issue 38
June 2015
£6
the season starts here
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LOGICAL ONE BLACK TITANIUM
Logical one Black Titanium by Romain Gauthier features a revolutionary, frictionminimising sapphire-link chain, together with snail cam and sapphire-lined mainspring barrel, offering nearly two days of constant force – the holy grail of precision watchmaking. The beautifully hand-finished manufacture movement can be appreciated both dial side and through the display back, and is wound using the integrated ergonomic winding pusher on the side of the sleek black titanium case. Logical one Black Titanium: High precision, casual elegance, fine Swiss watchmaking.
THE V12 VANTAGE S EXTREME SPORTS
POWER: 565BHP ACCELERATION: 0-60MPH IN 3.7 SECONDS SPEED: 205MPH Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S urban 12.6 (22.5); extra-urban 27.7 (10.2); combined 19.2 (14.7). CO2 emissions 343 g/km. The mpg/fuel economy figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results obtained through laboratory testing and they are for comparability purposes only.
D R I V I N G I N I T S P U R E S T F O R M , T H E N E W V 1 2 VA N TAG E S H A S TA K E N A P OT E N T R E C I P E A N D T U R N E D U P T H E H E AT. T H E S C I N T I L L AT I N G 5 6 5 B H P 6 L I T R E V 1 2 E N G I N E A N D 7- S P E E D S P O R T S H I F T I I I T R A N S M I S S I O N F U S E E X P LO S I V E P E R F O R M A N C E W I T H TOTA L CO N T R O L . A TOP SPEED OF 205MPH MAKES THE V12 VANTAGE S THE FASTEST SERIES PRODUCTION ASTON MARTIN EVER MADE. TO EXPERIENCE THE INTENSITY OF THE V12 VANTAGE S YOURSELF, VISIT
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From the Editor...
this issue's timeline
Time of our lives – speeding across the Arabian Sea on a very, very fast boat. Tasting Time – admiring the view from the City’s Coq D’Argent. About time – at last the Ivy reopens. Time on our hands - getting lost in the beauty of the Chelsea Flower Show. Going back in time – admiring the stunning antique watches on display at the Patek Philippe exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery. Testing times – getting behind the wheel of the new Aston Martin Vanquish and BMW 2 series. Flight times – taking to the skies in private jets at the Elite London event at Biggin Hill
@tempusmagazine
When I graduated – many, many moons ago – my parents gave me a gift to celebrate. It was a Cartier Tank watch and I had never seen anything so beautiful. It must have taken them a fair while to save for it but I’m forever grateful as it sparked a life-long interest in timepieces. It looks as good today as it did then and I’ve worn it throughout the process of putting together this issue of Tempus magazine, which focuses on special coming-of-age milestones. Brilliant horology writer Ken Kessler gives us his expert opinion on the best watches to buy as gifts for young adults leaving university to embark on their careers. And we celebrate The London Season when, traditionally, debutantes made their first forays into society. In its glorious heyday The Season was, of course, also an excuse to bring together members of Britain’s elite classes in an endless whirlwind of festivities and pleasure. Not much has changed in 300 years, although now many of the events are open to all and are probably topped off by a private jet trip to Ibiza. On page 39, writer Laura Tennant (who herself was a debutante) reveals the history of The Season, which events to look out for and investigates the strong bonds formed between luxury watch brands and polo, Wimbledon and seasonal events. Elsewhere, you’ll find news on stunning penthouse homes, prestige cars and travel ideas that will get you reaching for your passport. Peter Dean comments on this year’s best rosé wines, Mark Southern discusses his passion for cycling and Tracey Schaverien reveals what it takes to get an appointment with the world’s best stylists. Enjoy the issue - and The Season’s greetings.
Dawn Alford Editor
Who we’ve worked with this issue
(plus we ask what their favourite event of the Season is)
Editorial Director
Dawn Alford
dawn@curvecontent.com
Ken Kessler is one
of Britain’s foremost horological writers and writes for the world’s best known magazines. . Ken reviews the very best watches to give as celebratory gifts on page 21.
Creative Director
Marcus Leitch
Chief Sub Editor
Graeme Allen Christina Ryder
Horology writer
Ken Kessler
Editor At Large
Tim Walker
"I dislike heat so quite like it when summer ends - however one event I really enjoy is the Montreux Jazz Festival"
Technology Editor
Peter Jenkinson
Motoring Editor
Jack Marsden
Beauty Editor
Tracey Shaverien
BBC Property expert
Martin Roberts
Fashion Editor
he has also written for many of the UK’s biggest newspapers and magazine. In this issue he explores the best in luxury home buys both here and abroad beginning on page 115.
Simon Brooke
Travel Editor
Mark Southern Wine & Drinks Editor
Peter Dean
Property Editor
Martin Roberts
"I've been going to Glastonbury for more than 30 years - it's a mini planet of eccentricity, art and music. There is nowhere on earth like it"
Shopping Editor
Emma Oliver
Director and CEO
Jay Boisvert
jay@curvecontent.com Business Development Manager
Ali Bastin is an
award winning actress and yoga fanatic. She visited Bali for us to sample life in the slow lane. Read her review on Page 102.
Ashley Collin
ashley@curvecontent.com Head of Sales & Partnerships
Ray Fieldhouse
ray@curvecontent.com Senior AccountManager
Nick Staunton
Finance Officer
Sue Jones
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tempusmagazine.co.uk
CURVE CONTENT
24
19
The Watchlist
Horology and auction news, plus luxury events and happenings from around the globe 24
The graduate
Which watch to buy for loved ones embarking on a new career 33
The Lux List
The best picnic sets in the world, how to get to summer events in style, and shopping ideas that will turn heads 39
The Season special
The Tempus guide to the season, its history and the events to be seen at 45
A man for all seasons
Fashion editor Simon Brooke on the correct attire for summer events
39
65
Outrageous fortune
Tempus editor at large Tim Walker why everyone needs media training 68
Great British beef
Three of the best steak restaurants reviewed 75
Designated drinker
Peter Dean goes on the hunt for the finest rose wines 78
Bespoked
A great excuse to get on your bikes - Mark Southern’s guide to posh peddling 88 Prestige
Test drive reports on the BMW 2 series and the Aston Martin Vanquish 95
A city like no other
Budapest charms with its history
88 - 17 -
102 Beautiful Bali
Ali Sebastian discovers One of the worlds best hotels and enjoys a spot or two of yoga
porsche design Timepieces
FIRST IN BLACK. THE NEW ORIGINAL.
Timepiece No. 1 | www.porsche-design.com/timepieces
A watch for good Uganda. Her picture shows a group of happy cheerleaders with pom-poms, celebrating a goal. Nakayenga grew up in the poor district of Nakulabye, close to the Ugandan capital of Kampala. HIV/AIDS is widespread here, sanitary facilities are poor. Now, thanks to financing from the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, she and her friends have access to sporting disciplines such as athletics, boxing, table tennis, volleyball and cycling.
IWC Schaffhausen has unveiled their special edition watch – Ingénieur – at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Shanghai. The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, with the characteristic Laureus blue on the dial, maintains one of the Swiss watchmaker’s grand traditions: part of the proceeds from sales will go to help children in crisis-hit areas of the world. The engraving on the back of the watch reproduces the drawing by a girl from Uganda, who won the IWC children’s drawing competition. The motif for this year’s engraving is based on the winning entry submitted for the 2014 drawing competition organised by IWC within all the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation projects worldwide. The subject, Time to celebrate, encouraged many children and young people from all over the world to submit entries. The jury selected the drawing by 13-year-old Nakayenga Zahara from Nakulabye in
Bali High
Lux conference gets Posh Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, President, International, The New York Times Company, said: “We look forward to offering business leaders, designers and artists the chance to meet and address the crucial questions affecting the luxury industry today.” .
Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
The New York Times International Luxury conference has become an unmissable event and this year celebrates its 15th anniversary in France, 17-18 November, at the grand Trianon Palace, Versailles. Titled Luxury Beyond Product, the event will bring together some of the biggest names in fashion and the arts to discuss the myriad ways in which brands connect with consumers in an ever more competitive luxury world. Speakers will include Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, artist Grayson Perry, Michael Kowalski, Chairman of Tiffany & Co and Britain’s very own posh girl Victoria Beckham.
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Cascades restaurant at Bali’s famous Viceroy Hotel has been voted one of the best restaurants in South East Asia. The luxury hotel serves a contemporary French menu, influenced by exotic Asian flavours. Add the exceptional backdrop of the Petanu River gorge and the brilliant service and no doubt more accolades will be on their way.
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A gem of a good buy A ruby graded “pigeons blood” – the highest quality of colour – has become the most expensive gemstone, other than a diamond, to be sold at auction. The Burmese ruby weighs 25.5 carats and was sold at Sotheby’s in Geneva for £19.5 million. Two private collectors competed for the lot, which came from a private collection of Cartier jewels owned by an anonymous seller. Sothebys said: “The market for coloured diamonds and precious gemstones has never been stronger.”
Heritage meets horology Thousands have already visited the Patek Philippe Watch Art Patek Philippe Grand Exhibition London and there are still a few more days left until it closes on 7 June. The exhibition celebrates Patek Philippe’s tradition of high-precision watch manufacturing, an insight into the company’s 175-year history as well as its heritage in the domain of haute horlogerie. It takes place at London’s Saatchi Gallery.
Starter for Ten
Snake tips Two extraordinary Bulgari Serpenti wristwatches have been sold from private collectors for a total of almost 1.3 million Swiss Francs at a Christie’s auction in Geneva. Both the diamond, ruby and gold Serpenti and the turquoise, emeralds and gold Serpenti wristwatches, were designed by Bulgari in the 1960s. Since their first introduction as wristwatches in the 1940s, Bulgari Serpenti creations have been seen by collectors as the emblem of Bulgari’s craftsmanship and creativity.
Guests visiting The Ten Room restaurant, located within the prestigious Hotel Café Royal in Piccadilly, are able to challenge the hotel’s talented brigade of chefs and bring along their favourite foods, from freshly caught fish, to home-grown vegetables or rare sourced spices. The Bring Your Own Ingredient menu, created by Executive Chef Andrew Turner and Chef de Cuisine Armand Sablon, is available during lunch and dinner service for tables of four people or more (subject to availability). The Bring Your Own Ingredient menu includes a glass of Champagne and canapés on arrival within the hotel’s kitchen, with the opportunity to meet the chefs and discuss the menu. Guests then head to their table in the Ten Room restaurant, to enjoy a four-course menu prepared on-site using up to four ingredients chosen by them. The chefs will also prepare a signed recipe of their preferred course for guests to take away.
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Time is our Family Value. The Robert Mühle Auf/Ab. In 2014, we had plenty of reasons to celebrate, with not only marking 145 years since the company was founded by Robert Mühle, but also the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of the family business. We from Mühle-Glashütte have therefore decided to celebrate this double anniversary by producing an exclusive special edition range consisting of three models featuring calibres manufactured by us. This special
new manufacturing line “R. Mühle & Sohn”. www.muehle-glashuette.de For your nearest stockist in the UK contact info@thebluecompanylondon.co.uk
0
2
edition range, which is named after the company’s founder, represents the launch of our
Rob eR ert Mühle Calibr
K M
www.feliosiby.com feliosiby
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Graduation gifts By Ken Kessler
A classic watch is timeless – which makes it the perfect gift of choice to mark your child’s graduation
Long before the Dustin Hoffman character in The Graduate was handed the keys to an Alfa Romeo Spider (lucky swine…), Americans had a tradition of presenting gifts to their offspring upon completing their education. And it happens not once, but twice: when graduating from high school and again after “college”. This tradition is insinuating its way into British culture, and it’s one to celebrate because the gifts recognise two key moments in life.The first is the obvious one, that of finishing one’s education. The other is that it marks a student’s entry into the real world, ideally a chosen career. And that’s why such gifts are selected with greater care than those offered at birthdays or Christmas. Often, it is the student’s first serious, costly gift. It should be something that matters. Graduation was once the preserve of the gift pen, but writing has metamorphosed into texting for this year’s crop of graduates, all of whom are “millennials”. With that in mind, you’d think that the best present – as wristwatches have replaced pens as the ideal gift – might be a smart watch, but that would be sending out the wrong message. Smart watches are ephemeral, with a program that will date. Classic, traditional watches, however, will impress upon the recipient that life is about the long term, that you are proud of the achievement. A classic watch will be cherished. Forever.
Junghans Max Bill Clean styling from a cool name designer, at a sane price. This watch oozes credibility and style.
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Hamilton Jazzmaster Auto Chrono For the grad with a passion for sports, an affordable chronograph that’s dressy enough to wear at business meetings or evening affairs.
Nomos Tetra ¡ Square watches possess a whiff of formality, of seriousness – just right for the law school graduate; timing is perfect for billing those costly hours.
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Oris Diver Sixty-Five So cool that watch journalists are falling all over themselves to snag one, this is a reissue of a diving watch from 1965, ideal for the outdoorsy type.
Bell & Ross Vintage BR123 Timeless styling, a military air and a lack of fuss – this watch is masculine and purposeful, attesting to one’s seriousness.
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Cartier Tank Even though it first appeared nearly a century ago, the Tank’s position as one of the earliest wristwatches of them all, allied to stunning styling that defies fashion, renders it a true icon. Wear this, and feel like Yves Saint Laurent, Andy Warhol, Stewart Granger…
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Tudor Pelagos A great watch that blurs the sport/dress distinction, this Tudor was styled in the 1960s and still looks utterly up-tothe-minute.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso When style and taste matter, this masterpiece – first developed for polo players who didn’t want the glass smashed – is so achingly chic that it is Hollywood’s favourite for providing a clue to a character’s refinement: worn by the ineffably urbane, from Bruce Wayne to Thomas Crown.
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Patek Philippe Calatrava Perhaps the greatest dress watch of all time? A classic from the 1930s, it speaks of one’s impeccable taste. Costly, but it will stay in the family for, as Patek Philippe puts it, “future generations”.
Rolex GMT-Master II The definitive watch for the high-flier, the Rolex GMT-Master II is the definitive two-time-zone model. First developed for the pilots of long-haul commercial flights, it remains the standard by which all other travel watches are judged. A must for the would-be oligarch, too.
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SPORTY GENT COLLECTION MECHANICAL AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT. CALIBRE AN 2846-10 WITH DATE FUNCTIONS. THIS COLLECTION BLENDS SPORTY APPEAL WITH CLASSY AND REFINED LOOKS. THE RUBBER PARTS WISELY INSERTED IN THE CASE, CROWN, PUSHERS AND BRACELET HAVE DEEPLY INCREASED THE COMFORT AND RESISTANCE TO SCRATCHES OF THIS AMAZING TIMEPIECE. THESE WATCHES ARE THE EXCELLENT ACCESSORIES ON A MAN’S WRIST DURING THE STRONGEST OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WHILE THE POLISHED STYLE MAKES IT THE PERFECT TIME PIECE FOR ANY OCCASION!
FOR INFORMATION: E-MAIL INFO@ARMANDNICOLET.COM PHONE +39 030 3772892
© 2015 TUMI, INC.
NICO ROSBERG · GLOBAL CITIZEN M E R C E D E S A M G P E T R O N A S F o r m u l a O n e T M Te a m D r i v e r
D E S I G N E D I N A M E R I C A F O R G LO B A L C I T I Z E N S
211 Regent Street, L ondon • 170 Piccadilly, Mayfair, L ondon • Westfield Shepherds Bush, L ondon Also available at Harrods and Selfridges
The car of the season
Perfect for polo, Henley or other country pursuits that involve parking in fields, this stylish Land Rover Defender has been created in collaboration with the British designer Sir Paul Smith. landrover.co.uk
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Seasonal must-haves From Glyndebourne to Wimbledon, everything you need to see in the Season
The banquet
Think lobster, cheese and truffles, and you’ll have some idea of this ready-made feast. Collect on the day only. £250 fortnumandmason.com
Visionary dream
Not an optical illusion, simply binoculars by Leica £1,700 leica-camera.com
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The Rolls-Royce of picnics
For a truly prestigious Goodwood experience, you’ll need a Phantom, complete with hamper and inlaid table for dining. POA rolls-roycemotorcars.com
Dumb waiter
Otherwise known as a traditional Trafalgar Tray table with separate base. £2,500 davidlinley.com
Commanding stature
Ebony Derby walking stick with sterling silver lapband. £450 james-smith.co.uk
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Fine dining
Meeting all your luxury picnicking needs, from Limoges Porcelain by Haviland to Robbe & Berking silver-plated cutlery, to an Angora picnic rug. £9,500 davidlinley.com
Turning heads
Sure to be the crowning glory at any British event. £1,875 philiptreacy.co.uk
You rang, madam?
Nothing could be finer than the bespoke service of a butler at your event. POA bespokebureau.com
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Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques | Jewellery | Watches
The Watch Sale Next sale taking place Tuesday 28th July at 11am Held on the last Tuesday of every month www.fellows.co.uk 0121 212 2131 Jewellery Quarter Saleroom | 19 Augusta Street, Birmingham B18 6JA 020 7127 4198 Mayfair Office | 2nd Floor, 3 Queen Street, London W1J 5PA
fellowsauctions
DBF003-07
230 TH ANNIVERSARY
Salute
The Season By Laura Tennant
From Fashion Week to Frieze and Glyndebourne to Glastonbury, the Season in 2015 reflects the capital’s seemingly perpetual social and creative buzz
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The Season is a glorious whirl of social and sporting events
A
s with all that’s best about Britain, the long-established social phenomenon that is The Season is an endlessly inventive blend of tradition and innovation. And it began back in 1780 when George III held an inaugural May Ball to raise money for a new maternity hospital he named after his wife Charlotte. Today, British society continues to feel an ancestral yearning to put on its glad rags and party. Queen Charlotte’s Ball had also been timed nicely to coincide with the end of the hunting season and the return of the English aristocracy from their country estates to London and went on to become one of the defining events of the capital’s social season. The ball survives to this day, albeit with rather different rules of admission. (Last year, in a characteristic blend of posh and populist, it was held at Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle and tables sold for £2,500). “For a small section of society,” explains social commentator Lucia van der Post, ‘“the three frantic months that traditionally begin with
the Chelsea Flower Show in May and finish on the Glorious Twelfth (of August, marking the beginning of the grouse shooting season when, in days of yore, society decamped en masse to Scotland) are very much alive and well.” All the more so because the manners, taste, style and leisure activities of the English upper classes are now a significant export. The international super-rich (particularly from Russia and the UAE) send their children to our private schools, and then enrol them at Debrett’s or the London Season Academy to learn “the protocol” that will allow them to move with confidence from the FROW at London Fashion Week and racing at Ascot, to polo at Cowdray Park (and then, as likely as not, by private jet to Ibiza). With an office in Dubai,Thelondonseason.org is on a mission to “continue British tradition and promote global protocol in today’s multicultural society” and, evidently, plenty are willing to pay for its services. Once your daughters have mastered English etiquette, they can “come out” as debutantes. The custom of presenting your daughter to the
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Queen, thereby announcing to the world that she was officially on the marriage market, was a tradition that persisted from the late 18th century right up until 1958. Twenty-five years ago, when I “came out”, Tatler’s social secretary, the legendary Peter Townend, would scour Burke’s Peerage & Baronetage to identify suitable young women coming of age that year. The fateful phone call would come, mothers would spring into action and houses would be re-mortgaged to pay for private balls and drinks parties. A master directory of female debutantes and male “debs’ delights”, run by Peter himself, meant the guest list for every event was an identical line-up of Sloane Rangers, as satirised and celebrated in 1982’s Handbook. At the time, it seemed a hopelessly oldfashioned, embarrassing and doomed enterprise. London in 1985 was the scruffy HQ of a nation in decline, not the world city we know (and mainly love) today – why would anyone want to introduce their daughters to society here, or join our upper classes at play at the quaint, outmoded
Dutourdumonde Photography
Stuart Slavicky
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sporting and social events they seemed to enjoy? The birth of Cool Britannia, plus a favourable tax regime for the international super-rich, changed all that. As London became the place to be, politically stable, artistically and historically rich and financially advantageous, successive waves of Greek shipping magnates, Arabs, Asians and Russians arrived to make the most of the British USP. The UHNWIs buying up property in Belgravia and sending their sons to Eton may not have merited an ancestral listing in Burke’s; but what of it, when they had unlimited sums to spend on British class and culture? The inaugural Raisa Gorbachev Foundation party at Althorp in 2006 was a seminal moment in the pimping of the British season. Bankrolled by Russian tycoon Alexander Lebedev, now the proprietor of the Evening Standard and the Independent, the party was planned by Urban Caprice along the theme of A Midsummer Russian Fantasy and featured performances by Elton John and Scissor Sisters. The Countess of Althorp commanded two wolves on a lead and the guest list ranged from posh party girls
like Lady Gabriella Windsor and India Hicks to glitzy celebs like Orlando Bloom and Elle MacPherson. The London Season would never be the same again. With corporate and foreign money flowing into their coffers, the traditional highlights are now bigger and better than ever, and are centred around the sporting events so beloved by the English upper classes (think racing at Ascot and Goodwood, the Henley Royal Regatta, Cowes Week, tennis at Wimbledon and the Cartier Queen’s Cup polo tournament). But alongside them are a myriad arts, cultural and fund-raising knees-ups, with a guest list which includes the British aristocracy, but adds to the mix rock stars, models, fashion designers, art collectors, Arab princesses, Russian oligarchs, captains of industry, City financiers, internet wunderkinds and Hollywood (as well as actual) Royalty. The criteria for entry are no longer lineage, family and a cut-glass accent, but money, fame and style. Yet none of these events would be anything like as attractive to the international
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jet set without a generous smattering of young British socialites like Violet, Alice and Eliza Manners, the three beauteous daughters of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland. (The sisters recently came in at numbers 4, 5 and 6 on the Tatler ‘List of People Who Really Matter’, the magazine being yet another upper-class institution miraculously reinvented for the 21st century.) Fittingly in a world in which debutantes rub shoulders with rock musicians, they are just as likely to be seen at music festivals like The Secret Garden Party or Glastonbury as they are at smart private parties in London. For just as important as the social mix is the huge variety of parties and events which all now fall within a year-round, international season. It embraces pop music festivals as much as highbrow gatherings of well-heeled classical music lovers like Glyndebourne, a fixture on the social calendar since the Christies founded their opera festival in 1934. Sophisticated culture vultures might add the literature festivals held at Cheltenham and Hay-on-Wye to their calendars (Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is a fan) and will
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Emily Taner
Featureflash
Featureflash
Key dates for your diary
certainly want to keep the London Film Festival and Cannes on their radar. London’s booming art world, meanwhile, has spawned a host of festivals, shows and parties, the most glamorous of which is probably the Serpentine Gallery’s Summer Party (guests last year included Keira Knightley, Cara Delavigne and Suki Waterhouse), although the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition private view comes a close second (think Alexa Chung, Laura Bailey, Joely Richardson and Yasmin and Amber Le Bon). Add to all that a slew of opulent charity balls like Sir Elton John’s annual White Tie and Tiara party (for his Aids Foundation) and Arpad Busson’s ARK dinners (to help disadvantaged children) and there is really no reason why the fun should ever stop. You’ll find no clearer sign that The Season is in rude health than the survival of Debrett’s, formerly a studbook for the upper classes much like Burke’s, now reborn 250 years after its foundation as a luxury lifestyle brand. Debretts.com is an elegantly designed treasure trove of information about every aspect of smart British mores and manners. Its comprehensive Events Diary would exhaust the most gregarious
of partygoers, even supposing they survived the jet lag (Art Basel, Miami Beach, the Venice Film Festival, the Formula 1 season, the Havana Jazz Festival and the Running of the Bulls Pamplona being just some of the many international shindigs it includes). Without an injection of the most recent variety of nouveau riche cash into London society, Britain’s bankrupted landed gentry would have had to call it a day. Sophie Campbell is the author of The Season: A Summer Whirl Through The English Social Season. “If you gather any set of humans together, for whatever reason – opera, plants, racing, rowing, literature – the early adopters will feel an intense sense of ownership that quickly turns to resentment when newcomers join in,” she points out. “Yet despite all the huffing and puffing an awful lot of old hands manage to stifle their feelings of outrage sufficiently to keep on coming… [In June] there will be up to 80,000 people at Royal Ascot’s Ladies’ Day. Roughly a tenth of them will be hatted and badged in the hallowed confines of the Royal Enclosure and about half of those will feel the other half shouldn’t be there. That’s all part of the fun.”
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Glyndebourne Opera Festival 15 May 2015 – 30 Aug 2015 Chelsea Flower Show 19 – 23 May 2015 Polo Season 20 May 2015 – 15 Sept 2015 English Test Cricket Season 21 May 2015 – 8 Sept 2015 Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival 21 – 31 May 2015 Garsington Opera 5 June 2015 – 18 July 2015 Derby Festival 5 – 7 June 2015 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 8 June 2015 – 16 Aug 2015 Cartier Queen’s Cup 14 June 2015 Royal Ascot 16 – 20 June 2015 Royal Highland Show 18 – 21 June 2015 Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup 20 June 2015 – 19 July 2015 Glastonbury 24 – 28 June 2015 Masterpiece London 25 June 2015 – 1 July 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed 25 – 28 June 2015 Wimbledon 29 June 2015 – 12 July 2015 Henley Royal Regatta 1 – 5 July 2015 British Grand Prix 3 – 5 July 2015 Cornbury Festival 10 – 12 July 2015 Latitude 16 – 19 July 2015 BBC Proms 17 July 2015 – 12 Sept 2015 The Secret Garden Party 23 – 26 July 2015 Glorious Goodwood 29 July – 1 Aug Edinburgh Fringe Festival 7 – 31 Aug 2015 Cowes Week 8 – 15 Aug 2015 The Glorious Twelfth 12 Aug 2015
The Royals Kate Middleton wears Cartier Ballon Bleu and Pippa Middleton favours a gold Rolex. Prince William wears an Omega Seamaster 300 M GMT, thought to be a present from his mother. Prince Harry wears a Rolex Explorer II 2 GMT.
Polo Rotary Watches has presented Rotary Revelation watches to the Beaufort Polo Club winning team, which included HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Harry. Jaeger-LeCoultre was last year confirmed as the new title sponsor for the Gold Cup for the British Open Polo.
Ascot Longines was the official sponsor of Royal Ascot 2014 and promoted its Conquest Classic ladies watch, featuring a mother-of-pearl dial and diamond set bezel, to accompany the event. It remains the official timekeeper.
Wimbledon
Rugby Bremont Chronometers recently signed up to sponsor Henley Rugby Club.
Rafael Nadal wears a Richard Mille RM 27-01, which contains an ultra-shockproof tourbillon and is the lightest sportswatch on the market. Roger Federer is an ambassador for Rolex (which also sponsors the tournament) and Novak Djokovic wears a Seiko Astron GPS Solar Chronograph. Andy Murray chooses a Rado HyperChrome Court for training and smartens up with the HyperChrome Automatic Chronograph in hightech plasma ceramic.
Cowes Boss Watches was last year’s official watch sponsor.
Opera Rolex (again) is a supporter of the Royal Opera House.
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A true legend of the skies Paying tribute to the iconic World War 1 aircraft, known as the ‘King of the Air Fighters’, the Sopwith Camel is the inspiration for Valour’s first offering – the Sopwith Aviator®, a limited edition model of only 200 individually numbered timepieces.
Different by design Introducing the Sopwith Aviator® desk stand, a truly elegant way to enjoy the timepiece in addition to wearing it on the wrist.
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A man for all seasons By Simon Brooke, Fashion Editor
T
he Season is a great British institution that goes from strength to strength. But woe betide those who get their dress wrong. As Debretts warns: “Dress codes are strictly observed in Britain – failure to comply would be considered rude or, at worse, you would be refused entry to the event.” The good news is that you can still look cool and contemporary while remaining within the dress code. “Occasions such as Ascot are inherently traditional,” says Oli Spencer of men’s outfitters Favourbrook. “Think 1920s elegance, matching a dogtooth waistcoat and dogtooth trousers, worn with a dark grey morning coat. In contrast, occasions such as weddings tend to embrace trends. For example, in 2011 there was a return to traditional morning dress following the buzz surrounding the Royal Wedding.”
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Black tie is always in fashion but the summer is a good time to push the sartorial envelope such as with this Gieves & Hawkes dinner jacket in jacquard print, matched with an immaculate white pleated shirt.
John Lewis & Co is the new luxury label from the well-known department store. Drawing on its archive this linen suit in mid brown is perfect for a smart but slightly less formal event. Continuing this elegant but more informal look, Wolsey has a range of polo shirts in citrus colours, including wasabi and pink.
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For a classic but slightly funky item to complete the picture, choose Crockett and Jones’s Ebury shoe. They come with a double buckle in navy calfskin, textured stone-coloured cotton canvas uppers and leather soles.
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BULANGANDSONS.COM
Image: Rob Truijen
Trident_ redefined. C60 TRIDENT GMT 600 – Swiss made dual time watch with automatic mechanical movement, graduated rotatable ceramic (ZrO2) bezel, arrow-headed 24 hour hand and water resistance to 60 bar/600m. Available in 38mm and 42mm case sizes, three dial/bezel combinations and four strap styles.
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Wedding Time for the perfect gift – the Wedding Season is on…
By Emma Oliver
Mapping lives together
Smythsons of Bond Street, brown leather, gilt-edged, hardback atlas. £550 smythsons.com
Cornish Minimoon
Play polo on the beach, surf the waves, or simply relax in stylish surrounds. POA beachretreats.co.uk
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The masterpiece
The Dalmore Patterson Collection comprises 12 fine works of art. £987,500 harrods.com
Four seasons
See through the perfect year with these crystal vases. £3,000 asprey.com
Geometric Art Deco
Steeped in design history, the Man Ray luxury beechwood chess set. £495 liberty.co.uk
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The call of the Siren
Charter this irresistible motor yacht (all 73.5m of her) for a honeymoon on the sea. Or buy one. POA cecilwright.com
Keepall by LV
When the luggage is more important than the travel. £2,000 uk.louisvuitton.com
Ceramic candle light
Envelop in the scent of Fornasetti, complete with decorative vase. £380 liberty.co.uk
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nigh
t
Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrated the launch of its flagship boutique on Old Bond Street. At the event were more than 150 close friends, clients and collectors, including professional polo players Luke Tomlinson, Eduardo Novillo Astrada and George Meyrick, actress and director Carmen Chaplin, photographer Astrid Muñoz, and Clare Mountbatten the Marchioness of Milford Haven.
wat ch
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By Tracy Schaverien
Personal styling has never been more popular with both men and women. Even those not in the public eye are hiring teams of facialists, dressers and make-up artists. But the smart set know it all starts with hair. Wherever you are in the world, a top hairdresser is never far away. And if they aren’t a quick taxi ride away, why not fly your own personal stylist out to your door? Here are some of the world’s most in-demand exclusive stylists...
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Taylor Taylor London Shoreditch, Brick Lane, Notting Hill, Maldives The Treatment This chain of trendy salons has branches from the East End to Portobello Road in the west. More recently, it has opened in the luxury One and Only Reethi Rah resort in the Maldives. Creative director Martin Cullen’s client list reads like a supermodel directory and he has travelled the world styling the locks of some of fashion’s biggest names for their catwalk appearances. Back in his London salons, which feature bronze vintage mirrors and oversized chandeliers, Martin’s appointments last a minimum of 90 minutes to ensure a personal service that focuses on long-lasting cuts, movement and the client’s personality. His team of stylists and colourists regularly have their work showcased in top fashion magazines and at Fashion Week.Taylor Taylor was voted Best Hairdresser in London, 2012.
Celebrity clients Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Cara Delevingne, Kylie Minogue, Gisele Bündchen. Salon exclusives Is the Caribbean sun taking its toll on your highlights? Or perhaps you need to look your best for a yacht party? No problem.Taylor Taylor can fly your own hand-picked stylist anywhere in the world for a first-class, personal service, making sure your locks are in tip-top condition, wherever you are. How to book 020 7377 2737 or Portobello Road, Notting Hill on 020 8960 8569 or online at taylortaylorlondon.com.
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Aldo Coppola Milan, Moscow, Monaco, KaZakhstan, London
Celebrity clients Jennifer Lopez, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell. Salon exclusives Stylists can be booked for home visits, while luxury specials include the Red Carpet Ready package, which is a hair, beauty and makeup experience to ensure you dazzle on a night out. How to book Go to aldocoppola.it/en/ store-locator/ for details of the salons.
The Treatment Revolutionary hairdresser Aldo began his career at the age of 12 in his father’s salon and went on to become possibly the world’s first celebrity stylist, working with Valentino and Armani and film stars including Sophia Loren. In the 1960s, he banished the beehive with his dry hair layering technique, and later invented spiral curling tongs which helped women achieve glamorous curls at home. While the great man died in 2013, his legacy lives on through the stylists he personally trained in his academy. In the salons, spacious styling suites offer shiatsu massage and chromotherapy to help balance energy. There are also VIP rooms, relaxed bar areas and technical lounges, where Aldo’s pioneering Shatush free-hand colouring technique – without the use of foils – takes place.
Celebrity clients Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, David Walliams, Christian Bale, Diane Kruger. SalonexclusivesThe VIP Gift Experience includes Champagne on arrival, a personal consultation, cut and style with Nicky himself, colour, hairdryer and styling tool and shampoo and conditioner. How to book There’s up to a two-week wait for an appointment with Nicky himself.To book, visit nickyclarke.com, call 0844 884 2444 or download the Nicky Clarke app.
Nicky Clarke Manchester, Birmingham, London The Treatment One of the UK’s best known celebrity stylists, Nicky’s 37-year career has seen him work with big names from Princess Diana to David Bowie. As a teenager, he learnt his craft from legendary hairdresser John Frieda and styled his first Vogue shoot when he was just 16. Nicky opened his first salon in 1991 and later launched his best-selling range of products. The salons promise “every client the ultimate hair experience” from creative and talented stylists and colour technicians who are trained in-house. Famed for his power ponytails, Nicky was awarded the OBE in 2008 for 30 years’ service to the hairdressing industry.
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Sally Hershberger Downtown New York, Uptown New York, Los Angeles One of the most influential and sought-after hairstylists on the planet, Sally runs her three eponymous salons in New York’s trendy Meatpacking District, the Upper East Side and on LA’s Cienega Boulevard. Known for her trendsetting vision, the famous “sweetheart shag” style she created for Meg Ryan back in the 1990s was copied the world over. As well as having a hands-on role in her salons, Sally is in demand with Hollywood’s top directors, photographers and fashion magazines. In 2008, Sally created her own luxury haircare range, Sally Hershberger Hair. She personally tests all products and her mission is to allow women to re-create her coveted styles at home. Celebrity clients Meg Ryan, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tom Cruise, Hillary Clinton, Kristen Stewart, Jane Fonda , John Mayer, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger. How to book Go to sallyhershberger.com for contact details.
Celebrity clients Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Wessex, Pippa Middleton, Samantha Cameron, Lily Allen, Jenson Button, Richard Hammond. Salon exclusives Home and external visits are available on request, while the salon offers a number of luxury packages, including Richard’s Total Transformation, a total look makeover from Richard himself, as well as a facial and mini manicure. There is also an in-house bar and chef for private parties and events. How to book Waiting times of 6 to 8 weeks for an appointment with Richard. Call 020 7730 1222 or online at richardward.com.
Richard Ward Hair and Metrospa Chelsea, London The Treatment If you’ve ever wondered how the Duchess of Cambridge keeps her glossy chestnut locks looking so good, here is your answer. Kate Middleton, sister Pippa and mother Carole are long-time fans of celebrity stylist Richard, whose 5,000 sq ft, award-winning salon in Chelsea’s Sloane Square was a pioneer of the super salon concept. Awarded a Fellow of Distinction from the prestigious Fellowship of British Hairdressing, Richard’s famous Chelsea Blowdry is a favourite among some of the world’s most stylish ladies. Following an ethos that modern hair should be natural, free-flowing, touchable and wearable, he has also developed his own Chelsea Collection range of products.
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Celebrity clientsAndrew has styled the hair of the world’s leading models, celebrities, actors and actresses for more than 20 years.
Andrew Jose
How to bookVisit andrewjose.com or call 020 7323 4679.
1 Charlotte Street, London W1 The Treatment Andrew has forged an outstanding reputation over 20 years in the hairdressing business and is considered one of the world’s leading hair stylists and most acclaimed teachers. His technique evolved while he was Principal of the Vidal Sassoon Schools and Academies and he opened his own business in 1988. Today Andrew can be found at his eponymous salon on London’s famous Charlotte Street. The salon is a centre of excellence, boasting two floors of dedicated hairdressing and is home to an all-star specialist team of colourists and stylists. Premium haircare brand Salon Science, also available in Boots, this year announced award-winning hairdresser Andrew as its new brand ambassador and Salon Science products form part of the treatment his salon offers.
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35 years
in the heart of Mayfair, London.
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“Montague is straight in there with the killer question: her aim is to have you elegantly garrotted before Thought for the Day”
Outrageous Fortune
M
Tim Walker is our Editor At Large. You can contact him at Tim@tempusmagazine.com or on twitter @timwalker
edia training is the must-have designer accessory for every self-respecting captain of industry. Don’t knock it; it’s a useful income stream for yours truly. And goodness knows, you can’t throw a stone in the capital these days without it hitting one of us old hacks touting for work. The clients may command hundreds, if not thousands of employees but put them in front of the cameras and many struggle to keep even their own faces under control. Without help they can be blinking, blushing and blundering before the whole of the British Isles. It’s an odd feeling, telling an individual who earns many multiples of what I do such basic things as how to sit on a sofa, where best to put his or her arms, or even how to speak. Some need more help than others, but good media trainers, like good ski instructors, understand one thing: confidence is key. I have to say, however, that nothing can ever really prepare you for the experience of being on air. The Breakfast show is, for instance, a simple test of stamina: the train journey to the BBC’s northern headquarters in Salford, the overnight stay at the Holiday Inn , the dreaded 5am wake-up call and the all-too-fleeting appearance – quite possibly curtailed completely if a big story breaks – before the long journey home and the chance to contemplate every faux pas you made. For Londoners, an appearance on the Today programme on Radio 4 has two splendid advantages: the studio is local and you’ll have all your fellow citizens – albeit naked and showering – listening agog to your every syllable.
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The most coveted slot – the automatic right of the incumbent PM, by the way – supposedly starts at 8.10am, but now it’s arguably much earlier than that as we are all compelled to get into our offices at ever more ungodly hours. There’s something rather homely about the show. When I appeared on it earlier this year Sarah Montague was pottering about with a cup of tea, while Justin Webb smiled chummily from beneath his headphones.Their desk was scattered with papers and half-eaten bowls of muesli. As chaotic as it may seem, you shouldn’t allow yourself to be lulled into a false sense of security. The red light goes on and Montague – to my mind one of the greatest inquisitors – is straight in there with the killer question: her aim is to have you elegantly garrotted before Thought for the Day. There are a lot of other radio and television shows, of course, but to my mind the aforementioned are the only two for which it’s really worth getting out of bed for first thing in the morning. I should add that if fame is what you are into, it is difficult to obtain even a smidgeon because the populace has so many media outlets to choose from. Imagine 1,000 people trying to make themselves heard in a pub and you get the idea. If only broadcasting didn’t require us to be up either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Still, for my pupils, when they get it badly wrong, there is a silver lining that I’m always happy to highlight: it’s highly unlikely, old love, that anybody you know would have been awake to have seen or heard you. And if they were, they would almost certainly have been tuned into something else.
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Mouthwatering mango
Aromatic, colourful and succulent, mangos are at their best now. Top restaurants are combining the tropical fruit with other summer flavours like this dish of smoked chicken, mango and avocado created by the chefs at London’s Coq D’Argent. For the full review, see page 70.
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of the best reasons to try:
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Gaucho By Mark Southern
Nobody does Argentinian feasts like Gaucho, which does that rarest of things by getting better with age. With its monochrome colour palette and sharp lines, the modernist décor complements the seasonal menus perfectly, bringing classic and contemporary styles together in one delightful blend. The attentive staff have strong food knowledge and bring out a platter of cuts to help inform the difficult task of being decisive in the face of the extensive and mouthwatering menu. We chose starters of zesty, pan-fried scallops and a selection of chorizo, lamb, chicken and pancetta sausages, which were both zingingly refreshing and tastebud-tingling. We then ordered the sirloin marinated in garlic, paisley and olive oil, and the chateaubriand with a collection of sides,
including a sensational humita saltena with its roasted pumpkin and sweetcorn served in a corn husk. Both steaks were cooked perfectly and the depth of taste in both cuts was among the very best you will experience, in Argentina or beyond. Dessert was a dulce de leche cheesecake and a selection of Argentinian ice creams, with the cheesecake in particular creating a triumphant conclusion to a fabulous dinner. Accompanying the dining experience were pre-dinner cocktails and matched wines, all put together by the highly knowledgeable and engaging sommelier. With its expanding range of restaurants, Gaucho is building on its well-earned reputation of excellence and has become a place where you can come back time and again. gauchorestaurants.co.uk
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Marco Grill ByDawn Alford
Finding a steakhouse in west London is no trouble. However, when exposed to so much choice, how do you choose the best? Step forward the Marco Grill, created by Monsieur Pierre White and located within Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC. Unlike some restaurants in sporting locations the Marco Grill isn’t designed to exploit the guaranteed passing clientele with expensive cheap imitations, but is a worldclass steakhouse that is in the premier league of London dining experiences. To start we had the Dorset crab on sourdough with guacamole, which offered a fresh and turbo-charged taste, and half a
lobster with garlic butter that simply melted in the mouth. We followed this with the 35oz Tomahawk steak to share, served on a platter alongside a collection of side dishes. The perfectly cooked steak cut beautifully – its rich reds proving to be almost too good to eat – but its tantalising aroma ensured that there was no chance of that eventuality. Full-flavoured and instantly satisfying, it’s one of the most exceptional carnivorous delights I have ever savoured and qualifies as a must-eat for any urbane Chelseaite. Following this centrepiece creation was always going to be difficult, not least as
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it’s a substantial dish, but dessert didn’t disappoint. The profiteroles had a depth of flavour as cavernous as a Chelsea footballer’s mock-Tudor mansion, while the sticky toffee pudding was a sweet, well-judged success. Matched wines by the attentive sommelier provided an uncomplicated accompaniment. The Chateau Latour Bordeaux was a particular highlight – a swirl of red bliss. Chelsea may have won this season’s Premier League, but true enrichment comes from Marco Pierre White’s astonishingly good creation. marcogrill.com
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Hawksmoor By Mark Southern
With its growing national and international presence, Hawksmoor is a premium quality grill with a global reputation. And what a well-earned earned reputation it is. With its almost flawless critical reception and its stellar list of celebrity diners, the brand has won the approval of steak-lovers everywhere, along with a host of awards. We had the smoked salmon and the Brigham crab to start, both of which contained enough freshness to set up the main event many times over. Our chateaubriand to share was served with triple-cooked chips, macaroni cheese, roasted field mushrooms and creamed spinach. The restaurant prides itself on cooking the perfect steak for every individual diner’s taste – this commitment to quality shone through with the blue steak cooked precisely to our liking. With its superior cuts and exemplary sourcing, the quality of meat is unrivalled, providing the chefs with the ingredients with which to work their magic. Hawksmoor isn’t simply a truly great steakhouse, it’s a wonderful food experience that everyone should try. thehawksmoor.com
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Coq d’Argent By Scott Manson
A
s any screenwriter will tell you, the best stories always involve a quest. In my case, although I’m making no claims to this being an outstanding story, it took your protagonist and his partner a good while to find this famous City restaurant. It’s accessible via a lift situated inconspicuously beneath some nondescript office blocks, only a discreet sign signals that you’ve found the right place. Once you’ve been whisked up to the verdant space that is Coq d’Argent’s rooftop gardens, though, you give silent thanks to the imagination (and deep pockets, presumably) that helped build such as oasis of loveliness in the concrete heartland of London’s financial district. The outdoor area has a surprisingly large footprint,
with a lawn, trailing vines and ringed walkway, which are all beautifully illuminated come nightfall. It’s a great spot for alfresco dining in summer, although the temperature on our visit meant only a few hardy drinkers, and the odd smoker, were enjoying the skyline views of the capital that this space offers. Indoors is similarly impressive, with a buzzing circular bar, brasserie and more formal restaurant, which is where we plotted up for the night. Big tables with plenty of space and supremely comfy chairs were appreciated, but the fact that only outdoor diners could really enjoy a decent view seemed a bit of an oversight. I made a mental note to scope out the room for tables with a better view, should I visit again.
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Main courses showed a technically brilliant kitchen at work
On the strength of the meal we enjoyed, that seems likely. Kicking off with a beautiful duck foie gras, served with pear chutney and brioche, plus some fat green spears of English asparagus topped with an egg and drizzled with a light hollandaise sauce, these were familiar dishes, but ones that could be held up as shining examples of how to do the classics with skill and panache. Th main courses also showed a technically brilliant kitchen at work, from the perfectly cooked seared stone bass, served with parsnips, heritage carrots and a dill and coriander dressing, to the braised rabbit leg spiked with mustard and topped with pancetta and baby onions. I’d previously tried this dish in a little bistro in Paris and found the rabbit tough and dry – a problem with any cooked animal that’s lived an active life – but the Coq d’Argent’s version was a moist and moreish triumph, putting rabbit back on my list of options when eating out.To end, a shared lemon tart proved the perfect finale – its light, crisp pastry working well with the zesty fruit topping. Come for the view, stay for the food. You’ll be glad you did. coqdargent.co.uk
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C E L E B R AT I O N S DESERVE SOM ETH I NG C E L E B R AT E D
Tickled Pink
It’s the rosé season once again but this year it’s time to try some of the latest vintages of sparkling rosé. As the warmer weather hits it’s natural to turn off the heating, dust off the garden furniture and bypass those chunky winter reds for the light, chilled enjoyment of a rosé. Nothing goes better with poached salmon, chargrilled meats and salads than a crisp Tavel or a newly-released Ott. It used to be the case that the only time we drank rosé was the bottle brought back from an idyllic Mediterranean holiday, which invariably disappointed, lacking as it did the sun, the sea view and the sense of abandonment that made it taste so darned good in the first place. These days, rosé is much more widely available in this country and a good choice when faced with buying wine off a lousy wine list, or a compromise for a red/ white impasse. You have to be very unlucky to get a poor bottle of rosé, even though the trade-off is invariably a lack of sophistication. For a summer aperitif or to accompany a starter or dessert, a sparkling rosé or pink fizz is a great addition to the rosé canon. And don’t even think about the sweet variety or ‘blush’, I’m referring here to dry wines that are made from ‘bleeding’ or blending and are seriously made. Britain is now the world’s largest importer of pink fizz and with good reason – you can buy top-quality bubbles without paying crazy prices and these wines often overdeliver. In the case of champagne, rosé allows the winemaker to add still red wine into the blend, meaning that the flavours and weight of the sparkling rosé that is being released by the top marques is really first class.
3 standout roses
Ridgeview, Victoria Rosé, 2010 Made entirely from pinots meunier (59%) and noir (41%) this is a fitting tribute to English winemaking and Christopher Merret, the Londoner who first recorded the traditional method for making sparkling wine in the 1600s and whose quality mark is on the bottle. Delightfully pale from the saignée method, with a nose of toasted brioche and rosehip. Drink with smoked salmon or tarte tatin. slurp.co.uk, £29.95 Rives-Blanques, Vintage Rosé, 2013 Jancis Robinson first discovered this fourgrape blend at a wedding near her house in the Languedoc and immediately tweeted about it, helping to put Rives-Blanques on the map. The producer has subsequently hit gold on numerous occasions for its delicious blended and white varietals. From Limoux where monks made the world’s first sparkling wine, before champagne even, and gives a lot of champagnes a run for their money. cambridgewine.com, £16.99 Taittinger, Prestige Rosé, NV I’m a big fan of this delightfully subtle champagne, which gets its stunning pink colour from the addition of 15% still red wine during the blending. It is 30% chardonnay with the rest, made up of pinots meunier and noir. The bubbles are tight and small, making it a drink with real precision and sophistication. I’ve known heads to turn when I’ve served it. Drink without food and with people you like. A lot. thechampagnecompany.com, £32
Milroy’s is whisky heaven
Milroy’s, the oldest whisky specialist in London, has set out its stall to be the most imaginative destination for whisky-lovers. Loving their range, but also the personalised whisky lockers where, if you buy an expensive bottle you can lock it up and return to it whenever the need arises. With its ‘secret entrance’the downstairs bar is a return to the drinking-club feel of Soho’s golden era. milroys.co.uk
Armleder designs for L’Incanto
Ever since Mouton-Rothschild commissioned world-renowned artists to design each vintage’s label, many winemakers have tried to follow suit. Super Tuscan Ornellaia has been more successful than most and the seventh edition of its limited l’Incanto release goes even further, as you can see from this stunning range of bottles designed by Swiss artist John Armleder. A charity auction at Sotheby’s for nine lots raised more than €200,000 for the Foundation Beyeler in Basel, bringing the amount raised by the project to more than €1.5m.
Peter Dean is our wine and drinks writer. Contact him at Peter@tempusmagazine.com or on twitter @TweetaDean
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time Ask Men’s The Watch Snob answers your horological conundrums.
I am a 23-year-old with a job offer in
Q hand. On the occasion of receiving
this job I celebrated with the purchase of a Nomos Tangente. Its purchase has provoked in me a deep interest in watches. Initial research has led me to marvel at the Lange 1 Moonphase (with the L901.5 calibre). However, I believe I need to better understand the art of watch-making to be fully appreciative of the purchase. In what ways (beyond reading) can a busy professional expose himself to the intricacies of horology without becoming an apprentice? Second, I would like to acquire one more watch before the Lange 1.Vintage speaks to me. Do you have any advice or particular watches to look out for? reading? Unless you are keen to A Beyond buy some tools and take up watch-making as a hobby reading (whether online, in books, or in magazines) will have to do for you what reading has always done: allow you to live vicariously. You can do what many do and spend much time on so-called enthusiast websites, but choose carefully. As you probably already know, the vast majority of them oscillate between the Scylla of gross misinformation and the Charybdis of brand-kowtowing with depressing predictability and regularity. Just bear in mind as you progress horologically that this is meant to be fun, not a job, and that there is no royal road to horology any more than there is to geometry; really understanding how a lever escapement works, for instance, is not an overnight affair. That it takes time is actually the entire point. If you have never been an afternoon at, say, the Patek museum in Geneva will do more for your appreciation than a thousand afternoons looking into books or on the internet. If you want something vintage and are not keen on sports watches, I would recommend
a pocket watch. Something from the late 19th century, English, with a ‘detent’ escapement, would be obtainable at a price still somewhat reasonable relative to much of the rest of the vintage market – and will afford you both a manifestation of craft not otherwise even remotely available for the price, to say nothing of the growing satisfaction as the years go by. I own a Jaeger Le Coultre Odysseus
Q watch. Three years ago it stopped working so I took it to the Jaeger Le Coultre store in Paris. They charged €450 for the repair; they said it simply needed oil but would have to be sent to Switzerland. Now it has stopped again. We are living in Madrid so I took it to a watch repair shop and was told it needed oil again and that the repair would cost €400. Is this normal? I have been thinking of buying another watch and have read of your preference for Seiko. Is it worth paying the €400 again for this repair or should I maybe consider using this money for a new purchase? normal? Unfortunately, yes, and it’s A Istooit infrequently a part of a person’s
calculations. Three to four years is a bit shorter between service intervals than one might expect – more toughly built movements can go on for several years longer. If you wear the watch every day, and it is a rather more frail or temperamental movement than not, you shouldn’t to be too surprised to find it needs care twice a decade or so.
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There are some reasonably nice Seikos but the best and most interesting – the Grand Seikos – will require about two to three times the amount you want to spend. Novices to mechanical horology are often taken aback to find that buying a good mechanical watch means a lifelong relationship with a watchmaker – or with one of the generally anonymous and often objectionably haphazard and faceless brand service centres that now plague us – but it’s nonetheless the case. I recently acquired my first gold watch
Q – a white gold Calatrava – but my
choice has me second-guessing the watch. My initial reason for the white gold was to be discreet, like many stainless steel watches in my collection: Nautilus, Reverso and Datejust, to name a few. The more I ponder on it the more disgusted I feel about white and rose/pink gold. Is yellow the only colour the gold should be in? a white gold watch because one A Buying wants to be discreet is like – oh, I don’t
know, buying a Bentley Flying Spur and then building the body of a lorry around it so you don’t excite the envy of the neighbours. Now, coloured gold does have its place – red or rose gold has, I find, a tendency to show off a case with a marked geometry rather better than yellow gold; green gold has a certain fascinating obscurity; blue gold the more so, and so on. But in general, some things should be allowed to show the natural appeal that got them noticed in the first place – roses should be red, gold should be, well, gold
Feeling caught up in the busy bustle of life? Want to get off the merry-go-round for a moment? Mark Southern discovered the joy and adventure of the British cycling revolution
When this writer was a lot younger, the first taste of freedom came on two wheels. Much like a midnight feast or sneaking into a 15 movie, a bike-shaped parcel on Christmas morning felt like a childhood rite of passage, representing an opportunity to break free from responsibility. On that first bicycle, the big wide world got a little smaller, as we cycled for what felt like miles, but was in fact a couple of streets. The summers were hot, time seemed never-ending, and anything was possible. Then life happened. Careers, relationships, children, social pressures, and more; they all take up time and fill up minds, while we go about our days moving ever further away from the sense of allconsuming play and possibility of our youth. And this correspondent was in the same 9 to 5 headspace as the multitude of others you see packed into commuter trains, blindly following a life on tracks. But then I bought a bike.
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On a whim, and with very little understanding, I found myself in a bike store and felt the pilot light flicker on inside me as remnants of free-wheeling childhood memories splintered into my psyche. Taking a spin around the car park became a joyful experience, amid dozens of smile-less car drivers going about their functional weekend shopping, and the purchase was completed. And then something unexpected unfolded. What I expected to be a briefly distracting hobby turned into a spiritual journey. The first time I took the bike out for a ride around Richmond Park I was having one of those weeks where I couldn’t see the trees, let alone the wood, with all decision-making clouded in fog, and that general sense of modern dissatisfaction lingering. Generally speaking, in that mindset I find it difficult to shift moods, which exacerbates situations, leading to cyclical habits, and not of the good kind. However, getting changed into my new cycling kit (complete with padded seat lycra shorts), I felt the gloom start to shift. By the time I rolled the bike out of the house, down the pavement, and onto tarmac, I hadn’t just eliminated the shadowy mood, but switched entirely to that of the excitable child ripping open the badly wrapped bike propped up against the 1980s wallpaper. As the pedals started turning, so the world started whirling, and the road that I drive down daily began to take on a brighter and strangely more real look than I had seen before. By the time I arrived in the park, I was out of breath, but smiling from ear to ear, as the splendour of Richmond’s rolling green hills, loping deer, and canopy of treetops framed every moment. And that word, moment, is important here. How often have you felt you’re in a situation, but not in the moment? How many times have you been somewhere in body, but not spirit?
Psychologists, spiritual leaders and many more learned people offer guidance on how to alter this and be present in the moment, but for many, including me, being trapped inside your own thoughts can be simply accepted as the norm. Yet, with the wind whipping across your face, the serene sound of tyres relentlessly sliding across smooth roads, and the increased senses you need to stay aware of surroundings with only a helmet for protection, the feeling of release is palpable. As the sometimes beautiful, sometimes fierce world of nature envelops the world of the cyclist, the red blood cells pump through the body, while the mind takes on a level of calm. Post-ride, muscles feel tighter, posture is stronger, waistlines are lighter, and thinking patterns are clear and concise. It’s a revelation for anyone feeling a little lost in a modern lifestyle, which they are told offers freedom, but in actual fact provides only more barriers to perception. Mintel research tells us that this explosion of cycling prowess, (or not, in the case of this particular writer), is a phenomenon that has captured the imagination of British people, specifically in the 25 to 45-year-old male demographic. It’s often referred to as the new proof of a midlife crisis, with the frankly ludicrous outfits that even the most unsuited new cyclist feels drawn to wear, supplanting the new sports car. Although, I think it’s much more interesting than that. My first childhood bike was black and white, with a big red shield on the front, and the number 5 stamped across it. It represented freedom, joy and adventure. My first adulthood bike is yellow and black, and has no big red shield (I have the smallest semblance of dignity, not that the Lycra would demonstrate this). To me, it represents exactly the same thing now as it did three decades earlier. Freedom, joy, and adventure from modern life.
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Thinking of joining the cycling phenomenon? Chris Snook of Evans Cycles gave us these top 10 tips on starting the wheels rolling of your new cycling pursuits
Make sure your bike is set up correctly. This is very important to prevent discomfort and potentially injury. If you are starting out and are unsure of the ins and outs, then head into a specialist bike store, where the experts will be able to help get you set up. Get the right kit. A bike helmet is recommended as it will protect your head and potentially save your life in the event of an accident. Padded cycling shorts will help to prevent any kind of discomfort and pain from the saddle. A mini tool and puncture repair kit is a good piece of equipment to have with you, just in case. Make sure you stay hydrated. As with any form of exercise it is important to stay hydrated, so make sure you take a bottle of water with you. It is also a good idea to take a few electrolyte sachets with you to add to your water, as this will help to keep your electrolyte levels up. Fuel your body. Make sure you eat something at least half an hour before a bike ride. It is good to have some form of carbohydrate or protein, such as a banana to fuel the body before exercise. Energy bars are good to keep your energy levels up during a ride. Listen to your body. When you’re starting out cycling, make sure you gradually build up distance, speed and power based on your fitness levels before you start pushing your limits. If you push yourself too soon and too quickly it may cause injury. Sometimes, rest is as important as training.
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Build your muscles. To improve cycle strength, focus on the key muscle groups needed for cycling, such as your core, legs and back. More and more cyclists now are taking up yoga or pilates. Stretch. Stretching before and after any form of exercise is important, as it will help to prevent your muscles from seizing up as well as prevent injury. Your hamstrings and hip flexors are two important areas to stretch because they can become tight from cycling. Don’t forget to rest. Recovery time is very important to let your muscles rest and will also prevent fatigue. Make sure you have at least one day off from exercise per week. Get involved and stay motivated. Joining a cycling club is also a great way to stay motivated. Being around your peers and other people with the same sort of fitness goals will push you to keep going longer than you would if you were riding solo. Visit britishcycling.org. uk/clubfinder to find a club near you. Don’t be afraid. Cycling can seem an intimidating sport when you’re just beginning. Evans Cycles runs a series of women’s evenings, One for the Girls. Talks range from an introduction to fitness and training, nutritional advice and guidance from an expert local coach or rider. Check out evanscycles.com for more advice and guidance.
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Cannondale Synapse Hi Mod Sram Red £4,499.99 cannondale.com/synapse
BMC Granfondo GF01 Disc Dura Ace Di2 2015 £6,460 evanscycles.com
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HOY Sa Calobra.004 11 Speed 2015 £1,350 evanscycles.com
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Hoy Vulpine Apparel Women’s El Toro Bib Short Men’s & Women’s £79.99 each evanscycles.com
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Aston Martin Vanquish
With a top speed of 201mph the Aston Martin Vanquish is a force to be reckoned with in 2015. We get to test drive the 6ltr V12 dream machine for ourselves. 4 days, 5 tanks of petrol and and angry wife later and Tempus is now able to give you a full low down on what all the hype is about.
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Aston Martin Vanquish Once driven, never forgotten. A weekend road test reveals this Aston Martin will never be vanquished
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By Jay Boisvert
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I
t’s 6.15am and I have just taken delivery of the new Aston Martin Vanquish – something that I have been looking forward to for over a month. Having watched numerous reviews on You Tube and read every review going, I think it would be fair to say that I was like a kid in a candy shop. After pretty much no sleep I checked the alarm clock for the 200th time and, just as I glanced down I heard the roar of the 6L V12 gargling up the road. The time had come… One of the first things I noticed was how the car looked so much better in the flesh: watching clips online and looking at pictures doesn’t do it justice – its lines and curves would leave even Jessica Rabbit envious.The midnight blue paintwork just accentuated the styling and as I open the door the waft of the hand-stitched leather smacks me in the face like a Mayweather left hook. Now the sensible thing to do when stepping into any car would be to familiarise yourself with the controls, but when stepping behind the wheel of this beauty all I wanted to do was get the beast started and get on the road. I think it would be fair to say I am a bit of a petrolhead, especially when it comes to supercars, but I am confident that you don’t have to be a car freak to appreciate the sound of a V12 engine starting up. It is a thing of true beauty. Getting out on the open road for the first time was an experience I will never forget. Not only is this wonderful machine the best-looking car on the road, but it is also up there with the best of them when it comes to performance: 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, 568bhp and a top speed of 201mph means there aren’t many cars on the road today that would even come close. Combine that with absolutely superb handling and you have all the ingredients for a perfect weekend.
To do this car justice I felt it necessary to travel to the coast, so I decided on Hastings (nothing to do with the fact there aren’t any speed cameras on the way, honest) as the sun was out and it just felt like the right thing to do. This really gave me the chance to open her up and see what this beauty was capable of and, wow, she did not disappoint. The way this machine runs is nothing short of a miracle and is a true testament to the engineers at Aston Martin. They should give themselves a big pat on the back, take the afternoon off, go to the pub and toast themselves for producing a thing of such class. Throughout the whole weekend of putting this car through its paces (and I really did) it never once put a foot wrong and I won’t mention any names but other supercars I have tested have gone back after the weekend with the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, warning lights for this, that and the other, but not so the Aston Martin Vanquish. This beast never once moaned about the punishment it was getting – and why should it? This is what it was built to do. One of the things I love about this car is its ability to be driven like a normal everyday car. Switch off the sport mode, put her in 8th gear and you can cruise down the motorway fairly inconspicuously, as well as getting around 22mpg. However, flick the sport mode on and suddenly you’re behind the wheel of a monster. But it is a tame beast that, unlike other supercars, doesn’t feel as though it wants to kill you, it just feels as though it wants to give you the driving experience of a lifetime – and that it does. Hats off to the team at Aston Martin for developing such an amazing machine and apologies to my wife and daughter for not being home for 72 hours last weekend.
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Word on the
A new Dawn at Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the name of its forthcoming new car. The new model, an exciting and sensuous drophead, will be known as the Rolls-Royce Dawn. It was unveiled to representatives of the marque’s 130-strong global dealership network at the 2015 Rolls-Royce World Dealer Conference in Los Angeles. “Our new Rolls-Royce Dawn promises a striking, seductive encounter like no other Rolls-Royce to date,” said Torsten MuellerOetvoes, chief executive officer. “Dawn is a beautiful new open-top motor car with a name that suggests the fresh opportunities that every new day holds – an awakening, an opening up of one’s senses and a burst of sunshine. It will be the most social of super-luxury motor cars for those beautiful people who wish to bathe in the sunlight of the world’s social hot spots.” Rolls-Royce Dawn is the next step in the renaissance of the company, which began in 2003 with the launch of the Phantom and subsequent introductions of the Ghost and the Wraith.
The Dawn will revive another famous and rare Rolls-Royce name first used in 1949, but only ever applied to 28 very special drophead bodies between 1950 and 1954. A new beginning for Rolls-Royce at the time, the original Silver Dawn was the first to be offered with a factory-built body. The drophead Rolls-Royces that carried the name Dawn continued to be coach-built for individual customers, ensuring their uniqueness and rarity. The Dawn will launch in the first quarter of 2016.
Damon's new date
Edition watch, which has been produced to celebrate 30 years of partnership between the two companies. It will be launched exclusively at the Festival and will be available for sale for the first time at the TAG Heuer Pavilion.
A reminder that the Goodwood Festival Of Speed takes place at the end of this month. Not only is it a fantastic event, it also promotes the work of numerous charities. Damon Hill was at the course recently to promote the work of the Halow charity, which is one of the beneficiaries of the festival. Damon is a patron of the charity, which helps disabled youngsters. During his visit Damon also showed off the new TAG Heuer McLaren Limited
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In the driving seat Ultimate Drives has announced its latest driving experience tours. The experiences, short breaks and group driving events put customers in the driving seat of the latest and most exciting sports and supercars. The tours for summer 2015 include the Austrian Alps supercar tour in July, a GT Alpine Valley open car event in September and a tour of the Côte D’Azur in supercars in October. The company also offers bespoke tours or drives and can create the perfect honeymoon package. Expect stunning scenery, luxury hotels, fine dining and some of the most breathtaking roads in the world. ultimatedrives.net
a voyage of selfie discovery Tempus editor Dawn Alford tempts her daughter away for the weekend in the new BMW 2 series convertible
I
’m not entirely sure when it happened. One minute my daughter worshipped the ground I walked on, held my hand with pride and would boast about me to her friends. The next I was banned from picking her up from school, the adoring gazes were replaced by scowls of distaste and any suggestion of spending a day with me saw her fleeing to her room; actually preferring her maths homework over my company. Friends had warned me about the impending teenage years but I still wasn’t prepared for her to
turn into the female version of Harry Enfield’s character, Kevin the Teenager. But all changed one sunny Saturday morning last month. She ran – almost sprinted – to me when I picked her up from her dance class and asked if we could go somewhere, anywhere, together. She was grinning from ear to ear and using words like “awesome”, “rad” and “sick”, which, although I didn’t fully grasp their meaning, appeared to be a good sign. The reason for my new-found favour? A shiny
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new white BMW 2 series convertible – complete with red leather seats and Kiss FM blaring from its sound system. A few quick texts to her friends – with some attached BMW selfies – and her plans were cancelled. For the first time in at least a year she wanted to spend the whole weekend in my company. So we took it for a spin to Brighton – travelling first through Kent country lanes before putting it through its paces on the motorway.
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Cruising along the seafront a couple of hours later, the car – with its old school glamour looked at home in the resort. It’s a head turner with a sleek design that is longer and wider than its predecessor, while it retains the trademark BMW kidney grille, flanked by slim headlights. There are four engines to choose from but the 220d packed a real punch – and at 60mpg is also easy on the wallet. It’s a car that implores you to push it and it delivered equally well on motorways and smaller roads. It’s strong, agile and precise – yet also solid and perfectly weighted. Practically it’s pretty good, too. The boot, despite housing the convertible roof, can hold 280 litres. Two rear seats offer extra space for either small people or big shopping bags, as we discovered – to my cost – after a quick shopping spree in Brighton’s famous Lanes. The interior is stylish and jam-packed with connectivity and media accessories. BMW’s market-leading iDrive infotainment system is managed via a rotary controller between the seats. It also boasts perhaps one of the best sat nav systems I’ve ever encountered, with voice activation that actually worked first time. The roof takes just 19 seconds to put up or down at the press of a button (yes we timed it)
and can be deployed at speeds of up to 30mph. Rear side windows mean the wind factor is manageable even at high speeds but you can also opt for a wind deflector, which I would say is well worth the £260 extra cost. After a dinner of pizza and a night in a hotel at Brighton’s marina, we headed leisurely through the Sussex Downs towards home. My daughter even turned down the Rudimental album she’d been streaming through the sound system so we could chat, and frequently got me to pull over so we could take another selfie. On Sunday evening she actually asked if I could drop her at school the next morning. Clearly, her mum isn’t quite so embarrassing when driving a glam car. I hadn’t quite finished explaining that, sadly, that would be impossible as I had to return the car the next morning when she flounced up the stairs, slammed the door and muttered something about me being annoying. The BMW 2 series convertible is a truly wonderful car – great fun to drive, sleek, fast and glamorous. Alas, it only cures teenage angst temporarily. bmw.com
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me The Island of the Gods With its varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides, Bali stakes a serious claim to be paradise on Earth. For the adventurous it has world-class surfing and diving, while for those seeking culture, the island has historical and archaeological attractions aplenty. The luxury market is booming, too, with Bali offering some of the most exclusive hotels in the world. See page 102.
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More compelling than outer beauty, we reshape your identity
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By Peter Dean
t
here aren’t many European cities where, after five solid days of being a culture vulture, you hit the departure lounge feeling like you’ve only just started to scratch the surface … and are counting the weeks until your next visit. True, I had been itching to visit Budapest for many years but I didn’t expect it to offer quite so much. It’s a totally unique city – very much its own place but with echoes of so many other cities. Wandering the streets I had glimpses of my hometown of Vienna, with which it has so many historical and architectural connections.The Jewish Quarter reminded me of the bohemian side of Copenhagen, the numerous inner-city green squares like Manhattan, the laid-back vibe felt like Amsterdam and the mix of ancient history and regeneration reminded me of Prague. And yet the mix is totally individual and beguiling. My trip coincided with April’s Spring Festival, a month-long celebration of classical and jazz music with a few contemporary crowd-pleasers such as Sinead O’Connor and Bobby McFerrin thrown in for good measure. The city’s many music venues are all tourist attractions in their own right; customer-friendly and the acoustics superb, but then in a city that spawned Liszt and Bartók you would hope this would be the case. We went straight from the airport to the tenyear old Palace of Arts to see a concert celebrating
the 150th anniversary of Sibelius’s birth featuring some of the world’s best classical musicians and were simply blown away. The venue, which houses three separate music halls, was designed acoustically by Russell Johnson, who returned regularly for two years after it was built to ensure the acoustics worked to perfection. We also went to the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, whose restoration of its art nouveau splendour is truly a wonder. Being a city that wears its history on its sleeve there are so many impressive buildings (new and old) to see across Budapest’s two distinct halves that were once separate cities. Buda, the hilly, greener half contains the castle, citadella, Statue of Liberty and stunning views. Pest, the busy, more packed city centre, is where you will spend the majority of your stay. Buda and Pest are separated by the Danube, of course, a river that has inspired so many and been at the heart of so much heroic and tragic history. The fact that the city has been dealt so many blows, with repeated occupations and razings, it’s easy to forget given how much of its eclectic architectural style remains and how open and easygoing the locals are. Democracy didn’t return here until as recently as 1989, which gives the entire city and what it offers a new lease of life – the newly-renovated buildings, the embryonic wine industry and the fast-changing culinary scene.
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This, combined with the historical architecture, the thermal baths – some of which date back to the 16th century – and the Hungarian culture as a whole makes it an invigorating mix of old and new. April was a good time to visit but then this is truly an year-round city, with festivals held every month celebrating everything from international film through to more bizarre culinary niches such as the Hungarian curly-haired breed of pig. What is unequivocal is that right now is an exciting time to visit this beautiful city, as it perches on the cusp of a new era – fully embracing commerce, the West and modernity but not afraid to celebrate its history, often in a bold and ironic retro-chic style.
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Culture. Despite Budapest
losing 70% of its buildings during World War Two the city centre has an abundance of great architecture and feels surprisingly intact. Once referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’ the buildings from the belle époque (late 19th and early 20th centuries) are dotted across the city and are best seen with a guide to ensure that you don’t miss anything. Try Andrea Wurmb on wurmb@ hu.inter.net Best of these are the Museum of Applied Arts, designed by key nouveau architect Odon Lechner, and his Postal Savings Bank behind the US Embassy. The recently-restored Franz Liszt Academy of Music and the opera house are both worth a visit, as is the nearby Magyar Fotográfusok Háza, a museum that once housed Budapest’s first professional photographer and the Párizsi Nagyáruház, its first integrated department store with a stunning art nouveau façade.
There are plenty of national museums to visit (the contemporary space in the new ‘whale’ CET building was disappointing) but perhaps the most captivating and moving was the House of Terror, the former HQ of both the Nazi SS and the communist secret police, the AVH. This is much less sensationalist than its name suggests, is quite brilliantly designed and a great way to familiarise oneself with Hungary’s truly terrible history. A visit is not complete without going to one of the 15 public thermal baths that have earned Budapest the moniker ‘City of Spas’. Gellert is one of the best high-end baths. We plumped for the Széchényi Baths – one of the largest spa complexes in the world.The baths are open until 10pm and hold ‘sparties’. An hour’s massage for two costs €50. Watching the old chess players with their waterproof sets in the 38-degrees pool is a must-see. budapest.com
Get about. Every part
of Budapest can be reached on public transport, which is easy to navigate, cheap and plentiful.Taxis are also in abundance and cheaper if booked over the phone. We used the Budapest card that made exploring more fun and quick. There is a circular tramline (numbers four and six), and an old Metro line that was the first on Continental Europe and is a glorious step back in time. Unbelievably, the trolley buses still bear the number seven (as a tribute to Stalin on his 70th birthday). Because there’s so much to see we walked a lot and also saw the Buda side (hills, wide avenues, less shops) by tuk-tuk. A two-hour ride with stops costs €58 for two and on a sunny day was perfect, although the apricot brandy shots were surplus to requirements. budapesttuktuk.hu
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Eat.
Like the city as a whole, Budapest is a confluence of traditional and modern, and boasts an array of influences. Staples such as paprika chicken and ghoulash soup are easy to find made well, although apart from catfish and pike, fish is less visible. For traditional cuisine try Első Pesti Rétesház (also known as the original Strudel House) where both starter and dessert can be strudel and in-between are hearty portions of roasted duck and red cabbage. reteshaz.com Gundel is a city institution and a delight at lunchtime when you eat alfresco and make the most of its park setting. A good place to sample local delicacy foie gras that comes in an array of styles, accompanied I suggest by a six puttonyos Royal Tokai.
There are a number of cooler hangouts that are more contemporary and cater for a younger clientele. Topping this list is Menza, which has a delightful retro décor and fresh, friendly staff eager for you to try its modern take on the Hungarian classics. A Frisbee-sized schnitzel warranted no starter. menzaetterem.hu Also recommended is Terminal, which makes most must-visit lists on account of its design and bus depot past alone. A salad here was the freshest ever and portions were more manageable, the atmosphere lively. teminalrestaurant.hu Hungarians are fiercely proud of their cakes. Try the Dobos torte or, for a more savoury taste, try Flodni, the traditional Jewish cake that has layers of poppy seed, walnut, apple and plum jam.
Drink. The destination of the
New York Café is one of the first questions that visitors ask the locals. A baroque building teeming with history and lovingly restored by Boscolo, it can be visited at any time of the day thanks to the writer Molnar famously throwing the keys into the Danube on the day it opened in 1894 so it would never close. One hundred years ago journalists had their mail delivered here to the tables they worked from and never left. Ten minutes away is the less well known Muvesk Kavehaz (Andressy Ut) where the cakes are just as spectacular and the café not so teeming with tourists. On the Buda side try Ruszwurm, the city’s oldest coffee house. For cocktails seek out Boutiq Bar, where cocktails are as good as they get. They have a page using Barack Palinka, the dry Hungarian apricot brandy, which the menu dryly states is “the only Hungarian spirit which almost became world famous”. The Dazer was amazing. Wine-lovers are spoilt for choice and should head to Doblo, a wine bar and shop in the Jewish quarter where you can do a variety of tastings or simply tuck into a cheese board and taste great Hungarian wines as the world passes you by. Incidentally, if you only have hand luggage worry not, the duty free at the airport is well stocked and has a great selection of wines and spirits, and prices are excellent, especially with wines from Bock and Royal Tokai.
Party. Hungarians like to party so most bars and
clubs are open to daybreak at weekends. Budapest has thankfully managed to avoid being one of the stag party capitals of Europe, although a relatively heavy drinking culture persists, all good natured on the whole. Most unique are the ‘ruin pubs’ which, like the original, Szimpla Kert, have been going since the 1990s. They are well established now, but for the uninitiated they still feel ground-breaking. These are pubs and ‘art spaces’ that have been set up in dilapidated buildings, often crazily-decorated in a seemingly abandoned way. Some of the newer pubs are re-inventing themselves as art spaces and most have music decks.They’re great fun, much more professionally run than first impressions would indicate. All extend out into open areas during the summer when temperatures can reach 40 degrees. Corvintetó is a large bar with live music, while Otkert is the most popular club of the moment so be prepared to queue at weekends.
Stay. There is a wide variety of accommodation, Aija Lehtonen / Shutterstock.com
including the superbly restored Four Seasons hotel that has the best position in the city next to the link bridge. Check out the alabaster ceiling in the bar where your plastic will get a proper flexing. Brody House has become the Boho destination. Staying here will also gain you access to the übercool Brody Studios, a modern arts club that has readings, screenings and a great bar. Your membership to London’s Hospital Club or other affiliated clubs will also get you in. We stayed in the four-star Hotel Nemzeti, which used to be the hang-out for Budapest’s luvvies. Newly restored with a spa on the 5th floor it was perfectly located, especially for late-night partying and daytime sightseeing.The concierge managed to get us a table at two-star Costes, despite the long waiting list. hotel-nemzeti-budapest.hu
Get there.
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pisaphotography / Shutterstock.com
EasyJet flies direct to Budapest from Gatwick daily. easyjet.com
Don’t just dream, make it a reality...
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France remains a cultural bolt hole for many, but what if you’re looking for the next level of Francophile? Mark Southern discovered the very best French châteaux and villas for hire Château de la Victoire
A palatial residence that makes the very best of its Côte d’Azur setting, the Château combines opulently tasteful decor with magnificent views and architectural splendour. Conveniently close to Nice and Cannes, the Château also boasts a royal connection – it was a favourite holiday spot of Queen Victoria. oliverstravels.com
Manoir Blanchefleur
Not far from the Swiss border and providing a great base for skiing in the nearby Alps, Manoir Blanchefleur is perfect for adventurous types. It’s right next to a lake, too, so there’s no shortage of things to do nearby – not least of which is enjoying the breathtaking views. oliverstravels.com
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Château Boumont
Found just outside Paris, Château Boumont used to be the haunt of royalty and the cream of the French aristocracy, but now thankfully opens its doors to everyone. Bespoke stays are a speciality, tailoring the entire property to guests’ every desire and providing the very highest levels of service. oliverstravels.com
Château de Valjoyeuse
Situated just south of Montpellier in Languedoc-Roussillon in 60 hectares of magnifique grounds, complete with its own winery and vineyard, where awardwinning wines have been produced for decades, this stunning renovated castle is the perfect blend of ancient and modern. oliverstravels.com
La Bergerie, Terre Blanche
In rolling hills just 30 minutes from Cannes, and away from the hustle and bustle of the south coast, this truly remarkable villa sits among its breathtaking private gardens and outdoor swimming pool. Inside is everything you’d want from your slice of French luxury, including a cinema and outdoor dining room with own chef. bergerieterreblanche.com
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ubud.
Bali The Beating Heart of
With more of us than ever looking East for inner peace in a busy world, we sent Ali Bastian to Bali to find her bliss
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here am I? Ubud. What time is it? Now. The spiritual and cultural heart centre of Bali invites you into a world of mind, body, spirit bliss. Thousands of Westerners flock to Ubud every year to enjoy world-class yoga and meditation classes, gently reminding us to stay present and connected, to get off the fast-paced carousel of city life, to breathe in clarity and calm and to exhale forwardplanning and over-analysing. But if jumping off the aeroplane and heading straight for the Ashram isn’t for you, then there is no greater place to experience the peace and tranquillity of Bali than the Amandari (peaceful spirits) Ubud. Located in the village of Kedewatan, perched on an escarpment high above the Ayung river gorge, this is a boutique hotel in complete synergy with its surroundings. It is built in the style of a traditional Balinese village, pebbled walkways link the thatched roof suites, each of which has its own walled gardens. Children from the local village come to the Amandari after school to learn the ancient tradition of Balinese dance, you may be lucky enough to catch a performance in the restaurant of this intensely detailed and expressive style of dance while˙ enjoying a sumptuous Balinese feast.
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There is no greater place to experience the peace and tranquillity of Bali than the Amandari (peaceful spirits) Ubud
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Not to be missed is the opportunity to have your meal served in one of the private dining areas hidden in the lush sanctuary of the beautiful gardens. We were shown to a romantic candle-lit table surrounded by lily pads and rose petals on a little island in the middle of a lotus pond. There, we enjoyed the most incredible example of delicate Indonesian cuisine as the sounds of the Balinese Rindik music, played on a bamboo flute, floated atmospherically in the air. That, and some of the more comedic sounds of the resident bullfrogs! For the ultimate in Ubud luxury, book yourself in to the Amandari Villa, nestled in the rice terraces less than a minute’s drive from the resort. Serviced by two staff, Sudi and Widi, it includes five pavilions: three detached, terrace-style bedrooms, a separate living room walled entirely in windows and sliding glass doors, perfect for witnessing the most breathtaking of sunsets and, of course, a fully fitted kitchen. Not to mention Bali’s first double-infinity pool. Sudi and Widi between them have stayed with the Amandari for more than 30 years, as is the story with many of the staff. This is a hotel with heart and as they talk of returning guests whom they have now known for a long time or whose children they have seen grow up over the years, their faces glow with affection and pride. For foreigners, owning property or land in Bali is difficult and with the Amandari and the incredible care with which Sudi and Widi create a home away from home, it’s no surprise that the guests keep coming back. So experienced are Sudi and Widi that they seem to think of what you might need even before you do, be it a beautifully prepared
alfresco breakfast on the terrace or a mojito to sip as you watch the sun set over the Ayung gorge. You’re welcome to enjoy yoga every morning on the lawn, and the standard of teaching is high. Plus, with this being a hotel favoured by the A-listers, you may spot a few familiar Warrior 2s on the neighbouring mats! It is essential when visiting the Amandari to pay at least one visit to the luxurious spa. (I opted for three). Having arrived at the resort with a backache, I booked in for an East West full body massage with Dewi. What ensued ended with me wanting to burst into tears, throw my arms around her and exclaim, “You’ve changed my life!” I managed to control myself, just, but I’ve honestly never experienced such a balancing, healing massage. She cured backache that I’d carried around for some time and I’m happy to say it hasn’t come back since. I was treated in one of their open air treatment rooms, soothed by the sounds of the surrounding lotus pond. Body treatments use local Balinese ingredients that are chosen for their soothing and healing properties. If you’ve ever been to a resort and thought, “This is lovely, but I could be anywhere,” then a stay at the Amandari is the exact opposite of that. With such a strong identity and relationship with the surrounding community, it offers the perfect authentic Balinese experience, with incredible service and all the luxury one could dream of from a five-star boutique resort. You’re left with the feeling, “I know exactly where I am, I am exactly where I need to be... right now.” Enjoy every moment and may the Bali spirit stay in your heart. amanresorts.com
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You’re left with the feeling,“I know exactly where I am, I am exactly where I need to be... right now
Singapore Airlines flies four times daily from London Heathrow and daily from Manchester to Singapore for onward connections across SE Asia. To book, visit singaporeair.com
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For the greater golf Improve your game with this, the cream of golfing kit. If nothing else it’ll intimidate your opponents
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By Peter Jenkinson Ahead of next year’s ban of those once-lauded anchor putters – the chest-to-ground affairs that swing like a pendulum – there is a new favourite putter in town. Counterbalanced putters are quickly becoming the go-to method to get across the greens. They have heavier heads at the business end, but more weight is added at the top of the shaft too. We’ve also been aware of on-course electronic assistants in one form or another for years. Golf often leads the way in tech so it’s no surprise that the sport is receiving plenty of attention from wearables manufacturers. Get ready to enjoy further new digital arrivals in the coming months that’ll both enhance and improve your game.
Pah for the course – Simulation set-up This simulator offers access to almost 200 playable courses and the surrounding threescreen graphics offer an outstanding digital replica of every one. Integrated high-end cameras work with every shot taken to create the most accurate 3D ball flight ever seen on a simulator screen. Play with gathered golfers, live online against other simulator players around the world in real time or use the tournament gameplay and live leaderboard for some serious competition. It offers a superb place to polish up on those weaker spots in privacy, or just play a few holes for fun. sports-coach.com
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Golf Buddy – BB5
Tee Caddy – Stewart X9
Data from more than 37,000 golf courses across the globe has been shoe-horned into the BB5. This wearable is feature-filled enough to assist but not so overburdened with info that it distracts. Offering up GPS distances to the front, centre and back of the greens it’ll also measure your shot distances. The set-up is straightforward: switch-on and it will start delivering statistics. You could wrong-foot opponents and offer them assistance – they’re bound to be suspicious. Good for up to ten hours on one charge – that should cover 18 holes for all handicaps. golfbidder.co.uk
For those occasions when you want to take a walk along the fairways and keep the golf buggy in the parking bay, let this X9 ensure your bag and clubs aren’t a burden. With built-in Bluetooth, the ‘follow-me’ function of this stylish caddy, will keep this one at a sensible distance while tracking you from hole to hole. When needed, the X9 can be flipped into full remote control mode so that you can send your clubs ahead waiting for you. stewartgolf.com
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Sink-in feeling – Scotty Cameron putter
Digital assistance – Game Golf
Travel time – Bushnell V3 Rangefinder Slope
Engineered to within an inch of its life, I’ve held this putter between my palms and it gave me an invincible feeling, an unparalleled optimism for my questionable putting game.That is until I actually took to the green. If this piece of craftsmanship can’t help you get closer to par more of the time then it may well be time to consider croquet. titleist.com
There are always plenty of people in the vicinity to give you a verbal analysis of your last shot, whether it’s solicited or not. However, this appdriven kit offers something far more scientific. It comes with multiple tags that you attach to the clubs, and one you wear in your pocket. Before each shot you simply let your smart device know what your about to play. Data from your swing is sent back to the app and your entire round is mapped. You’ll be offered on-screen advice of how your game could be improved from a source that’s always on your side. gamegolf.com
No doubt you’ll encounter the occasional frown as you produce this laser-guided flag finder. The V3 seeks out pins to give you distance accuracy to a single yard – this gadget has to be embraced as your 15th club. Just place your eye on the viewfinder and feel all sniper-like as a vibration tells you the target has been locked in and the distance appears on screen. bushnellgolf.eu
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Club class – Honma Five Star Arguably the finest crafted set of 14 clubs on the planet, this line-up are hand-made by the elite Honma Takumi craftsmen who take around two months to complete each set. Combining different materials, including 24ct gold-plating and Pt1000 platinum, creates about the most exclusive set of clubs you could find. honmagolf.com
app of the month Plenty of courses built-in to this app, ensure you download your data over WiFi at the clubhouse before you embark on your round. With it you can keep scores, check maps and get distances to the green. It also works out Stableford scores automatically and when your game is done emails scorecards to your fellow players.. Vpar - iOS and Android
Nebuloni golf shoes We’ve been hard-pushed finding the perfect footwear for stepping out on the fairway. Then, after 18 holes with these on, we knew we had. Hand-crafted in a classic style they’re a perfect match for any attire, should you be a multi-coloured tartan-wearing type or a more subtle dresser. Select your ideal fit, style and even type of spikes. nebulonigolfstore.com
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For more information info@nebulonigolfstore.com www.nebulonigolfstore.com
The best view in London 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments and penthouses. Prices from £1,275,000 – £15m. For further information, please call 020 3051 0659 or email onetowerbridge@berkeleygroup.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @BerkeleyStyle Details are correct at time of going to press and subject to availability. Photography depicts view from One Tower Bridge and is indicative only.
www.onetowerbridge.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies
Awe-inspiring views await the lucky new owners of this prestigious development on the shores of the Gulf of Oman.
At Barr Al Jissah – just a 20-minute drive from Muscat – nature blends effortlessly with architecture – inspired by Oman’s heritage – to create an exclusive community.The homes have been carefully crafted, sitting among the cliffs above, facing out to sea and gazing down on the marina where sleek yachts gracefully ply the same waters that the ancients dhows once sailed.The houses and villas also benefit from the facilities of the neighbouring five-star Shangri-La resort and residents’ consierge needs will be met by the services of Quintessentially. barraljissah.com
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THE PINNACLE OF
HOLIDAY HOME OWNERSHIP
luxury bespoke lodges
from £239,950 to £500,000
WELCOME TO THE
PERFECT RURAL RETREAT Escape down a country lane to the peaceful hamlet at Osmington Mills. Here a wonderful park nestles in a beautiful wooded valley that drops down to Osmington beach and spectacular sea views. Located right on the edge of the Jurassic coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Weymouth Dorset.
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viewing by appointment +44 (0)1305 836842 | ben@watersideholidays.co.uk
watersidelodgesales.co.uk
Exclusive Country Club Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool Bespoke Specification Lodges Stunning Sea Views The ultimate in lifestyle luxury Free WiFi Access to indoor leisure facilities & Spa
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This month’s property selection includes penthouses that will have you wanting to pop a cork or two on a terrace overlooking the skylines of some of the UK’s favourite cities and unique homes in some cherished southern European locations.
top of the pops Owning a penthouse usually means extra living accommodation and your own outdoor space. Head to the top with these stunning penthouses. Just sit back and enjoy the view…
By Martin Roberts What better way to while away the long summer evenings than enjoying a chilled glass of your favourite tipple and taking in an inspiring view? This month, I’ve brought you some amazing penthouses from around the UK, each with their own special something. Buying a penthouse is a great way to secure some private outdoor space without feeling guilty about the last time the grass was mowed. For those of you who have a more ‘conventional’ garden, adding an upmarket summerhouse can reap rewards. Turn to this month’s Home Style (p120) for ideas on furnishing with finesse.
Ravelston Terrace, West End, Edinburgh
Located a mile west of the city centre close to art galleries, shopping centres and sought-after schools, this high-spec two-bedroomed penthouse boasts commanding views over the Edinburgh skyline. It has floor-to-ceiling windows, underfloor heating and state-of-the-art lighting and sound system. Guide price: offers over £795,000 savills.com
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Harrington Road, South Kensington
This is a rare three-bedroomed penthouse in a central London location that benefits from a contemporary design. It comes with a bright, dual-aspect living room, full-width windows and skylights to maximise the views. Complete with a large roof terrace, gym and Jacuzzi, this property oozes opulence and epitomises penthouse living. Guide price: £10m foxtons.co.uk
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Azure, Rottingdean, East Sussex
The dream of living by the sea can become a reality this summer with this superlative penthouse – the crowning glory of the Art Deco-inspired Azure development. The sophisticated, contemporary design makes the most of natural light with the two beautiful bedrooms and the living room having direct access to the terrace, which runs the full length of the property. Guide price: £1.1m davidwebbresidential.co.uk
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Sun, sea, sangria and solid investments With the summer upon us our minds often begin to reflect on previous holidays. Favourite beaches, lively cafés, tapas bars, friendly locals and bustling markets are entrenched in our memories. While our tastes may have become more sophisticated as we age and new holiday destinations have opened up, the close proximity and gentle familiarity of the popular destinations of southern Europe mean they remain eminently appealing. Of course, with regular low-cost flights from all over the UK and our desire to follow the sun, thousands of Brits now own property in these southern European hot spots. And while Spain and Portugal have experienced their own property crises, for those with long-term ownership in mind there are some incredible bargains to be had, especially with sterling stronger against the euro. As with any investment, research thoroughly and make sure you use a UK-based lawyer who has expertise in the particular country, as laws differ greatly.
Sotogrande, Spain
As the likes of Marbella and Puerto Banus flaunt their jet-set following, further down the coast you’ll find a more refined lifestyle. For many years now Sotogrande has been the preserve of the more discreetly wealthy. With its flagship golf courses, beautiful marina and polo club, it boasts style and sophistication. Casa Alvarado is a spectacular, south-facing family residence set on a substantial, corner plot. Renovated and substantially extended in 2010 to a very high specification, the villa offers luxury and privacy in equal measure. Guide price: £3.25m sotograndesales.com
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Valencia, Spain
Known as the ‘California of Europe’ thanks to its long stretches of coastline, balmy temperatures, renowned gastronomy and rich cultural heritage, the Valencia region is tipped as an investment hot spot for 2015. Historically popular with overseas tourists, the region now also competes as a business hub, while Valencia itself has matured into one of Europe’s most progressive cities. This amazing villa features seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, two pools and a large 5,000sqm garden. It is located in the hills of Alfaz del Pí, a short drive from the stunning Sierra de Aitana. Currently split into four apartments and used as a hotel, it can be rented out as a villa or as individual apartments. Guide price: £1.8m jackson-stops.co.uk
Quinta Do Lago, Portugal
The laid-back Portuguese lifestyle has attracted British holiday-home hunters for decades, with the Algarve offering a less-developed alternative to Spain’s Costa del Sol. The country’s property market never boomed like Spain’s, but is in far better health as a result, albeit sluggish since the global downturn. This elegant mansion boasts classic Mediterranean architecture and numerous features, including five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a spacious gourmet kitchen and breakfast area with access to the terrace, pools and garden, and a stunning travatinecarved fireplace in the living room. It also has a fabulous wine cellar, private library, covered barbecue pavilion and underground technical room. Guide price: £6.99m hamptons.co.uk
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Fern Throw
style
This beautiful double-sided throw made from soft Merino lamb’s wool comes with a different pattern on either side. Designed by Kerry Stokes of Chalk and made in Wales. £168 rume.co.uk
By Kirsty Withyman
Sophisticated Summerhouses Whether it’s a ‘man cave’ or ‘she shed’, having an upmarket, welldesigned summerhouse or garden room will add value to your home and give you extra living space. Thoughtful furnishings can help create a wonderful retreat, so bring a bit of the outdoors inside with these living ideas.
Mambo Rattan Sofa Set
Ergonomically designed, crafted from aluminium and interwoven with a 5mm Hularo Rod weave, this Rattan set provides incredible resistance for all weather conditions and looks good too. £2,299 whitestores.co.uk
Normann Copenhagen Nabo Tray Set
A series of trays with a softly rounded silhouette – perfect for those crafty cream teas. £15.50 andshine.co.uk
Armadilla Pod
Wonderfully individual and portable, these timber-framed constructions have an integrated steel frame and insulation. £8,300 armadilla.co.uk
Low Wooden Box Unit
Inspired by old-fashioned shoe lockers and perfect for storing those ‘back door’ shoes once you’ve escaped to the garden room. £200 coxandcox.co.uk
Badger Pouffe
This firm, filled pouffe makes a great extra seat when you need one and the badger design creates a stunning British wildlife theme. £115 clareloves.co.uk
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- coming SOON -
Next month…
The Summer Special – Great beach escapes, watches for watersports, cool cocktails, seaside homes, luxury car reviews, and more…
On Sale 1 july or go to Issuu.com
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exquisite magical captivating unique intriguing technical futuristic historic beautiful
A new chronograph joins the line of Master Compressor Extreme LAB watches, from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The LAB 2 embodies a combination of scientific materials, cuttingedge materials and horological research. Featuring a patented digital counter to indicate the chronograph jumping seconds, this new model was imagined with a resolutely graphic spirit, alternating between blue and white colour codes, particularly on the chronograph hours counters.
inventive advanced feminine retro chic elegant rugged timeless iconic quirky delicate sophisticated desirable exclusive affordable extreme traditional compelling classic provocative titillating exceptional exotic alluring charismatic puzzling
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»NOMOS is among the best luxury watches out there.« N e w Yo r k Ti m e s
A tiny part that changes everything: NOMOS Glashütte spent seven years researching and developing an in-house escapement. Now Metro featuring the NOMOS swing system is here—and a worldwide first. With selected retailers: Cambridge: Catherine Jones Jewellery; Cardiff: Fraser Hart, Watches of Switzerland; Chichester: Perfect Timing; Derbyshire: CW Sellors; Edinburgh: Hamilton & Inches; Glasgow: Fraser Hart, Orro; Kent: Fraser Hart; Leicester: Stewart’s Watches; London: Fraser Hart, Mappin & Webb, Watches of Switzerland; Manchester: Watches of Switzerland; Ruislip: CS Bedford. Find out more at nomos-glashuette.com, or order online at nomos-store.com