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Flower

power Masters

Orla Kiely’s life in pattern and botanical brilliance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

craft

Meet the skilled makers reviving ancient art forms

Thinking

big

Philanthropy and precious stones with jeweller Pippa Small

s AN EDITION OF THE KENSINGTON & CHELSEA MAGAZINE s

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contents

16 18 32 71. Restaurant review

regulars

fashion

10. Editor’s letter

43. Style her

12. Five minutes with... Jewellery designer Pippa Small 14. The agenda

46. Fashion shoot

16. Spotlight: The perks of being a wallflower Impressive installations by London’s top florists

59. Interior news

76. Crushing it Raising a glass to the women in wine

62. Heart of glass Inside the world of Moser, the Czech crystal creator

81. Travel news

health & beauty

83. Summer in the city Live like a local in New York

18. Profile: New metal David Mellor on creating cutlery for Number 10

culture 24. Art news

57. Style him

interiors

76 26. Past masters The craftsmen keeping ancient techniques alive

72. Where to grow A foodie round-up of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 74. The fantastic five Elena Arzak on half a decade in business

66. Health & beauty news 86. City break: Dubai

collection

67. Spa review

31. Objects of desire

high life

88. A novel idea Koh Samui’s The Library

70. Food news

property

32. All that glitters Five jewellery highlights from this year’s Baselworld

91. Luxury homes in the Royal Borough

34. The royal effect Pop the question with a ring fit for royalty

38. Best of Baselworld 2018: Watches The timekeepers keeping things ticking

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editor

From the MAY 2018

Editor Lauren Romano Contributing Editor Hannah Lemon Associate Editor Camilla Apcar

fashion clockWise from fAr lefT: delpozo s/s18 fiTTing WiTh josep fonT, imAge crediT: jAvier bioscA; zlatÉ moravce; ŠamorÍN, boTh mÁriA ŠvArbovÁ; delpozo s/s18 moodboArd; s/s18 skeTches; The lATesT delpozo collecTion

The orange and red shades of the swimwear in Švarbová’s work inspired the oversize paisley print, while the greens and blues of the swimming pool were turned into chiffon trousers and poplin shirts, as well as a geometric print that mimics the pools’ tiles. The composition and colour palette of Švarbová’s creations convey a vintage yet hyperreal feel. “The inspiration for the series came from the rather stark architecture of my local swimming pool in Bratislava,” she says. “The building is 80 years old and dates back to a time when swimming was more of a social duty that a sport, which is perhaps why pools from that era are such sterile spaces: all white tiles and ‘no diving’ signs. Nevertheless I was struck by the architecture, the many lines and the calmness of the water with its mirror-like reflections.” Ten photographs from the Swimming Pool series will be on show in the Delpozo store during London Craft Week, when the brand’s renowned embroiderers will showcase the techniques they have painstakingly applied to the S/S18 collection. Švarbová will also be taking part in a talk with Tank magazine founder Caroline Issa to discuss the relationship between art, fashion and craftsmanship – the core design tenets of the Delpozo brand. “Fashion is in love with art like never before,” says Švarbová. “Both fashion and art tell a lot about who we are or what we want to be, because they are a reflection of our personalities; they convey how we see life. I’m inspired by the way the two influence each other and how they collide.” Font is similarly interested in fashion and art collaborations, expecially when craftsmanship is involved. “Craftsmanship is art; art is usually handcrafted and fashion has elements of both disciplines,” he says. “For me, craftsmanship means paying attention to every detail and using delicate hand-made techniques to create beautiful art. Ten or 15 years ago some crafts were in danger of being lost, but now craftsmanship is having a comeback moment. Young people are taking up the mantle.”

Testing the

water

Make a splash with Delpozo’s S/S18 collection, inspired by snapshots of swimming pools Words: AnnA Thornhill

Assistant Editors Ellen Millard Marianne Dick Jewellery Editor Mhairi Graham Watch Editor Richard Brown Art Editor Laddawan Juhong Production Manager Alice Ford Production Jamie Steele Hugo Wheatley General Manager Fiona Smith Commercial Director Andrew Turner Managing Director Eren Ellwood

t’s not unusual for designers to mine their ideas from all over. Entire collections have been inspired by the curve of a building or the colour of a shimmering desert sunset. Delpozo creative director Josep Font finds that admiring art usually does the trick. When compiling the moodboard for the S/S18 collection, Font stumbled across the work of Slovakian photographer Mária Švarbová. Her depictions of pools provided the starting point for a series of Delpozo ensembles that play with proportion and pigment: think cascading layers of lemon yellow tulle, frothy sea-green ruffled capes and statement raffia headpieces. “I discovered Mária’s Swimming Pool series through Instagram and became fascinated by it,” Font explains. “The delicate use of light, the subtle colour hues, the surreal aura that surrounds each piece: I was hooked.”

Mária Švarbová will be in conversation with Carolina Issa on 9 May at 7pm; an exhibition of Švarbová’s photographs will be on display in-store throughout London Craft Week, 9-13 May, 134 Sloane Street, SW1X, delpozo.com

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“The ultimate luxury item is something that has been created by a person with extraordinary skill” - Pippa Small (p.12)

Craftsmanship comes in myriad guises and from all corners of the world. Take Westbourne Grove jeweller Pippa Small, who calls on the expertise of everyone from the bushmen of Botswana to the Batwa Pygmies in Rwanda for her ethicallysourced pieces (p.12). In this issue we meet the makers breathing life into timehonoured art forms: crystal cutters and vellum printers (p.26), cutlery designers (p.18) and master horologists (p.38). As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show returns to our doorsteps, we also turn our attention to floral artistry (p.16), and look forward to the royal wedding with a selection of sparklers fit for a monarch (p.34). Need something to toast the happy couple with? Take note of our round-up of the best wines made by women (p.76). Cheers all round.

Proudly published by

Lauren Romano Editor

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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. takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

Also published by

Kensington & chelsea magazine: Joséphine Aigrette rings by chaumet, chaumet.com (P.34); Notting hill & holland park magazine: orla kiely s/s18 collection, image credit: emma summerton, orlakiely.com (P.23)

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regulars

My interest in jewellery started with a love of

the Naga tribe in India. It’s enormous and I actually can’t get it off. I’ve had it on since I was 24. It’s a part of my body now.

stones. There’s something about their primal connection to the earth that I’m fascinated by.

In a strange twist of fate

I wear the same ring

I went from an academic background to design. I studied anthropology and my interest lies in human rights. I realised I could work with communities that needed jobs and make beautiful things at the same time.

all the time: an enormous rough bolder I bought in Australia, set in 22-carat gold. It’s a rough and unpolished opal. Every time you look at it the colours change.

Ten years ago I started working with Turquoise

We work with craftsmen from all over: bushmen in Botswana who use ostrich eggshell beads and porcupine quills; the Batwa Pygmies in Rwanda working with clay; and the Mapuche Indians from Chile who specialise in silver. Craft is a tremendous developmental tool and keeps traditions alive.

Jewellery is so universal. It transcends borders and cultures. My most treasured piece is a shell bracelet I was given by a member of

Mountain, an arts charity

five minutes with...

Pippa Small The Notting Hill designer on the artisans and philanthropy behind her jewels as told to: Ellen Millard

Clockwise from main image: Pippa Small; Gosht Mahi Eternity Ring, £140; Kirsty Hume wearing the Turquoise Mountain Collection; Mughal Dreams Ring, £6,700; Shades of spring Ring, £4,500; Adwoa Aboah modelling the turquoise Mountain Collection; Oqab Cuff, £250; Liberty Ross wearing the turquoise Mountain Collection; Shard Sugilite Earrings, £1,600; Cloudy Aqua bracelet, £2,800; photography: Tierney Gearon

founded by HRH Prince Charles. The team started a craft school in Afghanistan and I work with the graduates, designing using Afghan gems. We’re hosting a series of workshops with them for London Craft Week.

There’s an increasing respect for master craftsmen. The ultimate luxury item is something that has been created by a person with extraordinary skill. Turquoise Mountain will be hosting events at Pippa Small’s boutique for London Craft Week, 9-13 May, 201 Westbourne Grove, W11, turquoisemountain.org

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SWEET CHARITY Harrods has partnered with the NSPCC to launch Fashion Re-Told, a luxury charity fashion pop-up stocking pre-loved mens’ and womenswear curated by the Harrods team, and new donations from the likes of Armani and Ralph Lauren. Until 13 May, 196 Sloane Street, SW1X

Detail of the imperial garden: revive, from the fresh garden catergory at rhs chelsea flower show 2016, image credit: rhs/ georgi mabee

4 in the bank Artist Mouna Rebeiz has enlisted the likes of Elie Saab, Jo Malone and Giles Deacon to customise a series of piggy banks that will be auctioned to raise funds for Innocence in Danger, a charity that protects children from sexual abuse. 31 May, Saatchi Gallery, King’s Road, SW3, saatchigallery.com

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joon-yong kim, TEARS IN THE SUNSET, GLASS, 480 X 43MM, 2014

bowled over

More than 1,900 artisans submitted their expertly crafted wares to this year’s Loewe Craft Prize. See which 30 makers made the final cut at the Design Museum. 4 May – 17 June, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8, loewecraftprize.com

petal power

image credit: alberto ricci

The agenda

For its 2018 instalment, RHS Chelsea Flower Show demonstrates how green spaces can have a positive effect on both our wellbeing and the environment.

malene hartmann rasmussen, nightfall, 2015

All-day tickets from £51, 22-26 May, rhs.org.uk

dress code Marvel at the mastery of Azzedine Alaïa at this retrospective, which features 60 career and era-defining outfits selected from the late couturier’s archives. £16, 10 May – 7 October, Design Museum, designmuseum.org

image courtesy of GALLERIA BORGHESE

meet the makers From the atelier workbenches of horologists and milliners, to the livery halls of ancient guilds, catch the capital’s master craftsmen in action during London Craft Week. 9-13 May, various locations, londoncraftweek.com

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The

perks

being a

wallflower Fanciful flower arranging has been rapidly overtaken by clever, bold botanical displays from London’s top florists. Make way for a new budding romance between plants and art WORDS: HANNAH LEMON

hen someone says ‘flower arranging’, what do you think of? The Women’s Institute? Calendar Girls? Damp green foam blocks? It’s time to readjust those preconceptions. From online deliveries of bouquets that can be posted through a letter box to restaurants with meadows dangling from the ceiling, it seems that floristry is going through something of a renaissance. At this time of year, of course, the spotlight on flora is bright with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which takes place from 22 to 26 May. A star florist that created one of the most memorable displays of the 2016 event was Veevers Carter. It was approached by the New Covent Garden Flower Market to produce a 360-degree floral art installation themed around London and Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday. “Six months of planning, 35 specialists and 10,000 stems; our gold medal-winning design at RHS Chelsea Flower Show was one of our biggest challenges,” reveals founder Ming Veevers Carter. “The ambition of the design, combined with the logistics of the flower show itself, meant that meticulous planning was required to ensure perfection on the day.”

Veevers Carter has been making floral designs since the 80s, working with the top names in luxury, Amanda Wakeley among them, as well as for lavish weddings and corporate receptions. But her approach is much more innovative than merely putting a few bluebells in glass jam jars. “Inspired by iconic artists, we create floral designs and installations that celebrate and interpret the great works of art within London’s galleries,” she explains, listing the Tate Modern, V&A, National Gallery and Saatchi Gallery. “We work closely with our set and

spotlight

“Our work increasingly shares more in aesthetics and attitude with sculpture than with traditional floristry”

staging department to create innovative armatures – sculptural skeletons – from which we build our installations. Our work increasingly shares more in aesthetics and attitude with sculpture than with traditional floristry.” This move from vases to visual art has been made by a few others in the industry. Boutique company Kitten Grayson Flowers, founded in 2015, makes sure that every project is approached with flair. “We worked on the most spectacular fairytale wedding at Vaux-le-Vicomte just outside Paris,” says owner Kitten Grayson. “We used hundreds of pale pink silk roses to create an enchanted flower forest with an adorned horse and cart, decorated statues in the grounds and a magnificent dining table surrounded by blossom trees and cascading wisteria. We had a team of 13 florists working flat out for four days – a truly memorable project.” Locations can be unpredictable and challenging. In Greece, Grayson had to use donkeys to take freshly foraged flowers to a hilltop church where the team worked by torch and candlelight; in Somerset she took to the field with landscape architect Piet Oudolf on his perennial meadow at the Hauser & Wirth gallery; while London saw partnerships with Giles Deacon for London Fashion Week and Sotheby’s for its fine art auction. The endless options for creativity require picking the right petals. “In spring, I love using fritillaries,” says Grayson. “They’re so delicate, unique and rather dramatic. In summer, I choose roses, peonies and sweet peas. Instead of using a mass of different flowers, I like to use just one or two at a time to really illuminate the character of each. A peony, for example, really deserves her own space – she’s so attention seeking, a real diva. And I always think sweet peas are like a giggling gaggle of mischievous flirts – such fun.” Are there any flowers to avoid? “I recently did a huge job with cacti that looked amazing but I was taking the prickles out of my hands for days,” she laughs. Unlike canvas or ceramic, a plant’s life is short-lived. However, Grayson tries to make each stem and leaf last as long as possible. “Wherever I can, I try to use

opposite, from top: the veevers carter RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 display; the Wedding Gallery installation by kitten grayson flowers this page, clockwise from top left: veevers carter, IMAGE CREDIT: Amy O’Boyle; roof installation for Perrier-Jouët at The Sanderson London by kitten grayson flowers; veevers carter, IMAGE CREDIT: Amy O’Boyle

live plants that can be replanted and often use silk flowers for long-term installations,” comments Grayson. As does Veevers Carter, although she adds that the ephemeral nature of buds and blossoms contributes to the joy of each project: “Like the events we create our floral art for, they are an experience, a moment in time.” This year at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Kitten Grayson Flowers will be designing an installation at the London Gate to welcome visitors, while Veevers Carter remains tight-lipped about what she will be presenting (“watch this space…”). Whatever it is, you can be sure it will be more impressive than a ribbon-tied bouquet. veeverscarter.com; kittengrayson.com

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New metal Corin Mellor, creative director at David Mellor Design, reflects on designing knives and forks for Number 10 and taking up the baton from his late ‘Cutlery King’ father A s t o l d t o : La u r e n R o m a n o

W six-piece Pride cutlery set, £97; right: corin mellor in the round building, derbyshire

e have a lot to thank David Mellor for. Next time you’re stuck at a red light, spare a thought for the pioneering designer who, during his lifetime, had a hand in making everything from cutlery to traffic lights – it is estimated that some 25,000 sets of his lights are still in use today, while his knives and forks have been slicing and dicing since the 50s. Bus stops, street lamps and candlesticks: the late Sheffield-born designer’s creations have graced our streets and dinner tables for more than half a century. His first store, then known as David Mellor Ironmonger, opened in 1969 on Sloane Square, where it still stands today. Back then it sold everything from screws and scissors to Wedgwood crockery. So popular were its displays and diverse stock that it attracted a loyal following of DIY and kitchenware devotees. Janet Street-Porter once said “David Mellor does for scrubbing brushes and kitchen equipment what the

profile

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from top: a selection of david mellor woodware; david mellor carving board, £39; david mellor at the sloane square shop in 1969

uplift bra did for Brigitte Bardot.” Princess Margaret once stopped by to shop for a pastry board, while Mia Farrow bought mugs for her twins. Mellor, however, remained refreshingly unfazed by his A-list customers. When Jackie Kennedy popped in to pick up a wedding present for Churchill’s granddaughter, Arabella, Mellor, who donned his blue overalls and worked in the shop every Saturday, “didn’t have a clue who she was”, laughs his son Corin, who took over as creative director of the company almost 20 years ago. “She wanted to pay by cheque but he wouldn’t accept it. She told him to ‘charge it to Olympic Airways’.” Of course, Sloane Square and the surrounding district was very different back then. Over on Fulham Road, Terence Conran’s Habitat shop was bringing duvets, flat-pack furniture and coffee pots to the masses; while Elizabeth David, Britain’s first lady of food, was introducing adventurous palates to the exotic potential of garlic and herbs through her cookbooks and kitchen shop on Bourne Street. Dinner parties were having their day, and David Mellor even published its own magazine, Cooks Commentary, illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake. Almost 50 years on, many of the products originally sold when the shop first opened are still available to buy. All cutlery and kitchen knives are manufactured at the David Mellor factory in Hathersage, Derbyshire; alongside glassware, woodware and ceramics designed exclusively for the store by Corin. “Where else can you buy a wooden spoon for £3 in Chelsea?” he says. Loyal customers Nigella Lawson, Claudia Schiffer and Matt Damon agree. Even Hollywood A-listers need kitchen utensils.

My father founded David Mellor Design in 1953. He originally trained as a silversmith, but earned a reputation for everything from teaspoons to traffic lights. He designed the system in 1966 and it’s still used today. It’s a nice daily reminder for me, unless I get stuck at a red light.

In spite of his street furniture, the company is still best known for its knives and forks. The first collection, Pride, was designed in 1953 when my father was a student at the Royal College of Art, and it remains our most popular. Over the years we’ve designed silver plate cutlery for British embassies and politicians. The English collection was originally commissioned in 1992 for the prime minister’s ceremonial dining, but at the time, the design wasn’t deemed ostentatious enough for Number 10. So my father wrote a letter, saying, ‘if you don’t like it, tough’, in his very Sheffield way. He then put it into production himself. Ironically, the Camerons bought

profile

a similar set from us years later, so it did make it to Downing Street eventually.

Our first shop opened on Sloane Square in 1969. I was only about three at the time. My father always used to work there on Saturdays wearing a blue smock, and I remember being on the shop floor, behind the till with him. My mother was from Chelsea and my granny used to live in World’s End, so there’s a strong family connection to the area. David Mellor Design is still very small and familyorientated. I’ve been involved with the business all my life. We lived at the factory [The Round Building in Hathersage, Derbyshire] when I was growing up – there was just a connecting door between the workshop and the house. I still live on site with my wife and sons, but go back and forth to London a lot. I enjoy the change; I’ve got sheep at one end and the city at the other.

I like following an object from concept to creation. I’m a real believer that something should work as well as look good. I trained as a furniture designer and worked as an architect for underground stations for about 18 months, which I hated because I couldn’t make anything. I wouldn’t go as far as traffic lights, but if you can design a spoon, you should be able to design a staircase – it’s the same process. I actually avoid cutlery as it’s so difficult to design. My first cutlery collection, Chelsea, was a two-year process. I wanted to create a collection that combined both classic and modern design that was ergonomic too, so that when you pick it up it feels good. I also wanted to offer a comprehensive range, so there’s a cake fork, a long spoon, a butter knife... any tool you could think of.

You spend so much time every day using cutlery, yet it’s often an afterthought. I’ve got a vintage set of Pride that I use for dinner parties and then for general purposes I use my own Chelsea design.

Craftsmanship for me means staying true to materials. It’s inherent in what we do. It becomes immediately apparent when you use something if it’s been well made or not. It’s important not to forget that technology is moving on. There’s no point just sticking to the old fashioned way of making things. I like mixing tradition and technology.

It’s nice to delve into the archive every once in a while. At the moment we’re looking to relaunch a carving set that went alongside the original Pride cutlery collection in 1953. It’s going to be made to the original 50s specification – we’re going retro.

It’s amazing how things have a habit of turning up. I recently bought some beautiful candelabras that

clockwise from top right: david mellor making cutlery; david and corin in the sloane square shop; embassy glassware, from £12; chelsea cutlery, from £7

were designed for the Shell headquarters by my father and spent their life in a boardroom. They came up for sale at Bonhams, so I went along and bought them. They are complete one-offs. Then there are things that I don’t even remember being made. A lady once brought in a carving set in a Harrods box: I vaguely recognised it as one of my father’s designs for the British Embassy in sterling silver, but I never knew it was part of a collection for Harrods in the 60s. 4 Sloane Square, SW1W, davidmellordesign.com

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Orla Board Delve into the dynamic world of

Orla Kiely in a new exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum, where two decades of the designer’s archive will be on display.

Orla Kiely’s A/W17 Campaign, image ©Orla Kiely

25 May – 23 September, Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern, 83 Bermondsey Street, SE1, ftmlondon.org

Ground control

Dada cool Novelist, journalist, playwright and producer Wolf Mankowitz had a hidden talent for Surrealist collage, which went undiscovered until his death 20 years ago. See quirky artworks, inspired by his Dadathemed novel, Exquisite Cadaver, at the Lorfords showroom. 10 May – 1 June, To Dada With Love, 9 Langton Street, SW10, lorfords.com

Above: Wolf Mankowitz, Account of Velikovsky Syndrome, 1994; Below, left: Wolf Mankowitz, Alas she lost her beautiful hair, c.1994

Artist Tooney Phillips has produced a series of paintings depicting the changing landscape of a French limestone quarry. Don’t be put off by the bland subject matter – her pictures are surprisingly colourful. 27 April – 31 May, 39 Old Church Street, SW3, thefoundrygallery.org

In the know

Tooney Phillips, Fouilles, 2017

Stefanie Heinze, Ain’t St. Nobody, 2014

Spread the word: the Known Unknowns exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery focuses on a group of innovative artists whose work is admired by their peers, but has been overlooked in the mainstream – until now. Until 24 June, King’s Road, SW3, saatchigallery.com

nri Matisse fi e H s i gure Get y o u r hands on th study All’s fair

Pick up a Picasso, bag a Blake or ogle an Old Master painting at the London Original Print Fair. Pop in to see the collections of 50 top international dealers and galleries – and maybe add to your own. £12, 3-6 May, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, W1J, londonoriginalprintfair.com Henri Matisse, Nu bleu, La chevelure. Blue Nude, Hair, 1952, image Courtesy of Martinez D. Paris

Past

Across Europe, specialist workshops are keeping ancient and exceptional techniques alive. There is sometimes only one craftsperson practised to perfection – after years of

masters Words: Camilla Apcar

training that makes painstaking processes seem easy. While some are helped by modern technology, it is their individual expertise that helps define ‘luxury’

culture

Meissen: Pâte-sur-pâte

Peggy Haug is one of three painters in Meissen’s Saxony factory who are trained in pâte-sur-pâte brushwork, meaning ‘paste on paste’. This process sees the painter use liquid porcelain paste in extremely fine layers to create a threedimensional relief, which can take between two and four weeks to complete. The design is fused while being fired in the kiln, and lent a glassy sheen when it comes out. Delicate and ethereal in its translucency, pâte-sur-pâte works particularly well on a coloured porcelain background. Haug spent three weeks creating this veiled nymph design in a limited edition of 25 in 2016, on a French Louis XVI oviform vase (£19,125). This shape was fashionable in the 18th century, as were the cupids, cherubs and doves pictured on the reverse. Meissen revived the design to celebrate more than 300 years of its porcelain mastery. meissen.com

Saint-Louis: Millefiori In 1970, Saint-Louis brought back a glass technique that it had not used for since the 1860s for paperweights. Millefiori (meaning ‘a thousand flowers’) is thought to be a Roman invention, continued by Murano glassmakers during the Renaissance. A bed of minuscule ‘flowers’ are created in crystal (cylinders that reveal a pattern at their ends), which forms the paperweight’s base. To create each flower, molten crystal is blown over tiny pieces of enamel to accentuate its colour, then combined to create a pattern. The molten crystal is then stretched into metres-long thread canes and cut into centimetre portions when solid. When they have been arranged vertically, revealing their patterns within, the crystal for the paperweight dome is blown on top, fusing the floral bed at 1,100°C. If the temperature is too low, the ball shatters; if it is too high, it becomes cloudy. There are just three craftspeople working with the molten crystal and blowtorches, and two in the cold workshop arranging the millefiori. Saint-Louis produces limited edition millefiori paperweights each year, the only maker in the world to do so in crystal. This year, these include a frog with a 24 carat gold crown on a bed of magenta, green and white millefiori flowers (pictured, limited edition of 50, £3,829). saint-louis.com

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Lalique: Lost wax

Tim Gosling: Laser-engraved vellum Tim Gosling has been pushing the boundaries of vellum (calfskin) for a decade, working with the last British maker, William Cowley. The British government is one of only a few to still print laws on vellum scrolls, which last forever. The £80,000 cost of this process was the focus of a parliamentary debate in 2016, ending in a decision to use Cowley’s vellum only for the cover of parliamentary bills, and archival paper for inside pages. Although it is far more scratch and stain-resistant in dark colours than leather, the complication of covering furniture in vellum is that it must be done all in one go. A 12-seat dining table would use about a dozen goatskins, which must be skived (joined) by delicately shaving the edges and sliding them over each other to create a flat surface. The skins are then soaked in a solution to make them wrap tightly around a surface, in a heat-regulated room to control the shrinkage speed. The process takes about five months. Gosling’s latest experiment is with laser engraving, using an archival ink to accentuate the laser’s burn, like giant vellum tattoos. For a floor-toceiling panel in a double-height private library (pictured), the image of a Viennese column was superimposed onto 137 panels of hand-wrapped vellum. It took 18 months – the greatest challenge was matching and lining up the individual skins. tgosling.com

Some skills are handed down over centuries; others, millennia. In the 1930s, René image ©Damien Hirst Science Lalique began to use the Ltd and Lalique 2017 ancient Egyptian ‘lost wax’ technique for his most sculptural creations. After creating a model in wax, it is cased in a plaster that can resist high temperatures and is fired in the furnace at 450°C. This melts the wax, allowing molten glass or crystal to be poured into the hollow space left behind. The piece is then fired at 950°C for between five days and five weeks, depending on its size. The plaster mould still resists, but only just. The temperature must be regulated so neither the crystal nor plaster breaks; the craftspeople can never completely control how the piece will come out. After, the plaster is carefully removed to reveal the sculpture inside. Most Lalique designs use iron moulds, in which molten liquid becomes solid almost immediately. Less than five per cent use lost wax, and never in a series of more than 100. The plaster allows intricate sculptural shapes, such as a series of skulls by Damien Hirst (pictured), or 24 bas-relief vases, which cost between £40,000 to £48,000 each. lalique.com

culture

6 5

William & Son: Gun engraving A William & Son gun takes 1,000 hours to make. Among the specialists involved in the manufacturing process is Peter Cusack, a hand engraver based in Wales. Cusack works on around six pieces a year, often to the buyer’s own design, creating lifelike drawings and ornate patterns. Like lino cutting in steel, a 3mm square bar is pushed into the metal like a tiny chisel to remove small amounts at a time, making black lines where the metal is cut away. The challenge with engraving guns is that the steel surface is curved, instead of flat, and not necessarily the same strength all over. The metal could be anywhere between a centimetre or an inch thick. Regardless, Cusack must work to a tenth of a millimetre in accuracy. One of William & Son’s bold signature styles is a punched dark metal background, made by a series of tiny overlapping non-reflective dome-headed punctures. These are made, one at a time, with a tool the size of the ball from a ballpoint pen and the equivalent of a 100g toffee hammer. It can take as long to punch out a background as it does to cut out the shape. Another handy tool? A binocular microscope that zooms to 50x magnification, which Cusack can move around with his head. williamandson.com

Waterford: Crystal cutting

It takes five years to graduate from apprenticeship and another five to become a master crystal cutter at Waterford, during which time hundreds of complicated patterns must be memorised. The master should then be able to cut any design into a vase, bowl or sculpture using just a blank geometric grid drawn on the piece – but once cut, there’s no going back. Among the most common types are wedge cuts, flat and carat (diamondlike). Each notch must not only be in the right place, but made with the right amount of pressure applied to control depth, angle and length. Too much could result in a ruined piece that has to be smashed and sent to be re-melted in the furnace. Master cutter Tom Power is approaching his 50th year at the company. A life-size electric guitar took hours to complete (pictured), demanding physical strength and skill on various sizes of spinning diamond cutting wheels. The asymmetry of a vase or bowl is a challenge that a cutter faces every day, but the guitar’s threedimensional design, with hundreds of cuts required on every side, raised the bar. waterford.co.uk

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Into the Lion’s Den Chanel’s ferocious new High Jewellery collection honours its founder’s favourite animal. Feline motifs are encrusted with diamonds, prowling across rings, chunky chains and watches. L’Esprit du Lion, POA, chanel.com

Legendary transformable necklace in 18ct white and yellow gold, set with more than 1,200 diamonds

collection

rs have been h ige an t on 0 , a n d c u s h i o n , £ 2 2

dered in I broi nd m ia e london. y t co d iber m

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These fou r c ot t

Emb e l l i sh e d S nak e Bottl e O pen er, £360, R ober to Cavalli Ho me, H ar r od s .com

Objects of

Desire Green with envy The craftsmen at Baldi, a Florentine purveyor of artisanal luxuries, have created this ornate perfume box from hand-blown green crystal and 24-carat gold-plated inlays. £15,905, baldihomejewels.com

Je w e l l e ry b o x , £ 1 4 , 5 0 0 , anal e e n a . co m

Bulgari’s Serpenti strikes again, this time in black enamel and glitter with onyx eyes, on a mermaid python bag £2,950, bulgari.com

Keep serving simple in recycled glass and natural cork Cruet Bottle, £12, conranshop.co.uk

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All that glitters Five sparkling jewellery highlights from Baselworld 2018

Millefoglie collection, From £23,400, de Grisogono clockwise From far Left: ICE CUBE BANGLE, £2,980, chopard; My Twin Bracelet, £12,100, messika; GG Running bracelet, £8,090, gucci

Stack them high

One bejewelled bracelet is good, but three – or four – are better. So was the consensus in Basel this year, where jewellers encouraged stylish stacking in abundance. Highlights include Gucci’s glittering pendants; opulent beads with a bohemian edge by SpanishIndian jeweller Anil Arjandas and Roberto Coin’s Pois Moi collection of diamondencrusted bangles.

Take your sweet time

For watch and jewellery lovers, a trip to Baselworld is like being a child in a candy shop. Fitting, then, that many of this year’s horological treasures are a sweet delight. Harry Winston’s new Premier Winston Candy Automatic is resplendent with 322 saccharine-hued gemstones, complemented by a raspberry strap. Elsewhere, De Grisogono’s Millefoglie collection playfully takes its name from the layered French pastry. Bold compositions of undulating gold and sweeping diamonds inject drama and frivolity into any outfit.

From Left: Pois Moi bangles, POA, roberto coin; Rose Gold Pack, £7,840, Anil Arjandas Premier Winston Candy Automatic 31mm, POA, Harry Winston

collection FROM TOP: pRECIOUS EARRINGS, pOA, Chopard; HAPPY HEARTS RING, £9,710, CHOPARD; Fine Jewellery Collection, POA, Atelier Swarovski

clockwise From left: Dragonfly brooch, POA, graff; Diamond Braid Necklace, poa, messika; Pearl ring, £7,500, yoko london

4 3

Sustainable sparklers

Hello Yellow

For a sartorial dose of sunshine, reach for citrines, sapphires and honey-hued diamonds. Valérie Messika debuted a dazzling yellow diamond necklace, inspired by a collection of pieces found in her father’s jewellery box. The astonishing design took 282 hours to create and each vivid yellow stone is framed in flowing, micro-set diamonds. Graff showcased a fluttering dragonfly bedecked with glowing yellow stones, while YOKO London’s golden South Sea pearl rings offer a contemporary, uplifting alternative to the traditional twin set.

Chopard announced at Baselworld that from July, it will be the first jeweller to use 100 per cent Fairmined gold. The Swiss watch and jewellery house has been making a conscious commitment to ethical luxury since 2013, when it debuted its first ethical collection in partnership with Livia Firth. This new development is a momentous achievement and one certain to shake up the industry. Atelier Swarovski also continues to put sustainability in the spotlight with its first Fairtrade Gold collection. Dazzling designs are adorned with lab-grown precious stones, which are an eco-conscious alternative to naturally occurring diamonds.

Diva’s Dream High Jewellery Watches, POA, bulgari

Ticking Treasures

Bulgari celebrated a centenary of watchmaking with a dazzling selection of gem-coated timepieces. The new Diva’s Dream high jewellery collection marries technical brilliance with exquisite craftsmanship, infused with irresistible Italian glamour.

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josĂ&#x2030;phine aigrette impĂ&#x2030;riale ring in platinum, set with diamonds and a pear-shaped sapphire, POA; josĂ&#x2030;phine aigrette solitaire in platinum, set with brilliant-cut diamonds and a pear-shaped diamond, poa, both chaumet

collection

royal The

effect

With a royal wedding approaching, seek out the sparklers good enough for sovereignty W o r d s : R a c h a e l Tay l o r

hen it comes to announcements, they don’t get bigger than a royal engagement. An outright frenzy erupted when His Royal Highness Prince Harry got down on one knee to Meghan Markle; a promise that will be fulfilled in May. But for some, the impact of that excitement will last a lifetime as brides-to-be, whipped up in dreams of being princesses, choose lookalike engagement rings. “We probably get more enquiries about that than anything else,” says Garrard senior marketing executive, Madeleine David, referring to what is perhaps the world’s most famous engagement ring – the Ceylon blue sapphire and diamond cluster worn by The Duchess of Cambridge. The ring was originally made by Garrard for His Royal Highness Prince Charles to present to Princess Diana when he proposed in 1981, passing down the family line to Kate Middleton when His Royal Highness Prince William popped the question, but David says that the origins of the design go much further back. “People come in and ask for the Kate ring, but we say that we don’t do the exact thing, it’s just the most modern interpretation. It was chosen by Charles and Diana but it’s a classic Garrard design that started when Prince Albert worked with Garrard to commission the sapphire cluster brooch that he gave to Queen Victoria on the day before her wedding day as her something blue. So it’s not Kate’s ring or Diana’s ring, it’s actually Victoria’s brooch.” Regardless of its history – though this only ups the fever pitch for buyers, says David – the ring sparked global interest both times it was slipped on a royal-to-be finger. Jewellers working in the 1980s recall a boom in sales of sapphire cluster rings; repeated in 2010 with Kate and William’s engagement.

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create your own engagement ring with the crown your love service at chaumet; below: Diamond Trilogy Set, POA, BUCHERER FINE JEWELLERY; simply tacori ring, $4,990, tacori

Just six months after Clarence House confirmed the engagement that would change what a new generation considered acceptable as a ring, the Centre for Retail Research estimated that the market for replica Kate rings was worth £10 million. And it wasn’t just the upper crust that was suddenly romanced by sapphire clusters. Sales of sapphire rings at high street jeweller H. Samuel rocketed 55 per cent on the week of the engagement. Clogau Gold, a brand that uses the same Welsh gold as all royal wedding rings are made from, took to shopping channel QVC with replicas. “The brief from the buyers was very clear – everyone wanted to replicate the exact style,” says Sonia Menezes, Clogau’s head of brand development. A novelty jewellery charm fashioned in the same style as the sapphire ring remains one of Clogau Gold’s best sellers in the Historic Royal Palaces stores at locations like the Tower of London and Kensington Palace. It is particularly popular with tourists from the US, China and Japan. “The British royals made coloured engagement rings acceptable,” says Eddie LeVian, chief executive of diamond jeweller Le Vian, which is planning to release a collection of engagement rings to coincide with this year’s royal wedding. Markle’s own ring was made by Westminster jeweller Cleave & Company, which has since vowed never to make a replica in anticipation of the copycat commission requests that must surely have flooded in. Markle’s ring is a classic design, with a large central diamond flanked by two smaller stones, set in yellow gold. However, this simple construction

It is estimated that the market for replica Kate rings is worth £10 million

collection

FROM TOP: bespoke ring, poa, clogau gold; Couture Ring Featuring Cornflower Ceylon Sapphire and Vanilla Diamonds, POA, le vian; OVAL SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND CLUSTER RING, POA; 18ct white gold ring, £9,000, both ntinga; WHITE BAGUETTE CUT DIAMOND RING, £4,995, ORTaeA

belies a deeply personal story. The two smaller diamonds were lifted from a tiara belonging to Prince Harry’s mother – “to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey” as the Prince sweetly described it – while the central stone was sourced by him from a diamond mine in Botswana. Prince Harry also worked with Cleave & Company on the final design. “Meghan’s ring is a beautiful love story in itself,” says Mita Vohra, creative director of fine jewellery brand Ortaea, which carries similar styles. “The depth and thought in it will, I believe, trigger a more meaningful bespoke order trend for us, as well as a trend for three-stone mixed-cut rings.” As well as those now classic blue sapphires, Le Vian will include trilogy diamond rings in honour of Markle (with three stones symbolising past, present and future), and rings set with Padparadscha sapphires, the soft pinkish stone now resting on the third finger of Princess Eugenie’s left hand. Bucherer Fine Jewellery, a Swiss jeweller that recently opened a boutique in Selfridges’ Wonder Room, is also maximising on the hype. Its set of trilogy engagement rings tweak the design by changing the central stone for alternative diamond cuts like pears, emeralds and round brilliants. Prince Harry’s bespoke approach will inevitably have an impact on prospective fiancés, perhaps encouraging more to get involved in the design process rather than just buying off the shelf. This is something jewellers like Vashi, whose Mayfair shop has windows decorated with slogans such as ‘I made this for you’, is counting on. Round the corner on New Bond Street, Chaumet is rolling out a new bespoke engagement ring concept called Crown Your Love to coincide with the wedding. Its aim is to eradicate surprise proposals – and sinking hearts on the opening of boxes – in favour of a collaborative experience. The process will involve couples first choosing a style of engagement ring, then a cut of diamond for the central stone and its carat weight. The rings will be made to order especially for the couple; though should a proposer feel confident in their abilities, this could also be a fun solo shopping trip. Of course it’s not just engagement rings that are obsessed over during a royal engagement and wedding – everything is scrutinised. The pair of yellow gold and opal stud earrings worn by Markle during the announcement and made by Canadian jeweller Birks, which is sold at Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths, sold out within hours. Traffic to the earrings section of Birks’ website quadrupled that day. There was a similar frenzy to own the Links of London white topaz earrings worn by The Duchess of Cambridge for her official engagement photo in 2010. As to why we remain so obsessed with royals and their jewels, despite a wealth of more accessible celebrities ready to flash their engagement rings on Instagram, the truth might be that there remains a lingering princess dream locked deep within some of us. Which is probably why the most popular item among brides-to-be at Garrard, after the sapphire ring, is a sparkling diamond tiara.

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Best of

Baselworld 2018

Statement-making colourways and a swathe of cross-industry collaborations are a sign of the times at the world’s largest watch fair words: richard brown

Aquanaut Chronograph £33,510, Patek Philippe

LOW RES

Proving that even the most classical of traditional Swiss watchmakers can no longer ignore the consumer reach of social media, Patek Philippe finally launched an Instagram account two days before Baselworld 2018 opened its doors. Further proof that the brand of the Calatrava cross has millennials in its crosshairs came in the shape of the sporty, stainless steel Aquanaut Chronograph – complete with statement-making orange accents on its second hand, chronograph hand, and inner and outer railway track counters. Having celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, the Aquanaut is Patek Philippe’s most athletic collection, befitting of its first flyback chronograph addition – presented as a 60-minute counter at six o’clock. Behind a grey dial with applied gold, luminescent-coated numerals, a 42.2mm case houses a self-winding movement visible through a sapphire-crystal case back that is accurate to -3/+2 seconds per day (as required by the Patek Philippe seal). The Aquanaut Chronograph is water resistant to 120m and available with either a classic black composite rubber strap, or a vivid, dial-matching orange rubber strap. patek.com

Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic, POA, Bulgari Just three months after losing its crown to Piaget, Bulgari has reinstated itself as King of the Ultra-thins. The Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic becomes the world’s slimmest self-winding watch with a case that’s just 3.95mm thick – beating Piaget’s Altiplano Ultimate Automatic by 0.35mm. Incredibly, the tourbillon-regulated movement inside measures just 1.95mm in depth and endows the watch with a 52-hour power reserve. The calibre is housed in a sandblasted, multifaceted titanium case and is visible through an exhibition window in the case-back. bulgari.com

collection Defy El Primero 21 Swizz Beatz £12,800, Zenith At the start of last year Zenith was a watchmaker facing an identity crisis. Stagnating sales and a lack of clear direction led to the exit of CEO Aldo Magada ‘by mutual agreement’. Three months later, long-serving Vacheron Constantin managing director Julien Tornare had been appointed as Magada’s successor. Clearly an advocate of cross-industry collaborations, Tornare has since signed an agreement with British watch-modifier George Bamford, partnered with prestigious cigar manufacturer Cohiba, and announced American hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz as an ambassador. The latter of those lifestyle tie-ins has yielded three special editions of Zenith’s Defy timepiece, the highlight being this 1/100th of a second chronograph. In case its orange strap is a little too quiet for your taste, it also comes pebbledashed with diamonds. zenith-watches.com

Big Bang Sapphire Tourbillon £122,000, Hublot

After diamond, sapphire is the hardest material around and, thus, one of the most difficult to mill. Breaking through a glass ceiling then – sorry, terrible pun – Hublot has managed to machine not just a watch case but a bezel, bridges and a case-back out of the ultra-resistant material. Even the tourbillon within the Big Bang Sapphire Tourbillon is held in place by a strip of the synthetic gemstone. Only 99 of the 45mm models are being manufactured. hublot.com

R.S.18 Chronograph £16,900, Bell & Ross Sticking steadfast to its signature, squarefaced, cockpit-clock-for-your-wrist designs, Bell & Ross’s rapid rise through the horologic ranks has been nothing short of meteoric. The company only became an independent watchmaker in 2002. To celebrate its third year of partnership with Renault Sport Formula One Team, the brand has realised the R.S.18, an automatic, water-resistant skeletonised chronograph with a tachymeter scale and yellow rubber inserts. A 45mm quadrangle case means that big wrists are a prerequisite. bellross.com

Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 £7,200, Omega In 1968, one year before Buzz Aldrin’s Omega Speedmaster became the first watch on the moon – Neil Armstrong had left his model inside the Lunar Module – the crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans to leave the Earth’s mesosphere and orbit the moon. To mark the mission’s 50th anniversary, Omega presents the skeletonised Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8. Produced in black ceramic, minuscule craters have been lasered into the model’s movement to mimic a pockmarked lunar landscape. Around a transparent case-back, the words ‘We’ll see you on the other side’ have been inscribed – a reference to Jim Lovell’s final words to ground control before Apollo 8’s takeoff. omegawatches.com

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n 2014, Rolex created the world’s first two-tone ceramic bezel – one half red for daylight hours, one half blue for night-time – and placed it on its GMT-Master II, mirroring the ‘Pepsi’ bezel of the original GMT Master from the 1950s. Anyone wanting access to this piece of Rolex history, however, would have to pay for it. The company chose to reintroduce the colourway on a timepiece made of white gold, and proceeded to slap a £28,150 price tag on it. So it will come as welcome news to Rolex fans that the company has now made a version in steel, with a far more accessible asking price of £6,800. It features Rolex’s brand new calibre 3285 movement – incorporating a nickelphosphorus, Rolex-patented escapement – and the same ceramic two-tone bezel from 2014. In the flesh, the ‘red’ of the new GMT-Master II is more mauve than previous Pepsi models, where bezels were made of steel – perhaps that’s owing to the fact that ceramic is such a difficult material to produce in lighter colours. Rolex, when questioned, insisted that it had created exactly the colour it was aiming for. Sister brand Tudor is far more accurate when it describes the colours on the steel bezel of its own new Black Bay GMT as

rolex gmtmaster ii, £6,800

Time in

TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT, £2,790

TWO TONE

SEIKO REFERENCE SRPB99J1, £429

blue and burgundy (not red). The 41mm model is equipped with a brand new in-house movement. Additional time zones are indicated by a red snowflake hand, Tudor’s hallmark, which spins around the dial every 24 hours. PADI partner Seiko used Baselworld to announce ocean explorer and marine conservationist Fabien Cousteau (grandson of Jacques Cousteau) as its new ambassador. The Japanese brand – inventor of the first hi-beat diver’s watch and first quartz saturation diver’s timepiece – also presented six new Prospex watches. The part of the bezel representing 0-15 minutes on the reference SRPB99J1 is coloured red, allowing divers to time their decompression stops as they make their way back to the surface – preventing decompression sickness, or as diver’s call it, the ‘bends’. Elsewhere, TAG Heuer has added a GMT function to its in-house Heuer 02 self-winding chronograph movement. A second time zone can be adjusted via the crown and is readable using a lacquered red hand and a black-and-blue ceramic bezel, which has a 24-hour GMT scale. The new 45mm steel model adopts the design codes of the original Heuer Carrera from 1963, with its chronograph minutes and hours set at three and nine o’clock, and a permanent small second at six o’clock.

TAG HEUER CARRERA CHRONOGRAPH GMT, £4,900

collection Autobahn

Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique

£3,800, NOMOS Glashütte

£110,600, Breguet

The brand new, multileveled, Bauhaus-informed Autobahn from the (typically) minimalist NOMOS Glashütte was created in collaboration with German product designer Werner Aisslinger. It is powered by a proprietary escapement and features a three-lane date window at six o’clock and glow-in-the-dark dial. The 41mm timepiece is available in three versions: one with a white silver-plated dial (pictured), a sporty grey version, and a model in deep midnight blue. Funny how you can never imagine an English watchmaker naming a creation after the motorway, such is the German pride for its fêted highways. nomos-glashuette.com

OK, so it’s not a record breaker. At 3mm thick, the automatic tourbillon movement inside Breguet’s Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique is a full 1.05mm fatter than the escapement that powers Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic – the slimmest automatic tourbillon in watchmaking. Yet if prizes were handed out for elegance, then Breguet’s latest ultra-thin would surely be triumphant. An extremely understated enamel dial directs attention to an exposed tourbillon at five o’clock. Inside, a ‘highenergy’ barrel, patented to increase the number of coils of its silicon balance spring, provides an 80-hour power reserve. A hand-engraved platinum oscillating weight rotates on the periphery of the calibre, providing an unobstructed view of the tourbillon. The 7.45mm-deep dress watch is offered in rose gold and platinum. breguet.com

Bubble Central Tourbillon £67,100, Corum

Senator Cosmopolite £16,100, Glashütte Original

The first tourbillon within Corum’s playful Bubble collection is noteworthy for two reasons. Firstly, the tourbillon is positioned at the centre of the watch, a technical feat requiring an inline movement construction. Secondly, rather than conventional hands, time is displayed by two triangular markers at the edge of the dial: one in black that indicates the minutes; one in blue indicating the hours. Seconds are displayed by the tourbillon itself, which performs one rotation every minute. It’s an extremely solid piece of kit and completely captivating on the wrist. corum-watches.com

The source of Germany’s most handsome dress watches, Glashütte Original launched a stainless steel version of a world timer that debuted in 2015. Simultaneously indicating the time in two time zones, the Minimalist World Traveller takes into account daylight saving and standard times in 36 zones, colour-coded to indicate their deviation from GMT (including half and three-quarter hour differences). The lacquered silvergrained dial on this latest glossy version is circled by a black railroad chapter ring and sub-dials, and blue hands and numerals. An innovative off-centre oscillating rotor makes for a longer-than-average 72-hour power reserve. glashuette-original.com

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domestic goddess Inspired by bored housewives in suburban settings, Christopher Kane marries elegance and kitsch for S/S18. Love it or loathe it, this vinyl coat deserves to be worn outside the house.

image credit: Alasdair McLellan, courtesy of christopher kane

ÂŁ2,095, christopherkane.com

fashion

Time to

blossom

5, D’Estrëe £15 x

£830, the vampire’s wife, libertylondon.com

£306, cult gaia, theshopatbluebird.com

£980, isabel marant, boutique1.com

+ + + £194, themisz.com

£1,850, Andrew GN, harrods.com

er Pi

ke this chap ma ea s u erlot, Cla nd i P ud ie

y chic ubl do t.com

Flower baskets

Parisian bra Two

all image credits: Christopher Fenner

FLORALS FOR SPRING may not be original – at least not according to Meryl Streep’s character in The Devil Wears Prada – but Malene Oddershede Bach’s new collection is far from the typical floaty, boho look. Take a leaf out of the Danish-born designer’s book with detailed brocades styled into form-fitting gowns. From £1,000, fenwick.co.uk

£495, loewe.com

palm it off Leaving on a jet plane? The Michael Kors collection for spring and summer aims to take you seamlessly from the concrete jungle to your chosen paradise. Structured dresses feature hand-dyed pastel palm prints, while a monochrome palette lends an edge to romantic frills. From £340,michaelkors.co.uk

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Testing the

water

Make a splash with Delpozo’s S/S18 collection, inspired by snapshots of swimming pools Words: Anna Thornhill

fashion clockwise from far left: delpozo s/s18 fitting with josep font, image credit: javier biosca; zlatÉ moravce; ŠAMORÍN, BOTH MÁRIA ŠVARBOVÁ; delpozo s/s18 moodboard; s/s18 sketches; the latest delpozo collection

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Dress, ÂŁ2,790, Erdem, mytheresa.com; Necklace, ÂŁ240, pebble london, pebblelondon.com

Darling

of buds

May

Spring fashion is in full bloom with floral prints and structured silhouettes Photographer Eva Haftmann Stylist Natalie Read

THIS PAGE Dress, £865, merchant archive, merchantarchive.com; Boots, £1,330, Cushnie et Ochs, cushnieetochs.com; Earrings, £170 each, Marni, marni.com; Belt, stylist’s own OPPOSITE PAGE Top, £1,090 and Skirt, £405, both Edeline Lee, edelinelee.com; Jacket, £3,395, roland mouret, rolandmouret.com; Necklace, £180 and Ring, £240, both pebble london, pebblelondon.com

Dress, £1,100, Paul Costelloe, paulcostelloe.com; Shoes, £710, erdem, erdem.com; Ring, £220, pebble london, pebblelondon.com

THIS PAGE Dress, £5,065, michael kors, michaelkors.co.uk; Shoes, £1,295, charlotte olympia, charlotteolympia.com; Earrings, £310, Ranjana Khan, ranjanakhan.com OPPOSITE PAGE Top, £1,200, david koma, selfridges.com; Skirt, £585, Stella McCartney, brownsfashion.com Model Esme at The Hive Management Hair Alex Price at Frank agency using KÉrastase Make-up Rebecca Rojas using NARS Cosmetics Flowers rebelrebel.co.uk location Beach Blanket Babylon, Notting Hill, beachblanket.co.uk

Cruz Bueno Couture London’s best kept secret

aison Cruz Bueno Couture. A name on the lips of the world’s most sophisticated women. It is the surname, too, of the founder and lead couturier, Lucas Cruz Bueno, a man of intuition and rare passion, a créateur who listens to his clients like no other, who interprets their desires and captures their essence in clothing. Lucas danced for 13 years and has a degree in performing arts. Through this intimate understanding of the body and how it moves, he has married a unique talent for fashion, which he first displayed in the designs of costumes for local dance companies. This led him to being commissioned to design and make special occasion dresses that proved an instant sensation on social media. It launched him on a meteoric rise and his creations are now increasingly being worn by an exclusive collection of international private clients.

The celebration of craftsmanship

Cruz Bueno is a million miles away from the world of fast fashion and throwaway mass-market manufacturing. It makes limited-edition, timeless designs that you will not see on anybody else. They are exceptional not just in their rarity, but in their quality. For Lucas, handmade really means handmade. Each Cruz Bueno piece and accessory is created in the London atelier by highly skilled artisans using the finest fabrics and materials, and time-honoured principles of garment making. Lucas works with a myriad of materials, finding harmony between colours and textures resulting in a visual and tactile experience.

promotion

“My purpose is to design beautiful garments to embrace each and every client; to celebrate their uniqueness. This is my ‘Savile Row’ approach for women” – Lucas Cruz Bueno The bespoke experience

These handcrafted pieces celebrate each individual, accentuate their finest features and iron out those tiny imperfections that only they can see. By appointment only, Cruz Bueno offers a uniquely personal approach to luxury couture, one that seeks an intimate understanding of each and every client, building a relationship that lasts based on a holistic vision of who they are and the life they lead. The result of this bond: handcrafted garments designed by Lucas, not just to fit a silhouette but to express an individual’s inner self. Clothing ranges from the spectacular to the sublimely understated but is always comfortable and never made in standard sizes – because everyone is unique.

An atmosphere of trust

In a luxurious showroom on Old Bond Street, Lucas brings not just his design expertise and personal empathy but a fresh look and a creative inventiveness to every meeting. He ensures that personal taste and style are respected but also transcended. In an ambiance of trust and collaborative creativity, what emerges – usually after at least three fittings – is a masterpiece of cuttingedge, modern and sophisticated design unlike anything you will have worn before.

The Cruz Bueno woman

She is elegant and sophisticated and wants to feel empowered, more beautiful, sexier and stronger. She seeks quality instead of quantity and dresses with a purpose. Appointments: info@cruzbueno.com, @cruzbueno_official, cruzbueno.com

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fashion

True

Menswear doesn’t come more British than at New & Lingwood. A bastion of style, the 153-year-old outfitter is still the go-to for Etonians, Royal family members and discerning gents alike. Its latest line of sharp tailoring includes Prince of Wales checks, Henley boating stripes and dogstooth prints – available in both linen cloths and weightier wools for those unpredictable summer days. Suits from £995, newandlingwood.com

Brit

Fair cop

Sorry Sherlock, but few detectives have been as dapper as Miami Vice’s Sonny and Rico. Channel their look with Cerruti’s new collection, inspired by the show’s original costumes (created by founder Nino Cerruti, no less).

K nit wits

From £700, cerruti.com

passage to india Taking cues from traditional Indian flower markets, Jo Malone’s new Cologne Intense comprises sumptuous notes of jasmine sambac, marigold and benzoin. From £75 for 50ml, jomalone.co.uk

You won’t find fast fashion at Slowear. Pop into its King’s Road store for accessories designed to last a lifetime – including these charming wool ties. £90 each, slowear.com

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off the shelf Keep kitchen essentials in easy reach with a customisable b Solitaire shelving unit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of many sleek storage solutions available at Bulthaupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newly refurbished showroom. 37 Wigmore Street, W1U, bulthaup.com

interiors

A design

for life

ANTIQUES DEALER LORFORDS began making upholstery in 2015 when chef Marco Pierre White commissioned the company to create bespoke pieces for one of his ventures in Singapore. It now offers entirely handmade sofas, armchairs, loveseats and ottomans that can be covered with in-house artisanal fabrics, or a textile of your choice. Mayfair sofa, from £8,100, 9 Langton Street, SW10, lorfords.com

ewellery ches j r e h t eat l Store s i treasures in th Visit online craft retailer The Garnered to find ornate leather creations designed in Spain Nomadic jewellery chest, £1,250, thegarnered.com

Gold Plated No two pieces of Alchemy – the new hand-painted collection from De Gournay – are the same. Envisioned by American interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber, the motifs take inspiration from Dutch still life flower paintings and precious Chinese Imperial porcelain. From €40,000 for a 35-piece service, degournay.com

Bronze age New furniture and lighting pieces by Paul Mathieu go on display at Willer in Kensington. Highlights include a wall sconce with a Murano glass shade (pictured), part of the designer’s hand-cast bronze Aria range. Until 13 June, 12-14 Holland Street, W8, willer.co.uk

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“THE FRENCH TOUCH IN INTERIOR DESIGN”

Email: e.s@emmanuellesirven.com Tel: +44 (0)7748 098 578

www.emmanuellesirven.com

this image and right: beosound shape speaker system; below, right: beovision eclipse tv

promotion

All about that

bass

Never miss a beat with state-of-the-art speakers and integrated home entertainment systems from Bang & Olufsen

decent playlist can make or break a morning commute. Let’s face it, the 8am inferno that is the Central Line is marginally more bearable with a little Bach/Beyoncé/Bruce Springsteen (delete as appropriate) on loop. Following that logic, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones is essential armour for rush hour. But no matter whether you’re battling it out for a seat on the Tube, or retreating to the sofa after a long day at the office, turning up the volume on your favourite track is an effective means of escapism, so a fuzzy speaker just won’t cut it. Compromising on sound quality has never been an option at Bang & Olufsen. Its innovative sound solutions are off the wall – quite literally, in the case of the BeoSound Shape (pictured, above). This wall-mounted wireless speaker system can be comprised of as many as 44 individual speakers, to deliver immersive concert-hall level acoustics. The clusters of hexagon-shaped tiles resemble sculptures and can be tailored to work in any space. In fact, most of Bang & Olufsen’s speakers masquerade as decorative objects: from the streamlined aluminium

BeoSound 2, which offers stunning 360-degree sound performance, to the striking dish design of the BeoPlay A9 – a sleek black orb perched on oak, maple or walnut legs. Not only does it integrate streaming services with ease, it’s incredibly responsive: swipe your hand across the top to adjust the volume, or rest a hand on the top sensor to mute the sound. As an added bonus, Bang & Olufsen’s speakers don’t only work in isolation but can be looped up. All it takes is a single tap for a device to automatically join a multiroom stream, which can be controlled via the Bang & Olufsen app. This means you can play different music in different rooms, or have the same track follow you around every room in the house. It’s not just wireless speakers and sound systems that can be configured in the multiroom system. BeoVision TVs, including the latest BeoVision Eclipse, which boasts pixelperfect OLED screen technology and immersive sound from the integrated centre speaker, can also join in. But why stop there? Bring your home well and truly into the 21st century with the BeoLink Smarthome, a versatile integration system that enables all Bang & Olufsen technology to work together and seamlessly interact with other systems via the BeoLink app. This means that as soon as you step through your door, the lights can be programmed to switch on and the curtains to close, while your favourite soundtrack starts up and the thermostat automatically adjusts to your preferred temperature. Tune in, turn up and zone out. We’re all ears…

Bang & Olufsen in Harrods, available on Technology, Third Floor, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X, 020 7225 6605

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Heart of glass Czech glass is the stuff of legends. Moser, one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest glassmakers, still creates crystal where its story began, in a town fit for a fairytale words: marianne dick

interiors

on reflection

arlovy Vary is nestled in a forested valley in the west of the Czech Republic, around two hours’ drive from the capital city, Prague. When I approach the town, it feels like I have chanced upon a film set. Ornate pastel-hued buildings are clustered around the point where two rivers – the Teplá and the Ohre – meet. An area of geographical interest, the town has a number of thermal springs that are rich in minerals, and said to heal various ailments. Many hotels in the area offer spa retreats, and the locals can be seen chatting and sipping from spouted cups while huddled by the fountains dotted around the town centre. But the most famous export of this historical region, once known as Bohemia, is its glass and crystal. The trade originated because the area had an abundance of the materials needed in the manufacturing process: flint, limestone, plenty of wood for firing the furnace and making potash (salts, one of the key ingredients), plus streams and rivers to provide the energy to power machinery. The difference between crystal and glass is that the former has lead in it. However, in Bohemia a lead-free recipe was developed that had a durability and quality comparable to the finest crystal elsewhere. The Bohemian glass could be cut, shaped and engraved – thus it was bestowed the title of crystal. The story of Bohemia’s leading maker began in 1857, when Ludwig Moser founded an engraving workshop and sales gallery in Karlovy Vary. In 1873, Moser became the court supplier to Emperor Franz Joseph I, who granted him a privilege for his exceptional embellishment – specifically ‘a particular way of decoration with opaque, raised enamel paints and gold’. In 1893, Moser glassworks opened near the town centre, allowing a great expansion of both production and creativity. The addition of Moser’s son, Leo, to the business at the beginning of the 20th century propelled the brand to become one of the most prestigious and

image ©Martin Prokes

1857

1878

1893

1900

Glass engraver Ludwig Moser (1833-1916) founds an engraving workshop and sales gallery in Karlovy Vary

Emperor Franz Joseph I grants Moser, his court supplier since 1873, a privilege for glass decoration

Ludwig Moser opens a glasswork factory in the Kalovy Vary region: famous for glass, porcelain and herb liqueur Becherovka

Moser presents a new technique, ‘eckentiefgravur’, in which plant motifs are deeply engraved into crystal vases

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the story of colours

pioneering glassworks in the world. He introduced innovative coloured glass made from secret formulae of precious soils and metal oxides, producing a spectrum of shades unique to Moser. The six key tones are beryl (blue-green), eldor (citrus yellow), rosalin (rose), alexandrite (light violet), topaz (honey) and aquamarine (deep blue) – still the company’s signature palette today. This glassware has graced many royal weddings, and has even been to the Vatican: the seminal Pope collection was presented to Pope Pius XI by Leo Moser himself in 1923. The glassworks remain at the original site and pieces continue to be made entirely by hand using time-tested methods – it’s one of the last places in the world to do so. Visitors can embark on a tour of the factory, which takes between two and four hours, to witness first-hand the skills that go into the craft, from design to the finished product.

DESIGN

on reflection

In Moser’s latest collection, two new vases are introduced that blend two shades of coloured glass: Caorle (pictured above right), designed by Lukáš Jaburek, and Purity (pictured above left), from Studio Moser. Caorle, £525, Purity, £1,245, available at Thomas Goode, 19 South Audley Street, W1K

When Leo Moser took on the role of artistic director, the company moved to the forefront of inventive crystal design. While nurturing traditional sets such as the Splendid collection, contemporary and up-andcoming designers were encouraged to create pieces of art using Moser’s inimitable glass and characteristic colours. The same value is placed on design today, a century on, with Lukáš Jaburek at the helm as artistic director. Jaburek – who previously spent time at Saint Louis in France and Waterford in Ireland – leads a dedicated creative development department, Studio Moser, where external designers are welcomed to make special projects, one-off objets d’art and commissions that employ modern decorative techniques. These include trophies for all kinds of industries, from chess image ©Martin Prokes to sumo wrestling.

1908

1911

1923

1940

1975

Moser becomes court supplier to King Edward VII of England. Ludwig’s son, Leo, starts to develop coloured glass

Under the leadership of Leo Moser, the Splendid collection is launched. It remains the brand’s most popular set today, and features an embossed gilded band of oroplastic

Leo Moser presents the Pope collection to Pope Pius XI at the Vatican

Moser is awarded the Grand Prix at the VII Triennial in Milan, due in part to vases by Wolfgang von Wersin

Wider cultural trends influence modern designs such as Surf and Moon (pictured)

interiors

SHAPING Production of the crystal pieces begins in the workshop – an immense, noisy, hot and active space – where glassmakers work in groups of three, led by a glassmaster. It takes 20 years to achieve this esteemed status. A blob of glowing molten glass is taken from the furnace (heated to anywhere between 1,180° and 1,320°C), using a long mouth pipe, then shaped using a damp wooden mould made from beech or pear trees. A glassmaker then blows into the mouth pipe and spins it, while a colleague helps to form the piece at the bottom. The completed product is taken to an annealing kiln to cool, before it is sorted on a huge conveyor belt. Any slight imperfections mean the piece is tossed out and smashed into one of the containers at the end, which are separated according to colour so that the fragments can be reused.

CUTTING The outline of ridges or patterns are drawn on using pen, before being carefully sculpted using wheels that spin at high speed. A rough wheel is used for larger patterns such as the panelled effect on the Pope collection. More intricate ornamentation requires a wheel with finer precision, for example the diamond effect on the

image ©Martin Prokes

Splendid collection. Even this is cut entirely by hand. The Splendid collection also requires a special process called oroplastic, where a motif is sandblasted onto the glass, before painters apply platinum or 24 carat gold on top. The paint is then hand-polished using natural agate or hematite until it gleams.

ENGRAVING Some of Moser’s most arresting pieces are those engraved with recognisable imagery such as Flaming June and The Birth of Venus. To produce these incredibly accurate works of art, which look three-dimensional from certain angles, the image ©Martin Prokes image must first be traced onto the vase using chalk before being highlighted using pen. The image is then engraved onto the product by hand; engravers must hold the heavy products and move them against the fine tools with complete accuracy. Works of this kind can take several weeks to complete. moser-glass.com

2000

2011

2014

2017

2018

Moser makes the crystal balls for the festival statuettes awarded at The International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary

The Ludwig Moser Award for young talent launches: winning designs are made into glassworks such as Planet Moser

The Moser visitor centre opens where you can watch the products being made, and even try blowing a piece

The brand celebrates it 160th year with the Anniversary Collection: a curated range of iconic designs including Melody

The Story of Colours collection is launched: a collaboration between Czech designers and Moser glassmasters

image ©Petr Adamek

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Stranger things

Still riding high on the success of his dreamy H&M collaboration, Erdem Moralioglu has teamed up with Nars to create a limited edition beauty collection. The Strange Flowers range of lipsticks, blushers and eyeshadow palettes comes in daring shades of deep plum, orchid and copper – but it’s the romantic floral packaging that steals the show. From £15, narscosmetics.com

Floral notes of Bulgarian rose and Florentine iris give this Creed classic a summer update Love in White Summer, from £115 for 30ml, creedfragrances.co.uk

Smooth criminal Four weeks is apparently all it takes for Lancôme’s Rénergie Multi-Glow to work its magic. A nourishing cream made especially for the over-60s, this wonder product promises to energise and smooth the skin. £64, lancome.co.uk

Sh ad ow E x tr e m e , £29 E ac h , tom for d. c om

IMAGE ©Peter Lindbergh for LancÔme, 2018

health & beauty spa review

Forte

facial

words: Hannah Lemon

he Rocco Forte family has 11 hotels around the world and an estimated wealth of well over £340 million. If there was ever a group of people well placed to curate luxury services, it is surely them. Their London outpost, Brown’s Hotel, has always nurtured a casual vibe – very much a local in its approach. Walking in can seem like popping to a neighbour’s for tea. There’s no real reception desk; in fact, when I walk through the lobby I don’t see a soul (thankfully, as I have shunned my normal full face of make-up in preparation for my treatment) and follow the signs to the spa. A lift dips underground and opens to a nondescript corridor, decorated with pictures of naked women soul searching on harsh landscapes. Sparkling blue lino that wouldn’t look out of place lining a children’s public swimming pool covers the floor. A little lacklustre, given the context. However, as I turn the corner I am greeted by Olga, a very friendly therapist who takes my coat and offers me a drink. I fill out the usual forms and sign up for the 80-minute Forte Organics Facial Ritual.

“If I were Sir Rocco, I would have one of these facials daily” I enter the treatment room and find my coat hanging up in a small private space that includes a shower, a wardrobe with dressing grown and flip flops, as well as a vanity table storing all the necessary accoutrements (hair tie, shower cap, ear buds, hand creams, etc.). And a jewellery box – the first time my pet peeve of leaving prized possessions loose on a hotel table top has ever been answered. I sit down for Olga to soak my feet and massage my hands while she asks about my skin care regime and what I find problematic (in my case, spots and dry skin). Each session is then tailored according to the answer. I have an exfoliation, deep cleanse and a steam, with – to my delight – a back and foot massage thrown in for good measure. The Forte family has created its own self-named brand of lotions for the event, Forte Organics. Wafts of hibiscus and pomegranate emanate around my nose, and afterwards I’m given detailed notes of recommended products to use. Relaxed, free of all muscle tension and fully hydrated with essential oils and serums, if I were Sir Rocco I’d have one of these daily. Forte Organics Facial Ritual, £150, Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle Street, W1S, roccofortehotels.com

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On 7th – 8th June, the gardens of the Honourable Artillery Company, in the heart of the City, will host a selection of the rarest and fastest cars from 1898 to the present day, each an icon of its era. A unique automotive garden party with the perfect combination of concours cars from the UK’s leading private collectors, luxury retailers, fine watches, art, gourmet food and champagne; an occasion of pure indulgence. Hospitality and general enquiries 020 3725 4044

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up to speed

Great food, good company and a showcase of the world’s fastest cars: London Concours’ garden party is like no other. In the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company, car enthusiasts can lay eyes on the finest four wheels. Receive a £10 discount for full-day adult entry with the code RUNWILDVIP, londonconcours.co.uk

Lamborghini Miura S at the london concours

New arrival

Right as

reign

Lobster tempura, mini beef sliders and TNT shrimp are among the dishes served at Caramel, the latest restaurant to open on Brompton Road. Cocktail connoisseur Bryan Pietersen is behind the bar, where an exclusive gin, orange and elderflower concoction – dubbed Brompton Garden – will be served. 272 Brompton Road, SW3, caramelgroup.com

Celebrate the royal wedding in style at Notting Hill’s Beach Blanket Babylon, where the restaurant will host a screening of the event. Watch the big day unfold while tucking into a traditional afternoon tea of cucumber sandwiches, English scones and, in a nod to our new American royal, fried chicken and hotdogs. £85 per person, 45 Ledbury Road, W11, beachblanket.co.uk

o see here... t g n i h Move oolong , there’s not

Beat the clock

Pour form

The Rib Room’s new lunchtime express menu offers a two-course meal in less than 60 minutes – or your money back. Guests will even be given a stopwatch so they can monitor the minutes. Ready, steady, cook. £24.50 per person, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Cadogan Place, SW1X, theribroom.co.uk

Tea infuse-iasts rejoice: The Wellesley’s new Pa-tea-sserie afternoon tea is dedicated to all things Rosie Lee. Expect chamomile crème pâtissière and rose-scented macarons inspired by the hotel’s own special brew. From £35, 11 Knightsbridge, SW1X, thewellesley.co.uk

food & drink restaurant review

Enoteca Rosso W O R D S : E lle n M illa r d

hould you wander off the beaten track in Milan, you may find yourself descending the stairs to Il Cinghiale Rosso, an underground wine bar beloved by locals and tourists alike. Famed for its cheese and meat platters as much as it is its varied vino offering, the tiny enoteca has earned itself a stellar reputation – so much so that a dozen of its most loyal fans recently clubbed together to bring their favourite hangout to their second favourite city: London. You’ll find Enoteca Rosso in a far less unassuming spot than its Italian twin, perched on the Design Museum-end of Kensington High Street. On first impression, it seems less wine bar and more wine shop, although this is no criticism. Sure, it hasn’t quite got the same cosy vibe as its Milanese counterpart, but the floor-to-ceiling bottle racks that line the walls are still an inviting prospect. Each harbours Italian wines made by small-batch producers; name your region – and your grape – and Enoteca Rosso is likely to have it. The accompanying drinks list is divided thus, and is so extensive it outruns the food offering by several pages. Thankfully I visit during one of the restaurant’s monthly wine-tasting events, and the sommelier on hand suggests three tipples to try. The standout is the Cuvée Tradition Riserva, a crisp fizz that puts prosecco to shame. But I’m not just here for the wine. At the neighbouring table, five hearty signori sip flagons of Aperol spritz between bites of bread, meat and cheese. We take their lead, splitting a board piled high with salty prosciutto and mortadella ham and ribbons of shaved raspadura cheese as thin as tracing paper. A bowl of creamy burrata sits on

ALL IMAGES ©Charlie McKay

the side, served with a sweet and sticky balsamic vinegar jam. We spread them both liberally onto slices of focaccia, so thick and dense they could be mistaken for Madeira cake. It’s gluttony at its finest. The pasta is another highlight. The lamb ragu is melt-in-the-mouth and piled high on chunky spindles of tagliatelle. It’s delicious. The ravioli stuffed with savoy cabbage is less so; the pasta is delicate and fresh, but its filling does little to excite the senses. No matter, though, as the dolci make up for it. We finish with Enoteca Rosso’s take on tiramisu, deconstructed and served in three bowls: one filled with shortbread fingers, another espresso and the last a thick pool of mascarpone cream, dusted with cocoa powder. The dip-and-dunk dish is as novel as it is tasty, and when the biscuits run out I can’t help but devour the remaining cream with a spoon. As I go to leave – belt several holes looser than before – I’m told that they’ll soon be offering a weekend brunch menu and I vow to return. After all, there are several chapters of the colossal wine list that I’m yet to sample... 280 Kensington High Street, W8, enotecarosso.com

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Pick of the lunch

Refuel at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, where the talented team has created a three-course lunch menu specially for the occasion. Compare notes on this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show while tucking into a blossoming tartlet, lemon sole fillet and strawberry and rose ganache, all of which look (almost) too good to eat. £65, 22-26 May, 53 Park Lane, W1K, alainducasse-dorchester.com

Where to grow

The top spots for wining and dining during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Glass roots

To toast the winning gardens, head to Bluebird for Botanist gin and tonic cocktails. A selection of garnishes will be served alongside each drink, so guests can put their own green fingers to good use. 24 April – 30 June, 350 King’s Road, SW3, bluebird-restaurant.co.uk

A slice of spring Chelsea’s Goat is serving petal-garnished pizzas for the duration of the show, including this goat’s cheese, mozzarella, courgette and rocket delight decorated with dainty geranium flowers. Botanical cocktails will also be available – and are complimentary for any RHS Chelsea Flower Show ticket holders. 22-26 May, 333 Fulham Road, SW10, goatchelsea.com

Tea thyme Get your sugar fix at the Baglioni Hotel, where Acqua Di Parma is hosting a floral-themed afternoon tea with an Italian twist. Enjoy Colonia lemon cake, lavender meringue and floral verbena panna cotta, inspired by the fragrance house’s signature scents – plus scones served with Sicilian blood orange jam and Italy’s favourite chocolate spread: Nutella. £47 per person, 1-31 May, 60 Hyde Park Gate, SW7, baglionihotels.com

promotion

Partners in wine As part of Harrods’ Taste Revolution, the Fine Wines and Spirits Rooms have opened to cater for connoisseurs and beginners alike

“W

ould you like to try it?” It may be a simple sentence uttered repeatedly in restaurants by sommeliers around the globe, but for those inexperienced in the world of wine it can plunge them into a feeling of absolute terror. Should they just smell the bouquet to see if it is corked? Or is it essential to swill the liquid over the tongue and take a hearty gulp? To answer these ever important questions, the Food and Restaurants department at Harrods has set up myriad areas in the new Fine Wines and Spirits Rooms to educate customers as well as provide unique experiences and products. In the Fine Wines Room, bottles are categorised by terroirs, encouraging customers to discover new regions and flavours. The room is equipped with an Aroma Table that hosts 12 exclusive scents to spark a customer’s sense of smell and teach them the skills to deconstruct wine. Of course, for those with the knowledge already, it’s a haven to browse different vintages and discover new favourites. You needn’t stop at wine. The Spirits Room sees Louis XIII cognac by Rémy Martin open its first boutique outside Beijing, while five international leaders in whisky have brand masters on hand to reveal the aromas in a variety of casks for Suntory, Glenfiddich, Dalmore, The Macallan and Glenmorangie. There are more big names in the Champagne Room, as well as the leaders of English sparkling wine with Nyetimber, Balfour and Herbert Hall. If that isn’t enough to train your taste buds, the Education Room provides live streaming to vineyards

and winemakers in the best regions and châteaux for an insight into where wine is crafted. Go one step further with a WSET Level 2 course complete with tastings and lunch in The Georgian restaurant at Harrods. Don’t walk away empty handed either. In-house bottle engraving and personal consultations where Harrods experts can help customers build their bottle collection through bespoke cellar plans ensure the experience will last longer than just a jaunt around this famous department store. harrods.com

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The

fantastic

five

As Ametsa with Arzak Instruction celebrates its fifth anniversary at Belgravia’s COMO The Halkin, its co-founding chef Elena Arzak recalls her highlights so far words: Ellen Millard

t’s fitting that my interview with Elena Arzak is arranged for the morning of International Women’s Day. The cook is not only one of a handful of female chefs in charge of a three-Michelin-starred kitchen, but even back in 2012 she was named Restaurant Magazine’s World’s Best Female Chef, an accolade that has since been awarded to the likes of Hélène Darroze and Ana Roš. Elena is, she muses, in good company. “The world is full of incredible female chefs, and the number is increasing,” she smiles. “The award was completely unexpected; I felt very honoured.” We are sat in COMO The Halkin, the home of her restaurant, Ametsa with Arzak Instruction. It is the first Arzak outpost outside San Sebastián, her hometown where her family has owned a restaurant for more than a century. Elena joined the business aged 11, spending holidays in the kitchen alongside her father Juan Mari, a pioneer of New Basque cuisine (a lighter version of the seafood and grilled meat dishes popular in the region).

Now, she’s in charge; although her 75-year-old father is very much keeping watch from the sidelines (he apparently still tastes every dish the restaurant serves). Together they opened Ametsa in 2013, a decision that earned the family its fourth Michelin star for its mix of British-cum-Basque dishes: crunchy black pudding, pork belly and scorpion fishcakes, to name a few. When we meet, Elena is in London to launch a selection of new dishes, created to mark the

clockwise, from top left: Egg, Waffle and Catalan Cream from the Ametsa Afternoon Tea; Elena Arzak; Ametsa with arzak instruction; Ametsa Afternoon Tea; Suckling Pig with Pseudocereals

food & drink

chef, I have a sensibility towards seafood, so I was pleasantly surprised by how good British seafood is. We adapted our dishes to fit the produce we could find here. Our monkfish comes from Cornwall and we also source fish from Bristol, Devon and Scotland.”

restaurant’s fifth anniversary. It’s a whistle-stop trip during a world tour of talks and demonstrations, but “I had to be here for the party”, she jokes. As she prepares to break out the balloons, she recalls her highlights from the past five years.

My biggest learning curve

“Cooking in London is not the same as it is in San Sebastián. During these five years I have discovered so many positive things; I’ve learned from mistakes and have taken many of the ideas back home. It’s very curious, but in London people are much more open to different spices. They also use less salt and eat a lot of greens. But, people also adore sweet things – Londoners have no problem with sugar.”

My favourite dish

“I’m most proud of our scallops with pollen. Scallops in Britain are so good that the dish is better than the one we originally created [in San Sebastián]. As a Basque

My love of London

The foodie fans

My top highlight

“My family has always admired London and its food and restaurants. On the one hand, there is a lot of tradition here and on the other a lot of modernity – it’s very similar to San Sebastián in that sense. I lived in Kensington when I was a student; I spent six months training at Le Gavroche with the Roux brothers in 1989. It was fantastic. I was 19 years old and saw how inclusive London was. Being here is a dream come true. That’s why we named the restaurant Ametsa: it means ‘dream’ in Basque.”

“All our guests have a passion for food, otherwise they wouldn’t visit. I remember one family that came to Ametsa to celebrate their grandpa’s 80th birthday, because they knew that Arzak was behind it. They told me they would never have been able to afford a trip to San Sebastián, so they travelled especially to London to celebrate. That night was something magical. It was one of the most beautiful things that has happened in my career.”

“Getting the Michelin star was incredible. Some of our guests sent us congratulations, which was priceless. We appreciate it when people tell us that they had such a nice experience, because we work for people. We are here to make them happy.” Ametsa with Arzak Instruction at COMO The Halkin, Halkin Street, SW1X, comohotels.com

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Crushing it this image: chÂteau angÉlus; below: wines from the women behind the bottle list at daphne’s, image credit: karolina krasuska

Raising a glass to the female winemakers shaking up the grapevines in a male-dominated industry Words: James Lawrence

hirty-five years ago, female winemakers in nations such as France, Spain and the United States were almost unheard of – as noticeable in their absence as women pilots, engineers or indeed sommeliers. Thankfully, times change. According to the Wine Institute of California, as of March, approximately 10 percent of all Californian wineries have female winemakers, while the number of estates run and owned by women continues to rise globally. “When I started in the wine industry in 1978 there was one woman winemaker; today there are dozens. Women winemakers are no longer a novelty,” agrees Eileen Crane, CEO of Domaine Carneros, a producer of sparkling wine in California’s Napa Valley. Indeed, some of the most prestigious wineries in the world, including Château Margaux in Bordeaux and Colgin Cellars in California, are now headed up by women. Looking into the history of winemaking, women weren’t always absent from vineyards. Take trailblazing Madame Clicquot, who was widowed in 1805 at the age of 27, and went on to singlehandedly steer her husband’s champagne business to success. Then there’s Madame Pommery, who made a brut style of champagne commercially available in 1874 to suit the English palate at a time when it was common to highly sweeten wine. Fast forward to today and the house has appointed chef and author Sophie Michell as its ambassador to help promote women in the food and drink sector. Hand in hand with this industry shake-up has come a major renaissance in the service side of the business, which is now increasingly populated by women. “It wasn’t until the 70s with the introduction of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and Master Sommelier courses that things started shifting and became more open to people from different backgrounds,” says Coya sommelier Nobuko Okamura, whom Giles Coren recently named his “favourite sommelier in all the world”. Born in Ireland to Japanese immigrant parents, Okamura is a Frenchqualified sommelier and one of few Asian women to take up such a career. However, a growing number of restaurants are now taking things one step further, by providing their customers with lists featuring

food & drink

this page: all images chÂteau angÉlus; bottom left: estate director stÉphanie de boÜard-rivoal

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: SOMMELIER NOBUKO OKAMURA; chÂteau margaux; NEW CELLAR VATS, IMAGE CREDIT: SAISON D’OR MATHIEU ANGLAda; alexandra petitmentzelopoulos of chÂteau margaux, image ©deepix; THE TASTING ROOMS AT chÂteau margaux, IMAGE CREDIT: NIGEL YOUNg

food & drink

wines cultivated by women. Recently, Daphne’s in Chelsea launched its Women Behind the Bottle list, which is headlined by Alexandra Petit-Mentzelopoulos of Château Margaux. According to Daphne’s wine buyer Guillem Kerambrun, the two-page list aims to highlight the increasingly important role women are playing in the wine world at every level, from winemaker to estate owner. “This list was not intended as a ‘political’ statement, although I do think we should celebrate the remarkable turnaround in attitudes towards women in the industry,” says Kerambrun. “I recall a time in France when women were not allowed in wineries, even as assistants.” He adds that depending on its success, he hopes to expand the all-female section to three or four pages. It appears that such sentiments are catching. With a growing number of the world’s top wineries now being led by women, traditional winemaking conventions are continually being broken down. Take Château Angélus, a historic property in Bordeaux. In 2015, eighth generation Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal bought all her father’s shares in the company, cementing her position as estate director. Today her biggest priority is addressing the need for Bordeaux wines to be more accessible at a younger age. “It’s clear to me that the millennial generation of wine drinkers doesn’t want to wait 10 years before they can enjoy a wine,” says de Boüard-Rivoal. “And while it clearly depends on the vintage in question, in general I would like to see our wines become more approachable at a younger age.” The luxury wine world is also privileged to have Margareth Henriquez within its ranks. Henriquez became the president of LVMH’s Estates and Wines division at the start of this year, and in her previous role as president and CEO of Krug she made numerous innovative changes since her appointment in 2009. Perhaps her proudest achievement was the introduction of the Krug ID, a code attached to the label of each bottle. When entered on Krug’s website, it reveals the story behind the wine’s creation, according to cellar master Eric Lebel’s notes, for enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike. “The idea came to me during a tasting with one of our growers. I was fascinated by the selection process and wanted to share at least some of the founding elements of each bottle of Krug with a wider audience – it fosters stronger brand identity and reinforces trust,” says Henriquez. Of course, there is still more to be done to address the gender imbalance within the industry. Several leading female winemakers, while recognising the great leaps forward, argue that archaic attitudes still prevail in some corners. “There is definitely still machoism in the wine industry. I have heard a general manager of a large wine business say that if he had his way he would employ only 30-year-old males as they have a ‘hunger in their bellies’,” observes Australian winemaker Susan Mickan. Nevertheless, most agree that the industry has made significant progress in addressing gender inequality. “Over the past four decades, women have become involved at all levels in wineries and vineyards,” says Napa Valley stalwart Cathy Corison, who specialises in cabernet sauvignon. “The pipeline is full of hardworking, talented women ready to step into top positions.” Which, judging by the quality of the wines being made today, benefits everyone, male or female.

Top f l igh t The five most popular wines on Daphne’s Women Behind the Bottle wine list by Guillem Kerambrun

W h ite Lugana, Ancilla Lugana, by Luisella Benedetti, 2015

CrozesHermitage, Les Jalets, Paul Jaboulet Aîné, by Caroline Frey, 2016

This wonderful pale yellow wine, made close to the sea with 100 per cent Turbiana grape, has a wonderful variety of aromas, which include not only a mix of yellow and exotic fruits, but also some flowery notes. The terroir gives it an overtone of freshness.

White wine from the Rhône is unusual, but this one is an absolute must: pure, smart, elegant and fresh but really tasty. Frey really knows how to combine the message from the soil with the message from the grape.

R ed Bordeaux Côtes-deCastillon, Domaine de l’A, by Christine Derenoncourt, 2012

Brunello di Montalcino, Castiglion del Bosco, by Cecilia Leoneschi, 2012 This is a wonderful expression of the Sangiovese grape: complex on aroma, full on body but not too much so. There is a perfect balance with some wonderful tannin.

This blend is the true representation of the right bank of the Dordogne. Simple and easy to drink, its fresh, elegant notes give it a strong French identity.

Rosé Côtes de Provence, Source Gabriel, by Régine Sumeire, 2016 This is the archetypal Provence rosé: pale pink, fresh and balanced, with lots of character but no excessive aroma. Sumeire is a master of this wine.

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bud and breakfast Stop and smell the roses at Blakes – and compare notes on your favourite RHS Chelsea Flower Show displays with champagne and cake in the hotel’s Matthew Williamson-designed courtyard. Chelsea Flower Show Package, available 21-26 May, from £502 per night including tickets to the show, blakeshotels.com

Beauty spots

Discover Vietnam’s cultural history on a personalised car or Vespa tour – to the villages, homes and workshops of the local artists whose paintings, photography and sculptural creations adorn The Anam beach resort in Cam Ranh. Tours can run for up to seven hours, concluding with dinner at a local Vietnamese restaurant. Tours from $77, villas from $204 per night, bed and breakfast, theanam.com

shore thing

FROM TOP: THE POOL AT THE ANAM; UU THANH QUA, NHA TRANG FISHING VILLAGE; MAI LOC, THE WATER FLOWER

Opening this month on the volcanic island of Malolo, Six Senses Fiji is entirely solar powered. The secluded resort also features a Wellness Village, complete with an elevated treetop yoga pavilion to continue the feel-good factor. Hideaway Pool Villa, from £715 per night, bed and breakfast, sixsenses.com

pitch perfect

Take to the saddle in the grounds of Coworth Park to ensure you’re hot to trot for polo season. Ultimate Polo Experience, from £4,464 for two people, including helicopter transfer and polo masterclass, dorchestercollection.com

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LUNCH WITH YOUR NEIGHBOUR

Rediscover The Rib Room on the corner of Cadogan Place and Sloane Street. Enjoy our mouth-watering 60 minute express seasonal set lunch menu including two courses for ÂŁ24.50. Available Monday to Friday from 12.30pm until 2.30pm. To reserve your table, call 020 7858 7250 or visit theribroom.co.uk

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S u m m e r in the city

Beat the crowds and visit the Big Apple in the summer, once the locals have headed off on holiday Words: Anna Jones

veryone in New York seems to have two dogs. They can be tall, often wolfish in appearance, sometimes shaggy and grey, sometimes fleecy and red, and cannot possibly fit into any of the city’s compact apartments. And New Yorkers walk said dogs at 8am, as the sun streams over Central Park. It’s part of the social fabric of the city. A purposeful, jaunty, just-get-on-with-it type of dog ownership that makes you want to don Lycra, drink soya lattes and live it. The city has its buzz, for sure. But it’s not the starry, merchandise-studded sparkle you should seek in New York. Or the gilded luxury splashed across the pages of glossy magazines: like this one. Instead, New York is richest in its sense of a metropolitan life well-lived. Which is why, as many of its residents head off on holiday, summer is perfect for getting under the skin of the city – drinking cocktails on rooftops and eating bowls of pasta beside the lake in Central Park. A long lunch at The Loeb

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Boathouse is a Saturday afternoon rite of passage: expect haphazard rowing attempts, soothed with glasses of chardonnay and silky ravioli in glamorous surroundings.

On cloud nine

First things first: fly to New York from Heathrow in comfort. In 2016, United Airlines launched its Polaris business class service, which includes access to its large executive lounge at Heathrow, with full catering. And onboard, it briefed a new design team to remodel the shape of its aircraft seats for privacy and comfort, and enlisted new chefs to tailor in-flight menus that use seasonal specialities and taste great in the air. As you’d expect, there are large screens and flat beds on board, but in a competitive sector, the strength is in the little things – and its clever partnerships. Monogrammed grey duvets and day blankets are provided by Saks, while toiletries are by Soho House’s Cowshed. And, with eight hours to kill, HBO series and films from the Tribeca Film Festival prop up a generous entertainment package, for frequent flyers needing something new to watch.

A home from home

Once you’ve landed, start with a stay at Mandarin Oriental. The brand has always been a box-ticker in big cities and its New York outpost on Columbus Circle is no exception. Its high-rise views slice across skyscrapers, the Hudson River and the treetops of some of Central Park’s formidable 843 acres, moments away. To make the most of the location, you can take one of the hotel’s personal trainers with you for a morning jog, or do as we did and go it alone in the park each day. Lush and green, Central Park is a maze of sweeping pathways, pools and shady spots and you’ll undoubtedly lose hours to its surprisingly laidback beauty: do so before breakfast for an energy boost. If you really are a fitness enthusiast, back at the hotel there’s the unique addition of a 75-ft lap pool with floor-to-ceiling views of the Hudson, and an award-winning spa that offers guided meditation and visualisation among its treatment menu. But where the Mandarin Oriental excels is in drinking and dining: last year it opened its own wood-panelled speakeasy called The Office NYC, complete with preProhibition style cocktails and an extremely rare collection of mid-19th century whiskies. The Office is joined by the hotel’s other bar The Aviary NYC, which serves innovative drinks that emerge from behind clouds of liquid nitrogen. A nod here should be given to Asiate too: Mandarin Oriental’s fine dining restaurant is understated and exquisite (wagyu beef with sweet potatoes and piquillo peppers is a popular dish). But – dare I say it – go for breakfast and have English muffins, smoked salmon and poached eggs, while reading the morning newspapers. The restaurant is flooded with daylight, vibrant and welcoming, and manages to capture all that is Manhattan quietly and elegantly. Rooms from $745 per night, mandarinoriental.com

On the horizon

Other than take to the boating lake of Central Park (an aforementioned must), my best New York tip came unsolicited from a discerning Wall Street financier: it was to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and look back on the architecture of the city. It magically reveals a miniature, unmistakable, Statue of Liberty in the bay beyond. Once you’ve crossed over the bridge you can walk along the East River on the other side, stopping for coffee or fresh lemonade in the heat of the day. Many walk the High Line for its similarly immersive qualities. The city’s 1.4 mile-long disused railway track has been transformed into an elevated arts and sculpture trail and wild park. It runs from Lower West Side to West Side Yard, which means it takes in fashionable neighbourhoods such as Chelsea. Here, you can shop for art and clothing at Chelsea Market, an indoor craft space that is perfect for gifts such as hand-made costume jewellery.

After dark

A day of exploring calls for a delicious supper. Il Buco is billed as the most romantic restaurant in the city, and its distressed wood décor, candlelit tabletops and delicious Mediterranean sharing plates lure the great and the good to New York’s NoHo neighbourhood. The Italian restaurant is regularly visited by celebrities for its gorgonzola and radish risotto, cured meats, artisan breads

A long lunch at The Loeb Boathouse is a Saturday afternoon rite of passage and truffle tagliatelle, not to mention goblets of red wine. The service has a familiarity and charm that will make you want to keep the place to yourself. For a nightcap? One of the most talked about venues in the city is The Roxy, a boutique hotel in Tribeca. Inside the hotel is a jazz club, The Django, inspired by 1920s Paris, as well as a bar called Paul’s Cocktail Lounge that was founded by DJ Paul Sevigny, brother of model Chloë – who designed the staff uniforms. Expect rum-based cocktails served on silver platters in an eclectic, hibiscus-wallpapered nightclub: entry, darling, is at the doorman’s discretion.

The high life

If glamour is the order of the day, make sure to spend an evening at The Mark. The Upper East Side hotel is known for its curated selection of experiences, which include chartering yachts for sightseeing tours and arranging personal shopping for guests with the Bergdorf Goodman team. The Mark is known for having some of the largest suites in the city, which include wraparound terraces and sink-in bathtubs. At the very least dinner at The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges is a must for its sushi and champagne cocktails. But pick your time wisely. Come Fashion Week you won’t get near it, such is its popularity with the international jet-set. Rooms from $550 per night, themarkhotel.com

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Clockwise from top left: Suite living room; a central park view room; the view, all mandarin oriental; polaris business cabin; terrace suite bedroom; terrace suite living room; the exterior, all the mark; asiate restaurant at mandarin oriental

the sky’s the limit United offers daily non-stop flights from London Heathrow to New York/Newark. Return fares from £598 for economy and £4,650 for Polaris business (including taxes), 0845 607 6760, united.com

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THE DUBAI FRAME

t’s easy to dismiss Dubai as a man-made business hub that is financially rich, but culturally poor. However, this bustling city and tourism hotspot – which saw a record-breaking 15.8 million people visit last year – has hidden depths. Look beyond the skyscrapers, glitzy malls and flashy five-star hotels and you’ll find a wealth of culture. The historical district of Al Fahidi – built in the late 19th century – comprises many culturally significant sites. There isn’t a skyscraper in sight. Instead this picturesque quarter situated on the Dubai Creek houses some of the city’s oldest buildings, including the Al Fahidi Fort, completed in 1787. Beneath the fort lies the Dubai Museum, which features a series of life-size dioramas depicting the emirate’s ancient history, along with local artefacts and archaeological finds, some of which date back to 3,000BC. Many of the old buildings along the neighbourhood’s winding alleyways play host to art exhibitions and cultural events, including SIKKA Art Fair in March. Al Fahidi is where you’ll also find the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. Visitors with a thirst for knowledge about Islam and Emirati culture are offered tours of the district, a visit to Diwan Mosque or a chance to experience a traditional Emirati breakfast at the centre’s wind tower house. Across Dubai Creek via a traditional abra (or water taxi) is Deira, where Dubai’s souks are located and where you can stock up on every herb and spice imaginable. For those looking to escape the metropolis, then a trip to the desert is an absolute must. Intrepid Travel offers desert safari day trips with all of the activities you could imagine, from dune bashing and camel rides to a Bedouin feast complete with henna painting, hookah smoking and belly dancing come nightfall. A chance to immerse yourself in authentic Bedouin culture this is not, but it’s nonetheless a memorable experience. A three-day Dubai Discovery break, with local guide tours, a boat ride across Dubai Creek and a desert safari, from £240 per person, intrepidtravel.com; cultures.ae

city break

Dubai Discover the rich culture and history so often overlooked in this business metropolis Words: OLIVIA SHARPE

The grand mosque

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Where to stay It may have lost its ranking as the tallest hotel in the world when the neighbouring Gevora Hotel opened earlier this year, but that isn’t to say that the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai has in any way fallen short of the mark. This impressive 1,608room property is split between two skyscrapers and is ideally located in Business Bay, just a 10-minute drive from the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa. The décor is sleek and modern, with gleaming marble floors, contemporary artwork and a neutral colour palette. Diners won’t be disappointed with 14 exceptional restaurants to choose from, including Prime68. Enjoy dizzying views of the Dubai skyline at this popular steakhouse situated on the 68th floor, before heading up a few more floors to Vault, the hotel’s exclusive 71st and 72nd-floor bar, for a late night cocktail. For those in need of pampering, make sure to book in a relaxing treatment at Saray Spa during your stay. From £85 per night, room only, jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com

Where to eat

this image: executive suite at jw marriott marquis; right: the pool area

For first-class Lebanese food, look no further than Ayamna in luxury five-star Atlantis The Palm Hotel. Chef Ali El Bourji has reimagined Lebanese cuisine with a modern twist. Traditional mezze dishes such as tabbouleh and baba ganoush served with flatbread and shish taouk (chicken kebab) sit alongside Ali’s inspired creations, including the restaurant’s signature filo pastry stuffed with cooked rice and meat. In keeping with the food, the setting is stylish and modern, with an open-plan kitchen where you can see chef Ali and his team at work, alongside tiled floors and ornate arches. atlantisthepalm.com/restaurants/ayamna The Hammam at saray spa, jw marriott marquis

Don’t miss Alserkal Avenue – Dubai’s leading arts hub – was founded in 2007 to promote the region’s thriving contemporary art scene. Each of the converted warehouses in this former industrial neighbourhood features artwork by both local and global artists, up-and-coming and established. Don’t miss the Leila Heller Gallery, which hails from New York’s Chelsea district. The gallery opened its first international location in Dubai in 2015 and showcases leading regional and international artists, many of whom have never presented their work in the Middle East. alserkalavenue.ae

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novel idea

Koh Samui has long had a reputation as a backpacker’s paradise – but it has a stylish side, too W o r d s : L a u r a M i ll a r

haweng Beach Road, a short drive from Koh Samui’s tiny open-air airport, really comes alive at night. A host of raucous pubs, restaurants and beauty salons vie for trade in what is one of the busiest resorts on the island. Dance music pumps out of drinking dens, while glamorous creatures in skimpy outfits and high heels try to entice customers into cabaret clubs. Behind the strip, right on the sand, sits a range of budget hotels and hostels. It’s a backpacker’s dream, and has been since the late 80s when the island’s airport was finally built. Koh Samui, only a 45-minute flight from Bangkok, is actually Thailand’s second largest island. This, however, isn’t saying much, as you can circumnavigate it in a car in just over an hour. Its interior is largely made up of forest and jungle; and the population is around 60,000. But just 30 or 40 years ago, there was even less here: proper roads didn’t exist until the 70s. Intrepid travellers had to get here by ferry from Bangkok (which

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take the Thai road

took 11 hours) or from Surat Thani, on Thailand’s east coast. Flight Centre offers seven Their persistence, nights at The Library, bed however, would have paid and breakfast, with return off, as they found an flights from London, unspoiled, undeveloped from £1,445, paradise waiting for them flightcentre.co.uk with few hotels and an abundance of nature. Slowly, things started to change. One of the most notorious events here, the Full Moon Party, started to bring revellers in their thousands. It started as a small beach celebration on nearby Ko Pha Ngan (a 40-minute ferry ride away), in the late 80s, and swiftly turned into a global attraction. Up sprang the bars and budget hotels, and soon Samui became a tick on every backpacker’s checklist. But before you dismiss it as Thailand’s answer to Faliraki or Fuengirola, rest assured there is much more to this island than meets the eye. Today, you can find fine dining, cool cocktail bars, and most importantly for the modern leisure traveller, luxury accommodation. Over the past decade, big international brands such as Four Seasons, Six Senses, InterContinental and Le Méridien have all staked their claim on a slice of Samui’s coastline. While these are undeniably beautiful, with their largely Thai-style design, using floaty, white fabrics, teak flooring and panelling, often with rooms in the form of miniature villas, it’s something that seasoned visitors to south-east Asia will have experienced before. This spurred young local entrepreneur Kasemtham Sornsong to do something rather different on his home turf.

Despite having no experience in the industry, he had a vision for a stylish boutique hotel, which he brought to life over a four-year period with the help of Bangkok architect and designer Tirawan Songsawat. Called The Library, the concept is focused on books and reading, interpreting this in a minimal, modern way. I’ll confess I’m impressed from the outset. After making the journey along bustling Chaweng Beach Road, it’s a relief to pull in just off the strip, into a vast stone courtyard, where the only sound is birdsong. The Library is an Instagrammer’s delight. Walking through the gap in the slate grey stone wall at the top of a grassy walkway, the view draws my eyes, unhindered, down to the sea. On each side of the walkway are 13 white, cube-shaped constructions with floor to ceiling windows: the rooms. “People have said it reminds them of the Apple Store,” laughs marketing manager Francis Gan, as he shows me around. At the end of the walkway is a striking pool, lined with thousands of sparkling, red glass tiles. “Kasemtham has often been asked, ‘why a red pool?’” says Gan, “and he just replies, ‘why not?’” Well, quite. It certainly makes for a stunning contrast to the shimmering turquoise water beyond it and the bright blue sky above. To the left of the pool are a fitness centre, and, of course, a library, which contains more than 1,200 books and DVDs for guests to borrow. To the right is the hotel’s main restaurant, The Page, which has tables on a wide terrace overlooking the water. Another impressive dining space, combined with a cocktail bar called Drink Gallery, overlooks the main road. Then I’m shown to my room, or ‘page’, so-called because Sornsong’s aim is for guests to “write their own stories” within them (perhaps illustrated by the fact that one of their do not disturb signs shows a silhouette of two people kissing). The floor is lacquered black wood, with a futon-like bed on a raised platform, a scarlet day bed and an outside living space. There’s a dressing area, and a generously sized bathroom with jacuzzi bath, all in white. If you don’t want to spend your time just lounging by the pool or on the pristine beach, however, the staff are only too happy to arrange trips to see the best the island has to offer. I spend a fascinating day visiting highlights such as the Wat Phra Yai temple, better known as Big Buddha for the towering, 12m-high gold statue that sits at the top, then being driven through the lush forest and jungle of the interior, crammed with coconut and durian fruit plantations. Nature lovers can also take a day trip to the Ang Thong National Marine Park, an archipelago of 42 islands full of waterfalls, cliffs and mangroves, perfect for diving, snorkelling, kayaking or just relaxing on the pristine sand. I spend one blissful afternoon taking a sunset cruise on a 33ft catamaran, drifting around a cluster of nearby islands, where I’m lucky enough to spot a couple of playful dolphins, as well as some rather energetic flying fish darting over the surface of the water. As the shimmering, orange sun slips slowly behind the horizon, I feel grateful that the backpackers brought Samui to greater attention; even if I’m not quite slumming it, myself.

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2a Milner Street

020 3879 8989 (sales)

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

NOTTING HILL

54-56 Kensington

SW3 2PU

188 Brompton Road

303 Westbourne Grove

Church Street

020 7591 5570

48 Curzon Street

SW3 1HQ

W11 2QA

W1J 7UL

020 7581 5234

020 7221 1111

W8 4DB 020 7938 4311

Earls Court

020 3195 9595 (lettings)

246 Old Brompton Road

Notting Hill

SOUTH KENSINGTON

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

SW5 ODE

CHELSEA

168 Westbourne Grove

90 Old Brompton Road

60 Sloane Avenue

020 7835 0620

8 Elystan Street

W11 2RW

SW7 3LQ

SW3 3NS

020 7727 5750

020 7581 7000

SW3 3DD 020 7591 8600

Holland Park

020 3953 1000

57 Norland Square

SLOANE STREET

NOTTING HILL

W11 4QJ

139 Sloane Street

298 Westbourne Grove

020 7605 6890

SW1X 9AY

winkworth.co.uk

020 7730 0822

Kensington

W11 2PS Kensington

pegasi.co.uk

118 Kensington Church Street

9 Kensington Church Street

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

W8 4BH

SOUTH KENSINGTON

W8 4LF

207 Sloane Street

020 7727 1500

160 Old Brompton Road

020 7368 4450

SW1X 9QX

020 7229 0229

sothebysrealty.co.uk

Knightsbridge

North Kensington

BELGRAVIA

& Chelsea

136 Lancaster Road

77-79 Ebury Street

289 Brompton Road

W11 1QU

SW1W 0NZ

SW3 2DY

020 7313 8350

020 3714 0749

020 7589 6616

020 7245 4500

SW5 0BA 020 7871 4124

Notting Hill

russellsimpson.co.uk

2-6 Kensington Park Road

Chelsea

Notting Hill

W11 3BU

5 Anderson Street

178 Westbourne Grove

020 7313 2890

SW3 3LU

W11 2RH

londonland.co.uk

020 7225 0277

020 7727 3227

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

South Kensington

struttandparker.com

1 Montpelier Street

29 Harrington Road

CHELSEA

South Kensington

SW7 1EX

SW7 3HD

43 Cadogan Street

123a Gloucester Road

020 7591 0288

020 7590 0800

SW3 2PR

SW7 4TE

020 7225 3866

020 7373 5052

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 093

Core strength The key players at Knight Frankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kensington office share a snapshot of the local property market and reveal their favourite local haunts

From left to right: Michael sands; sami robertson; peter bevan; photo ÂŠsarel jansen

property

taying streets ahead in the current market isn’t always easy. But the mood at Knight Frank’s Kensington office is eternally optimistic. “We have definitely become stronger,” says partner and office head Sami Robertson. The team is about to close deals on four properties in the Phillimore Estate. The secret, Robertson explains, is building relationships with buyers and sellers, and ensuring that the price is right. “More vendors have adjusted their asking prices to a point where their properties are gaining interest from buyers who are scrutinising the market for value,” he says. It’s a sentiment that Michael Sands, head of core, echoes. Knight Frank Kensington’s market share of core properties (up to £3m in value) more than doubled between 2016 and 2017. Sands believes that it is no coincidence that this activity coincided with the office’s decision to grow its dedicated core team, to guide clients through the buying process and offer expert advice. Communication between Knight Frank’s network of offices has also played a part. “We are seeing good crossover from our nine neighbouring offices around Hyde Park, which enhances the strength of our local sales team in Kensington and also suggests that buyers today have a broader perspective when it comes to location. They are thinking bigger to find their perfect property,” he adds. Buyers are coming from further afield, too. While Kensington is still popular with the domestic market, it also has a growing international appeal, something that Robertson is familiar with through his role as a Knight Frank wealth ambassador – a position that regularly takes him to Singapore and Malaysia to meet high-net-worth individuals and grow the global network. “I enjoy meeting people and building on that element of trust which is so important for maintaining relationships,” he says. Despite his love of travelling, Robertson admits he feels most at home in Kensington where he and the team are well-versed in the area’s quirks and hidden gems, some of which they reveal (right).

top trumps Sami Robertson Role: Partner, office head and global wealth ambassador Years worked at Knight Frank: 14 years – it’s my first job Best deal closed in that time: A penthouse apartment on Palace Green, Billionaires’ Row, for £18.5m Most memorable request: On a second viewing in Holland Park I had to act as a lifeguard while the prospective buyer, who was a keen swimmer, went for a dip. He did laps for half an hour and when I next checked up on him he was drying his hair. “Darling, I feel fantastic,” he said to his wife. They bought the house soon after that. Dream property: 25 Academy Gardens, which we are currently selling. It’s my favourite block in W8. Favourite street: Upper Phillimore Gardens Area’s best-kept secret: We have just finished our Little Black Book, which contains all the secrets and hidden gems W8 has to offer Peter Bevan Role: Head of house sales Years worked at Knight Frank: Five years Best deal closed in that time: A house in Holland Park, for a guide price of £57.5m Most memorable request: Having to take a client’s child to the park while they visited a new development site where children were not allowed. The child cried for the duration. Uncontrollably.

Dream property: Aubrey House, an imposing 18th-century house set in two acres of gardens in Campden Hill Favourite street: Edwardes Square Area’s best-kept secret: The black truffle pasta at Locanda Ottoemezzo on Thackeray Street Michael Sands Role: Head of core sales Years worked at Knight Frank: Eight years Best deal closed in that time: I managed a £4m sale in Campden Hill Court for a nervous, elderly client who was downsizing, and found her a property in Hamilton House off-market for £2m. We exchanged and completed simultaneously. Most memorable request: I gave a lift to a buyer from Putney when I was on my way into work because he lived on the road behind me at the time. He then bought a house in Kensington through me at just over £3m. Dream property: We’re about to launch a ground and lower ground floor duplex on Sheffield Terrace with an incredibly rare 40-ft private garden Favourite street: Not a street, but an apartment block – Campden Hill Gate Area’s best-kept secret: The views of Kensington Palace and over the rooftops of Kensington from the flats in Hamilton House

52-56 Kensington Church Street, W8, knightfrank.co.uk

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 095

St. Luke's Street, Chelsea SW3 A detached, new build house in the heart of Chelsea St Luke’s House is a beautiful, wide and imposing turn-key home near Chelsea Green. Having been entirely re-built, the property has been impeccably finished. Master bedroom suite, 3 further bedrooms (1 en suite), bathroom, drawing room, entertainment room, dining room, kitchen, wellness room/gym/steam room, 2 cloakrooms, utility room, garage, 2 garden courtyards. EPC: D. Approximately: 343 sq m (3,693 sq ft).

KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913 russellsimpson.co.uk info@russellsimpson.co.uk 020 7225 0277

Freehold

Guide price: £11,450,000

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/CHL170059

Kensington and Chelsea May 2018 St Lukes House

05/04/2018 15:52:20

K&C May 2018v2

29/03/2018 17:31:33

Drayton Gardens, Chelsea SW10 A beautifully presented two bedroom apartment on the lower ground floor

KnightFrank.co.uk/chelsea chelsea@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5903

The apartment has been meticulously refurbished and maintained by the current owners.The main entrance to the building is beautifully finished and leads to an extremely bright and spacious hallway.Â There is also a charming reception room boasting exposed brickwork and a fireplace. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen and utility room. EPC:D. Approximately 101.2 sq m (1,100 sq ft) Share of freehold

Guide price: ÂŁ1,395,000

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/CHL170104

Kensington & Chelsea mag May 2018

04/04/2018 15:42:24

K&C May edition- 3 Bonchurch

03/04/2018 12:21:18

Guide price: £11,450,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913 russellsimpson.co.uk info@russellsimpson.co.uk 020 7225 0277

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/CHL170059

Kensington and Chelsea May 2018 St Lukes House

05/04/2018 15:52:20

K&C May 2018v2

29/03/2018 17:31:33

Drayton Gardens, Chelsea SW10 A beautifully presented two bedroom apartment on the lower ground floor The apartment has been meticulously refurbished and maintained by the current owners.The main entrance to the building is beautifully finished and leads to an extremely bright and spacious hallway. There is also a charming reception room boasting exposed brickwork and a fireplace. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen and utility room. EPC:D. Approximately 101.2 sq m (1,100 sq ft) Share of freehold

Guide price: £1,395,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/chelsea chelsea@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5903

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/CHL170104

Kensington & Chelsea mag May 2018

04/04/2018 15:42:24

K&C May edition- 3 Bonchurch

03/04/2018 12:21:18

Abingdon Villas, W8 An immaculate stuccoed five bedroom family house A Victorian end-of-terrace house which has been the subject of an extensive renovation and extension project. The house provides first-class family accommodation, with a large south-facing terrace and garage. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms, kitchen, terrace, 3 garage parking spaces, study, gym, utility. Approximately 390 sq m (4,200 sq ft). EPC: E

Guide price: £7,950,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kens@knightfrank.com 020 3641 7308

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/KEN170131

Abingdon Villas 46 K&Cfd

13/04/2018 15:41:12

property

Property news

PrimeQResi JOURNAL OF LUXURY PROPERTY

Pay the price Knight Frank’s Arthur Lintell on what the recent annual price adjustment means for the market

IMAGE CREDIT: Eric Parry ARCHITECTS

Planning ahead

‘Increasingly difficult construction market’ pauses the Chelsea Barracks development Qatari Diar is giving itself time to consider its next steps for the construction of its 12.8-acre super-prime Chelsea Barracks development, as it approaches the start of phase four works. “We are considering how best to procure the subsequent building works in an increasingly difficult construction market,” said the firm in a statement. “We are continuing to work together with all stakeholders towards an efficient and pragmatic outcome for the benefit of future residents.” It sounds as though the project – which aims to deliver up to 448 residential units once fully completed – is otherwise coming along nicely; the first residents are expected to move in during the first half of 2019. Works started on the Chelsea Barracks site back in 2014, after planning was approved in 2011. Qatari Diar acquired the site (initially in a joint venture with CPC Group) for around £959m back in 2008. Mace has been on main contractor duties for the first three phases since 2015; completion is due this year, with fit-outs now underway. Multiplex and Keltbray had been on enabling works for the scheme’s Eric Parry-designed phase four. Construction for this phase was anticipated to start this month, but now looks to be on hold until the developer decides its best way forward. Phase four consists of three residential buildings arranged around a private courtyard at the centre of the development. Like phase one, all three buildings are six storeys high, with a two-storey penthouse set back at the upper levels.

According to Knight Frank Research, prices in prime central London fell by approximately one per cent in the year to February. This was the third consecutive month in which a marginal annual adjustment was recorded, providing further evidence that pricing appears to have stabilised following a series of declines over the past two years. The recent volatility within the market has been less pronounced than previous adjustments, with a decline of -7.9 per cent recorded between August 2015 and February 2017. Prices in Chelsea fell by 15.6 per cent, which explains why there were 26 £5m-plus transactions in 2017 compared with 20 in 2016. Sales volumes have also stabilised in the past 12 months. However, higher rates of stamp duty are still being absorbed in places. Knight Frank forecasts largely flat pricing in the prime central London market in 2018. The patchwork nature of the market is highlighted by data showing that 40 per cent of Knight Frank offices in prime central London experienced positive growth in the year to February 2018, while there were price declines in the remaining 60 per cent. While the strongest growth (3.5 per cent) was recorded in Marylebone due to the area’s highquality new-build pipeline, Notting Hill (1.1 per cent) also reported modest growth. Pricing here has rebounded after some double-digit price falls early in 2017 and has been underpinned by a relative lack of stock over £5m.

Knight Frank 294 Westbourne Grove, W11 2PS 020 3797 4547, knightfrank.co.uk

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 101

TREVOR SQUARE KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW7 A FOUR BEDROOM, GEORGIAN GRADE II LISTED TOWNHOUSE This grade II listed townhouse has been meticulously remodelled and interior designed ,behind the front façade, to an exceptional standard to create a light and spacious contemporary home. With state-of-the-art technology Trevor Square offers a perfect balance of well proportioned reception space ; excellent kitchen/breakfast room and a wonderful family/ media room, as well as bright and airy bedrooms Accommodation: Entrance hall, reception/dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, family room, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, 3 further bedrooms, guest bathroom, shower room, 2 guest cloakrooms. Amenities: Forbes & Lomax lighting, brand new windows throughout with acoustic glass, garden.

LONDON

C A NNES

Alex Bourne

£6,500 000

alex@beauchamp.com

Freehold

+44 (0)20 7593 8148

Joint Sole Agents

F LO R E N C E

M YKO N O S

N E W YO R K

H E R Z L I YA

PALACE GATE KENSINGTON W8 A SUPERB TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT WITH LEAFY VIEWS Set over two floors with a bright open plan dining room/reception room, this two bedroom apartment offers well proportioned accommodation throughout. Located just moments from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, Palace Gate overlooks the beautiful gardens of Hyde Park Gate and further benefits from the local amenities and transport links of Kensington High Street. Accommodation: Open plan reception room/dining room, kitchen, master bedroom with ensuite shower room, bedroom 2, guest bathroom, study. Amenities: Lift, porter, leafy views, 1,007 sqft.

£1,500 000

Paul Finch

Leasehold

paul@beauchamp.com

Sole Agents

+44 (0)20 7205 2297

w w w. b eau c h am p . com

2 4 Cu rzon St reet , Lon don W1 J 7TF

ONE HYDE PARK KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW1 A BRIGHT, MODERN RECENTLY REFURBISHED THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT Comprising some 3,475 sqft and moments away from Knightsbridge and Hyde Park, the apartment offers the very best in luxurious living. This prestigious area has an array of high-end fine dining restaurants and bars and some of London’s leading hotels, including the Mandarin Oriental Hotel just next door. Accommodation: Entrance hall, Reception room, Kitchen, Dining room, 2 Bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and dressing rooms, 1 Further bedroom, Guest shower room. Amenities: Terrace, 24-hour concierge, Residents-only spa and leisure facilities.

LONDON LONDON · · C ACNNE A NNES S · · FLO F LO R ERNECNEC E · · M YKO M YKO NO NSO S · · N ENW EW YOYO R KR K · · H EHREZRLZI YA L I YA

£12,000 / Week No tenant fees

Laura Hutton laura@beauchamp.com +44 (0)20 7205 2864

w w w. w w. b eau b eacuhcam hap m. p com .com · · 2424CuCu rzon rzonStSt reet reet , Lon , Lon don don W1J W1J7 TF 7 TF

FLOOD STREET, SW3

C h else a

A 1980’s four storey family house in need of some modernisation, located 0.1 miles from

chelsea@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

the amenities of the King’s Road and 0.6 miles from Sloane Square Underground Station.

• Reception room • Eat-in kitchen • 4/5 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • Private garden • Garage • Off street parking • Leasehold - 16 years remaining

Guide Price £1,750,000 Leasehold EPC RATING D

020 7581 5881

Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices

Portland Road, W11

Holl a n d Pa r k

A recently refurbished first and second floor maisonette, located 0.2 miles from

holland.park@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

Holland Park Underground Station and the amenities of Holland Park Avenue.

• Open plan reception room • Kitchen • 2 Double bedrooms • Bathroom • 2 Private terraces

Guide Price £1,165,000 leASEhold EPC Rating g

020 7727 5111

Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices

Millner Street, SW3 A fourth floor duplex apartment with a roof terrace of approx. 881 sq ft, located 0.4 miles from Sloane Square Underground Station and the amenities of the King’s Road.

• Double reception room • Kitchen • En-suite master bedroom • Further double bedroom • Study • Bathroom • Lift • Wooden flooring • Furnished

£1,100 per week EPC RATING E

(*fees apply)

C h else a

020 7581 8431

chelsea@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices

Queensdale Place, W11

Holl a n d Pa r k

A recently refurbished family house of approx. 1,630 sq ft arranged over three floors,

holland.park@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

located 0.5 miles from Holland Park Underground Station and local amenities.

• •

2 Reception rooms Garden

•

Kitchen

Roof terrace

•

2 En-suite bedrooms

Unfurnished

£1,800 per week EPC RATING E

(*fees apply)

•

Further double bedroom

020 7727 5222

Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices

Established 1897

An idyllic four-bedroom house with exceptional riverside views.

£2,200,000 TENURE

Freehold

Chiswick Quay, Chiswick W4 • Open plan reception • Large kitchen and dining area • Master suite complete with roof terrace

GUIDE price

• Driveway and garage • Garden with river access • Approximately 2691sq m / 254sq m

EPC rating

Contact

KENSINGTON OFFICE +44 (0)20 3650 4600 joel.hughes@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

Established 1897

A stylish two-bedroom flat with fabulous views.

£2,795,000 TENURE

Leasehold: Approximately 165 years

Hans Place, Knightsbridge SW1 • Reception room overlooking Hans Place • Contemporary kitchen/breakfast room • Two double bedrooms

GUIDE price

• Access to private residents’ gardens • Direct lift Access to flat • Approx. 1,020sq ft / 95sq m

EPC rating

Contact

Knightsbridge Office +44 (0)20 7225 6509 michael.harte@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

KENSINGTON COURT KENSINGTON W8

Â£2,300,000 share of freehold

www.century21uk.com/nottinghill

nottinghill@century21uk.com

QUEEN’S GATE GARDENS SOUTH KENSINGTON SW7

£6,250,000 share of freehold

10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA

020 7229 1414

Westbourne Grove, W11

£3,950,000

This sophisticated 3-bedroom Notting Hill property has been lovingly designed and finished to the highest standards. Successfully combining a range of different materials from dark hardwood floors to designer wallpaper, each level has its own unique style and personality. Offering the feel of a house and occupying all of the upper floors of a handsome semidetached Victorian building, this bright triple aspect property benefits from its own front door and an additional gym / utility area on the lower ground floor. Two reception rooms · master bedroom suite · two double bedrooms · family bathroom · Martin Moore kitchen · private terrace · gym / utility area · underfloor heating · short walk from Notting Hill Gate Station

info@kalfus.co.uk | 0207 937 8106 | www.kalfus.co.uk

Leasehold

Northumberland Place, W2

£3,250,000 Linden Gardens, W2

£2,500,000

This exceptional 4 storey house with private west-facing garden is located in one of Notting Hill’s most attractive treelined streets. With 3 bedrooms (and study) and 2 bathrooms, this exceptional house has been refurbished by the current owners with no expense spared.

Quietly tucked away from the bustle of Notting Hill Gate and Hyde Park, this spacious and bright 2nd floor (with lift), single level 3-bedroom mansion style apartment blends the traditional features of a Victorian red brick building with a totally modern fit-out.

Reception room · three bedrooms · two bathrooms · close to Westbourne Grove · pre-planning for additional floor

Double reception room · three bedrooms · two ensuite bathrooms

Freehold UN

Leasehold

Kensington Church Street, W8

£899,950 Stadium Street, SW10

£2,250,000

A quiet 1st floor apartment in a handsome white stuccofronted building set well back from the street. Comprising 2 bedrooms and a large reception room with partially separated kitchen, this impressive apartment benefits from high ceilings, natural light and outdoor space.

Occupying a commanding end of terrace position with triple aspect, this impressive freehold house features 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a sun-drenched south-facing terrace and undercover off-street parking secured by a remote control roller door.

Reception room · two bedrooms · bathroom

Two reception rooms · four bedrooms · three bathrooms · terrace · private parking

Leasehold plus share of freehold info@kalfus.co.uk | 0207 937 8106 | www.kalfus.co.uk

Freehold

NO ONE NEEDS PERSUADING AS TO WHY THEY SERVICE THEIR CAR, YACHT OR PLANE. BUT THERE HASNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T BEEN AN EQUIVALENT FOR THEIR HOME UNTIL BOLD & REEVES

CONVENIENCE. PEACE OF MIND. VALUE. INFO@BOLDANDREEVES.CO.UK | 020 7408 7590 | BOLDANDREEVES.CO.UK

6-8 Street 20 Montpelier Montpelier Street Knightsbridge Knightsbridge LondonSW7 SW71EZ 1HD London

STERLING STREET, SW7 RIVERPARK COURT, SW3 CRANLEY GARDENS, SW7 LYALL MEWS, SW1X 3 Bedrooms | 4| 3 En Bathrooms | |Double Bedroom || Bathroom Reception Entrance Hall 2 Bedrooms 2 | 4 Bedrooms Suite|Bathrooms Reception Room ||Study | Family/ Room | Kitchen 596 sqft | Rooms Lift | | Bathrooms | Kitchen/Reception Guest Cloakroom 2 Reception Dining/Kitchen |ftGuest Cloakroom EPC RoomE | 718 sqRoom | Lift | EPC ERoom|| Kitchen/Dining | Laundry 170 sqm / 1,827 sqft | Air-conditioning 2,418 sq ft | Integral Garage | A wonderfully proportioned one bedroom Balcony | occupying Garden Additional off-street Parking Access to apartment, 596 sqft| on the top Belgrave Square Gardens | EPC C fourth floor, with lift, of this handsome red

An excellently proportioned and bright two A FREEHOLD PERIOD GRADE IIceilings LISTED brick building with elegant high double bedroom apartment, within the An end-of-terrace freehold mews houseWEST TOWNHOUSE WITH A PRETTY and spectacular uninterrupted views.on This heart of South Kensington. Positioned situated in arguably one of Belgravia’s most FACING GARDEN. superbly arranged flat comprises a double the second floor (with thishouse attractive desirable locations. This lift) lowofbuilt bedroom with fitted storage andfrom river views, period building, the flat benefits was disassembled; comprehensively rebuilt Village Located in the heart of Knightsbridge awooden fully equipped bathroom with standalone floors in thisbenefitting stunning from semithe open and fullyquiet modernised in this one way street off Montpelier bathtub androom separate shower cubicle, plan living with fully-fitted kitchen. latest technology advances including air-walk of Square and within a few minutes’ generous eat-in kitchen with garden outlooks The apartment further comprises a master conditioning, Lutron lighting, motorised blinds, Hyde Park and the world renowned shops and an excellent reception room with with modern en suite bathroom, abedroom builtrestaurants in entertainment system, underfloor and of Knightsbridge. dual aspectsand an of natural second bedroom andabundance additional heating and a fully fitted kitchen withshower Miele light. Embankment Gardens is a charming room. The property is flooded natural and Gaggenau appliances. The with property also crescent situated between Chelsea Physic light, offering an east-west exposure enjoys private use of an integral garageand as Gardenand the Evelyn Royal Hospital grounds dualasviews over well additional off-streetGardens parking inalongside the mews including Ranelagh Gardens; opposite Chelsea’s tops. and accessroof to the prestigious Belgrave Square Battersea Park. gardens, subject to separate negotiations.

£995,000 STC £4,100,000 STC £1,550,000, STC £6,750,000 STC

Leasehold, 119 years years remaining) remaining Freehold Leasehold (121 Freehold

ENNISMORE GARDENS, TREVOR PLACE, SW7 CLAREVILLE GROVE EATON SW1X SW7 MEWS, 2 Bedrooms |||25En | 5 Bedrooms EnSuite SuiteBathrooms Bathrooms Entrance HallSW7 Bedrooms |2

Drawing Kitchen sqm | WC | Room 2(1Receptions || 2 83.1 Kitchens Bathrooms en |Suite) | Kitchen/Dining/ Two Bedrooms En Suite Bathroom | / 894 | Roof Terrace | Utilitysqft |Room Store RoomPlant Room| | Reception 855 sq ft||Resident Basement Shower Room ||Guest Cloakroom Caretaker ||Communal Gardens ||EPC D 3,142 sqft 2 Shared Patios D Storage Room | Terrace | Access Reception/Dining Room| |EPC Kitchen to Belgrave Utility RoomSquare |Victorian 915Gardens sqtownhouse, ft | EPC E which A spectacular

has been beautifully developed into a lavish Antruly elegant flat with charm, occupying A outstanding two bedroom apartment family home. The plentiful extension provides more A charming mews house idyllically approximately 855 sq ft of lateral space on the well set on the third floor of this exceptionally than 3,000 sqft of living space arranged positioned in this quiet cobbled cul-de-sac, third floor of this well-located handsome period maintained period building Knightsbridge. over levels, with great careinhaving been within6the heart of South Kensington. building. Arranged over the full width of the The flat enjoys wonderful views of the taken to retain many of its original features, The property is presented in immaculate building, the principal reception isand flooded Communal Gardens the room frontstate-of-the-art a whilst seamlessly condition and hasincorporating beentocarefully designed with natural light from its south-facing aspects spacious west-facing roof terrace. technology, natural light wells and throughout with Italian solid wood floors over the street. In design additionelements to the expansive contemporary throughout. and contemporary furnishings. This attractive sitting area, the room boasts a bespoke The property comprises an entrance house additionally benefits from south lobby integrated kitchen and space for dining;providing perfect with adjoining reception, westerly aspectsdouble and plentiful natural light. for open-plan entertaining. The apartment formal dining space and opulent Clareville Grove Mews is aansecure gated awards admission to abuilt-in superb bar, shared terrace,for drawing room with perfect lane, located at the north end of Clareville positioned to the rearBelow, of the first floor,is an entertaining onpeaceful one there Street, moments from floor. the bountiful amenities overlooking Belgrave Mews. Occupiers’ can exceptional kitchen with isfurther dining and restaurants, the area famous for. space also enjoy exclusive access to Belgrave Square and a charming sitting room overlooking a gardens,patio. subject to the usual consents. private

£975 Per Week £6,950 Per Week, STC £1,250 Per Week £1,900,000 STCSTC Long Furnished Let, Furnished Furnished Leasehold (174 years remaining)

Sales: +44 (0)20 7581 8277 T: +44 +44 (0)20 (0)20 3770 3770 3474 3474 T: sales@nicolasvanpatrick.com

Lettings: +44 (0)20 7590 1200 info@nicolasvanpatrick.com info@nicolasvanpatrick.com lettings@nicolasvanpatrick.com

LEW1280 MAL K&C MAY_OL.indd 1

04/04/2018 09:54

Drayton Gardens

ÂŁ5,600,000 freehold

Chelsea SW10

A substantial six bedroom family house with wonderful living space and a wealth of period features throughout. The accommodation comprises of two grand reception rooms, separate kitchen, master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom and four bathrooms. Drayton Gardens is ideally positioned between Old Brompton Road and Fulham Road, with a fine selection of shops, restaurants and amenities. EPC rating C

Chelsea

020 7594 4740

sales.chelsea@chestertons.com

chestertons.com

Stafford Court, Kensington High Street Stafford Court is situated on Kensington High Street in close proximity to a diverse mix of shopping experiences, restaurants and bars. Holland Park and Kensington Gardens are within easy reach.

Pegasi Management Company Limited 207 Sloane Street London SW1X 9QX E: enquiries@pegasi.co.uk | T: +44 (0)207 245 4500 pegasi.co.uk

P0A

HANOVA HOUSE, NOTTING HILL W11 A unique opportunity to purchase a newly built freehold house in the heart of Notting Hill. The Property comprises seven bedrooms, an abundance of entertaining space and a perfect layout combined with space and light. The property has a lift, secure underground parking for three cars, a 21-metre length swimming pool, gym area, Spa and sauna. The family area opens onto a large patio garden making it the perfect family living space. Measuring in excess of 8,700 square feet, this stunning property is available to be bought fully furnished.

020 7580 2030 WWW.ROKSTONE.COM 5 Dorset Street, London, W1U 6QJ enquiries@rokstone.com

»» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»

Freehold new build house 7 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms Private spa with 21M swimming pool Control4 smart home and entertainment Direct lift access to six floors Automated car parking system 750sq ft garden and two double balconies Approximately 8,700sq ft (808.26 sq M)

=AG GINNY TIARKS HICKS SOPHIE

SYDNEY STREET,LONDON, LONDON SW3 020 7351 7822 FAX:M: 020 7351 2274 117117 SYDNEY STREET, SW3 6NR 6NR TEL: TEL: 020 7351 7822 07530 689536 e-mail: ginny@hlrlets.com website: e-mail: sophie@hlrlets.com website:www.hlrlets.com www.hlrlets.com

OR MONDE GATE, SW3

WOODFALL STREET, SW3

This fabulous top floor maisonette flat is a must see. It has been recently completely refurbished to the highest standard throughout and offers bright and light accommodation. The property comprises plenty of storage, a spacious west facing living room, utility room and a private terrace boasting beautiful views. The property is located a short walk from the Kings Road and Sloane Square underground station.

This first floor two bedroom apartment has just been refurbished throughout. Located on a quiet street in Chelsea it is in an ideal location just off the King’s Road and close to all of the amenities that it has to offer. The flat consists of a modern kitchen, a spacious reception room, two double bedrooms, bathroom and shower room.

TWO BEDROOMS - BATHROOM - SHOWER ROOM LIVING ROOM - FULLY FITTED KITCHEN - UTILITY ROOM PRIVATE TERRACE

TWO BEDROOMS - BATHROOM – SHOWER ROOM RECEPTION ROOM - FULLY FITTED KITCHEN

£950 per week

FURNISHED/ UNFURNISHED

£725 per week

FURNISHED

GR AHAM TERR ACE, SW1W

R ANELAGH GROVE, SW1W

Architecturally designed contemporary house with wood and limestone floors throughout. Oozing with masses of natural light via French windows and skylights. This unusual and beautifully designed house has been finished to the highest of standards with state of the art technology and great attention to detail.

A recently refurbished end of terrace house which is extremely light and ideal for family living. There is a wide entrance hall leading to a study and an ‘L’ shaped reception room with original parquet flooring. The kitchen leads on to a good sized dining room with lots of light and overlooks the pretty paved garden. Located in this popular area with all the shops, restaurants and amenities that Pimlico Green has to offer.

THREE DOUBLE BEDROOMS - THREE EN-SUITE BATHROOMS ENTRANCE HALL - DOUBLE RECEPTION KITCHEN WHICH OPENS ONTO FAMILY ROOM/DINING ROOM GUEST CLOAKROOM - PAVED GARDEN

RECEPTION ROOM - KITCHEN - DINING ROOM - STUDY MASTER BEDROOM WITH EN-SUITE BATHROOM TWO FURTHER BEDROOMS WITH A SHARED SHOWER ROOM FOURTH BEDROOM/FAMILY ROOM - THIRD BATHROOM UTILITY ROOM - GARDEN

£3,250 per week

UNFURNISHED

117 Sydney Street London SW3 6NR Lettings: 0207 351 7822 or info@hlrlets.com

£2,150 per week

UNFURNISHED

CHELSEA WATERFRONT

Computer generated images. Price correct at time of going to press.

STYLE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES 2 to 5 bedroom apartments from £1.4M 600 metres of waterfront • 5 star 24hr concierge • State-of-the-art residents’ health club • Signature restaurant and café

Call now for more information

A DEVELOPMENT BY

020 7352 8852

Email sales@chelseawaterfront.com

JOINT SELLING AGENTS

Property news Spring into action Elena Dimova, managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, on the importance of presentation, promotion and price With the most attractive season upon us, is it any wonder that beauty is at the forefront of our minds? The cherry blossoms are blooming and the sky is blue. The days are longer and the sun is shining. Can anyone ask for more when taking exterior photographs of a house? There is a sense of new beginnings, new choices and new decisions in the air. What better time, then, to put your property on the market and draw in eager buyers? From a presentation point of view, this is as good as it gets in the mind of both agents and photographers. For sellers, it is a time to take advantage of the season and the spring resurgence in buyers’ activity. Spring is also the time when you can present your property in the best possible light, with the help of the right agent and photographer. Where you, the seller, can help, is in staging the interior. That may be as simple as decluttering and adding a fresh coat of paint, or more elaborate changes such as buying or renting furniture, art and accessories to enhance the feeling of space, the potential for the best internal shots and the viewer’s experience. The photographs are crucial as they are the window to your property, whatever the promotional method, be it online, lifestyle magazines or direct marketing. And, of course, the price has to be right for the property and your agent to bring in the right buyers and for you to have a successful sale. Think presentation, promotion and price, choose an agent with passion, perseverance and knowledge, and you will achieve your goals.

CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, 10 Clarendon Road, W11 3AA, 020 7229 1414, century21uk.com

the price is right

Chelsea mansion’s £16.5m price cut does the trick A turnkey mansion in Chelsea that took a wellpublicised £16.5m price cut in February was snapped up within days. The one-off behemoth on Cresswell Place came to market amid a blaze of publicity last summer at £37.5m, following a full-scale redevelopment programme at the hands of luxury specialist Albyns. A sale failed to materialise, however, and the property was put into receivership and relaunched this year at £20.95m – 44 per cent below the original figure. It was claimed that 50 viewings were booked in pre-relaunch, and a buying agent involved in the deal said that contracts were exchanged just 24 hours afterwards. The six-year project delivered an 11,046 sq ft pile with some glorious reception spaces and five-bedroom suites. Some leisure facilities have been installed, including a 15m swimming pool, gym and spa. There’s also a car stacker for two large vehicles, a passenger lift to all floors, state-of-the-art tech throughout, and a separate staff area. An unconfirmed report suggested an offer at £36m “fell away” last year.

property

PrimeQResi JOURNAL OF LUXURY PROPERTY

New face

Knight Frank’s Chelsea office welcomes a new lettings manager Arya Salari has taken over from Natalie Berthiaud as lettings department head. Salari began his career in the South Kensington branch of Foxtons, swiftly becoming the top negotiator in the company. He led the opening of several new offices, including the Earl’s Court branch, which soon became one of Foxtons’ most successful branches. Salari joined Knight Frank at the beginning of 2017 to run the Marylebone lettings team. He has grown the office by 40 per cent and gained a huge market share within Marylebone, Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury. His experience has enabled him to provide tailored advice and market knowledge to private, portfolio, experienced and first-time landlords – so if you’re interested in letting your property please do get in touch with him. arya.salari@knightfrank.com, 020 3641 6022

Space to roam

Banda debuts £9m Chelsea new-build Boutique developer Banda Property has unveiled its latest project in the middle of Chelsea: a 3,014 sq ft double-fronted residence from the site of a post-war block on Rawlings Street. It’s unusual to see a new-build in these parts, and the relatively free rein has resulted in lots of lateral space; there are four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two receptions, a gym, cinema room and south-west facing terrace, with a turnkey interior scheme by Turner Pocock. Orford House has been launched via Russell Simpson, with an asking price of £9m.

Student digs Forget mouldy bathrooms; today students want superb properties in prime locations, says Strutt & Parker’s Michael Allworth London’s universities have some of the highest proportions of international students in the country. Studying in the UK is expensive, which means many international students come from wealthy backgrounds and want quality accommodation in a prime location. Mature students are another potential market for private rental. More than half of the students at universities such as LSE and UCL are studying postgraduate courses. Most universities have limited provision for postgraduate accommodation and mature students are more likely to want a quieter experience than university halls. Letting to students is typically a quick, straightforward process. The market is consistent and has the added advantage that many tenancies are secured months ahead of time, reducing the likelihood of void periods. Despite their reputation, students aren’t that likely to trash your property. For one thing, they’re money conscious and want their security deposit back. One, two or three-bed properties are all popular, particularly those close to campus in South Kensington, but Chelsea and Fulham are also in demand. Landlords need to look out for the following: firstly, you need to tell your insurance provider that you’re renting to students. Secondly, if you rent a property with shared facilities to more than five people, you will need an HMO licence from your local council. Thirdly, students don’t have to pay council tax, but they will need to get an exemption certificate. Make sure you can prove your property was occupied solely by students to avoid an unexpected bill at a later date.

Strutt & Parker 140 Fulham Road, SW10 9PY 020 7244 1286, struttandparker.com

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 125

Paultons Street, Chelsea SW3

£4,750,000 Freehold

An outstanding five bedroom family house with a fabulous south facing garden located in the heart of Old Chelsea. Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen/reception room/ dining room | Master bedroom suite | Four further bedrooms | Study/bedroom six | Two further bathrooms | Play room | Family/media room | Cloakroom | Wine room | Bar | Store room | Vault | Air conditioning (to upper floor bedrooms) | Garden | Flat roof with stair access EPC rating C 2,450 sq ft (227.6 sq m Chelsea SW10 020 3813 9587 Chelseasw10@struttandparker.com *The following Tenant Charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £222 (inc VAT) Credit References per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded of utility and other associated services.

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Hugo House, Knightsbridge, SW1X

£5,950,000 Leasehold

A stunning three bedroom lateral apartment in the heart of Knightsbridge.

Knightsbridge 020 3813 9270 knightsbridge@struttandparker.com *The following Tenant Charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £222 (inc VAT) Credit References per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded of utility and other associated services.

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struttandparker.com

Margaretta Terrace, Chelsea, SW3

ÂŁ4,250,000 Freehold

Chelsea 020 3813 9448 chelsea@struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Eldon Road, Kensington W8

ÂŁ6,250,000 Freehold

Kensington 020 3813 9477 kensington@struttandparker.com

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struttandparker.com

Westgate Terrace, Chelsea, SW10

ÂŁ2,400 per week

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Beaufort Street, Chelsea SW3

ÂŁ1,050 per week

A stunning two bedroom upper maisonette with the benefit of a south west facing balcony and access to a large roof terrace. Reception room | Kitchen | Master Bedroom with en suite bathroom Further bedroom with en suite bathroom | Balcony | Roof Terrace EPC rating C 1,146 sq ft (106.46 sq m)

Chelsea SW10 020 3813 9587 Chelseasw10@struttandparker.com

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@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Discover the FORGET-ME-NOT COLLECTION

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LONDON, 171 NEW BOND STREET 0207 907 8800 LONDON, FINE JEWELLERY ROOM HARRODS 0207 907 8899 HARRYWINSTON.COM