DULWICH AUGUST 2014

ABSOLUTELY DULWICH

ROYAL TEA

AUGUST 2014 / £3.95

CAKES INSPIRED

BY PALACES

BEHIND THE SCENES

AT THE SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT

GRAHAM BUTLER ON HIS GAP YEAR EPIPHANY

So Sultry OUR GUIDE TO THE CHICEST SUMMER

STYLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGANT COVERS.indd 2

29/07/2014 11:13

pickwick estates London’s Bespoke Estate Agent

PICKWICK_IFC_V3.indd 2

23/07/2014 16:57

Be blown away

by the value of your property in 2014

Honor Oak Office 47 Honor Oak Park, Honor Oak, London SE23 1EA 020 3397 1166

Dulwich Office 8 Woodwarde Road, Dulwich, London SE22 8UJ 020 3397 1144

www.pickwickestates.co.uk

PICKWICK_IFC_V3.indd 3

23/07/2014 16:58

PEDDER_IFDPS_DUL/SE.indd 2 PDR_ad_advice_02.indd All Pages

23/07/2014 11:19

www.pedderproperty.com

Are you getting the full picture?

At Pedder we pride ourselves on our ablility to provide accurate and reliable advice. With eight offices in a concentrated area around Crystal Palace, we have more comprehensive, precise, up-to-the-minute information on the property market than anyone else around us.

So if you’re looking for an informed opinion from the people with the local knowledge, come and talk to us.

Pedder. Nobody knows SE London like we know SE London.

Pedder. SE London’s premier agent PEDDER_IFDPS_DUL/SE.indd 3

23/07/2014 09:48 11:19 20/06/2014

EDITOR ALEXANDRA JONES EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CATHERINE HALES EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS ILANA FOX, LAWRENCE ROULLIER WHITE SENIOR ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER LYNSEY SAKER PROPERTY DIRECTOR ANDY ELMER PROPERTY EDITOR LUCIE PEARCE ART DIRECTOR RAY SEARLE SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA PRODUCTION MANAGER STEWART HYDE MID WEIGHT DESIGNER TAHIR KAPUCU PROPERTY EDITORIAL DESIGNER ANDREW MAVIN DESIGNER EKREM YILMAZ JUNIOR DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN COPY CONTROLLER CHRISTINE MANN FINANCE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTORS GREG HUGHES, ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS MARIANNE MCFADDEN For editorial enquiries please email: alex.jones@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com Subscriptions are available simply by emailing marianne@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.

Published by

ZEST MEDIA PUBLICATIONS LTD 213 Westbourne Studios, Acklam Road W10 5JJ T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 WWW.ZEST-MEDIA.COM Zest Media Publications 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 Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

All rights reserved.

Fo l l ow Us O n T wi t t e r @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS Fa c e b o o k ‘ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES’

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 1 FLANNEL PANEL_.indd 6

25/06/2014 11:04

28/07/2014 14:48

contents

XXXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXX

Aug ust 2014

54 6

12 14 19

EDITOR’S LETTER C U LT U R E WHAT'S ON Diary dates for August

BEHIND THE SCENES

...at the newest addition to the Globe Theatre: the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

COLUMNS

Ilana Fox on summer in South East London and our three top August reads

42 28 COAST TO COAST

Find your summer wardrobe in this month’s sumptuous fashion shoot

B E AU T Y 37 TIP TOP TANNING

The new products that'll mean you never have to bake in the sun to get that all-natural tan

38 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

Lawrence Roullier White on the illustrious histories of some super scents

20 GRAHAM BUTLER

FOOD & DRINK 42 ANNA HAUGH-KELLY

ST YLE 26 MID SEASON

46 REVIEW: COMMUNION

On his West End success

Pieces that'll take you from August to autum

The Forest Hill chef at the helm of Gordon Ramsay's London House

The Camberwell cocktail bar doing things by divine order

48 ROYAL RECIPES

Cakes based on Royal Palaces and what Henry VIII would have feasted on

INTERIORS 54 HOME SPOTLIGHT Cover image Ja mes lucas

A peek at luxury design agency Thorp's most ambitious South East London project

7 Dulwich_Aug_CONTENTS.indd 7

70 K I D S & E D U C AT I O N 66 KIDS CONFIDENTIAL Amanda Constance on the new study guides taking A Level learning by storm

T R AV E L 70 ISLAND HOPPING

Annabelle Moore in the British Virgin Islands

PROPERTY 77 PROPERTY NEWS News and views on the area

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 14:32

Shot By The Sheriff

Photography

Discounts available for Dulwich Weddings (20-25% discount available, depending on package booked please ask for details)

All packages include a DVD of printable images (approx. 800 images from an 8 hour booking)

Please contact us to arrange a no-pressure appointment to discuss your wedding prior to considering a booking

Weddings & Family Portrait Photography Please contact us for more information or to make a booking 07973 504 522 or 0800 03 777 03 | absolutely@shotbythesheriff.co.uk | www.shotbythesheriff.co.uk No.4 The Old Stable House, 53-55 North Cross Rd, East Dulwich, SE22 9ET

ShotbytheSheriff_August.indd 2

25/07/2014 11:12

ABSOLUTELY / AUGUST 2014

EDITOR’S

letter

DEEP summer is when laziness FINDS

RESPECTABILITY. S am Keen

W

ell, quite. I would add to this that deep summer is when you’re likely to sit up, look around and go ‘Is it August? Already?’

We’re not sure how it’s come around so quickly either. Our fashion offering this month takes as its inspiration August’s mood of in-between-ness. Turn to pg. 26 for the products that you won’t want to throw out as soon as the seasons turn. Lawrence Roullier White is also in a reflective mood this month, looking at the history and provenance of some of his favourite fragrances. His column on pg. 38 will tell you which scents to buy so that you can smell like Marie Antoinette or John F. Kennedy.

For our food offering we’ve got an interview with South East London chef Anna Haugh-Kelly who tells us what it’s like to be Gordon Ramsay’s protégée and why that doesn’t necessarily mean losing your temper.

As well as this, I went down to Camberwell’s newest cocktail bar, Communion. Read my review on pg. 46, along with some of the new cocktail recipes that are so impressing locals.

Our main interview this month is with a relatively unknown (for now) actor from Herne Hill. On pg. 20, Graham Butler tells me all about landing the lead in the West End production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and why he’s not too worried about filling his predecessor’s award-winning shoes.

And whatever else you take away from this issue, take a leaf out of Sam Keen’s book and enjoy these last lazy, hazy summer days.

Until next time!

LUI'S SS14; LUI-S.CO

Alexandra Jones

9 Dulwich_Aug_EDS_LETTER.indd 9

Editor

Email: alex.jones@zest-media.com Twitter: @Absolutely_mags Facebook: AbsolutelyMagazines

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 14:39

Id 20 th Century Designs FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS

w w w. i d f o r l o n d o n .c o m 38 Church Road, London SE19 2ET M: 07958 487 654 E: jerryrossati@aol.com

ID 20TH CENTURY DESIGNS.indd 2

34 Tranquil Vale, London SE3 0AX T: 020 885 8857 W: www.therightangle.co.uk

27/01/2014 12:22

Absolutely

August 2 0 14

Culture ARTS &

> WHAT'S ON p. 12 BEHIND THE SCENES p. 14 COLUMNS p. 19 PROFILE p. 20

EDWARDIAN LATES On 7 August, head to the Horniman Museum and Gardens for an evening of Edwardian entertainment. There'll be a tea dance with live music, extravagant music hall acts, silent film screenings, a period photo booth, street performances, tours, food, drinks and much, much more. 100 London Road SE23; horniman.ac.uk

11 Dulwich_Aug_CULTURE_OPENER.indd 11

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:28

FLINTOFF ACADEMY 4~8 Au gu s t D u lw i c h C olle ge he perfect course for young cricketers who want to be taught by professional cricket coaches. The Academy offers courses for kids as young as seven so even the little ’uns can get involved in the action. u Dulwich Common, SE21; andrewflintoffcricketacademy.co.uk

T

GLEE CLUB 1 2 - 29 Au gu s t Br oc kwe ll L i do eep your children’s summer bursting with activity and fun with local dance and drama club, where kids will learn lyrics and dance moves for a final showcase - in between popping into the lido for a dip. u Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, SE24; brockwell-lido.co.uk

K

Goldilocks and the Three Endings Un til 10 August Broc kwell Park

This interactive fairy tale, staged in the beautiful walled gardens at Brockwell Park, is a little different from the traditional ‘too big, too small, just right’ story. With the help of the audience members Goldilocks and the Prince must determine the end of the story - and with the villian missing and the clock striking midnight, time is running out...

Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, SE24; sixteenfeet.co.uk

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_What's_On.indd 12

ART IN THE GARDEN 6 - 27 Au gu s t D u lw i c h P i c tu re G alle r y et creative this summer with a selection of artistic workshops held in the Dulwich Picture Gallery - parents can pack a picnic, sit on the lawn and watch as the the artwork grows around them and, if they're feeling adventurous, join in themselves. u Gallery Road, SE21; dulwichpicturegallery.com

G

12 28/07/2014 11:55

ARTS & CULTURE / WHAT’S ON QUICK FIRE

LUCIE CONOLEY Creator of MIPS

SKYLIGHT

2 7 Au g u st R o o f to p F i l m Clu b ill Nighy and Carey Mulligan feature in the highly B anticipated production of David Hare’s Skylight, directed by Stephen Daldry, broadcast live from the West End. On a bitterly cold London evening, teacher Kyra Hollis receives an unexpected visit from her former lover, Tom Sergeant. As the night progresses, the two attempt to rekindle their relationship only to find themselves locked in a battle of opposing ideologies and mutual desires. u 133 Rye Lane, SE15; rooftopfilmclub.com

LUNA CINEMA

2 0 Au g u st D u l w i c h Park If you fancy kicking back and watching a film but can’t P bear the thought of sitting in a stuffy cinema for two hours in the sweltering heat then Luna Cinema may have the perfect solution. The outdoor film experience will be screening The Wolf of Wall Street in Dulwich Park this August. The film tells the true story of Jordan Belfort, a legend of Wall Street who made millions from defrauding unsuspecting investors with bogus stocks. u College Road, SE21; thelunacinema.co.uk

Where are you based?

I am based in Brixton and have been here for about 6 years. I live with an old school friend and my Old English Sheepdog, Oscar.

Why the focus on maps?

I really owe my map-making to my old bosses at a photography studio I used to work in, in West London. They knew I loved to draw and so indulged me and allowed me to paint murals in one of the studios. On one particular occasion, we were stuck for ideas. So my manager suggested doing an illustrated map of Parsons Green and the surrounding roads.

The owner of the studio’s wife then came in one day, saw it and commissioned the first one for her kitchen. It was a 10ft x 4ft canvas of the places that were important to them in their area. Their son, at the time couldn't say the word ‘Map’, instead calling it ‘The Mip’....

Thus ‘The Mips’ or ‘The Most Important Places’ was born. I feel like people have such an affiliation with maps, especially of places recognisable to them. I get to incorporate this with all the little details of a person’s life. It’s truly an honour to share people’s experiences and passion for where they live.

What is your favourite place in South East London?

It would have to be the Old Royal Naval College Gardens in Greenwich, looking out over The University buildings, Maritime Museum and The Queens House. u lucieconoley.com

OUT OF TOWN

WILDERNESS FESTIVAL 7 ~ 1 0 Au g u st Co rn b u r y Park t’s that time of year again, the time when city-dwellers up sticks I and head to the countryside equipped with tents, face paint and blind optimism about the weather. One of the best festivals this year is Wilderness Festival, which will have, among many other wonderful stages, exhibitions and performers, music from Metronomy, Jessie Ware and Connan Mockasin. u Oxfordshire, OX7 3EH; wildernessfestival.com

13 Dulwich_Aug_What's_On.indd 13

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 11:56

HISTORY

STAGE TWO

Absolutely goes behind the scenes at the Sam Wanamaker Theatre, the newest addition to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre W o r d s c at h e r i n e h a l e s

M

ost people have heard of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Slightly fewer perhaps, may know the name Sam Wanamaker, although anyone who’s taken the tour or was alive in the seventies should remember him as the man responsible for establishing Shakespeare Globe Trust, which succeeded in resurrecting the Globe Theatre and rebuilding it where it now proudly stands on the banks of the Thames. Since opening in 1997, the iconic black and white open air theatre, at risk of becoming a soulless tourist trap, has instead played host to a myriad of visitors from all over the world, held lectures and workshops, staged world premières, created a comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the history of the building and brought Shakespeare’s work to a whole new generation of audiences. Most of all, however, the Globe Theatre has become a true symbol of Shakespeare’s London.

That being said, Shakespeare’s London had slightly more breadth than those already aware of the Globe might

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_TheGlobe.indd 14

imagine. Although the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse only opened in 2013, the visionary actor and director’s plans always included an indoor theatre. This building was intended to reflect the fact that Shakespeare wrote for both indoor and outdoor venues primarily the Blackfriars Playhouse, a Jacobean theatre used by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men (Shakespeare’s troupe) from 1608 onwards. A brick shell was even built as part of the Globe Complex but the theatre itself didn’t materialise as a finished and functioning space until 2013.

In order to find out more about this lesser known theatre I attended a

performance there, took the official tour and spoke to Dr Farah Karim-Cooper, Head of Courses & Research and chair of the Architectural Research Group.

The performance I had been booked in to see was part of the Concerts by Candlelight programme; Handel’s Garden, as it was called, contained music by Handel, Keiser, Steffani and Telemann and was inspired by the ‘musical seeds and cuttings which he frequently took from other composers as well as from his own works.’

Cards on the table, Baroque music is not my wheelhouse, which is not to say that I don’t enjoy it – I just know very little about it. My walk to the theatre, therefore was rife with anticipation as I had no idea what to expect from both the venue and the performance.

'Breathtaking’ is a word that seems to have been chronically overused by

SHAKESPEARE WROTE for both INDOOR AND

outdoor venues

14 28/07/2014 15:59

ARTS & CULTURE / BEHIND THE SCENES

15 Dulwich_Aug_TheGlobe.indd 15

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 11:16

www.calligarisinteriors.com

Africa rug / Islands side tables / Division bookcase / Square sofa

SALE NOW ON

Shop ONLINE, INSTORE and over the PHONE Parisienne chair / Convoy table / Sextans light / Mag sideboard

CHISWICK

104-108 High Street, W4 1PU 020 8994 8110

FULL PAGE.indd 2

TEDDINGTON

196 High Street, TW11 8HU 020 8977 3371

Tower table / Bloom chair/ Mag sideboard/ Medusa coat stand

STANMORE

30 Church Road, HA7 4AL 020 8385 8415

CHEAM VILLAGE - SURREY 23 The Broadway, SM3 8BH 020 8770 1414

26/06/2014 10:11

ARTS & CULTURE / BEHIND THE SCENES

THE PLAYHOUSE

is not the daughter

OF THE GLOBE. THEY'RE sisters

fashion magazines and reality television but on entering the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, it entirely applies. Lit only by candles, some in brackets on the walls and others in chandeliers hanging above the stage, and made entirely of unfinished oak it gives the impression of the cabin of a ship until you look upwards and see the beautifully ornate ceiling painted with winged figures and clouds – a visual representation of the ‘heavens’ and a nice theatrical reference for the thesps in the crowd. I was seated on a plain wooden bench with no back and immediately began to worry about my terrible posture.

Soon, however, any worries about bent backs or numb posteriors were eradicated by the mesmerising effect of the music and atmosphere. Those seated in the best seats were close enough to reach out and touch the musicians and even those further away could not help but be swept up in the incredible intimacy created by their nearness, the smell of the beeswax candles and the seemingly boundless charisma of Trevor Pinnock, curator of the concert and proficient harpsichordist.

I came away with, if not a deep and burning passion for Handel, a great respect for the talent of the performers and even more than that, a genuine attachment to the theatre.

My interest had been piqued and when my conversation with Dr. Farah came

around I was eager to hear more about the singular space. Like the Globe, the indoor playhouse was originally intended to be a reconstruction, based on drawings that had fallen out of a book in the library of Worcester College, Oxford, in the 1960s. These were considered to be by Inigo Jones, the great Jacobean architect, and were meant to form the basis of plans for the new theatre.

Except they weren’t by Inigo Jones. In what Dr. Farah describes as a ‘blessing in disguise’, Sam Wanamaker and the Trust were not able to build the indoor theatre as they had originally planned.

This meant that when it was discovered later that the drawings were in fact by John Webb, Inigo Jones’s student, and were penned in the 1660s it was not a total disaster As no plans or pictures of the Blackfriars playhouse really existed, the Architecture Research Group (of which Dr. Farah is chair) instead decided to abandon the idea of a reconstruction and focus on creating an ‘archetype’ of an indoor Jacobean Theatre. The result is the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, which Dr. Farah is quick point out is ‘not the daughter of the Globe. They’re sisters.’

17 Dulwich_Aug_TheGlobe.indd 17

The playhouse has opened up avenues of possibility in terms of performance, Dr. Farah informs me. ‘It is perfect for music because, unlike the Globe, it has such brilliant acoustics. It’s also wonderful for storytelling by candlelight.’

It’s hard to put into (so few) words the significance of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse; not only does it expand upon the Globe’s already impressive repertoire, provide a new learning resource and further insight into Shakespeare’s world, it is also a whole new lense of interpretation through which to examine Shakespeare’s works.

The Tempest would have been performed in a theatre just like it – what does that mean for the actors? Does the imagery in the text take on new meaning? Questions that slowly will be answered through seasons and seasons of the exceptional programming that the Globe has become known for. Personally, I can’t wait to see what happens.

'Globe Outside In: Antony & Cleopatra' will be playing in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse on 31 August & 1 September.

21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1; shakespearesglobe.com

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 11:17

The Old Vicarage 127 Herne Hill London SE24 9LY

Independent co-ed pre-prep & nursery 3–7 years . Founded 1976 . Member ISA

W www.hernehillschool.co.uk.

E enquiries@hernehillschool.co.uk T 020 7274 6336

Excellent and outstanding: 58 times!

Verdict from the latest Independent Schools’ Inspection report: The words excellent (highest rating for Whole School and Key Stage 1) and outstanding (highest rating for Early Years) feature an incredible 46 and 12 times, respectively.

See www.isi.net.

Main entry at 2+, 3+ and 4+.

Experimenting, for life

We look forward to meeting you!

What makes us different is the difference we make...

From scientific exploration to personal discovery, our outstanding education goes way beyond the curriculum Find out more at our open events: Junior

Sat 27 September 10am-1pm Weds 8 October 9.30-11am

Senior Sat 20 September 10am-1pm Weds 1 October 9.30-11am See our website for further Autumn Open Events & bookable Taster Days 020 8557 7004 admissions@syd.gdst.net www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net 15 & 19 Westwood Hill, London, SE26 6BL

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 1

28/07/2014 16:04

ARTS & CULTURE / COLUMNS BOOKS

WELL READ

Chloe Mavrommatis and the team at Dulwich Books recommend their selection of sensational reads – enjoy!

ALL THAT IS

by Jame s Sal t e r £8.99; P icador

ithout a doubt James Salter is, in my reckoning, the best male novelist alive. All That Is tells of the life of Philip Bowman who, rather than sinking like an anvil to the bottom of the ocean on active service at the end of WWII, surfaces in a middle-class dawn in the New York publishing world of the 1950’s. He wanders the offices, reception rooms and bedrooms of friends and lovers for the next 40 years. Reading Salter is like trying to capture the reflections of a diamond: fascinating, fleeting and beautiful. u

W

FRIENDSHIP

by Emil y G oul d £14 .99; Virago

painfully spot-on book about turning 30 and feeling utterly incapable of true adulthood. Bev and Amy are best friends in New York, a setting that mirrors pretty sharply the wonder, frustration, and slog of trying to live in London. Unexpected motherhood looms, and the girls find themselves trying to maintain their friendship through the fall-out of break-ups, job losses, mounting debt and uncertainty about the future. Sharp, funny and unnervingly familiar. u

A

THE SPRING OF KASPER MEIER

by B e n Fe rgus s on £14 .99; Little, Brown

iscerally set in the ruin of post-war Berlin, an unlikely detective searches for a British pilot. As a black market trader and homosexual, Kasper Meier has everything to lose as he struggles to keep afloat in a world where nothing is as it seems. The story is gritty and claustrophobic, and makes even the ordinary unsettling. A debut of unusual power and depth. u

V

6 Croxted Road, SE21; dulwichbooks.co.uk

19 Dulwich_Aug_Books_Ilana.indd 19

OUT FOXED Hello, my name is Ilana and I’m addicted to East Dulwich

I

Wo r d s I L A N A F OX

’m writing this column on what’s meant to be the hottest day of the year so far – and you know what? For once the weather forecast on my iPhone tallies with what I can see out of the window. The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the air is sweet with all the promise that summer brings: of badly burned BBQ meat and acceptable daytime drinking. I’m itching to put my laptop down and get outside… because the fact is that our summers are so bad that we need to seize the day when the sun comes out.

I know I’m showing my age, but British summers didn’t used to suck, did they? When I was a teenager I swear we had proper, season-appropriate weather.

I remember months of lounging about in the park (and accidentally setting a Scout hut on fire – sorry!), of getting a tan in a day, of not feeling like I had to make the most of every single drop of sunshine. In comparison it now feels as though we get about five days of proper summer a year and that the rest are a washout. So who could blame us if for those few sunshine-filled days we behave a little crazily?

When you squeeze a whole summer’s worth of fun into a couple of days it can get chaotic. There are riots at Sainsbury’s when the BBQ food runs out, there are turf wars on Peckham Rye over the best picnic spot, and let’s not even speak of the battle for tables in our pub gardens. It’s a jungle out there and only the fittest and most determined will survive.

But you know what? Those mental – and sometimes verbal – fights of who gets the sweet spot in the sunshine are worth it, because when it’s sunny we’ve no need to go to Soho to party ourselves to insanity. We’ve got the pubs (admittedly they’re more gastro than spit n’ sawdust, but hey, they serve alcohol), we’ve got the people (30-something is the new 20-something, yeah?), and we’ve got the spirit.

South Londoners may be selfish when it comes to the last chicken kebabs in the chilled aisle at the supermarket, but the truth is, we rock: and that’s an actual fact. And when it’s summer, why would you want to be anywhere else? u Ilana Fox is a writer. Her third novel All That Glitters (Orion Books) was published last year. She’s currently writing her fourth. She lives in East Dulwich. Follow her on Twitter @Ilana

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 14:44

PROFILE

CURIOUSER & CURIOUSER Herne Hill-based actor Graham Butler takes some time out of rehearsals to speak to Absolutely about his new role: the lead in the West End production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Wo r d s A l e x a n d r a J o n e s

‘I

really thought that I was Hamlet. Or a young King Lear, you know? Grizzled and embittered,’ Graham Butler turns to me with an earnest look.

He has blue eyes, clear and round and incredibly expressive, set wide in an elfin face. If Disney did Hamlet, he’d be a shoo-in. He laughs at this, ‘Yeah, sometimes I catch sight of my face in the mirror and I think, ‘Oh, you’re actually just a fifteen-year-old boy.’ One day I’ll get there!’

He’s sanguine about it because at 28, the Guildhall graduate has had a string of parts that have traded on this spry charm. From Second Lieutenant Raleigh in David Grindley’s superb 2011 production of Journey’s End to the title role in the Globe’s production of Henry VI. And now, the Herne Hill local is playing fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone in the much-lauded stage adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime. ‘I see myself as this frustrated, angry old man but I keep getting these parts, these simple, innocent youths. And then people are always like, ‘Oh no, that’s actually quite like you.’’

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_GRAHAM_BUTLER2.indd 20

Born and raised in Lancashire (‘in a little valley called Rosendale…[where] Coronation Street is the pinnacle of culture’) Butler is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom had an interest in acting and the theatre (one is now a director and the other, a writer). It was for this reason, he tells me, that he almost didn’t go into acting himself, decididing that, for the sake of his pride, he wouldn’t follow in his brothers’ footsteps. Instead he resolved to beat his own path, one which would lead to Glasgow and an English degree. And were it not for a post-A Level jaunt around Europe, which gave him a taste for the nomadic freedom that the life of an actor could offer, he would have happily walked that path.

‘I went InterRailing, and it was my last stop: Paris. In two weeks I was due to go to Glasgow to start the English course. I was sitting on a bench on my own and I just thought, ‘I don’t want to do that.’ And I didn’t.’ So, I venture, he’s probably the first person in history to actually ‘find’ themselves while travelling (don’t most people find chlamydia and a mysterious desire to teach English to foreigners?).

He laughs, but answers in earnest, ‘You could put it like that. I suppose being an actor means you don’t have to choose

exactly what you’re doing with your life.’

This is a habit, I realise; he laughs at the joke, but answers the question terribly earnestly, so that it feels as if you’ve hit upon something very important. Actors, of course, make it their business to be charming, and this really is a charming trait, though perhaps incongruous with the image that he’s painting of himself as someone who went to drama school on the whim he picked up in Paris, someone who loves the business precisely because

20 28/07/2014 10:13

ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE

he doesn’t know what he’s doing from one week to the next.

‘Of course, I also like the instant gratification,’ he explains when I press him. ‘Seeing someone react to what you’re doing, hearing someone laugh or cry. It comes down to vanity, to the arrogance of being an actor.’ He doesn’t come across as arrogant, in case you’re wondering, though he assures me wryly that this is down to regular stints of bar work. ‘It’s essential to keep me grounded!’

I LIKE THE

instant gratification...

HEARING SOMEONE

laugh or cry

21 Dulwich_Aug_GRAHAM_BUTLER2.indd 21

And if it is the audience reactions that he thrives on, Curious (as he calls it), offers plenty to sustain him, from laughter and applause, to a few tears (or at the very least, damp eyes). Based on the spectacularly popular Mark Haddon novel of the same name the play follows Christopher, a (to quote Butler) ‘genius with no filter,’ as he attempts to solve the mystery of who murdered his neighbour’s dog. It is implied, though never explicitly stated, that Christopher has Asperger’s

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:14

Summer time at Greenwich Market Craft Wednesdays August 6, 13, 20 and 27 Punch & Judy shows, magician, hula hoop classes and crafty fun for children every Wednesday

Park It in the Market

Window shopping Beautiful new timber windows

Thurs 28 August 7pm Winner of the Best Vintage Event, London Vintage Awards 2014. Classic car and bike meet, street food, music and late night shopping. Every last Thursday of the month, March – October 2014.

New shops in Greenwich Elizabeth Avey Vintage Wedding Dresses at 4 College Approach

Peyton and Byrne Master Bakers and Sandwich Makers at 20 – 22 Greenwich Church Street

Greenwich Hound Dog, London Dog Portraits at 9 College Approach English Flowerhouse has moved to 24 Greenwich Church Street

Market opening times Seven days a week & bank holidays, 10am – 5.30pm

www.ayrtonbespoke.com Telephone 020 8877 8920 Email enquiries@ayrtonbespoke.com 406 Merton Road, London SW18 5AD

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 10

www.greenwichmarketlondon.com

“At any time of the year, Greenwich boasts one of London’s favourite markets.” Time Out

28/07/2014 16:06

ARTS & CULTURE / PROFILE

syndrome. Whether he does or not, it is clear that he thinks in a different way to many people. He lives in a world driven by routine and rote, he finds comfort in the regularity of multiplication, he excels at maths and equations but finds the nuances of human interaction difficult. The opening scenes in which Christopher ruminates on the nature of metaphors perfectly illustrate his staunch practicality. ‘I think it should be called a lie,’ he explains.

‘Because a pig is not like a day and people do not have skeletons in their cupboard.’ Butler, who gives a mesmeric physical performance (in the myriad ticks and postures which make up Christopher’s character), is particularly good in these scenes, striking a subtle balance between innocence and self-righteousness.

It was a play that initially no one, Butler included, thought would survive a transfer from novel to stage (‘I loved the book and I just thought, ‘That’s such a stupid idea’’), but in 2013, Curious won

If you're COMMITTED TO

THIS BUSINESS, IT'S EASY TO GET lost...you become

consumed by it

Olivier awards for Best New Play, Best Director, Best Set Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Actor. It was immediately hailed a classic and Luke Treadaway’s award-winning performance (he won Best Actor for his Christopher) was widely heralded by both audiences and critics. ‘I’m glad I didn’t see it,’ Butler ruffles his hair. ‘I would have had Luke in my head the whole time. Even if I didn’t mean to, I would have imitated him in some way.’

Must be a lot of pressure? ‘In a way,’ he begins slowly. ‘To be honest I almost didn’t want to go for it because I thought it would be so huge. What I’ve realised though is that yes, Luke won Best Actor but

23 Dulwich_Aug_GRAHAM_BUTLER2.indd 23

it also won Best New Play and that’s because it’s the most ensemble-led piece that I’ve ever been involved in. Everyone is entirely reliant on everyone else. Nothing in this play would function without every single person. That’s the part about theatre that I’ve always loved, the feeling of being part of a – to use Simon Stephens’ word – ‘gang.’ And if there was ever another thing that I would have wanted to do it would have been…’

To be in a gang? I venture. ‘No,’ he laughs. ‘Can you imagine? Me? Roaming the streets of South London in a hoodie? No, it would have been to be in a band. For that same reason, everyone’s on stage together.’ I almost believe him, because he is supported by a wonderful cast (sometimes literally) who add depth to Christopher’s bluntness. But the fact is, he’s on stage for almost the whole show, chattering and often expressing, quite beautifully, levels of emotion that, you would assume, he has never experienced himself. So the pressure is undoubtedly huge.

Having said that, so is Butler’s talent. And his successes haven’t gone to his head: the Effra is still his favourite boozer and he still loves South London because people talk to their neighbours. ‘If you’re committed to this business, it’s easy to get lost…I think if you become consumed by it and it’s the most important thing to you, it can kill you.’ I ask if he thinks that’ll ever happen to him. ‘Maybe,’ he laughs.

‘If I ever get to play Hamlet...’ u The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is at the Gielgud Theatre until February 2015; for tickets go to nationaltheatre.org.uk

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:14

Untitled-9 1

28/07/2014 16:14

Fashion Absolutely

August 2 0 14

> MID-SEASON SHOPPING p. 26 SUMMER'S SOPHISTICATED SIDE p. 28

DO THE MATHS FIELD OF DREAMS Inspired Top ofby thedays classout in in theLondon style stakes, along the we love riverthis Thames, geometricthe silkFieldlife print dress summer

by Paul collection Smith.will Combine seewith yourchunky little ones black through gladiator whatever sandalsmischief for instant poolside they get chic. up Hazy to during Triangle the holidays.

Print Dress, ÂŁ325; fieldlife.co.uk paulsmith.co.uk

25 Dulwich_August_Fashion_Opener_02.indd 25

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:31

ALAÏA

Cutout textured-leather waist belt, £680; net-a-porter.com

SUNDRY

Palm Print Track Pants, £99.95; harrods.com

HARVEY NICHOLS

Stella Mccartney Monochrome star intarsia wool coat, £1,375; harveynichols.com

WILDFOX

Rainbow Open Knit Jumper, £180; harrods.com

DION LEE

Open-back leather and faux patent-leather top, £425; net-a-porter.com

ST. JOHN

© PAUL & JOE A/W14

Lockram Space Dye Draped Cardigan, £775; harrods.com

STELLA MCCARTNEY

Monochrome star intarsia wool coat, £1,375; harveynichols.com

SEAFOLLY

muste hav

The new pieces that will take you from August to autumn

HARVEY NICHOLS

Mother Of Pearl Printed cotton and silk blend shorts, £310; harveynichols.com

BELSTAFF

Kaddington pleated leather mini skirt, £1,175; net-a-porter.com

Dulwich_Aug_FASHION PRODUCTS.indd 26

Rosa vinyl and leather sandals, £210; net-a-porter.com

MID SEASON

Coastline Bikini Top, £59, and Coastline Tie Side Pant, £42, seafolly.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

SOPHIA WEBSTER

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON

Strawberry embroidered belt, £225; matthewwilliamson.com

26 28/07/2014 10:01

© ALEXANDER MCQUEEN S/S14

FASHION / GET THE LOOK editor’s

PICK

ÉTOILE ISABEL MARANT

Shanon jacquard-knit wool-blend poncho, £410; net-a-porter.com

VERSACE

TALITHA

Printed crepe mini shift dress, £840; net-a-porter.com

Pia embroidered silkgeorgette poncho top, £495; net-a-porter.com

PROENZA SCHOULER Zig-Zag Stretch-Ribbed Crop Top, £595; brownsfashion.com

MSGM MIGUELINA

Mari crocheted cotton top, £190; net-a-porter.com

SEE BY CHLOÉ

Floral-print twill slip-on sneakers, £270; net-a-porter.com

Printed crepe straight-leg pants, £345; net-a-porter.com

EMILIO PUCCI

Suzani Cady Gown, £2,099; harrods.com

MOSCHINO CHEAP AND CHIC

Printed satin mini skirt, £220; net-a-porter.com

HOUSE OF HOLLAND Jack metallic jacquard mini dress, £300; net-a-porter.com

© CHLOÉ A/W14

DOLCE & GABBANA Bianca embellished sandals, £705; net-a-porter.com

27 Dulwich_Aug_FASHION PRODUCTS.indd 27

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:02

XXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXXX

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_FashionShoot.indd 28

28 28/07/2014 10:06

XXXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXX

Un d e r t h e

S UN Classic tailoring mixed with statement jewellery and swimwear make for a summer of sophistication Photography Ja mes Lucas Styling Hannah Beck

Entire look by Hasan Hejazi

29 Dulwich_Aug_FashionShoot.indd 29

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:06

Body by I.D Sarrieri, Earrings by Karla Ross, Ring by Imogen Belfield

Dulwich_Aug_FashionShoot.indd 30

28/07/2014 10:07

Bow bikini top, £49, by Princesse Tam Tam; princessetamtam.co.uk Crochet pencil skirt, £399,

by Sea Ny at my-wardrobe.com Cream coat, £175,

by Pepe Jeans; pepejeans.com

Swimsuit by Moeva Earrings and Cuff by Karla Ross

Dulwich_Aug_FashionShoot.indd 31

28/07/2014 10:07

XXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXXX Trousers by Tara Jarmon Bikini by Moeva Ring by Imogen Belfield

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_FashionShoot.indd 32

32 28/07/2014 10:08

XXXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXX

Photography: James Lucas Styling: Hannah Beck Hair and Make up: Alice Oliver using Bobbi Brown and Aveda Models: Elise Lebrun @ESTABLISHED and Leila Sharma-English @ESTABLISHED Production: Beauty & Pro beautyandpro.com.

Shot on location at The Park Club, Acton (www.theparkclub.com)

33 Dulwich_Aug_FashionShoot.indd 33

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:08

Bio Sculpture Gel, the original everlasting manicure, is a chip-free, salon treatment that cures to a strong yet flexible, glossy finish and lasts for up to three weeks. The damage-free, nourishing treatment will protect and enhance your natural nails and is available in over 150 colours. As the original nail gel, Bio Sculpture Gel is tried, tested and proven.

For your nearest salon or further information on starter kits and training courses for beginners and experienced nail technicians visit Proud www.biosculpture.co.uk or call 0845 331 2347 members of the

@biosculpturegb

www.biosculpture.co.uk

A6R CC Havana Final.indd 1

2014/01/10 4:43 PM

BIO SCULPTURE.indd 1

30/06/2014 17:41

The MindBody Therapy Centre Your Choice in Complementary Health

20%

Off Waxin g July Only

Bring this advert along July only bookings.

Terms and conditions apply.

One offer at a time.

◗ Deep Tissue Massage ◗ Sports & Remedial ◗ Acupuncture ◗ NSRT ◗ Hypnotherapy

◗ Reflexology ◗ Yoga Classes ◗ Products for sale ◗ Vouchers

120 Stanstead Road, Forest Hill, London. SE23 1BX therapy4life.net | 020 3417 6108 | facebook.com/MindBodyTherapyCentre

MIND BODY THERAPY.indd 1 _ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 2

25/06/2014 17:10 28/07/2014 16:06

Beauty Absolutely

HEA LTH &

August 2 0 14

> SUMMER'S ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS p. 37 HEAVEN SCENT: HISTORY p. 38

WORLD CUP COLOUR The World Cup may be over but the new limited edition make-up collection from Clarins, ‘Colours of Brazil,' will transport you right back to Rio. Look out for the hydrating Lip Balm Crayon in Sweet Cherry – a colour we reckon is set to score.

From £18; johnlewis.com

35 Dulwich_Aug_Beauty_Opener.indd 35

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:24

LILASJEWELS_APRIL.indd 1

26/03/2014 08:58

134 Herne Hill, SE24 9QL Tel: 0207 326 5050 www.intersporthernehill.co.uk @intersporthh INTERSPORT_V2.indd 1

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 3

25/07/2014 15:54

28/07/2014 16:07

HEALTH & BEAUTY / PRODUCTS NIP + FAB

365 Body Glow Fix, £9.95; nipandfab.com

editor’s

PICK

CLARINS

Self Tanning Instant Gel, £19; clarins.co.uk

MADAME

La La Tan, £36; madamelala.com

CLINIQUE

Body Tinted Lotion Light-Medium, £18; clinique.co.uk

CRÈME DE LA MER THE Face and Body Gradual Tan, £65; cremedelamer.co.uk

VITA LIBERATA

pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse Medium, £37.50; vitaliberata.co.uk

ST. TROPEZ

Self Tan Express Advanced Bronzing Mousse, £33; st-tropez.com

TIP TOP TAN When faking it is this easy, there's no excuse to hit the sunlounger

muste hav

LANCÔME

Self Tan Flash Bronzer, £23; lancome.co.uk

JAMES READ

Bronzing Mousse, £24.50; jamesreadtan.com

FAKE BAKE

Flawless Self Tan Liquid, £22.95; fakebake.co.uk

37 Dulwich_Aug_Beauty_Products.indd 37

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 09:47

this month we’re talking about…

Minx nails Dulwich

beauty

CONFIDENTIAL Top tricks to keep summer easy and breezy. Just slather, spritz and go.

Simples!

words RAMOL A HENRY

hat’s worse than a chipped nail? yes, loads of stuff, but it is W Well, annoying if you've spent a small fortune on a pre-holiday mani / pedi. With Minxing, a patented flexible film in a colour of your choice is applied to the nail using heat. With correct application and up-keep, it lasts up to 14 days on hands and 4-6 weeks on toes. A fun and relatively inexpensive way to avoid sand-chipped holiday nails. ● LY T T L E M I N X 251 Gipsy Road, SE27 lyttleminx.com

3 of the best

SUMMER ESSENTIALS 1

3

Heaven Scent You might not know it, but your favourite scents come with a whole load of history...

2

1. H&M QUICK DRY NAIL SPRAY, £2.99; hm.com 2. COWSHED WILD COW PERFUME OIL, £12; cowshedonline.com 3. ELIZABETH ARDEN 8 HOUR CREAM, £8.50; feelunique.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_Beauty_Notes.indd 38

w o r d s L AW R E N C E R O U L L I E R W H I T E

38 28/07/2014 09:41

BEAUTY / NOTES

U

nder the cover of darkness, dressed as servants of a Russian aristocrat, the King and Queen of France attempt to flee French revolutionaries. En route to France’s eastern border their carriage is stopped at Varennes and their true identity is betrayed by the scent of the female attendant. Only royalty, only Marie Antoinette, could afford a perfume as precious as Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant1.

There is a rising trend in selecting scent; people are now looking for history, a perfume with provenance and pedigree and there is much to choose from.

Sadly the Marie Antoinette story is a myth, whilst it’s true she favoured Houbiagnt (it was said that she carried three vials of the company’s perfume to her execution to give her strength), the scent Quelques Fleurs was not actually introduced until 1912. The fragrance does, however, have an (arguably) even greater significance. The brainchild of perfumer Bienaimé, Quelques Fleurs was the world’s first multi-floral, as well as the first fragrance to use aldehydes (these are the molecule additions to a fragrance which make the scent ‘sparkle’). This honour is often mistakenly attributed to Chanel No. 5 or to L T Piver’s Reve d’Or, however Ernest Beaux’s creation for Coco Chanel did not appear until 1921 and while Reve d’Or was released earlier (1886), it was not reformulated with aldehydes until 1926.

Earlier in 1882, Houbigant was the first perfumery to combine naturals and synthetics in its ground-breaking Fougère Royale2, the world’s first ‘green,’ ‘fern’ scent which revolutionised the fragrance industry forever and launched a completely new genre.

3

1

2

RECENTLY OPENED 4

5

Lubin is another French fragrance house which was patronised by the last queen of France. Lubin’s Black Jade3 was worn by Marie Antoinette, a drop of which was said to have survived in a black jade flask that she handed to a friend as a parting gift. The modern re-working is based on the original formula from Lubin’s archives. In the same vein, Le Vainqueur4 is a 2005 interpretation

by Jeanne Sandra Rancé of the fragrance originally presented, by her great-great-grand-father François Rancé, to Napoleon in 1795.

Eight & Bob5 was created by French aristocrat, Albert Fouquet. Made for his own use, Albert occasionally gifted it to his high society friends. In 1937 Albert took a shine to a dashing young American who was touring France in a convertible sports car.

He gave the cocky young upstart his fragrance with the note, ‘In this bottle you will find the dash of French glamour that your American personality lacks.’ The young man was John F. Kennedy. Back home JFK sent a letter thanking Albert for the perfume and requesting eight more bottles ‘and, if you can, one for Bob.’ Albert sent the package labelled ‘Eight & Bob.’ Sadly Albert soon died and whilst Philippe, his butler, continued for a time he ceased production with the onset of WWII. Philippe sent one last shipment to America and to avoid it being detected he hid the bottles inside hand-hewn books. Eight & Bob was recently recreated by Philippe’s descendants and, in homage to the journey across the Atlantic, each bottle is presented inside a cut out book.

History never smelled so good! u Roullier White, 125 Lordship Lane, SE22; roullierwhite.com

39 Dulwich_Aug_Beauty_Notes.indd 39

Benefit

The new Benefit Brow Bar, where licenced aestheticians are on a mission to tweeze the lovely visitors of The Glades Shopping Centre into shape.

Debenhams, 262 The Glades Shopping Centre, BR1; benefitcosmetics.co.uk

editor’s

PICK B RASS BANNED C ol or WOW

This latest innovation in specialist hair care products is for the not-so-natural blondes among us. Banish brassy tones for good.

6.8oz £16.50 Dr. Boo, 22 North Cross Road, SE22; drboo.co.uk

GET GLOSSY Burt's Bees

With natural oils, rich in nutrients these glosses will leave your lips soft, shiny and primped.

Available in 12 shades to suit every complexion £8.99; Holland and Barrett, Borough High Street, SE1; burtsbees.co.uk

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 09:42

www.designsofmodernity.com

20th Century Scandinavian, European and American furniture & lighting Showroom, website & design service New items every week – Restored – Re-upholstered – Refurbished

BESPOKE KITCHENS & FURNITURE Designed and built in East Dulwich

Showroom open Monday to Sunday: Basement @ Crystal Palace Antiques Jasper Road, London SE19 1SG T: 07966 285 694

Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design 4 Goose Green Trading Estate, 47 East Dulwich Road, London SE22 9BN 0208 613 1781 | info@iandunn.com | www.iandunn.com

IAN_DUNN_DEC.indd 1

29/11/2013 Ben_Adams_Dul_Mar.indd 10:54 1

21/02/2014 11:07

Jennings-Bramly Furniture Ltd Beautiful furniture dovetailed to your needs Drawing rooms Dining rooms Bedrooms Kitchens Libraries Studies

0208 945 5794

JENNINGS-BRAMLY.indd 1

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 4

|

0771 555 4694

|

www.bramly.co.uk

|

richard@bramly.co.uk

29/11/2013 11:28

28/07/2014 16:07

Drink Absolutely

FOOD &

August 2 0 14

> ANNA HAUGH-KELLY p. 42 REVIEW: COMMUNION BAR, SE5 p. 46 FOOD NEWS p. 51

PICK YOUR OWN No one loves summer in the city. It’s hot, it’s dusty and it’s cramped. This August, head just a little way out and enjoy the idyl of the countryside before the pick your own season finishes. Hewitts Farm, Court Road, BR6; hewittsfarm.co.uk

41 Dulwich_AugFOOD_OPENER.indd 41

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:34

PROFILE

LUCK OF THE IRISH Forsest Hill local, Anna Haugh-Kelly is head chef at Battersea’s London House and Gordon Ramsay’s latest golden girl Wo r d s G e o r g i e L a n e - G o d f r e y

‘I

’ve ve got something funny to tell you,’ whispers Anna Haugh-Kelly conspiratorially as I take a seat in her restaurant, London House. ‘I’ll just get some tea.’ Small, blonde and elfin, with an appealing Irish lilt, Anna is the latest talent to join Gordon Ramsay’s team, heading up the kitchen in his 26th restaurant, London House. Having trained under Michelin-starred chefs such as Shane Osborn, Philipp Howard and Derry Clarke, Anna certainly has the pedigree, but, it seems, not the ego to match. I can't reveal what she told me (far too naughty) but what I can tell you is that she's very funny and very charming. It’s easy to see why Ramsay snapped her up.

I can’t help but wonder though, whether Ramsay’s infamous leadership style has worn off on her? ‘I do shout at people, but I never said I wouldn’t,’ she says with a shrug. ‘But I try to be very fair – I don’t abuse people, I don’t degrade them personally and I never lose control. It’s a choice.’ It’s a sentiment you can easily believe; Anna comes across as the type of boss who’s firm but fair. ‘I like to think it’s

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_LondonHouse.indd 42

protective and encouraging rather than domineering and cruel,’ she continues.

‘I’ve had a chef ignore me for two months before. He wouldn’t even look me in the eye. It was absolute torture. But no one is going to make me not love my job.’

And boy, does she love her job. Anna talks about London House with infectious enthusiasm and at lightning speed – it’s plain to see that this restaurant is her baby. The dishes on the menu are very much her own, something that she’s immensely proud of but also slightly surprised by: ‘Even to this day I didn’t expect to be so involved. I thought the company [Gordon Ramsay Holdings]

would be controlling because they know what they’re doing. But instead they were asking me what I wanted to do and just said, ‘Yep, brilliant’ when I told them. I just thought, ‘This is nuts!’’

The resulting menu is influenced by Ireland. ‘I think it’s a great shame that Irish food is always seen as something quite heavy,’ she laments when I ask her about her dishes. ‘The truth is that Irish people didn’t invest a lot of efforts into developing our cuisine, but there are a lot of great, interesting flavours and bases there, which I use as the basis of the dishes. For example, the stuffed gnocchi are actually boxty cakes – old Irish dumplings – but nobody would know what a boxty cake was and gnocchi is easier interpreted as a modern European dish.’

It’s this gnocchi which Anna is planning to demonstrate at the Foodie

I had a chef

ignore ME FOR TWO MONTHS. it was torture.

42 28/07/2014 10:46

FOOD & DRINK / PROFILE

43 Dulwich_Aug_LondonHouse.indd 43

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:47

Market Fresh food cooked to order at your new all day dining local restaurant

Drop in anytime or to reserve call 020 3475 7080

www.thecrystalpalacemarket.com The Crystal Palace Market

CRYSTAL MARKET.indd 2

@3CPmarket

25/07/2014 16:53

FOOD & DRINK / PROFILE

I DON'T ABUSE PEOPLE, I DON'T

degrade them...

I NEVER LOSE

control

Festival taking part in Battersea this month a dish which she describes as ‘simple, yet special.’ ‘It’s our biggest selling dish and gets huge feedback, so I quite like the idea of being able to share it with the people who have had it.’ A quick Google confi rms this – even one of the harshest food bloggers I read describes the gnocchi as a ‘revelation’.

Which led me onto my next question: how does she cope with the negative feedback when it does come? ‘Well, some of the feedback has been so positive that it’s ridiculous. It’s like, have these people ever eaten before?

Have they been raised on dry toast? So I kind of have the same attitude with the negative – you have to take with a pinch of salt. You have your own style

and some people will agree with you, some people won’t.’

It’s a self-assured statement, but also a grounded one, and you get the impression that you’re never going to get the tantrum-throwing reaction to criticism out of her that you do from other chefs. Anna is no diva and seems quietly confident in her abilities. When I

ask her what makes a good chef, her list is exact: high discipline, being passionate about food, eating out, enjoying your job and liking the people you’re with.

And when we come round to discussing London’s dining scene, her eyes light up once again. ‘I love Burger and Lobster, Dabbous and Hélène Darroze at the Connaught. And ToastED on Lordship Lane is absolutely amazing. One of the best starters I’ve ever had in my life was at ToastED. It was this mackerel dressing with a citrus marinade, with tiny croutons and samphire. That was it. And I had three of them!’ Closer to her Forrest Hill home she recommends Canvas and Cream, an arty, mother-and-daughter run cafe, serving classic brunch dishes and excellent cakes.

‘In the past ten years of living in London, this is the most exciting time to be in the city,’ she asserts. ‘You can go to any area now and you can get amazing food. And not just a good bite to eat either, but inspirational food.’ And with London House now settling into its stride, it’s just got a whole lot more exciting. u 7 Battersea Square, SW11; gordonramsay.com/london-house

45 Dulwich_Aug_LondonHouse.indd 45

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:47

BARS

HOLY SPIRITS

They promised cutting-edge cocktails, gourmet ingredients and a cracking good time. Could Communion deliver?

Wo r d s A l e x a n d r a J o n e s

A

few weeks ago, divine summons popped into my inbox. Come to Communion, it said, the Catholic-themed bar in Camberwell where the cocktails are of the highest order and the food is otherworldly. There was something so pleasingly random about the whole business, as if the proprietors (who also own the Church Street Hotel and Angels & Gypsies, a holy trinity indeed) had heard a divine calling and the message was ‘get pissed.’ Well, artfully pissed. I’ll be damned, I thought to myself, if I miss a chance to sample some of the trendiest sounding tipples in South London.

Alright, I’ll stop with the terrible puns. Communion, when I went recently, seemed a fortuitous place to end up; cool, plush and dark it was the perfect antidote to a hot-as-hell day spent in central London (seriously stopping now). Filled with heavy furniture and illuminated prettily by the stained glass window-style lights that run across one wall and below the bar, it lived up to the promise of the promotional pictures. If I’m honest, themed bars make me a bit

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_Cocktail.indd 46

uncomfortable (and they’re cropping up all over South East London at the moment) so the question was, could Communion wholly pull it of? (Sorry).

Well, yes, actually it could and did. The stained glass window lights are a feature (a beautiful feature) but don’t dominate, and the thimbles of communion wine and wafers that come with each table are novel, but subtle. Beyond this, nothing screamed Sunday School, which is how it should be.

Onto the drinks then, which really were quite stellar. Personally, I don’t like anything too sweet or sticky so I

was surprised that my favourite of the evening was the rum-based Calvary.

Morello cherry, lime, egg white, and St John Caommandaria wine (a rich, oaky Cypriot desert wine) are mixed with Dictador Rum, an award winning Colombian rum with a distinct coffee flavour, to create a light, crisp two-toned drink that is as pretty as it is drinkable.

Also commendable was the Dry Cherry Ilegal (recipe opposite), which despite the fact that it came with a rim of cherry sugar, was brilliantly tart, even bitter.

These, of course, were just my personal favourites, but my friends each had their own choices, and it wouldn’t be worth listing them all here. What is worth mentioning is their (and my) delight as each new round was brought out. The Communion bar staff take the details incredibly seriously; the devil’s in the detail, after all (I literally can’t control

46 28/07/2014 09:52

FOOD & DRINK / REVIEW RECIPES

LIKKEL RASCAL Jamaican-influenced cocktail, lots of flavours and fruit with a heathy mixture of rums

INGREDIENTS • 25 ml Appleton’s • 25 ml Kraken Black Spiced Rum • 15 ml Jamaican sorrel (available in stores in Peckham, Camberwell & Brixton) • 5ml Jamaican stamina tonic • 50 ml Pineapple juice • 20 ml Orange Juice • 15 ml lime juice • 15 ml Nutmeg Syrup METHOD Build over cubed ice and serve in a Can. Garnish with fresh sugar cane and pineapple.

DRY CHERRY ILEGAL Cherry flavoured, fresh and smoky sister of well-known margarita

THERE WAS HUGE respect, FOR THE, sense of occasion, VISITING A COCKTAIL BAR is

meant to illicit

myself), so there were a myriad of lovely touches. The Likkel Rascal (right), for example, which is on the ‘South London’ part of the cocktail menu, where all drinks are inspired by, and sourced from, the local area, came in an old tin-can that was labelled with the name of the drink. Even the tap water came in a crystal decanter with crystal tumblers. There was huge respect for the sense of occasion that visiting a cocktail bar is meant to illicit.

Food is courtesy of Angles & Gypsies, which is just upstairs, and was uniformly

delicious. It would be easy to wax lyrical on this point but most of you will know that Angles & Gypsies has long been producing faultless Spanish dishes, so just as a reminder: the pork was the most tender I’ve ever tried, the mushrooms came stewed in a rich earthy jus and the steak, the steak...oh wow, the steak.

Communion doesn’t take itself too seriously. That said, it does take a hard line on quality, using some of the best liquors around. The only problem, if there must be one, is that the cocktails are almost too drinkable. Now, some people say that if the alcohol is really top notch, then it doesn’t matter how much you drink, the hangover will never hit.

These people obviously did not see me on Sunday morning. u 29-33 Camberwell Church Street Basement, SE5; communionbar.com

47 Dulwich_Aug_Cocktail.indd 47

INGREDIENTS • 25 ml Ilegal Mescal • 25 ml cherry Marnier • Juice of grilled Sicilian lemon (grill them until sugars start caramelising, then leave to chill and juice) • drop of cherry bitters • drop of peychaud’s bitters • 15ml amareno cherry sugar METHOD Shake and strain into chilled glass. Serve straight up with cherry infused sugar rim.

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 09:52

ON THE MENU

history in the

BAKING A new book of cake recipes, inspired by the foods served at London’s Royal Palaces looks at what Greenwich-born Henry VIII might have eaten at Hampton Court Palace

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_Cake2.indd 48

H

enry VIII was a monarch renowned for his love of lavish abundance–whether it was women, food, palaces or sport, Henry indulged his passions on a grand scale. So when he took over Hampton Court Palace in 1529, one of the first projects he embarked upon was to increase the size of the palace kitchens.

While Henry’s own meals were served to him in his lodgings from a private kitchen, he travelled with a vast entourage of around 600 courtiers, all of whom were entitled to meals at the palace twice a day and he needed kitchens large enough to provide for them.

By the time the builders had finished, Hampton Court boasted around 55 rooms devoted to food production, staffed by 200 people...A Tudor diner at court, depending on their status, could expect to be served a wide range of fresh produce, from copious quantities of meat – roast beef or mutton and hearty stews– to freshly baked breads and a variety of fruit and vegetables grown in the palace gardens.

On feast days or special occasions, Henry would dine with the court, seated at a top table surrounded by his most favoured guests. Elaborate banquets, often lasting several hours, would be prepared, and included an array of luxury ingredients, including swan, venison, salmon and porpoise.

Henry is famous for having a sweet tooth and ‘sweetmeats’ crystallised or honeyed fruits, sugared almonds, jellies or marzipan sculptures were an important part of his regal feast, all prepared in his confectionery kitchens. During the sixteenth century sugar was still a highly expensive commodity and serving sweet confections was seen as a mark of extravagance and luxury – naturally they featured prominently on the monarch’s banquet table. u

48 28/07/2014 09:50

FOOD & DRINK / RECIPES

ROSEA AND ALMOND CAKE his delightfully light, fragrant cake is made with ground almonds, scented with rose and decorated with sugar-crusted rose petals – perfect for a summery afternoon tea. Make sure you buy unsprayed rose petals and be as lavish as you like with the decoration.

T

S E RV E S 1 2

• 125g plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 6 large eggs • 175g caster sugar, plus extra for the rose petals • 50g ground almonds • 1 tsp rose water • 40g unsalted butter, melted and cooled • a little

vegetable oil, for greasing FO R T H E I C I N G A N D D EC O R AT I O N

• 1 egg white • fresh, unsprayed rose petals • 100g icing sugar • ½ tbsp rose water • edible pink food colouring 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4.

Brush the inside and rim of a 24cm round ring tin with vegetable oil. Dust with flour, then shake out any excess.

2 Whisk the eggs and sugar together in a large bowl until the mixture is thick and moussey and has doubled in volume. Sift over the flour and ground almonds then carefully pour the rose water and melted butter around the edge. Fold everything together gently using a large metal spoon, making sure that all the flour has been incorporated. 3 Spoon into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for 25–30 minutes until the top springs back lightly when pressed. 4 Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then gently ease the edge of it away from the tin. Turn out on to a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Lightly beat the egg white in a small bowl until frothy then use to brush over each rose petal. Dust with caster sugar. 5 For the icing, mix together the icing sugar, rose water and around 2 teaspoons of water. Stir until smooth. Add a drop of pink food colouring and stir until it’s the shade you desire. Drizzle over the cake. Decorate with the rose petals and allow to set before serving in slices. u

Tea Fit for a Queen (Ebury Press, hardback £10)

BLOOD VELVET CAKE hen ‘Colonel’ Thomas Blood tried to steal the Crown Jewels, the Tower of London was almost divested of its most precious treasures. Fortunately, his attempt was thwarted and the Tower’s happy triumph over the thief is still commemorated there today with this chocolate-flavoured, blood-red coloured cake. It’s finished with a cream cheese icing and a nod to the historic event–chocolate crowns.

W

S E RV E S 1 0

• 100g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra to grease • 250g golden caster sugar • 2 large eggs, at room temperature • 175g plain flour • 25g cocoa powder, plus extra to dust • 100ml buttermilk • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda • ½ tbsp red wine vinegar • 1½ tbsp edible red food colouring paste FO R T H E C H O C O L AT E C ROW N S AND ICING

• 50g dark chocolate (minimum 50 per cent cocoa solids), broken into pieces • 75g unsalted butter, softened • 125g icing sugar • 250g cream cheese 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4. Grease and line a deep 16cm round cake tin with greaseproof paper. Whisk together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until soft and creamy.

Gradually whisk in the eggs, adding a spoonful of flour if the mixture looks as if it’s curdling.

2 Sift over the remaining flour and cocoa

49 Dulwich_Aug_Cake2.indd 49

powder. In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk, bicarbonate of soda, vinegar and food colouring paste together. Add to the flour mixture and fold everything together. Spoon into the tin and bake in the oven for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack. 3 For the chocolate crowns, put the chocolate into a heatproof bowl, resting over a pan of simmering water.

Make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water. As soon as all the chocolate has melted, allow to cool for 5 minutes. Cover a baking sheet with baking parchment. Spoon the chocolate into a small plastic bag, snip the very tip of one of the bag’s bottom corners and pipe the shape of crowns by outlining three loops together, a bar underneath and a dot on top of the middle loop for a ‘jewel’. Pipe more crowns than you need so you can choose the best shapes.

Leave to set at room temperature. 4 For the icing, beat the butter and icing sugar together, then fold in the cream cheese until smooth.

Carefully peel away the paper from the cake and place the cake on a serving plate. Put two large tablespoons of icing aside, then spoon one tablespoon on top of the cake. Smooth it over to cover, then work the mixture around the sides of the cake. Spoon the remaining mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle and pipe three swirls in the centre of the cake.

Push a chocolate crown into each and serve. u

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 09:51

Pianolobby is based in SE London and we would love to help you realise your musical dreams and match you with your ideal upright piano.Come and try our beautiful range of Yamaha, Kawai,Steinberg, Kemble and Barber pianos.

For more information please contact Julian on 020 3645 3930 or email julian@pianolobby.co.uk

PianoLobby.indd 1

27/05/2014 14:28

Lordship Lane Carpets East Dulwich

131 Lordship Lane SE22 8HU 020 8693 8728

Blackheath Village

lordship ooring Co. Brigade St (next to Cote restaurant)

SE3 0TW 020 8852 8109 carpets wood amtico rubber concrete cork sisal marmoleum woven runners customised runners vinyl and woven vinyl bespoke rugs sanding and wood renovation

www.lordshiplanecarpets.co.uk LLC_Dul_MAY.indd 1

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 5

As featured in BEST FLOORING SHOPS IN LONDON 27/05/2014 10:14

28/07/2014 16:07

FOOD & DRINK / NOTES RECIPE

TENDERSTEM, RYE KERNEL & TARRAGON SALAD his salad is based on the Nordic diet, which focuses on interesting grains and a characteristic love of aniseed flavours.

This recipe uses traditional Västerbotten cheese but you can also use feta, which is widely used in modern Scandinavian cuisine.

T

TABLE TALK Dining out, eating in and sipping cocktails make up the menu this month

SERVES 4 PREPARATION TIME 10 mins (plus overnight soaking) COOKING TIME 25 mins INGREDIENTS For the Salad • 300g Tenderstem • 150g Västerbotten (or Feta cheese) • 100g rye kernels/grain, boiled (or ready made quinoa) • 3 small spring onions, roughly chopped • 1/2 red pepper, finely sliced • Handful of chopped fresh tarragon • Salt and pepper For the Vinaigrette

• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 1 small shallot, finely chopped • 1/4 red chilli, finely chopped METHOD Soak the grains for 24 hours then boil until just tender (about 22mins).

Drain and leave to cool. 02 Blanch the Tenderstem in boiling water until just tender (3-4 mins). 03 Add all the salad ingredients, including the Tenderstem, to a bowl and crumble in your chosen cheese. Season. 04 Mix together all the ingredients for the vinaigrette and drizzle over salad just before serving.

05 Grilled chicken can be added for a meatier salad. ◆

MARKET DAY

GIN O’CLOCK

Ever had a meal so good that you just had to recreat it at home? The Crystal Palace Market will now be saving you the hassle of scouring the supermarket to find the right ingredients. They have opened a butcher and fishmonger, next to the restaurant. So if you like your burger, you’ll be able to buy the beef there and then. Ingenious. 3-7 Church Road, SE19; thecrystalpalacemarket.com

If you’re as enthusiastic about the botanical beverage as we are, then we’ll see you at Rivington Grill's Gin Bop. Experts from Hendrick’s, Beefeater, Tanqueray, Langley’s No.8 and Bombay Sapphire will create bespoke cocktails and there’ll be hog roast to soak up the booze. Splendid.

178 Greenwich High Road, SE10; rivingtongreenwich.co.uk

Going Out Out

01

● tenderstem.co.uk

pparently the best parties don’t start until the early hours. And Gordon Ramsey’s Union Street Bar is helping you resist the call of your bed. From Thursday to Saturday you’ll now be able to quaff classic cocktails until 2am, so you need never miss out. gordonramsay.com/union-street-cafe

A

DID YOU KNOW…

Cucumbers can prevent hangovers, so if you’ve had one too many, eat a few slices before bed.

51 Dulwich_Aug_Food Notes.indd 51

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:11

Luxury European Luxury European Furniture Furniture since 1962 since 1962

London & M25 Showrooms 020 7760 7558

Untitled-10 1 absolutely-ad6.indd 1

wharfside.co.uk 28/07/2014 16:17 30/06/2014 17:25

Interiors Absolutely

HOMES &

August 2 0 14

> HOME SPOTLIGHT p. 54 CONSTANT GARDNER p. 61

IN THE NAVY Nautical inspiration abound this month, but seaside-inspired interiors needn’t be tacky.

We’ve fallen head-over- heels for this beautiful yet understated bathroom, which has utilised the new Verity range of painted wooden furntiure by bathrooms.com to show-stopping effect.

For prices and information see bathrooms.com

53 Dulwich_Aug_INTERIOR_OPENER_.indd 53

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 12:13

BEDROOM Neutral tones has been layered to create a light, but textured effect.

The printed wallpaper works with the 18th century architecture of the house.

Design pieces are allowed to take centre stage

LOCAL

CLOSE UP Luxury interior design agency Thorp give Absolutely a peek at one of their South East London projects P h o t o g ra p h y R i c h a r d p ow e r s

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_Eliot_Place v2.indd 54

54 28/07/2014 12:30

HOMES & INTERIORS / SPOTLIGHT

DINING ROOM Bold antiques and an oriental theme add drama to the entertaining room

OUTDOOR Neutrals and pastel colours allow the collection of antique film stills to take centre stage in this outdoor seating area.

55 Dulwich_Aug_Eliot_Place v2.indd 55

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 12:30

SPOTLIGHT / HOMES & INTERIORS HALLWAY The entrance to the house is neutral and as such the vintage film poster becomes a focal piece, a technique that is used extensively throughout the house to great effect (see below, left)

MASTER BEDROOM The oriental theme continues to striking effect upstairs. A regal blue with silver details is offset by a neutral carpet and finishings. The walls are an artwork in their own right, as such any additional art is freestanding.

STUDY AREA A sleek, custom-made desk hides the computer cables and the printer to keep clutter to a minimum. The mirror follows the conventions of the modernist artworks throughout the house.

For more information go to thorp.co.uk

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_Eliot_Place v2.indd 56

56 28/07/2014 12:30

FULL 2 25183PAGE.indd Dulwich magazine advert.indd 2

27/09/2013 21/08/2013 16:45 13:16

RAILINGS • WINDOW GRILLES • SECURITY • AUTOMATION BALUSTRADES • STAIRCASES • GATES • BALCONIES • GARAGE DOORS

Individual design to suit your needs FREE friendly quote within 2 days We can visit you free of charge or work from photos you send us through email Railway Arch 833 - 836 Consort Road, London SE15 2PR Office hours 8am till 4:30pm | 020 7277 6875 | info@bronzewoodconstruction.co.uk

www.bronzewoodlondon.com BRONZEWOOD AUGUST.indd 2

25/07/2014 11:13

ABSOLUTELY XXXXXXXXX//PROMOTION XXXXXXXX

be aut y

HOTSPOTS Be pampered this August at these luxe local businesses

ROULLIER WHITE Gentlemen, you've spent weeks in the gym perfecting the beach body beautiful.

The trunks have been chosen and the tan is subtly topped up. Do not be let down by your cologne. Roullier White has a wonderful selection of summer scents, like Testosterone by Sentifique, all designed to help you stand out from the crowd.

Roullier White, 125 Lordship Lane, London SE22 8HU; 0 208 693 5150; roullierwhite.com

ELLA’S BEAUTY BOX Specialising in make-up for all occasions - weddings, photo shoots, proms, make overs. We use only premium make up - MAC, Illamasqua, Sleek, Bobbi Brown. Eyebrow specialist with threading and tinting and enhancing of natural eyelashes with semi permanent extensions to work with and enghance your natural beauty. Perfect for all occasions.

07930381773; ellasbeautybox.co.uk

NEROLI Whether you are planning a relaxing holiday by the beach or a cultural break in the city, neroli’s ‘Beauty Boot Camp Package’ includes all the pre-holiday preening and pampering treatments a girl needs. Starting with a leg and bikini wax, followed by a mani/pedi and finishing with an Organic Facial and eyebrow shape, you’ll leave polished and glowing.

020 8699 9496; neroli-skincare.co.uk

59 Dulwich_Aug_London_Sale_Feature.indd 59

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:43

MISS ’ ADAM S

HELPER S

‘‘I am so very grateful to these angels, Miss Adams helpers for improving my quality of life. I don’t know what I will do without them’’.

Jan Malik from Sloane square

Careful and Caring Cleaners Miss Adams helpers is an eco friendly non toxic cleaning company that specialises in steam cleaning and offers a complete range of professional cleaning services tailored to meet the needs of our customers. Our reliable and dedicated staff ensure that Miss Adams’ Helpers are indeed your helpers. Rest assured we always deliver a first class service.

We aim to do our very best exceeding the average, securing our position as the best and securing your trust in Miss Adams’ helpers.

Along with your vicinity being clean you can expect our CRB checked staff to be:

• Respectful • Precise • Dedicated Committed • Trustworthy

Tel: 0750 725 3078 | info@MissAdamsHelpers.co.uk

miss adam cleaner.indd 2

25/07/2014 11:14

HOMES & INTERIORS / GARDENING

‘T

SPOTLIGHT

CONSTANT GARDNER

Margaret Evison’s idyllic Dulwich garden opens to the public this August, in aid of her late son's charity, The Mark Evison Foundation Wo r d s A l e x a n d r a J o n e s P h o t o g r a p h y L e a n n e D i xo n

61 MARGARET EVISON.indd 61

he weekend when we were told that Mark was on life support and that they were bringing him back from Afghanistan, I gardened all weekend...doing something physical seemed important. And I think when you’re gardening you are reminded that nature dominates our world, that it’ll go on and on and on, even when we’re not here. That’s how it should be.’ Margaret Evison and I are standing in her Dulwich garden on a truly perfect summer morning. ‘You’ve come at a good time,’ she smiles. It is hard to do justice in writing to Margaret’s garden, on this blustery June day, one of the first ‘good ones’ of the year, it is riotously, beautifully alive.

It is a tapestry of colour and hue, every shade of green, every shape of leaf, a cacophony of nature.

‘Well, it has taken us 21 years to get to this point,’ she says modestly. A keen gardener, Margaret admits that this house appealed because of its abundance of outdoor space. ‘The garden is big enough to have a number of areas and each one has a different atmosphere.

What I try to do is contrast the leaf shape and colour. In the front, particularly, every plant has been chosen because of its leaf rather than its flower. Classic gardeners say that leaves are what one should go by, not the flowers. The leaves are there all the time.’

It is easy to see how someone could draw comfort here. The ‘Mark’ we are talking about is Lieutenant Mark Evison, Margaret’s son, who in May 2009 was killed following wounds received in Afghanistan.

‘He was a very sweet guy, very energetic,

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 10:59

HOW TO MEET THE COST OF YOUR CHILDRENS’ EDUCATION Providing the means for your childrens’ education is a long term financial commitment which for a single child, can typically cost upwards of £200,000 even before consideration of University funding.

Selecting the right investment plan to help you accumulate the required capital is a very important decision especially in the current low interest rate environment and our robust investment process can help your achieve your medium to long term funding requirements.

For a free initial consultation contact one of our advisers today

020 8771 8661 67 Westow Street, Upper Norwood, London SE19 3RW E-mail: mail@thorntonspringer.co.uk

www.thorntonspringerfs.co.uk Registered in England and Wales No OC314913 Thornton Springer Financial Services LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority TS_Dul_April.indd 1

19/03/2014 12:52

Something Very Extraordinary The Whitten Timber Story About the exhibition Peckham Platform is pleased to be working in partnership with Whitten Timber on an archival exhibition that explores the history of this celebrated local business. Drawing from the personal collection of the Whitten family and those of the Museum of London this exhibition showcases rare images of the Grand Surrey Canal over the last 100 years.

Summer Art Clubs Drop in throughout the exhibition this holiday for our FREE Summer Art Clubs. Using wood from the timber yard, you can make model buildings, bridges, barges and cranes that would have once occupied the Grand Surrey Canal.

Opening times: 2 – 31 August Wednesday-Friday, 11am-6pm Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm Public opening: 1 Aug 5pm – 8pm Venue: Peckham Platform 89 Peckham High Street London SE15 5RS

info@peckhamplatform.com www.peckhamplatform.com 020 7358 9645 @PeckhamPlatform

WHITTEN TIMBER.indd 1

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 7

25/07/2014 16:04

28/07/2014 16:07

HOMES & INTERIORS / GARDENING

HE LOVED HIS SOLDIERS...

he died trying to get them out of...AN AMBUSH

very caring,’ she explains. ‘And completely charming. He loved his soldiers and he died trying to get them out of an extremely dangerous situation where it looked as if they were being ambushed.’ The news of his death rippled through Mark’s family, through his friends and eventually out into the press, with the Telegraph, Daily Mail and BBC all running the story for months and even years after the event. Though each was different, every piece focused on Mark’s many achievements: he was a

cellist, he was a pianist, he ran the London Marathon in just over three hours, and in 2006 he became the youngest person to walk to the South Pole.

It is fitting, then, that the charity set up in his name – The Mark Evision Foundation – focuses on helping young people accomplish personal challenges. ‘They [the young people] have to be in the driving seat all the way through, they have to say what they want to do, put in an application explaining how they’re going to do it, then do the thing. Often they video it as they go.

We have had some fabulous applications.

We’ve got one terrific guy from North Lambeth, for example, who wanted to have football coaching training, which we paid for, and we paid for lots of balls and kit and then he set up a football coaching course on his estate for all the younger kids.’

Offering £500 grants to successful applicants the Foundation was set up in the short period between Mark’s death and his funeral, so sure were his family and friends that it was the best way to remember him. ‘It’s a very sad story,’ Margaret admits quietly. ‘And a lot of young people were very upset, not just the family. The Foundation is a wonderful way for some of his friends to put their memories of him back into something very tangible.’ u Margaret's garden will be open on 31 August, 2-5.30, entry £3.00 in support of the Mark Evison Foundation. 118 Court Lane, SE21 7EA, 07789 765 867; markevisonfoundation.org

63 MARGARET EVISON.indd 63

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 11:00

zest ad:Layout 1

17/7/14

08:24

Page 1

Independent co-ed pre-prep & nursery 3–7 years . Founded 1976 . Member ISA Independent Co-educational 3-11 years. Founded 1942. ISA & IAPS

Inspiring Brilliant Futures In the 2014 senior school entrance examinations Year 6 pupils were awarded • 29 Academic Scholarships • 7 Art Scholarships • 4 Sports Scholarships • 3 Music Scholarships

Open Day

W f

Saturday 27th September 10.00 – 12.30 020-8670 5865

email: admissions@rosemeadprepschool.org.uk www.rosemeadprepschool.org.uk

MAXIMUM POTENTIAL Specialising in Sensory integration OT, SLT & Physio Dyslexia Support and Educational Therapy Service

Emerging, for life

Assessment and support For young people in: Motor skills, Handwriting, Attention & Focus, Language, Articulation, Literacy & Numeracy

Excellent and outstanding: 58 times!

Verdict from the latest Independent Schools’ Inspection report: The words excellent (highest rating for Whole School and Key Stage 1) and outstanding (highest rating for Early Years) feature an incredible 46 and 12 times, respectively.

See www.isi.net.

 dulwich@maximumpotential.org.uk  020 8670 6484  putney@maximumpotential.org.uk  020 8670 1523

Main entry at 2+, 3+ and 4+.

We look forward to meeting you!

W www.hernehillschool.co.uk.

E enquiries@hernehillschool.co.uk T 020 7274 6336

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 6

www.maximumpotential.org.uk

The Old Vicarage 127 Herne Hill London SE24 9LY

DEVONSHIRE PLACE W1

MaxPot_April.indd 1

PUTNEY SW11

ST JOHN’S WOOD NW11

DULWICH SE27

27/03/2014 10:16 28/07/2014 16:08

Absolutely

August 2 0 14

Education KIDS &

> KID'S NOTES & AMANDA CONSTANCE ON TEACHING SHAKESPEARE p. 66

SILVER LININGS The new collection from Pale Cloud is inspired by ‘the glamour and atmosphere of early 20th century circus performers and their elegant horses.’ This fashionforward apparel brand specialises in girls age four to 14 and fans include Suri Cruise and Lady Louise Windsor as well as Sarah Jessica Parker's super-stylish twins. pale-cloud.com

65 Dulwich_Aug_KIDS_OPENER.indd 65

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 11:04

kids

CONFIDENTIAL A new recipe for little ones from Ella's Kitchen and Amanda Constance looks at the new guides making A Levels easier

RECIPE

GOLDEN TREASURE MUFFINS ittle explorers love to discover new treasure – and inside these muffins they’ll find squishy golden nuggets of butternut squash. A sprinkling of thyme gives a tasty, herby twist.

L

WHAT YOU NEED • 400g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into small chunks • 4 unsmoked streaky bacon rashers, finely chopped • 125g self-raising white flour • 50g cornmeal • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 2 teaspoons finely chopped thyme • 1 egg • 75ml buttermilk • 3 tablespoons mild olive oil or sunflower oil WHAT TO DO 1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/ Gas Mark 7. Line a 12-section muffin tin with paper cake cases that measure 9cm in diameter when flattened out. 2 Cook the squash in a saucepan of boiling water for about 10 minutes until softened but not mushy.

Drain well and return to the pan. Crush the squash until broken up but not puréed. Leave to cool. 3 Heat a dry frying pan and fry the bacon for about 5 minutes until crispy. Transfer to a large bowl and add the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and thyme.

4 Beat together the egg, buttermilk and oil in a separate small bowl. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients with the squash and mix together until only just combined. 5 Divide the mixture evenly among the cake cases and bake in the oven for 15 minutes until slightly risen and pale golden.

SQUISH SQUASH Ask your little helper to squish the cooked butternut squash. If you let it cool down first, they can use their hands for messy foody fun!

Guiding light To help his daughter with AS Level Shakespeare, editor of The Week, Jolyon Connell launched a new range of study guides

Ella’s Kitchen The Big Baking Book is published by Hamlyn, out now, £14.99

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_Education_v2.indd 66

W o r d s A M A N D A C O N S TA N C E

66 28/07/2014 12:33

KIDS & EDUCATION / NOTES

W

hen Jolyon Connell’s daughter Flora didn’t achieve a perfect A in her AS Level on Shakespeare, it got him thinking. Flora – in the sixth form at St Mary’s Calne – got straight As in every subject apart from the great bard. It was The Tempest that had been the problem, a tricky one at the best of times, so Connell immediately offered to help.

He dug out his old notes, yet found little to help him there and then scratched his head, as he had no idea which critic to turn to.

‘What do you do if, at the age of 17, you need some direction?’ Connell explains. ‘It’s York Notes or nothing and they don’t give you any idea of which critic to start with.’ And surely if Flora – the privately educated daughter of the ex-deputy editor of The Sunday Telegraph – needed help, many others did, too?

Connell’s lightbulb moments are not to be ignored. The last time he had one, the result was The Week, the news digest that became the

publishing success story of the last two decades and is now Britain’s highest-selling weekly subscription magazine. He rang his old tutor at St Andrews, Graham Bradshaw – acclaimed by Harold Bloom as one of the best Shakespeare scholarsof the last 50 years – and asked him to write a guide to The Tempest; five years later, the first Connell Guide was born.

With each dedicated to a single, classic text, there are now 20 in print. Other Shakespeare plays covered include Othello, King Lear,

Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, while the range of novels includes Jane Eyre and Great Expectations, along with modern classics such as The Great Gatsby, Heart of Darkness and The Waste Land. Every guide is written by a leading academic in the field, is no more than 20,000 words long, and is accessible and beautifully designed. Like The Week, the guides illuminate without sacrificing complexity and seamlessly convey the viewpoints from both sides of the critical spectrum.

Last September, Connell Guides also launched a subscription service for schools. 275 have signed up so far ‘including all the major public schools,’ says Connell, who adds that he is keen to get state schools on board. For £195 a year, schools receive all 20 guides, the four new ones published in the following year, plus access to Connell Shorts – briefer, digital guides to modern texts, such as Atonement, The Road, and The Bloody Chamber. Subscribers also receive the Connell fortnightly review, regular new essays and a monthly quiz.

Colin Hall, head of Holland Park School, says: ‘In these days of Facebook, text language, downloads... the ‘plugged in’ generation find it harder to digest academic texts.

What Connell Guides bring is immediacy and clarity; brevity with depth. They unlock the complex and offer students an entry route.’

This September, Connell Guides is launching a virtual Book Club.

Designed to appeal to a wider audience, subscribers will receive a monthly Connell Guide or Connell Short (either in print or digitally), a fortnightly literary review, plus a literary briefing, quizzes and more.

Connell has also started filming a series of video talks with university dons. When he spoke to Absolutely he had just returned from Oxford, where he discussed Romeo and Juliet with Simon Palfry, a Fellow at Brasenose and distinguished Shakespeare critic. Next in the pipeline is a film with Valentine Cunningham, a Senior Fellow at Corpus Christi College in Oxford, about King Lear and Mrs Dalloway.

And his work has not gone unnoticed. At the Sunday Times Festival of Education a few months ago, the (then) Education Secretary Michael Gove said what many teachers are now thinking: ‘John Connell should be garlanded with roses.’ u connellguides.com

67 Dulwich_Aug_Education_v2.indd 67

DAHLING Dior

Alright, we know it’s pricey, but Dior Baby’s AW14 Collection has stolen our hearts. Themed on Christian Dior’s distant memories – of emotion, romance – the Scarlet Woollen Coat (above, £480) for girls, and the Blue Leather Jacket (£1,200) for boys, are our favourites. dior.com

BABY BEAUTIFUL Nom Nom

Hurrah for local skincare brand Nom Nom who have just won a Gold and a Silver at the FreeFrom Skincare Awards. Gold went to their Organic Pregnancy Stretch Butter (Camillia and Vanilla) and Silver to their Organic Baby Butter (Calendula and Evening Primrose). nomnomskincare.com

GI RLS WO RLD

Sydenham School

Feminism is reaching a new generation. Members of Sydenham School politics club recently created a special enrichment day for Years 7-11 with every subject from art to geography featuring lessons with a feminist perspective. On hand to help proceedings was journalist Daisy Buchanan. sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 12:48

ISS.indd 1

30/05/2014 10:59

Travel Absolutely

August 2 0 14

>ISLAND HOPPING: THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS p. 70

LA DOLCE VITA Beguiling at any time of year, Venice is injected with an added touch of glamour during its annual film festival. An irresistible collision of old-school Hollywood and history-steeped architecture, the festival provides the perfect opportunity for seeing iconic Venice through the eye of a lens.

From 27 August – 6 September; labiennale.org

69 Dulwich_Aug_Travel.indd 69

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 11:50

SPOTLIGHT

Island Life Think only billionaires can afford to holiday on the British Virgin Islands?

Think again.

Wo r d s A n n a b e l l e M o o r e

D

o you remember the first ever time you heard of the British Virgin Islands? I do.

It was when Richard Branson decided to open up a private utopia called Necker Island and I went into spiritual shock because it looked like paradise, actual paradise. I thought it was miles away and you’d need a private jet, a current account with Coutts and a doublebarrelled surname to get past customs.

It turns out I was wrong.

Not about the miles, it’s roughly 4,137 from London, or about the fact that it’s paradise because it is, but you really

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

Dulwich_Aug_Travel_Main._v2.indd 70

don’t need a private jet, just the patience of a very patient saint. It’s a right old schlep to get there: an eight-hour flight to Antigua, followed by a small buzzabout LIAT flight (and as everyone in the Caribbean knows, LIAT stands for Leave Island Any Time – being delayed is their thing), before you arrive in Tortola just in time for dinner.

But the mightier the journey, the bigger the adventure, right?

The magic really begins at Trellis Bay, a quick ride from Tortola’s Beef Airport.

We arrived in darkness, to the sound of lapping waves and chattering men sitting outside rum shacks on rusty chairs, sipping beer out of bottles. We jumped on the boat to Scrub Island, only three minutes across the water.

Scrub Island has the whiff of a yacht club about it. Families who want a bit of space, few whistles and a lot of bells. It’s relatively new, having opened in 2010 and owned by the Marriott’s Autograph Collection group. Just as we arrived at the dock it rather unexpectedly started to feel a bit like arriving at Downton Abbey. The manager Binny Sebastian and a lady with a silver tray lined up to greet us. We shook hands, I hugged them all (at this point feeling quite emotional because I was tired and gagging for sleep), we drunk rum punch and were taken to meet our new home.

The rooms all felt like part of a closeknit village, peppered around the large 55-slip marina with stonking beautiful views of the turquoise ocean. But it’s the suites with marble-top kitchens (with American-style fridges big enough to sit in when you’re very hot) and wrap-around balconies that will really float your boat – so bag them quickly.

The food is sensational, with two restaurants, Caravela and Tierra Tierra!

The latter is more laid-back dining serving grouper sandwiches and juicy burgers for lunch, and rum-glazed pork ribs and pan-fried conch steak for dinner.

70 28/07/2014 11:33

TRAVEL / WANDERLUST

YOU don't need a PRIVATE JET, JUST THE patience of a very PATIENT SAINT You need to make a reservation at the more dressy Caravela, where tender and sweet lobsters the size of small dachshunds fill the menu.

You’ll want to spend your days jumping on the trampoline located in the sea by

Pavilion Beach. Yes, in the sea. Though, if the idea of wobbling up and down makes you queasy, request a lift over to the beautifully rugged North Beach. There, you can nest in a private beach hut and you’ll barely see another soul.

On a lazy Sunday afternoon we bid farewell to Scrub and returned to the water, back to Trellis Bay and onto the Biras Creek boat. We drifted past hundreds of tiny jungle islands and moon-like crescent beaches– it was like sailing through Jurassic Park. Then we reached the mangroves and heard the birds. The soundtrack to Biras is the

71 Dulwich_Aug_Travel_Main._v2.indd 71

birds. Circling above, whistling at you like impressed builders. Resting between two hills, a lagoon, the open Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea, the only way to get to here is by boat or helicopter.

A little golf cart picked us up and dropped us to our room, an ocean suite.

Positioned right on the waters edge, you couldn’t get closer to the sea if you tried.

The décor is simple; a homely sitting room, a ceiling fan and a king bed, plus a mini bar and brilliant view out onto the Atlantic. There’s an outdoor shower, two rusty bicycles with baskets and a terrace we never wanted to leave.

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 11:33

TheDovetailJoint

yourspaceourskill Forest Hill • 020 8291 5578 • www.thedovetailjoint.co.uk

DovetailJoint_DulOct_v2.indd 1

23/09/2013 14:14

Modernise, Economise, Ecologise

Home security:

CCTV and security systems Motion sensor lights Remote door entry systems Curtain/blind control

Home improvements: Kitchen fitting Bathroom fitting Modern electrical wiring and testing

Home efficiency: Automated heating Automated lighting Remote controlled sockets and switches

Home entertainment: Integrated IT and entertainment systems Surround sound Home cinema

www.techneco.co.uk | info@techneco.co.uk

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 8

28/07/2014 16:08

TRAVEL / WANDERLUST WE FELL FOR IT TOO, in a truly,

madly, deeply

KIND OF WAY

The thing about Biras is that you don’t come here for a glossy slice of island life. You come here for the space. It’s quiet, despite the fact that there are 33 rooms.

Only twice did we have to share the beach with two other couples, most mornings I could dance around on the powder-soft sand alone. The urge to completely take off your clothes is overwhelming.

We cycled everywhere – to the beach, to The Fat Virgin Cafe (down by the marina, serves the most delicious Caribbean food), to the spa. There’s something rather wonderful about swooshing past the most fragrant natural trail, filled with hibiscus and oleander first thing in the morning..

One morning, we caught a ferry across to the Eastern tip of the Virgin Gorda, to Biras Creek’s new and far swishier sister property, Oil Nut Bay. It’s the latest project by American developer David Johnson and gloriously plush. While the 300-acres are mainly made up of sweeping real estate (some are in the process of being built, others are still only plots), the cliff suites are pretty gobsmacking, with plunge pools and designer interiors.

But, we’ll admit, Biras gave us a taste for the ‘simple’ life. We almost cried on the morning we had to depart for the final leg of our journey. It had only been a

three-night stay but we felt hugely attached.

Our last stop was to Guana Island. And we fell for it too, in a truly, madly, deeply kind of way.

It’s an eco-reserve and a private island, and though 850 acres in size, there is a maximum of 32 guests at any one time. During our stay, there were just a handful of other couples. Ten in total. I suspect we will never be quite so alone ever again.

The stone cottages at Guana are almost Grecian-like. Painted white and filled with chic bleached wooden furniture, wooden shutters and breaktaking views.

Ours had steps down to a terrace, complete with a day bed if you fancied dozing off for a few hours.

There’s a distinct colonial feel to the island. Lunch is served at 1pm on the dot, either on the terrace or down at the beach. After sunset, everyone gathers for pre-dinner drinks and it’s perfectly OK to pop behind the honesty bar and make yourself a G&T, or rummage around in the library. There’s a seating plan for supper too though you can sit somewhere different almost every night.

The point of Guana is not just to feel as if you’re staying at friend’s house, it’s about the wildlife. There’s an astonishingly successful rare-species breeding programme with scientists stating

73 Dulwich_Aug_Travel_Main._v2.indd 73

that it has more flora and fauna than any island of its size in the Caribbean and possibly the entire world.

Visit the orchard and you’ll pick papayas, mangoes, sugar cane and coconuts straight off the tree. Most of what you’ll scoff for dinner will come straight from the garden.

There’re seven beaches, SEVEN. So, if you want to be alone, really alone, you can be. The sight of White Bay Beach will leave you astonished. It’s as if someone has opened it up in PhotoShop and turned up the colour.

The morning of our flight home, we did cry. Teeny, tiny tears. Over the course of a week, we’d seen some of the most extraordinary examples of nature’s handiwork. Whether you want to be spoilt within an inch of your life or simply left alone to loll around on hammocks, watch sea turtles and enjoy the Caribbean in all its glory, the British Virgin Islands has it all. A total Robinson Crusoe getaway. And there’s nothing quite like being where the wild things are. u Scrub Island, Tortola; scrubisland.com Biras Creek Resort, Virgin Gorda; biras.com Oil Nut Bay, Virgin Gorda; oilnutbay.com Guana Island: Guana Island, Tortola; guana.com

AUGUST 2014

28/07/2014 11:34

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

PL_AUG.indd 2 ZOO1205 PL DPS_Zest_420x297.indd 3-4

11/07/2014 09:39

PL_AUG.indd 3

11/07/2014 05/08/2013 09:39 14:20

DULWICH & SYDENHAM HILL GOLF CLUB www.dulwichgolf.co.uk Dulwich & Sydenham Hill has been a private members’ club since 1894. The 6,100 yard course (par 69) is set among mature oaks on the slopes of Sydenham Hill, with spectacular views of the city. The course is framed by wonderful mature trees and features undulating fairways and fast greens, which require very careful reading!

APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FOR: • 5 day (weekday) membership • Junior Membership (age 9 yrs and above) • Social membership is also available

To find out more please contact the Club office on 0208 693 3961 or e-mail info@dulwichgolf.co.uk

DULWICH GOLF CLUB.indd 1

25/07/2014 11:15

Property Absolutely

August 2 0 14

> NEWS p. 88 IN THEIR OWN WORDS p. 98 INSIDER p. 108 LIVING THE DREAM p. 112 SHOWCASE p. 120

www.pedderproperty.com

Are you a migrating variety?

If you’re looking for property with more space, greater investment potential and a competitive price tag, you might be looking in the wrong place. South East London has all of these attributes and house prices are lower than our more established SW neighbours.

Chatsworth Way, SE27

£1,650,000

At Pedder, we have a greater choice of SE London property than any of our competitors, so maybe it’s time to have a look. You never know, the grass may just be greener this side of the fence.

Pedder. Nobody knows SE London like we know

A very popular residential road on the border of Dulwich and West Norwood. The property has been upgraded and modernised by the current owner to a high standard, creating a stylish interior and with a gross internal area of 3537 sq ft.

SE London.

020 8670 9008

Pedder, West Norwood pedderproperty.com

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

PDR_ad_migration_01a.indd A4 V

PROPERTY FRONT COVER.indd 1

pedder.indd 3

77

02/04/2014 02/04/2014 15:14 10:09

AUGUST 2014

25/07/2014 12:22

Completely at home in South East London.

Our services Sales and Lettings Property Management Block Management Property Solicitors Chartered Surveyors Financial Services Visit kfh.co.uk

With a network of 17 branches in South East London and over 50 across the Capital, our local knowledge and London network will ensure we achieve the right result for you.

Local branches include • Brockley

• Crystal Palace • Dulwich Village • East Dulwich • Forest Hill

KFH.indd 1 brand adverts_July-August.indd 2 KFH MASTER

• Kennington • Peckham • Streatham • West Dulwich

17/07/2014 15:20 11:54 05/06/2014

Elsie Road, East Dulwich, SE22 £1,999,950 Freehold East Dulwich 020 8299 8800 Email sed@kfh.co.uk

KFH.indd 08.14 KFH 2 Dulwich and SouthEast.indd 2

This impressive and spacious four bedroom detached villa is beautifully appointed throughout to offer 2,392 sq ft of accommodation arranged over two floors.

This property is located in the heart of East Dulwich, near the train station.

• • • • • • • •

Impressive detached villa Four bedrooms Bespoke kitchen Numerous period features 35ft enclosed rear garden Garage and cellar Desirable location EPC rating E

17/07/2014 11:06 11:55 14/07/2014

Eleanor Close, Surrey Quays, SE16 £850,000 Leasehold Surrey Quays 020 7231 3800 Email ssq@kfh.co.uk

KFH.indd 08.14 KFH 3 Dulwich and SouthEast.indd 3

A stunning and beautifully presented two bedroom, split level apartment situated in a private gated development, a short distance from the Jubilee Line at Canada Water.

• • • • • • • •

Two bedrooms Two bathrooms Balcony Extensive London views Under block secure parking 1,279 sq ft / 118.81 sq m No ongoing chain EPC rating F

17/07/2014 11:06 11:55 14/07/2014

Lynton Road, Bermondsey, SE1 £599,950 Leasehold London Bridge 020 3465 9230 Email sbo@kfh.co.uk

KFH.indd 08.14 KFH 4 Dulwich and SouthEast.indd 4

This stunning two bedroom church conversion apartment is adorned with character and charm and still retains all the period hallmarks of its time but with a contemporary touch.

• • • • • • • •

Two bedrooms Two bathrooms (one en suite) Church conversion Period features Third floor 808 sq ft / 75.1 sq m Chain free EPC rating D

17/07/2014 11:06 11:56 14/07/2014

Malpas Road, Brockley, SE4 OIEO £450,000 Freehold Brockley 020 8469 0202 Email sbk@kfh.co.uk

KFH.indd 08.14 KFH 5 Dulwich and SouthEast.indd 5

Presented to an excellent standard is this two bedroom mid terrace Victorian home with sole use of a large garden.

• • • • • • • • •

Fitted open kitchen Spiral staircase Fitted bathroom Large garden Extended to rear Near transport Close to amenities Near Luxmoor gardens EPC rating D

17/07/2014 11:16 11:56 14/07/2014

Holly Grove, Peckham, SE15 £1,425,000 Freehold Peckham 020 7639 2029 Email spe@kfh.co.uk

KFH.indd 08.14 KFH 6 Dulwich and SouthEast.indd 6

Central to the popular Bellenden Road catchment area sits this stunning four bedroom semi detached family home which is full of charm and character.

• • • • • • •

Semi detached Four bedrooms Four storey building Original period features 1,950 sq ft (approximate) Peckham Rye Overground station EPC rating F

17/07/2014 11:17 11:56 14/07/2014

Landells Road, East Dulwich, SE22 £2,500 pcm Unfurnished

A well presented four bedroom house finished to a high standard throughout and benefiting from a stunning loft conversion with Juliet balcony. This property is located on a sought after road in East Dulwich.

• • • • • •

Double reception room Modern kitchen Two bathrooms Four bedrooms Decked garden Close to superb local schools

East Dulwich 020 8299 8980 Email led@kfh.co.uk £210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees

KFH.indd 08.14 KFH 7 Dulwich and SouthEast.indd 7

17/07/2014 11:17 11:56 14/07/2014

Southwark Bridge Road, London Bridge, SE1 £2,384 pcm London Bridge 020 3465 9240 Email lbo@kfh.co.uk

A stunning two double bedroom conversion apartment boasting character features and wooden floors throughout. Situated minutes from London Bridge and the River Thames.

• • • • • • • •

Two double bedrooms Conversion apartment Wooden floors throughout Plenty of character features Close to the River Thames Minutes from London Bridge Furnished or unfurnished EPC rating C

£210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees

KFH.indd 08.14 KFH 8 Dulwich and SouthEast.indd 8

17/07/2014 11:21 11:57 14/07/2014

Water Gardens Square, Surrey Quays, SE16 £3,000 pcm Furnished Surrey Quays 020 7231 3800 Email lsq@kfh.co.uk

A well presented three double bedroom, two bathroom penthouse apartment in Water Gardens Square with wrap around balcony and large open plan living space.

• Lift • Three balconies with • • • • •

panoramic views Plenty of storage 24hr award winning concierge Gated development Close to Canada Water station EPC rating C

£210 tenancy agreement fee per property. Other fees apply, visit kfh.co.uk/lettingsfees

KFH.indd 08.14 KFH 9 Dulwich and SouthEast.indd 9

17/07/2014 11:21 11:57 14/07/2014

New homes and developments.

Using our network of over 50 branches across the Capital, our specialist teams can find the right new build property for you. To see all our new homes and developments for sale visit kfh.co.uk/newhomesproperties

Denmark Hill, Camberwell, SE5 ÂŁ1,650,000 Magnificent restoration of a stunning period property, offering 3,000 sq ft of accommodation with high quality interiors including five bedrooms, four bathrooms and Forca kitchens. These properties are set on the Dulwich/Denmark Hill borders. Internal viewing is essential to appreciate the quality and size. Freehold.

Land and New Homes 020 7740 2640 Email newhomesse@kfh.co.uk

Tulsemere Road, West Norwood, SE27 ÂŁ625,000 Last one remaining. The only two bedroom, double fronted house on this small select development situated at the end of a quiet residential road. This scheme is conveniently located for local shops, West Dulwich station and Dulwich Park. Freehold.

Land and New Homes 020 7740 2640 Email newhomesse@kfh.co.uk

KFH.indd 08.14 KFH 10 Dulwich and SouthEast.indd 10

17/07/2014 11:22 11:57 14/07/2014

Property News

The Bank’s Financial Policy Committee curbs mortgages JULIAN HILL

Director of Elysian Finance 020 8771 9990; elysianfinance.co.uk

A

fter the recent surge in property prices which, if continued, might destabilise the economic recovery, the Bank of England announced measures to restrict the potential excesses

JAVAID AHMED

Sales Manager at KFH, Forest Hill 020 8699 1596; kfh.co.uk

F

ollowing a very active first few months of the year which saw extremely high price rises, the market has since stabilised, especially in light of the Mortgage Market Review (MMR), which has resulted in a slight decline in buyer numbers in SE23. This is by

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

NEWS.V3.indd 2

in the mortgage market. The main measures are that future affordability tests have to factor in a 3% interest rate increase and that mortgage companies cannot lend greater than 4.5 times salary in more than 15% of all the lender’s mortgages. Currently 9% nationally and 19% in London exceeds this limit. Although these measures have very little impact at current mortgage levels it will start having an affect if house prices continue to increase or interest rates rise and if there is little leeway in the affordability calculation. Before applying for a no means a bad thing as the heady increases had become unsustainable and with the review, many buyers are now simply unable to borrow as much as they could before April. Following a serious shortage of supply, we’ve seen a significant change in the market which is now characterised by a fantastic choice of properties at competitive prices, meaning now is a great time to buy for those who can. We expect to see a rush of buyers in September as many attempt to move before Christmas and lenders have found a happy medium between the MMR regulations and their own processing systems.

mortgage it is important that you review your own profile of income and expenditure to factor in a 3% interest rate increase.

Otherwise you might be disappointed!

R

oy Brooks became a legend in his own time for the puckish delight he took in telling the truth, the whole truth – and even the unwholesome truth- about properties, that, as an estate agent, he advertised for sale.

Each month we will showcase one of these revolutionary, outrageous, funny and, on occasions, painful advertisements.

020 8299 3021; roybrooks.co.uk

88 25/07/2014 14:25

PROPERTY | NEWS

The INSIDE SCOOP of NEWS in your area Andrew Scott Robertson expands its presence in London JOHN KING

Managing Director of Andrew Scott Robinson 020 7703 4401; as-r.co.uk

A

ndrew Scott Robertson, one of the few agencies in the UK to offer a complete breadth of property solutions, have announced the opening of a new Residential Sales and Lettings office in South East London. Situated in the heart of Camberwell on Church Street, their new office is perfectly placed to cover all requirements of buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants of residential property in this vibrant area of central London as well as neighbouring areas, Denmark Hill, Kennington and Peckham.

John King, Managing Director of Andrew Scott Robertson, comments: “Although market conditions over the last few years have been challenging, London has performed exceptionally well. Our new Camberwell office extends our reach into South East London and allows us to offer our comprehensive range of property services to customers in this area including Commercial Property Management, Acquisitions, Development Consultancy, Auctions, RICS Valuations and Professional Services.”

Break these chains STEVEN PEARCE Consultant Solicitor at Cuff & Gough 07813 882818; cuffandgough.co.uk

I

read with interest the article in the July issue of this magazine by an estate agent reminiscing about her most satisfying transaction (holding together a chain involving 13 properties) and it reminded me of the age-old problem faced by parties in those situations. As anybody that has been involved in such a ‘performance’ is well aware, if you are

Director of Martin & Co, Crystal Palace 020 8771 9990; martinandco.com

MINUTES with...

W

e see the market taking some breathing space following recent gains. It seems all the talk of bubbles has thinned out buyer numbers, this is compounded by restrictions being applied in the mortgage market limiting availability. On top of this vendors price expectations have not yet adjusted to this new landscape. In this scenario we see a disparity between asking prices and realistic sale prices which is limiting transaction numbers. We are now also seeing an increase in stock levels which should tempt buyers back in to the market and lead to a more normalised market with prices moderating and transaction numbers picking up again.

DAVID MONTERO

Branch Manager Leaders, Forest Hill & Camberwell 020 8699 1600; leaders.co.uk Why this area? Forest Hill is a thriving and leafy suburb with a really passionate community, good transport, good schools, great parks, and a fab high street chock full of fantastic independent eateries and boutiques.

What is your company ethos?

How do you translate that into giving the best customer service possible? We are the lettings specialist Landlords return to us as we know our craft and offer excellent service, our specialism means we are constantly up to date with legislation, we take the pulse of the area and ensure our landlords are making the most of their investments.

at the top of a long chain, your own completion cannot take place until the money has passed, domino-like, up from the party at the bottom of the chain, right through to the top.

In some instances, this can mean that parties are sitting with removal vans for several hours awaiting the call to say that keys were released and ready to be collected.

In days when bridging loans were readily available (and relatively cheap) it was possible to bridge for 24 hours, to enable a client's purchase to go through the day prior to a sale, thereby avoiding the problems associated with long chains. Is it time, perhaps, for a central, Government-run 'bank' to act as the ‘core banker’ in the longer chains, thereby making completions almost instant, by having all parties in that chain dealing with just the one central bank? Food for thought...

89 NEWS.V3.indd 3

5

JAMES GOUGH

What properties are you most excited about having on your books? Niche places with innovative design that are steeped in history. You never know what you might see here; an Edwardian mansion apartment with breath taking views of the London Skyline, thanks to the hill of Forest Hill, or a quirky little studio flat with a lovely small garden.

What do you predict for the property market in summer 2014? The supply and demand is still heavily in the favour of the landlord, with every property on the rental market inundated with enquiries and often landlords will receive several offers.

AUGUST 2014

25/07/2014 14:25

Ballina Street, Forest Hill SE23 Positioned in the heart of Honor Oak, one of South East London’s most sought after places, is this handsome Victorian family home. The spacious property has two large receptions with feature fireplaces and fabulous kitchen/ breakfast room. To the first floor are three sizeable bedrooms, contemporary bathroom and separate WC. Externally the house boasts a lovely landscaped garden with side return.

Energy Efficiency Rating D.

ÂŁ799,995 F/H

Please contact our Forest Hill office on 020 8333 5080 or email foresthill@acorn.ltd.uk

The Acorn Group

ACORN.indd 1

23/07/2014 14:32

acorn.ltd.uk @AcornGroup /AcornEstateAgency

Peckham Hill Street, Peckham SE15

£449,950 S/O F/H

Imposing and stunning from the moment you arrive at the front gate, this Georgian garden flat has the wow factor. The property briefly comprises delightful cobbled staircase and entrance courtyard, sleek and stylish open plan kitchen/living area, two large double bedrooms with built in storage, modern fully tiled bathroom and large decked garden. All of the rooms boast natural light provided by the large Georgian windows and the property further benefits from gas central heating throughout.

Energy Efficiency Rating C.

Please contact our Peckham office on 020 7771 6777 or email peckham@acorn.ltd.uk

Rodwell Road, East Dulwich SE22

£2,600 PCM

High specification, beautifully presented Victorian house comprising four double bedrooms, two receptions, modern four piece bathroom suite, high specification kitchen/living area and private garden. In a great location within the catchment of Heber School and walking distance to Lordship Lane. Energy Efficiency Rating C.

Please contact our Dulwich office on 020 8516 3666 or email dulwich@acorn.ltd.uk

Standard Tenant Charges: £120 Agreement Fee - £90pp Reference Fee. Other fees may apply, visit acorn.ltd.uk/tenantfees for more information.

ACORN.indd 2

23/07/2014 14:32

Christopher Cady, Associate Director

Double fronted

Immaculate condition Tell Grove, SE22 A double fronted detached family home located in the heart of East Dulwich. The property is presented in immaculate condition throughout, comprising four double bedrooms, three bathrooms (two en–suites) kitchen/dining room and separate reception room which also leads out onto a south facing partly decked garden. Situated near East Dulwich transport links as well as the chic array of local independent shops. £1,000,000 Freehold

Dulwich 020 8875 7999

JACKSONS.indd 1

23/07/2014 17:37

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

www.jacksonsestateagents.com

Split level apartment

West facing balcony

Copleston Road, SE15 An attractive split-level flat on the raised ground and first floor of this charming Victorian building. There are steps up to the front door and inside there is a hallway leading to the two separate reception rooms with a rear west-facing balcony and the kitchen/breakfast room to the back. The first floor comprises of three double bedrooms and a good-sized bathroom. ÂŁ679,950 Share of Freehold

Dulwich 020 8875 7999

JACKSONS.indd 2

23/07/2014 17:38

Sophia O’Carroll & Tilly, Sales Manager

Newly refurnished

Excellent location East Dulwich Road, SE22 A one bedroom split-level flat. The first floor accommodation comprises of the kitchen and the reception room with doors leading onto the lovely balcony and then there is a spiral staircase going up to the rear second floor which has the double bedroom and large shower room. Situated near East Dulwich BR station, main bus routes and the wonderful shops, bars and restaurants on Lordship Lane. ÂŁ369,950 Leasehold

Dulwich 020 8875 7999

JACKSONS.indd 3

23/07/2014 17:38

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

www.jacksonsestateagents.com

Ladlands development

Two double bedrooms

Ladlands, SE22 A spacious split-level apartment in the famous listed Ladlands development built in 1971 on land that used to be known as Ladlands Hill. The front door is set on the second floor with stairs that take you down to the first floor which comprises of the reception room and kitchen. The ground floor consists of two double bedrooms and a family bathroom. ÂŁ334,950 Leasehold

Dulwich 020 8875 7999

JACKSONS.indd 4

23/07/2014 17:38

Offices throughout London

Holmes Close, SE22

£775,000 Freehold

Besant Place, SE22 OIEO £435,000 Leasehold

A stunning three double bedroom town house with a private garden, side access and an allocated parking space within a well looked after secured gated development. This property is over three floors and offers fantastic living space throughout. EPC = C

A beautifully presented two double bedroom top floor modern apartment in a fantastic location in East Dulwich close to all local amenities. This property is very spacious, bright and offers great living space. EPC = B

Dulwich & SE I 020 8299 1722 I dulwich@bushells.com

Dulwich & SE I 020 8299 1722 I dulwich@bushells.com

Peckham Rye, SE15

Crebor Street, SE22

£389,950 Leasehold

£459,950 SOF

A beautifully presented and spacious one bedroom fourth floor period conversion in an amazing location overlooking Peckham Rye Park. The property has been very well looked after by it’s current owner would make an ideal home. EPC = C

A lovely two bedroom period maisonette with a private garden located on the ground floor on a quiet residential street in the heart of East Dulwich. Offering well proportioned and flexible accommodation. EPC = D

Dulwich & SE I 020 8299 1722 I dulwich@bushells.com

Dulwich & SE I 020 8299 1722 I dulwich@bushells.com

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

BUSHELLS.indd 2

23/07/2014 14:57

bushells.com

Goodrich Road, SE22

£975,000 Freehold

A beautifully presented four bedroom period house with a south facing garden set on one of the most sought after streets in East Dulwich. This house is in fantastic condition, has been renovated to a very high standard and offers fantastic living space with lots of light throughout. Benefits a large double reception with lovely period features, four bedrooms, kitchen/diner, two bathrooms & a downstairs cloakroom, south facing garden and side access. Very close to all local amenities within the area. EPC = E Dulwich & SE I 020 8299 1722 I dulwich@bushells.com

PART OF THE EDMUND CUDE GROUP

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

BUSHELLS.indd 3

23/07/2014 14:58

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Nicholas Manley

Director of Residential Sales & Lettings at Pedder, Herne Hill

F

Photography: Sarah metcalf

ollowing in my family footsteps I studied property at university.

Starting in the property sector as a Project Manager dealing with central London commercial development and I then moved into prime residential property based in Mayfair. 14 years later I still enjoy the cut and thrust of residential property and the challenges involved in the day to day running of a market leading Estate Agency.

Having lived all over London from South Kensington to the City I still find myself gravitating back to the Dulwich Village and Herne Hill area. As a local resident who recently married in Christ’s Chapel in the village, I call this area my home. The attractive Victorian property, great schools, relative affordability to central London, quality boutiques / cafes and stunning open spaces meticulously maintained by the Dulwich Estate are all sound reasons to live in the area. For those seeking a quiet retreat to raise a family but require easy access to central London and the City, look no further.

Herne Hill is full of wonderful places to go to: The Florence is an extremely popular family friendly pub, and I’d heartily recommend the roast dinner at the The Commercial. Olley’s Fish & Chip Bar has won numerous awards, and Café Provencal has a lovely bohemian vibe. Of course, the lido warrants a mention - perpetually in demand with not only locals, prepare to queue if you come in the summertime! The café attached

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

ITOW.V2.indd 2

(pictured) also serves lovely grub. Lastly, the famous Brockwell Park itself is the perfect way to wile away a couple of hours, with its 125.5 acres of land, including tennis courts and BMX track, amongst many other diversions, you’ll never be short of things to do.

I would encourage estate agents to empower their clients to take an active role in establishing the marketing price for their property. So much time is wasted by inexperienced agents over promising and overvaluing property which simply delays the vendors objectives.

There has been much speculation over how the London market will perform for the remainder of 2014 in the light of the high level of recent price rises.Fundamentally the annual level of housing transactions in London is lower than pre 2008 levels so one can assume demand remains – this is endorsed by a lack of supply of housing stock. Countering this (amongst other political measures) is the MMR (mortgage market review) which has imposed stricter criteria on affordability of mortgages restricting lending supported by the Bank of England’s lending caps imposed on banks.

Looking forward the unsustainable price rises of Q1 and Q2 2014 have come to an end and hopefully a more balanced housing market may be established giving more confidence to all.

020 7738 5926; pedderproperty.com

98 25/07/2014 16:04

PROPERTY | IN THEIR OWN WORDS

THE LIDO CAFE, BROCKWELL PARK

99 ITOW.V2.indd 3

AUGUST 2014

25/07/2014 16:05

DULWICH VILLAGE SE21

£5,500,000

Joint Sole Agents

College road SE21

£2,500,000

Sole Agents

Hengrave road se23

£1,900,000

Owner’s Agents

A superb detached house with a GIA of 4222 sq ft.

There’s a master bedroom with dressing room & en suite shower room, 6 double bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (2 en suite), reception room, kitchen/family/dining room, study, utility room, cloakroom, larder, boiler room, heated swimming pool, landscaped garden and gated off street parking. EPC Rating (D).

Double fronted detached family house with a GIA of 2063 sq ft (191.65 sq m). There are 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (1 en suite), reception room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, separate WC, 3 store rooms, garage, off street parking and rear garden 120’ x 100’ (36.58 x 30.48m). EPC Rating (E).

A substantial detached Edwardian family house with a GIA of 4176 sq ft. There are 7 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, office, study, kitchen, 2 separate WC, conservatory, utility room, coal room, storage, cellar, store, double garage, off street parking and garden 71’8” x 64’4” (21.84m x 19.61m).

EPC Rating (E).

Mount gardens SE26

Chatsworth way se27

Highland road SE19

£1,675,000

Sole Agents

A delightful locally listed Georgian cottage with a GIA of 2196 sq ft. There are 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sitting room, family room, dining room, playroom, study with en suite shower, kitchen/diner, WC/utility room, garage and gardens 44’ x 43’ (13.41 x 13.11m) and 43’ x 61’ (13.11 x 18.59m). EPC Rating (E).

£1,650,000

Joint Sole Agents

A substantial double fronted period family house with a GIA of 3537 sq ft. Arranged over three floors, the property offers 5/6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 separate WCs, 3 reception rooms, kitchen, dining room, utility room, cellar, off street parking and garden 126’ x 25’ (38.40m x 7.62m). EPC Rating (E).

£1,649,000

Joint Sole Agents

A unique grade II listed 19th Century Church Tower conversion with spectacular views over London and has a GIA of 3229 sq ft. There are 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, TV/music room, belfry, roof terrace, gardens and a wealth of original features.

EPC Rating (D). w n Ne ctio ru t s In

Rosendale road se21

£1,595,000

Joint Sole Agents

One of a pair of newly renovated double fronted family houses in Rosendale Road. It has a GIA of 2142 sq ft.

There are 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite), 3 reception rooms, spacious kitchen/dining room, utility room, separate WC, off street parking and garden 39’2” x 22’ (11.94m).

H&W.indd 1

COLLEGE GARDENS SE21

£1,475,000

Sole Agents

A particularly fine example of a substantial town house with a GIA of 2551 sq ft, located on a popular and secluded private road in the heart of Dulwich Village.

There are 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, Study, Kitchen, Separate WC, store, garage, and garden 35’7 x 15’ (10.84m x 4.56m). EPC Rating (D).

Croxted road SE21

£1,395,000

Sole Agents

A substantial double fronted period property currently arranged as two separate units but suitable to be returned to a single family house. The property has a GIA of 2476 sq ft and offers 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, 2 kitchen, storage and garden 155’ x 35’9” (47.2m x 10.90m). EPC Rating: Ground floor flat (D). Middle floor flat (E).

22/07/2014 14:57

College road SE21

Dulwich village se21

sold

Under offer

Auckland road se19

Eastlands crescent SE21

Under offer

Under offer

Dovercourt road se22

Court lane SE21

Calton avenue se21

SOLD

Woodwarde road se22

sold

Beauval road se22

sold

sold

sold

Northstead road sw2

Calton avenue SE21

Aysgarth road SE21

sold

H&W.indd 2

Under offer

sold

22/07/2014 14:57

Award winning independent residential lettings & property management specialists

SCAN MODE : POTENTIAL TENANT

TARGET : Charlotte Webster STATUS : Married with 2 young daughters PROFESSION : Part time architect INCOME : Combined £120,000 Pa INTERESTS : Sewing, Tennis, & Painting faces at kids parties

Ideal home - 54 Snakes Lane

£650pw

We’ll look after your property as if it were our own Landlord & Buy-to-Let Magazine

Landlord & Letting Awards

Finalist 2012-13

Website

* Free Daisylets App available to download now for iphone & Android

DAISYLETS_AUG.indd 2

info@daisylets.com www daisylets.com

020 8299 9035 17/07/2014 14:22

PROPERTY | COMMUNITY NEWS

Pedder Community news Hitherfield Primary School Summer Fair Saturday 5th July

R

achel Coritsa from Pedder’s West Norwood branch went to meet the local community and had a meeting with the head teacher of Hitherfield Primary School, who thanked Pedder for all the sponsorship and support. During the fair, money was raised and given back to the school. Many fun games were played, such as ‘How many balloons in the car?’ and ‘How many sweets in the jar?’ It was a great success.

Jessop Primary School Summer Fair Saturday 28th June

J

The Leander Road Street Party Saturday 5th July

T

he Leander Road Street Party is an annual event organised by the local residents’ association.

It aims to encourage neighbours and the wider community to come together to get to know one another, and have fun along the way. Their aims also include encouraging a sense of community spirit and belonging in order to support other local community initiatives such as their campaign to address crime on the street, promoting play days, and environmental

clean ups. Pedder became involved in 2013 and were Leander Road’s first corporate sponsor. Through providing Pedder Boards to promote the party we’ve been able to raise the profile of it and encourage all residents to get involved. We’ve seen an increase in both attendance to our annual street party and engagement in our residents’ association activities throughout the year.

essop Summer Fair took place on a lovely day. Fun was had by all, and the most notably enjoyable aspects were throwing the sponge at the adult in the stocks, hook a duck, and the bouncy castle. Also taking place was face painting and butterfly tattoos and there was a delectable offering of food, including BBQ chicken and rice, candy floss, cakes, sweets and strawberries and cream, to name but a few...

For more information on upcoming events, please visit pedderproperty.com

103 PEDDER.indd 1

AUGUST 2014

25/07/2014 12:24

Azenby Road, SE15

ÂŁ400,000/LH

50 sq metres (536 Sq Ft). Well presented two double bedroom ground floor flat with direct access to a private swimming pool for the residents.

PROPERTY IN.indd 2

Ivanhoe Road, SE5

ÂŁ825,000/FH

120.21 Sq metres (1294 Sq ft). Interesting four bedroom Victorian residence with accommodation set over three floors.

23/07/2014 10:19

133 Lordship Lane Dulwich SE22 8HX

info@propertyin.com  www.propertyin.com

020 8693 8000

Birkbeck Hill, SE21

£800,000/ Freehold

100.15 Sq metres (1078 sq ft). This impressive three bedroom freehold house has been thoughtfully extended to an exceptional standard. There are two separate reception rooms, a useful ground floor cloakroom and a newly fitted open plan kitchen/ living room that is light and bright. It has both side and rear extensions, featuring skylights and corner folding doors leading to the private 15m (50ft) mature rear garden. Oak flooring, period features, vaulted ceiling to the modern bathroom and three bedrooms on the first floor. Tulse Hill station is just a 3 minute walk away (London Bridge and Thameslink for Farringdon).

Hindmans Road, SE22

£2,200 pcm

98.75 Sq metres (1063 Sq ft). Perfect for a family this stunning three bedroom Victorian semi-detached house is immaculately presented throughout.

PROPERTY IN.indd 3

Nutbrook Street, SE15

£750,000/FH

88.6 Sq metres (953 Sq ft). A well-presented mid terraced Victorian three double bedroom house in a fantastic location.

23/07/2014 10:19

North Dulwich, SE24

£1,100,000

The Avenues, SE24

£1,200,000

North Dulwich, SE24

£2,200 pcm

A superb late Edwardian family home, four bedrooms, large garden, many original features, two receptions, kitchen/diner and utility room. EPC = E

An impressive size semi-detached residence, four double bedrooms, large garden, three reception rooms and cellar.

EPC = E

An outstanding three double bedroom split level flat with two bathrooms and private entrance. Access to North Dulwich and Herne Hill station. EPC = D

020 7733 1293 BURNETT WARE.indd 2

22/07/2014 15:57

North Dulwich, SE24

£450,000

East Dulwich, SE22

£250,000

A large one bedroom garden flat, kitchen/diner, 16ft lounge, cellar, long lease. Located in a sought after area.

EPC = E

A one bedroom ground floor flat in an attractive development with views of Peckham Rye. Communal grounds and garage.

EPC = E

Herne Hill, SE24

A very well presented one bedroom flat with excellent location for local amenities and Zone 2 station.

EPC = D

£1,200 pcm

burnetware.com BURNETT WARE.indd 3

22/07/2014 15:57

PROPERTY | THE INSIDER

The Insider Nothing’s better than THE INSIDE SCOOP. LOCAL AGENTS give their recommendations...

TIME OUT

LOCAL STREET

Sew Over It on Landor Road Clapham North is a quirky sewing café where you can lose yourself in a cross stitch and relax with a bottomless pot of tea.

Harold Road, SE19. Tucked away at the back of the Triangle with a fine variety of stunning houses, a short walk up Bedwardine Road to the Triangle with Westow Park adjacent.

Luke Bishop

Office Manager Wooster & Stock, Brixton

James Gough Director of Martin & Co, Crystal Palace

FACT

David Bowie lived with his family on Stansfield Road, Brixton when he was born in 1947. He has been immortalised in a wall painting at the heart of Brixton.

Nick Baer Director of

Keating Estates

020 7952 0590; woosterstock.co.uk

020 8771 9990; martincocrystalpalace.co.uk

020 7095 5777; keatingestates.com

INTERIOR INSPIRATION

HANG OUT

KIDS

Ed Warehouse – vintage clothes, hats and paraphernalia, some old and some new.

It's based in an old warehouse building off lordship lane.

Edward Ogden Sales Manager at Jacksons, Dulwich

020 8875 7999; jacksonsestateagents.com ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

THE INSIDER_NEW.indd 2

The Rye, a gastro pub in Peckham Rye is ideally located opposite the park, and a fantastic place to meet with friends and family for a relaxed Sunday lunch.

Anita Barry Lettings Manager at KFH, Peckham

020 7635 0034; kfh.co.uk

108

The Horniman Museum's Aquarium is great for kids. Low level viewing windows and engaging interpretation introduces them to a huge variety of aquatic life.

Kim Jones Sales Manager at

Bushells, Dulwich

020 8299 1722; bushells.com AUGUST 2014

25/07/2014 12:26

Professional Property People

Have you heard the news?

We have opened a sales and lettings office in South East London.

As a result of unprecedented growth and customer demand, we are pleased to announce the launch of our dedicated Residential Lettings, Property Management and Sales office for South East London Contact us to discuss how the team at andrew scott robertson can be of service to you.

www.as-r.co.uk

T: 020 7703 4401 Wimbledon Village T: 020 8971 6780

Wimbledon Town T: 020 8971 3800

Knightsbridge T: 020 7808 8530

Camberwell T: 020 7703 4401

E: commercial@as-r.co.uk

E: residential@as-r.co.uk

E: auctions@as-r.co.uk

E: camberwell@as-r.co.uk

AS-R_CORP_v4.indd 1

24/07/2014 12:22

Don’t take our word for it…

Having used services of many agents I was VERY pleasantly surprised by the professionalism, friendliness, diligence & pro-active approach. I would not hesitate to recommend. 10/10 Landlord, Belvedere Road SE19

Thank you for your level of professionalism and care! I would wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone letting or selling!

Landlord, then vendor, Waverly Road SE21

I would really recommend them to anyone locally who is looking for as care-free a process as is ever possible when dealing with buying, selling or renting property.

Landlord, Anerley SE20

I have been incredibly pleased with the quality and level of service since the beginning of the letting process. Response is quick to all queries, often going the extra mile to provide a prompt reply and a fully comprehensive service. Polite, friendly, and knowledgeable.

I have no hesitation in recommending.

Landlord, then vendor, Fox Hill SE19

We offer you a realistic market appraisal based on thorough research and detailed knowledge of the market. That professional advice is free and without obligation.

From family homes to exclusive flats and properties in an around Crystal Palace...

Lettings • Sales • Investment

0208 771 9990

70 Church Road • Crystal Palace • London • SE19 2E9

crystalpalace@martinco.com • martincocrystalpalace.co.uk

MARTIN & CO_v2.indd 1

29/05/2014 16:58

leaders.co.uk

Camberwell

Dulwich

020 3478 9310

020 8256 1808

020 8699 1600

camberwell@leaders.co.uk

dulwich@leaders.co.uk

foresthill@leaders.co.uk

Forest Hill

All rents quoted exclude other charges or fees which may be payable – for more information please contact your local branch or visit the branch page on www.leaders.co.uk

LEADERS.indd 1

21/07/2014 10:20

Living the dream The MOST LUXURIOUSLY appointed PROPERTIES on the market

Highshore Road, SE15

£1,500,000

Built on the cusp of the Georgian and Victorian eras.

Spotlight on SE22 Average asking price £686,608

This noteworthy grade II listed four bedroom residence maintains a wealth of its original features and charm.

The property is placed in a decidedly peaceful setting while enjoying an unrivalled location within minutes of the best of Rye Lane and Bellenden Road. There are truly marvellous gardens to both front and rear and the interior benefits from years of dedication and care. Dulcet, autumnal wall shades, quality wooden flooring and bespoke joinery define the sympathetic contemporary additions.

Average asking rents £1,802 pcm Average property value £577,989 Data provided by

Wooster & Stock, Nunhead 020 7708 6700; woosterstock.co.uk

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

LTD.V.2.indd 2

112 25/07/2014 12:28

PROPERTY | LIVING THE DREAM

Goodrich Road, SE22 £975,000 A beautifully presented four bedroom period house with a south facing garden set on one of the most sought after streets in East Dulwich. This house is in fantastic condition, has been renovated to a very high standard and offers fantastic living space with lots of light throughout. Benefits include a large double reception with lovely period features, four bedrooms, eat in kitchen/diner, two bathrooms & a downstairs cloakroom, south facing garden and side access.

Freehold Bushells, Dulwich 020 8299 1722; bushells.com

PRIME LOCATION.COM

SUGGESTS

Upland Road, SE22 £2,700 Per Month

St. Aidans Road, SE22 £925,000

A gorgeous four double bedroom, semidetached Victorian house laid out over three levels and set on a sought after residential street close to leafy Peckham Rye in East Dulwich. The house benefits from a bright through reception room and a generous garden and patio area.

Situated close to Peckham Rye Park and within catchment of Goodrich School is this beautiful three double bedroom Victorian home. The property is wonderfully spacious and combines period features with high quality modern finishes, including oak flooring and a lovely feature fireplace.

Daisy Lets 020 8299 9035; daisylets.com

Freehold Acorn, Dulwich 020 8516 3666; acorn.ltd.uk

113 LTD.V.2.indd 3

We have just launched our new ‘travel time’ feature which allows you to search for property based on journey time to a selected destination and your preferred method of transport. You can use our great, new travel time feature to find properties for sale or to rent that meet both your property requirements and your travel criteria. So, if you’re looking to be within a certain journey time from family, friends or work, make sure you use our new feature to find property.

AUGUST 2014

25/07/2014 12:29

Smart explores the local area.

Nearest school 0.3 miles

ZOOPLA.indd 1 Zest Adverts_Jan2014.indd 1

11/07/2014 04/04/2014 09:39 15:18

R NE EL W EA SE

Stunning 3 bedroom apartments from just £529,995

Sales & Marketing Suite & show apartments open daily (Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 10am - 4pm) Call 0207

758 8457 to view or email londondi@hamptons-int.com

• Central Greenwich Village Location • 12 mins to Canary Wharf via the DLR* • London Bridge just 8 mins via National Rail Sole selling agents

www.primeplacegreenwich.com Prices correct at time of press. *Source:journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

PRIMEPLACE.indd 1

Beyond your expectations

09/06/2014 14:33

A FRESH APPROACH TO ESTATE AGENCY

GROVE HILL ROAD SE5 £1,399,950

Boasting a corner spot, quirky (yet spacious) layout and beautifully sympathetic finish throughout, this unique Victorian gem will surely delight! There’s a host of quality fittings to enjoy as well as a pretty

garden and huge lower ground floor utility space (with own entrance).

A recently augmented kitchen/diner will impress no end! Beautiful wall shades further entice and you couldn’t ask for a better location either.

NUNHEAD 17 Nunhead Green, SE15 3QQ nun@woosterstock.co.uk 020 7708 6700

SYDENHAM 110 Kirkdale, SE26 4BG syd@woosterstock.co.uk 020 8613 0060

W&S.indd dps.indd 2 1

BRIXTON 105 Acre Lane, SW2 5TU brx@woosterstock.co.uk 020 7952 0590

23/07/2014 16:46 23/07/2014 15:48:15

LAMBERT ROAD SW2 ÂŁ1,650,000

This endlessly impressive five bedder has been deftly augmented to supply unbeatable accommodation. While retaining a smattering of original charm, the house now enjoys a huge, open plan living space, a

contemporary kitchen, four double bedrooms and a large single room/ study. The secluded decked garden leads on to an utterly fab selfcontained studio with direct access. There is a pretty roof terrace too.

woosterstock.co.uk

W&S.indd dps.indd 3 2

23/07/2014 16:46 23/07/2014 15:48:20

A FRESH APPROACH TO ESTATE AGENCY

CAMBERWELL GROVE SE5 ÂŁ1,900,000

Spread over four stunning floors, each as fabulous as the last, this amazing four bedroom terraced beauty will charm you no end. Taking pride of place at the lower end of the Grove, the home marries the

surrounding period ambiance with contemporary ingenuity. London stock brick work, high black railings, hedging planters and a first floor Juliet balcony window box all suit the period credentials of the Grove.

NUNHEAD 17 Nunhead Green, SE15 3QQ nun@woosterstock.co.uk 020 7708 6700

SYDENHAM 110 Kirkdale, SE26 4BG syd@woosterstock.co.uk 020 8613 0060

W&S.indd dps.indd 4 3

BRIXTON 105 Acre Lane, SW2 5TU brx@woosterstock.co.uk 020 7952 0590

23/07/2014 16:46 23/07/2014 15:48:24

WIVERTON ROAD SE26 £785,000

A home with real taste! This ever so special three bedroom mid Victorian beauty has been lovingly perfected throughout the last 14 years by its current owners. From first glimpse you’ll sense the original charm. The

interior has sympathetic styling, original features, high ceilings and elegant decor touches. To add to the charm you’ll also enjoy a suitably well-manicured rear garden and location that has everything you need.

woosterstock.co.uk

W&S.indd dps.indd 5 4

23/07/2014 16:46 23/07/2014 15:48:28

PROPERTY | PROPERTY SHOWCASE

Property Showcase VENDOR ADVICE

When does exchange of contracts take place?

E

xchange of contracts takes place when both the buyer and the vendor have signed a written contract, following which they are then both liable for a percentage of the sale price if either party fail to complete. Getting to this point, however, is a rather complicated waiting game where many variables can influence the buyers move in date, which can often become a moving target.

These factors often include mortgage applications, incomplete chains, a change in either the buyers or sellers circumstances or a survey with an undesirable outcome, which may lead to further inspections and negotiations.

In my experience, knowing where to look and getting your documents in place is the key to a successful and swift exchange of contracts.

A very rarely available Edwardian detached house.

B

uilt c.1908 in the Arts & Crafts style and situated in possibly one of the best Dulwich Village locations between the park and shops. The property has attractive gardens at the front and rear, 157’ x 45’4 (47.85 x 13.82), with a separate garage and gated off street parking area also situated in Dulwich Village. The accommodation is arranged over two floors with a gross internal area of 2,605 sq ft (242 sq m) and there may be scope to extend the house, subject to any necessary consent.

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

SHOWCASE.indd 2

ANTHONY SHORING Dulwich Village, SE21 £2,750,000 Harvey & Wheeler 020 8693 4321; harveywheeler.com

120

Sales Manager at KFH, Dulwich Village

020 8299 4499; kfh.co.uk

AUGUST 2014

25/07/2014 12:32

INNOVATIVE MORTGAGE ADVICE

elysianfinance.co.uk

ELYSIAN_DULWICH_SEPT.indd 2

24/09/2013 11:27

pedderproperty.com

Dovercourt Road, Dulwich, SE22 ÂŁ1,800,000 A detached Edwardian house for sale, situated in one of the more popular roads in the area. Recently undergone refurbishment creating a beautifully presented family home with excellent living accommodation over 2 floors. Externally there are mature landscaped gardens to the front and rear and a large drive providing off street parking. EPC: F

Please contact our Dulwich Village Office on 020 8299 0922

PEDDER_AUG.indd 1

24/07/2014 17:27

We have the knowledge

Underhill Road, East Dulwich, SE22 ÂŁ975,000 This charming Victorian family home has ample storage & original features throughout it. Set over 3 levels, the property comprises; 4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 downstairs WC & a bright, spacious reception room together with an eat-in-kitchen which leads directly onto a secluded south west facing garden. EPC: E

Please contact our East Dulwich Office on 020 8299 3721

PEDDER_AUG.indd 2

24/07/2014 17:27

pedderproperty.com

Harold Road, Upper Norwood, SE19 ÂŁ2,750,000 A double fronted Victorian family home, directly opposite Upper Norwood Green. Offering breath-taking views both front and rear. The gross internal area is 4996 sq ft arranged over four floors. Including a master suite with dressing room and private bathroom, two further bathrooms and attic storage. EPC: E

Please contact our Crystal Palace Office on 020 8670 7160

PEDDER_AUG.indd 3

24/07/2014 17:28

We even have the t-shirt

Ewelme Road, Forest Hill, SE23 ÂŁ1,200,000 A five bedroom detached Victorian house for sale. This home comprises of a large kitchen/diner, two large reception rooms, downstairs WC, pantry off the kitchen, four large double bedrooms and one smaller, family bathroom with separate shower and cellar, well maintained side and rear gardens. EPC: E

Please contact our Forest Hill Office on 020 8314 4070

PEDDER_AUG.indd 4

24/07/2014 17:28

pedderproperty.com

Haredale Road, Herne Hill, SE24 OIEO ÂŁ450,000 Grade II listed with a 300 sq ft reception, this 1st floor Carnegie Library flat comprises of a modern bathroom, kitchen and double bedroom and shared garden. The flat is ideally located by beautiful Ruskin Park and benefits from the good transport links. Early viewings are highly recommended. EPC: D

Please contact our Herne Hill Office on 020 7738 5926

PEDDER_AUG.indd 5

24/07/2014 17:28

Our advice is never impaired

Ranmore Avenue, Croydon, CR0 ÂŁ895,000 Detached house on the Whitgift Foundation Estate, with possible potential to extend. Next to Addiscombe Cricket and Shirley Park Lawn Tennis clubs, this property comprises: 3 receptions, kitchen, d/stairs cloakroom, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, separate WC, garage and a lovely 105ft south facing rear garden which backs onto Lloyd Park. EPC: D

Please contact our Park Hill Office on 020 8680 2422

PEDDER_AUG.indd 6

24/07/2014 17:28

pedderproperty.com

Avenue Park Road, West Norwood, SE27 ÂŁ550,000 A stunning 2 double bedroom period conversion apartment positioned nearby to Tulse Hill station. Benefitting from private entrance, direct access to a private rear garden and summer house, contemporary kitchen / diner and master bedroom has a private en suite. EPC: C

Please contact our West Norwood Office on 020 8670 9008

PEDDER_AUG.indd 7

24/07/2014 17:29

We have the knowledge

St Julians Farm Road, SE27 £2,500 PCM fees apply

Hamlyn Gardens, SE19 £1,795 PCM fees apply

A substantial detached house to let in West Norwood.

Offering 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, utility and bathroom, 4 double bedrooms and a bathroom, along with a rear garden. EPC: F

A three bedroom semi-detached house. The property benefits from off street parking and a well maintained rear garden with excellent access to both Gipsy Hill and Crystal Palace stations. EPC: B

Please call our West Norwood office: 020 8670 9008

Please call our Crystal Palace office: 020 8670 7160

Muschamp Road, SE22 £3,300 PCM fees apply

Turney Road, SE21 £3,900 PCM fees apply

A semi-detached unfurnished Victorian house with rail links to central London. 5 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, downstairs W.C, 2 reception rooms, fitted kitchen/breakfast room and beautiful garden. EPC: E

A semi-detached property in Dulwich Village, with large double reception room with wood burning stove, kitchen/dining/family room with stunning views over the large secluded garden (gardener supplied). EPC: B

Please call our East Dulwich office: 020 8299 3721

Please call our Dulwich Village office: 020 8299 0922

SE London’s premier agent

PEDDER_AUG.indd 8

www.pedderproperty.com

24/07/2014 17:29

peddernewhomes.com

Christchurch Road, Tulse Hill, SW2 Prices starting from ÂŁ480,000 Premium residential developer The Haywoods Group, provides a Victorian conversion located between Brixton and Tulse Hill. Comprising of just 4 spacious apartments, each providing an open plan living kitchen area and high specification finishing. Tulse Hill station is within walking distance with trains to London Bridge in just 18 minutes.

Please contact our New Homes Office on 020 7738 6839

PEDDER_AUG.indd 9

24/07/2014 17:29

Glendon Apartments Prices from ÂŁ320,000 A bold and stylish development compromised of nine, one and two bedroom high specification apartments on Gipsy Road. The development is located just a short walk away from West Norwood High Street and from Gipsy Hill providing easy access to local transport, shops, gastro pubs, restaurants and renowned local parks.

Please contact our New Homes Office on 020 7738 6839

PEDDER_AUG.indd 10

24/07/2014 17:30

Jacksons win triple gold

Click with with us us at atjacksonsestateagents.com jacksonsestateagents.com jacksonsestateagents.com estateagents.com Click jacksons jacksonsestateagents.com Gold

Best Estate Agent (London South) Balham

Gold

Best Letting Agent (London South) Balham

Gold Silver

Best Medium Chain Best Estate Agent (London South) Earlsfield

Bronze Grand Prix Award Best Estate and Letting Agent UK

For more information about how you can benefit from our award wining service talk to your local Jacksons office or visit us at jacksonsestateagents.com

JACKSONS_OBC.indd 1 AW17311_ESTAS_absolutey_Dulwich.indd 1

17/07/2014 11:37 14:03 02/06/2014