Tempus Magazine | Issue 59 | September 2018

TIMELESS INSPIRATION

LUXURY LEADERS Meet the women powering Britain’s favourite brands

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FROM THE EDITOR 2018 – the year of the woman. Marking 100 years since millions of British women gained the right to vote, the centenary has brought to light the progress that’s been made in terms of gender equality, while highlighting what’s still to be done. When it comes to the workplace, plenty of businesses have a long way to go, but the luxury industry appears to be ahead of the curve. According to Walpole CEO Helen Brocklebank (read our interview on page 20) her company’s research has shown that 38% of CEOs in British luxury are women. This is compared to 29% of female-held FTSE 100 board positions (only 7% of whom are CEOs).

One of luxury’s 31% is Chabi Nouri, pictured on our cover, who became the first female CEO of Piaget earlier this year and, consequently, the first female chief executive at Richemont. A couple of months later, the group followed this historic occasion by adding a second women to its board, Catherine Rénier, CEO of JaegerLeCoultre – find out more on page 52.

To mark such an important anniversary, we’ve dedicated this special issue to the women powering our favourite luxury industries. Join us as we speak to female leaders across many fields, from motorsports (find out how Susie Wolff, Formula E’s first female team principal, is smashing the glass ceiling of racing on page 64) to liquor (sample rum with the world’s first female master blender, Joy Spence, on page 86).

As this is our wealth edition, we’ve spoken to London’s most powerful women in finance – “superwoman” Dame Helena Morrissey, Gina Miller and Anna Sofat – who between them handle billions in assets and have made incredible strides in the face of adversity. Discover their stories on page 86.

We then delve into the world of alternative investments – find out how cannabis, hypercars and movies could be the next big revenue generator on page 40 – and check out London’s best private member’s clubs (page 34).

We’ve also got the latest in luxury travel, timeless style, fine dining and must-have property, with expert commentary from talented columnists and reporters, male and female alike.

Enjoy the issue.

Rachel Ingram

Editor Rachel Ingram rachel@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Commercial Director Donna Price donna.price@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Editorial Director Scott Manson scott@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Creative Director Ross Forbes ross@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Events and Partnerships Director Georgia Peck georgia@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Digital Editor Michelle Johnson michelle@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Style Editor Marius Borg Høiby editorial@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Partnerships Director Jack Bennett jack.bennet@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Digital Writer Rose Adams rose.adams@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Chief Executive Officer Shaun Prince shaun@tempusmagazine.co.uk

Contributors

Rhymer Rigby

Charlotte Metcalf

Kyle Fortune

Lysanne Currie

A respected business writer for publications such as the FT and the Daily Telegraph, Rhymer explores how foods of the future could be the next big thing to invest in (page 82).

On page 52, documentary film director and journalist Charlotte unveils the women guiding the world's fine watchmaking industry into the future.

For nearly 20 years, Kyle has driven pretty much every vehicle under the sun and called it work. Turn to page 68 for his latest review on the new McLaren Senna hypercar.

Former editor in chief of Director magazine, Lysanne speaks to the most powerful women in London's finance industry. Discover her findings on page 34.

tempusmagazine.co.uk @tempusmagazine TempusLondon @tempusmagazine

Office Address: Tempus Media Floor 5, 3-5 Wardour Street London, W1D 6PB Phone Number: +44 (0) 20 3910 1449

Cover image Subject: Chabi Nouri, CEO of Piaget Credit: Piaget Article on page 52

© 2018 Tempus Media Limited Articles and other contributions published in this journal may be reproduced only with special permission from the Publishers. The Publishers Tempus Media Limited, accept no responsibility for any views or statements made in the articles and other contributions reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is accepted for the claims in advertisements appearing in this journal and the Publishers reserve the right to accept or refuse advertisements at their discretion.

Responsibly printed Tempus magazine is printed on FSC-certified paper that’s been sourced in an environmentally-friendly, socially responsible and economically viable way. All paper stock can be traced back to the original tree.

CONTENTS

Wealth 14 The luxe list This season's most exciting new launches 18 Blurred lines Aurélie Picaud, timepieces director at Fabergé, on the new era of watchmaking 20 The British factor Walpole CEO Helen Brocklebank, on the power of 'brand Britain' 24 Airs and graces The life and work of Kate Percival, co-founder of Grace Belgravia 28 Capital clubs The many personalities of London's best private member's clubs 34 Balancing the books In conversation with the most powerful women in finance 40 Invest in the extraordinary Alternative investment opportunities for a modern portfolio 46 Future of work The world of business is changing – here's how to keep up

Style 52 It’s a woman’s world The female pioneers powering the fine watchmaking industry 58 By royal decree Rediscovering the craftsmanship of the Russian imperial court 60 In pursuit of perfection Inside the world's rarest perfumery

Speed 64 Who’s afraid of the big, bad Wolff? Susie Wolff on smashing the glass ceiling of motorsports 68 Senna sonic Test driving McLaren's newest hypercar 72 Ultimate drives How hypercar clubs are offering petrolheads an exciting opportunity

Indulge 82 Foods of the future Exploring what could be the next big thing for investors 86 Ode to Joy The world's first female master blender, Joy Spence, on her passion for rum 88 The heat is on In the kitchen with chef Kim Woodward 90 Surprise and delight An evening at The Grill at the Dorchester 92 Sunshine sundays Dining in style at Ibiza’s famous Pikes hotel

Escape 96 Keeping the peace Adults-only holidaying in Barbados 100 An artistic empire Inside the home of Europe’s largest private art collection 104 Relaxation by design A night at the most stylish hotel in Monaco 108 Moments of serenity Discovering the delights of Portugal's best spa 112 Great expectations A tropical Zanzibar hideaway with a difference

Property 116 The heart of the home How kitchens have become the new status symbol 118 A lesson in history Historic properties with contemporary appeal 124 Round the bend A sneak peek inside one of London’s most unique properties

ISSUE 59

It's a woman's world 52

The LUXE LIST Our essential guide to the most exciting new launches and finest seasonal must-haves

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Piaget Possession Since Chabi Nouri, Piaget’s first female CEO, joined the brand earlier this year, we’ve been watching with interest to see what she’ll do next. One of the first updates she’s made has been to Piaget Possession, a dynamic range of jewellery that’s become a status symbol for empowered, independent women. For its newest collection, the brand partnered with model, creative director, philanthropist and entrepreneur Olivia Palermo, a woman who’s just as as trend-setting as the brand itself. And the result – a mix-match assortment of colourful rose gold jewellery – are stunning. piaget.com

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Bugatti Divo

Harley-Davidson Blue Edition Swiss watchmaker and jeweller Bucherer has just raised the design bar with its groundbreaking Harley-Davidson Blue Edition, a collaboration with Bündnerbike. Priced at a cool £1.4m, it’s the world’s most expensive bike.

Inspired by Harley-Davidson’s classic Softail Slim S model, it’s been fitted with opulent pieces from the Bucherer Fine Jewellery collection, including a Carl F Bucherer watch and several diamond rings. www.harley-davidson.com

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Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet-One

In celebration of its 280th anniversary, Jaquet Droz has unveiled its first ever skeletonised timepiece, the Grande Seconde Skelet-One. Available in red gold, white gold and black ceramic, the model is a bold move from the Swiss watchmaker which is best known for its colourful hand-painted enamel dials and automaton minute repeaters. All three interpretations will be available in the UK in early September. jaquet-droz.com

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Bugatti has unveiled an exciting new hypercar in tribute to Albert Divo – the acclaimed French Grand Prix driver who won the Targo Florio in Sicily for Bugatti twice in the late 1920s. The vehicle, titled ‘Bugatti Divo’, is a nod to the brand’s history of coachbuilding and is built to be lightweight, nimble and swift around corners. To secure yourself a model you’ll have to be equally as speedy, as production is limited to just 40 cars. www.bugatti.com

Fabergé Visionnaire diamond rose gold cufflinks Add a stylish finishing touch to your favourite suit with this elegant pair of Fabergé cufflinks. Part of the Visonnaire Collection, they reflect the brand’s signature style of cufflinks, dress-sets and cigarette cases from the early 20th century – but with a contemporary twist. The combination of 18-carat rose gold, black brass and white diamonds makes them a sterling wardrobe staple.

Available on the BOUTIQUE

faberge.com

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Frangipani Print shirts are having a moment and these smart versions by London brand Frangipani take you effortlessly from beach to bar. Crafted in lightweight cotton with vibrant colourways, they have a loose, comfortable fit – perfect for days when the heat is on. Check out their Big Blue version, a collaboration with the Blue Marine Foundation, which sees 25% of the sale of each shirt donated to the ocean conservation charity.

Do good and look good. frangipani-style.com

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Kerridge’s Bar & Grill

Chef Tom Kerridge’s Buckinghamshire pub The Hand & Flowers was the first to be awarded two Michelin stars, and now the famed chef (pictured below) is serving London some of that expert gastronomic flair. His first restaurant in the city, Kerridge’s Bar & Grill, opening at the Corinthia Hotel London in September, will offer guests a peek inside the workings of the unique ‘rotisserie bar’ as the team roasts joints of meat and fish in full view. corinthia.com

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Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 2018 marks 50 years since the launch of Van Cleef & Arpel’s signature ‘Alhambra’ style – the delicate four-leaf emblem synonymous with the prestigious brand. To celebrate, a beautiful collection of limited-edition motherof-pearl, dark onyx and Lapis lazuli necklaces and bracelets have been released by the brand. Each accessory, embellished with gold and diamonds, makes for a delicate addition to one’s jewellery box. vancleefarpels.com

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Racing time Are you ready for the New Year’s Eve of a lifetime? Racing Time, a global 12-day party journey, will see you enjoy just that as a private jet whisks you to two year-end celebrations – in Sydney and Maui – together with a casino experience in Las Vegas, a Michelin-starred dinner, Grand Canyon visit and an exclusive party aboard a vast yacht. Only 30 spaces are available for what is surely the ultimate in travel bragging rights.

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purentonline.com

Clarges Mayfair

The long-awaited completion of Clarges Mayfair, a landmark development by British Land in central Mayfair, is finally upon us. Comprising 34 exceptional residences overlooking Green Park and Buckingham Palace, alongside, first-class facilites including a hotel-standard spa and wellness centre, it’s the must-buy of the summer. The highlight of the property is its design, which international architect Squire & Partners can be credited for, alongside award-winning Martin Kemp Design who worked on the interiors – a nod to the best of British craftsmanship. clargesmayfair.com

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BLURRED LINES Aurélie Picaud, Fabergé’s first female timepieces director, discusses how genders are blending in the boardroom and in the design studio

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omen, or more specifically, women in business, has been a hot topic of 2018.

If you visit a watch manufactory, you’ll see many women, but until recently, this balance was not reflected at a decision-making level. Perhaps the concept of breaking into a traditionally maledominated industry appeared daunting to many, but as the timepieces director of Fabergé, I believe we should change the way we think and not consider ourselves as women but instead as individual assets.

Everybody comes with their own strengths. In fact, men and women are very complementary, so I think it’s very important to have a good balance.

Having a lack of women at the top of the fine watchmaking industry has arguably skewed perception of what customers want. I believe the lack of representation has led to management not really hearing a different perspective, but it’s changing step by step and benefiting the industry at large.

Piaget now has a female CEO, as does Jaeger-LeCoultre. And while it’s still quite a male dominated industry, the seeds of change have been sown.

For years, women’s watches have not really been prioritised as a product offering. In fact, this balance should shift, and instead focus should be on the watches

a woman would choose. As a woman at a strategic and decision-making level, I can focus on identifying what a female customer is looking for, even if this means asserting that watches in the future are in fact not gender distinct. Instead, watch design can evolve beyond these barriers, embracing the personality of the individual rather than a stereotype.

I think there is no cliché differentiation in what a woman is looking for, as not everybody is thinking the same. While working in the watchmaking industry, I’ve heard so many people say: “we all know women want that”, but have they really asked their female clients what that is? The world and our society are evolving, and I think people need to stop making assumptions. I, for example, and many other women can wear “men’s” watches. Fabergé also have male clients interested in watches traditionally considered “women’s”. I believe the future will be about integrating different types of personalities into watches rather than creating products for different genders.

The concept is certainly not out of tune with modern society, and yet perhaps a new perspective for the fine watchmaking industry.

My approach to create at Fabergé is all about inspiring people and bringing the fantasy of the world of Fabergé to life. We’re playing with the most incredibly technical, mechanical movements, but we’re integrating them in a beautiful way to inspire people’s imaginations. I think that’s everything about luxury today – people need to dream. faberge.com

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COLUMN

Fabergé’s timepieces are as technical as they are beautiful

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Mulberry is British luxury at its finest

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THE BRITISH FACTOR

ondon is the fifth biggest city in the world for luxury. According to research by Walpole – the official sector body for more than 200 of the UK’s finest brands – Britain’s luxury sector contributed £32.2bn to the UK economy in 2013, with forecasts predicting an increase to between £50bn and £57bn by 2019.

From world-famous brands like Burberry, Bentley and Alexander McQueen, to the rising stars growing in demand worldwide, the industry appears to be unstoppable. But what’s driving Britain’s enduring success in luxury? And how do brands, new and old, stay relevant in the current climate of “digitalisation, millennialisation and Brexitisation”?

Helen Brocklebank, CEO of Walpole, takes a break from working to promote, protect and develop the organisation’s brands to discuss the power of ‘brand Britain’ and the trends that’ll define the future success of the industry.

Helen Brocklebank, CEO of Walpole, on the enduring success of the UK’s luxury industry and why it’s stronger than ever 20

WEALTH

Helen Brocklebank tells Tempus why ‘brand Britain’ is so powerful

BREADTH OF OFFERING

BRITISH AMBITION IS ALL ABOUT THE

RELENTLESS QUEST FOR PERFECTION – AND THAT’S PARTLY ABOUT THE CREATIVE ENGINE

The British luxury industry is very broad. For pretty much every sector of the business economy, there is a high-end offering. French luxury is very much focused on fashion and beauty, Italian luxury is all about fashion and homes, Germany’s all about cars, but British luxury is everything from unbelievably fabulous fashion like Alexander McQueen and Burberry and cars such as Bentley, RollsRoyce and McLaren, to extraordinary retail like Harrods and Farfetch, and homewares like Wedgwood. The breadth of the sector is part of its strength and I see that continuing.

THE BRITISH SPIRIT British ambition is all about the relentless quest for perfection – and that’s partly about the creative engine.

Brands are always looking to the future but they’re using the story-telling of the past to give them a springboard. When you look at Burberry’s rebrand, that was inspired by an archive picture from 1908 and yet it’s unbelievably modern.

It’s about setting a new direction for the brand.

The brands that will succeed are those with innovation and technological development at their core. Even something that feels incredibly old school, like Wedgwood, follows this ethos – Josiah Wedgwood created the first innovation in ceramics for 1,000 years with bone china, and then he had to create a whole new industrial way of doing things in order to get that business of the ground.

The behaviour that drives renewal and future growth in the luxury sector has always been there. After all,

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inventiveness, creativity and an entrepreneurial attitude is a signature of the British character.

EXPORT FOCUS Luxury is one of the few export categories we have in this country – 78% of what’s produced in the sector is destined for overseas markets (compared to 9% of British output overall). The love for British luxury, of highend craftsmanship and the inventiveness, design and playfulness of it, is enormous. The appeal of ‘brand Britain’ is huge. Many fear we’ve given ourselves a bit of a knock with Brexit – and obviously, I think we have – but when you talk to people in the key markets – US, China and the Middle East – it doesn’t even come into the conversation. It’s a UKbased industry with a global appeal and I think that makes it immensely exciting.

DIGITAL DEMAND Digital helps open a much more interesting and immediate window on the world – that’s why the cash registers started ringing on DeMellier’s e-commerce site, for instance. This was a tiny, little known brand that just started a few years ago when somebody spotted Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, wearing one of their bags in the US. Suddenly their US business went from small but important to absolutely mad, and they’re having to re-order supplies of that bag as fast as they can. The Markle effect is great.

Examples like this happen all over the world. Digital has helped these kinds of brands maximise their appeal. »

THE FUTURE OF LUXURY When you’re looking at the next steps of where British luxury is going, it’s impossible to detangle that from the important drivers for luxury in general. The key trends are what I call the ‘four P’s of luxury’.

1. Place: Where something comes from is hugely important. Each nationality has its own flavour, so the ‘Britishness’ of UK luxury is a key factor but more important is where it’s actually made. So the fact that Mulberry products are made in Somerset is vital to its story.

2. Playfulness: This is becoming increasingly important, particularly to the millennial customer. There is a maverick sensibility of British luxury that fits well within the ‘millennialisation’ of luxury. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s not pompous. There is a spirit that’s got a lot of appeal, particularly in export markets.

3. Participation: A sense that you can participate in the brand. Being really austere is quite hard these days. The distance and exclusivity that luxury brands used to have is now not such a great appeal – customers want to get beneath the bonnet. It’s a difficult balance, because exclusivity is important and that’s not going away, but it shouldn’t exclude people. This new outlook is driven by social media and how you talk to your customer – you can’t speak at them, it’s not a play, it’s a ‘devised drama’.

4. Purpose – a brand has to mean something. We don’t talk about sustainability as much as we talk about ‘brand purpose’ and what we call ‘luxury with a heart’. It’s a hygiene factor that you’re sourcing things responsibly and not creating waste – if you go into Claridge’s or The Connaught to get a drink, you’ll never see a plastic straw. It’s also about how luxury brands behave and how they’re contributing to the world to make it a happier place.

Glenmorangie [winner of the 2017 Walpole Luxury with a Heart award] is a great example of that.

They had a problem where the water in the loch from which they source water for whisky was quite polluted, but instead of building a high-tech cleaning plant, they thought about how oysters are a natural decontaminant in water and reintroduced oyster beds into the loch. As a result, they not only got clean water for the whisky, they created a secondary industry with additional employment opportunities, which made a substantial difference to the local community.

These things are really important to the new luxury consumer. If you look at how any luxury brand behaves, you’ll see those four things, and if you’re not doing them all at the same time, or if you’re privileging one over the other, you’re not going to connect with the new customer.

Another key focus of British luxury is the commitment that established brands have to making sure that there are new, exciting brands coming through. In this industry, it’s not just about the historic brands, it’s about newness. thewalpole.co.uk

J.J. Corry Irish Whiskey

Founder: Louise McGuane (pictured with brand Ambassador Blaise Kelly, left)

WATCH THIS SPACE The female-led brands dominating Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow programme

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Concept: Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Co revives the once lost art of Irish whiskey bonding. chapelgatewhiskey.com

WEALTH

Wedgwood is the epitome of luxury homeware

THERE IS A MAVERICK SENSIBILITY OF BRITISH LUXURY THAT FITS WELL WITHIN THE

‘MILLENNIALISATION’ OF LUXURY

Hamilton and Hare

Founder: Olivia Francis

Concept: Men’s underwear and loungewear that’s exceptionally comfortable. The collection started with the inspired reinvention of the boxer short. hamiltonandhare.com

Kathryn Sargent Bespoke Tailoring

Rae Feather

Votary

FLOWERBX

Concept: Savile Row’s first female head cutter launches a bespoke tailoring house specialising in garments for men and women.

Concept: Luxurious – and often monogrammed – accessories such as basket bags and clutches, designed for work, play, and everything in between.

Concept: A health-focused beauty brand specialising in natural plant oils and active botanicals which give its users glowing skin.

Concept: On online delivery service taking fresh flowers directly from auctions in Holland to clients across the UK.

kathrynsargent.com

raefeather.com

votary.co.uk

flowerbx.com

Founder: Kathryn Sargent

Founder: Rae Feather

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Founder: Arabella Preston and Charlotte Semler

Founder: Whitney Bromberg Hawkings

AIRS

and

GRACES Kate Percival, CEO and co-founder of Grace Belgravia, London’s leading private member’s club for women, unveils the secrets to a successful career – and the moment that changed her outlook on life forever Words: Rachel Ingram

I

f someone refers to Grace as swanky one more time I’ll scream,” says Kate Percival, with a laugh, as we sit in the lounge of Grace Belgravia, London’s only health, wellbeing and lifestyle club exclusively for women. While she’s clearly joking, her frustration is understandable – the organisation is on another intellectual level to the showy London venues that some people join simply to be seen.

Percival launched the club in 2012 with co-founder Dr Tim Evans, drawing on their passions for preventative medicine and women’s empowerment to create a space that supports its members not only professionally but emotionally, physically, medically and socially, too.

While the concept of ‘Grace’ – as it’s lovingly referred to by its members – is compelling, the woman behind it is even more so. The awardwinning marketeer-turned-business owner and luxury branding expert is undeniably high on the list of London’s most celebrated women. She’s also one of the best-connected people in the city – many of the capital’s top female business leaders and innovators frequent the elegant venue.

The gentlemen’s clubs of the 80s benefitted their male members, giving them a safe space to plan their next moves with their peers. Meanwhile in a modern London, private member’s clubs like Grace are fast becoming the secret weapon of the capital’s most successful women. As I sit down with Percival to discover the key to her success, glancing at the women networking around me, I quickly realise that this just might be the future of female accomplishment. »

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WEALTH

Kate Percival’s secret to success is all-round health and wellbeing

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Tempus: What’s the idea behind Grace Belgravia?

Kate Percival: You can only be the best possible version of yourself if you’re healthy, so we support and empower women from a position of wellbeing. What we do is integrated health. Everything we do is medically or scientifically led. The food, for example, is not just designed by the head chef, it’s influenced by the nutritionist as well. It’s the same with the fitness team, they’re not just looking at fitness, they’re experts in female health and talk to the rest of the team, from the sleep doctors and hormone doctors to the skin therapists. It’s all linked.

How does Grace differ to other private member’s clubs?

Pure co-working spaces are fantastic but they’re very corporate and masculine – I’ve been to a few and they’re slightly daunting. What’s great about Grace is that no matter how stressed people are when they arrive here, they leave feeling relaxed. I think sometimes people think that Grace is uber swanky, but it’s not. It’s a very real place with real women with real issues and real demands on their lives, and we’re here to help them get through that and make them stronger. Having a mix of work and social opportunities and creating a safe space where our members can take time to recalibrate is so important.

Why is taking time out so important?

Goldie Hawn was here a few weeks ago and she was talking about teaching meditation to children – she doesn’t call it meditation or mindfulness, she calls it ‘brain breaks’. I connected with that. As a busy working woman, I’m not going to go and meditate somewhere, it’s not practical nor realistic, but if I say to myself ‘I need a brain break’, I get it. It’s fantastic, so I’ve now adopted it.

Why are private member’s clubs so relevant right now, particularly for women?

A big issue that seems to be coming to the fore is the isolation that business women feel. Many women are in a difficult position because they’re working hard but they can’t share their experiences with immediate work colleagues, it’s too close. Or, like myself, they have children young, so they don’t have the social interaction of going for drinks after work. What we’re finding today is that a lot of female business people are very isolated, so they’re looking for clubs like this to meet likeminded women. Around 80-85% of our members are working women, but not all of them are C-suite women. That middle level executive is a really important constituent for us, too.

How do you connect your members?

We do a lot of talks – they’re not all about health, by any means.

They’re often about business or personal finance. A few weeks ago we had JP Morgan, Cazenove and UBS all giving their hot tips for personal finance. We also bring in really motivational speakers. Women absolutely love this as it’s an opportunity to share experiences and lose that isolation.

A private member’s club is a safe space where you know people are going to be empathetic and non-judgemental. London can a bit of a hot house – the luxury scene is wonderful, but it can end up being very superficial and make people feel inadequate. From our point of view, what goes on inside, whether physically, emotionally or spiritually, is more important than the outside. The veneer is fantastic and we all love the finer things in life, but you have to be grounded and feel good on the inside. And that’s why we’re here.

THE VENEER IS FANTASTIC AND WE ALL LOVE THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE GROUNDED AND FEEL GOOD ON THE INSIDE. AND THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE

What do you think constitutes modern luxury?

Luxury means something different to everybody – sometimes it can be no more than an incredible bath robe or getting into the best

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WEALTH sheets when you’re absolutely exhausted. Take travel – sometimes all you need is a villa over the water in the Maldives, while another time it could be trekking in the Himalayas. I don’t think you could say luxury is any one thing, but it has to be incredibly personal and crafted for the individual.

Something we’ve really learnt here is intuitive luxury. We train our teams to get to know our clients and learn what luxury means to them, so they can create a bespoke experience every time. That, to me, is modern luxury. It’s not the homogeneous thing that everyone thinks luxury is. It’s different and it changes. After all, women are notoriously mercurial – we change our minds all the time!

What’s your advice for people and businesses looking to reach luxury consumers?

I think that integrity is really important at every level, whether it’s a service or a product that’s been beautifully made and has a rich history, or something that has heritage because it was made in a third world country where people have been paid fairly. In this case, it’s a luxurious product because you’re actually helping somebody.

Sustainable luxury is also really important because if we keep harming the planet and not considering the people in it, where are we going to be? I think it’s fine having all these swanky things, but you need to think about the provenance of them and question why we’re doing things. Does it make you happy to have 15 Hermès bags? No, it absolutely does not. Although it is nice to have one!

What do you think is different for women in business today compared to when you were starting out?

I think a lot of young people today don’t have the confidence that we had growing up. There was a lot less pressure on us, we just fell into things and we weren’t worrying about everything. I think there’s just too much stuff today. There are too many biscuits on the supermarket shelves making people fat, there’s too many gyms in this area all trying to take a bigger slice of the business – it’s a very demanding world. Everyone’s connected 24/7, they’re always being judged, and I think that’s why we’ve tried to make Grace a space where you’re not judged – you’re you.

What’s your most important piece of advice?

If you don’t look after yourself, how can you manage your business?

How can you be the top of your game if you’re not physically and emotionally well? We are like machines, we go on and on, but only to a certain point. People like Arianna Huffington and Simon Cowell are coming out and saying they now realise that health is more important than anything else – listen to them. We are incredibly resilient and robust and can keep going and going, but what’s it doing to your long-term health? If you fall over at 56 with a stroke, you’ll look back and think, why did I push myself so hard?

Have you had a moment in your life that made you realise it’s time to focus on yourself ?

We give every member of Grace a telomere test which tells you the difference between your biological and chronological age.

It’s a leading indicator of how healthy you are. My result showed I was six years in the wrong direction – I was six years older than I actually am. I was fit as a fiddle and I ate really well but I had a very bad sleep routine. I was on my emails all the time, waking up at 3am and working in the middle of night, and I was putting off exercise because of work. Over a substantial period of five years, that took its toll. The test was a wakeup call for me. I hadn’t collapsed, I hadn’t had a nervous breakdown, but actually, it did make me think about how important is it to look after ourselves. gracebelgravia.com

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Photo caption

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CAPITAL CLUBS

here are more than 50 private members’ clubs in London – and the days when Soho House and the Groucho were the only game in town are long gone. Today, the capital can offer something for almost everyone – at a variety of price points – from the fashion pack to media types. And while this wealth of choice is to be applauded, it can make for decision anxiety.

Here’s how to choose the right place for you. »

London’s members’ club scene has never been more vibrant.

But which unmarked door leads to your kind of crowd?

Words: Scott Manson

White City House is further proof that Soho House group can do no wrong

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ANNABEL’S | For traditionalists One of London’s most iconic clubs, this Berkeley Square stalwart has attracted the great, the good, and the really rather naughty, since it launched in 1963. It’s said to be the only nightclub that the Queen has ever visited and, following a £55m facelift in 2017, it’s the perfect place to rub shoulders with royalty – both of the blue blood and Hollywood variety. Since reopening, its focus has turned more to dining, with four restaurants supervised by executive chef Julien Jouhannaud, previously of Le Bilboquet in New York. It remains, however, a louche, glamorous place where spotting stars like Madonna or Mick Jagger lounging around the Mayfair townhouse wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow among its discreet members. annabels.co.uk

LONDON SPORTING CLUB | For sports professionals With four UK operations in London and Manchester, this invite-only club for professional sports people or those who work in the upper tier of sport has proved to be a successful set-up for those looking to network with like-minded people. Launched by journalist, author and presenter Ian Stafford, LSC also hosts regular events with wellknown stars of sports and offers a comprehensive concierge service, as well as the Heraen – its club within a club for women in the industry. The London clubs operate out of Mayfair private members’ club Morton’s, The Brand Exchange in the City, and L’Escargot’s private rooms in Soho respectively, while the Manchester venue is the beautiful Manchester Hall. londonsportingclub.com

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WEALTH THE ARTS CLUB | For those in the arts Since its launch in 1863, The Arts Club in Mayfair has styled itself as a ‘haven’ for those interested in the arts. The membership roster is quite a broad church though, taking in everyone from journalists to sculptors to ballerinas, with the primary criteria being that they are not just involved in the arts, but that they are also curious and interesting. Situated in a sprawling Mayfair townhouse that includes a verdant garden, basement music club, renowned restaurant and contemporary art collection that would give any London gallery a run for its money, it retains a cool edge thanks to smart moves such as making Mark Ronson musical director. We’re sure that former members Tennyson, Monet, Manet and Rodin would approve. theartsclub.co.uk

WHITE CITY HOUSE | For the media industry Soho House group can do no wrong. As its empire spreads ever further – the club’s Amsterdam outpost launched last month – the quality of its clubs never falters. From the recent fabulous revamp of its first property on London’s Greek Street, to the perennially popular rooftop bar and pool at Shoreditch House, founder Nick Jones still has his finger on the pulse of what the world’s media movers and shakers are looking for when it comes to a space to work and play.

His latest London venture White City House – adjoining the BBC Television Centre’s Grade II-listed Helios building – combines 45 hotel rooms with a rooftop pool, 24,000 sq ft gym, games room and ‘east meets west’ restaurant. It all makes for a breezy, LA-style hangout for anyone lucky enough to have an ‘all house’ membership. Get on that waiting list now. » whitecityhouse.com

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BLACKS | For fine dining and conversation

THE DEVONSHIRE CLUB | For financial professionals

In many ways, this club feels like the true Soho members’ club experience, filled with interesting and often eccentric types who’ll strike up conversation with you on a variety of surprising topics – or at least that’s certainly been Tempus’s experience when we’ve visited.

It’s famed for its monthly supper clubs, which focus on wine, fashion or art – indeed, Samuel Johnson once held supper clubs at this very location – and has played host to iconic moments such as Sam Smith’s first ever live gig and a poetry reading by Tom Hiddleston, long before his success in The Night Manager. Peaceful, laid-back and quirky – it’s easy to see why Blacks is a Soho institution.

This vast former warehouse, situated on the edge of Shoreditch, has proved to be very popular with financiers and city professionals, plus a smattering of creatives from nearby Hoxton, since it launched in 2016. Once you pass the stringent vetting procedure, members can enjoy its 68 bedrooms, 110-seat brasserie, three bars, four private event rooms, a members’ gym, garden room, outdoor terrace, and a private courtyard garden. A £2,000 per year fee, plus £2,000 joining fee, ensures this opulent space remains exclusive. devonshireclub.com

blacksclub.com

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WEALTH HOME HOUSE | For sheer opulence

5 HERTFORD ST | For ultra-exclusivity

Its excellent 20th birthday celebrations last month gave Tempus another opportunity to check out this wonderfully ornate Marylebone property, which fuses 18th century splendour with 21st century style. Home House is impeccably decorated and furnished and the service is second-to-none, while the overall offering for members seems to grow year-on-year. The facilities include a boutique health spa, a garden for alfresco dining and drinking, two restaurants, several bars (one designed by Zaha Hadid), The Vaults decadent party rooms, beautiful bedrooms and suites, plus a full calendar of social events throughout the year. Set in Grade I and Grade II listed townhouses, it is, quite simply, the archetypal London members’ club experience.

One of London’s most secretive clubs (even its Instagram account is private), this celeb-filled hot spot is owned by Robin Birley, an English businessman who’s the son of renowned socialites Lady Annabel Goldsmith and nightclub owner Mark Birley. Those who get past its famously rigorous membership committee can enjoy a place that’s a riot of colour and fun – in part down to club designer Rifat Ozbek – with in-house nightclub Loulou’s particularly worthy of attention. Here, stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Harry Styles, George Clooney and even the Duke of Cambridge have been known to hit the dancefloor. For the colder months, every room is equipped with a roaring fireplace, making for a club that’s as cosy as it is cool.

homehouse.co.uk

5hertfordstreet.com

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BALANCING the BOOKS Finance is still a male-dominated environment but three women are disrupting the status quo: Helena Morrissey, Gina Miller and Anna Sofat. Tempus charts their rise through the glass ceiling Words: Lysanne Currie

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WEALTH

NAME: Dame Helena Morrissey OCCUPATION: Campaigner and investor MAIN BUSINESS: Head of personal investing at Legal & General KNOWN FOR: Launching the 30% Club; being a ‘superwoman’

“I

was the manic Brownie, the one who had all the badges,” Dame Helena Morrissey told Tatler in 2016. She shows no sign of stopping. A hyperactive force of nature, the mother-of-nine typically appears in the kind of ‘I don’t know how she does it’ articles beloved of the some tabloids. What such profiles don’t particularly address, of course, is her actual business and what she’s doing for women.

The high-flyer had ordinary roots: born in 1966 to a pair of teachers, Helena attended a co-ed Church of England secondary state school near Chichester where she was drawn to maths and sciences.

After obtaining a philosophy degree from Cambridge, she began her career at the New York and London bond desks at Schroders, the British multinational asset management company instrumental in the Tories’ 1980s privatisations. Passed over for promotion at Schroders (who doubted her commitment on returning from maternity leave), Morrissey moved to the global Newton Investment Management in the early 1990s as a fixed income fund manager, making CEO at 35.

In 2010 she established the 30% Club to campaign for a minimum of 30% of women on FTSE 100 boards. It’s working: the percentage of women in the boardroom has risen from 12.5% in 2010 to 27% today and she is a great supporter of the male ally. “A key aspect of the 30% Club is that it involves men,” she says. “It’s as far away from a battle of the sexes as possible. Half the mentors in our cross-company measuring scheme are men.”

She did meet initial resistance: “The replies I got back [ from FTSE 350 Chairmen] weren’t just dismissive but often hostile. There was a suggestion

I was trying to interfere with the composition of boards, that gender balance was a women’s issue, not a business issue.” It was only after she’d asked men to lead the charge that the campaign really picked up momentum. “One slightly amusing – and helpful – thing that I hadn’t foreseen was that these men were actually quite competitive with each other – they tried to out-do each other in terms of how much progress they could make.”

In the run-up to the European referendum, Morrissey argued passionately for Brexit in

“find money very boring”, she told the Telegraph, “but so much stress is related to financial worries”.

Launched in June, Legal & General’s Own Your World campaign was set up to engage those who’d never previously invested – women in particular – and she has thrown herself into it enthusiastically.

“Women’s pensions total just one-fifth of male ones,” she says. “We need people to understand it’s important to look after your finances, just as it is to look after your health.”

Ironically for a woman employed in financial investment, Morrissey says she isn’t motivated by money. “But when I see a problem I genuinely want to try to do something about it. And the higher up the career ladder you are, the more power you have to influence and effect change.” Notably, Morrissey is a trustee at the Eve Appeal, which raises money for gynaecological cancers.

In May 2018 Legal & General unveiled its L&G Future World Gender in Leadership UK Index Fund, or the rather less-of-a-mouthful ‘Girl Fund’, for short. Against the backdrop of large gender pay gaps, Girl Fund scores and ranks companies based on their percentage of women across the workforce, on the board of directors, at executive level, and in management. The first of its kind in the UK, Morrissey says she hopes the fund will “spawn a million copycats”, while stressing that “gender balance is a start rather than a finish”.

“It’s time we women stopped worrying about being ‘too this’ or ‘too that’,” she writes in her new book A Good Time to Be a Girl, “and instead focused much more on getting the job we want.” »

THE HIGHER UP THE CAREER LADDER YOU ARE, THE MORE POWER YOU HAVE TO INFLUENCE AND EFFECT CHANGE several newspaper columns, despite warnings from Newton’s parent company Bank of New York Mellon to remain publicly neutral. And then in August 2016, she stepped down. “My departure is not related to [Brexit]” she told the Financial Times. “I spent 15 years doing a chief executive role and I didn't want to do the same again.”

The following year she joined Legal & General Investment Management. “I wanted a role where I could make a real difference to how the industry engages with its customers including those who have never really thought about investing before or find existing offerings off-putting.” Many people

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A Good Time to Be a Girl by Helena Morrissey is published by William Collins and is available now

NAME: Gina Miller OCCUPATION: Investment manager; philanthropist; conscious capitalist MAIN BUSINESS: SCM Direct KNOWN FOR: Launching the True and Fair Campaign; being a thorn in the side of Brexiteers everywhere

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hese days, Gina Miller is more famous (or infamous, perhaps, depending whether you’re a Leaver or a Remainer) for having taken on the Government over Article 50 in both the High Court and Supreme Court – and won. But there was life before Brexit, and Miller’s motto “Life is short, so don’t live in regret” has served her well.

Business-wise, the self-described “misfit” and “adrenaline junkie” first made waves in the business world 2009 after co-founding the “very different” wealth management company SCM Direct with her hedgefund manager husband Alan. The celebrated company (winner, Wealth and Money Management Awards 2015) had originally been set up after the husband-and-wife team experienced an “epiphany” while struggling to liquidate some of their assets during the 2008 recession. “We suddenly thought if we had been mis-sold, with our knowledge level, what about everyone else?”

SCM Direct offered low-cost access to high-end wealth management while, importantly, giving clients 100% transparency. “Security, high liquidity, low fees, respected fund managers… with trust, honesty and integrity at the heart of all we do.” That was its strapline. But the Millers would also attract criticism, accused of exaggerating problems in the financial sector. It was a taste of things to come.

Miller is very big on transparency: indeed, her 2012

True and Fair Campaign explicitly stated it wanted to “limit the possibility of future mis-selling or financial scandals through greater transparency”.

However, the campaign, which aimed to shine a light on dodgy deals in the UK pension and investment industry, earned the Guyana-born business owner the nickname “black widow spider” from parts of the UK financial sector, who thought her ‘disgraceful lobbying’ would bring

“Many other companies have stayed away from developing female brands saying the return on investment will take too long. And I’m quite happy to wait as it is more important to me that women become empowered about saving, investing and taking pensions.”

But it was in 2016 that everyone in the country learned her name. After waging a legal battle in opposition of Article 50 being triggered without the necessary Parliamentary approval, Miller received a torrent of racial abuse and death threats, and continued threats of acid attacks to this day. None of which has dissuaded this tirelessly single-minded woman for sticking up for what she feels is right: from setting up a crowdfunding campaign to back candidates opposed to a ‘hard Brexit’ during the 2017 general election, to launching a legal challenge against the Conservative–DUP agreement in the aftermath of its hung parliament.

“You reap and you re-sow the seeds, with the benefit of others in mind,” says Miller, who has worked for 47 charities in 12 countries, and in 2017 topped the 2018 Powerlist of 100 people, which recognises Britain’s most influential black people. Long may she blaze a trail. »

IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WOMEN

BECOME EMPOWERED

ABOUT SAVING, INVESTING AND TAKING PENSIONS down the entire City, and she’d increasingly find herself shunned at conferences.

Miller went on to create MoneyShe.com, having discovered there were no investment brands for women. “In the UK, believe it or not, we have among the worst levels of savings when it comes to women investing,” she told KCW Today in 2015.

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Gina Miller’s book Rise: Life Lessons in Speaking Out, Standing Tall & Leading the Way is out now

WEALTH

Gina Miller is famous for taking the government to court over Brexit

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WEALTH

NAME: Anna Sofat OCCUPATION: Wealth advisor MAIN BUSINESSES: Founder and managing director of Addidi KNOWN FOR: Improving the lives of women through a determinedly female-focused brand; winning Financial Adviser of the year Media Award from Unbiased.co.uk in 2014 and the Small Adviser of the year Money Marketing Award in 2018

‘A

ddidi’ in Latin means to inspire and “Didi” in Hindi is a generic term for an older sister – “someone you can totally trust and rely on”, says Anna Sofat. It’s a fitting name, then, for the financial services boutique she founded in 2008 to provide financial advice for women. “In India, as a girl, you are not allowed to be whoever you want,” Indian-born Sofat told Citywire. “In terms of personal freedom, I was far more restricted than my brother was. But all children need to be told that they can do whatever they want. That is all my dad ever said to us.”

Raised in the UK since the age of 11, Sofat would study at the London School of Economics before entering the world of financial planning and wealth management.

As managing director of Fiona Price & Partners for five years, she oversaw the first brand specifically set up to provide financial advice for women by women, before going on to launch Addidi – “a sustainable business with women at its heart”.

Addidi was about doing things differently.

Because women do things differently Sofat says: “The recession of 2008 and the subsequent scandals around some business practices shows that ‘business as usual’ is not an option.”

Addidi was about spearheading change,

enabling women to leverage their wealth and talent to connect with business – especially at a time when there’s a greater drive to get more women onboard the FTSE 100 and 250, and when research shows gender-balanced boards are more successful than male-only boards. Statistics also suggest that by 2020 some 53% of the UK’s millionaires will be female, while by 2025 around 60% of the UK’s personal assets will be owned by women. Clearly, there is a need for Addidi.

The approach at Addidi Wealth is different

In 2008 Sofat created Addidi Business Angels (the first female business angel club), along with the charitable-minded Addidi Pioneers, and the social group ‘Kitaz’. While 2014 saw the launch of Addidi Enterprise, connecting female entrepreneurs and executives with start-ups and SMEs. “This year it’s our 10th anniversary and we’re streamlining initiatives to make connecting, networking and collaboration even more intuitive for entrepreneurial women. If there is a message it is that women do not have to do business as usual,” she told Tempus.

And for Sofat, financial independence isn’t a be-all-and-end-all. “For women, money is an enabler,” she told Business Reporter. “It’s a station in their life journey rather than a destination.”

Addidi, whose typical clients she describes as “savvy, financially independent and entrepreneurially spirited”, aims to help women – entrepreneurs, businesswomen and mothers – live more fulfilled, rounded lives. “We help women create, invest and enjoy their wealth. In the West, people have wealth but they are not happy,” says the former Labour parish and city councillor. “Return is not just about money; that doesn’t motivate me. If I change one woman’s life and she is happier, then I am happier.”

WE HELP WOMEN CREATE,

INVEST AND ENJOY THEIR WEALTH

too, and Sofat and her team take their wealth responsibilities very seriously. “We have designed an independent, whole-of-market approach that lives up to these responsibilities,” says Sofat.

“Our philosophy is based on sound evidence and theory, a risk-focused approach to investing assets and smarter portfolios.”

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addidi.com

INVEST IN THE EXTRAORDINARY Six alternative investments to turbocharge your portfolio Words: Graham Rowan

Alternative investments offer an opportunity to make money on more interesting assets, like this Ferrari 488 Photo caption

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he stock and bond markets are looking shaky. New tax rules have made buy-to-let property far less attractive than it once was. Cash in the bank pays a laughable 0.1% interest. So, what’s a serious investor supposed to do in 2018?

The answer may be to go ‘alternative’. To see where the smart money is headed and discover new types of assets that are growing like gangbusters. And, maybe, to consider a few old favourites that are making a comeback now that we have more than 10 million high net worth individuals on planet Earth. People are nothing if not predictable – as soon as they make some money they start chasing after

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trophy assets to demonstrate their wealth.

This gives you and I the chance to make some serious profit by riding this wave of wealth.

There are two challenges to this approach.

The first is discovering what these exciting new investments are, and the second is sorting the diamonds from the dross. Sad to say, there are some charlatans in the alternative investments space who will sell you a great story then depart with your hardearned cash.

I’m going to share six investments with you, giving some guidelines on how to separate the good, the bad and the ugly. Hopefully at least one or two will resonate. »

CRYPTOCURRENCIES Has there ever been a hotter financial topic in our lifetime than Bitcoin and its crypto cousins? For a time in 2017, many of these digital coins or tokens were going up 50-100% every day. Of course, it was an unsustainable bubble, and many naïve Johnnycome-latelys lost heavily in the pre-Christmas sell-off – newly launched crypto currencies caught on while others crashed and burned.

Sector leader Bitcoin reached a peak at around $19,000 in December before falling to around $6,000. Since then it has stabilised and, as I write, the price holds steady at $6,504. Questions remain around the regulatory treatment of digital currencies, but the fact that Barclays and other big banks are launching crypto trading rooms suggests to me that they are here to stay.

You can play this trend by investing in one or more coins – I would suggest a diversified

portfolio of between six and 10 as none of us can predict the medium-term winners and losers.

But you can also invest in the ‘miners’ who use massive amounts of computer processing power to create additional coins and are rewarded for doing so. There are exchanges where you can buy and sell cryptos, brokers who set prices at which you can trade and even crypto funds where you can spread your risk across multiple coins through a single investment.

Whenever my Elite Investor Club members ask about how they can jump on the crypto bandwagon, I always say they should get some training first. It’s a complex area that few people truly understand. I don’t agree with Warren Buffet on everything, but he’s dead right on this one – if you don’t fully comprehend what you’re getting into, give it a wide berth.

For investment opportunities, visit mirox-crypto.com

CANNABIS Don’t laugh, I’m serious. As an investor you have to be able to spot the big trends as they emerge and jump on board ahead of the crowd. Sit tight while the trend goes mainstream, then sell out at a huge profit. Imagine if you’d been one of the first to buy Bitcoin. Even a few hundred quid would have made you a millionaire by the time it peaked.

You must have seen some of the press coverage around the legalisation of cannabis use in Canada, many American states, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and more. Even Britain is allowing its use for medicinal purposes after some high-profile cases of children becoming desperately ill when

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access to the drug was denied. The legal changes have unleashed a plethora of new companies battling to meet demand. Trying to guess which one or two will become market leaders is a fool’s errand. Just as with cryptos, there are some embryonic investment funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that invest in multiple companies across the sector. The funds are as immature as the companies, but if you are using a small proportion of your net worth at the frothier end of your portfolio, a few thousand invested today might just be a ‘ten-bagger’ when cannabis goes mainstream in the coming years.

For investment opportunities, visit www.mjs.capital

WEALTH

COLLECTIBLES Of course, it’s not only cars that are collectible.

Just about anything that is perceived as having rarity value can become a source of great returns for canny investors. I’m sitting on a stack of vinyl records dating back to the 1970s that include classics like Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin and Aladdin Sane by David Bowie, copies of which are fetching up to $50 on Ebay.

What have you got hidden in the attic or Big Yellow that might be sought after by someone out there in internet land?

Be careful if you’re buying rather than selling, because fashions change. A few years ago anything Elvis was certain to be a winner, but the sad fact is that his fan base is rapidly joining him at the Pearly Gates to Graceland. An important fact I’ve noticed is that even the most avid collectors stop buying when they go to meet their maker. And make sure you have proof of authenticity as there are many forgers operating in the memorabilia market.

One of the most startling recent examples of minting it through collectibles came with a Fender Stratocaster guitar that was played by Jimi Hendrix at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. It was sold in auction in 1990 for $190,000 then came back on the market early in the new millennium.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sold $2m worth of his shares so he could own the most expensive guitar in history to that point.

My own best investment in this sector is a wad of $50tn Zimbabwe notes that I bought for $1.50 each to use in a mailshot. The mailshot never happened, and now the notes are fetching up to $40 on eBay. Sometimes dumb luck and timing play more of a part than skill when it comes to making money from collectibles. »

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CLASSIC CARS As an avowed petrolhead, I’m delighted to say that owning some of the most desirable cars on the planet has proved to be a one-way ticket to wealth in the last 20 years. According to the 2018 Knight Frank Wealth Report, classic cars have out-performed every other collectible asset in the last decade with an increase in average values of more than 300%.

Certain rare models like Ferrari 250GTOs attract the headlines when they occasionally come up at auction, but you could have made a serious return on British classics like E-types and Aston Martins if you’d bought them before they took off. A really well-restored Jaguar E-Type will set you back the thick end of £200,000 now while an Aston Martin DB5 in concours condition will require you to fork over £1.2m.

The secret to making money in this market is to spot the cars that are ‘on the turn’, by which I mean their second-hand values have reached rock bottom and they are starting to be regarded as appreciating assets. You need experts you can trust when making these decisions, and my own team are looking at cars like the Ferrari 456, early Chevrolet Corvettes and rarer versions of the Datsun 240Z as candidates for significant growth.

As with most investment decisions, diversification is key so it’s better to own a portfolio of five or more cars than to put all your shekels in one automotive basket. And don’t imagine you can live out your boy racer fantasies in your new toys – if you want to maximise value the cars will need to be professionally stored and maintained, and only brought out for the occasional gentle run on high days and holidays.

CLASSIC CARS HAVE

OUT-PERFORMED

EVERY OTHER COLLECTIBLE ASSET IN THE LAST DECADE

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WEALTH TELEVISION AND FILM This generation seeks constant entertainment.

Smart phones and tablets have become the platform of choice for consuming everything from TV box sets to the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

Billions are being invested to create all this content, and yet most films and many TV series have to seek private funding to turn ideas into reality. And that means opportunity for those of us prepared to invest in this particular alternative asset class.

Countries are now competing for the economic contribution that comes from film and TV production, with the UK very much in the forefront with Film Tax Credits and Film Tax Relief introduced back in 2007. These tax incentives offered to producers can be passed on to investors – for example I recently made a small loan to a film company on which I am receiving 3% interest per month. Should the film be a complete failure it’s possible that my capital is at risk, but the company has a strong track record and demonstrated how even an apparent box office flop can recoup its production costs through DVD sales and international TV syndication.

The trick is to keep the production costs under control, aided by ever improving digital effects and smaller film crews.

You will find no shortage of offers to invest in film and TV production but do your own research and make sure that the team involved has a track record of success in getting films made and getting them distributed.

For more information, visit cleanslateent.com

SUPERTOYS Normally, super yachts, hyper cars and private jets come on the liability side of the balance sheet rather than the asset side. They cost a fortune to buy and an arm and a leg to maintain. A client of my business partner owns a Sunseeker that he keeps moored in the Balearic Isles. When they got together recently they decided to go for a couple of days cruising round the Med. First, they had to fill the tank with fuel. The bill? A mere €10,000 and change.

However, I am aware of one company that is launching a series of bonds that will give you access to these assets without you needing to cover the full cost. You invest in a bond which buys a portfolio of supercars or luxury yachts.

Part of the funds raised is used as a deposit on the super toys and a loan is taken to cover the balance, secured against the assets. The remainder of the capital is invested in a specialised bond that produces strong returns from arbitrage in the

foreign exchange markets. Depending on the level of your investment, you are awarded ‘points’ which you trade for use of the yachts or cars you desire. You also receive returns on your capital well above what the banks are paying. You get your heart’s desire while convincing the other half that it’s a worthwhile investment. That’s what I call a ‘win-win’.

For more information, visit p1international.com As you can see, there’s a whole world of extraordinary investments out there in the world of ‘alternatives’. The challenge is to learn enough about the sector that interests you such that you can separate the silk purses from the sows’ ears.

There’s no escaping my mantra – if you seek financial freedom you have to first take personal control and get yourself educated.

For more more information on investing, join the Elite Investor Club: eliteinvestorclub.com

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Coming soon – the Google London HQ

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WEALTH

FUTURE OF WORK As businesses undergo digital transformation, what does this mean for the way we work now – and in the future?

Words: Scott Manson

I

f you run a business, whether you work for an organisation or yourself, get ready for disruption. It doesn’t matter if your core business is making paperclips or computer chips, if you’re not already being disrupted, then it’s imminent. Digital is transforming the way we live and work – and businesses that don’t adapt to survive (and even thrive) will fall by the wayside.

Of course, the problem with any discussion of the future of work is that most people look too far ahead, obsessing about robots taking over their jobs or whether their particular sector will wither and die. What matters to business people is today and tomorrow – not 25 years in the future.

BEING OPEN A recent report from tech firm Samsung identified the importance of taking an open, collaborative approach in what they have called the Next Mobile Economy. Where decades-old companies, such as banks, might have siloed teams and entrenched systems that means any change is laborious and painstaking, newer ‘disruptive’ competitors are likely to be more agile and quick-to-adapt as they have built their business practices around what customers want now – and the way they want to interact with a company. “Harnessing the power of open systems like Linux, Android, and even Blockchain,” says Samsung, “means abandoning practices that stand in the way of interoperability, agility and meaningful progress.”

SAYING GOODBYE TO THE OFFICE People want flexibility in their work just like they have in their personal lives. And for no-one is this truer than Millennials and Gen-Zers. These people are using technology like voice-activated apps and smartphone calendars to enhance their everyday lives and that’s also translating

to their work. Today’s employees expect to be able to work anywhere at any time – which means the technology supplied to them by their employer needs to be as good as the technology they use outside of work. As work and free time boundaries break down – with people working from home but also doing ‘home from work’ – employers will have to respect the flexibility that a changing workforce demands.

WORKING WITH PURPOSE There’s an attitudinal shift in this new world of work, too. The days of simply working for a wage are looking increasingly outdated, as the new breed of employee demands more from their job. And if they don’t get it, they’ll happily move elsewhere – as the notion of a job for life is no longer seen as appealing to many. A New Ways of Working report from Virgin identified the importance of ‘purpose’ in attracting the next generation of talent.

“People are coming into the workforce who want to work for businesses that are innovative, creative, fun and that are inspiring change,” says the report. In other words, how is the organisation helping the world, rather than just helping me? »

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CONSTANT CHANGE HAS BEEN A FACT OF LIFE AS LONG AS THERE HAS BEEN WORK TO DO. HUMANS ARE INCREDIBLY GOOD AT ADAPTING TO NEW CIRCUMSTANCES AND MAKING THEIR LIVES BETTER IN THE PROCESS

THE SKILLS GAP A new world of work requires a specialist set of skills from many of its employees but, as a study by Mckinsey found, there’s a growing gap between what’s required and what’s available.

The report stated that: “40% of employers said lack of skills was the main reason for entry-level job vacancies. 60% said that new graduates were not adequately prepared for the world of work.

There were gaps in technical skills such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subject degrees but also in soft skills such as communication, teamwork and punctuality.

What this means is that employers are increasingly looking to cross-border migration to fill those gaps. In 2015, approximately 247 million people lived in a country not of their birth – a number that has almost tripled in the past 50 years. However, this can cause tensions with native workers who fear it could lead to a lack of well-paid jobs.

WHO WILL BENEFIT MOST The Mckinsey study also found that that about 60% of all occupations have at least 30% of activities that are technically automatable, based on currently demonstrated technologies.

And this isn’t just factory workers and clerks, everyone from fashion designers to lawyers to CEOs could see their roles change. Highly skilled workers working with technology will benefit most and the increase in technology will also help flexible workers, which we’ll see more of. A US survey, for example, reports that three-quarters of stay-at-home mothers would be likely to work if they had flexible options, enabled through digital talent platforms.

OFFICES OF THE FUTURE The changing nature of the way we work requires a new look at the built environment. Some companies are already ahead of the game on this. Google’s new UK headquarters, for example, built by forward-thinking development company Lendlease in London’s King’s Cross will be a

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masterclass in future-proofed placemaking.

Dubbed a ‘landscraper’, for being as long as a skyscraper is tall, it will stretch across 330m, have space for 4,000 employees and includes a rooftop garden with a running track and games area for football and basketball. Destined to become a landmark in architecture, construction on it started earlier this year.

Over in Italy, the corporate coffee giant Lavazza has built an impressive new HQ in Turin, called the Nuvola Lavazza and designed by architect Cino Zucci. It’s a multi-role affair that includes an avante-garde office building, gourmet restaurant (Ferran Adria is on board), a museum documenting the company’s 120-year history, a public piazza, events space and also a home to the 700 creatives that make up the IAAD (Institute of Applied Arts & Design). With ecoconcerns in mind, the whole place is also built to the highest energy-efficiency standards.

“We wanted the Nuvola Lavazza to be much more than the efficient and innovative headquarters of a modern company,” explains Group Vice Chairman Giuseppe Lavazza. “It’s a huge portal linking our company, the city where we were founded and over 90 countries in which Lavazza operates.”

NEW JOBS WILL EMERGE Finally, let’s not forget that new roles will emerge in our brave new world of work. Who could have predicted 10 years ago, for example, that a whole new global industry based around social media would exist today. Similarly, a recent report found that the growing role of big data in the economy and business will create a significant need for statisticians and data analysts – estimating a shortfall of up to 250,000 data scientists in the US alone in a decade.

And constant change has been a fact of life as long as there has been work to do. Humans are incredibly good at adapting to new circumstances and making their lives better in the process. There may be big changes on the way – but by working smart and working hard there are plenty of opportunities for businesses and employees alike.

WEALTH Left: Coming soon – the Google London HQ - John Sturrock ©.

Right: Nuvola Lavazza

RETAIL AND CRYPTOCURRENCY – HOW TEMPUS MEDIA IS LEADING THE WAY With the digital assets marketplace valued at $270bn, it’s unsurprising that everyone from Starbucks to Microsoft is investigating how their customers can pay them in Bitcoin or one of the other leading cryptocurrencies. It’s a shift that will change the way the world does business.

Tempus is ahead of the game, launching its own online luxury boutique – The Boutique – the world’s first crypto personal shopping and concierge service. Products from a range of luxury and boutique brands, from cars and watches to clothing and accessories. Users can buy luxury products online in Bitcoin or sterling, or book exclusive boutique consultancies with premium brands.

To date, the luxury market has, in general, been slow to offer potential customers the opportunity to use their crypto assets to purchase high-end goods and services. The Boutique connects brands to audience, ushering in a new era of techenabled retail. boutique.tempusmagazine.co.uk

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S T Y L E IT’S A WOMAN’S WORLD

BY ROYAL DECREE

52 - 57

58 - 59

IN PURSUIT OF PERFECTION

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FINE WATCHMAKING, IMPERIAL JEWELS AND RARE PERFUMES MAKE UP THIS ISSUE’S STYLE GUIDE

It’s a woman’s world 52

Dr Rebecca Struthers was the first British watchmaker to earn a PhD in horology

IT’S A WOMAN’S WORLD Unveiling the females changing the face of the traditionally masculine watchmaking industry Words: Charlotte Metcalf

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STYLE

I WAS YOUNG, WORKING-CLASS, HOT-HEADED, OUTSPOKEN, TATTOOED

AND CONFIDENT IN MY SEXUALITY

WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THE INDUSTRY OLD SCHOOL STOOD AGAINST

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Left: The work of Dr Rebecca Struthers (pictured top right)

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hen the watchmaker and School of Horology’s first female lecturer, Dr Rebecca Struthers entered the watch industry in 2003 aged 17, she found herself in a hostile and “very male” world. “I was often dismissed as the workshop bimbo killing time before finding a rich man to marry,” she says. “I was young, working-class, hot-headed, outspoken, tattooed and confident in my sexuality which is pretty much everything the industry old school stood against.” 15 years on, Dr Struthers and her husband Craig make watches for their company Struthers London. She’s also the public face of the Antiquarian Horological Society Wristwatch Group and in 2016 she won Woman of the Year at Eve’s Watch Awards – Eve’s Watch is the only website dedicated to women’s watches.

“There are definitely more women applying to study watchmaking now than when I started out,” says Struthers. “Where there might have occasionally been one female student in a group, there are regularly two or three in a class.” In January, Struthers London recruited its first apprentice, Heather Fisher. “She’s one of my former students and about to finish a degree in horology,” says Struthers. “Recruiting Heather had nothing to do with her gender – she was undoubtedly the best person for the job. That I happen to be supporting another woman with her watchmaking career is a bonus. We’re still well below equal representation and it remains to be seen whether the women apprentices and trainees coming into the industry receive the support they need to become one of the next generation of master watchmakers.” »

Inset: Chabi Nouri, CEO of Piaget.

Main: Piaget’s Altiplano Ultimate Concept, the world’s thinnest mechanical watch

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STYLE

AHEAD OF THE CURVE It came as welcome news to Struthers and the handful of women in the British watch industry when Chabi Nouri was appointed CEO of Piaget in March 2018, taking over from Philippe LeopoldMetzger to become the first female head of a major haute horlogerie and the first female chief executive at Richemont. The move was an historic occasion for the group, signalling a new era for the company which Nouri has worked for since joining as product manager for Cartier in 1998.

In a statement, Piaget said: “[Nouri’s] mission at Piaget is to modernise and rejuvenate the new positioning and ambition of the brand, while capitalising on its history and unique heritage; as well as leveraging its development strategy across the world and launch a new managerial dynamic.”

Later in the year, Jaeger-LeCoultre, followed suit, naming Catherine Rénier its new CEO. Zahra Kassim-Lakha, director, UK Market and Global Strategy at Jaeger-LeCoultre, says, “Our chairman, Johann Rupert, has long been a big advocate of having a diverse board and of bringing the greatest minds around the table to make the watch industry lead and shine again.”

Rupert had announced as far back as 2016, “I want to see less grey men, less grey French men,” at the top of the group and last year he appointed several women to the board.

“Catherine [Rénier] brings diverse thought and experiences,” continues Kassim-Lakha. “She knows retail, she knows Asia and she knows the end clients really, really well. She also happens to be female, incredibly collaborative, kind and ambitious for the maison. It’s a wonderful, exciting combination.”

PUSHING BOUNDARIES Rénier joins the tiny but growing number of women now in prominent roles within the industry. They include Aurélie Picaud, timepieces director at Fabergé, who joined Struthers as Eve’s Watch Woman of the Year in 2017, and the legendary ‘Queen of Complications’, Carole Forestier-Kasapi, who has been making watches at Cartier since 1999 and been director of movement creation since 2005.

In 2017, Lord Norman Foster curated Cartier in Motion at London’s Design Museum, at which some of her watches were displayed. ForestierKasapi was asked about her favourite Cartier watch and chose the Astrotourbillon Carbon crystal for its “huge ability to bring everyone together.” She described the watch as spectacular enough to appeal to both a non-connoisseur public and connoisseurs who would enjoy the technical challenges behind its complication. “I was lucky to be free to propose what I wanted,” she says, “It’s a unique opportunity to be part of such a well-established maison and to have total freedom of creativity.”

It’s precisely this female spirit of creativity that buyers and brands alike are starting to appreciate. »

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‘Queen of Skulls’ Fiona Krüger, designer and founder of her eponymous brand, is known for her skull-shaped timepieces but has since created a collection on the theme of mortality and this summer surprised her fans by launching her new non-skull but oval-shaped Chaos Mechanical Entropy watch. Chaos has Krüger’s own elongated movement, designed by Jean-Mark Wiederrecht at Agenhor, who knew he needed to execute a new host of technical processes to produce it.

The process took a year to bring to fruition and again demonstrates how female creativity pushes technicians and master craftsmen to their limits in pursuit of bold, innovative design.

One of the world’s most accomplished enamelists, Anita Porchet has long been in demand from Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, Chanel, Hermès and Fabergé and others. Yet it was Patek Philippe who recognised her talent as far back as the early nineties and who collaborated with her again in 2017 at The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition in New York City. Her mastery of cloisonné, champlevé, grisaille, pailloné, Limoges and miniature painting has given her an edge over many of her male counterpart craftsmen. “The main strength of enamel is its inalterability,” she says.

Patek Philippe has long capitalised on women’s strengths. Sandrine Stern began working for the brand in 1995 and is the head of watch creation there. “What women want are timepieces with both substance and style,” she reveals. “When I speak with ladies, their first priority is how it looks, and they prefer complications that are useful, like a date indication.” Stern has helped to spearhead this gendered watchmaking evolution, overseeing the development of women’s complicated watches and representing a definite shift over the last two years.

NO STEREOTYPE “What’s happening now is a mirror of where the clients are today,” says Zahra Kasim-Lakha.

“Before, how many brands apart from JaegerLeCoultre and Cartier had collections for women?

Women’s watch collections are not just about

WOMEN’S WATCH COLLECTIONS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT GESTURE BUT ABOUT

COMMERCIAL REALITY AND

WE’D BETTER KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR FEMALE CLIENTS AND WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT

gesture but about commercial reality and we’d better know everything about our female clients and what they care about. They represent half our clients and there’s no female stereotype.”

Watchmaker Christine Hutter started the Moritz Grossmann Company in 2008 from her kitchen table, naming it after one of the founding fathers of German watchmaking. “Women think a bit differently from men,” she says. “I started from my passion, and the team is the most important.

I think a woman brings a nice touch of design to the products. If I have a meeting with the other companies, I am always the only woman, but today, being a woman or a man is not so important. The most important is the vision and the great team you have around you.”

“The luxury industry is much more tuned into and keen to pursue women clients. They’re a big market, previously ignored,” adds Kassim-Lakha.

“Appealing to women has been part of JaegerLeCoultre’s heritage for 93 years.” As far back as 1925, the brand unveiled Duoplan, the world’s first reliable luxury watch for women and went on to introduce the Reverso in 1931. She continues, “We’ve thrived the last 20 years because we’ve focused on a lot more than dial design – how do we reinvent the complication? How do we have a chiming watch that tells you the time or date of a special appointment? These are very poetic functions and they’re being designed with women in mind. But authenticity and provenance are also emotionally significant for women and for a younger generation.”

A POST-WEINSTEIN ERA “Sexism has undoubtedly decreased significantly in the last 15 years,” Struthers concludes happily.

“We’re certainly in the post-Weinstein era and there is no way people would get away with saying and doing some of the things I experienced early on in my career. That said, we still have a long way to go. There haven’t been many independent female watchmakers so to be the first bonafide British ‘watch doctor’, of any gender, feels like a huge achievement. There are still people in this industry who will never recognise my achievements, but it doesn’t bother me – I’m not the one being left behind.”

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From left clockwise: Fiona Krüger Chaos collection, JaegerLeCoultre Rendez-Vous Sonatina, Fiona Krüger, Catherine Rénier, Sandrine Stern

© James Bort

STYLE

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By royal decree Through the resurrection of the forgotten crafts of the Russian Imperial Court, Volund Jewellery brings history to life Words: Rachel Ingram

Volund’s works are timeless, durable and full of regal heritage

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STYLE The process: Initial sketch, gouache, finished piece

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ewellery design runs in Nick Koss’s blood. The great-grandson of a master jeweller to the Imperial European Court, his ancesters spent their days crafting beautiful pieces for likes of the Romanov family. Koss, however, chose to go down the finance route until one day, a decade into the job, he found himself craving something different He left the corporate world of finance to indulge the creative side of his brain, moving from banking to jewellery design.

“Finance and technology are ephemeral,” Koss explains. “You make things that will be obsolete in a year, or even a month, and that felt unsatisfying. I became preoccupied with timelessness and how to leave something behind.”

Koss swapped his briefcase for a suitcase and travelled across Europe learning the ancient arts practised by his ancestors – wax carving in the Baltics, sculpting in Russia, and design in Germany and Italy – from the continent’s leading masters. Returning to his home in Vancouver, Canada, he launched Volund Jewellery. Equipped with the skills learnt from his teachers, Koss resurrects forgotten jewellery traditions, incorporating elements such as guilloche enamelling and sculptural motifs into his unique creations.

“Art is the only thing left after everything else goes,” Koss says. “Technology replaces itself, and in time so do countries and languages, but art is the one thing that seems to last. I want to create something that’s timeless, and I have to use materials that will look brilliant centuries into the future.”

Koss, valuing longevity above all else, works with only the best materials – gold, precious stones, fossilised ivory, pearls, and so on. “It’s a fascinating concept to make something that lives longer than you. It makes you think and act with responsibility,” he reflects.

As such, his designs don’t follow trends, instead Koss takes inspiration from history, art and nature. Ancient myths and legends from Scandinavian mythology form the basis of the Norse Collection, while the recent Lion Collection pays homage to the king of the animal kingdom and what the beast represents – strength, dominance and nobility.

KOSS SWAPPED HIS

BRIEFCASE FOR A SUITCASE AND

TRAVELLED ACROSS EUROPE LEARNING THE ANCIENT ARTS PRACTISED BY HIS ANCESTORS From its launch in 2012, Volund garnered the attention of royal courts around the world. Clients – typically those who favour rich stories, fine craftsmanship and artistic heritage – come to Koss from all over the globe: from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, to Monaco, England, United States, Russia, China and Canada. Volund is accustomed to flying around the world to meet his clients although he does no marketing – his reputation is built on word of mouth.

“It’s a funny story,” says Koss, “we were in the early stages, almost two years in, when we go our first royal client, a Saudi Arabian nobleman, who said a very interesting thing – ‘we don’t want you to be known’.

And that’s something we’ve continued to hear. Our clients want to be tastemakers, they want to have a special piece but they want to withhold where it’s from.

That mystery and power is very appealing to them.”

Volund may never be an international name, it’s niche by design, and that’s what makes it special. Koss reveals people go to him when they want something different: “Even in Vancouver, where the most refined Chinese nouveau rich live, they go through a cycle of buying familiar brands to show off, but eventually realise that everyone has Louis Vuitton and Gucci and they need to find something to distinguish themselves.”

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A key part of Volund’s business is the craftsmanship of bespoke pieces for loyal clients. “It’s an old- fashioned model because it’s very private, personal, and ultimately human,” he says. “It’s a customised service, and it takes a lot of time to get things just right, because we’re creating timeless treasures for these families.”

When it comes to the design, Koss is very much an artist. “If people come to me and say ‘I saw a ring in a magazine, can you make this and put a green stone in in?’ the answer’s always no. You wouldn’t go to an artist who has a style and say ‘paint exactly like Picasso’. You go to them because you like their style. You give them a theme or some inspiration and then you let them do their art – that’s what I do.

“I like working with clients with a fresh perspective. I always like things that are a little unexpected. Surprises are the only thing that are real, that make you wake up,” Koss says as he shows us the Thistle Ring (pictured above), created for a client who wanted to express herself as strong on the outside and soft on the inside.

“It needed to be feminine, very sensual, combining seemingly opposite forces. I was glad to be part of a realisation of that image.”

If a client wants to commission a bespoke piece, they will first sit down with Koss. No matter where they are in the world, he will arrange a meeting to discuss the idea, the jewels, the materials and the time frame. He’ll then return to the workshop in Canada to create the designs – all the design work is done by Volund himself. The idea is presented to the client in both sketch and gouache form to give them a clear idea of the final piece.

But like any good artist, he won’t be rushed.

Depending on how complicated the jewellery is, the process to create a simple bespoke piece can take four or five months. If it’s a suite, usually delivered one piece at a time, it can even take years. But with all the talk of lab-made diamonds and modern machinery taking the jobs of artisans, a bespoke piece from Volund is a welcome flashback to times gone by, as long as you don’t mind waiting for something special. volund.ca

IN PURSUIT OF

perfection

Tempus journeys to France to witness the creation of Elegantes London’s beautiful flacons – and discover more about the fragrances within Words: Julien James Davis

A

glorious cobalt sky hangs over a quiet, leafy street in Northern France. There, two gleaming Bentley Bentayga SUVs sit parked in front of an unassuming building – perhaps the only clues that a profoundly modern kind of alchemy is happening within.

The building is home to the Waltersperger glass and crystal factor, where I’m being introduced to the mesmerising skills of Elegantes London’s artisans. It’s 20°C outside, but it’s easily a full 15 degrees hotter inside the factory. The heat from an open furnace bathes us in a palpable orange glow, as a four-strong team of seasoned Gallic professionals work together with such swift precision and élan that you could be forgiven for thinking that they are mixing cocktails out of fire itself. And, in a way, perhaps they are.

For this is the sheer level of precise, physical poetry required to handcraft the gorgeous crystal flacons that will eventually contain one of the most exclusive, high-end perfume ranges on Earth. A range known simply as ‘Elegantes’.

This fascinating final step in the perfume process is the culmination of a six-year journey for husband and wife team Thomas and Dagmar Smit, a disarmingly charming couple who live and breathe the world of fragrances. In 2012, they embarked upon a dream passion project to create the ultimate family of luxury perfumes – and Elegantes London was born.

Later in the day, away from the fiery furnaces and over a much-needed glass of ice cold champagne, Dagmar opens up about how the idea first came about: “It was while we were working together in Prague,” she reflects. “We stumbled upon a Latin proverb etched into an ornate granite archway from 1599, which translated to ‘Elegant people of our time are honourable people who pass on their values to others.’ ” The Latin word for elegant people? “Elegantes.”

THE MIDNIGHTBLACK CRYSTALLINE EDIFICE THAT MAKES UP THE MALE FLACON IS NOTHING SHORT OF AN

OBJECT D’ART

From there, the couple resolved to create a range of fragrances so exquisite and timeless, that any client wearing one of their 12 ‘Beyond First’ Heritage perfumes would enjoy a scent of understated sophistication.

To pull off such a precipitous feat, they recruited the help of world-renowned perfumer Julien Rasquinet. A softly-spoken Frenchman with an infectious enthusiasm and lifelong passion for perfume, to hear Rasquinet talk about fragrance is akin to being seduced by your most trusted sommelier into springing for just one more bottle of that perfect red; its taste elevated to an intricate art form. Better still, Rasquinet comes with an impeccable pedigree, having studied under perfumer Pierre Bourdon (of Davidoff fame).

“The aim of each new creation is to trigger one, true, honest emotion,” he says. For the Elegantes ‘Beyond First’ collection, Thomas and Dagmar gave Rasquinet no constraints – neither financial nor in terms of time. The remit was simply to create an incomparable family of effortlessly sophisticated fragrances. Four years later, after a journey of discovery that took

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him everywhere from Turkey to Haiti in search of only the world’s finest ingredients, the 12 exquisite perfumes had finally been cultivated and distilled to perfection.

Having put so much effort into creating an excellent elixir, a commensurate amount of attention to detail was needed to craft a vessel to carry it in and, for this, the Elegantes founders turned to Raphaël Cloix, from French design bureau ADN Atelier.

For all Rasquinet’s peaceful bonhomie, Cloix is the perfect counterpoint: a taciturn, emboldened ex-pianist – all Gauloises-smoking, self-assured charisma. Both men are equally passionate in their chosen field, but with personalities that are seemingly polar opposites.

It’s a testament to the founders’ bullet-sharp vision that these two creative geniuses came to such perfectly harmonious conclusions in the final product.

For his part, Cloix envisioned a devastatingly beautiful, eight-pointed star design with a precise, 72-degree twist for the feminine flacon.

Blown from the finest crystal, it’s a gorgeous design even when you admire it simply as an abstract shape, but once he explains that it’s supposed to symbolise a woman in a ball gown, turning on her heel to look back at you, suddenly the piece takes on a whole new meaning.

The midnight-black crystalline edifice that makes up the male flacon, meanwhile, is nothing short of an objet d’art.

Raphaël Cloix’s flacon designs are so uniquely challenging and complex that the artisans at the brand’s manufactory are the only people in Europe capable of creating them. And, in their pursuit of elegance, naturally the Smits were not prepared to settle for anything less.

Available at Fortnum & Mason and Harrods elegantes.co.uk

From left clockwise: Elegantes perfume, crafting the flacons in France

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S P E E D WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG, BAD WOLFF?

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SENNA SONIC 68 - 71 ULTIMATE DRIVES 72 - 75 TEST DRIVE TUESDAYS

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FROM RACING TEAMS AND TEST DRIVES TO HYPERCAR CLUBS, THERE’S A LOT TO DISCOVER IN SPEED

Senna sonic 68

Who’s afraid of THE BIG, BAD WOLFF? Formula E’s first female team principal Susie Wolff on competing against her husband and smashing the glass ceiling of motorsports

Words: Rachel Ingram

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hen Susie Wolff sped onto the Formula 1 track in 2014, she was the first female to do so in 22 years – no woman had attempted the feat after Giovanna Amati crashed out of the Grand Prix qualifiers in 1992. In 2015, a determined Wolff rose to take on the challenge as a test driver for Williams, her example opening up doors for the likes of Simona de Silvestro, Carmen Jordá and Tatiana Calderón who have since followed in her tracks as test drivers for various F1 teams. And while it seems women are slowly starting to edge closer to the starting grid, off the track and in the garages they’re still few and far between. But this is all about to change as Wolff steps back into the limelight, this time as the new team principal (the top dog in charge) of the Venturi Formula E Team.

The Briton continues the legacy of Monisha Kaltenborn who, when she was appointed team principal of the Sauber Formula 1 team in 2012, became the first woman in motorsport history to hold this prestigious position. While Kaltenborn has now retired her role, Wolff will carry her baton as she takes on her new challenge as Formula E’s first ever female team principal.

Wolff will work closely with Gildo Pastor, CEO of Venturi Automobiles and the Venturi Formula E Team – a man famed for this eccentric idealism and revolutionary approach to business – at the Monaco headquarters to lead the team through season five of the electric racing championship.

The next edition is gearing up to be particularly exciting as all manufacture teams – including newcomers HWA and BMW – will use the speedy

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new Gen2 Formula E cars – these vehicles will overtake their predecessors by around 75km/h.

It’s also the year that ex-Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa, a former team mate of Wolff ’s at Williams, joins Venturi for his first foray into electric racing.

Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Formula E says: “We need a lot more women in motorsport – Susie is a great step forward. We also need to reach the maximum number of people with our message of electric cars and because women are half of the population, getting them following the sport is a priority.”

Tempus joined Wolff at the season finale of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in New York to find out what sparked her interest in electric racing and what her new role means for the future of women in motorsports. »

SPEED

From the track to the head office, Wolff’s approach is bold and fearless

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I REALISED QUITE QUICKLY THAT I’M SOMEBODY WHO

Tempus: Welcome to Formula E. How did your partnership with Venturi come about?

NEEDS A CHALLENGE AND A GOAL

Susie Wolff: When I decided to stop racing at the end of 2015, it was a very easy decision because I’d come to the end of the road and I always knew I wanted to walk away on my terms. The time had come to move onto new ventures. I took time out and I had a son, which was the best thing I’ve ever done, but I realised quite quickly that I’m somebody who needs a challenge and a goal – I’m a better version of myself when I have that. When you’re a sportsperson and you stop doing a sport you’ve done for so long, it’s very exciting on one side because you’re a blank sheet of paper, but it’s also quite frightening because you don’t know which path to take.

Motorsport is my passion, it’s where my network is, so I wanted to go into the management side of things. I was just waiting for the right opportunity to come up. I met Gildo [Pastor] many years ago when I nearly drove for his team, so it was a perfect fit for me.

talent pool, we’re going to get more women rising to the top. I think it’s really important. If nobody does anything then nothing will change.

Sometimes you’ve just got to bite

the bullet and get things done.

Do you think women are being taken more seriously in the motorsports arena?

Being taken more seriously? Yes, definitely, and I think it’s also to do with the generation change within motor sport. The management here [at Formula E] are younger, they are aware of what women are capable of and realise that they are an asset to the team and therefore the performance. I think there’s a general will in sport for it to be more diverse.

I think it’s just one of those weird ideals that it’s a man thing, but why should automobility be associated with men? Ultimately, there’s no reason why, and I think people underestimate the interest that women do have. We have huge buying power in the automotive industry. Around 30% of car sales are to women, but they influence 80% of car sales, so that’s quite some power within the purchasing area and manufacturers have to take that into account.

Why was electric racing so appealing to you after a career racing combustion cars?

How quickly the automotive industry is changing now is incredible.

E-mobility is where everybody is heading, that’s why you see so many manufacturers in this paddock and more joining. Electric cars are going to come to market this year and next, and then before we know it, they will be the norm. So, for me, Formula E has so much potential and opportunity.

Are you hoping to get more women on the race track or into the garages?

For us, it’s just as important to get more women in the paddock as it is the race track. Dare to be Different events are designed so the girls do six activities – one of them is driving, but the other five are not related to on-track activity, such as engineering, fitness, journalism and sustainability challenges. We go for a younger age group and do one event for eight to 12-year-olds and another for 12 to 18-year-olds.

It’s about inspiring them to get into motorsport. And while not all of them want a career in motorsport, what we’ve found that the events at least inspire them to believe that motorsport isn’t just for boys.

Transitioning from being a driver to a manager must be an interesting challenge...

Yes, it’s a very different experience. Of course, it’s a very different skillset but, luckily, I have a husband [Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff] who also works in motorsport. He’s been very successful in the last year, so I could learn a lot from him. I think that put me in a very strong position to know that this was the direction that I wanted to take. I’m not arrogant enough to say it’s going to be easy, it’s going to be a big challenge but one that I’m absolutely prepared for.

When you were starting out in motorsport, was there anyone who inspired you?

Next season you’ll be working with your former team mate Felipe Massa, too. How do you feel about this?

There wasn’t, and that’s why I want to make sure I give all my advice to the next generation. Looking back now, it would have been great to have someone say ‘you know what, I did that so don’t try that, this is a great way of doing that, this is a good team and a good engineer’. I’m going to make sure I pass that on because I didn’t have that.

For me, I would say the biggest influence and the biggest help in my career is my husband. He’s always supported me and made me believe I was capable of chasing my dreams. I think it’s important for women to go out and achieve, and that’s an individual decision for all of us, but I also think it’s so important that you’ve got someone by your side who believes in you. I’m very lucky to have that.

I’m a big fan of Felipe and what he’s capable of, so I think for us it will be a huge asset to have him in the team.

Why do you think it’s important to get more women involved in motorsports?

I was never out on a quest to show what a woman could achieve in motorsport, I was simply out to be the best that I could be, but what I found along the way was that my journey inspired many people, which was a great positive. When I stopped racing, I knew I wanted to give something back because I’m a great believer in that if you give back you get more – it all goes in one circle. I started my charity, Dare to be Different, to inspire the next generation of young girls to understand that motorsport isn’t just for boys.

I think it’s society’s preconception that it’s a man’s world, but actually there are many successful women here and we just have to create role models out of them. If we inspire the next generation and increase that

And you’ll soon be competing against each other when Mercedes joins Formula E in season six.

We’re both very competitive so it’s going to be interesting when he’s also in Formula E, but I won’t lose sight of the bigger picture and where my priorities lie. My family comes before a racing car. fiaformulae.com

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Wolff cut her teeth in F1 as a test driver for Williams

A FRESH START Venturi’s newest recruit, former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa, talks to Tempus about switching to electric and working with Susie Wolff

Tempus: How are you feeling about moving from Formula 1 to Formula E? Felipe Massa: It's a great feeling. It's a new challenge for me but I'm really enjoying it. The championship is growing a lot year by year, so it will be fun to race in Formula E next season. There are so many things still changing, like new cars, but I'm really looking forward to the second part of my career.

What do you anticipate will be the biggest challenge in your new role?

There are so many things that I will need to learn. It's a completely different car to drive, with different aerodynamics – this car has no downforce – different tyres and a different engine.

It’s also all city tracks. It's a completely new learning curve but I'm happy about that.

Of all the teams interested in working with you, why did you choose Venturi?

The idea of Venturi was very interesting to me.

I like the idea of what the team is doing for the future, with Susie [Wolff] arriving and with all the things on the technical side. This was the most interesting option.

What’s so great about Susie?

It’s a new challenge for her. She's just arriving at Formula E so she's really trying to give it her all.

It's different rules for her because she's not driving anymore but I think she can do the job.

Do you think we’ll see more Formula 1 drivers moving over to Formula E soon?

I hope so. Hopefully I will welcome Kimi [Räikkönen] and [Fernando] Alonso soon! venturi.com

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SENNA SONIC Does British brand McLaren’s latest hypercar model live up to the iconic name it wears?

Words: Kyle Fortune

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Catch it if you can, the long-awaited McLaren Senna

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ith its singular purpose, that being the pursuit of track lap times, the McLaren Senna exemplifies the name it wears. It’s defined and described by that, every element of its make up being about performance, from the way the body exploits the air rushing over, under and through it, pushing it into the track, feeding its 4.0-litre turbocharged engine and allowing it to generate such shocking, eye-widening lap times.

We’re at Estoril to experience exactly that, fittingly at the circuit where Ayrton Senna won his first Formula 1 race – the location inextricably linked to the legendary racing driver. It’s a fast, daunting track, the 4.18km and 13 curves throwing in gradients and interesting cambers to increase the challenge. It’s incredible that the Senna feels so natural here – this an 800hp car with the synapse-like immediacy you’d expect from a kart. The keenness of the steering and the quickness of the accelerator is in the realms of the other-worldly.

It’s the brakes that define it. This a road-legal car that stops like a race car. In fact, the new brakes are so advanced that they take seven months to produce, being lighter and more powerful than anything I’ve ever experienced on a road car.

Even more incredible to think it’s on road tyres, albeit a set of Senna-specific compound Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres.

The detail work in every area is obsessive, the pursuit of lightness, that air-exploiting shape, its busy, bold lines assiduous and unrelenting in their shaping of the air. The McLaren Senna is not a conventional beauty then, but a purposeful one.

The powertrain matches that, its relentless urgency, the utter faithfulness of response, the engine eagerly revving, demanding more gears as the speed rises with searing ferocity, 62mph arriving in 2.8 seconds, 186mph in 18.8 seconds. That’s not so much quicker than its 720S relation – its acceleration also having the capacity to shock – but the Senna exploits it so much better, carrying more speed into, through and out of any given corner. And that counts.

It’s an incredible achievement, a car which is hugely clever in being relatively easy to drive, yet demanding you push yourself and it as hard as you can. Do so and it rewards and entertains like little else I’ve ever driven. The 500 buyers – the entire production run already sold out at £750,000 per car – are very lucky indeed. If you’re one of them, take it to the track as parking this in a collection would be an affront to the name it wears. And one that it deserves. mclaren.com

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IN NUMBERS RRP

£750,000 HORSEPOWER

800 ENGINE TYPE

V8 ACCELERATION

0 - 60 MPH in 2.8 seconds

SPEED

Test driving the ‘Pure McLaren’ experience Got an 800hp Senna and want some help to make the most of it? Pure McLaren is the answer.

Offering everything from road trip tours, ice driving experiences and track experiences with tuition right through to racing GT4 cars, Pure McLaren events allow you to enjoy your own McLaren, or one of their cars, as intended.

I’m at Silverstone, I’ve got a 570S, six half hour sessions and driver coach Elliott Cole sitting alongside me. We’ve shared some classroom time already, learning basic track techniques, followed by a track walk to pick our lines, braking and turn in points. Then I’m driving while Cole’s alongside to finesse my technique, using telemetry and video to analyse what we’ve achieved after each session. You’ll have seen F1 drivers looking at the data, and they do so because it works.

As the day progresses I’m quicker, neater, matching the time Cole set as my target. A hugely useful, interesting exercise – and immensely thrilling, too.

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The brand new Bugatti Divo is the supercar of the moment

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ULTIMATE DRIVES The dream of owning a hypercar may be beyond many, but there’s another way to get behind the wheel of the world’s finest motors. Say hello to the ultimate car clubs Words: Scott Manson

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here are few among us who don’t dream of owning a supercar, or their more prestigious cousins, the hypercar. However, even for high net worth individuals, it’s invariably a costly ambition.

Besides the expense of buying them, and the long waiting lists to do so, it’s the depressingly rapid depreciation of this type of car that can make them seem like a bad financial idea. Add to that the fact that the opportunities to drive these highly-tuned (and highly sensitive) cars are rare on public roads – many really only show their true colours when taken to a track or driven on a speed limit-free autobahn – and ownership seems ever more restrictive.

So when not being used they are garaged, depreciating and degrading, which means that despite not being driven very often, parts will still need replacing. A pair of brake discs for a Mclaren P1, for example, will set you back around £8,000.

Also, like any shiny new toy, there will come a day when you eventually tire of it. And your eye will stray to newer, probably more expensive, models.

Step forward the supercar club. A way of enjoying memorable drives in some of the world’s finest cars without the headaches of owning the vehicles. The business model kicked off in the late 90s with former F1 champion Damon Hill setting up the P1 club with his manager Michael Breen.

It operated on a system that saw members provided with an allocation of points entitling them to use cars from the P1 fleet for a number of days per year, depending on the value of the vehicle and when in the season it was being driven.

And although Hill has since left the company, P1 has been a roaring success since launch.

Breen explains the genesis of the idea: “I had gone to a wellknown Ferrari dealership to purchase a Ferrari back in 1999 and the salesman told me that I would have to wait two years from order for the car to arrive, as that was the typical waiting time, given the length of waiting list. When I said that was crazy, he said: ‘You aren’t Eric Clapton, David Beckham or Jay Kay so you will just have to wait in line with all the other CEOs.’ That seemed ridiculous to me, with supply and demand gone nuts, so I thought there had to be a better solution. Iit was then that I thought the obvious way forward was to set up a supercar club for enthusiasts like myself.” »

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Bottom left, clockwise: Rolls Royce Wraith interior, Nissan GTR, McLaren 720S, Aston Martin DB11

Breen admits that he was a little “gung-ho” at first, spending £1.2m in a day on 10 cars but thankfully the membership grew as customers realised the benefits it could bring.

“P1 takes care of pretty much everything that is negative or costly regarding supercar ownership - such as waiting time from order, insurance, depreciation, servicing, tyres, brakes, clutches, valeting and even delivery and collection – leaving our members free to drive an eclectic collection of some of the finest supercars in the world, all for a one-off annual fee.”

There is a host of beautiful machines in his stable, so asking Breen to choose a favourite is tricky, but he reveals he is looking forward to a new crop of arrivals.

“I’m enjoying driving our Aston Martin DB11 – who doesn’t love an Aston? – and am particularly looking forward to the arrival of our Ferrari 812 Superfast and the Ferrari Portofino, a convertible four-seat Ferrari. Ferrari doesn’t make any bad cars – there will always be a Ferrari in demand.”

More recently the world of supercars has been overtaken by car types developed by leading manufacturers that have been dubbed ‘hypercars’. These machines are capable of reaching speeds well in excess of 200 mph and often come with a £1m+ price tag, meaning that owning – or even driving – one is out of reach of almost everyone.

With this in mind, P1 has teamed up with a regulated fund manager in the UK to create the P1 Hyper Car Club (P1HCC).

For a limited number of investors, the option to own and drive these amazing mechanical masterpieces is now available through the P1 Hyper Car Bond. Quite simply, it offers the greatest selection of cars of any club in the world.

It’s open to drivers over a certain age, and with between £50,000 and £5m to invest. Quite simply, this money is managed by the fund manager and P1international which

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buys a portfolio of supercars and hypercars. Part of the funds raised are used as a deposit on the cars and a loan is taken to cover the balance, secured against the assets. The remainder of the capital (50%) is invested in a specialised trading strategy – that produces strong returns from arbitrage in the foreign exchange markets.

Depending on the level of your investment, you are awarded ‘points’ which you trade for use of the cars you desire. You also receive returns on your capital well above what the banks are paying. The P1 Hyper Car Club will be the first ever hyper car club in the UK, if not the world, that will allow access to cars that really are out of reach to the average car club member.

P1International CEO Michael Breen explains: “It’s the best of both worlds. Even at a minimum £50,000 investment, the club member could see a healthy annual return. Plus they get a free pass to use some of our fabulous cars.”

Needless to say, the bond itself is well structured to ensure as much regulation as required.

Returns aside, arguably the biggest appeal is those cars.

P1HCC is looking to acquire prestige models such as the Ferrari LaFerrari, the McLaren P1 and the Pagani Huayra, making this an opportunity to both earn revenue and enjoy the experience of driving some of the finest cars on the planet.

So if you’re considering the joy and excitement that driving a hypercar can bring but the price of purchase, finance, depreciation, insurance and all other running costs – plus the challenges of procuring an elite vehicle – are daunting, then there is a club out there waiting for you. The dream of a luxury drive is closer than you might think.

For more information on the P1 Hyper Car Club, visit p1international.com

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I N D U L G E FOODS OF THE FUTURE ODE TO JOY

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THE HEAT IS ON 88 - 89 SURPRISE AND DELIGHT

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SUNSHINE SUNDAYS 92 - 93

FEAST YOUR EYES ON CHEF INTERVIEWS AND RESTAURANT REVIEWS IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF INDULGE

Ode to Joy 86

FOODS

of the

FUTURE There’s a huge buzz around food technology at the moment, with many seeing it as a sector ripe for investment. But what is the future of food and, crucially, does it taste any good?

Words: Rhymer Rigby

Could lab grown meat become the new norm?

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Dr Morgaine Gaye

couple of years ago I had plant-based prawns in LA,” says Dr Morgaine Gaye, a London-based food futurologist, “and I was absolutely convinced – so convinced I asked to see the packaging.” However, as advertised, these “prawns” were not prawns. Rather, they were made from a base of tapioca flour. “The texture’s hard to get right,” says Gaye, “but they were very succulent.”

These are exciting times for anyone looking for meat substitutes. Only a decade ago, those wanting non-meat meats were faced with a dispiriting range of (mostly soya-based) substitutes. But all this has changed. Along with Gaye’s prawns there have been a number of high profile launches over the last few years. The Impossible Burger, which made its debut in 2016, bleeds like a real burger but contains no meat.

London now boasts a vegan fish and chip shop and, in April, KFC announced it hopes to launch a chicken-like vegetarian option in 2019 with the UK as its test market.

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The trend has even spread to pet foods.

Recently, Wild Earth launched a range of dog biscuits made from a fungus-produced protein – and it plans to make cat food from lab-grown mouse muscle cells.

What’s more, the companies producing these foods – and working in the food tech sector generally – are attracting the sort of interest once reserved for social media start-ups.

There are a number of reasons for this.

One is the rapid growth in vegetarianism and veganism. According to the Vegan Society, in 2016 there were 540,000 vegans in the UK, an increase of 360% from 2006. Meanwhile, the UK’s NHS estimates there are 1.2 million British vegetarians. These figures increase markedly among people in their 20s.

Meat consumption is also falling generally in developed countries. This is due to health concerns and growing awareness about animal welfare and the environment. Impossible Foods CEO Pat Brown has said that current meat, fish »

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Above: The Impossible Burger.

Below: Vegan “meatballs”

and dairy production “is the most destructive technology on earth – more than fossil fuel production, the transportation system, mining and logging."

According to a Research and Markets report, the global meat substitutes market should be worth $46bn by 2020.

So, which areas of this burgeoning market represent the best business opportunities? In terms of foodstuffs, Gaye reckons that plantbased products (as opposed to lab grown “real” meat) are a good bet. These face far fewer hurdles in terms of regulation and are, as it were, easier for the public to stomach.

However, she adds: “The really big opportunity in food at the moment is going into large producers and repurposing food waste streams such as coffee grounds and vegetable oils into products ranging from biofuels to packaging.

In every major food organisation, food waste represents a potential secondary income stream.

Where there’s muck, there’s brass.”

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Photo caption

Foods of the future, here now

Lab grown meat

Meatless meat and dairy

Edible insects

Printed food

Lab grown meat has been around since the early 70s. The product is “real” meat inasmuch as it’s cultured muscle cells which will (via a long chain of replication) be based on cells which were once part of an animal. While there are regulatory, scientific and PR issues to deal with, the biggest problem has always been price – the first burger, unveiled in 2013, cost $300,000 to make. However, companies such as Memphis Meats have said they hope to have products on the market within a few years.

This is the other major approach to meat without cruelty and again, meat substitutes such as Quorn and soya mince have been around for decades.

But the new meatless products such as the Impossible Burger and the seafood from companies like New Wave Food promise far more realistic substitutes which replicate meat on a molecular level, using plant products.

Big advantages here are the lack of “ick” factor and the acceptability to strict vegetarians and vegans.

Domestic bug, worm and ant farms are popular playthings for children.

But what about a home bug farm that functions like a real farm, where you harvest insects for consumption every few weeks? Crickets and other creepy crawlies (up to and including tarantulas) have long been eaten in parts of the world, notably Southeast Asia. Now, grub-based grub is catching on in the west and bug suppliers such as Crunchy Critters and even restaurants are springing up in the west.

Not so much a new food as a new way of doing things. If 3D printers can already produce car parts and blood vessels, there’s no reason why, in time, they can’t print pasta, pizzas and cakes. Printed food’s early large-scale applications are likely to involve freeing up chefs from some tasks and creating intricate designs, such as cake decorations.

However, in the longer run, and combined with other technologies, they could change the way we eat and even help to feed the world.

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ODE TO JOY Tempus talks to the world’s first female master blender about the premium rum that is a true taste of Jamaica Words: Michelle Johnson

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um is having a revolution.

Often ignored by connoisseurs as the less sophisticated sibling of traditional fine spirits, the popular Caribbean export has much more going for it than a roster of toosweet oceanside cocktails. Premium aged Jamaican rums, as created at Jamaica’s historic Appleton Estate, are now as complex and versatile as the world’s finest whiskies – and at the heart of this renaissance is master blender Joy Spence.

“Many consumers still don’t think of rum as a premium spirit but it has sophisticated flavours that can – and should – be enjoyed in exactly the same way one would enjoy a fine whisky,” Spence says. “Jamaican rum should be rich and complex, with bold, intriguing flavours that excite the palette. That’s my definition, and what I make sure we achieve with each new expression.”

Raised and educated in Kingston, Spence travelled to England to earn her MSc in Analytical Chemistry, gaining the highest degree scores ever achieved by a University of Loughborough student. Returning to Jamaica, she became a teacher until 1979, when she decided on a career change. Two years later, she became chief chemist of Appleton Estates, the island’s oldest sugar estate and distillery in continuous production, dating back to 1749.

“I worked very closely with the previous master blender, Owen

Tulloch, and that’s where I discovered the amazing world of rum,” she says.

“The complex, beautiful flavours of each style of rum, how you create so many different expressions in the blend. It’s the perfect combination of chemistry and art. I understudied for Owen until he retired in 1997, which is when I was appointed master blender.”

The world’s first female master blender in the spirits industry, Spence brought an intensely scientific approach to her craft, combining Appleton’s tradition of incorporating both copper pot and column still distillation styles into blends and introducing sophisticated instrumentation, blending formulae and aging processes.

“I’m so proud to have achieved that as a Jamaican woman. I’m not the only female master blender out there anymore, but I’m glad to have been able to break that glass ceiling,” she says, though adds the rise of female blenders has been slow across the industry. “It is still male dominated. I have always been embraced and well respected by other master blenders, but when I do motivational talks in high schools and colleges I like to convert students – especially women – into realising there’s a whole other world opening up in the rum industry and in sciences.”

Such is her impact that Spence has been awarded numerous honorary doctorates and an Order of Distinction

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from the Jamaican government. To mark her 20th anniversary as master blender, Appleton Estate renamed its popular rum experience after her and invited her to create a special blend, aptly named ‘Joy’.

“I always say that we have a rum for any occasion, but the Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend really is the closest to my heart,” she admits.

“I was able to indulge my passion and creativity to make a blend I loved. I used my very favourite copper pot still marques – copper pot stills produce very flavourful, aromatic rums with notes of orange peel, spices, and sweeter aromas.”

Spence says now her biggest task is educating consumers about the versatility and premium nature of the drink. “The whole perception of rum is finally changing – we have so many more females, as well as men, who are drinking rum – and there’s a style to fit any personality profile.” As for where to start, she says: “To enjoy neat, I would recommend the Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Old, and for a nice, elevated cocktail try the Appleton Estate Reserve Blend with brown sugar in a simple daiquiri.

“Of course, if you really want to know the best way to enjoy a glass of rum, you’ll need to come right here to the Estate,” she laughs. “Then I think you will be hooked for life.” appletonestate.com

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Chef Kim Woodward at 100 Wardour St

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HEAT

is

ON From the Savoy to Soho, ground-breaking British chef Kim Woodward is showing how a kitchen should be run Words: Michelle Johnson

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ost of the time, when we talk about women in business, we focus on breaking out of the kitchen and into the boardroom but in the industry of world-class gastronomy, it's the opposite. The restaurant scene has traditionally been very much a man's world but chefs like Kim Woodward – famed for being the Savoy Grill’s first female head chef in its illustrious 130-year history – are determined to challenge this status quo.

“There's never been a huge space for female chefs, but that is changing,” Woodward says.

“Strong females are coming in and I love it. If you look at the women out there now – like [three Michelin-starred chef] Clare Smyth at Core, and Hicce's head chef Pip Lacey – they are tough, ambitious, and really put themselves out there.

Five years ago it was a different world.”

Woodward has been at the forefront of that seismic shift since early in her ambitious career.

A chance to work in the kitchen of Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri, took her to America for nearly six years before she set her sights on the Gordon Ramsay Group, earning a spot as junior sous chef at Boxwood Café in 2007. 10 years with the group saw Woodward rise through the ranks, working at the Savoy Grill and launching upscale Plane

Food restaurant in Heathrow's Terminal 5, before returning to London’s Savoy Grill as its first ever female head chef.

“It was like a dream,” she says. “At first we couldn't believe that I was really the only one, but when it was confirmed we thought, 'this could be massive'. Both for the restaurant and for the women in our industry.”

The chef ’s next project was to join D&D Group, revitalising Skylon, a modern European restaurant on London’s South Bank, before recently joining Soho-based music venue-comerestaurant 100 Wardour St in June. This where we meet and chat as we pore over the venue’s new seasonal menus. For the plush bar and lounge, offerings include tapas-style nibbles and light treats with an Asian twist – a stalwart of the venue for the past few years – while downstairs Woodward is transforming the venue’s 200-cover restaurant into a gastronomic showcase with the spotlight firmly on fantastic ingredients, gourmet presentation and standout sharing dishes designed for dinner theatre.

“As a chef working in this industry, you feel what’s changing, from the food trends to a decrease in Michelin-starred places. People want fantastic food done simply, amazing flavours

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and quality product, farm to table dining, and we catch onto that," says Woodward. "You look at the venue, you look at the kitchen, at what’s going on in the area – in this case Soho – and for me there’s just so much that can be done.

I've especially enjoyed creating a large vegan and vegetarian menu. There's a real market for it in this area and it's really opened my eyes.

We also attract a large weekend brunch crowd, and that's something we have a lot of fun with, both in terms of the menu and performances.

Because of our location and history, we can be a little tongue-in-cheek and edgy.”

One question all chefs are asked is whom they would love to cook for, and for Woodward that question has been answered.

“I've had opportunities to cook for Gordon Ramsay and even the Queen. Gordon was more nerve-wracking!” she laughs. “You have to be tough in this industry to keep going, to push yourself, you always have to want more. Being a chef is obviously hard work, people work very long hours, so it's great to have competition from other women – and prove it's not just a man's game."

100wardourst.com

SURPRISE

and

DELIGHT An evening at The Grill at The Dorchester delivers some culinary revelations Words: Scott Manson

The Grill’s recent refit offers upgraded opulence

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ince opening in 1931, this venerable restaurant – one of five dining destinations at London’s iconic The Dorchester hotel – has provided the capital’s great and good with fabulous food served in opulent surroundings.

The Grill had a recent refit, swapping its red and gold theme for a more contemporary aesthetic of zinc, copper and glass, as well as pivoting wall panels which change the appearance of the room from lunch to dinner. It’s a grand affair with a clientele to match.

As the name suggests, grilled meats are the speciality. A nice nod to times past is the appearance of a trolley service, offering tableside carving of everything from rack of Welsh lamb to ribeye steak and Dover sole. The brilliant but frustrating thing about the restaurant, though, is that it has one of those menus where you want to try everything, as it all looks great.

After much deliberation, I started with the native lobster chowder with mushrooms and chive. This combo may be familiar to some, but putting lobster and mushrooms together was new to me. The two ingredients seem so far apart – the earthiness of the fungi versus the sweetness of the lobster – but together with the savoury hit of the chives, it all came together triumphantly.

For mains, while I toyed with the idea of the trolley, I saw that there was a Black Angus steak on the menu, served with peppercorn sauce.

This prized cut from the head of the fillet, with a supporting cast of crisp fries and seasonal greens, was up there in ‘last meal ever’ territory.

Those who don’t eat steak much might think: ‘It’s just a steak’. But serious meat eaters know that there’s a vast difference between good steak and great steak – and this particular chunk was nothing less than meat royalty.

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Dessert was one of the restaurant’s signature sweet soufflés, this particular version being sticky toffee with salted caramel ice cream. It was an interesting texture, but I’ve always found the mouthfeel of soufflé rather odd – a little too airy for my liking – so while I enjoyed the rich flavours, I think I’d go for the cheese next time. Indeed, I felt envy every time the trolley passed my table.

My dessert frustration, however, doesn’t take away from what was a fantastic dining experience. Staff are just the right side of attentive, with none of that annoying watertopping hovering going on. And given the volume and buzz of the room, it’s clear that The Grill is still proving mighty popular – 87 years after it first opened its doors – with surprise and delight on the menu every night. dorchestercollection.com

SUNSHINE SUNDAYS We head to Ibiza’s famous Pikes hotel for a roast lunch – and yes, the peas are good Words: Scott Manson

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o this is odd. I’m sitting in the restaurant at Pikes Ibiza, long regarded as one of the island’s most decadent and hedonistic party hotels – Freddie Mercury held his legendary 40th birthday bash here – and it’s daylight. Not blinking and twitching and ‘oh god it’s 6am I really should go home’ daylight, but there’s beautiful midday Balearic sun flooding the courtyard. For someone whose previous experience of Pikes is dancing in its brilliant nightclub until the early hours, being here for lunch is a revelation.

In truth, Pikes by day is something every White Isle visitor should see. The whole sprawling site was started as a single finca (farmhouse), run by entrepreneur and all-round bon vivant Tony Pike back in the seventies, and grew organically – with interesting additions such as a bright pink tennis court – being added from season to season. Now it offers 26 rooms, a cool pool and nightly parties that see some of the hippest, most in-the-know people in Ibiza in attendance. But while night time is busy and buzzy, day is a more languorous affair, giving you the chance to wander around and spot all the quirky touches, such as a giant mural of a cat wearing a monocle, or a piece of Tracy Emin-esque neon slogan art.

We’re here to try what’s been described as the best Sunday roast on the island. Granted, that might seem an odd lunch choice when you’re in Spain, but I’d heard a glowing report about the

Pikes’ Sunday offering from a DJ friend of mine who lived on the island and hankered for a taste of home. And boy, was he right.

Settling in with a bottle of delicious Whispering Angel rose wine, our table was soon filled with nibbles – fat green olives, beautiful breads, gossamer-thin slices of local ham and pungent aioli. The sweet, sun-dappled courtyard we sat in was the perfect setting for the feast that followed – two huge roasting dishes filled with chicken and beautifully mid-rare beef (more like tender hunks of steak, if I’m honest), plus a crunchy hazelnut, spinach and tomato roast for the veggie on the table.

Generous portions of parsnip, perfect roast potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and, of course, giant Yorkshire puddings followed, until the table was groaning with goodness. The quality was outstanding – way better than many gastro pubs I’ve been to in London – with the added bonus that our meal was soundtracked by a DJ playing lowkey, atmospheric Balearic classics as we dined.

Even better was that, once done, we could waddle over to poolside and sit in the shade as our children played, as we ruminated on a place that’s managed the near-impossible feat of being a raver’s paradise by night, and a gourmand’s delight by day. pikesibiza.com

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From left , clockwise: Pikes restaurant by day and night, the famous Pikes roast dinner, Spanish dips

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E S C A P E KEEPING THE PEACE

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AN ARTISTIC EMPIRE 100 - 103 RELAXATION BY DESIGN 104 - 107 MOMENTS OF SERENITY 108 - 111 GREAT EXPECTATIONS 112 -113

FROM BARBADOS AND ZANZIBAR TO ROME AND MONACO, WE EXPLORE THE MUST-SEE LUXURY TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

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Great expectations 112

© Carmen Huter

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KEEPING THE

peace

As adults-only resorts gain popularity, Tempus heads to the Caribbean to discover the benefits of going child-free in Barbados Words: Rachel Ingram

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icture the scene. The sun is shining, you’re relaxing on the beach, cocktail in hand. There’s silence except for the occasional chirp of a tree frog or a wave lapping on the sandy shore and you’re finally switching off for the first time in weeks when, suddenly, a child dive-bombs into the pool with a shriek and a splash, destroying the peace. This is a scenario that will never happen at The House.

One of the most exclusive resorts in Barbados, the hotel operates an adults-only policy. While controversial to some, child-free resorts are on the rise – favoured by travellers and couples seeking a moment’s tranquility away from busy city life or parenthood.

The newly refurbished resort is located on the west coast of the Caribbean island – the shore which boasts the sandiest beaches. It’s part of Elegant Hotels group – most famous for the iconic Colony Club, which celebrates its 70th anniversary in November 2018.

The House is the most exclusive property in the group’s portfolio, making it a natural pitstop for A-listers – previous guests include Barbados-born Rihanna, Queen Latifa, Anthony Joshua and Sir Mohamed Farah – as well as royals seeking peace – the Queen of Thailand once visited along with her giant entourage, one member of staff told us.

While celebrities can occasionally be spotted, the majority of guests are successful American and British couples. Most we spoke to were on return visits. One, on their sixth trip, said they “couldn’t possibly imagine staying anywhere else”, and I could understand why.

Another striking factor of The House is the incredible level of personalised service offered

by the hotel’s ‘ambassadors’. As visitors recline on padded day beds by the pool or on the beach, ambassadors busy themselves anticipating guests’ needs, from distributing ice-cold bottles and complimentary snacks – watermelon slices, fresh pineapple cubes, ice lollies and gelato were some of the treats we received – to offering cold towels and sun block to sunbathers. They even clean your sunglasses. And guests needn’t worry about running down before breakfast to save a bed, as ambassadors ensure there’s enough available for everyone. While many hotels offer day passes for outside visitors, The House chooses not to in order to maintain exclusivity.

The property has recently undergone an elegant refurbishment, including a fresh look for the rooms and suites, a new outdoor bar and indoor spa, and the transformation of the dining area into an airy open plan space stretching from the entrance to the sea – a fantastic first impression as you enter the lobby through an inner garden.

A ‘homely’ ambience is created throughout.

Black and white photographs of the island and its inhabitants line the hallway walls like prized family photographs, while simple, soft aesthetics and stylish furnishings create a welcoming and unpretentious environment.

Suites either face the sea or the internal garden and feature private balconies and patios – the garden-facing rooms also have plunge pools to make up for the lack of sea view. Each also comes with a host of amenities, including Elemis bath products, mini-fridge and coffee facilities, and complimentary rum cocktails – a powerful, fruit Barbados speciality – on arrival. »

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The House is the most exclusive resort in Barbados

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IT’S THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE YOU

DON’T EVEN NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT OR NEED AS THE STAFF HAVE ALREADY ANTICIPATED IT

Left: The House

by Elegant Resorts.

Right: Dining at Treasure Beach by Elegant Resorts

Another welcome treat all guests receive is a complimentary jet-lag massage. Taking place in the spa or, on request, in the beachside pavilion, the massage combines a series of techiques to relax muscles and revive the body after a long flight . The perfect start to a holiday.

Also included is a daily afternoon tea by the sea, a Champagne breakfast buffet, activities such as sunrise yoga, and unlimited water sports including paddle boarding, kayaking, banana boating and waterskiing at Tamarind Hotel, next door to The House.

Another highlight is Daphne’s, a fine dining restaurant adjacent to hotel, which has hosted the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and Rihanna. As diners feast on fresh seafood with a Caribbean twist, they may catch the sight of giant turtles emerging from the water – the protected animals are known for laying eggs by the cluster of trees next to the restaurant.

For those who prefer a more low-key dining experience, Daphne’s kitchen supplies the restaurant at The House, so that guests can enjoy quality cuisine in the comfort of the hotel.

Those who can tear themselves away from the resort should take advantage of the Elegant Hotels “stay in one, play in many” scheme, whereby guests can visit all of the hotels within its portfolio – with the exception of the exclusive The House – and enjoy the facilities of all the group’s properties, accessible via a free shuttle boat service.

To continue the adults-only experience, visit Treasure Beach, the newest addition to the

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group’s growing collection, and another childfree property. The oceanfront boutique resort, located just up the coast from The House, is a hub of culinary and artistic creativity. Guests who enjoy art can sign up for special excursions such as art tours of local galleries and museums, and classes including pottery-making and painting on canvas or mandala rocks. Gourmands, meanwhile, can learn to make pastries alongside the hotel’s award-winning chef, or book an interactive chef ’s table dining experience. As at The House, guests also receive perks such as a complimentary cocktail ‘sundowner hour’ by the pool as the sun sets.

When it comes to accommodation, Treasure Beach boasts a variety of generously-sized rooms with pool, sea or garden views. All are light and airy with artwork by local artists adding a pop of colour to the walls. There’s also a number of deluxe suites with private plunge pools and two beautiful luxury ocean view suites with additional jacuzzi tubs and oversized showers.

A stay at Treasure Beach is an enjoyable experience and, with a lower price tag than The House it’s a bit of a steal, however The House is in a league of its own when it comes to service.

It’s the kind of place where you don’t even need to think about what you want or need as the staff have already anticipated it. And the fact that it’s adults-only is a bonus. If I’m lucky enough to return to Barbados in the future, I know where I’ll be checking in. eleganthotels.com

An artistic

EMPIRE Rediscover the spirit of Rome by sleeping among Europe’s largest private art collection Words: Michelle Johnson

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Guiseppe Zais landscapes look down from the concierge desks

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henever I think of Rome, it’s never the winding streets, crowded museum tours or touristic trattorias that really stay with me. Instead it’s that strange sense of then and now, past and future, that is evident as I turn the corner of any modern building to find myself opposite marble columns from ancient Rome, part of an original aqueduct, or a Renaissance palazzo that’s still in use today.

There’s a sense of living history that’s hard to find in other modern cities, where the need to be taller, faster, sleeker and richer often drives out the halfruined remnants of past innovations.

There are drawbacks too, of course. While Rome is the capital of Italy, its infrastructure leaves much to be desired, and the impossible saturation of tourists from all parts of the world means it can be difficult to retain your sense of zen amid the city’s calamitous energy ( find yourself near the Trevi Fountain any time after dawn and you’ll know exactly what I mean). Unless, of course, you quite literally head above it all.

Set within a 15-acre private park atop Monte Mario, the highest hill in Rome, is the five-star Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf-Astoria Resort, a corner of tranquillity that embodies the very best of Italy’s Eternal City. A feast for all the senses, Rome Cavalieri has astonishing views across the Vatican and Rome, boasts the city’s only threestar Michelin restaurant in La Pergola by Chef Heinz Beck, and has also quietly become home to the largest private art collection in Europe.

Entering the lobby reveals an antique centrepiece that will immediately delight art connoisseurs – an antique commode owned by Augustus III of Poland and dating back to 1745.

While checking in, another treat: a unique series of Guiseppe Zais landscape paintings look down on you from above the concierge desk, which itself is accented by antique marble.

The lobby alone brings together a mixed collection of Old Master paintings, rare tapestries, bronze sculptures, and furniture once owned by Louis XV of France that somehow work seamlessly together – and are all available to admire up close and personal. In fact, the only piece of art that hangs behind protective glass is the most precious piece in the 1,000-strong collection, a 1725 triptych (three panel painting) by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo that was acquired by the hotel’s curators on the condition that it be displayed for the Italian public. The trio of perfectly preserved »

From top left, clockwise: La Pergola by Heinz Beck; Grand Spa Club’s indoor pool; The King of Poland’s Commode; the Andol Warhol Suite

canvases depicts mythological scenes including Odysseus discovering Achilles, the flaying of Marsyas and Hercules’ defeat of Antaeus.

Opposite Tiepolos masterwork hangs a tapestry from the famously complex ’L’Histoire de l’Empereur de Chine’ series, as well as one of its equally impressive replicas – if more proof was needed as to the quality of these works, the remaining replicas hang in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, Louvre in Paris, Munich’s Alte Residenz, and in San Francisco’s M. H. de Young Museum.

But unlike those prestigious museums, here guests can get close to these tapestries and explore other artworks by touch, such as Antonio Tantardini’s 1861 marble sculpture ’The Kiss’, which is depicted with such accuracy that the brocade of Faust’s jacket somehow looks like velvet to the eye. Other works on display include pieces

by Giuseppe Bazzani, Joseph Heintz, as well as a more contemporary – but no less impressive – collection by Andy Warhol that hangs in the luxurious Penthouse Suite.

That artistic theme is featured throughout the rooms as well as in the Imperial Club, a complimentary lounge for guests of imperial and penthouse rooms, where a private collection of ballet maestro

Nureyev’s costumes is displayed amid chandeliers and sculptures.

But, however impressive, this hotel is not just about the visual arts. The resort serves up fresh contemporary dining at its L’Uliveto restaurant, including a panEuropean Sunday brunch where we enjoy fresh caprese salad, a choice of meats and pastas, and pastries including a seven-tiered take on the Waldorf Astoria’s signature red velvet cake. On the rooftop terrace, Heinz Beck’s La Pergola offers a panoramic view of the Eternal City as it serves up a 10-course gourmet experience for those savvy enough to book well in advance. Beck’s dishes – favoured by former US First Lady Michelle Obama – feature such textural treats as foie gras prepared in three ways, red mullet with celery and caper sauce, and “stressed oyster” served with apple and pea foam.

La Pergola has retained its three-star rating for 13 years, as well as gaining numerous awards for its wine selection, curated by gifted sommelier Marco Reitano.

Rarities on his wine lists (one is Italian while the other is made up of international bottles) include a 1922 Château Lafite Rothschild and 1945 Pétrus, and 34 wines from the revolutionary Italian wine producer Gaja Barbaresco. The dinner is further enhanced by a 45-label water menu,

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besides myriad selections of Italian bread, international salts, and teas.

Another thoroughly decadent experience with a more contemporary twist is the Cavalieri Grand Spa Club, where fitness, nutrition and beauty combine in a members’ club atmosphere. Try the soothing full body caviar massage after a busy day of exploring, or reenergise with an Aromatherapy Associates facial.

Adding to the decadent hotel’s endless list of advantages is its commitment to total privacy – as such it’s often the chosen venue for A-listers such as Catherine Zeta Jones and George Clooney.

For those who can bear to leave the hotel, the knowledgeable concierge team offers a range of private experiences and tours to help you continue your artistic education of Roman history, whether that’s a bespoke tour of some of the city’s ancient landmarks or traditional artisanal experiences such as a sandal-making masterclass.

Whether your Roman holiday involves Vespa tours or supercar trips, what Rome Cavalieri really offers is a glimpse at the soul of the city, where modern amenities and ancient masterpieces complement each other beautifully. romecavalieri.com

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Views of Rome from the penthouse suites

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Relaxation by

DESIGN From art by Karl Lagerfeld to a spa by Givenchy, Monaco’s Hôtel Metropole’s style credentials are off the charts Words: Rose Adams

Style and decadence reign supreme at this exclusive Monte Carlo retreat

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ew destinations epitomise style and glamour quite like Monaco. The principality – just a short drive from Nice, St Tropez, and Cannes – is home to some of the most prestigious events on the luxury calendar.

Whether the jet set is flying in to watch Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel burn rubber at the Monaco Grand Prix, sailing into Port Hercules for the renowned Monaco Yacht Show – returning 26-29 September – or simply swinging by the iconic Casino de Monte-Carlo, there’s always a buzz in the air.

In the heart of Carré d’Or, close to the famed casino, is Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo. An enduring blend of cutting-edge design and French Belle Époque architecture, it has occupied Monaco’s most stylish spot since 1889. Although its last major restoration – helmed by acclaimed hotel designer Jacques Garcia – dates back to 2004, more recent collaborations with fashion’s biggest names, including Givenchy and Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld have undoubtedly set Hôtel Metropole apart from its five-star counterparts – no easy feat in compact Monte Carlo.

The minute I arrive through the courtyard entryway lined with immaculately preened foliage, I am blown away. The huge Belle Époquestyle building with scrolled balconies and French Renaissance style sculptures creates a stunning first impression. Come nightfall, the property is even more impressive, thanks to a magnificent light display highlighting the opulent grounds and fountain.

Each of the hotel’s 126 rooms – which range from standard size to grand signature suites – boast traditional French accents with a contemporary flair. Mine, a grand junior suite on the second floor, featured a large Carrara marble bathroom with fragrant Hermès toiletries, while my balcony offered unrivalled views of the courtyard below, as well as the nearby harbour. A rest on the golden chaise longue was the perfect start to my Monte-Carlo stay.

The hotel’s dedication to haute couture and design doesn’t stop at the rooms. The Spa Métropole by Givenchy, designed by the Italian fashion house it’s named after, embodies the chic minimalism that the maison is known for. One of only three Givenchy spas in the world, its sleek marble décor and bold lighting create an oasis of

ONE OF ONLY

THREE GIVENCHY SPAS IN THE WORLD, ITS SLEEK MARBLE DÉCOR AND BOLD LIGHTING CREATE AN OASIS OF CALM

From left , clockwise: Spa Métropole by Givenchy, Hôtel Metropole, Karl Lagerfeld’s installation, Restaurant Joël Robuchon

calm unlike any spa I have visited before. Guests can enjoy access to a fitness studio, traditional Hammam shower and manicure studio by Bastien Gonzalez, as well as 10 treatment rooms. I tried the Le Soin Noir Signature Facial Treatment, which provided 90 minutes of indulgent, restorative therapy that left my face feeling softer than it has in years.

With my skin buffed to perfection, it was time to treat my senses to further stylish delight, this time of the culinary kind. Enter: Odyssey, a restaurant and bar designed by Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld. The fashion icon is famed for reinventing luxury labels including Fendi and Chloé, and his trademark style is as effective here as it is on the catwalk. A 65ft glass installation featuring photographs of black-and-white togaclad models, shot by Lagerfeld himself, bring to life his own vision of Ulysses’s journey. Guests can take in the artwork while lounging in the private cabanas that line the sapphire sea-water pool.

The hotel is just as stylish in its fine dining credentials, thanks to the visionary menus of the late ‘chef of the century’ Joël Robuchon.

The 31-Michelin starred chef ’s restaurant is the epitome of his famed communal fine dining experience and as I take a seat at Restaurant Joël Robuchon’s top table, adjoined to the open kitchen, the proof of his skill is in the tasting – the John Dory fish fillet is delicious, and ‘le pop fraise’, a fluffy strawberry cheesecake, even more so.

Robuchon also directed the gastronomic delights of Odyssey as well as the lobby bar and Japanese restaurant Yoshi, and the hotel insists it has no plans to replace Restaurant Joël Robuchon, despite the great chef ’s death in August.

From this compelling peek into the usually outof-sight culinary process to collaborations with the biggest names in style, it’s clear that Hôtel Metropole’s partnerships are – as the hotel itself is to Monte Carlo – proof positive of the everevolving glamour of Europe’s most unashamedly glitzy destination. metropole.com

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MOMENTS OF serenity If you’re feeling frazzled, Portugal’s Serenity - The Art of Well Being could be the solution you’ve been searching for Words: Joanna Perfect

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e all know how important it is to take time out to relax and recharge, but too often, actually putting this into practice is easier said than done. Step forward Serenity – The Art of Well Being, Portugal’s leading wellness spa that’s enticing a new wave of high net worth clientele in pursuit of rebalance.

Situated in coastal Albufeira, right above the Falesia Cliffs of the Algarve, the brand has a pair of outlets within two of the region’s hotels, Sheraton Cascais Resort and Pine Cliffs, a Luxury Collection Resort, Algarve – with the latter boasting 13 generous treatment rooms as well as couple’s suite, the Aurum Suite. Established in 2015, the brand has become known for its bespoke, tailored approach for each of its guests. With all of the fundamentals you’d expect from a luxury spa – such as a jacuzzi, pool and steam room – the Thermal Oasis spa also offers appealing additional extras such as sauna with Himalayan rock salt, indoor hydrotherapy pool and Hammam.

It’s no wonder the brand is so highly regarded within the wellness world. Its position as country’s best spa was cemented at the 2018 World Luxury Spa Awards where the brand won Best Luxury Destination Spa in Portugal and Best Luxury Wellness Spa in Europe.

Upon arrival at Pine Cliff ’s Serenity spa, visitors can hand-pick from a host of holistic experience programmes designed to restore a welcome sense of calm. The ‘digital detox’ package, encouraging you to “put your phone in a sleeping

bag” and reconnect with your inner self through beach workouts, pilates and massage is a popular choice among exhausted city dwellers, while others packages are devoted to fitness, internal harmonisation and the awakening of senses.

The products used to perform the rejuvenating therapies are further evidence of Serenity’s commitment to offering their guests the best.

Each treatment includes a combination of highend brands – such as The Organic Pharmacy, Sensai and Margaret Dabbs – as well as ingredients unique to the Algarve such as sea salt and sand from Falesia Beach and local Algarvian orange essential oils.

With the need for a detox – both digital and mental – suitably overdue, Tempus travelled to Pine Cliffs Resort to try out its ‘Senses of the Algarve’ signature massage. The moment you step foot inside the spa, an enchanting scent of essential oils engulfs you, instantly relieving jet lag and setting the tone for a pleasant experience ahead. The staff are warm, welcoming and full of hospitality, setting me down with a cold drink before escorting me to a private cubicle to change into a warm, fluffy bath robe.

My treatment started with a full body scrub of fleur de sel (sea salt) from the Algarve’s Ria Formosa lagoon and sand from the nearby Praia da Falésia beach. This fusion is designed to purify and prep the skin for the carob body wrap, a fullbody mask containing extracts from the carob tree with the consistency of chocolate milk. A plastic sheet wrap was then applied to prevent the »

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The spa uses local ingredients such as sea salt and extracts from the carob tree

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mask from drying out while I was left to relax for 30 minutes and listen to a calming soundtrack of instrumental music. The treatment was finished off with a massage using essential orange oil from the Algarve, designed to enhance the power of the wrap. I emerged from the spa feeling more relaxed than I’d been in months.

Outside of its spa, Pine Cliffs Resort has renovation on the horizon, starting with the transformation of its dining menus. Resident nutritionist Céline Fernandes will collaborate with executive chef Stuart Sage and spa and fitness director Maria d’Orey – who will help revise the hotel’s popular wellness programmes.

In addition, she will host personalised nutrition classes and health-focused workshops for both guests and locals.

This unrivalled guest experience is mirrored at Serenity Spa’s second outlet within the Sheraton Cascais Resort. Here, guests can enjoy a refined menu selection of its sister spa's treatments, such as the hot stone massages, slimming massages and facial therapies, along with a new additions.

Exclusive to this site is the golfer's massage, curated for players exhausted from a long day on the course. The treatment uses warmed golf balls and stretching techniques to relieve tight muscles and swing-related stiffness – a must for any fan of the sport.

With two excellent spas and a menu of treatments tailored to those in need of true rest and relaxation, Serenity – The Art of Well Being, gives visitors to Portugal more than enough reason to put down the phone and recharge the body instead. serenity-spa.com

IT’S NO WONDER THE BRAND IS SO HIGHLY REGARDED WITHIN THE WELLNESS WORLD

Right: Serenity Spa at Sheraton Cascais Resort.

Right page and below: Serenity Spa at Pine Cliffs Resort

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Great expectations With natural beauty and a rich history, this tropical Zanzibar hideaway showcases Africa at its most colourful

Words: Scott Wheeler

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verything I’d heard about Zanzibar Island, positioned in the Indian Ocean just off the Tanzanian archipelago, had been so overwhelmingly positive I was prepared for a fall. But no gushing reviews from friends or photos in a brochure could suitably prepare me for the sheer natural beauty of this vibrantly colourful part of the world where I was to spend a blissful week.

Kilindi Zanzibar is positioned on 50 acres of lush, tropical gardens and powdery white sands in the Kendwa area on the northern tip of Zanzibar’s main island, officially called Unguja. The resort’s architecture is a beguiling mix of local Arabian features with a hefty dose of Scandinavian minimalism inspired by the architect’s muse – the property was originally designed for ABBA songwriter Benny Andersson in 2007. It’s a study in contrasts but, amazingly, the flow of space is a relaxing treat for the senses and, in my opinion, the ultimate romantic hideaway.

Arriving at midnight to find ourselves greeted by an admittedly rather bumpy airport transfer, the stresses of the flight were soon dispersed during our greeting from Justin, the hotel’s general manger, and the cool welcome drink he brought with him. As we

walked through the main house around which the resort is centred, the Arabian lights casting swirling shadows on the cool tiles, while the cascading water feature behind the bar was lit up invitingly. As we wandered past the candlelit infinity pool overlooking the deep Indian Ocean our first impression could be summed up in one word – stunning.

Each of Kilindi’s 15 villas is set within its own private tropical garden – and conveniently served by its own dedicated butler. Our family villa was made of a cluster of buildings, including a bedroom with a giant bed, a bathroom an even larger shower, a lounge that’s perfect for entertaining, a terrace with comfy day beds and a two-tier plunge pool boasting panormaic views over the gardens and the ocean – the perfect way to cool off in the African sun.

Big, bold and beautiful certainly seems to be a theme Kilindi has embraced, and the decor reflected this while at the same time being incredibly inviting and homely.

Breakfast is served in the privacy of your villa – Baruti, our fantastic butler for the duration, greeted me each morning with a double espresso and a fruit cocktail – while dinner is served in the main pavilion, either on

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the terrace or on the sand against a backdrop of the most memorable African sunsets.

During the day, guests of the beachside hotel can enjoy a range of high-octane activities such as diving, snorkelling and sailing, or venture off site to discover the broad range of historical and cultural opportunities the island has to offer. The resort can organise visits to the fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site of Stone Town where you can shop the curios and colourful bazaars of this faded traditional hub, and local highlights such as the Sultan’s Palace, the Majestic House of Wonders and the imposing Old Fort.

After a long day of exploration, revitalise in the resort’s spa facilities. Choose from a menu of treatments or work with therapists to create a bespoke programme to relax, pamper, detox or rejuvenate your body and mind.

It’s safe to say this romantic getaway had me falling head over heels for Africa. Whether it’s your first visit to this enthralling continent or your fiftieth, Zanzibar’s hypnotic colours and jewel-toned turquoise seas are the perfect introduction to a lasting love affair that defies even the highest of expectations. elewanacollection.com/kilindi-zanzibar

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P R O P E R T Y THE HEART OF THE HOME A LESSON IN HISTORY

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ROUND THE BEND 124 - 125

DISCOVER THE LATEST INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS TO THE HOTTEST PROPERTIES ON SALE IN LONDON

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THE HEART

of

THE HOME Chanda Pandya, UK brand director of Rossana discusses why the kitchen has become more than a space for cooking

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kitchen is not only the heart of the home, it’s where the magic happens. It’s where families come together, parties come alive and entrepreneurs work their craft – it is essentially the central hub of any home and the one room that adds the most value, not just financially but in terms of lifestyle.

At Rossana, we acknowledged this trend from the beginning and our approach has always been to ensure that our kitchens are not just aesthetically beautiful but ergonomic and functional to cater for the most sophisticated of users.

Cooking has become a social activity and hosts often interact with their guests while preparing a meal. Many of our customers also entertain business clients at home. As such, the kitchen becomes so much more than a utilitarian space. The Rossana K-In K-Out kitchen plays to this very trend. It’s a sculptural island which, visually, is a monolith and does not read like a kitchen.

However, with worktops that slide open at the touch of a button, the island transforms from a piece of art to a fully functional kitchen. When fully extended, the overhangs create tables for seating around the central cooking area. Rossana is known for its ‘hidden kitchens’, with unique pocket doors that can hide away an entire kitchen, transforming the look and feel of a room in an instant.

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At the top end of the market, clients want true luxury and we respond to that with a truly bespoke offering. Answering the client’s brief is crucial and this is inextricably linked to interior design. The kitchen is often the centre of the home and should sit harmoniously in the space. In an open-plan home, the kitchen will form part of the living and dining areas and so the flow between the areas has to be seamless. This is something Rossana achieves through the use of beautiful materials ranging from patinated metals, natural stones and timber finishes.

Rossana is referred to as the connoisseur’s choice as it fulfils any interior design brief with exceptional quality and craftsmanship. The Rossana DC10 in burnished brass or the HT50 in silver, combined with either our Cappuccino or Lievegato stone, are popular models with our clients. More recently, we launched new finishes of champagne gold metal and Travertine stone, which have received an overwhelming response.

The kitchen adds the most value to your home and is by far the most considered purchase for a house. Our clients engage in a full and detailed design consultation, to define how the space will host family, friends and business colleagues alike.

People also like to show off their kitchens – a beautiful kitchen can be a celebration of success. Ultimately, one knows what one may have spent on a kitchen, so like any bespoke, designed, individual item – such as a luxury car – the kitchen is a true status symbol. rossana.uk.com

COLUMN

The DC10 is known as the “connoisseur’s choice”

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A LESSON IN HISTORY A home with a nod to the past can reap some serious rewards Words: Cheryl Markosky

Battersea Power Station is one of London’s most iconic buildings

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he word ‘iconic’ is one that Mark Hutton, head of sales at Grade II*listed Battersea Power Station, uses frequently when describing Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s mighty symbol of Art Deco industrial architecture. “It’s on the cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals album, in the British passport and a popular feature of London’s skyline,” he explains.

“Not many developments can lay claim to this level of history.”

A period mansion, or a portion of a converted, ancient building, makes for a prestigious purchase.

Mark notes that trophy hunters are stalking “big game” power station penthouses costing circa £20m. Others are content to own upscale homes in contemporary Circus West Village, or Frank Gehry and Norman Foster creations overlooking the much-admired station.

Another historic gem is Oceanic House – once headquarters of the White Star Line, owner of the legendary Titanic. “We’ve kept the façade, reinstated cornicing and restored doors in this grand place in London’s West End,” says Strutt & Parker’s Josh Ayres, adding that the

mix of generous ceiling heights and modish Poggenpohl kitchens appeals to buyers wanting a slice of English history with all the new bells and whistles.

Miles Wood at Chelsea Barracks reckons the scheme’s informed by the established locality – “apartments and houses in new garden squares inspired by classic Belgravia architecture” – with interest in the army garrison’s mid-Victorian chapel destined to be an arts venue. “We’re taking the best from the past and adapting it to how we live now,” he says.

A one-off antiquity is The King’s Observatory in Richmond, formerly King George III’s astronomical lookout. “You can have a fantastic experience in a fully functioning observatory with a telescope loaned by the Crown Estate,” points out Knight Frank’s Debbie Pinkham.

Georgian and Queen Anne manors top the charts, argues Savills’ Stephen Christie-Miller.

“Buyers want the real McCoy offering character and a feeling of permanence,” he says. “Also, dwelling in an antique building helps preserve it for generations to come.”

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Chelsea Barracks A brand new neighbourhood by Qatari Diar Europe on a bygone military site with an assortment of upper-scale homes – apartments, penthouses, mews and townhouses – shops, restaurants, sporting facilities, business lounge, health club and spa set in 13 acres.

Townhouses from £37m chelseabarracks.com

PROPERTY

Oceanic House A duplex penthouse roaming over the original top floor and an entirely new storey above features a capacious master bedroom, his ‘n’ her en suites and dressing areas, three further bedrooms, formal dining area and terrace in the former premises of the White Star Line in London’s St James. » £19.5m struttandparker.com

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The King’s Observatory Reach for the stars in a fully revolving dome observatory, originally built for King George III in 1769 so he could track the path of Venus crossing the sun. Budding astrologists can revel in four bedrooms and three reception rooms overlooking the property’s own lake and surrounded by 6.6 acres of grounds.

To let at £37,000 a month knightfrank.com

Battersea Power Station This dual aspect, riverside penthouse in Circus West Village is made up of five bedrooms, marble floored kitchen and bathrooms, Linley-designed joinery, study, gym and expansive terraces with views of the power station, Battersea Park, and Chelsea and Albert Bridges.

Circa £18m batterseapowerstation.co.uk

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PROPERTY

Holmwood

NOTHING’S MORE ENGLISH THAN A

Nothing’s more English than a Grade II-listed Georgian pile near Henley-on-Thames with 11 bedrooms, limestone-floored hall and a dining room that seats 24. In the grounds you’ll discover a pool, tennis court, pizza oven, three cottages and elevated views across the Thames Valley.

GRADE II-LISTED GEORGIAN PILE NEAR HENLEY-ON-THAMES

£11.25m savills.com

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ROUND THE BEND On sale for a cool £22m, this curved penthouse is one of London’s most unique properties

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hen Albert Embankment, the last central riverside regeneration area in London, was announced, investors got excited, snapping up properties at an unprecedented rate. And while much of the riverside development is already committed, there’s still time to invest in The Corniche, an endeavour by St James, a division of Berkeley Group, which has finally opened up some of its prime apartments. Located on the southern stretch of the Thames near Vauxhall, this modern building, designed by Foster & Partners, curves around the bend of the river, directly across the water from Westminster.

While apartments in The Corniche, starting at £660,000, are surely worthy investments, the duo of penthouses are the stars of the show. A sneak peek inside one of the elevated properties, currently on sale for £22m, reveals a distinctive space with plenty of style and character, panoramic views of the Houses of Parliament, and one of the most enviable rooftop gardens in the city. Another selling factor is its world-class interiors, designed by London-based TG Studio, featuring bespoke furniture and quintessential British touches throughout.

“The idea was to create a sophisticated and exclusive penthouse adding a study and a gin bar to the existing floor space,” says Thomas Griem, director of TG Studio. “My design was inspired by the views and how they influence the interiors. In the dining room, the view of the Houses of Parliament influenced the colour and was vertically expressed in the chandelier, while

the living room reflects the colours when the sun sets on the metropolis.”

What’s immediately striking is the property’s curvilinear form, designed almost like the waves that lap in the river the floor-to-ceiling windows overlook. And such a unique space requires some very clever design work.

“The curved walls look stunning externally but are a challenge for the furniture placement,” says Griem. “I have specifically designed all furniture that sits in the curve of the building. In the family office, the American walnut desk has a leather inset and is over 2m long. In the informal living room, we designed the sofa that follows nearly the entire curve and consists of six upholstered elements. On the roof terrace, a bespoke sofa with coffee table and pouff sits in the entire bay of the floor plan, allowing comfortable seating for a dozen.”

With an incredible central London location, it’s only natural that designers support local British craftsmanship and a snoop around the penthouse unveils products from the likes of Linley, Penhaligon and Smythson – another touch that makes this property so special.

From custom-made furniture to the excellent array of amenities on offer – residents can take advantage of a private gym and swimming pool, a spa, concierge services and the residentsonly Skyline Club – it’s the attention to detail that makes The Corniche more than just an investment opportunity, but a lifestyle choice. berkeleygroup.co.uk

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SAVE the DATE Your luxury event calendar starts here

London Fashion Week 13 – 18 September Sashay down to Somerset House to catch a glimpse of some of the greatest design talent in the world at this unmissable annual fashion showcase. Designers presenting their trendsetting masterpieces this year include the likes of Anya Hindmarsh, Burberry, Peter Pilotto, JW Anderson, Victoria Beckham and Christopher Kane, to name but a few. Secure a front row seat among the stars to get the best views of the trends that will be dominating our wardrobes next season. londonfashionweek.co.uk

Goodwood Revival

Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix

7 – 9 September

16 September

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the prestigious Goodwood Revival and guests are in for an extra special slice of automotive action to celebrate the occasion. On Friday, the Kinrara Trophy – a traditional Goodwood opener – will feature a grid of Ferrari 250 SWBs, Aston Martin DB4GTs and Jaguar E-types battling for the top spot, while Saturday sees the Fordwater Trophy returning for the first time since 2015. goodwood.com

Speeding into Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit this September is the Singapore Grand Prix, where motor racing royalty such as Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen will go head-to-head. Off the track, musical stars such as The Killers, Liam Gallagher and Dua Lipa are headlining the entertainment schedule. Expect plenty of action both on and off the track.

Cannes Yachting Festival

singaporegp.sg

11 – 16 September

Monaco Yacht Show

Kicking off the start of the boating season in spectacular style is Europe’s biggest yacht show, Cannes Yachting Festival. Almost 600 luxury yachts and boats will be showcased against the backdrop the picturesque Vieux Port and Port Pierre Canto – providing plenty of inspiration for your next purchase.

26 – 29 September

cannesyachtingfestival.com

Renowned for celebrating the essence of the superyacht lifestyle, the Monaco Yacht Show is returning to the iconic Port Hercules of the Principality of Monaco bay for another spectacular event. This year, guests can preiview over 40 worldwide debuts, alongside the presentation of 120 one-off superyachts, providing a wealth of boating ingenuity. Baltic Yachts, Ferretti and Heesen Yachts are among the impressive list of expert exhibitors. monacoyachtshow.com

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CREATE YOUR PERFECT HOME AND LIFESTYLE! Every month, be inspired by new ideas for your home and receive delightful lifestyle treats to excite your mind, body and soul. It is the ultimate monthly goodie box for you and your beloved home! www.theathomeboxcompany.com

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Ryder Cup Golf Championship

The Voiles de Saint-Tropez 30 September – 7 October

28 – 30 September

The reputable Voiles de Saint-Tropez regatta marks the final event of the Saint-Tropez season. A mustsee for yachting enthusiasts, the event presents more than 300 of the most remarkable yachts ever created. This year, for the first time since the show began, a new prize, The Fife Jubilee for the Rolex Trophy, is to be awarded in honour of William Fife, one of the most notable naval architects in history.

Established in 1927 by Samuel Ryder, the acclaimed Ryder Cup remains one of the most notable golfing events in the world. Centred around 12 member teams from the US and Europe competing in match play competition, it provides a welcome dose of drama, tension and skill.

Featuring three types of play – fourball, foursomes and singles – no golf aficionado should miss out.

lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr

rydercup.com

Frieze Masters 2018 5 – 7 October Following the success of Frieze Sculpture 2018 – London’s largest display of outdoor artwork, which opened at Regent’s Park earlier this summer – Frieze Masters is back with another cultural sensation set to spark the imagination of London residents. The show boasts work from 130 of the world’s galleries – spanning 6,000 years of art history – including Paris’ Didier Aaron, New York’s Castelli Gallery and Geneva’s Salomon Lilian. It’s an essential date on an art enthusiast’s calendar. And if you haven’t made it to Frieze Sculpture yet, now’s your last chance as some pieces are still on display in the royal park until 7 October. frieze.com

An evening with Tempus and Parmigiani Fleurier 10 October In October, 25 guests will be joining Tempus for a special evening at Parmigiani Fleurier’s Mount Street boutique in London. It will be an evening of fine watchmaking, champagne and live jazz, during which guests can try on a selection of one-off pieces specially flown over from Switzerland, and enjoy an exclusive talk by a master watchmaker.

For invite enquires please contact georgia@tempusmagazine.co.uk

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Six copies of Tempus magazine delivered to your address every year (London addresses only) Exclusive invitations to private events, from shoot days and polo matches to supper clubs and boutique showcases Access to exclusive digital content VIP offers on the Tempus ‘Crypto Boutique’ Regular newsletters featuring the latest news, reviews and exclusive member benefits Visit tempusmagazine.co.uk/subscribe

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The Tempus Crypto Boutique is your one-stop shop for luxury products and services.

Visit the boutique to: - Purchase luxury goods using several crytopcurrencies - Book private consultations with luxury brands - Enjoy added value extras (members only)

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