the Carolina Bucci brand with a “different attitude and price point” but will still possess “the same spirit”. Carolina’s determination to create her own signature aesthetic when it came to her eponymous jewellery brand has evidently paid off. She tells me how one of her favourite moments recently was when she was at a friend’s house and a lady there spotted one of her necklaces and, not knowing who she was, exclaimed how it was “very Carolina Bucci”. “It goes back to how I think designers should be,” she comments. “You should always make something that screams ‘you’ – that is recognisable, like an artist. When that happens I feel like I have done my job.” Superstellar collection, available from August Carolina Bucci, 4 Motcomb Street, SW1X carolinabucci.com
COLLECTION
CANARY WHARF | 29
www.urvashilondon.com
back to the future Mary Katrantzou fans are celebrating the designer’s latest collaboration: the adidas Originals by Mary Katrantzou collection of clothing and footwear, was largely inspired by the heyday of 80s fitness fanaticism with its electric colours and iconic silhouettes, including the jersey bodysuit. Sports equipment from tennis rackets to stopwatches are transformed by intricate and futuristic digital prints (a Katrantzou speciality) with an artisan edge – the reversible varsity jacket boasts delicate satin stitching and a kaleidoscope of crystals adorns the structured T-shirt. from £45, adidas.com
FASHION
FEATURE
Fit for a Kingsman MR PORTER and director Matthew Vaughn have joined forces to create a second bespoke menswear collection inspired by the hit film Kingsman: The Secret Service. Every element of this quintessentially British follow-up collection – from its smart tailored pieces to its hand-finished ties – has been crafted by British heritage manufacturers to ensure timeless quality throughout. from £16, mrporter.com
coming soon
STYLE HIM Words: gabriella dyson
Surf’s Up
There’s still plenty of time to soak up the sun and hit the beach this summer and Farfetch has your holiday wardrobe sorted. There’s everything from statement shorts to edgy accessories on offer, so get your hands on a pair of Oliver Peoples tortoiseshell shades and a bold Marni T-shirt to nail that summer look. Striped shorts, £152, Blue Blue Japan, farfetch.com
Best Foot Forward Known for attention to detail and obsession with quality, Crockett & Jones has stayed true to its heritage with the release of its A/W 15 collection. The Chukka boots combine style and comfort, while the bestselling Pembroke shoe is available in new dark green and dark brown scotch grain colourways. from £380, Crockett & Jones, Cabot Place
Off The Peg T.M.Lewin knows that no two customers are alike, which is why its A/W 15 tailoring collection plays host to 30 different suit designs, with everything from invisible checks and micro designs to tonal blues and the more classic ink-black options included. With three different cuts on offer, an allimportant sharp fit can also be guaranteed. from £149, T.M.Lewin, Jubilee Place
Look out for Topman launching in Canary Wharf this August. Canada Place
Designer Debut Luxury jewellery brand Monica Vinader debuts its first ever men’s range this month, with a collection of slick cufflinks and corded bracelet designs. Expect a spectrum of natural colour gemstones and sleek sterling silver finishes as well as the opportunity to make every piece individual with an engraving service for monograms, initials, and messages. from £75, Monica Vinader, Jubilee Place
PROMOTION FASHION
seventies splendour The Pre-fall collection from Gucci mixes the glamour of seventies-inspired bejewelled prints and opulent fur with more minimal and clean masculine shapes. Dresses take centre stage for evening from the brick red leather dress with its chunky hardware to the silk, sleeveless floor-length gown, while for daytime, pair cosy Nordic-inpired knitwear in the softest alpaca, merino and mohair with herringbone trousers. Black, charcoal and camel are the backdrop for bolder shades of blue and orange and contemporary accessories include pointed flats and stilettos with brogue detailing, and chainhandle bags in calfksin and studded suede. gucci.com
STYLE HER Words: MELISSA EMERSON
Marni has introduced a new bag style as part of its A/W 15 capsule collection. Looking somewhat familiar, the new Mini Trunk is in fact a smaller version of the iconic Trunk design, still with the practical adjustable strap. The variety of colours and materials from coloured calfskin to silky satin are playful yet elegant thanks to the bag’s compact size, and one exquisite special edition comes in smooth calfskin, with hand-applied leaves and flowers in soft pastel and forest green python. Mini Trunk in Calfskin, £1,200, marni.com
personal prints
Scarf designer Aaron Hales draws on different cultures, experiences and rituals in his exquisite designs. The fine raw silks are washed, dyed, rolled and printed in a Cotswolds mill, with even the packaging and ribbons made in the UK. The latest style to launch is Margot, inspired by Hungary’s traditional Kalocsai craftswomen, who have passed their unique embroidery motifs down through generations. A bespoke service including a lunch consultation is also on offer if you feel like getting creative. Margot scarf, £245, aaronhales.com
Bridal Bliss Zahavit Tshuba is Les Trois Soeurs’ latest designer. Although pearls and tulle feature in a number of the elegant and detailed designs, the Israeli artisan also creates gowns with a less traditional touch. The Rebecca dress has tassel fringing and an open back, while the two-piece Hilla design incorporates a unique type of antique Russian lace. Les Trois Soeurs Bridal, Canada Place
opening SOON
MANGO, Canada Place
Image: Les Trois Soeurs Bridal and Sophia Schorr-Kon @ Mandorla
Mini Me
SUPERDRY, Canada Place
CANARY WHARF | 33
FEATURE
Cyberchic From earrings that measure your heartbeat to self-defending dresses, Gabriella Dyson discovers what the future holds for the exciting world of wearable technology.
W
hen Apple announced its first foray into wearable technology the world waited with baited breath to see how its bold new venture would fare. But if the latest market research is to be believed then you probably won’t be donning its pricey new arm candy this season. Although official sales figures are yet to be released, the latest statistics produced by e-commerce analysts Slice Intelligence suggest that sales of the Apple Watch have plummeted by a whopping 90 per cent since its initial launch in April. The global giant’s latest fashion statement is a far cry from the success witnessed by its other recent launches, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and the complaints are slowly adding up. After a shipment from China was found to contain faulty components, a huge batch of the watches had to be scrapped and other shipments have been rumoured to leave rashes on wrists and fail to function altogether when presented with tattooed skin; hardly the enhanced personal experience we had been promised. It’s a commercial disappointment which was seemingly prophesied by Jean Claude Biver – CEO of TAG Heuer and Hublot – when he spoke frankly to CEO: Middle East this June. For Biver it is longevity that holds the key to success in the world of luxury
timepieces – a vital quality that the Apple Watch is seemingly lacking. “The smart watch for sure will not be working in 150 years,” he asserted, “it will not work in ten years.” With this unwavering commitment to timeless quality he was quick to shrug off the competition. “On one side you have technology that is due to become obsolete, and on the other hand you have art that is to stay eternal.” The time is ticking for the Apple Watch, or so it would seem, but what about the rest of the wearable tech industry? Credit Suisse analysts currently predict that within the next two or three years the value of the wearable technology market will balloon from the current $3billion to $5billion estimate to $30billion to $50billion. So if it’s not timepieces which are setting this burgeoning business on fire, then what is? Try rings which inform you of incoming texts, colour changing gym clothes, and cocktail dresses with in-built self defence mechanisms. Yes, you read that correctly. While these might seem like objects of science fiction, the reality of wearable tech is here. Last year Ralph Lauren embraced the concept by venturing into smart apparel: the Polo Tech shirt debuted at the US Open Tennis Championship, and boasted bio-sensing fibres that transmitted the wearers’ vital statistics to an app on a smartphone or tablet. Meanwhile, Alexander Wang was busy incorporating heat sensitive fabrics into his A/W 14 show, creating a landmark
CANARY WHARF | 35
collection which changed colour when exposed to varying temperatures. Luxury stores have been quick to adopt the trend too; with Opening Ceremony’s MICA bracelets having been made available at Barneys New York earlier this year and DVF’s Made For Glass collection exclusively going on sale with luxury e-tailer Net-A-Porter. Elsewhere, Rebecca Minkoff and Case-Maet’s collaborative phone charging bracelets became a roaring commercial success, and rumoured ventures from Michael Kors, Armani and Fossil are predicted to follow suit. In seeking to fuse the worlds of technology and mainstream fashion, brands are becoming aware that individuality and style hold the key to its reception. “When women wear accessories,
“When women wear accessories, wearable tech included, we want them to enhance our look and our style” wearable tech included, we want them to enhance our look and our style,” says Ashlyn Bird, cofounder of Ear-O-Smart, the world’s first smart earring that monitors a user’s heart rate, calories and activity. “The bottom line is that everyone wants to look and feel their best in what they wear.” “Aesthetics are really important for consumer uptake,” adds Amy Winters, founder of smartclothing company Rainbow Winters, whose designs include three interactive dresses: motionsensitive, sound-reactive and water-reactive. “The wearable tech market is quite a crowded space at the moment, and to me a lot of the products seem to look the same. Aesthetic design combined with compelling user experience will be the key to a product’s success.” Ringly – which launched its range of smart cocktail rings this spring – secured a mammoth $5.1billion in investment funding prior to the launch of its first product (which has already sold
out online). The chic gold-plated designs feature precious and semi-precious stones, and fulfil a lifestyle demand too. The rings notify wearers when they receive a message via their smartphone or tablet and allow users to stay connected with those far away from them, without affecting the time spent with those they are with. “It is our belief that wearables should be designed to fit both your life and your style,” says Christina Mercando, founder and CEO of Ringly. While wearable technology is still in the early stages of development, “once designers have mastered the required balance of form and function, wearables will easily become a part of our daily lives.” Ashlyn Bird agrees: “As wearable technology becomes more fashionable, more functional, more convenient and more accessible, it will inevitably be worn by more people, more frequently and for longer durations.” Of course, part of the appeal of wearable technology, is the ability to play with a vision of the future. Indeed, one need only to look to Intel’s most recent collaboration with experimental designer Anouk Wipprecht to see how far the industry can go. With its spidery tendrils and futuristic form, at first glance the Spider Dress 2.0 looks like it would be more at home in H. R. Giger’s Aliens than appearing on the catwalk. But this unique creation was part of a plan to produce innovative intelligence-driven designs that go beyond simple jewellery and eyewear, and enter a new realm of possibility. “My designs don’t only measure the body,” Wipprecht explains, “they communicate with it as well and express our emotions.” When she created the Spider Dress 2.0 she focused on the notion of personal space, noting that while many of us internally sigh at the thought of crowded tube journeys very few of us would actively display our discomfort to others. “My systems take the comfort level of my wearer into consideration and act accordingly. Whether that is pushing out a smoke screen by literally giving a ‘back off’ like the
FEATURE
Spider Dress.” When confronted with an intruder, the Spider Dress 2.0’s robotic limbs jump into action, grasping forward to prevent invaders from creeping too close. If this space age marvel is the future of wearable tech then it’s easy to see where all the hype stems from. For Wipprecht, the current bond which we share with our devices can be made much more intimate. “As technology starts to crawl up our skin it opens up a world of possibilities,” she asserts. But as alluring as these designs may be, what consequences does the future of wearable tech have for society and how we interact? For Canary Wharf’s very own Level39, the growth of wearable technology is an extension of the “sensor-driven lifestyle that people are getting accustomed to and increasingly enjoying.” But as Europe’s largest technology accelerator space for finance, cyber-securities and future cities technology, it is well versed in the highs and lows of such enterprises. “The real elephant in the room,” the
head of Level39 tells us, is that the wearable tech industry increasingly faces the challenge of what to do with the masses of personal and biometric data that become available through the use of such wearable devices. “At Level39 we are not only looking for innovators that will positively change the way people lead their lives,” he asserts, “but we are also looking for those that have a healthy and advanced perspective on the data protection issues.” So, before rushing off to buy one of Wipprecht’s unique creations, you might wish to consider the practical implications. As the wearable technology industry continues to expand into the unknown, we need to be cautious about allowing technology to glean intimate details of our lives and emotions. Yet, used correctly, the sophisticated products can bring us style, convenience and knowledge. After all, a cocktail dress with a kick would be a very nice addition to any wardrobe. credit-suisse.com/uk/en; http://iq.intel.com; level39.co
CANARY WHARF | 37
Dress, ÂŁ1,800, Michael van der Ham dress, michaelvanderham.com, Bag, ÂŁ380, Kate Spade New York, katespade.co.uk
FASHION
Fields of
GOLD
There is a touch of irreverence about Bohemian prints in flowing silhouettes teamed with vintage separates and quirky accessories – it’s the perfect look for British summertime photography: matilda temperley styling: Anat Dychtwald
CANARY WHARF | 39
FASHION this page: Dress, ÂŁ1,995, Temperley London, temperleylondon.com opposite: Dress, from a selection, DSquared2, dsquared2.com Sandals, from a selection, Nicholas Kirkwood, nicholaskirkwood.com
CANARY WHARF | 41
FASHION
Cashmere jumper, £58, Rokit, rokit.co.uk Turtle kilt, £280, A Child of the Jago, achildofthejago.com Navy tall wellington boots, £79, Hunter, hunterboots.com credits MAKE-UP: Ranelle Chapman using Leonor Greyl HAIR: Alyson Hazelwood MODEL: Anastasia Ivanova at Premier Model Management
CANARY WHARF | 43
It’s never too late...
LUXURY BODY BUTTER IN WHITE CASHMERE FROM THE BATH & BODY COLLECTION
www.lilouetloic.com
KRISTIAN & REBECA HAVE BEEN A COUPLE FOR three YEARS
Pair Necessities Bringing a touch of Parisian chic to Canary Wharf, The Kooples has arrived in Canada Place
F
using both men’s and women’s clothing into one collection, The Kooples is a French fashion label that encourages couples to shop together. The brand was established in 2008 by brothers Alexandre, Laurent, and Raphael Elicha, the brand’s contemporary but eclectic style takes inspiration from 80’s punk cleverly overlapped with pieces influenced by upper-class aristocracy. The more formal pieces combine perfect cuts, attention-to-detail and precious fabrics, and all are available at The Kooples’ new store in Canada Place.
D The Kooples, Canada Place, 020 7715 5378
canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
See for yourself
It’s official, specs are back in fashion. At Bailey Nelson, Canary Wharf’s new optical specialist, updating your look has never been easier – or more enjoyable
C
hoosing your next pair of spectacles or prescription
We speak to Marketing Manager, Roz Baaijen...
sunglasses should definitely
Q: What is the thinking behind the Bailey
our optician for a friendly, relaxed but
be one of life’s pleasures –
Nelson brand?
professional eye test. We also offer free
according to Canary Wharf’s hip and
A: We are righting the wrongs of the optical
high fives!
stylish new optical dispensary, Bailey
industry. We want to bring transparency
Q: Does Bailey Nelson stock designer brand
Nelson. Made from the highest quality
to the optometry world because glasses
spectacles or sunglasses?
Italian acetates, every stylish frame,
shouldn’t cost a fortune. We do great
A: At Bailey Nelson we only sell our unique
for both men and for women, is priced
glasses at affordable prices so you can have
Bailey Nelson-designed frames handcrafted
from under £100 (complete with single
the right look for the right occasion.
from the finest Italian acetates.
vision lenses), making it the perfect place
Q: What other services, eye tests and products
Q: What is unique about the new Canary
to buy one – or even a few pairs, to
are available?
Wharf branch?
suit your mood, a new oufit or a
A: We offer quality eye tests done with
A: Come see us in Jubilee Place and find out
special occasion.
the latest equipment. Come and meet Vee,
for yourself!
Styles for all.. Bailey Nelson offers prescription glasses, sunglasses and nonprescription polarized sunglasses at a fair price, to the style savvy. These are our top choices. D Bailey Nelson, Jubilee Place, 020 3289 0265
the classic
TOP CHOICE
Wells glasses, £98, including single vision lenses with all coatings
trend setter
Pablo sunglasses, £98
canarywharf.com
Bronte sunglasses, £98
@yourcanarywharf
www.wtrlondon.com 0207 243 3776 188 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RH
BEAUTY
my burberry: the second edition Following the success of the My Burberry Eau de Parfum, the brand has released a lighter eau de toilette version, also mastered by celebrated perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. Billed as a grand floral inspired by a blossom garden, the fragrance is crisp and mature owing to its notes of lemon flower, peony and freesia underpinned with musk. If ordering online, the bottle can be monogrammed with up to three initials. It is also designed to reflect the look of Burberry’s popular trench coat – with a horn-finish cap (like the jacket’s buttons) and a garbardine-textured box. 50ml, £52, Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home, Canada Place
BEAUTY NEWS Words: gabrielle lane
show me the light
FIVE-STAR SKINCARE Guerlain launched its first rinse-off cream in 1901, aiming to make the removal of makeup as much an art form as its application. Now in 2015, it has unveiled a Beauty Cleansers collection consisting of five formulations enriched with the anti-inflammatory properties of Nigella flower. Included in the range are hydrating micellar water L’Eau de Beauté, a smooth beauty milk named Le Lait de Beauté, a rich day cream La Créme de Beauté, a refreshing foam, La Mousse de Beauté and a gentle eye treatment named Beauté des Yeux. from £33, Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home, Canada Place
The Tom Ford vision of beauty is one of symmetry and minimalism. That means that the brand does contouring better than most (think high cheekbones and sculpted jaws). This month it releases Skin Illuminating Duo in Moodlight, but the idea is that instead of adding shadow, you add a subtle shimmer to the areas you want to emphasise. Skin Illuminating Duo, £56, Tom Ford, Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home, Canada Place
massage in a bottle Clinique has launched a sonic applicator accompanied by a new Sculptwear Contouring Massage Cream Mask. The tool is designed to be moved over the skin three times per week to increase blood flow and facial radiance. Treatment Applicator, £20 and Cream Mask, £36, Clinique, Boots, Canada Place
GIAMBATTISTA VALLI FOR MAC With Italian heritage and a reputation for glamorous couture gowns, fashion designer Giambattista Valli’s collaboration with MAC was always going to yield dramatic results: his matte lipstick in dark cherry shade Eugenie is one to buy now and wear all autumn, not least because its blue undertone makes teeth appear whiter. Lipstick, £17 each, MAC, Jubilee Place
CANARY WHARF | 49
BEAUTY
1
English rose Guerlain’s autumn Bloom of Rose collection celebrates the brand’s long affinity with roses, with delicate blushes and shimmery shadows. Echoing a liquid rose lip and cheek tint Guerlain discovered in the 19th century, the new KissKiss Roselip balm, in six rich shades, acts like a lipstick, with added hyaluronic acid and rose essential oil to plump and moisturise. from £22, Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home, Canada Square
child’s play Directly inspired by the A/W 15 catwalk collection with its colourful prints of children’s drawings, Dolce and Gabbana’s latest make-up range, #dglovesfall, features vibrant primary shades from Red Royal to Purple Passion for nails and lips while pinks, browns and golds help achieve a striking but softer overall look. from £19, harrods.com
3
magic wand
The pointed cut of Shiseido’s new Full Lash Volume Mascara wand leaves no lash untouched, fanning them out evenly as the formula’s waxes sculpt and shape with precision. The Black Luminous Pigment, developed in Shiseido’s lab, reflects light for a deep black tone. £22, Boots, Canada Place
Beauty HOTLIST Fashion aside, we can’t wait to usher in this season’s beauty products words: melissa emerson
home comforts Lilou et Loic’s bath and body products are as beautiful to look at as they are to use, from the large, decorative glass decanters of its bath foam to its ribboned gift boxes. Its new scent has a suitably autumnal feel as sweet fig and tart rhubarb bring freshness to smooth, velvety leather. The moisturising hand wash and lotion are perfect for a daily dose, or room diffusers give a longer lasting scent to the surroundings, without being overpowering. lilouetloic.com
4
50 | CANARY WHARF
2
oriental influence Soir d’Orient is a new variation of Sisley’s classic Eau du Soir fragrance, inspired by a time of Spanish invasion when scents from the Orient mixed with those of the West. An immediate citrusy burst of Italian lemon is rounded off by saffron with middle notes of black pepper and Turkish Rose absolute oil, all tempered by the gentle warmth of sandalwood and patchouli. from £81 for 30ml, sisley-paris.co.uk
5
Top to Toe
We’ve all been there: it’s the week before your summer holiday and you have a thousand errands to run. There’s your hair to tame, your nails to manicure and your skincare regime is all over the shop. But stop fretting, because our top-to-toe beauty guide is on hand to ensure the perfect preparation
make up
MAC MAKE-UP MASTERCLASS If you thought perfecting summer make-up involved little more than being liberal with a bronzer, think again. If you’re going to match your base products to a golden skin tone, experiment with a shimmer-based eye shadow or choose your holiday as an opportunity to master feline eye liner flicks, it’s worth asking the experts for help before you invest. An hour-and-a-half of professional tuition from the MAC team in store costs £50 – a fee that is fully redeemable against products for you to take away. The artists are regularly asked to impart their contouring wisdom, and while the session can show you how to create cheekbones and lift brows with a few deft flicks of the right brushes, it also doubles as a full-on make-up bag reboot. There’s no easier way to find the right foundation that won’t slide when the heat sets in, or a heavy-duty waterproof mascara that endures each swim, than asking someone else to do it for you. While you’re in store, consider the appointment a personal introduction to MAC’s library of colour, including its brand new collection Le Disko. Its Dazzleglass lip gloss in Boys Go Crazy (£17.50), Dazzleshadow in Last Dance (£16) and Superslick Liquid Liner in Pure Show (17.50) might feel more wearable in the sun, but that’s half the fun. MAC also offers a full make-up application service for £30, should you have no intention of attempting such artistry yourself. MAC, Jubilee Place
beauty
Hair
BRAZILIAN BLOW-DRY BY SEAN HANNA Five years ago, when the Brazilian blow-dry first became part of Londoners’ collective consciousness, there was mixed feedback. Some loved the glossy, iron-smooth finish of having their hair coated in keratin, while others found it left their styling looking lank. Fast-forward to 2015 and salons have found solutions that de-frizz European hair types without weighing them down – and the team at Sean Hanna rely on a Nanokeratin system. Hair is washed and a protein-rich formulation applied, blow-dried and straightened into it; before it’s left dry and unstyled for three days, while the mask takes effect. The aim is to produce smooth results for up to 12 weeks and give you an extra level of manageability in humidity. Does it work? You’ll definitely cut your blow-drying time down and reduce any wayward volume and stress caused by trying to wrestle naturally fluffy hair into submission. But the effects are glossier when you run straightening irons over the finished result, which thanks to the keratin coating on posttreatment hair, are less likely to cause damage. Enter ghd’s new platinum® styler, which has three heat sensors incorporated into its plates to help maintain an optimum temperature for styling. The idea is that its irons are so advanced and the curve of the plates so precise, that one stroke will give the curls, waves and sleek ends you’re looking for, without prolonged exposure to heat. In testing, the straighteners reduced breakage from use by up to 50 per cent. The Canary Wharf team tried them and loved them. ghd platinum®, £165, ghdhair.com Brazilian blow-dry, from £130, Sean Hanna, Jubilee Place
CANARY WHARF | 53
“The pros have a clear base coat of gel applied to give their nail colours extra oomph”
nails
THE LONDON MANICURE Nails inc has developed its own Gel Effect Polish, which gives a shiny, chip-resistant colour to nails for up to three weeks. Set under a lamp, the process takes 45 minutes to complete, and thanks to the boutique salon’s current promotion, the lacquer can be topped up an unlimited number of times within a two-month period for £99, meaning feet can remain sandal-ready at all times, as you switch between feel-good brights such as Lexington Gardens and feminine pastels including Regents Place (both pictured, £15 each). The effect is less thick than other gel polishes and less likely to cause damage than the harsh adhesives used with acrylic overlays. A word of warning however – the gel is inclined to lift in extreme heat, which means the glossy effect is ideal for balmy days in the capital, but not so good in the high temperatures you might be enjoying in the southern hemisphere. Instead, the pros have a clear base coat of gel applied to give their colours extra oomph and enjoy switching their top coat of varnish on a whim. Even more advisable is to have your nails buffed and polished before you leave and apply a treatment-and-polish in one, while away. The brand’s NailKale range is formulated around the healing properties of the superfood and includes a Base Coat enriched with vitamins A, C, E, F and H from aloe vera, pomegranate and grape to help prevent breakage and splitting. Two coats, three times a week can be worn alone or with a colour over the top. Superfood NailKale Base Coat, £15 Nails inc, Cabot Place
beauty
SKIN
All lifestyle images from Miles of MAC by Miles Aldridge and James Gager, courtesy of MAC Cosmetics
SHRINKING VIOLET INCH-LOSS BODY WRAP AND URBAN TAN SPRAY TAN If you’re looking for a confidence boost ahead of donning your bikini, look no further than Urban Beach’s Shrinking Violet inch-loss body wrap. The treatment encourages the body to break down excess fat cells in the stomach, thighs, upper arms and buttocks for a firmer appearance and a reduction of more than two inches in waistline measurements in one 60-minute session. It involves applying phosphatidylcholine, which the body uses to break down the cells, within a plantbased, clingfilm-like wrap. The oil-based solution also includes juniper, lavender and cypress to intensively moisturise the skin and help to improve the appearance of stretch marks. Painless and non-invasive, a course of six is recommended for best results and is recommended to kickstart a healthy lifestyle. Then, before you jet off, opt for an Urban Tan Spray Tan. The ultra fine mist is applied by a therapist to ensure no tell-tale marks and will leave limbs looking bronzed for up to one week. The best way to maintain the tan is to moisturise every day and shower at a cool temperature to avoid drying out the skin, which could lead to patchiness over time. Shrinking Violet Inch-loss Body Wrap, £69, Urban Tan Spray Tan, £35, Urban Beach, Jubilee Place
sun care check-up
VISIA SKIN ANALYSIS Re-examine your sun care regime before you go on holiday. Dr Russo, cosmetic dermatologist and founder of The Rejuvenation Clinic & Medispa, uses a VISIA machine – essentially a UV camera – to reveal the amount of damage 1mm below the skin and how it compares to the average in your age group, before highlighting the worst affected areas and treatment options. Aside from protecting your skin on holiday, Dr Russo points out that even on cloudy London days your skin is exposed to UV rays and needs factor 30 protection. He recommends 2.0mg/cm2, so for the face this would be one tablespoon. Research suggests most people use only half of this or less, meaning the effective level of SPF drops to 5.6 or below. As a result, Dr Russo has developed his own Sun Protective Skincare collection which includes a daily protective moisturiser. The products can also be combined with an anti-ageing facial treatment (around 80 per cent of premature ageing can be attributed to sun damage) at The Rejuvenation Clinic & Medispa. Sun Protective Skincare collection, from £65, Dr Russo, Space NK, Cabot Place
CANARY WHARF | 55
OZONE THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS refresh, revive and revitalise YOUr rOUtine
Canada PlaCe | 020 7970 0911 | infO@reeBOKClUB.CO.UK | reeBOKClUB.CO.UK *OZONE IS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REPLACEMENT FOR CHLORINE, PROVIDING YOU WITH A HEALTHIER SWIM IN A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
grooming
Well GROOMED
1. scrubs up well Clinique’s charcoal face wash delivers a deep-pore cleanse by drawing out the dirt and excess oil which build up and block pores. The soothing gel is neither abrasive nor drying, so can be used twice daily to foam away impurities, and keeps skin fresh and hydrated for longer. Clinique for Men Charcoal Face Wash, £18, Clinique, Boots, Canada Place
From charcoal cleansing to sonic shaving, stay on top of grooming innovations words: gabriella dyson
2. mr mysterious Aramis Black cologne packs a punch with bold, fresh notes of grapefruit and pepper. Its crisp, citrusy accents are tempered by the more aromatic juniper wood, rich cognac and soft leather for a more rounded and masculine scent, complemented by the simple, transparent bottle design. Aramis Black 110ml, £52, Aramis, Boots, Cabot Place
1
3. regal aroma
2
3
Tom Ford’s Noir Extreme cologne has Indian Kulfi at its heart – an accord inspired by a Himalayan snow and pistachio concoction prepared for 16th century Mughal emperors. The woody, amber-heavy fragrance balances oriental notes with floral and citrus undertones, and comes in a suitably regal gold and smoked glass bottle. Noir Extreme cologne 50ml, Tom Ford, £70, selfridges.com
4. skin deep Origins’ Clear Improvement Purifying body wash utilises the powerful key ingredient of bamboo charcoal. Worked into wet skin, it cleanses any build-up of dirt while the 100 per cent natural clove and wintergreen essential oils leave skin feeling clean and invigorated. The mintyfresh aroma is a bonus. Purifying Body Wash, £20, Origins, feelunique.com
4
5. Close Shave
5
For a sharp and efficient shave get your hands on the Braun series 9 razor. Its advanced micro-adaptation OptiFoil™ cuts hair as close to the skin as possible and the specialised motor’s sonic micro vibrations ensure that more hair is captured in fewer strokes, boosting performance while simultaneously minimising friction and skin irritation. Series 9 9040 Premium Shaver, £269.99, Braun, Boots, Canada Place
CANARY WHARF | 57
health & fitness
a liquid lift cPRESS nutritionist, zoe stirling, spills its cold-press juicing secrets 1. What are the benefits of cold-press juicing? Cold-pressing extracts juice through a slow squeezing action rather than using centrifugal methods – juice extracted at low temperatures with minimal friction retains a greater quantity of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
HEALTH & FITNESS Words: MELISSA EMERSON
spectator Style
Wimbledon 2015 might be over, but you can still dress in its Ralph Lauren attire. The brand celebrated its tenth anniversary as Official Outfitter of the Championships this year, by dressing all on-court officials. Still available to buy is the elegant French Navy uniform worn by the ball girls and boys, as well as preppy polo shirts and a white cotton blazer complete with the Polo Ralph Lauren All England Club crest. from £85, ralphlauren.com
california DREAM Sweaty Betty’s A/W 15 range is inspired by California’s active lifestyle and pastel colours, so whether it’s yoga or hitting the slopes you’re into, prepare for tomboy racer-back vests inspired by the skate parks of Venice Beach, rainbow prints based on the swirling, iridescent patterns created by oil spills, and the daring, skyscraper shapes of its London Edit capsule collection of sportswear. Sweaty Betty, Jubilee Place and Cabot Place
new wheels As well as its cyclist-friendly Raising the Handlebars clothing range with its stretch fabrics and reflective trims, Ted Baker has also teamed up with bicycle maker Quella. Available for pre-order, the brands’ bike design is available in three colours. Akin to an Italian racing model, it boasts a sleek steel frame and copper plating, topped off with a Brooks England saddle for a traditional touch. £1,995, quellabicycle.com; Ted Baker, Canada Place
58 | CANARY WHARF
2. Why GO organic? The whole point of juicing is to help increase the body’s intake of nutrients and enzymes. However, if a juice isn’t organic you may also be ingesting some chemical or heavy metal residues, negating the beneficial effect. 3. What are the secret ingredients? There are a range of superfoods in CPRESS juices to boost nutrient levels. We use turmeric, chlorella, chia, cayenne, ginger and kale as they’re packed with healthenhancing properties. from £4.50 for 300ml, CPRESS, Crossrail Place
A
ST OFF E
1
ST
R
U
GU
FIRST MONTH FREE MEMBERSHIP
ER
SUMM
ESS
MADN
LEAVE
WORK
BEHIND
LUXURY FITNESS HEALTH CLUB
OUR FOCUS IS YOU
LIMEHOUSE MARINA, LONDON E14 7LB
5MINS CANARY WHARF
5MINS
BANK TOWER GATEWAY
CONTACT US 0845 262 5050 WWW.LIMEHOUSEMARINAELITE.COM
Images: Images courtesy of Ralph Lauren, Official Outfitters for Wimbledon Overleaf: Main image courtesy of Hackett S/S15, hackett.com
Inside
wimbledon Wimbledon is one of Britain’s best-loved sporting traditions. From the preparation to the post-match analysis, here we ask the players, event managers, chefs and falconers to share what it takes to be part of it WORDS: gabrielle lane
feature
james ward
british tennis player “It’s an honour to play at Wimbledon and every time you walk in, it’s one of those places you can’t help but be impressed by. Obviously it’s even more special because I’m English and I’m lucky to have the tournament here – it’s great to have the support of a home crowd and it’s something I personally really like to make the most of. Sometimes, when you make a mistake or whatever, and everyone goes ‘ohh’ in disappointment, that’s not great to hear. But ultimately people want you to do well and that’s their way of showing it. I try to stay as relaxed as possible in the hours leading up to a game; I sit down and have some food. I try to eat a lot of meat and vegetables, rather than what people think we eat – which is mostly pasta. Everything is changing in regards to what people say is good for you and what’s not. I know that some people still eat a lot of carbs prior to a match: you should really just eat whatever you’re comfortable with. Then, as the match draws closer you start to warm up and mentally prepare. How far in advance I arrive depends on what sort of game I’m playing. It can be quite draining staying at Wimbledon all day so I try to avoid that. I have with me a change of clothes, enough rackets to last five sets and spare shoes – you have to be prepared for every eventuality. Tennis is just as much a mental battle as a physical one. Everyone involved can play the sport well. When guys with lower rankings climb up the ladder and win matches, I think it should be expected: everyone can play, but it’s really about having the belief and confidence to step over the line and win the match. It feels like a very big advantage when you’re serving, because everyone serves so well and break points decide a match. You want to hold onto your serve for as long as you possibly can. A lot of people think that you have to act in a certain way to get by in tennis but I’d like to see some more aggression on the court. If there was more personality to the game then I think more people would come along to watch. After a match, there are a lot of commitments that people don’t see. It’s tough to enjoy something every day, especially when you’re training and practising. When you lose matches it’s no fun but I look forward to playing tournaments and I watch matches back as much as I can.”
CANARY WHARF | 61
nick gratwick
imogen davis
“As the oldest tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon is the pinnacle of the summer sports calendar, and as an avid tennis fan, this event is hard to beat. Keith Prowse is proud to be the official hospitality provider to The Championships and, as event organisers and caterers collectively, the team serves approximately 490,000 guests over 13 days, and offers 10,000 hospitality places. It is such a cliché, but no two days are the same for me – I could be food tasting one day and measuring bespoke furniture the next. I am also in charge of hospitality developments and work on innovation, client retention and new business: I have learnt that listening is more important than talking – the opinion of our customers is vital. We welcome guests for all sorts of special occasions, from wedding anniversaries to bucketlisters and corporate bookings. I have received many requests, most of which we have satisfied. However, there are limits to our powers, such as when I was asked if we could provide tickets for a Men’s Singles Final in the Royal Box – unfortunately it was slightly out of my control, but we managed to get the client the seats directly behind. This year, we incorporated The All England Lawn Tennis Club’s (AELTC) ‘Tennis in an English Garden’ vision into our hospitality. Along with themed interiors, we introduced fun elements such as a five-star concierge service. Our hosts were wearing show-stopping uniforms designed by Ted Baker, and we also teamed up with international
“Rufus the hawk is a very important member of the team at Wimbledon, working throughout the year to try and keep eager pigeons away from eating the grass seed and nesting in the roof. Rufus is a natural hunter and the pigeons react with their innate sense of ‘fight or flight’ when they see him: the nature of a Harris hawk is to work as part of a pack, so he looks to me for guidance and I will work from the roof and courts to encourage him to fly to problem areas. The training process is known as ‘manning’ and is based on food motivation and trust. It takes between eight and ten months: Rufus is almost eight-years-old and has been training in Wimbledon since he was four months so it is his playground – he is a dynamic bird with a friendly nature and now has over 8,500 followers on Twitter @RufusTheHawk. During The Championships we start our working day at 5am on Centre Court. Each day we weigh Rufus to ensure he is at his optimum flying weight which is 1bz 6oz, before setting him off to scour the area. He returns regularly for a reward of quail or chicken and once he is confident that there are no pigeons around, he will sit on a high perch. We will then leave the grounds before the public arrive. Rufus has a great life including a tasty diet, daily exercise, a daily bath and a fun team. The Wimbledon family has taken Rufus under their wing, tweeting him, taking pictures and downloading the Perfect Flight app, which gives users the opportunity to fly like a hawk and see an alternative view of Wimbledon – the interaction is great for a family business and it’s exciting to fuse the ancient art of falconry with technology. Rufus was very unfortunately stolen in 2012. It was the most horrible weekend of my life, as we felt so helpless, not knowing where to look or why he had been taken. However, everybody at Wimbledon wanted to help as much as they could to find Rufus, and the press attention received must have changed the minds of the people who took him, as they left Rufus in his travelling box on Wimbledon Common, after calling the RSPCA. Rufus was luckily unharmed when we were reunited, and now we ensure he is never out of sight.”
head of events, keith prowse
“I was asked if we could provide tickets to the Men’s Singles Final in the Royal Box” mixologists from MIX Global to provide the ultimate cocktails. Albert Roux OBE designed the three-course à la carte menus and while guests were eating their Fruits De Mer, high-profile former player Pat Cash gave an insight into the day’s play. You don’t need to be a sports fan to do this job, as we are always so busy during the summer months that I miss some of the action myself. That said, the feeling you get walking through the gates of the AELTC at The Championships is so special.” keithprowse.co.uk
falconer
feature
albert roux obe
chef patron, the gatsby club “It’s a pleasure to cook for tennis fans in The Gatsby Club. To make sure we constantly exceed expectations at the world-class tournament, we use seasonal ingredients throughout the menus and always add an exciting twist to enhance the diner’s experience. This year we served Severn and Wye smoked salmon, Isle of Mull salmon, Wye Valley asparagus, heritage tomatoes, new season Cumbrian lamb, Norfolk chicken, and beautiful Kentish strawberries and raspberries. The adrenaline at the beginning of service is overwhelming and it’s a pleasure when the guests have enjoyed their day.”
gary parsons executive chef, the gatsby club
“Hospitality at Wimbledon is a 24-hour operation, with 49 kitchens on-site. During the 2015 tournament, our 220 chefs served around 8,000 people per day throughout a range of hospitality areas. The key to this event is very efficient service. A typical day at The Championships for the brigade would include a 6am start; we’d make sure the overnight deliveries had arrived, check the quality of the produce and manage the distribution to the correct kitchens before the day’s prep begins. We’d then meet all the chefs and the senior management teams for our daily briefing. During lunch, I’d oversee parts of the service and visit at least six restaurants to make sure the highest standards were being met. After that, we began placing orders for the next
“The adrenaline at the beginning of service is overwhelming” day, while the rest of the team served afternoon tea. Once the tennis finished, I’d go around making sure the dinner service was on course – then try and have something to eat myself. The day would usually finish at 11pm but it’s always great to see people enjoying the food we’ve been planning since the 2014 tournament.”
CANARY WHARF | 63
“The staff at Brooklyn Bowl London paid close attention to detail and made the group feel like VIPs.” – Chloe Del Prete, National Basketball Association “One of the most incredible places on earth.” – Rolling Stone
HOLLY
JOLLY
JAMMIN’
Give your company the ultimate Christmas present: Definitely-going-back-for-seconds food & drinks, and rockin’ live music. All available on our 12 luxury bowling lanes.
E AT. DR INK . R O C K . R O LL. T H E O 2 , P E N I N S U L A S Q U A R E / L O N D O N S E 1 0 0 D X / B R O O K LY N B O W L . C O M / @ B B O W L L O N D O N
FOOD & DRINK Health Kick As the name suggests, The Detox Kitchen Bible is no ordinary recipe book. The brainchild of chef-andnutritionist team Lily Simpson and Rob Hobson, this holy grail of health food books is designed to target specific health needs. Tired of hearing the words “you can’t eat this” and “you can’t have that”, Lily and Rob set out to prove that dieting doesn’t have to be difficult. The result is a colourful book packed with over 200 meals free from wheat, dairy‐and refined sugar, to help you eat your way to a happy, healthy lifestyle. The Detox Kitchen Bible by Lily Simpson and Rob Hobson, £25, Waterstones, Cabot Place and Jubilee Place
Starry Night With Jools Holland as its patron of music, it should come as no surprise that Boisdale is serious about delivering high quality entertainment. Having staged the very best jazz, blues and soul acts for some time, the restaurant is now widening its musical repertoire with a Wednesday night line-up billed as the ‘Summer Superstar Series’. Sit back and sip a mojito as you listen to live performers recreating the sounds of music’s biggest and brightest stars, from Elvis Presley to Bob Marley and The Beatles. Boisdale of Canary Wharf, Cabot Place
FOOD & DRINK Words:gabriella dyson
Heavenly Hampers
Candy Crush Those with a sweet tooth are in luck: boutique patisserie L’orchidee is opening in Canary Wharf this month. Select from its wide range of soft macarons and delicate desserts for a sweet lunchtime treat or for easy gifting. You can also order one of its bespoke cakes for special occasions. L’orchidee, Canada Place
Premium rum producer Ron Zacapa has partnered with Sardinian gourmet specialist Vallebona to create the ultimate luxury hamper. Each of the beautifully presented Connoisseur Boxes comes complete with the finest delicacies for your summer entertaining – including flavoursome cheeses, sweet marmalades, and a 70cl bottle of full bodied, premium rum. Delizioso. £109, Ron Zacapa, vallebona.co.uk
Poncho Party There’s a new local destination for freshlyprepared Mexican food, as well as authentic Mexican beers. From burritos to tacos, salads and nachos, Poncho8 cooks everything from scratch and can tailor-make your food to suit your exact preferences, which for the healthconscious can include low-carb alternatives to popular street foods. Poncho8’s click and collect service also means that you can order online and avoid the lunchtime rush. Poncho8, Crossrail Place
Release the hounds Is it a hamburger? Is it a hot dog? No, it’s a… Freddar Dawg. Meet Byron’s newest limited edition special: a 6oz patty served in a hot dog roll, with streaky bacon, onion, pickles and ‘Freddar cheese’. It’s a hamburger-hot dog hybrid that packs a serious flavour punch thanks to the edition of Grana Padano, Red Leicester and mature Cheddar cheese. until 31 August, £10.95, Byron, Cabot Place
food & drink
restaurant review
Summer Loving Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is launching a breakfast menu exclusively for Canary Wharf, giving an exotic twist to all of our favourites
S
ticks ‘n’ Sushi already had a well-heeled following before it opened in Crossrail Place. Known for its platters of fresh sashimi, steak on skewers and light bites including goats’ cheese wrapped in pancetta with chargrilled asparagus, it’s remained a popular choice for dinner among those who live, work and socialise in the area. However, with the launch of the new venue came a new experience – the Sticks ‘n’ Sunrise breakfast, offering Japanese and Nordic-inspired trays for the first time in London. And, while the marketing manager admits “it’s not an obvious first choice for breakfast,” Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is suddenly a good one. On our visit, the editorial team began with avocado smoothies blended with lemon juice and ginger to blast the cobwebs away – a creamier, more tasty version of the fashionable green juices currently doing the rounds. The restaurant’s staff are trying various smoothie concoctions as they bid to attract the masses, but we have our hearts set on ordering this one again. For food, we followed the manager’s recommendation and ordered Nordic Breakfast trays stacked with home-made rye bread, which
is baked with miso, seaweed and coal to give it an earthy flavour. It’s served two ways – firstly, with smoked salmon, cream cheese and trout roe (the fact that Sticks ‘n’ Sushi does amazing raw fish is, of course, a given) and then with avocado, fresh goats’ curd, pine nuts, cress and tsume soy which again is indulgent, fresh – and a no-brainer for the avocado-and-toast devotees that seem to have emerged in recent years. To make a ham and cheese omelette adventurous is difficult – but styled as a miniature duck egg tomago (the Japanese version) and lined with emmental, pancetta and spinach, the result was fluffy and light. We were almost full by the time it came to sample the sweet dishes – an organic sheep milk yoghurt with matcha granola and fruit compote and Tebirkes – a poppy seed Danish filled with more matcha – which for you and I, is a specially grown version of green tea. Sticks ‘n’ Sunrise has the added ego-boost of making us feel super healthy, as well as well-fed. And while it’s our best-kept secret at the moment, it won’t be long until the tomago is the local business breakfast du jour. Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, Crossrail Place 020 3141 8230 (sticksnsushi.com)
CANARY WHARF | 67
On the
GRAPEVINE In 1994, Xavier Rolet, now CEO of the London Stock Exchange, and his investment banker wife Nicole Sierra-Rolet, began a 25-year project to transform a medieval French estate into an award-winning vineyard. Here she shares the story of La Verriére WORDS: gabrielle lane
I
first had the pleasure of meeting Nicole Sierra-Rolet in the spring at the London Power Breakfast – a networking event for influential figures from business and the arts, which I covered for this magazine. She stood out because she made time to talk to everyone with such warmth and energy, and, as we spoke, her passion for La Verriére, the wine estate she operates with her family – including husband, Xavier Rolet, chairman of the London Stock
Exchange – made me want to know more. Sierra-Rolet found success in Emerging Markets at Merrill Lynch and as director of programs for a think tank. When she met her husband-to-be in the early 1990s he had just purchased a medieval property in Provence, which was in such a state of disrepair that it had lain empty for 45 years, the scale and expense of renovation needed deterring would-be buyers (including, as rumour has it, Prince Charles) for two decades. It was surrounded
FEATURE
by overgrown vines – and, upon acquisition he intended to build irrigation trenches and a winery next door to explore the potential of its grapes. “Xavier had a 25-year plan for renovating this medieval property in this beautiful isolated place that was a sort of haven from the world’s problems. It was somewhere you could get away from everything and put daily pressures
“I feel like a guardian of this little alcove, entrusted with passing it on” in perspective,” Sierra-Rolet begins. “Little did I know that 20 years on I would not just be passionate, but obsessed with fixing the place up and showing the world the quality of the wine which would be made there: I feel like a guardian of this little alcove, entrusted with passing it on to the next generation, so that in a thousand years time, it will still be doing what it’s doing now.” Although Sierra-Rolet admits she was initially intimidated by the scale of the project, she felt an immediate attachment when visiting: “I was seduced by the timeless quality of it. The soil of the vineyard is more than one billion years old; then there’s a Priory that been there for a thousand years – the ninth century vaulted rooms tell the story of all the working monks and farmers that lived there before us. It’s extraordinary to think about what drew them to that place which is so far from everything, given that it’s so high up in the mountains. It would have taken three hours on the back of a donkey to get to the local village then – it does make you reflect on how much we’ve come to think we need in order to be comfortable.” While, from the start Sierra-Rolet also saw the estate’s potential as a business – “the location as a think tank retreat was apparent to me from the beginning, it had all the hallmarks of a sanctuary for interesting people to come together,” – the importance of the vineyard and her growing involvement in marketing its wines under the
Chêne Bleu label, came later. “I signed up to many wine courses in London and found my way to the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust. My interest then grew proportionally with my knowledge. The big surprise was the potential of the vineyard itself. I was very sceptical about making worldclass wine because it seemed unlikely that it would be available at a reasonable price if it was such a prized asset. I later learned a lot more about French agricultural history and that vineyards with low yields were very uneconomical unless you are completely obsessed with quality and able to showcase it. And the authorities were very positive about the grapes. They thought that they could have ‘the best of both worlds’, with the richness and concentration of the southern Rhône because of the sunshine, and then the finesse and elegance of the northern Rhône because of the altitude giving a lot of residual acidity and freshness.” The estate now produces three rich red wines, two fine white and one rosé, with support from Xavier’s sister Bénédicte Gallucci, a viticulturist
CANARY WHARF | 69
and her husband Jean-Louis Gallucci, who is wine maker and cellar master. In 2014, both the Aliot 2010 and Voignier 2012 won Gold Medals at the International Wine Challenge, adding to an already prestigious list of honours and accolades, and Sierra-Rolet divides her time between London, the estate and travelling internationally to raise awareness. Candidly, she admits that the transition from the corporate world was also mediated by events in her personal life. “Ultimately what turbocharged my focus was when my mother passed away – that changes your timeline. In investment banking you’re assessed against short-term goals, whereas when you lose a parent your awareness of legacy and what you’re going to do with your life in an existential sense comes crashing home.” What had investment banking given her? “Once you’ve worked in a globally competitive field like investment banking you consciously or unconsciously set your benchmark in line with an international peer group of the best people around. That’s how you get successful and it just becomes an automatic reflex. You need to know that what you’re doing makes the cut.
You seek validation on a very different scale.” She’s aware that many dream of following in her footsteps and swapping City life for a more rural existence; I joke that her husband must be envious. “I’m sure that there are days when he fantasizes about being in the forest making his bird calls and looking for wild boar to track! In the silence of nature there’s a healing quality, unlike the feeling you get putting out fires in the global market. Conversely there is a lot to be said for having someone else wrestling with the day-today challenges and frustrations of setting up a very complex business – not to mention the additional complications of doing that in France. It’s true that day-to-day he’s not available for
FEATURE
any executive involvement but I couldn’t possibly have made it through the last 15 years without his understanding and full support of this vision.” “I’ve discovered that I’m very good at connecting the dots,” she muses. “When you work in very large corporations you end up thinking in silence. But working in a small entrepreneurial and uncharted environment you have to think of unique ways of solving things; you realise that you have many little seeds of abilities which you’ve never had to nurture before and that’s one of the most thrilling experiences. There’s a certain age of your life when you’re stuck in certain ways, yet you can still learn a lot about yourself.” Admitting that “rejection is that much more stinging and success that much more satisfying now,” Sierra-Rolet nevertheless has a word of caution for those who romanticise the idea of fleeing the boardroom. “I think any human being that thinks they can beat the system is foolish. There’s almost a law of nature that everything you undertake in any area will take twice the time
and three times the money that you expect. If you do have the luxury of being in a highly lucrative field and yet feel trapped, my advice would be to put yourself on a diet of extreme austerity. You should do this first of all in order to save up for rainy days. Secondly you should do it in order to experience first-hand what it would be like to cut back your lifestyle, which will have inevitably escalated to match your more comfortable income level. Then, and only then, decide if you’re prepared to put in the three to five years to come out on the other end of an incredibly intense rollercoaster.” Two decades later, Sierra-Rolet has her own way of sitting back and savouring Chêne Bleu. “To be able to have an incredible home-cooked meal where someone has put the same amount of effort into sourcing the food and cooking it, decorating the table and inviting the right people along, that’s the ideal time for these wines. That to me describes the culmination of everything that we have been trying to do and say about this very special place.” laverriere.com; chenebleu.com
CANARY WHARF | 71
RAMEN ROYALTY
Affirming Canary Wharf’s international food offering, Japanese ramen noodle restaurant IPPUDO, is now open at Crossrail Place
O
ne of the world’s most authentic Japanese restaurants, IPPUDO, has arrived in Crossrail Place. Company founder Shigemi Kawahara, (widely known as the ‘King of Ramen’),
launched the brand in Hakata, Japan in 1985, with a mission to spread ‘Smile’ and ‘Arigatou’ through bowls of very high quality ramen noodle soup. Diners visiting the Canary Wharf branch will find a stylish and ambient environment; the service is warm and highly hospitable, making it the ideal venue for entertaining friends, clients or work colleagues. Operated with meticulous precision, Kawahara ensures that every move within his restaurants, from cooking to serving, is choreographed to perfect timing. His philosophy – to continuously innovate to remain true – is clearly visible in IPPUDO dishes, redefining recipes that emerged over 300 years ago and creating his own ‘Tao’ or way, of ramen. Consisting of a delicate balance of ingredients, broth and freshly made noodles, Japanese tradition dictates that a ramen chef is similar to a story-teller in the kitchen.
D Ippudo Canary Wharf, Crossrail Place, 020 3326 9485
Kaedama (£1.50) is a system that offers you an extra serving of noodles. To order, almost finish the noodles in the ramen first, then ask for Kaedama. Within a few minutes, a waiter will bring you another serving of noodles. Remember, you must save enough soup in the bowl to accommodate the new noodles.
If you try only one dish at IPPUDO, the Hakata-style tonkotsu (pork-based) ramen (£10) with its signature, delicate, creamy broth is quite literally, mouth-watering. Vegetarians are also well catered for, with a choice of ramen noodle dishes (from £11), salads and steamed buns containing tofu, cashew nuts or vegetables.
MENU PICKS Gyoza £5 Seared Japanese chicken and vegetable dumplings (5pcs) served with soy and vinegar dipping sauce. Hirata Bun £3 Steamed bun filled with your choice of either pork or vegetable croquette served with Ippudo’s original spicy bun sauce, lettuce and Japanese mayonnaise. Akamaru Modern £11 A bolder translation of the original pork broth; homemade thin noodles topped with Ippudo’s secret Umami Dama paste, pork belly chashu, bean sprouts, sesame kikurage mushrooms, spring onions and fragrant garlic oil. Shiro Vegetarian £11 Our original seaweed and mushroom dashi broth; homemade thin noodles topped with fried tofu, sesame kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts and spring onions.
canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
Notes Coffee Roasters & Wine Bar
Offering seriously good coffee, homemade food and selected wines, Notes Coffee Roasters & Wine Bar welcomes you to its new Crossrail Place branch
live jazz line-up Kicking off on August 13, 2015, Notes in Crossrail Place will host a number of highly talented, live jazz musicians. The line-up includes:
S
Phil Wain Trio
Rob Grundel trio
upported by its own roastery
Phil Wain (bass) has been involved in London
(Unexpected Guests)
to ensure only the finest beans
jazz music scene since the 90’s,leading his own
Jazz influenced the soundscape of hip-hop
are used, Notes take their coffee
bands and playing in stages as diverse as the
and hip-hop has influenced the soundscape
very seriously – great news if
Vortex Jazz Bar and the Royal Albert Hall.
of jazz. Rob Grundel’s Unexpected Guests
you’re fanatical about coffee. Featuring
philwbass.com
complete the circle of influence.
seasonal, home-made menus, food is
Giorgos Pafitis Trio
unexpectedguests.co.uk
served throughout the day; a choice of
Giorgos is a young guitarist currently
MichaeleMontolli
pastries, granola, toast and jam and filled
building a strong reputation as an innovative,
Michele (double-bass) was born in
croissants are served for breakfast, while
dynamic player in London’s jazz scene.
Verona, Italy and graduated from
at lunchtime there’s a range of salads,
giorgospafitis.com
Graz Jazz University, Austria. Since
sandwiches, soups and tarts. In the
Alan Weekes Trio
moving to London in 2010 he has
evening, cheese and meat boards by Head
A mainstay of the British jazz and reggae
collaborated with artists such as Knoel
Chef Ragul Madan, go hand-in-hand with
scene since the 80s, Weekes has played the
Scott (Sun Ra Arkestra), Don Menza,
a choice of carefully selected wines and
likes of Courtney Pine, The Jazz Warriors,
Seeds of Creation, AmiraKheir, Julie
live jazz music.
Jazz Jamaica, Jimmy Cliff and Maxi Priest.
Dexter and many others.
D Notes Coffee Roasters & Wine Bar,
subsonicroutes.com/artists/alan-weekes
twitter.com/charlie1stacey
Crossrail Place, notes-uk.co.uk
canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
À
L A
P l e a s e
LR_RunWildMedia_UK_235x333.indd 2
R E C H E R C H E
d r i n k
D E
L ’ Œ U V R E
r e s P o n s i b l y
29/01/2015 14:38
TRAVEL
best of both worlds If you can’t quite decide whether it’s a city break or a beach sojourn you want this summer, you can combine two stays in Banyan Tree’s contrasting all-villa resorts. Banyan Tree Al Wadi, a comprehensive desert resort with traditional mud-brick Arab villas in the United Arab Emirates, is a perfect contrast to the beachside and ocean-view pool villas of its Maldives resort, just a short flight away. Trade the desert’s gazelles, oryx and camel riding for marine mammals, scuba diving and feeding stingrays in the shallow surf, to enjoy the best of both worlds. Banyan Tree Al Wadi from approximately £285 per night, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru from approximately £600 per night, banyantree.com
low res
© 2015 TUMI, INC.
NICO ROSBERG · GLOBAL CITIZEN M E R C E D E S A M G P E T R O N A S F o r m u l a O n e T M Te a m D r i v e r
D E S I G N E D I N A M E R I C A F O R G LO B A L C I T I Z E N S
TUMI.COM
211 Regent Street, L ondon • 170 Piccadilly, Mayfair, L ondon • Westfield Shepherds Bush, L ondon Also available at Harrods and Selfridges
travel
Five Day Detox As if The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona wasn’t already relaxing enough, it is now offering two five-day well-being programmes to guests until December. Both packages include five nights in a deluxe room, unlimited use of the spa facilities and daily activities such as yoga with a personal coach. The Release Detox Retreat then focuses on a five-day cleansing diet and detoxifying massages and body wraps, while the alternative Rejuvenation Anti-Ageing Retreat takes care of the face with luxury treatments including a collagen treatment and the Linda Meredith skincare haute couture facial. from €3,605 (approximately £2,552) per person including accommodation, mandarinoriental.com
travel NEWS Words: melissa emerson
Long haul
Short haul
Silver for Sydney
High Flyer
Park Hyatt Sydney is offering a specially curated stay in its twobedroom Sydney Suite to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Guests can arrive by limousine for a seafood lunch on a yacht before scaling Sydney Harbour Bridge, or enjoy unparalleled views from the suite’s outdoor terrace with vintage Champagne and dinner for up to eight prepared by the hotel’s executive chef. available until December, £122,125 for five nights with two first-class return flights, sydney.park.hyatt.com
Major exhibition, Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal, may be showing outside of London at The Bowes Museum in County Durham, but it’s a perfect excuse for a short break. Seaham Hall is just a short helicopter ride away from a private tour of the exhibition if you book its ‘The Laurent’ penthouse suite package, which also includes dinner on both evenings, Taittinger Champagne and a spa treatment each. £3,000 for two sharing for two nights, seaham-hall.co.uk
5
travel essentials
Plattan ADV Wireless headphones, £79, Urbanears, urbanears.com
1
23 Tinted lip protector, £18, Suqqu, selfridges.com
European Grand Tour box, $95 (approximately £60), LUXE City Guides, shop.luxecityguides.com
Hydrating sun&more beauty mask, £16.29, milk_shake, milkshakehaircare.co.uk
45
Watermelon medium clutch, £75, Whistles, Jubilee Place
CANARY WHARF | 79
A
Hollywood story
TRAVEL
C
runching along a sandy path cutting a swirl in the rugged canyon in the Hollywood hills, I nod and smile at each of the passers-by because that’s the etiquette in California. My fellow hikers are mostly in pairs, chatting away, smiling. Some of the male hikers have six-packs on display, designer hoodies tied around their waists, and a few of them have fluffy handbag-sized dogs at their heels. It’s hard to keep your eyes on the track as the views are so impressive – and it’s not just the beautiful people. There’s the Hollywood sign to my left, and below, downtown Los Angeles stretches out all the way to the Atlantic Ocean – skyscrapers glinting, everything in miniature. I’m descending from the top of Runyon Canyon, a hiking trail frequented by starlets and studio bosses, and the mercury is rising. It’s approaching 28˚C – not bad for January. As the sun arcs into its highest position, I rest against a fence and watch as a yoga class commences. The genetically blessed teacher strides in, folds away a well-thumbed film script and
“Los Angeles. The town where dreams are made or destroyed. Lucky for me, my dreams were made here”
Los Angeles, in all its glamour and glitz, re-captures travel journalist Leo Bear’S heart, as she revisits the city she fell in love with five years ago, and finds out the latest places to stay for a truly unique experience to remember
unrolls her mat. What a cliché: the yoga teacher waiting for a callback. Los Angeles. The town where dreams are made or destroyed. Lucky for me, my dreams were made here. Several years ago, I spent 12 months working in Hollywood as a stringer for a newspaper. Unshackled from my desk job, days were filled with red-carpet interviews and movie screenings, and nights were wild and wonderful, spent dancing ’til dawn in mansions in the hills – many I later recognise as backdrops in films. It was on one of these martini-fuelled evenings that I met a dashing British TV producer who loved LA as much as I did, and knew how to make a decent cup of tea. Flash-forward five years, and he and I were returning to our beloved City of Angels as husband and wife. We called up our old acquaintances, booked tables in our favourite restaurants and rented an absurdly posey convertible car. But instead of lining up a hotel, I wanted to test-run the services of One Fine Stay, a British company
CANARY WHARF | 81
“We were handed an iPhone for the duration of our stay loaded with local restaurants, bars and things to do”
that arranges short stays in private homes – an upmarket Airbnb if you like. The promise of living like locals was deeply alluring, and pulling up outside our picture-perfect West Hollywood cottage was a real ‘coming home’ moment. A dove-grey two-bedroom house in a leafy residential street within walking distance from Runyon Canyon, it had all the appeal of a private home with none of the hassle. While I cooed over the pretty wooden porch and white picket fence, my other half headed into the garden to inspect the lemon and kumquat trees. We had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen and a light-filled living room hung with Andy Warhol prints, all to ourselves – there was even a cinema room. Of course, some of the owner’s art and furniture wasn’t to our taste, but the attention to detail provided by One Fine Stay more than compensated. Bed corners were tucked as tightly as you’d find in any five-star establishment and bathrooms came kitted out with freshly laundered towels and Kiehl’s products. After being given the grand tour by one of One Fine Stay’s smiling reps and given the keys, we were handed an iPhone for the duration of our stay loaded with local restaurants, bars and things to do – all chosen by the owners. For everything else, we were told to call the One Fine Stay ‘concierge’ available 24/7. Genius. The idea for One Fine Stay was conceived by former venture-capitalist Greg Marsh, who upon leaving his Mayfair office one evening happened to notice the lights were off in his street. “Every single one of the homes was empty,” he recalls, “so the notion of providing a service that would let guests stay in these homes while their owners were out of town was so compelling to me – both as a home-owner and as a traveller who dislikes generic hotel rooms – that I simply had to act on it.” Six years on, and Marsh and his team have access to some of the most elegant and quirky properties in Los Angeles, London and Paris – each one handpicked and serviced by a legion of hoteltrained staff. The very best homes can be found in the company’s ‘prestige collection’. A quick glance at the LA section reveals a stylish mid-century house designed by architects Buff and Hensman that comes with an outdoor pool, 24-foot walnut counter and retractable walls for entertaining. Or there’s a property in the arty district of Venice Beach with a chemical-free lap pool, projector room and outdoor hot tub, owned by a well-
TRAVEL
known photographer and his wife. The price tag? Around $1,500 a night. Our digs were far less grand but no less wonderful. As soon as we’d settled in, we hosted a jubilant dinner party with the old gang, and spent the following days in a carefree state of Californian abandon cruising around town, hiking in Runyon Canyon, shopping at the Hollywood farmers’ market and trying out the latest fitness crazes (Pure Barre and SoulCycle won joint best). We quickly fell into the owners’ lifestyles and even started to become quite envious of them. Truly, we found the benefits of a homestay to be limitless. Being able to entertain ‘at home’ is one thing but having several rooms to spread out in and our own offroad parking was priceless. Then, when it came to ‘checking out’, we just locked up quietly, left the keys in a safety deposit box and waved goodbye to the neighbours. With a few days remaining before our return to British soil, there was time to bed-test some of the city’s newest hotels for contrast. First we checked into The Montage Beverly Hills, a classic grand-dame hotel with a splendid spa, diamondthrowing distance from the best boutiques on Rodeo Drive. Location-wise, it’s hard to beat. Add in a smart rooftop restaurant and impeccable service – I’ve never known room service to be so quick – and it’s easy to see why Dylan Jones, editor of GQ magazine, never stays anywhere else. But fantastic as it is, The Montage is very, for want of a better word, ‘hotel-y’. A suite at The London West Hollywood, on the other hand, is about as close as you’ll get to apartment living without taking out a mortgage. Designed by the studio behind the late great David
Collins (Claridges, The Wolseley, The Berkeley and the newly revamped The Ivy) it’s glitzy yet serene with a handsome palette of sage, brass and quartz. The British influence doesn’t end there. Guests can telephone friends back home in London for free, as long as it’s to a landline, and the hotel’s prestigious
“Marsh and his team have access to some of the most elegant and quirky properties in Los Angeles” ‘Gate suites’ are inspired by Hyde Park. Lounging by the pool, watching the occasional flutter-buzz of a helicopter across clear Californian skies, one feels a world away from the grit and glamour of the Sunset Strip a few storeys below, yet the hotel is conveniently placed equidistant from Chateau Marmont and Soho House Hollywood – two of the city’s hottest hangouts. Before heading to the airport, I was privy to a sneak preview of a brand-new penthouse under construction on the top floor of the hotel. When complete, it promises to be the largest crashpad in the city with a private rooftop pool, wraparound terrace and its own high-tech gym. Anyone who can stump up the funds to make an advance booking is guaranteed one hell of a fine stay. But they won’t get their own white picket fence. Leo’s trip to Los Angeles was arranged by luxury online travel company Gadabouting (gadabouting.com) and she was a guest of One Fine Stay (onefinestay.com) and Montage (montagehotels.com); The London West Hollywood (thelondonwesthollywood.com)
CANARY WHARF | 83
BATH
T
aking up residence in an architectural landmark is a rare experience, and that’s what The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa in Bath offers. In the centre of a sweeping crescent of townhouses, the Georgian property’s historical character has been tastefully preserved. As a result, a stay in its John Wood deluxe suite, complete with canopied four-poster bed drowning in sumptuous cushions, a fireplace and large, shuttered windows, feels both traditional and regal (but with the addition of 21st century amenities of course). Although located conveniently for exploring the city’s Roman Baths and impressive Abbey, the hotel has an acre of expertly landscaped gardens. A pocket of calm, you can take tea on the lawn or unwind on a sun lounger, before moving on, as I did, for further relaxation time in The Spa & Bath House. Its 12-metre long pool with stone walls and arched windows has an almost chapel-like, serene atmosphere, and is best enjoyed before the Royal Crescent Signature Treatment, which combines a sleep-inducing back exfoliation, hot stone massage and facial. Guests should dedicate their evening to dining in the adjacent Dower House restaurant, where I enjoyed a tasting menu heavy on seasonal produce, with experimental creations like rosemary yoghurt,
“The hotel is available to hire in its entirety... and is popular with corporate guests” apple, pickled shallot and black pepper, alongside more classic, fresh greens. The Royal Crescent Hotel is available to hire in its entirety, including its restaurant, spa, gardens and 45 rooms and as a result is popular with corporate guests such as Deutsche Bank. The hotel’s 110 staff provide 24-hour room service, chauffeured transfers and private tours, as well as team-building activities such as golf, horse riding and hot air balloon flights. There is also an option to host events on the private lawn in front of the crescent, such as cricket matches with afternoon tea and glamorous black tie dinners, for ultimate exclusivity. from £265 per room per night, exclusive use from £31,000 per night 01225 823 333; royalcrescent.co.uk
best of british Whether you desire cobbled streets, country pursuits, fine dining restaurants or spa rituals, the UK benefits from a range of luxury retreats. Here, Canary Wharf highlights four destinations for a unique and memorable weekend break
travel
YORK
I
t is easy to see why the Cedar Court Grand is York’s only five-star hotel: the historic city has many establishments for guests to choose from but only one offers true, unadulterated elegance. Located in the old North Eastern Railway headquarters, the hotel’s vast, wide corridors and high ceilings give the building an air of Victorian decadence reflective of the architect’s brief to produce a property that reflected the NER’s standing following Britain’s Industrial Revolution. And the Grand’s history lies around every corner. Located in the former vaults where North Eastern Railway stored its millions, a visit to the Spa at The Grand juxtaposes luxurious Roman baths and sleek treatment rooms. Its shoulder, neck and back massage is highly recommended and melts away all the tension of a busy week at work. Dinner at Hudson’s provides another opportunity to delve back in time. Named after George Hudson, who ensured that Stephenson’s new railway from London to Newcastle in 1839 did not bypass York, the restaurant is refined, yet no-nonsense in its approach. Starters as varied as oysters in tempura batter with lime piccalilli and brioche and Jerusalem artichoke soup with truffle cream and chive oil showcase the chef’s talents. For the traditionalist, the range of grills will not disappoint either, with fillet steak cooked to perfection, heightened by confit tomato and Café de Paris butter.
“The property reflected North Eastern Railways’ standing after the Industrial Revolution” On our visit, my partner and I stayed in a Junior Suite, which had one of the most comfortable beds I have ever tried. And, if you stay the night, note the breakfast buffet is one of magnificent proportions consisting of delicate pastries, exotic fruits, cold meats and fish – giving you the energy you need to explore the city. York is an ideal destination for a weekend break, with its historic 14th century street known as The Shambles, the impressive Minster gothic cathedral and the York Castle Museum offering plenty of culture and charm. Aside from its five-star rating, the Grand is an obvious place to stay thanks to its ideal location, nestled behind York’s historic City walls. What better excuse could you need? Junior Suite from £248 per night, 01904 380 038; thegrandyork.co.uk
CANARY WHARF | 85
THE COTSWOLDS
T
he Wild Rabbit, a country inn with rooms – but one on the very chic end of the scale – is the perfect bolthole for city dwellers. The quaint Cotswolds village of Kingham which it inhabits benefits from a direct rail link to London Paddington, unusual for the area, and with a journey time of around 1 hour and 30 minutes it’s convenient for a weekend getaway. The local village itself makes for a pretty stroll (chocolate box cottages and thatched roofs, check) and there are other places within easy reach to explore. This corner of the Cotswolds is very much Bamford territory. As well as running the inn itself (since 2013), the Bamford family also operate the nearby Daylesford farm shop and café and the accompanying Bamford HayBarn Spa. The Wild Rabbit serves a selection of the farm’s organic produce, from the wide array of fruit served with breakfast, to its sparkling wine, which went down a treat with a hearty wood-fired pizza at dinner. Don’t miss out on a meal during your stay, the food is worthy of the inn’s Pub of the Year title in the Michelin
Eating Out in Pubs 2015 guide. An airy open dining space complements the more cosy bar area, where mismatched leather armchairs and a large open fireplace are just crying out for winter to come around. If you plan on venturing further afield, village hopping by car is the best way to spend the day Stow-on-the-Wold (where Britain’s alleged oldest inn serves a top Sunday roast) and Bourton-onthe-Water are two of the most popular spots for visitors, and the hotel is also armed with walking routes, guide books and helpfully, umbrellas. If you are however happy to stay put, The Wild Rabbit’s pure linen sheets, cotton robes, Bamford Bath & Body products and power showers won’t discourage you. With only 12 rooms, it feels more like a home than a hotel, the cosy feel enhanced by rustic wooden beams, exposed brickwork, window seats – even in the bathroom – and minimalist illustrations of wildlife by Hugo Guinness (a New York Times illustrator and Wes Anderson’s cowriter on The Grand Budapest Hotel). It’s the kind of place to go to shake off your cares and lose yourself in a good book. Room rates from £135 per night, 01608 658 389; thewildrabbit.co.uk
travel
THE NEW FOREST
T
reehouses. If you’re a regular escape-to-thecountry sort, you might be familiar with Chewton Glen’s tree houses. The suites, with floor-to-ceiling windows are mounted on stilts in the canopy of the New Forest and generate a lot of press coverage for the country house hotel. That said, there are many other reasons to visit and when my guest and I took a trip in July, we were very happy with a Junior Suite in the main building – which comes complete with a balcony overlooking the grounds, a huge marble bathroom and linen with a thread count that would make your mother very proud. Designed in two ways, you can request either a contemporary interior (handsome wood floors, velvet throws) or countrystyle decor, which for us meant the room was dressed with golden prints and felt very cosy. The hotel is comfortable and understated, with everything you need. Whether it’s the sense of space or styling, it’s overwhelmingly peaceful even when inundated with guests, although children are welcome too. Perhaps for this reason, Chewton Glen has recently launched digital detox weekends focused on meditation and healthy eating, during which the team will gladly store your phones safely and plan a variety of mindful activities. The Spa at Chewton Glen includes a 17-metre swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, saunas
“Chewton Glen has recently launched digital detox weekends focused on meditation” and organic Ila products (opt for the bespoke massage to feel the full effect). Testament to its relaxed nature, you can even feast on a buffet at its spa cafe, or request a Ploughman’s, post-treatment. One of Chewton Glen’s biggest successes however, is the food served in The Dining Room, an informal restaurant housed in a conservatory, which offers award-winning dishes made with rosemary, kale, chives and turnips cultivated in its own kitchen garden. I opted for the scallops with pork belly and pea purée, followed by a succulent red curry with langoustines, which was inventive and delicious. And, I suggest, worth coming down from the treehouse for. Junior Suites from £645 per night, 01425 275 341; chewtonglen.com
CANARY WHARF | 87
HECmba_FACE_Pinault_210x297_CityMag.indd 2
18/02/2015 14:57
ALICE TEMPERLEY MBE, AMBASSADOR Alice Temperley MBE has been named as an ambassador for Women for Women International, the human rights organisation that supports female survivors of war. As part of her role, Temperley will be sponsoring the vocational and skills training of a young woman in Kosovo, who will be given guidance as she learns to start her own business. Temperley said of her appointment: “I am happy to help in any way, to make life-changing differences to women whose situation is often unimaginable to the Western world.” sponsorship for one woman in a one-year programme,£22 per month, womenforwomen.org.uk
BUSINESS
business
On the Money Could Alexander McQueen be the next face of the twenty pound note? If the neverending queues for the late designer’s Savage Beauty exhibition are anything to go by, then quite possibly. Earlier this year the Bank of England reached out to the British public to help decide which painter, sculptor or designer would be next in line to grace the British currency. Now that the polls are closed, McQueen, William Hogarth, and Richard Attenborough are tipped as front runners. Who was your top choice? Savage Beauty, until 2 August, V&A Museum bankofengland.co.uk Portrait of Alexander McQueen, 1997, Photographed by Marc Hom © Marc Hom Trunk Archive, courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum
BUSINESS DIGEST
Words: GABRIELLA DYSON
Minority Report
Work Out How would you fare in a race against your colleagues? Transatlantic software firm Autodesk is putting its staff to the test in a company-led health challenge. Teams have been equipped with pedometers to see who can achieve the most steps over one hundred days and it is hoped the challenge will increase employees’ levels of both fitness and productivity. According to technology research company Gartner, by 2016 most large companies in western Europe will offer staff fitness trackers, so it might be time to invest in new running shoes. autodesk.co.uk
Apple’s first mobile payment system launched in the UK last month, but the highly anticipated system – which allows users to upload credit and pay for goods by holding their device against a contactless reader – received a mixed reception. Although hailed as revolutionary for allowing its users to process payments quickly and securely, fears also surfaced that Apple will be privy to, and use, information on our all-important spending habits. Only time will tell if this foray will be worth its weight in gold. apple.com/uk
On the Rise According to a recent survey by recruitment firm Morgan McKinley, job vacancies within London’s financial services industry increased by 56 per cent in June. It is believed that part of the reason for this significant surge is that banks are increasingly looking to hire compliance employees, as regulators begin to step up the level of scrutiny following major scandals such as the rigging of interest rates. The future seems bright and Hakan Enver, operations director at Morgan McKinley, asserts that “all the data we are seeing shows that there is a robust market for financial-services jobs in the City.” Survey by Morgan McKinley Recruitment, bloomberg.com
“The dictionary is the only place that ‘success’ comes before ‘work’.” - Vince Lombardi, Football Coach
90 | CANARY WHARF
An independent day school for girls and boys 3 -18 years
Open morning Ages 3 - 18 Saturday 26 September 9am - 12 noon
Sixth Form open evening Thursday 8 October 5pm - 9pm
Go for it!
Please book via the Admissions page at: www.colfes.com canary wharf full page august 2015.indd 1
08/07/2015 9:53:06 AM
working well One year after the government changed the rights to flexible working hours, wellbeing is firmly on the agenda in business, with lifestyle discounts and fitness training just two perks offered in the battle to retain the best staff WORDS: abigail butcher
A
s many of us prepare for our summer holiday – and the email cull and impending deadlines triggered by our return to work – it’s worth considering that 30 June saw the one-year anniversary of the government’s revision to guidelines surrounding flexible working hours. Rights initially offered to carers of children to request a change to the structure of their working day are now available to all employees who have
completed at least 26 weeks of service. Although initial reports from research by survey consultancy Censuswide suggests that more than a third of companies are resisting such requests, the emphasis on work/life balance is growing, with businesses keen to supplement salaries with lifestyle perks, in order to attract and retain the best staff. In Canary Wharf, KPMG uses the collective buying power of its employees to negotiate
business
discounts on everything from mobile phone bills and cinema tickets, to meals at 18,000 restaurants. While here and elsewhere, fitness is a key priority. In April, one of the world’s leading acquisition companies, MVF, launched a challenge to its employees – to become the fittest company in the UK. Five months later, MVF lauds its wellbeing programme as one of the key tools for maintaining staff morale. Among other benefits, employees are offered personal training, yoga classes, football and running clubs, healthy breakfasts and fruit all day long – all free of charge. They also have access to reduced price gym membership and the government’s cycle-to-work scheme. “One of our founders, Tom Morgan, was an Olympic rower and everyone takes part in charity challenges, so wellbeing and fitness is really built
quintessentiallygifts.com
“Poor lifestyle choices made by employees costs British companies nearly £60m” into the psyche here,” explains MVF head of PR, Grace Garland. “Our sector is very competitive, so our benefits really help to give us the edge over bigger companies.” As a result, MVF has leapfrogged up The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list – from 42 in 2013 to tenth place this year. Statistics show that motivation and performance will improve with investment in wellbeing programmes, at a smaller cost to firms than an unhappy employee. Research undertaken for last year’s Britain’s Healthiest Company awards, a joint initiative between VitalityHealth, Mercer and The Telegraph newspaper, found that poor lifestyle choices made by employees cost British companies nearly £60m in lost productivity each year. But it’s turning around, says leading UK trainer Matt Roberts, who regularly consults with businesses – particularly in the financial, legal and hedge fund sectors – on employee wellbeing. “What’s really noticeable is that although the economy may have squeezed companies, there has still been a strong upward trend for employee wellness programmes; employers want their staff to get and stay fit for the ‘battle’,” says Roberts, who devises a tiered range of programmes from simple personal training to consultation on food, physiotherapy and desk layout. One company found its work with a personal
trainer so successful that it added him to the payroll. Former Army sergeant major John Allison began working two days a week with the marketing agency Momentum Worldwide two years ago. He is now their UK health and wellbeing manager, producing global best practice. “We were very keen to have minimal excuses for staff not to get fit,”says Allison, who created a “Training Shack” at Momentum’s office complete with TRX, kettlebells and a climbing rope. “It’s simple, but very effective – I’m very keen on empowering people to use what’s available in the urban environment. I want to inspire people and give them ideas that will work anywhere.” Allison has also brought in the Good Eating Company, a contract caterer specialising in nutritious and seasonal food and is now training in stress management and mental health. The government reports that in 2013/14, some 11.3 million working days were lost due to stress, depression or anxiety and that UK employers face an annual bill of around £9bn for sick pay. Deloitte is one employer that has a network of “mental health champions” within its workforce. Emma Codd, managing partner for talent at Deloitte, explains: “The champions are able to facilitate conversations with team members who they suspect are experiencing mental ill-health.” Deloitte also offers gym facilities in London, as well as GP, dentist and physiotherapist facilities at its Health Suite. In addition it provides coaching to parents to help them balance work with the responsibilities of a new family, a 12week paid internship to those returning to work after three to six years out, and a renowned Time Out scheme. “Deloitte’s Time Out scheme enables employees to take a four-week period of unpaid leave once a year,” says Codd. “Our aim is to ensure that all our people are able to balance their lives with a successful and fulfilling career.” It comes as Richard Branson publicly confirmed that the 170 employees in his US and UK personal staff could take holidays whenever they like in a nod to working practices in Silicon Valley, and in the hope of increasing productivity. While some suggest that such flexibility might be taken advantage of, Codd is convinced it’s a simple and effective proposition for big business. “Employees are trusted to choose what works best for both them and the team, and that they are judged on output.”
CANARY WHARF | 93
Strike it
Lucky From New York to London, Brooklyn Bowl has made its way across the Atlantic and it’s causing quite a scene, as the ideal venue to host corporate events and celebrations
promotion
B
rooklyn Bowl has a starry pedigree. Since its launch in New York in 2009, its venues have hosted the world’s biggest acts, from Kanye West and Adele through to Snoop Dogg and Guns N’ Roses, Elvis Costello and Solange. It now boasts award-winning outposts in New York, Las Vegas and, of course, London: Its bars stay open until late. The dance floor pounds to cutting-edge live music. And the food is authentic, Southerninspired and hearty. At Brooklyn Bowl, food and music is offered alongside high-end VIP rooms and premium lanes for kingpin bowlers. The aim is to exude the authentic New York vibe of its predecessors, and create different spaces where white collars and ironic T-shirts blend for nights out, corporate events, team-building and special occasions. Private parties can take on a range of glamorous and lively themes: from the Fay Wray Roaring Twenties created in a speak-easy style secret room that boasts Champagne receptions, pre-dinner entertainment with Flapper Girls, a 1920s-inspired band and a vintage photo boot, to other boutique suites that give a party an exclusive feel. You can opt to use The Blue Room, The Green Room or The Strike Lounge. You can even bring 1,250 of your cohorts and use The Whole House.
Brooklyn Bowl’s impressive Blue Ribbon restaurant offers speciality beers and exceptional coffee alongside classic starters like rock’n’roll fries and egg shooters. Diner-inspired mains include BBQ ribs, Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork Sliders and Mac’n’Cheese, while if there’s a better burger in town we’ve yet to find it. And desserts are homemade, with fluffy cupcakes, peach cobbler and pecan pie among the choices. Whether groups are big or small, the venue offers the chance to Rock’n’Bowl while HD screens pipe sports and music round-the-clock, in a modern environment kitted out with black leather sofas, candy-coloured bowling balls and polished wooden floors. Located inside the O2, Brooklyn Bowl has a nearby Underground link, though it’s just as easy to arrive by boat, using a Thames Clipper, or by air, via the Emirates Air Line. If you’re looking for nights that exceed expectations and provide great service, and a venue that creates long-lasting memories against a soundtrack of euphoria-inducing music: Brooklyn Bowl is a great destination. There are those who call it London’s best-kept secret. But that won’t last long. The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX 020 7412 8778; londonbrooklynbowl.com
CANARY WHARF | 95
Achieve your aspirations with an MBA
Meet the world’s top business schools
Saturday 11th October The Lancaster London Hotel 12:30 -18:00 Exclusive scholarships worth $1.7million
Register for free on
www.topmba.com/city
2014 Exhibitors Include: Cambridge-Judge, Cornell, Duke, ESADE, G.Washington, IMD, Imperial, INSEAD, Kellogg, LBS, McGill, Melbourne, Oxford-Said, Queens, TorontoRotman, Tuck, UCLA and many more...
promotion
For richer for poorer... Bindmans LLP advises on the growing popularity of the prenuptial agreement
LEGAL issues
L
ove or hate them, prenuptial agreements are on the rise, along with divorce rates – especially among older people – the so called ‘silver splitters’. Pre-nups are nothing new; we are all familiar with celebrities diving headfirst into their contractual bunkers at the time of relationship apocolypse. However, it seems there has been a more general sociological shift too: in practice, we are seeing more people take advice, although often somewhat sheepishly, as if embarrassed to admit the marriage may not work out. The truth is, since it is impossible to insulate against love and commitment, one should at least try and insulate against divorce. Nevertheless, pre-nups are still considered unromantic and businesslike, in spite of the suggestion that an agreement vindicates that you are marrying for love rather than for financial considerations. As lawyers we always try, in the interests of fairness, to negotiate some form of financial relief for the financially more vulnerable partner, in case the
where pre-nups are given compelling weight by the courts, providing they are properly constituted and meet certain critical safeguards. Most notably in the Supreme court case of Radmacher –vGranatino, the pre-nup was recognised as enforceable and was upheld. The court concluded that it is “natural to infer that parties entering into an agreement will intend that effect be given to that”. Needless to say, lawyers play a vital part in ensuring that the pre-nup is properly negotiated so that it can withstand, not only the vagaries of time, but survive judicial scrutiny if tested: if a pre-nup is to serve as lifeboat in troubled waters, you best make sure it’s seaworthy from the very outset. Therefore, take time to consider the substantially reduce conflict and cost, while content carefully and seek proper legal advice. Most of all, try to concentrate giving the parties autonomy and control. on what is to be shared, not just While most people prefer predictable excluded, since no one wants to feel outcomes it should be noted that although cheated at the altar. the Law Commission recommended in 2014 that pre-nups should become legally enforceable in the UK, this has not actually Farhana Shahzady, Partner at Bindmans LLP been enshrined in statute yet. Instead the judiciary are taking matters into their own If you would like any further advice on family law, hands. We have seen numerous recent cases please contact our team at family@bindmans.com. romantic leap of faith goes awry. The truth is that in almost every pre-nup, one of the parties will ‘win’ and retain their wealth (often pre-marital or inherited) and the other will ‘lose’ or relinquish certain financial remedies that might have been otherwise available to them in court. The key purpose of the pre-nup is to try and oust the jurisdiction of the court and to create certainty for the parties on breakdown of the marriage. It can also
‘‘The key purpose of the pre-nup is to try and oust the jurisdiction of the court’’
Level 18, 40 Bank Street, London E14 5NR • 020 3059 4567 • info@bindmans.com
www.bindmans.com
Bindmans LLP has taken all reasonable precautions to ensure that information contained in this document is accurate, but stresses that the content is not intended to be legally comprehensive. Bindmans LLP recommends that no action be taken on matters covered in this document without taking full legal advice.
CANARY WHARF | 97
Intelligent Risk Management & Execution
EXPERT IN FOREIGN CURRENCY
Why RVB?
Approach
About
If you are needing to convert currency
RVB assists you in understanding
RVB Currency UK Ltd is a UK
to buy or sell a property, RVB delivers
each and every step of the process, so
registered company, number 7586693,
a blend of intelligent and practical
that we can provide you with the best
regulated by the FCA as an Authorised
solutions, with the sole purpose of
tailored solution to meet your specific
Payment Institution (FRN: 593854)
protecting you from losing money
requirements, for any currency scenario.
and by HMRC as a Money Transmitter
unnecessarily due to excessive charges
Our core value is that your interests are
(license number:12653819).
and currency market volatility.
at the heart of every decision.
+44(0) 20 3137 6885
18 Savile Row, London, W1S 3PW
info@rvbcurrency.com
news Scarlett Mew Jensen enjoys junior diving success Scarlett Mew Jensen, Canary Wharf Group Sports Personality of the Year 2013 and recipient of the ‘Investing in Talent’ programme, enjoyed great success at the junior European Diving Championships last June in Moscow. At just 13 years old, Jensen was the youngest member of the team, but despite her age she achieved phenomenal success, claiming the silver medal in the three metre synchronisation with her partner Madeline Sweet. In addition to the success she achieved with Sweet, Jensen also went on to finish fifth place in the individual three metre springboard, setting a new personal best of over 20 points. With that result, Mew Jensen placed the highest of any girl in Team GB – an outstanding result of the young star.
Shuffle Film Festival 2015 Canary Wharf Group is once again supporting the Shuffle Film Festival, which takes place in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park from 24 July to 1 August. This year’s event will focus on the themes of movement, migration and place. Budding film makers have been given the opportunity to submit their works for the Shuffle Short Film Prize 2015. The winners will be decided by Danny Boyle, who curated the inaugural Shuffle Film Festival in August 2013. Boyle is probably best known as the director of Academy Award winning film, Slumdog Millionaire and the genius behind the opening ceremony of London 2012. He will be judging the competition alongside Kim Longinotto, Riz Ahmed and Peter Bradshaw. The winning films will be shown on the closing night of the festival. Last year’s winner was Lewis Khan whose film Georgetown – an upbeat portrait of a man living alone in London – stole the show and the judge’s praises. For further details on the 2015 programme, please visit www.shufflefestival.com
Canary Wharf Group volunteers jump on board for a coach trip with a difference Canary Wharf Group employees recently volunteered to take local senior citizens on a day trip to Canterbury in support of East End Community Foundation – a charity which aims to increase opportunities for people living in London’s East End for 25 years. EECF is a local grant-maker and philanthropy co-ordinator committed to supporting the community at a grass roots level through charities and delivered programmes for the vulnerable elderly. As part of their commitment to reducing social isolation amongst elderly people, they support the Docklands 50+ Forum, hosting annual tea dances, coach trips and the delivery of food parcels at Christmas time. The day trip offered the participants a chance to spend a day exploring the sights of Canterbury, such as the Cathedral, quaint little shops and the tea houses and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
VISUAL ARTS Take a break to explore and enjoy Canary Wharf’s temporary exhibitions and permanent art collection around the estate
Stripping the Willow Sculpture by Julian Wild until 15 August Lobby One Canada Square, Canary Wharf In this exhibition Julian Wild shows recent work in bronze and stainless steel, the surface of both metals highly polished. He introduces vibrant colour into some pieces as if stripping away a layer of one substance to reveal another. Most of these sculptures were created since Wild moved to the East Sussex countryside, where he observes rural activities such as coppicing, harvesting and managed woodland. This has almost subliminally worked its way into his sculpture, as reflected in the title of this exhibition: Stripping the Willow. Julian Wild had his first solo exhibition in 2003, since when he has shown in a number of exhibitions, including Sculpture in the City 2014. He has undertaken a number of public and private commissions and is represented by William Benington Gallery. julianwild.com; williambeningtongallery.co.uk
Mala Siamptani
WINDOW GALLERIES The Art and Design Window Galleries showcase up-andcoming artists, designers and craftspeople and are located in Canada Place. Showing in August:
Design, Jubilee Walk
For Mala, beauty, grandeur, mystery and danger are nature’s messages and her jewellery is inspired by her study of the form and functional characteristics of natural structures. The challenge of her latest collection was the exploration of the effects that infection by agents such as bacteria, micro-organisms, parasites or viruses has on form. malasiamptani.com
Photograph by Nic Serpell-Rand
Photograph by Nic Serpell-Rand
Contemporary Mexican Sculpture: The Vision of Four Artists 24 August – 11 September
COMMUNITY
WINDOW
GALLERY:
An exhibition presented by Iain Brunt in celebration of Mexico UK Year of the Arts. The work of four of Mexico’s most renowned contemporary sculptors are exhibited in One Canada Square as part of UKMX2015: Yvonne Domenge, Paloma Torres, Jorge Yazpik and Rivelino. In addition Domenge’s Coquino Coral 2015 is installed on the Canary Wharf estate until the end of the year.
The Community Window Gallery in Canada Place is devoted to exhibiting work by local arts projects
BOW ARTS until 8 SEPTEMBER, CANADA PLACE Bow Arts takes exceptional artists into schools across East London to improve the lives and learning of children and young people. Artists Ella Robinson and Sara Heywood recently worked with six schools on the Isle of Dogs to create original works of art for each school. Three schools created bold vinyl artworks with Sara, inspired by everyday objects, nature and local architecture. Ella worked with Early Years children to design and make playful and interactive HiggledyPiggledy Trees. The project also provided teacher training and workshops for families. This display includes photos and models of the artworks and workshops, and children’s work that informed the final designs. bowarts.org
Bob Aldous
Art, Canada Walk Aldous works in a variety of media including painting, poetry, performance and installation. Combining paintings and drawings with lyrical poetry, his meditations follow a journey through love from its beginnings, flowering, beyond break-up and loss to the acceptance that love needs to combine with freedom. Most recently he has experimented with back lighting to produce work with a subtle radiance that complements his poetic style. bobaldous.com
canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
CANARY WHARF JAZZ FESTIVAL Friday 14 – Sunday 16 August, Canada Square Park*, Various times, FREE London’s best kept secret is out! The Canary Wharf Jazz Festival returns with another weekend of sublime music and sassy sounds. Arrive early for this fabulous free event and let us entertain you! Friday 14 August: 7-8pm The Rawness; 8.30-10pm Sons Of Kemet Saturday 15 August: 3.15-4.30pm Peter Edwards Trio; 5-6.15pm The Filthy Six; 6.45-8pm Eska; 8.30-10pm Edwin Sanz ‘San Agustin’ Salsa Orchestra Feat. Alex Wilson Sunday 16 August: 1.30-2.45pm Yazz Ahmed: Family Hafla; 3.15-4.30pm Dylan Howe’s Subterraneans; 5-6.15pm The Fontanelles; 6.45-8.15pm The Neil Cowley Trio Photo: Yazz Ahmed
EVENTS The sun is out and so should you be to enjoy Canary Wharf’s packed summer schedule of free-to-attend events and entertainment
RSC Live: The Merchant of Venice Captured live from the RSC Stratfordupon-Avon. With Venice’s ships plying the globe, the city opens its arms to all as long as they come prepared to do business and there is profit to be made. A wronged father and a despised outsider, Shylock looks to exact the ultimate price for a deal sealed in blood. Thursday 20 August, East Wintergarden, 7pm (doors 6.30pm). Ticket release date 3 August. Online: www.seetickets.com; Phone: 0871 220 0260; In Person: Tickets available on the door subject to availability *Booking fee applies. Unreserved seating. Full bar & cloakroom available. www.onscreen.rsc.org.uk
TWILIGHT DELIGHTS
Tuesday 4, 11 & 18 August, Canada Square Park* 7pm, FREE
SUMMER SCREENS Catch up on some thrilling sporting action or revel in a spot of culture with our Summer Screens season showcasing an array of events as our screens cater for all in a sociable, alfresco setting. Until Tuesday 18 August, Canada Square Park, Daily, FREE
Bloom at the Performance Space Playtime with the Half Moon Theatre Join the Half Moon Theatre for an afternoon of music, puppet play and bedtime stories - fun for any age. Drop-in activity sessions. Saturday 1 August, Crossrail Place’s Roof Garden, FREE, 1-1.45pm, 4.15-5pm
Up in the Attic by the Half Moon Theatre and Floods of Ink An unforgettable bedtime adventure through the attic of an old house - a magical, melodious and interactive tale for ages 3 to 6. Saturday 1 August, Crossrail Place’s Roof Garden, FREE, 2-2.45pm / 3.30-4.15pm www.halfmoon.org.uk www.space.org.uk
THE AJ BELL LONDON TRIATHLON Cheer on the intrepid athletes at Canary Wharf as the new bike route takes everyone from elite athletes trying to shave vital seconds off their personal best to complete novices through Canary Wharf. Then meander around Canary Wharf’s five shopping malls and have a bite to eat in one of its amazing restaurants. Sunday 9 August, Throughout Canary Wharf, All Day, FREE www.thelondontriathlon.co.uk
PING!
Amy Fitz Doyley
SUMMER SOUNDS A lunchtime treat for Canary Wharf. 5 August: Evelyn Cools is an alternative folk and indie musician and lets her music do all the talking. 12 August: Amy Fitz Doyley is a singer, songwriter, innovator and tea drinker! Jazz is Amy’s specialty and her voice is her instrument. Wednesdays 5 & 12 August, Canada Square Park, 12.30-2pm, FREE
Ping! arrives in the West Wintergarden inviting you to play, compete and get tips and tricks from professional coaches. Watch professional players and the corporate championship trophy for teams of three players is up for grabs again this year! Email arts+events@canarywharf.com to enter your team or to pre-book tables. Friday 7 – Sunday 16 August, West Wintergarden and Jubilee Place, Various times, FREE
THE LUNCH MARKET You’ll be spoilt for choice by the delicious global cuisine on offer as hundreds of appetising dishes are freshly assembled on the day by local producers with top ingredients and culinary passion. Wednesday 26 August, Montgomery Square* 11am – 3pm, FREE to visit
*Audience space is unreserved and limited and, due to the popularity of these events capacity can be reached within a short period of time. Our advice is to turn up early and be generous to others by not taking up unnecessary space. For everyone’s enjoyment portable furniture is not permitted and for everyone’s safety glass bottles and glasses are not permitted. Due to adverse weather conditions, some activities may be cancelled or moved. Sign up to join our free mailing list or to receive our quarterly brochure – send your contact details to arts+events@ canarywharf.com. For all the latest Canary Wharf news, promotions and events follow us on twitter @yourcanarywharf. At weekends and Bank Holidays you can enjoy 3 hours’ free parking in any of our public car parks when you spend £10 at any of Canary Wharf’s shops, cafés, bars or restaurants. Details correct at time of publication but may be subject to change.
Classic Films from the BFI National Archive Canada Square Park*, Daily, Various times A rare chance to see nine digitally restored classics from the BFI National Archive in this new series for Canary Wharf’s Summer Screens. SATURDAY 1 AUGUST, 11AM NIGHT FERRY 1976 • B&W • Dir. David Eady • 58 Mins • U Bernard Cribbins is a dastardly master-of-disguise who plans to smuggle an ancient Egyptian mummy out of the country. Part of the Children’s Film Foundation Collection. SUNDAY 2 AUGUST, 6PM GODZILLA 1954 • Colour • Dir. Ishiro Honda • 96 Mins • PG One of the great classics of sci-fi cinema by noted specialeffects director Ishiro Honda with Takashi Shimura and Raymond Burr. In Japanese with subtitles. WEDNESDAY 5 AUGUST, 6PM LET’S GO CRAZY 1951 • B&W • Dir. Anthony Young • 32 Mins • PG A short comedy film marking an early appearance by Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers. SUNDAY 9 AUGUST, 6PM The Hidden Fortress 1958 • B&W • Dir. Akira Kurosawa • 138 Mins • PG A story of rival clans, hidden gold and a princess in distress - a thrilling mix of fairy story and samurai action movie. In Japanese with subtitles.
canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
UNCOVER HIDDEN TALENTS WITH GINETTA
From road to race track, call today to find out where Ginetta can take you. CALL 0113 385 4171 | EMAIL sales@ginetta.com | WEB ginetta.com ginettacars
ginettacars
In association with
Photography by Mike Petch
MOTORING Alfa goes back to its roots Praise the Lord; the forthcoming Giulia saloon – launched last month on the 105th anniversary of the founding of A.L.F.A (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili) and due here early next year – will have a driver focused chassis. There will even be a genuine four-wheel-drive performance version, powered by a 510hp turbo-charged six-cylinder petrol engine that has ‘Ferrari-inspired’ technology and the ability to rocket the Giulia Quadrifoglio from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds. And, like an F1 Ferrari, the new Giulia will have its main controls grouped together on the small steering wheel. An Active Aero Splitter at the front will manage downforce for better stability at speed. The new Alfa Giulia goes on sale at the end of this year, with UK sales likely to start in early 2016. The full range will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. visit alfaromeo.co.uk for more details
Tanks for nothing Volvo’s new XC90 SUV – the school run favourite – is bigger and bolder than ever. Matthew Carter takes cover
T
his is in no way a scientific study, largely because it’s based on a sample of just one. But I reckon the typical school run has more Volvo XC90s blocking the road between 8 and 8.30am every morning than any other type of car. It’s been that way for some time – Volvo’s largest estate-cum-SUV has been the yummy mummy’s choice of wheels since it was launched in 2002. Why? Well, being a Volvo it’s safe as houses and clearly shows Mum is a responsible parent. More significantly, it’s big enough to bully its way down narrow side roads, forcing on-coming traffic to scatter – Volvo Mum reverses for no one. And that state of affairs is about to get worse, for there’s a new XC90 (XC for Cross Country) on the block and it’s bigger than ever. Taller, longer and wider than before, the all-new XC90 is massive and frankly intimidating for other road users. It’s going to be a huge success. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the car, though, is the fact that it’s here at all. Six or so years ago Volvo’s future looked distinctly precarious. Then-owner Ford wanted to sell up and bidders were few and far between. For a while it looked as if Volvo, like fellow Swedish carmaker Saab, might go under. But then along came Chinese firm Geely to the rescue, and this is the first visible fruit of the new partnership. Although it is available elsewhere in the world with two- or four-wheel drive, manual or automatic
transmission and five or seven seats, for the time being every XC90 sold here will have seven seats, a slick eight-speed auto, four-wheel drive and a genuinely luxurious interior as standard. Although it looks every inch a Volvo, the latest XC90 is totally new in every respect. It uses a new platform that Volvo claims is safer, lighter, longer and better balanced than before. It certainly allows better use of interior space, with plenty of room for those seven seats – the third row is spacious enough for an average-sized adult rather than only being suitable for the kids. In fact, it’s the interior that really lifts the XC90 above its competitors. Simple and elegant, the XC90 is a thoroughly modern place to be. The dashboard is dominated by a large nine-inch tablet upon which can be found virtually all the car’s controls. Some are hidden away in computerstyle menus and sub menus and are accessed by swiping and prodding the screen, as you would an iPad, but once your preferred settings are saved it works like a dream. Best of all, it means that the car’s minor switchgear is noticeable by its absence: there are just eight buttons on the dashboard. Intuitive in use and great to look at, the only odd thing about this highly intelligent piece of equipment is the name Volvo has elected to give it: Driver Information Module, or DIM for short. It’s far from dim. Clean, uncluttered, practical and comfortable, the Volvo could only be Swedish: Geely has done
motoring
well to leave the Volvo designers to get on with it. It performs pretty well, too. Unlike the outgoing XC90, which had five-, six- and even V8 cylinder engine options, every new XC90 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. There are petrol and diesel versions with turbocharging, supercharging and electric hybrid technology to offer a full range of options. The most popular will probably be the D5 diesel, which has a punchy 225bhp on tap, enough for a 7.4 seconds time for the 0-60mph sprint. That’s coupled with low (149g/km) CO2 emissions and strong economy figures, too. Not bad for a ‘humble’ four-pot 2.0-litre diesel, though the performance is undoubtedly helped by the car’s low overall weight. This lack of avoirdupois is obvious from behind the wheel, as the car feels lively and eager while the automatic box is also up to the task, being unobtrusive in use yet quick to change gear when needed.
“The all-new XC90 is massive and frankly intimidating for other road users” The brakes are powerful and the car remarkably refined when it comes to wind noise: this is a very quiet car. If there is an elephant in the room, though, it’s the ride comfort, which is over firm most of the time and frankly fidgety on broken surfaces. Volvo’s chassis engineers have obviously looked at rivals such as the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne and, unfortunately, decided that the chassis should be tuned more for sporty handling than ride comfort. Don’t be taken in by the appearance in the option lists of air suspension, though. In terms of comfort, it’s even worse than the standard set up, despite the appearance of driving modes that can be set by the driver – ‘dynamic’ is just that but Volvo needs to check the dictionary if they think the alternative is ‘comfort’. Frankly they would do well to remember that this is not a two-seater sports car but a seven seat family
estate, with full-time four-wheel drive to boot. That said – and the Cross Country name notwithstanding – the XC90 is not a full-blown off-road machine. But with short overhangs front and rear, it does mean a certain off-road competence is guaranteed (and a bonus of the air suspension is the ability to raise the car by 40mm to help clear rocks). Nor does it want for much when it comes to equipment. Among the standard features is automatic opening of the tailgate: all you need to do is waggle your foot under the rear bumper and the tailgate will rise majestically. And, of course, it is laden with advanced safety equipment, the latest of which is ‘Run off road protection’. It’s said running off the road is the cause of half of the road traffic fatalities in the USA, so the new XC90 automatically detects if the car has left the highway ready to instantly tighten seat belts and keep the occupants securely in place. There is also a mini shock absorber in the seat frame, which reduces vertical forces (and therefore spinal injuries) by up to a third, while the system also uses all manner of sensors and detectors to try to prevent the car leaving the road in the first place. Bigger, safer and (ride comfort aside) undoubtedly better, the new XC90 is an impressive piece of kit, so good that What Car? Magazine has just declared it their car of the year. God help the rest of us on the school run.
VEHICLE SPECS Car: Volvo XC90 D5 Inscription Price: £50,185 Engine: Front-mounted, 1,969cc, fourcylinder diesel Power: 225 PS Performance: 137mph max, 0-60mph in 7.4 secs Drive: Four-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic transmission
CANARY WHARF | 107
LONDON Homes&
PROPERTY Showcasing the finest homes in your area
Covering Canary Wharf, The Royal Docks, Stratford, Bow & Wapping
THE post-election BUDGET BRIEFing What it means for investors, home owners and first time buyers
image courtesy of rume.co.uk
SALES NICK MOORE, associate at Knight Frank Islington, comments on the trends in the residential sales market
G
eorge Osborne has just delivered the first purely Conservative budget in almost 18 years. The Chancellor announced a number of measures affecting the housing market including restricting tax relief for buyto-let landlords, reforming the current rules surrounding non-domicile status and raising the threshold for inheritance on primary residences. At present, buy-to-let landlords can deduct certain costs, like mortgage interest, from their income before they pay tax. Under the proposed changes, the Chancellor has announced that it will restrict the relief on mortgage interest costs that landlords, who are higher rate taxpayers, can claim. From 2017 this will be reduced gradually to 20 per cent, and the government expects to raise £665m a year by 2021. In addition, from next April, the “wear and tear” allowance will be scrapped in favour of a new system that only allows landlords tax relief when they replace furnishings, thus adding a further £170m a year to the Treasury’s revenues. First announced in their manifesto prior to the election, the Chancellor also announced plans to increase the tax-free allowance for inheritance tax to £1m for couples who pass on their home to their children. Increasing the inheritance tax allowance will mean that more of the wealth amassed from property will pass down the generations rather than to the Treasury. Finally, from April 2017 anybody who has been resident in the UK for more than 15 of the past 20 years will be deemed to be domiciled in the UK for tax purposes. In addition, individuals who are born in the UK to parents who are domiciled here will no longer be able to claim non-dom status while they are a resident in the UK. It is unlikely that the rule changes will have a profound effect on the market as the London market is driven by a number of factors and nondoms form only part of that demand.
Knight Frank Islington 020 3657 7340 knightfrank.co.uk/Islington
PROPERTY BUDGET LOWDOWN “Affordability remains one of the biggest risks to government and the only long-term solution is to expand the rate of housing delivery,” commented Adam Challis, head of residential research at JLL, last month. “Investment in apprenticeships will be vital [and] a need to modernise construction, with [more] taking place in off-site factories. Delivery of affordable housing will improve labour mobility and protect the economy. “The loss of some buy-to-let interest relief will curb the expansion of investment in the sector. Although […] a boost for firsttime buyers, it is likely to weaken demand, particularly for new-builds. This activity is vital to underpin construction finance and will run counter to the need for higher rates of new supply.” jll.com
A SHOW-STOPPER HUF HAUS, pioneers of high-end prefabricated timber and glass homes, has now launched the company’s first-ever UK show house, located at Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey. The show house is likely to be the most engineered house in the UK, featuring unparalleled insulation, airtightness and fabric efficiency. In fact, its photovoltaic panels are guaranteed to generate more electricity than this low-energy consuming house requires, while its heating system is the most efficient and technically advanced heating and cooling system of its kind. Sustainability aside, this show house realises the concept of ecoluxury and has a truly luxurious interior with quality finishes throughout, not to mention elegant furniture and accessories from leading design company B&B Italia. Georg Huf, CEO of HUF HAUS, says: “Our first UK show house demonstrates the architectural and technological advances achieved by the HUF HAUS engineers […]. We look forward to showcasing the innovative technology that underpins our family business to the next generation of HUF HAUS devotees.” huf-haus.com
property
NEWS
LETTINGS NICOLA WILLIAMS, lettings
DID YOU KNOW? In June, the number of homes on the property market fell to a 37-year low, sending prices up by 1.7 per cent in a month. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said that the average number of homes for sale with each member had fallen to 49.5 from 61 in June 2014 – and was down from 148 in 1996. This comes as Britain’s biggest mortgage lender, Halifax, said that the average UK house price had risen above £200,000 for the first time on its records. – theguardian.com
SENSORY APPEAL Comprising “a blend of curvaceous shapes and highly functional design” award winning designer Kelly Hoppen’s most recent collection of bathware – with luxury manufacturer Apaiser – continues to uphold her values of high quality and timeless design. Apaiser’s handcrafted stone is renowned for its natural organic feel and sculptural lines – and used in this new collection it incorporates the marble into attractive layered designs such as HARMONY (inspired by the lotus flower), ORIGAMI (with clean lines and angles) and BANDE (based on the sash used in traditional Japanese dress). Here, Hoppen celebrates the East – where the act of bathing is a ceremony – with function and beauty. apaiser.com; kellyhoppeninteriors.com
manager at Knight Frank Islington, comments on the trends in the residential lettings market
T
he most controversial announcement from the budget, which could affect the lettings market, was a cut in tax relief on mortgage interest payments for buy-to-let landlords. Landlords with a rental portfolio will have a significant change in tax status and those planning to purchase a buy-to-let property will need to factor this into their calculations. As the sales market has steadily increased over the past few years rental yields remain relatively low in Islington, however with this extra cost for landlords we could start to see upward pressure on rent. And although phased from 2017 to 2020 some landlords may look to pass this cost on to the tenants sooner in preparation. Some landlords may decide to sell off their investment properties, this will in turn tighten the levels of rental properties and increase rents. Islington will continue to grow as we have many new developments being built, including nine residential towers along and around City Road and the 62-acre site at King’s Cross. This should balance out the loss of landlords and cope with the high levels of demand for rental accommodation close to the City. Corporate relocation remains high, bucking concerns that London as a leading hub was under threat. A number of large hedge funds are planning to expand or launch in London, a sign that international investors continue to gravitate towards the capital. There’s also an increase in families relocating to London and renting with budgets that would satisfy West London postcodes, but deciding on Islington as it has so much to offer. The summer months are religiously the busiest time for lettings, with the international student market reaching its peak in September and October. This, combined with healthy stock levels, will mean the market will continue to favour both tenants and landlords.
Knight Frank Islington 0203 657 7360 knightfrank.co.uk/Islington
CANARY WHARF | 111
Arnhem Wharf, Isle of Dogs E14 Two bedroom duplex penthouse A beautifully presented apartment with three terraces and direct views of the River Thames and towards the city skyline. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, balcony, parking, concierge. EPC: D. Approximately 138.1 sq m (1,487 sq ft). Leasehold: approximately 981 years remaining
Guide price: £995,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/canarywharf cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6112
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/CNW140230
CW Mag-August 2015-crop
17/07/2015 10:17:07
CW
07
Arnhem Wharf, Isle of Dogs E14 Two bedroom apartment This river fronted apartment is located on the second floor with direct river views from a wide balcony. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, balcony, parking, concierge. EPC: C. Approximately 86.03 sq m (926 sq ft). Leasehold: approximately 981 years remaining
Guide price: £675,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/canarywharf cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6112
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/CNW150129
CW Mag-August 2015-page 2-crop
17/07/2015 10:19:16
Millharbour, Nr Canary Wharf E14 Four bedroom penthouse apartment This magnificent refurbished penthouse sits over the entire 14th floor with two large West facing terraces offering great views towards the City. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, balcony, concierge, 2 parking spaces. EPC: C. Approximately 242.4 sq m (2,609 sq ft). Available furnished
Guide price: £2,500 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/CWQ221104
KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 9294
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
CW Mag August Lettings PH NEW N
22/07/2015 11:12:24
CW
24
WHAT'S YOUR NEXT MOVE? To find out how we can help you or to arrange your no obligation market appraisal please contact us: KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 9294
Guide price: £425 per week
Baltimore Wharf, Nr Canary Wharf E14 Well presented seventh floor one bedroom apartment to let. Bedroom, bathroom, reception room, open plan kitchen, balcony, concierge. EPC: C. Available furnished. cwharf@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 9294
-->
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £875 per week
Port East Apartments, Hertsmere Road E14 Two bedroom south facing apartment with parking located in a charming Grade I listed warehouse conversion. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, open plan kitchen, concierge, gym. Available furnished. cwharf@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 9294
CW Mag Lettings August 2015-crop
21/07/2015 09:59:06
EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES TO RENT To find out how we can help you or to arrange your complimentary market appraisal please contact us: KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5369
Guide price: £525 per week
Aberdeen Wharf, Wapping E1W
-->
Newly refurbished one bedroom flat to rent in a converted warehouse with an abundance of character. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, reception/ dining room, kitchen and parking space . EPC: E. Approximately 69 sq m (741 sq ft). Available furnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £515 per week
Dunbar Wharf, Limehouse E14 Beautifully presented with bright and modern rooms, this superb two bedroom top floor flat offers a river setting. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, reception/dining room and private balcony. EPC: C. Approximately 91 sq m (979 sq ft). Available furnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5369
297h 210w Mayfair Mag
23/07/2015 09:02:44
29
44
EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES TO RENT To find out how we can help you or to arrange your complimentary market appraisal please contact us: KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5369
Guide price: £695 per week
Telfords Yard, Wapping E1W Stylish 6th floor south facing one bedroom apartment to rent in a popular gated development in west Wapping. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, open plan reception/dining room, kitchen and 24 hour conceirge. EPC: C. Approximately 132 sq m (1,426 sq ft). Available furnished or unfurnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £615 per week
Ivory House, St Katherine Docks Stunning flat in a characterful warehouse conversion with views over St Katherine Docks. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, reception room, kitchen, parking space and poterage. EPC: B. Approximately 61 sq m (659 sq ft). Available furnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366
297h 210w Mayfair Mag
23/07/2015 09:02:44
for sale
Pond Place, sw3
3 bedrooms u 2 bathrooms u patio garden u EPC=D Guide £2.95 million Sloane Street – 020 7730 0822
for sale
mountford manSionS, sw11
2 bedrooms u secure underground parking u EPC=D Guide £1.5 million Battersea – 020 3402 1900
for sale
Pond Street, nw3
2 bedrooms u garden u roof terrace u EPC=E Guide £2.25 million Hampstead – 020 7472 5000
for sale
calbourne road, sw12
4 bedrooms u 3 bath/shower rooms u garden u EPC=D Guide £1.45 million Clapham – 020 8673 4111
for sale
da Gama Place, E14
3 bedrooms u 3 bathrooms u garden u EPC=D Guide £1.325 million Canary Wharf – 020 7531 2500
to let
to let
eGerton GardenS, sw3
lancaSter cloSe, w2
2 bedrooms u communal garden access u EPC=C Guide £895 per week + fees apply* Knightsbridge – 020 7584 8585
4 bedrooms u 2 bathrooms u porter u EPC=D Guide £950 per week + fees apply* Notting Hill – 020 7727 5751
thinking of renting? there are some important things you need to know. Whatever your property you always get our full focus.
*Fees to include drawing up the tenancy agreement and reference charge for one tenant - £276 inc VAT one-off fee. £36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependant on the property size and whether furnished/ unfurnished. For more details visit www.savills.co.uk/fees
to let
GroSvenor Hill, sw19
3 bedrooms u 2 bathrooms u parking u EPC=C Guide £589 per week + fees apply* Wimbledon – 020 8971 8100
to let
academy GardenS, w8
2 bedrooms u use of swimming pool and gym u EPC=E Guide £1,900 per week + fees apply* Kensington – 020 7535 3333
1 2
savills.co.uk
MOLINES WHARF, e14
WEST INDIA QUAY, e14
Reception room ø dining room ø kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony ø allocated parking ø 120 sq m (1,291 sq ft) ø EPC=C
Reception room ø open plan kitchen/dining area ø 3 double bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø dock facing ø allocated parking ø 24hr porter ø 167 sq m (1,799 sq ft) ø EPC=C
Guide £1.125 million Leasehold
Guide £1.65 million Leasehold
Savills Canary Wharf wdickenson@savills.com 020 7531 2595
Savills Canary Wharf tpeel@savills.com 0207 531 2500
BINNACLE HOUSE, e1w
HUDSON YARD HOUSE, se16
Reception room ø kitchen ø 3 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø roof terrace ø balcony ø garage ø gym ø 165 sq m (1,779 sq ft) ø EPC=C
Reception room ø kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony ø parking ø 66 sq m (708 sq ft) ø EPC=C
Guide £1.695 million Leasehold
Guide £525,000 Freehold
Savills Wapping llaws@savills.com 020 7456 6800
Savills Wapping llaws@savills.com 020 7456 6800
3 4
1 2
savills.co.uk
HANOVER HOUSE, e14
PAN PENINSULA SQUARE, e14
Reception room ø open plan kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø concierge ø protected parking space ø 121 sq m (1,302 sq ft) ø EPC=C
Reception room ø kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø terrace ø 24hr porter ø use of residents communal gym, pool and sauna ø panoramic views ø 80 sq m (865 sq ft) ø EPC=B
Guide £1.165 million Leasehold
Guide £825,000 Leasehold
Savills Canary Wharf rpolya@savills.com 020 7531 2502
Savills Canary Wharf tpeel@savills.com 0207 531 2500
BELGRAVE COURT, e14
NEW PROVIDENCE WHARF, e14
Reception room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 3 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø guest w.c. and storage room ø balcony ø 161 sq m (1,734 sq ft) ø EPC=D
Reception room ø kitchen ø 3 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø utility room ø terrace ø 2 valet parking spaces ø 251 sq m (2,697 sq ft) ø EPC=C
Guide £1.9 million Leasehold
Guide £2.99 million Leasehold
Savills Canary Wharf tpeel@savills.com 0207 531 2500
Savills Canary Wharf rpolya@savills.com 020 7531 2502
3 4
BINNACLE HOUSE, WAPPING LANE E1W ● ● ● ●
3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Approx. 1,179 sq ft (165 sq m) 8th Floor
● ● ● ●
Guide price £1,695,000 Leasehold For more information, call Tony Usher 020 7715 9700 or email tony.usher@eu.jll.com
Allocated Parking 5 Balconies Panoramic views EPC - B
11 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf E14 4HE
jll.co.uk/residential
NEW FESTIVAL QUARTER, CANARY WHARF E14 ● ● ● ●
2 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Brand new Concierge
● ● ● ●
Gym Balcony Langdon Park DLR EPC - B
Price £425 per week Furnished For more information, call Charlotte Malone 020 7715 9700 or email charlotte.malone@eu.jll.com
Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges.
11 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf E14 4HE
jll.co.uk/residential
Set in the heart of the exciting South Bank, adjacent to the London Eye, Southbank Place is uniquely positioned to embrace all that the cultural South Bank has to offer. This new destination will offer a range of apartments with stunning views over the River Thames, The London Eye and The Palace of Westminster. A development by Braeburn Estates Limited Partnership
Computer generated image is indicative only
LAUNCHING 17TH SEPTEMBER 2015
REGISTER NOW www.southbank-place.com +44 (0)20 7001 3600
ju
s
t
S
O
LD
Sales
Ocean Wharf, Docklands, E14 Two bedroom apartment
The stunning two bedroom apartment comprises of a large open-plan living room and kitchen area, with a balcony overlooking the city skyline, two double bedrooms, the master with a south facing balcony and en-suite bathroom and one further family bathroom. This River fronted apartment also benefits from a fantastic source of natural daylight because of the floor to ceiling windows in the living area.
This private exclusive development is hugely desirable due to its close proximity to Canary Wharf and Docklands, which offer many amenities such as shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. There is also excellent transport links into the city via the DLR or Jubilee Lines. Other benefits include a daytime concierge service and leisure facilities. Price includes parking and a share of the freehold.
ÂŁ619,995
+44 (0)20 7519 5900
residential.canarywharf@cbre.com
www.cbre.co.uk/residential
Sales
JUST S O LD
Slipway House, Docklands, E14 Two bedroom apartment
Rare to the market is this very impressive split level two bedroom apartment measuring approximately 1254 sq ft set within this historic Grade II listed warehouse. The apartment benefits from a large terrace accessed from the second bedroom and an additional balcony from the reception room, boasting views of the River Thames and the Slipway. On the upper level there are two double bedrooms and a family bathroom with modern fittings throughout. The Residents have the benefit of 24 hour concierge and
a leisure facilities comprising of a swimming pool and gymnasium. Docklands Light Railway stations can be found at Mudchute 0.4 miles and Island Gardens 0.6 miles away respectably. An allocated underground parking space is also included.
ÂŁ650,000 +44 (0)20 7519 5900
residential.canarywharf@cbre.com
www.cbre.co.uk/residential
Lettings
Naxos Building, Docklands, E14 Two bedroom apartment
Situated directly on the river, this property has spectacular views towards the City. The property benefits from an open-plan fully fitted kitchen/reception and dining area as well as a contemporary modern bathroom and two good size double bedrooms.
This gated development benefits include 24 hour concierge, gymnasium and spa facilities. Located close to the Canary Wharf business estate, shops and amenities and short walk away from South Quay DLR station.
ÂŁ425 per week +44 (0)20 7519 5900
residential.canarywharf@cbre.com
www.cbre.co.uk/residential
Lettings
Whitby House, Docklands, E14 One bedroom apartment
A lovely one double bedroom apartment in Whitby House, which is situated within the ever popular Landmark East Tower. The property is situated on the 8th floor of the development and offers an open-plan living room and kitchen, one double bedroom and bathroom.
The property will be refurbished with new flooring and furnishings and will be available immediately. Close transport links include South Quay DLR station and Canary Wharf Jubilee station is also only a short walk away.
ÂŁ415 per week +44 (0)20 7519 5900
residential.canarywharf@cbre.com
www.cbre.co.uk/residential
interview: FRANKLYN JAMES After little more than a decade of rising through the ranks of the estate agency world, Franklyn James is ready to take its success to the next level, supported by a contemporary re-brand, program of office expansion and the clear ambitions of its founder
Frank talking:
M
– and once in a while there in one you love,’ from L.M.Montgomery. It’s evidence of the re-brand, and expansion, that the business is undergoing, which also involves a slick, easy-to-use new website and increased social media presence. Reflecting on his career trajectory, Chatterjee talks about how he first embarked on a banking career, before realising that perhaps he was in the wrong game. “I looked after a lot of high-net-worth clients, and noticed what a lot of them had in common was owning property, at a time when properties weren’t seen as investments in the same way they are now.” Coupling his banking experience with his “curiosity about ways to better yourself”, Chatterjee took his cue from such investors, whose property assets saw them on The Sunday Times Rich List, and began building his own portfolio. After several property purchases, believing that “East London appeared undervalued”, and a move into the financial services sector in the City, it was clear that his financial returns were uneven, putting it very simply: “You were doing less physical work for it, but getting better returns from bricks and mortar.” Therefore, after relocating to Limehouse in 2000, Chatterjee eventually set up shop as Franklyn James on Narrow Street in 2004, with further offices subsequently opening on Westferry Road and Bow Road. “The market’s been tough, but it’s never been financially tough for us. You have to build solid foundations so if anything
Always live in the ugliest house on the street — then you don’t have to look at it. David Hockney
eeting with Sandy Chatterjee, managing director and founder of Franklyn James estate agency, it’s clear to see his business is beginning a new chapter. New business cards and leaflets cover table tops, Audi A1 cars are joining the force, and the walls of the Limehouse office in which we chat display quotes such as ‘Houses are like people – some you like and some you don’t like
PROPERTY
wobbles, you’re not going to fall down.” Such careful attention to building up the business at the right pace has ensured its longevity, and put it in a strong position for the next phase of expansion. “We feel now is the right time, strategically, to propel ourselves from being medium-sized players to the next level, and grow the business to anything fromoffices in the next five years. That’s our vision,” he asserts. Expansion into the south east is top priority, after numerous customer approaches and careful market research suggested an office in the region was viable. “You tend to find that couples who want to have a family or need more space, find south east London geographically more manageable, and closer than Essex or Kent.” An office is now in the pipeline for this year, with a fifth also agreed on. With demand high (95 per cent of Franklyn James sales reach exchange compared to 73 per cent nationally), the new offices are ripe for success,
and the team attributes much of this to its straighttalking honesty – inflating asking prices to secure instructions is not tolerated – and its clear valuations, or as its name suggests, simply being frank.
FRANKLYN JAMES ESTATE AGENTS Docklands, Limehouse & Bow 020 7005 6080 franklynjames.co.uk
CANARY WHARF | 131
Properties for sale
Featured property
Stunning views
Berglen Court £1,100,000 Limehouse, E14
The perfect setting
Barrier Point £700,000
Royal Docks, E16
020 7005 6080
Superb views from every principal room and the balcony! Modern apartment with open-plan reception room, balcony, separate kitchen, master bedroom, en suite shower room, second double bedroom, third double bedroom and main bathroom.
Immaculate 1,100 sq ft flat with terrace and river views. The accommodation comprises open-plan reception/dining room, private terrace, separate kitchen and two large double bedrooms. One underground parking space included. The development offers a residents’ gym and concierge.
020 7791 1777
020 7791 1777 Limehouse@franklynjames.co.uk 3
2
1
020 7005 6080 Docklands@franklynjames.co.uk 2
2
1
020 8983 2930
Properties to let
Landmark East Tower Canary Wharf, E14
Langbourne Place
With a contemporary interior and great location, this stunning one bedroom apartment enjoys superb views. The property comprises reception room with open-plan kitchen, bedroom with fitted wardrobes, 24 hour concierge and fully equipped gym.
Two double bedroom apartment with bright reception room and balcony, modern kitchen, main bathroom and en suite shower room. Parking can also be made available by separate negotiation. Includes 24 hour concierge and residents’ gym.
020 7005 6080 | Docklands@franklynjames.co.uk
020 7005 6080 | Docklands@franklynjames.co.uk
1
1
£400 PW
1
Hutchings Wharf
Isle of Dogs, E14
2
£465 PW
Isle of Dogs, E14
£460 PW
2
1
New Atlas Wharf
£950 PW
Isle of Dogs, E14
Located within an impressive riverside development with porter, a spacious two bedroom flat. Benefits include en suite to master bedroom, fully fitted modern kitchen, balcony, ample storage and gated parking. The property is located close to Canary Wharf and South Quay DLR.
Spacious, sixth floor, three bedroom apartment with roof terrace and two balconies. Includes large reception, modern kitchen, two bathrooms, allocated parking space and on-site facilities.
020 7005 6080 | Docklands@franklynjames.co.uk
020 7005 6080 | Docklands@franklynjames.co.uk
2
2
1
3
2
1
franklynjames.co.uk @franktalking
Frank talking
“ I love walking through Victoria Park in the summer. It’s a beautiful environment and everyone always looks so relaxed and happy.” Gavin Senior Lecturer
Frank talking
“ You get a good sense of community here and respect for the area, as you really are on your own island.” Anthony Creative Director
We believe in being Frank. That means straight-talking, honesty and doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. Turning up on time. Phone calls promptly returned. Doing the paperwork. Being polite and friendly. It’s not fancy. It’s just Frank.
020 7005 6080
020 7791 1777
020 8983 2930
franklynjames.co.uk @franktalking
property
STATE OF THE MARKET BALANCING THE BOOKS JASON TAYLOR, sales director at Franklyn James Estate Agents, comments on the state of the residential property market
I
international interest ALASDAIR CARPENTER, managing director of Lourdes Estate Agents, comments on the state of the residential property market
A
n the July budget George Osborne announced that cuts will be made to tax relief for wealthy, non-domiciled homeowners who have lived in the UK for 15 of the last 20 years. This will not take effect until 2017, but growing fears suggest that this will be another blow for the prime central London property market. The capital has seen a slowdown in the high end market since the stamp duty increased dramatically for properties worth £1.5m and above. Many agents fear that the tax relief cuts will become another hurdle in this forever changing industry. Usually, any change in central London ripples out to the rest of the country, but this will most probably be selfcontained and should only affect the capital’s high end market. For E14 and E16 postcodes this will probably mean an increase in asking prices as there will be more room for growth there than in neighbouring areas. This will also mean that the more affordable prices will be more attractive than ever. For the rest of the country, stock remains at an all-time low and buyers continue to fuel the market as interest rates continue to remain stable. Nevertheless, all home owners will need to sell at some point. The key for buyers is to make sure you are in the right place at the right time.
s the Chinese stock market is seemingly becoming turbulent and volatile, the UK property market will likely benefit from the renewed interest of Asian investors, who are seeking a safe haven for their money. In the Docklands area, it is new build, off-plan opportunities that continue to generate the most enthusiasm from both international and British buyers. Recent data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders also demonstrates the bullish nature of the UK housing market. According to the CML, gross mortgage lending leapt by a significant 29 per cent in June, to its highest level in seven years. Mortgage lenders seem to be well and truly open for business and the excessive and stringent lending criteria adopted by many lenders during the recession are gradually being eroded. So the question remains, how close are we to the next peak in the property market cycle? I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Franklyn James Estate Agents
Lourdes Estate Agents
Docklands, Limehouse & Bow 020 7005 6080 franklynjames.co.uk
Docklands Office 020 7538 9250 City Office 020 7377 5788 lourdes-estates.com
CANARY WHARF | 135
www.lourdes-estates.com
Westgate Apartments, Docklands E16
New Providence Wharf, London E14
A bright and spacious one bedroom apartment situated within the popular Royal Victoria Docks. The furnished property benefits from a large reception, modern kitchen with integrated appliances, double bedroom, contemporary bathroom and private balcony. The building includes a porter, resident gym facilities, communal roof terrace and is ideally located for Royal Victoria DLR Station, the Emirates Cable car and Excel exhibition centre.
This fully furnished two bedroom apartment on the seventh floor of the sought after New Providence Wharf development features a large semi open plan reception with a balcony overlooking the river, two double bedrooms, two contemporary bathrooms and ample storage throughout. New Providence Wharf is located minutes from Canary Wharf and provides residents with 24hr concierge plus gym and pool facilities.
£295 per week
EPC = B
EPC = D
£550 per week
Dundee Wharf, Limehouse E14
Blyth’s Wharf, Limehouse E14
Presenting three double bedroom apartment in the desirable river side Dundee Wharf. This property is ideal for anybody looking for walking distance to Canary Wharf or good transport links into the City. Featuring a generous living room with private balcony overlooking the slipway and the River Thames, kitchen with granite work surfaces and integrated appliances, three double bedrooms, two bathrooms allocated parking, 24hr concierge and on site gym facilities.
A substantial four bedroom town house situated in this Narrow Street gated development. This beautiful home is directly located on the banks of the River Thames and provides breath taking views. Comprising of a modern kitchen diner with private river facing terrace, reception with a river facing balcony, a second reception or dining room, four large bedrooms, three bathrooms, utility room and flexibility on furnishings plus secure off street parking
EPC = D
EPC = C
£675 per week
Docklands office: 96 Three Colt Street, Limehouse, London, E14 8AP docklands@lourdes-estates.com I 020 7538 9250
£1,000 per week
Docklands office 020 7538 9250 docklands@lourdes-estates.com
The Highway, Wapping E1W
Victory Place, Limehouse E14
This stunning four bedroom apartment is located in the Grade II The Listed Building situated in the Wapping Wall conservation area. Such apartments with a wealth of space are rarely available on the open market. This apartment has breath-taking views across the river Thames and towards the iconic Canary Wharf skyline. This fabulous apartment is located within walking distance of an array of pubs and restaurants in Wapping and on Narrow Street as well as being within easy reach of Canary Wharf or the City.
This stunning three bedroom top floor apartment is located in what is widely considered to be one of Limehouse’s premier residential developments. Such apartments with a wealth of outside space are rarely available on the open market. This apartment has breath-taking views across Ropemakers Field and of the iconic Canary Wharf skyline. Victory Place further benefits from secure parking, concierge and residents’ gym.
£2,100,000
EPC = C
EPC = C
£880,000-£900,000
Branch Road, Limehouse E14
Branch Road, Limehouse E14
Lourdes are proud to present this well presented three double bedroom apartment located in one of Limehouse sought after developments Medland House. Further benefits include 24 hour concierge and secure underground parking. Medland house is located within a moments’ walk to Limehouse station and a leisurely stroll into Canary Wharf.
Lourdes are delighted to offer this two bed, two bath apartment situated in a sought-after development overlooking Limehouse Marina. The property boasts a spacious living room with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors opening onto private balcony overlooking the marina. Limehouse DLR station is less than five minutes walk away and Canary Wharf is a 15-minute walk along the Thames Path.
EPC = C
EPC = C
£850,000-£890,000
£624,995
City office: 20 White Church Lane, Aldgate, London, E1 7QR city@lourdes-estates.com I 020 7377 5788
CANARY WHARF DPS JULY 2015.qxp_Layout 1 15/07/2015 11:37 Page 1
Canary Wharf Office 020 3006 7788
Landmark East Tower, E14 ÂŁ439 per week fees apply
epc 1
1
1
No
Yes
0.2m
1.5m
B
Landmark East Tower offers some of the highest residential accommodation in Canary Wharf; this one bedroom apartment sits on the thirty fourth floor boasting spectacular West facing views of London. The complex benefits from 24 hour porter and on-site gym, ideally located within a few minutes walk to Canary Wharf business centre and transport links.
Canary Wharf Office 020 3006 7788
Cahir Street, E14 ÂŁ599,950 Freehold
epc 3
1
1
Yes
No
0.2m
1.6m
D
A fantastic opportunity to acquire a period freehold property ideally located in a quiet, low traffic area. Sitting within walking distance of Canary Wharf and Underground/DLR stations as well as Mudchute Park and Greenwich close by. An ideal purchase for professional sharers or a small family.
Shoreditch Office 020 3535 7788
Baxendale Street, E2 ÂŁ1,100,000 Freehold
epc 2
2
1
Yes
No
0.7m
0.5m
TBC
This stunning two bedroom Victorian house located in the beautiful Jesus Green Conservation Area is superbly located just outside of the City. The property boasts original features including wooden flooring, sash windows and high ceilings elegantly mixed with stylish interiors and modern fittings.
Bow Office 020 8981 7788
Woodstock Terrace, E14 ÂŁ950,000 Freehold
epc 4
3
3
Yes
No
0.1m
1.1m
D
Arranged over four floors is this impressive Victorian terraced house spanning 1473 square feet and offering flexible accommodation. The property is situated on a tranquil no-through road in Poplar just moments from the High Street and DLR stations, with Canary Wharf also in walking distance. Offered chain free.
Capital Wharf, West Wapping E1W ea2 are pleased to offer this bright 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with stunning River views from the balcony on the second floor within this sought after development. The master bedrooms ensuite comprises of a 4 piece bathroom a separate Wellington Terrace, Wapping E1W suite. The second bathroom is also an ensuite in the second bedroom. Wooden floors throughout and has £695,000 room.bedroom, 24 hour concierge and house use of residents gymthis Secure underground parking. Close toThe transport links to canary the city. 2cloak double 2 storey set within gated CCTV development. property has beenwharf fullyand modernised to include double glazing, replacement ceilings, wood floors, , alarm, central heating system operated via remote control, smart phone or internet. Lounge. Fully fitted kitchen. Double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes. Garden. Secure Underground parking space. Potential to extend into the loft subject to planning permission. Close to Wapping station and local amenities.
£1,175,000
Spirit Quay, West Wapping E1W ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this modern built 2 bedroom ground and first floor duplex apartment.The apartment benefits from lounge, fitted kitchen, 3 piece bathroom suite. Double glazing. LaminateTower wood floors. Views over ornamental canal. Allocated parking space. Close to St Katharine’s Dock and Tower Hill stations. Tudor House, Bridge, SE1
6th floor luxury 2 Double Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Open Plan Reception Room, large balcony. Master bedroom with en-suite and walk in wardrobe. Modern Integrated Kitchen, Balcony, 24 Hour Porter by Harrods Estates, Residents Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Lifts to all floors. Close to Local Shopping Facilities, Walking Distance to London Bridge.
£1,595,000
ea2 Agency Estate Agency | 35a Wapping StreetStreet | Wapping | London E1W E1W 2PL 1NA ea2 Estate Heritage Court | 8-10High Sampson | Wapping | London t: 020 7702 3456 t: 020 7702 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2group.com | enquiries@ea2group.com www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com
£545,000
St Katharine’s Way, West Wapping E1W
Croft Street, Tower Hill E1
Rental Price: £485 Per Week
Rental Price: £650 Per Week
Orchid Place, Shadwell E1
Orient Wharf, West Wapping E1W
ea2 are pleased to offer to let this 1980’s built substantial 3 storey, 3 double bedroom, 2 ea2 are pleased to offer to let this 1980’s built 2 bedroom 2nd and 3rd floor duplex bathroom house.The house comprises of fully fitted kitchen, reception leading to southerly apartment within thisWapping popular West Wapping RodingsetMews, E1W location.The apartment benefits from £1,300 per week facing garden. 3 Double bedrooms, 3 piece bathroom and 3 piece en-suite bathroom to 2 double bedrooms, fitted kitchen diner, bathroom with separate cloakroom, lounge ea2 are pleased to be able to show you this 6 bedroom 4 bathroom house for rental with a garden. This property is a master bedroom. Laminate wood floors. Allocated parking space. Backing onto Royal Mint with double doors leading to courtyard garden.The apartment is located close to St very unique property views over the canal. Would suit 6 professional people. Close totoTower Hill and Wapping Gardens. Located close St Katharine’ s Dock, Tower Hill stations and the City of London. Katharine’s Dock and Towerand Hill has station. Overground and close to Waitrose. The property is to be re-decorated prior to the tenancy commencement.
ea2 are pleased to offer you this 2 bedroom river view apartment. It is a duplex ea2 are pleased to offer to let this top floor (8th floor) 1 bedroom modern built apartment with a seperate mezzanine galleried bedroom area as well as the main apartment.The apartment benefits from under floor heating, large storage cupboard, Cascades Tower, Docklands E14 £500 week bedroom. This can be furnished or unfurnished. Wooden floors throughper out. Close to south facing balcony with splendid views towards canary wharf. open plan living room/ 2 double 2 bathroom 11th floor within this secure modern development. Comprising a reception Wapping overground Station and local amenities. kitchen withbedroom, dishwasher. close to Shadwell station andapartment Tower Hill Stations.
room with water/ City views, fitted kitchen, master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe & en suite bathroom, additional Rental Price: £450 Per Week Rental Price: £360 Swimming Per Week shower room. Balcony. pool, Gymnasium & Tennis court. Concierge.
ea2Agency Estate Agency Wapping Street | Wapping | London E1WE1W 2PL 1NA ea2 Estate Heritage| 35a Court | 8-10 High Sampson Street | Wapping | London 020 7702 3456 t: 020 7702t: 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2group.com | enquiries@ea2group.com www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com
SALES
•
LETTINGS
•
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Berkeley Tower, Canary Riverside, E14 £650 per week Two Bedrooms / Two Bathrooms / Luxury Development / Parking / 24hr Concierge / River Views / EPC Rating C
Luralda Wharf, E14 £335 per week. Let prior to Publishing. Similar Properties in E14 Required Two Double Bedrooms / Spacious Lounge / Balcony / Direct River Views / Garage / EPC Rating D
In addition to rent and deposit, the tenant admin fees are £200 incl. VAT. The reference fee is £40 incl. VAT for each tenant. There is an inventory check-out fee which is charged at the end of the tenancy and the amount is dependant on the property size.
Port East Apartments, E14 £875,000 Share of Freehold Two Double Bedrooms / Two Bathrooms / Warehouse Conversion / Parking / EPC Rating C
Maynards Quay, Wapping, E1W £560,000 Leasehold Two Bedrooms / Balcony with Views over Basin towards Canary Wharf / Modern Kitchen / Modern Bathroom / EPC Rating B
tel: +44(0)20 7702 1111 61 Garnet Street, Wapping, London E1W 3QS sales@daa-uk.com www.daa-uk.com
INTERVIEW: MYLONDONHOME As award-winning estate agency MyLondonHome unveils its dedicated City & Docklands branch, its sales and lettings director Christian Thomas explains why the company is so well-respected by its clients and why he believes the area is more popular than ever in which to rent and buy
“I
didn’t come here to sell houses; I care about the area because I live here as well.” Within 20 minutes of meeting Christian Thomas, sales and lettings director of MyLondonHome, he’s already pointed out his flat across the water from where we meet, and is listing the advantages of living in the Docklands, including its bars and restaurants, the close proximity to Greenwich and its position on the River.
“Our CEO is very passionate about providing a high level of service” Therefore it’s easy to understand why he joined the team at MyLondonHome as the estate agency prepares to open its dedicated City & Docklands branch on 3 August. With an established office in Westminster, the company had noticed that many of its clients had East London connections and could benefit from a local office: “When we ran statistics on our clients’ addresses, it became clear that more than 50 per cent of our clients in Westminster had some kind of relationship with the Canary Wharf area. Either they lived here, had an investment flat here or they worked here: it is truly somewhere you want to be and once Crossrail services are operating, it will increase desirability further.” MyLondonHome already has an outstanding retention rate for clients; 98.5 per cent of landlords have opted to let out their properties with the company more than once, and this year the agency won the silver award for London Lettings Agency of the Year and the silver award for Customer Service Lettings Agency of the Year in the Estate Agency of the Year Awards, as well as the gold award for best UK Lettings Agency Website. Its
rating on customer review website All Agents yields an impressive average figure of 4.82 out of 5, based on its 892 reviews and Christian believes this is down to its carefully considered approach. “MyLondonHome combines the branding and marketing spend for properties of a corporate agency – we spend over £1million a year on marketing in some way, shape or form – but we combine this with a more personal level of service that independent agencies tend to be known for. Steven Herd, our CEO, is very passionate about providing a high level of service so that customers want to return to us.” Christian notes that recommendations are especially important for international investors. Having also opened an office in Hong Kong this year, MyLondonHome is looking after a large number of portfolios for overseas clients at the moment: “There is no question that London offers the safest option for your money if you are investing in property,” he insists. The company also offer comprehensive relocation and property management services, which complement its emphasis on sales and lettings. “We’ll provide any kind of service which enhances the customer
“We’ll provide any kind of service which enhances the customer journey” journey,” says Christian. “We have an in-house inventory team and we employ our cleaners; we don’t subcontract them out. We have our own in-house interior designer and we don’t charge for her services. I joined the company because the fit is right. It’s about trying to do things properly and ethically. That’s what estate agency should be because it’s a very simple thing. People want to sell and we want to sell that thing for them. It isn’t more complex than that.”
PROPERTY
mylondonhome City & Docklands Office 020 7227 0044 mylondonhome.com
CANARY WHARF | 147
Silk HouSe, GoodmanS FieldS, aldGate, e1
Seacon tower, canary wHarF, e14
ontario tower, canary wHarF, e14
One bedroom. Walk to work.
Two bedrooms. On the river.
One bedroom. River views.
EPC: TBC
EPC: C
EPC: C
tHe Heron, Silk Street, ec2y
city iSland, leamoutH, e14
Providence tower, canary wHarF, e14
Two bedrooms. Top of the world.
A selection of off-plan units.
A selection of off-plan units.
EPC: C
EPC: TBC
EPC: TBC
Pan PeninSula, canary wHarF, e14
tHe eaGle, SHoreditcH, ec1v
altitude tower, aldGate, e1
Studio with river views.
One bedroom in tech-central.
Three bedrooms. City, Curry, Happy.
EPC: B
EPC: TBC
EPC: B
£760,000 LeasehoLd
£4,500,000 LeasehoLd
£350 Per week fees aPPLy
£595,000 LeasehoLd
Prices from £370,000
£560 Per week fees aPPLy
£599,995 LeasehoLd
Prices from £330,000
£895 Per week fees aPPLy
Tenancy fees apply to all lettings properties: £210 per tenant. Check-in fee variable. Prices are inclusive of VAT.
MLH-Docklands-Ad.indd 1
it’S about time...
Our Canary Wharf office is now open! Our award-winning estate and letting agency is expanding east. 020 7227 0044 • MyLondonHome.com • Docklands@MyLondonHome.com 22 BEAUFORT COURT, ADMIRALS WAY, LONDON E14 9XL 17/07/2015 09:54
Blackheath Park, Blackheath SE3 Guide Price £1,300,000 Freehold A charming Grade II listed Georgian town house situated within the private Cator Estate and just some 300 yards from Blackheath Village.
Maze Hill, Greenwich SE10 Guide Price £2,800,000 Freehold An exceptional opportunity to acquire this unique five bedroom detached house which was originally built as a hospital clinic in the 1900’s.
› 4 bedrooms › Many original features › Attractive garden › EPC rating: E Blackheath Village Office on 020 8318 1311
› 5 bedrooms › Sizeable plot › Many original features › EPC rating: D Greenwich Office on 020 8858 9911
1000 COMPANIES TO INSPIRE
2015
The property experts since 1975 johnpayne.com
BRITAIN
Nithdale Road, Shooters Hill SE18 Guide Price £539,995 Freehold Situated in an elevated position on the Shooters Hill Slopes is this exquisite property combining bespoke design and period features.
Manor Park, Hither Green SE14 Price £1,200,000 Freehold A beautiful Victorian semi-detached family home situated in the highly desirable Manor Park area, and within easy reach of Hither Green station.
› 3 bedrooms › Summer house › Attractive garden › EPC rating: D Blackheath Standard Office on 020 8858 6101
› 5 bedrooms › Wealth of character › West facing garden › EPC rating: F Lee Office on 020 8852 8633
Blackheath Village Blackheath Standard Greenwich Lee
020 8318 1311 020 8858 6101 020 8858 9911 020 8852 8633
Kidbrooke Park Road, Blackheath SE3 Price £3,995 Per Calendar Month
Wyndcliff Road, Charlton SE7 Price £1,350 Per Calendar Month
Approached via a gravelled drive, this is an impressive An extremely spacious two bedroom (plus study/cot five/six bedroom, three/four reception double fronted room) first floor period apartment, benefiting from its own private garden. detached family home. › 6 bedrooms › Off street parking
› Ideal family home › EPC rating: C
› 2/3 bedrooms › Fully fitted bathroom
› Purpose built apartment › EPC rating: C
Blackheath Village Office on 020 8318 1311
Blackheath Standard Office on 020 8858 6101
Ashburnham Grove, Greenwich SE10 Price £3,750 Per Calendar Month
Taunton Road, Lee SE12 Price £1,800 Per Calendar Month
Fabulous four bedroom period home in the heart of Ashburnham Triangle. Beautifully presented throughout and close to Greenwich DLR.
An immaculately presented three bedroom Victorian terrace house, close to Hither Green station and just a short walk from Blackheath Village.
› 4 bedrooms › Fantastic location
› 3 bedrooms › Private roof terrace
› 2 bathrooms › EPC rating: E
Greenwich Office on 020 8858 9911
› Part furnished › EPC rating: E
Lee Office on 020 8852 8633
Our standard tenant fees are £120 agreement fee & £90 per person reference fee. Other fees may apply, visit johnpayne.com/tenantfees for more information.
johnpayne.com
Beckenham 020 8663 4433 Bromley 020 8315 5544
Chislehurst BR7
Chislehurst 020 8295 4900 Locksbottom 01689 882 988
£1,995,000 F/H
Queenborough Gardens is an exclusive gated development of just six houses built in 1987. Located just 1/4 mile from Chislehurst High Street, this wonderful family home offers well-proportioned living accommodation and occupies a beautiful secluded plot.
Contact Chislehurst 020 8295 4900
Orpington BR6
£1,150,000 F/H
Beautiful mock Tudor detached house fully decorated to a high standard. The property is situated in the prestigious Knoll area of Orpington. • Six bedrooms • Three reception rooms
Contact Orpington 01689 661 400
• Swimming pool • Energy Efficiency Rating E
Orpington 01689 661 400 West Wickham 020 8432 7373
• • • •
Five bedrooms Three bathrooms Conservatory Energy Efficiency Rating D
Bromley BR1
£940,000 F/H
Offered chain free is this charming double fronted period home in the heart of Sundridge Park, offering five bedrooms and a wealth of character. • Five bedrooms • Semi detached house
• Beautiful garden • Energy Efficiency Rating E
Contact Bromley 020 8315 5544 A member of
The Acorn Group, incorporating:
langfordrussell.co.uk
London’s Finest Properties
LOVE LONDON LOVE LIFE LETTINGS | MANAGEMENT | SALES | SERVICED APARTMENTS City_DPS_Generic.indd 1
13/05/2015 13:47
City_
UK’S LEADING PRIVATELY OWNED
REAL ESTATE AGENCY SPECIALISING IN
NEW LUXURY DEVELOPMENTS
WITH 11 OFFICES IN LONDON
3 INTERNATIONAL OFFICES 120 DEDICATED STAFF WHO SPEAK OVER 32 LANGUAGES 020 8896 9990 | liferesidential.co.uk 13:47
City_DPS_Generic.indd 2
13/05/2015 13:47
Your chance to enjoy
village living in the City www.gmv.gb.com 020 8305 2712
Brand new release of contemporary 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments in Greenwich.
Guide prices from ÂŁ350,000 Register your interest now Marketing Suite open every day 10am-5pm
Greenwich Millennium Village is a joint venture between Countryside Properties and Taylor Wimpey in association with the Mayor of London.
Price information correct at time of going to print. July 2015.
5953 CPUK GMV ad 297x210.indd 1
22/07/2015 11:18
Je ss ops at N ew P rov i d en ce Whar f D ocklands E1 4
IF YOU LIVED HERE, YOU’D BE WALKING TO WORK
A C A N A RY W H A R F POS TCODE COUL D B E YOURS This exciting collection of high specification 1 & 2 bedroom apartments is available now through Shared Ownership with Genesis. Built to the highest standards and in an unrivalled location, living at Jessops is the epitome of stylish, contemporary living. Come and see for yourself how Shared Ownership with Genesis could help cut your commute!
1 & 2 bedroom apartments Prices start from £101,875 for a 25% share*
0203 813 5149
Call or visit genesishahomes.org.uk/new-providence-wharf *Based on a full market value of £407,500. Eligibility rules apply. Details correct at time of going to press. Photographs show typical homes at New Providence Wharf.
LONDON’S YOUNGEST LANDMARK
An iconic addition to the London skyline Now Launched Berkeley Homes & Foster + Partners are proud to present South Quay Plaza, two iconic buildings just moments from Canary Wharf. At 68 storeys and with world class facilities, South Quay Plaza will redefine London living.
Suites, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments For further information, please call 020 3811 1680 or email southquayplaza@berkeleygroup.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @BerkeleyStyle and on Instagram @Berkeley_Style Details are correct at time of going to press and subject to apartment type and availability. Computer Generated Image depicts South Quay Plaza. Š DBOX for Berkeley Homes.
www.southquayplaza.london Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
Raising returns We focus on the burgeoning East London housing market this month, as both brand new and rare, existing properties continue to stoke buyers’ interest. Following the July Budget, there have also been some concerns over the impact on the buy-to-let division of the housing market, with the Financial Times naming landlords as the new “tax raising target.” Even if you’re not looking to invest for this reason, it’s worth being aware of potential rental yields, for the future.
MERCHANTS WALK
T
his summer, Peabody moves east of the City with its latest addition, Merchants Walk. With the average rental yield expected to be in the region of five per cent* and the improving E3 post-code, these one, two and three-bedroom apartments make for a great investment. David Jubb, Savills Greater London Development & Sales Team says: “As the first of four phases to be launched in the scheme, those buying now can expect to see strong capital growth at Merchants Walk and a good return on their investment in the future.”
The development is conveniently located adjacent to Devons Road DLR, and Bromley-by-Bow underground station is a mere ten minute walk away, allowing residents to be in the City, Canary Wharf or Central London in minutes. Buyers can also enjoy a number of local amenities including Lea Valley walks and a Westfield shopping centre. *The estimated yield is dependent on the type and size of the apartment.
From £325,000
Merchants Walk, E3 020 3369 8684 merchantswalk.co.uk
PROPERTY
THE LISTED BUILDING
T
his stunning four bedroom apartment is located in the Grade II The Listed Building situated in the Wapping Wall conservation area. Such apartments with a wealth of space are rarely available on the open market. This apartment has breath-taking views across the river Thames and towards the iconic Canary Wharf skyline. The accommodation comprises an impressive lounge fronting onto the Thames, fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, four double bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms and a separate WC. The Listed Building further benefits from secure parking, 24-hour concierge, residents’ swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym and function room. Originally built in the 1780s, The Listed Building was the original Free Trade Wharf where free trade was first conducted with the Dutch. It later became a gunpowder warehouse. This fabulous apartment is located within walking distance of an array of pubs and restaurants in Wapping and on Narrow Street as well as being within easy reach of Canary Wharf or the City.
£2,100,000
GREENWICH MILLENIUM VILLAGE
T
he latest phase of one, two and three-bedroom apartments is being launched this August at Greenwich Millennium Village, a development by Countryside and Taylor Wimpey, in association with the Mayor of London. Complete with a primary school, nursery, Ecology Park, yacht club and a selection of shops, it’s a promising ready-made community space, and with anticipated rental yields of up to 5.05 per cent, it’s an equally strong investment opportunity. Designed by award winning architects Jestico + Whiles, the development has high environmental standards, with cycle storage for all homes. It also benefits from green space, man-made lakes and easy access to the riverside, while also being located just a few minutes’ walk from historical Greenwich and North Greenwich tube station, with Jubilee line connections to Canary Wharf and Bond Street among others.
From £350,000
The Listed Building, E1W 020 7538 9250 lourdes-estates.com
Greenwich Millennium Village, SE10 020 8305 2712 gmv.gb.com
CANARY WHARF | 161
property
DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHT
LONDON HORSEPOWER
C
ommissioned by Berkeley Homes at Goodman’s Fields, Aldgate (where once Mr Goodman leased out the fields for London’s livery horses), British sculptor Hamish Mackie last month unveiled his six bronze horses at a new public square. Standing proud (or galloping proud, rather) at the heart of a seven-acre, mixed-use development, it is hoped the artwork will bring to life the history of the site. Racing in an arc shape through the piazza, the lead stallion rears up dramatically in a striking
pose, which is sure to be an iconic meeting place for the new residents and locals who are grabbing an al-fresco coffee or meeting friends. In line with the central sculpture, John Murdoch of Murdoch Wickham Landscape Architects, was also commissioned to design a landscape that complements the placement of the horses. Mature trees, pools and water features follow the curved path of the horses’ charge, creating a truly inviting space for locals to relax.
Aldgate, E1 020 3217 1000 goodmansfields.co.uk
162 | CANARY WHARF
Central Piazza at Goodmans Fields now open Home to six life-sized bronze horses Studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses available. Prices from £735,000. Call 020 3773 5735 or email goodmans@berkeleygroup.co.uk Sales & Marketing Suite open 7 days a week 10am – 6pm (Open until 8pm on Wednesdays and 4pm on Sundays) 39 Leman Street, London, E1 8EY Prices and details correct at time of going to press and subject to availability. Photography depicts Central Piazza at Goodmans Fields.
www.goodmansfields.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies