Absolutely City&Angel:East February 2018

CITY & EAST

ABSOLUTELY City & East North by Northwest

FEBRUARY 2018 / £3.95

love ON TOP What to do this Valentine’s Day

FEB RUARY 2018

Drama QUEEN

SPICE OF LIFE

Monica Dolan’s first solo show

Adventurous recipes from Gizzi Erskine

MAKING WAVES E M B R AC E YO U R M O S T S T Y L I S H S E A S O N

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STYLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGANT 29/01/2018 17:09

“It’s fine.

The heart wants what the heart wants.

Discover rural homes with sea views using keyword search.

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11/07/2016 15:20

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online.”

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BEDS, SOFAS AND FURNITURE FOR LOAFERS LOAF.COM

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BATTERSEA

NOTTING HILL

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents FEBRUARY 2018

72

32 48

C U LT U R E

10 ABSOLUTELY LOVES

FOOD & DRINK

48 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

14 AGENDA

50 SPICE OF LIFE

10 things we’re coveting this month

Diary dates for February

News from the industry

Recipes from Gizzi Erskine

22 CENTRE STAGE

55 FOOD REVIEW

FA S H I O N

28 FASHION CONFIDENTIAL

INTERIORS 58 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N The online guide to inspirational London living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes.

60 COOK OFF

Discover Rosie Birkett's glamorous kitchen

ABSOLUTELY

Absolutely meets Monica Dolan

This month’s hottest trend updates and brands to know

The month’s best beauty buys

News and views

T R AV E L 72 SEA VIEW Sun, sea and style at Danai Beach Resort

The most luxurious London properties

FEBRUARY 2018 / £3.95

love

ON TOP What to do this Valentine’s Day

Drama QUEEN Monica Dolan’s first solo show

SPICE OF LIFE

Adventurous recipes from Gizzi Erskine

PROPERTY 82 LIVING THE DREAM

City & East

ON THE COVER

MAKING WAVES

TARA JARMON SS18 AVAILABLE AT TARAJARMON.COM

E M B R AC E Y O U R M O S T S T Y L I S H S E A S O N

ZEST.LONDON

43 SPOT CHECK

Blemish-busting buys

FEB RUARY 2018

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y 40 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

CITY & EAST

31 TIED UP

Bow-tie tops are big business this season

Absolutely visits Smoking Goat

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EDITOR IN CHIEF PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR HELEN BROWN FASHION & BEAUTY WRITER JOY MONTGOMERY LIFESTYLE WRITER MIRIAM CAREY EDUCATION EDITOR AMANDA CONSTANCE GROUP SALES DIRECTOR CRAIG DAVIES MAGAZINE MANAGER ROLLO DENNISON ACCOUNT MANAGER ANABELA KOLECI ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE OLTIAN RUCI PROPERTY DIRECTOR JAMES FUSCHILLO

Window shopping

ART DIRECTOR PHIL COUZENS SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA, LINSEY CANNON MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN

Replacing beautiful timber windows and doors, beautifully

DESIGNER CATHERINE PERKINS PRODUCTION MANAGER CHRIS COUCHMAN MARKETING MANAGER LUCIE PEARCE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS EVA LEHOCZKY For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 7704 0588 or email: advertising@zest-media.com

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23/01/2018 18:51

Editor’s

LETTER

D

eep in the midst of winter and with all New Year's optimism long evaporated, February can seem a bleak month. Yet, somehow it is also supposed to be a month of romance, with Valentine’s Day bringing red roses, sickly sweet cartoon hearts and smug couples aplenty. Meanwhile, singletons around the world are struck with an uncomfortable unrest that only disappears as the clock strikes midnight on the 15th.

As a concept overrun by cliché and commercialism, how can we make the day of love enchanting again? Our answer is to celebrate love and passion in forms more palatable.

Celeb chef and style icon Gizzi Erskine encourages us to experiment with new textures and flavours on page 60 with a selection of wholesome recipes - perfect if you’re cooking for loved ones. Perhaps your plans involve a trip to the theatre? Monica Dolan tells us about her solo show The B*easts at the Bush Theatre. The subject of the play is both topical and terrifying, making it a must for anyone looking for a captivating night out.

Finally, whether you and your partner are an outdoorsy duo or culture vultures, we've found a host of fun, cliché-free date night ideas. There's also plenty of fashion inspiration, a guide to artisan chocolate and a Halkidiki travel story for anyone looking to whisk away the object of their affections. Enjoy the issue!

ABSOLUTELY’S favourite date night spots...

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LE GARRICK

If old-school romance is what you’re looking for then Le Garrick is the place for you.

Located in the heart of Covent Garden, this underground eatery offers a little slice of France and plenty of cosy, candle-lit corners.

10-12 Garrick Street, WC2E legarrick.co.uk JOY MONTGOMERY FASHION & BEAUTY WRITER

RADICI

Radici in islington has got to be my number one date venue, as I find Italian food unbeatable for romance. The vegan chocolate cake, with its oozing molten centre, is ideal for sharing, and the location great for a post-date stroll.

30 Almeida Street, N1 radici.uk MIRIAM CAREY LIFESTYLE WRITER

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MIRIAM CAREY EDITOR

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PITCH BLACK

Test your alcohol knowledge with Pitch Black's immersive cocktail and wine experience in the dark. For 90 minutes your tastebuds will be tantalised by a selection of drinks, as you guess the ingredients placed before you. All the answers are revealed at the end of the night, so prepare to get competitive.

68a Neal Street, WC2H pitchblackbar.com

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CLARA VAN DUIVENBODE EDITORIAL INTERN

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SWINGERS

With five cocktail bars, three street food vendors and two crazy golf courses, Swingers is the date venue with a twist. This year, just for Valentine’s Day, you can tuck into heart-shaped pizzas and guzzle champagne before getting competitive with a golf club. This place has something for everyone.

8 Brown's Buildings, EC3A swingersldn.com HELEN BROWN ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

THE COW

There's nothing better than a huge seafood platter piled high with oysters, crab, king prawns, clams and the rest – and The Cow in Westbourne Park never changes. It's always small, loud and crowded – and it always does great seafood.

89 Westbourne Park Road, W2 thecowlondon.co.uk PENDLE HARTE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

H E L E N B R OW N

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ME+ E M With dreary January behind us, now is the time to look ahead to new hues to lift winter spirits.

ME+EM’s workwear essentials and ski-inspired pieces will keep you looking on-trend on and off the piste.

Consider the January collection a sartorial breath of fresh air for your wardrobe. meandem.com

Twin Set

There's no confidence boost quite like the one that comes with luxury lingerie, so we're opting for this matching set for a feel-good February. Bra: £36, briefs: £22; uk.intimissimi.com

OOH LA LA LA

Famed for their innovative designs, wearability and playful detailing, Chinti and Parker’s sweatshirts are a must for fighting cold snaps. £275; farfetch.com

K IS S A N D T E LL Handcrafted from flexible crossgrain leather, this wafer-thin notebook is designed to fit perfectly in your pocket. We've gone for the Kiss and Tell motif to add an element of fun to the month of love. £35; smythson.com

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

CARVEN

Taking inspiration from the streets of Paris, Carven’s Resort '18 collection embodies the edgier side of French fashion with eye-catching geometric prints, 1930s-inspired cinched-waist dresses and boxy silhouettes. £570; carven.com

Eternal Flame

Embellished with Piero Fornasetti’s Sardine Rosso artwork, this scented candle looks stylish on any surface and burns with enveloping scents of thyme and cedarwood. £115; farfetch.com

EDITOR’S PICK

PY THO N PART Y Fans of Jimmy Choo's Lockett Petite bag will love the larger Lockett City version where there is more room for necessities.

Its bold fuchsia fi nish will add oomph to an otherwise ordinary ensemble. £1,895; net-a-porter.com

S U GAR RUS H For sweet treats this Valentine’s Day look no further than Rococo Chocolates. Finished in rose pink, these Marc de Champagne truffles are almost too charming to eat. £17.95; rococochocolates.com

ON THE CARDS

Keep it chic with this wallet from Gucci.

Compact and effortlessly cool, it’s ideal for keeping your cards in once place and slips easily into a crossbody bag. £220; farfetch.com

Gin Wins

Made using a crop of rhubarb originally grown in the garden of Buckingham Palace, Victoria’s Rhubarb Gin is voluptuous on the palate with sweet and tangy rhubarb notes to fi nish. £38; warneredwards.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HHHHH WHATSONSTAGE

‘SO MUCH ENERGY IT ZINGS’ THE TIMES

Marble Arch Theatre | FiveGuysMusical.com

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CULTURE

Sixties Style: Shot by Duffy, Proud Galleries, 2nd February – 18th March, proud.co.uk; Photo Duffy ©Duffy Archive

What’s On 14 • Theatre Round-Up 20 • Absolutely meets Monica Dolan 22 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Agenda COLLECTION OF NICHOLAS BONNER; COURTESY OF PHAIDON

LO N D O N ’S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S

T H E AT R E

The Brothers Size Until 14 February THE YOUN G V IC

Ritual and reality intertwine in this darkly sparkling and brilliant play which follows two African-American brothers as they reunite after a stint in prison. From the writer of Moonlight, Bijan Sheibani directs this long-awaited revival of a deeply moving fable about the bonds between men.

66 The Cut, Waterloo, SE1; youngvic.org

EXHIBITION

MADE IN NORTH KOREA F RO M 23 F E B RUA RY • H O US E O F ILLUSTRATION

In a first for the UK, House of Illustration are showcasing an impressive array of graphic design from North Korea with this exhibition that reveals a style honed over decades in a closed society. Over 100 common objects including food packaging, ticket stubs and stamps provide an extraordinary and rare insight into the everyday life of this most curious country.

2 Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C; houseofillustration.org.uk

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EXHIBITION

Poems of Our Climate Until 17 February MARIAN GOODMAN GALLERY

Matt Saunders applies painting, photography and print-making to the moving image, with references to film, the history of cinema and fiction. Expect new oil on chiffon paintings, copper plate etchings and impressive largescale animation.

5-8 Lower John Street, W1F; mariangoodman.com

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TO NAPOLEAN, JASON BROOKS; COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND MARLBOROUGH FINE ART

CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

EXHIBITION

The Subject is Not the Subject From 9 February MARLBOROUGH FIN E ART

In his third solo show with Marlborough Fine Art, Jason Brooks looks at how the language of painting can take one object and turn it into another with three different sources of art: hobbyist paintings collected from junk shops, 18th century romantic paintings brought at auctions, and composited photo images taken by Brooks of fellow image makers.

Jason Brooks: The Subject is Not the Subject, Marlborough Fine Art, London, 9 February-10 March 2018 marlboroughlondon.com

Around Town S P E C TA C L E

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL Ongoing ROYAL ALBERT H ALL

Cirque du Soleil returns with the UK debut of OVO. A colourful carnival of crazy crickets, amazing ants and flexible fleas, the show uncovers the ground at our feet. Rush headlong into an ecosystem teeming with life in this non-stop riot of movement and mindblowing, high-flying acts.

Kensington Gore, SW7; royalalberthall.com

T H E AT R E

MARY STUART From 16 February D UK E O F YO R K TH E ATR E

This Month’s Must See

Two queens. One in power and one in prison. It’s all in the execution.

Schiller’s political tragedy takes us behind the scenes of some of the most crucial days in British history.

Playing both Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart, Juliet Stevenson (Hamlet) and Lia Williams (Oresteia) trade the play’s central roles, decided at each performance by the toss of a coin.

St Marton’s Lane, WC2N; atgtickets.com

I

F E S T I VA L

CHARLES I: KING AND COLLECTOR Ongoing ROYAL ACAD EM Y OF ART

SUMMER AND SMOKE F RO M 24 FEBRUARY • ALMEIDA THEATRE

n the heat of summer – under the wings of an angel – Alma meets John. Trapped between desire and fear in a life of obligation, her world turns upside down in the search for salvation. Featuring an ensemble cast, Rebecca Frecknall directs Tennessee Williams’ intoxicating classic about love, loneliness and self-destruction.

Almeida Street, N1; almeida.co.uk

Aside from being the only English monarch to suffer the indignity of having their head chopped off, Charles I was also an avid art collector. This exhibition brings 90 pieces of his collection together and features everyone from Rubens to Titian.

Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J; royalacademy.org.uk

EXHIBITION

WOMEN OF THE FUTURE 8 February LON DON TRA NSP ORT M USEUM

The London Transport Museum is marking 100 years since women received the right to vote with a one-off festival of feminism. Get creative with Buttress and Snatch in a playful twist on bra-burning and enjoy dynamic presentations on the portrayal of women.

Convent Garden Piazza, WC2E; ltmuseum.co.uk

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CHOCOHOLICS:

Chocolate Workshop 10th - 18th February No Valentine’s Day would be complete without chocolate decadence, and this workshop is a chocoholic's dream. Get messy with your partner while you learn the secrets and techniques behind chocolate infusion, truffle-making, fudge and the perfect chocolate martini, and indulge in fondue and bubbly.

Post-workshop sugar high guaranteed.

My Chocolate, N1; mychocolate.co.uk

MY FUNNY

valentine Whether it’s an intimate dinner or creative class, celebrate V-Day in style with London’s most romantic happenings

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CULTURE • VALENTINE’S DAY EVENTS CREATIVE COUPLES:

Frida and Diego Paint Night 14th February ❤ Start your own Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera love story at one of Paint Jam’s unique nights. After a warm up paint exercise, guests will paint their own artworks inspired by the two great Mexican artist's surreal and bold art style. Secret location; paintjamlondon.co.uk THE RITZ

VENTUROUS VALENTINES:

FLOATING WORLD

Floating World GREEN FINGERED FANATICS:

Grace And Thorn Ongoing ❤ Forget supermarket blooms, because this year it’s all about doing-it-yourself.

From making your own terrarium jungle to arranging the freshest floral displays, get back to nature with your loved one at florist Grace and Thorn’s creative evening workshops. Succulents never looked so sexy.

338 Hackney Road, E2; graceandthorn.com

TEA-LOVERS:

St Valentine’s Day Afternoon Tea Wednesday 14 February ❤ Treat your loved one to something sweet with The Ritz London’s Rosé Champagne Afternoon Tea. Held in the exquisite Palm Court, this one-off special offers an indulgent selection of delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and a mouth-watering range of pastries, all to be washed down with a variety of 18 loose-leaf teas. Soprano Miranda Heldt will perform operatic melodies creating the ultimate romantic setting for the big day. 150 Piccadilly, W1J; theritzlondon.com

14th and 15th of February ❤ Feeling open-minded? Floating World is an immersive experience, exploring the sensual world of ancient Edo Japanese culture. Learn about the art, entertainment, and erotic pursuits of the time through the exquisite art form that is Shunga. The Lacy Nook, N16; takayo.co.uk

GRACE AND THORN

BREAK-UP BLUES:

What’s love got to do with it?

3rd-17th February ❤ Ideal for those looking for an alternative way to spend Valentine’s, Poplar Union will have The Alice Phelps Trio performing a break-up set, comedian Rosie Wilby performing ‘The Breakup Monologues', and Swing East holding a Valentine’s Day ball.

Poplar Union, E14; poplarunion.com

POPLAR UNION

PAINT JAM

CHRISTMAS IN LEICESTER SQUARE

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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ABSOLUTELY Full Pg A4 JAN'18_Layout 1 09/01/2018 11:59 am Page 1

RAYMOND GUBBAY presents

THE UK’S MOST POPULAR CLASSICAL SHOW

RAVEL Bolero HOLST Jupiter from The Planets ROSSINI Largo al factotum VERDI Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves SOUSA Stars and Stripes Forever TCHAIKOVSKY Sleeping Beauty Waltz BIZET Duet from The Pearl Fishers STRAUSS Radetzky March DEBUSSY Clair de Lune ELGAR Nimrod WAGNER Ride of the Valkyries HANDEL Zadok the Priest VERDI La donna è mobile ORFF O Fortuna

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London Philharmonic Choir (Thurs & Sat) The London Chorus (Fri & Sun) John Rigby conductor Jesús León soprano Nicholas Lester tenor Classical Spectacular Dancers British Imperial Military Band Muskets and Canons of the Moscow Militia Durham Marenghi lighting designer

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CELEBRATING OVER 50 YEARS OF ICONIC MUSIC WITH AN EXPLOSIVE 28-PIECE SHOW BAND

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Holst's powerful planetary masterwork BROADWAY GLAMOUR AND TOE-TAPPING TUNES IN AN ALL-GERSHWIN EXTRAVAGANZA

Plus WAGNER Prelude to Act 3 from Lohengrin

Rhapsody in Blue Shall we Dance Lady be Good But Not For Me S’Wonderful I Got Rhythm Let’S Call the Whole Thing Off Summertime The Man I Love

SAINT SAËNS Symphony No. 3 in C Minor

KATIE BIRTILL & RODNEY EARL CLARKE guest singers VIV McLEAN piano ALFONSO CASADO TRIGO conductor LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA Plus a glamorous ballroom duo and two sensational tap dancers.

GOLDFINGER • FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE CASINO ROYALE • YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE • THUNDERBALL DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER • FOR YOUR EYES ONLY THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN • MOONRAKER LIVE & LET DIE • NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH • SKYFALL

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra LOUISE DEARMAN & OLIVER TOMPSETT singers JOHN RIGBY conductor LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA

ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

City of London Choir Christopher Warren Green conductor

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CULTURE • THEATRE

Amadeus The story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, musical genius, at The Olivier

By PENDLE HARTE

P

eter Schaffer’s much-loved account of Mozart’s life may not be entirely historically accurate, but it certainly makes a good story. Michael Longhurst’s hotly anticipated revived production (it was a sell-out in 2016) is a riot of action, spectacle and music, fully inhabiting the Olivier’s vast space with its displays of 18th century decadence, colourful costumes and sheer energy.

Adam Gillen’s Mozart is full of presence, brilliantly irritating with his conceitedness, indiscretion and relentless toilet humour. He’s a slightly creepy young upstart, leaping manically around the stage, conducting wildly, dismissing all music except his own and fully convinced that his work is perfection beyond measure. Spoilt, vain and over-confident yet surprisingly insightful, his performance is intense and physical. ‘A little less enthusiasm please, Mozart,’ says the emperor repeatedly.

“18th century decadence, colourful costumes and sheer energy”

ABSOLUTELY reviews…

Elderly Viennese court composer Salieri (Lucian Msamati) opens the show in his wheelchair, surrounded by the contemporary orchestra (all mobile phones and takeaway coffees) as he reminisces about Mozart’s death. Then suddenly it’s 18th century Vienna, and Mozart’s first arrival in court, where the tale of rivaly between the two musicians unfurls. Salieri is hugely jealous of the newcomer’s sheer talent, which he sees as god-given, from the same god who condemns him to mediocrity by leaving him only able to produce second-rate music.

Mozart’s impeccable pieces may be show-offy, but for Salieri they reveal his own lack of talent in comparison, and so begins a long campaign of undermining and blocking Mozart’s career.

Most notably in this production, the orchestra is integral to the play and they’re on stage throughout, walking with their instruments and reacting to the action. It’s an entertaining and slick production.

VERDICT

Engaging, entertaining and visually arresting ★★★★★ AMADEUS BOOKING UNTIL 24 APRIL; The National Theatre nationaltheatre.org.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO POSTERS

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Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.

Priced at £395 each.

Private commissions are also welcome.

Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com

Our central London gallery

All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions Ltd. 2018

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CULTURE • THEATRE

ROUND UP

Best in

MUST SEE

SHOW Spend a cosy evening in Theatreland with our top stage picks for the month

By H E L E N B R O W N

MACBETH

Fanny & Alexander ★★★★★

★★★★★ From 26 February

From 21 February

N AT ION AL T HEATR E

TH E O LD V I C

Amongst the gilded romance and glamour of 1900s Sweden, the world of siblings Fanny and Alexander is turned upside down when their widowed mother remarries the iron-willed local bishop. As creative freedom and rigid orthodoxy clash, a war ensues between imagination and austerity in this magical study of childhood, family and love. The Cut, SE1; oldvictheatre.com

FANNY & ALEXANDER

Dry Powder

Girl from the North Country

★★★★★

★★★★★

Ongoing

Ongoing

H A M P STE A D T H E ATR E

NO E L COWARD THEATRE

Sarah Burgess’ breathtakingly witty and virtuosic comedy explores the vision, the vulnerability, and the vilification of those shaping - and skewing - the economy. Dry Powder follows titan of high finance, Rick, as the reputation of his firm crashes and his lavish engagement party turns into a PR nightmare.

Eton Avenue, NW3; hampsteadtheatre.com

In 1934, a Minnesota community is living on a knife-edge, huddled together in the local guesthouse. When a preacher and a boxer show up in the the night, things start to spiral. Conor McPherson weaves the iconic songbook of Bob Dylan into this new show full of hope, heartbreak and soul.

85-88 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N; noelcowardtheatre.co.uk

Ruthlessly fighting to survive in the ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness. Rufus Norris brings his magic touch to Shakespeare’s most intense and terrifying tragedy, with Rory Kinnear and AnneMarie Duff in the lead roles.

Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1; nationaltheatre.org.uk MACBETH

Lady Windermere’s Fan ★★★★★ Ongoing VAUD EV I LLE T HE ATR E

Lady Windermere’s birthday is thrown into turmoil when a seed of marital suspicion upsets proceedings. Poking fun at the moral attitudes of the upper classes, Oscar Wilde’s comedy is brought to life with an all-star cast of comics including Jennifer Saunders and Kevin Bishop. 404 Strand, WC2R; nimaxtheatres.com

LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN

DRY POWDER

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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drama

QUEEN As BAFTA-winning actress Monica Dolan’s first solo show comes to The Bush Theatre, Absolutely meets her to discuss confidence, comedy and learning lines

M

onica Dolan is learning her lines. She’s got 11,500 words to master and currently she’s nearly halfway there.

“You just have to go over it and over it, and keep telling yourself that one day you’ll know it,” she explains, over coffee in the Bush Theatre’s lovely new space, handily near her house.

She’s learning these lines for the second time, and even though they’re written by her, it’s still a struggle. A full hour of talking. Dolan’s solo show The B*easts was a hit at Edinburgh last year and now she’s bringing it to The Bush, with an agenda that’s become part of a wider debate.

It’s quite a transition from acting to writing, isn’t it?

And also from acting alongside other people to standing alone on stage for an hour? For Dolan, The B*easts is her first foray into writing, though it’s something she’s always slightly wanted to do. “Recently I’d been working with a lot of comedians who had cut their teeth in Edinburgh. I’d never

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By P E N D L E H A R T E

performed at the Edinburgh Festival and started to think, why aren’t I doing this? I had done a show at the Royal Court where part of it was improvisation with the audience and I really loved that – then I talked to Sarah Pascoe who’s in W1A with me and she said ‘if you have the smallest inclination to do it, then do it,’” she says. Besides, writing a piece for yourself bypasses a lot of the layers of people involved in, say, writing for TV. “Here there’s nobody in between – just you and the audience and your connection,” says Dolan. “I kind of wanted to put myself out there in that way.”

The B*easts relies on inspiring a degree of confusion in the audience, so it’s important not to give too much away here, but its subject is both topical and terrifying.

It’s about children and their vulnerability to advertising and technology, and the growing quest for perfection, an awareness of which had been slowly growing in Dolan.

“A friend texted me an article from The Week called Ban Botox for Children,” she says – “and I saw a documentary about advergames which are games involving little cartoon characters aimed at children, so they don’t know they’re engaging with an advert.” She learned that despite legal age requirements for tattoos and tanning, there is no minimum

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CULTURE • PROFILE

N

“I’ve learnt that you get really interesting characters who are good, though most people dismiss them”

MONICA DOLAN IN THE B*EASTS, PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALAN HARRIS

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Tel: 01306 712 262 Email: info@iggi.co.uk Iggi Interior Design, The Old Parlour, Unit 6, Ockley Court Farm, Coles Lane, Ockley, Surrey, RH5 5LS

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CULTURE • PROFILE

MONICA DOLAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRONWEN SHARP

age for botox, and that there are plastic surgery apps aimed at children as young as nine. “There are so many things being invented and marketed that there are no laws for – and children are starting to brand themselves very early.” The subject has taken on Dolan made contact with an anthropologist in Manchester and a bio-ethics team at Nuffield who are looking at the whole subject of children and cosmetic procedures – they came to see her play and they will be hosting a panel discussion at The Bush in connection with it.

Dark subjects are something that Dolan is no stranger to. As research for her award-winning performance as Rosemary West in ITV’s Appropriate Adult, a dramatisation of the Fred West story, she read transcripts of the case provided by West’s solicitor.

Which was interesting, she says, in that it was just like reading a play – “they’re all characters,” – apart from that there was loads of it. Surprisingly, she hadn’t wanted the part; she had no existing interest in the Wests.

“It wasn’t a massive part for the amount of horrible research I was going to have to do,” – and there’s a line at the end of the production, “you can’t unsee things, you can’t unknow things,” that counts for her experience too. “I got so many intrigued people asking questions when I was doing that but you soon realise that they don’t really want to know.”

But fascination with the Wests is a common phenomenon.

“My friend who’s the mildest, most gentlemanly person you can imagine, was really interested in the Wests and he lent me Brian Masters’ book She must Have Known, which

“There’s nobody in between – just you and the audience and your connection. I kind of wanted to put myself out there in that way”

argues that there’s no evidence that Rosemary had even met some of the victims. So I was really on her side when I went for the audition. Then I read all the rest of the stuff...”

So does she seek out troubling subjects? “Well I’d rather not.” She wasn’t immediately interested in Tess Wall, her character in the television adaptation of JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy, because she seemed so good. “When I first read it I couldn’t see anything to her but I’ve learnt that you get really interesting characters who are good, though most people dismiss them. When I looked into it, Tess was fascinating. Trying to be good in an environment that isn’t helping is fascinating.”

Dolan started acting at school, when she had a really small part in a play in primary school “and everyone really laughed when I came on and I loved it,” she says.

She continued throughout secondary school (“we had an avant garde teacher”) and went to the Guildhall despite her mother wanting her to be a lawyer “or something”.

Drama school gave her confidence, she says, though going on stage alone still scares her. Is it lonely doing a solo show? She’s had a lot of support, she emphasises, starting with an early reading that she organised at home, inviting eight friends to eat sausage rolls and listen to her new piece. “The night before, I nearly cancelled. I read it and thought it was terrible, but I did it and what excited me was that everybody started talking about the subject.” For Edinburgh, the piece needed a bit of cutting (“they fine you £10 per minute if you go over the hour) but here in W12 they’re more flexible. The show’s bound to get you talking.

T H E B* E A ST S Runs from 12 February to 3 March at The Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road W12; 020 8743 5050 bushtheatre.co.uk

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FASHION

STRIPPED BACK

ELIZABETH AND JAMES Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen’s effortless sense of style clearly embodied in Elizabeth and James' Resort '18 collection. Expect wearable luxury and looks which transcend seasonal trends. matchesfashion.com

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FASHION NOTES

Celebrate fashion month with the hottest new brandsto-watch and the latest collaborations to covet B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

01

02

5 OF THE BEST

VA L E N T I N E ’ S LINGERIE EDITOR’S PICK

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DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES C H I N T I & PA R K E R X WO M E N F O R WO M E N

05 1. Fleur of England, Whiskey lace-hem silk-blend kimono, £400; matchesfashion.com 2. I.D.Sarrieri, Lace bra and thong, from £155; farfetch.com 3. Carine Gilson, Lace-trimmed silk-satin cami dress, £990; matchesfashion.com 4. Bluebella, Lace body, £49; yoox.com 5. Coco De Mer, Sylph strap-detail bra and suspender briefs, £105; selfridges.com

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Do one for the girls this season with knitwear favourite Chinti & Parker’s collaboration with Women for Women International.

Modelled by Arizona Muse, 100% of all sales from the capsule collection will go to the charity, which helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives. Spread a little love this February.

Available from farfetch.com and chintiandparker.com

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FASHION • NOTES O N E S T O WAT C H

LAYER UP

London Fashion Week AW18

REPOSSI

Founded in 1920 in Turin Italy, Repossi is the fashion-savvy, fine jewellery brand with a historic heart. Gaia Repossi took over the family business in 2007 and has moulded the brand into a must-have for celebrities and magazine editors alike. From classic hoops and stacking rings to statement ear cuffs - this is adornment for the styleconscious, modern woman. repossi.com

REJINA PYO

WOOL WORKS THE KNITTER

HANDOVER GUCCI

We might be sick of the cold, but come summer we’re secretly going to miss the luxe layers that winter offers.

Make the most of woolly hat weather with Gucci’s embroidered patent gloves.

The high-shine fabric is a surefire way to jazz up your winter coat, while the delicate floral detail speaks of an evernearing spring, £405; matchesfashion.com

Founded by New Zealand-born Nicole Leyborne, The Knitter is the woolly fashion brand we can't get enough of. All designs are handmade locally using centuryold methods and include quirky-cool, oversized knits and vibrant scarves.

Before launching her eponymous label in 2014, Rejina Pyo cut her teeth as first assistant designer at Roksanda Ilincic, and went on to win the prestigious Han Nefkens Fashion Award. Pyo’s shows are now a hotly anticipated event at London Fashion Week, and her designs instantly recognisable for their innovative take on modern minimalism.

rejinapyo.com

ALICE ARCHER The British-born RCA gradate earned her stripes working as an embroidery designer for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp.

Archer's unfurling, intricate threadwork has now become her signature aesthetic. Name checked as a designer-towatch by British Vogue, Alice Archer is certainly a star on the rise.

alicearcher.co.uk

theknitter.co

CITY OF STYLE

CA M B R I D G E S ATC H E L X I N E S D E L A F R E S S A N G E PA R I S

To celebrate the return of London Fashion Week, The Cambridge Satchel Company has joined forces with Ines de la Fressange Paris to create a line of achingly cool bags. The collection includes the brand’s best-selling 11” bag and tiny satchels and comes in quintessentially Gallic hues of red, white and blue - and a dash of molten copper for good measure.

SIMONE ROCHA Dublin-born Simone Rocha caught the industry’s eye when she debuted at London Fashion Week in 2010. Fast-forward eight years and Rocha's frothy yet futuristic designs have won her acolades including British Womenswear Designer Award at the British Fashion Awards and Harper’s Bazaar's Designer of Year 2016.

simonerocha.com

cambridgesatchel.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Capture the unique facets of your story with a one-off bespoke engagement ring

www.hkjewellery.co.uk Hertfordshire Jewellery Centre +44 (0)1462 790 565 hertfordshire@hkjewellery.co.uk North Barn, Fairclough Hall Farm, Halls Green, Herts, SG4 7DP

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London Shop +44 (0)203 886 0757 primrosehill@hkjewellery.co.uk 69 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 8UY

Cambridge Shop +44 (0)1223 461 333 cambridge@hkjewellery.co.uk 6/7 Green Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3JU

Bridal Jeweller o f t h e Ye a r

23/01/2018 18:23

FASHION • PRODUCTS EDITOR’S PICK

VALENTINO Pussy-Bow Ruffled SilkSatin Blouse, £633; net-a-porter.com

SEE BY CHLOÉ Ruffled Pussy-Bow Chiffon Blouse, £260; selfridges.com

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Pussy-Bow Silk Blouse, £995; net-a-porter.com

TORY BURCH AW17

HOBBS

H&M

Erika Shirt, £69; hobbs.co.uk

Long-Sleeved Blouse, £23; hm.com

MSGM Pussy-Bow Striped Cotton-Poplin Shirt, £255; harveynichols.com

TIED UP

Formal yet frou frou: the neck tie blouse is big business this season

KHAITE Natalie Decorative-Bow Cotton Blouse, £410; matchesfashion.com

ROCHAS AW17

B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

FENDI RIXO LONDON Moss Blouse - Navy Moonlit Sky, £175; rixo.co.uk

FINERY LONDON Levine Forever Blouse, £59 johnlewis.com

Geometric Pussy Bow Blouse, £1,250; farfetch.com

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W H AT LIES B E N E AT H Nothing says indulgence better than sumptuous new lingerie. After all, great style begins with beautiful foundations.

For Love and Lemons lingerie available from forloveandlemons.com

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Strong on the inside.

Beautiful on the outside.

Love life with Lumity.

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A unique, day & night approach works around the clock to deliver the right targeted nutritional support at the right time.

Alongside Lumity’s phyto-nutrient rich, all-natural facial oil, the feel-alive blend of nutrients in the supplements sustain optimum health, vitality and beauty all day, every day.

Join thousands of strong women worldwide who are loving life with Lumity.

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28/11/2017 10:40 12:33 21/12/2017

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Get Lippy

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY Marc Jacobs Beauty’s Liquid Lip Crayons are the answer to your date night woes. Coming in nine high-pigment shades, they offer the first-to-market formula which has the feel of a liquid lipstick with the precision of a lip crayon. One swipe of colour + 16 hours of wear = your Valentine’s makeup sorted; £22. harrods.com

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BEAUTY NOTES

You've survived January. Now treat yourself to this month's hottest beauty releases

By J OY M O N TG O M E RY

STAR SIGN M AC

Look to the cosmos this season with MAC’s latest makeup drop. Inspired by the Lunar New Year, this radiant collection is composed of an eye shadow palette, lipstick and powder blush, all in the softest shades of blush pink and cream. maccosmetics.co.uk EYELURE Bespoke Mascara, £30; eyeko.com

ELIZABETH ARDEN 8-Hour Lip Repair Balm, £20; boots.com

5 OF THE BEST DATE NIGHT ESSENTIALS

LE LABO Santal 33 Liquid Balm Perfume, £60; libertylondon.com

COVER FX Pressed Mineral Foundation, £31; houseoff raser.com

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CHANEL Luminous Matte Lip Colour, £28; chanel.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES BEAUTY REVIEW

STACK ‘EM UP TRINNY LONDON

She was the matriarch of iconic noughties makeover show What Not To Wear, but now Trinny Woodall is braving the world of cosmetics.

Trinny London is a clever new beauty concept that offers personalised makeup ‘stacks’ that can include anything from lipstick and concealer to highlighter and eye shadow, all formulated to match your colouring and complexion. A must-have for girls on the go.

3 ST JAMES’ SQUARE

trinnylondon.com

Absolutely visits London’s newest luxury wellness members club

EDITOR’S PICK

B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

NIGHT OWL LA PRAIRIE

Back to Base CLARINS

Heralded for their complexion-perfecting powers, colour correctors are officially here to stay. This February, Clarins is taking the concept to another level with SOS Primers, a six-piece collection of problem-solving formulas - from green for redness to coral for dark spots. These clever primers can be used by themselves, mixed together or added to your usual foundation. £26.50 each clarins.co.uk

Born from Dr Paul Niehans’ work in cellular therapy, La Prairie’s Platinum Rare Cellular Night Elixir is the most potent potion to emerge from the brand’s labs. This light serum works overnight to enhance the skin’s natural detoxifying process. laprairie.co.uk

J-Beauty SHISEIDO

Forget K-beauty, because this year it’s all about J-beauty. Inspired by traditional Japanese concepts of life and wellness, Shiseido’s Future Solution LX range combines high-performance formulas with a holistic heart. The Firming Contour Serum and Total Radiance Foundation are the latest additions to the range and both use powerful antioxidant ingredients to deliver dreamy skin day after day. shiseido.co.uk

O

pened in November last year, St James’ Square is the latest luxury health and fitness members club to grace central London.

Situated moments away from Green Park and Piccadilly Circus, the club is a haven of quiet corners, natural light and all the wellness facilities you could ever need.

Highlights include an elegant Champagne bar, golf academy, state-of-the-art gym and spacious spa. We’re here to experience the Lagoon Hydration Facial, a treatment designed to hydrate dehydrated skin (which, let’s face it, we all need right now).

The treatment starts with a cleanse to remove makeup and prime the skin, followed by exfoliation using Carita’s naturally-formulated lagoon scrub. Next comes the technical bit. Our expert produces a tool called a ‘refiner’, an implement that uses sonic technology to loosen debris and clogged pores. Ideal for congested skin. This is followed by a soothing biological mask, which is massaged into the skin to ensure maximum penetration.

The penultimate step is the application of both red and blue LED light to promote regeneration and healing. Rather than the traditional ‘mask’, our therapist uses a handheld device, allowing for concentrated application on problem areas. Finally moisturiser and eye cream is applied before we’re sent on our way feeling refreshed and glowing.

3 ST JAMES’S SQUARE

SW1Y, 0203 909 7133 enquiries@3sjs.club 3sjs.club

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Subscription

FOR LUXURY WEDDING INSPIRATION Sign up to Readly for only £7.99 a month and read all back issues of Absolutely Weddings, as well as our entire portfolio, including Absolutely Mama, Absolutely Education and Absolutely Home. Readly Subscribers also enjoy unbounded access to over 2,300 top titles.

Readly offers the freedom to effortlessly glide between articles and features that cover everything from rings and veils to wedding venues and honeymoon destinations.

Subscribe at gb.readly.com/absolutelyweddings Follow Us On T w i t t e r @A B S O L U T E LY W E D Fa c e b o o k @A B S O L U T E LY W E D D I N G S In s t a g ra m @A B S O L U T E LY W E D D I N G S P i n t e re s t @A B S O L U T E LY W E D

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01/11/2017 12:39

ABBEY ROAD

FRAMING

Picture Frames, Mirrors, Prints, Cards & Gifts

020 7328 6915

67 Abbey Road St John’s Wood London NW8 0AE

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SS18 Alexander Wang Beauty

HEALTH & BEAUTY • PRODUCTS EDITOR’S PICK

LA ROCHE-POSAY Effaclar Duo, £16; lookfantastic.com

SISTER & CO Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleanse Detoxifying Soap Bar, £13; selfridges.com

ESTÉE LAUDER

VICHY

DayWear Multi-Protection Moisture Creme, £44; esteelauder.co.uk

3-in-1 Scrub, Cleanser & Mask vichy.co.uk

SKINCEUTICALS Blemish + Age Solution, £34.65; skinceuticals.co.uk

OLAY Blemish Control Cleanser, £2.99; feelunique.com

SPOT CHECK

LA PRAIRIE Cellular Refining Lotion, £77; laprairie.co.uk

TROPIC SKINCARE Clear Skin BlemishFighting Mask, £16; tropicskincare.com

The best blemish busters for stressed city dwellers

JURLIQUE Blemish Cream, £20; jurlique.co.uk

MANUKA DOCTOR ApiClear Purifying Face Mask, £24.99; manukadoctor.co.uk

B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

MURAD SKINCEUTICALS Blemish + Age Defense, £82.95; skinceuticals.co.uk

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Blemish Clearing Solution, £32; murad.co.uk

THE ORDINARY Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, £3.90; theordinary.com

LANCER The Method: Cleanse Blemish Control, £48; spacenk.com

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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT ABSOLUTELY. LONDON

FASHION BEAUTY LIFESTYLE TRAVEL WHAT’S ON FOOD HOME

Sort Out Your Style With Absolutely’s Capsule Wardrobe Guide

9 Of The Best New Season Cocktail Dresses To Love This Summer

Military Dress: 21 Cool Khaki Pieces To Introduce To Your Wardrobe

4 Up-And-Coming British Designers To Watch

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YOUR GUIDE TO FASHIONABLE LONDON LIVING From the team behind Absolutely Magazines

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11/07/2017 15:21

HEALTH & BEAUTY • ACTIVE

FITNESS NOTES

Take a Spin

Seriously good cycling in London BOOM CYCLE

● With the lights low and a worldclass sound system, riders at Boom Cycle get the ultimate ‘party on a bike’ experience. The brand has recently opened its fourth studio in Monument, offering its signature moves and badass tunes. boomcycle.co.uk

PSYCLE LONDON

● Psycle sets the spin bar high with its inspirational instructors and specially curated soundtracks. This full body workout takes you through climbs, sprints, jogs and HITT, to give you the best cardio workout possible.

SPINNOFF LONDON

psyclelondon.com

Long known to reduce fat and drop the pounds, spinning is having a resurgence

ONE 10

● Fast-paced and addictive, the Paceline class at One 10 promises to maximise your performance and promotes a metabolic surge. A HITT sequence is designed to give you your best fitness results yet. one-10.com

ANOTHER_SPACE

I

’m in Hampstead to try out SpinnOff London, a hidden gem which delivers more than just the undeniably fun, dance club atmosphere found at London’s myriad cycle classes. The 1/2 Spinn, 1/2 Core workout begins with half an hour on the Spinn bike; an intense cardio burst to really get the blood pumping. SpinnOff promises a long and lean figure which is conducive of having the

correct posture and position on the bike. I am instructed to keep heels down, wrists light and core strong. Eileen takes the class and is motivational throughout, without being too intense. Upbeat music and her continuous encouragement make the half hour pass by quickly.

When sufficiently sweaty, the class drops to the mat for 25 minutes of strengthening and sculpting floorwork. Mairead

leads this section which involves a range of exercises from planks and crunches, to glute-sculpting pulses and pilates-style sequences. They really don’t miss a muscle. What’s evident from this class is that there is a fierce focus on technique at SpinnOff, which undoubtedly leads to maximum results. As the highest ranking class on Classpass, SpinnOff is welcoming of all levels of fitness and appears to have built up a strong community of friendly regulars. It’s definitely one of the best full-body classes I’ve done in a while and a must for those looking to shake-up their sweat session this year.

S P I N N O F F LO N D O N 17 Rosement Road, NW3; spinnofflondon.com

E C O - F R I E N D LY F I T N E S S

Our top picks of ethically-conscious activewear and accessories

● This class has been specifically designed to strengthen the core and tone the whole body whilst burning maximum calories. anotherspace.london

1REBEL

● This high-energy, full-body workout incorporates hand weights as well as immersive staging never seen before in a fitness studio.

1rebel.co.uk

1. S’WELL Stainless Steel Water Bottle, £35; selfridges.com 2. H&M Medium Support Sports Bra, £9.99; hm.com 3. Silou Gigi Sweatshorts Light Heather Grey, £189; siloulondon.com 4. Silou Audrey Crop Bra, £99; siloulondon.com 5. SixtyNinety Gigi Leggings Camouflage, £58; sixtyninety.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK

PLENTY MORE FISH SUSHI SAMBA Sushi Samba make Valentine's a day to remember. Expect champagne on arrival, mind-blowing views of The City, and an intimate sharing menu for two. Book tickets ahead of time to secure your reservation.

110 Bishopsgate, EC2N sushisamba.com

Wines of the month 48 • The best artisan chocolates 49 • Food Review: Smoking Goat 55 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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WHAT TO DRINK

GRAPE news

Wine recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

London’s food news and delicious things to see you through February

By MIRIAM CAREY

By BERRY BROS. & RUDD

2013 Berry Bros. & Rudd Barolo by Giovanni Rosso, Piedmont  £28.50 This Barolo offers classic Nebbiolo character. The fine yet densely packed tannins are enveloped in scented cherry and cranberry fruit, with florals that hint at dried violets. It will benefit from being decanted.

2016 Berry Bros. & Rudd Reserve Red by Collovray & Terrier  £8.75 Fruits of the 2016 vintage, which was so much kinder in the South of France than elsewhere. Our blend this year marries plots of Merlot from varying altitudes, with uplifting Syrah and Grenache. Finely crafted, and reassuringly gregarious.

Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Trevisiol L. e Figli, Italy  £15.50 The Valdobbiadene region is regarded as one of the best sources of Prosecco grapes, coming from vineyards 300 metres above sea-level. Here, the Glera grape is blended with 15 percent Chardonnay by father-and-son team Eduardo and Paolo Trevisiol.

BERRY BROS. & RUDD Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop since 1698. Today the company also has offices in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, a Wine School and an exclusive fine wine and dining venue in St James's.

bbr.com

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Wild Onions BRINDISA

Brindisa is celebrating the Calçotada food festival this year with a menu of calçots, accompanied by grilled lamb chops, butifarra sausages, whole grilled artichokes and white bean stew. The Calçotada is a Catalonian tradition, that brings together the local community to celebrate, drink red wine and lower whole chargrilled spring onions into each other's mouths.

152 Curtain Road, EC2 brindisa.com

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FOOD & DRINK• NOTES Our pick of the best

ARTISAN CHOCOLATES

PIERRE MARCOLINI LOVE FOLLIES

The Valentine’s Day collection from Pierre Marcolini has six colourful flavour varieties that taste delicious and look delightful. Packed full of exotic ingredients from Moroccan pink peppercorn, Iranian pistachio, and Sichuan pepper, to Tahitian vanilla and Sicilian lemon, these beauties are guaranteed to pique the interest of those who receive them. marcolini.com

DREAM DATE D U C K & WA F F L E

The time of year has come to sort your Valentine’s Day plans and Duck and Waffle has an incredible set menu. Seared scallops are followed by caramelised celeriac, pan-fried duck breast, a cheese plate, and finally, warm banoffee pie. Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2 duckandwaffle.com

FORTNUM & MASON HEART BOX

LAHPET

Having just closed their Hackney branch, the popular Burmese restaurant Lahpet will be relocated to Old Spitalfields Market. Find them serving old favourites: coconut noodles with chicken, pork and mustard green curry, tea leaf salad, and burmese green tea.

Old Spitalfields Market, E1 lahpet.co.uk

THREE CRANES

New restaurant, Three Cranes is a collaboration between industry figureheads Henry Harris and James McCulloch. There is a strong Bordeaux emphasis, the location is where Bordeaux’s wine casks were first brought into London. The menu is short and includes steak tartare, smoked eel, and grilled specialities.

28 Garlick Hill, EC4 threecranescity.co.uk

RAW HALO GIFT SET

Raw Halo artisan chocolate is the ideal treat for the vegan loved one in your life. The bars are made of rich Peruvian cacao, are raw, organic, and free from lactose, wheat, and refined sugar. They come in 12 delicious flavours and the beautiful rose gold packaging make them perfect gifts. rawhalo.com

BURMESE BUSINESS

FRENCH EXCHANGE

Show the size of your love this February with Fortnum & Mason’s most generous selection of chocolates yet. Beneath the lid of the 1kg heart chocolate box is a double layer of indulgence, including old Fortnum's classics and exciting new creations. fortnumandmason.com

COCO CHOCOLATIER GIFT BOX

The Edinburgh chocolatiers have created milk and dark chocolate in flavours such as lavender, artisan espresso, and gold, frankincense and myrrh. They show love to the arts community by coming wrapped in artworks from artists around the UK. Buy all the different flavours and stack them in a gift box. cocochocolatier.com

LION DANCE HUTONG

For the Chinese New Year, Hutong will serve king prawn dumplings in hot and sour soup, soft shell crab, and five spiced crispy duck. The restaurant’s red lanterns will be re-hung to signify new beginnings, and guests will be charmed by a traditional lion dance.

The Shard, St Thomas St, SE1 hutong.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Avocado Salad with Wasabi, Wakame & Spring Onions Serves 4 • Preparation time 20 minutes

A

vocado is not a traditional Japanese ingredient, though we do associate it with Japanese cuisine due to the brilliant Japanese fusion food that comes out of California.

Avocado just works so well with Japanese flavours. This salad also includes wasabi, which is Japanese horseradish, for those of you still living in the Dark Ages, and wakame, which is dried and then rehydrated seaweed. This healthy salad is delicious on its own and is also great served alongside teriyaki or miso fish.

INGREDIENTS 25g dried wakame seaweed 4 ripe but firm avocados 10 pink radishes, very thinly sliced 6 spring onions, finely chopped 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds, toasted 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds, toasted

SPICE of LIFE

Gizzi Erskine encourages us to experiment with new textures and flavours

E

very week, when I open up a newspaper or women’s magazine there’s a new bit of health information that puts a spanner in the works of what I had previously thought was the right way to be healthy. So here is my ethos, how I feel about food trends and what we can learn from them.

Firstly, I believe that having a better understanding of nutrition

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is not just about making your body healthier, it can also make you a better cook. The more I learn about different ingredients or come across a new cooking technique, vegetable or cut of meat, the more inspired I tend to be. It’s good to love food in all its guises and sometimes your body needs to be fed what it's craving.

The chapters of this book are divided into textures and flavours.

For me, those textures and flavours often reflect my mood. For example, if I crave something braised or oozy it may mean that I’m after something rib-sticking and comforting but if I want crunch or crispness then I probably feel the need for something clean and fresh. Sometimes I want fiery food, so we have a chapter for spice, and other times I just need something sweet, and there’s a chapter for that too.

Ultimately, I want people who are reading this book to try new things and push themselves into new areas of food, be it going to your local Asian supermarket or having a go at cooking with a new ingredient or gadget. I just hope people are inspired to cook fresh food using good ingredients.

Fo r t h e d r e s s i n g 3 teaspoons wasabi paste (use the best you can find) 4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 4 tablespoons light olive oil 2 tablespoons sesame oil sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper Place the wakame in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak for 15 minutes. The wakame will rehydrate and grow in size, so cover with plenty of water to allow for this. It’s ready when it has doubled in size and you can bite through it but it still has chew. Drain, and then rinse under cold running water to cool.

Alternatively, you can cool the wakame in a bowl of iced water. Drain again and gently pat dry with kitchen paper.

To make the dressing, place the wasabi, vinegar, oils and some seasoning in a bowl and whisk together until it has fully emulsified into a thickish sauce.

Cut the avocados in half, slice, and place on a platter. Once you’ve done this, gently press the top of the avocados to fan out the slices a little. Top with the dressing, then the wakame, then the radishes, then the spring onions and finally sprinkle over the sesame seeds. Serve straightaway.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

I’ve served the stew with something completely odd – Vietnamese banh cuon rice wrappers, which I’ve used like big, fat, wide noodles. If you can’t find them, any Vietnamese rice noodle will do or you can even use rice, which is wicked to soak up the stew.

INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 lemon grass stick, very thinly sliced 4–5 thin slices of fresh root ginger 3–4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 350g baby plum tomatoes, halved 400ml fresh White Chicken Stock (you can buy this or make your own) 2 tablespoons lime juice 2–3 tablespoons fish sauce 5–7 kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced 12 raw tiger prawns, peeled, deveined and cut quite deeply Down the back 1 sea bream, filleted and each fillet cut into 4 lengthways 1 squid, gutted, slashed and cut into bitesized pieces sea salt flakes a good handful of Thai holy basil Crispy Shallots to garnish coriander leaves, to garnish banh cuon rice wrappers or rice noodles or rice, to serve

Fo r t h e p a s te

Tom Yum Goong (Hot & Sour Fish Stew)

Serves 4 • Preparation Time 25 minutes • Cooking Time 15 minutes

I

bloody love tom yum goong, the hot and sour prawn soup from Thailand. There’s also a similar dish from Cambodia called solmar machoor, which is a soupy fish stew that is as fiery as it is sour – this is my take on them both.

All the legwork for this stew is in the paste and in cooking down the tomatoes, so it’s really important that you take your time and do this slowly to encourage the natural sweetness you want from the dish.

3 shallots 3 lemon grass sticks, bashed and root removed 4cm piece of galangal (or fresh root ginger) 5 kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced 6 Thai bird’s eye chillies 1 teaspoon Thai roasted chilli paste or hot chilli powder ½ teaspoon dried shrimp paste 1 teaspoon palm or brown sugar 5 coriander roots To make the paste, pound together all the ingredients to form a smoothish paste. I prefer to do this using a pestle and mortar, but this can be time-consuming so blitz the ingredients in a food processor or blender if you’re in a rush.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Fry the lemon grass, ginger and garlic for 2 minutes. This is a little unconventional but it will give the stew a deeper, more caramelized flavour. Add 3 tablespoons of the prepared paste and fry for 1 minute, then add the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes, or until they start to melt.

Pour over the stock, lime juice, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves and cook for 5 minutes. Add the prawns, fish and squid, season with salt and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the seafood is just cooked and the prawns are pink. Stir through the holy basil and garnish with Crispy Shallots and coriander leaves. Serve the stew with flat rice wrappers, rice noodles or rice.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES Rinse the garbanzo beans thoroughly and place in a large pan and cover generously with cold water. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil for 25 minutes, or until the outsides feel cooked. Preheat the oven to 200°C. I like to cook my stew in stages and fry everything separately in a frying pan, but by all means, brown everything off straightaway in the casserole.

Heat the oil in a frying pan. Season the chicken pieces with salt, then add them to the frying pan, skin-side down, in batches and brown them thoroughly. Once the chicken pieces are browned, remove them from the frying pan with some tongs and set aside on a plate. Brown the chorizo all over in the same frying pan, then remove and set aside.

Next, lay the garlic bulb halves in the frying pan, cut-side down, for a minute, until golden, then remove and set aside.

Now you need to pour away the excess fat from the frying pan until you are left with about 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the onions and fry them slowly for about 10–12 minutes, until they have softened, then transfer to a casserole. Pour over the sherry, sherry vinegar and stock, add the saffron, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme and half the parsley and bring to the boil. Add the chicken, chorizo, garlic and beans to the casserole. Top up with more stock to ensure the chicken is immersed, Pop the lid on the casserole and place in the oven for 15 minutes. Turn the oven down to 180°C/Gas Mark 4 and cook for a further 45 minutes.

Spanish Chicken Stew with Chorizo, Sherry & Garbanzo Beans 200g dried garbanzo beans (chickpeas), soaked for 12 hours 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large free-range chicken, skinned and jointed into 10 pieces 240g raw cooking chorizo sausages 1 bulb of garlic, cut in half horizontally 2 onions, finely chopped 350ml dry sherry 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar 1 litre fresh White Chicken Stock a generous pinch of saffron 2 bay leaves 1 rosemary sprig a few thyme sprigs, leaves picked a small bunch of flat leaf parsley, chopped grated rind of ½ lemon sea salt flakes and black pepper

R E C I P E S TA K E N F R O M

INGREDIENTS

GIZZI’S HEALTHY APPETITE

S

herry has a bad reputation, doesn’t it? It still conjures up thoughts of old ladies at Christmas but in Spain, where sherry originates, it’s a whole different ball game and sherries are prized as some of the greatest wines in the world. Sherry is not only delicious to drink, it’s also terrific to cook with. Together, sherry, chicken, chorizo and garbanzo beans (the most wonderful Spanish chickpeas, to you and me) make this one damn sexy dish. Stews are best made the day before you need them and it’s particularly worth doing so when cooking a stew with beans because it balances out the seasoning and homogenizes.

by Gizzi Erskine is published by Mitchell Beazley, £15 (www.octopusbooks.co.uk) Paperback out now

Serves 4 • Preparation times 30 minutes, plus soaking • Cooking time 2 hours

Now, this is where it gets complicated.

Remove the casserole from the oven and carefully remove the chicken breast pieces and set aside, leaving the chorizo and chicken thighs and leg meat in the casserole. There will still be a fair amount of liquid in the casserole and the beans will not be fully cooked yet, so pop the casserole on the hob, with the lid off, and cook over a lowish heat for another 15–20 minutes to reduce the sauce, making it taste nice and strong, and until the beans are cooked fully when they are completely tender. Don’t worry about the chicken thighs and leg meat as they are hard to overcook. Once you’re happy with the flavour and thickness of the stew and the beans are cooked through, return the chicken breast pieces to the casserole.

Remove from the heat, stir in the remaining parsley and the lemon rind and season to taste. Pop the lid on and leave the stew to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the chorizo from the casserole and slice each sausage into about 10 pieces. Pop the slices back in the casserole and stir through.

Spoon a couple of pieces of chicken, some chorizo, beans and sauce on to each plate and serve with a fresh green salad.

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mark nicholas Design

ltd

LUXURY INTERIORS Visit : 32-34 Penton Street Islington, London N1 9QA

KITCHENS

BATHROOMS

BEDROOMS

GARDENS

Contact : www.mnd.uk.com T+44(0) 20 7278 7573 F+44(0) 20 7833 2273

Mark Nicholas Design is an award-winning Interior design studio and showroom based in Angel, London. With expert design experience for over 35 years, MND offers a professional design package to help clients create their perfect home; whether you require a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, livingroom or garden.

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“The batter is perfectly crisp, the chicken moist and sauce delightfully sticky”

SMOKING GOAT Shoreditch

Thai street food meets east London cool at Smoking Goat’s latest opening B y J OY M O N T G O M E R Y

P

herched on a busy thoroughfare in the heart of east London, Smoking Goat Shoreditch is the latest eatery from Ben Chapman and Brian Hannon, the brains behind Smoking Goat Soho and Kiln. Their purpose? To bring the vibrant flavour combinations and laid back vibes of Thai street food to the streets of London.

The new Shoreditch offering is much roomier than its smaller

sibling, with large, warehouse-style windows bathing the space in natural light. The interiors, however, offer the same moody, shabby chic charm as seen in the Soho branch, with bare brick and dark green walls flanking arty posters and industrial light fittings.

Inspired by regional specialities of Thailand, the restaurant centres around a well-edited menu of sharing plates, divided into ‘drinking foods’ (AKA starters), large plates and sides. Following recommendations from our waitress, we opt for

FOOD Fragrant, flavourpacked Thai sharing plates

DECOR Shabby chic with a touch of arty elegance

PRICE Drinking foods from £1, large plates from £9, sides from £2

VERDICT An authentic taste of Thailand in east London

northern Thai beef sausage, chilli fish sauce wings and cured monkfish for starters. The monkfish is spicy and fresh, interspersed with tangy hits of ginger. An ideal way to start a meal. The chilli wings, meanwhile, are not exactly light, but goodness are they tasty. The batter is perfectly crisp, the chicken moist and sauce delightfully sticky - we could eat these all day long.

After much debate, we finally settle on a choice of main: the barbecue goat turmeric massaman - the restaurant’s signature dish. We dive head (or rather fork) first into the impressivelooking joint, savouring the melt-inthe-mouth meat which falls easily off the bone into a rich and fragrant Massaman curry sauce. One plate is more than enough for three hungry journalists. Throw in sides of jasmine rice and salty, soy-sautéed greens?

Heaven on a plate.

Smoking Goat Shoreditch doesn’t currently offer puddings, however we find that our appetites are more than sated after three starters and a generous main. Definitely one for your Little Black Book. ● SMOKING GOAT SHOREDITCH 64 Shoreditch High Street, E1 smokinggoatbar.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SPACE | BOCONCEPT.COM FINCHLEY ROAD I 255 FINCHLEY ROAD, O2 CENTRE, LONDON NW3 6LU

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INTERIORS

COLOUR WAYS RUBELLI

Rubelli’s 2018 collection features vibrant colours spanning lime, aquamarine, dusky pink and Tiffany blue as well as an oxidised bronze and the return of red. rubelli.com

Interiors Notes 58 • In the kitchen with Rosie Birkett

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INTERIORS NOTES

Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

Surface area OLIVIA ASPINALL

In collaboration with Ornamental Grace, Olivia Aspinall has created a series of handmade Jesmonite vessels in her distinctive patterned surfaces. Her surfaces make stylish and practical worktops and tabletops too. olivia-aspinall.com.

SHELF LIFE STRING

The String system can offer a stylish kitchen solution with its simple and flexible versatility that suits traditional as well as contemporary kitchens.

Pictured is the String system in oak with white wall and floor panels, from ÂŁ42. skandium.com

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INTERIORS • NOTES O

GA

D

ITE

TS E G

F AV UR

OR

BARISTA TOUCH Sage, £999.95 johnlewis.com

ART OF GLASS TOM DIXON

ELECTRIC KETTLE Michael Graves for Alessi, £159.95 alessi.com

BASKET CASE

Deliccately handmade with pink and grey tones, this Bump glass teapot by Tom Dixon has a range of stylish accessories to match. £100 tomdixon.net

ARCHITECT TOASTER Toaster £89; Kit Miles panels £24.95 dualit.com

LA BASKETRY

La Basketry was founded to share a traditional Senegalese craft with the world and generate regular employment for their weavers.

They bringing colour and individuality to contemporary houses while creating a sustainable life for their artisans.

HAND BLENDER Smeg, £119.95 johnlewis.com

labasketry.com

EDITOR’S PICK

PEANUT BUTTER MAKER Simple and healthy. £44.95 cuckooland.com

SMARTER WIFI COFFEE MAKER Control it with your phone. £179.95 cuckooland.com

WHITE OUT STELTON

Stelton's iconic and everpractical vacuum jug was designed by Erik Magnussen and is celebrating 40 years in production with a range of new metallic colours.

We're fans of the classic white, however. stelton.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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A cook’s

TABLE Food writer and stylist Rosie Birkett shows us around her London kitchen B y E L L I E S T E WA R T F O R H A B I TAT

Q Tell us a bit about yourself. Can you summarise what you do for a living?

A All things food. I’m a food writer, cookbook author, food stylist and cook.

Q Is this your dream job?

A Pretty much yes. Of course all jobs have their off days but I feel incredibly lucky to do something I’m so consumed by. The beauty of my job is that it’s incredibly creative and I do so many different things, so no day is the same, but each day invariably involves some good food and drink.

Q What inspires you to do what you do?

A Growing up, it was all about food and cooking. My family are a greedy bunch and we always came together over my mother’s delicious home cooked food. I think this, and the fact I was so aware of us growing our own veg, keeping chickens and fishing etc has had a big influence on my love of food.

Q What exciting projects have you been working on lately?

A I’ve been doing lots of events and pop up dinners, including a collaboration with the fab cinema supper club, Kino Vino, during which we screened an old Ealing Studios film called It always rains on Sunday set in and around east London; the second was a charity banquet organised by Bristol chef Romy Gill for Action Against Hunger with a load of other female chefs and food writers.

We had to serve eight courses to 112 in a hall in Borough Market we weren’t cooking in, so it was very challenging but great fun and we raised over 10k which was amazing.

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Q How would you describe your interior style?

A Whimsical, eclectic and natural. I love collecting beautiful objects and handmade treasures such as ceramics, vintage furniture and art. Also, you’ll notice I’m a sucker for a house plant. We don’t have a garden so I definitely like to bring the outdoors in.

Q You must spend a lot of time in the kitchen. What’s your favourite thing about it?

A I spend at least four days a week in the kitchen. What drew me to our house is that the kitchen is pretty much the whole of the downstairs. It’s open plan and flooded by natural light by a glass ceiling, so I’m really happy cooking here. There are plenty of units for storage and I love being able to display my props on top of the cupboards.

I’m very proud of the marble tiling and hexagonal tiles behind the sink, as well as the second hand stainless steel catering cupboard which is an island and storage solution in one.

Q What would you change about your kitchen space?

A I would love a big range cooker.

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INTERIORS • FOCUS

“What drew me to our house is that the kitchen is pretty much the whole of the downstairs”

Q Where do you find interior inspiration?

A Elle Decor, Remodelista and interior design books. Instagram too of course, including Habitat’s.

Q Which instagram accounts would you recommend for interior inspiration?

A As above. Apartmenttherapy and Jungalow too.

Q What’s your favourite interior trend at the moment?

A I love the pink trend. I’ve never been a girly girl or that into pink but recently something has changed and I can’t get enough of little hints of pink, particularly when it’s dusky, faded, pastel or stone washed.

Q Which habitat products do you love and why?

A I adore my new pink stonewashed bedspread which sits atop our gorgeous new wooden bed, both from Habitat. Having a wooden bed is a real statement and brings so much character to an otherwise simple room. The grain of the wood on the bed is beautiful. I really love the gorgeous green marble of the coffee table too. Watch out for many Instagram food shots featuring A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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TRICK PARK IJ W D @FLIPOUTBRENTCROSS BRENTCROSS@FLIPOUT.CO.UK I FLIPOUT.CO.UK/BRENT-CROSS STAPLES CORNER RETAIL PARK, GERON WAY, NW2 &LW I 020 8050 2391 FO.indd 1

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INTERIORS • FOCUS

this. Also the marble lamp is just dreamy – bringing a hint of luxury to the spare room.

Q What’s your favourite thing about your home?

The light and sense of space. Floor-to-ceiling windows and our double-height glass ceiling make it a really light, airy space.

Q What was your last interiors project and purchase?

A Doing up our spare room and putting in some shelves for my huge library of cookbooks.

Q How have you made this house your home?

A By filling it with our most-loved objects and people. We are always hosting dinners and drinks at ours and we’re such home bodies.

Q Tell us about your most treasured possessions?

A The rug in the spare room was brought in Argentina. I was really broke at the time and really agonised over whether to buy it but I’m so glad i did, it makes me so happy.

Our vintage Ercol dining set was a total bargain from Ebay and I’m so thrilled we found it, even though we had to hire a van and drive to the middle of nowhere to this really posh lady’s country house, it was so worth it.

Q Where is the heart of your home?

A The kitchen of course.

Q If you could re-live one moment in this house what would it be? Tell us about your favourite memory.

A Our first Christmas party in the house was pretty epic. We got an 13ft Christmas tree, I made venison stew and there was a lot of prosecco and mulled wine. It was so brilliant to finally have our own space and be able to host our friends whose houses we’ve been partying in for years.

Q What would complete your home?

A I would love a wood fired log burner but unfortunately it’s not possible in this house.

Q Tell us something interesting about yourself or your home that not many people know.

A Cyril our dog calls the shots. Seriously, he thinks the sofa, our bed and the spare room bed all belong to him.

Q Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

A My late dad, I would love to cook for him and catch him up on the last 12 years.

“I’ve never been a girly girl but recently I can’t get enough of pink”

H A B I TAT For more cool habitats visit habitat.co.uk/blog

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‘ Enjoying childhood and realising our imagination.’ We are delighted to announce that Mogg Hercules, Headteacher and founder of Dallington School has been appointed MBE for outstanding services to education in the New Year Honours List, 2018 Dallington is a family-run co-educational independent school, with a nursery, in the heart of London.

Personal tours each day of the week, except Wednesday.

Next Open Evening: Thursday 3rd May 2018 from 6 to 8 pm

Email: hercules@dallingtonschool.co.uk Phone: 020 7251 2284 www.dallingtonschool.co.uk

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KIDS & EDUCATION

STREET STYLE STELLA MCCARTNEY

The collection captures the energy and essence of childhood while remaining effortlessly cool and stylish - a testament to her understanding of fashion and its ever-changing demands. stellamccartney.com

Small Talk: World Book Day, French fashion and stylish toy storage 67 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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s ie ble ar la rs vai Bu a w no

Confident.

Independent.

Thinkers.

“My eyes were opened to the world.”

Former pupil, Hillingdon

Open Mornings To register, please visit acs-schools.com/opendays

8 February & 17 March 2018

Co-ed | Ages 4-18 | International Baccalaureate Diploma | AP | Extensive busing

‘Pupils’ personal development is excellent.’

ISI Report

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KIDS & EDUCATION • NOTES

F O CU S

French chic B O N TO N

Cool but classic; understated but bold; classy but contemporary; French brand Bonton’s collection of contradictions is the only thing to wear as this winter continues. bonton.fr

READ IT Wo r l d B o o k D a y

SMALL TALK French fashion, World Book Day and some stylish toy storage

EDITOR’S PICK

HOUSE STYLE ROCK AND PEBBLE

Make tidying up easier (and more fun) with this ‘safe house’ for toys – an organic canvas storage bag complete with ladder and key-shaped charm. £59;

thismodernlife.co.uk

THINK TANK

PRINT ISSUE

MIND HUG Children's Mental Health Week starts on 6 February and this sweet storybook is all about introducing mindfulness from an early age in a child-friendly way, focusing on moods and feelings. Part of every book sale goes towards Place2Be's work in schools. £9.99 circus-house.com

W

orld Book Day returns on 1 March with its mission to celebrate reading for pleasure and encourage children and young people to read and love books. A stellar line-up of authors, illustrators and events is planned across the country alongside a series of special new works that will cost just £1 or free in exchange for a £1 World Book Day book token. Bestselling children’s authors and illustrators for 2018 include broadcaster Clare Balding, musician Tom Fletcher, comedian Julian Clary and top illustrator David Roberts, sports journalist Gerard Siggins and further favorites Pamela Butchart, Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton and Kes Gray. The £1 World Book Day book tokens are available to all nursery and schoolchildren in the UK and Ireland. worldbookday.com

ALLAN AHLBERG

WORST BOOK EVER

My Worst Booke Ever is a clever story is about the making of a book and all the things that can go wrong. Allan's idea features a crocodile, but the publishers want a dinosaur and the illustrator's keen on a hippo... and further problems arrive at the printer. £10.95 thameshudson.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Book now for February 2018 Prep School Open Events North Bridge House Prep School

Currently as for Sept sessing ‘18 entry 9 Februa Full open ry event 23 Febru ary Tea with Mr Bibby

Happy and high-achieving Successfully setting up boys and girls for the country’s top Senior Schools, year after year.

www.northbridgehouse.com/open 020 7428 1520

North Bridge House

NBH.indd 1

admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse.com North London Independent Schools across Hampstead, Islington and Regent’s Park, Camden. Ages 2yrs 9mths - 18yrs.

23/01/2018 18:28

EDUCATION • FOCUS

Making their mark The Early Years coordinator at Dallington School in Islington on the importance of encouraging young artists

By AMBIKA CURBISHLEY

T

he children I have taught over the years arrive having already had a range of different experiences when it comes to art. Some children immediately experiment and explore and think creatively when they are making or drawing, others do not want to get paint on their fingers, or say, 'I can’t do it!' As my teaching career continues, I have come to question how we as adults influence children’s attitudes to art and how we impact on children’s interest in this area. Often talking to parents gives an insight into

how their own experiences at school or their outlook on art has an impact on how they approach the subject with their children. I have heard people say, ‘It doesn’t look like anything, it’s a scribble.’

I then spend time explaining that that ‘scribble’ is where the child is at developmentally and that the child has just told a whole story whilst making those marks.

I also hear parents describe how they felt they were not very good at art at school and, therefore, they don’t know how to go about teaching their own children. So, did someone along the way dismiss attempts they had made as a child, squashing confidence?

“There is great value in allowing children to make choices and express themselves”

A YOUNG PUPIL AT DALLINGTON

There is great value in allowing children to express themselves, to make choices about the media they wish to use, to learn through the process of creating and to praise each child’s art work. Those early ‘scribbles’ and the freedom to make them, cannot be emphasised enough. If opportunities do not arise, does the child miss a stage of building up a repertoire of marks?

Can this gap then be filled at a later date? As early years educators we can do that to a degree but children also need those opportunities at home. Sometimes, people have asked me whether the reason a child does not draw or take part in art activities is because they are not interested. I then question why they might not be interested at the age of three!

Do they find it difficult or has an adult influenced their desire or opportunity to participate in art-based activities. So when a child shows an adult a drawing, we need to think about our responses, instead of, “What is it?” which for a child, that knows exactly what they have just drawn, is a little deflating “Can you tell me about it?” leads to a far more in-depth discussion.

You may be very surprised to find that those several lines across a page are a ladder that goes up to a fairy castle or that those circles that go round and round are the movement of a car. Let children create and make a mess, it can be cleaned up but a child’s confidence takes a lot longer to rebuild.

I am fascinated by the early marks that children make and the insight they give into different areas of development. For example, their language skills can be heard through their descriptions whilst drawing; their physical development observed by looking at their self awareness depicted in their figurative pictures or how they hold a paint brush; to their emotional development, where drawings can depict how a child is feeling. As long as I teach, I hope I will be able to place an importance on art in the early years and recognise all that it can lead to.

AMBIKA CURBISHLEY Early Years Coordinator Dallington School

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Support the Head Held High appeal and provide quality education to Africa's most vulnerable children #HeadHeldHigh

Donate before 23rd December 2017 and your donation will be matched by the UK Government

Discover more at www.hope-for-children.org Reg. Charity No. 1161729

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TRAVEL

HEADING NORTH GREECE

Unspoilt beauty, expansive beaches and an authentic dose of the region’s culture, this month we argue the case for a holiday in Northern Greece at one of the country’s swankiest resorts.

Discover the Unspoilt Beauty of Halkidiki 72 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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THE RESORT BOASTS IMPRESSIVE VIEWS OVER THE AEGEAN SEA

“Look out from the French doors and see sun, sea and private pool blend seamlessly into a postcard image of utter perfection” 72

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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST

A Trident’s

TALE Discover what it truly means to be stress-free amidst the unspoilt beauty of Halkidiki

By H E L E N B R O W N

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ell anyone of your holiday to Greece and they’ll immediately picture the pretty island harbours and tavernas of the south.

Where sun is aplenty and the vista one of gleaming white against sparkling azure. Make your way north however, and the pictureperfect views bloom with verdant greenery and Greece’s best-kept secret lies, unhassled by summer holiday-makers. Fabled for its heart-stopping beauty and boundless hospitality, Halkidiki is the trident of Greece; three unspoilt, forested fingers stretching out into the Aegean Sea. Our Greek odyssey brings us to Sithonia, the central peninsula with a backbone of mountains and pine forests. More rugged and less populated than the left prong, Kassandra, Sithonia has long been a favourite vacation destination for locals. Along the coast, sweeping beaches are interspersed by secret coves, and the east side offers commanding views of Mount Athos, the third peninsula. On Sithonia you’ll find gorgeous, sleepy towns, a wealth of charming treasures to unearth and our home-from-home for the week, Danai Beach Resort.

Easily reached from Thessaloniki, this luxurious hideaway is a haven of lush Mediterranean gardens and an expansive sandy beach. A family-run establishment, Danai offers a broad range of suites and villas, each

unique in style and boasting impressive views over the gardens or the ocean. Our two bedroom suite falls into the latter; here you can look out from the French doors and see sun, sea and private pool blend seamlessly into a postcard image of utter perfection. Fresh flowers, captivating wall art, Bose wi-fi music system, walk-in wardrobe and Bulgari bathroom products complete the scene.

With all sense of the nine-to-five forgotten, we head to the Sea Horse Grill. On offer here is authentic Greek flavour and the freshest of fish and seafood. There is an ancient concept of hospitality and guest-friendship in this country, known as Xenia, and from this first meal we truly get an understanding of it. Hungry from the morning travelling, we gorge at a table laden with sharing plates until we can eat no more, only to find it relaid with a second wave of larger dishes. A true Greek feast.

With bellies full and the sound of lapping waves tempting us into culinary-induced comas, we head to the beach. More than 300 meters long and absent of crowds, this is where London life is truly left behind.

Stretchers and daybeds are available to hire for all guests, but to really get into holiday mode, a beach cabana does wonders. With this comes a private section of beach, a sitting area and comfortable double bed. Hotel staff are on hand to wipe clean your sunnies, serve fresh fruit platters and pop the corks from Perrier Jouet.

Our beach lounging is interspersed with turns on the resort’s paddle boards, dips in the pool and a A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Subscription

FOR MINDFUL PARENTS Sign up to Readly for only £7.99 a month and read all back issues of Absolutely Education, as well as our entire portfolio, including Absolutely Mama, Absolutely Weddings and Absolutely Home. Readly Subscribers also enjoy unbounded access to over 2,300 top titles.

Readly offers the freedom to effortlessly glide between articles and features that consider every essential piece of advice and info needed for education in the independent sector.

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‘Excellent’ in all areas ISI Inspection Report, 2016

Whole School Open Morning Wednesday 13th June 9.30am – 12 noon Saturday 22nd September 9.30am – 12.30pm Please contact Admissions on 01923 843230 to book a place

2 mins walk from Northwood Tube STHELENS.indd 1 STH_134mmx190mm_Open_Day_Ad_Jan_2018_FA.indd 1

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Located adjacent to Northwood Underground Station (Metropolitan Line), 30 mins from Baker Street.

School coaches are available from many locations.

St Helen’s School An Independent Day School for Girls aged 3 - 18 Eastbury Road, Northwood, HA6 3AS admissions@sthelens.london

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TRAVEL • WANDERLUST EVERY SUITE AND VILLA IS INDIVIDUAL IN STYLE

fantastically indulgent facial. Danai’s prestigious spa is a real haven of tranquility, comprising multiple massage rooms, a nail spa and trilogy room with reflexology bed and a Cleopatra’s Bath with double bed for relaxation.

Dinner is another exciting affair with three restaurants to choose from and a traditional Bachtses Night. Put on once a week in an intimate outcrop of garden overlooking the sea, this is a spectacular evening steeped in Greek authenticity.

Live cooking, traditional dishes, locally produced drinks, music and dancing make this a night to remember. Our second evening is spent at the open-air Andromeda Restaurant, where modern Mediterranean fare is the order of the day. Sitting on the restaurant’s terrace, we tuck into strawberries with seafood, elegantly cooked lamb and a lemon meringue pie like no other, against a backdrop of splashing waves.

For something a little swankier, The Squirrel has a well-earned reputation for being one of the principle culinary addresses in the country. If Halkidiki is the trident of Greece, then Poseidon is certainly smiling on those who manage to get a table here. Or perhaps Dionysus of wine, parties and fruitfulness; the food here certainly tastes otherworldly.

The elaborate degustation menu offers a daring variety of Willy Wonka-esque plates, French and Mediterranean in flavour and expertly paired with wine

THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE SPA IS SET ON ORIENTAL HOLISTIC THERAPIES

of which hail from Greece and prove that the region’s reputation as a producer is on the rise. If it’s an apéritif you’re after, the Philosophy Seaside Bar prides itself on its creative drinks menu and incomparable setting. Located on the beach, an evening here is certainly appealing. The bar staff demonstrate impressive flair and the premium cocktail list attracts both guests and locals alike.

Providing your hangover isn’t too severe, a number of excursions from Danai are available to fully explore the peninsula of Halkidiki. By yacht or by speedboat is the ideal way to combine leisure with sightseeing, and to fully get a feel for the area.

One of the resort’s most popular routes will take you to the old city of Neos Marmaras. Departing from the hotel’s private beach, the tour follows the coastline of Nikiti, Ai Giannis, Kastro, Kalogria, Elia and Paradeisos beach, finally reaching Neos Marmaras. This is a must-see village with wild entertainment and plenty of romantic walks.

The route then passes by the impressive complex of Porto Carras - cocooned with vineyards and its picturesque harbour -

“Hotel staff are on hand to wipe clean your sunnies and pop the corks from Perrier Jouet”

from Danai’s on-site wine cellar. The restaurant won the FNL Award in 2016 as one of the best three restaurants in Greece, while the wine list came in at number one.

So what of this impressive purveyance of wine? Built deep into the side of the mountain in the heart of the resort, Danai’s private cellar boasts a lauded collection of around 1,700 wines, carefully collected over decades. Varieties range from the old to the new, and from producers SWEEPING PRIVATE TERRACES both local and farPROVIDE UNPARALLELED VIEWS reaching. Kitted out with antique furnishings and maintaining an old-world ambience, the wine cellar plays host to an incredibly awe-inspiring tasting session. Within this mystic and medieval candle-lit cave, Danai’s competent sommelier talks us through a cleverly curated selection of wines, many

before passing by the tortoise-shaped, deserted island of Kelyfos and the sandy beaches of Diaporos. Another must for culture vultures is a visit to Nikiti where a quaint church marks the highest point of the village and the seafront is a bustling jumble of authentic beach eateries. The village epitomises Halkidiki’s compelling blend of beach holiday with authentic Greek buzz, and proves there is more to the area than meets the eye.

Top up your tan, feast on local cuisine and luxuriate in a lifestyle where schedules are few and far between; Halkidiki is the hidden gem to have on your holiday radar this year.

DA N A I B E AC H R E S O R T & VILLAS Junior suites from £375 on a B&B basis, based on 2 people sharing +30 2375 020400 danairesort.com

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CREATORS OF THE WORLD’S MOST DESIRABLE FIREPLACES We created our unique FIRE RIBBON BURNER technology in 2003 with a large, glamorous and distinctive flame quality

CVO Fire | Unit 4 Beaumont Square Newton Aycliffe | County Durham | DL5 6XN 01325 301020 | sales@cvo.co.uk www.cvo.co.uk

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tiles etc.

www.tilesetc.com | angel@tilesetc.com | 020 7607 2700 4 Shillingford Street, London N1 2DP TILES ETC.indd 1

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PROPERTY Living the dream

INGRAM AVENUE NW11

ÂŁPOA

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Famous Places

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his is a majestic new build in a residential region close to Hampstead Heath. The property comprises six bedrooms, four reception rooms, seven bathrooms, a cinema room, gym, sauna, spa and steam room. There is also lift access on every floor. Ingram Avenue is one of North London's premier residential roads within walking distance of Kenwood House.

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Knight Frank Hampstead 020 7431 8686 knightfrank.com

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Upper Street, Islington N1 An elegant three bedroom flat with a balcony A beautifully refurbished three bedroom apartment arranged over the second and third floors. Finished to an incredibly high standard throughout, the apartment benefits from all modern appliances. There is a private balcony leading off from the master bedroom. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an open­plan kitchen, and a balcony. No onward chain. EPC: C. Approximately 105.62 sq m (1,137 sq ft).

Leasehold: approximately 250 years remaining

Guide price: £995,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/islington islington@knightfrank.com 020 3657 7340

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/ISL170243

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Absolutely ­ JAN ED 2018

16/01/2018 16:28

09/01/2018 10:47:49

Crestfield Street, Bloomsbury WC1H An elegant four bedroom house close to King's Cross A beautifully presented, nineteenth century, four bedroom home arranged over five floors in a quiet residential street in Bloomsbury. 4 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, patio, and private parking.

Grade II listed. Approximately 298.03 sq m (3,211 sq ft).

Freehold

Guide price: £3,500,000 KnightFrank.co.uk/kGX160007

KnightFrank.co.uk/kingscross Kingscrosssales@knightfrank.com 020 3764 8910

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

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Absolutely Jan Sales (KC) - 1 Crestfield Street

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Wellesley Terrace, Islington N1 Outstanding three bedroom penthouse apartment near Angel A stunning three bedroom penthouse on the eighth floor of a contemporary development. 3 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a large and bright open plan living room/dining room/kitchen and large private roof terrace with panoramic views across central London. Additionally, there is lift access and secure parking for two cars.

EPC: C. Approximately 197 sq m (2,116 sq ft).

Available furnished Guide price: £1,500 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/islington islingtonlettings@knightfrank.com 020 3657 7360

KnightFrank.co.uk/ISQ281719 All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. There will also be a £48 charge to register your deposit with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme if applicable. Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees. Knight Frank is a member of the ARLA Client Money Protection Scheme and our redress scheme for consumers is Ombudsman Services: Property.

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Absolutely Lettings December - 26, 2 Wellesley

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

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THE FINEST RIVER VIEW IN LONDON WATERFRONT PENTHOUSE COLLECTION ARRANGE A VIEWING TODAY Simply stunning: the new penthouse collection at Waterfront is the ultimate in luxury, with breathtaking views up and down the river to Canary Wharf, the City and the Thames Barrier. Residents can relax in the sumptuous spa facilities of The Waterside Club and enjoy on-site dining, riverside walks and shopping.

Not to mention the on-site Crossrail station, due to open in December 2018, which will provide a world-class, high capacity railway, delivering faster journey times to central London and Heathrow.

A limited collection of 2 and 3 bedroom duplex penthouses available Prices from ÂŁ1,295,000 Viewing by appointment only - call 020 3918 3754 to register your interest Sales & Marketing Suite open 10am to 6pm (Thursdays until 8pm) Imperial Building, No. 2 Duke of Wellington Avenue, Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich, London SE18 6FR Photography is indicative only. Prices and information correct at time of going to press.

www.royalarsenalriverside.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

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LIVING THE

DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market

1

CROUCH END N 8 , ÂŁ2,550,0 0 0

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his five bedroom eco-house was recently completed by award-winning architect Roderick James. The property is accessed by a private cobbled driveway, and has an independent annexe with a bedroom, kitchen, and living space. The main house has plenty of living space, high ceilings, a spiral staircase with a beautiful oak balustrade, and glazed sliding doors that open on to a private terrace.

FOXTONS

Foxtons North, 020 8829 4090 foxtons.co.uk

CROWN SQUARE

S E 1 , ÂŁ7,95 0,000

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his four bedroom apartment is located on the fourth floor of a prestigious development in Tower Bridge. The property benefits from access to a 20 metre swimming pool, plunge pool, state of the art gym, luxury spa, business lounge, landscaped communal gardens, and virtual golf course. Also, the property has The Bridge Theatre, an Ivy Restaurant and 24 hour Harrods Estates Concierge on site.

KFH KFH London Bridge, 020 3199 2514 kfh.co.uk 1

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PROPERTY • NEW TO THE MARKET

COURTENAY AVENUE

N 6 , £ 1 0,0 0 0 P E R W E E K

N 2 , £ 1 ,75 0,0 0 0

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KNIGHT FRANK

MARTYN GERRARD

Knight Frank, 020 7431 8686 knightfrank.com

East Finchley Office, 020 883 0077 martyngerrard.co.uk

his is a seven bedroom house on one of North London’s most sought after roads.

All seven bedrooms have ensuites and the master bedroom benefits from a dressing room and view of the garden. The house comprises a kitchen, breakfast room, dining room, family room, drawing room, utility, study, indoor pool, gym and spa rooms fantastic garden and patio.

HARECOURT ROAD

EAST END ROAD his property is part of a brand new development of eight detached family homes. The property has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two reception rooms. The development is sat behind a grade II listed wall that has CCTV entry phone and is gated. The development is nearby local shops, Akiva school, Chandos tennis club, and good transport links.

N 1 , £ 1 ,1 0 0,0 0 0

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wonderfully light Georgian property on a residential street in Canonbury.

On the lower floor is two double bedrooms, and on the upper floor, an open plan living space with wooden floors, a marble fireplace and sash windows. The kitchen has plenty of storage space and the family bathroom has underfloor heating. The property has allocated private parking and a private garden.

ON THE UPPER FLOOR IS AN OPEN PLAN LIVING SPACE WITH WOODEN FLOORS, A MARBLE FIREPLACE AND SASH WINDOWS

WINKWORTH

Islington Office, 020 7354 2480 winkworth.co.uk

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407-409 Holloway Road, London, N7 6HP

020 7607 5001 drivers.co.uk

SALES

Ashburton Triangle, Drayton Park, N5 | £375,000 One double bedroom apartment in pristine condition with wood flooring in most rooms. Located in a modern development on the fringe of the Emirates stadium in the heart of Drayton Park, near to shops and transport links.

Private Balcony | 2nd Floor (Level 4) with Lift | Secure Block with Concierge | Chain Free | EPC Rating: Band C

Marlborough Road, Upper Holloway, N19 | £1,450,000 Six bedroom Victorian period mid-terraced house arranged over four floors. Key features include a reception with a bay window and a modern fitted kitchen/dining room.

Shower Rooms | South-East Facing Rear Garden | Close to Underground, Shops & Buses | Freehold | Chain Free | EPC Rating: Band D

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LETTINGS

Holloway Road, London, N7 | £465 per week A newly built penthouse apartment with two double bedrooms. Featuring a modern kitchen with stone counter top and integrated appliances and a spacious open plan reception room with sliding doors onto a private roof terrace.

Gas Central Heating | Double Glazing | Ensuite Bath/Shower Rooms | Guest WC | Available Now | Furnished or Unfurnished | EPC Rating Band D

Parkhurst Court, London, N7 | £370 per week Newly refurbished two double bedroom apartment situated in a private development on Warlters Road. Benefits include a modern separate kitchen, spacious reception room and tiled bathroom with bath and shower attachment. Keys held for immediate viewing.

Underfloor Heating | Laminate Wood Flooring Throughout | Close to Shops & Transport | Available Now | Furnished or Unfurnished | EPC Rating Band E

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Management I Maintenace I Lettings I Sales For all your property needs

0207 871 9599 info@daveys.co

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LIVE CREATIVELY in N1C

OWN A PIECE of HISTORY Become neighbours with Central Saint Martins, Louis Vuitton, Google, Everyman Cinema and the re-imagined Thomas Heatherwick designed shopping street, Coal Drops Yard.

London’s best transport links with zone 1 tube, close proximity to 15 major universities and colleges; rail links across Great Britain plus Eurostar, the UK’s only direct rail connection to Europe.

Apartments ready to move into today. Prices from £810,000*

+44 (0)20 3284 0829 | enquiries@livinginkingscross.co.uk | livinginkingscross.co.uk *Price correct at time of print. For a studio in Gasholders London

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FA M O U S P L AC E S

by N I G E L L E W I S

London hides a plethora of celebrity homes. These are the most recent to come on the market

JEEVES TO MCQUEEN

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BELLA’S BOLTHOLE

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ella Freud is best known for her fashionwear, father Lucien Freud, and famous friends, but now she’s turned her talents to interior design.

The 56-year-old has put the finishing touches to a 2,300-sq-ft apartment within the BBC’s former White City TV studios.

Bella, who counts Kate Moss as one of her close friends, has been moving into interior design, and recently launched her own range of scented candles.

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Her designs for the apartment are still under wraps, but will be influenced by both her fashion background and the TV heritage of the site.

It’s within a £1.5 billion mixed-use development, which is retaining both the original Blue Peter garden and crescent shape of the former TV Centre building.

Bella’s apartment is to be launched in the Spring and will cost approximately £3 million; a final price is yet to be decided.

his elegant Georgian property was once the home of both fashion designer Alexander McQueen and author PG Wodehouse, but at different times.

The property is located on Dunraven Street in the centre of Mayfair, only a stone's throw from Hyde Park In 2010 McQueen was half way through refurbishing the top floors of the property, with the intention of restoring it to it's former status as a family home, when he committed suicide at a rented flat nearby.

PG Wodehouse, the author of the Jeeves and Wooster books, lived at the house between 1927 and 1934 while at the height of his creative powers.

It was his last home in the UK. After selling the property Wodehouse moved to France but, after being captured by the invading Germans in 1940 at the seaside town of Le Touquet but later being released, then moved to the US where he remained until the end of his life.

After McQueen’s death, the refurbishment of the property’s top floor three-bedroom maisonette was completed and the flat later sold for £8.5 million.

The other part of his planned project, an apartment below, is now for sale, having also been refurbished.

It’s a one-bedroom property with a single reception room and two bathrooms, a small rear balcony off the bedroom, a new kitchen and wooden flooring throughout.

More information from Knight Frank, 020 7629 8171.

More information from Dexters on 020 7590 9590.

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PROPERTY • STAR HOMES

BROADCASTER’S HOUSE

J

oan Bakewell is one of the nation’s best-known writers and broadcasters. She was made a baroness in 2011, but is bestknown for her relationship with playwright Harold Pinter.

The relationship went on for seven years and during all this time she has lived in the same house in Primrose Hill which she bought in 1963.

Neighbours have included Alan Bennett, Ted Hughes and his wife Sylvia Plath, Jon Snow and Robert Plant.

But now Bakewell is downsizing and has put her home on the market for £6.25 million.

Overlooking a pretty green, the large Victorian house includes a selfcontained two-bedroom flat, a garden and four bedrooms.

More information from David Birkett Estate Agents, 020 3641 2618.

"Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne lived in the property during Ozzy's well-documented battle with alcohol"

OZZY MANSION

B

eel House near Amersham has been home to actor Dirk Bogarde, songwriter Matt Aitken of Stock, Aitken and Waterman and TV chat show host Robert Kilroy-Silk.

But they are all eclipsed by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne who lived in the property during Ozzy’s welldocumented battle with alcohol during the late 1980s.

During their time there, in 1989, Ozzy was arrested at the property by police for threatening to kill his wife and subsequently spent time at a nearby rehab clinic.

The Osbournes eventually resolved their marital problems, sold Beel House and moved to Los Angeles and gained worldwide fame with their TV reality show The Osbournes.

Beel House is back on the market and the current owner is asking £3.95 million for the property. The seven-bedroom house has extensive gardens, a pool and a spa complex, and is located near Amersham in Buckinghamshire.

More information from Knight Frank (01494 854579).

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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BELSIZE AVENUE, NW3 A three bedroom, two bathroom second floor apartment, with private parking space, located between Hampstead Village and Belsize Park.

£1,250,000 LEASEHOLD

THE OWNERS LOVE “That the flat has its own parking space so we can leave the car if we need to travel abroad.”

“The fact that we are so close to the underground station which means a trip into the West End is nice and quick.”

“That there are so many restaurants on our doorstep for a quick bite to eat after a long day.”

WE’VE NOTICED Hampstead Heath is easily accessible and the building has a lift.

• 3 Bedrooms • Kitchen with integrated appliances • Storage space

• Allocated parking space • Chain free • EPC Rating: D

Contact Mark Newton at our Kenish Town office on 020 7267 3737 martyngerrard.co.uk MG_PROOF.indd 1

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HADLEY ROAD, ENFIELD, EN2 The Pump House compromises of seven luxury 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, one detached house and one principle 3 bedroom home.

ÂŁ1,950,000 FREEHOLD

Show Home open Saturday & Sunday 10am until 4pm - call to book your appointment.

Forming part of a Victorian Pump House in a private gated development, this unique property offers three double bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom, with the rare luxury of having a private lift accessing all five floors, including media room or gym and underground parking.

For those seeking a London home in the countryside ambiance, look no further than Antlia Court - a development steeped in history that will bestow on residents aspirational standard of living. The seven luxury apartments are ideally located in North London among two and a half acres of luscious private parkland.

Contact Susan Bradford at our Barnet ofďŹ ce on 020 8440 2444 martyngerrard.co.uk MG_PROOF.indd 2

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Move This Spring get back to what you love sooner by selling or letting with Knight Frank.

Knight Frank Islington 353 Upper Street London N1 0PD 020 3657 7340 @KF_NorthLondon islington@knightfrank.com

We’d love to help you.

KnightFrank.co.uk

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Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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WATERFALL ROAD

N11

NEW SOUTHGATE ... ... . .

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show home open

A Luxury new DeveLopment of five fAmiLy townhouses These spacious five bedroom homes have been carefully designed with urban décor and open plan living space for today’s modern lifestyle, with state of the art technology.

The development is conveniently located 0.4 miles (approx. 6 minutes’ walk) from Arnos Grove station (Piccadilly Line), offering a good service to Central London or towards Cockfosters. New Southgate Overground Station is also located 0.4 miles away with trains running every 10-20 minutes to Moorgate Station or towards Hertfordshire. The A406 North Circular is easily accessed via Station Road.

This devolopment is within a ten minutes’ drive to Trent Country Park, with large open spaces for walking, jogging and cycling. The park also offers thrill seekers the opportunity to experience tree top outdoor adventure, Go Ape.

Martyn Gerrard – Land and New Homes or N14@martyngerrard.co.uk - 020 8886 2094

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