The City Magazine April 2011

the city magazine

H A C K E T T. C O M

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a p r i l 2011

business • current affairs • fashion • health & beauty • finance • food & drink • motoring • uk & international property

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the city m a g a z i n e

INNOVATION NATION Great British inventions through the ages

Best of

BRITISH A celebration of our nation’s glorious past, present and future

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finance gadgets motoring interiors property APRIL 2011 i s s u e 4 2

Best of British

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Best

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11 Best of British A - Z From William Shakespeare to Prince

William and Big Ben to Big Brother, Britain has made an indelible impression on the global map

21 The Royal Wedding

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rom William Shakespeare to Prince William and Big Ben to Big Brother, Britain has made an indelible impression on the global map. Over many centuries we have pioneered and excelled in the fields of art, literature, architecture, innovation, sport, motoring, business, music, fashion, food and drink. Our nation is recognised, praised and loved for its tapestry of traditions and idiosyncrasies, woven from the rich individual and collective histories of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Particularly unifying is our ability to allow Tradition and Modernity to live harmoniously side by side, as demonstrated by a nationwide obsession with the impending nuptials of two very different Kates. One is a well-mannered, well-spoken, well-dressed Princess-in-waiting and the other an internationally renowned supermodel, known for being effortlessly chic and cutting-edge cool, but both will attract global attention when they marry. As the Royal Wedding approaches, an event that trains eyes all over the world on Britain, we celebrate a cross-section of the best of British: the heritage of our past, the zeitgeist of the present and the prospect of our future.

While the Royal Bank Holiday delights many, for others it poses an economic headache feature calibre

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comment 32 The Finer Things in Life

calibre feature

Julia Carrick, Walpole’s CEO, talks about the British luxury industry

calibre 45 Innovation Nation

Richard Brown considers some of our island’s most significant and revolutionary inventions

iNNOVATiON nation From the steam engine to the sewing machine and the sandwich to Sellotape, our sceptred isle can lay claim to some of history’s most remarkable and revolutionary inventions. Richard Brown considers some of the most significant

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or a small slab of rock nestled off the coast of Europe, Britain has certainly made a disproportionately large contribution to the narrative of civilisation. Over the years, our island’s inhabitants have been responsible for some of history’s most pioneering inventions, discoveries and technical breakthroughs – innovations that have changed the way people live. Think, for example, how different our lives would be without television, radio or the World Wide Web; without the flush toilet, the vacuum cleaner or the electric toaster. Or, for that matter, Marmite.

Back in 1775 – long after Jethro Tull had revolutionised farming with his seed drill, John Harrison had cracked the longitudinal puzzle with his grasshopper escapement

clocks, and Isaac Newton had eyed the four Galilean moons of Jupiter through his reflecting telescope – James Wyatt invented something that would transform human existence more than any other creation: the steam engine. Redesigning a model originally patented by Thomas Savery a century before, Wyatt’s was the first commercially efficient steam engine – using 75 per cent less coal than previous models. Whereas the rudimentary nature of earlier designs restricted engines to pumping water, Wyatt’s modifications provided a rotary motion that was suitable for driving factory machinery, an innovation that heralded the arrival of the Industrial Revolution and a period of economic and social transformation of a scale hitherto unseen.

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48 Fly Like an Eagle Matthew Carter finds out what happens when you give an E-Type Jaguar to Eagle

56 Masters Magic

Some 26 years later, in 1804, Richard Trevithick won a bet when he hauled ten tons of iron over ten miles of track in the first successful steam-driven locomotive and two decades on, George Stephenson connected Yorkshire and Stockton with the world’s inaugural railroad. His ‘Rocket’ had already made history when it became the first locomotive to complete a 50-mile trip. At the time, the train was better known for having dampened the mood of the 1830 Liverpool to Manchester Railway opening when it ran over and killed Liverpool MP William Huskisson.

Inventions like the steam engine and railway locomotive transformed travel and industry, but you don’t have to go as far back as the Industrial Revolution for examples of British innovations revolutionising society. Welshman David Hughes’ radio, Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone and Englishman Joseph Swann’s light bulb were all invented in the latter half of the 19th century, at the same time as Darwin was penning On the Origin of Species, Brits were building the world’s first underground railway in London and the modern rules of football, tennis and rugby were being drawn up.

The UK’s flare for creativity continued undiminished into the 20th century. In 1925 – after stainless steel, the vacuum cleaner and automated tea makers – Britain gave the world the television. The brainchild of John Logie Baird, the first ‘TV’ transmitted only five images per second. As visual broadcasts have to transmit 12 images per second to create the illusion of motion, it was hardly an optical spectacular.

However, a year later, when Baird demonstrated to the Royal Institution a device that broadcast 12.5 images per second, the first truly working television was born.

Although Baird’s scanning disk produced an image with a resolution of only 30 lines, compared to later resolutions of several hundred, the Scotsman’s invention changed mass entertainment and social interaction forever.

The 1930s arrived and Brits made roads safer by separating lanes with ‘cat’s eyes’ and enhanced the experience of music by inventing stereo. At the end of the decade, Hitler invaded Poland, World War Two was declared and Britain went invention crazy. In addition to bouncing bombs, ballistic missiles and corner shot rifles, out of the war came the jet engine (the British Gloster Meteor fighter appeared in 1944), radar (a device that enabled the RAF to scramble fighters in response to incoming enemy planes) and... the computer.

Although the idea for an automated calculation and programmable machine was dreamt up by Charles Babbage in 1812, it is Maida Vale’s Alan Turing who is recognised as the father of modern computer science. Turing had already helped to theorise the logic of computer algorithms with his Turing Machine when, in the 1940s, the Government enlisted him to join Bletchley Park – Britain’s code breaking headquarters – where he devised several techniques for breaking German ciphers. Post-war,

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Mastersmagic

may think Wimbledon’s tennis ticketing system is tough, it’s almost impossible to come by a Masters ticket, because once you have one, it belongs to you and your family for life, meaning you get the same crowds year in, year out. “It is perhaps a little bit less rowdy because of that,” said Cotter, “but when things get going on the back nine on the Sunday of The Masters, it can be as noisy as anything. The sound is held in by the trees on the course to create this sort of amphitheatre. When Jack Nicklaus won there in 1986, the noise was just incredible.”

As always, all eyes will be on Tiger Woods. He may have lost some of his appeal since the much-publicised misdemeanours in his private life, but he is still the most talked-about player in the world. Cotter doesn’t believe Woods is going to win The Masters “because his putting isn’t good enough any more. One thing about Tiger was his intimidation factor, which used to get him a couple of shots, but that’s gone now. I don’t think he has it. Whether he’ll win another major or not, I’m not sure, but I can’t see it happening at The Masters.”

Last year’s champion was American Phil Mickelson, who held his nerve to collect his third green jacket, and Cotter fancies the American’s chances of repeating that feat this year. “Even though he hasn’t been playing well, I wouldn’t rule him out because he seems to be inspired by the place and always steps up to the plate.” When it comes to British golf, Cotter reckons this year’s tournament could produce our first champion since Nick Faldo in 1996. “Paul Casey has had good runs at Augusta in the past, and of course there’s former world number one Lee Westwood, who pushed Mickelson all the way last year.” Is this Britain’s best chance to cure 15 years of hurt? Well, that’s for the golfing gods to decide. n

With the first major golf tournament of the season set to kick off this month, Lee Brooks speaks to BBC Sport commentator Andrew Cotter to find out what makes The Masters at Augusta so special

L ee Brooks speaks to BBC Sport commentator Andrew Cotter to find out what makes The Masters at Augusta so special

concierge 64 Rocks ‘n’ Roll British jeweller Theo Fennell tells us about his quirky, quixotic collections

connoisseur 88 Tasting Notes from a

Small Island P enelope Walsh learns about Barbados’ culinary culture

Turing created a design for the earliest stored-program computer, something that in 1999 earned him a place on Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century list.

A few decades later, as Baird had done with the television and Turing with the computer, fellow Brit Tim Berners-Lee would once again metamorphose society. In 1989, with the aim of creating “a common information space in which we communicate by sharing information”, the Oxford graduate conceived the World Wide Web. Devising a way to communicate information between a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) client and a server via the Internet, BernersLee enabled the sharing of data across computers not linked by hardware. People have been swapping everything from bank details to holiday snaps ever since.

Of course, invention isn’t just a product of all things new, but a progression of existing products and designs: the reinvention of standardised ideals – something London-born Kenneth Grange has been doing since 1950. His designs include the British Rail High Speed Train (in use since 1972), the bus shelter, the parking meter and the Wilkinson Sword razor. Grange not so much invented products to fill a functional need as invented ways in which we picture specific products with only his designs in mind. The modern black cab, for instance, was his creation.

The monumental success of Apple in the 21st century can be attributed to the similar endeavours of a single, little-known Essex boy. Born in 1967, Jonathon Ive was just 31 when he revolutionised computer design with the iMac. Later, when given the task of engineering a pocket-sized hard drive that would play thousands of songs, he created the iPod. In 2005, he designed the iPod nano, and in 2007, the iPhone. The recently launched Apple iPad is a direct descendant of Ive’s efforts.

For sports fans, being British can sometimes feel synonymous with defeat and disappointment, but if it wasn’t for the creativeness of our ancestors, sports like football, rugby and cricket may never have existed. Nor perhaps would have elastic fabric, greeting cards, matches, sunglasses, carbonated soft drinks, rubber bands, pencils, hovercrafts, lawnmowers, the pocket calculator or Viagra.

With history proving our nation’s ability to innovate and design as second to none, next time you have time on your hands, why not put your creative cap on and see what you can come up with? After all, to borrow one of 1,700 words and phrases invented by one William Shakespeare, the sports calibre world is your oyster. n

Andrew Cotter will be commentating on The Masters for BBC Sport with highlights and live coverage on BBC Two, BBC Red Button and BBC Radio 5 live from Thursday 7 April to Sunday 10 April.

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or any golfing aficionado, The Masters is the symbol that spring has finally arrived. With the cold, dark winter becoming a distant memory, it’s time to watch the world’s best golfers lace up those pristine shoes, polish the driver and give that tiny white ball a good whack down the fairway at the first of four Majors on the European and USPGA golf tours. It’s held at Augusta National in Georgia in the United States on the second weekend in April and is the only Major to be played at the same course every year.

“That’s why it’s so special,” muses BBC Sport’s Andrew Cotter, who’ll be commentating on The Masters this year.

“It’s one of the most beautiful courses in the world and there’s just nothing else like it. It’s just unique.”

Appearance is of upmost importance at The Masters, so

each year, the club closes off the course for a few months before the tournament to make sure it’s in absolutely pristine condition. They aim to get the course to blossom with vibrant colours just in time for the first ball being hit: but while the course may look beautiful and inviting, it couldn’t be more deceptive. Famous for its intense undulations on both the greens and the fairways, Augusta can turn on you like a course possessed. The wind can pick up, the rain can lash down and the bunkers can suddenly expand just as the competition starts to intensify. One such hole that can provide a mighty challenge is the 12th, one of three holes called Amen Corner; “It’s a short par 3, 155 yards or so, but every single player would take a par there. It’s so, so dangerous – you could either win or lose your Masters there. I remember Fred Couples in 1992. Although his ball rolled back towards the water, , it

remained, incredibly, on the bank. That day he was lucky and he went on to win The Masters. It could have been ever so different though.”

As the only Major never to change course, The Masters’ quirky traditions don’t stop there. It is the only Major to be classed as an invitational tournament; only a select number of players are invited to compete, depending on their world ranking. Past champions are given a lifetime pass to compete at the tournament whenever they like, irrespective of their form, and as well as a traditional trophy, the winners are handed a green jacket on the 18th green to symbolise their inclusion into one of the most exclusive clubs in golf.

What’s more, the crowd is invitational too. While many

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regulars 8 editor’s letter

83 health & fitness

55 sport

87 travel

60 gadgets

101 food & drink

69 fashion

107 out & about

77 interiors

109 property

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contributors...

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Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Editorial Director Kate Harrison

Editor

Annabel Harrison

Fashion Editor Lucie Dodds

1. Chelsey Baker is a business advisor and life

coach, she has been featured extensively in the national media as a leading entrepreneurand runs her own consultancy firm Success Media. Chelsey is a freelance journalist and motivational speaker.

2. Jamie Carter is a freelance journalist specialising in gadgets and technology. Jamie has written for the likes of T3, Home Cinema Choice and The Guardian as well as a number of websites.

3. Matthew Carter is a London-based freelance journalist who’s been writing about cars for most of his working life. A former editor of Autocar magazine, he is a serial car owner.

4. Martin Bamford is one of the youngest and most successful financial planners in the UK. He runs his own firm of financial advisers – Informed Choice – and regularly contributes to various financial publications.

5. Carol Cordrey is an art critic and editor

with popular columns in many magazines. Each year she organises sponsored art competitions offering attractive prize money and judged by distiguished artists.

Motoring Editor Matthew Carter

Editorial Assistants Richard Brown Gabrielle Lane

Head of Design Hiren Chandarana

Senior Designers Dalton Butler Laddawan Juhong

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Ashley Lewis

Production Manager Fiona Fenwick

Production Daniel Harris

Senior Project Manager Ella Kilgarriff

Head of Finance Elton Hopkins

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

6. Clare Murray is founder and managing partner of specialist law firm, CM Murray LLP. Clare and her colleagues advise a wide range of companies, professional firms and senior individuals on employment, partnership and business immigration law issues.

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Best of British See p.11 Harrods: Jan Kranendonk Lord March: Goodwood Photo Library Stamp of HRH Queen Elizabeth II: Andy Lidstone Bulldog: Eric Isselée Telescope: Jupiterimages

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I

April

t was the nation and the race dwelling all around the globe that had the lion heart.

I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar”. These words were spoken by the great Sir Winston Churchill on his 80th birthday, praising the collective spirit of the British during his wartime term as Prime Minister.

The lens of the world is once again trained upon us, thankfully for a much happier reason; in the run up to the Royal Wedding on 29 April, which includes the advent of British Summer Time and the long Easter weekend, excitement levels are rising and national pride is palpable.

So welcome to our Best of British issue, in which we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our nation to date and our integral place in modern society, industry and culture. Read our A–Z (p.11) to find out more about Britain’s indelible impression on the global map, a nation recognised, praised and loved for its tapestry of traditions, which have been woven from the rich individual and collective histories of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

We discuss Walpole’s sterling efforts in promoting British luxury brands with CEO Julia Carrick (p.32); “our luxury industry is important to the economy, employment, creativity, innovation, to Britain’s international reputation and to tourism”. Walpole’s members include more than 160 of our most prestigious brands and cultural institutions, from Jimmy Choo and Christie’s to Harrods and Hackett. Jeweller Theo Fennell praises British craftsmanship, singling

out our silverwork as second to none, and tells us about his eponymous company’s plans for 2011 (p.64).

Churchill also said that “the farther backward you look, the farther forward you are likely to see”; if this is the case, we Brits have a dazzling future in innovation ahead of us. Richard Brown delves into our history to discover how we can lay claim to many of the most revolutionary inventions in the fields of architecture, transport, manufacture, science, engineering and sport (p. 45). This month, Matthew Carter tries out the E-Type Jaguar (p.48) and concludes that our best motoring brands are still second to none.

The United Kingdom offers a wealth of fantastic ‘staycation’ holidays if you’re keen to explore our island further (the ninth largest in the world). Stay close to London in the beautiful Danesfield House Hotel, overlooking the River Thames (p.96), or venture north to visit the modern Hipping Hall, surrounded by picturesque Lancashire countryside (p.95).

Finally, let us raise a glass to Prince William and Princess Catherine, our newest royal; long may they represent everything that is great about Great Britain.

Annabel Harrison Editor

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best of british

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Best of

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rom William Shakespeare to Prince William and Big Ben to Big Brother, Britain has made an indelible impression on the global map. Over many centuries we have pioneered and excelled in the fields of art, literature, architecture, innovation, sport, motoring, business, music, fashion, food and drink. Our nation is recognised, praised and loved for its tapestry of traditions and idiosyncrasies, woven from the rich individual and collective histories of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Particularly unifying is our ability to allow Tradition and Modernity to live harmoniously side by side, as demonstrated by a nationwide obsession with the impending nuptials of two very different Kates. One is a well-mannered, well-spoken, well-dressed Princess-in-waiting and the other an internationally renowned supermodel, known for being effortlessly chic and cutting-edge cool, but both will attract global attention when they marry. As the Royal Wedding approaches, an event that trains eyes all over the world on Britain, we celebrate a cross-section of the best of British: the heritage of our past, the zeitgeist of the present and the prospect of our future.

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Aquascutum

Aquascutum was founded in 1851 by tailor John Emary. With the intention of providing stylish protection from the unpredictable British weather, he subsequently produced the first waterproof wool. The name Aquascutum comes from the Latin for water (aqua) and shield (scutum) and the brand has played an intrinsic role in the history of the trench coat. King Edward VII became Aquascutum’s first royal client in 1897; the company has received a total of six Royal Warrants and, in addition to supplying monarchs, has dressed Sir Winston Churchill, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Cary Grant and Sir Michael Caine.

British Academy of Film and Television Arts In an industry dominated by Hollywood melodrama and American conglomerates, you can look to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) with a sense of national pride. The significance of their annual awards show for distinction in film is recognised around the world. This year’s show undoubtedly belonged to David Seidler’s The King’s Speech, which saw off competition from a host of Hollywood contenders to win seven awards.

Having made international stars of Slumdog Millionaire’s Dev Patel and Billy Elliot protagonist Jamie Bell in previous years, the ceremony has proved much more than just a dress rehearsal for the Oscars.

Cricket Like football, rugby, snooker and a whole range of international sports, cricket originated in the UK. Now as British as Big Ben and bad weather, the first documented mention of cricket occurred in 1598 when John Derrick testified in a court case that he had played “creckett” on a

site in Guildford 50 years earlier. As the British Empire expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries, cricket was introduced to every corner of the globe. The sport arrived in Australia in 1788 and a rivalry developed that would become the most celebrated in the international game.

Dunhill “Everything for the car but the motor” was the slogan Alfred Dunhill used in 1893 to launch his “Dunhill’s Motorities” – a collection of accessories that included everything from car horns and lamps to leather overcoats and goggles. Ten years later, Dunhill’s first dashboard clock entered the timepiece arena, followed by the Windshield Pipe. By 1921, the company had expanded from London to Paris via New York. Nowadays, Dunhill has over 3,500 points of sale around the world. Utilising more than 100 years of experience in the world of luxury, the company’s skilled artisans continue to make unique and exquisite products for patrons who appreciate perfection.

Eton College Eton College’s list of alumni reads like a Who’s Who of the British haut monde. Former pupils of the independent all-boys school include politicians and poets, princes and mayors, Secretaries of War and Chancellors of the Exchequer. Founded in 1440, “the chief nurse of England’s statesmen” has produced 19 of Britain’s 47 Prime Ministers (including David Cameron) and nurtured the talents of William Pitt, Robert Walpole, George Orwell, Francis Bacon, Ian Fleming and Boris Johnson. In the words of historian Ralph Nevill, “no other school can claim to have sent forth such a cohort of distinguished figures to make their mark on the world.”

The Financial Times As famous for its salmon-pink paper as for the integrity and accuracy of the information it provides, the Financial Times has become a British institution.

best of british

What started in 1888 as a four-page journal marketed as the friend of “The Honest Financier and the Respectable Broker,” is now the definitive business newspaper. With a global circulation of nearly half a million, its pages are relied upon by some of the world’s most important figures in international business and politics.

Goodwood The Goodwood Estate in West Sussex is currently owned and run by the Earl of March, directly descended from Charles II, who bought the house and park in 1697. Lord March is responsible for Goodwood’s successful reanimation, drawing on the 12,000-acre estate’s illustrious history to steer it into the 21st century; he has injected his inherited passion for speed into innovative business strategies to make Goodwood into one of the UK’s most desirable and accessible brands. The worldfamous estate now holds all manner of sporting events and crowd-pleasing celebrations of Britain’s past and present, including the Festival of Speed and Glorious Goodwood.

Harrods Founded in 1834 by Charles Henry Harrod, the luxury department store in Kensington is one of the UK’s most popular and iconic tourist destinations and a global symbol of British luxury, especially the seasonal Christmas department and the Food Halls. The store occupies a five-acre site, with more than 5,000 members of staff and 1 million square feet of selling space (twice as much as Oxford Street’s Selfridges). Throughout its history, Harrods has had five owners, the current being Qatar Holdings, which paid £1.5 billion for it.

The store’s motto is, fittingly, Omnia Omnibus Ubique (All things for all people, everywhere).

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Isambard Kingdom Brunel In 2002 the BBC commissioned a survey to find out who the people of the UK considered the greatest Briton of all time. Isambard Kingdom Brunel came second to Sir Winston Churchill.

In addition to his most famous achievement – the 210-metre-long Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol – Brunel’s other designs include the Royal Albert Bridge, the Hungerford Bridge and the Windsor Railway Bridge. Brunel is also responsible for the Great Western (the first steamship to offer a transatlantic service), the Great Britain (the world’s first iron-hulled steam-powered passenger liner) and the Great Eastern (at the time, the largest ship ever built), as well as for redesigning the docks at Bristol, Monkwearmouth, Cardiff and Milford Haven.

James Bond Stars of the silver screen can become synonymous with certain quotes, a fact perhaps best illustrated with a certain “Bond... James Bond.” A fictional character who likes his Martinis “shaken, not stirred,” Ian Fleming’s creation has leapt from the page to the screen to become the longest running and most financially successful English language film franchise of all time. Not bad for a character Fleming intended to be “a neutral figure – an anonymous, blunt instrument wielded by a government department.”

Katherine Jenkins Very few have managed to build such an effective bridge between the mainstream world of music and the niche classical market. Katherine has achieved exactly this with her outstanding voice. Selling 40 million copies of her seven albums to date, the girl from the Welsh Valleys has broken numerous records and won international acclaim.

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She became the fastest selling mezzosoprano after her first album was released, and the first British classical crossover artist to have two number one albums in the same year. Her deal with Warner Music is said to have been the biggest in classical music history, at a reputed £5.8 million.

The London Eye The skyline of the capital was transformed at the turn of the millennium when the world’s tallest Ferris wheel was erected on the south bank of the River Thames. The iconic Eye has become a staple feature on London postcards ever since.

Having welcomed more than 39 million visitors, it is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, and although its size may have been eclipsed by both China’s Star of Nanchang and the Singapore Flyer in recent years, that has not stopped the Eye winning more than 75 awards for national and international tourism, outstanding architectural quality and engineering achievement.

Monarchy The narrative of the British Monarchy has provided our nation with a tapestry of rich and remarkable history. The constitutional monarchy we know today may have developed in the 18th and 19th centuries, but our island has been united under a single figure for thousands of years, evolving from a merging of tribes into the world’s most renowned monarchy. Though Britain’s Sovereign no longer possesses the ability to pass legislation – a right surrendered when William III signed the Bill of Rights in 1688 – our Head of State continues to fulfil a host of ceremonial and formal duties at both domestic and international levels.

Sir Nicholas Faldo Nick Faldo, knighted in 2009, is one of Europe’s all-time best golfers. Over the course of his career, Faldo won six majors, the last of which he won in 1996 when he came from 6 shots behind Greg Norman at the start of the final round to win by 5. He was ranked World No. 1 on the Official World Golf Rankings for an impressive total of 98 weeks. He still holds the European record for points earned in the Ryder Cup and now his business interests include course design, golf academies, and commentary on golf broadcasts.

Olympics 2012 Town centres across the country erupted into a sea of red, white and blue on 6 July 2005 when Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, announced to the world that “the Games of the 30th Olympiad in 2012 are awarded to the city of… London.” Nearly six years later, there are only 14 months until the capital plays host to the greatest sporting games on earth. Andy Murray, Rebecca Adlington, Chris Hoy and Tom Daley will all be aiming to do our nation proud in an event that organisers hope will be the most spectacular Olympic Games ever held.

Sir Philip Green This name is synonymous with the might and global reach of the British retail industry. Sir Philip Green began his career working for a shoe importer, as a 15-year-old school leaver, and is now one of the most successful businessmen in the global retail industry, with combined assets worth an estimated £4.1 billion. He came into the public light in 1999 when he purchased, with wife Tina, the ailing British Home Stores brand for £200 million, now worth six times this amount, and subsequently the Arcadia Group, which became enormously profitable. Green was knighted in 2006 for his services to the retail industry.

best of british

Quintessentially Group Quintessentially is a relatively young company, founded in 2000 by Ben Elliot, Aaron Simpson and Paul Drummond, but its global expansion over the course of just a decade has been nothing short of phenomenal. With a head office in Soho, London, there are now 60 other offices around the world. The company has grown rapidly from a high-end concierge service to a portfolio of complementary businesses that cover every aspect of luxury lifestyle imaginable, from events, art, gifts and education to wining, dining and travel, all following the ethos of providing only the best.

Rolls-Royce Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce began a partnership in 1904 and the rest, as they say, is history, although in the case of Rolls-Royce, it is a very illustrious, productive one.

In 1931, Rolls-Royce acquired rival car manufacturer Bentley, unable to weather the Great Depression and from then on, until 2002, Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars were often identical, apart from the radiator grille and other minor details. The 90s saw the start of an important new chapter for Rolls-Royce Motors when the BMW Group purchased the rights to it.

Despite foreign ownership, RollsRoyce will always remain an iconic, much-loved British motoring brand.

Scotch Whisky Arguably Scotland’s most famous export, Scottish Whisky, or Scotch, traces its roots back to the 11th century. Legally defined as whisky that has been distilled and matured in Scotland in oak casks for a maturation period of no less than three years, Scotch is renowned around the world for the depth of its flavour and unique taste.

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Although made from only three simple materials – malted barley, water and yeast – each Scotch has an individual character and, while Glenfiddich is the top-selling single malt in the world, labels such as Highland Park, Talisker and Johnnie Walker have earned reputations as some of the finest Scotches on the market.

Tea After water and air, humans consume more tea than anything else and it will come as no surprise that, since the 18th century, we Brits have consumed more tea per capita than any other nation.

Having first reached our shores in 1664, the plant has been credited for facilitating both the Industrial Revolution and the spread of the British Empire. Perhaps it’s William Gladstone who has best accounted for our love of the humble ‘cuppa’: “If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you.”

Underground The endeavours of British engineers have bequeathed the world many firsts, of which the earliest underground railway system was one. What opened between Paddington and Farringdon in 1863 as the Metropolitan Railway is now a network of 402 kilometres of track that links 270 stations and serves more than 1 billion passengers every year. Today, the map of the Tube is as famed as the Underground itself. Drawn up in 1931 by electrical engineer Harry Beck, the design classic has been replicated and used by nearly every urban rail system in the world.

Vertu In 1998, a team of specialists set to work, tasked with creating a mobile phone on a par with luxury items from the world of watches and fine jewellery; since then, Vertu has

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feature best of british

carved out a niche for itself in the luxury phone market, backed by the technology and resources of Nokia.

The name Vertu means ‘a love of, or taste for, fine objects of art’ and, as such, its products are aesthetically sleek, smart and ultra-stylish, manufactured with an astonishing attention to detail and craftsmanship.

A Vertu handset is hand-built in its factory in the village of Church Crookham in Hampshire. The Vertu motto? Life. Beautifully arranged.

Walpole With such a rich, eclectic manufacturing history, it is hardly surprising that many of the world’s leading luxury brands originated in Britain. Walpole plays a crucial role in furthering the interests of this industry, harnessing and sharing its members’ collective knowledge, experience and resources. Founded in 1990 by top-tier British companies, including British Airways, Coutts & Co, The Savoy Group and William Grant & Sons, Walpole provides a community for the exchange of best practice ideas to drive business development in both UK and export markets. Current members include Boodles, Burberry, Candy & Candy, Ettinger, Hackett, Home House and Jimmy Choo.

The ‘x factor’ Whether or not you enjoy the television show, the young Brits of today unquestionably have the ‘x factor’ – the indefinable ‘special something’ that marks them out from the masses. From a tribe of exceptional young actresses, Carey Mulligan has shone out and will continue to do so, as Drive and Shame hit our screens this year. In music, the girls of 2011 are existing favourite Adele, and star-inthe-making, Jessie J. Time will tell in the world of sport, but there is no shortage of talented youngsters with the potential to steal headlines, and gold medals, at the London 2012 Olympics.

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Yardley London The history of this luxury soap and perfume house began in the middle of the 17th century during the reign of King Charles I. Jonathan Yardley, an entrepreneurial young man, obtained the first of two Yardley royal warrants for the provision of all soap to the City of London. Despite the first incarnation of Yardley being lost in the Great Fire of London in 1666, a century later the Cleaver family established the brand Yardley London. The distinctive use of lavender lived on and the fragrances of globally popular Yardley products today are inspired by England’s beautiful and diverse flowers.

Zebra Crossing There aren’t many album covers, or indeed images, more iconic than the one that adorns the Beatles’ 1969 record, Abbey Road. The product of an idea sketched by Sir Paul McCartney, the photograph has acquired legendary status, transforming what was a nondescript North London pedestrian safety device into an unofficial shrine to one of the world’s most popular bands.

Perhaps the most imitated scene in music history, the celebrated pose has been emulated by everyone from The Simpsons and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Blur and, captured in true British style by photographer Robert Griffin, the English National Ballet.

Image credits: a: Aquascutum Archive Imagery g: Goodwood Photo Library j: From Russia With Love © 1963 Danjaq LLC and United Artists Corporation. m: Andy Lidstone o: London 2012 s: FotoJagodka t: Kathy Taylor x: Helga Esteb z: www.robertgriffinphotography.com

HandCrafted BritisH LeatHer Goods sinCe 1934

The Purple Collection www.ettinger.co.uk. Tel: +44 (0)20 8877 1616

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09/03/2011 15:36

Cycle to Cannes: the Million Pound Charity Ride Richard Trillo tells the story of the Aedas Cycle to Cannes 2011 In 2011 there were 83 riders cycling a 1500 kilometre route, with rolling road closure provided by the motorbike escort and support vehicles – effectively a mini Tour de France.

This ride raised more than £200,000 for charity, taking the total raised since the ride started to almost £1.1 million. As well as Aedas, sponsorship came from Barclays Corporate, Delancey, Bluefin, David Phillips, Broadgate Estates and a host of other property sector firms.

Day 1: It’s a steely grey dawn in Greenwich Park as the crew gathers by the teahouse to admire our big red bus and grease monkey van, equipped with every tool of the cycle repairer’s trade. Organised muddle is accentuated by the arrival of the first riders, dropped off by wives and husbands, friends and relatives. Then months of preparation are suddenly finished and an incongruous peloton snakes out of the park through Bexley and Swanley and down the slightly nerve-wracking A20 to Aylesford. Our lead support car is in front, beacon flashing, but we have to pull over en masse a couple of times as impatient motorists bunch up behind the group on single-lane sections.

Day 2: Slightly nervous riders don high-visibility jackets and check their lights outside the hotel in Calais just before 6am. We’ve been up since 4.45 – there’s just no way to cover 300 kilometres without a pre-dawn start. Bluefin’s water bottles are icing up and, despite weak sunlight, the air is bitterly cold but when the riders arrive at the end of the 52 kilometre stage, there’s an air of elation. First-timers are thinking: I can do this. . .

Cycle to Cannes was the brainchild of architect, writer and cycling enthusiast Peter Murray, who first cycled to MIPIM (trade show Marché International des Professionnels d’Immobilier) with 16 friends and colleagues in 2006. They were raising money for Tom’s Trust and the Multiple System Atrophy Trust. A year later more than 50 other enthusiasts accompanied them and the ride has continued to grow ever since.

The day unfolds as we weave through the northeast farmlands and World War One battle areas. Lunch is at Croisilles, with a military cemetery, a warm community hall and a little crowd of locals to cheer in the riders. By midafternoon we’re in Monthenault where our French fixer is surprised to find a travelling circus has set up camp in the car park that the mayor had promised to us. No matter, Anne and Vicky set up the snacks and water tables and Dave and Laura, the physios, set up their massage tables in front of the town hall.

Day 3: It’s another pre-dawn start for bodies barely awake after less than six hours sleep. This time, Team Delancey are heading out into the cold, dark Champagne country on stage 1, accompanied by hardier members of the two other teams, including a core of determined riders who are aiming to do every one of the ride’s 28 stages.

citypromotion

Barking dogs and waving locals shout “Allez!” and “Chapeau!” (Respect!) as the peloton progresses into the hills of eastern France. Sadly the café we’d been looking forward to before the last stage of the day is unaccountably closed. Not that they would have had the mugs of tea that everyone is really craving.

Day 4: Joy unbounded – the wake-up calls today are for 5.30am rather than the usual 4.30am, since Barclays aren’t setting off on stage 1 until 7. Streaming sunshine illuminates a bucolic landscape. The first, mostly downhill, stage, with a light breeze on their backs, is sheer fun for the riders, and we reach the village of Cormoz for an early lunch at the end of stage 2, with 105 kilometres on the trip computers. Then we’re skirting the city of Lyon and toying with the Rhône valley for an afternoon that finishes early with 25 kilometres of downhill speed-riding to the river town of Chanas. In the still evening air, there’s a herby scent and the temperature has noticeably risen. This is definitely the South of France.

Day 5: An eventful day sees a return to the 6am rollout, and at 8.27, Team Bluefin romps into St Marcel les Valence, accompanied by a good showing of other riders.

The mood is upbeat: nobody can quite believe how fast they’ve done the stage. There’s been a dramatic setback however – a motorbike escort has been thrown off his bike by a car pulling across in front of him. Our paramedic team is on the scene in seconds and treats him while waiting for an ambulance. He’s whisked to hospital for a CT scan but seems okay. His bike is a write-off.

Lunch is enjoyed in full, warming sunshine in Visan, shaded by cypress trees. Less propitious is the late arrival of the bus at the end of stage 4, complete with its complement of resting Delancey riders due on the next stage. We eventually track them down but it’s too late to continue the ride unaltered. We have a stiff climb up over the Luberon hills in the late afternoon then the riders don hi-vis gilets to ride down the hairpins of the gorge in the dark. It’s a welcome relief to arrive at the hotel in Aix, where we’ve organised an impromptu drinks reception for riders and crew. The tiredness in everyone’s bones is like a viral epidemic. The Commonwealth medallist and twice Olympian cyclist Emma Davies is doing the ride into Cannes with us tomorrow and joins us for dinner, injecting some much needed energy into our evening.

Day 6: Out in the hills of Provence, it’s a very brisk spring morning with a gusting headwind blowing at up to 50kph straight into the riders’ faces: some are so tired they can barely talk. With the day finally warming, they have a couple of serious climbs before the glorious descent south to the Mediterranean and the seafront road that leads into Cannes. Here, at a pre-arranged rendezvous point, the Mayor of London is standing on the roadside with one of his own Barclays Cycle Hire bikes at the ready to join the peloton as it swoops east along the Croisette.

It’s a be-suited but very willing and charismatic Boris Johnson who hovers into view at the front of the peloton and comes to a slightly breathless stop outside the Palais des Festivals. Awash with endorphins, our ecstatic riders need no persuading to cheer in front of the cameras. Hugs, handshakes, the odd tear and several large beers later – thanks to our sponsors Savills who have an open house for the riders at their funky café by the seafront – we are well and truly finished.

All Photography: Richard Hanmer and ©Cycle to Cannes

Riders pay £1,499 to cover their costs and have to raise a minimum of £3,000 for the charities that C2C supports.

From 2012, the main subject of fundraising will be the children’s charity Coram. To find out about riding the Aedas Cycle to Cannes in 2012, visit www.cycle2cannes.org or our Facebook page at Cycle2Cannes.

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Not just another day at the office WELCOME TO TOWN HALL HOTEL & APARTMENTS

Not just another day at the office WELCOME TO TOWN HALL HOTEL & APARTMENTS

T O W N H A L L H O T E L & A PA R T M E N T S

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Patriot Square, London, e2 9nf

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+44 0460 +44 (0)20 (0)20 7871 7621 8783

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www.townhallhotel.com

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15/1/10 09:49:00

current affairs

The Royal Wedding

© Copyright 2010 Mario Testino

What does it mean to you?

feature

To celebrate this month’s Royal Wedding, 29 April has been declared a national Bank Holiday. While the news came to the delight of many, for others it posed an economic problem, writes Richard Brown

T

he most significant wedding of this millennium will mean a multitude of things to a multitude of people: for some it will be an excuse to break out the bunting and rejoice in our royal heritage; for many it will provide the chance to extend an Easter holiday or exploit the ‘double time’ clause in their contracts; for others it will simply present a logistical and economic headache.

As was the case 30 years ago, when Diana Spencer walked down the aisle to marry Prince Charles, the union of his son Prince William and Catherine Middleton will be marked with a public holiday. As 29 April is bookended by the bank holidays of Easter Weekend and May Day the following week, many workers will enjoy a four day week, followed by a three day week, before another four day week. While this is great news for those able to take an 11 day break by using only three days of holiday allowance, the extra bank holiday brings with it a headache for many employers.

Because, under the Working Time Regulations, the announcement of an additional public holiday does not automatically increase holiday entitlement, it has been left to the discretion of bosses to decide whether their employees get the day off. Managers have to weigh up the implications of granting their workforce the holiday against the repercussions of making them work. Permit the office to take 29 April off, and lose a day’s revenue; don’t, and face harming business morale and damaging company productivity.

For school children, the wedding couldn’t fall on a better weekend. For them, April is practically a monthlong vacation. After enjoying the two-week spring break, pupils will be at school for just four days prior to Easter weekend, before returning to their desks for an additional three days the week after. While kids across the country plan what to do during their marathon break, their parents, for whom April will feel like a second summer holiday, are left fretting over getting the time off work to supervise them.

For emergency services too, 29 April will be less of a jamboree and more of a vexation. As Kate’s Roll-Royce embarks on its journey through the capital’s crowdlined streets, it will be easy to overlook the preparation that has gone into making the event safe. The wedding will bring together the entire Royal family as well as hundreds of government figures and international heads of state. Protecting them will be thousands of policeman, undercover security personnel and rooftop surveillance teams. The operation has occupied safety officials for months, and with many Metropolitan officers being paid double-time on the day, the cost of security is expected to total £20 million.

For patriots and royalists, however, 29 April will be a day to rejoice in one’s Britishness.

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feature current affairs

Expect to see Union Jacks flying high as communities across the country hang out the bunting to celebrate the marriage of the future King of England. Mirroring scenes that have commemorated national events since the end of the First World War, roads and cul-de-sacs will be transformed into party venues of red, white and blue. Kids will have the run of the streets as families familiarise themselves with their neighbours over barbeques and bucks fizz. Even for those who find themselves indifferent to the royal affair, the day will provide an excellent excuse for a stately knees up.

The wedding will also be welcomed by people employed in the British tourism industry. As well as the thousands who will descend on London on the day, and many more set to visit in the wake of the event, there will be others aiming to escape the capital for weekend breaks in the country. Rail firms, coach companies and hotels are all likely to benefit from those looking to get away from the hullabaloo His Royal Highness will create.

Above everyone, perhaps, it will be the manufacturers of royal souvenirs rubbing their hands together most zealously.

Since the announcement of their engagement, images of the happy couple have appeared on everything from teacups and towels to t-shirts and tea bags. With memorabilia accounting for £222 million of the £515.5 million expected to be generated in extra retail revenue, it’s no surprise that souvenir companies that ceased business after Diana’s funeral have reopened their production lines to cater for an international demand.

After months of media speculation and hearsay, this month’s Royal Wedding will be the biggest event in television history. While some will spend the time counting the cost of a day when British industry goes on leave, others will embrace the opportunity to celebrate what will be a quintessentially British affair. n

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24/03/2011 09:59

Easter Bunny

Luxury Leather

Spring has finally sprung: celebrate warmer days with a Links of London sterling silver Bertie the bunny charm. Bertie will brighten up your day even during April Showers. Or for a special Easter gift for little girls and loved ones, there’s the company’s sterling silver Easter duckling charm.

Spruce up your wardrobe this spring with a trip to Aspinal of London this Easter. Choose from a range of beautiful journals, wallets, bags and other leather goods, all made to an unsurpassed quality and design.

Aspinal of London Cabot Place 020 7719 0727

Links of London, Jubilee Place 020 7591 1767

Hepburn in Turquoise Lizard £495 Padlock Keyring, £45

Easter Bunny Charm, £55, Easter Duckling Charm, £45

Easter Sparkle

Fresh as a Daisy

Easter doesn’t have to be all about chocolate and bunnies. It’s also a time to socialise with friends and family. Ensure that you look a million dollars while doing so, with Tiffany’s stunning platinum butterfly, bumble bee and dragonfly pendants. Prices of the graceful, feminine pendants range between £2,250 and £3,250.

Tiffany & Co., Cabot Place 020 7409 2790

Sweet Treats The essence of cakes as mini works of art is captured at Canary Wharf’s Sweet Couture, cake boutique. Specialising in memorably delicious, freshly-baked cakes, cupcakes and small bites, Sweet Couture’s daily menu includes flavours such as Peanut Butter, Red Velvet and indulgent chocolate, perfect for ending (or breaking) Lent.

Appear as fresh as the newly sprouting flowers with Space NK’s Eve Lom Intense Hydration Serum, an intense moisturising treatment containing hyaluron for long-lasting skin hydration, protection and plumping over the whole Easter break.

Space NK, Cabot Place 020 7719 1902 Eve Lom Intense Hydration Serum, £75

White Ideas While The White Company may be known for beautiful duvet covers, pillows, fitted sheets and luxurious towels, pay a visit to the Canary Wharf store this Easter for a range of seasonal gifts including a striking Flower Press and charming Mini Bluebell Bunny.

The White Company, Cabot Place 020 7719 6381

Sweet Couture, Cake Boutique Coming soon to Canada Place

Flower Press, £15

Cards Galore

Spring Scent

If you’re struggling for last minute Easter cards and gifts, Cards Galore is here to help. Specializing in greeting cards for all occasions, including a wide range of handmade creations, the company also provides a great selection of gift collectables and novelties. Spoil someone this season with their adorable lamb slippers.

Treat yourself to Crabtree and Evelyn’s Lavender Essentials kit. The elegant printed tote opens to hold cosmetics, jewellery, and uplifting lavender bath and body essentials for Easter getaways. Infuse your house with the smell of spring with one of the company’s scented poured candles, infused with the irresistible scent of lavender, iris or rosewater.

Cards Galore Cabot Place, Canada Place & Jubilee Place 020 7719 6506

Lamb Slipper Socks, £17.95

Mini Bluebell Bunny, £17

Crabtree & Evelyn, Cabot Place 020 7719 1758

Lavender Essentials £35, Scented Poured Candle, £22

SHOPPING

Y EA R S O F S T Y L E British favourite Reiss celebrates 40 years of fantastic style this year; visit the Canary Wharf stores to see for yourself Penelope Colour Block Dress, £159

Dorchester Buckle Detail Lock Shoulder Bag, £245

Stallion Single Breasted Blazer, £225

In just four decades, Reiss has grown from a single store in London to a global brand with more than 100 stores. Founder David Reiss recognised a niche in the market for affordable, premium quality tailoring and since then, the iconic brand has remained true to its design philosophy.

2000 saw the launch of Reiss’ highly anticipated inaugral womenswear collection and a new store opened in Canary Wharf in 2003, followed by a second Canary Wharf store, Reiss Womenswear, in Cabot Place. Reiss introduced a Personal Tailoring service last year, selling made-to-measure suits of Savile Row quality from just £550.

Spritz Platform Court Shoe, £149

There is no doubt that the next 40 years will see just as much growth and praise for Reiss as the past four decades have seen.

Reiss, Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, 020 7519 6176 Reiss Womenswear, Cabot Place, Canary Wharf, 020 7718 8762

Brompton Mens Waistcoat, £110 Chipperfield leather Shoe with Lace Ups, £159

Boisdale of Canary Wharf

Opening Monday 18th April JOOLS HOLLAND, PATRON OF MUSIC PRESENTS

THE MOST EXCITING LIVE JAZZ, SOUL AND BLUES MUSIC VENUE TO OPEN IN LONDON FOR DECADES

· · · · · · ·

Live music every night A great British Restaurant The world’s largest whisky selection The Caviar & Oyster Bar Cuban Cigar Library & shop Europe’s largest walk in humidor Covered and heated Cigar Terrace

JOOLS HOLLAND, BOISDALE OF CANARy WHARF PATRON OF MUSIC, WILL GIVE A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE WITH HIS RHyTHM AND BLUES ORCHESTRA ON JUNE 21.

BOOk yOUR TICkETS AT WWW.BOISDALE.CO.Uk & SEE THE NEXT FABULOUS THREE-MONTHS’ JAZZ, SOUL & BLUES LISTINGS TELEPHONE: 020 7715 5818 CABOT PLACE, CANARy WHARF, LONDON E14 4QT

arts&events

Spring into

Canary Wharf

As spring is almost upon us, look no further than Canary Wharf for top quality entertainment and activities

VIVA LA DANCE! Continuing its series exploring different styles of Latin American music and dance, “Viva la Dance!” invites enthusiasts to Canary Wharf to celebrate the steamy, hot-blooded Tango with impassioned live music and dancing. Dancers will have every opportunity to give stellar performances and to refine their own techniques.

A simple and straightforward practica is also provided by popular dance duo Doni Fierro and Liz Bayley using their friendly, uncomplicated methods. Those new to the Tango experience will master basic steps in no time and even learn techniques designed to cheat their way to pro!

Perfect your steps to the sounds of the live band, participate in an introductory tango workshop or simply sit back and enjoy the South American atmosphere.

Thursday 7 April 6.30-10.15pm East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14 Tickets £8.50 (includes complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival)

Booking Information: In advance: Visit ticketweb.co.uk or call 0844 847 2268 (Booking fee applies) In person: On the door, subject to availability Full bar and food available.

Only items purchased on the premises may be consumed.

CANARY WHARF CHARITY ABSEIL FOR LONDON’S AIR AMBULANCE If you thrive on adrenaline and want to raise money for charity look no further. Sign up for this exclusive chance to abseil 230 feet down 20 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, in aid of London’s Air Ambulance, London’s only Helicopter Emergency Medicine Service which provides pre-hospital care to victims of serious injury throughout London.

Open to anyone over 18 years old, no previous abseiling experience is required as you will be in the capable hands of fully qualified, experienced instructors.

Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 May 20 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, E14 Registration fee - £30 (Minimum £250 sponsorship) To register email francesca.savage@ bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk or call 020 7943 1302

VISUAL ARTS Sculptural Ceramics

VINTAGE DANCE CLUB Recreate the glamour of days gone by with popular dances from the past at our fabulous new Vintage Dance Club. Both evenings start with informal instruction, and dazzling displays from professional dancers create the perfect retro atmosphere.

The thoroughly English Tea Dance was once an essential part of the social calendar and at Vintage Dance Club you can relive those days as you waltz, cha-cha and foxtrot to the delightful sound of The Ritz’s 11 piece Berkeley Square Society Band.

Swing Dance sees the East Wintergarden transformed by vintage dance specialists JiveSwing.com, into a jumpin’ juke joint with live music from high energy swing band Jive Aces. Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and Jive the night away! Partners and vintage dress are welcome but definitely not essential.

Wednesday 11 & Thursday 12 May Wednesday 6pm: TEA DANCE / Thursday 6pm: SWING DANCE Workshops from 6pm, Dance club 7.30-10.30pm East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14 Tickets £12 per night or £20 for both nights (includes complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival) Booking Information: In advance: Visit ticketweb.co.uk or call 0844 847 2268 (Booking fee applies) In person: On the door, subject to availability Full bar and food available. Only items purchased on the premises may be consumed.

Danish-born ceramicist Merete Rasmussen moved to London in 2005 but her work retains strong connections to the clean and simple lines that typify the best of Scandinavian design. There is sometimes a line drawn between the artist as ceramicist and the artist as sculptor, a divide that is in many ways an artificial conceit.

For Rasmusssen her chosen material is stoneware, which is the vehicle for her ideas as a sculptor. She focuses predominantly on abstract form, taking her inspiration from nature as well as architecture and design. Her sculptures are hand-built in coiling technique, and many have one continuous surface, which comes from the mathematical construct of the Möbius Strip. However, she takes the invention further, creating the most intricate and lyrical rolling and twisting forms with surfaces that are rich in saturated pigment. Her use of matt materials and monochrome colour emphasises the shape of her objects, enabling her to explore contrasts between sharp edges and smooth surfaces. mereterasmussen.com

Until 20 May Merete Rasmussen: Sculptural Ceramics Lobby, One Canada Square Open daily Tuesday 19 April at 1.15pm FREE Merete Rasmussen in conversation with curator Ann Elliott To reserve a place please call 020 7418 2257

CANARY WHARF JOG Walk it, run it, stroll it, sprint it – starting from Canada Square Park, you pick the pace and the distance for the 14th annual jog, raising vital funds for the British Heart Foundation. This year the run will be led by ITV London weather forecaster and meteorologist Clare Nasir. Clare, who presents the weather on London Tonight, will be aiming to finish the maximum 10 kilometres. Whatever distance you choose, all are welcome to join this fun event getting fit and raising money for charity.

Wednesday 2 June 6-8.30pm Throughout Canary Wharf, E14 No registration fee (Target sponsorship £50) To register visit: bhf.org.uk/canarywharfjog or call free-phone 0808 100 2109 For more information visit canarywharf.com

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interview personal finance human resources

julia carrick dividends ............................................ new laws

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Smartphones to get smarter

The concept of the smartphone is set to change dramatically in the coming years. Not only could they come to replace your PC but your credit card too

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riginally aimed at the professional consumer, smartphones have been getting thinner, cheaper and more user-friendly for some time. Now, thanks to innovations in microchip and wireless technology, they are about to get smarter. With advanced Qualcomm processor chips, smartphones will behave more like laptops than mobiles, able to run full-blown applications such as Adobe Photoshop, process EXIF data and connect to various social networks simultaneously.

With MicroPass sticker technology, they’ll even be able to pay for your shopping.

“Smartphones are the future of games, productivity, apps, everything we think about,” said Google’s chief executive Eric Schmidt at February’s Mobile World Congress. “This smartphone in my hand has 20,000 more computing capabilities than the lunar mission.”

The new phones will be situationally and contextually aware of your location, social environment and even your preferences in food, media and communication. Smartphones outsold computers for the first time last quarter: with a series of even cleverer smartphones on the way, the gap in sales is only likely to increase. n

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The Finer Things in Life Annabel Harrison meets Julia Carrick, CEO of Walpole, to talk British luxury, British brands and how to spend it

N

o one knows the luxury industry quite like Julia Carrick. She founded the Financial Times’ hugely successful How To Spend It magazine and, since 2000, has continued to further the interests of the British luxury industry as CEO of Walpole. Under her leadership, membership has quadrupled and now includes more than 160 of Britain’s most prestigious brands and cultural institutions, as the largest membership organisation representing luxury businesses in Europe.

Walpole takes its name from the statesman Sir Robert Walpole (16761745), a highly regarded commercial minister and famous for his energetic promotion of overseas trade. From large to small, all members uphold and promote the core values of Walpole, which include quality, style, design, excellence, craftsmanship, creativity, sustainability, service and innovation.

How did your career at BBC Worldwide influence your move into luxury brands?

It didn’t. My move from the BBC to the Financial Times 25 years ago was based on a decision to have a change in career. In truth, I loved my creative job, but I couldn’t live on my BBC earnings so did all sorts of things to earn extra money before deciding to leave: I was giving out magazines and in the evenings teaching Ceroc dancing.

The very first project I worked on and launched at the FT was a watch and jewellery report. This led to the growth of luxury advertising in the FT - now we produce four watch and jewellery reports and 29 issues of How To Spend It, together with reports on yachts, polo, business of luxury and collecting.

How did the FT react to your opinion about the commercial potential of editorial and advertising sectors in the luxury market?

My arrival coincided with the launch of the Weekend FT; the FT was the first newspaper to identify the Saturday leisure market, and this different mindset of the reader who had both time and money.

They just didn’t have the person to fully recognise and develop its potential. The FT is a very innovative organisation and encouraging of new ideas, so I was fortunate to be given relatively free rein to develop.

In terms of launching How To Spend It, as it was a glossy magazine in a financial newspaper, there was quite a bit of internal persuasion to be done. I had no budget and each issue had to make profit. I had built up a loyal client following who committed advertising to the first issue, despite only seeing an empty 32-page dummy. It was a very obvious gap in the market: our readers were not reading the glossies yet had a very high disposable income, and so we aimed to produce an intelligent, sophisticated, tightly focused magazine on how the educated, the affluent and influential spend their time and money.

How did your move to CEO of Walpole come about?

The FT was one of the founder members of Walpole more than 20 years ago, so I was involved with Walpole from the start. They had a change of board and I was asked to be their Chief Executive. It was a very different organisation to what you see today: there were just 27 member companies and no website, brochure, magazine research or awards. Walpole now has more than 160 members, including a number of well-known British brands such as Harrods, Burberry, Dunhill, Mulberry and Fortnum & Mason, among many others.

What influenced the decision to change the mission statement from promoting British excellence to

promoting British luxury?

Walpole was growing rapidly and the membership needs were getting more diverse. So, for example, what would British Petroleum and Jimmy Choo have in common in terms of their agenda and needs? The British luxury industry was growing in strength and it was felt that, by focusing on luxury, we would be able to truly fulfil the needs of the members and support this growing and vital industry.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as CEO of Walpole?

For most member companies, and indeed the wider business community in the UK, one of the biggest challenges has been the turbulent economic climate of the last two years. 2009 challenged even the most positive amongst us and 2010 was unsettling as developed economies faced budget deficits, public spending cuts, unemployment and increased taxation. However, the nation’s oldest, finest and most loved businesses have historically proved resilient; we have survived world wars, revolutions and recessions.

An aspect that has been surprising and somewhat alarming has been the lack of understanding and recognition from government for our industry. Through our political engagement work on topics such as selective distribution agreements and competition law, we have been amazed how little the British luxury industry is recognised for both its economic and creative value. The fact is that it is important to the economy, employment, creativity, innovation, to Britain’s international reputation and to tourism. We work closely with our French and Italian counterparts, Comité Colbert and Altagamma, and it is very apparent that they value and support their luxury goods industries, something that Walpole is trying to achieve here in the UK.

interview

comment

What is your favourite British luxury brand and why?

Too many to mention – I love them all! If I had to pick two, I would have to say Boodles and Temperley. They are run by amazing people, have some iconic designs and are great ambassadors for the British luxury industry as a whole.

What is happening in 2011 for Walpole?

It will be another busy year as we grow and expand our activities, events and voice. We run more than 40 events a year for members and we start the year with the annual gathering of our Chairmen and CEOs. Our industry seminars will look at Luxury in Greater China and Luxury e-Commerce, both major growth areas for luxury. We are also redeveloping the website and embarking on three research projects; our annual UK Luxury Benchmark study with Ledbury Research, a European-wide study to look at digital adoption in luxury and a UK market sizing with McKinsey & Co. How does Walpole mentor the talent of tomorrow? Did you have this kind of mentorship earlier on in your career?

The British luxury industry has a strong legacy in supporting emerging companies and Walpole has played an active role in fostering this spirit, nurturing the creative and entrepreneurial talent of the future through our two mentoring programmes – Brands of Tomorrow and Crafted. Walpole has now mentored nearly 50 individuals and businesses.

And yes – our current Chairman of Walpole, Sir David Bell, former Chairman of the FT. He did not necessarily mentor me but he believed in me, gave me the right guidance, the opportunity and helped me build the confidence in myself that I could really achieve things.

Walpole’s members are sure to be well represented among the brands requested for the Royal Wedding.

Do you think that these should all be British brands?

If possible, yes. Britain has so much to be proud of with such amazing talent, creativity and innovation. n www.thewalpole.co.uk

33

personal finance

comment

Dividend-paying Shares Todd Wenning, Lead Advisor at Dividend Edge, an investing newsletter offered by The Motley Fool, discusses the right way to own dividend-paying shares St Augustine once said that “Patience is the companion of wisdom,” but patience seems an alien concept to some 21st century investors. According to the Bank of England, the average holding period of FTSE shares fell from eight years in 1966 to a few months in 2005. And that’s the average; some investors trade more frequently. This hyper-trading approach doesn’t sync with investors’ growing curiosity about using dividend-paying shares as a way to combat low interest rates and rising inflation.

at some point and the larger percentage that we pay, the less we have to reinvest. If your dividend income is taxed at 50 per cent, for instance, that’s equivalent to reinvesting just one half of your payout.

Academic evidence is overwhelmingly in favour of dividend-paying shares as a way to build long-term wealth.

For example, in Triumph of the Optimists (2002), London Business School professors Elroy Dimson, Paul Marsh and Mike Staunton found that a UK-based, market-oriented portfolio that assumed reinvested dividends generated 10.1 per cent annualised returns between 1900 and 2000, compared to 5.1 per cent annualised returns had it relied solely on capital gains. The former turned £1 invested in 1900 into about £16,160 by 2000; the latter just £149.

There are plenty more studies that reach similar conclusions, but most of them make some critical assumptions that are often overlooked or misunderstood. The first is that all dividends are assumed to have been reinvested to buy more shares of the companies that paid them. Dividends provide investors with tremendous flexibility in that you can spend them or reinvest them as you see fit, but if you’re spending your dividends rather than reinvesting them, the outperformance gap naturally narrows.

Not only is trading in-and-out of shares every few weeks or months speculative (the opposite of investing), it can also drastically increase return-destructive trading costs.

The more transaction costs you compile, the better your investment returns need to be to make up the difference.

For example, a portfolio of 20 shares that’s been held for five years may have incurred one-time commission charges of £200 (assuming £10 trades) plus stamp duty, but a 20-share portfolio that’s been bought and sold twice each year for five years would incur about £4,000 in charges, plus a lot more stamp duty. In other words, your investments in the trading portfolio would need to perform well enough to make up for the £3,800 cost difference.

The second general assumption is that there are no transaction costs. Anyone who’s bought a stock, however, knows that your dealer will take a commission from each trade and HMRC takes its cut from the stamp duty. The unfortunate reality is that transaction costs matter to longterm performance.

The third and final assumption is that there are no taxes. As lovely as that might sound, we have to pay tax on our investments

Despite these obstacles, a dividend-focused strategy remains a strong option for building wealth and battling inflation. The trick is reducing those obstacles to the biggest extent possible.

Once, while driving in the US, I noticed a funny-but-apt billboard from a financial institution that read, “You must pay taxes. But there’s no law that says you gotta leave a tip.” All too often, investors hold their dividend-paying investments in the wrong type of account and end up with yet another drag on performance. The trick is to practise proper “asset location” and hold dividend-paying shares in tax-advantaged accounts like ISAs and SIPPs. If you have a reasonably long time horizon for your investments and are wondering how to invest ISA or SIPP funds, dividend-paying shares are a great option to consider. As long as you bear in mind the benefits of dividend reinvestment, minimise trading costs, and give your investments time to flourish, mounds of historical evidence supporting a dividend-focused strategy are on your side. n

Todd Wenning, Lead Advisor of The Motley Fool's Dividend Edge newsletter www.Fool.co.uk

35

comment personal finance

Investing Closer to Home Martin Bamford looks at the advantages of investing within the United Kingdom It’s long been the case that the British tend to invest most of their pension and investment portfolios in British investment assets. This ‘home bias’ has been the subject of various studies in an attempt to understand why overseas investment opportunities are often disregarded at the expense of UK investments. There are, of course, some very good reasons for investing closer to home.

Investing away from the UK also involves adding other types of risk to your portfolio. A type of investment risk that is often overlooked, particularly when investing in the economies of Emerging Markets, is political risk. You only have to look at the recent events in North Africa and the Middle East to picture what political risk can mean in practice for a UK investor with investments in these regions.

Most British investors have financial goals and liabilities that are expressed in pound sterling. This means that investing in overseas assets, including foreign company shares or property, can introduce currency risk to a portfolio. In simple terms, this means that the level of investment risk is higher because the value of the asset depends on the exchange rate back to pound sterling, as well as the actual value of the investment.

This doesn’t mean that British investors should ignore the investment opportunities associated with overseas investments altogether. Instead, they should carefully consider how these might fit into their pension and investment portfolios, complimenting the home-based assets they are likely to have as their core holdings.

This currency risk can work in both directions, boosting the return of an overseas investment if currency exchange rates work in the favour of the investor at the time they buy and sell the investment asset. It is, however, another often undesirable element of risk within a portfolio. Some fund managers even take steps to reduce or remove this type of risk, buying financial instruments to ‘hedge’ the movement of currency so the return the investor receives should always relate to pound sterling.

It is also important to remember that you probably already have a great deal of exposure to overseas economies and consumers through your UK-based investments.

An estimated 70 per cent of the earnings for FTSE 100 companies come from their overseas activities. Whilst they are physically located in the UK in terms of their company headquarters, increasingly these days British companies operate in overseas markets and get the bulk of their profits from non-UK consumers.

When we recommend investment portfolios for our clients, they tend to have a core holding in UK-based cash, fixed interest securities and commercial property, with the equity content (investment in company shares) allocated to both UK and overseas shares. This approach tends to result in giving investors access to overseas investment opportunities without exposing too much of the portfolio to unnecessary currency, political and liquidity risks.

Before being seduced by overseas investment stories, British investors should look closely at the investment opportunities associated with British companies and property, as well as scrutinising the risks of investing their money internationally. n

Martin Bamford is a chartered financial planner at Informed Choice (www.icl-ifa.co.uk) and author of several best-selling personal finance books.

36

human resources

comment

New Laws and Bank Holidays Clare Murray sets out some key employment law issues of which we should all be aware this year, from April onwards Generally with spring each year comes a swathe of changes to employment law. This month, for example, employers will be kept busy with changes to family-friendly rights, transitional arrangements to deal with the abolition of the default retirement age and the introduction of new duties under the Equality Act 2010.

Statutory rates of pay: The standard rate of statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay will increase from £124.88 to £128.73 per week from 3 April 2011 and from 6 April 2011, statutory sick pay will increase from £79.15 to £81.60 per week.

Additional paternity leave: Changes were introduced last April to allow fathers (or spouses, partners of biological mothers or persons matched for adoption) to take up to 26 weeks’ additional paternity leave in addition to ordinary paternity leave of up to two weeks. However, the practical effect of these changes will only become apparent in the coming year since the right is restricted to fathers of babies born, or children adopted, after 3 April 2011. It remains to be seen how many fathers will take up this new right, and in turn how employers (and courts) will address the difficult question of whether fathers will be entitled to the equivalent of any enhanced maternity rights that the employer currently affords mothers.

Extension of flexible working: The right for employees to request flexible working is extended from 6 April 2011 to parents with children under the age of 18 (to date this has only been open to parents of children under the age of 17, or under the age of 18 if the child is disabled).

Whilst this is not a drastic change, employers should prepare themselves for the right to be extended again in the near future to all employees, regardless of whether or not they have childcaring responsibilities.

Equality Act 2010: Whilst the majority of the provisions under the Equality Act 2010 came into force on 1 October 2010, certain provisions remained to be implemented, pending further Government consideration. Two such provisions that have been given the green light this month are section 159 (voluntary positive action in recruitment and promotion), and section 149 (the introduction of a single equality duty on public authorities to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different groups). The introduction of the concept of voluntary ‘positive action’ means that employers will be entitled to

choose to recruit or promote those from a disproportionately underrepresented group, so long as that person is ‘as qualified’ as the other candidate.

Not changing: Two important changes which had been anticipated to take place this month and will no longer happen are the Right to Request Time off to Train or study to organisations with fewer than 250 employees (postponed until further notice), and the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010 (encompassing the new corporate offence). Whilst it is not known when the Bribery Act will eventually be implemented, this is still expected to be in 2011. Employers will be given three month’s notice of implementation once a final version of the guidance to the act is published.

The Royal Wedding Whilst the general public remains preoccupied with what type of dress Miss Middleton will be wearing on the big day, the key question for employers on 29 April will be whether their employees are entitled to a day off to celebrate the wedding and, if so, whether this should be paid. The first port of call will be to check the contractual position on holidays and pay; whilst some contracts will identify the specific bank holidays employees can take as holiday (thereby suggesting that employees are not contractually entitled to the day off), others will simply state that employees are entitled to all usual bank holidays in the UK. Aside from the contractual position, however, it will be for employers to balance the costs to the business of allowing employees the day off, against the boost to morale that the wedding might provide. Whether or not it is viable for the business to allow employees the day off, employers should ensure that all employees are treated equally in respect of requests for leave in order not to fall foul of any discrimination protections. n

Clare Murray is Managing Partner at specialist employment and partnership law firm CM Murray LLP. She can be contacted at clare.murray@cm-murray.com or 020 7718 0090.

The contents of this column are for general purposes only.

Specialist legal advice should be taken regarding specific circumstances.

37

comment human resources

Integrity

Matters

Chelsey Baker, business advisor and life coach, looks at the importance of integrity as the cohesive force that binds all successful interactions together Integrity is the antithesis of dishonesty and comes with consistent, honest and trustworthy actions. Whether practised in one’s business or personal life, it is perhaps the most commendable of all traits to possess. Without it, your reputation amounts to nothing and you’ll end up with few friends and even fewer trusted business associates. In an ideal world, everyone would be brought up to embrace and to value personal integrity and, indeed, many of us are; others find it a less instinctive trait but come to value it as they learn that integrity is the cornerstone of honest commerce and successful social interaction, and that those with integrity are marked out by their strong moral principles.

Integrity tests are sometimes used by employers as, of course, a proven reputation and track record are vital in establishing trust and successful business relationships. In the corporate world, this can make an immense impact on the success of a company and its leaders, so it is well worth thoroughly researching embryonic ideas before showing your hand; this way you will be far more likely to deliver adequately and on time, thus avoiding letting people down, not to mention embarrassing yourself.

No matter how hard you strive to make yourself look important, knowledgeable, and successful, unless you actually come up with the goods, all of your talk amounts to nothing. Unfortunately, we all know people who have the ability to con others or to spuriously convince them that amazing things are about to happen while, in truth, they never actually deliver. Remember, a trust that is lost is never found again. It is, therefore, important always to take into consideration other people’s feelings and needs: no one likes to be taken for a ride and to do it deliberately to others is something every decent person should find an anathema. It is important to remember that when you let other people down, you ultimately let yourself down.

In business, when it comes to reputation, honesty is key, so whenever you deal with clients or team workers and are uncertain of a potential outcome, it is advisable to be completely open. Provided people are kept informed, they are far less likely to be disappointed; it also enables them to contribute positive ideas. We all like to feel part of a think tank and, in corporate life, teamwork is essential. Should an endeavour fail despite endless hours of preparation, then as long as you have been honest from the beginning and readily admit defeat, no one should think any less of you.

In fact, it is more likely that they will respect you for your efforts. Taking responsibility for one’s actions, whether the outcome is good or bad, is vital in gaining respect. If you repeatedly do the opposite, then a reputation is developed which will taint anything you do in the future.

Don’t be swayed by others if your way of thinking is right.

Being true to yourself, your principles and your beliefs is the key way in which you will maintain your integrity.

Set yourself high standards and avoid being led astray by people around you. Constantly re-evaluate what you think, feel and say and always be prepared to stand up for what you believe is right. There are varying interpretations of success: some people are content with just having had a good, honest day without any repercussions or guilt, whilst others strive towards more long-term goals of power and wealth. This is not entirely a bad thing in itself, just as long as no one becomes hurt or disadvantaged in the process: ambition can drive some people to dishonesty and grandiosity with negative, if not downright destructive, consequences. Conversely, some of the most powerful and successful people have quiet and unassuming characters and strive to avoid attention or publicity. This is one of the most impressive forms of success because it is not sought but given.

As the famous quote says; “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.” n

38

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After the Oscars... the EMMA’s Global Mobility and Expatriate Management is a $500 billion profession which employs tens of thousands of people worldwide and impacts the working lives of millions. As businesses seek to maintain a competitive advantage through globalization, its importance as a central business function is now being truly recognised.

The Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM) has announced that it is inviting entries for the second global awards that recognise industry leaders, business successes and rising stars in the field of global mobility. The inaugural awards in 2010, with presentations at a Gala Dinner in London for European finalists, were a major success with household names such as Mercer, Grant Thornton and Mars Inc. amongst the winners. The FEM will once again be awarding EMMAs (Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards) in both Europe and America. The winners will be presented at Awards Ceremonies in Chicago in September and London in November. There are 17 awards in all for which suppliers and corporate teams can compete.

Further details can be found at www.totallyexpat.com

Integrating Immigrants

Ever Present Threats

You may not have heard of the Migration Integration Policy Index, which is compiled by the British Council and the Migration Policy Group and funded by the EU. Its aim is to compare and rank 31 countries in Europe and North America across 148 separate indicators as to how they integrate immigrants legally residing in their countries; for the most part the answer is not very well.

Migrants are generally discouraged from becoming politically active or trying to gain full citizenship.

Education policies, with honourable exceptions in a few countries, “fail to address the needs of a new generation of diverse students”. In the Labour Mobility field, whilst on the whole immigrants are guaranteed equal and secure employment rights, more than half the countries exclude migrant workers from parts of the social security system. The top 5 scoring integrationist countries were Sweden, Portugal, Canada, Netherlands and Norway. www.mipex.eu

The recent political turmoil in North Africa showed an all too familiar scenario in terms of the number of foreign nationals apparently left stranded when the security situation deteriorated within specific countries, with Libya being the most prominent example. I have raised these issues on more than one occasion, fuelled by my concern that many employers appear either unable or unwilling to support their employees in time of crisis.

Many companies have sophisticated crisis management and evacuation plans in place, advised by such companies as International SOS, but even these may well have been stretched by recent events. It is also clear from events that many companies had not made adequate provisions as to how to evacuate employees in times of crisis. This led to many governments, including our own, having to rescue their nationals and bear the criticisms when arrangements did not go entirely to plan. There is a clear need, when there is time, for more analysis and a dialogue between business, employees and governments as to where responsibilities start and end in these sorts of emergency situations. Is it really feasible for governments to be responsible for the evacuation of their citizens from foreign territories, regardless of the circumstances, particularly when the citizens or their employers have made no provision themselves?

The Forum for Expatriate Management is holding the Totally Expat Show on May 16 2011 at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London.

Lead sponsors include Nat West Global Employee Banking, Xchanging GMS, Rosetta Stone, Fragomen, JAM HR, HSBC International, Interdean, Sterling Relocation, HCR Group and Equus Software.

For more information, visit www.totallyexpat.com

global living

comment

For global living international executives keeping up to date with the latest news is important

Pensions and the

Globally Mobile

Brian Friedman explores the complex pension issues facing the internationally mobile

M

ention the word pension to a group of global nomads and watch their eyes glaze over. Yet in all too short a time, the prospect of at least some form of retirement hits us all and, for the increasing number of individuals who are likely to spend their careers in a variety of countries and continents, the issues are complex and genuinely worthy of some attention.

As I have pointed out on previous occasions, the types of arrangements under which expatriate staff take employment outside their home country are numerous. There has been coverage in the press recently about the employment contractual details of such luminaries as Bob Diamond at Barclay’s and Stuart Gulliver at HSBC: there was a clear inference that their employment by separate off-shore companies, as opposed to the main bank holding company, was in some way sinister.

In fact such arrangements are very common for mobile senior staff whose employers require them to move globally at short notice. This is simply to enable them to receive benefits and pension entitlements regardless of where they are employed. Overall it is clear that many governments and regulators have recognised that employee mobility is a fact of life and mostly beneficial for their economies.

As a consequence there has been considerable research effort in devising mechanisms where the accrual of pension rights in one country is not adversely affected by temporary residence in another. This issue has been of particular importance to the European Commission. Large companies will generally leverage these mechanisms to ensure their executives receive a globally competitive

remuneration package covering benefits as well as salary.

However, not all of us are in that lucky situation. Spend a little time on Google and it is very easy to find horror stories of global nomads who returned to their “home” countries to discover that various pension “promises” turned out to be illusory.

The other aspect to this is that despite the well-meaning activities of governments and pension regulators, there is generally a pre-supposition that, ultimately, an individual knows to which country they intend to retire. In fact this is probably less true than ever, with many of us unable to forecast where we might be living in five years, let alone in 20 or 30; however, this could lead to opportunities for the well informed.

Advice has previously been that to have pension funds invested in more than one jurisdiction is

counterproductive yet, if I work for many years in, for example, the UK, the US and Switzerland, and build up pension entitlements in all three places, is this really pensions suicide?

Developments in the retailing of financial products such as pensions are moving toward a fee-based relationship rather than one based on commission. It is to be hoped that many employers of internationally mobile staff will arrange advice for their employees in the same way as many provide tax advice at present.

The clouds over the pension horizon are not all grey. n Brian Friedman is the contributing editor of Global Life and founder of the Forum for Expatriate Management.

Founded in 2008, the Forum already has over 4,000 members who collectively manage over one million expatriate moves.

Members come from the leading blue-chip employers of international assignees both in the UK and globally.

41

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Return of the classic

Alvis returns to business to give its 1930s sports tourer a 21st century makeover and the all British ‘Continuation Series’ will ensure the company lives up to its heritage

B

ack in the 1930s and 40s, car manufacturer Alvis was synonymous with sumptuous style and top of the range performance; the company built the world’s first front wheel drive production car, designed the world’s first all synchromesh gear box and initiated the first British car with independent front suspension.

Everything from the concept of an Alvis car to the finished rolling chassis was designed and engineered by the company itself and complemented by a range of eye-catching

bodywork and striking classic design.

Now, the newly reformed Alvis Car Company comes rolling into the 21st century by resuming production of the famous Alvis 4.3 Litre model 72 years after the last car was produced.

Manufactured from the original drawings, the 4.3 Litre Alvis in-line six cylinder engine is faithful to the 1936 design, in maintaining all of its period character and quality. The only difference is that by using modern materials, fuel injection and engine management, the Alvis powerplant will deliver more horsepower. Not that anyone is likely to complain. n

43

A gentleman’s 18k gold automatic chronograph Porsche Design wrist watch. With box.

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feature

calibre

iNNOVATION nation From the steam engine to the sewing machine and the sandwich to Sellotape, our sceptred isle can lay claim to some of history’s most remarkable and revolutionary inventions. Richard Brown considers some of the most significant

F

or a small slab of rock nestled off the coast of Europe, Britain has certainly made a disproportionately large contribution to the narrative of civilisation. Over the years, our island’s inhabitants have been responsible for some of history’s most pioneering inventions, discoveries and technical breakthroughs – innovations that have changed the way people live. Think, for example, how different our lives would be without television, radio or the World Wide Web; without the flush toilet, the vacuum cleaner or the electric toaster. Or, for that matter, Marmite.

Back in 1775 – long after Jethro Tull had revolutionised farming with his seed drill, John Harrison had cracked the longitudinal puzzle with his grasshopper escapement

clocks, and Isaac Newton had eyed the four Galilean moons of Jupiter through his reflecting telescope – James Wyatt invented something that would transform human existence more than any other creation: the steam engine. Redesigning a model originally patented by Thomas Savery a century before, Wyatt’s was the first commercially efficient steam engine – using 75 per cent less coal than previous models. Whereas the rudimentary nature of earlier designs restricted engines to pumping water, Wyatt’s modifications provided a rotary motion that was suitable for driving factory machinery, an innovation that heralded the arrival of the Industrial Revolution and a period of economic and social transformation of a scale hitherto unseen.

45

calibre feature

Some 26 years later, in 1804, Richard Trevithick won a bet when he hauled ten tons of iron over ten miles of track in the first successful steam-driven locomotive and two decades on, George Stephenson connected Yorkshire and Stockton with the world’s inaugural railroad. His ‘Rocket’ had already made history when it became the first locomotive to complete a 50-mile trip. At the time, the train was better known for having dampened the mood of the 1830 Liverpool to Manchester Railway opening when it ran over and killed Liverpool MP William Huskisson.

Inventions like the steam engine and railway locomotive transformed travel and industry, but you don’t have to go as far back as the Industrial Revolution for examples of British innovations revolutionising society. Welshman David Hughes’ radio, Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone and Englishman Joseph Swann’s light bulb were all invented in the latter half of the 19th century, at the same time as Darwin was penning On the Origin of Species, Brits were building the world’s first underground railway in London and the modern rules of football, tennis and rugby were being drawn up.

The UK’s flare for creativity continued undiminished into the 20th century. In 1925 – after stainless steel, the vacuum cleaner and automated tea makers – Britain gave the world the television. The brainchild of John Logie Baird, the first ‘TV’ transmitted only five images per second. As visual broadcasts have to transmit 12 images per second to create the illusion of motion, it was hardly an optical spectacular.

However, a year later, when Baird demonstrated to the Royal Institution a device that broadcast 12.5 images per second, the first truly working television was born.

Although Baird’s scanning disk produced an image with a resolution of only 30 lines, compared to later resolutions of several hundred, the Scotsman’s invention changed mass entertainment and social interaction forever.

The 1930s arrived and Brits made roads safer by separating lanes with ‘cat’s eyes’ and enhanced the experience of music by inventing stereo. At the end of the decade, Hitler invaded Poland, World War Two was declared and Britain went invention crazy. In addition to bouncing bombs, ballistic missiles and corner shot rifles, out of the war came the jet engine (the British Gloster Meteor fighter appeared in 1944), radar (a device that enabled the RAF to scramble fighters in response to incoming enemy planes) and... the computer.

Although the idea for an automated calculation and programmable machine was dreamt up by Charles Babbage in 1812, it is Maida Vale’s Alan Turing who is recognised as the father of modern computer science. Turing had already helped to theorise the logic of computer algorithms with his Turing Machine when, in the 1940s, the Government enlisted him to join Bletchley Park – Britain’s code breaking headquarters – where he devised several techniques for breaking German ciphers. Post-war,

46

Turing created a design for the earliest stored-program computer, something that in 1999 earned him a place on Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century list.

A few decades later, as Baird had done with the television and Turing with the computer, fellow Brit Tim Berners-Lee would once again metamorphose society. In 1989, with the aim of creating “a common information space in which we communicate by sharing information”, the Oxford graduate conceived the World Wide Web. Devising a way to communicate information between a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) client and a server via the Internet, BernersLee enabled the sharing of data across computers not linked by hardware. People have been swapping everything from bank details to holiday snaps ever since.

Of course, invention isn’t just a product of all things new, but a progression of existing products and designs: the reinvention of standardised ideals – something London-born Kenneth Grange has been doing since 1950. His designs include the British Rail High Speed Train (in use since 1972), the bus shelter, the parking meter and the Wilkinson Sword razor. Grange not so much invented products to fill a functional need as invented ways in which we picture specific products with only his designs in mind. The modern black cab, for instance, was his creation.

The monumental success of Apple in the 21st century can be attributed to the similar endeavours of a single, little-known Essex boy. Born in 1967, Jonathon Ive was just 31 when he revolutionised computer design with the iMac. Later, when given the task of engineering a pocket-sized hard drive that would play thousands of songs, he created the iPod. In 2005, he designed the iPod nano, and in 2007, the iPhone. The recently launched Apple iPad is a direct descendant of Ive’s efforts.

For sports fans, being British can sometimes feel synonymous with defeat and disappointment, but if it wasn’t for the creativeness of our ancestors, sports like football, rugby and cricket may never have existed. Nor perhaps would have elastic fabric, greeting cards, matches, sunglasses, carbonated soft drinks, rubber bands, pencils, hovercrafts, lawnmowers, the pocket calculator or Viagra.

With history proving our nation’s ability to innovate and design as second to none, next time you have time on your hands, why not put your creative cap on and see what you can come up with? After all, to borrow one of 1,700 words and phrases invented by one William Shakespeare, the world is your oyster. n

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ascot.co.uk Millinery: Stephen Jones

10/02/2011 15:50

Fly like an eagle Hand a tired, moth-eaten, old E-type Jaguar over to the experts at Eagle and what do you get? A completely re-engineered car that’s much better than it was when new. It’s not cheap, says Matthew Carter, but if you want the best…

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ucked away in a sleepy corner of Sussex is a series of barns and outbuildings that once formed part of a farm. These days, they house not cows or sheep, but Eagles – Eagles that soar like no others. If there’s one car that represents the best of British, the E-type Jaguar is it. When it was launched 50 years ago, barely believable, the E-type changed the rules. With its bonnet stretching out into the next county, the E-type was the original manhood-extension.

Here was a machine capable of 150 mph, one that looked simply stunning whether standing still or flying, and yet which cost far less than a contemporary Ferrari or Aston Martin. Never mind that those first cars were ‘helped’ on their way to that remarkable top speed with engine parts from the Le Mans-winning D-type and, by wearing racing tyres, the E-type was far ahead of anything else on the road.

Five decades later, the E-type, or rather the Eagle E-type, is still ahead of the game. Eagle has been working with E-types for almost 30 years, although the phrase “working with” does them a disservice. Over that time, Eagle has reinvented the icon, turning it into a thoroughly modern sports car, building by hand what it calls ‘zero mileage’ E-types. Using a knackered E-type as a donor car, Eagle reclaims and refurbishes the parts that still work and remanufactures those that don’t.

Invariably the body, ravaged by corrosion gathered over more than four decades of use and abuse, is thrown away and a new one created using panels stamped out by the original presses, a process that takes around 1,000 manhours. The exceptions to that rule are cars sourced from California. These are usually in far better shape than anything that’s spent its life on our sodden shores, and as much original metal as possible is saved. The body, whether new or restored, is meticulously painted and rust-proofed before the car is rebuilt by hand, using as much from the original as possible. And here is where it gets really interesting.

While there’s no doubting that the E-type was exceptionally fast for its day, things have moved on over the past 50 years. In fact, an original E-type won’t handle, stop or go as well as a modern day Golf GTi. But help is at hand. Over the years, Eagle has developed a whole host of upgrades for the car, with the express intention of bringing it up to date mechanically, while still keeping its timeless looks and appeal.

There are a number of improvements deemed essential for any E-type, such as better cooling for the engine, stronger engine mounts specially developed for the car by Eagle and discreet electric power steering. But in effect, the sky is the limit. “It’s up to owners how far they want to go, but we can – and have – built E-types that superficially look just as they

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did when they came off the production line at Jaguar, but which have completely upgraded suspension, brakes, wheels, steering, back axles, five-speed gearbox, engine... you name it,” says Eagle’s Paul Brace.

One of the most significant changes Eagle can make is to take the iconic 4.2 litre ‘XK’ engine out and replace it with 4.7 litres; while power remains at around the 300hp mark, the engine’s torque – its pulling power – is massively increased. It makes the car far more tractable in everyday traffic, without compromising its ability to thrill when conditions allow. Best of all, the changes are not obvious, unless you opt to have your new engine fuel-injected, in which case you’ll lose those three iconic SU carburettors.

Wherever possible, though, the car looks standard: it’s just that, within original casings, you’ll often find modern parts – the wiper motor, the fuel pump and even the radio. But you’ll look in vain for electric windows. “Sorry, but that would mean losing the chrome window winders and the interior just wouldn’t look right without them,” says Brace.

Creating an Eagle E-type from a rusting hulk isn’t the work of a moment. Eagle estimates each car takes 18 months from start to finish, going some way to explaining the price, which varies depending on the final specification. But you won’t go far wrong if you budget upwards of £300,000 – rather more than its 1961 asking price of £2,200.

If that’s too much, then Eagle has a selection of original roadsters and coupés for sale, with the soft tops commanding higher prices than the hardtops. Whether you want an early Series 1, a more practical Series 2 or V12 Series 3, a coupé or a roadster, Eagle will more than likely have the car you want in stock, often with a low mileage and a story to tell. Again you can buy cheaper, but Eagle spends more than 300 hours and thousands of pounds on new parts in each car it sells, making sure it’s among the very best.

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Among satisfied customers is former Grand Prix driver Martin Brundle, who owns a red V12 Series 3 Roadster, sourced by Eagle. He then specified an Eagle Sport upgrade package to ensure the car would be happy in modern traffic.

“I wanted a car I could trust on long journeys, not just for a Sunday morning cruise.” He liked the car so much it’s now for sale (it’s yours for £135,000), but only because he has ordered another one, this time a bespoke Eagle E-type.

But Eagle can go even further. The company is currently building two very special E-types: a stunning Speedster and a lightweight GT Coupé, both with bespoke aluminium bodies.

The Speedster has been designed with California in mind – there’s no hood – while the low drag GT Coupé should be the ultimate Grand Tourer. Best of British? Without question. n

IN BRIEF Car: Eagle E-type Price: From £300,000 Engine: 4.2- to 4.7-litre straight six Power: 300 hp Drive: Rear-wheel drive

Pictures: James Lipman

CONTACT: www.eaglegb.com

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ME When BMW decided it needed a bigger Mini, says Matthew Carter, it simply pumped it up.

The result? So much more space that the ‘Mini’ sobriquet no longer applies

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don’t mean to be picky, but why is this car wearing a Mini badge? I mean, it’s huge: a five-door hatchback that looks as if it’s sitting on stilts. It makes the ubiquitous Mini, the estate agents’ favourite, look small and that was already a super-sized version of the original. You can’t accuse BMW, owners of the famous brand, of not getting its money’s worth out of the badge. As well as the Mini itself, we’ve already had the Cooper and the Clubman. And now comes the Countryman.

This time, though, BMW has taken the Mini theme to a new area of the market. The Countryman is a five-seat hatch (there’s also a luxurious four-seat option) aimed at the Mini owner who’s outgrown the car. The Countryman is a Golf rival, a more grown-up car for a more grown-up audience.

It’s going to do more for the brand’s sporting image, too; the Countryman is the base for Mini’s new World Rally Car. Dynamically, it’s strong. The 1.6-litre diesel version tested uses a BMW engine rather than the Peugeot-Ford unit of old, and it’s a great improvement. BMW engines are among the best in the world, and the power pack in this Cooper Countryman is no exception. With a handy 112bhp on offer, plus low emissions and exceptional fuel economy – expect mpg in the mid-50s most of the time – the Cooper D is lively, refined and smooth.

Given that it’s aimed at a slightly different audience, the ride quality has been softened. In fact, with its longer wheelbase, greater interior space and more absorbent ride, the Countryman is a more pleasant place to be on longer journeys. The downside, perhaps, is that the handling is not so sharp. Certainly the steering feels a little less direct, and there’s more body roll at low speeds as a direct result of the softer springing. But it still feels like a Mini, and that’s no bad thing.

Showing how far Mini has come, the Countryman is available with four-wheel drive. Using the same basic hardware as BMW uses in the X1, the clumsily named ALL4 offers superb traction, whatever the conditions. All the same, the vast majority of Countrymen will be two-wheel drives, like the test car. Unless you live at the bottom of a country lane prone to icing over in winter, front-wheel drive will be fine; it’ll save you money when you buy and you’ll use less fuel.

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Inside the car is where the Countryman makes most sense.

The dash layout is all but identical to the standard Mini hatch – and BMW persists with that silly central speedo that is so difficult to read, despite its size – but in other respects this is something else. There’s room! Access to the rear seats is, at last, easy in a Mini as this has four side doors. Thanks to the relatively high seating position, legroom in the rear is good, while there’s ample headroom too. It even has a sensible boot with rear seats that fold quickly to double the space.

So far, so good. Let’s turn to its looks. As ever, these are subjective, but not even the Countryman’s mother could say it’s handsome. If the BMW Mini looked like a caricature of the original, then the Countryman takes it to an extreme. Perhaps the weirdest aspect is the roof line, which has an extraordinary kink just behind the rear side door, making it look as if the designer’s pencil slipped: shame, he clearly lost his rubber at that crucial point and was unable to erase his error.

In truth, BMW has got itself into something of a hole here. By embracing Mini styling so totally, it now has nowhere to turn and rather than celebrating the revolutionary lines of the original, it is restricted by them.

In so many ways the Countryman is a fine car, but perhaps if it had been called something other than Mini, it would have freed the designers from slavishly having to IN BRIEF follow lines first penned in the late 1950s. In fact, Car: when BMW bought Rover Mini Countryman Cooper D and Mini, it also acquired Price: a number of now-forgotten £19,210 brands and nameplates that represent a job lot of Engine: 1,598cc four-cylinder British motoring heritage. turbodiesel It’s a pity that BMW didn’t have the courage to resurrect one of those for its new car; Maxi is the perfect name for this car, not Countryman. n

Power: 112 hp Drive: Front-wheel drive

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ALFA STUNS GENEVA Matthew Carter went to the 81st Geneva International Motor Show and, for him, it was Alfa Romeo that stood out from the pack

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t’s been a long time coming, but Alfa Romeo has finally remembered how to make a rear-wheel drive car. The Alfa 4C was, without a doubt, the highlight of a Geneva Motor Show packed with new cars.

It’s a stunner. Officially it’s only a concept, but Alfa has confirmed that the 4C will make it into production next year. With styling reminiscent of the glorious 8C (hence the name), the smaller 4C is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-driven, two-seater that’s set to rival the Porsche Cayman. A price of between £40,000 and £50,000 has been mooted.

Thanks to extensive use of carbon fibre, the 4C will be a lightweight: a kerb weight under 850 kilograms has been

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promised. That, in turn, means it doesn’t need a huge engine to push it along. Power is provided by the 1.7-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine currently found in the Giulietta 1750 TBi Cloverleaf: expect 235 bhp at least.

Alfa suggests that a top speed of more than 155 mph is on the cards, with a 0–60 mph time under five seconds. It is likely to have a twin clutch transmission with shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

The only bad news? Alfa is unlikely to manufacture more than 5,000 4Cs a year and, with its arrival coinciding with Alfa’s return to the States, most will go there. There won’t be many in the UK showrooms. Better get your order in now. n

2011 Fran advert 5 cyan:Layout 1

24/03/2011

10:48

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sports

news

Snooker Loopy The 16 players who made it through March’s qualifying rounds will join the world’s top 16 seeded players in the Betfred World Snooker Championship this month. Held in Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, the championship is the highlight of the snooker calendar, worth the most ranking points and highest prize money. Spectators will witness the likes of John Higgins, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson battle it out for the coveted trophy.

World Snooker Championship 2011 16 April – 2 May 2011 www.worldsnooker.com

Marathon Mission The capital’s streets will once again be a sea of neon vests and fancy dress costumes on 17 April as more than 30,000 people aim to complete the 31st London Marathon. Runners will brave blisters and pain to raise millions of pounds for charity in the world’s largest annual fundraising event. Reigning men’s champion Tsegaye Kebede and women’s champion Liliya Shobukhova will return to defend their Virgin London Marathon titles in races that feature the most accomplished names in marathon running.

If you are not tackling the course yourself, the London Marathon provides a fantastic spectator day out, with bands, stalls and street acts helping to create a party style atmosphere.

Head to Tower Bridge to cheer runners as they pass the 12 mile mark, or make your way to the Embankment to applaud those nearing the end of their gruelling journey.

2011 Virgin London Marathon 17 April 2011 www.virginlondonmarathon.com

The World’s Greatest Steeplechase You don’t have to be a horse racing enthusiast to enjoy the exhilaration of the Grand National.

The world’s most famous steeplechase attracts an audience of 500 million people in 140 countries, many of whom seldom watch the sport at any other time during the year. The 2011 John Smith’s Grand National will see 40 of the world’s finest horses aim to complete two full circuits of the 2¼ mile course, negotiating 30 testing fences, including the infamous Becher’s Brook and The Chair.

Jonjo O’Neill’s ‘Don’t Push It’ claimed victory last year and is likely to be ridden by AP McCoy again this year. ‘Ballabriggs’ and ‘Niche Market’ are ante-post favourites but as the past has proved, when it comes to the Grand National, an outside bet is always worth a flutter.

John Smith’s Grand National 9 April 2011 www.aintree.co.uk

Skaters set for Slovakia

2011 sees Slovakia host the Ice Hockey World Championships for the first time: the tournament is taking place in Bratislava and Košice between 29 April and 15 May. The competition has become heavily dominated by the “big six” – Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States.

However, improvements in Slovakia’s form mean that they go into this year’s tournament as serious title contenders.

Ice Hockey World Championships 29 April – 15 May 2011 www.iihf.com

Say what?

To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who has never run it is like trying to explain colour to someone who was born blind.

Canadian marathon record holder and triple winner of Japan’s Fukuoko Marathon, Jerome Drayto

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Mastersmagic With the first major golf tournament of the season set to kick off this month, Lee Brooks speaks to BBC Sport commentator Andrew Cotter to find out what makes The Masters at Augusta so special

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or any golfing aficionado, The Masters is the symbol that spring has finally arrived. With the cold, dark winter becoming a distant memory, it’s time to watch the world’s best golfers lace up those pristine shoes, polish the driver and give that tiny white ball a good whack down the fairway at the first of four Majors on the European and USPGA golf tours. It’s held at Augusta National in Georgia in the United States on the second weekend in April and is the only Major to be played at the same course every year.

“That’s why it’s so special,” muses BBC Sport’s Andrew Cotter, who’ll be commentating on The Masters this year.

“It’s one of the most beautiful courses in the world and there’s just nothing else like it. It’s just unique.”

Appearance is of upmost importance at The Masters, so

each year, the club closes off the course for a few months before the tournament to make sure it’s in absolutely pristine condition. They aim to get the course to blossom with vibrant colours just in time for the first ball being hit: but while the course may look beautiful and inviting, it couldn’t be more deceptive. Famous for its intense undulations on both the greens and the fairways, Augusta can turn on you like a course possessed. The wind can pick up, the rain can lash down and the bunkers can suddenly expand just as the competition starts to intensify. One such hole that can provide a mighty challenge is the 12th, one of three holes called Amen Corner; “It’s a short par 3, 155 yards or so, but every single player would take a par there. It’s so, so dangerous – you could either win or lose your Masters there. I remember Fred Couples in 1992. Although his ball rolled back towards the water, , it

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may think Wimbledon’s tennis ticketing system is tough, it’s almost impossible to come by a Masters ticket, because once you have one, it belongs to you and your family for life, meaning you get the same crowds year in, year out. “It is perhaps a little bit less rowdy because of that,” said Cotter, “but when things get going on the back nine on the Sunday of The Masters, it can be as noisy as anything. The sound is held in by the trees on the course to create this sort of amphitheatre. When Jack Nicklaus won there in 1986, the noise was just incredible.”

As always, all eyes will be on Tiger Woods. He may have lost some of his appeal since the much-publicised misdemeanours in his private life, but he is still the most talked-about player in the world. Cotter doesn’t believe Woods is going to win The Masters “because his putting isn’t good enough any more. One thing about Tiger was his intimidation factor, which used to get him a couple of shots, but that’s gone now. I don’t think he has it. Whether he’ll win another major or not, I’m not sure, but I can’t see it happening at The Masters.”

Last year’s champion was American Phil Mickelson, who held his nerve to collect his third green jacket, and Cotter fancies the American’s chances of repeating that feat this year. “Even though he hasn’t been playing well, I wouldn’t rule him out because he seems to be inspired by the place and always steps up to the plate.” When it comes to British golf, Cotter reckons this year’s tournament could produce our first champion since Nick Faldo in 1996. “Paul Casey has had good runs at Augusta in the past, and of course there’s former world number one Lee Westwood, who pushed Mickelson all the way last year.” Is this Britain’s best chance to cure 15 years of hurt? Well, that’s for the golfing gods to decide. n Andrew Cotter will be commentating on The Masters for BBC Sport with highlights and live coverage on BBC Two, BBC Red Button and BBC Radio 5 live from Thursday 7 April to Sunday 10 April.

remained, incredibly, on the bank. That day he was lucky and he went on to win The Masters. It could have been ever so different though.”

As the only Major never to change course, The Masters’ quirky traditions don’t stop there. It is the only Major to be classed as an invitational tournament; only a select number of players are invited to compete, depending on their world ranking. Past champions are given a lifetime pass to compete at the tournament whenever they like, irrespective of their form, and as well as a traditional trophy, the winners are handed a green jacket on the 18th green to symbolise their inclusion into one of the most exclusive clubs in golf.

What’s more, the crowd is invitational too. While many

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MINT Polo in the park Looking towards the fast approaching summer, we delve into the luxurious world of MINT Polo in the Park. Now in its third year this three-day quintessential British Summer party really is not to be missed

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s summer arrives, so does the polo season and where better to see some of the best polo in the world and to cheer on our very own MINT Team London, than here in central London, Hurlingham Park in Fulham to be precise. In a corner of south west London, MINT Polo in the Park is uniting our summer park solstice with the most traditional sport of polo.

Hurlingham Park in Fulham is a name synonymous with polo, having hosted the game since 1874, with the Club’s committee drawing up the official rules all the way back in 1875. Their third annual event, MINT Polo in the Park, draws an eclectic mix of people from all walks of life, who join together for one reason; to enjoy their summer days in the most quintessentially British manner possible. A far cry from its elitist perceptions, the three day long MINT Polo in the Park celebration caters for, and indulges, the growing numbers of the public who are showing an interest in the sport, with a new high-octane spectator friendly format of the game.

The three day event features three amazing days of polo, with a new round-robin format allowing you to see your home team whether you’re a true Brit for MINT Team London or an Aussie for IG Index Team Sydney, each and every day.

Friday 3 June sees City Friday arrive, and you can be forgiven for not expecting much work to be done on this day. Many London companies are taking a half-day and using City Friday as the excuse for the official Summer Party. CEO of City Events, Rory Heron, who runs MINT Polo in the Park, comments: “Every London company has a Summer and Christmas Party. We are now offering the most incredible opportunity to entertain your colleagues, your top performing team and of course all of your clients with a variety of packages to suit all budgets including grandstand tickets, family and group packages, VIP hospitality at the Hurlingham Club and Harrods Hampers at Hurlingham Park.”

Saturday 4 June is Ladies Day and we all love a good excuse to dress up and bask in the sun, but we doubt we can match the beauty of Elle MacPherson whose range of skincare products, Invisible Zinc, is one of the event sponsors. Much like Ascot, the aesthetics of the event focuses on fashion and beauty, with stunning designer dresses, the latest sunglasses and an obligatory flute of Veuve Clicquot champagne. Property sponsors Chesterton Humberts’ dedicated in-house historian explains that the Grade II listed building has a rich history with the story of polo at its core. When it comes to the finest British sport, there really is no place like Hurlingham to experience it.

The big finals day on Sunday 5 June sees a large and much improved Kid’s Zone, encouraging families to come along and even to try their hand at polo on one of the wooden horses provided by Ascot Park Polo Club.

After winning London Sport Attraction of the Year in 2010, the Hurlingham event has this year revamped its appeal by both extending its existing attractions and adding entirely new ones. Their exquisite Veuve Clicquot Champagne Garden will see an extension, meaning more room and an excellent view of the polo. For those who like to be up close and personal with the action, the pitch side bars will also be larger this year, along with the corporate enclosure which features all new tea and picnic marquees.

A delectable selection of the UK’s finest food will be on offer as Harrods introduces its food court to the event, including all the iconic Harrods restaurants, built around a traditional bandstand. MINT Polo in the Park also has some developments from 2010, with new pitchside bars from celebrity favourite Guy Ritchie’s The Punchbowl Pub and cocktail bar Mahiki, which promise to create a lively atmosphere equal to the vibrancy of the game.

The hottest ticket of them all, has to be the Veuve Clicquot Michelin Experience at The Hurlingham Club.

Two Star Michelin rated chef, John Campbell, has designed an incredible four-course tasting menu to be paired with the Vintage Veuve Clicquot Cave Privee range. The Veuve Clicquot Michelin Experience, is only available for a maximum of 16 distinguished guests, and takes place in the private Reading Room in the old part of The Hurlingham Club.

The 2011 MINT Polo in the Park is set to see city firms battling it out in the boardrooms and on the polo field as the sponsored teams competing in the high-octane challenge include: Team MINT London, Team City AM New York, Team Otkritie Moscow, Team Gaucho Buenos Aires and Team IG Index Sydney.

The players themselves will be driven to the event in ultimate luxury by the vehicle partners, Audi, and, with more polo being played at the event than ever before, every part of the three day event guarantees an experience as rich in entertainment as in intensity. n

2011 MINT Polo in the Park is set to see city firms battling it out in the boardrooms and on the polo field

For further information or to book tickets check out www.mintpolointhepark.com or see interactive content at www.facebook.com/polointhepark.

For VIP enquiries please call 020 7936 2584

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gadgets

Jamie Carter presents this month’s best gadgets, from home cinema to bluetooth headsets

The ultimate home cinema TV? Flat screen televisions used to make a stylish statement and Philips’ uniquely shaped Cinema 21:9 rolls back the years; you won’t find another TV on sale today that makes as much of an impact as this. At 58 inches across, this LEDbacklit screen may sound like a behemoth but it’s actually fairly easy to house; as well as being relatively slim, it’s as low in profile as a 42-inch TV because of its key feature – a super-wide stretched screen. Despite movies having been filmed and projected in cinemas in CinemaScope or ‘letterbox’ format for years, Philips is the only brand that has cottoned on to the fact that movie lovers don’t want to see black bars above and below the action. Measured in 21:9 proportions – a good deal bigger than the 16:9 measurement of regular widescreens – the 58PFL9955H presents CinemaScope films (whether from TV, DVD or Bluray) in their natural state.

Install it in your living room and it will certainly bring a smile to your face; how often do us gadget-weary types do that? While the 58PFL9955H does indeed get rid of black bars at the top and bottom, there is a trade-off that sees anything other than CinemasScope-sized footage – all TV, games and many DVDs – shown with black bars down each side. As such, you could say that this screen is purely for

new gadgets

a home cinema and specifically for anyone who wants to watch movies in daylight. That’s not a great idea – movies should always be watched with the lights on low, in our opinion – but then again, black bars on the sides of TV programmes aren’t nearly as annoying as on Blu-ray movies because the picture isn’t ‘shrink to fit’.

There’s more to the 58PFL9955H than CinemaScope, with built-in 3D compatibility as its ‘crowning feature’. It ought to be spectacular, but it’s actually rather underwhelming; the glasses are comfy enough and the picture is fairly bright, but the 3D effect just isn’t as clear as it should be. The backgrounds and close-ups have serious 3D wow factor, but the middle of the picture is a bit of a mess.

Back to 2D Blu-ray, the 58PFL9955H delivers silky, pin-sharp hi-definition, with a feature called Perfect Natural Motion introducing an in-your-face fluidity to pictures. It’s decidedly un-cinematic and does have a few side effects, but it’s worth exploring. Also equipped with three-sided Ambilight – a feature still exclusive to Philips – the unusually proportioned 58PFL9955H is certain to leave a huge grin on your face.

Philips 58PFL9955H Cinema 21:9 Platinum 58-inch LED TV, £4,000 www.philips.co.uk

LG Optimus One P500 Android smartphone, £200 www.lg.com/uk

Sony MDRNC500 digital noise cancelling headphones, £270 www.advancedmp3players.co.uk

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Tangle-free tunes

If you’re still trailing cables through your shirt or blouse on the daily commute, stop, there’s another way. Plantronics’ latest headset brings Bluetooth to the back of your head with astonishing effect. At first the two angled earbuds adjoined by a thick black cable strap look like some kind of medical contraption, but they prove not only comfortable, but also powerful.

Perfect for partnering with almost any smartphone, it’s no surprise that it integrates deepest with Apple products; iPhone users will see icons on their touch screen for lowbattery and connection status.

Bear in mind that the odd charge-up is needed – something that’s done via a miniPlantronics BackBeat 903+ Bluetooth USB cable. headset, £70

www.apple.com/uk

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‘Appy talk

Noted British audio company Naim has been making top-quality hi-fi products for years, but the UnitiQute sees its first stab at an all-in-one for the digital age. It’s some system; able to stream all kinds of digital audio files across a home network, the UnitiQute comes with web radio, DAB and even FM, with built-in amplification. It’s best partnered with the Naim HDX UPnP server, because that’s when Naim’s Uniti app for iPhones comes into play. Control is at your fingertips but it goes further; add a UnitiQute in another room and multi-room music is in the palm of your hand.

Naim UnitiQute networked music player, £1,350 www.naimaudio.com

French fancy

Called to the bar

Gadgets are all made in China, right? Well no, actually. Designed in Paris and built in Normandy, here’s an example of what can happen when stunning innovation and a no-holds-barred approach to materials clash. Wi-Fi ready and able to stream MP3s wirelessly from a PC or Mac, the D-Premier effortlessly converts audio from analogue to digital, putting a stereo preamp and stereo power amp in a single chassis for convenience. The hub of an ultra highperformance audio system, the D-Premier is carved from an aluminium block and polished to a stunning shine; this audio system is a huge statement in both style and performance.

How many times have you planned to play music in your hotel room using a laptop, only to find that you can’t hear it from the bathroom?

Sharp’s new mini sound bar ought to make bathtime more tuneful by giving your laptop’s speakers a much-needed extension. Equipped with a subwoofer and running off USB power alone (via a mini USB-to-USB cable), this compact 2.1 speaker system comes with a carry case, measures 26 centimetres across and weighs just 230 grams. It’s not going to get a party started, but with a decent sound system in your bag, storing movies on your laptop to watch while on business trips suddenly becomes worthwhile.

Sharp CP-USB50 Mini Sound Bar, £40 www.sharpdirect.co.uk

Devialet D-Premier amplifier/DAC, £10,900 www.absolutesounds.com

Yamaha Silent Guitar, £400 uk.yamaha.com

JVC GS-TD1 3D Full HD camcorder, £1,600 www.jvc.co.uk

HTC Desire HD Android smartphone, £400 www.htc.com

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CITYpromotion

HOME HOUSE Elegance and grandeur at London’s most glamorous Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Club The stereotype of the traditional gentlemen’s club has long been

A La Carte Menu and a Du Jour Menu, and wonderful airy views

loved and loathed in equal measure. Pleasingly, when walking through

overlooking Portman Square and seating up to 80 guests. With a

the discreet door in Portman Square, it is clear that Home House is

relaxed dress code and a discreet distance between tables, the

most definitely different. Any pretence of “old-school” formality and

restaurant offers members and their guests the perfect place to

“bizarre” rules is outdated and a genuinely perplexing concept. In

experience Fine Dining in luxurious, yet informal surroundings. A

its place is a universally welcoming, warm and relaxed ambience in

more contemporary dining experience can be enjoyed in the Octagon

which both sexes can meet, socialise and discuss the irreverent and

Dining Room. Taking its name from the shape of its floor plan, the

pertinent. This is the way it has been since its inception in 1999. In

refurbished Octagon Dining Room is a magical jewel-box of a room,

fact, the very word “club” is hard to associate with Home House;

where the haute-luxe aesthetic provides a perfect contemporary

members look upon it as their second house and home. About one

compliment to the stunning 1820s ceiling. Watched over by neo-

third of the membership is female and considering all that the House

classical nymphs and zephyrs, the metallic and taupe colour palette

has to offer, along with its ethos and embracing atmosphere, it is easy

blows a touch of breezy glamour into the intimate space, which can

to understand why.

welcome 20 diners to a menu offering an elegant fusion of flavours,

Located across three gorgeous Georgian townhouses, at 19, 20 and

drawing its influences from across Asia.

21 Portman Square, Home House offers its members a dramatic

For those who wish to stay more than a day, there are 20 luxury

fusion of the old and the new. Designed by James Wyatt in 1773, the

bedroom suites boasting many original 18th century features,

recently face-lifted exterior compliments the opulent Robert Adam

including the Patricia Portman featuring a hand-painted Chinese

interior. The elegance and grandeur of the House has been fused

wallpaper and the Lady Islington with its bathroom fashioned from the

with cutting-edge minimalist interior design at ‘21’, with an edgy bar

same strata of marble as St. Pauls Cathedral.

designed by internationally renowned architect Zaha Hadid, and a sumptuous reception and drawing rooms by the renowned designers Candy & Candy. Encompassing two restaurants, four bars, five drawing rooms, 20 bedrooms, a beautiful garden and a fully-equipped gym, the House really does offer its members a unique destination in the heart of London’s West End.

Set within the most unique of surroundings, the gym and spa is integrated into the Grade I listed Robert Adam building, which creates a work-out environment like no other. The neutral colours of its interiors provides an intimate setting for members who want to manage their weight or make strength and fitness gains under the tutelage of one of Jonathan Goodair’s personal trainers, all of whom

The House brings together people of all cultures in a vibrant melting

deliver high quality, bespoke training programmes to suit any levels of

pot, where members come to meet friends, network and relax.

fitness and ability. To relax after the rigours of the gym, members can

Members gain a sense of community and a hub for both their social

indulge themselves in the luxury of an invigorating eucalyptus steam

and professional lives. Fabulous parties and events in all areas of the

room or sauna.

building are a frequent highlight, the House offering a glamorous venue for any type of celebration, be it a gathering of close friends in

Membership to Home House is subject to a waiting list but preference

one of the grand dining rooms or a wedding in the resplendent Front

is currently being offered for a limited time to female applicants

Parlour and Eating Room.

The restaurant rewards the discerning diner with a delicious, seasonal

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wishing to join at advantageous rates. Please contact membership@ homehouse.co.uk quoting “City Magazine” to find out more

interview fashion interiors

THEO FENNELL over the rainbow .................................................... kitchen cool .................................................

. ...........................

ROYAL BEGINNINGS

British jeweller Heming has a long and illustrious history, having served King George III in the 18th century as Principal Goldsmith; the company is still prospering 266 years later

I

n 1745, Thomas Heming entered his first mark at Goldsmith Hall and went on to become the pre-eminent British jeweller of his generation, holding the highly coveted position of Principal Goldsmith to the King for 22 years. Succeeded by son George and thereafter by subsequent generations, the family business has enjoyed regular royal patronage.

Today Heming occupies elegant premises in the Burlington Arcade and is still recognised for its finely crafted, beautiful jewellery, which is suitable for every occasion, whether everyday or extravagant. Classic jewels and a collection

of one-off vintage pieces are complemented by carefully chosen contemporary designs. Heming also specialises in engagement, wedding and eternity rings, offering a bespoke design service.

Of particular note are Heming’s pre-owned wristwatches, many of which are unused, including the most sought-after, limited edition models from the world’s top manufacturers, such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Breitling and Cartier.

Choose from classic or ‘sports’ models, dating from the early 20th century to the present day. n www.hemingjewels.com

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Rocks Annabel Harrison talks to British jeweller Theo Fennell about his quirky, quixotic collections and the inspiration behind his irreverent designs

I

f you want a traditional piece of jewellery, Theo Fennell should not be your first port of call. The very beauty of his talismans lies in their idiosyncrasy, individuality and in the fact that they, quite simply, stand out. The jewellery speaks for itself, whether as part of an elegant evening ensemble, or a daytime jeans and jacket combination: “I am”, declares the Maori skull ring, “the ‘Unstuffy Alternative’”.

The collections embody this loud proclamation, taking inspiration from a wide and eclectic palette comprising religion, history, nature, animals, people and places. The might of ancient Greece and Rome certainly makes its mark, from Carpe Diem and Te Semper Amabo inscriptions (seize the day and I will always love you), to mythical salamander earrings and a ring containing a tiny Pandora’s Box; Henry V and a Maharaja join the Skull rings line-up; creatures great (lions) and small (beetles) skulk and

‘n’

Roll scuttle over pendants and crosses; and the Heroes and Villains range depicts solid silver likenesses of Ghandi and Che Guevara.

Clearly there is no design challenge that fazes Fennell – the more unusual or bizarre, the better. Fennell comments that he and his team “are keen on jewellery being a work of art, rather than a statement of wealth,” and indeed, one would surely feel, upon contemplating a finger weighed down

by Churchill’s silver face, it was much more than just an expensive possession.

This attention to, and love of, capricious detail began early in Fennell’s life. Upon leaving Central Saint Martins’ Byam Shaw, he joined silversmiths Edward Barnard, responsible for the FA Cup and the Wimbledon plate, as an apprentice designer. A customer brought a silver champagne flute in for repair, inscribed with the words “Good Morning, Diana” and young Fennell was entranced by the unusual way in which a beautiful, yet practical, item could be imbued with such whimsical wit and

interview

romance. The apprenticeship led to the establishment of a small silverware workshop and then, in 1982, the founding of his eponymous company.

Since then, it has weathered, as every company does, ups, downs and changes in management, but today Fennell is firmly at the helm. His enthusiasm has not waned over the decades; when asked to name his favourite piece, he cannot, reacting as a child might upon being asked to choose his best birthday present. “Genuinely, it’s the last piece that was made and the last collection one designs. This morning I saw the first couple of pieces from the new collection and I was as excited as a schoolboy. It’s still as exciting as seeing one’s first piece, 30 or 40 years ago”.

Inspiration floods from all sources – through a window, from television and architecture or “sometimes, it can even be a pun!” Fennell says delightedly; I find myself swept up in imagining how a jar of Marmite, mythical creatures and “Alas, poor Yorick...” may have been scribbled down in flashes of inspiration. He explains that visual puns give rise to “the idea of juxtaposing things. You learn how to look at things and take things out of context and reuse them”.

The thought behind the Bees Etc. range, for example, is bucolic, busy and brazen, all at once and in a wonderfully oxymoronic way: “their buzz is the harbinger of a lazy summer’s day” says Theo, “yet they are so industrious. Going from pretty flower to flower and making honey - what a combination; sex and sweetness with a sting in the tail.”

This idea translated easily into a colourful spectrum of bee bracelets, big honeycomb cuffs and magnificent pairs of bumblebee and briolette drop earrings; cleverly, as with most of the ranges, some pieces are suited to the bumblebees of the world, going quietly but confidently about their

business, and others to the frantically buzzing dragonflies, who like to show off at every opportunity.

The wildly disparate tastes of A-list customers are testimony to this broad appeal of Theo Fennell’s designs; pieces can accessorise every kind of style, from the ostentatious, overstated look favoured by Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John to the chic, pared-down outfits favoured by Victoria Beckham and Elle Macpherson. Fennell is old school in terms of ‘celebrity’ inspiration: he would have chosen Grace Kelly from past decades, when famed actors were still kept distant from the public, and “my role models in showbiz have been people like Elvis and Fred Astaire”.

Refreshingly, and surprisingly, he chooses Carey Mulligan as the person he would most like to wear his jewellery, over more obvious choices such as the edgier Kristen Stewart or, closer to home, Gemma Arterton. Considering the question a moment longer, he does a mental about-turn and cites an actress from another country, with an entirely different look, style and appeal – Milla Jovovich – testimony to Fennell’s wonderful way of looking at the world through his own prism.

In addition to Brit actresses, Fennell is keen to champion British brands, craftsmanship and design, citing Paul Smith as a great business role model. He also believes in the importance of apprenticeships, not least because it serves a brand best to have craftsmen who have been trained in house.“We have probably the largest workshop attached to a jewellery shop: it’s important to have these in the same place because it’s the heartbeat of the business. Once you have that company heart, you can share things out to the arteries.

If companies become huge, they lose their heartbeat, their spontaneity. The great thing here is being able to design

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it, make it, take it downstairs and see what people think”.

Indeed, this analogy of the business as a beating heart, in which everyone ‘plays a part’, runs through our conversation: “Some of those parts are more glorious than others and some more vital, but every part is important”. It’s easy to see how Fennell’s creative mind swerves and innovates through the language and visual metaphors he uses so descriptively. Passionate knowledge about his industry is also evident, especially when it comes to silver: “We are genuinely the last retailers making handmade English silver and we’re prepared to do things that are much more unusual than most. This country needs to do far more to promote itself as the best silver makers in the world – we’ve given away the idea that things can be hallmarked in other countries”.

Fittingly, Alias, launching this year, is the first silver jewellery collection from Theo Fennell. Practical reasons, such as the price of gold, fed into this choice, as well as the fact that the collection would make the brand more accessible to girls in their twenties. 2011 will see a typically quirky exhibition, depicting heroines anachronistically wearing Theo Fennell jewellery. In keeping with Fennell’s ambivalence about modern celebrity, these include Cleopatra and Marie Curie. Excitingly, there are also “very unusual, one-off pieces” on the horizon, which make use of strange crafts and materials: tantalizingly, these are “as much curious as they are pieces of jewellery”. Judging by Fennell’s collections over the decades, expect the unexpected, wear it and love it. n www.theofennell.com

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True Brit

Classic Style

Lulu Guinness has created a ‘Best of British’ collection featuring a range of accessories, the inspiration having come from British iconography. The oversized Felicity clutch displays a beautiful representation of the Union Jack, created using matt and shiny sequins of various sizes to dazzling effect. This collection provides many fun yet stylish ways to pledge your allegiance!

The Omega Automatic Seamaster range, as featured in the truly British James Bond films, is a classic, attractive wristwatch that has influenced generations of watchmakers.

One of the latest models in the range, the Aqua Terra Chronometer, is a fitting homage to its timeless design, representing an evolution in technical innovation and design. Extraordinarily precise, both sporty and fashionable, it is a descendent of which to be proud.

Felicity clutch bag, £275 Lulu Guinness 23 Royal Exchange 020 7626 5391 www.luluguinness.com

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, £9,870 Omega Boutique 8 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7929 7706 www.omegawatches.com

Royal Britannia Visit the Royal Exchange to celebrate the momentous occasion of the Royal Wedding this Easter and to stock up on presents that exemplify British style

Regal Conserves

Classic Scents

Searle and Co. Ltd. is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the great British conserve makers, Wilkin and Sons, by launching a very special version of one of their products. Undoubtedly one of their most enduring flavours, a deluxe marmalade has been launched, featuring a splendid silver-topped lid. Make breakfast more of an event by investing in this twist on a classic and why not show off your jar with a beautiful silver dish and spoon too?

Penhaligon’s has relaunched a number of archive scents as part of its Anthology Collection. The enchantingly floral chypre Jubilee Bouquet is a beguiling melody of green lily, jasmine, powder and woods. The fragrance was first created in 1977 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee and this scent, alongside others in the collection, has been reinterpreted for the modern fragrance connoisseur whilst maintaining the great traditions of Penhaligon’s.

Eau de toilette (100ml), £98

Penhaligon’s 4 Royal Exchange 020 7623 3131 www.penhaligons.com

Silver topped ‘Wilkin’ marmalade, £85, dish, £825, spoon, £120 Searle and Co. Ltd. 1 Royal Exchange 020 7626 2456 www.searleandco.ltd.uk

A New Twist Tiffany & Co. introduces a new elegant jewellery collection, Tiffany Twist, in gold and sterling silver. Inspiration is drawn from the craft of hand-twisting wire that creates a three-dimensional spiral motif. This pretty pendant features a delicate bow that is polished to shimmer like satin ribbons. Reflecting the beauty and optimism of spring, Tiffany & Co. has created lovely gifts to give and treasure this Easter.

Twist bow pendant in 18 carat gold, £465, and sterling silver, £185 Tiffany & Co. 9 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7409 2790 www.tiffany.com

Dazzling Jewels Visit the Montblanc boutique for a fantastically indulgent Easter gift. The highly popular Montblanc 4810 jewellery range now features the Seasons’ Carnival collection of rings. They are designed to capture the mood of each season by reflecting the breathtaking colours and shapes of the natural world. The ‘Spring’ ring’s tones, in red gold with pink sapphires and rubies, are neutral and versatile, making this a flattering addition to any jewellery collection.

‘Spring’ ring, price on request Montblanc 10-11 Royal Exchange 020 7929 4200 www.montblanc.com

Diamond Bunnies

Spring Blossoms

Deliver a very special Easter treat to someone you love. This bunny pendant is part of Theo Fennell’s whimsical ‘Art collection; it is beautifully crafted from white or rose gold and decorated with pave diamonds. The charm is given a final flourish with pretty pink enamel bunny ears, one open so as to hear a lover’s sigh.

It can be worn alone or alongside other charms from this unique collection.

Embrace the beautiful season of spring by donning a piece from one of Boodles’ prettiest collections, Blossom. A collection first seen last year, it features earrings, pendants rings and bracelets and draws inspiration from a floral motif found in traditional Japanese kimono embroideries, formed in white and rose gold and diamonds. Light and modern, this pave diamond pendant is the perfect little piece to celebrate the sunshine and growth of spring.

Blossom pave diamond pendant in white gold, £660

Boodles Unit 2-3, The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7283 7284 www.boodles.com

Medium Bunny ‘Art pendant, £10,250 Theo Fennell 4 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7623 4380 www.theofennell.com

Agent Provocateur || Artisan Fine Art || Bachet || Boodles || Bulgari || Church’s || Crockett & Jones || De Beers Gucci || HeRMes || Jo Malone || Kiehls || Laird & Co Hatters || L’Occitane || Loro Piana || Lulu Guinness || Milleperle Molton Brown || Montblanc || Occo || Omega || Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates || Paul Smith || Penhaligon’s Pretty Ballerinas || Royal Exchange Jewellers || Serle and Co || Smoker’s Paradise || Smythson || Tateossian Theo Fennell || Tiffany & Co || Vilebrequin || Watches of Switzerland

Royal Exchange, Bank, City of London, EC3V 3LR

www.theroyalexchange.co.uk

fashion

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fashion

news Fashion Week Fabulous

Guts for Garters

One of the most eagerly awaited A/W11 shows was that of House of Holland at London Fashion Week. It did not disappoint. Design guru Henry Holland sent models sashaying down the catwalk in colourful tweed, box pleated skirts and pearl embroidery to wide acclaim.

While chic tailoring and traditional fabrics alluded to a more mature muse, the playful approach for which Holland is renowned was omnipresent.

Woollen hosiery was given a fluoro finish, housecoats were worn with logo t-shirts and crochet designs were studded with Swarovski crystals.

However, one of the most eye-catching features was the use of prints inspired by pensioners’ pastimes. Tights and silk blouses were just some of the pieces splashed with images of budgerigars, bingo paraphernalia and Afghan blankets to quaint and quirky effect.

Elegant, wearable and fun, it is no surprise that critics are declaring this the best House of Holland collection to date.

The new Camden boutique Guts for Garters is not only a brand new store, but the manifestation of an entirely new concept. Founders Rachel Chudley and Cassie Beadle have created an eclectic space in which fashion, art and design is interchangeable.

The boutique will run through three themed installations, with the first being the ‘Royal We’ and pieces have been commissioned from both established and emerging talents. Vivienne Westwood and Norman Hartnell are amongst those who have offered their support to the project and will display beautiful archive pieces, to compliment the range of vintage treasures and contemporary clothing available to explore and enjoy.

305 Royal College Street, NW1

Quote of the month:

British style is selfconfident and fearless.

www.houseofholland.co.uk

Website:

TREND:

Ettinger Leather Purse

Only a small proportion of the glamorous designs which debut on the world’s catwalks are put into production.

With the rest of the creations no less stylish, this new members-only portal enables the purchase of directional looks straight off the runway.

Arguably each of the items are even more desirable owing to their exclusivity.

Ballet Beautiful

Founded by Gerry Ettinger more than 70 years ago and awarded a Royal Warrant

by HRH the Prince of Wales in 1996, this company is one of the few remaining British luxury leather goods companies still manufacturing in the UK. This beautifully made diamond and leather purse, £1,328, is the perfect bespoke present; choose your favourite colour for the outside and inside and Ettinger will laser cut the leather to inlay the unique ‘Cherry Blossom’ diamond design, specially commissioned from Boodles. www.ettinger.co.uk

www.couture-society.com

MUST-HAVE ITEM:

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

The film Black Swan is not only winning a warm reception, and an Oscar, for its artistic excellence. The light fabrics and gentle colour palette of the costumes are perfect for Spring. Wear soft silk, lace details and tones of heather, peach and petal pink for an ultra feminine look.

David Koma epitomised the tutu-esque trend with his S/S11 collection. Models took to the London catwalk in sculpted bodices and flaring mini-skirts, crafted from silk and organza, to the mellow chimes of Swan Lake. They then changed into darker geometric designs, giving the look an ultra modern twist.

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Yellow drape black belt dress, £175, enamel bangles, £65 enamel and diamanté bangles, £60

Multi-print silk drape side, zip-back dress, ÂŁ175 and red silk Grecian-style stilettos, ÂŁ125

Purple print silk zip jumpsuit, ÂŁ210, bangles, as before

Silk bandeau pleat front multi-print dress, ÂŁ190, bangles, as before

Black silk drape gathered shoulder top, ÂŁ95 orange fold front mini, ÂŁ95, bangles, as before

All Karen Millen Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf One New Change, City and branches nationwide 0870 061 1830

Make-up: Jo Bull at Models 1 Creative using Dior

Hair: Laurence Close at Models 1 Creative using Paul Mitchell

C E L E B R A T I N G C E L E B R A T I N G

T H I R T Y T H I R T Y

Y E A R S Y E A R S

120 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 3LS Wigmore Street,Middlesex London, W1U 3LS 509 Uxbridge Road,120 Hatch End, Pinner, HA5 4JS 509 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 4JS Telephone: 020 7486 3080 Telephone: 020 7486 3080 email: info@halcyon-interiors.co.uk | www.halcyon-interiors.co.uk email: info@halcyon-interiors.co.uk | www.halcyon-interiors.co.uk

interiors

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interiors

news

SAVE THE DATE London’s favourite antiques event is returning to Battersea Park from 3 May 2011. More than 100 independent traders will descend on the area with a range of fine art, lighting, accessories and textiles as part of the five day interiors event.

There will also be an attentiongrabbing design feature to inspire visitors, which this time will take the form of a Zen Garden. The space will explore Buddist ideals of serenity and contemplation through sculpture, artwork and furniture donated by exhibitors. www.decorativefair.com

CHAMELEON style Great British companies are making great British products so, in times when we have to think about the cost of transporting products round the world, buying furniture made in the UK can only be a good thing. In doing so, we encourage sustainability, as well as supporting local workforces and our national economy. Too many ‘disposable’, generic, low-cost items are being made: British products, on the other hand, have more inventiveness and higher levels of intellectual value, says Sean Sutcliffe, founder of Benchmark furniture.

Chameleon Designs always strives to suggest and encourage the use of British made products

in its interior designs; even though it is cheaper to make furniture abroad, any profit accrued in this fashion is a short-term gain compared to the loss of skills, employment and job satisfaction.

This is felt most strongly by companies like Isokon Plus and Pinch: Russell Pinch recently commented that “the UK has the most amazing skills heritage passed down through the generations. That creates a wealth of opportunities and a cultural sensitivity between the maker and the designer that gives products a point of difference – a British signature in a very crowded global market.” www.chameleondesignsinteriors.co.uk

HOTEL AT HOME

These stylish black and tan trunks are just some of the items new to luxury furniture boutique Graham and Green. The three pieces are available as a set and serve as a unique storage solution and a handsome home feature.

The trunks embody the founders’ love of travelling and native crafts which has propelled their enthusiasm to source beautiful items. The two Graham and Green premises in Notting Hill and Primrose Hill offer a range of high-end lifestyle wares including handmade Chinese lanterns, cosy armchairs in powder blue velvet and grand cabinets inlaid with mother of pearl.

In addition to the trunks, lacquered black medicine chests, French dressers and ornate decorative screens are popular spring additions, also available online.

If you’ve stayed at The Hempel, you’ll be familiar with the stylish nature of the five star surroundings. The boutique hotel has 50 individually designed guest rooms with a modern and fashionable feel. To capture the lively spirit of the integrated No. 35 restaurant, a series of six fine bone china dinner plates has been created in partnership with Central Saint Martin’s graduate Yasmin Sandytia.

Each limited edition plate is adorned with a stylish illustration depicting life at the hotel and is available alone or as part of the set.

This ensures they work as unique and functional items of crockery or as an attractive gift for display.

www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

www.the-hempel.co.uk

HOME OR AWAY

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the trend The kitchen is the perfect place to explore all things cool and contemporary. Combine smooth edges and sleek finishes with bold design features and flashes of vivid colour

BeauxArts 02 kitchen, from £30,000 SieMatic, www.siematic.co.uk

Smeg right hand hinge FAB32QVE Fridge Freezer £1,330, Next, www.next.co.uk

Erik Jorgensen Donna Chair, £760, Mac & Mac www.macandmacinteriors.com

Carrs Sterling Silver Champagne Flute £554, My Deco, www.mydeco.com

Menu Double Candleholder, £89.95 Harvey Nichols, www.harveynichols.com

interiors

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Meyer Infinite Ciculon Pans, from £18.71 John Lewis, www.johnlewis.com

Naifu 67 Paris 6 Piece Knife Set, £179 Chefs Knife Store, www.chefsknifestore.co.uk

Linea teal cast iron cookware, from £50 House of Fraser, www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Three-oven AGA, from £6,122.56 AGA www.aga-web.co.uk

Edge Sio sink, £635, Astracast, www.astracast.co.uk

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concierge interiors High-gloss kitchen with Parapan acrylic, from £30,000 Mowlem & Co., www.mowlemandco.co.uk

Elite 3.8L Food Processor, £280 Cuisinart, www.cuisinart.co.uk

Linea rubber wood endgrain chopping board, £22.40, House of Fraser www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Linea solid oak pestle and mortar, £20 House of Fraser, www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Le Creuset black apron £27, House of Fraser www.houseoffraser.co.uk

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Peugeot Silver-plated mignonette salt and pepper milk set, £204.25, Salt and Pepper Mills Plus www.salt-and-pepper-mills-plus.co.uk

Emilia Quick Mill, £795, The Coffee Machine www.coffeemachinelondon.co.uk

Premium Outdoor Garden Furniture Our ranges consist of the highest quality outdoor garden furniture on the market today; we are currently the market leaders in the field of garden furnishing and deliver to the whole of the UK and Europe.

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Visit our website for full range of prices

www.selectfurnishings.co.uk or call 0161 683 0158.

health & fitness

concierge

Liposculpture and Lasting Results

health & fitness

news Gentlemen’s Grooming

We all know the importance of grooming and looking good.

Now, thanks to the Gentlemen’s Grooming Vault opened at Nicky Clarke’s Mayfair salon, you can look a million dollars. Providing an unparalleled level of service for the salon’s discerning male clientele, the eclectically stunning Grooming Vault offers personalised haircuts, luxury hot and cold towel shaves, facials, manicures and pedicures, as well as brand new colour techniques specifically formulated for men’s hair.

“Having worked in the City, I’m extremely aware of how important grooming is to men and it was always my ambition to offer a thoroughly modern and indulgent service,” says Head of Men’s Grooming, Kelly Simpkin. All services are tailored to individual clients, and with TV, wi-fi and a food and drinks menu on hand, you can experience the relaxation of grooming in style.

Nicky Clarke’s Gentlemen’s Grooming Vault 130 Mount Street, Mayfair, W1K 3NY www.nickyclarke.com

treatment of the month: hypnobility gastric band Conscious about your weight and unable to shift it? Try Fitability’s new Hypnobility Gastric Band treatment. Designed to create a safe, non-invasive but effective method of weight loss without undergoing risky and expensive surgical procedure, the Hypnobility Gastric Band uses the powers of hypnotherapy to coax your body into losing weight. Creating a different relationship between you and food, and sometimes alcohol too, the imaginary band works in the same way as a surgical band in limiting the amount of food allowed into the stomach.

With a success rate of 80 per cent, and no anaesthetic risk or other complications that can result from surgical operation, the Hypnobility Gastric Band offers an appealing alternative to going under the knife.

It’s hard to invest a lot of time in the gym while working long hours in the City. With limited training hours available, achieving that toned stomach definition sometimes seems impossible, but not any more. A pioneering new treatment, set to redefine body shape as we know it, has arrived in the UK. VASER® Hi Def is a highly developed procedure that literally sculpts speciallyselected fat pockets, carving around muscle groups to create a highly defined physical shape equivalent to months of gym training.

The whole operation takes just two to four hours, depending on the area being treated and the individual client. By highlighting natural contours, VASER® Hi Def can give you the visible definition of which you’ve always dreamed. www.vaserhidef.com

Vegetable Fuel WB&CO bursts onto the market with the UK’s first range of freshly made pure raw vegetable juices. The company specialises in producing 100 per cent pure vegetable juice with no added fruit, to offer a healthy alternative to the multitude of fruit juices and smoothies on the market.

WB&CO products are slowly pressed from British organic vegetables that are sourced within the UK and delivered freshly made. The company’s juices include Carrot and Ginger, Beetroot, Celery and Carrot, and Spinach, Celery and Parsley.

The range is available at a selection of the capital’s premium cafés and retailers. Consume them on the go, at lunch or drink one in the morning and one in the afternoon to add two portions of organic vegetables to your daily diet. www.wbcouk.com

www.fitability.co.uk

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GolfinG Greats battle for supremacy AT rOYAl ST gEOrgE’S NEAr THE ANCIENT TOwN OF SANdwICH, wITHIN EASY rEACH OF lONdON

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIAL HOSPITALITY 13 – 17 July 2011 FOr bOOkINgS Or FurTHEr INFOrMATION PHONE +44 (0)844 3710883 EMAIl officialhospitality@opengolf.com vISIT www.opengolfofficialhospitality.com

destination travel food & drink

avignon barbados ................................................................... portal

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Opulence Unboxed

In celebration of the Easter weekend and the Royal Wedding, Charbonnel et Walker presents a luxurious, regal alternative to the Easter Egg

F

ounded in 1875, Charbonnel et Walker is one of Britain’s oldest chocolatiers. Encouraged by Edward VII, the company was first formed as a partnership between Mrs Walker and Mme Charbonnel. Now a purveyor of fine chocolate, it is renowned for delivering the pinnacle of confectionary to none other than HRH Queen Elizabeth II. In honour of this regal connection, the company has produced a limited edition Boite Blanche to celebrate the Royal Wedding.

The stunning commemorative box of assorted chocolates carries a decadent gold embossed

front, emblazoned with “HRH Prince William and Miss Middleton, April 29th 2011”- a perfect way to honour the landmark date. Beautifully finished with a satin bow, the box of treats contains Charbonnel et Walker’s finest milk and dark chocolates, hand-made using a traditional recipe and celebrated not only in Britain but also across the Atlantic in New York.

The Royal Wedding Boite Blanche is available during April in Cabot Place, Canary Wharf, Old Bond Street and Liverpool Street, priced £35. n

www.charbonnel.co.uk

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safe • timeless • beautiful

markilux 990 patio awning The perfect accessory for your home Attractive modern design.

Practical and functional.

Slim look fully-cassetted awning.

www.markilux.com

markilux_CanaryWharf_210x297_mx990.indd 1

01.03.11 16:26

travel

connoisseur

FIVE star dining

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Those who find fine cuisine a real delight when travelling abroad should visit La Pergola at Rome Cavalieri, part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection. The restaurant has just maintained its three Michelin star rating for the sixth year running, following the publication of the latest eponymous guide.

The award recognises exceptional catering which is worth a special journey and La Pergola is one of the few hotel establishments to receive the honour under the guidance of talented head chef Heinz Beck. Heinz credits his inspiration as people and places, and creates dishes which honour traditions and favourites with an interesting twist.

Among the new dishes set to tantalise diners this year are a delicious warm carpaccio of tuna on papa al pomodoro and spaghetti with fresh white shrimps marinated in lime. www.romecavalieri.com

The Wow factor The pictures speak for themselves. The W Retreat and Spa in Bali is a breathtaking place to escape and unwind. Not least because an indulgent treatment range is available 24 hours a day to refresh, revive and reinvigorate. Sweeping white beaches, glittering swimming pools, renowned golfing facilities and a cutting edge fitness centre are also available as standard. Guest rooms are unapologetically lavish. Ocean views, king-size beds and a detailed music library set the mood. It is the epitome of luxury.

However, the W retreat is different from its serene rivals. It is also the location of choice for those requiring ultimate contemporary glitz.

Traditional Balinese ceremonies are just as much on the agenda as VIP fashion shows and music events, reflecting the eclectic nature and wide appeal of the local area. A typical evening can be spent sampling the resort’s concept restaurants and glamorous cocktail bars. The W Bali blends partying and pampering seamlessly.

Travel Fact According to a Cost of Living Survey from the consultancy Mercer, Luanda in Angola is the most expensive city in which to reside for expatriates. The result is based on a price comparison of over two hundred items, including transport.

www.starwoodhotels.com

Kuwait Goes Couture Relaxation isn’t typically associated with business trips, but this is set to change with the opening of the luxurious new Missoni hotel in Kuwait City, which is perfect for the corporate jetset. The stunning venture combines the chic interior styling of the eminent Italian design house with the renowned hospitality of the Rezidor Group.

The result is a sophisticated development which includes a Six Senses spa, vibrant restaurant serving fine Italian cuisine and fashionable lounge areas with panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf.

www.paragon-elite.com

Website of the month: From illustrious fashion previews to exclusive award ceremonies, Paragon Elite organise access to the world’s most glamorous events.

The lifestyle service is renowned for both its creativity and efficiency and all manner of occasions can be suggested and managed. Combine multiple excursions into an actionpacked itinerary through the Elite Travel club. Possible themes include a stay deep in the Costa Rican rainforest and an expedition to Antarctica.

www.hotelmissoni.com

Brought to you in association with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, an unsurpassable collection of over 500 hotels spanning 70 countries, which offer an infinite variety of experiences.

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TASTING NOTES

from a small island Visiting Barbados for the first annual Food, Wine and Rum festival, Penelope Walsh is surprised to learn that there is more to this tropical island’s culinary culture than Cou-Cou and flying fish

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et’s start with a confession: the concept of the Caribbean as a culinary destination had really never occurred to me. Sun, sea and sand, sure, but fine dining? However, Barbados, it turns out, is the only Caribbean island with its own Zagat guide and is, arguably, home to the world’s oldest rum, Mount Gay, whose deeds go back to 1703. Adding to the island’s unexpected status as a gourmet gem was the first annual Barbados Food, Wine and Rum festival. Taking place in November 2010, the festival prompted foodies from around the world to flock to this tiny island to experience four days of gastronomic events, tastings and demonstrations provided by home-grown and international talents.

In the wake of the full moon, the festival opened with the aptly named Moonlight Magic. Held at the Hilton Barbados, this event benefited from a picturesque location on the lawns outside the Lighthouse Garden restaurant, with views across the white sands and moonlit shore.

Headed up by local talent Angela Garraway-Holland, the Executive Head Chef at the Hilton, the event offered a fusion of Caribbean and international flavours, prepared in front of guests by the island’s own chefs. The champagne flowed as we wandered amongst the Barbadian élite, sampling various delicious dishes, the focal point of which was a huge selection of enticing desserts, displayed around the lighthouse.

Held at the exclusive Lion Castle polo grounds, Wine World Ambrosia was a haven for gourmands and gluttons alike. Here, stalls showcased signature dishes from the island’s top restaurants alongside international chefs such as Marcus Samuelson, Ming Tsai and Tim Love. Flying the flag for the (positive) notoriety of English food, the ox tongue prepared by London’s own Fergus Henderson, the Michelin starred chef behind St John’s restaurant, received a rave reception.

Almost half the marquee was given over to fine wines from all over the world, with each guest given a tasting glass on arrival, allowing them to sample at their leisure the large array of wines on offer. And for those wined out, or

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drawn more to the island’s indigenous offerings, an obliging barman mixed up several exciting rum-based mixtures and kept my glass of Mount Gay Extra Old topped up, a quality rum, smooth enough to drink, like the connoisseurs apparently do, neat over ice.

The four-day event also included cooking demonstrations conducted by the festival’s contingent of internationally acclaimed chefs. Chef patron of several restaurants in the US, including Aquavit in New York, Marcus Samuelsson conducted his cooking demonstration in front of the breathtaking backdrop of the Caribbean Sea. So arresting was the view, Samuelsson joked that he wondered whether anyone would actually be watching him. The Ethiopian-born, Sweden-bred and now New York-based chef discussed food as a cultural concept. He illustrated how nationality can give identity to a cuisine, although the dish may well be shared and re-interpreted by groups around the world. This brought him masterfully on to his first dish, fried chicken, a dish cooked everywhere from the Caribbean itself to Korea. Samuelsson initiated much debate when he proffered that Korean fried chicken is the best, if not the healthiest (it is fried three times!). In 2009, Samuelsson was the guest chef for Barack Obama’s first ever state dinner as president so his second dish at the demonstration was one that he had prepared for the state dinner, a deliciously light and delicate red snapper.

As such, it seemed rather a princely privilege to have the opportunity to try it.

Fergus Henderson’s demonstration took place at the exclusive Sandy Lane. Here, Henderson gave an entertaining display of his famous nose-to-tail eating concept, with the help of his trusty lieutenant, sous chef

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Dan Richards. This concept of eating as much of the animal as possible, including trotters and organs, is one that has revolutionised London’s restaurant scene and earned Henderson a Michelin star. But to explain it, Henderson rather modestly commented, “It is just common sense really, and if you are going to kill an animal, it seems polite to eat as much of it as possible”.

Henderson and Richards prepared simple and comforting dishes of bone marrow and veal heart.

Guiding us through the dishes, Henderson also explained some of his less well-known theories about cooking. On preparing salad, Henderson expounded that it ought to be chopped simply and with restraint, to retain its original structure. He argued that the overzealous chopping of a carrot, for example, changes its molecular structure and that, as a result, it no longer looks like a carrot, and somehow, no longer tastes like one either. It is said that timing is everything but, much to everyone’s amusement, for Henderson, timing in cooking is like the Force to a Jedi Knight; “You have to feel it.” The inference seems to be, you either have it or you don’t; something of a disappointment for those who hoped their cooking skills would one day improve with expert guidance.

Perhaps the greatest revelation was that there is an offal dish that even the nose-to-tail enthusiast cannot stomach: dog’s tripe stew. Henderson tactfully commented, “It was probably an excellent dog’s tripe stew, but not for me. No thanks, Chef.” Quite. n The second annual Barbados Food, Wine and Rum festival is due to take place in November 2011.

For more information visit www.visitbarbados.org

WHERE TO STAY Treasure Beach Hotel shares the same (practically Photoshop perfect) stretch of the West coast as some of the island’s most exclusive resorts. It also offers a relaxing and personable warmth, rarely found in its more glamorous counterparts. This intimate little boutique hotel has 35 recently refurbished suites of varying levels of luxury, some with private plunge pools, and each decorated in a low-key and calming, colonial chic fashion.

Seven nights’ accommodation at Treasure Beach Hotel, Barbados, starts from £685 per person based on two sharing, including service and taxes. www.treasurebeachhotel.com Above: Marcus Samuelsson prepares a dish eaten at President Obama's first state dinner Far right: Fergus Henderson demonstrates nose to tail eating at Sandy Lane

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let us lead you into

temptation

We have intoxicating ways to awaken your senses.

Be tempted by five indulgent spas, hand-picked from over 520 hotels in more than 70 countries

with Small Luxury Hotels of the World™

Azura, Mozambique Nothing is hurried in the Azura Spa. Gentle breezes caress the face, massage strokes mimic the mesmerising beat of African drums, and genuine diamond dust is used in an indulgent ‘Diamonds are Forever’ blissful body scrub.

Download the iPhone App www.slh.com

Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa, West Sussex Heal your body and soothe your soul at this tranquil spa where subterranean plunge pools, domed ceilings and Grecian columns sit comfortably within a grand country house in 120 acres of rolling Sussex parkland.

Gut Klostermühle, Germany Treat yourself to an escape from everyday life and a cure for the mind, body and soul at this stunning nature resort and medical spa whose emphasis is on encouraging a healthy lifestyle in a wonderfully relaxing environment.

Huvafen Fushi, Maldives

Mykonos Grand, Greece Succumb to the touch of Gold Finger - a gold body polish, before being wrapped in a delicately scented golden ‘envelope’ at this stylish and restful enclave located, according to Greek Mythology, where God Apollo was born.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ Over 520 hotels in more than 70 countries View all our special offers at www.slh.com Experience another World

Go with the flow in a haze of multi-coloured marine life in the underwater treatment rooms of Lime Spa, where cutting edge spa technology and the very latest in water therapies blend deliciously with soothing architecture and heavenly treatments.

Picture Perfect Annabel Goldie-Morrison visits Seehotel Überfahrt a picturesque hotel in Rottach-Egern, surrounded by snowy Bavarian Alps, blue skies and the tranquil Lake Tegernsee

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hen you think of an Alpine holiday, France, Switzerland and Austria all come to mind, but what about Germany? Fairytale castles, beer and lederhosen aside, the Bavarian Alps offer a plethora of stunning peaks, lush green valleys, crystal clear lakes and winding rivers, topped off by superb infrastructure and hospitality. It’s the ideal year-round destination for people looking for outdoor activities, good food and relaxation.

Only 60 kilometres from Munich, the little town of Rottach-Egern seems like a mini St Moritz, Verbier or Megève – before the hordes of tourists descended. The main street is populated by eye-wateringly expensive fashion and jewellery boutiques, antiques shops, delis and smart restaurants. Fur coats are abundant, as are prestige cars. It has an air of pleasant pomposity, without the pretentiousness and nouveau riche vibe of other European resorts. There are few hotels, most Germans preferring to stay in their vast and elaborate holiday chalets, and it

therefore retains its exclusive appeal throughout the year.

In this small, pristine enclave lies the Seehotel Überfahrt.

Situated right on the banks of beautiful Lake Tegernsee, at the foot of the Alps, the Überfahrt is fully immersed in the nature and beauty of the area, whilst still offering everything that the discerning traveller could possibly want.

The lakeside position affords splendid views of the natural surroundings, encircled by mountains up to 1,700 metres high, set off by the beautiful blue and white Bavarian sky.

At the Überfahrt, tradition combines seamlessly with modernity. There is no twee wooded chalet style here; the recently refurbished ground floor brings the outdoors in, whilst keeping it modern and chic. Our room was American in scale, with a big comfortable bed, huge oversized bathroom and several flat screen TVs and, upon waking, the panoramic view of mountains and lake was an invigorating sight.

Hospitality is something the Überfahrt, and Bavaria in general, does exceptionally well. Unfinished plates are met with concern – we had to reassure staff that our eyes were simply too big for our stomachs and that certainly

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nothing was wrong with the food. The team of staff is young, efficient and friendly at all hours of the day, whether serving fresh warm waffles and gluhwein on Saturday afternoon to weather-beaten skiers, cocktails before dinner or hot milk and honey in your room at bedtime.

In the hotel there are four restaurants, all serving outstanding cuisine. The breakfast in the main restaurant is substantial and set us up for a day of outdoor action.

Traditional Bavarian food in the rustic Bayernstube was a calorific treat, but thankfully justified after a busy day in the fresh air. Traditional specialities included sausage salad followed by delicious roast duck with potato dumpling and creamed cabbage, accompanied by the freshest pretzels and tasty Tegernsee beer. Il Baraiolo served gourmet Italian cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere, including delights such as veal tartar.

The pièce de resistance, and the jewel in the Überfahrt’s crown, is the out-of-this-world “Gourmetrestaurant”. The setting is stylish and a simple natural colour palette and

connoisseur

sumptuous buckskin wall panelling provide the perfect backdrop for the cuisine. Star chef, Christian Jurgens, leaves nothing to be desired, creating culinary delights that are never too pompous – well deserving of the two Michelin stars, and perhaps three in the future. Amuse-bouches came atop dry ice, spilling across the restaurant, or placed on frozen rocks from the bottom of the lake. The elaborate presentation certainly wasn’t trying to disguise mundane food. We tried masterpieces such as the ‘potato box’ filled with a runny egg yolk and placed on a Perigord truffle mousseline. Words can’t describe just how delicious it was.

The desserts looked like art installations and it was almost heartbreaking to tuck into them. On top of all this, the expert sommelier paired fantastic wines with each course, including some superb German marques and a 1993 Tokaji that was to die for.

The Überfahrt’s spa boasts several pools and a staggering array of steam baths and saunas to suit everyone. I loved the fischersauna, which was a mid-range temperature and smelt delightfully of wood and hay. As well as lavish Clarins and La Prairie treatments, the spa also has a range of clinical tests and treatments, as well as extensive programmes for those on a health and fitness drive. I was there to relax, though, and thoroughly enjoyed the Thai massage, which combined acupressure and powerful stretches to successfully relieve stress-related stiffness.

The grand natural setting of the Tegernsee Valley offers a wealth of things to do all year round. In winter, the valley glitters with snow and the ever-efficient Germans keep the roads continuously clear. There are small to medium ski resorts in close proximity to Rottach-Egern, the nearest being Spitzingsee. Within an hour’s drive you can be in larger German resorts such as GarmischPartenkirchen, or hop over the border to Austria. On the outskirts of Rottach-Egern a cable car can take you to the 1,722-metre summit of the Wallberg, which in winter offers some challenging ski slopes, or a 6-kilometre toboggan run that the locals pile down at weekends on traditional wooden sledges. In summer, the valley comes alive with greenery and hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, lake cruises, golf, sailing and river rafting are just a few of the activities on offer in the area. There is something for everyone, from simple walks along idyllic creeks to challenging peak ascents.

Surrounded by the beauty of the unspoilt Bavarian Alps, cosseted and pampered by the Seehotel Überfahrt, it’s easy to leave the stresses and strains of everyday life behind you. n www.seehotel-ueberfahrt.com

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connoisseur travel

Destination...

Avignon

Once a temporary home for popes, Avignon is a medieval town steeped in cultural heritage. Nowadays, historic remains stand amongst fashionable boutiques in an intriguing blend of youthful spirit and urban sophistication What to see::

Medieval wonders and morning markets Although the architectural marvels of the cathedral Notre Dame des Doms, built during the 12th century, and the Palais des Papes, home to popes through the 14th century, will never fail to impress, Avignon boasts many other gems. Spend a morning at the town’s largest fresh produce market, Les Halls, before crossing the River Rhône to Villeneuve les Avignon, an idyllic town established by the popes, in the afternoon. Elsewhere, the Calvet Museum has a strong collection of paintings, metalwork and a library of more than 140,000 volumes, while the Musée du Petit Palais possesses an exceptional collection of Renaissance artwork that is well worth a visit.

Auberge de Cassagne

Located in an oasis of peace and greenery on the outskirts of Avignon, just a few minutes from the Palace of the Popes, the Auberge de Cassagne is an ideal base from which to explore the Provence. Dating back to the 1850s, the countryside residence offers its guests a swimming pool, tennis court, sauna, gym, whirlpool bath and a locally renowned restaurant. 40 bedrooms and eight apartments, some with four-poster beds and traditional fireplaces, create a U-shape that harmoniously encloses three floral interior courtyards. Complete your stay at Auberge de Cassagne with a visit to the hotel’s Spa de Cassagne, featuring a chromotherapeutic shower and a Hormeta beauty-treatment cabinet.

450 Allée de Cassagne, 84130 Avignon +33 (0) 4 90 31 04 18 www.aubergedecassagne.com

Where to eat:

Christian Etienne

CityJet flights from London City Airport to Avignon begin on Friday 27 May 2011

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For more information, schedules and to book your flight visit www.cityjet.com or www.londoncityairport.com

Where to play::

Where to stay:

Immerse yourself in Avignon’s antiquity by dining at Christian Etienne. Housed in a stately 12th century mansion in the shadow of the Palais des Papes, the restaurant boasts a menu faithful to local ingredients. Meat and fish dishes are centred around seasonal tomatoes, mushrooms and other vegetables, while à la carte specialties include filet of perch with Châteauneuf-du-Pape and filet of venison with foie gras. Wonderful period decor complements the restaurant’s painted ceilings and frescoed walls and in the summer, guests can enjoy dining beneath the stars on the restaurant’s open-air terrace.

10 Rue Mons, 84000 Avignon +33 (0) 4 90 86 16 50 www.christian-etienne.fr

After Hours Amusements

Avignon may possess more in the way of art and theatre than night clubs but this doesn’t mean you have to be tucked up in bed by 10pm.

The city’s lively nightspots are situated around Place de l’Horloge, Place du Palais and trendy Rue Carnot.

For an evening of jazz head to AJMI Jazz Club at La Manutention. If salsa is more your thing, then make your way to Red Zone located at 25 Rue Carnot.

Don’’t miss:

Chocolat Castelain

Nestled in the famous vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Chocolat Castelain has been manufacturing sumptuous chocolates since 1994. Under the watchful eye of artisan chocolatier Bernard Castelain, the factory produces a range of speciality chocolates, all of which are local to the Aix-en-Provence region.

Learn the history of chocolate production with a fascinating guided tour or sample some incredible wines from Châteauneufdu-Pape, Côtes du Rhône or Côtes du Ventoux, whose bottles also fill the factory’s vaults.

Route d’Avignon 84230 Chateauneufdu-Pape +33 (0) 4 90 83 54 71

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connoisseur

hip in the

Country If you think fine dining and luxury hotels are impossible to find outside London, think again.

Hipping Hall in Lancashire is a haven of peace and fabulous food in an area of outstanding natural beauty

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amuel Johnson was wrong. When a man tires of London he doesn’t necessarily tire of life; rather, there are times when he simply needs a breather from the place. So if you’re fed up sheepishly following fellow workers up and down the DLR, why not follow sheep up and down the valleys of the Dales?

The air is fresh, the scenery breathtaking and the welcome warm and friendly.

I know what you’re thinking, though. Hotels in the North can sometimes be slightly shabby and past their sell-by date, and you’ve moved beyond B&Bs. Thankfully, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s called Hipping Hall and it brings an aura of sophistication to a relatively rustic part of the world. If the name rings a bell, that might be because it was one of the places visited by Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan in The Trip, the gentle comedy about a food critic on a gastronomic tour of the North.

Hipping Hall advertises itself as a restaurant with a hotel attached and, while this correctly suggests that food is an important part of the make-up of the place, it somewhat downplays the accommodation. Never fear. Hipping Hall is a damn fine hotel and the food is out of this world.

With only nine rooms, Hipping Hall is compact, intimate and wonderfully relaxing. Essentially a converted manor, HH feels likes a friend’s house but with rather better service. Each room is elegantly comfortable, a haven of peace after the hustle of London. Indeed, so comfortable are the beds that it would be tempting to stay there and never venture outside. Do that, though, and you’ll miss out on two things.

The first is the scenery. Hipping Hall is right on the southern edge of the Lake District in the Lancashire Dales, near the small market town of Kirkby Lonsdale. Don’t visit if you’re looking for thumping night life, but do go if you long to breathe fresh air and you can find pleasure in walking.

Leave the dancing shoes behind and take a pair of walking boots instead, especially at this time of year when spring is in full bloom and the lambing season is just starting.

The second is the restaurant. As Brydon and Coogan discovered, Hipping Hall is a gastronomic delight, although they missed out on the roaring log fire in the 15th century dining room, having to eat in the conservatory instead because the lighting was better for filming. Chef Brent Hulena, a young New Zealander, has brought fine dining to an area more used to cafés and tea rooms. Every evening there’s a choice between a seven-course Gourmand Tasting Menu or three courses à la carte.

Both menus change with the season, but hand-dived scallops – plump, juicy and very tasty – seem to be a staple.

My partner and I chose to go à la carte with scallops for me and a warm asparagus salad for her, topped with a slowpoached hen’s egg.

Main courses reflect good regional produce, invariably featuring local lamb and pork, venison and fish. I went for the roast loin of Lakeland veal, set off with a delicious celeriac purée, while my fish-loving friend had the pan-fried wild halibut and enjoyed every mouthful. Being utterly unable to resist French Apple Tart, we both finished with that, though she was tempted by a chocolate fondant with banana ice cream. The meal was complemented by an extensive yet reasonably priced wine list, and knowledgeable staff happy to help with the perfect selection.

Prices? A Friday night sees rooms between £180 and £235 for bed and breakfast (another feast), while adding dinner puts another £80 on the bill, hugely reasonable for three courses, canapés – served in the comfort of the sitting room while you peruse the menu – coffee and petit fours for two. If you can take a mid-week break, room prices drop to between £120 and £155.

Samuel Johnson would have loved it, realising that sometimes a break from London is all that’s needed to recharge jaded batteries. And a weekend at Hipping Hall is the place to do that. n Hipping Hall, Cowan Bridge Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancashire LA6 2JJ 01524 271187; www.hippinghall.com

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Danesfield House Hotel & Spa

Beverley Byrne stays at 110-year-old Danesfield House Hotel to see if the addition of a Michelin star is enough to warrant a return visit

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efore discovering Danesfield House, my golden rule was never to visit the same hotel twice.

Experience has taught me that, for a variety of reasons – high expectations, new management, a change in the seasons – a second visit can lead to disappointment. But Danesfield House Hotel, with its newly minted Michelin star, has changed my mind.

I first visited Danesfield last year. Thanks to some highly attractive special offers, this handsome hotel and spa seemed the perfect location for a girly getaway. Located on a leafy road meandering between those two iconic Thames side towns, Henley and Marlow, the hotel looks like it’s been there since Elizabethan times. In fact, the mansion’s gleaming white façade, topped with a castellated roof and ornate lofty chimneys, was completed in 1901. Originally built as a private home, this grand edifice has since enjoyed a chequered career as a boys’ school, a base for the intelligence Section of the Royal Air Force and a corporate headquarters before opening as a luxury hotel in l991.

Driving beneath an impressive decorative arch and parking outside the reception area, we are greeted by the hotel porter who whisks my car away. Once inside, we note

the elaborate timber ceiling and baronial fireplace in the aptly named Grand Lounge, prior to being informed by the receptionist that we’ve been upgraded. We are shown to a spacious, traditionally furnished room with super-comfy beds and leaded windows overlooking manicured gardens, the Chiltern Hills and below, the silver snaking Thames.

Although the bucolic location – a mere 45 minutes from central London – is enticing enough, our main reason for choosing Danesfield House is the spa. The child-free, 20-metre, ozone-cleansed swimming pool is decorated with Arcadian murals by artists commissioned by the Royal Opera House London and La Scala Milan. There is a spacious steam room and sauna plus spa pool, along with plenty of comfy loungers for snoozing in. Snowy-white robes and slippers are provided and there is none of this ‘saving the planet’ (read ‘hotel laundry bills’) by restricting towels nonsense: there are constantly replenished towers of them everywhere.

After lounging around like a pair of spoilt starlets, my friend Jane and I totter off for our treatments. I have opted for an ESPA Rehydrating Facial, an intensive boost designed for “dry, dehydrated, stressed or tired complexions”, all of

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which mine is. Jane chooses a Regenerating and Firming Eye Treatment featuring products “rich in Seaweed extract, Green Tea and Vitamin C”. It may sound more like an oriental hors d’oeuvre than a beauty treatment but it obviously works, as she emerges crows-feet-free and full of praise for her talented beauty therapist.

My therapist also turns out to be something of a miracle worker. Her nimble fingers sooth scented unguents into my leathery epidermis and, by the time she’s completed the treatment with a soothing head massage, I’ve drifted into a somnambulant haze. Emerging from this relaxing torpor, I wonder why anyone would indulges in excessive amounts of alcohol or chocolate when they can simply book in for a facial that makes you feel fabulous and look younger.

To celebrate our new faces, we order champagne cocktails served outside on the terrace before dinner at the Orangery restaurant. This elegant terrace overlooks parterre gardens flanked on either side by giant topiary planted more than 100 years ago, which creates a charming Alice in Wonderland atmosphere. Inside the restaurant, the magic continues.

Dinner is a triumph, but this is not surprising considering that the executive chef is Adam Simmonds. Adam joined Danesfield House in 2007, following three years at Ynyshir Hall in Wales (where he achieved a Michelin star in 2006).

Prior to that he worked at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons with Raymond Blanc, and at Les Saveurs in London with Marco Pierre White. This year his fine dining restaurant at Danesfield House was awarded a Michelin Star, and this is the reason I’m returning to the hotel.

It was obvious from dining at the Orangery that Adam Simmonds is more than simply a talented chef. In the bar, we are presented with a choice between à la carte and a Tasting Menu and, being ravenous, the latter (consisting of seven courses) makes riveting reading. The first course, for example, features Roasted Scottish Scallops, Sand Carrot Purée, Pickled Carrot, and Carrot and Cumin cake. Next up is Confit Foie Gras, Black Fig Purée, Fog Compote, Hazelnut Crunch with Pedro Ximenez Jelly. Without repeating the entire menu, it’s clear that Adam’s style promises classic main dishes combined with innovative, unusual accompaniments. What it actually delivers is genius on a plate.

From the first amuse-bouche, it’s obvious that Adam Simmonds is not only raising the culinary bar, but also defining a fresh and distinctive dining experience. Each course is served on individually designed dinnerware chosen to enhance the presentation. Delicately arranged on those plates are exquisite works of art such as the scallop dish, with its carroty companions creatively topped with tiny delicate cumin flowers. The intense colour palette and the explosively delicious combined flavours are electrifying.

Given his gift for creativity and design, it’s almost as if Adam Simmonds could be exhibiting at the Royal Academy as well as deservedly earning that Michelin star.

Each course seems to surpass its predecessor in a carefully calibrated assault on the senses. Adam arrives from his kitchen to greet his diners and explains to us the culinary techniques used to preserve and retain the striking colours, texture and flavours of each sensational dish. Via brill and venison, and a cheeseboard with a selection of breads fresh from the oven, we proceed to a pair of beautiful-to-behold, blockbuster puddings, which provide the grand finale. This rollercoaster

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ride of gastronomic excellence leaves us sated, satisfied and in agreement that this is one meal we will never forget.

Over an elaborate breakfast next day, savouring ginger and rhubarb compote and homemade muesli, we relive the previous evening’s virtuoso performance. Adam Simmonds is one of Britain’s most talented master chefs and the main reason I will be going back to Danesfield House Hotel.

After all, golden rules are made to broken. n

Danesfield House Hotel & Spa, Henley Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 2EY, 01628 891010 www.danesfieldhouse.co.uk The Relaxation Break costs from £152 per person based on double/twin occupancy and includes full continental breakfast, three course menu in The Orangery, luxury spa treatment and full use of the spa facilities. Adam Simmonds at Danesfield House is open for lunch Thursday to Saturday and for dinner Tuesday to Saturday. The seven-course Tasting Menu costs £80 per person. The three-course à la carte menu is £59 per person.

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CITYpromotion

A Slice of Paradise Visit the beautiful resort of Raffles Praslin Seychelles for an idyllic, luxurious holiday experience refreshments, fresh juices and ice teas whenever you need a respite from sunbathing and relaxing.

Choosing between a villa holiday, a spa escape and a luxurious resort in a fabulous location? For those seeking a combination of all three, Raffles Praslin Seychelles, with its villa resort experience, offers just that. Tucked away on the north-eastern tip of Praslin, surrounded by crystal clear waters and set within lush vegetation, the brand new resort is the perfect place to escape from the stresses of life. In a world where time is increasingly precious and unique experiences are of paramount importance, Raffles Praslin Seychelles combines fantastic leisure options and a spa in one stunning location.

86 luxurious and spacious villas, with one and two bedroom villa suite options, exude an oasis of calm and comfort, perfect for those who want to escape from it all. Each villa offers a beautiful view over the ocean or

endemic, indigenous Seychelles’ vegetation and has a private plunge pool, wonderful for moonlit dips, and a sheltered terrace with day beds, as well as round-the-clock signature Raffles Butler service.

Fabulous food is imperative at world class resorts and Raffles Praslin Seychelles offers you a number of exceptional dining facilities. Restaurant Curieuse serves the freshest seafood while Losean Deli prepares gourmet picnic hampers. If you don’t fancy leaving your villa, chefs can prepare in-villa breakfasts or barbeques and private dining experiences can be arranged anywhere, from private romantic picnics to dining barefoot on the sand. Takamaka Terrace offers a late night chill-out venue for cocktails, rare whiskies and shisha pipes while the Curieuse Pool Bar is ideal for light

Just Seychelles (020 8840 0969; www.justseychelles.com) offers five nights in a Hillside Pool Villa from £2,068 per person based on two people sharing on Bed & Breakfast. This includes one night free and, for stays during May, receive a complimentary upgrade to an Ocean View Pool Villa. Price includes return flights on Air Seychelles from London Heathrow, inter-island flights and private transfers. Valid for stays from 1 May to 30 June 2011. Flights on Emirates via Dubai also available.

Let your senses be awakened and indulged in the first signature Raffles spa, with 13 treatment pavilions, six of them in the open air. The philosophy embraces transformation so every moment spent within the spa is part of an enriching journey that takes you through an all-encompassing renewal and rejuvenation of body and mind.

At the core of the Raffles Praslin’s spa philosophy is the pearl, and crushed pearls are used in some treatments.

There is an unrivalled range of spa treatments, including sumptuous facials, massages and soothing body therapies.

A sauna and steam room complete the facilities, and the Raffles Spa Boutique features a range of designer fashion, luxury cosmetics and jewellery to complement island living at its best.

Children are welcome at Raffles Praslin Seychelles with a designated Kid’s and Teenager’s Club, the Sugar Palm Club, catering for children in three age groups (0-4 years, 5-12 years and 13-18 years). The club offers an everchanging range of activities from arts and crafts to nature walks and meeting the friendly resident giant tortoises.

To complement these offerings, Raffles Praslin Seychelles offers a whole host of activities and classes that will not fail to excite, including sailing, windsurfing, sea canoeing and island hopping. You can go snorkelling in waters that are part of the National Marine Park or out to some of the best dive spots, where you will see an abundance of rich marine life including turtles and manta rays. Additionally, the resort features a state-of-the-art gym as well as a beautiful swimming pool overlooking the ocean.

Best of all, you will be in a place where you can reconnect, revive and relax.

What could be more luxurious than that?

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food & drink

connoisseur

Bon Vivant

food & drink

news

One of a Kind This month will see the opening of The Gilbert Scott, an elegant British brasserie and bar located in the newly renovated St Pancras Renaissance Hotel.

Drawing inspiration from pioneering and skilled cooks of England in olden times, the restaurant’s menu pays tribute to the historic nature of the remarkable Victorian Gothic building in which it sits. Expect to see Dorset Jugged Steak, Tweed Kettle and Manchester tart, served with affability and charm. The Gilbert Scott’s grand and timeless bar offers an all-day dining menu of quirky British bites including pork and sage stuffing balls and Lancashire mushroom rolls. It’s hard to find one-of-a-kind places in London, but The Gilbert Scott may be just that. www.thegilbertscott.co.uk St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London, NW1 2AR

What’s the point of living in London if you don’t make the most of it? To ensure you do, visit Bon Vivant, set up by ex-City worker Emyr Thomas.

Covering everything from planning your holidays and parties to booking restaurants and buying presents for your loved ones, the concierge service organizes the things that you don’t have the time, inclination or expertise to do yourself.

As well as finding tickets for mustsee, sold-out concerts, Bon Vivant can source the best seats at London’s top restaurants and dining venues. Join Bon Vivant and make sure every minute out of the office counts. Quote ‘The City’ and receive two free months with every annual membership. www.bonvivant.co.uk

Spoil someone this Easter As purveyors of chocolates to Her Majesty The Queen, Prestat’s handmade confectionaries are the pinnacle of luxury chocolate making.

Uniting Easter and the Royal Wedding, the company has created a bespoke collection of the most delicious truffles – presented in a fabulously contemporary patriotic box. Prestat’s new Union Jack box comprises a selection of five truffles enrobed in the finest milk, dark and white chocolate. www.prestat.co.uk

This Easter, Godiva invites you to pick and choose from its extensive array of delectable chocolates to create your perfect Easter egg or hamper.

Delight family and friends with a customisable Easter egg, available in milk, dark and nougatine chocolate.

Presented in enchanting foldable carry boxes and with shells that can be filled with up to 1.3 kilograms of Godiva chocolates, the eggs give you the opportunity to treat a loved one to a truly personal chocolate experience. www.godiva.com

Food lingo:

Quote:

Website:

Parson’s nose

Strength is the ability to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands – and then eat just one of those pieces.

The aim of The East India Company is the same today as it was when it was created in 1600: to be your agent in finding and bringing to you the finest foods from around the world. With a website inspired by its history of exceptional quality, the company continues to do just that. The East India Company’s unsurpassed range of teas, coffees, pantry foods, wines and spirits make their website the one-stop shop for corporate gifts and personal presents.

Thought to derive from a 17th century term used to degrade Catholics, the parson’s nose, or the Pope’s nose, is the fleshy bulge that forms the tail of a chicken or turkey once it has been cooked.

Containing the uropygial oil gland that birds use when preening, it has a swollen appearance and while some people think it rather greasy, others think it a tender delicacy.

Judith Viorst, American author and newspaper journalist

www.theeastindiacompanyfinefood.com

NEWS:

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restaurants American

Dollar Grills and Martinis

2 Exmouth Market, Farringdon, EC1R 020 7278 0077

bars Italian Lena

66 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 020 7739 5714 Refettorio

Hawksmoor

19 New Bridge Street, EC4V 020 7438 8052

British

9 Norwich Street, EC4A 020 7831 1622 or 020 7831 1677

157 Commercial Street, E1 020 7247 7392 Canteen

2 Crispin Place, E1 08456 861 122

Volupté

Oriental

Royal China Club

Beach Blanket Babylon

19-23 Bethnal Green Road, E1 020 7749 3540 GREENS

14 Cornhill, EC3V 020 7220 6300

French Bonds

5 Threadneedle Street, EC2R 020 7657 8088 Coq D’Argent

59 West Smithfield, EC1A 020 7796 0600

4 West Smithfield, EC1A 020 7489 7033

Mexican

Duke of Cambridge

30 St Peter’s Street, N1 020 7359 3066 The Peasant

Middle Eastern

Andaz Hotel, Liverpool Street, EC2M 020 7618 7215

Kenza

One Lombard Street

1 Lombard Street, EC3V 020 7929 6611 Rhodes Twenty Four

CATCH & Champagne Bar

The Gherkin Bar & Restaurant

Levels 39 & 40, 30 St Mary Axe, EC3A 020 7071 5009 Grand Café & Bar

The Courtyard, Royal Exchange, EC3V 020 7618 2480 Harry’s Bar

Tower 42 Old Broad Street, EC2N 020 7877 7703

5 Abchurch Yard, EC4N 020 7623 2355

Smiths of Smithfield

233 Shoreditch High Street, E1 020 7247 8989

67-77 Charterhouse Street, EC1M 020 7251 7950

Spanish

Greek

3 Varnishers Yard, N1 9FD 020 7841 7331

Mezedopolio

Cicada

Green & Red

51 Bethnal Green Road, E1 020 7749 9670

240 St. John Street, EC1V 020 7336 7726

14 Hoxton Market, N1 020 7739 8212

Cellar Gascon

132-136 St John Street, EC1V 020 7608 1550

Modern European

Gastropub

Bonds

Saki

Les Trois Garcons

Sauterelle

The Big Chill Bar

Dray Walk, E1 020 7392 9180

5 Threadneedle Street, EC2R 020 7657 8088

10 Devonshire Square, EC2M 020 7929 5533

Royal Exchange, EC3V 020 7618 2483

Bar Pepito

Varnishers Yard Regents Quarter, N1 9FD 020 7841 7331

40-42 Baker Street, W1U 020 7486 3898

No.1 Poultry, EC2R 020 7395 5000 1 Club Row, E1 020 7613 1924

Balls Brothers

5-6 Carey Lane, EC2V 020 7600 2720

Camino

Moro

34-36 Exmouth Street, EC1R 020 7833 8336

Light Bar

Match EC1

45-47 Clerkenwell Road, EC1M 020 7250 4002 Ortega

27 Leadenhall Market, EC3V 020 7623 1818 Vertigo 42

Tower 42, 25 Old Broad St, EC2N 020 7877 7842 The Worship

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Triton Court, 14 Finsbury Square, EC2A 020 7330 0920

food & drink

connoisseur

A Tasting Challenge Pieter Rosenthal of Love That Wine suggests we drop our preconceptions and allow our taste buds to try something a bit different

W

ould you recognise your favourite wine in a line-up if you tasted it blind? Perhaps you would, but it’s funny how we can often use our eyes better than our noses: give me a label and I can tell you what the wine is like but the other way around is trickier. I enjoy a good challenge so when I run wine workshops, I always include an element of blind tasting – not to trip anyone up but just because it puts the wine at the heart of the matter, rather than the label or the price. It’s the juice in the bottle that counts.

If you think you would know your Chablis from your Sancerre, consider this story. A few years ago at a blind tasting in America, tasters were given two glasses of wine.

They were told nothing other than the price: the first wine is $5, the second $25. What they weren’t told was that both samples were exactly the same wine. However, somehow, all of them managed to find them different and some dramatically so: the same wine described as simple and complex, light and full-bodied; you get the idea. Once our brains have been fed information, we start to make the pieces of the puzzle fit together and that’s why blind tasting is so difficult. Our brain gets in the way of our nose.

What I love about these challenges is how they change people’s perceptions: the look of disbelief when a self-confessed Merlot hater happens to find one that knocks his or her socks off; a determined drinker of Australian Shiraz who happens to love a Grenache blend from the southern Rhône in France. These experiences make my day, when people smile and gasp in disbelief. Open your mind to some new wines every now and then. They might just surprise you.

Dreissigacker Riesling Trocken 2008, Rheinhessen Germany, £11.61 Although a great example of a new wave of dry Rieslings coming out of the Liebfraumilch heartland, Rheinhessen, this one couldn’t be further away from Liebfraumilch if it tried.

For starters, it is dry, racy, very lively and bursting with fresh apple flavours and crisp citrus fruit. A lingering, mineral finish shows off the quality, which makes for a perfect match to lightly spicy food. Jochen Dreissigacker, the winemaker, is a rising star in Germany; his philosophy is to intervene as little as possible and let the fruit speak for itself. Production is small and the resulting wine is well worth the price. www.thesampler.co.uk

Château La Tour de Beraud 2008, Costières de Nîmes France, £7.49 Named after the local 11th century fire tower, this wine is a blend of the classic Rhône varieties, Grenache, Syrah and Carignan, as well as the lesser known Mourvèdre and Marselan. Even the soil is not dissimilar to what you would find in the southern Rhone for wines like Chateauneufdu-Pape; sandstone, chalk and clay littered with the large pebbles typical of the region. These rounded stones, known locally as “galets”, absorb the heat of the sun during the day and release it at night, aiding the ripening process.

Only 5 per cent of the wine has seen any oak and therefore the overriding character is of ripe black fruit, violets and pepper, with just a touch of spiciness from the oak. It has a pleasing, velvety texture and great length. It is so easy drinking that it doesn’t need to accompany food. www.westmountwine.co.uk

“L” de Lyeth Merlot 2007, Sonoma County California, £11.10 Californian Merlot got a raw deal a few years back when Sideways was released. In this road-trip movie, the two main characters go in search of the ultimate Pinot Noir, pouring scorn on Merlot along the way. It resulted in physical sales of Californian Merlot falling off a cliff.

This one, however, should put the record straight. It is one of the most popular wines in the blind tastings and it is simply gorgeous; a soft velvety texture, lovely ripe fruit and spiciness. It has a certain old-world elegance that sets it apart. The winery is owned by French wine company JC Boisset though, so that might explain it. n

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20-27 November The O2

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY

www.BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com PLATINUM PARTNERS

FOR CORPORATE HOSPITALITY, PLEASE CONTACT IMG ON 020 8233 5888 OR ATPTennis@imgworld.com Follow the stars on their journey to compete at the 2011 ATP World Tour season finale on The players shown are for illustrative purposes only. Qualification and participation subject to ATP rules.

food & drink

connoisseur

Port

of Call

Portuguese cuisine may not currently be ‘on trend’, but it should be, says Emma Mills, after dining at Portal in Clerkenwell

H

aving holidayed almost annually in Portugal since I was a child, I’ve always been a big fan of Portuguese cuisine.

Peri peri chicken, white wine clams, spiced prawns and barbequed sardines are the perfect holiday food. Enjoyed sitting in the sun, on the beach, washed down with a cold glass of Sagres; it couldn’t get much better than that.

But it doesn’t translate too well over here – this kind of food needs sunshine to make it work. So what was I expecting from a Portuguese restaurant in Clerkenwell on a cold March evening? It’s hard to say. Portuguese cuisine in England isn’t exactly the ‘on trend’ food of the moment. It certainly has none of the ability to gain column inches that Spanish tapas and high end Japanese food do, for example. In fact, aside from Nandos (which is actually a South African enterprise), there are decidedly slim pickings if you really fancy a taste of the Algarve on a rainy London evening.

Enter Portal, offering unashamedly ‘Posh Portuguese’. And it’s really good.

The restaurant itself looks great; even from outside, it seems smart and fresh, with just the right balance of rustic and

stylish. The wine bar boasts intimate tables, lots of mahogany, and a warm, friendly atmosphere – a lovely place for a drink and some early evening tapas.

We, however, were ravenous, so we sat in their glorious glasshouse space at the back of the venue, looking out at a red brick courtyard which must offer romantic and exclusive dining in the summer.

We started our meal with grilled prawns and a celeriac risotto and scrambled eggs with cod and samphire, served with melba toast. The celeriac and prawns had lovely Mediterranean overtures, while the scrambled eggs were unique and rich in flavour. Main courses were confit duck leg with white bean mash and chorizo, pineapple and plum sauce and beef scallopini with sautéed foie gras, truffle mash and Portobello mushrooms. The beef was cooked exceptionally well and the truffle mash pungent but not overbearing. The duck was rich and brave, the chorizo and beans offering a real Portuguese flavour which was complimented by the vibrant fruit sauce.

Dessert of baba de camelo, a Portuguese sweet milk dessert, was delicious, while a cheese board of some surprisingly good Portuguese cheeses

was the perfect way to finish off our bottle of wine. And what super wine!

The wine list at Portal is rigorously Portuguese in origin, with more than six pages of wine options, including a great selection by the glass. It was recommended that we try something from the famed Douro region so we opted for a sensational bottle of 2006 Duradero ‘Douro & Ribiera del Duero’; light on the palate, with real depth and an oaky length, this was the perfect accompaniment to the tasty fish, the rich meats and tangy cheeses.

Portal also has a great private dining space, which looks onto the restaurant, offering privacy alongside the buzz of a busy dining room, as well as selling gourmet produce from Portugal including Quinta do Portal Olive oil, compotes, cheeses, espresso blend beans, and cured charcuterie.

Portugal may not be the market leader in fashionable food but Portal has really achieved something wonderful and unique here. You’d be foolish to miss out. n Portal Restaurant and Bar 88 St John Street, EC1M 4EH 020 7253 6950 www.portalrestaurant.co.uk

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connoisseur special events

The Hidden Treasures of

London

The venue labyrinth of our capital city offers a wealth of choices for hosting events, whether you want to book for celebrations, corporate occasions, conferences or Christmas parties

O

ne of the joys of producing events in London is that there is such a plethora of beautiful venues in which to hold them. From the historic and magnificent to the modern and intimate, London arguably boasts the best choice of event venues in the world and the list is ever increasing. However, despite this variety, the search for the perfect venue for the next celebration, product launch or networking event still remains an arduous task of trawling websites, looking for “something different.”

A recent change in the market has not gone unnoticed.

Will Aldridge, director of Event By Event, has observed that new venues are straying away from mainstream websites in order to become the latest undiscovered gem in the market place: “Many event companies now even have a list of their own venues, which are not heavily publicised on the web. We chose this low-key marketing route for one of our managed venues called the Greenwich Yacht Club, an outstanding riverside venue with its own exclusive terrace, perfect for corporate summer barbecues. This is combined with a really versatile indoor space that can be used for all manner of events including conferences, team-building and themed Christmas parties. The enquiries have grown organically and I truly believe this is the best way to create long-lasting success for a venue”.

With the Olympics very much more than a speck on the horizon, with less than 500 days to count down, there are bound to be more venues trying to create something unique, as the city gears itself up for the big event.

The Greenwich Yacht Club is ideally located for the

106

Olympics and within walking distance of the basketball, gymnastics and the equestrian centre. With the planned cable car project now moving forward, most events will be easily accessible, which makes the Yacht Club a great location for corporate entertaining.

As well as running Greenwich Yacht Club and other gems in London, Event by Event has created spectacular bespoke events in a number of the capital’s venues and has great relationships with a whole host of venues, allowing the company to offer something unique for your event. From London’s covered markets, shopping arcades, palaces and architectural masterpieces, to a hidden garden space with intimate drawing room for a small dinner and reception, the venue possibilities in London are endless: you just have to know where to look. As a full service event management and production company, finding up-and-coming venues is a key part of what Event by Event does.

“We need to know what is hot and what is not. We have eyes all over town letting us know of new spaces popping up,” says Will. “Clients can call our free venue-finding service to get things started and find the right location, then we can work our magic and design a truly memorable bespoke event”. n If you would like to know more about the way Event by Event creates inimitable and distinctive events, please go to www.eventbyevent.co.uk or contact Will on 020 3206 1278 if you would like to have a look at the Greenwich Yacht Club. www.greenwichweddingvenues.co.uk

&

out about

out & about

connoisseur

Art of the Ocean Internationally recognised as the foremost exponent of box construction art, Will Maclean deconstructs, before reconstructing, objects to produce visual displays that are truly compelling. His metaphorical art is based on the histories and mythologies of those who live and work by the sea.

To celebrate his unique pieces a retrospective of his works is being held at The Fleming Collection from 8 March to 4 June 2011.

Pay a visit to witness Maclean’s acute perception of the culture of the Scottish Highlands.

Will Maclean: A Survey Exhibition 1970-2010 8 March – 4 June 2011 The Fleming Collection, 13 Berkeley Street, W1J 8DU

Secret City If you live or work in the City, you probably think you know the area quite well. Pick up a copy of David Long’s new hardback, Hidden City; The Secret Alleys, Courts & Yards of London’s Square Mile, however, and even the quickest of browses will prove you mistaken. Hidden behind the glass, steel and stone of the city’s banks and big businesses is a network of forgotten streets.

Buy a copy of Hidden City and reacquaint yourself with a space that you thought you knew.

New School Sculpture If you happened to visit the BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair last month and was captivated by what you saw, then the British New School Sculpture exhibition is likely to appeal to you.

The display, hosted by the Robert Bowman Gallery, is a selling exhibition of British sculpture timed to coincide with the Victoria & Albert exhibition The Cult of Beauty, which features seminal pieces from the British New School.

Highlights will include two of the most iconic works of the movement: The Sluggard and Athlete Wrestling a Python by sculptor painter Frederick Lord Leighton (1830-1896).

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

British New School Sculpture 14 April 2011 Robert Bowman Gallery, 12 Duke Street, SW1Y 6BN

Rise and Shine Not many people know it but 53 Chancery Lane is home to the world’s largest retail collection of fine antique silver. Inside, behind huge safe doors and vaulted walls, you will find everything from a silver champagne swizzle stick to a full size silver armchair.

Frequented by royalty and government ministers, the Silver Vaults can satisfy even the most challenging of requests, whether it’s a single teaspoon to complete a collection or a full silver dining set. The vaults’ Silver at the Breakfast Table exhibition runs from now until the end of May. Invest in some stunning silverware and breakfast in bed will never be the same again.

Silver at the Breakfast Table 1 February – 27 May 2011 The London Silver Vaults, 53 - 64 Chancery Lane, WC2A 1QS

Don’t forget!

Tickets to the 2012 London Olympic Games are now available.

For your chance to witness the greatest sporting event on earth, submit your application for tickets by 11.59pm on 26 April 2011.

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connoisseur out & about

Michelin Stars at the Royal Races Royal Ascot may be best known for its racing and fashion but the festival wouldn’t be complete without its fantastic food. That’s why this year the event’s organisers have welcomed back the three Michelin-starred Waterside Inn to the Panoramic Restaurant.

Run by award-winning Chef Patron Alain Roux, the venture will bring race-goers a bespoke signature menu, showcasing the freshest seasonal produce. Guests will enjoy a truly indulgent experience, thanks to a range of delectable dishes offering traditional French cuisine with a contemporary touch.

“For five days only, we’ll be showcasing our latest culinary creations from the Waterside Inn, bringing the finest cuisine, wine and ambience all to one place,” explains Roux. The partnership will combine Ascot’s thrilling race atmosphere with elegant food in chic surroundings to create a must-visit destination for any true food connoisseur.

Royal Ascot Week 14 June - 18 June 2011 For reservations call 0870 727 4321 or email hospitality@ascot.co.uk

A Gulf in Class Whether it’s family and friends or colleagues and associates, golf has a fantastic capacity for bringing people and businesses together. This year, eight years since American Ben Curtis won on his debut, The Open Championship returns to Royal St George’s on the Kent coast.

In what will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the sporting calendar, current Champion, Louis Oosthuizen, will have to fend off the likes of Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood if he is to retain his title. Golfers will compete for the coveted Claret Jug from 14 July to 17 July and for fans wanting to enjoy this golfing nirvana, the best way to do so is with one of The Open Championship Official Hospitality fine-dining packages.

Teaming up with both PremiAir and Hilton Hotels and Resorts,

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The Open Championship Official Hospitality has extended the hospitality experience beyond the golf course by providing all your transport and accommodation needs. Packages are selling fast so book now to ensure you don’t miss out on one of this summer’s greatest sporting events.

Hospitality packages from £385 per person.

The 2011 Open Championship 14 July to 17 July For more information, call 0844 371 0883 email officialhospitality@opengolf.com or visit www.opengolfofficialhospitality.com

LONDON Homes&

PROPERTY Showcasing the finest homes in your area

C o v e r i n g CANARY WHARF, D OC K L AN D S , WA P P ING & T h e C i t y

Courtesy of Moghul www.moghulinteriors.com

Welcome note...

S

pring has finally arrived, the sun is starting to sparkle through the clouds, weddings and holidays are on the horizon and bright colours are finally starting to creep into the fashion stores. This time of the year is key for property, and no doubt if you’re thinking of moving or looking for a new home things will be stepping up a gear.

Make a beeline, then, for our New Homes section, which features a gorgeous development in the Docklands. The ambitious Streamlight development not only has excellent celeb backing – with Sadie Frost being responsible for the kitchens of the striking penthouses – but has great social housing aspirations to boot.

Streamlight, which boasts stunning views across the Thames, offers a range of properties from one bedroom flats to stunning penthouses,

all which would make a great investment for buyers looking for the ease and fun of a lively city lifestyle.

As usual, we’ve also got the latest local area information, including new building developments, transport news, property latest, updates on the market, expert comment and insight and advice on mortgages.

The City remains one of the most dynamic and exciting areas to buy in the capital, offering ease of access to the financial district, as well as a wealth of shops and entertainment.

The number of new developments are likely to bring a whole new level of dramatic regeneration to the area as well.

Happy hunting...!

contents

Š Hayes Davidson / Nick Wood. www.hayesdavidson.com, www.futurelondon.com and www.nickwoodphoto.com

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134 living local

112 Area News 124 Hot Property

new homes

132 134 136 138

Property Latest Development Focus Mortgage Page State of the Market

living local

areanews

By Ben West

Shard towers over London Skyscrapers always divide opinion. Many people are excited by a new, imposing addition to the skyline, while others see them as no more than an ugly eyesore.

The Shard, the 1,016 feet/310 metre, 87-storey building being constructed near London Bridge station, that when completed next summer will be Europe’s tallest tower, is attracting a variety of opinion.

Many people are looking forward to the completion of the £400m Shard, which will not only create thousands of jobs and push house prices skyhigh in the area, but will also, by 2013, have a gleaming new concourse and a piazza, will link to London Bridge station, as well as boasting a four-floor viewing gallery open to the public and improved pedestrian routes to the riverside.

However, others have protested that it will ruin views for miles around.

The building, originally supported by the then London Mayor Ken Livingstone and given the go-ahead by John Prescott, was devised by property magnate Irvine Sellar and designed

by Italian architect Renzo Piano. It will contain

Transport latest…

A late evening Thames Clipper riverboat service will return from 1 April following the launch of a new timetable. The two additional hourly services after 9pm will stop at all piers on the service.

The late westbound services will leave North Greenwich pier at 9.20pm and 10.20pm, while the eastbound services will leave Embankment pier at 10.08pm and 11.08pm.

Some passengers criticised the decision taken last year to cancel late evening services as they used it to travel home from work and evening entertainment in central London.

The Thames Clipper services are being improved in other ways too, including Costa Coffee and Wi-Fi installed on board, and a free iPhone app.

luxury apartments, restaurants, boutiques, hotel accommodation, a spa and office space.

While many Londoners feel that the juxtaposition of old and new buildings of exceptional quality like The Shard and St Paul’s Cathedral can only enhance the centre of the capital, historians and conservationists complain that it will severely compromise views of the cathedral, especially as it will be three times its height.

English Heritage has said that it will impact

Tate Modern extension on schedule The ambitious Tate Modern extension is on schedule to welcome visitors in 2012. The striking new building will create more spaces for display, performance and installation art and learning, as well as creating more social spaces for visitors.

Important milestones in the project have been reached on time, and adequate funds continue to be raised. The trustees remain confident that the required £215m budget can be realised to complete the project.

Did you know?

The City has its own independent police force, the City of London Police. The remainder of Greater London is policed by the Metropolitan Police Service at New Scotland Yard.

© Hayes Davidson / Nick Wood. www.hayesdavidson.com, www.futurelondon.com and www.nickwoodphoto.com

negatively on protected views of the cathedral as well as world heritage sites the Palace of Westminster and the Tower of London.

Whatever detractors say, the building will instantly be graced with iconic status and throw huge focus onto the surrounding area. Its apartments are predicted to attract price levels unknown for this corner of London, and the ripple effect will push up real estate prices in surrounding neighbourhoods.

The Shard will be the centrepiece for the new

London Bridge Quarter, a substantial redevelopment project to revamp the London Bridge area, which will also include The Place, 40,000 square metres (428,000 sq ft) of modern office space in a 17-storey building that will feature one of London’s largest roof terraces, with outstanding views.

Some stunning photographs of how The Shard will look around London are on display on the website www.futurelondon.com

Until 22 May The Barbican Art Gallery is presenting ‘Pioneers of the Downtown Scene, New York 1970s’, with works by performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson, choreographer Trisha Brown and artist Gordon Matta-Clark, who were friends and active participants in the New York art community at the time.

With the city as their backdrop, canvas, stage and inspiration, this exhibition is the first major presentation to examine the experimental and often daring approaches taken by these three key figures, both individually and collectively, in the burgeoning arts scene in downtown New York during the 1970s.

Featuring sculptures, drawings, photographs, documentation of performances and mixed media works, the exhibition focuses on the intersections between their practices and explores their shared concerns.

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS 020 7638 8891, www.barbican.org.uk

Pioneers, Barbican Art Gallery, 2011. Trisha Brown, Planes, 1968 Photo credit: Rune Hellestad

Downtown New York at the Barbican

113

KnightFrank

Medland House, London E14

Rare Three Bedroom Apartment in Limehouse Located in one of Limehouses most popular developments is this second floor, three bedroom apartment. The apartment benefits from side views to Limehouse basin.

Leasehold ÂŁ535,000 Leasehold

Canary Wharf Sales KnightFrank.co.uk cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 7512 9966

KnightFrank

Langbourne Place, London E14

Spacious Penthouse overlooking the River Thames An excellent penthouse apartment situated over the 5th and 6th floors of a modern riverside development. Extending to over 1600 sq ft, the property benefits from two balconies giving fantastic views of both the river and Canary Wharf.

Share of Freehold ÂŁ750,000

Canary Wharf Sales KnightFrank.co.uk cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 7512 9966

KnightFrank

St. Davids Square, London E14

Boardwalk Place, London E14

We are delighted to offer this one bedroom apartment which has a modern feel with reception area, fitted kitchen, one bedroom and one bathroom. It also has the superb feature of having both gym and swimming pool which is a rarity within the Canary Wharf area.

This immaculately presented two bedroom apartment is situated within Boardwalk Place with views toward the harbour. Daily porterage, underground protected parking for two vehicles and with the Wharf just a few minutes walk away this apartment should not be overlooked.

£300 per week

£450 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

Coral Apartments, Royal Docks, E16

Landmark East Tower, London E14

A simply stunning two bedroom two bathroom apartment with fantastic views of the Royal Docks, Canary Wharf and the London skyline. Presented and furnished immaculately this property offers great accommodation for anyone looking for quality with excellent transport links into Canary Wharf or the City.

We are pleased to offer this two bedroom apartment found within the brand new Landmark Tower. The block is conveniently located within walking distance of Canary Wharf and Canary Wharf Jubilee Line tube station is close by.

This development also includes a 24 hour concierge and a fully equipped gym.

£495 per week

£575 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank

Port East Apartments, London E14

Ontario Tower, London E14

We are delighted to offer this two bedroom furnished apartment within this Grade I Listed building of Port East.

This apartment is full of character, exposed brick, wood beams and solid oak wood flooring all running through this property.

We are proud to offer this rare opportunity to rent this three bedroom apartment. The block is conveniently located within easy reach of Blackwall DLR so access into Canary Wharf/Bank can be achieved very easily, with Canary Wharf Jubilee Line tube station close by, a destination in central London can be reached within a short space of time.

£595 per week

£1600 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

Discovery Dock East, London E14

Westcombe Park Road, Greenwich, London SE3

This two bedroom apartment is approximately 800sqft and is extremely bright and airy. In brief the accommodation comprises of a spacious reception area with room for dining and entertaining and offers views of Canary Wharf and The O2 via a wrap around terrace.

We are delighted to offer this lower ground floor apartment closely located to Greenwich Park. This apartment has been tastefully refurbished throughout and benefits from solid oak flooring, a contemporary kitchen, a large living room and two immaculate bathrooms. This charming property also has access to a landscaped front garden.

£550 per week

£675 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank

Osprey Court, St Katharine Docks, E1W

Newell Street, Limehouse, E14

Situated in City Quay, a highly regarded development set around St Katharine’s Dock, a good sized 2 bedroom flat finished to a high standard. Reception room, separate kitchen, 2 bathrooms, garage parking space, 24 hour porterage. 98 sq m (1055 q ft)

Situated in the St Anne’s Limehouse conservation area, a charming 3/4 bedroom Grade II listed house with 74’ garden backing onto the churchyard. The house retains many original period features and has been carefully renovated. 161 sq m (1737 sq ft)

Leasehold 981 years

Freehold

Guide Price: £925,000

Guide Price: £795,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Wapping 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/Wapping 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Telfords Yard, Wapping, E1W With an open outlook, on the second floor of a substantial building set around a pretty cobbled courtyard. Reception room, kitchen, master bedroom & en suite shower room, second bedroom, bathroom, gas CH, parking space, lift, porterage 117 sq m (1267 sq ft) Share of Freehold

Trafalgar Court, Wapping E1W On the first floor of a popular purpose built block set around delightful planted garden areas, a charming flat which has been upgraded from the original specification. Kitchen, en suite shower, bathroom, balcony, parking. 82 sq m (890 sq ft) Share of Freehold

Guide Price: £595,000

Guide Price: £575,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Wapping 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/Wapping 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank

Telfords Yard, The Highway, Wapping, E1W

New Crane Wharf, New Crane Place, E1W

With a splendid part double height reception room rising to the pitch of the roof and an extensive galleried study, a two double bedroom apartment with a terrace on both it’s east and west sides. As well as the upstairs gallery there are two rooms, one for storage and one with a skylight window which could be used as another bedroom/study.

Large two double bedroom two bathroom apartment set in this popular 24 hour portered development on Wapping High Street. This spacious top floor flat has a large L shaped reception room, fully fitted kitchen, two spacious double bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en-suite), parking and a huge stylish roof terrace with views down Wapping High St.

£700 per week

£575 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Sugar House, City Quarter, London, E1

Orient Wharf, Wapping High Street, E1W

Stylish and spacious one bedroom apartment in the popular 24 hour portered development. This large one bedroom flat has been finished to a high standard offering a beautiful bathroom suite with separate shower and an interior designed furniture package. Tower Hill and Aldgate stations are a short walk and moments from the center of the City.

Smart refurbished one bedroom 3rd floor apartment set in west Wapping. This bright apartment has a newly fitted kitchen and bathroom, wooden floors and is available furnished. Located with easy access to St Katharine’s Dock, Tower Hill and Waitrose supermarket.

£425 per week

£350 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank

St Pancras Chambers, Euston Road, NW1

Free Trade Wharf, 340 The Highway, E1W

An impressive selection of apartments set in this magnificent Grade 1 Listed development. This great unit is set on the third floor offering 1076 sq ft and boasting high ceilings, lovely windows, fully fitted kitchen, modern bathrooms with shower, real wooden floors and views to the back of the building. Parking available under separate negotiation.

Newly refurbished bright and spacious 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment, in the popular Free Trade Wharf development overlooking the River Thames. The property boasts modern decor with wood flooring throughout, modern luxury bathroom suites, fitted kitchen with granite work surfaces, fantastic 45 sq mtr terrace overlooking the gardens.

£795 per week

£550 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Bezier Apartments, City Road, London, EC1Y

Chinnocks Wharf, Narrow Street, E14

Stylish, brand new 1 bedroom 3rd floor apartment to rent in this popular portered development moments from Old Street station and a short walk in to The City and Shoreditch. This modern south facing apartment has a lovely fully fitted open plan kitchen, contemporary bathroom, under floor heating, comfort cooling and new interior designed furniture package.

Spacious 2 double bedroom 2 bathroom 1st floor apartment set in this portered development in popular Narrow Street in Limehouse. This smart apartment, furnished to a good standard boasting a bright reception with a semi open plan fully fitted kitchen, 2 double bedrooms (both on the river), 2 bathrooms, underground parking and a private balcony.

£525 per week

£450 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank

Basin Approach, Limehouse Basin, E14

St Pancras Chambers, Euston Road, NW1

Outstanding 3 bedroom house, close to Limehouse DLR and Canary Wharf. This stylish home, finished to a high standard boasts 228 sq mtr (2460 sq feet) of living space.

This modern property has a large reception on the top floor with a semi open plan kitchen and a balcony with marina views.

With a family/media room, private garage and a large drive.

Magnificent Grade 1 Listed development. This spacious and bright two bedroom two bathroom 1044 sq ft apartment is on the 4th and 5th (top) floors offering lots of original features, lovely windows, a fully fitted kitchen, modern bathrooms with showers, wooden floors, south facing views to the front of the building and available on a furnished basis.

£1200 per week

£750 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Towerside, Wapping High Street, E1W

Gun Place, Wapping Lane, Wapping, E1W

Newly refurbished 2 double bedroom 4th floor unfurnished apartment to rent in this purpose built riverside development.

This bright south facing apartment has a good size reception with a newly fully fitted kitchen, wooden floors, two good size double bedrooms, bathroom with shower, underground parking and great river views from the private terrace.

Bright south west facing 2nd floor one bedroom apartment to rent in this portered development in central Wapping, moments from the station. This furnished apartment has a good size reception with a semi open plan fitted kitchen, double bedroom with en-suite bathroom, guest WC, excellent storage , very quiet, with a top floor communal roof terrace.

£450 per week

£350 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

savills.co.uk

St. John’s Court, E1w Reception room u kitchen u 2 bedrooms u 2 bathrooms u off street parking u patio

St. John’s wharf, E1w Savills Docklands 80 Wapping High Street, E1W 2NE

docklands@savills.com

020 7456 6800

Reception room u kitchen u 3 bedrooms u Savills Docklands 2 bathrooms u balcony u porter u secure 80 Wapping High Street, E1W 2NE docklands@savills.com allocated parking

020 7456 6800

Asking Price £470,000 Share of Freehold

Asking Price £1.3 million Share of Freehold

Galaxy Building, E14

Eaton House, E14

reception room, kitchen, 4 bedrooms (3 en suites), bathroom, balcony, 3 parking spaces, riverside views, concierge, 24hr security

£1.6 million Leasehold

Savills Canary Wharf 4 Westferry Circus, E14 4HD

canarywharf@savills.com

020 7531 2500

reception room u 3 bedrooms u 3 bathrooms u 2 terraces u riverside views u car parking space u concierge u 24hr security and leisure facilities

£2.325 million Leasehold

Savills Canary Wharf 4 Westferry Circus, E14 4HD

canarywharf@savills.com

020 7531 2500

savills.co.uk

CUMBERLAND MILLS, E14 2 bedrooms u 2 bathrooms (1 en suite) u 2 private terraces u private parking u porterage

PORT EAST APARTMENTS, E16 Savills Canary Wharf 4 Westferry Circus, E14 4HD

canarywharf@savills.com

020 7531 2500

2 bedrooms u 2 en suite bathrooms u guest cloak u reception room u 24hr porter u grade I listed u original features

£450 per week Flexible Furnishings

£595 per week Furnished

Cinnabar Wharf, E1w

Canary Riverside, E14

2 bedrooms u 2 bathrooms (1 en suite) u reception room u terrace u balcony u parking u 24hr porterage u river views

£795 per week Furnished

Savills Docklands 80 Wapping High Street, E1W 2NE

docklands@savills.com

020 7456 6800

3 bedrooms u 3 en suite bathrooms u reception room u private parking u balcony u porterage u direct river views u communal gardens

£1300 per week Furnished

Savills Canary Wharf 4 Westferry Circus, E14 4HD

canarywharf@savills.com

020 7531 2500

Savills Canary Wharf 4 Westferry Circus, E14 4HD

canarywharf@savills.com

020 7531 2500

living local

HOT PROPERTY: City Slicker

This simply stunning one bedroom apartment has been lovingly refurbished throughout to an exacting specification, with no expense spared. The newly fitted bathroom includes under floor heating, feature wall and roll top bath. The unusually spacious open plan reception has an engineered wood floor throughout, while the master bedroom benefits form a substantial walk-in wardrobe.Â

It is rare to find one bedroom apartments of this size in such a sought-after location. In total the property extends to in excess of 700 square foot of internal accommodation. This elegant city home is immaculate throughout and would be an ideal first time purchase or pied a terre.

Reservoir Studios is located within 100 meters of Limehouse DLR station making it ideal for transportation into The City and Canary Wharf.

Limehouse, E14 ÂŁ309, 950 Lourdes Estates www.lourdes-estates.com

020 7538 9252 125

LEFT-HAND

Hamptons City Office Sales. 020 7236 8398 city@hamptons-int.com

Prescot Street, E1 £365,000 Leasehold

Creechurch Lane, EC3 £375,000 Leasehold

This fabulous split level one bedroom apartment with mezzanine dining and dressing areas is on the second floor of this award winning Art Deco conversion.

Set on the 4th floor of an extremely popular lift-serviced period building just off Fenchurch Street, this one bedroom apartment is well presented and superbly located.

Bishopsgate, EC2 £399,950 Leasehold

Leyden Street, E1 £485,000 Leasehold

This superb one bedroom penthouse apartment is beautifully presented and has a fantastic roof terrace and is situated a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street station.

This 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment is beautifully presented with wooden floors throughout and is well located on the edge of the City.

Princelet Street, E1 £2,250,000 Freehold

City Road, EC1 £675,000 Leasehold

This Grade II-listed family house is located in the Fournier Street Conservation Area, in the heart of historic Spitalfields, and has a separate garden studio.

This superb 2 bedroom City apartment is on the second floor of the hugely popular Lexington Apartments, is well presented with a garden-facing balcony.

From their first steps to the first visit to the grandchildren, Hamptons International know what makes a family home. The comfort it will provide. The memories it will hold. We see beyond the bricks and mortar to help you find somewhere that’s, well, home.

RIGHT-HAND

Hamptons Tower Bridge Office Sales. 020 7407 3173 towerbridge@hamptons-int.com

Ivory House, E1W Asking Price £3,000,000 Leasehold A penthouse in one of the City’s most highly sought-after warehouse conversions, this stunning 4 bedroom apartment has triple aspect views overlooking St Katharine Docks.

Clink Wharf, SE1 Asking Price £2,650,000 Share of Freehold A spectacular 2,500 sq ft river front apartment with exposed brickwork in the heart of Borough Market, with views of the Thames, St Pauls and across the City.

Garage parking.

It’s important to make time for the things you love. At Hamptons International we take all the strain out of managing your move. Leaving you free to enjoy the finer things in life, safe in the knowledge that everything’s being taken care of.

LEFT-HAND

Hamptons City Office Lettings. 02 7236 8399 citylettings@hamptons-int.com

Assam Street E1 £325 per week

Upper Thames Street EC4 £675 per week

A spacious one bedroom apartment in the popular Aldgate Triangle development benefiting from 24 hour concierge and a communal gym. Available furnished

A rare opportunity to rent a river facing two bedroom apartment in this popular development benefiting from direct river views. Available furnished.

High Timber Street EC4 £390 per week

Folgate Street E1 £485 per week

A well located one bedroom apartment in this popular riverside development with daytime concierge and an impressive atrium. Available furnished

A two bedroom, two bathroom apartment in the heart of the buzzing Spitalfields benefitting from 24 hour concierge and a communal gym. Available furnished.

St Katherine Docks E1 £850 per week

Ludgate Hill EC4 £600 per week

A well presented two bedroom two bathroom apartment in this popular dockside development benefitting from 24 hour concierge. Available unfurnished

A superb two bedroom apartment within an enviable location next to St Pauls benefitting from high ceilings and hard wood floors. Available furnished

The Hamptons International team always go further to meet your personal property needs, whatever they may be. Over 97% of our clients say they would use us again or recommend us to others. Let us show you why.

RIGHT-HAND

Hamptons Tower Bridge Office Lettings. 020 7407 3173 towerbridgelettings@hamptons-int.com

Merganser Court, E1w £495 per week

Ontario Tower, E14 £1800 per week

A beautiful one bedroom apartment boasting spacious bedroom and reception room, with access to balcony overlooking St Katharine’s Dock, parking and porter.

Stunning three bedroom Penthouse with three bathrooms with accommodation over two floors in Ontario Tower and spectacular views over the River Thames.

Searles Road, SE1 £475 per week

Vanilla and Sesame, SE1 £365 per week

A charming two bedroom house set within this popular school conversion, large reception room leading to patio garden, guest WC and two double bedrooms.

A one bedroom apartment offered in excellent order throughout arranged on the 3rd floor of a warehouse conversion situated in the heart of Shad Thames.

Fountain Court, SE1 £430 per week

Wheat Wharf, SE1 £595 per week

A two bedroom apartment set on the 2nd floor of a purpose built block offered with neutral decor throughout and bright reception room with balcony.

A stunning two bedroom apartment, within a warehouse conversion. Boasting open plan kitchen/living/dining area, two recently refurbished bathrooms, parking.

Renting a property is no reason to accept anything less than the perfect home. It’s still your personal oasis. Albeit for a shorter timeframe. That said nearly all our tenants renew their contracts. Proof that we know how to make people feel right at home.

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GDL_2011_Canary_297x210.indd 1

14/03/2011 15:53

newHOMES

Your essential guide to new local developments. Read up to the minute information about star apartments, good investments, yet to be launched to the market properties, and the best in innovative design, architectural excellence and chic, city style. This dedicated section covers luxury projects throughout Blackheath, Camberwell, Dulwich and other select areas of South East London.

Development Focus

city living in modern penthouses

Market Comment

The tide begins to turn for house sales

newhomes

Property Latest

By Ben West

£1bn profit One Hyde Park, the world’s most expensive apartments is set to dramatically exceed expectations.

Developers Candy and Candy say their luxury residential development, One Hyde Park, is going to result in a substantial profit of over £1bn.

There are less than 30 apartments left on the market, with 50 having already been sold. Prices start at around £6.5m for a one-bedroom apartment, while one penthouse was recently sold

for £135m, with property experts saying it was the most expensive property in the world. Retail space on the ground floor has also been sold to Rolex and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, netting the developers another cool £50m.

The ambitious Candy brothers are renowned in the industry for their lavish developments, but the One Hyde Park project is their most ambitious and expensive yet. Though it has also proved to be the most profitable.

Market comment “New properties are finally beginning to come onto the market, replenishing the depleted stock levels we experienced for so much of the last year,” says Ed Mead, director at London estate agents Douglas and Gordon, of the current market. “Sellers are more savvy about overvaluations and if they aren’t selling at the expected price, they are starting to talk at levels where an increasing number of buyers seem prepared to pay.

“Similar to last year, the market seems late but volumes will not get off the ground until May as vendors are choosing to launch their property after the April/May bank holidays and the Royal wedding. The impending one per cent stamp duty rise on properties over £1m next month has generated a flurry of buyers hurriedly offering on properties to complete ahead of the rise. Whilst this has helped the number of sales in the first two months of this year, we’re preparing for stock levels and interest for properties over the £1m mark to be less in the second half of 2011.”

Spruce up your home for a spring sale

With spring in the air, and traditionally the busiest selling time of the year approaching, now is perhaps the optimum time for home movers to put their property on the market. But in order to achieve the best possible price, it is important to give your property a spring health check and carry out essential repair and maintenance work following the long winter.

Check exterior brickwork for cracked brickwork and crumbled cement, and repair before moisture has a chance to seep in. Damp can take hold extremely quickly and will be instantly picked up on a survey.

Check the roof - wind and weather damage can exacerbate loose and

missing roof tiles. Look for cracks in the roofing felt. Visit the loft to look for indications of problems like watermarks on roof timbers or daylight showing through.

Clean out blockages in gutters to avoid leaks and check for cracks and other damage. Clean paths and patios of any debris. Make sure leaves and debris aren’t blocking airbricks and vents, which could lead to damp.

Wind and damp can cause considerable damage to wooden fences and sheds, so treat them with a wood preservative or paint to smarten them up and prevent rotting.

Winter weather can cause exterior wall paint to flake or fall off, exposing the brickwork underneath. This can really impact on the overall impression of your property, so repaint if necessary.

Spring is an excellent time to get your chimney inspected and swept by a chimney sweep, which reduces the risk of fires after heavy winter use.

Adjust central heating to a summer setting to save energy. Bleed radiators to banish air pockets, which helps keep the heating system in top condition.

Spring is also the perfect time to organise an annual boiler service.

New guide for landlords Just published, is the new edition of Renting & Letting, a Which? Essential Guide. This definitive handbook for all landlords and tenants is packed with detailed information on your rights and obligations. It guides you through the possible pitfalls and explains vital financial and legal considerations in an accessible, jargon-free manner.

Written by property expert Kate Faulkner, Renting & Letting is fully updated for 2011 and includes details on tenants’ rights, landlord’s obligations, key safety certificates, making the most of your investment and tips on renovation and maintenance.

Development DIGEST...

West Smithfield This beautifully presented second floor studio apartment would make an ideal pied a terre.

Located within a former bank building in the heart of West Smithfield, it is in close proximity to St Paul’s and Barbican underground stations.

The apartment has a bright studio room with recessed kitchen area and shower room. £299,950 www.hurford-salvi-carr.co.uk

East Central At the Persimmon Homes development on Seward Street, an attractive two-bedroom, modern apartment is currently available. It has a spacious open plan kitchen reception, large double-glazed windows throughout and wood floors to most rooms. There are two private parking spaces and a security entry phone system. Seward Street is located just off Goswell Road, which has a number of coffee shops, pubs and restaurants and gives quick and easy access to the heart of Clerkenwell, Angel, Farringdon and the City. The closest tube stations are Old Street, Barbican & Angel. £550, 000 www.spencerthomas.co.uk

For more information, visit www.which.co.uk/books

133

newhomes

DEVELOPMENT FOCUS Spotlight on Streamlight Swan New Homes are set to unveil chic apartments in the heart of London’s Docklands, ideally located for business and leisure

T

he Swan Housing group has diversified from its successful social housing projects to produce a high quality development entitled Streamlight, a private residential building of 93 one, two and three bedroom apartments.

Undoubtedly the new homes will attract the commuteconscious, owing to their location just moments from the lively business centre of Canary Wharf and the DLR station of Blackwall. Therefore Swan have ensured that the design and styling of the apartments is particularly suited to City slickers with busy lifestyles.

Inside each property, a soft and neutral colour palette is complimented by glossy chrome fittings and downlighters throughout, giving a luxurious and contemporary feel. Attention to detail is evident with ceramic floor tiling to communal areas, under floor heating and Sky+ wiring to the master bedroom.

The kitchens are open-plan and modern environments equipped with high-gloss units and integrated stainless steel appliances supplied by Smeg. These include a washer-dryer and dishwasher for ultimate convenience, while the three-bed apartments will also have use of a fitted microwave.

Bathrooms and en-suites are similarly sleek, with fullheight tiling for practicality, fresh white Roca sanitary wear and heated towel rails and the first two bedrooms will benefit from spacious wardrobes with sliding doors.

The quality of the Streamlight design extends beyond each individual apartment to the wider construction of the building and its associated lifestyle. The tower has been awarded an EcoHomes rating of’ Excellent’ to reflect the use of a CHP boiler and green roof to encourage local wildlife. And other environmentally conscious features include a high level of insulation, wide use of recycled materials and outside amenity space for each apartment.

In addition to this, the building will benefit from a comprehensive concierge service akin to that of a fivestar hotel. Housed in an impressive entrance hall, the management team will ensure the efficient functioning of core services, security and maintenance which will continually evolve in consultation with residents.

Understandably the Streamlight tower will have wide appeal and while there are two gorgeous duplex

Star Property Set atop the 24-storey Streamlight tower development are two duplex penthouses, each with three bedrooms. They offer unrivalled views across Canary Wharf and Greenwich, en-suites and southfacing balconies, as well as a high quality designer finish in keeping with the minimalist yet plush interiors of the other properties.

The two penthouse kitchens are particularly desirable, having been exclusively created by actress and fashion guru Sadie Frost. They feature the latest Miele appliances including a wine cooler, coffee maker and steamer incorporated into a glamorous curve of glass and wood units.

At an exclusive launch for the Streamlight tower, Sadie spoke of her intention to make a stylish yet family-friendly space in the penthouses: “The kitchen is central to family life and the choices I made were influenced by the things I know are crucial in a functional but high quality kitchen,� she said.

This sentiment is echoed throughout the properties. All profits from the sale of the penthouses will go directly into building affordable homes on the same site.

penthouses available for those looking for something special, some of the apartments are also available as part of a shared ownership scheme. Swan New Homes anticipate that this option will provide a very affordable and attractive investment opportunity for those eager to join the East London renaissance ahead of the Olympics.

The wider area is already a hotbed of leisure amenities. The high-end restaurants, shops and bars of Canary Wharf are within walking distance and the tower overlooks The 02 arena with its enticing event programme and vibrant nightclubs. For this reason, the apartments are not only viable pads for the working week, but perfectly placed to enjoy the weekend life that London has to offer.

When the Olympic site is finished, the venue will be reachable within twelve minutes. This also means the apartments possess great rental potential and are highly likely to appreciate in value from their ÂŁ295,000 starting point. n www.streamlighte14.co.uk

135

newhomes

for better, OR WORSE With a constantly changing industry and a challenging economy, Ron Radway looks at the ups and downs of the mortgage market

F

ollowing our winter of discontent will hope return this Spring? The season for statistics is now upon us, and, as usual, these figures are open to interpretation and much confusion.

Let’s take two recent trade headlines. The first: ‘House prices and transactions rise’ from LSL/Acadametrics brought cheerful news, and contrasted nicely with second: ‘House purchase lending plummets 26 per cent’ as gravely informed by the CML. So, who is right and who is wrong? The answer is neither, or both, dependent upon points of reference, and what end of the telescope one is looking through!

If one can stay awake long enough to study the minutiae of percentages and trends, either the changes are too small as not to matter, or too obvious to warrant comment.

It begs the question, are these statistical studies worthwhile? I’m sure the big corporates enjoy them, it gives them a sense of purpose, but I wonder whether the average man on the street finds them useful, or just plain perplexing.

136

I prefer to trust my own experience. And I can report that my own practice is running at record levels over the past four months, both in enquiries and approvals. My practice has always been a good barometer of moods and trends, because it does not specialise in certain sectors and niches, and so gathers from a broad spectrum, which I believe makes my own stats, although on a small scale and merely anecdotal, more relevant and indicative.

There is clear evidence of improvement, as people, tired of placing their lives on hold, are venturing out; with lenders regaining an appetite to lend – certainly at its best since the credit crunch outset.

Having praised them, I must also report that high levels of pedantry and obtusity are still prevalent, and if you want help to wade through the maze an independent mortgage broker can be found near you by visiting www.unbiased.co.uk or www.houseandfinance.co.uk. n Ron Radway is a mortgage consultant for OneCall Financial Advice Centre. For further information, visit www.onecallonline.co.uk or call 0203 174 0422.

KV

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CityPoint Kidbrooke Village

London

Kidbrooke Village

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SE3

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London

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MeridianGate

CatorPark

BlackheathQuarter

SE9

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For park views.

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London

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WATERLOO

KENSINGTON

VICTORIA

CANARY WHARF

LAMBETH

M4 M4

M25

CHELSEA

BROMPTON

PECKHAM

VAUXHALL

HAM RIVER T ES

CLAPHAM

GREENWICH

CAMBERWELL BROCKLEY

HOUNSLOW

DULWICH

RICHMOND UPON THAMES

BLACKHEATH

KV

KidbrookeVillage

London Borough of Greenwich

BEXLEY Riv

City Point, the first phase at Kidbrooke KV has arrived.

KV KV KV Village KV Launching Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th March 2011.

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CityPoint

SE9

London

SE3

MeridianGate

CatorPark

BlackheathQuarter

Kidbrooke Village

Kidbrooke Village

London

SE3

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Kidbrooke Village

London

SE3

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CapitalPlaza

Kidbrooke Village

London

SE3

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KINGSTON UPON THAMES

London

Rav

Kidbrooke Village

WIMBLEDON

BROMLEY

M25

MERTON

Choose from a range of contemporary apartments overlooking Sutcliffe

Prices and details correct at time of going to press.

Computer Generated Image of City Point at Kidbrooke Village. Photography depicts typical interior from previous Berkeley development. *Journey times are approximate only. www.tfl.gov.uk. Map not to scale.

Park, with concierge and private residents’ gym - located just 15 minutes by CROYDON train from London Bridge*. er

For more information or to book your appointment to view EPSOM please call 020 8150 5151

Dare n t

SUTTON 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments from £207,500

Riv

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M25

M25

LONDON BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT

Kidbrooke Village. For London. For everyone.

M26

M25

LEATHERHEAD M

ol

M25

M25

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www.kidbrookevillage.co.uk Delivered in proud partnership with:

Appointed Agents:

MAYFAIR CHARING CROSS WATERLOO KNIGHTSBRIDGE BROMPTON

M20

newhomes

State of the market Carl Davenport, Associate Director Chesterton Humberts, Tower Bridge, comments on the state of the residential property market

City apartments AND pied a terres are now in popular demand

C

ontrary to some expectations, we have seen high levels of activity at our Tower Bridge office over the last few months. Spring has finally sprung and activity is increasing on both the vendor and purchaser sides.

Last month was recorded as the best performing month for volume of sales agreed for four years in our office. This demonstrates that buyers are confident in investing in bricks and mortar once again, and that a central London location is a distinct favourite.

These comforting figures have been greatly helped along in central London by the City bonus, and it is

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no surprise that out of all the buyers who registered through us last month, some 70 per cent are directly employed in the banking and finance sectors.

A lot of these high-earners are looking for central London homes, and the City and its fringes will always be a keen favourite, mainly, of course, because of the amount of people who work in the area. The number of requests for ‘not more than a 30 minute walk to work’ is already high and growing; especially with increased travel fares and ongoing London transport maintenance works.

We also have many clients who want to purchase a London pied-a-terre to utilise during the working week. Such buyers usually own a primary property in locations such as Surrey, Guildford, East Sussex, Chelmsford and Henley, but cannot stomach the daily commute to the City.

The surrounding development of certain pockets like the Square Mile and the Heron is boosting prices and the popularity of the City. Frobisher Crescent in the Barbican is an example of a greatly successful development; there are currently only a few apartments left for sale. In response to this demand, coupled with a constant lack of supply, competitive bidding is a frequent occurrence which helps to keep prices buoyant.

We recently had a situation involving two highpowered City women who were determined to buy the same pied-a-terre. Eventually, the vendor received offers over the asking price as each woman outbid the other; and this is certainly not an isolated example.

The area is also highly popular with investors; in an uncertain economic landscape people want to have security and steady growth, yet stocks and shares are failing to achieve this at the moment despite a strong FTSE. Property, on the other hand, presents a more attractive option, with current rental yields at four per cent plus in the right locations, coupled with record low mortgage rates.

With the 2012 Olympic Games fast approaching and the rapid instalment of Crossrail, which will simplify and speed up the City link to Heathrow, things are looking very good for the Capital, and the City in particular. n

se ou th ng en ini e p ma On re Built on the historic Lovell’s Wharf site and designed to maximise light and magnificent views along the river, Lovell’s offers a collection of bright, spacious one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses with extensive terraces, all finished to an exceptionally high standard and ready to move into now.

Penthouse £835,000*

A development by

Photograph taken from Lovell’s at 6.30am

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Call now to book an appointment to view the show apartments 020 8090 0276 www.liveatlovells.com * Price correct at time of going to print

H A C K E T T. C O M

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