BATTERSEA JANUARY 2014

ABSOLUTELY Battersea & lapham

JANUARY 2014 £3.95

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ANGELA HARTNETT

TALKS RESTAURANTS AND RAMSAY

HOT DATE

THE VERY BEST OF THE YEAR AHEAD

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

JAY RAYNER ON THE PITFALLS OF ETHICAL EATING

BODY SOS IT'S TIME FOR THE RESCUE MISSION...

S T Y L I S H . I N T E L L I G E N T. E L E G A N T. A B S O L U T E LY SOUTH COVERS January_14.indd 1

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ABSOLUTELY Battersea & Clapham EDITOR Georgie Lane-Godfrey EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Catherine Hales SUB-EDITOR Elli Richards CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Georgie Coleridge Cole, Charlie Gilkes, Robbie Honey

ADVERTISING MANAGER Luke Webb ACCOUNT MANAGER Debra Taylor GROUP PROPERTY DIRECTOR Alexandra Hunter SOUTH PROPERTY DIRECTOR Anna Hutton-Potts SOUTH PROPERTY EDITOR Lucie Pearce ART DIRECTOR Ray Searle SENIOR DESIGNER Phil Couzens

Editor’s

PRODUCTION MANAGER Stewart Hyde MIDWEIGHT DESIGNER Gemma Isteed PRODUCTION DESIGNER Edward Taylor ARTWORKER Ekrem Yilmaz JUNIOR DESIGNER Rebecca Noonan PRODUCTION CONTROLLER Christine Mann FINANCE DIRECTOR Alexandra Hvid FINANCE MANAGER Marianne McFadden DIRECTOR Greg Hughes MANAGING DIRECTOR Sherif Shaltout PA TO THE MANAGING DIRECTOR Clarissa Forrest For editorial enquiries please email: editorial@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing subscriptions@zest-media.com.

You can receive an online subscription for FREE or a postal subscriptions for 12 months, £30 respectively (to cover postage and packaging).

Please email us with your preferred option and details.

I

LETTER January 2013

t’s January and that means it’s time for more ridiculous New Year’s resolutions: eat nothing, exercise three hours a day, stop biting your nails, join a book group, learn to like your children, take up a hobby which is hugely impressive and allows you to brag incessantly to your friends…

This year, we’ve decided not to encourage holier-than-thou New Year’s resolutions but rather to make this about damage limitation – remedying the perfectly natural festive over-indulgence and winter cold damage with a ‘Body SOS’ special. Why? Well, firstly because, if I see another email entitled ‘New Year, New You’, I might smash my computer screen over someone’s head. But secondly, why should a new year mean a new you? I personally don’t see why we should strive to reinvent ourselves simply because another 12 months have passed. Instead, we’re advocating getting yourselves back on track and being happy in the body you’re in.

In fact, my New Year’s resolution is to give up making New Year’s resolutions. One of my more brilliant ideas. Now, time to polish off those leftover mince pies…

Wishing you all a guilt-free January, ON THE COVER

Published by ZEST MEDIA LONDON 213 WESTBOURNE STUDIOS ACKLAM ROAD W10 5JJ T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 Zest Media London Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media London Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

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FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS FACEBOOK ‘ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES’

Georgie Lane-Godfrey

Editor FIND US ON FACEBOOK ‘ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES’ & TWITTER ‘ABSOLUTELY_MAGS’

COVER: LICKERISH

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EDITOR’S LETTER ABSOLUTELY LOVES

Absolutely’s top picks this month

10 WHAT’S ON

Everything that’s happening in your area

Style

27 PRINT POWER

The top winter prints for January

28 THE INBETWEENER

Transitional trends for mid-season

Health & Beauty 37 BEAUTY NOTES

The latest in local beauty news

41 BODY SOS

Southwest London’s health hotspots to remedy your bodily woes

44 BACK ON TRACK

Elena Musgrave gives her top tips to blitz your festive flab

Interiors

57 CURIOUSER & CURIOUSER

Top picks to channel the Victoriana interiors trend

59 RENOVATION DIARIES

The wait is over. Georgie Coleridge Cole finally moves into her new Wandsworth home

Food & travel

66 RAYNER OF TERROR Food critic Jay Rayner on why eating ethically is rubbish

73 WOMAN ON TOP

Angela Hartnett on her latest venture, Merchants Tavern

74 PARADISE FOUND

Inside Mauritius’s Trou Aux Biches hotel

Property

94 IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Nicole Chamberland, owner of Chamberland Residential tells us about her career

102 SPOTLIGHT ON...

The very best of what Clapham has to offer

108 PROPERTY NEWS

News and views on the market in your local area

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Contents_B&C_Jan.indd 6

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PAPERCHASE ALARM CLOCK

Absolutely

Nothing we can suggest makes getting up in the morning any easier but maybe you’ll be less inclined to hurl this adorable Paperchase alarm clock across the room when it wakes you up at 6am on a Monday. £20, Clapham Junction Station, SW11, 020 7924 6180;

paperchase.co.uk

TED BAKER AW13

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BULGARI PANETTONE

10% of the sales of Bulgari’s utterly delicious panettone go to Save the Children, which in our eyes makes not buying it almost uncharitable.

We also assume that cake that contributes to charity has at least half the calories of normal cake. Available on request from The Bulgari Hotel;

bulgarihotels.com

AQUARIVA TEQUILA

After New Year’s Eve, tequila may be the last thing that you want to see but our attitude here at Absolutely is to get right back on that horse. We recommend the AquaRiva Gift Set as one of those presents you “give” to someone else whilst actually drinking yourself. £40, available from Sainsbury’s, 326 Battersea Park Road, 020 7223 6763;

CATH KIDSTON MUG

Celebrating the opening of the new Piccadilly store, the Queen of Kitsch has designed a mug adorned with black cabs, double decker buses and Piccadilly Circus itself. £10, 142 Northcote Road, SW11, 020 7228 6571;

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HELPING EVERYBODY FIND THEIR PERFECT HOME

DOG OF THE MONTH Proudly sponsored by Currell Residential

Name: Blaze Age: 8 Breed: German Shepherd Sex: Male

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eddy bears, tennis balls, squeaky toys – my collection of treasures is pretty impressive but don’t worry, I love to share so no need for jealousy! I’m a bit on the shy side, it must be admitted, and I find crowds of other canines a little stressful

but I love to get to know people one-to-one and family life sounds like heaven to me.

Once we’ve spent some time together we’ll be inseparable, I just know it.

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L O V E S

The Ted Baker AW collection is elegant with a retro 40s/50s feel, featuring nipped-in waists and clean lines. We can also confirm that standing next to a steam train will make you look at least 80% more chic whilst wearing them.

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09/12/2013 15:50

January

WHAT’S on

don’t miss

97 YEARS

In the Cinema

THE BOOK THIEF Directed by Brian Percival Starring Sophie Nelissé, Geoffrey Rush

B

ased on the bestselling book of the same name, The Book Thief is set in Germany in 1939 and tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl who is sent to live with foster parents after her father leaves and her mother is forced to give her up. As in the novel, the film is narrated by Death who first spots Liesel at the funeral of her brother stealing a copy of The Gravedigger’s Handbook in spite of the fact that she cannot read. Although initially suspicious of her new foster parents, she and father Hans forge a strong bond, though the diminutive thief remains wary of mother Rosa. The

personal and public storylines intertwine as Liesel learns to read with the help of her beloved adopted father Hans and becomes increasingly aware of the changes happening in Germany. This awareness is compounded by the arrival of Jewish Max Vandenburg whom Hans and Rosa conceal in their basement to protect him from discovery by the Nazis. A heart-wrenching portrayal of the devastation wreaked by the Second World War and Hitler’s rise to power on a small German community, rich and poor, men and women, Jews and Christians alike.

Battersea Arts Centre 30 Jan - 1 Feb Travel with artist Jo Hellier through the tangles and treasures of her grandfather’s increasingly muddled mind in this interactive installation of memories. Audience members are recruited gradually to aid Jo in her quest to decipher and recapture moments, whilst clever manipulation of live audio and video creates a complex, delicate manifestation of mental health. Lavender Hill, SW11, 020 7223 2223; bac.org.uk

31st JANUARY

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ABSOLU TELY

ARTS & CULTURE

MEET ME IN ST LOUIS

Landor Theatre - Until 18 Jan Based on the film starring Judy Garland, the musical tells the story of a year in the life of The Smiths, a well-to-do suburban family living in turn-of-thecentury Midwestern St. Louis whose two eldest daughters, Rose and Esther, spend their days dreaming of romance.

Esther’s prayers look to have been answered by the arrival of a handsome neighbour but the course of true love never did run smooth… 70 Landor Road, SW9, 020 7737 7276; landortheatre.co.uk

NEW YEAR’S EVE GREAT GATSBY PARTY

Rise46 - 31 December Shimmy and shake like it’s 1924 this New Year’s Eve at Rise46’s Great Gatsby themed soirée.

With live music, a healthy dose of jazz and the opportunity to don your favourite feathered headband, there are few better ways to ring in the New Year than heartily celebrating the fact that Prohibition is well and truly over. 46 Battersea Rise, SW11; rise46.com

Editor’s Pick

THE HERO MACHINE

Battersea Arts Centre - Until 4 Jan Ever wondered what it is that makes a hero? With the aid of children from several local primary schools, illustrators Pencil and Help have come up with a machine to answer that very question. The fantastical contraption, whirring and clicking away, will be in residence in the BAC throughout the run of interactive show The Good Neighbour. Lavender Hill, SW11, 020 7223 2223; bac.org.uk

This month we’re talking about...

JUBILEE BRIDGE hose who complain about the difficulty of travelling south of the river will soon have to come up with something else to gripe about as Hammersmith and Fulham Council have now approved plans for the £22million bridge between Imperial Wharf and Battersea to go ahead. A trust known as the Diamond Bridge Trust is being established in order to attract donors and sponsorship for the 170 metre long foot and cycle bridge.

The design, the brainchild of Expedition Engineering, will feature three high arches and will not impinge at all on its Grade II listed neighbour, the Battersea Railway Bridge. The first new crossing in ten years, it is set to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (hence the name) with work beginning as soon as October 2014.

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ABSOLU TELY

ARTS & CULTURE Books Out of Town

Aviemore Sled Dog Rally Loch Morlich 25 - 26 Jan

ou might think that you’d have to jet off to Lapland or the North Pole to watch sled dog racing but you’d be wrong. The furthest North you have to go is bonny Scotland, to the forests round Aviemore, and you’ll be able to watch the 230 teams whipping round the banks of Loch Morlich. The hasty huskies reach speeds of 20mph and it takes some teams little more than fifteen minutes to complete the four mile course. Five breeds of sled dog are eligible to enter: Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds, Greenland Huskies and Canadian Eskimo Dogs. So, if you were planning on entering your highly trained team of Pomeranians, you’d be disappointed.

Loch Morlich, Cairngorms, Scotland; siberianhuskyclub.com

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SO FAR SO GOOD Royal College of Art - 10 Jan

Meet the students. Three sessions spanning the day will take place under the headings of ‘The Production of Images’ curated by Azadeh Fatehrad, ‘The Prova in Research Practice’ curated by the RCA Humanities Research Forum and ‘The Institute of the Apocalypse - Part 1: Collapse’ curated by Manon Awst Walther, Daisy Ginsberg and Nayan Kulkarni. Perfect for anyone looking for a dose of high brow discussion.

15-25 Howie Street, SW11, 020 7590 4444; rac.ac.uk

Theatre503 - Until 4 Jan The Iron Lady like you’ve never seen her before and perhaps not so much of a lady as you might think. Matt Tedford is donning the wig and tights once more to bring Britain’s first female Prime Minister to the stage in what is described as ‘a drag comedy cabaret musical extravaganza like no other.’

The camp odyssey sees Mrs Thatcher, who is lost in Soho on the eve of the vote for Section 28, unwittingly become an overnight cabaret sensation. Need we say more?

The Latchmere, 503 Battersea Park Road, SW11, 020 7978 7040; theatre503.com

By Nicholas Shakespeare

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icholas Shakespeare never imagined when he discovered a box of documents belonging to his late aunt that it would contain the story of a glamorous and morally ambiguous young woman in occupied France during WWII. Love, espionage, daring escapes and double crosses – it reads like an outrageous thriller but is actually the true story of a young woman called Priscilla. £18.99; Harvill Secker

KING SIZE SLIM

HOLLYWOOD UNSEEN

If you’re into serious roots and blues then we have just the gig for you. Legendary performer Toby Barelli (a.k.a. King Size Slim) will be bringing his particular brand of explosive music to the Magic Garden for one night only. His speciality Fat Roots Boogie is described as ‘dynamic in its nature, melodic and soulful in its heart, [it] shouts loud and kisses sweet.’

231 Battersea Park Rd, SW11, 020 7622 4844; magicgardenpub.com

ith our culture of nip slips and Perez Hilton, we see more of celebrities’ private lives than one could ever have thought possible. Such was not always the case; Dance Robert’s book reveals the carefully controlled exposure by the great Hollywood studios of their biggest stars. The book showcases several never before seen images of stars, from Rita Hayworth to Humphrey Bogart, showing a glimpse into their ‘ordinary’ lives. £40; ACC Editions

HEY MY GRANDMOTHER IS A SCOTCH

AN OFFICER & A SPY

The Magic Garden - 12 Jan

Honky Tonk - 25 Jan

MARGARET THATCHER QUEEN OF SOHO

PRISCILLA

Burn’s Night presents the perfect excuse, post-New Year’s Eve overindulgence, to do it all again. Those unable (or unwilling) to make the journey to Scotland can find a slice of the Highlands at Honky Tonk in Clapham. Kilts will be worn, poetry recited and even ceilidh line dancing attempted.

Those truly committed to the cause can even partake of the ScottishAmerican fusion dish that is the haggis burger, although this is in no way compulsory.

Thank goodness.

16A Clapham South Side, SW4, 020 7627 6257; honkytonklondon.com

By Dance Robert

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By Robert Harris

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et in Paris in 1895, Harris’s new novel tells the story of Picquart, an officer who is promoted to become the youngest colonel in the French army whereas Dreyfus, a spy, ends up imprisoned on Devil’s Island and sentenced to a life of solitary confinement.

As time passes Picquart slowly begins to realise that all is not as it seems as his efforts to make a fuller investigation are rebuffed and eventually lead to his own undoing.

Suspenseful and insightful. £18.99; Hutchinson

All books available from Clapham Books, 120 Clapham High Street, SW4, 020 7627 2797; claphambooks.com

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ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

TEN FANTASTIC YEARS Ten years ago my brothers and I embarked on our culinary journey of bringing our Neapolitan dream to Lavender Hill.

I

n the decade that has passed we have created an oasis of true food at Donna Margherita: the same experience you would have in Naples in your favourite, pizzeria, coffee shop or ice cream parlour – or even at your own table eating your mum’s home cooking.

In Naples restaurants are expected to deliver nothing less than excellence, all the time to satisfy the passionate Neapolitan obsession with good food.

Luckily success can be achieved by following these few simple rules: fresh ingredients, respect for the traditional ways and a lot of love.

Since opening the doors of Donna Margherita in June 2003 we have become known for that excellence and

been honoured with several awards as well as winning over the London critics.

Our greatest achievement however, is the loyal base of guests cultivated over a decade to whom Donna Margherita has

become second home and who come back again and again to experience slow food excellence.

Donna Margherita has recently undergone a full refurbishment, and has also teamed up with the reputable Notting Hill restaurateur Mimmo Frattini (formerly of Casa Frattini), the restaurant of the stars. The one thing we can guarantee is that Mimmo and Gabriele will never compromise on quality and authenticity, abiding always by the motto, ‘If my Mamma didn’t cook it then it doesn’t go on the menu!’

Thank you all and see you soon!

183 Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TE 020 7228 2660 www.donna-margherita.com

“Nominated best pizza in London” - TIME OUT FOOD 2010 “Well known locally for quality pizza and friendly Family vibe, Donna Margherita is an unpretentious” - TIME OUT FOOD & DRINK GUIDE 08 “Donna Margherita is one of London’s best ” - London Evening Standard 09 “..it was the best thing I’ve eaten in ages” - METROLIFE, EVENING STANDARD 05 “Not just any ordinary pizza”- GUARDIAN 09 “An authentic neighborhood Italian for the Lavender Hill mob” – this “casual” Neapolitan wins particular praise for its “fantastic pizza and pasta”. - HARDENS, RESTAURANT GUIDE 09

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Dalila

“The taste matters”

Exclusively for

ABSOLUTELY Readers... Quote

Dalila combines a contemporary and elegant set up with a warm and inviting atmosphere, reflecting exactly what the Lebanese cuisine is all about.

for a FREE glass of house wine

Eat in or take away. Dalila can also cater for your events, office functions or parties.

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123 Queenstown Road, London SW8 3RH, United Kingdom Open: Tues - Sun: 12:00pm - 3:00pm & 6:00pm - late

10/10/2013 14:40

A B S O L U T E LY

S o c ia l

A Dog’s Life

D

id you know that it costs over £18m to run Battersea each year? No, neither did we. Thank goodness then for the annual Collars & Coats Gala Ball which is held to increase awareness of the important work the charity does and raise money to support it.

Hosted by Battersea ambassadors and TV personalities Amanda Holden and Paul O’Grady MBE, the event this year had a “Hollywoof” theme, paying its own unique homage to the golden age of cinema. Guests sashayed down the red carpet to a champagne cocktail reception, where we spotted Battersea Ambassador and international supermodel David Gandy chatting to football legend Gary Lineker and his wife Danielle, as well as author Dame Jacqueline Wilson OBE and dance aficionados Craig Revel Horwood and Arlene Phillips amongst the throng.

After a sumptuous threecourse banquet, guests were then transported back to the vintage era of the movies as tribute act The Rat Pack took to the stage to recreate the sounds of legends Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr. We even spotted Prince and Princess Michael of Kent tapping their toes!

Finally, Craig Revel Horwood jumped to his feet and took to the stage to encourage guests to enter the Auction of Dreams. This one-of-a-kind auction sees bidders compete to secure a dog-walking date with one of nine famous dog lovers, including Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, international supermodel David Gandy or chart-topping singer Mollie King. No surprises then that by the end of the evening, there were more than a few tails wagging….

AMANDA HOLDEN

DAVID GANDY

JOCELYN BROWN

DR CHRISTIAN JESSEN AND HILARY ALEXANDER

ASHLEIGH BUTLER & PUDSLEY

THE RAT PACK

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“If you‘re looking for a kitchen without compromise then this is the place for you“ The World of Interiors Kitchen Architecture: London | Oxford | Cheshire London showroom. 145–149 Lower Richmond Road. Putney. London SW15 1EZ. T: 0208 785 1960 www.kitchenarchitecture.co.uk for design ideas and case studies Kitchen Architecture, UK‘s award-winning retailer of bulthaup kitchens Winner: Showroom of the Year 2012 for the UK kitchen industry Winner: Master Retailer of the Year 2011 for the UK kitchen industry Winner: Master Retailer of the Year 2010 for the UK kitchen industry

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12/08/2013 16:00 11.10.12 16:12

ABSOLU TELY

ARTS & CULTURE

BY THE

BOOK

ABSOLUTELY TALKS TO BATTERSEA-BASED AUTHOR SONJA LEWIS ABOUT HER NEW NOVEL, THE BLINDSIDED PROPHET South, and yes, I do think it has been a part of revisiting issues that haven’t died. Of course racial experiences and relations have changed to a major degree, but there are still serious racial issues in the US, even if most of them are inherent. I think it is important to write about an issue until it is resolved, even if great progress has already been made.

Tell us about your new book, The Blindsided Prophet.

What’s it about?

It’s the story of a modern day prophet, Isaiah Brown, who is caught unawares by a massacre at his family’s church when his mother and grandfather are killed, along with ten other people. Directly after the shooting, Isaiah flees the scene, seeking refuge in the local woods where he falls over a tree and goes blind. Fifteen years later, at God’s bidding, Isaiah returns to Coffee, Georgia, to discover the truth, make reparation and prevent an even worse tragedy.

How did you come up with the idea for the book?

I had been grappling with the question of what it means to be deeply religious for a long time and wanted to explore this not just as a person of faith, but also as a mainstream author. In time I came to understand that being deeply religious is more about beliefs, values and faith than subscribing to a doctrine.

It is deep beliefs that drive experiences, so it is important to understand what drives you and take some responsibility for it.

One of the main themes of the book is redemption. Do you believe anyone can redeem themselves?

Yes, no matter how broken you are, you can be restored. All you have to do is to be willing to look into your own mind and examine your deepest beliefs. If they are limiting, let

You now live in Battersea. What do you like most about the area?

I love Battersea Park and the Thames Path – my whole attitude to running has changed because of the Thames Path! I also like going to the Alma and spending time on Northcote Road.

them go, and experience a new understanding of life.

What, in your opinion, are the main challenges with psychological fiction?

It has to be characterisation – staying true to the characters and not making decisions for them. It’s important for the characters to be themselves.

To what extent do you think that all authors have to be philosophers?

I think it’s important to understand characters and what motivates them in order to develop them fully, so yes, I do I think that all authors have to deal with philosophy. We all have some serious excavating to do.

You’ve written other books which also address racism in the southern states. Is this an issue which is important to you?

I think it is important to understand history, but not to be stuck in it. As a young reporter in southwest Georgia, I was paid substantially less than anyone else at the paper and, although this was affected by gender, it was mainly down to race as the only other female reporter made $9,000 more than me per year. I used to really allow the experience to drive my life, but I’m long past that. It is history.

Do you believe popular novels like ‘The Help’ have contributed to a rise in literature on this issue?

I love The Help because it does deal with life as it was in the

What’s next for you? Is there another book on the horizon?

I’ve kicked around the idea of doing my first novel set in England, perhaps a historical romance. I’d also like to write something that my niece, who is now ten, can read, so who knows?

‘The Blindsided Prophet’ (£8.99) is out now; sonjalewis.com

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TIERRA VERDE

ARTISAN AND ORGANIC

FOODS FROM SPAIN

We specialize in organic and artisan foods and wines from Spain, including Pata negra Jamon and Sherrys.

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ABSOLU TELY

ART & CULTURE

20 14 THE BEST IS YET TO COME

JANUARY 1) QUIDAM Tempted to dump the new year diet already? Us too. A trip to Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam should have us merrily back on the wagon though. You might not come out looking like an acrobat, but you’ll be inspired to try.

4 Jan - 9 Feb; Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7; royalalberthall.com

2) I, THE SYRIAN

Diaries at the ready! Absolutely has prepared a round-up that’ll keep you pretty busy for the next twelve months…

In his first UK solo exhibition, artist Tammam Azzam explores creativity, destruction and the fragility of a war-torn Syria. A powerful statement from an artist who fled the country seven months after the start of the revolution.

Finishes 30 Jan; Ayyama Gallery, 143 New Bond Street, 1st Floor, W1S; ayyamgallery.com

FEBRUARY 1) BAILEY’S STARDUST Life is never more glamorous than in a David Bailey photograph and if you don’t believe us, go and check out this landmark exhibition. All images have been picked and printed by the man himself.

6 Feb - 1 Jun; National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, WC2H; npg.org.uk

2) HOLBORN DINING ROOM Valentine’s Day dinner can be a bit of a drag, double the

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MAY MARCH

1) RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL A festival dedicated to engendering discussion and inciting action, as well as telling the stories of those who are too often overlooked. Thought provoking and often deeply moving.

20 – 29 Mar; Alternatingly at: The Barbican, Silk Street, EC2Y; The Ritzy Picturehouse, Coldharbour Lane, SW2; The Curzon, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D; ff.hrw.org

You know that spring has officially sprung when Chelsea Flower Show comes round again. Glorious gardens abound.

20 - 24 May; Royal Hospital Gardens, Royal Hospital Rd, SW3; rhs.org.uk

price and half the space. Take your paramour to Holborn Dining Room, part of the newly opened (and very swanky) Rosewood London, for some guaranteed glamour.

2) PANCAKE DAY The best thing about Lent?

The stuffing your face bit before. Absolutely’s three favourite pancake joints…

3) ORCHIDS AT KEW: A PLANT-HUNTER’S PARADISE

1) FATAL ATTRACTION

LA PETITE BRETAGNE 5-7 Beadon Road, W6; lapetitebretagne.co.uk

2) THE GLAMOUR OF ITALIAN FASHION 1945 - 2014

No address released yet, but the rumour is Tower 42, 25 Old Broad St, EC2N; pollenstreetsocial.com

3) MUSEUMS AT NIGHT

Tracing the rise of Italy as a world fashion centre.

Beautiful gowns and photography help to illustrate this truly iconic story.

THE BLUES KITCHEN 111 Camden High Street, NW1; theblueskitchen.com

We’ll be snapping up tickets to this gripping thriller, adapted for the stage by James Dearden (who also wrote the original 1987 film) if only to find out whether in this version, the bunny makes it.

8 Mar – 21 Jun; Theatre Royal Haymarket, 18 Suffolk Street, SW1Y; trh.co.uk

1) A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

4 Apr – 24 May; The Yong Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1; youngvic.org

8 Feb – 9 Mar; Princess of Wales Conservatory, Kew Gardens, Richmond, TW9; kew.org

MARCH

APRIL Expect an avant garde production of Arthur Miller’s great American tragedy from Belgian director Ivo van Hove.

Book soon, tickets will sell fast.

252 High Holborn WC1V; rosewoodhotels.com

It seems as if summer is still light years away, except at Kew Gardens, where the sun’s always shining (kind of ). Take in some beautiful blooms and feel refreshed.

2) CITY SOCIAL Pollen Street Social made fine dining fun. Now Jason Atherton is expanding the Social circle to include an outpost in the City. We’re really rather excited. Go for the kind of food you’d sell your Nan for.

The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014, sponsored by Bulgari, runs from 5 April - 27 July 2014 at the V&A, Cromwell Road, SW7; vam.ac.uk

3) EASTER

THE RIDING HOUSE CAFE 43-51 Great Titchfield St, W1W; ridinghousecafe.co.uk

Treat your loved ones (or yourself ) to some truly outstanding chocolates this Easter. Our pick would be one of the gloriously decadent boxes from Artisan du Chocolat (hint hint).

20 Apr; artisanduchocolat.com

Visit galleries and museums after hours and get a different perspective on your favourite London spaces. The exhibits probably won’t come to life but we can hope...

15 May - 17 May; for full programme and venue info see culture24.org.uk

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ABSOLU TELY

ART & CULTURE

JUNE

JULY

2) JUNE FESTIVALS

1) PRIMROSE: RUSSIAN COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY Tracing the development of colour photography as well as presenting a beautiful portrait of life in Russia from 1850 onwards.

Festival season is in full swing, and you don’t even have to leave London to make the most of it.

Here are three of our favourites…

FIELD DAY, 7 - 8 Jun; fielddayfestivals.com CRYSTAL PALACE OVERGROUND FESTIVAL, 27 - 30 Jun; crystalpalacefestival.org POLO IN THE PARK, 6 - 8 Jun; polointheparklondon.com

24 Jul - 28 Sept; The Photographers’ Gallery, 16 - 18 Ramillies St, W1F; thephotographersgallery.org.uk

THE MINIATURIST

Amsterdam, 17th century.

Nella has been married off to wealthy merchant Johannes.

Living in a household full of secrets, she becomes obsessed with the idea that a local miniaturist can tell her fate. A book so compelling it caused a six-way bidding war amongst publishers.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton publishes 3 Jul; Picador

2) OUTDOOR CINEMA

Ah summer, the perfect time to watch a film outdoors. Grab a blanket, a bottle of wine and a picnic and pray for clear skies.

Dates TBC; visit whereisthenomad.com or thelunacinema.com for listings

SEP TEMBER 1) HENLEY LITERARY FESTIVAL

AUGUST

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Gillian Anderson as Blanche DuBois? Yes please.

Tennessee Williams classic gets the Young Vic treatment.

Dates TBC; The Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1; youngvic.org Word on the street is Henley is the Glasto of the book world.

Past speakers have included Jojo Moyes, Irvine Welsh and Lisa Jewell as well as Giles Coren, Rachel Johnson and Emma Freud. See you at the front.

1) COLOUR

29 Sept - 5 Oct; for full programme and venue info see henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk

The first of its kind in the UK, the National Gallery will dedicate each room of the exhibition to a different colour of the spectrum (plus a room for gold and silver). You’ll be able to trace the history of each colour from early Renaissance to the Impressionist movement.

18 Jun – 7 Sept; The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N; nationalgallery.org.uk

3) WIMBLEDON

2) RHS HAMPTON COURT FLOWER SHOW

AUGUST 1) NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL

Can Murray do it again? Will the weather be as glorious as last year? We’ll see you in the queue for Centre Court...

23 Jun - 6 Jul; Church Road, Wimbledon, SW19; wimbledon.com

Is there any better way to spend a summer’s day than at Hampton Court Palace? We doubt it... unless you have hay fever.

There’s dancing, there’s singing and there’s some killer jerk chicken.

We’re already excited for London’s biggest party.

8 - 13 Jul; East Molesey, Surrey, KT8; rhs.org.uk

24 - 25 Aug; thenottinghillcarnival.com

21

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ABSOLU TELY

ART & CULTURE

2) HENRI MATISSE: THE CUT-OUTS Matisse really knew how to throw shapes. Catch this vibrant and dramatic exhibition before it finishes.

Ending 7 Sept; Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1; tate.org.uk

OCTOBER 1) REMBRANDT: THE FINAL YEARS A unique chance to see the work of a master from one of the most creative and expressive periods of his life.

15 Oct – 18 Jan 2015; The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N; nationalgallery.org.uk

2) FRIEZE

SEPTEMBER

OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND

Take a peek behind the closed doors of some of London’s great landmarks. With over 800 buildings, walks and tours available just make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.

20-21 Sept; various locations; londonopenhouse.org

2) THE EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL

DECEMBER

16–19 Oct; Regent’s Park, NW1; for full programme and venue info see friezelondon.com

CHRISTOPHER KANE

NOVEMBER

An exploration of the life and work of Canadian modernist painter Emily Carr. Largely overlooked in her lifetime, the exhibition brings together over 100 of Carr’s paintings and sketches and highlights the influence of Indigenous Art on her work.

1 Nov – 22 Feb 2015; Dulwich Picture Gallery, College Rd, SE21; dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

3) ICE SKATING

November; Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn St, SW4; picturehouses.co.uk

Luminaries from the art world converge on London for this annual fair. Talks, exhibitions and pop-up projects make it a good day out for us neophytes as well.

1) PAINTING CANADA 2: EMILY CARR AND THE INDIGENOUS ART OF THE NORTHWEST COAST

Starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.

Live improvised music at venues across London. If jazz is an acquired taste, now is the best time to acquire it.

14 - 23 Nov; for full programme and venue info see londonjazzfestival.org.uk

3) INTERSTELLAR Christopher Nolan co-writes and directs this outerspace epic about a group of explorers who use wormholes to travel through the galaxy. The excitement is already building for Nolan’s first film since The Dark Knight Rises.

A ripple went round the fashion pond when it was announced that feted Scottish designer Christopher Kane would be opening his first flagship store in London.

At the time of going to press details of the opening were still sparse. What we do know is that it’ll be some time around the end of the year - keep your eyes peeled! net-a-porter.com

Slippidy slide into 2015.

Wrap up warm and look back on a year well spent!

Natural History Museum Ice Rink, Cromwell Road, SW7; nhm.ac.uk

2) WINTER WONDERLAND

Enough beer, mulled wine and rides to bring some cheer to any would-be Scrooge. Also enough beer, mulled wine and rides to bring up your supper – you have been warned.

Throughout December; hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

22

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This is not a TV. This is a new era. mirror screen Your home, Your Style

www.mirrorscreen.co.uk

Select from one of our ranges: 

Bespoke Series Completely individual



Traditional Choose from our collection of over 100 frames



Contemporary Choose any colour from Farrow & Ball range

exclusively available at: 1st Stop Audio Visual



Chelsea showroom: 247 Kings Road London, SW3 5EL Phone 020 7349 8970

FIRST STOP.indd 2

Battersea showroom: 83 Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5QL Phone 020 7978 6262

29/10/2013 09:30

HIRE OUR LOVELY GALLERY FOR YOUR DRINKS PARTY 6-10pm WEEKDAYS provide your own staff and catering

340 Old York Road, Wandsworth Town SW18 1SS

GIUSEPPE’S COLOURS Solo Exhibition by Giuseppe D’Innella Striking hand-produced colourful landscapes and intriguing abstracts Wednesday 15th - Saturday 25th January Join Giuseppe for a glass of wine on Sunday 19th January 12noon - 2pm 3035

PEOPLE AND PLACES Photography Exhibition - some surprising takes on reality Featuring both emerging and established photographers Wednesday 29th January - Saturday 15th February

VARIATIONS ON A THEME Solo Exhibition by Vicky Oldfield

Beautiful and highly collectable hand-painted unique collagraphs Wednesday 18th February - Saturday 1st March

NEW 2014 OPENING Tues - Fri 11am - 5pm ❖ Late night Thurs - open to 8pm ❖ Sat 10.30am - 5pm ❖ Sun 10.30am - 3.30pm Opening hours are subject to seasonal variation, and dependent on exhibition programme; please check our website www.oilandwater.co.uk or telephone 020 8704 4327

For more information see www.oilandwater.co.uk or email penny@oilandwater.co.uk 0208 704 4327 www.facebook.com/oilandwater Works by Oil&Water’s regular artists continue to be displayed downstairs

NEW BESPOKE FRAMING SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE • DUDLEY JACOMB 07592 737148

Oil&Water_Jan.indd 2

06/12/2013 14:31

ABSOLU TELY

CATWALK & CLOSET WINTER WA R M E R

Keep out the cold with a fabulous fur cape by Helen Moore – perfect for staying cosy and oh-so-cuddly. helenmoore.com

Style Tip Ribbons aren’t just for little girls. A loose, messy plait held in place with a chunky black ribbon adds an effortless touch of girlish charm at minimal cost.

Image: ASOS

More Dash Than Cash

The cheapest way to revamp an outfit when on a post-Christmas budget? Add a statement necklace.

We love this magnificent stag number from Oliver Bonas. £28, 86 Putney High Street, SW15, 020 8789 3590; oliverbonas.com

FA S H I O N

NOTES

’s itork EdP ic

TA RTA N A R M Y

S P O RT Y S PIC E

It’s game on this season as designers embrace the sport luxe trend. The look needn’t be overly casual – done well it simply means a fuss-free, minimalist silhouette.

Take Hobbs’ Aveen dress, for example. The treadmill is your runway (sort of). £169, 56 High Street, SW19, 020 8947 1309; hobbs.co.uk

Thinking of investing in one of the season’s ubiquitous kilts? Try this one from H! by Henry Holland.

With its cute braces and ladylike pleats, it’ll give your outfit that extra edge. £35, available from Debenhams, 315 Lavender Hill, SW11, 0844 561 6161; debenhams.com

25

Jan_FASHION NOTES.indd 25

09/12/2013 16:12

Absolute (sew pretty ad) - november.ai 1 25/11/2013 15:14:37

SHOENI Q U A L I T Y

S H O E

UE

R E P A I R

promo code:

AB10

No sole too big.. No heel too small..always guaranteed a smile!

S

hoenique is a traditionally run shoe repairing business with over 20 years experience. Using traditional and modern methods, we create the highest quality of service with good value for money. Our knowledge and experience is second to none, selling a wide range of shoe products to keep your shoes looking new.

Sewing classes in Wimbledon Sew Pretty is a friendly creative sewing studio.

We offer sewing classes, courses & workshops.

Adults and children of all levels are welcome.

sewing classes & after school clubs sew complete 4 week course • cushion making tote bag • pyjamas • skirt & dress making • pattern

creative parties kids • girl & hen parties • team building www.sewpretty.me.uk • me@sewpretty.me.uk 377 Wimbledon Park Road, London, SW19 6PE

Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm Saturday 9am - 5.30pm Closed Sunday & Bank Holidays 100 Church Road, Barnes, London SW13 0DQ Tel/Fax: 020 8563 1400 Web: www.shoeniquerepairs.com

shoenique.indd 1

09/12/2013 SEW11:02 ME PRETTY.indd 1

29/11/2013 12:39

ZENITH DRY CLEANERS & LAUNDERERS EST. 1982

QUALITY CLOTHES DESERVE QUALITY CARE

Silk Satin Sequins Beading Ball Gowns Wedding Gowns

203 Replingham Road SW18

|

www.zenithdrycleaners.co.uk

|

020 8874 8651

AMPLE PARKING AT THE CORNER OF PIRBRIGHT ROAD

Zenith_Jan.indd 1

•ADVERTS.indd 1

29/11/2013 12:36 DRAPIERE.indd 1 CAROLYN

29/10/2013 12:08 09/12/2013 18:04

ABSOLU TELY

CATWALK & CLOSET PHILIP TREACY LEONARD TRILBY IN PRINTED SINAMAY WITH FEATHER & FANTASY TRIM

£750; philiptreacy.co.uk

ISSA AW13

AGENT PROVOCATEUR MATINÉE BLACK KIMONO

£475; agentprovocateur.com

TORY BURCH SHERRY CRYSTAL EMBELLISHED BOUCLÉ COAT

£940; harveynichols.com

JOIE DARYN SNAKE PRINT SILK TOP

£240; harveynichols.com

ONE VINTAGE NOELLA MAXI DRESS

£3,950; net-a-porter.com

’s itork EdP ic

TOPSHOP LACEFRINGE KIMONO £60; topshop.com

palette O F PAT T E R N S

BROWN, BEIGE, BLACK: WORK THE TREND FOR JANUARY

KURT GEIGER EARL BOOTS

£495; kurtgeiger.com

JASON WU LEATHER AND LACETRIMMED STRETCH-PONTE DRESS

£1,630; net-a-porter.com

27

FASHION PRODUCTS.Nov.indd 27

09/12/2013 16:14

The

Inbetweener Revisit the ’50s and ’60s with the best in transitional fashion Photography Olgac Bozalp

Styling Clementine King

JAN SHOOT.indd 28

09/12/2013 16:16

Long satin blue dress with silk chiffon panel, ÂŁ1,820, Missoni; missoni.com

JAN SHOOT.indd 29

09/12/2013 16:16

Green enamel and diamond earrings, £1,300, Jessie Western; jessiewestern.com Pink glasses, £279, Transitions for Face-a-Face; transitions.com Silk embroidered red drees, £797, Shanghai Tang; shanghaitang.com

JAN SHOOT.indd 30

09/12/2013 16:16

Silk embroidered red drees, £797, Shanghai Tang; shanghaitang.com White tights, £10.95, Oroblu; oroblu.com White shoes with chunky black heal, £132, Hobbs; hobbs.co.uk

JAN SHOOT.indd 31

09/12/2013 16:17

Faux fur deep red coat, £499, Antipodium; antipodium.com Black dress with leather front panel, £598, Shanghai Tang; shanghaitang.com Pink faux bag with green leather panels and shoulder strap, £605, LAAEL; laael.com Sheer black tights, £8.95, Oroblu; oroblu.com

JAN SHOOT.indd 32

09/12/2013 16:17

Blue sheepskin waistcoat, £395, Daisy Darche; dasiydarche.com Grey top with pleats, £115, Toast; toast.co.uk Green tartan trousers, £125, Toast; toast.co.uk White Valentino glasses, £185, MARCHON; marchon.com Red faux fur bag with pink shoulder strap, £445, LAAEL; laael.com Blue ostrich skin slip on shoes, £970, Dorraj; dorraj.com

JAN SHOOT.indd 33

09/12/2013 16:17

Faux fur deep red coat, ÂŁ499, Antipodium; antipodium.com White patent top, ÂŁ160, Antipodium; antipodium.com

Stylist: Clementine King Hair and Make-up: Alice Howlett Photographer's assistant: Bugra Ergil Stylist's assistants: Daisy Aziz Location: Goode and Wright, 271 Portobello Road W11 1LR

JAN SHOOT.indd 34

09/12/2013 16:18

M

Y

Y

Y

ELYS_DEC.indd 2

04/11/2013 14:56

10% of f a

ny cou r treatm se of ents

OH-SO SMOOTH THE SCIENCE OF PERFECT SKIN

Offer e nd 31.01.2 s 014

OPENING HOURS MON : 8.30am - 5.30pm TUE : 9.00am - 6.00pm WED : CLOSED THU : CLOSED FRI

: 7.30am - 6.00pm

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CELLULITE TREATMENT R Endermologie the only FDA

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Endermologie Anti Cellulite Treatment Endermologie tones, firms and stimulates the body’s own resources to combat the Cellulite ‘orange peel effect’ by improving circulation, dispersing fats and removing toxins.

• The only FDA approved Anti Cellulite treatment • Rejuvenates skin & treatment is both soothing and relaxing • Suitable for post Liposuction and childbirth • Endermologie sessions take just 35 mins at our SW London Clinic

117 Wimbledon Park Road, London SW18 5TU

Oh So Smooth_Jan.indd 1

BEFORE



020 8870 9882

AFTER



www.oh-so-smooth.com

04/12/2013 14:42

ABSOLU TELY

HEALTH & BEAUTY

3

1

OF THE

BEST

3

RETINOL PRODUCTS

2

Got It Nailed

1. Skinceuticals Retinol Night Cream, £39.90; skinfantastic.co.uk 2. Verso Day Cream with SPF, £95; net-a-porter.com 3. La Roche-Posay Redermic Treatment, £28; boots.com

If it’s good enough for Kate, it’s good enough for us. Salon Pro with Lycra comes in a range of shades and includes a gel finish for that all-important glorious shine. Plus it’s up to 10 days chip-resistant – great for staying put during all that New Year’s resolutioninspired exercise we’ll be doing, ahem. £4.49, available from Boots, 104 Putney High Street, SW15, 020 8789 8769;

boots.com

BEAUTY Confidential

IN HEALTH

Purelosophy’s mantra of ‘relax, renew and power’ is no word of a lie – 100% natural with no refined sweeteners, colours or chemicals, the drink’s scientifically proven health benefits aid physical recovery after exercise, so you can wave goodbye to high sugar energy drinks. £2, available at Whole Foods, 305-311 Lavender Hill, 020 7585 1488;

purelosophy.com

Salon Review | ATELIER M, PUTNEY

STAYIN’ A-LIVELY

L’Oréal Paris have just announced their new brand ambassador, and who might that be? None other than former Gossip Girl, Blake Lively. The Hollywood star will head up the brand that boasts the Colour Riche collection. With lipsticks including ‘Pink Flamingo’ tones and ‘Safari Chic’ 10-day wear nail varnish, it seems Lively will have her work cut out. Colour Riche collection, available from Boots, Southside Shopping Centre, SW18, 020 8874 5704;

boots.com

hen it comes to IPL, people just don’t realise that there’s actually highly trained professionals on their doorstep offering affordable options,’ says Meeta of Putney’s Atelier M salon. Friendly and welcoming, Atelier M is one of those salons which wows on entry – black mosaic tiles, shocking pink soft furnishings and a real rabbit warren of rooms. Offering massage, facials, manicures, hair dressing, professional make up and even photography here, Meeta has added her own rather sweet touches to put her clients at ease – homely colourful throws, scented

W

candles and even a TV screen in the treatment room which simulates an aquarium filled with fish for you to watch as she works her magic.

The IPL treatment itself is over in a flash – literally. The room

is filled with bright red rays as the light passes over your skin (eyes are protected by some very dark goggles) and it only takes a couple of minutes for a small area to be dealt with. And then, after a quick dose of cooling aloe vera gel on the zapped area to prevent any irritation, you’re good to go.

A week later and the results are impressive. The hair removal might not be permanent, but the growth has been seriously reduced. What can we say? Bring on summer…

Atelier M is offering a course of 6 IPL treatments for £99. Book early to avoid disappointment.

209 Lower Richmond Road, SW15,

37

BEAUTY notes_Jan.indd 37

10/12/2013 09:21

Open 7 days a week 10 am - 10 pm

The natural way to balance body and soul Book online at thaicharmsmassage.com or call for an appointment

Choomse Swedish · Aromatherapy · Thai Foot · Head & Shoulder Massage fro Traditional Thai Massage, Waxing & Nail · Body Scrub Thai Charms Wimbledon 23 Leopold Road, Wimbledon Park SW19 7BB

020 8947 6600

Thai Charms_v2.indd 1

DAVID GATELY.indd 1

•ADVERTS.indd 2

Thai Charms Battersea 190 Battersea Park Road, Battersea SW11 4ND

0207 622 8383

12/11/2013 09:36 FERTILITY CLINIC.indd 1 CONCEPT

09/12/2013 11:07

10/06/2013 10:00

09/12/2013 18:04

ABSOLU TELY

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Edito r Pick ’s

DRINK

UP

1

Give your post party season skin a little TLC with these reviving & hydrating hero products

10

2

9

8

3

7

4

5

6

1. anne semonin toning apricot kernel oil, £94; liberty.co.uk 2. nip and fab body slim fix, £14.95; debenhams.com 3. elemis cellular recovery skin bliss capsules, £62; timetospa.co.uk 4. dr bronner peppermint lip balm, £2.69; biggreensmile.com 5. crème de la mer hydrating facial masks, £190; cremedelamer.co.uk 6. elizabeth arden limited edition eight hour cream skin protectant, £20; debenhams.com 7. malin + goetz replenishing face serum, £52; uk.spacenk.com 8. phyto gloss reviving colour care, £20; uk.spacenk.com 9. balance me rose otto hand cream, £14.50; debenhams.com 10. dr hauschka quince day cream, £22; drhauschka.co.uk

39

BEAUTY PRODUCTS_Jan.indd 39

09/12/2013 16:07

ABSOLUTELY PROMOTION

SPECIAL OFFER FOR ABSOLUTELY VISITORS FREE

Six month braces guide at

ilovestraightteeth.co.uk

SIX MONTH BRACES FROM ÂŁ1450

SIX MONTH SMILES HOW TO ACHIEVE A PERFECT SMILE IN JUST SIX MONTHS What are six month braces?

Six Month Smiles are a cosmetic braces system. They are designed to improve the appearance of the smile which is basically the eight front teeth, six front teeth, or four front teeth.

How does it work?

The programme uses high tech methods to move your teeth in a rapid but safe manner. Because it focuses only on moving those teeth which show when you smile, the process is kinder and quicker than with regular braces.

The steps in the programme are as follows...

Consultation: At the first appointment the dentist will gather information from you about what you would like to achieve. They will check with x-rays, photographs and impressions that your teeth are suitable for the treatment and are clinically sound.

Manufacture:

Fitting: Fitting is performed by a cosmetic orthodontic expert and will ensure your new six month braces are fitted perfectly to your teeth so they are ready to move to their new positions.

Check-ups: Over the course of the six months, patients are asked to return on average once a month for checking and adjusting the braces.

Removal: Once the straightening is complete, usually in 4-9 months time, you can go and have your braces removed, where you will be fitted with a retainer to avoid the teeth relapsing into their original positions. This is usually a bonded retainer which is fitted to the back of your teeth and completely invisible from the outside. www.ilovestraightteeth.co.uk 226a Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London SW15 6TG 020 8788 8588

The impressions and records of your teeth are sent to the specialist Six Month Smiles lab in the US, where your customised braces will be manufactured and sent back to your dentist.

40 ADVERTORIAL ALKALI DENTAL.indd 40

10/12/2013 10:35

Absolu tely

health & beauty

SOS body rescue

It’s time to repair the festive season’s damage. From massages to manicures, blowdries to back correction, Absolutely gives its top-to-toe local insider knowledge to help you get your body back on track

LOCAL SALON ROUND UP.indd 41

09/12/2013 16:54

HAIR

06

01 ESENTE HAIR

Best for: Beautiful Blowdries What? Innovative yet welcoming family-run salon in Wimbledon Where? 18 Leopold Road, SW19, 020 8946 4875; esentehair.co.uk Why? Bright and airy, Esente’s blowdries aren’t just wonderfully bouncy, they also last.

The Esente team will ensure you get exactly what you want, whether that’s volume, taming or gloss, delivered with a friendly smile and without a killer price tag.

02 HARI’S

Best for: Hair Transformations What? The latest edition to the HARI’s family Where? 183 New King’s Road, SW6, 020 7731 6062; harissalon.com Why? HARI’s is to hair what heels are to feet: uplifting. Whether it’s a cut, colour or even a new do that you’re after – think perfect bun or buzzin’ beehive – HARI’s doesn’t disappoint. With over 35 years in the business and a legion of ‘celeb’ clients, it’s no wonder this new salon opened to great aplomb.

08

salon really is all about the girl, with its luxurious range of indulgent treatments. However, it’s the manicures here which really stand out, using products by Leighton Denny, the UK’s leading nail specialist.

05 SPA LONDON

Best for: Relaxation and Rejuvenation What? An affordably luxurious day spa hidden in Wimbledon Leisure Centre Where? Wimbledon Leisure Centre, Latimer Road, SW19, 020 8542 1330; spa-london.org Why? Day spas in southwest London are sadly thin on the ground, so this one is a rare treat. Massages here are exceptional and the fact that they can be followed by a spell in the sauna and a snooze in the blissful relaxation room make them even better.

06 MERUMAYA

BEAUTY

03 OH SO SMOOTH

Best for: Smooth Skin What? An award-winning salon in Wimbledon offering effective laser Where? 117 Wimbledon Park Road, SW18, 020 8870 9882; oh-so-smooth.com Why? Adeleh’s warm and reassuring manner will instantly put you at ease if you’re worried about laser being a painful procedure (it’s not, by the way), as will the fact that the salon is part of the Healthcare Commission. The best solution for hair removal, it’s a darn sight better than daily shaving.

04 ALL ABOUT THE GIRL

Best for: Perfect Pinkies What? Tana Ramsay’s pretty, pampering beauty salon Where? 141 Northcote Road, SW11, 020 7135 3577; allaboutthegirl.info Why? The clue is in the name. This

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Best for: Home Remedies What? A range of integrative übereffective anti-ageing products Where? Elys of Wimbledon, 16 St George’s Road, SW19, 020 8946 9191; elysonline.co.uk Why? Perfect for problem skin, Merumaya integrates

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anti-wrinkle ingredients with anti-blemish ones to treat all your troubles in one go. We recommend the Iconic Youth Serum (£34.50), the brand’s hero product which reduces fine lines and wrinkles and restores radiance and elasticity.

HEALTH

07 THE TOKEN YARD CLUB Best for: Wonderful Workouts What? One of London’s largest privately owned gyms Where? 56 Putney High Street, SW15, 020 8789 2500; thetokenyardclub.com

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1100; northcotechiropractic.co.uk Why? Providing expert relief for painful alignment issues, Northcote Chiropractor Clinic is pretty much a one-stop-shop for all your aches and pains. Especially good for mumsto-be, the chiropractic care you’ll receive here will help alleviate lower back pain and restore balance to the pelvis to help facilitate an easier, safer delivery.

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10 CREATE HEATH

Best for: Fertility Issues What? The world’s leading pioneers in natural cycle IVF Where? St George’s House, 3-5 Pepys Road, SW20, 020 3441 8705; createhealth.org Why? Cheaper and safer than simulated cycles, Create Health offers IVF without the use of fertility drugs.

Success rates might be slightly lower, but the fact that it’s natural means you don’t need the usual 2-3 month break between cycles, making up for lost time.

11 WIMBLEDON AESTHETICS

Best for: Non-Invasive Procedures What? GP administered, non-invasive cosmetic treatments Where? 86-88 Inner Park Road, SW19, 020 8780 3877; wimbledonaesthetics.co.uk Why? Offering convenient and comfortable alternatives to more traditional treatments, Wimbledon Aesthetics' procedures are both safe and speedy, barely disrupting your day. There’s a whole range of treatments on offer, but we know from experience that the chemical peels are particularly effective.

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Why? Offering specialised programmes to ensure you get the results you want, members pick from three packages: get SLIM, get LEAN and get STRONG. Training during these is bespoke, so the experience is both effective and so much more personal than you’d get at other chain gyms.

12 MR DAVID GATELEY

Best for: Surgical Solutions What? Southwest London’s cosmetic surgery specialist Where? Naked Health, 261-263 Coombe Lane, SW20, 020 8944 5454; nakedhealth.co.uk Why? One of the leading plastic and reconstructive surgeons operating in the UK today, Mr David Gateley doesn't just provide cosmetic solutions to Londoners, he’s also been involved in training the country’s next generation of surgeons, too. With a particular interest in facial cosmetic surgery, liposuction and breast surgery, you couldn’t be in safer hands.

08 PROFEET

Best for: All The Gear What? Sportswear specialists offering custom-fitted footwear Where? 867-869 Fulham Road, SW6, 020 7736 0046; profeet.co.uk Why? Far from your average sports shop, Profeet’s trained staff offer biomechanical gait analysis and customised moulded insoles for your trainers and ski boots, giving you the perfect fit. It might seem extravagant, but the improvement you’ll see in your performance once you’ve worn them is impressive.

COSMETIC PROCEDURES

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09 NORTHCOTE CHIROPRACTOR CLINIC Best for: Aches and Pains What? A family-based practice just off Northcote Road Where?

59 Webb’s Road, SW11, 020 7350

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LOCAL PERSONAL TRAINER ELENA MUSGRAVE TAKES TO BATTERSEA PARK TO SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE YOUR FITNESS RESOLUTIONS A REALITY

t’s January. Once again, you’ve vowed that this year you’ll exercise every day and never again binge on chocolate and wine. Health and fitness overhauls are common themes of people’s New Year’s resolutions, but if they worked, surely we wouldn’t need to make them year in, year out? The following questions are designed to help you take a different approach to fitness and make you more successful in achieving your goals…

a positive frame of mind, making it easier to change your lifestyle. Create a list of all your best bits and as your new exercise routine takes effect, add to this list.

What do you like about your body? A challenge for many, think positively about the body you have right now.

Taking a long hard look at yourself in a full length mirror and recognising that you have nice, slim calves and shiny hair gets you in

Are your goals realistic?

If you haven’t done any exercise for a year, deciding you will go to a gym five times a week is a sure way to fail. If you hate working out in the cold then joining an outdoor bootcamp is probably a mistake. Take the

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What are you going to do this year? When you tell yourself that you aren’t allowed to eat a particular food, it becomes the forbidden fruit and, as such, you will inevitably cave in to temptation. Make your resolutions positive, focussing on things you want to do more rather than less.

when you tell yourself that you aren’t allowed a particular food, it becomes the forbidden fruit

time to think realistically about how much exercise you can fit in to your week and then consider what type of activities would appeal to you. Sites like getactivelondon. com are great for telling you what activities are happening in your area. Remember, pick something you enjoy and vary your activities as much as possible so that you don’t get bored – you’ll be more likely to keep it up.

Got a fitness buddy? If the vast majority of people make resolutions based around fitness each year then the chances are one of your friends will also be aiming to get fitter. Discuss how you could work together to build exercise into your routine and help motivate each other.

This adds a sociable element to exercise as well as some healthy competition.

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How do you feel after a workout? When I take on new clients, the majority of the time they have specific weight loss and toning goals.

However, often they find that regular exercise has a dramatic effect on much more than their waistline.

Exercise can dramatically improve your energy levels, reduce stress and improve your mood. If you keep a record of how you feel after workouts, when you are lacking motivation, reading these notes can help give you the push you need to do some exercise.

Feel like a failure? Many people give up their new years resolutions completely when they miss a workout, or succumb to a tub of Ben and Jerry’s. Understand at the start that you are likely to have the occasional miss hap and move on. If you eliminate the inner turmoil that occurs when you stray, then you are much more likely to get up the next day and get back into your healthy routine rather than give up altogether.

Beginning a fitness regime Once you’ve changed your attitude, it’s time to get exercising. Combining walking, jogging and bodyweight exercises can tackle many important elements of fitness such as cardio fitness, strength and core stability.

Start by buying a pedometer and aiming to do at least 12,000 steps a day. As walking becomes easier, gradually add in minute intervals of jogging to elevate your heart rate further, building up these intervals of running gradually over time. The next step is incorporating the following body weight exercises into your routine to help build strength, increase muscle tone, improve cardio fitness and burn fat.

how to Haven’t got the time to get out of the house for a walk?

Invest in a skipping rope as 10 mins moderate skipping can burn 70 calories.

EXERCISE BURPEES

Repetitions: 12 / Sets: 2 urpees use multiple muscle groups and are a sure fire way to get your heart rate up in no time. Start in a squat position with your hands on the floor. Jump back to a press-up position and then jump back into the squat position. Finally, jump up to standing.

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Bodyweight exercises can be done anywhere, anytime, without any equipment, and they encourage fat burning and muscle toning.

EXERCISE MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

Repetitions: 12 on each side / Sets: 2 nother great exercise which uses many muscle groups and increases your heart rate. Start in a press-up position and bring each knee to your chest alternately. Focus on keeping your back flat and your abs in tight.

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Rather than a long monotonous workout, incorporate intervals of high intensity and periods of recovery. Not only is this time saving but you will burn more fat than maintaining a steady pace.

Be realistic about how many calories you burn in an exercise session and keep this in mind when re-fueling post exercise!

EXERCISE STEP UPS

Repetitions: 12 on each leg / Sets: 2 fantastic, simple exercise for your legs and bum.

Stop at a bench and step up and down on the bench, keeping your back straight and abs in tight.

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EXERCISE PRESS-UPS

Repetitions: 12 / Sets: 2 tart the press up with your body weight being supported by your hands and feet and maintaining a straight back. Keep your abs tight to support the lower back and bend the elbows to lower your body towards the floor.

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body weight exercises help build strength, increase muscle tone & burn fat

EXERCISE SQUATS

Repetitions: 12 / Sets: 2 nother useful exercise for your lower body. Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip width apart with your feet at about 45 degrees. Gradually start to bend the legs as if there is a seat behind you, keeping your weight through the heels and making sure that your knees do not come over the front of your toes.

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EXERCISE TRICEP DIPS

Repetitions: 12 / Sets: 2 ricep dips isolate the triceps or ‘bingo wings’. Sit on a bench with your hands under your bottom and legs outstretched. Take your hips off the bench and bend your elbows to a 90 degree angle and push yourself back up again. Bend the legs to make the exercise slightly easier.

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EXERCISE PLANK EXERCISE LUNGES

Repetitions: 12 on each leg / Sets: 2 tand up tall with your hands on your hips. Take a large stride forward and sink down aiming for right angles in both legs and maintaining a straight back. Ensure your abs are held in tight and make sure your front knee does not come over the front toe.

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Method: Hold position as long as possible without losing correct form he plank works your abs as well as your core, which is made up of many muscles that support the spine. Start by supporting yourself on your knees and elbows and then push your hips up so you are supporting yourself on your forearms and toes. Make sure to keep your back completely flat and keep your abs in tight.

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Elena Musgrave is a Level 3 REPS qualified personal trainer based in southwest London specialising in weight loss and toning for women.

To book a complimentary consultation, email elenamusgravept@ hotmail.com or visit elenamusgravept.com

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INDULGE YOUR PASSION FOR PATTERN WITH TOPPS TILES’S STRIKING DESIGNS

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Deco moulded gloss ceramic tiles in black & pearl, £50 for 25, Topps Tiles, Arches 70 & 71, Queen’s Circus, SW8, 020 7720 5292; toppstiles.co.uk

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pgi • BAG

Photography Michel Gibert. With thanks to: Auditori Teulada Moraira.

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HOUSE & GARDEN Grey Skies

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Inspired by the extreme weather, the storm clouds in Abigail Edwards’s Grey Sky wallpaper are hand drawn and printed in Lancashire, and create an ominous yet calming atmosphere with their flashes of metallic copper. £75 per 10m roll; abigailedwards.com

BOX IT UP Given some gorgeous jewellery for Christmas? Keep it in this equally exquisite bone jewellery box from Oliver Bonas. £45, 86 Putney High Street, SW15, 020 8789 3590; oliverbonas.com

ANIMAL INSTINCT

I N T E R I O R

NOTES

Artist Anna Wright’s humorous prints of quirky animals are perfect for adding a lighthearted touch to your living room. Available from Aubergine Art, 1 Queen’s Road, SW19, 020 8947 7838; annawright.co.uk

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Sweet Seats Sofa Workshop’s vintageinspired Petite Reader chair is handmade to order in their British workshops.

What more could you want for curling up on to read a literary classic? Austen here we come… 32-38 Battersea Rise, SW11, 020 7924 3967; sofaworkshop.com

PUPPY LOVE Channelling the current trend for canine inspired interiors is Fenella Smith. We love her oh-so-sweet pooch pillows featuring cartoon pugs and sausage dogs. Available from Two Sisters, 3 Church Road, SW19, 020 8605 2441; twosistershome.com

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SPA Style

DETOXING THIS MONTH? BATTERSEA’S WEST ONE BATHROOMS SHOWS YOU HOW TO BRING THE SPA EXPERIENCE HOME

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ith New Year comes, once again, those New Year’s Resolutions: drink less, exercise more, take better care of yourself.

Spa trips are the order of the day, yet it seems a waste to spend money indulging in a treatment only for it to wear off as soon as you’re back home in your normal bathroom. However, Battersea’s West One Bathrooms have the answer – bring the spa experience home with one of their luxurious bathrooms. From mood-inspired waterfalls in the shower to atmosphere-enhancing lighting in the bath, West One has everything you need for a truly decadent room.

Showcasing more than just Scandi style, this Nordic-inspired bathroom is filled with all the latest pieces for complete home pampering. For instance, the shower’s Ambiance Tuning Technique regulates water volume and temperature to create a bespoke spray to suit your needs. Choose between three scenarios – balancing, energizing and de-stressing – all designed to control the water pressure in such a way that the shower adapts to suit your mood demands. Use on a regular basis and you’ll find that these scenarios become part of a personal ritual, creating a truly exceptional shower.

What’s more, it can also transform into your very own Hammam thanks to Effegibi’s ‘Touch and Steam’ technology – a glass panel fitted to the wall which enables you to steam up your shower into

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The Ambiance Tuning Technique regulates water volume and temperature to create a bespoke spray

a high-tech Turkish bath complete with different coloured light and heat options to enhance your experience. Neatly efficient, this space-saving option is perfect for London homes. Meanwhile, TOTO’s Luminist bath and basin come with integrated LED lighting, designed to illuminate your bathroom subtly whilst creating a calmingly sophisticated setting.

Even the toilets here are high-end; a mixture of haute design and top-of-the-range technology.

The Giovannoni Washlet is a collaboration between TOTO and Italian designer Stefano Giovannoni, and includes a heated seat, deodoriser and warm water jet to gently cleanse. Alternatively, the Geberit Aquaclean 8000 Plus is ergonomically designed

to provide an oscillating shower with adjustable temperature and pressure settings. It also boasts a warm air dryer and odour extractor to ensure a pleasant and comfortable cleansing experience.

Need help visualising it? Pop into the West One Battersea showroom and see this fully operational bathroom on display alongside other experience bathrooms all waiting to be discovered‌ West One Bathrooms, 41 Queenstown Road, SW8, 020 7720 9333; westonebathrooms.com sales@westonebathrooms.com

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1. Phrenology Clock, £9.95; presentindicative.com 2. Set of 2 Vintage Postcards by Circus Lion & Elephant, £14; rockettstgeorge.co.uk 3. Fornasetti II Macchine Volanti Wallpaper, £280 for 2 rolls; occa-home.co.uk 4. American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus Ruber) by J J Audubon from Natural History Museum Collection, from £55 per sq metre; surfaceview.co.uk 5. Silhouette Paperweight by John Derian, £30; pentreath-hall.com 6. The Tattooed Lady Altered Antique Plate, prices vary; beatupcreations.com 7. Antique Bronze Birdcage Lantern Chandelier, £395; alexanderandpearl.co.uk 8. A Gentlemen Rides Cushion by Chase & Wonder, £55; rigbyandmac.com

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hudson construction ltd

hudson Construction Ltd 27 Angel Road | Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0AU 0208 224 5061 | www.hudsonconstruction.co.uk Company Reg: 7489468

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GEORGIE COLERIDGE COLE TAKES ABSOLUTELY ON HER JOURNEY AS SHE REFURBISHES HER WANDSWORTH HOME

W AND WE’RE OFF…

e are inching closer to the big day when we’ll wave goodbye to our happy home in the Tonsleys and move into Jessica Road. When I remind Nick Jepp, our builder, of the date we’re moving in on, he laughs and tells me he is offended I’m even concerned! No delay looking likely, finding a reputable removals company is the next thing on my list and, whilst we don’t exactly own a house full of antique heirlooms, I have heard some horror stories.

Gentleman & A Van is a name that has been cropping up amongst friends as a company with a nice team and a good service so I get on to them in plenty of time. Mark, one of the founders, is

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GENTLEMANANDAVAN.CO.UK

FRONT DOOR Paint & Paper Library Tallistown Grey, The Paint House, 52 Northcote Road Star glass and door number by Ty’s Glazing, 07957 346 745 EXTERIOR Farrow & Ball Blackened, 146 Northcote Road

most certainly a gentleman and he is round in no time to check it all out before sending over a very reasonable looking quote to pack, dismantle, deliver and put it all back together again. Despite what I have been advised, as a bit of a control freak I have decided to unpack myself.

Moving day is a sad one but Nick is on time and on budget and Gentleman & A Van are guys on a mission – blink and it’s wrapped (even the potato peeler), packed and in a clearly labelled box. When TA & I return to leave the keys and a bottle for the new owners just five hours later, our little home that has taken us from two to four and made so many memories is unrecognisable.

The other side of East Hill, the guys are unloading the van as efficiently and meticulously as they filled it and after patiently moving several heavy pieces of furniture around whilst I decide where to put it all, they leave us to the endless (and I mean endless) boxes.

Sentimentalities over, TA spends hours filling his wine fridge whilst I spend hours blitzing, well, everywhere else and telling myself that I will never move house or at the very least unpack myself again.

A long weekend and not much sleep later the last empty box is collected and it is starting to look like home…

Next time: See the kitchen, utility room and sitting room...

GENTLEMAN & A VAN IS A NAME THAT HAS BEEN CROPPING UP AMONGST FRIENDS

Editor & Founder of SheerLuxe.com, Georgie Coleridge Cole has lived in Wandsworth pretty much all her life. Four years ago she and her husband (aka ‘TA’ – The Accountant) bought a three bedroom house in the popular Tonsleys adjacent to Wandsworth Town. Now a mother of two, she’s moving to the other side of East Hill and taking on a project to create their forever home. This is the diary of her journey…

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Grate Expectations has been established and successfully running for over 25 years and remains a family business.

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Visit our showroom at 163a St John’s Hill, London SW11 1TQ or CALL 020 7223 4017 to receive our brochure.

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Anthony de Grey Gardens

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Broadhinton Yard 77A North Street London SW4 0HQ

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HOUSE & GARDEN

Tree of Life

Ideal coffee table material for days when you can’t get outside to garden, Archie Miles’s new book celebrates all that is wonderful about the iconic British oak tree. The British Oak (£35, Constable), available from Waterstones, Southside Shopping Centre, SW18, 0843 290 8673; waterstones.com

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DOGGY STYLE

Add a little canine charm to your boot room with these cute Radley Doodle Dog Printed Wellies. £40, available from Elys, 16 St George’s Road, SW19, 020 8946 9191; radley.co.uk

GO TO POT

The cold weather this month often makes gardening feel a bit pointless. Concentrate on your indoor plants instead, even if that just means buying one of these chic Trunk vases. Trunk Shanxi pot with Jilin Bowl, £95; trunkhome.co.uk

the insider ROBBIE HONEY GIVES HIS TOP TIP FOR THE MONTH winter-flowering cherry tree blooming in the depths of winter is a joy to the soul, offering a promise of the spring to come.

Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ flowers with the prettiest white semi-double blossom between the months of November and March and the flowers have a delightful scent reminiscent of almonds. Prunus subhirtella

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‘Rosea’ also shares in lifting the winter months, flowering in petals flushed with a delicate pink – these bloom during a mild spell in the winter months.

Winter-flowering cherries like a spot in full sun, to be planted in well-drained soil and make excellent specimen trees.

Robbie holds pop up floristry Battersea; classes in Battersea robbiehoney.com

PILLOW TALK

Featuring Thornback & Peel’s quirky rabbit and cabbage design, this pillow combines the perks and perils of every country gardener’s life.

Annabel James Rabbit and Cabbage Pillow, £59.95; annabeljames.co.uk

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Cannizaro House

Wine & Dine - 2 courses for 2 people with a bottle of house wine for £49 (usually £69) To make a booking please call 020 8879 1464 and quote ‘Simply January’

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facebook.com/CannizaroHouse @cannizarohouse

Cannizaro House West Side, Wimbledon Common, London SW19 4UE www.cannizarohouse.com Tel: 020 8879 1464

CANNIZARO_HALF.indd 1

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Boarding at Whitgift.

One of Britain’s finest independent schools for boys – now with boarding places at age 13+

excellent academic results more than 200 Oxbridge entrants in the past ten years

unrivalled sporting success over 75 national titles in the past two years

professional creative connections partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

For further details on full, weekly or flexiboarding, please contact the admissions office at boarding@whitgift.co.uk tel: +44 (0)20 8688 9222

unsurpassed curriculum IB, Bilingual IB, A Level or BTEC

exciting range of co-curricular activities 80 diverse clubs and societies, from astronomy to wakeboarding

Whitgift. An outstanding education.

WHITGIFT SCHOOL.indd 1

•ADVERTS.indd 7

Whitgift School Haling Park South Croydon CR2 6YT United Kingdom www.whitgift.co.uk

29/11/2013 12:43

09/12/2013 18:06

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FOOD & TRAVEL

UP THE SPROUT

Just in case you didn’t get your sprouts fix at Christmas, the Juice Club have created the UK’s first Brussel Sprout Juice. Paired with pears, cinnamon and spice, or apple and cranberry, this super food is rich in vitamin C and vitamin K which help fight off infection, so it’s goodbye winter colds, hello perfect skin. £3.95; juice-club.co.uk

’s tor i d E P ic k

food NOTES SPICED FOR SUCCESS

Local favourite Amirah’s Kitchen has just won ‘Restaurant of the Year’ at the Wandsworth Business Awards. Based in Wandsworth Town, Amirah’s Kitchen serves modern Indian street food. Owner Arif said: ‘We are amazed and overjoyed. We put our heart and soul into this.’ Congratulations!

Amirah’s Kitchen, 356 Old York Road, 020 8874 8008; amirahskitchen.com

CHARLIE GILKES

COCKTAIL of the month

MR FOGG’S SUNDAY Led by Francesco Medici and Danilo Tersigni, the talented team at Mr Fogg’s have spent many hours perfecting the finest concoction to fight off the January blues. Long live the retox!

50ml Hendrick’s gin • 20ml lemon juice 15ml agave syrup • Sparkling water • Wedge of fresh cucumber • Wedge of green apple 3 baby spinach leaves • 3 coriander leaves

DELI-CIOUS

Stock the larder this month with Tierra Verde’s organic foods from Andalucia, Spain.

Packed with kitchen cupboard essentials such as almond-infused honey, black olive pâté and wild olive oil, it’s a dream destination for foodies wanting to add some Hispanic flair to their cooking. Tierra Verde, 48 Webbs Road, SW11, 020 7228 4465; tierraverde.co.uk

MAJESTIC MEALS

Did you know that, to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, Queen Victoria commissioned a 15-foot-high cake? At The King’s Table is a funny and fascinating insight into the dietary idiosyncrasies and secrets of the monarchy.

And with a foreword by culinary wizard Heston Blumenthal, it really is a feast fit for a king. £24.95, Merrell Publishers.

METHOD Muddle the cucumber, spinach leaves and green apple with crushed ice. Add in the coriander, gin, lemon and agave syrup. Mix thoroughly and top up with sparkling water.

Garnish with a coriander leaf, spinach leaf, slice of cucumber, dry lemon slice and a cherry.

Charlie owns and runs several venues in southwest London; inception-group.com

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09/12/2013 16:21

Rayner OF TERROR MADE A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION TO EAT ETHICALLY? FOOD CRITIC & BRIXTON RESIDENT JAY RAYNER TELLS ALEXANDRA JONES WHY IT'S ALL A LOAD OF BALONEY...

ILLUSTRATION BY LIZ CLEMENTS

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C

an you imagine how fisticuffs between Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and me would look? It’d be like that punch-up scene in Bridget Jones, two posh boys fighting. It would be awful,’ laughs Brixton-based writer and food critic Jay Rayner, quite unperturbed by the question. Well now that he’s put a scene to it, I can’t help but imagine...‘Stop it! Take it right out of your head Alex!’

Alright, I admit, it isn’t a particularly cerebral line of questioning but for his new book – A Greedy Man in A Hungry World: How (almost) everything you thought you knew about food is wrong (£12.99 William Collins) – Jay Rayner has come out fighting.

The question is who’s going to take a hit?

Hugh F-W, floppy haired arbiter of so many of the foodie myths that Rayner debunks in the book seems to be an obvious target.

‘No, of course there won’t be fisticuffs with Hugh! There’s a nuanced argument here and I think Hugh would find an awful lot with which to agree.’

Oh, alright then, I’ll leave Hugh out of it.

See, there are things that you and I think we know about food. There are rules that we follow, boxes that we do our darndest to tick: local, seasonal, low-carbon. These by-words represent what Rayner calls the ‘great sacred cows of ethical foodie-ism’.

And it’s to our credit that most of us want to be better consumers; it’s a noble enough endeavour. It’s just that we haven’t got it quite right: ‘I’m about to lead most of those sacred cows out into the market square and shoot them dead,’ warns Rayner at the beginning of A Greedy Man in A Hungry World. And, oh boy, he doesn’t disappoint (Hugh – look away).

According to the book, farmers markets are ‘a lifestyle statement, just as buying a Chanel handbag is a lifestyle statement.’

And what’s more ‘this lifestyle statement now comes with a greasy veneer of false self-righteousness.’ Ouch. ‘Grow your own’ is a ‘loose and fanciful’ notion.

Supermarkets are not evil. Apart from when they are evil. ‘I’m an ornery bastard, it has to be said,’ Rayner tells me when I ask what made him write the book. ‘I tend to look at conventional wisdom slightly askance; I’m just a bit suspicious of it.’

Offered up between deliciously entertaining snippets of his life, this treatise-to-food-sustainability-cummemoir is funny and pacey and full of lightbulb-moment insights. ‘I’m surrounded by other food policy books that are tedious in

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the extreme, you know, preachy and finger wag-y so I didn’t want to write that. I thought it would at least be mildly entertaining to write it in the form of a memoir, where the memoir impacted on the question of food.

That’s who I am. You’ve only to look at me to know that I might have a bit of an appetite.’

It’s an appetite that has served him well. As food critic for the Observer his reviews are so widely read and well respected that a Rayner thumbs-up can be akin to a sprinkling of fairy dust, turning previously “undiscovered” backstreet bistros into middle-class must-visits. Though this doesn’t always make him popular with the locals some of whom, you get the sense, see it as a destruction of something that is theirs and private.

‘I’ve been accused of being ‘a one man gentrification machine’ on a local community website called urban75,’ admits Rayner, wryly. ‘All

RAYNER RECOMMENDS

KAOSARN

Brixton Village Market, Coldharbour Ln, SW9 8PR

HONEST BURGER

UNIT 12, Brixton Village, SW9 8PR

MAMA LAN’S

UNIT 18, Brixton Village, SW9 8PR

because I’m drawing attention to places and therefore making people come and it’s all my fault.’

Fittingly then, localism (the idea that you should shop local because tomatoes from the farm down the road or lamb from the field round the corner, are more environmentally sound than their foreign-produced counterparts) is one of the sacred cows that is shot dead in the book.

‘There was a moment when the New Zealand report landed in my hands [when I realised that] everything that I’d suspected was true,’ he tells me. For Rayner, the New Zealand report (or Food Miles – Comparative Energy/ Emissions Performance of New Zealand’s Agriculture Industry) ‘was the final nail in the coffin of localism’.

He goes on to argue that in terms of food production it is necessary to think globally rather than locally, but admits that ‘how British consumers can impact upon global

sustainability is a ‘knoty’ question.’

‘A lot of the book is diagnosis; it’s telling you what’s going on out there in the world. In meat production, for example, meat will become so much more expensive that we will be forced to alter our routes to animal protein. There are already projects underway at a couple of European Universities to extract proteins from insects and within five to ten years there will be [insect based] powders turning up in the cheaper meat products. I mean, it’s not like we’re going to start going ‘‘oh I must get another bag of crickets for dinner’’.

Most Brits won’t even eat bloody langoustine because they’ve got eyes and claws and look too much like scorpions, and they’re lovely. As a result, we will turn full circle, we will go back to eating proper meat in a far more specialised manner, hopefully buying a lot more of it from a high street butcher where there’s a shorter supply chain.’

So there is still room for local?

‘The thing about the book is that I don’t believe in polarized arguments. It has been a habit of the food world to say that if you think there is a place for industrial scale agriculture, you approve of the very worst excesses of big agri, and obviously, I’m not. Or if you say localism isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, that gives you licence to shop wherever you like and I’m not saying that either. I think what I’m really calling for in the book is a change in the way we think about things. Do not just go for the lazy assumptions, unpick them. Have a deep think about how things actually work.’

Or at the very least, savour that Sunday pork chop while you can still get it…

Jay Rayner appeared at Wimbledon BookFest to discuss themes from his latest book 'A Greedy Man in a Hungry World'; wimbledonbookfest.org

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10/12/2013 12:03

Single Estate Spirits Country Life.indd2 1 FULL PAGE.indd

7/8/13 16:39:55 09/12/2013 11:33

Call in for: Brunch, lunch or dinner Freshly roasted coffee 100% homemade bread, cakes & pies Healthy sandwiches Fully licensed for beers & wines Free range meat Soft play area for children

285 Putney Bridge Road Putney SW15 2PT Tel: 020 8780 9393 E: team@theputneycanteen.co.uk www.theputneycanteen.co.uk

We’re Open Mon: 7.00 am - 4.00 pm Tues - Fri: 7.00 am - 11.00 pm Sat: 8.00 am - 11.00 pm Sun: 8.00 am - 5.00 pm

C LEAVERS FREE RANGE BUTCHERS

285 PUTNEY BRIDGE ROAD, PUTNEY SW15 2PT Tel: 020 8780 2285

E: meat@cleaversbutchers.com

www.cleaversbutchers.com

At Cleavers we believe in locally sourced, quality artisan foods BUT at value prices.

FEEL FREE TO POP IN AND CHAT OR BROWSE Our meat comes from a selection of wonderful farmers, many small holders raising just 30 animals at a time. traditionally reared • farm assured • responsibly farmed OPEN SUNDAYS & EVERYDAY TILL LATE

PUTNEY CANTEEN.indd 2

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FOOD & TRAVEL

PUB OF THE MONTH

THE DOG & FOX WIMBLEDON

R E S TAU R A N T R E V I E W

Dalila

Georgie Lane-Godfrey has a sociable supper in Battersea

I

, myself, have never been to Lebanon. In my head though, it’s full of Arab men sat around in Bedouin tents, eating communal feasts as they laugh together convivially.

Admittedly, this might be influenced by an image from a travel brochure I once saw, but nevertheless, I turned up to Dalila in Battersea hoping to discover my Arabic fantasy made manifest.

Alas, there was no Bedouin tent.

There was, however, a warm welcome to this fresh, modern and unpretentious restaurant. Determined to recreate my romanticised Middle Eastern ideal, I lost no time in ordering a selection of hot mezze to start.

Looking around the room, this seemed to be the order of the day, as tables of friends shared these small plates to a gentle background hum of conversation and laughter. There might not be a tent, but my longed-for sociable feast, it seemed, was still on the cards.

My friend and I ordered a delicious, flavourful moussaka, some spicy Lebanese sausages or ‘soujek’ (also, incidentally, the name of the Absolutely office’s much-loved sausage dog), some crunchy, fresh falafel and Fattoush – a simple salad dish yet a tricky one to get right. Happily though for Dalila, they nailed it.

We also ordered some hommos, which could have a had a little more kick, but the diced marinated lamb and pine kernels adorning it were seriously tasty and added the missing favour, making us not-so-convivially battle for these tasty morsels in amongst the purée (I won – my friend had to sheepishly wipe clean his hommos-splattered hand after being thwacked with the serving spoon).

And on the subject of serving, it’s important to give the staff here a special mention. Their friendly yet unobtrusive service was exceptional – the food seemed to magically appear and disappear again from under our noses without the slightest interruption to our conversation.

Onto the main, and the mixed grill of chargrilled skewers of seasoned minced lamb, marinated chicken and lamb cubes. The potato was slightly undercooked, but the tender, smoky meat and sweet grilled peppers more than made up for this. We skipped dessert having overindulged on the mezze starter, but we left eyeing the baklawa ruefully, wishing we’d saved room. Next time…

LOOK With a welcoming country club feel, The Dog and Fox is packed with bygone treasures, from the row of antique butler’s bells to the vintage tennis racquets on the walls.

VIBE A real hub for locals, The Dog & Fox never fails to have something exciting on, whether it’s the Big Dog Quiz on a Sunday night, a game master class or a craft beer tasting. Don’t miss one of the appearances from ‘Racquet’ – a great band made up of local ex-tennis players.

FOOD Unsurprisingly the signature dish from Scottish Head Chef Keith Stewart is the steak, featuring the highest quality Aberdeen Angus certified beef. Mouth-wateringly delicious, all steaks are aged for 21 days for extra flavour. The roasts here are also excellent – the rare breed Gloucester Old Spot pork, served with goose-fat roasted potatoes, seasonal veg and Yorkshire pudding, is nothing short of perfection.

DRINK Yes, there are great beers and wines, but the big thing here is the cocktail menu. We recommend the Zingy Bramble, an English countryside spin on a Cosmpolitan made with Bombay Sapphire, lemon juice, Gome syrup and Crème de Mure.

VERDICT The refurb has paid off and The Dog and Fox is back as the local of choice for discerning Villagers.

FIND IT 24 High Street, Wimbledon, SW19, 020 8946 6565; dogandfoxpub.co.uk

123 Queenstown Road, SW8, 020 7622 0555; dalila.co.uk

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WOMAN

ON TOP

ACCLAIMED CHEF AND FORMER STOCKWELL RESIDENT ANGELA HARTNETT TALKS COOKING, CAREERS AND THE LAUNCH OF HER LATEST VENTURE, MERCHANTS TAVERN What kind of thing do you like to cook at home?

A bowl of pasta! Something quite easy. You’re not going to sit there doing something fancy-pants on a night off, just something tasty – that’s the most important thing to me.

Hello Angela. Tell us about Merchants Tavern.

It’s a collaboration between myself, Patrick Clayton-Malone and Dominic Lake of [boutique British diner chain] Canteen and Neil Borthwick.

Why is this new venture different? What are you hoping to achieve with it?

The main aim is to make it a successful restaurant that establishes itself over many years, not just a two-minute wonder that opens one week and closes the next. We want this restaurant to launch Neil.

Obviously at first Paddy, Dom and I will be at the forefront because we have so much experience, but in a couple of months time we’ll step back and let Neil get on with it, very much like Gordon [Ramsay, Hartnett’s mentor] did with me.

You’re one of a long line of chefs who’ve worked under Wandsworth local Ramsay. How would you describe him?

Gordon’s great, I wouldn’t be sitting here today without him. People knock him but they forget what he’s done for the industry. All the chefs he’s trained are doing phenomenally well. Look at Marcus [Wareing], look at Jason [Atherton], look at Mark Sargeant and Mark Askew – all great chefs who were trained under him.

What was it like working with Marcus Wareing?

We’re still good friends and I see him socially. We had our

How do you find the experience of cooking for TV? I certainly don’t consider myself a TV chef, because I don’t do it enough, but I’ve been lucky enough to appear on Hell’s Kitchen and Saturday Kitchen. I don’t aspire to be a TV chef. You have to look after your bread and butter – your restaurants.

Do you think the industry is tougher on female chefs?

It’s never affected me. You’re not judged on your gender; you’re judged on your cooking and that’s always tough.

moments, because he and I probably spent more time together than Gordon and I, really. What was good was that he went through it all as well; he started from the bottom as a sous chef like me and worked his way up. He’s been a bit of a mentor at times; if I ever needed advice, I’d ask Marcus.

When well-known chefs are friends, do they have each other over for dinner?

Well, yes, I’ve had Marcus over for parties. I’ve actually had lots of chef friends over for dinner. And although there’s

a competitive spirit in the industry, when you’re friends it should surpass that. One of the great things in this business is how supportive people can be.

We’ve found that in the last few weeks when we’ve been working on the Merchant’s Tavern. All the locals have told us to let them know if we need anything, if we’re short of anything…

Chris Galvin has a restaurant round here, James Ferguson at Beagle, the guys from Clove Club – they’ve all been great.

And I’ve done the same when someone’s opened near me.

That’s what it’s all about.

How do you think the industry has changed over the years?

I suppose it’s easier on hours and better pay, but it’s more competitive than ever. People have become more critical because they travel and are more knowledgeable about food and wine. At the end of the day, we’re not alone in that; everyone has to work hard to succeed. I just think it’s an industry that you have to love if you want to stay in it; if you’re half-hearted, it will show. It demands total commitment.

35-42 Charlotte Road, EC2A, 020 7060 5335; merchantstavern.co.uk

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Paradise

FOUND M

R’S

T S S AD

BETH FRYER DISCOVERS A TROPICAL PARADISE AT MAURITIUS’S BEACHCOMBER TROU AUX BICHES RESORT & SPA

TS

auritius is one of those places which grows on you slowly. Don’t get me wrong, I was delighted to be stepping off the plane, but it wasn’t the desert island of honeymooners that I had been expecting. Efficiently organised, Mauritius seemed almost disappointingly developed and the spring-time climate here in the south of the island wasn’t exactly welcoming.

This impression, of course, changed as soon as we headed north to Grand Baie and our home for the duration of our stay – the Beachcomber Trou Aux Biches Hotel & Spa. Here, the postcard-perfect images make sense. We’re greeted with smiles and a refreshing cocktail in the reception overlooking an expanse of infinity pools, all perfectly framed by a background of palm trees and a beautiful blue sea – a picturesque indicator of the days to come.

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Once checked in, we’re driven on a golf buggy to our aptly named Tropical Suite. The room is set within the hotel’s 35 hectares of lush tropical gardens and is one of 333 suites and villas, which have been organised cleverly so that each still retains an element of privacy and seclusion.

Our room is one of a group that looks into a central garden with a pool lying serenely in the middle – other rooms benefit from their own private pools. We also have our own outdoor tropical shower which, alongside the rain shower and bath indoors, creates a sense that you really have escaped to your own jungle hideaway.

It is these tropical gardens which make the hotel truly special. When I decide to head out and explore, I’m greeted by an abundance of colourful flora and fauna to which the gardens are home. It feels uncannily like paradise. Wandering out of my beautiful exotic surroundings, I emerge onto the beach – a pristine expanse of white sand and blue sea just shy of 2km in length. It’s also blissfully peaceful, only interrupted by the rattle of the Toy Storyesque golf buggy, which drives back and forth, niftily serving refreshments from the vending machine on board.

Of course, as beautiful as the gardens are, there is always the niggling worry with a hotel like this that there won’t be enough here to keep you entertained, especially if, like me, you’re not the type of person who can easily just kick back and relax on a sun lounger for days on end. We needn’t have worried – the range of activities here far surpassed our expectations.

Head down to the boathouse and you’ll find a wealth of water sports, many of which are complimentary. I decide to try water-skiing to feed my hunger for action, which is great fun, but I’m shown up by

a lady who is twice my age and has twice the skill. The windsurfing lessons prove less successful (for which we have to take full responsibility) so we instead resign ourselves to a sedate pedalo cruise around the calm, sheltered waters of the bay.

But you’re not by any means confined to the hotel, and the friendly staff are more than happy to organise day trips for you.

We went on a snorkelling trip to explore the nearby coral –a mini aquarium, just ten minutes by speed boat out of the bay. Here, expect to see the cast of Finding Nemo (thankfully minus the sharks). My other half also tried his hand at a spot of deep sea fishing whilst I headed to the Spa by Clarins (I feel sea sick when presented with too many speed bumps let alone an actual ocean). Here I indulged in an excellent

facial at the hands of beautician Wendy.

As she talks me through the treatment, it proves so very relaxing that by the time I emerge to meet my boyfriend I feel as good as my now glowing skin looks.

With trips to see the local marine life and tropical gardens on hand, Trou Aux Biches is an obvious choice for nature lovers. But it also happens to be perfectly situated for day trips to visit the National Botanical Gardens in nearby Pamplemousses. Amongst the miraculous nature here the gargantuan water lilies are the sight to see, making us stop to gaze in wonder as we strolled around the beautiful grounds. Hire a guide – not only will their expertise put the incredible plants you are seeing into context but their multi-lingual wit will catch you off guard.

However, the highlight of our trip had to be when we were swimming just around the bay at Trou Aux Biches. To our delight, a pod of dolphins appeared in the waters and came up to say hello. It was one of those experiences which you expect only to see in brochures and not in real life, and yet it was totally unorchestrated, a moment of pure serendipitous magic which summed up our time here in Mauritius perfectly. That night, we dined at Le Deck, one of the six restaurants at Trou Aux Biches, looking out to the sparkling sea. After dinner, we slipped off our shoes and walked along the soft sand by moonlight – the perfect end to a truly enchanted day.

7 nights at Trou Aux Biches Resort & Spa in a Junior Suite on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis including Economy Class flights with Ai Mauritius and private hotel transfers from £1795 per person sharing. Call Beachcomber Tours on 01483 445 685 or visit beachcombertours.co.uk

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09/12/2013 16:59

Latin Odyssey Exquisitely Tailored Travel To South & Central America

A real adventure...

Inspired by you

The Atacama Desert, Chile

PERU

The incredible Incas, Lake Titicaca, colonial Cuzco and Machu Picchu

BRAZIL

Jaguar spotting, Rio de Janeiro and the best beaches in South America

ECUADOR

Colourful markets, snow-capped volcanoes & the Galapagos Islands

PANAMA

Luxury hotels on remote islands, excellent birding and the Panama Canal

CHILE

Lunar landscapes in the Atacama Desert, lakes and Patagonian Mountains

Private Presentations in our office in Putney, or at your own home. Call us to start planning the adventure of a lifetime

info@latinodyssey.com | Tel: 0208 7041389 | www.latinodyssey.com Established for over 10 years, the original Latin America Specialists

LATIN.ODYSSEY_NOV.indd 2

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ABSOLU TELY

FOOD & TRAVEL THE SPA

Drenched in natural light, The Bailiffscourt Spa is an airy space with big windows providing views over green fields and the sea beyond.

Treatments by Temple Spa are perfect after a dose of the Sussex sea air – we recommend a rejuvenating full body massage. If you can manage the dash outside, a swim in the (heated) outdoor pool is particularly atmospheric.

BAILIFFSCOURT SUSSEX

After a glass of merlot by the fire in one of the cosy lounges, the Tapestry Restaurant beckons. Medieval architecture, dark wood, mullioned windows and candle light set an intimate atmosphere by night, matched by a menu of reimagined British classics with fresh, local produce. We ooh-ed over perfectly poached duck egg, rump of lamb and a tart-yetsweet caramelised apple crème brulée. We were equally pleased with the wood pigeon, roasted monkfish and chocolate and praline delice, all the right side of indulgent for a winter getaway.

THE HOTEL

Walking into Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa is like stepping back in time to the 1920s when it was built as a home for the Guinness family. Constructed from medieval timber and stone collected from derelict 13th century buildings nearby, it still feels like a private family home with its cosy nooks and roaring fires, four poster beds and oak beams, all set within 30 acres of parkland. Even better, the pebbled beach at Climping is just a short stroll away.

THE RESTAURANT

THE ROOM

The thirty nine rooms and suites are set across different buildings connected by oak-panelled passageways and sat around a rose-filled courtyard. We love the Baylies Suite, the hotel’s signature room and the definition of a romantic retreat – think vaulted ceilings, rich tapestries, antique furniture and a palatial bathroom with deep his ‘n’ hers roll-top baths.

£ T H E DA M AG E

Rooms at Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa start at £210 per room per night, based on two sharing on a B&B basis – including use of spa and VAT. A threecourse dinner at the Tapestry restaurant is £49.50 pp. To book: 01444 416 111 or reservations@bailiffscourt.com; hshotels.co.uk

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in

DISCOVERMORE

Pl

ac e Ye s A ar va s 7 ila , 8 ble &9

traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting

Open Days

stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities,

January 13th/30th (9.30am/7pm)

a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is

February 4th/27th (9.30am/9.30am)

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping

a place where you would want to be – a place of learning and discovery, laughter and friendship.

March 11th/25th (9.30am/9.30am)

T: 0208 742 2038 E: info@kewhouseschool.com W: www.kewhouseschool.com

The new independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London

KEW HOUSE SCHOOL.indd 2

@kewhouseschool

04/12/2013 10:11

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FAMILY FUN Muste

Hav

BUNNY LOVE

Emma Bridgewater does Beatrix Potter? We’re as smitten as Tom Kitten. Available from the Pottery Café, 153 Northcote Road, SW11, 020 7223 3388; emmabridgewater.co.uk

AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES

Taschen’s new compilation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales comes with a selection of beautiful artwork from the 1840s to the 1980s. Magical. £24.99; taschen.com

ALL ABOARD

Add a little vintage charm to the playroom with this pedaloperated fire engine. Perfect for aspiring fire fighters…£220; hedgehogshop.co.uk

Kids

N

TES

’s itork EdP ic

STORY TIME

We love Clapham-based brand When We Were Little, whose beautiful clothes are accompanied by illustrated storybooks. For example, the Savannah Stories collection tells the tales of the African animals featured in their designs. Order one of the very sweet sleep suits and you’ll have bedtime down. whenwewerelittle.co.uk

LITTLE LADIES

Inspired by days in cosy wooden cottages, Spanish brand La Coqueta’s warm colour palette gives its designs a vintage feel, whilst its high quality fabrics still have classic appeal. lacoquetakids.com

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09/12/2013 16:42

The Ursuline Preparatory School Wimbledon An Independent Catholic School for Girls aged 3 to 11 and Co-educational Nursery for children aged 3 to 4 Welcoming children of all faiths and denominations

Open Morning

25th January 2014, 10am - 12 noon

7+ TASTER DAY Friday 10th January 2014 - 9.30 to 11.30 am

OPEN DAY Saturday 25th January - 10.00am to 12 noon

Come and visit us - you will be sure of a warm welcome The Ursuline Preparatory School, 18 The Downs, Wimbledon, London SW20 8HR Tel: 020 8947 0859

URSULINE PREP SCHOOL.indd 2

www.ursuline-prep.merton.sch.uk

admissions@wups.co.uk

10/12/2013 12:51

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EDUCATION EDUCATION

FREE THINKING MANY OF LONDON’S FREE SCHOOLS ARE DARING TO BE DIFFERENT AND PROSPECTIVE PARENTS ARE ALL FOR IT. AMANDA CONSTANCE LOOKS AT WHAT SOME HAVE TO OFFER...

hat was a mere twinkle in Michael Gove’s eye a few years ago has given birth to an education revolution.

Since the Education Secretary gave the first free schools the green light in September 2011, their number has grown to 174 nationwide with many more approved to open in the next academic year. Many of these are already attracting more pupils than they have room for. In a recent survey by the Department of Education, some reported as many as ten applications for every place.

It’s a familiar story in London, where there is a critical lack of places at both primary and secondary stages, in both the independent and state sectors. Parents are queuing at the gates of the capital’s free schools, and not simply because they don’t have other options. Free schools are just that, free, offering parents and educators the chance to set their own curriculum and usher in some innovative approaches that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Maria Evans is the vice-chair of governors at Gladstone Free School, a secondary free school in north-west London that will open its doors to students next September. Previously the director of education at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Evans has more than 25 years experience in art and education and first looked into establishing a school at the behest of other local parents.

‘We’re setting up something enormously ambitious,’ Evans explains, adding that the teaching at GFS won’t

W

deviate much from the national curriculum. ‘It’s not about changing the curriculum but about teaching it in a different and innovative way. We are looking at how we deliver teaching.’

GFS will be a small school, no more than 800 pupils, a luxury in inner London state education. It will have a mandatory extended day, with classes ending at 5.30 except on Fridays. ‘Enrichment’ or extracurricular activities will be hugely encouraged and progressive teaching practices, such as moving around the room, experiential learning and lessons outside the classroom will all form part of the core ethos.

And before you imagine this will be an enclave for every Milo and Tallulah in northwest London, think again.

GFS will be non-selective and teach mixed ability classes, with pupils drawn from the immediate catchment area.

The team behind GFS took inspiration from Greenwich Free School, a secondary on the other side of London that now teaches years seven and eight and aims to have only 700 pupils when it is at capacity.

It has a ‘high expectation, no excuses, no shortcuts ethos’, says its head, Lee Faith. The school runs an extended day from 7.45am to 5.30pm and enrichment activities in the afternoon include Latin and debating. It is already seven times oversubscribed.

The Judith Kerr Primary School in Herne Hill, south London, offers something entirely different. It is the country’s first bilingual state school, with teaching in German and English. It began taking

Revealing Royals Proving its regal credentials, Whitgift called on its patron HRH The Duke of York to open the school’s new boarding house. A state-of-the-art building, Founder’s House is the first boarding house in the school’s 400-year history, offering weekly and flexiboarding for boys from all over the UK and abroad.

His Royal Highness also unveiled a magnificent 7’2” statue of Whitgift’s founder John Whitgift, Elizabeth I’s last Archbishop of Canterbury, tying the schools past, present and future together all on the same day. Whitgift, Haling Road, CR2, 020 8688 9222; whitgift.co.uk

pupils from the age of four at the start of this autumn term.

Another bilingual free school, The Marco Polo Academy, will be the first English-Chinese bilingual primary school in the UK when it opens in Barnet in September 2014.

‘The emergence of bilingual schools is a good example of how free schools are responding to the demands of local parents and driving innovation in schools,’ says Natalie Evans, the director of the New Schools Network, the charity set up to help people planning free schools.

And it isn’t just new schools that are taking up the free school baton. Established

schools such as the muchadmired Burlington Danes Academy and gold-standard Marylebone Girls are extending their franchise with free schools. BDA will open a primary free school on its 10acre site next September and Marylebone Boys will open to year seven boys at the same time.

What marks out many of the free schools, however, is a return to tradition and academic rigour. When Fulham Boys, a new free school in south-west London, held its first open day, 650 people attended. The secondary school is due to open in a temporary home in Fulham next autumn.

Built on ‘Christian principles and values’, its website looks like that of a public school.

Governors include Barrister Caroline Grieve, wife of Attorney General Dominic Grieve, and Elizabeth Phillips, headteacher at St Marylebone CofE School.

This ‘old ways are the best ways’ approach has done well for the West London Free School.

The headline-grabbing school is self-consciously traditional; Classics and Latin are compulsory, discipline is strict and competition is encouraged.

Two years after opening, it remains hugely oversubscribed.

They are controversial and not without their troubles but, whatever your political stripes, no one can deny that free schools are having their moment.

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Smart picks from over a million properties.

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JANUARY 2014

ABSOLUTELY

PROPERTY

DRAKEFIELD ROAD, SW17 A substantial late Victorian terraced house situated within a prime road forming part of The Heaver Estate. The house has been imaginatively renovated and extended by the present owners to exacting standards throughout, and is tastefully and beautifully presented.

£2,000,000 Freehold Jacksons, Wandsworth Common020 8672 9077 jacksonsestateagents.com

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STOTT CLOSE, SW18 An impressive family townhouse that has been stylishly and cleverly modernised throughout with extensions to the rear and in to the loft. Approx. 2,302 sq ft. Energy Rating: C. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shower room, reception room, kitchen/dining room, garage/utility room, garden, off-street parking.

Freehold Guide Price ÂŁ1,350,000

WILNA ROAD, SW18 A beautiful Victorian terraced house which has been the subject of a thorough programme of renovation approximately two years ago. Approx. 1,409 sq ft. Energy Rating: C. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen/dining/family room, garden.

Freehold Guide Price ÂŁ885,000

WANDSWORTH 020 8871 3033 wandsworth@johndwood.co.uk

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BRYNMAER ROAD, SW11 A well proportioned house which has been designed to the most exacting of standards, situated close to Battersea Park. Approx. 2,500 sq ft. Energy Rating: D. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, garden.

Freehold Guide Price £2,700,000

ORVILLE ROAD, SW11 A beautifully designed house, providing a good balance of living and entertaining space. Approx. 2,008 sq ft. Energy Rating: D. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, roof terrace.

Freehold Guide Price £1,999,950

VALIANT HOUSE, SW11 A flat situated on the 6th floor (with lift), close to Battersea Square. Benefitting from views over the River. Approx. 1,150 sq ft. Energy Rating: C. 3 bedrooms, bathroom, 2 reception rooms, balcony, south facing roof terrace.

Freehold Share Guide Price £1,000,000

BATTERSEA 020 7293 0348 battersea@johndwood.co.uk

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THE CHASE, SW16 An exceptionally well presented family home located on this desirable road, subject of an extensive refurbishment with the open-plan kitchen leading out onto the garden. Approx. 1,770 sq ft. Energy Rating: C. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen/dining/family room, off-street parking, garden.

Freehold Guide Price ÂŁ599,950

ALDERBROOK ROAD, SW12 A spacious split-level apartment on the top floor of this period house in the desirable Nightingale Triangle.

Located close to Clapham Common, local transport links and shops. Approx. 610 sq ft. Energy Rating: E. Bedroom, bathroom, open-plan kitchen/reception room.

Freehold Share Guide Price ÂŁ450,000

CLAPHAM 020 8673 2854 clapham@johndwood.co.uk

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PILSDON CLOSE, SW19 An impressive modern house located within a well maintained private cul-de-sac. Approx. 1,340 sq ft.

Energy Rating: C. 4 bedrooms (master with en suite bathroom and dressing area), family bathroom, open plan sitting/dining room, WC, walled rear garden, allocated parking, no onward chain.

Freehold Guide Price ÂŁ825,000

HAMILTON MEWS, SW18 A superb flat in this highly desirable gated development, close to Southfields and Earlsfield with their Underground and mainline train stations. Approx. 854 sq ft. Energy Rating: D. 2 double bedrooms, family bathroom, en suite shower room, living/dining room, allocated parking space.

Leasehold Guide Price ÂŁ450,000

SOUTHFIELDS 020 8870 8811 southfields@johndwood.co.uk

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06/12/2013 04/12/2013 16:16 12:28

Devereux Road

£2,695,000 Freehold

This incredible new build house has been built with a stunning period style façade and a high end contemporary interior. The architect has designed the internal space, with modern day family needs in mind from the start – rare for this area. It is obvious that the modern design not only makes for the perfect layout, but also exploits the flow of natural light throughout the building.

• Five bedrooms • Kitchen/ Family room • Reception/ Drawing Room • Five Bathrooms (four en-suite) • Media/ Playroom • Utility room • Two downstairs cloakrooms • Wine room • Gymnasium • Outside Patio • Garden • Ten year new build warranty

131 Nor thcote Road London SW11 6PS T:020 7228 5111 batterseasales@ramptonbaseley.com www.ramptonbaseley.com

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The Garden House

Price On Application Freehold

This incredible contemporary property has been designed by the present owners with exceptional attention to detail and an extremely high level finish throughout. The garden house is arranged over two levels, ground and lower ground floor and the layout has been arranged in order to give all of the principle rooms excellent natural light.

• Four double bedrooms • Kitchen/family room • Reception room • Family bathroom • Two shower rooms • Garden • Two sunken patios • Substantial built in storage

131 Nor thcote Road London SW11 6PS T:020 7228 5111 batterseasales@ramptonbaseley.com www.ramptonbaseley.com

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The Orangery £1,750,000 Freehold

Occupying a large plot on this sought after residential road is this superb Freehold house with excellent lateral space. The entire accommodation is arranged over the ground floor (a rare find in the area) with excellent proportions in all of the principle rooms. One of the major features that is instantly noticeable is the tremendous sense of natural light.

• Three bedrooms • Reception room • Kitchen/dining room • Family bathroom • En suite shower room • Conservatory • Patio garden • Secure off street parking

Ballingdon Road £1,750,000 Freehold This attractive five bedroom Victorian house is positioned on one of the most sought after residential streets between the commons.

The property has been extended on the ground floor into the side return, on the top floor into the loft space and is immaculately presented throughout.

• Five double bedrooms • Reception room • Kitchen • Family room • Ground floor w/c • Family bath/shower room • En suite bath/ shower room • En suite bathroom • Garden • Cellar

131 Nor thcote Road London SW11 6PS T:020 7228 5111 batterseasales@ramptonbaseley.com www.ramptonbaseley.com

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Bennerley Road £650,000 Leasehold

This beautiful two bedroom flat is arranged over the first floor of a double fronted Victorian house. The flat is light and airy and offers excellent lateral living space with the majority of the square footage used in the principal rooms instead of being wasted in hallways and corridors. The accommodation is presented in excellent decorative order with a light and neutral theme.

• Two Double Bedrooms • Reception Room • Kitchen/ Breakfast Room • Bathroom

Henderson Road £1,050,000 Leasehold An exceptionally rare find in the Toast Rack. This superb garden flat occupies the entire ground floor of this grand house measuring in excess of 1250 sq ft. This stunning property has a tremendous sense of light and space, with excellent proportions in all of the principal rooms.

• Three bedrooms • Semi open-plan reception/kitchen • Family bathroom • En suite shower room • South-East facing garden • Off street parking • Underfloor heating

131 Nor thcote Road London SW11 6PS T:020 7228 5111 batterseasales@ramptonbaseley.com www.ramptonbaseley.com

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Wakehurst Road £1,100 per week

An extremely impressive Edwardian house located on Wakehurst Road which has been tastefully refurbished, neutrally decorated throughout and fully extended into the basement and loft. The ground floor has been opened up to make a very spacious reception room which leads on to the garden and kitchen.

• Five Double Bedrooms • Family Bathroom • En-Suite Bathroom • Shower Room • Double Reception Room • Kitchen • Garden • Cinema/Play Room • Unfurnished

Broomwood Road £900 per week A lovely family house measuring just over 2,100 sq foot and presented in excellent condition throughout. This natural four bedroom house has been extended into the side return in the kitchen and basement to create an ample amount of living space.

• Four double bedrooms • Kitchen/breakfast room • Double reception room • Bathroom • Two shower rooms • Basement playroom • Utility room • Garden • Unfurnished

131 Nor thcote Road London SW11 6PS T:020 7228 5111 batterseasales@ramptonbaseley.com www.ramptonbaseley.com

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£750 per week Leathwaite Road

Fawe Park Road

• Four bedrooms • Double reception room • Eat in kitchen • Three bathrooms • Patio garden

• Double reception room • Kitchen/breakfast room • Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom • Three further bedrooms • Family bathroom • West facing garden • Unfurnished

£595 per week Bennerley Road

Keswick Road

• Three double bedrooms • Open plan kitchen/reception room • En suite shower room • Bathroom • Communal gardens • Decked terrace • Part furnished

£750 per week

£375 per week

• Reception room • Kitchen/breakfast room • Bathroom • Bedroom • Cellar • Furnished

131 Nor thcote Road London SW11 6PS T:020 7228 5111 batterseasales@ramptonbaseley.com www.ramptonbaseley.com

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IN THEIR OWN

WORDS NICOLE CHAMBERLAND Owner of Chamberland Residential Photography: Rebecca Noonan

A

s I emotionally write these words, it’s been 2 years , 312 days, 5 hours and 10 minutes since we first opened the doors at Chamberland Residential. I sat by myself in our old basement suite on the high street looking at the phone, waiting for it to ring. It was a week later when my first employee Natasha joined me and the rest is history...

I resigned from a big agency in Putney after almost 10 years as I wanted to create my own company with the client motto ”whatever makes them happy”, whilst being the absolute nicest people we could be. I know this sounds strange coming from an Estate Agent in an industry that has a less than desirable reputation, but it worked!

It was really me, the business partners and Natasha that built this company together in its first year. I’m not going to lie and say that I loved every minute of those days…because I didn’t, it was very challenging and incredibly humbling, wondering if I could afford toilet paper or printer ink after paying out salaries each month. I came from a big cushy

agency where you almost always won the business, to then having to constantly prove myself at every single turn. We got kicked down, knocked out, and shunned to the side quite a few times, but we persevered and I can now honestly say those days are well and truly behind us.

New clients actually call US now because they’ve seen our boards or heard of us elsewhere. Over half of our business last year was from returning clients as well as referrals, not only is this very gratifying but I know it is quite unique in an area such as Putney where Estate Agents seem to be a dime a dozen.

In just short of 3 years, I have gained an incredibly fun team of 5 motivated and smart individuals, a luxurious office (on the ground level) in central Putney, a great company reputation, two national awards under our belt and time out for myself (I enjoy Hot Yoga at “The House Of Yoga” in Putney). I’m so proud of the team and the hard work everyone has put in, but it’s still very early days and I’m certainly not

sat here with delusions of great riches and ordering a Porsche just yet! We started with nothing, went against the odds in a location full of big established agents and didn’t give up. Now we compete as one of the best agents in the area and anytime I think back to what we’ve achieved over the last 3 years I literally well up... and yes the team make fun of me all the time for it!

I will forever be in debt to those of my most beloved and dearest clients who gave us a chance from day one without question and who have always been supportive of Chamberland Residential... you know who you are and I will never forget you! Here’s to another prosperous year and great market in 2014!

020 8704 1313; chamberlandres.co.uk

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Poised And Ready For Any Season...

www.chamberlandres.co.uk | 020 8704 1313

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West Hill Road, Southfields

£1500pcm

A beautiful two bedroom maisonette, located within walking distance to East Putney Tube and all the local shops and restaurants. Offering a large bright lounge, a separate modern fitted kitchen, a contemporary bathroom with shower, excellent storage throughout and a private patio area leading to landscaped communal gardens. Off street parking is available on a first come first serve basis. Available February.

“

team as the very best I rate Nicole and her with. They really, ked wor r eve I’ve agents e they’re on the case onc and d har k really wor lity! qua l Rea x. rela can I know I ~ E. Nolan

“

lettings@chamberlandres.co.uk | sales@chamberlandres.co.uk 212 Upper Richmond Road, London, SW15 6TD Chamberland_DEC.indd 5

06/12/2013 16:41

OARE, WILTSHIRE ÂŁ2,750,000 FREEHOLD

Lydon Road, SW4 ÂŁ850 per week Furnished or Unfurnished

An extraordinary and individual modern country house in a stunning location. Built originally in 1962 for the artist John Merton, Pound House A delightful, four bedroom two bathroom house which has been beautifully refurbished. The house is light, airy and well proportioned is broadly Palladian in style and is a wide, single storey building with large windows over looking the gardens. It was extended in 1978 to and positioned in the heart of Clapham Old Town within moments of Clapham High Street. The green open spaces of Clapham include a garden room and a large studio complex including a workshop and dark room . The property currently has very high ceilings and Common are a short walk away. brick parapets surrounding the roof which has good storage space.

Four bedrooms | four bathrooms | garden room | hall | drawing room | studio complex | dining room | wine cellar | integrated garaging | small lake arboretum | Four bedroom house | Newly renovated | Two bathrooms | Fantastic location | Lawned garden | Double reception room over six acres of land

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06/12/2013 16:42

OARE, WILTSHIRE £2,750,000 FREEHOLD

Clapham Park Road, SW4 £550,000 Leasehold

An extraordinary and individual modern country house in a stunning location. Built originally in 1962 for the artist John Merton, Pound House A wonderfully light, top floor, two double bedroom, two bathroom apartment with fantastic views towards the city, two private terraces is broadly Palladian in style and is a wide, single storey building with large windows over looking the gardens. It was extended in 1978 to and a modern finish. The property is situated close to Clapham High Street with its wide selection of amenities including Sainsburys include a garden room and a large studio complex including a workshop and dark room . The property currently has very high ceilings and which is moments away, the open space of Clapham Common and the restaurants, shops and pubs of Clapham Old Town are within brick parapets surrounding the roof which has good storage space. easy walking distance.

Four bedrooms | four bathrooms | garden room | hall | drawing room | studio complex | dining room | wine cellar | integrated garaging | small lake arboretum | over six acres of land Two bedroom | Top floor apartment | Two bathrooms | Two private terraces | Dual aspect reception room | No onward chain

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06/12/2013 16:42

OARE, WILTSHIRE £2,750,000 FREEHOLD

Garfield Road, SW11

£1,195,000 Freehold

An extraordinary and individual modern country house in a stunning location. Built originally in 1962 for the artist John Merton, Pound House A truly impressive and unique Victorian house located in this prime residential road. The surprisingly spacious accommodation retains a is broadly Palladian in style and is a wide, single storey building with large windows over looking the gardens. It was extended in 1978 to wealth of period features, has an unusually large, private rear garden and provides a wonderful opportunity to extend further, subject to include a garden room and a large studio complex including a workshop and dark room . The property currently has very high ceilings and the usual planning consents. The beautiful green open spaces of Clapham Common are a short walk away and the house is extremely brick parapets surrounding the roof which has good storage space. well positioned for a number of excellent state and private schools, subject to catchment each year.

Four bedrooms | four bathrooms | garden room | hall | drawing room | studio complex | dining room | wine cellar | integrated garaging | small lake arboretum | Beautiful Victorian house | Three reception rooms | Three double bedrooms | Large private rear garden | 1711sq ft | Potential to extend further over six acres of land

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06/12/2013 16:43

OARE, WILTSHIRE £2,750,000 FREEHOLD

Acanthus Road, SW11

OIEO £499,950 Share of Freehold

An extraordinary and individual modern country house in a stunning location. Built originally in 1962 for the artist John Merton, Pound House A spacious and newly refurbished, two double bedroom garden flat, located in this purpose built period property, comprising just three is broadly Palladian in style and is a wide, single storey building with large windows over looking the gardens. It was extended in 1978 to flats. The well presented accommodation benefits from wonderful high ceilings, a fantastic private and enclosed rear garden and is include a garden room and a large studio complex including a workshop and dark room . The property currently has very high ceilings and ideally situated moments away from Clapham Junction. brick parapets surrounding the roof which has good storage space.

Four bedrooms | four bathrooms | garden room | hall | drawing room | studio complex | dining room | wine cellar | integrated garaging | small lake arboretum | Spacious garden flat | Well presented throughout | Two double bedrooms | Large open plan reception | Quiet cul-de-sac location over six acres of land

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020 7228 9265 battersea@winkworth.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

 Spotlight on

CLAPHAM

J



WA has recently completed a house in Clapham Old Town and the owners are settling back in to their newly refurbished home. The brief was to make this Victorian town house, with an existing extension, ‘work better’ for the clients, a young professional couple who work long hours and love all things Italian.

7 Kitchen/Dining Family Room Here the design team has created a new kitchen/dining extension which opens onto the garden. This is single storey with a solid, zinc clad roof which is pierced with a dramatic skylight.

� James Wells Architects 020 3008 4302; jameswellsarchitects.com

7 Exterior The rebuild and refurbishment of this four storey, end of terrace house has brought the house back to life and created beautiful new spaces which exceeded the clients’ expectations.

 PUBLIC

KNOWLEDGE

RAINY DAY

There aren’t many better places to hide away on a rainy day than the Clapham Picture House, with its unique style and in-house bar it’s simply unbeatable.

7 Sitting room The design of the sitting room is more traditional, with front bay window and the original wooden flooring exposed, which creates a deliberate contrast to the clean modern simplicity of the extension.

Alistair Hilton � Manager of John D Wood & Co., Clapham 020 8673 2854; johndwood.co.uk

Alistair Hilton gives us a tour around his neighbourhood

SPORTS & REC

Clapham Common is a hive of sporting activity with football, rugby and running clubs to name but a few. If you’re not the joining in type there is plenty of room to do your own regime.

BEST SCHOOL

Oliver House is one of several reputable schools within the area with the added bonus of being positioned on the common itself. It caters for children between 3-11.

FUN FOR FREE

There are several parks in the area but a great past time which doesn’t have to cost you a penny to peruse is the Venn Street food market which takes place every Saturday between 10am-4pm.

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Bede House, SW15

£2,450 PCM

Earlsfield Road, SW18

£1,750 PCM

• Three Bedroom Apartment • Prestigious Mansion Estate • 11 Acres Of Beautiful Grounds • Top Floor • Bright Reception • Dining Area • Fitted Kitchen • Smart Bathroom • Guest W.C • Large Master Bedroom • 2 Further Double Bedrooms • 24Hour Security • Off-Street Parking • Communal Grounds

• Stunning Garden Flat • Large Reception Room • Modern Kitchen • Two Double Bedrooms • Bathroom • En-Suite Shower Room • Large Private Garden • Cellar • Wood Floors • Central Location

Larpent Avenue, SW15

Oxford Road, SW15

£2,400 PCM

• Fantastic Split Level Flat • Period Conversion • Contemporary Kitchen • Three Double Bedrooms • Master Bathroom • Separate Shower Room • Guest W.C. • Utility Cupboard • Large Rooms • Private Garden • Upper West Putney • Sought After Road

£1,525 PCM

• Two Double Bedroom Flat • Reception Room • Modern Kitchen • Smart Bathroom With Shower • Moments From High Street, Mainline And Underground

194 Upper Richmond Road SW15 2SH / 139 Lower Richmond Road SW15 1EZ Tel: 020 8780 1100 / sales@warrenputney.co.uk / warrenputney.co.uk WARREN_B&C_dec.indd 2

09/12/2013 16:00

A handsome and substantial Victorian semi-detached five bedroom family home located in this prime Central Putney location.

The property offers over 2,600 Sq Ft. of balanced accommodation.

Thornhill Mews, SW15 £1,925,000

• Over 2,600 Sq Ft. • Semi-Detached • Entrance Hallway • Reception Room • Dining Room • Kitchen/Breakfast Room • Utility Room • Downstairs Cloakroom • Master Bedroom With Spacious En-Suite • Family Bathroom • Four Double Bedrooms

Offering over 3,000 Sq Ft. of accommodation, this is both a characterful and contemporary family home, located within this unique gated residential development moments from the River Thames.

Montserrat Road, SW15 £1,999,950

• Reception Hall • Double Reception Room • Kitchen/Breakfast Room • Utility Room • Cloakroom • Master Bedroom With En-Suite Bathroom & Dressing Room • Three Further Double Bedrooms (One En-Suite) • Study Area • Family Bathroom • Private Walled Garden

194 Upper Richmond Road SW15 2SH / 139 Lower Richmond Road SW15 1EZ WARREN_B&C_dec.indd 3

09/12/2013 16:01

T: 020 8780 1100

Egliston Road, SW15

warrenputney.co.uk

£3,500,000

• Detached Victorian Freehold House • Large West Facing Garden • Three Reception Rooms • 26 Ft Kitchen Breakfast Room • Guest W.C. • Master Bedroom With Large En-Suite Bathroom • Six Further Bedrooms • Modern Family Bathroom

Rotherwood Road, SW15

Putney Bridge Road, SW15

• Over 1900 Sq Ft. Of Accommodation • Double Reception Room • Cloakroom • Kitchen/Breakfast Room • Four Double Bedrooms • Family Bathroom • Study/Playroom • South Facing Garden • In Brandlehow School Catchment

£1,350,000 Highlands Heath, SW15

• River Road • Lower West Putney • Victorian Terraced House • Master Bedroom • Four Further Bedrooms • Two Family Bathrooms With Underfloor Heating • Modern Kitchen Breakfast Room • Double Reception Room • Cellar • Private West Facing Garden

£1,175,000

£499,950

• Share Of Freehold • 1930’s Mansion Block • 1157 Sq Ft. Apartment • Large Reception • Kitchen • Three Bedrooms • Master Bedroom En-Suite • Bathroom • Separate W.C. • Use Of Tennis And Squash Court • Private Off Street Parking

Tel: 020 8780 1100 / sales@warrenputney.co.uk / warrenputney.co.uk WARREN_B&C_dec.indd 4

09/12/2013 16:03

LET

BY

sullivanthomas.co.uk | carterjonas.co.uk

ALTHORP ROAD SW17

£750 P/W

A stunning light contemporary 3 bedroom Victorian house refurbished to a high standard and moments from Wandsworth Common.

• 3 Bedrooms

• En Suite Shower Room

• Reception Room

• Utility Room

• Kitchen/Family Room

• Garden

• 2 Bathrooms (1 En Suite) • Unfurnished

CANFORD ROAD SW11

£700 P/W

A lovely family house conveniently located in a popular road between the Commons.

Wandsworth Lettings: 020 8682 3121

• 4 Bedrooms

• 2 Bathrooms

• Reception Room

• Garden

• Kitchen/Breakfast Room

• Unfurnished

Full online details including the EPC are available by scanning this code using any QR code scanner

Wandsworth Lettings: 020 8682 3121

Part of a network of 9 offices in London and a further 20 across the country

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MELODY ROAD SW18

£1,800,000 F/H

This superb and fully extended period family house is in a wonderful location with a bright • 5 Double Bedrooms vista to the front and a west facing garden to the rear.

• Kitchen/Family Room

• 3 Bath/Shower Rooms • Utility Room

• Double Reception Room

• Cloakroom

• Play/Cinema Room

• West Facing Garden

HENDERSON ROAD SW18

£650,000 SOF

A stunningly presented, bright and spacious two double bedroom first floor flat.

• 2 Double Bedrooms

• Shower Room

• Reception Room

• Balcony

• Open Plan Kitchen

• Private Southerly Garden

Wandsworth Sales: 020 8767 7711

Full online details including the EPC are available by scanning this code using any QR code scanner

Wandsworth Sales: 020 8767 7711

sullivanthomas.co.uk | carterjonas.co.uk

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Property News EXTERIOR OF THE ROYAL VICTORIA PATRIOTIC BUILDING

LOCAL ESTATE AGENT SUPPORTS BALHAM NURSERY CHRISTMAS CHARITY EVENING � 020 8673 6111 aspire.com;

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reparations are in full swing for the annual Balham Nursery Christmas Charity Evening to be held on Thursday 19th December 2013, with local estate agents – aspire – pledging their support by donating a brand new iPad Air for the evening’s raffle. The event will be supporting two local charities - the London Ambulance Service, which relies on charitable funds to provide basic life support for babies under one year and Care for the Family, which provides support for families including parenting, marriage and bereavement support. Clifford Harvey, director of aspire’s Balham office comments; “We are delighted to be involved with the Balham Nursery Charity Evening this year and consider both charities to be worthy recipients. Many of our staff live locally and all work within their local community and therefore supporting local schools is, we believe, a vital part of our role as a local business.”

Patrick Rampton

House Hunting

James Weston

Manager of John D Wood & Co., Wandsworth � 020 8871 3033; johndwood.co.uk

Most satisfying transaction I’ve had: The sale of an unmodernised house for an inspirational 89 year old widow, were we managed to get a fantastic price and negotiate 6 months between exchange and completion for her to find her perfect next home.

Most interesting property I’ve been involved with : A lovely detached house on Heslop Road which had a secret door in the book shelf as

well as a maze of underground storage vaults, a work shop and wine cellar.

The property I’d most like on our books is: The Royal Victoria Patriotic Building which was sold in the 1980’s for just £1.00 but I suppose then the fee would not have been very good!

Most unusual interior: A lovely house we have just agreed on Tilehurst Road owned by a dachshund lover, the wallpaper has a dog print, and there are bone shaped door stops, dog related cushions etc.

I never thought I’d see... The price increases we have seen this year. Prices are rising faster than I have ever seen before, including during the boom of 2005-2007.

Director of Rampton Baseley

� 020 7228 5111; ramptonbaseley.com

AUTUMN 2013 – A TOPSY TURVY SEASON

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e have had a stupendously busy early Autumn. It was an unusually quiet summer (the Sun for once shone strongly and often) and very few people seemed to be looking to buy property. But once the schools went back, a large, pent-up demand was unleashed on a minimal supply in September, and this pushed prices up almost at once. The first house we agreed after the Summer Recess (admittedly a cracker – best bit of one of the best roads, beautifully refurbished and probably double catchment) we had priced pretty bullishly, but we still got over asking.

After Rampton Baseley’s best ever month for agreed sales (just beating May 2011), October drew to a close and ushered in a surprisingly quiet November – the last two weeks of the month saw a 50% drop off in website traffic. However the Year as a whole will have been our most successful - almost 40% up on 2012 in number of agreed sales.

ESTATE AGENTS RAISE £5,600 AFTER SLEEPING OUT FOR HOMELESS

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team from London agents Douglas & Gordon have raised £5,600 after taking part in the 2013 Annual Sleep Out event, to raise awareness and money for homeless charity Centrepoint. The team joined hundreds of others sleeping out for this worthwhile cause and sales director George Franks said: “The experience gave us an insight into the challenges that young homeless people face on a daily basis. “We are delighted that we were able to help raise money

for this cause and would like to thank everyone for their support and donations. “This was the first year that D&G have taken part in the event and we look forward to returning in 2014.” Also taking part in what looks to have been a chilly but quite jolly Sleep Out event was estate agency recruiter Joshua Rayner, who raised £1,000 after being sponsored by several clients. Throughout next year, Rayner plans to ask clients on invoices to pay an optional £10 extra for homeless causes.

� douglasandgordon.com

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ABSOLUTELY Property

RUDOLPH COMES TO TOWN

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ore than 600 people turned up to see the real Rudolph, and his wingman Prancer, outside the Rampton Baseley office at the Northcote Road Christmas lights event. Parents brought along their children to have their photos taken on a Christmas sleigh and the staff at Rampton Baseley collected donations for Abbie’s Army, a children’s cancer charity. The parents enjoyed hot cider and the children seemed to relish the opportunity to meet some non-flying reindeer. Andrew Wilson was also on hand to promote his Wild about Battersea book (sponsored by Rampton Baseley) available in all good local book shops. Look out for the accompanying Wild About Battersea calendar which is being delivered free of charge by Rampton Baseley, promoting the good work of Abbie’s Army.

� 020 7228 5111; ramptonbaseley.com

George Franks

Sales Director of Douglas & Gordon � 020 7924 2000; douglasandgordon.com

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here is, at the moment, a perception amongst vendors that estate agents do very little for the money they charge. Of course, due to lack of stock coming to the market, estate agents do not help themselves

Grosvenor Hill, Wimbledon Village SW19£625,000

A fabulous ground floor flat, situated moments from the Village High Street and within easy reach of the mainline station. This property offers two bedrooms, two bath/shower rooms, a private entrance, a large living/dining room and a modern fitted kitchen.

Leasehold � KFH Wimbledon: 020 8944 4000

by offering such flexibility with fees. I have said before in this column, that the true value of an estate agent at the moment appears once the sale has been agreed because pushing property through to an exchange has never been as difficult as it is now. The flipside to this is that purchasers feel they don’t need to register with estate agents because they believe everything that is for sale, in London, is fully visible on the portals like Rightmove and Zoopla. If this is your belief, then you are very mistaken. Never before have I seen so many properties being bought and sold under the radar. I would estimate that around 20% of

the transactions Douglas & Gordon affected this year were with properties that never entered the public domain. People’s homes being quietly marketed, or estate agents having the knowledge to call certain owners in the knowledge that they have the perfect buyers for their house and tempting them to sell, even if they are not quite ready to do so. Next year if you are looking to buy, always register with an estate agent. Not only will you get a true picture of what is going on in the market, but they will have properties for sale that you wouldn’t necessarily discover by trawling the internet.

THE BEST OF WIMBLEDON VILLAGE Annual price increase: 6% | Average house price: £1,023,744 (Zoopla)

KFH in conjunction with Zoopla.co.uk has compiled a selection of London village guides and found that living in or near to a village in London can typically command a premium in the region of 51%. Each month we’ll feature one of those villages, and this month we’re focusing on Wimbledon Village.

Located at the top of Wimbledon Hill and adjoining the hundreds of acres of parkland of Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon Village is one of London’s most traditional and popular neighbourhoods. Centred on the High Street and Church Road, this charming village is lined with chic boutiques, top end high street fashion and interior stores as well as a great selection of cafes and gastro pubs. Designated a Conservation Area, this affluent south west London enclave is dominated by pretty period Transport links: Wimbledon rail and underground station (District and Circle lines) Bus routes: 93, 200 and 493

architecture and hanging flower baskets and Wimbledon Common on the doorstep gives the area a truly rural feel. Added to this, horses are a common sight in the village as Wimbledon Village Stables are in a cobbled mews just off the High Street.

Interesting Fact : Wimbledon village is home to one of the 1st recorded homes, which was Wimbledon Manor, dating back to the 1500’s.

Main schools: Wimbledon Village Montessori School Wimbledon High School for girls

For more information visit www.kfh.co.uk/village-guides



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After the umpteenth year, the self-made man rested.

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Local know-how. Better results.

Our ofďŹ ces:

Battersea

Chelsea

Fulham

Kensington

Mayfair

Pimlico & Westminster

Balham

Bishops Park

Clapham

Hammersmith

Little Venice

North Kensington

South Kensington

Barnes

Brook Green

Earls Court

Holland Park

Marylebone

Notting Hill

Freke Road SW11 ÂŁ1,250,000 This beautiful, fully extended family house located moments from the open spaces of Clapham Common. Lovingly restored throughout, the property retains many of its original features and comprises a light and airy double reception room with fireplace and cornicing and a spacious kitchen with dining area, leading out to a west facing patio garden. The upper floors comprise four bedrooms, including a master bedroom suite in the loft and a family bathroom. Freehold. EPC=D. Sole Agents.

BATTERSEA: 020 7228 9292 sales.bat@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/marshandparsons

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons

Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons

SALES

See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk

Manor Gardens SW4 ÂŁ799,950 A superb three-bedroom flat offering generous living space beautifully arranged over the ground floor of offering direct access to impressive communal gardens. Manor Gardens is a well maintained Victorian mansion block sitting peacefully on Larkhall Rise, within easy reach of both Clapham High Street and Clapham Common. Leashold. EPC=E. Sole Agents.

CLAPHAM: 020 7501 3666 sales.clp@marshandparsons.co.uk

Boundaries Road SW12 ÂŁ685,000 This stunning split-level apartment is located in a Victorian conversion and offers spacious accommodation in excess of 1,200 sqft.

The property comprises impressive entertaining space, a generous kitchen/breakfast room, a charming reception room with a feature fireplace, three double bedrooms including a superb master suite and a family bathroom. Leasehold. EPC=D. Sole Agents.

BALHAM: 020 8673 4377 sales.bal@marshandparsons.co.uk

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featherstoneleigh.co.uk

Northcote Road, Battersea

ÂŁ1,500,000 A very rare opportunity to purchase a beautiful period semi detached home, situated in a fabulous location on the fashionable Northcote Road. EPC = E.

t: 020 7228 2278

Battersea

West Kensington

Barnes

Sheen

Kingston

Clapham

Fulham

Richmond

Twickenham

Chiswick

Putney

Chelsea

Kew

Teddington

Hammersmith

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Shaftesbury Park Chambers, Battersea

£465,000 This stunning second floor apartment has an open plan kitchen reception room with wooden flooring, a modern bathroom and two double bedrooms with fitted cupboards. EPC = C.

t: 020 7228 2278

Altenburg Gardens, Battersea

£519 pw Stunning two bedroom ground floor apartment located moments from Clapham Junction station. Comprises two double bedrooms, open plan kitchen and private garden. Available furnished from February. EPC = D.

t: 020 7228 2378

• £48.00 (including VAT) per person for referencing

TENANT FEES: • £195.00 (including VAT) per property for the tenancy agreement

It’s our area...

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Offices throughout London

Kelman Close, SW4

£399,950

Clapham Park Road, SW4

£349,950

A fabulous two double bedroom garden flat situated in a quiet culde-sac moments from Clapham High Street. There is a fantastic large private garden to the rear, two good size double bedrooms and is in good condition throughout. Offered to the market chain free. EPC=D

A one bedroom second floor flat in a beautiful Georgian conversion, offering views over the London skyline. The property is very well located in the heart of Clapham, offering easy access to various transport links and the amenities of Clapham High Street and the Old Town. Brixton is also easily accessible. EPC=D

Clapham Office 020 7627 8084 clapham@bushells.com

Clapham Office 020 7627 8084 clapham@bushells.com

Kings Avenue, SW12

Kingswood Road, SW2

£550,000

£540,000

A stunning three double bedroom garden flat, offering over 1000sqft of internal living space and the potential to extend further (STPP). The flat occupies the ground floor of this imposing period house, and has the benefit of a private 61ft garden, a summerhouse that is heated and off street parking. EPC=D

A beautifully presented, bright and spacious three bedroom maisonette offering generous living space of approx 1218sqft and ample period charm and character. Consisting of: Three double bedrooms, bathroom, large and bright reception room, modern fitted kitchen, a separate dining room and private balcony. EPC=E

Clapham Office 020 7627 8084 clapham@bushells.com

Clapham Office 020 7627 8084 clapham@bushells.com

Acton  Balham  Bloomsbury  Battersea  Camden  Clapham  Dulwich  Fulham  Hammersmith  Islington  West Hampstead

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bushells.com

Fairmount Road, SW2

OIEO £888,000

A stunning four bedroom terraced house, situated on the south west facing side of this well regarded road in Brixton. The property benefits from a wealth of original period features, and is approx 1722ft2. There are four good size double bedrooms, two bathrooms, reception room, dining room, separate utility room, kitchen/breakfast room and a good size private garden. There is also potential to extend, subject to the relevant planning consents. EPC = E Clapham Office 020 7627 8084 clapham@bushells.com PART OF THE EDMUND CUDE GROUP

Acton  Balham  Bloomsbury  Battersea  Camden  Clapham  Dulwich  Fulham  Hammersmith  Islington  West Hampstead

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ABSOLUTELY Property

Showcase A totally unique, beautifully presented detached two bedroom converted stable in the heart of Battersea Square.

Westbridge Road, SW11 ÂŁ895,000 Freehold

S

tyled just like a country cottage with low oak beams, this converted stable is right next to the river and is perhaps one of the only barn conversion properties in the area. This charming home offers a spacious open plan reception room, landscaped rear garden and off street parking and is only a short walk from the River Thames and the fashionable Kings Road.

Contact : KFH, Clapham ď ź020 8675 5436; kfh.co.uk 118

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OFFICES THROUGHOUT SOUTH WEST LONDON clapham south

balham

battersea

clapham north

020 8673 6111

020 7801 3400

020 7840 3700

020 8675 1222

fulham central

fulham south 020 7736 6110

furzedown

tooting

020 7381 7381

020 8769 7900

020 8772 7080

Hambalt Road, SW4

£1,250,000

An opportunity to purchase a substantial Victorian property situated in the much sought after Hambalt Road, in the heart of Abbeville Village. This period property offers superb entertaining space on the ground floor with five large bedrooms and two bathrooms on the upper floors.

There are a number of period features throughout and has the added benefit of a south facing garden • Close to Abbeville Village • Five double bedrooms • Period features throughout • South West Facing garden

aspire clapham south 020 8675 1222 clapham@aspire.co.uk

SOUTH WEST LONDON’S LEADING ESTATE AGENT

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09/12/2013 15:19

OFFICES THROUGHOUT SOUTH WEST LONDON clapham south

balham

battersea

clapham north

020 8673 6111

020 7801 3400

020 7840 3700

020 8675 1222

fulham central

fulham south 020 7736 6110

furzedown

tooting

020 7381 7381

020 8769 7900

020 8772 7080

Battersea Bridge Road, SW11 OIEO

£680,000

A recently refurbished property located in the heart of Battersea boasts an abundance of open living space and a large private garden. Situated moments from the local amenities of Battersea Square and Chelsea, the property is ideally suited for a family or a couple.

• Two bedrooms • Master bedroom with en-suite • Family bathroom • Open plan living/kitchen area • Ample storage • Excellent transport links in and out of city

aspire battersea 020 7801 3400 battersea@aspire.co.uk

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Haverhill Road, SW12

£595,000

An immaculately presented ground floor two bedroom period flat situated on this sought-after quiet residential street in the heart of the Hyde Farm Estate. The property has many impressive, quirky and period features including restored original sash windows. The combined living/dining room/kitchen works amazingly well and is flooded with natural light; there is direct access to the fantastic landscaped garden.

• Sensational garden.

• Two double bedrooms.

• Close to common and tube.

• Share of freehold.

aspire balham 020 8673 6111 balham@aspire.co.uk

SOUTH WEST LONDON’S LEADING ESTATE AGENT

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OFFICES THROUGHOUT SOUTH WEST LONDON balham 020 8673 6111

battersea 020 7801 3400

clapham north 020 7840 3700

clapham south 020 8675 1222

fulham central

fulham south 020 7736 6110

furzedown

tooting

020 7381 7381

020 8769 7900

Caldervale Road, SW4

020 8772 7080

£1,575,000

Memory Lane

David Kirkup of aspire’s Clapham South office talks to a vendor about the happy atmosphere and light and bright kitchen at her house on Caldervale Road.

How long have you lived in the property?

Three years. We lived in Paris before we came here.

What do you like most about living in Clapham?

The close proximity and quick access to the Common, the wonderful shops on Abbeville Road and my husband liked the good transport links to the City. We have both greatly appreciated the many good local restaurants.

Where did you draw inspiration from for the design/interior of the property?

I work in the photographic industry so we have many pictures and photos on our walls.

I am not really influenced by trends – I tend to buy what I like and prefer antique to contemporary furniture. I love light and transparency in a home and we use a lot of indirect light as we prefer the effect to harsh ceiling lights.

Did you install any special features in the property?

We installed wooden floors and changed the carpet as well as the windows. We painted all the walls white to brighten the whole house.

Are there any further changes or developments you would have made had you stayed in the property?

We would have redone the bathroom and made some further cosmetic changes to the

.co.uk

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UN O D FF ER ER

kitchen but otherwise we loved the house as it was.

What was your favourite room in the house?

The kitchen – it is a lovely light and bright room with a view of the garden which is very typically English with beautiful roses and lots of green shrubs. It has a particularly welcoming and warm atmosphere.

What will you miss the most when you move?

The whole house! We have been very happy here and feel lucky to have found, and lived in, such a beautiful home.

What’s your favourite memory at your house?

There are so many memories – the house has a really happy and friendly feel to it. The person we bought the house from was so upset when she left, and at the time I did not fully understand why. But now I do – we are very sad to be moving on.

aspire clapham south 020 8675 1222 clapham@aspire.co.uk

SOUTH WEST LONDON’S LEADING ESTATE AGENT

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www.pedderproperty.com

We have a new property of our own In January, we will be opening another new office in West Norwood. This will be our ninth office in South East London, strengthening our already unrivalled coverage of the area.

So if you’re looking to sell, let, rent or buy property in South East London, there’s never been a better time to talk to the local experts.

270 Norwood Road West Norwood London SE27 9AJ Contact 020 8670 7160 to hear about our seriously discounted fees for SE27 properties.

A passion for property Pedder. SE London’s premier agent PEDDER.indd 4

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Amazing Period Conversion Guide Price £450,000 - £475,000 Tunstall Road, SW2 Ref: 7757 Your dreams will be fulfilled with this amazing ground floor gem of a period conversion - a super open plan reception and kitchen provides an excellent sociable space perfect for dinner parties. Guests will be lead out onto the charming courtyard garden.

Two double bedrooms providing ample space and close to the Victoria Line tube for swift commutes into the city.

• Two Double Bedrooms • Ground Floor Flat • Courtyard Garden • Central Location • Period Property • Chain Free

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Lovely Apartment Guide Price £430,000 £450,000 Gresham Road, SW9 Ref: 7654

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EPC = D

With light beaming into the spacious reception even the worst of days will look good in this flat. With the additional benefit that this property is offered in immaculate condition a new owner could move in and only need to unpack their suitcases to start enjoying this property. Also being sold with a share of freehold you will be able to decide how to maintain this property to your own standards.

• Period Conversion • Top Floor • Split Level • Two Bedrooms • Open Plan Kitchen • Centrally Located

EPC = C

haart of BRIXTON

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Brixton 020 7274 2878

Call us 8am - 10pm everyday

Delightful Garden Flat Offers in excess of £580,000 Effra Road, SW2 Ref: 7846 Superlatives will abound instantly upon entering this delight of a two bedroom garden flat. An impressive eat-in kitchen will delight dinner party guests who can retire to the delightful bright reception room.

The two double bedrooms ensure guests will have plenty of room for those overnight visits and with all the fantastic amenities of Brixton set just 0.4 miles from the property. Off street Parking is an excellent bonus.

• Conversion Flat • Ground Floor • Two Bedrooms • Eat-In Kitchen • Private Garden • Off Street Parking

EPC = D

Impressive Potential Asking Price £595,000 Sulina Road, SW2 Ref: 7120 This super double fronted Victorian house has three double bedrooms and a larger than average bathroom.

Complemented by three reception rooms and a kitchen that requires refitting and complete installation.

The property offers an excellent opportunity to place your own stamp on it. There is potential to convert the house to four bedrooms with a smaller bathroom and the house is set in a residential location close to Brixton Hill. The property is offered to the market with no onward chain.

• Victorian House • Double Fronted • Three Bedrooms • Three Receptions • Private Garden • Requires Attention • Chain Free EPC = TBC

For more properties in your area visit haart.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

Prime Purchase An imposing, handsome and well presented detached Victorian house with a large west facing garden and off street parking on one of the best roads in West Putney.

T

he accommodation, laid out over four floors, offers a flexible complement of bedrooms and bathrooms, with the option to create a self-contained unit in the lower ground floor. Of particular note is the exceptionally generous entertaining space on the raised ground floor which includes an extended, vaulted, double height kitchen breakfast room that leads out to the very private, mature, lawned garden. There is scope to extend the house further (STPP) if required.

Details

Egliston Road, SW15 ÂŁ3,500,000 Freehold

Contact

Warren 020 8780 1100; warrenputney.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

MOVING in Nothing’s better than the inside scoop. Local agents give their recommendations...

INTERIORS

Terry Allen, local Village resident and passionate interior designer, assesses the type of property and the owner’s ideal dream home to fit within budget.

Paul Lintott

John D Wood & Co., Wimbledon

020 8944 7172; johndwood.co.uk

TIME OUT

On Wednesday’s from 7pm to 8pm there are Pregnancy Yoga classes at the Eat Play Love Café for women at all stages. Post-natal classes will soon be on offer too.

Victoria Farrar Currell, Battersea

020 3668 1000; currell.com

KIDS

STREET

There are no shortage of amazing schools in Putney & they all offer some great after school activities, but Eddie Catz on Lacy Road seems to be very popular with some fun options.

Nightingale Lane has had many famous residents. One notable is the humorous artist and cartoonist H.M. Bateman, who became famous for his “The Man Who…” cartoons.

Nicole

Chamberland Chamberland Residential

020 8704 1313; chamberlandres.co.uk

Angus Irens Rymer Irens, Bellevue Road

020 8767 2222; rymer-irens.com

LOCAL HANGOUT

Pintus, the office’s local delicatessen on Northcote Road. It serves delicious coffee and cakes - absolutely perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Charles Streatfeild Marsh & Parsons, Battersea

020 7228 9292; marshandparsons.co.uk

FACT

Althorp and Nottingham Roads are some of the earliest roads in Wandsworth, the roads take their names from the Spencer family whose descendent is the future King.

Fiona Bourke

Sullivan Thomas, Wandsworth Common

020 8682 3121; sullivanthomas.co.uk

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Not everyone’s watching the Queen’s speech Christmas Day is a huge day for house-hunting Thousands of people start looking for their new home on Christmas Day. So, we’ve come up with a real Christmas Cracker to get your property in front of them.

We do all the legwork now to get your property ready for launch exclusively to our buyers on December 25th.

While you’re enjoying the festive fun, we’ll be lining up viewings for the New Year!

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Pull the perfect buyer with our Christmas Cracker Balham: 020 8675 2244 Battersea: 020 7326 8171 Putney: 020 8780 2233 Southfields: 020 8874 6686 Streatham: 020 8769 7722

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Andrews. Get ahead. andrewsonline.co.uk

06/12/2013 16:05

New to the market � Hydethorpe Road, SW12  £999,995

Vendor Advice Planning Permission How hard it is to get planning permission? chieving planning permission is getting easier each year and the amount of permitted development opportunity is growing all the time. Provided that you are not affecting your neighbours right of light or privacy, you are more likely than ever to achieve your reasonable aims. However, there are always exceptions in London, including living in conservation areas and owning a listed building.

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7 Located in one of the most popular roads in the Hyde Farm Estate, this fantastic family home has been fully extended. Contemporary decorating has been combined with some fine original features to great effect, resulting in a house that is both stylish and welcoming. Full of character and charm, this is a lovely property that should be viewed as soon as possible.

Contact

Andrews Estate Agents, Balham 020 8675 2244; andrewsonline.co.uk

� Altenburg Gardens, SW11£3,683 Per Month

What value will it add to my property?

This very much depends on what the extension is. There are different values attached to different floors and living space types.

Is it worth getting an extension if I plan to move?

Extending your house increases your chance of opening your house to more buyers in the market place. However, if you think that you can achieve a planning permission to increase the size and scope of your house, sellers would be best advised to explore this and sell the property with existing planning permission. Be careful though not to have planning permission refused by asking for too much as this may effect the value in a negative way.

Jason Corbett

� Partner at Sullivan Thomas 020 8767 7711;

sullivanthomas.co.uk

7 A substantial four bedroom Victorian house with a wealth of period features, located on the ever-popular tree lined Altenburg Gardens. Accommodation includes a feature fireplace in the double reception room, a master suite that covers the entire second floor, with built in wardrobes, access to a roof top terrace and a large ensuite bathroom with roll top bath and double shower unit.

Contact

Featherstone Leigh, Battersea 020 7228 2378; featherstoneleigh.co.uk

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ABSOLUTELY Property

Lowdown for landlords � Calbourne Road, SW12£795 Per Week 7A beautifully renovated and extended 4 bedroom family house with light, open-plan living areas and southfacing garden. In a lovely residential street convenient for transport and shopping facilities at Balham and Bellevue Road. Available immediately, this house is also on the sales market with an asking price of £1,325,000.

Contact

John Thorogood 020 7228 7474; john-thorogood.co.uk

� Cupar Road, SW11£3,000 Per Week 7A magnificent, five bed period property in this sought after Battersea Park location, close to the river, shops and restaurants in the fashionable Chelsea. This imposing property has been subject to a recently completed, comprehensive refurbishment program and now offers a breathtaking interior that seamlessly provides modern convenience and period elegance.

Contact

Marsh & Parsons, Battersea Lettings 020 7228 9292; marshandparsons.co.uk

Lowdown for Landlords Letting in Battersea The Battersea rental market is currently experiencing a boom with the impact from the regeneration of Nine Elms and the iconic Power Station fuelling the already bustling buy-to-let market. As a result of this influx of new property to the rental market it is important to consult a professional agent to ascertain the correct market value of a rental property. Rents have remained consistent in Battersea for the last two years but tenants now have the luxury of a large number of properties to choose from. With this in mind, it is important to ensure your rental property stands out from the crowd in terms of its finish, location and most importantly, price.

An exceptional agent will, of course, want to achieve the highest rent possible for their client

Thomas Wright �

Lettings Manager of

John D Wood & Co., Battersea 020 7223 8848; johndwood.co.uk

and can also advise you on a tenant’s preference in relation to furnishings, design ideas and layout of the property. With a buoyant, yet competitive rental market, a key factor for securing a good tenant is flexibility. Tenants are becoming a lot more selective about the properties they offer on and may require items of furniture to be provided or removed, and being flexible may be the difference between a tenant renting your property or not. The Battersea area remains an excellent location for landlords, with demand for property on the increase, and rental values likely to continue rising as new amenities and transport links are promised as part of the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station.

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Christopher Cady, Associate Director

Victorian house

Generous proportions

p r e m i e r

Alderbrook Road, SW12 A substantial semi-detached Victorian house situated within a popular road close to major shopping, transport and recreational facilities.

All rooms are of generous proportions and in the main have high ceilings and large windows thereby creating a feeling of space and light. To the rear the garden looks along other gardens and is therefore bright and not overlooked. ÂŁ1,875,000 Freehold

Wandsworth Common 020 8672 9077

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Balham 020 8675 6565

Earlsfield 020 8971 7070

Wandsworth 020 8875 8899

Battersea 020 7924 2255

Putney Open 2014

Clapham 020 8875 7995

Streatham 020 8677 9900

Wandsworth Common 020 8672 9077

East Dulwich 020 8875 7999

Tooting 020 8767 0522

Wimbledon 020 3195 9111

Beautifully extended

www.jacksonsestateagents.com

p r e m i e r

Period features

Gosberton Road, SW12 An exquisite five double bedroom Victorian family home located in Balham’s popular Nightingale Triangle. This lovely house has been fully refurbished by the current owners to an exemplary standard retaining an abundance of period features. The ground floor accommodation comprises a double reception, a stunning kitchen diner. Bi-folding doors lead out the stylish South facing garden. £1,400,000 Freehold

Balham 020 8675 6565

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09/12/2013 11:21

Sophia O’Carroll & Tilly, Sales Manager

Beautifully presented

Late Victorian home

p r e m i e r

Rowfant Road, SW12 A beautifully presented late Victorian house situated on a quiet residential road. The ground floor comprises a separate front drawing room, central kitchen leading into a spacious living room at the rear. The rear living room overlooks the garden through a set of bi-folding doors enabling the rear wall of the house to be completely opened up, incorporating the south west facing garden. ÂŁ1,295,000

Freehold

Wandsworth Common 020 8672 9077

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09/12/2013 11:21

Balham 020 8675 6565

Earlsfield 020 8971 7070

Wandsworth 020 8875 8899

Battersea 020 7924 2255

Putney Open 2014

Clapham 020 8875 7995

Streatham 020 8677 9900

Wandsworth Common 020 8672 9077

East Dulwich 020 8875 7999

Tooting 020 8767 0522

Wimbledon 020 3195 9111

Stunning home

www.jacksonsestateagents.com

p r e m i e r

Centrally located

Harberson Road, SW12 This beautiful house has been refurbished to an exceptional standard and retains an abundance of original features. Accommodation comprises a double reception room to the front with sash windows and a pretty fireplace, a guest cloakroom and to the rear, a stylish kitchen diner. Bifolding doors lead out to the landscaped south facing private garden. ÂŁ975,000 Freehold

Balham 020 8675 6565

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09/12/2013 11:22

CurrellResidential

£400 per week Tennyson Street, SW8 • Close to Queenstown Road • Private patio garden • Diamond Conservation Area • Period Conversion

£625 - £1250 per week St George Wharf, SW8 • One to two double bedrooms • On-top of Vauxhall over and underground • Views over River Thames

020 3668 1000

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battersea@currell.com

www.currell.com

09/12/2013 11:15

www.baylisoldschool.com

NOW AVAILABLE

PRICES FROM ÂŁ399,950

A unique development of 89 new homes 1, 2 & 3 bedrooom apartments and 4 bedroom houses FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

020 3668 1000 v.farrar@currell.com Currell Residential www.currell.com

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09/12/2013 11:17

Living The DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market.

Rubens Place, SW4 £539,950 Leasehold An amazing two double bedroom purpose built apartment in a private gated block between Clapham North & Brixton. Offering well-proportioned accommodation of approximately 904 ft2, this property is presented in good decorative order throughout.

Bushells, Clapham | 020 7627 8084; bushells.com

The Tower at St George Wharf, SW8 £625 - £1,250 Per Week

Girdwood Road, SW18 Guide Price £1,395,000

Brand new - One to two double bedrooms on top of Vauxhall over and underground with spectacular views over the River Thames.

Currell, Battersea | 020 3668 1000; currell.com

Located at the end of a cul-de-sac is this substantial semi-detached family home, it has been re-modelled to the current owners exacting standards.

John D Wood & Co., Southfields | 020 8870 8811; johndwood.co.uk

Spotlight on SW11: Average asking price -£1,121,870Average asking rents -£2,446 pcmAverage property value - £703,479

Data provided by

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ABSOLUTELY Property

UP YOUR STREET Carlton Park Avenue, SW20 | £625,000 Freehold A truly marvellous, fully extended, three double bedroom period ‘Apostle’ house which is beautifully presented throughout by the current owners. The ground floor offers a spacious open plan entertaining facility with fully integrated modern fitted kitchen and bi folding doors that lead out onto a mature west facing garden. Luxury modern fitted bathroom, splendid en suite shower room and off street parking. The Apostles is a very popular area west of Wimbledon in Raynes Park and was built in the late 1890’s. These are scaled down Victorian Villas which were built for the railway workers of the time over the old cricket ground and comprised of bay windows, elaborate porches with tiled pathways and plaster decorations to the cornices and window frames, three bedrooms and outside toilet. There were Twelve roads built, hence the name Apostles, these roads are exceedingly sought after for their appearance and proximity to the Main Line Station.

Ellisons, Raynes Park | 020 8944 9595; ellisons.uk.com

Wandle Road, SW17 | Price on Application An imposing and immensely elegant four storey semidetached Victorian family house forming part of this highly desirable residential road, moments from Bellevue Road and Wandsworth Common. The house offers two floors of impressive entertaining & living space, a stunning master bedroom suite, four further bedrooms and a large, wonderfully secluded 94ft south facing garden. Wandsworth takes its name from river Wandle which appears in the Domesday Book of 1086.

This states that it was called after a man named Waendel.

Rymer Irens, Bellevue Road | 020 8767 2222; rymer-irens.com

Absolutely SW4

Alastair Summerfield Manager/Associate Douglas & Gordon, Clapham Common South Side � 020 8675 4400; douglasandgordon.com

Favourite restaurant

Stylish boutique

Best kept secret

A lost hour

Finest cocktail

An exceptional property

The Abbeville Kitchen. The food is gutsy and wholesome, the choice is varied - it’s not often one sees empanadas and braised goat on the same menu, and the prices are fair.

Abbeville Road itself. People from outside the village have often not visited but when they do they are pleasantly surprised at the shops, restaurants and community feeling.

For me it would have to be a Bloody Mary in the Abbeville Pub with the locals. There is nowhere better, especially on a Sunday afternoon.

The Abbey. It’s great for both sexes, the designers in there are fantastic and there is simply a great range. I always go there when buying for Mrs S.

Le Petit Boulanger’s. To pop in there on a chilly morning after a walk in the common for a freshly made croissant, coffee and a read of the paper is a great way to start the day.

Klea Avenue SW4 Architecturally redesigned, extended and refurbished by the current owner is this impressive 2000 sq ft property. £1,500,000 Freehold.

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Wimbledon Village, SW19

£9,500 pcm (charges apply)*

This splendid family house has masses of charm and character and offers fantastic entertaining space, spacious bedrooms and bathrooms with excellent storage throughout, plus a self contained annexe ideal for a nanny or housekeeper. To the front of the property there is gated parking and a double garage, with a lovely garden and swimming pool at the rear. Church Hill is a quiet residential street in the Village yet within easy reach of the Wimbledon Station. EPC:D

Hamptons Wimbledon Lettings. 020 8454 7629

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• • • • • •

4 Bedrooms 3 Reception Rooms Garden Swimming Pool Double Garage Self Contained Annexe

*Tenant Charges: Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges

09/12/2013 13:52

Wimbledon Village, SW19 A unique opportunity to acquire one of the most celebrated houses of the 20th century. Designed by the architects Richard and Su Rogers in 1968 the property is one of a very small number of modern houses to be granted Grade II* listing by English Heritage. Situated in Wimbledon Village, the property features an open interior with flexible accommodation and is set in an outstanding secluded garden plot opposite Wimbledon Common. EPC: N/A

£2,900,000 Freehold • • • • • •

Designed by Richard Rogers Grade II* Listing Outstanding Secluded Plot Opposite Common Flexible Accommodation Private Parking

Hamptons Wimbledon Sales. 020 8454 7249

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Cloudesdale Road, SW17 | ÂŁ1,350,000 Freehold An immaculately presented, four double bedroom Victorian family house forming part of an attractive terrace, offering plenty of living and entertaining space, an extremely smart & extended kitchen as well as a pretty, landscaped west facing garden.

Entrance hall | Reception room | Extended kitchen/dining room | Large cellar currently used as a Play Room | Ground floor cloakroom | Utility room | Four double bedrooms (one en suite) | Family bathroom with separate walk-in shower | West facing garden | EPC Rating: D | 2059 sq ft (191 sq m)

rymer-irens.com

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Burntwood Close, SW18 | ÂŁ1,600,000 Freehold Occupying a most enviable position within a quiet close (with no-through traffic), this five double bedroom family house is not only beautifully presented but it is also remarkably bright and spacious and to the rear boasts a south/west facing garden with raised decked terrace.

Entrance hall | Sitting room | Kitchen/dining/family room | Office | Five double bedrooms (one en suite) | Family bathroom | Guest cloakroom | 37ft south/ west facing rear garden with raised decked terrace | Attractive front garden with off street parking | EPC Rating: D | 2090 sq ft (194 sq m)

34 Bellevue Road London SW17 7EF

89 Nightingale Lane London SW12 8NX

020 8767 2222

020 8045 8989

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Wandle Road, SW17 | ÂŁ2,500,000 Freehold This very elegant semi-detached Victorian family home forms part of the highly desirable Wandle Road, situated moments from Bellevue Road and Wandsworth Common. Offering two floors of impressive entertaining and living space, the house also has five bedrooms and a wonderfully secluded 94ft south facing garden.

Entrance hall | Impressive drawing room | Dining room | Kitchen/breakfast/ family room | Master bedroom suite | Four further bedrooms | Two further bathrooms (one of which is en suite) | Shower room | Cloakroom | Laundry room | Large boarded attic | 94ft south facing garden | EPC Rating: E | 2978 sq ft (277 sq m)

rymer-irens.com

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St James’s Drive, SW17 | £535,000 Leasehold Own front door | Entrance Hall | Kitchen | Living Room | Two bedrooms | Bathroom | Separate W.C. | Private patio | EPC Rating: D | 696 sq ft (65 sq m)

A well presented two bedroom flat, forming part of an elegant Victorian house, benefitting from a excellent sized reception room and a delightful, secluded patio garden.

Boundaries Road, SW12 | £550,000 Leasehold

Tunley Road, SW17 | £600,000 Share of Freehold

Two double bedroom flat with own front door and garden.

Elegant two double bedroom garden flat with shared garden.

Hall | Sitting room | Kitchen/dining room | Two double bedrooms | Bathroom | Garden | Own front door | EPC Rating: E | 812 sq ft (75 sq m)

Sitting room | Kitchen/dining room | Two double bedrooms | Bathroom | Shared garden | Own front door | EPC Rating: D | 840 sq ft (78 sq m)

34 Bellevue Road London SW17 7EF

89 Nightingale Lane London SW12 8NX

020 8767 2222

020 8045 8989

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70,345,000

pounds worth of property sold in the last 12 months

square feet of property agreed so far this year

+ FIVE POSTCODES COVERED MORE RECORD PRICES FOR LOCAL STREETS SMASHED IN 2013

+ 23

YEARS SELLING BETWEEN & AROUND THE COMMONS

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Great job guys. I am sure we would have never achieved this high a price with any other agent Mr & Mrs F. from Wandsworth Common, September 2013

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06/12/2013 17:16

NORTHCOTE ROAD ESTATE AGENT ADDING VALUE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS

&

WE WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

john-thorogood.co.uk | 020 7228 7474

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The only truly professional agency between the commons...

Mr & Mrs J. from Clapham Common, November 2013

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06/12/2013 04/12/2013 17:16 22:00

FOR SALE

Morella Road Wandsworth Common SW12 £2,650,000 | FREEHOLD A handsome Victorian family home of 3343 square feet, with jaw-dropping extensions to ground and lower ground fl oors creating outstanding living/ entertaining space and generous upper fl oor accommodation including six bedrooms, study and four bathrooms. Situated close to excellent schools shopping and transport facilities in an exclusive enclave just off Wandsworth Common. EPC rating - D

• Front Garden • Entrance Hall • 2 Large Reception Rooms • Kitchen /Dining Room • Cloakroom/WC • Lower Patio • 26’ Family Room • Study • Utility Room • Store Room

• 6 Bedrooms (Total) • 4 Bath/Shower Rooms (Total) • Master Bedroom • En Suite Bath/Shower • Dressing Room • Rear Garden 25’ x 23’ • L.B. Wandsworth • Residents’ Parking • 3343 SQ.FT / 3

FOR SALE/TO LET

Calbourne Road Nightingale Triangle SW12 £1,325,000 | FREEHOLD | £795 | PER WEEK Beautifully renovated and extended 4 bedroom family house, with light, open-plan living areas and south-facing garden, in a lovely residential street convenient for transport and shopping facilities at Balham and Bellevue Road. Moments from Wandsworth Common Station. EPC - D

• Open-plan Double Reception • Extended Kitchen/Family Room • 4 Bedrooms • 2 Baths/Showers • Master Bedroom

• 2 Dressing Rooms • South-Facing Garden • Cellar • 1571 Sq Ft / 146 Sq M • Available Immediately

EXCLUSIVE, HD FILMS FOR EVERY PROPERTY

@JTEstateAgents

john-thorogood.co.uk | 020 7228 7474 | info@john-thorogood.co.uk | 140 Northcote Road SW11 6QZ

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FOR SALE

Keildon Road Between The Commons SW11 £1,295,000 | FREEHOLD This delightful unextended Victorian “natural 4 bed” house with large master suite offers the opportunity to update, extend and remodel (the side return, basement and loft all offering untapped potential). Conveniently positioned close to Clapham Junction Road Northcote Road and Battersea Rise. EPC - F

• Entrance Hall • Double Reception Room • Dining Room • Kitchen • Potential Side Extension • Cloakroom/WC • Cellar

• Garden • Master Bedroom Suite • 3 Double Bedrooms • 2 Bathroom/WCs • Large Unconverted Loft • L.B. Wandsworth • 1665 SQ.FT./154.6 SQ.M. + LOFT

FOR SALE

Sudbrooke Road Between The Commons SW12 £1,675,000 | FREEHOLD Meticulous contemporary renovation of this wide semi-detached house with large garden and potential off-street parking has resulted in a stylish yet practical family home, offering a superb alternative to the typical top-heavy Victorian terraces in the area. Its quiet tree-lined location is one of the best-kept secrets Between the Commons and is close to good schools, fashionable Northcote Road and Clapham South tube. EPC - D

• Semi-Detached with Side Access • Front Garden • Potential Off-Street Parking • Wide Entrance Hall • Front Reception • Kitchen/Dining/Family Room

EXCLUSIVE, HD FILMS FOR EVERY PROPERTY

• Utility Room • Cloakroom/WC • 5 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms/WCs • 49’ x 22’ Garden • 2017 SQ.FT/187.4 SQ.M

@JTEstateAgents I N N O VA T I O N

SINCE 1991 INTEGRITY

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Sales

£2,950,000 - £2,500,000 Freehold Upper Richmond Road SW15

Coming soon - three new luxury homes on the Upper Richmond Road. The contemporary developments will offer luxury living in a highly sought-after area.

4/5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, Kitchen/family room, Gym, Balcony, Garden.

Stretching to nearly 2,000 sq.ft. is this unique and attractive property. Set in a handsome Victorian building, the flat offers a fantastic balance of living and entertaining space.

Master bedroom, 4 further bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen/dining room, Study/family room, West-facing garden, EPC: D.

West Putney Sales 020 8785 6666 | wputneysales@dng.co.uk

£1,695,000 Share of Freehold Albert Bridge Road SW11 Battersea Park Sales 020 7720 8077 | battpksales@dng.co.uk

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Sales

douglasandgordon.com

ÂŁ1,550,000 Freehold Grandison Road SW11

This stunning five bedroom mid-terrace, Victorian family house is light and bright throughout and has a fabulous balance of living and entertaining space.

5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Large double reception room, Fully extended kitchen/breakfast room, Cellar, Good size west-facing garden, EPC: D.

A fantastic end of terrace family home, stretching to over 2,000 sq.ft, which is beautifully presented and has an exceptionally wide reception room.

5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, Kitchen/breakfast room, Cellar/utility room, Garden, EPC: E.

Battersea Sales 020 7924 2000 | battsales@dng.co.uk

ÂŁ1,395,000 Freehold Elms Crescent SW4 Clapham Southside Sales 020 8675 4400 | clapsthsales@dng.co.uk

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Lettings

£1,350 per week | Unfurnished Coalecroft Road SW15

£1,100 per week | Furnished/Unfurnished Prince of Wales Drive SW11

A superb five bedroom family home in the heart of West Putney.

A truly exceptional property located on Prince of Wales Drive with views over Battersea Park.

5 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, Kitchen/ breakfast room, Garden, Good public transport links, EPC: D.

4 double bedrooms, Bathroom, Reception room, Kitchen, Balcony, Park views, EPC: C.

East Putney Lettings 020 8788 3333 putneylets@dng.co.uk

Battersea Park Lettings 020 7498 5243 battpklets@dng.co.uk

£950 per week | Unfurnished Dents Road SW11

£850 per week | Unfurnished Englewood Road SW12

A well presented semi-detached family home conveniently located on this premier road just off Wandsworth Common.

An immaculate five bedroom Victorian family house located on this popular road close to Clapham South underground station.

5 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (1 en-suite), Reception room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Basement, Garden, EPC: E.

5 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Large reception room, Kitchen/ breakfast room, Cellar, Decked & lawn garden, EPC: D.

Battersea Lettings 020 7924 2002 battlets@dng.co.uk

Clapham Southside Lettings 020 8675 0888 clapsthlets@dng.co.uk

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Lettings

douglasandgordon.com

£669 per week | Unfurnished Lavenham Road SW18

£600 per week | Unfurnished Pilsdon Close SW19

A spacious and beautifully presented four bedroom family house, positioned on the popular Southfields Grid.

A newly refurbished family house which is well located for the green open spaces of Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath.

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Double reception room, Kitchen, Southfacing garden, EPC: D.

4 double bedrooms, Double reception room, Open-plan kitchen, Bathroom, En-suite bathroom, Cloakroom, Garden, EPC: C.

Southfields Lettings 020 8874 8844 sthfldslets@dng.co.uk

Southfields Lettings 020 8874 8844 sthfldslets@dng.co.uk

£576 per week | Unfurnished Howards Lane SW15

£450 per week | Unfurnished Clapham Manor Street SW4

This house boasts excellent living space which has been finished to a very high standard throughout.

A stunning two bedroom apartment which has been newly refurbished to a high standard throughout.

3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen/ breakfast room, Garden, Garage, EPC: D.

2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen/ breakfast room, EPC: C.

East Putney Lettings 020 8788 3333 putneylets@dng.co.uk

Clapham Southside Lettings 020 8675 0888 clapsthlets@dng.co.uk

Douglas & Gordon will charge an initial one off tenancy agreement fee of £240 per tenancy and an individual tenant reference fee of £45 per tenant. For further details please go to www.dng.co.uk/fees

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Decorated Garlands Delicious Gingerbread Dressed Goose Distribute Goodwill December Greetings Dasher’s Gang Dressing Glamorously Dancing Gratuitously Decorations Glistening Dining Grandly Drinks Galore Douglas & Gordon Making perfect pairings with people and property this Christmas.

douglasandgordon.com

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