a one bed in this area.” But when Gareth says ‘location’ is a factor, what he really means is ‘Notting Hill’. It’s one of those iconic London areas that has effortlessly become uber fashionable over the past three decades, a rise that’s been helped of course by Richard Curtis’s eponymous 1999 film starring Hugh Grant. And St Stephen’s Gardens has a film connection of its own. A property a few doors down from No.10 was a film location for Michael Caine’s 1966 film Alfie. Also, talking of celebrities, until a few years ago Stella McCartney owned a house in an adjacent street and Ruby Wax lives nearby too. People like this are drawn to this neighbourhood of Notting Hill because it’s the best of many worlds – near Portobello Road but far away enough not to be too mobbed during the annual carnival
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but not far from Bayswater and also walking distance of three tube stations on two different lines. St Stephen’s Gardens is also well placed for Notting Hill’s best eateries and places to hang out including Tom Conran’s champagne and oyster bars, The Cow and The Westbourne, both of which are just around the corner. On Chepstow Road there’s The Napoleon Bonaparte – famous for being pop band Blur’s favoured pub during the 1990s. Another reason for the property’s popularity on Zoopla is its price. Those outside London might baulk at £850,000 for a one bedroom apartment but in Notting Hill it represents reasonable value and one-bedders closer to Bayswater and Notting Hill Gate can fetch up to £1.2 million. “The market around here, like the rest of prime central London, cooled off rapidly this summer but recently it’s picked up again and we’ve been really busy – so I’m confident that we will find a buyer for this apartment fairly soon,” he says.
FEBRUARY 2015
16/01/2015 16:09