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Issue 50 • December 2015

MOTORING

TRAVEL

PROPERTY

TO BREAK THE RULES, YOU MUST FIRST MASTER THEM. THE VALLﾃ右 DE JOUX. FOR MILLENNIA A HARSH, UNYIELDING ENVIRONMENT; AND SINCE 1875 THE HOME OF AUDEMARS PIGUET, IN THE VILLAGE OF LE BRASSUS. THE EA R LY WATCH M A K ER S WERE SHAPED HERE, IN AWE OF THE FORCE OF NATURE YET DRIVEN TO MASTER ITS MYSTERIES THROUGH THE COMPLEX MECHANICS OF THEIR CRAFT. STILL TODAY THIS PIONEERING SPIRIT INSPIRES US TO CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE THE CONVENTIONS OF FINE WATCHMAKING.

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CONTENTS 42 Travel Winter sun far and away. Head east to the ancient Cyprus or west to the idyllic shores of St. Lucia.

12 WIN London ExCel Wedding Show Ten pairs of tickets up for grabs for the biggest wedding show in London.

56 Your Palate Christmas menu’s and festive parties for all to enjoy, so eat, drink and be merry.

16 The London Boat Show Yachts, dinghies and every other vessel imaginable transcends on London’s ExCel.

65 Ed’s Festive Picks Edward Gerrard offers some advice for the big day and how to make it a memorable one.

20 Gifts, gifts and more gifts Our extensive gift buying guide to help you navigate the shops.

70 Whisky Heaven Explore the world of whisky for every price bracket whether you are looking for a gift or to enjoy yourself.

24 Parker: The power of better thinking The premium pen brand reinstate their position at the forefront of the industry.

32 Time to Shine Adrian Hailwood is on hand to help you find the perfect gift this Christmas.

75 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid The German marque have stepped up the game in the premium SUV market.

37 Christmas Beauty Buys Christmas cosmetics is big business but also offers the opportunity to snap up some bargains for yourself.

83 Your Living The best way to make the most of your outdoor space with some clever groundwork from Kate Gould.

6

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Official fuel economy figures for the 911 Carrera 4S Coupé in mpg (l/100km): urban 22.8 – 27.4 (12.4 – 10.3), extra urban 41.5 – 42.8 (6.8 – 6.6), combined 31.7 – 35.8 (8.9 – 7.9). CO2 emissions: 204 – 180 g/km. The mpg and CO2 figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated tests, are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.

FROM THE EDITOR

The time has finally come for the social acceptance of Christmas songs in the air of every store we enter. Regardless of your thoughts and beliefs, this is a time for celebration and catching up with loved ones, so put down the gym equipment and let loose for a few weeks. After all, we will all be fighting to get into the gym for the best part of the new year.

We have just the things to get you in the mood, with plenty of indulgent stops in London to enjoy with friends and family and sufficient ‘essesntials’ for the festive period to enjoy at home - head to page 70 for our extensive guide to some fantastic whisky. Whether you are spending Christmas in London or venturing out of the city for a more relaxed time with friends or family, you will be requiring some gifts worthy of their attention and hopefully we can help.

The majority of the population will have only just started to consider what to buy for Christmas this year, so we’ve put together a few ideas to help kick-start your spending and take the hassle out of shopping. London has truly sprung into Christmas mode now with every space utilised for festive

fairs, ice rinks and foodie experiences, but if you can’t handle all the excitement then head somewhere a little warmer that moves at a vastly slower pace...St. Lucia.

You can take your time on the white sandy beaches remembering the chaos that will inevitably ensue in your absence and contemplate what you want to achieve in the coming year. If you can manage some time away, it is the perfect time to reflect on the year and relive the Summer fun while you have the chance.

Not all of us are fortunate enough to be able to escape the Christmas onslaught, but that’s no reason to shy away.

Grab the festivities by the horns and celebrate another year through to the next one. 2016 will bring with it considerable change on a global scale and who knows what that might entail, so throw on some sparkle, catch up with friends and have a very Merry Christmas from all of us at Your Media London.

We look forward to seeing you fit and fresh in the New Year (don’t worry, we will have plenty of detox ideas for you!)

Managing Director Paul Gregory Group Editor Emma Tompkins | Editorial Director Lyndon Ford Commercial Director Jason Plom | Sales Director Jennifer Tompkins | Brand Director Nicholas Edgley Circulation and Production Kevin Rowden | Accounts Manager Beverley Hearn +44(0) 20 7515 1339 | info@yourmedialondon.com | yourmedialondon.com Your Media Magazines Limited, Cascades, 2 Westferry Road, London E14 8JN ©Your Media Magazines Limited. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any language without the written permission of Your Media Magazines Limited is strictly prohibited. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at the time of going to press, but we accept no liability for omissions and errors. Terms of acceptance can be viewed online.

Christmas at Broadgate Circle London’s longest running outdoor ice rink returns to Broadgate again this year as the area is transformed into a spectacular festive haven for City goers. Great for recreational skating, or to take part in a private lesson with one of Broadgate’s professional instructors, including recent coaches from ITV’s Dancing on Ice, the rink allows beginners and experienced skaters to partake with ease.

The nearby dining hub Broadgate Circle will also be transformed into a magical winter terrace complete with cosy sheepskin rugs, outdoor heaters and a 25ft Christmas tree allowing skaters to go from rink-side to restaurant in a matter of minutes.

Whether it’s a winter warming cocktail, or steaming hot bowl of ramen at Shoryu, a protein-packed steak at Gaucho or a feast of Spanish tapas accompanied by a glass of Rioja at Jose Pizarro, there is a refuel option for everyone post-skate with over 30 restaurants to choose from.

Alongside Broadgate’s many shops, acclaimed Shepherds Markets will also visit Finsbury Avenue Square in the run up to Christmas, making Broadgate the perfect spot to pick up a last minute Christmas gift. www.broadgate.co.uk/broadgatecircle

Robbie Honey Christmas wreath au natural

Creating Christmas Cheer with Robbie Honey When it comes to decorating at Christmas, I definitely prefer the natural look rather than sparkly and there’s no better way to make a statement than with a beautiful homemade wreath. The wreath I’m creating uses pure white Cyclamen plants and Magnolia branches on a base of blue pine.

I bought the blue pine wreath from New Covent Garden Market.

It’s already done and read to go. All that’s required is decorating. The Magnolia branches have got these wonderful velvety buds which you can chop up and position all the way round in one direction on the wreath.

Next I use adorable little terracotta pots which are fastened with cable ties to securely attach them to the wreath. Make sure that when you put the cable tie through it is in the right position to be zipped up. Into these

I firmly nestle the little tiny top Cyclamen. The pots are already quite rustic but I found some lichen in the market too that I really like. You can use adhesive to glue some onto the pots, just to give them a bit more of a wild look. Then, position them all the way around the wreath, zip tying them on securely, once again making sure the plants don’t fall out.

Once the whole wreath is decorated, stand back and look to see if there are any areas that need a bit of love. If you can see a cable tie, just pin some blue pine over it with some wire to make sure that the end result is well resolved and beautiful.

To attach it to a door you can either use wire or a thick ribbon. I really recommend that you tie your wreath on quite firmly and tightly with a cable tie too. Weirdly enough people will steal Christmas wreaths, especially one that looks this good.

www.robbiehoney.com | www.newcoventgardenmarket.com

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Win tickets to the region’s biggest wedding show!

The region’s biggest and best wedding show returns to ExCeL London on 30-31 January. With over 80 of London’s leading wedding experts and suppliers, you can find everything you need to make your dream day a reality at The London ExCeL Wedding Show.

Try on dresses from your favourite boutiques and designers, sample mouth-watering cakes, find fabulous flowers and striking stationery to match and book your perfect honeymoon hideaway all under one roof.

And if that’s not enough, you can discover the hottest bridal trends and receive inspiration galore at The Catwalk Show where

the latest collections of bridalwear, groomswear, bridesmaid’s dresses and mother of the bride attire will be showcased three times a day.

This season’s impressive exhibitor line-up includes Coo Jewellers, Ivory & Co, John Lewis, King of the Booth, Moss Bros, Polka Bridal, Sandals, Weddings By Driven, Young’s Hire and many more, making The London ExCeL Wedding Show an unmissable event you and your wedding party.

Don’t forget to pick up your free goody bag, packed with lots of exciting products and a free show guide, so that you can contact your favourite exhibitors after the show.

Your Media London and The London ExCeL Wedding Show have teamed up to offer 10 lucky readers and their ‘plus one’ the chance to win a pair of complimentary tickets to attend the regions biggest and best wedding show!

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning these fabulous tickets, simply email competitions@ yourmedialondon.com with your name, address and contact number and if you are picked you will receive a FREE pair of tickets. Tickets are valid any day and are limited to one pair per winner.

So what are you waiting for? Send your entry today!

Don’t worry, if you are not a lucky winner, you can still book in advance and save £2 off the door price*. To book, visit www. theukweddingshows.co.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0844 874 0787. * Advance ticket prices revert to the on the door price of £10 at midnight the day before opening. Terms and conditions apply.

The London ExCeL Wedding Show, London ExCeL - 30 - 31 January 2016 | theukweddingshows.co.uk

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Casting a shadow over the competition Yamaha may be a name you would recognise for being one of the largest manufacturers of Motorcycles and Pianos. In fact at the time of writing, Jorge Lorenzo has just won a world title on a Yamaha motorcycle! This being the case, you’d probably be forgiven for not considering Yamaha as an audio or sound company as well – however, it’s true!

Since 1954, Yamaha has been making HiFi in the traditional sense with separate components but has in recent years expanded into other markets. In 1986 Yamaha launched the DSP-1, the worlds’ first surround processor. In 2004 the world’s first soundbar came from Yamaha as well in the form of the YSP-1. In fact even in 2003 the company launched the first network music system called MusicCAST; way ahead of any systems we know of today.

In 2015 the re-birth and re-launch of MusicCast has been announced by Yamaha. MusicCast in simple terms is a network music system spanning a wide range of products (23 to be exact) and is ultra-simple to use. MusicCast has a number of rather nifty tricks up its sleeve, while it can do everything you’d expect a network music system to as well. You can listen to music from your phone, tablet, smart-thing, use streaming services to your hearts’ content, listen to music stored on a NAS drive somewhere on your home network or invite your friends to play their music. But MusicCast goes way beyond just music…

Instead of choosing between a few speakers and maybe a soundbar, the idea is you would pick the product that’s right for you and a given purpose and then add more around the house but not necessarily the same product. Why not the YSP-1600 surround sound projector in the living room with a WX-030 wireless speaker in the dining room?

Add in an ISX-80 lifestyle speaker for the bedroom as an alarm clock and perhaps even an MCR-870 micro system for some high quality HiFi listening in the study.

MusicCast takes your audio listening to the next level. Not only is everything made to an extremely high sound and build quality but everything within the MusicCast network can talk to each other. This

means that the sound coming from your soundbar can actually be sent through the wireless speaker in the dining room, or the DAB radio in your micro system could be sent through your lifestyle speaker in the bedroom. Imagine having the football on in the living room but it’s time to start dinner, you don’t want to miss the action so you send the audio to the wireless speaker while you chop the veg, or your favourite CDs that you want to listen to everywhere. Put it in your CD player on the micro system and play them through your lifestyle speaker. Or have everyone round for a party and link everything together!

So everything MusicCast can listen to anything else that’s MusicCast but all the products have something else in common. They all feature Bluetooth, Airplay and WiFi on board. That means no cable mess and if you’re using an Apple device you can just use any MusicCast products right from your phone, tablet or desktop.

Bluetooth allows all Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone users to enjoy any MusicCast device as they won’t have the luxury of using Airplay. More importantly, the Bluetooth on board all MusicCast products can send audio out to an external Bluetooth speaker or Bluetooth headphones as well. Imagine having the F1 on but actually you need to move around the house to get things done.

No problem, pair your soundbar to your Bluetooth headphones and don’t miss any of the action!

The question you may ask is how do you control all of this? Well, there’s one simple app called the MusicCast Controller. It’s free for Android and iOS devices and there’s even a demo mode so you can see how it works without spending a penny. The core principle of the app is that it’s intuitive and easy to use, during the design process the engineers had a core mantra ‘so simple your grandmother can use it’.

So since it’s free, it’s worth giving it a shot!

MusicCast is this century’s answer to the next step in audio and offers an immense amount of feature that are expandable over time.

Yamaha say that over the next 5 years there will be more MusicCast products coming so you can expand as far as you like, the wider variety of products you have, the more useful MusicCast will be.

For more information on MusicCast and Yamaha audio products visit yamaha.com/musiccast, or contact London’s premier Yamaha AV retailer PRC on 020 8911 0311 or visit www.prcdirect.co.uk.

Wireless Music System

MusicCast is a new revolution in network audio, use all your MusicCast products together or separately, it’s completely up to you.

Control it all from one app, designed to be intuitive, quick and simple to use.

All new from Yamaha, the MusicCast system brings everything to everywhere for everyone.

Digital Sound Projector

YSP-1600

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Get a return flight to 1 of 10 cities around Europe, when you purchase a Yamaha MusicCast Trio pack.* * Excluding Airport taxes an d other surcharges. Promotion subject to conditions available on www.yamaha.com/musiccast

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78-80 CRANBROOK ROAD, ILFORD IG1 4NH . 020 8911 0311 . WWW.PRCDIRECT.CO.UK

London Boat Show

The world-renowned London Boat Show returns this January for its 62nd annual Show. Taking place from 8 – 17 January at ExCeL London, the nautical themed event will let you explore the world of boating, see the latest trends, technologies and innovations, and experience show-stopping attractions.

The 10-day Show - spread over the equivalent of six full-sized football pitches – will kick-start the 2016 boating calendar by hosting over 300 marine brands and showcasing thousands of products, services and boats from leading British and international companies. Exhibitors will range from world-class boat builders through to fashion, travel operators and water sports companies – ensuring there is something for everyone.

New features for this year’s event include the ‘60’s Revival’ attraction which will transport visitors back to the swinging 60’s – an era that saw the first man to walk on the moon, The Beatles, the arrival of the Mirror Dinghy, and Sir Francis Chichester becoming the first person to sail singlehanded around the world.

Also new for 2016 is the ‘Mediterranean Bay’, a purpose built pool featuring water sports demonstrations, opportunities to get out on the water, and the chance to learn how to moor a boat in a typically tight Mediterranean-style berth; and ‘The London Boat Show Theatre’ which will feature some of the world’s boating experts talking on topics ranging from technology & innovations, to engine maintenance and around the world expeditions.

London Boat Show, ExCeL London | 8 - 17 January 2016 Advance tickets start from £10, with two children under the age of 15 going free with each adult. Additional concessions are also available. From Friday 8 to Sunday 10 January 2016 a London Boat Show ticket will also allow the ticket holder access to The Telegraph Cruise Show and The Telegraph Travel Show for free. For further Show information and tickets visit www.londonboatshow.com.

16

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FINANCE WITH MATT GOLD

Investing for a Safer World Our financial insider reviews the global markets

The attack in Paris has reminded everyone the world is under a lot of tension. In this article, we will look at the impact to the investment world.

There will be increasing investment in security, surveillance and defense at country level. Most countries are going to increase resources in police and army. This is definitely good news for stocks in related sectors. Increase in government spending in general can create jobs and simulate economy. There is an overall positive for the stock market in the near term, say, 12 months. An example of a UK listed company with exposure to the defense sector is Smiths Group plc that rallied from 925.5 GBp on 16 November to 1036 GBp on 25 November.

Social media will be monitored closely by government agents, police and army. Can big data analysis predict or guess who, when and what? There will be demand for faster computation power to analyze zillions of messages that appear on all social media platforms. People want better encryption technology, smarter computer virus detection, and stronger anti-virus. Positive news for hardcore tech companies as strong technology will attract investment before operating profits.

Computer Scientists will see more investment from Private Equity, Venture Capital and family offices who want to be there before Google, Facebook, Amazon and the BAT (Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent) from China. Google is trading at its year to date highest level at around USD 750 a share. Google beside dominating the search engine business and running YouTube, it is also one of the biggest venture capitals in technology.

Central banks are likely to lean towards a more relax monetary policy to boost feel good factor and offset the fear factor. This leads to the thought of a weaker Euro versus USD. Good news for Europe based manufacturers like the German car manufacturers which are desperate to regain client and investor confidence after the ‘misunderstanding’ in carbon emission figures. With national security as the priority, issues that money can solve such as the Greek bailout may have become a smaller problem. A weakening Euro has made the Greek bailout cheaper in USD terms. Currently, EURUSD at 1.06 level is pretty much the bottom in the past 12 months.

Strong security measures will be implemented at transportation facilities. Some may already notice the longer waiting time at airport customs. The passengers and the tax payers will eventually bear the increased cost to manage railway stations, airports, bus terminals.

However, the number of people getting on the plane will continue to grow globally as there will be more people in the developing world like China and India flying. Global money managers will still be interested

to invest in airports. Both Heathrow and Gatwick are owned by unlisted companies. Heathrow Airport Holdings was the old British Airport Authority (BAA Plc) which was delisted in 2006.

Tourism and airlines are immediate victims and present different opportunities. Most global airlines are already suffering from increasing competitions especially regional budget airlines continue to grow in both geographical coverage and capacities. This trend is likely to continue and the end of the tunnel is not yet in sight. Hotel operators will suffer in the short term but the growth will come back. The recent Marriott Starwood merger will create the biggest hotel operator - it is like a reality show of the Hotel Tycoon board game.

Retail and consumer sectors will continue to invest more to grow online. The change of buying behavior from bricks and mortar to the internet continues and high street and shopping malls will continue to be dominated by global brands. There are signs of slowing growth in the luxury consumer segment. The Russian and Middle East petrol dollar has become history. Chinese are still shopping but in October, the domestic growth has slowed to below 7% for the first time since 2009. Retail and consumer may not be a segment that offers the easiest return. Along the food chain, property investment companies especially those who invest in shopping malls. British Land Company Limited has gone up from 460 GBp in 2012 to 870 GBp level in October. It retreated to 830 GBp level in November.

Post offices and logistics companies, in general, have benefited well from the growth in global e-commerce. More transactions on Amazon and Taobao mean more parcels to be delivered. Logistics companies will need to be more cautious about what they are shipping and where they are shipping to though. The impact to logistics companies is probably milder than the impact to passenger carriers. Royal Mail reached 524 GBp in May and 525 GBp in June. At 480 GBp level currently at about 15 times profit to earnings ratio is already a rebound from 442 GBp on 2 November.

In the financial sector, more attention to anti-money laundering policy, tighter measure in client onboarding and source of fund. This means higher running cost and less friendly in account opening process especially for overseas individuals or corporate accounts. Global banks have just spent a fortune to adapt to the post Lehman regulation regime and now they face increasing demand in compliance. This could be the last straw that breaks the camels back for the banking sector. More laid off, lower profitability and lesser return for investors. Banking services are aligning themselves with government services rather than an exciting private sector.

Content within this column is personal opinion and does not constitute financial advice and should not be taken as such. Information correct at time of going to print.

Contact Matt by email at matt.gold@yourmedialondon.com

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Show-stopping seafoodseafood bar andbar luxurious all-day dining in an elegant Show-stopping and luxurious all-day dining Twenties Kaspar’ s festive set menu available and in a setting. dazzling Twenties setting.

Open from for 7amlunch to 11pm. pre/post theatre. ÂŁ28 for three-courses.

To make a booking, please contact +44 (0)20 7420 2111.

To book a table please call +44 (0)20 7420 2111.

SEAFOOD BAR AND GRILL

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For Her Marine Dream Collection from Elemis £199.00 | elemis.com

Julien Macdonald Collection for Interflora from £40.00 - Noel Rose and Carnation Hand-tied | £50.00 | interflora.co.uk

Roasted Chestnut Deluxe Candle from Jo Malone London £120.00 | jomalone.co.uk

de Grisogono New Retro Lady in White Gold Case with Emeralds £57,600 degrisogono.com Molton Brown Vintage 2015 with Elderflower from £20.00 moltonbrown.co.uk Coveted Indulgences from La Prairie £221.00 | laprairie.co.uk Private Blend Collection from Tom Ford £220.00 available at Harrods and Selfridges | tomford.com

Ultimate Coffret from SENSAI £580.00 | harrods.com

For Him

Brydon Brothers belt £55.00 brydonbrothers.com

Colonia Essenza Special Edition from Acqua di Parma £140.00 | acquadiparma.com Crew Neck in Grey from Old Harry £65.00 | oldharry.com

Tumi Johnnie Walker Tasting Kit £5,045.00 | tumi.com

Black Croc Watchbox from Aspinal of London £350.00 | aspinaloflondon.com Grand Seiko 55th Anniversary Spring Drive £9,500.00 | jurawatches.co.uk

The Penfolds 100-point Grange Double Magnum Collector’s Edition: Limited to 360 pieces £3,120.00 | harrods.com Amadeo Double Magnum Decanter £1,495.00 | riedel.co.uk Coravin 1000 Wine Access System £269.00 | selfridges.com

The Ultimate Christmas Hamper Selection If you are set to be hosting any dinner parties or simply like to indulge over Christmas, you won’t find an easier way to cater for it than this selection of finely crafted hampers. And if you are feeling extra generous this year, you could always get somebody one as a gift to make the day rather more exciting!

The Drinks Cabinet from Harvey Nichols £1,000.00 | harveynichols.com The Connoisseur's Hamper from Selfridges £1,000.00 | selfridges.com The Supreme from Harrods £1,250.00 | harrods.com

The Out-of-the-box Christmas Hamper from Godiva £155.00 | godivachocolates.co.uk

The Pathway to Better Thinking with Parker

Established in 1888, Parker have been crafting fine writing instruments for over a century. Now the brand is looking to write a new chapter in its history.

Celebrating over 125 years of pioneering innovation, style and unique craftsmanship in fine writing instruments is not something that most can boast about. However, Parker who are recognised the world over with their iconic arrow clip are not quite ready to rest on any laurels. Reinvigorating the ideology and combining it with the modern world, the brand have re-imagined two of their most successful pieces. The Duofold, originally launched in the

roaring twenties and the elegantly stylish Sonnet from the early 90’s. Both of these collections have received modernised features including the use of new, elegant material and colour finishes along with an instantly recognisable three-band design.

The Duofold line-up receives an immaculately polished 18 solid gold nib design alongside elegant updates to the pens design.

Split into two ranges - the Classic and the Prestige - Duofold now

020 3027 6892 | parkerpen.com

24

‘It seems that simply wielding a pen is sufficient to get your brain in gear for better thinking.’

Dr ack Lewis, neuroscientist explained Both my own personal experience of writing a best-selling book and the relevant evidence published in the scientific literature indicate that writing with pen and paper still plays a vital role in our modern technology-enhanced lives. Compared to typing on a keyboard, writing by hand enables a more considered approach to sentence construction, a deeper grasp of concepts when used to take notes and even accelerated learning. ver a do en brain imaging studies bear testimony to the fact that writing with pen in hand increases activity in a large territory of left frontal and parietal areas that are known to be important for focusing attention and keeping several pieces of information in mind simultaneously, in addition to complex linguistic processing.

It seems that simply wielding a pen is sufficient to get your brain in gear for better thinking. It certainly works for me!

So there are no excuses left, it is simply essential for your mental well-being that you find yourself a beautiful new writing instrument and get to work developing that brain power.

offers new yet historic hues such as the renowned Big Red in the Classic collection whilst the Prestige range introduces a first for the collection with a new metallic body enhanced with gold, palladium or ruthenium plated trims. Each Duofold piece is composed of 21 components that integrate perfectly together to create a unique writing experience limited to the Parker user.

Launched in 1994, the Sonnet is an instrument that truly demonstrates the brands style and elegance. ffering a contemporary yet timeless design, Sonnet delivers meticulous detailing in a delicate lacquered form. Comprising 17 pieces, the new Sonnet also features the unifying arrow clip, cap and Cisele engraved patterns on the 18 solid gold, stainless steel or rhodium finish nib.

Writing has changed dramatically over the past 100 years and Parker have recognised the recent shift which is actually going against the grain.

Although laptops and touch screen phones have become additional body parts for most, there is undoubtedly a growing desire to engage more directly with your work or leisure time when it comes to presenting your ideas in written form. Much like the watch industry which has seen a dramatic increase in demand despite there no longer needing to be mechanical timepieces, the humble pen is once again making a stand.

Demonstrating the inate desire to engage more intimately with ones work, Parker are keen to illustrate the additional benefits that writing brings to our growing digital world.

020 3027 6892 | parkerpen.com

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The new Ronde Cartier collection s in-store now.

020 7487 5628 | newcavendishjewellers.com

COLUMN

Your New Timepiece with Jitesh Shah

Jitesh Shah is a Director at New Cavendish Jewellers, Marylebone High Street’s exclusive destination for Haute Horology & Exquisite eweller O ficial agents or man o the world s leading watch Brands alongside independently curated jewellery focusing on iamonds recious stones stablished in ew avendish Jewellers is one of Marylebone’s oldest & still independent retailers.

Cartier is perhaps one of the most enduring brands of all time.

Whether you are a fan or not, it’s very likely someone close to you owns a Cartier of some kind, something that can’t be said for many purported luxury brands. Perhaps a victim of its own success, the multiple areas in which the brand operates to retain its market share detracts to some extent from what helped build the foundation for Cartier’s success; namely, the watches.

Cartier have delivered a long list of historically significant models that continue to remain strong pillars in their current collection.

The Tank series in all its guises continues to be a solid seller whilst the Ballon Bleu family has achieved beyond all expectations, in some instances, outselling the rest of the models entirely. However, with a very visible emphasis placed on mechanical movements in recent years, Cartier has had to marry their aesthetic appeal with a watch making integrity.

Initially delivered in the Calibre Tank MC models, these new in-house calibres were flagship watches designed to showcase Cartier’s new horological direction. ltimately, they did not deviate drastically from a successful visual formula in turn probably did not invite a new generation of clientele. However, the new Ronde Croiserie, Cruise for us lay people, will definitely open up Cartier to a new type of buyer. This is without doubt a modern watch taking a little inspiration from the previous Pasha Seatimer model but delivering a totally different identity and attitude. ffered in a steel 42mm case, the dial is easily recognisable as Cartier with a grey guilloche finish and applied Roman numerals.

An ADLC coated be el Amorphous Diamond like Carbon gives it a sporty look while the calf canvas strap is aesthetically more rugged but also more durable than the usual alligator. The

020 7487 5628 | newcavendishjewellers.com New Cavendish Jewellers, 2 Marylebone High Street, London, W1U 4NF

metaphorical icing on the cake here is not that this new collection carries Cartier’s own in-house movement but rather that is is priced between £ , 00.00 and £ ,800.00; bringing a very well built contemporary timepiece from a top manufacturer to the masses.

My personal favourite Cartier is the Tank Louis Cartier as worn by style icon, Gianni Agnelli but this collection is something I will take great pride in recommending to the new generation, those who are bombarded with style suggestions via social media platforms but not given enough historic substance as is the nature of these avenues. The Ronde Croiserie is a beautiful new collection with a foot in both the past and the future of Cartier. That future in particular looks rosy if they continue to deliver new models like this. The new Ronde Cartier collection s in-store now.

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WATCHES

Time on the Road The automotive industry has been a key inspiration when it comes to watch design for a number of brands over the years, from racing cars to the drivers behind the wheel, but there has been a shift in the way of thinking for the few daring enough to step out and make a change from the norm.

Tudor continues its partnership with the iconic Ducati brand to create their latest timepiece, the new astrider Black Shield. Taking inspiration from the sporting elegance of the new Ducati Diavel, this 2015 release is offered in stunning matt black and white version and maintains its selfwinding monobloc high-tech ceramic chronograph features.

As well as ensuring seamless versatility from road to board room, the white on black contrast inspired by the Diavel also guarantees excellent legibility.

With its matt black dial punctuated by white hour-markers and numerals, a white luminescent material, a white chronograph seconds hand, white chronograph totali er and smallseconds hands, this chronograph enables ata-glance readings that are ideal when at the controls of a powerful motorcycle.

Waterproof to 150 meters and virtually scratchproof, the monolithic high-tech ceramic case of the new Tudor astrider chronograph expresses technicality, performance and power by its all-matt look and taut lines.

At the other end of the scale comes a classic inspired piece from Ralph Lauren. The brand namesake’s love for automotive history has been beautifully crafted into a unique skeleton timepiece featuring an exceptionally beautiful amboyna burl

wood be el. The perfect representation of Lauren’s personal 19 8 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe - from which the collection was inspired - the new Ralph Lauren Automotive Collection is finished in carefully selected elm burl wood which features across the line as a dial element.

The RL Automotive Skeleton signifies the brands first venture into open-worked timepieces and it is hard to see what improvements could be made to the design. rom the black alligator strap, reminiscent of the cars rich interior to the Arabic numerals emulating the iconic gauges, this is certainly a piece worth your time.

New British luxury watch brand arer are also looking to deliver a touch of automotive inspiration to the industry with classic designs and a vintage appeal.

The collection offers styling to suit everyones taste and with interchangeable straps, you can switch easily between rugged weekend to city adventure.

Prices range from £ 40 to £420.

tudorwatch.com | ralphlauren.com | farer.com

WATCHES

Time Flies when you need it to

Born in 2000, Aviator set out to create exquisite time pieces in memory of aviation history. rom the early 1900’s with the first powered flights came a need for what we now know as the pilot’s wristwatch. Now with the watch industry in such a position that function is no longer the sole or in some cases reason at all for its existence, brands like Aviator are able to design and create exceptional pieces that offer an unbelievable level of aesthetic appeal whilst providing every functionality its wearer desires.

Aviator has taken a unique stance on the watch industry thanks to its roots in Russia where the history of aviation has been celebrated and influential. The brand has been manufacturing their time pieces in Swit erland’s Canton of ura since 2011 providing the perfect marriage of aviation ideas and fine watchmaking craftsmanship.

The latest piece is a tribute to the famous passenger aircraft, the Douglas DC- . Mirroring its modernity and streamlined elegance, the Douglas Day-Date is a stunning piece. Maintaining the art deco styling and subtle features of pocket watches through its casing and hand design, the clean lines and striking dial are enough to for anyones wrist. The dial features a hori ontal axis in the centre as a direct reference to the hori on cockpit instrument, a reminder of the first long-distance flights operated by the DC- . It also features an elegant curved calendar window at the top which indicates the

day whilst the date is displayed at 6 o’clock. You can choose from a number of dial colours along with original leather strap to find the one that suites you, but this stunning example should be enough.

aviatorwatch.ch

WATCHES

Time Travel Made Possible or almost 80 years, Patek Philippe has defied time ones with disconcerting ease. In 1959, its patented Travel Time mechanism became its own legend, and in 1996 attained a new level of perfection. When the local time hand is moved forwards or backwards in one-hour increments, an isolator uncouples the time- one mechanism from the main movement. These adjustments therefore have no influence on the amplitude of the balance or the regularity with which it oscillates, hence the watch s precision is unperturbed. This sophisticated device has been incorporated into the 24 S C S calibre inside the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time with centre seconds, date shown by hand, and a heavy central rotor in 21 gold. In a quest for constant innovation, this refined mechanism is fitted with a Gyromax balance with a patented geometry Spiromax balance spring, so as to guarantee the extreme precision and reliability required by the Patek Philippe Seal.

Patek Philippe’s Calatrava Pilot Travel Time is a decidedly masculine watch that aptly symboli es the conquest of the skies by aircraft and the conquest of the wrist by wristwatches. Rather than being a nostalgic reminiscence of the hour-angle watch that became obsolete with the advent of GPS navigation, it is a precise and dependable timekeeping instrument with a time-zone function that is especially useful in air travel. patek.com

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Raymond Weil The Freelancer Piper Raymond Weil have partnered with the legendary aviation manufacturer Piper Aircraft Inc. to present their first ever pilot watch, the reelancer Piper. A nod to it’s founder’s passion for aviation, this piece brings a new dimension to the Raymond Weil brand and introduces a broadening of its partnership capabilities which has been, until now, reserved for those in the music industry.

Made of titanium and stainless steel, the 45mm freelancer features a mechanical self-winding chronograph movement with date and GMT functions for quick and easy reading. The minute and hour hands resemble the aircraft’s rotor blades, finished in shiny blue while the GMT hand features a compassesque appearance with its stylish red pointer. Its openwork black leather strap and tachometric be el complete the pilot aesthetics.

With a price tag of £2,895, this piece offers an inviting entry into the world of pilot watches and you will even receive a Raymond Weil branded model Piper aircraft to enjoy with it. raymond-weil.com

AUCTION

Time to Shine with Adrian Hailwood

drian has over ears e erience in the lu ur goods industr with names such as Mappin & Webb, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Breguet.

He is a Director of Fellows Auctioneers with particular responsibility for the Watch e artment

There once was a time when a diamond line bracelet was on the aspiration list of every jewellery-loving lady. nderstated, effortlessly classy and versatile, this teamed perfectly with those other jewellery staples, the solitaire diamond ring and a pair of diamond stud earrings. They even received a certain celebrity endorsement back in 1987 when tennis player Chris Evert lost hers during a S pen match and had the game stopped until it could be found the bracelet being known as a ‘tennis bracelet’ in some circles ever since.

Working in both jewellery and watches over the last 20 years I have noticed a steady decline in the popularity of the classic line bracelet with a reciprocal increase in the sales of diamond set watches. In today’s more informal world, the line bracelet is too dressy and delicate, whereas the watch is more practical. Yes diamond watches have always existed but increasingly, diamonds are set into larger and more casual cases. Stone-set watches are no longer only gold or platinum as steel and even plastic watches are receiving their dusting of bling.

But if diamond watches are now everyday wear it doesn’t mean that all diamond watches are equal. The old jewellery houses such as Cartier and Chopard still stand out due to the quality of both their stones and their setting. These companies are jewellers first and foremost and diamonds are what they do best. Tiny details such as ensuring all the facets in their stones line up and that their pavé is level and smooth make these watches outstanding examples of the setter’s art. The prestige watch houses put an equal amount of effort into the setting of their stones, creating timepieces that appear more like crystal sculptures. ften these manufacturers will have rules as to what materials they will diamond set Cartier and Rolex both avoid setting diamonds into steel-only watches. urther down the diamond scale we have sports watches with a touch of sparkle. The big Swiss brands such as TAG Heuer with their ormula 1 ladies watch

020 7127 4198 | info@fellows.co.uk | fellows.co.uk

32

COLUMN are two reasons for this; firstly the ladies’ preowned watch market is not as developed as the men’s, this means less competition and lower prices, secondly the additional diamonds will not be to everyone’s taste and so limits the appeal of the watch. Anything that restricts the potential market for a watch will tend to reduce its value.

The upshot is this; if you want more bling for your buck, go preowned. Lower re-sale value may be bad news for the vendor but a potential bargain for the savvy buyer. A dealer will offer a significant saving from retail but for the best bargains, auction is the way to go. ellows Auctioneers are watch and jewellery specialists so know a thing or two about both diamonds and movements. The website provides the kind of hi-resolution images that allows buyers to see exactly what they are getting. The detailed descriptions and condition reports let you check your diamonds are all original and the watch works as it should. The online catalogues make browsing or bidding from the comfort of home quick and simple, but if you need to visit, the office is conveniently situated in Mayfair.

A diamond watch adds a little sparkle to the simple act of telling the time. Go on, treat yourself, but don’t spend more than you need to.

will still be using good quality diamonds albeit in small sizes and pav . These watches have a foot firmly in both the dressy and fun camps with a case construction that can survive a swim or a shock but enough sparkle to see you through the party season.

Not all diamond set watches are what they seem, however. At the bottom end of the quality ladder you can find watches, often large sports-style pieces that claim to have hundreds of stones in them. While technically the stones are diamond, the quality is so poor that they have no sparkle to them at all. These pieces often carry high retail prices but their value for re-sale is negligible.

After-setting can be a problem for the unwary. This is when a watch is customised after purchase with the addition of diamonds. If it is simply a bezel or dial swap that can be reversed before the watch goes in for a service then there is no harm, but beware, once a case or bracelet is drilled and set, most watch brands will not touch it for servicing and you may even struggle to get it insured.

So your heart is set on a glittering time piece either for yourself or as a gift, but where are the best deals If money is no object, feel free to tour the boutiques of Bond Street and nightsbridge. You will see the widest selection and have the confidence of being the first owner but please be aware that you will pay dearly for the privilege. Strangely, the added value of the diamonds does not translate into resale value. There

020 7127 4198 | info@fellows.co.uk | fellows.co.uk

33

In Time for Christmas Chanel has opened an entirely renovated Watch and ine ewellery boutique in the heart of Mayfair. Located at 17 New Bond Street, the new space has been expanded from the original single floor to three floors, spanning over 418 square metres. As with all Chanel boutiques, the interior of the New Bond street boutique has been completely reimagined by New York architect Peter Marino. His reinterpretation of the space has given it a new dimension, highlighting the creativity and artisanal know-how central to the House’s values. It draws inspiration from Gabrielle Chanel’s Parisian townhouse on aubourg Saint-Honor as well as her apartment at 1, rue Cambon, and offers an elegant combination of intimacy, refinement and audacity. In every room, works of contemporary art commissioned for Chanel as well as interior design works and antiques imbue this new boutique with a unique ambiance.

The upper floor is conceived to offer a private experience of Chanel’s exclusive VIP services. A Biblioth que murale en 5 l ments by Ingrid Donat on the left-hand wall faces an antique limestone fireplace, while around the deep sofa a hand-painted coffee table in silver leaf finish signed

by Max uehne sits alongside a pair of side tables

by Laurence Montano in bron e and eboni ed wood with mother-of-pearl inlay, and a sculptural bron e stool by Carol Egan. chanel.com

The Essential Service in Time Saving ounded in 2014 by long-time friends Caroline rankel and Michelle de Biolley, Almost Essential is the premier site for facilitating and enabling easy access to the finest service providers London has to offer.

Connecting discerning Londoners with the city’s essential services, Almost Essential has been specifically created to save you time and change how you engage service providers in London.

It is a fact of modern London that one can find just about anything on the Internet or through certain apps but with no assurances about the people or companies, how trustworthy, how professional and how reliable they are, not to mention the amount of time it takes away from one’s day. Thanks to Almost Essential and through their procedures that vet providers with confidenceinspiring thoroughness there is no longer a need for customers to do this time consuming research.

Exemplifying their discerning taste and desire for quality, each service provider is carefully tested by Caroline and Michelle before being included among the approved Almost Essential recommended suppliers.

Almost Essential provides contact details and reviews of their service providers, which the customer can contact directly.

The site currently offers over 90 services, across categories including Home Maintenance, Home Decoration, Home Management, Entertaining and Health and almostessential.com

Beauty. Additional services include access to educational, cultural and travel specialists as well as excellent gift ideas.

Whether you need help decorating your house before Christmas, putting together a dinner at your home, getting your windows cleaned or have your favourite crystal glass repaired you can be sure that you will be in the best hands with a service provider recommended by the Almost Essential community. And now, in time for Christmas you can even find the perfect gifts directly from their website with options to get almost anything you can imagine monogrammed to make it even more personal.

Most importantly of all is that the service Almost Essential provide is completely free with no membership fee!

Christmas Buys Fresh ideas to keep you looking your best throughout the festive season.

Pioneered by a former dermatological research consultant at Chanel and with Victoria Secret models said to be fans of the brand, Colbert MD’s illumino ace il is a must have this winter. sing Retinol and Vitamin C as well as Colbert MD’s patented uSome technology, which ensures that the products’ ingredients remain active until they are absorbed by the skin, the soothing facial oil instantly improves skin’s overall tone, texture and glow.

Notes of sparkling bergamot, sensual osmanthus, and creamy vanilla and musk mingle together to create a light, airy and radiant

Hydrate and soothe dry winter skin with ohn Tsagaris’ new SkinPointEight Age Adapt ace Masks. Great for use as a skin pickme-up after all those party events, the sheet masks, which feature Ginseng and calming Chinese herbal botanicals, intensely hydrate to leave skin visibly plumped, nourished and revitalised.

Buff and blend your way to beautiful skin with this five piece deluxe mini brush collection for eyes and face. Wrapped up in a cute pouch, this set is perfect for on the go and makes a great gift if you can part with it.

fragrance that’s brand new from D o n n a a r a n .

Light up this Christmas with Liquid Cashmere White, a wonderfully renewing scent for Christmas.

or those who deserve a few extra ’s, enjoy some well-deserved beauty sleep and wake up refreshed with the ultimate evening skincare routine. This great value set from rigins contains a full si e High-Potency Night-A-Mins moisturiser 50ml, Drink p Intensive vernight Mask 50ml, Precipitation moisture recovery for body 100ml and a sleep pillow 100% recycled Cotton Cosmetic Bag.

Laura Mercier has some fantastic Christmas offerings this year, so much so in fact you’ll find it hard to not buy something for yourself ! ne palette in particular, is the Daring by Day Eye and Cheek Colour it. Perfect for everyday use, the stylish palette contains six eye colours from Guava to Copper Mettle; one Second Skin Cheek Colour in Lotus Pink and a ace Highlighter in Meringue.

This stunning lip palette from By Terry is sure to top any Christmas wish list thanks to its beautiful array of colours and sleek gold packaging.

Tom ord Lips Boys has returned! 25 bestselling favourites like Collin, Holden and Giacomo have permanently returned alongside the arrival of 25 new boys. rom Ansel and oaquin to Drake and Rocco, the luxurious new shades debut in a pearlescent, metallised finish.

Chanel has created an entire Rouge Noir collection for Christmas 2 0 1 5 .

Stunningly beautiful, the collection includes the iconic Rouge Noir nail polish, a glam COLLECTION glitter top coat, and a smoldering wine lip colour to name a few. As always the collection ABSOLUMENT is ideal for any ROUGE Christmas partyNOIR you may have and is sure to top more than a few wish lists, just makeHOLIDAY sure you get in2015 there quick.

MAKEUP COLLECTION

ohn Tsagaris SkinPointEight, Age-Adapt ace Mask, Pack of our, £120.00 available at Harrods Illumino ace il, 0ml £100 Colbert MD available from www.

BLACK, Swept Away Brush Collection, colbertmd.co.uk and Space N Liquid Cashmere White EDP 100ml, £91.00 from Donna aran available at RED HarrodsAND and harrods.com BOLDEST £ 0.00, bareMinerals www.bareminerals.co.uk Like a Dream Set, £40.00 rigins www.origins.co.uk THE Daring

By Day Eye BLEND Cheek Colour Palette, £ 2.00 rom Laura Mercier available at Space N www.uk.spacenk.com Tom ord Lips and Boys, £27.00 each rom Tom ord available nationwide. www.tomford.com Rouge Noir Collection, from £17.00 Chanel available nationwide. www.chanel.com

By Terry Gold ewel Lip iss20 Palette, £85.00 fromRouge

By TerryNoir available at Space N Since its creation in 1995, years ago, has claimed its

place as a cult nail polish, season after season. But until now, it had never been endowed with its very own collection. For the Holiday 2015

Beauty Hotspots New openings across London

Murad

Margaret Dabbs’ new clinic Renowned for her line of innovative, results-driven and luxurious foot and hand care treatments and products, leading foot expert Margaret Dabbs has opened her third London clinic at the SpaceN Apothecary in Westbourne Grove.

Showcasing her range of expertly crafted treatments and products, the new clinic is staffed by qualified Podiatrists who are all fully trained in Margaret’s expert techniques and boasts five treatment rooms fully furnished with the latest equipment and cutting-edge technology. A lavish nail spa area offers six hand and foot stations where clients can indulge in manicures and pedicures by professional nail technicians. All treatments follow protocols set by Margaret herself and incorporate the use of Margaret Dabbs London hand and foot products within them.

Inviting visitors to explore the world of fabulous hands and feet, the new clinic also offers the full range of treatments which are available in Margaret’s eponymous flagship clinic in Marylebone. These include foot clinic treatments such as the signature Medical Pedicure, Bunion Prevention Therapy, ungal Nail Laser Therapy and oot Acupuncture along with feet and nail spa manicures and pedicures to keep customers looking groomed and polished in time for that special occasion or simply a well-earned treat.

Margaret Dabbs London @ SpaceNK Apothecary 127-131 Westbourne Grove, London W2 4UP | 020 7486 0620

Top LA skincare brand, Murad has launched into Debenhams, Westfield, White City. Developed by world renowned dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad, the results driven brand offers a range of high-performance facial treatments and science-based skincare products for healthy, beautiful skin.

The new counter will also offer West London locals and visitors to the area the opportunity to experience a skin health assessment inspired by the consultations world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad gives his patients.

The complimentary Skin Health Assessment features Murad’s YouthCam, a state-of-the-art skin analysis system.

YouthCam’s proprietary software is based upon over 40 years of research

by Dr. Murad and measures five key skin health markers. The end result is a personalised product recommendation that addresses both the customer’s concerns as well as those identified by YouthCam, providing a scientificallybacked path to restoring youthful beauty. www.murad.co.uk

Fresh boutique LVMH owned, fresh has opened their new London flagship boutique on Monmouth St, Covent Garden.

Extremely popular in the S, prepare to be transported through a sensorial, fresh journey, tapping into all of your senses for your very own fresh moment in the brand new store. amed for their array of masks and lip sugars, each of the brand’s products has been uniquely designed to soothe, nourish and rejuvenate, dependent on your skin type and skin concerns.

The look of the new boutique is inspired by elements that link fresh’s core values a bakery artisanal and sensorial , a kitchen community and hospitality , a library tradition and knowledge , and an alchemistic lab research and innovation . www.fresh.com

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Terms and Conditions: Price of £1,645 is based on two people sharing a Cat.E Standard Suite on the 8-day Treasures of the Rhine cruise departing on 14 November 2016 and is subject to availability at the time of booking. Supplements apply for upgraded suites with balconies. Butler services vary. Offers valid for new bookings only made between 27 September and 30 November 2015. Laundry restrictions apply. A 1.5% credit card charge (1.95% AMEX) may apply when booking. Prices correct at time of going to print (September 2015). For full itineraries and booking conditions, please visit scenic.co.uk. *All drinks are included on-board except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, champagnes and spirits.

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travel

Warmer, Sunnier and far more Relaxed Escape the winter chill with a warming trip to the Caribbean. St. Lucia will happily oblige, whisking you away to a paradise that you could only dream of whilst shivering at home. And if that seems a little too far fetched, there’s always Cyprus to fall back on.

CYPRUS

Winter Sun in Cyprus The beautiful island of Cyprus where the sun is always shining has long been a favourite destination for British tourists.

Situated in the eastern Mediterranean it is steeped in history, mythology and tradition and it is famed for its breath-taking beaches and crystal clear waters. nown as the island of love and also the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, this is reflected in the warmth and generosity of its people. Wherever you go their hospitality seems to know no bounds and your enjoyment and appreciation of everything they have to offer is their paramount concern. Cypriots are naturally generous to the extreme.

Also famed for its many archaeological sites which relate to the cult of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, its ancient history is evident when you see the ruins of palaces, historical

tombs and mosaic adorned villas. Due to its rugged landscape, it also has several wine growing regions and locally produced wine is something Cyprus is very proud of. It is one of the first wine producing countries and if you are interested, the Cyprus Wine Museum can be found in Erimi village in Limassol. Here you will be taken on a journey through centuries of traditional and contemporary aspects of wine making history in Cyprus.

Whilst you are here, it would be a shame not to try some of the many local restaurants situated in the towns and villages and experience traditional hospitality at its best. rom To Hani Lounge Bar Restaurant in Limassol situated in the old town by the castle which provides live entertainment in cosy surroundings to Melanda Beach Restaurant which overlooks the beach in Pissouri and provides fresh, sea caught fish every day.

visitcyprus.com

TRAVEL

There are so many luxurious destinations to visit in Cyprus and the typical tourist is extremely spoilt for choice. However, one of the most popular and much loved areas to visit is Paphos and situated on an impressive beachside setting amidst immaculately landscaped gardens overlooking the twinkling Mediterranean Sea lays Asimina Suites Hotel. ust twenty minutes from Paphos airport, part of the exclusive Constantinou Bros Hotel group and named after the owner’s wife, this opulent five star destination has been specially designed to offer the ultimate in superior quality accommodation. Adult focused and suite only, this is a perfect destination for honeymooners and it boasts a fabulous interior of contemporary architecture and elegance. The Constantinou Bros want you to discover the wonder of pure luxury and to indulge in the marble bathrooms and modern amenities that they provide in all their exquisite suites There are one hundred and nineteen lavish suites, twelve of which are classed as one bedroom executive suites which have their own terrace, private infinity pool and acu i making it a must for those of us who enjoy our own private space. The hotel staffs values every customer and prides itself on a personal touch. When you arrive you are warmly greeted at the reception and you are then taken on a brief tour before being escorted to your suite. All suites are spacious and in keeping with the rest of the resort, they are designed to optimi e relaxation and to ensure that all aspects of your stay are a pleasurable one.

Wherever you look you will find extremely helpful and attentive staffs who are always willing to try and help you and you will often see the hotel manager wondering through the grounds to make sure all is as it should be.

With the added bonus of a private, sandy beach it is also within easy walking distance of picturesque Paphos Harbour where you can stroll along the old port towards the ancient medieval castle. This area is more often than not a hub of activity and its many restaurants and bars make it a popular tourist spot.

Before dinner at Asimina you can enjoy a cocktail or two

in the VIP’s bar which has a panoramic veranda and allows you to take in the magnificent views of the palm fringed resort and should you wish to, you are still allowed to smoke in the Sport’s Bar whilst you enjoy their television and snooker table.

Sophisticated Estia restaurant offers mouth-watering food of excellent quality and it specialises in Cypriot and International buffets. With indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the pool you can choose from Table D’H te or la carte and both offers an impressive variety of locally sourced dishes to tempt your appetite. In the morning, as well as the usual continental breakfast and variety of fresh fruit that is available, full English breakfast is also served here and the excellent, ever attentive staff will cater to your every whim. Health benefiting natural, fresh honeycomb is also on offer every day.

If you prefer a more formal but still very romantic experience you can book the ymarta la carte beach restaurant and if you get the timing right you can watch the sun set over the water as you experience Mediterranean gastronomic delights such as fresh lobster and other sea foods as well as a variety of traditional dishes. An la carte lunch menu is also available every day. After dinner, enjoy more drinks or a coffee and a nightcap in the cosmopolitan Lounge Bar where you can also enjoy late night entertainment and dancing.

Renowned for their high standards and quality of service, prestigious award winning Constantinou Bros Hotels have three other four star hotels in Paphos all with beach front locations but still offering the same high quality of service. The Athena beach Hotel is perfect for families and couples whilst the Athena Royal Beach Hotel is exclusively designed for adults and is more suited to couples appreciating a more tranquil and relaxing environment. They also have the Pioneer Beach hotel which offers a host of facilities for discerning adults and couples. Elixir Spa and superb leisure facilities are also available at each hotel and between them all, the chain of Constantinou Bros Hotels offer a whole range of possibilities to suit all tastes inviting you to indulge in pure luxury and to enjoy their superior service.

Constantinou Bros Hotels | cbh-cyprus.com

CYPRUS

Columbia Beach Resort Hospitality with Heart Renting a car is an ideal way to make sure that you can visit at least some of the mythological splendour that hides around every corner imaginable in Paphos and it also allows for time away from the crowds.

Manos Car, recommended by the Cyprus Tourist Board is an excellent choice for this, and what better way to enjoy the beautiful countryside and villages to explore the idyllic coastline where you can see Petra Tou Romiou, meaning ‘the rock of the Greek’ birthplace of Aphrodite. This area is one of the most beautiful coastlines in Cyprus and according to ancient mythology; this is where Aphrodite rose from the waves.

Hiring a car also give you the chance to stay in other hotels and experience wonderful hospitality at different locations such as the exclusive Columbia Beach Resort which is located by a spectacular Blue lag beach in the secluded Bay of Pissouri on the Southern coast of Cyprus. Almost like being in another world this five star, suite only accommodation is extremely impressive and its charm and distinctively colourful

characteristics reflect the influences of a traditional Cypriot village. In keeping with tradition, there are twelve separate low rise buildings all situated around a heavenly, eighty metre lagoon which are a tribute to local architecture and craftsmanship. sing local stone and with its wooden features, this magnificently luxurious hotel has been purposely designed to blend into its surroundings and it remains within the dramatic landscape that frames this part of the Mediterranean Sea. Its native flora and white cliffs of Cape Aspro only add to the beauty of the breath-taking scenery.

Take a stroll in the lush gardens of the resort and enjoy the perfectly manicured lawns and smell the scent of the beautiful flowers such as jasmine and bougainvillaea which shade the paths. You will feel totally relaxed and at one with nature.

Whichever you decide, each of the ninety five suites offer outstanding comfort and the excellent furnishings consist of handwoven fabrics and stylish wooden furniture which make you feel at home and compliment the colours of the natural surroundings.

Manos Car | manos-car.com.cy

TRAVEL

Although the temperature can be extremely hot, guests can keep the rooms cool with colonial style ceiling fans and air conditioning. These generously spaced suites all have terraces which either look out over the lagoon style pool and across the gardens or out to sea. Here you can enjoy some time on your own if you don’t want to disturbed by the activities around the pool and you can appreciate the facilities the room has to offer. Water falls from the main pool into a shallow children’s pool which has its own charming terrace but also looks out onto the sea. The lagoon pool itself allows guests to swim from one end to the other heated, Hebe Spa end. This award winning spa offers treatments using the highly luxurious range of Elemis products and it has its own MediSpa option and signature treatments which are recommended to induce total relaxation and rejuvenation. or the more energetic there is also a health and fitness centre at the Spa. Swim up to The Poseidon Pool Bar and enjoy a refreshing juice or a chilled glass of wine and you can even order various snacks to keep you going. If you prefer lounging in the gardens or lying on the beach for the day you can select your favourite drinks including tea and coffee or snacks at the Beach Bar. After a relaxing day doing whatever it is you enjoy, have an aperitif before dinner at the elegant Eros bar where you can sit on the terrace in comfortable chairs and immerse yourself in the best views of the Mediterranean Sea before heading across to the Apollo Tavern Restaurant. Here, fresh fish is always available and a popular dish is the Cyprus Me e which is an array of small dishes

which include vegetables, fish and meat all cooked according to local recipes. The open terrace restaurant also has an exclusive la carte menu and at night a much talented singing duo provides popular songs and serenades you at your table emanating the atmosphere of a Cypriot tavern.

Another fascinating building is the All Saints Chapel which is located within the Columbia Beach Resort grounds and overlooking the sea. If you visit in the summer you can witness many of the weddings which take place there. Designed to resemble early Christian buildings in Cyprus, the interior was painted by celebrated English artist ohn Corbidge.

Right along the beach you will find the equally stunning four stars Columbia Beachotel. Part of the same group it has all the same facilities and peaceful spaces for everyone. Here too is the essential luxury that we all want and expect from a hotel of this calibre. With its own bars and restaurants, you will not be disappointed if you choose to come here instead. This hotel is also located on the beach front and turtles breed in the nearby sand.

You may even be lucky enough to watch them hatching towards the end of the summer season.

Columbia Beach Resort | columbiaresort.com

CYPRUS

Aphrodite Hills Set in 234 hectares of breathtaking scenery, Aphrodite Hills is a stunning coastal resort in the Paphos district.

Nestling in the hills and built on two elevated plateaus which are divided by a natural ravine, this has been named after the goddess Aphrodite and is only one mile away from Aphrodite’s rock where it is said that she emerged from the foam.

Located at the heart of this unique oasis of luxury is the incredibly elegant five star hotel where the spacious rooms and suites are finished to an exacting high standard. Packed with all the extras you would expect and with a selection of 290 contemporary rooms devoted to your comfort you can choose from sea, pool or garden views but can also opt for a room which looks over the visually spectacular golf course. If you want to immerse yourself in sheer indulgence, upgrade to one of their luxury suites where you can choose from a private pool or an outdoor acu i where you can while away the time and enjoy the blissful sunshine.

There is no need to leave the hotel when it comes to dining and with the idea in mind that some people do want to enjoy an intimate dining experience, the hotel has delegated a separate dining area for adults only. The excellent la carte ig and live

restaurant provides this facility for breakfast and lunch but the Eleonas restaurant which is also located within the hotel and in the main buffet area serves an extravagant array of dishes for breakfast and lunch for all family guests. or dinner you will not be disappointed by the phenomenal choices available to you at the buffet. With a world class reputation and visitors from all over the world, the hotel also offers a varied assortment of cuisine ranging from Mediterranean delights in their Lfestos Greek and Grill and the already mentioned ig and live where you can dine on the terrace, weather permitting to delights from the ar East in their asmine restaurant. Whatever your choice, you won’t be disappointed and the excellent service from well trained staff only adds to a memorable experience.

You can enjoy a pre dinner drink at the aptly named Carob Bar Lounge where you can admire panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and hotel grounds whilst sipping on a classic or contemporary cocktail or two. rom the impressive reception area to the all the facilities and

TRAVEL extensive dining options there always seem to be a member of staff milling around to offer information and advice and to attend to your every need.

Should you wish a change of scenery you can take a short stroll away from the hotel and explore the charming and traditionally styled Village Square which forms the focal point of Aphrodite Hills. Here you will find a selection of restaurants and bars to suit every taste from Italian cuisine to local specialities and popular British Pub ood. You will also find a supermarket, various shops - one of which offers branded luxury goods and a medical centre. Don’t miss out and enjoy a H agen- Da s ice cream whilst you wander around.

The award winning five star resort offers many things and Aphrodite Hills Holiday Residences is one of them. Being the most integrated and luxuriously exclusive resort in the Eastern Mediterranean, you will find an impressive selection of rental apartments and junior villas which stand amongst perfectly landscaped gardens, private swimming pools communal for some of the apartments , pavilions and pergolas. In the Superior and Elite two to five bedroom villa collection you will find that all are beautifully decorated to an extremely high standard throughout and have all the home comforts including fully equipped kitchens and en suite bathrooms in the master bedrooms. or extra indulgence the incomparable Mythos Collection is the absolute ultimate in luxury rental. Some are high on the hill and with their extra large, private swimming pools, barbeque and sun lounge areas overlooking the golf course and the resort, they are exclusively decorated with first class

furnishings throughout and no expense has been spared.

Real estate opportunities are also available at this resort. Built on large individual plots and reflecting the finest Mediterranean heritage, these awe inspiring villas offer spectacular landscape and panoramic views from every angle making them ideal investments as well as perfect holiday homes.

The multi award winning Retreat Spa at Aphrodite Hills Resort is also a short walk from the main hotel and is inspired by ancient Greco-Roman bathing rituals of cleansing and relaxation. Here they believe that there is always time to pamper yourself and therefore take great joy in being able to offer extensive spa and leisure facilities for the complete wellbeing of body and mind.

CYPRUS

Set in the perfect position and with an infinity pool overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the Retreat’s lush and fragrant surroundings offer a haven of peace and tranquillity. eaturing monastic interiors, galleried hallways and fragrant gardens with outdoor massage temples there is no doubt that the ancient traditions and techniques used here will leave you relaxed, refreshed and exhilarated. ne of the Sensatori Signature Spa Treatments is the Sensory Ritual of Aroma.

Native aromatic oils such as Mediterranean Rose and range Blossom are applied to the body before being sprinkled with crushed citrus peel, ground almonds, nutmeg and rose petals thus exfoliating and leaving the skin smooth and soft and with a delicious scent. A full body aromatic massage is then applied and a warm hair mask and head massage completes the treatment.

In collaboration with world renowned spa company ESPA there are a total of twenty seven treatment rooms including private and couple’s rooms and an expert team of therapists who are on hand to provide top to toe pampering. Whilst preserving the tranquillity for adults and because Aphrodite Hills is also family orientated, younger guests have also been catered for and exclusive spa treatments for eight to fifteen year olds have been created. These are carried out in separate private rooms and popular mother and daughter treatments are also available.

A perfect way to end your experience is with a nutritional smoothie from the Spa restaurant uice Bar. Aphrodite Hills | www.aphroditehills.com

Aphrodite Hills Golf Club The eighteen hole championship standard golf resort at Sensatori Resort Aphrodite Hills is one of the most popular in Europe due to its location in the Aphrodite Hills Resort complex. Complete with two choices of excellent luxury accommodation from the Aphrodite Hills Hotel to the wide choice of villas at the Aphrodite Hills Holiday Residences this is a course that has everything available to you including a wonderful clubhouse with a restaurant and bar on site. It spreads through an undulating landscape dotted with magnificent carob and olive trees providing all year round golf and this is the first ever leisure and golf development of its kind in Cyprus. If you stay at the Aphrodite Hills Hotel some of the ground floor accommodation has wonderful swim up rooms which have access to a shared lagoon where you can enjoy the stunning views of the golf course whilst you relax on your lounger and look out over the glistening Mediterranean Sea. fficially opened in 2002 this award winning prestigious course spreads out over 6,299 metres and playing to a par of 71 70, seasoned golfers will enjoy the challenge of the Mediterranean terrain. Built within the two plateaus of the Aphrodite Hills Resort, this well designed, unique and challenging course is separated by a ravine and has outstanding panoramic views. Acclaimed architect Cabell Robinson designed the course to be a mix of difficult pot bunkers, manicured fairways of lush Bermuda grass which have been strategically shaped and generously tiered greens.

Because this course is built into the steep mountainside it is a particular challenge to any golfer no matter how experienced and golf here is very special indeed. The par three is an especially difficult shot as it involves teeing off a two hundred and thirty metres drive over the ravine on a black tee to ensure that you land onto the fairway. An extremely difficult challenge for any experienced golfer. nly a five minute walk from the hotel, you can take in the fresh Mediterranean air and enjoy the feel good factor from the fantastic year round climate as you stroll along to the club house.

However, you will need a buggie to get around the course as the distance between holes is too far to walk but this is included in your package. You can also hire clubs onsite and you will need a handicap certificate.

If you feel as if you need a little practise before doing your round you can always go on the golfing range or seek advice from the PGA Professionals who are always on hand to give helpful advice and golf tuition is also available at the Aphrodite Hills Golf Academy.

The perfect nineteenth hole is the clubhouse. pen all day, it serves up delicious lunches and a wide selection of beverages including wines and beers and you are sure to find something to tempt your appetite.

Aphrodite Hills Golf Division | aphroditehills.com

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Caribbean Calling Windjammer Landing, St Lucia When you think of the Caribbean you think of blissful beaches, endless blue sky, bursts of vibrant colour, and decadently seasoned spicy cuisine. ust under eight hours away from London, the beautiful island of Saint Lucia is located in the West Indies in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean Sea and is a part of the Windward Islands along with the likes of Dominica and Grenada.

As one of the most mountainous of the Caribbean islands, Saint Lucia is made up of volcanic rock, fertile valleys and lush tropical rainforests, which cover 19,000 acres of the island and is home to the national bird a acquot, a bright multi-coloured parrot only found in the rainforests of Saint Lucia.

At just 14 miles wide and 27 miles long, Saint Lucia is just a third of the si e of London and is actually made up of 17 islands with one main isle and 16 smaller isles.

Catering for couples, families and groups, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort is the ultimate Saint Lucian experience.

Balancing an array of accommodation offerings, entertainment options for both adults and children alike, and great dining options and cuisines from traditional Saint Lucian buffet to the Mediterranean ‘Papa Don’s’ and the la carte restaurant ‘ pper Deck’ - private chefs are also available - the resort has cleverly tapped into a number of different markets, effortlessly combining to ensure that whatever holiday experience you are looking for it can be done without even stepping foot outside.

Naturally, Caribbean pace of life is a lot more relaxed than ours here in London and it’s something you can easily acclimatise to very quickly. Nothing is too much for the ever helpful, friendly staff who live in a family-like environment that’s quite clear to see from the way the managers and staff, regardless of roles, interact together.

windjammer-landing.co.uk

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TRAVEL There is so much harmony that it’s infectious and you leave with a great sense of the importance of community, something that you may not always feel in London and it’s comforting to know it still exists.

It’s this personal touch that makes independent Windjammer Landing so very special. Managing Director Mark awa and his wife Linda have lived and worked on the resort for five years and together, through the passion Linda has for art, have brought a number of local artists to the resort and to the holidaymakers to ensure guests can not only take home a unique piece of Saint Lucia but also to support the local community. Creations include textiles, hand wood carvings, paintings and even metal sculptures all made locally on the island by some very unique characters that Linda loves to seek out who, without her help, would perhaps never sell on to a bigger market or even have their work found.

It’s fantastic to see the talent, and the resort often holds a range of events from fashion shows to craft fairs and is packed full with paintings and sculptures by the artists making the whole place feel really authentic and unique.

If you are looking for a wellness holiday that incorporates a little

of what you fancy as well as what is good for you to ultimately change your life for the better, than what better place to do so than in the blissful surrounds of the Caribbean Sea at Windjammer Landing.

Having just completed the decadent new facilities, The Spa at Windjammer Landing boasts 6,500 sq.ft of clean, contemporary

windjammer-landing.co.uk

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space including a state of the art gym, exercise studio, outdoor yoga deck, six peaceful treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge and garden, boutique, private studio and outdoor yoga terrace.

The well-packed group exercise classes are varied and cater for both beginners and the more advanced. Enjoy a spot of sunrise yoga on the deck overlooking Labrelotte Bay, or perhaps some mindful meditation or even restorative yoga by candlelight in the early evening the perfect way to round off your relaxing day.

The classes range from half an hour to and hour and mainly take place in the morning or early evening when it’s a little cooler and so not to interfere with any dinner plans. Without realising it can actually transform the way you look at fitness on holiday. If you are someone who never even thinks of using the gym while you are away then by going in the morning you will be surprised at

what little impact it has on your plans for the day and how it can even make you more relaxed as you go on. After all the purpose of a holiday is to relax, and quite often you come home from the activities, late nights and over indulging feeling like you could do with another holiday just to let your body recover whereas if you combine the two to find a balance you could find that you leave more relaxed than you ever thought possible.

The Spa at Windjammer Landing is a haven where you can harness your energy and reconnect your health and well-being.

This cool, relaxed sanctuary was officially opened this ctober and boasts a variety of fantastic treatments that are guaranteed to boost your mood and enhance your stay.

State of the art facilities include 4 Private Treatment Rooms and 2 Couples’ Treatment Rooms, a apanese Soaking Tub, utdoor

windjammer-landing.co.uk

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TRAVEL

Rain Shower, Male and emale steam rooms, uice Bar and Herb Garden, Hair and Beauty Salon, itness Centre featuring Cybex Equipment Private Studio, and Relaxation Lounge Relaxation Garden. rom traditional treatments to modern rituals, the variety of offerings is the perfect recipe for inner balance and outer peace.

The holistic spa menu showcases globally-acclaimed skincare line erstin lorian as well as a Signature Product Collection handharvested in Saint Lucia and developed by the Spa’s Naturopathic partner.

A highlight of the menu, and certainly a must try, has to be the Signature Massage, acial Body Treatment which is not only throughly relaxing but incorporates a signature essential oil blend, warm basalt stones, bamboo, and 16-point acupressure facial massage. Pure bliss!

Accommodation, as previously mentioned is widely spread and varied. The 60 acre hillside estate is home to 42 rooms and 116 suites and villas. Many of the villas are part owned using the time share scheme and used throughout the year as holiday homes or can be hired. rom the romantic one bedroom apartments with

a distinct cool Grecian feel - the white Walls and unusual spaces dotted across the hillside each looking out to the bright blue sea are just heavenly - to the traditionally colourful two, three, and four bedroom Island villas each with private plunge pools, kitchen and large living areas, there really is an option for everyone whether you are planning a couples, group or family trip. The three and four bedroom Estate Villas even come with the services of a dedicated chef should you wish and full si e pools. All accommodation types are reached via the reliable shuttle service which runs 24 hours a day, every day.

Lead in rates for each room villa category per night for travel during ebruary 2016 cean View Room - S 8; 1 Bedroom Villa no pool - S 47 ; 2 Bed Villa Pool - S 928; bed Villa Pool - S 998; 4 Bed Villa Pool - S 1, 068; 1 Bedroom Hibiscus Suite - S 686; 2 Bedroom Hibiscus Suite - S 869.

To book, please visit www.windjammer-landing.com.

Return flights to Hewanorra International Airport in St Lucia with British Airways start from ÂŁ612 per person for travel during ebruary 2016. To book please visit www.britishairways.com.

windjammer-landing.co.uk

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Feng Shang Princess

FLOATING CHINESE RESTAURANT

London’s best kept secret

An exquisite social retreat serving outstanding Chinese food, fine wine, cocktails and champagnes

020 7485 8137 | 020 7485 0216

Cumberland Basin, Prince Albert Road, Regents Park, London NW1 7SS info@fengshang.co.uk | www.fengshang.co.uk

your

palate

Gaucho’s sister restaurant shows that the proof is indeed in the pudding and we go in search of the top tipples to enjoy for yourself and those to kindly give away to others this Christmas.

PERFECT FOR YOUR PALATE

Christmas Carols Afternoon Tea Served in The Promenade and accompanied by the resident pianist and children’s school choirs, Christmas Carols Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester offers guests the ultimate Christmas experience. eaturing a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, festive pastries such as a fruit cake Christmas present, a chocolate & chestnut winter land, a Dorchester snowman and mince pies, the Dorchester Christmas Carols Afternoon tea is available at five sittings each day priced from £69 per adult including a glass of Champagne, and £35 per child (ages 5-11). dorchestercollection.com/dorchester

Charity Christmas Tree at Aqua Shard Aqua Shard has started the festive season with a bang by partnering with British fashion designer and activist, Dame Vivienne Westwood, to create a spectacular 18 foot Christmas tree, as well as exclusively branded, limited edition chocolate bars made from cacao grown by Asháninka communities in Peru, and a special chocolate dessert and Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktail all to raise funds for the rainforest charity, Cool Earth.

Displayed in the restaurant’s triple-height atrium, set against a stunning backdrop of the capital’s skyline, the sustainably sourced British tree has been designed exclusively by Vivienne Westwood and her husband, design partner and creative director Andreas Kronthaler.

Underpinning the design duos longstanding passion for environmental campaigning, Vivienne and Andreas have chosen to collaborate on the project with rainforest protection charity Cool Earth, a charity they are both Patrons of. Cool Earth works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction and puts these communities back in control of the world’s most endangered rainforests in South America, Africa, and Oceania. Cool Earth’s award-winning model means they have more rainforest under community protection than any other NGO or government.

Alongside the tree, which is decorated with festive beading by a women’s cooperative in the Awajún community supported by Cool Earth, aqua shard are selling an exclusive range of limited edition Cool Earth chocolate bars, priced at £3.95 each, designed with a unique wrapper created by Westwood & Cool Earth. The chocolate is made using cacao from rare criollo beans grown, harvested and fermented by Cool Earth’s Asháninka partners in Peru.

The organic, single origin, handmade bars are traceable right back to the rainforest, where cacao production is providing a vital income that means the Asháninka’s forest is safe from the loggers. Bars are available to purchase online or at aqua shard, with all proceeds going directly to Cool Earth’s rainforest partnerships.

To purchase a Vivienne Westwood x Cool Earth chocolate bar online please visit www.aquashardblog.co.uk/viviennewestwood or visit www. coolearth.org to donate and help Aqua Shard raise funds for Cool Earth.

Aqua Shard, Level 31 The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY 020 3011 1256 | aquashard.co.uk

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Escape to Narnia The Hyatt Regency London invites you to escape from the bustling shopping streets and enter through The Churchill Bar’s magical wardrobe doors to its very own enchanted land of Narnia.

“Let nothing turn your mind from following the signs” past the lamppost and settle in to cosy fur-lined seats and for the chillier evenings, stay snug with The Churchill Bar’s signature cashmere throws and hot water bottles. Of course, no winter terrace is complete without a delicious array of warming cocktails and The Churchill Bar is no exception with an exclusive winter cocktail menu curated by Green & Black’s. To accompany that winter tipple, guests can indulge in a series of warming “num nums”, including Turkish delights dipped in chocolate fondue and for those with less of a sweet tooth, indulgent, savoury cheese fondue.

For more information, please visit london.churchill.hyatt.com.

From the UK, reservations for any Hyatt® hotel worldwide can be made by calling 0845 888 1234 or logging onto hyatt.com.

PERFECT FOR YOUR PALATE

Ruinart Ros Royal Afternoon Tea Located in the newly opened Drawing Room, afternoon tea at the Flemings Hotel in Mayfair is a glorious affair. Lounge in front of the warming fire and let the knowledgeable staff guide you through the extensive tea menu by the East India Company and try something a little different such as the creamy Lis-Han Oolong or revitalising Tropical Punch White Tea. While there are many types of tea on offer in the Drawing Room, each with the selection of East India Company teas, the Ruinart Afternoon Tea allows you to experience one of the best Rose champagnes around. Dom Ruinart Champagne is one of the oldest champagne houses; first founded in 1729 the brand’s Ruinart Rose Champagne is a delectable bouquet of cherry and freshly picked red berries, followed by a splash of flowers and spicy notes to the nose. ffering delicious finger sandwiches, from cucumber and roasted tomato to ham and mustard; an incredibly light and fluffy selection of plain and currant scones; and desirable choice of petite fours including lemon meringue and chocolate and passion fruit cake, the afternoon tea comes with a half bottle of Ruinart Rosé Champagne and a complimentary gift of loose tea delicately wrapped with a Flemings ribbon.

Perfect for that special occasion or a great gift for Christmas and something to look forward to in the New Year, the Ruinart Ros Royal Afternoon Tea is bookable at £96.00 for two people.

Afternoon Tea is served daily from 12.30pm - 5.00pm. It must be pre-booked 24 hours in advance. Guide dogs are welcome. To book call 020 7499 0000 or Email thedrawingroom flemings.co.uk flemings-mayfair.co.uk ruinartafternoontea

Lodge d’Argent winter pop-up Designed by AM Creative, Lodge d’Argent at Coq d’Argent restaurant brings the feeling of winter to the City with twinkling lights, frosted Christmas trees and rafts of wintery ferns adorning the space. The chic white and gold scheme throughout the terrace and luxurious fur blankets allows guests to snuggle up while enjoying indulgent dishes and cocktails against the wintery backdrop.

Also this winter, Coq d’Argent and House of Voga have teamed up once again to offer a series of winter Voga classes. The sessions, which are priced at £15 per person, will be held on the last Sunday of every month in the restaurant’s stunning winter terrace, Lodge d’Argent and will be followed by a delicious lunch and winter warmer drinks.

Voga is a holistic-based cardio workout combining Yoga and ‘voguing’, set to an iconic 80s soundtrack. Taking participants through dynamic dance to dreamy disco, Voga combines the breath-synchronized movement of Yoga with the expressive moves of a dance class, fusing power and strength with attitude and flamboyance, where alignment is key. ollowing the success of the Voga Classic and Voga Core Series, House of Voga will introduce the Voga Flex series for winter, designed to increase flexibility. Guaranteed to work deep into the muscles whilst increasing the pulse, this series offers new challenges and surprises for those who bree ed the vogue style arm co-ordination of series one and two.

Confirmed event dates classes take place 11am 12pm 20th December; 1st anuary; 28th ebruary. Lunch will be served from 12 00 - 00pm, and will be priced at £26pp for two courses, and £29 for three. To book tickets please visit billetto.co.uk en users house-of-voga

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Victorian Circus at The Gun Just launched at The Gun, Docklands and especially in time for Christmas is their spectacularly themed Victorian Circus popup. Conveniently situated on the banks of the River Thames, this award winning gastro pub has teamed up with popular Scottish Distillery, Hendrick’s, to transform their riverside marquee into a big top. Warm and inviting, it has been specially designed with windows so that you can still get a good view of the river and you certainly won’t need to keep your coat on once inside.

Customers are invited to come along and enjoy their new events space and experience a selection of Hendrick’s winter warming gin cocktails which will be served up by your own private bar. Mr Micawber’s Hot Gin Punch and Elderflower and gin toddies will be offered alongside various fun bites which include mini fish and chip cones, wild boar and Chimay sausage and mash and chocolate peanut brownies. Expect to see traditional carnival items such as wood smoked pork frankfurter hot dogs and beef and smoked applewood cheddar sliders. Delicious melon ball si ed toffee apples and mini doughnuts are also available.

To add to this and in keeping with the Victorian Circus theme, The Gun has its very own candy floss and popcorn machines so everyone can enjoy the fun of the fair.

Available until the end of February, Christmas drinks packages start from £50 per person which includes unlimited prosecco or Christmas cocktail for five hours, fun bites start at £17 per person and carnival items at £20 per person.

The Gun, 27 Coldharbour, Docklands 020 7515 5222 | thegundocklands.com

PERFECT FOR YOUR PALATE

Rhubarb Sky Garden New Year’s Eve is the party of the year and in the most coveted social circles of London everyone wants to be the host of the city’s hottest soirée. Wildly creative catering and events operator rhubarb is on hand to deliver the capital’s most unforgettable and exclusive money-can’t-buy New Year’s Eve party at Sky Garden for the city’s most flash, high-flying host.

With 18 years’ experience and a portfolio of over 18,000 events from Chanel and Prada London Fashion Week parties to collaborations with Raymond Blanc at Royal Ascot, and the Elle Style Awards 2015, rhubarb can have the most exceptional ingredients, A-list performers and insanely imaginative designers at their disposal.

Effortlessly adept at making their events the talk of the town, own the night with your New Year’s Eve party at Sky Garden, located 5 floors above ground level atop 20 enchurch Street. rom a base price of £150,000 VAT , the sky’s truly not even the limit; rhubarb will fulfil every wildest wish, crazy desire and farfetched fantasy to make this the end of year party everyone will want to attend.

With Sky Garden being ‘yours’ for a full 24 hours from on 31st December until 2am (later licenses can be applied for) on 1st January, hosts can be as little or as much involved in the set up as they desire.

Spread across three floors with two restaurants and a destination bar with a fantastic view, whether you want a blow-out fine dining banquet for 250, a chic cocktail and canap reception for 450 of your influential friends or a sea of interactive tasting stations spread throughout the urban garden whilst you watch fireworks fill the sky around you on the terrace - the bigger and bolder the better.

Sky Garden, 20 enchurch Street, EC3M 3

| www.rhubarb.net venues sky-garden

our Pillars Gin puts Australian twist on Christmas classics Founded in Australia and distilled in the Yarra Valley, Four Pillars combines Asian spice, Mediterranean citrus and native Australian botanicals (such as Tasmanian pepperberry), creating a truly unique spirit for gin fanatics.

Christmas Negroni: An aromatic twist on a classic aperitif, the classic Italian Negroni combines gin, vermouth and Campari, with a dash of chocolate bitters and a slice of zesty orange to complement the gin’s surprising botanicals.

Ingredients: 30 ml Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin | 30 ml Campari | 30ml Belsazar Red Vermouth | A dash of Fee Brother’s Aztec Chocolate Bitters.

Method In a tumbler, mix Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin, Campari and Belsazar Red Vermouth. Finish with two dashes of Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters. Top with ice and garnish with a twist of orange.

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Searcys The Gherkin For the second time this year, Searcys The Gherkin will be opening its doors to what is normally private members’ only, the top level 40.

The tip of the tower will be transformed into a magical Christmas Snow Globe, open to the general public for an array of festive delights; Christmas themed Sunday Afternoon Tea, festive lunch or dinner, and a glamorous New Years Eve party to see in 2016.

Enjoy Christmas pudding style treats, and macaroons in festive hues, as well as classic house-made scones and festive finger sandwiches.

If cocktails are for you, these Christmas tipples are sure to make you feel magical; Tru e Chocolate Espresso Martini, infused with vodka and liqueur; The Egg Nog, a recipe of smoked raisin infused rum, Chartreause and cream; and Christmas Tea, a heart warming hot drink with hibiscus gin and Benedictine.

Sunday Afternoon Tea has three options with tea, cocktails or champagne, from £ 5pp, available on 6th, 1 th, and 20th of December. For lunch, dinners and New Year packages see www. searcysthegherkin.co.uk or call 020 7071 5025.

rench lair Meets ritish Classic The premium rench liqueur, Cointreau is set to become the very first spirit brand to be retailed at one of the world’s most iconic department stores and luxury retailers, Liberty of London. orming an influential partnership, Cointreau are set to support a series of high profile events and launches with Liberty of London through 2016.

To kick off the collaboration, Cointreau supported the launch of Managing Director Ed Burstell's critically acclaimed book and have of course developed an exclusive cocktail in his honour. Inspired by the history and traditions of one of London's oldest stores, as well as Ed's personal tastes, Alfred Cointreau, Brand Heritage Manager and 6th generation of the Cointreau family, designed a bespoke twist on the Classic Cointreau Fizz cocktail. Cointreau Fizz by Ed Burstell is a quintessentially English cocktail combining the very English ritual of tea drinking, Ed’s favourite earthy scents and orange colours. The cocktail will be available in Cafe Liberty until 31st December and features 50ml Cointreau, 20ml fresh lime juice, one Earl Grey tea bag, one cinammon stick and 100ml sparkling water. It will also be served as part of the Liberty Christmas Brunch Series, which will be available to VIP customers in the lead up to Christmas.

To celebrate the launch of the Cointreau Creative Crew, a worldwide philanthropist programme which champions creative women, Cointreau hosted a live art installation in a Liberty of London display window. The installation featured live art created by acclaimed artist Charlie Herman alongside Yohan Masliah, Lilly Lou, Eleanor Wilding, Robin Mackney and Tommy Pang. Their creations are due to be auctioned to raise funds for the charities of their choice.

As part of the Cointreau Creative Crew campaign Ed Burstell will join a host of influential creatives led by Cointreau s Creative Director Laetitia Casta, on a jury to award an upcoming creative with a life changing opportunity. Further supporters of the campaign include Eva Longoria, Charlie Winston, Nick Ede, Kelly Hoppen, and Jo Elvin with more to come.

Maud Rabin, International Communication Director said, “I am delighted to see Cointreau at Liberty. It’s like a dream come true. Two traditional yet modern names, both born in 1875, both icons in their respective fields, decided to celebrate creativity together, letting their chosen artists express themselves freely! We are proud and honoured as this marks the beginning of a great adventure between Liberty of London and Cointreau”.

www.cointreau.com | www.cointreaucreativecrew.com

First Edition Proudly serving Canary Wharf fresh food cooked to order for over 20 years.

With winter upon us, the time has come for some serious eating and drinking. Whether organising a lunch, dinner or drinks event – with our newly renovated heated terrace and seasonal menu choices, here at First Edition we are as ready as ever to offer flexibility and attentive service that can only be found in a family establishment.

FIRST EDITION CHRISTMAS Starters - Soup du Jour (v); Warm Crispy Duck Roll, hoisin sauce; Fresh Crab & Celeriac, melba toast, cucumber & horseradish cream glaze; Traditional Caesar Salad, anchovies, parmesan shavings & croutons; Smoked Salmon, pink peppercorn dressing, horseradish cream & pane carasau Main Course - Roasted Beef (Sirloin), sautéed potatoes, root vegetables & peppercorn sauce; Roasted Guinea Fowl, gratin dauphinoise, seasonal vegetables, crispy pancetta & mixed mushroom gravy; Slow Cooked Venison Stew, winter vegetables & pan fried spatzelli; Sea Bass Squid Ink Ravioli, crustacée sauce & wilted spinach; Tofu-Cakes (v), wilted spinach & Thai cucumber salad Desserts - Winter Fruit Salad & Ice Cream; Homemade Bread & Butter Pudding; Traditional Christmas Pudding & Brandy Cream; Warm Pancake, Ice Cream & Chocolate Sauce

Wine Corner Great value - Syrah ’Saint Desirat’ 2013 A stone’s throw from St.Joseph Rhone), yet miles away in terms of Syrah offers exceptional value and glass 175ml £8.95/ 250ml £9.95/

(the pride of price; this ripe quality by the bottle £29.95

Perfect Pairing - Givry 1er Cru ‘’Domaine Joblot’’ 2012 It’s just not Christmas without a fine Burgundy to enhance your game bird. The Joblot is a perfect match for our roasted Guinea fowl from the special Christmas menu £64.95 Treat yourself - Taurasi DOC ‘Di Prisco 2007 ‘’The Godfather’’ of the list, robust yet smooth with well tamed tannins, the Taurasi is the epitome of indulgence; particularly when matched with our luxury cheeseboard £79.95

YO R

U SO IE C TY

Mortlach whisky sponsors VIP Cycle Revolution exhibition Design Museum

The Fayre of St James’s Presented by Quintessentially Foundation & The Crown Estate

REVIEW

ine Dining at CAU If you are a fan of the highly successful Argentinian steak house, Gaucho, you will want to get yourself over to St Katherine Docks to try their newly opened sister restaurant.

CA St atherine Docks opened this April and this is their first central London site. Conveniently situated on the ground floor of the seven stories Commodity Quay building which has recently been refurbished and right next to the water, there is a vibrant, buzzy atmosphere about the place which is very popular with locals and tourists alike. This complements the ambiance of the restaurant and also the surrounding area outside which includes bars, shops and offices, perfectly replicating the cosmopolitan sophistication and energy of Buenos Aires itself. As soon as you step inside you notice the unique corrugated booth seating and light and airy decor which is synonymous with all CAU restaurants.

When the weather is fine, the full length glass doors at the front of the restaurant open out onto the dockside and diners can enjoy a wonderful view of all the yachts and the hustle and bustle of the passersby and everyday life on the marina.

Once shown to your seat by the ever attentive and extremely helpful waiting staffs that are constantly on hand, you will see that the menu embraces mouth watering cuisine from the Argentinian capital which is also inspired by Spain and Italy. However, unlike Gaucho itself, this is not just a steak house and the menu is surprisingly varied. Steaks, burgers, sharing platters, small plates, big plates, salads and sandwiches are all on offer. This tempting selection has something for everyone but for all you steak lovers the

dish of choice has to be the signature, grass fed Argentinian beef.

After delectable starters such as the literally melt in your mouth belly of pork tempura served with their special CAUchup or extra thinly sliced and extremely tasty swordfish carpaccio with capers, chilli, parsley and lemon oil, the premium cuts of beef are part of an accessible all day menu and comes from the same stock that is served in all Gaucho restaurants.

The reasonably priced Tira de Ancho at £33.50 for 500 grams and £ 8.50 for 600 grams if you can rise up to the challenge of eating one this size) is extremely good value for money as far as steaks go. Described as ‘the king of steaks’ and marinated in chimichurri sauce this is slowly grilled for maximum tenderness and you can see your steak being prepared and cooked in the open plan kitchen. The classic rib-eye comes in smaller portions ranging from £15.95 for 260 grams to £22.95 for 80 grams and all are served with either chips or salad. Enjoy all this with their handpicked selection of red wine Malbec favourites which again, are all reasonably priced.

If you have any room after all that you will love the Dulche De Leche pancakes which is fresh pancakes topped with ice cream and traditional caramel sauce or the Alfajores ice cream sandwich. This classic Argentine cookie, transformed into an ice cream sandwich, is extremely naughty but also extremely nice and very indulgent. A perfect treat to end the meal with.

You will leave this restaurant fully satisfied and will want to come back to try their other dishes.

CAU St atherine Docks, Commodity uay, London E1W 1A

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| 020

02 0341 | caurestaurants.com

“Cheerily boisterous, exciting and big on atmosphere...the pasta tasted fresh and the combination of flavours was superb.” TimeOut Eating & Drinking

R E S T A U R A N T

&

P I Z Z E R I A

The finest Italian food made to order with the freshest ingredients.

Add sparkle to your celebration this festive season, with our warm ambience, sumptuous food, seasonal tipples & enough cheer to last well into 2016.

From lunches to dinners, we invite you to indulge in a feast of festivity. Rest assured we’ll take care of every detail to make it a truly unforgettable occasion.

On behalf of our Team, we look forward to making this a very Merry Christmas for all who visit us

0207 481 9950 • www.ilbordello.com • 81 WAPPING HIGH STREET LONDON E1W 2YN Lunch daily Monday to Friday: 12 Noon to 3pm • Dinner: Mon-Sat 6pm to 11pm • Sunday: 1pm to 10:30pm

Royal China

Royal China Canary Riverside, 30 West Ferry Circus, London E14 8RR Telephone: 020 7719 0888

COLUMN

The Oenophilist

with Edward Gerard, Wine Buyer for Harrods

dward erard started his career c cling cases o fine wine round the SW1 and SW3 postcodes. Some 13 years later after a stint in the and having e tensivel traveled and tasted his wa around the wine world he finds himsel with the enviable ob o selecting the vast range available in the ine ooms at arrods

On the red front I’ll be staying traditional and opting for the amazing 2009 Chateau Malartic Lagraviere £64.95 , this wine epitomises the best of Pessac Leognan without breaking the bank, it has blackberry and cassis notes combined with spice box and graphite notes with a fabulously long finish. To complement this I will also be serving a breath-taking Red Burgundy in the form of 2009 Amiot Servelle Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes £79.95 , with its lovely balance of elegance and depth with notes of cherries, cranberries, wild strawberries and sage, this is the perfect package for your Christmas day feast. To finish off I will pop the cork on a bottle of Harrods LBV Port with its fabulous sweet plum and damson notes combining with spice notes of nutmeg and cloves, this will partner both the stilton and the Christmas pudding beautifully.

Now for the loved ones you find it hard to buy for, these are my top choices this Christmas. The first is the exquisite newly released dark rum acundo Eximo £65 with its exceedingly smooth notes of toffee, walnut, vanilla and chocolate with a hint of cherry and a lovely smokey finish. Second up is The Dalmore 15yr old and glasses gift set £62.95 , this is one of the very best whisky houses out there and their 15yr old is my favourite with lovely citrus notes and hints of roasted coffee bean and just a hint of Christmas pudding fruit, making it all the more seasonal.

Lastly if you are looking for a stocking filler with a difference then our exclusive miniature port set from Ferreira at (£24.95) it is a great choice and includes a miniature of their 20yrs old Tawny, which is the first time they have bottled this in this format.

Tis the season of merriment and gift giving, so this month I’m going to talk through my top picks for Christmas day wines and second, my top gifts for those hard to buy for siblings, parents and other loved ones, all available in The Wine Rooms at Harrods.

I’m a little bit of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas day, so first up is a morning glass of bubbly as gifts are opened and this year I will be celebrating with a glass of NV Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve (£42.95). The liquid jumps from the glass with complex notes from dried fruit of apricots and mango alongside fresh melon and hints of pistachio and macadamia nuts - it’s a great match for all seasonal canapés.

When it comes to my pairings for Christmas day, I like to serve two reds and two whites, possibly a little over indulgent but let’s face it this is the one day of the year we can get away with a little indulgence. For the whites I will be serving the delicious 2014 Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay (£22.95), which embodies the best of the fresher, cleaner style of Chardonnay coming out of Australia of late with lovely peach, nectarine and citrus notes and a wonderful minerality that will make it a prefect paring for turkey.

My other white is back to the homeland of Chardonnay in the form of the powerful 201 Pouilly uisse les Clos from Chateau uisse £46.95 .

This has the complexity and power to compliment the multitude of flavours on your Christmas table from stuffing to Brussels sprouts and everything in-between.

www.harrods.com | @Harrods | #HarrodsFood

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REVIEW

Obicà South Kensington The best food in Italy is fresh, simple and true to its roots.

Obicà is the home of authentic Italian food in South Kensington, bringing Italian families and locals together in stylish, relaxed surroundings with an impressive open kitchen.

Obicà South Kensington belongs to a family of restaurants founded in Rome in 2004.With other sites across London including Canary Wharf and all around the world, each serves fresh, simple Italian food.

The star of the menu is mozzarella di bufala DOP, made in Campania and served at its freshest. Classic, smoked (over hay) or creamy stracciatella mozzarella is a must-order, alongside small plates using the finest artisan Italian produce. You can’t have a meal here without having at least one. Our favourite starter has to be the Il tagliere tasting board with prosciutto crudo di Parma D P, Soppressata Calabrese D P, soft and medium-hard buffalo cheeses, Sicilian caponata and crostini with n’duja di Spilinga (spicy spreadable salami) for two to share. Absolutely delicious!

The menu represents the restaurant’s culinary pilgrimage across Italy, finding local delicacies and bringing them to our tables in London for all to enjoy. More substantial plates on the menu are made with traditional dried pasta from Gragnano, silky fresh pasta made with Italian flour and fresh eggs using a four-century old method handed down through generations, or slow-risen pizza dough using stoneground Petra flour.

The Pappardelle con ragù di salsiccia Toscana -fresh thick ribbons of pasta served with a Tuscan sausage ragù is simple and delicious making the perfect warming dish as the nights get colder. If you fancy an authentic pizza however, we recommend the Prosciutto crudo - Prosciutto crudo di Parma DOP, mozzarella di bufala, organic tomatoes and rocket as it is light enough to leave room for dessert!

Speaking of dessert, the tiramisu is not only huge but seriously one of the best we have ever tasted if you can’t choose though go for the trio of bic dessert tasters tiramis , buffalo ricotta strawberry cheesecake and torta Caprese.

Unlike the other locations, South Kensington boasts a private upstairs room, which is ideal for meetings or private family gatherings. Customers can also enjoy dining al fresco or stop by for a daily aperitivo, a mini selection of salumi and mozzarella served when you purchase a drink between 5pm and 7pm.

Obic , Draycott Avenue, South ensington, London SW3 3AD 020 7581 5208 | southken@obica.com | obica.com

“Best in the area” “One of the best Indian meals ever” “Wonderful food and service”

ENJOY THE BEST INDIAN CUISINE IN DOCKLANDS

Book Now for Christmas and New Year 020 7517 9233 Enjoy our 5 course Thali! (Lunch only) Vegetarian only £5.95 | Non-vegetarian only £7.95 For reservations or free delivery, please call 020 7517 9233 or 020 7987 3439 25 Westferry Road, London, E14 8JH Open seven days a week including bank holidays www.aniseed-docklands.co.uk • info@aniseed-docklands.co.uk

HALAL FOOD

COLUMN

Salvatore’s tails

with Salvatore Calabrese

alvatore alabrese amousl known as he aestro is one o the world s to bartenders e made a name or himsel sourcing and mi ing i uid istor vintage s irits dating back to

coast. And I know that London’s slushy brown snow is a far cry from the white powder of my fantasies. But I’m still as hungry as ever to glimpse snow somewhere.

Happily, with two of my bars open in Los Angeles (Mixology 101 in the Farmer’s Market at the Grove) and Las Vegas (Bound at the Cromwell), I’m no doubt in the same position as many readers of this magazine in facing a choice about where to head for winter fun where the snow is deep and crisp and even. In Southern California I can head to Big Bear Mountain or if I’m in Las Vegas it’s just a short drive to Mount Charleston. And if I’m in London find me at Salvatore’s at Playboy Club , then I can of course head to the Italian Alps.

Even if we don’t get snow in London, there is still a good opportunity to weave in some seasonal ingredients to the food and drink we consume at Christmas - flavours like cinnamon, nutmeg, rich dried fruits, nuts and citrus. That’s not telling you anything you didn’t know already. But this year, my bar team has sought to bring out the best flavours of the season in a new Christmas cocktail on the menu - served with a touch of snow!

We’ve combined some warming cognac with a homemade winter spice syrup (made with cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin), pineapple juice and slices of orange and lemon, which we serve over crushed ice in a silver tin, piled high with a dried pineapple slice, cinnamon stick, sprig of mint and, the pièce de resistance, a dusting of icing sugar, served at the table.

As my mother taught me, it’s the little things that transport you to a more enchanting place, so this simple visual cue of falling sugar, leaving a powdery footprint on your table top just like the flourtopped hills of my father’s nativity, takes you to your own little winter wonderland. If you like it, we can make it snow again and again (though I’m stopping short of jingling any bells as the snow falls!).

Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo!

As a little boy growing up on the Mediterranean coast there was one thing I longed for in winter to wake up to a strangely bright morning, when I’d open the curtains to glimpse at the garden covered in a blanket of snow. Of course when I opened them I’d find the lemon trees basking in some gentle winter sun, the sound of the sea lapping in the distance. Hardly the second ice age!

My parents nonetheless always tried to give my brother and I the Christmas we wanted, dusting the huge nativity scene he always built with bread flour, then later when we were a little older, spraying the windows with fake ice. Christmases were always enchanting times - and somehow we always had ‘snow’.

These days, living in London, I know we’re about as likely to get a snowfall on Christmas Day as the sea free ing over in the Amalfi

Paul Griffiths Photography

Salvatore’s Bar at Playboy, 14 Old Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1ND 020 7491 8586 | www.playboyclublondon.com | @cocktailmaestro

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Raise a glass to

2016

...and all that jazz!

Celebrate 100ft above London and kick your heels up, knock your drinks down and party like it’s 1920!

Flappers and gangsters will be treated to a night of opulent glamour and glitzy entertainment complete with a spectacular fireworks display.

TICKETS AVAILABLE from £140

THE ROOF GARDENS 99 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA www.roofgardens.virgin.com/club

The Macallan Rare Cask

Royal rackla 21 years old

Talisker Skye

Glenfiddich The Original

Aged exclusively in Sherry Oak casks, this whisky sees soft notes of vanilla and raisin pique the nose, giving way to a sweet ensemble of apple, lemon, and orange. A Single Malt produced through meticulous dedication to wood, using casks to age the whisky from Sherry bodegas no longer in existence.

A regal opportunity to savour whisky fit for a ing from the Royal Brackla Distillery. All hail a high-born spirit - summer berries, dark chocolate, star anise, infused with sherry sweetness. A member of malt aristocracy.

Talisker Skye Single Malt Whisky has been crafted to pay homage to the Island of Skye’s majestic landscape and coastline. It opens with welcoming, smoky sweet and citrus notes, developing into deep maritime flavours and culminating in a powerful spicy conclusion.

While most whiskies today mature in oak, sherry casks were more prominent in 196 . The aroma is floral with the hallmark Glenfiddich pear, followed by lively fruit notes. Glenfiddich The Original is biscuity with a soft vanilla oakiness and deliciously dry finish.

£200.00

£178.25

£33.00

£85.00

The Perfect Whisky The Cally 1

4 40 year old

Clynelish Select Reserve

Dailuaine 1 80 34 year old

Distilled in the now 'closed' Caledonian distillery in Edinburgh and nicked named "The Cally" by all who worked there, this limited edition natural cask strength grain is the oldest Caledonian ever released by the original distillers.

Limited to only 5060 bottles.

This beautiful expression has been crafted from ex-bourbon first-fill American ak barrels, rejuvenated and refill American Oak hogsheads, and ex-bodega & refill European ak butts.

Limited to only 2946 individually numbered bottles worldwide.

Limited to only 2952 individually numbered bottles worldwide and created refill American ak casks.

An outstanding and unusually fragrant example of this robust classic. Perfectly balanced and structured - this is a real crown pleaser! Limited to only 2952 bottles worldwide.

Quite possibly one of the most collectable whiskies available anywhere in world, Brora has developed a cult following over the years and this is the oldest Brora ever released in the Diageo special release series.

Limited to only 2976 bottles and bottled at 50.4% volume.

£750.00

£550.00

£380.00

£1300.00

whiskyshop.com | thewhiskyexchange.com

rora 1

3 year old

The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve

The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

The Dalwhinnie 25 year old

A world first; a Single Malt Scotch Whisky that has been finished in precious oak casks hand-crafted from the rare Mizunara tree of Japan. The carefully selected and delicate Mizunara oak casks embarked on a 6,000 mile journey.

Only 2,000 bottles of Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish available.

Crafted by malt master Gordon Motion, this is The Glenrothes’ most complex whisky yet featuring a blend of vintage malts from the last three decades. Older vintage expressions lend mellower, softer flavours, while the younger ones add ‘exuberance’ and citrus notes.

Inspired by the riches and subtleties of the 24 Japanese seasons, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a meticulous blend of the finest whiskies from the House of Suntory Whisky, incorporating 10 malt and grain whiskies, aged in five types of casks, from the three Suntory distilleries.

Created from refill American ak hogsheads and limited to only 5916 bottles. Bottled at 48.8% volume. A creamy, aromatic and crisply focused mature Dalwhinnie that drinks very well, both straight and with a little water.

£650.00

£39.00

£53.4

£325.00

for Christmas 2015 Port Ellen 1 83 32 year old

Lagavulin 12 year old

The Caol Ila 1 year old

Pittyvaich 1 8 25 year old

The magic year for any Port Ellen fan and the very last year of production for this Islay distillery.

Limited to only 2964 bottles which have been individually numbered.

Bottled at a natural cask strength of 53.9%

A limited edition, natural cask strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Lagavulin - the 13th in the series, limited to a few thousand bottles worldwide! A perfect introduction to the special release series!

A limited edition, natural cask strength Caol Ila which is produced from a batch created once a year from unpeated malt.

The oldest Caol release of its kind and limited to a few thousand bottles worldwide.

Incredibly this bottling has lived longer than the distillery did, established in 1975 and closed in 1993. Just 5922 individually numbered bottles are available.

This is easy to drink at natural strength yet is also a complex, attractive and slender whisky, ideal for after dinner contemplation.

£2400.00

£80.00

£90.00

£250.00

whiskyshop.com | thewhiskyexchange.com

Courvoisier Célébration Sensorielle Initiale® Extra This limited edition luxury gift set will take cognac lovers on a multi-sensory, aromatic Parisian expedition from day to night this Christmas. Containing a bottle of one of the worlds most revered cognacs along with the bespoke day and night fragrances, in the form of two beautiful scented candles, the set also includes the story of Courvoisier presented in a charming little book and accompanied by detailed tasting notes. £397.00 | harrods.com

Jack Daniel s Sinatra Century A limited-edition bottling, celebrating the life of Frank Sinatra, who would have turned 100 in 2015. Bottled at 100 proof from 100 casks specially selected by master distiller eff Arnett, this is a big and bold whiskey that we think Frank would have loved. Presented in a lacquered case, with a tribute book and a tie-clip USB drive containing an unreleased concert from 1966, this is big and bold whiskey that’s a must for Sinatra and ack Daniel’s fans. £3 5.00 | thewhiskyexchange.com

Grey Goose A masterfully mixed spirit drink made from Grey Goose and precious drops of Cognac, the perfect gift for the connoisseur who has tried everything else. £125.00 | selfridges.com

Mo t Chandon MCIII | £330.00 | moet.com • Champagne Charles Heidieck rut Reserve Champagne Gift Set with his and hers Coupe Grande Champagne glasses. £75.00 | selfridges.com • Champagne runo Paillard lanc de lancs Reserve Priv e Grand Cru | £5 . | selfridges.com • Chandon rut | £14. | drinksupermarket.com • Krug Joseph Sharing Gift Set | £170.00 | All major stockists

Getting in to the Christmas Spirit

Sipsmith London Dry Gin £36.99 | selfridges.com

elsa ar Red ermouth £24. | selfridges.com

Ciroc lue Stone Gift Pack £3 .45 | waitrose.com

established 1909

The Players Package 18 Holes on Lower or Upper Course Bacon Roll with tea/coffee on arrival Only £17.50 pp Monday - Thursday £21.00 pp Friday £27.00 pp Weekends 22 Bay Driving Range - 36 Holes - 42 Buggies –100 years of history

020 8500 2131 | www.hainaultgolfclub.co.uk Hainault Golf Club, Romford Road, Chigwell, Essex IG7 4QW

your

Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid 1975 SS Jaguar 100 Porsche plants hybrid technology in their premium SUV putting a very different slant on the market, but does it work and are you quite ready for it yet?

On the opposite end of the scale comes a 1975 Heritage factory build SS Jaguar 100...no electronics at play here.

YOUR DRIVE

The Future’s Bright...and Green Porsche launch a new model into their hybrid world and it might come as a surprise.

Cayenne S E-Hybrid is set to alter the course of the premium SUV market.

Porsche have been tirelessly working behind the scenes on electric and hybrid technology for many years now. The first of their products to hit the public realm was the Panamera iteration of the ‘S E-Hybrid’ which was revealed back in 2011, but now, the premium marque has gone one better. Launching the first electric hybrid into the premium S V sector was never going to be easy, but with the knowledge gained from the success of the Panamera S E-Hybrid, Porsche have done just that. Porsche’s new Cayenne S E-Hybrid builds on the technology behind their exceptional Panamera and brings a whole new level of efficiency to the premium S V market.

Thanks to the extensive research and developement carried out by the factory racing division - the guys behind the 918 Spyder and 919 Le Mans 24 Hour

winning hyper-hybrids - Porsche have been able to continually monitor the suitability of the technology for use in their production vehicles. And finally, they have reached the point at which it has become a viable option for the general population. ortunately the story doesn’t end there...this is merely the beginning of the future for not only Porsche, but every other manufacturer who is now playing catch up.

The beauty of this car lies in its simplicity. Without pushing any of the switchgear or altering any settings, a pressure point on the accelerator signifies the switch between using fully electric power to the use of the impressive .0-litre V6 under the bonnet. You can travel comfortably up to speeds of 78 mph on fully electric power as long as the pressure on the accelerator remains at a reasonable level, but the second you require more

porscheeastlondon.co.uk

76

CAYENNE S E-HYBRID

power for faster acceleration, the combustion engine is ready. When using the fully electric mode, the motor will provide a surprising 96 PS at just 2,200 rpm with a torque figure of 10 Nm between 0 and 1,700 rpm, so you can comfortably use the car around town without hassle.

As soon as the engine kicks in, you get to enjoy the full power range on offer. Totaling 422 PS and offering 590 Nm of torque from the combined system, you would be forgiven for thinking that the efficiency would suffer.

Boasting a combined fuel consumption of 8 .1 mpg, the new Cayenne S E-Hybrid is not only capable of driving fully electric for up to 22 miles, but it will dramatically improve on the efficiency figures of most cars that are both much smaller and less powerful.

The technology under the bonnet - and the rest of the car for that matter - is truly remarkable and offers a clear insight in to the future of motoring.

One of the more impressive features this system boasts is its ability to automatically adapt to any given situation. or example, if you are driving with the use

of the V6 and begin to coast, the engine will in fact decouple and switch off allowing the car to carry from its own momentum, instantly re-engaging the second you reapply pressure to the accelerator. Equally impressive is the ‘E-Charge’ function from the drive mode menu. As soon as the battery starts to become depleted, you can select E-Charge mode to force the use of the combustion engine and focus every aspect of your driving into recharging the battery. This includes direct charging from the engine along with harvesting the energy produced through braking and momentum of the car.

You may be wondering what the point is, but it soon becomes clear when you are traveling between two points with around 45 minutes to an hours motorway driving in between. tilise the electric function when you leave home to keep your local area pollution and noise free remember you have up to 22 miles worth , then as soon as you hit the motorway for the long stretch of your journey, slip it in to E-Charge and by the time you reach your destination city, town or village, you

YOUR DRIVE

once again have a full battery to take advantage of the all electric capabilities. f course, you can choose to charge it at home or at one of the growing number of public charging points too for an added boost.

Although the hybrid system is a revolution in the premium S V market, it is not the only thing going for this Porsche. As you might expect, the driving ability of this car is far beyond that of a standard S V. Taking note of its smaller, even sportier sisters, the Cayenne is packed full of technology that allows you to take

full advantage of the roads and push the boundaries of what should be possible in a car this si e. What Porsche have managed to achieve with this car is the perfect balance between its sporting heritage, motoring efficiency - which has become top of everyone’s agenda - and driving pleasure and comfort thanks to the level of quality and detail evident throughout the car. And with more and more electric charging points popping up in London and across the , it might just be time to take the first step in to the future, or at least give it a try.

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CAYENNE S E-HYBRID

Drive System Parallel full hybrid with plug-in technology Power (PS) 422 Torque (Nm) 590 Combustion Engine Supercharged 3.0-litre V6 Power (PS) 337 Torque (Nm) 440 Electric Motor Permanent magnet synchronous Power (PS) 96 Torque (Nm) 310 Transmission Eight-speed Tiptronic S

Acceleration 0-62mph (sec) 5.9 Maximum Speed (mph) 151/78 Electric Top Speed Fuel Consumption Combined (mpg) 83.1 Electrical Consumption Combined (kWh/100km) 20.8 Electric Driving Range (miles) approx 11-22 Carbon Dioxide Emissions (g/km) 79 On the Road Price ÂŁ62,099 Car provided by Porsche Centre East London

Porsche Centre East London, Gallions Park, 101 Woolwich Manor Way, London E6 6EY 020 3203 0444 | info@porscheeastlondon.co.uk | porscheeastlondon.co.uk

79

SS Jaguar 100 A classic boy’s toy for Christmas?

Packing a 4.2-litre E Type engine and manual gearbox, this is an exceptional 1975 example of aguar’s SS100. The original SS aguar 100 was a British 2-seat sports car built between 19 6 and 1940 by SS Cars Ltd of Coventry, England. The ‘100’ was so named to reflect the theoretical 100 mph maximum speed of the vehicle and as with many products of the thirties, the adoption of an animal name was deemed appropriate. nce approved by Sir William Lyons the name aguar was given to a new saloon car in 19 6, and from that point to all of the cars. ollowing the SS100 production and Second World War, because of the Na i connotations then attached to the initials SS , the company was renamed aguar in 1945.

This Heritage factory build from 1975 is finished in Midnight Blue coachwork with black leather interior and cost a reputed £75,000 to complete. It is clear to see that no expense was spared in building this truly stunning car and the feeling is reciprocated in the driving. A fantastic car to both look at and enjoy on the road, and a worthy stocking filler for even the most faithful of enthusiasts.

You really must see it for yourself and take it for a quick drive, you will find it hard to leave it behind when you’re done.

Chelsea Cars, 59-61 Armoury Way, London SW18 1JZ 020 8870 9977 | sales@chelseacars.com | www.chelseacars.com

T: 020 3005 2857 | info@justwheelrepair.co.uk www.justwheelrepair.co.uk

Fully Mobile Service | Alloy Wheel Refurbishment Wheel Polishing | Locking Nut Removal Wheel Straightening | Split Rim Rebuilds Colour Coding | Acid Stripping | Diamond Cutting Powder Coating 10% OFF ALL SERVICES When you quote Your Media London

Chelsea Cars INTERNATIONAL

Specialists in classic and sports cars

Chelsea Cars is the largest classic car centre in the UK. We have been trading for over 30 years and have recently Featured in the bbc's "Top Gear" programme.

Visit our show rooms to see one of the country's ďŹ nest collections of classic cars including: Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Porsche and Aston Martin.

59-61 Armoury Way, Wandsworth, London SW18 1JZ

tel: 020 8870 9977 fax: 020 8877 1905 info@chelseacars.com www.chelseacars.com

NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART

NISSAN & FIAT EAST LONDON

DEALERSHIPS NOW OPEN!

DESIGN THAT GRRS. FINANCE THAT PURRS. HAVE

IT ALL

NEW NISSAN QASHQAI

NEW NISSAN JUKE

£129 A MONTH

£99 A MONTH*

RANGE FROM

RANGE FROM

*

£1,650 deposit contribution and 2 years FREE servicing available on selected models>

£1,250 deposit contribution and 3 years LOW COST servicing available on selected models>

GlynHopkin.com 1021 ROMFORD ROAD, MANOR PARK, EAST LONDON E12 5LH 020 8003 8463 OPEN 7 DAYS Monday-Saturday 8.30am to 6.00pm. Sunday 10.00am to 5.00pm

Branches also in: Waltham Abbey Buckhurst Hill, Romford, Chelmsford Colchester, Ipswich, Bishop’s Stortford Watford, Milton Keynes, St Albans Bedford & Cambridge Search Glyn Hopkin Group

One of the UK’s largest volume Nissan dealer groups with 13 dealerships

Qashqai Range: URBAN 37.2-67.3mpg (7.6-4.2L/100km), EXTRA URBAN 55.4-78.5mpg (5.1-3.6L/100km), COMBINED 47.1-74.3mpg (6.0-3.8L/100km), CO 2 emissions 138-99g/km. Juke Range: URBAN 28.8 - 61.4mpg (9.8-4.6L/100km); EXTRA URBAN 47.1-76.4mpg (6.0-3.7L/100km); COMBINED 38.2-70.6mpg

(7.4-4.0L/100km); CO 2 emissions 169-104g/km. Information correct at time of going to print. Guarantees and Indemnities may be required. Finance subject to status. Written details available on request. You must be at least 18 and a UK resident (excluding Isle of Man and Channel Islands) to apply. Finance provided by RCI Financial Services Limited, PO Box 149, Watford WD17 1FJ. *Contract hire, excludes maintenance, based on agreed annual mileage, excess mileage charges apply. >T&C’s apply, ask for full details. Model shots shown are for il ustration purposes only. Models subject to availability. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing, in accordance with 2004/3/EC and intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results (Optional equipment, maintenance, driving behaviour, road and weather conditions may affect the official results). Calls may be monitored to ensure quality of service.

GlynHopkin.com 1021 ROMFORD ROAD, MANOR PARK, EAST LONDON E12 5LH 020 8003 8749 OPEN 7 DAYS Monday-Saturday 8.30am to 6.00pm. Sunday 10.00am to 5.00pm

Branches also in: Buckhurst Hill, Romford Chelmsford, Ipswich, Bishop’s Stortford Milton Keynes, St Albans & Cambridge Search Glyn Hopkin Group

One of the UK’s largest Fiat dealer groups with 9 dealerships

your

Paving the Way Kate Gould helps guide the way when it comes to the most suitable surfaces to use in you garden to maximise the space. Think Winter cosy and Summer sun trap, all in one!

We can’t all be so lucky, but there are plenty of options to discover.

FIND

THE

HOME

YOU D E S E RVE

Burr Close, West Wapping E1W

Towerside, Wapping E1W

ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this modern built 3rd floor studio apartment within ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this 1980’s built 2 double bedroom 2nd and open plan lounge and 3rd floor duplex apartment. The apartment benefits from kitchen diner, reception bedroom area, fitted kitchen and 3 piece bathroom suite. Laminate wood floors. leading to patio garden. Bathroom with separate Wc. Parking space. Located close ea2 are pleased to system. offer forParking sale thisspace. modern built to 2nd floor 2 double 2 bathroomtoapartment within this popular secure West Wapping development. The apartment Video entry-phone Close Wapping station bedroom, and local bus Tower Hill Stations and St Katharine’s Dock. benefits routes. from open plan lounge and fully fitted kitchen. West facing balcony. Laminate wood floors. Secure underground parking space. Residents Courtyard. Day time £624,995 £365,000 porterage. Close to St Katharine’s Dock and Tower Hill stations.

Hermitage Court, West Wapping E1W this riverside development.

The apartment benefits from

£820,000

Cape Yard, West Wapping E1W

Capital Wharf, West Wapping E1W

ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this 1st floor 2 bedroom modern built apartment ea2 are pleased to offer this bright 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with within this popular West Wapping development. The apartment benefits from stunning River views from the balcony on the second floor within this sought after Campania Wapping E1W lounge, fully fittedBuilding, kitchen, en-suite shower room to master bedroom and family development. The master bedrooms ensuite comprises of a 4 piece bathroom bathroom. Floor to ceiling windows. Laminate wood floors. Video-entry phone suite. The second bathroom is also an ensuite in the second bedroom. Wooden ea2 are Allocated pleased toparking offer forspace. sale this modern built recently 2nd floor 2 bedroom apartment withinand this riverside development. apartment fromand lounge, system.

On-site caretaker.

Closere-furbished to St Katharine’s Dock, floors throughout has a separate cloak The room.

24 hourbenefits concierge use fitted kitchen, 3 piece bathroom suite, laminate floors and balcony with views of theofRiver Thames.

Share of the Freehold. Secure underground parking space.

Wapping station and Tower Hill stations.

Share ofwood Freehold. residents gym Secure underground parking.

Close to transport links to On-site canary caretaker. Close to Limehouse stations and local bus routes. wharf and the city.

£675,000

| 35a Wapping High Street | Wapping | E1W 1NR t: 020 7702 3456 www.ea2group.com | enquiries@ea2group.com

£1,100,000 £695,000

Ontario Tower, Docklands The Tower, Wapping E1W E14

The Highway, Wapping E1WE1W Freetrade Wharf, Wapping

ea2 rentexecutive this executive suite in a well located block in with ea2 are are pleased pleasedtotooffer offertothis Studio apartment to rent within a Canary luxuriousWharf landmark great transport This links, South lift access andapartment a concierge service. of modern open plan fitted kitchen, development.

Facing comprises contemporary fitted bathroom & Balcony, The flat totals 382 Sq. ft. Residents of Wapping Lane have the benefit of 24hr concierge facilities, exclusive residents health club, gym and enjoy close proximity to DLR and underground stations.

you thisthis 2 double bedroom recently renovated modern ea2 are pleased to show offer to rent larger than average spacious one bedroom which this comprises 2 bathrooms, this property benefits from a garden apartment within popularofriverside development.

This apartment benefits from and is close to links. lounge, bedroom and 3 piece bathroom suite. a separate fullytransport fitted kitchen, Residents gymnasium and communal gardens. 24 Hour concierge / security.

Located only a short distance from both the City and Canary Wharf. Close to £425 Per Week Limehouse station and local bus routes.

£360 Per Week £320 Per Week

Douthwaite Square, West Wapping E1W Hermitage Court, West Wapping E1W ea2 are pleased to offer for rent this modern built 2 bedroom ground and first ea2 pleased to offer sale this modern floorfitted 2 double bedroom, floor are duplex apartment.

Theforapartment benefits built from2nd lounge, kitchen, 3 piece 2bathroom bathroomsuite. apartment thisLaminate popular wood secure floors.

West Views Wapping development.

Double within glazing. over ornamental The apartment open plan and fully fittedand kitchen. facing canal.

Allocatedbenefits parkingfrom space.

Close tolounge St Katharine’s Dock TowerWest Hill stations. balcony. Laminate wood floors. Secure underground parking space. Residents Courtyard. Day time porterage. Close to St Katharine’s Dock and Tower Hill stations.

£425 Per Week £500 Per Week

£395 Per Week

The Highway, Wapping E1W Spice Court, West Wapping E1W ea2 are pleased to offer a fantastic opportunity to rent this 2 double bedroom ea2 arewhich pleased offer re to let this modern built ground floor 3 bedroom, 2 house hastobeen furbished completely to a and highfirst standard throughout. bathroom duplex apartment within secure popular west Wapping location.

The The property offers a reception withthisbi-folding full length doors leading to garden. apartment benefitsFirst from lounge fully fitted floor kitchen, laminateCan wood Fully fitted kitchen. floorspacious bathroom.

Utility and room/ground cloakroom. be floors, garden, garage and allocated parking space.

Located furnished or unfurnished.

Garden with decking.

Close toOn-site Tower caretaker.

Hill and within easy close to to St the Katharine’s Dock and Tower Hill station. access City & Canary Wharf.

£460 Per Week £650 Per Week

| 35a Wapping High Street | Wapping | E1W 1NR t: 020 7702 3456 www.ea2group.com | enquiries@ea2group.com

Lettings

Eagle Point, City of London, EC1 Two bedroom apartment A brand new 19th floor, two bedroom apartment with amazing views of the City which is set within the highly anticipated Eagle Point development on City Road.

The apartment is finished to the highest of standards benefiting from a fully fitted open-plan kitchen, two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, en suite shower room and family bathroom.

The development itself benefits from a 24 hour concierge service, a residents gym including spa and a cinema room for 20 people. Eagle Point is conveniently located within a few minutes’ walk from Old Street station and has easy access to the City, Shoreditch, Liverpool Street and Angel.

ÂŁ795 per week Prices are correct at the time of going to print.

residential.canarywharf@cbre.com +44 (0)20 7519 5900 cbre.co.uk/londonhomes

CGI of South Bank Tower by CIT, image is for indicative purpose only.

Get a clearer view.

Our property insight is your advantage.

CBRE Residential’s property experts offer you clarity and unique insights to help you make better decisions when buying a property.

With over 100 new residential developments to choose from across London, we have an expansive selection of new build homes, as well as boutique apartments for sale. London properties from £300,000 to over £10m.

View property listings, register for launches and download our research:

www.cbreresidential.com residential.canarywharf@cbre.com

020 7205 4393

PROPERTY

Booming Battersea with Mayow Short Head of Sales, Savills Battersea

Earlier this year we celebrated the first anniversary of our new multi-disciplined office on Battersea Bridge Road, which opened on 18th August 2014. This was to recognise the significance of the growth in the Battersea area, particularly with the Nine Elms redevelopment to the east of Battersea Park. To support this, the northern line extension will offer two new tube stations providing access into Central London, and other riverside developments are opening new hubs of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.

These changes make Battersea an exciting place to live and work and the new office, working with our original premises on Battersea Park Road, has enabled us to set up a large designated team covering residential sales, lettings, new homes and consultancy, as well as our dedicated Waterfront sales and lettings department.

This expansion of the local business has enabled us to give our clients the greatest cover of expertise in residential property in the area with a strong understanding of properties’ potential.

The property market been constantly in the press throughout 2015, with the prolonged property politics surrounding May’s General Election and the new stamp duty levels considerably increasing the cost of buying above a certain price point, requiring

an adjustment in the market in Prime Central London. As a result, many of our buyers this year have been needs based; looking for homes rather than rental investments. Nevertheless Battersea and South West London as a whole seem to have weathered the potential storm well, with a market which has historically leaned more towards home-buyers than investors. There are only a small number of large period houses north of £2m in and around the park and so adversely to Prime Central London these have continued to sell well. Embassy Gardens continues to be a success with our New Homes team having sold several units in the current phase.

We have such a fantastic range of properties here, across all price levels, with some of the most iconic waterside developments, such as the Ram Brewery and Battersea Power Station, as well as the beautiful mansion blocks and houses overlooking Battersea Park. As a result, Battersea has remained on the map with London buyers, but it has been particularly important over the past year to ensure that buyer and vendor expectations have been well aligned.

More than ever, teamwork has been essential and the success of our multi-disciplined offices speaks for itself, with some fantastic results this year across the board. We have worked with some high profile developments, such as the Ram Brewery in Wandsworth, of which we have now sold over 65 per cent of the first phase, with the second coming to the market in 2016. ther success stories have bolstered our year, with a fantastic sale of a penthouse in Albion Riverside for the asking price of £15.5 million, sold by our sales and waterfront department, and a number of properties being let by us on the first viewing, such as a flat on Warriner Gardens on the market at £450 per week. In the new year, we expect these to continue, no longer affected by Election uncertainty and as the market continues to settle in the wake of higher moving costs. Nine Elms’ continued development, amongst others, mean you won’t want to take your eye off Battersea, as house prices are forecast to grow by a further 20.4 per cent over the next five years and the area expected to continue transforming for the better.

Savills Battersea Park | 020 3402 1900 | savills.co.uk

90

Wards Wharf Approach, E16 £625,000 Leasehold

Coral Apartments, E16 £799,950 Leasehold

This spacious three bedroomed, three bathroom apartment is situated on the 14th floor of this exclusive gated development, situated on the banks of the River Thames and benefits from a beautifully presented interior, private balcony, lift access and porter. The property comprises a large reception/dining room with glazed door to terrace, fully fitted and integrated kitchen, master bedroom with chic en-suite shower room, additional bedroom with an ensuite, third bedroom and modern family bathroom.

This property is simply the most beautifully crafted three bedroom apartment to come to market in Royal Victoria Dock. Boasting three spacious bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen/ reception, a sizeable dock-facing terrace with views over Canary Wharf and off street underground parking. The property owners have taken particular care when upgrading the apartment from its original specification, to include Poggen Pohl styled kitchen with Neff appliances, Villeroy & Boch bathroom & en-suite with 1800 long jacuzzi bath.

Fathom Court, E16 £1,675 Per Calendar Month

The Grainstore, E16 £1,820 Per Calendar Month

Spaciously arranged over the sixth floor of a luxury dock-side development, this two bedroom apartment boasts a balcony that affords wonderful water views over the dock and towards the London City Airport & O2 arena. The property comprises substantial openplan reception space and high-specification fitted kitchen with dark wood Amtico flooring, master bedroom with Juliet balcony and en suite shower room.

This stylish two bedroom, two bathroom, 911 sq ft warehouse conversion benefits from secure entry, lift access and concierge. The property comprises an open-plan reception room/kitchen with space for dining, double bedrooms and en-suite & additional master bathroom. This property also benefits from a concierge service and access to a communal courtyard.

Docklands Office, Unit B, 20 Western Gateway, London E16 1BS T 020 7474 5505 | docklands@madisonbrook.com | www.madisonbrook.com

BUYI N G | R EN T IN G | SEL L I NG | L E T TI NG | NE W H O M E S VISIT WWW.MADISONBROOK.COM

FREE MANAGEMENT *

WHEN YOU INSTRUCT MADISON BROOK TO SOURCE A TENANT FOR 10% PLUS VAT Our fully managed service includes professional photography, floorplans, marketing on Rightmove and OnTheMarket, as well as our own website, The Wharf newspaper and Your Docklands magazine, full deposit registration, tenancy agreements, collection of rent and managing

the maintenance for the full term of the tenancy using our innovative management system.

We are also able to organise rent guarantee insurance, professional cleaning and check-in and inventory reports.**

* Offer valid on instructions taken before 31/12/2015 ** These services do attract an additional cost

WHY USE MADISON BROOK INTERNATIONAL? • • • •

Unique customer service experience Knowledgeable lettings consultants Professional / corporate tenants A proven track record of achieving the best price

• • • • •

Wider exposure / premium listing Qualified contractors Member of ARLA and regulated by OFT Total peace of mind Quarterly property inspections

MADISON BROOK (Greenwich) Unit C, 32/34 Wood Wharf, Horseferry Place, Greenwich, SE10 9BB Tel: 020 8853 8950 Email: greenwich@madisonbrook.com

KATE GOULD COLUMN

Designing Successful Small Gardens with Kate Gould

Kate Gould is an award winning garden designer with more than a decade’s hands-on experience transforming gardens of all sizes and a regular exhibitor at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show where she has been awarded three Gold medals. If you would like to know more about our services please contact Kate at kategouldgardens.com

The world of hard landscaping materials can be a minefield; a boggling array of new or reclaimed, natural or manmade paving, softwood, hardwood or manmade decking, decorative aggregates and feature stones in a myriad of colours, shapes and si es and that’s even before we touch on the subject of grouts and pointing.

So, when thinking about how you want your garden to look as a finished product how do you narrow your choice of materials? Consider the following points: • Will it be a new stone for a contemporary scheme, a reclaimed one to enhance a period property or perhaps a wooden material, either natural or manmade • Will it be seen directly outside the home providing a link between inside and out • Will children play on it in the winter months when a lawn is perhaps too wet to be used Does it therefore have to have a good anti-slip properties?

• Will it be sited in sun or shade, or both • Will it be used as a flooring or vertical walling, fencing material?

• How much ongoing maintenance will be required to keep it looking fresh When choosing, don’t underestimate the matter of ongoing maintenance. Algae are the scourge of paving stones and it is always a good idea to speak to the supplier you purchase your stone from for their advice on a cleaning product as natural stones tend to react in different ways to different cleaning agents.

The most economical of the natural stones are sandstones and these come in various different colours, the most popular being cream and grey. Sandstone has a good slip resistance even as a sawn smooth slab when wet and this is why it is one of the most commonly used stones for landscaping in the .

93

KATE GOULD COLUMN ur own native sandstones are lovely and most are commonly called Yorkstone.

New sawn Yorkstone is a lovely material with a slightly sparkly surface and lots of life in each slab. These work well laid both in a traditional and contemporary way but both look best pointed with an exterior tile grout at mm wide rather than more traditional sand and cement pointing. Reclaimed Yorkstone is never pristine and often arrives with holes or bits of old metal in and it is never calibrated ie; sawn to the same thickness to make it easier to lay so best laid in a random pattern with a conventional cement mortar. It will become slippery when wet but it does add instant history to a scheme and works well with reclaimed stock bricks, flint or granite cobbles.

The more expensive natural stones; granite, limestone, basalt are often slippery when wet and should have a textured surface applied before laying. Many of the best grey and cream slabs lie within the limestone range but all should be approved for use outside. Some limestone from southern Europe will not take the cold of an English winter and should be avoided as they will shatter in the frost.

kategouldgardens.com

94

O LY M P U S TIL E S QUALITY BY DESIGN

Big Brand Bathroom Sale Starts 26th September

LONDON’S LEADING TILE & BATHROOM COMPANY www.olympustiles.co.uk

60 - 64 Snakes Lane East Woodford Green Essex, IG8 7QQ T: 020 8504 8425 F: 020 8504 9278

Unit 6 - 7, East Ham Industrial estate 1000 Newham Way London, E6 5JN T: 020 7511 6210 F: 020 7474 0488

Email: sales@olympustiles.co.uk

reedsrains.co.uk

www.

Lordswood, Kent

Mayford Road

Guide

Walderslade Woods, Kent

£400,000-£425,000

Silver Tree Close

£280,000

Four Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms. Stunning Detached House.

Three Bedrooms, One Reception Room. End of Terrace House.

Walderslade Woods, Kent

Walderslade, Kent

Cossington Road

£550,000

Four Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms. Detached House on a Private Road.

Walderslade - Kent 01634 200279 walderslade@reedsrains.co.uk

Glamis Close

£375,000

Four Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms. Detached House.

Part of the

Group

reedsrains.co.uk

www.

Walderslade, Kent

St. Marys Island, Kent

The Avenue

OIEO

£335,000

Gatcombe Close

£285,000

Three Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms. Semi-Detached House.

Three Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms. Detached House.

Walderslade Woods, Kent

Chatham, Kent

Carpinus Close

£575,000

Four Bedrooms with separate annex with bathroom.

Detached House.

Walderslade - Kent Part of the 01634 200279 walderslade@reedsrains.co.uk

Group

The Ridgeway

OIEO

£850,000

Five Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms. Stunning Detached House.

Walderslade - Kent 01634 200279 walderslade@reedsrains.co.uk

BALTIMORE WHARF, CANARY WHARF E14 ● ● ● ●

2 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 Balconies Approx. 986 sq ft (91 sq m)

● ● ● ●

Guide price £790,000 Leasehold For more information, call Tony Usher 020 7715 9700 or email tony.usher@eu.jll.com

Residents' valet parking Gym Crossharbour DLR - 0.1 mile EPC: B

11 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf E14 4HE

jll.co.uk/residential

ADRIATIC BUILDING, CANARY WHARF E14 ● ● ● ●

1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom Balcony Approx. 463 sq ft (43 sq m)

● ● ●

Concierge Limehouse DLR - 0.2 mile EPC: C

Price £350 per week Furnished For more information, call Charlotte Malone 020 7715 9700 or email charlotte.malone@eu.jll.com

Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges.

11 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf E14 4HE

jll.co.uk/residential

Classic model Christina is available in rose white, black and two tone tan leather colours. Also available in pkp wood with crystal or walnut wood with crystal.

Leather suite Miami available in rose white/black and black/rose white colours, 3+2+1 was £2,999, now only £1,699

Leather suite Deborah available in burgundy, black and brown colours, 3+1+1 was £999 now only £699

Leather suite Medusa, available in rose and black colours, 3+2+1 was £2,999, now only £1,799

Spend £2,000 with us and you will get this fantastic medusa big mirror for free, RRP £499 or spend £1,500 and receive a medusa small mirror for free, RRP £399

Ready 2 Drop Ltd. 193-195 Balaam Street, London E13 8AA Tel: 020 8471 8222 | sales@ready2drop.co.uk | www.ready2drop.co.uk

www.yourmedialondon.com

GP-13 complete bedroom set in solid walnut wood, special price £1,999 | GP-06 complete bedroom set in pearl colour, special price £1,499

Your Stratford City | Issue 50 | December 2015

Massive Christmas Sale Now On!