LONDON BOUTIQUE29 LOWNDES STREET • KNIGHTSBRIDGE • SW1X 9HXT: +44 20 7201 2590 E: store@herveleger.co.uk

SCENE09 december diary

Festive activities for families, unique gift

ideas and seasonal surprises

16 Great expectations

simon callow on re-working the

dickens’ c lassic ‘a christmas carol’

20 the vantaGe christmas special

everything you need for a luxurious

christmas – ten pages of fashion

interiors, beauty, food and wine

31 a Good KniGht

author india Knight shares her thoughts

on her new novel, mutton

CoNtENtS StylE35 Fashion GiFt list

stylish ideas for fashionistas

36 style update

disney’s best gowns made real

and savannah miller’s clothing line

32 the list

divine inspiration for divas

40 From russia with love

old school glamour inspires essential

party looks this festive season

49 beauty GiF t list

pampering products for beautiful people

iNtEriorS53 GiFt list

heavenly ideas for the home

56 throuGh the Keyhole

the team at the langham share their

festive tricks of the trade

59 Feature: melissa + miller

clean, cool homes from this design duo

CollECtioN66 Jewellery GiFt list

sparkly gems and lavish

presents for the most

glamorous of ladies

70 watch news

michael schumacher

collaborates with

audemars piguet

72 mens GiFts

essential ideas for

stylish gents

HEaltH & Family79 health & Fitness news

all new power plate hatha

yoga classes

80 For the Family

dolce & Gabbana’s children’s line and

the best books for christmas

Food & driNk85 GiFt list

the best in luxury hampers, festive

tipples, chocolates and accessories

88 review: caravan, nw1

caravan comes to Kings cross

91 tellinG stories

tracing the remarkable, and ancient,

history of some of nw london’s best-

loved watering holes

travEl95 GiFt list

travel in style with the absolute best in

luxury luggage, clothing and accessories

99 GoinG wild

a secluded hideaway and unparalleled

wildlife in the beautiful Kalahari

103 Five oF the best

the final word in unashamedly decadent

ski chalets

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2250

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P L E A S E E N J O Y O U R C H A M PA G N E R E S P O N S I B L YD R I N K AW A R E . C O . U K

PJ - A4 master:Perrier Jouet UK.qxd 4/4/08 15:38 Page 1

Runwild Media GroupPublishers of:

Canary Wharf, The City magazine, The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine,

The Mayfair Magazine

The best thing about Christmas – apart from the warm happiness it seems to instill in everyone – is the opportunity to spoil and indulge

loved ones. Whether you are spending Christmas as a small group of two or three or bringing the whole family together for a serious festive shindig, this is the time to make an impression.

Our Christmas pages this month provide everything you need for a fabulous festive season; from the eight key wardrobe pieces

to see you through any event, from family gatherings and winter walks to New Year’s parties, and a selection of last-minute beauty packages designed to ensure you’re at your most perfectly polished at all times. For your Christmas interiors we’re taking inspiration from seasonal plants and flowers to create wreaths, arrangements and rustic decorations, while we’ve spoken to local chefs to get their favourite foodie treats and top tips for serving up a veritable feast on Christmas Day, with everything from Champagne breakfasts to mulled wine, canapés and mustard-roasted gammon. Our Christmas Special starts on p. 20, and you can find our Gift Lists for fashion, travel, interiors, beauty, jewellery, watches and food and drink throughout the magazine. Be inspired!

Also this month, Primrose Hill resident India Knight talks to us about her new book, Mutton, her plans for Christmas and her stunning, quirky home. See the vibrant photo shoot on page 31. Other people getting in the festive spirit include Lee Coleman, founder of Quintessentially Gifts, who suggests the best way to source that perfect present (p. 14) and Simon Callow, who is reviving his successful production of A Christmas Carol for a second season, (p. 16). Further afield, we’ve scoured every ski resort across the globe to find the five most luxurious and decadent chalets available to hire, some of which boast their own spa, gold-leaf plated swimming pools, cinemas, in house chefs or private bars, (p. 103).

Whether you’re spending the festive season nearby or far away, I wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year.

Proudly published by

7 Heron Quay, Canary Wharf, London E14 4JB

020 7987 4320 www.rwmg.co.uk

RUNWILDM E D I A G R O U P

Editor Emma Johnson

Assistant Editor Gabrielle Lane

Collection Editor Annabel Harrison

Contributing Editor Richard Brown

Feature WritersClemence Duron Olivia Sharpe

Head of Design

Hiren Chandarana

Editorial Director Kate Harrison

Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong

Production Manager Fiona Fenwick

Client Relationship Director

Felicity Morgan-Harvey

Head of Finance Elton Hopkins

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

DeCemBer 2012 ISSue 29

Runwild Media Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Runwild Media Ltd. takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

DISTRIBUTION:Vantage Magazine is distributed throughout Hampstead, Highgate,

Primrose Hill, St John’s Wood, Maida Vale, Marylebone and surrounding areas. For complete maps please visit our website.

BelgraviaResident’s Journal

November 2012

Follow us on Twitter @VantageNW

Emma JohnsonEditor

From the editor

The Vantage Christmas Special, starts p. 20

Over 520 hotels in more than 70 countries

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Christmas

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DMake the Most of seasonal events and festive treats throughout nW...

ECEMBER

night Markets in CaMdenThe run-up to Christmas signals the return of Camden’s

hugely popular night markets. An alternative to the commercial trappings of London’s more conventional

Christmas destinations, in addition to a shopping experience, the markets will provide great food, lots of entertainment and of

course, lashings of Christmas spirit. Held every Thursday up to 20 December, music will have a prominent role, with carol singers,

jazz bands and traditional Irish music all touted to appear.Every Thursday until 20 December, 5pm – 10pm, Camden

Lock Market, NW1, www.camdenlockmarket.com

haMpstead ChristMas festivalThis Christmas, Hampstead’s annual Christmas Festival makes a hotly anticipated return to the High Street. A festive treat for all the family, this year’s magical Shrek theme will see Puss-in-Boots screened at the local Everyman Cinema at 10.30am, while Shrek himself, fresh from the West End’s popular Shrek the Musical, will take to the main stage. The day will also bring live music, street entertainment, a fairground, Santa and his magical Christmas grotto and plenty of stalls laden with locally-made gifts and foodie treats. 25 November, 12-5pm. Hampstead High Street, NW3 All charitable donations will go to the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead

deCorate Your hoMeChristmas hasn’t arrived until there’s a freshly gathered wreath adorning your front door. Festive redecoration can be a daunting prospect, however quintessentially English florist Moyses Stevens (a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge) has more than risen to the occasion this year. With stores in Marylebone and Finchley, its team of experts can install and decorate Nordman fir trees, at the same time bestowing beautiful garlands, table centres and seasonal bouquets throughout your home. www.moysesflowers.co.uk

BejeWelledRecently nominated as one of the ‘Retail Jeweller Inspiring Independents 2012’, Kohatu + Petros in Marylebone channels bold colours and ethnic styles to make desirable jewellery that you can wear everyday. All designs are created and made in their Chiltern Street studio, customers can even work with the designers on bespoke pieces, ensuring a completely British, local and unique present idea. 58 Chiltern Street, W1U, 020 74867737www.kohatuandpetros.com

Christmas

HaMpstEaD MaRylEBonE st JoHn’s WooD MaiDa valE pRiMRosE Hill HigHgatE

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Hampstead HeatH LittLe Venice camden BeLsize park West Hampstead regent’ s park kentisH toWn parLiament HiLL Hampstead maryLeBone st JoHn’s Wood

Coldplay teams up with Kids CompanyAlternative music scene by night and gallery by day, Proud Camden epitomises rock and roll cool. This month Proud will exhibit the electrifying Mylo Xyloto artwork developed by Coldplay and their artwork collaborator Paris, in association with children’s charity, Kid’s Company. The canvas paintings will be available to purchase alongside unseen photographs from the band’s recent sell-out world tour. 28 November – 2 December, Proud Camden, NW1, www.proud.co.uk

open air scuLptureArt and outdoors fans will love the London Open Air

Sculpture Trail, which starts in St Pancras and runs across London, featuring work from numerous British sculptors, including West Hampstead artist Joseph Paxton. Paxton’s

bronze artwork Sight Hound at 1 Grosvenor Square, perfectly evokes his signature style, composed of unique and complex

steel armatures. Putting the emphasis on movement and physical dynamics, he says: “An important part of my work is that the viewer feels they are sharing the space with a force and

entity from which radiates a feeling of living energy.”www.2012sculpture.co.uk

primrose hill Community library reopensPrimrose Hill’s Community Library reopened its doors in October, marking its return with an evening celebration at the library. With playwright Alan Bennett and Dame Joan Bakewell in attendance, the library’s youngest new member cut the ceremonial red ribbon, before an inspiring performance by the newly-formed Primrose Hill Choir.Primrose Hill Community Library Sharpleshall Street, NW1

late night shoppingLondon’s best source of fine antiques, jewellery and collectibles,

Grays Antiques, will host a late night shopping event this month. The antithesis of Oxford Street’s unruly hustle and bustle (but

conveniently located just seconds away from Bond Street), Grays will throw a sophisticated soiree featuring live music

by retro vocalists the Wayward Sisters and a welcome glass of Champagne. Rumour has it that a pair of 1960’s Tiffany

Earrings are amongst the many delights on sale. 6 December, 5-8pm. 58 Davies Street & 1-7 Davies Mews, W1Y

www.graysantiques.com

Christmas at CarluCCio’sOn the 29 November and 6 December, Carluccio’s restaurants in St John’s Wood, Hampstead and Muswell Hill will be throwing their annual Christmas evenings, with ten per cent discount on the entire Christmas range, a complimentary glass of vino cotto (traditional mulled wine) and festive canapés. Buon Natale!www.carluccios.com

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Christmas Came earlyPress boutique, run by the former creative director of Whistles, has built a reputation for itself as the first port of call for North West Londoners needing a style fix. Melanie Press’s eponymous store is an offbeat, timelessly stylish mix of impressive designer labels, such as Vanessa Bruno Athé and T by Alexander Wang, mixed with one-off vintage pieces. In time for a Christmas wishlist, the store is currently stocking Golden Goose’s divine olive green Deluxe Brand parka (just calling for a walk in Hampstead Heath!) and an ultra-sleek, effortlessly stylish vintage Coach bag. Snap them up soon!3 Erskine Road, Primrose Hill, NW3, www.pressprinrosehill.com

Hampstead HeatH LittLe Venice camden BeLsize park West Hampstead regent’ s park kentisH toWn parLiament HiLL Hampstead maryLeBone st JoHn’s Wood

German Baroque Christmas With its world famous Christmas markets and claim to the indoor Christmas tree tradition, one could argue that Germany’s festive spirit is a particularly infectious one. So we’re looking forward to the German Baroque-inspired performance by English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (favourites in the classical music world) at Kings Place this December. Influenced by the historical German wind bands, Stadtpfeiffer, the event looks to recreate a 17th Century German musical scene, with a selection of Christmas vocal and instrumental tunes. 7.30pm, Thursday 20 DecemberKings Place, 90 York Way, N1, www.kingsplace.co.uk

Marylebone’s favourite food and fashion market, Cabbages and Frocks, heads to Hampstead this festive season, holding a Christmas Market every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 23 December. Staged in the gardens of the Garden Gate Pub, close to the Heath and Hampstead High Street, the market features a wonderful assortment of gifts and stocking fillers alongside a selection of food stalls selling fresh breads, crème brûlée, brownies and handmade chocolates. Garden Gate Pub, 14 South End Road, Hampstead, NW3 www.cabbagesandfrocks.co.uk

< Paint me PrettyThe spectacular mural that recently went up on the shop front of one of Primrose Hill’s favourite health and beauty salons, Lost in Beauty, was meticulously created by local talent Jennifer Louise Martin. Martin’s work may also be found displayed inside the shop, in a new exhibition of paintings on canvas which takes inspiration from the artful beauty of catwalk models, with Martin using paint as a strikingly alluring metaphor for make-up.Lost in Beauty, 117 Regents Park Road, NW1www.jenniferlouisemartin.com

new amPhiBians exhiBit at the ZooLondon Zoo has specially redesigned its iconic

reptile house to host its new exhibit, ‘Amphibians’. Telling the story of diverse species

of frogs, salamanders, and endangered toads, ZSL reveals their evolution and incredible survival skills. The only zoo in Europe to breed the Mallorcan midwife toads, the ZSL offers a great opportunity for adults and children to observe the zoo keepers’s

lab and to learn about their conservation. Until 31 December

ZSL, Regents’ Park, NW1

harP and Cello niGhtFor anyone who loves food and music, the Harp and Cello Night at the Wet Fish Café and Brasserie in West Hampstead is an event not to be missed. Talented classical musicians Katya and Rebecca Herman will come back to entertain diners on 5 December, adding to the intimate and cosy atmosphere. Rising stars in the classical world, the two sisters have shared their talent in prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican with the BBC Concert Orchestra. 7pm & 9pm, 5 December, The Wet Fish Cafe, 242 West End Lane, NW6 www.thewetfishcafe.co.uk

pines andneedLes

Finding a good Christmas tree can be a tricky business, and so it’s best to get in early at Maida Vale’s popular Pines and Needles, which stocks an

impressive variety, from traditional to artificial, statuesque to miniature. As well as selling decorations and lights on site, the store also offers help with

installing the tree in your home.www.pinesandneedles.com

CaBBaGes and FroCks Comes to hamPstead

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maida vale primrose Hill HigHgate Hampstead HeatH little venice Belsize park

St John’S hoSpice chriStmaS FayreThis year St John’s Wood will host the St John’s Hospice Christmas Fayre, with proceeds going to the charitable organisation. There will be fairground rides, market stalls and lots of entertainment, and of course the exciting launch of the village’s Christmas lights – don’t miss out!St John’s Wood Church, NW8, www.stjohnshospice.org.uk

celebrate bookS and muSicThe seasonal inauguration of the Hampstead Art Festival launches this December. Highlights include concerts from piano superstar Stephen Kovacevich and BBC Young Musician 2012 Laura van der Heijden, readings by Man Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson and the Charles Dickens bicentenary celebrations at the Burgh House on 6 December. www.burgh-house.co.uk

contemporary art in highgateContemporary art is in the spotlight in Highgate with a new exhibition of the latest paintings by British artists Douglas Wilson and Michael Alford. Douglas Wilson strives to depict English rural landscapes and to engage the imagination with a style all in nuances. With Alford, it represents a return to the city with a romantic interpretation of the English capital and Italian sceneries. All work on display will be for sale.7 November – 1 December, 26 Highgate High Street, N6

new paintingSOn 28 November, Sylvester Fine Art will unveil its latest show, featuring new paintings by Hampstead resident Dora Holzhandler. Dora’s work has achieved wide international appeal – fans include Irish writer Edna O’Brien, television art historian Sister Wendy Beckett and comedian Jack Dee – and is known for its evocative and ethereal imagery. Dora enigmatically says: “All my paintings have esoteric secrets in them.”25 November – 16 December 2012 Sylvester Fine Art, 64 Belsize Lane, NW3

wallace winter menuWhat more appropriate place for a sophisticated winter menu than the Wallace restaurant in Marylebone? Hidden in The Wallace Collection on Manchester Square, the Wallace is one of London’s best kept secrets. The special selection features seared hand-dived scallops, roast golden goose with duck fat potatoes, and tangerine and pomegranate parfait. A sumptuous treat for the senses.The Wallace Restaurant, The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U

tunes from time gone By

The Primrose Hill Community Association will revel in nostalgia this month, hosting an Old Time Music Hall afternoon. Calling all

lovers of classic melodies from bygone eras, the performances will be preceded by a buffet lunch, and followed by plenty of mulled wine

and mince pies.From 12pm, Wednesday 19

December, Primrose Hill Community Association, 29 Hopkinsons Place,

Fitzroy Road, NW1020 7586 8327

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THE GIFT

As the festive season approaches, Gabrielle Lane speaks to the founder of Quintessentially Gifts about shopping for the world’s most discerning customers

It’s a role that’s part stylist, part matchmaker, part executive assistant and part best friend – Lee Coleman is the go-to-girl. In 2009, luxury global membership service Quintessentially added perfect gifting to the list of

life’s little burdens it could solve, with Coleman at the helm, enabling its clients (including the British aristocracy, Middle Eastern Sheiks and FTSE 100 CEO’s) to acquire previously unobtainable items, at a moment’s notice.

“They’ve seen it all and had it all, so we’re always having to come up with this one point of difference that is of interest to them,” she explains. Naturally, when she gives me a call from the company’s Marylebone offices just weeks before Christmas, it’s a particularly busy time, but if you were to think that the solution lies in carats, you’d be wrong. Coleman is a lovely, but indisputably no-nonsense, New Yorker (albeit Virginia born) who will tell me more than once during our interview that she ‘couldn’t care less’ about celebrity or that ‘everyone is wearing burgundy this season’. “You still have the conspicuous consumption customer after branded, glamorous stuff – these people are out there and they’re not going anywhere, but now clients want something

KNOWLEDGEof

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that has a story, they want to know the story behind the label and they want to be in touch with its authenticity.”

I believe her when she laughs off my questions about envy with a “we’re not a greedy little bunch,” telling me later that her job is not one for people with “issues about needing stuff, or else they’d have a ridiculously difficult time”. So it’s unsurprising that Lee didn’t plan for a role that involves a relentless combination of travelling and shopping.

“It came about very organically,” she muses. “I knew quite a few people in this area, in luxury goods and retail. In terms of suppliers, many are just friends of mine. One of the people I’ve known for ages is Nicholas Kirkwood, the shoe designer; he used to sleep on my floor when he came to New York for market week. Clients would be asking for certain things – services, and access and I’d instantly think ‘you’d be great for this person’. My background is a bit of everything – wholesale, retail and buying.”

A typical day can involve anything from sourcing a present for a wedding anniversary (something special from the year the couple got engaged) to helping people realise the vaguest of ideas. Most recently the team were able to put a client in touch with a jeweller who could recreate a necklace he had seen briefly in an image online. “He wanted to use synthetic diamonds to make a colourful piece that would have looked like a Buccellati; it had a unique look to it and it seemed almost vintage, so we introduced him to someone who could make a beautiful semi-precious version and he was thrilled,” Lee chimes.

The Gifts arm of Quintessentially has flourished during the recession and, while last year saw repeated requests for large Leica cameras, at the moment ‘art’ is the buzzword. “It’s not art per se, it’s interesting and different and has a feel that someone’s made it,” Lee explains. “Theo Fennell does a collection of, what he calls, ‘poison’ bottles. They are beautiful, green glass bottles with skull style stoppers.

We also work with a company called Other Criteria who use prints by Damien Hirst on plates and amazing backgammon boards, which are popular. It’s that kind of thing, with an artisanal feel.”

How can we all source pieces like a professional? “Even if you have the money you say, ‘I want to buy it’, over the course of three months,” says Lee. “If you get to the end of that time and still feel good about it… these are the people that make the right decision. I have clients that do Birkins (Hermès bags) with me, it’s a big part of our business, and they’ll think about it and think about it.”

Working with them regularly, Lee also has advice for the luxury retailers. “I have a critique of a lot of the big brands out there that their sales people are like robots. They’re professionally groomed robots; they just say ‘yes madam’. Who wants that kind of pomp and circumstance? We approach our clients on a friendly, on their level, way.”

Admittedly, if you aren’t able to think about your purchase over time, Quintessentially prides itself being able to turn around things very quickly. For those with last minute requests the Gifts team of four are ‘on Blackberry’, each with their own specialisms and ready to share their advice when required. The ethos is one of long-term relationships. That is, until it comes to the styling that Lee is also known for. “Am I passionate about helping people feel good? Yes of course, but the whole point is that you shouldn’t be seeing me all the time. You should be helping people feel confident, liberating people and helping people to shop

better by themselves,” she explains. It’s coming to the end of our

conversation, and Lee finally lets slip her own temptation. “I’m a huge Hermès fan, outside of bags. I think they’re craftsmanship is amazing. And I will tell you, there’s one necklace by Jade Jagger that is different coloured pearls and diamond encrusted balls and I just love that thing!” n

www.quintessentiallygifts.com 0845 224 2617

Clients want something that has a story...they want

to be in touch with its authenticity

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He’s like a factory, he’s a slave to work. He just writes and writes and writes. And then he walks and walks and walks – so as to prepare for yet more writing.”

Simon Callow is describing the methods of his friend, the prolific author Peter Ackroyd but, with the odd adjustment, he might as easily have been referring to himself. Callow is not merely one of the most exhilarating and adventurous stage actors of his generation, he is an exceptionally perceptive writer, and he tears into both aspects of his career with torrential relish and unflagging energy. For all that, he is generous with his time with interviewers, and such is the insight and entertainment value of his observations, he is the living rebuttal of the old maxim ‘all work and no play…’

When I first spoke to Callow earlier this year, he told me that he never took holidays and envied people who could nap in the middle of the day for ten minutes. The impression was of a man in a perpetual whirl of motion. So I’m shocked when I meet him today and he mentions having recently taken a break on the Greek island of Mykonos. Surely not? What went wrong? “Well, actually I haven’t been on a holiday proper for some years,” he quickly corrects himself. “I went there to start revving up for the third volume of my

Greatexpectations

Currently starring in A Christmas Carol, Simon Callow’s passion for Charles Dickens extends from the screen to the stage, and now to the page, as his latest biography

attests to. Jack Watkins meets him

autobiography of Orson Welles. I just sat in the hotel room and wrote away. Just being near the sea, and the light and the air, was enough.”

We’ve met for a quick lunch during a break in rehearsals for The Mystery of Charles Dickens, a play Ackroyd wrote for Callow a decade ago, and which he revived at the Playhouse Theatre this autumn. “It’s actually being substantially reinvented,” he explains. “It’s ten years since I last did it, after all, and I’m a very different actor now. Also, of course, I know much more about Charles Dickens.”

You could argue that no-one in the last century has done more to refresh the representation of the great storyteller to modern audiences than Callow, not least in his reenactment of the public readings which so thrilled Victorians and made Dickens our first celebrity writer. Callow’s A Christmas Carol, which he will appear in at the Arts Theatre this November and December, has become something of a festive staple, as eagerly anticipated by fans as Dickens’ own Christmas stories.

But he took the appreciation a step further earlier this year with the publication of his Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World which, perhaps for the first time among Dickens biographers, shone the spotlight squarely upon its subject’s lifelong addiction

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Image by Joel RyanImage by Joel Ryan

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to live performance and the theatre. Callow says he was quietly delighted by the book’s reception. “It created quite a little buzz, which is nice, given the way in which Claire Tomalin’s biography (Charles Dickens: A Life) passed like a great centurion tank across the Dickensian landscape.”

Tomalin’s work certainly grabbed the attention of the media, and is the broader work, but frankly, for a brighter read, conveying a real sense of Dickens’s showman-like dash through life, I’d choose Callow’s slenderer tome. Its author is too modest to agree, naturally enough, but confesses that “people have tended to say they felt they were more in Dickens’s presence when they were reading my book. But that’s the effect I wanted – to have this sense of what it was like to be around him. I mean analysis is important, but getting this feeling of who a person was is also a crucial aspect of biography. There’s that lovely phrase in painting, ‘the swagger portrait’, and if there’s anyone wanting a swagger portrait it’s Dickens. I don’t think I could write a biography of someone who was subdued, anyway. I’ve never tried and I don’t think I ever will.”

His previous biographical subjects have included the larger than life figures of Charles Laughton (A Difficult Actor) and the ongoing magnum opus on Welles, which he describes as “hand on heart, a work of scholarship, a universal guide to Orson.”

When I ask him how he reacted to Citizen Kane recently being knocked off its perch as the greatest film of all time in Sight and Sound’s poll, he just laughs. “Well, I sort of agreed. And I think Orson would have done so, too. I don’t think he thought it was the best film ever made, or even the best film that he ever made. I think his Chimes at Midnight was a much better, richer film. Still, its replacement by Vertigo as the best ever film was strange. But then these polls are so parochial. I mean, doesn’t Eisenstein feature anywhere? It’s like when people are asked about the greatest ever acting performance and they name someone like Spencer Tracy. Have they never seen Cherkasov’s towering performance in Ivan the Terrible?”

Callow’s most high profile film role was in Four Weddings and a Funeral, though, as he writes in his “alternative autobiography” My Life in Pieces, the only jobs that came his way as a result were a voiceover in James and the Giant Peach and as a villain in Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura, “not, to put it mildly, a joyous experience”.

So he has remained a resolutely British, stage-orientated actor, his accomplished parts ranging from the classics to Samuel Beckett and JP Donleavy. He is one of a small group of figures fighting to ensure highbrow theatre retains a place amidst the predominantly lightweight, musical fare of the West End. Earlier this year The Guardian described Being Shakespeare, in which he played the great bard, as “steeped in scholarship and love.”

He has lived in and around the Camden and Hampstead areas for many years. “Chalk Farm is where I first went to drama school, and I lived in Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park. Then I lived in Willow Road, near the Heath. I can hardly believe it when I think back to how I used to run round the Heath every day. But Hampstead

has changed a lot. It tried to resist, but it lost that bohemian quality. It was a haven for painters, sculptors, philosophers, writers, actors and playwrights, but all that has declined.”

He’s full of praise for the Hampstead Theatre, though, “a beautiful building and, under the directorship of Ed Hall, one of the best theatre spaces in London.” He’s also impressed by the way that little by little, Camden Borough’s “face” has been improved in recent years though investment in its parks and public spaces.

And with that he’s briskly back to rehearsals, broad smile intact. It was said of Dickens that he was irresistible fun to be with, and it has to be said that his greatest thespian interpreter carries something of the same magic about him. n

A Christmas Carol, Thursday 29 November – Sunday 6 January 2013, Arts Theatre‘Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World’ is published by Harper Collins

Image by Joel Ryan

Image by Matthew Jerram

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The eight key pieces that will see you through the holiday season

Festive EditThese heels represent festive frivolity at its finest, with a nod to baroque texture, jewelled tones, the platform and the peep toe. It’s the coward’s way to wear trends, and wear them oh so well.

The parTy frockReiss’s domination of the cocktail dress continues with this flirty A-line number softened with pastel hues and panels of organza.

The faiThful blouseThe one you’ll always go back to, owing to its figure skimming shape and details that elevate it from the norm. Feel free to cite the catwalk’s indulgence of all things romantic.

The winTer warmerBecause everyone needs a touch of unapologetic luxury in their lives, and an equally stylish way to keep warm.

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Dinner with friendsFamily gathering

Adi Ribbon Technique Double Skirt Dress, £189 Reiss, www.reiss.com

Anna Sui Faux Fur Jacket, £345 Cochinechine, www.farfetch.com

Peep toe velvet Ursula Mascaró, £289, Mascaró www.jaimemascaro.com

Vanessa Bruno Athe Voile Lace Collarless Blouse £230, Matches www.matchesfashion.com

The dancing shoes

1960’s Vintage Aurora Borealis Diamante Brooch, £65, Susan Caplan Vintage Collection www.susancaplan.co.uk

Drew Belt, £45, Hobbs www.hobbs.co.uk

8Festive Edit8Festive Edit8VanTageChristmasThe

7The eight key pieces that will see you through the holiday season

The riding booTYou’ve probably got your favourite pair of boots, but if you haven’t, pick these. Charcoal? Mauve? Grey? However you describe them, they’ll prove faultlessly versatile.

The sTaTemenT jackeTTrust brushed metal sequins to rescue your average t-shirt. The full length sleeves of this blazer avoid revealing any unsightly cuffs.

The dress iT up, dress iT downYou’ve worn it, your friends have worn it, your sister wants it. It just seems to work. Anywhere.

The skinny jeansThe label you’ll find in every fashion editor’s closet, J-Brands are a denim institution, and a wardrobe staple.

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Work drinks

New Year’s Eve

Seasonal walk

Jacket Grissy Pailettes Deluxe £540, Zadig and Voltaire www.zadig-et-voltaire.com

J Brand Sasha Jean £241.20, Press www.farfetch.com

Balenciaga Vintage Cowl Neck Dress £249, Genevieve, www.farfetch.com

Dannijo Nahm Crystal Earrings, £326, Kabiri www.kabiri.co.uk

Zenone Felt Hat, £89 By Malene Birger

www.bymalenebirger.com

Valorie Crinkle Leather in Silver£395, Anya Hindmarch

www.anyahindmarch.com

Hudson Younger Boots, £150, KJ’s Laundry, www.kjslaundry.com

fest ive fashion

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The latest weapon against eye wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness is decidedly sci-fi. At the Chuan Spa, clients can don Thalgo’s new Eye Massage Mask which promises to target areas of concern in as little as half an hour. It works by using a careful series of mechanical movements and is worn

hands-free, serving as a relaxing way to brighten eyes between festive events.

£POA 1c Portland Place, W1B 020 7973 7550

It’s often said ‘if walls could talk’, but it’s the mirrors of the Grosvenor House Hotel that hold an invaluable beauty secret or two. Wallace Simpson must have spent hours perfecting her finger waves here when visiting in the 1930’s, while Jackie Onassis surely adjusted those dramatic sunglasses a few times before leaving her suite in later decades. It’s fitting therefore, that the focus of the one of hotel’s Christmas packages is unapologetic glamour.

From 26 November to 1 December, Premium Park View Suites are arranged to accommodate four, with space to get ready over Champagne and canapés in the beautiful suite’s lounge. The idea is that it will form the perfect base for a night out, but the reality is the hotel is so luxurious, it’s tempting not to leave. Guests are offered blow-drys or up-dos from the team at the in-house Sanrizz salon and make-up and manicures by The Powderpuff Girls, a team of pros renowned for their red carpet preparation skills. There’s also the pleasure of swapping the ordeal of a festive cab queue for a chauffeur for the evening, even if your plans are admittedly less grand.

Little touches like an iPod docking station and a midnight feast make this a really girly experience and something unique amidst the afternoon teas typically bestowed on London’s seasonal visitors.

Of course, this being the holidays, there’s food aplenty – the J.W Steakhouse, which led the capital’s red meat revolution earlier this year, is situated at the hotel with a huge range of succulent cuts. Just because you’ve been pampered like a model, doesn’t mean you must eat like one!

£1,857 including a blow-dry or up-do, manicure and make-up, half a bottle of Champagne and six canapés per person and a return chauffeur to the West End. 86-90 Park Lane, W1K020 7499 6363www.christmasgrosvenorhouse.co.uk

The capital’s picture-perfect beauty solutions for the impromptu socialite

There are ways to combat the incongruity of winter skin and party radiance that don’t involve a loofer. The Elemis prescription is a head-to-toe ritual dubbed the ‘Party Perfect

Package for Two’ which includes a ginger and lime scrub with warming body oil, a carefully tailored facial and manicure and pedicure.

£2002-3 Lancashire Court, W1S020 7499 4995 www.elemis.com

12PaRtY tRI CKS

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fest ive beauty

The Daniel Galvin salon has a great atmosphere throughout the year and is sure to fizz over the holidays. It’s a stroke of marketing genius that has

seen half a head of highlights and a blow-dry, teamed with an Essie manicure, spray tan and glass of Champagne as part of the ‘Five Gold Things’ treatment. It doesn’t sound miraculous, until you realise you’ve been schlepping across town between appointments and negotiating the hair wash/tanning streaks dilemma… everything here is perfectly co-ordinated and expertly finished.

£21558-60 George Street, W1U020 7486 9661www.danielgalvin.com

While ‘hair diamonds’ might sound like the dream of a child in the 90’s, the enhancement – which involves threading a few fine gems throughout – actually adds a subtle and attractive sparkle through the mid-lengths. The strands last between three and five weeks and are attached and removed at the Inanch salon in Regent’s Park with minimal fuss.

From £20220 Great Portland Street, W1W 020 7383 7607www.inanch.com

5PARTY TRICKS

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The

Wendy Bowen of Clifton Nurseries in Maida Vale – one of London’s oldest horticultural institutions – shares her seasonal home-styling expertise

“Learn to make your own wreath at a Clifton Nurseries workshop on 26 November or 3 December. All materials are provided and seasonal refreshments will be included in the workshop ticket price. Tickets are £40 and groups will be very small to ensure excellent tuition.”

The wreaTh“You can use almost anything to make a wreath but generally it’s good to choose a base of something like laurel, bay leaves or fir – then after, add items that sum up the mood or theme of what you are trying to achieve. Traditional wreaths do tend to us e holly, be rries of all kinds, nuts and other seasonal favourites.

At Clifton Nurseries we love our edible wreaths, laced with treats such as crab apples and citrus; especially chilli and marmalade, which is a surprising mix and one which gives it a modern twist on a traditional theme.

Once you have the basic skills it’s fairly straightforward to make a wreath; give yourself lots of time and have a plan of what you want before you start – and have everything to hand. A pair of good pliers or sturdy gardening scissors and thin wire are a must. Clifton Nurseries is running a couple of courses where people can learn to make their own wreaths with guidance from our trained florists.”

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VanTageChristmasThe

holly

fest ive inter iors

TheThe decoraTions“If you are short of time and have a special event coming up over the Christmas period, you can use specialists to come in and do all the styling of plants and flowers and trees for you – otherwise if you want to tackle the decorations yourself, it’s good to stick to three key colours or themes: pick white, silver and greys or bright jewelled tones and let the theme run through the home, starting from the welcome wreath at the door to the Christmas table.

If budgets are tight, collect armfuls of foliage from hedgerows and tie it with big cheerful ribbon bows or arrange it in old plant pots sprayed with silver or gold. Bare branches collected together and displayed in a vase with tiny fairy lights can look sensational while nuts in their shells can be painted red and gold and arranged in glass bowls too. Tea lights are always festive and if popped into old kilner jars or jam jars tidied with ribbon, can create very inexpensive lanterns.

Obviously children love to dress the tree, but why not make a washing line and get them to hang baubles and hand-made decorations on it with old fashioned pegs? It’s also fun to take trees you wouldn’t normally think of as Christmas trees and give them a festive makeover, for example a lollipop bay tree decked with fairy lights can look stunning.”

Clifton Nurseries 5A Clifton Villas, W9020 7289 6851www.cliftonnurseries.co.uk

ivy

The winTer garden“Rosemary, thyme and some sage are always handy over the festive period and a small bay tree can be essential if there is a cook in the family: we love fresh herbs near the back door or on a window ledge.

In the garden, we like box as it’s evergreen and brings structure to any space, but more so when capped with frost or snow. Winter sweet Chimonanthus praecox, is also lovely owing to its spicily scented winter flowers while Saraccocas (Christmas or sweet box) is amazingly easy to grow and has incredible smelling flowers. Finally Camellia Sasanque has a stunning pale pink flower and is evergreen too!

Fleece can help to keep the worst of the frost at bay during winter and it’s obviously a good time to bring delicate plants and put them in a porch or on a windowsill.

Before things get too cold you can plant perennials as they can get a great start for next year whilst the soil is still warm. Of course all sorts of bulbs can be planted now into containers, window boxes or the ground. Once Spring comes you will be so pleased you planted them with their cheerful burst of colour- and you’ll wish you planted more! Bulbs can be planted beneath plants or mixed in with winter bedding such as pansies and cyclamen.”

Host a decadent and delicious Christmas, with our guide to the best in luxurious festive cuisine, with a little help from the local experts. By Emma Johnson

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Mistletoe & WineChristmas Time,

VanTageChristmasThe

www.heals.co.uk

fest ive food&drink

Mistletoe & Wine

Morning: Champagne BreakfastAfter cups of tea and stockings, start the day with a warming, celebratory breakfast – stir crab or lobster meat into scrambled eggs and serve with a slither of gently smoked salmon for a special treat.

For a more exotic way to start the day, Ian Pengelley, executive chef at Gilgamesh, suggests his own festive favourite. “A wonderful breakfast I enjoy on Christmas Day is a Chinese take on fried eggs. Deep-fry two eggs, keep the yolks runny, and serve with chilli jam, coriander, spring onion and a little oyster sauce. Perfect!”

And to really kickstart festivities, serve Champagne. David Motion from The Winery in Maida Vale, recommends Champagne Blanc de Blancs 1999, Saint Chamant, which he describes as, “fresh and lemony when young.” It’s the perfect match for eggs.

Late Morning: Cocktails & CanapésIf you have guests arriving for lunch, welcome them with festive drinks – mulled wine is the perfect option here, (of course). While adding a dash of Grand Marnier and a small splash

of orange juice to the wine is quite standard, some extra little tweaks include cardamom pods, ginger wine, star anise or whole toasted almonds.

For the canapés, Nick Selby, director of Melrose & Morgan, says he always has a whole side of Hansen and Lydersen smoked salmon

at Christmas which looks great as a centrepiece and is handy for canapés.

“Try grated beetroot tossed through hot horseradish creme fraiche with vertical

slices of beech-smoked salmon on squares of St John Sourdough Rye bread,” he suggests.

For something slightly different, Iberica’s head chef Cesar Garcia recommends an enticing option of “tostada (mini tortillas) of panfried baby scallops and caramelised onions.”

And for something really destined to impress, you can’t beat the suggestion from Michelin-starred head chef Martin St Marie at The New Inn in St John’s Wood: lightly smoked and blacked reindeer with broad bean puree and pickled shitake mushrooms.

Blackened Reindeer1. Slice smoked reindeer meat

2mm thick (you can buy smoked reindeer from Simply Swedish in Marylebone)

2. Shell and peel broad beans; wash and simmer for five minutes.

3. Clean shitake mushrooms with a damp cloth (do not wash).

4. Mix vinegar and caster sugar until the sugar dissolves.

5. Place the mushrooms in the vinegar mix for ten minutes, squeeze with a towel till almost dry and then freeze.

6. Blend the broad beans till smooth, add salt, lemon juice (just a small amount).

7. Toast some rye bread and cut into small squares.

8. Spread the broad bean puree on the rye toast, then the reindeer, topped with your frozen shitake and garnish with a little parsley.

Lunch: The Christmas FeastThis is, of course, the main event – and the one that everyone will be looking forward to. As Clare Sheppard, creative director at Villandry in Marylebone, says: “I am the one who usually hosts Christmas Day, and over the years have formed a faithful band of friends and relations who come for Christmas. Being a cook, the food is always top of my list!”

Turkey: If you’re cooking turkey, it needs to impress. This much maligned bird has the potential to take centre stage at your festive feast, but make sure you source it right, says the Nicola Swift at The Ginger Pig in Marylebone. “You

want a free range turkey that has been dry-plucked – which helps to preserve the skin – and hung, guts-in, for at least a week and up to two. This hanging period makes for great flavour and, because the fibres of the

meat begin to break down, really helps with succulence too.”

When cooking your bird, the standard advice applies of course – take it out of the oven a few hours before cooking, baste regularly, cook on a low heat, use a roasting bag and make sure to rest it for a good 20 mins before serving – but there are some other tricks you can try. Philip Matthews from the Hampstead Butcher and Providore, advocates the use of chestnut and orange butter, which can be spread under the breast skin of the turkey, and roasted as normal, or you could even try adding slices of clementine, sprigs of fresh thyme and bacon rashers to the turkey half way through cooking; so decadent and delicious!

www.newscancook.com

iDea: Pain Perdu, Alsace Bacon & Maple SyrupSoak slices of brioche in milk quickly, before dipping in beaten egg and frying in a little butter or oil, top with Alsace bacon and maple syrup.

(A favourite of Michael Nadra, executive chef, Primrose Hill)

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For gravy, Ronnie Bonetti, executive chef of Pizza East and Chicken Shop suggests cooking

the turkey in foil with crushed juniper berries and

butter. “Halfway through cooking, open the parcel so the turkey starts to golden up and make your gravy with all of the wonderful juices caught in the foil.”

Alternatives: Despite these great suggestions, if this most festive of birds isn’t to your liking then a rib of beef seems to be a firm favourite with the experts. Sourced well, the beef only needs light seasoning when cooking to get the most flavoursome meat. “Serve with Yorkshire pudding, baked small onions, horseradish cream, red wine gravy, herb roasted vegetables and lovely winter greens,” Philip Matthews suggests.

For something completely different, Ian Pengelley suggests braised goose cooked in a master stock, which is made with a variety of typical Chinese ingredients such as soy sauce and rice wine. “Other spices

and flavourings that can be added include garlic, dried citrus peel, star anise and sand ginger; and I would serve this with Pad See Ew, a stir-fried noodle dish with vegetables and egg.”

Accompaniments: Aside from serving the classic selection of seasonal vegetables and potatoes roasted in the obligatory goose fat, a lovely nod to the winter season from Martin St Marie, at The New Inn, is to roast root vegetables with thyme, rosemary and olive oil, and finish them in a hot pan with lemon zest and a small drizzle of honey.

Robin Swallow, co-owner of Manna, a vegetarian restaurant in Primrose Hill, suggests adding some extra spices to your vegetables, such as roasting carrots with a teaspoon of cumin seeds. “Throw in a handful of crushed hazelnuts in the last five minutes of roasting too,” she says. Other suggestions include a spoon or two of wholegrain mustard or a bulb of roasted garlic to mash potatoes.

For something a little different, Clare Sheppard suggests slowly frying together sliced carrots, leeks,

mushrooms, peas and parsley with a splash of white wine and seasoning.

To Drink: Serve your turkey or goose with a Puligny-Montrachet 2010, Paul Pernot, recommends David Motion. “The epitome of a classy white Burgundy, this has a complex mix of nuts, a touch of honey, tangerine peel and wild white flowers.”

However, if a red feels more appropriate, a Cuvée Alphonse Dubreuil 2006, Chateau Les Jonqueyres, works well with both turkey and beef. “Pascal Montaut and his wife Isabel make this fabulous, silky, deep Bordeaux from a single parcel of 100 year-old vines in the neighbouring appellation of Côtes de Bourg,” says David.

tips: Brussel SproutsAs long as you don’t overcook brussel sprouts, these super healthy veggies could be the star turn of your lunch, and there are plenty of ideas to serve them in a new and exciting way. “Brussel sprouts are delicious steamed and then fried in butter and pancetta,” says Martin St Marie. Ronnie Bonetti suggests serving creamed brussel sprouts with chestnuts and bacon and Robin Swallow always adds a hanful of toasted pumpkin seeds or some dried cherries to her brussels.

www.heals.co.uk

scene

Gammon Joint with Sweet Mustard“To cook the gammon, soak it for 24 hours in cold water, before rinsing it and adding fresh water. To this, add peppercorns, thyme, bouquet garni, cloves, a cinnamon stick, two whole peeled carrots, two sticks of celery, one large peeled and halved onion, and simmer gently for four to five hours. When it’s cooled, remove the skin from the ham, leaving a nice layer of fat. Score the fat lightly into a diamond pattern all over. Spread a sweet mustard paste or a good quality orange marmalade all over the fat and bake in the oven for 75 mins.” The Hampstead Butcher & Providore

Pudding: For Christmas Pudding – the rich, flaming last hurrah of the festive lunch – Mich Turner, founder of The Little Venice Cake Company, says that serving this dish must be a theatrical event. “Set it alight with a full ladle of brandy and serve with all the trimmings – custard, vanilla ice cream, clotted cream, double cream and brandy butter.”

Alternatively, you could do as Jesse Dunford Wood, executive chef of The Stag in Hampstead Heath, suggests, and crumble Christmas pudding through homemade vanilla ice cream, a festive take on rum and raisin, and a lighter alternative too.

Finish the meal with a plate of cheese. Ronnie Bonetti suggests, “a good wedge of Westcombe Cheddar and stichelton (unpasteurised blue cheese) available from Neal’s Yard Dairy in Borough Market.” David Motion suggests a Malvasia di Lipari 2007, Mimmo Paone, as an accompaniment to both pudding and cheese. “A deliciously unctuous, honied, aromatic dessert wine from a small volcanic island off the northeastern coast of Sicily.”

Afternoon: Tea & Cake If there’s a little room left after your decadent lunch – most likely created by some vigorous present-opening (!) – then teatime is the perfect moment to stop and reflect. To make the perfect Christmas cake, Mich Turner

suggests enhancing your fruit cake with dates, apricots, figs and cherries, and then studding the top of the fruit cake with dried fruits and whole nuts before baking. “For extra flavor and decadence, bake the fruit cake with a layer of marzipan in the centre, and glaze the baked cake with apricot and brandy for a simple decoration.”

evening: Late Supper As the day turns into evening, and all the presents have been opened, your guests may be looking for a little something to nibble on. Cesar Garcia recommends taking some Spanish inspiration and investing in a whole leg of Iberico ham to carve over the Christmas period. “It’s especially good in the evenings served with a glass of Tio Pepe,” says Cesar.

Philip Matthews from the Hampstead Butcher suggests slowly simmering a gammon joint the day before for four or five hours, the perfect meat to enjoy cold in the evening with some bread, cheese, mustard and salad.

However, you could just easily use up some leftover turkey, says Nicola Swift from The Ginger Pig: “An oriental turkey salad is a welcome thing if you’ve overindulged a bit, so include some coriander, mint, fresh chillies, cucumbers, spring onion and lime with your big Christmas shop.”

For something light but with a good depth of flavour to enjoy with your supper, how about a 2008 Domaine Arlaud, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers, Burgundy, recommended by Kathrine Larsen, head sommelier at Orrery in Marylebone. “This is finely structured and very elegant – a romantic blend of red and black fruits with earthy, truffley undertones. Silky and complex, a real crowd pleaser.” n

“To cook the gammon, soak it for

add peppercorns,

cinnamon stick, two whole peeled carrots, two sticks of celery, one large peeled and halved onion, and

iDeA: “If you fancy something

a little different from Christmas

Pudding, then a delicious

alternative is to steam a chocolate

pudding with French glace and

dried cherries soaked in rum, fresh

orange zest and chopped pecans,”

says Mich Turner, The Little

Venice Cake Company

iDeA: A wonderful alternative to a Christmas cake is a rich flourless chocolate cake, made with ground almonds, and decorated in the traditional way. “The almond flour mirrors the marzipan beautifully and will be a real crowd pleaser,” says Jesse Dunford Wood. “Make it a few days before Christmas and then keep it fresh and moist by pouring a little alcohol into the un-decorated cake each day.” Very decadent!

fest ive food&drink

Floris is delighted to announce the opening of a new Bespoke Perfumery Boutique at 147 Ebury Street, Belgravia,

282 years since Mr and Mrs Floris opened the doors to their first Perfumery at 89 Jermyn Street.

31

scene

Gabrielle Lane talks to India Knight about her new novel Mutton, a book every woman must readKnightKnight

A goodIndia Knight in her study in Primrose Hill

32

I spend the first quarter of my conversation with India Knight telling her how much I love her latest novel, Mutton, the last quarter repeating my praise and somewhere in the middle slip in that I have been

admiring the pictures we’ve had taken of her home in Primrose Hill. Thankfully, if she thinks I am an over-zealous fan she doesn’t say, nor does she acknowledge that my name is the same as the slightly erratic, beauty-addict in her new novel.

In fact, India is remarkably friendly and talkative throughout, which will come as no surprise to readers of her previous three novels Comfort and Joy, My Life on a Plate and Don’t You Want Me, various non-fiction

books and weekly column in The Sunday Times, all of which tackle the dilemmas of modern life with a good dose of warmth and wit.

Mutton explores the relationship between a woman and her looks as she ages, through the eyes of Clara, a 40-something mother of three. However, it’s dominated by the pursuit of youth at all costs undertaken by her old school friend Gaby,

while unexpected events see the characters consider what’s important to them.

“I’d written about the concept of beauty and cosmetic sugery before,” India explains. “Then there were two things that happened: firstly, my friends started having small procedures done – the idea of something like Botox went from a really freaky thing that none of us would ever consider, to being the norm or certainly not unusual. There was also a moment when I was reading a fashion magazine – I’ve always really liked magazines – and I was looking at the clothes and thinking ‘what is going on with this stuff? I have no idea. There’s nothing I would rush out to buy.’ I have conversations about this with my girlfriends all the time, so I thought I’d get something written down.”

The author herself is open about having tried Botox and fillers in the past. “About three or four years ago, I did both twice, maybe three times. Then I kind of stopped because I could understand how it becomes addictive,” she says. However, unlike her other novels, this one is ‘not at all’ autobiographical. “The other novels have had a strongly autobiographical element, but Clara is much more of an observer in this one. And even when the books are, it’s in a looser sense; there are characters and situations that are completely invented. The bare bones are real but so much is made up that I don’t feel exposed at all – the things that people think are exposing are probably fiction.”

One aspect of India’s life that is given a nod of

Left, below and facing page: India’s home in Primrose Hill

All images: Simon Maxwell Photographywww.simoncmaxwell.com

scene

recognition in Mutton is North West London, where the author lives with her three children. Locals will enjoy playful references to the Hampstead Lady ‘also found in other bourgeois-bohemian neighbourhoods’ who dons ‘the smock and the huge jewellery, but with an ethnic spin, as though she were a painter of Rajasthani or Aboriginal landscapes.’ There’s also a Maida Vale rock star, of course.

“I love the green,” she says of her surroundings. “I love that today, for instance, we had all these children staying with us and you can be on Primrose Hill looking at the whole of London in an instant, and another five minutes away you can be at Regent’s Park looking at the zoo. And in another ten minutes you can walk into the middle of the West End. I love that it’s really pretty and nice and you can put your wellies on and go for a nice walk. As I get older I really appreciate having some greenery around me, and dogs running around.”

The holidays will see her hosting up to 20 members of her extended family in NW1 (which is, she remarks, ‘unusual in families with lots of divorces in them’) and is sure to see them indulge her big pleasure – gathering in the kitchen and eating ‘something rather nice’.

India’s home is bedecked in hot pink and full of trinkets and treasures. “It’s all stuff I like and masses of it. If you trust your own taste and you like things, it’s going to look great. I hate houses where people pretend they don’t have children. Everything’s on display,” she quips. In term time, much of her writing is done at the kitchen table; while her daughter Nell, aged nine, is at school.

Will India discuss the notion of appearance with Nell? “She is quite girly, but she has two big brothers who have held her by the ankles a lot so she’s a good mixture! And at the moment she’s a bit young,” she muses. “With boys that just doesn’t happen – you don’t need to have that kind of chat. I know that in her class lots of the little girls have conversations about weight and what they look like – probably when they’re 11 or 12 and at secondary school, you have to sit them down and say ‘you don’t have to look like something out of Heat magazine’.”

Beauty isn’t the only topic to have had the India treatment; notable pieces include those on mental illness to the drive for perfection and she reveals that her next work might examine the remarkable success of 50 Shades of Grey. “What I’m interested in is that women have responded to it as though nobody has ever written a dirty book before, as though they never go online and they’re not aware that it exists. Of all the books!”

However, if you were to think that the success of her column and novels dictates that she covers certain issues, you’d be wrong. “I write absolutely what I

want to write,” she sounds almost incredulous that anyone wouldn’t. “Unless you have a strong opinion on something it shows in the copy. I’m never told what to write about and if there’s a really obvious story, but I don’t know much about it, I’ll leave it alone.”

It is that conviction that underpins her pride in Mutton. “I’m very pleased with it because the subject matter is close to my heart… I like – it’s terrible to say what you like about your own book – but I like that Clara is in a troubled place at the beginning, and it’s not necessarily gag after gag. There’s the sense in there that life doesn’t necessarily get easier but you’re hopefully a bit wiser and have a bit more experience, you deal with it better. I think it might be my favourite.”

With that, I say goodbye to India, not before telling her, truthfully, ‘I love it’ one last time. n

Mutton by India Knight, published by Penguin, 29 November, www.penguin.co.uk

So much [of the novels] is made up, that the things that people think

are exposing are probably fiction

Above: Mutton by India Knight

’’‘‘

35

style

listGiftThis is the hat of movie-star moments, a Burberry Prorsum cloche in ochre and storm blue felt. It has a precious ring to it, doesn’t it? £395, Burberry Prorsum www.netaporter.com

For the one that pairs it with chunky knitwear, or a plain T-shirt, this maxi skirt comes from a playful new era of Reiss, but remains stylish. £TBC, Reiss 10 Hampstead High Street NW3

We’d like everything in Larizia, but we’ll settle for the Chloe Elsie bag in pale pink. £825, Chloe at Larizia, 74 St John’s Wood High Street, NW8

Gift a cosy jumper with a twist, like this butter soft Zadig & Voltaire number – a hint of cashmere and sparkly cuffs win us over. £265, Zadig & Voltaire, 24 Hampstead High Street, NW3

These Victoria Equestrian Flat Leather Riding Boots are a sleek and gorgeous nod to this year’s defining trend. £1,040, Gucci www.gucci.com

Few must-haves are more festive than this beautiful Alexander McQueen coat, cut with an oversized collar and fully-flared skirt for statement appeal. Sure it’s extravagant but just look at it…£2,435, Alexander McQueen www.netaporter.com

Weeks of style hunting gives us fashion at its most desirable for 2012

This Erdem number screams serious shopping research. It ticks the trend for lace, for leather and for psychedelic prints – and it was on the runway back in September. £1,680, Erdem at Matches 87 Marylebone High Street, W1U

This silk scarf is one that will please almost all and will rapidly show its value.£405, Roberto Cavalli at Selfridgeswww.selfridges.com

While black leggings might be the practical choice Joseph’s burgundy leather version is a bit more current and a huge heart-stealer. £675, Joseph, 21 St John’s Wood High Street, NW8

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STYLE updateFit For a Princess

Refining its commitment to making dreams come true, Disney will make its first foray into the realms of couture fashion this winter. Annually on the receiving end of intense speculation regarding their festive expression, this Christmas Harrods’ window displays will house leading fashion designers’ interpretations of the attire fitting of Walt Disney’s leading ladies, each set against individually crafted, magical themed backdrops. Among the collection, Marchesa’s creation for Ariel, the Little Mermaid, is particularly show-stopping: the combination of the design house’s ornate, romantic vision with the character’s adventurous, marine spirit translates to a chic and elegant deep blue silk evening gown, encapsulating modern feminine style with an elusive fairy tale charm. An inspiring visual feast, the collection is a tribute to the eternal style of Disney’s iconic princesses.www.harrods.com

Back to BohemiaThe world was returned to rights when we recently discovered the re-emergence of Savannah Miller to the fashion scene. Sienna’s designer sister departed from the brand the two shared, Twenty8Twelve, nearly a year ago, however her eponymous new label reflects the bohemian design flair that defined the pair’s first endeavour. Featuring beautiful embroidered prints, soft knits and lots of statement pieces, Savannah’s collection is the definition of effortless, versatile chic.Savannah is available exclusively at www.nelly.com

style

In deserved celebration of the recently opened

Roland Mouret Corner at Liberty, a dedicated space for the legendary

authority on women’s dresses, the designer and department store have teamed up to

produce an exciting line. The ultra-exclusive collection features four of Roland Mouret’s

classic silhouettes in new cobalt blue and teal shades. Famed for their incontrovertible

ability to flatter, Mouret’s designs are destined never to fall out of favour.

www.liberty.co.uk

For the man in your liFeIt can be tricky to evaluate the sartorial ideals of our elusive other halves, however the presence of Alexander McQueen’s recently opened menswear flagship store at 9 Savile Row looks to make the task much simpler in the future. The shop’s opening marks yet another high in the brand’s continued rise under the direction of north west Londoner, Sarah Burton, who praised the menswear development for its return to the career roots of the eponymous label’s creator extraordinaire: “This new menswear store is like a homecoming for Alexander McQueen, since Lee himself was an apprentice on Savile Row, and tailoring has always been the backbone of the label.”www.alexandermcqueen.co.uk

GiFt BaG

roland mouret at liBerty

Three chic clutches you need at your side...

1. AlexAnder McQueenTrust Alexander McQueen to add an unanticipated (and of course utterly covetable) dimension to the typical clutch. Its latest release, the Ivory Christmas Clutch, is a knucklebox-structured dream of ivory nappa leather adorned ornately with a Swarovski crystal snowflake.www.alexandermcqueen.com

2. Herve legerAssociated by many with its unchallengeable monopoly of fashion’s ultimate bandage dress, fans of Hervé Leger will be pleased to avail themselves of the brand’s foray into accessories. This month it’s the clutch bags that are particularly catching our eye – for a party, you won’t find a more glitzy companion. www.herveleger.com

3. Wilbur And gussieThe ideal accompaniment to the cocktail dress staple that is our festive attire, Wilbur and Gussie’s handbags caught our eye long before they were touted in royal circles. The best friend duo behind the line recently launched a range of sleek, box structured clutches, available in three shades (failsafe tortoise and black, and, for those in the party spirit, a sparkly glitter hue) each sealed with a beautiful crystal clasp. www.wilburandgussie.com

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the list

1. mirror mirror Mirrored-heel Metallic Elaphe Pumps, £765, YSL, www.netaporter.com 2. elegant exclusives Gold-plated Swarovski Crystal Necklace, £250, Erickson Beamon for The Outnet, www.theoutnet.com 3. the clutch of dreams Metallic Miniaudière, £POA, Bulgari, www.bulgari.com 4. talking point Spinning Rose Gold Ring, £184, Bex Rox, www.my-wardrobe.com 5. architectural appeal Mojito Shoe, £POA, Julian Hakes www.hakes.co.uk 6. feeling festive Murano Dancer Flashing Lights Clutch, £495, Anya Hindmarch, www.my-wardrobe.com

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the divaPhotograPhy: Rachel PearceStyLINg: Gabrielle Lane

style

7. couture by nails inc St John’s Wood Polish with Customised Top, from £18, Nails Inc, www.nailsinc.com 8. something sci-fi Rhodium Cuff£289 Alexis Bittar, www.harrods.com 9. a flash of pink Velvet Crème Lipstick in Fever, £22, Hourglass, www.liberty.co.uk 10. hidden secrets Golden Hidden Mirror Ring, £292, Maison Martin Margiela, www.stylebop.com 11. picture perfect Pure Chromatics Eye Shadow in Palette 5, £39, YSLwww.yslbeauty.co.uk

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Anna Karenina-inspired style is this season’s must have party look. Pair deep colours with big jewels, to channel serious fashion royalty

Photography & Art Direction: Alice Luker | Stylist: Lauren Miller

Russiawith Love

From

Dress, POA, Tom Ford, www.tomford.com; Baroque freshwater pearl, white quartz and

silver earrings, available in silver plated metal, £350, or sterling silver, £430, Jerboa by Victoria Barker, www.jerboajewellery.com;

Cadeaux necklace, £695, Jenny Packham as before; Leather skinny belt with studs

£225, Gucci, www.gucci.com

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Long blue and pink sequin gown with ruffles £2,190 Atis Artemjevs, 020 7589 5463; Bejewelled belt £929, DSquared, www.dsquared2.com; Black suede boots with yellow Swarovski crystal macro lace, £1,530, Sergio R ossi www.sergiorossi.com; Pearl choker, £405 Maison Martin Margiela, as before; Baroque freshwater pearl and silver necklace, available in silver plated metal, £800 or sterling silver, £1,105, Jerboa by Victoria Barker, www.jerboajewellery.com

Belted trench coat, £1,344, Viktor and Rolf www.viktor-rolf.com; Georgette satin ruffle neck top, £630

Gucci, www.gucci.com; Cadeaux navy necklace, £695 Jenny Packham, www.jennypackham.com; Ines hematite hairband, £290, Louis Mariette, www.louismariette.com

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Leather jacket, £3,420, Hervé Léger 020 7201 2590; Addie jacquard skirt, £180 Diane Von Furstenberg, www.dvf.com; Drakaina necklace, £305, Bea Valdes at CoutureLab www.couturelab.com; Acacia belt II noir, £485 Jenny Packham, as before; Dress, £2,600 House of Worth, www.worthparis.com

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Mercy corset, £345, Agent Provocateur www.agentprovocateur.com; Satin and wool trousers, £555 Maison Martin Margiela; www.maisonmartinmargiela.com;

Ice cubes stud necklace, £160, Marc Jacobs www.my-wardrobe.com; Bertilia knitted rex rabbit and lurex

stole with fringes, £1,565, Hockley, www.hockleylondon.com

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Set DeSign: natasha Dean

Make Up: anna priadka using Dior Christmas Look

Hair: Hiro Hirata @ radio using Bumble & Bumble

MoDeLS: Sasha @ Select & Jaz @ next

LoCation: With thanks to Blakes Hotel, 33 roland gardens, SW7 3pF, 020 7370 6701; www.blakeshotels.com, a luxury

boutique venue in the heart of Mayfair

Jaz: Ivana skirt, £395, and Ivana corset, £495, both Agent Provocateur as before; Leather harness vest, £2,500, Herve Leger, as before; Gold

cuffs, from a selection, Aigner, www.aignermunich.com; Fur collar with crystal brooches,£1,107, Marni, www.marni.com

Sasha: Coat, POA, Gareth Pugh, www.garethpugh.net; Tortoiseshell

patent boots, £745,Victor and Rolf, as before; Olympia choker in hematite, £275, Jenny Packham, as before; Embroidered Obi belt

£1,790, Bea Valdes at CoutureLab, as before.

Brighten up your Christmas dayExclusive gifts and souvenirs at London Transport Museum shop, Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2

Shop opens daily or buy onlineltmuseumshop.co.uk

Background poster image:Brightest London is best reached by Underground By Horace Taylor, 1924

Dior’s Grand Bal collection was inspired by the late designer’s extravagant lifestyle and is geared towards party looks with glistening gold shadows. Palette Grand Bal Carnet de Maquillage, £60www.dior.com

Many a make-up artist has used Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream to give lips moisture and sheen, which is why a dedicated lip gloss was a long time coming. Now it’s here, join the cult. £20, Elizabeth Ardenwww.elizabetharden.com

beauty

listGiftFrom little treats to full-blown luxury

Proving great gifting doesn’t have to cost the earth, Nails Inc is offering a fun bespoke service - Couture by Nails Inc: choose the varnish shade, its name (ideally the recipient’s) and a quirky lid. £20, Nails Inc, www.nailsinc.com

Every year since 1963, Estee Lauder has unveiled highly collectible perfume and powder compacts; 2012’s incarnations take their lead from the twelve signs of the zodiac.£65 each, Estee Lauder, www.harrods.com

If ever there’s a time to discover your perfect red it’s during the festive season. Tom Ford Beauty offers cherry and crimson in matte or pearl, with a decisive TF stamped on the bullet, of course. £36, Tom Ford Beauty, www.tomford.com

In each of its six festive crackers, Lancome has include miniatures of its best-loved products, such as Juicy Tubes and Hypnose mascara. Hostess points guaranteed. £50, Lancome, www.selfridges.com

A dressing table status symbol if ever there was one, Amber Oud is a heady rose and jasmine fragrance with warmth and sensuality for winter – and a crystallised topper for added decadence. £495, Roja Parfums www.rojaparfums.com

When are bath and body gifts not a cop out? When they take the form of REN’s Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil. Soothing, light and lusciously scented.£30, Ren, www.renskincare.com

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The one for the techno-whizz, this CHI hairdryer has touch-screen functions so its blow-drying can be tailored to hair type for better results. £150, CHIwww.urbanretreat.co.uk/beautique

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update beauty

NEW RELEASES1. The popular lightweight foundation, which aims to provide coverage for 15 hours, is now available in 30 shades with advanced oil-control properties.

2. Lustrous colour underpins this limited edition collection which includes a high shine lip gloss in raspberry red – a great way of brightening a winter complexion.

3. Holiday sparkle goes sophisticated with these three glosses from Bobbi Brown; lightly glittery Grape, shimmery Pink Mist and a pop of colour in Pink Violet.

MAC GETS FABULOUS

BoBBi Brown TuBe TinT Trio, £28www.BoBBiBrown.co.uk

EstEE LaudEEr doubLE WEar ar stay-in-PLacacE MakEuP sPF 10PF 10£27.50, WWWWWW.WWW.WWWEstEELaudEr.co.ukr.co.uk

NARS ANARS ANdy Wdy WARdy WARdy W hol lARlARgeR thR thR ANAN life lip ip ggloSS iNN peNNy Ay ARRcAde, £19de, £19WWW.WWW.WWWNARScoSmeticmeticSS.co.uk

For those heading away over the holidays, the new Fabulousness kits from MAC Cosmetics, are ideal. Each palette contains the perfect shades needed to contour and highlight the eyes and master both daytime and evening looks with either a Neutral, Smoky or Warm tone. The latter, with its shimmery, earthy hues is our favourite and for easy application, the vintage-style compact has a mirror and shadow brush. £32, MAC Cosmetics, www.maccosmetics.co.uk

style

HAIR TREND: THE NEw 60’s

Carolina Herrera’s A/W12 beauty muse was the natural woman, ‘with added polish’.The theme translated to the catwalk through 1960’s style hair, with volume at the roots and sleek ends. It’s an easy look to achieve, with a

great conditioner (for added shine), some hair-spray and a commitment to back-combing. 1. Shampoo hair twice and apply a

conditioner. 2. Part hair backwards from an inch before

the crown. 3. Apply a small amount of mousse and blow

dry, aiming the nozzle of the hairdryer down the hair shaft.

4. Straighten hair in sections, working up from the nape of the neck.

5. Back-comb at the roots before applying hairspray to smooth and hold. Add a hair band if desired.

GOLD sTANDARD sTYLING

Just in time for the party season, GHD has given its classic ceramic plates a glitzy metallic wrap. The

new Metallic Collection includes gold, ruby and silver hair straighteners with an even sleeker, contoured

design to leave hair glossier. £135 each, GHD, www.ghdhair.com

While we tend to err towards the new and shiny, Balmain’s Ambre Gris fragrance, which launched in 2008, is the one we’re going back to for the holidays. Essences of myrrh and cinnamon give this a definite seasonal kick – it’s warm and lightly spicy, perfect for those who tend to avoid florals.

Founded in London in 1835, British perfumery Grossmith is experiencing a revival and will launch its eagerly-awaited Black Label Collection in the coming weeks. The house has come a long way since its heady Victorian bouquets and our new favourites Golden Chypre (bergamot, orange and nutmeg) and Floral Veil (citrus and cassis) are modern and light.

In honour of its signature scent which launched last year, Bottega Veneta has unveiled a deluxe collection including this stylish solid perfume compact, in a pale pink case. The heart of the fragrance is leather, softened with plum and the effect is feminine and sophisticated.

THREE OF THE BEsT

Christmas Fragrances

Ambre Gris eAu de PArfum, from £42, bAlmAin, www.selfridGes.com

botteGA VenetA deluxe PArfum comPAct, £110, selfridGes www.selfridGes.com

Grossmith London BLack LaBeLcoLLection, from £150 per 50mection, from £150 per 50mLeau de parfumarfumparfumpwww.GrossmithrossmithLondon.comondon.com

A BEAUTIFUL COLLABORATION

In a year that has seen some of the world’s biggest brands cement their allure through collaborations, Elizabeth Arden – known for its classic formulations – has partnered edgy fashion label Preen by Thornton Bregazzi. The offbeat project will enable those who buy two Elizabeth Arden products in Debenhams to

snap up a vivid red make-up purse with a vibrant floral print.

www.elizabetharden.com

sketchliving.co.uk

Original designer furniture and accessories

competitive prices • personal service • free delivery*

*Within a 65 mile radius of London

Sketch Living are furniture experts specialising in high-end furniture, home accessories and original designer classics + all items are personally delivered by us to ensure they arrive in perfect condition.

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There’s something precious about this 19th Century style French ‘Gondole’ lamp, with its flurries of crystals and golden shades. £175, An Angel At My Table www.anangelatmytable.com

inter iors

listGiftFrom the useful to the beautiful, trinkets to investments

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A buy-it-once, generation-to-generation gift for the person who has everything. This dramatic mirror is actually a limited edition work of art, five years in the making, by Boca do Lobo. £17,000, Charles Burnand, 61a Church Lane, N2

In the vein of classic bespoke designs, this piece is a must have for card, bridge or dominoes players. This walnut and ebony table is an ode to long game nights, its reversible top providing endless possibilities. £24,500, Linley, www.davidlinley.com

Christian Lacroix captures the capital’s heritage in vibrant colour with this cushion from the Maison line, which ticks the boxes for fashionistas and Londonites alike. £POA, Christian Lacroix Maison for Designer’s Guild, 76 Marylebone High StreetW1U, www.designersguild.com

As we all tend to need more storage space, this colonial-inspired trunk comes in handy. It is beautifully crafted with brass studs over a fine leather and pine frame with a symmetrical pattern. £1,350, Ralph Lauren Home Collection www.ralphlaurenhome.com

The soft scent of this Melchior Cire Trudon candle is inspired by the birth of the divine child. Laced with aromas of myrrh, benzoin, citrus and musk, it’s the true essence of Christmas, in one item. £65, Cire Trudon, 36 Chiltern Street, W1U

The roaring twenties areback in trend, and not

just on the catwalks. No better time, then, to gift upgraded barware and enjoy this stag head decanter over the holidays.£2,350, Asprey, 167New Bond Street, W1S

The beech frame of this tub chair is guaranteed for 20 years and cloaked in plush velvet, but it’s the colour that makes it: we love the emerald green colourway which gives it a contemporary edge. £385, Oliver Bonas, 4 Hampstead High Street, NW3 www.oliverbonas.com

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InterIors inspiration

The home of fashionPerhaps it comes as no surprise that the designs of the man whose illustrious imagination dreamt up Madonna’s notorious cone-shaped bra, should apply equally iconically to a home collection. Jean Paul Gaultier is no stranger to bridging sartorial divides, having already extended his fashion fortunes to encompass a redesign of Diet Coke, which now bears the designer’s signature sailor stripes and tattoo prints. Gaultier’s interiors venture is a collaboration with French fabric house Lelievre and effectively transposes the eccentricity of the designer’s haute couture catwalk vision to the realms of the home. The line encompasses an impressive range (Gaultier is clearly not one to do things by halves), including throws, cushions, delicate voiles and rugs. On his flirtation with interiors, Gaultier reflected: “I am only a couturier, my metier is fashion but I have instilled the spirit and motifs from my collection in these fabrics”.www.lelievre.eu

a Warming TouchWinter is surely the sitting room’s time to shine – whether it be when entertaining countless family

members for festive gatherings or simply huddling around the fireplace, no other room is quite so in demand over the festive season. Give yours

the attention it deserves with Marylebone store Skandium’s collection of brightening

throws and cushions. 86 Marylebone High Street, W1U, 020 7935 2077

www.skandium.com

inter iors

Art OnlineIn his career Hugh Stewart has worked with some pretty glamorous subject matters (he shot Nicole Kidman’s Chanel No.5 campaign) however there’s something truly exquisite about his photographs of flowers, hastily jammed in ramshackle bottles. The graphic creations of the Australian photographer Hugh Stewart are available for distribution across the globe. www.hughstewartgallery.com

Designer On DemAnDTracking down designer furniture gems might initially seem like a tediously uphill task – not so if you’ve heard of Discover and Deliver, the website that handpicks interior decoration for your needs. Its interior designers can source or propose alternatives for any item you have your eye on, whether you stumbled upon it in a hotel you once stayed in or caught a glimpse of it in a film set. Having recently undergone a revamp, the website now offers delivery services worldwide (for anything hefty you pick up on your travels) and can also provide swatches of any fabric available in the London store. Emblazoned with stunning sketches by Yoco Nagamiya, the website in itself is a dream to visit.www.discover-deliver.com

POP UP POstThe folks at An Angel At My Table are onto something. The online store, formerly a Tufnell Park favourite, has introduced these incredible pop-up card creations depicting cherished spots around Britain, which are sure to dispel dreary, generic thank you cards into the realm of obscurity. The originals were handcrafted by a masterful artist then reproduced by laser cutting technology. From £4.95, www.anangelatmytable.com

sPeciAl OccAsiOn

Spruce up your kitchen cupboards with Anthropologie’s handmade colourful

embossed goblets – the ultimate upgrade from your regular glassware.

Delicately engraved with blooming sunflowers, these pretty creations

are quirkily cute and perfect for entertaining.

www.anthropologie.eu

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keyholethrough the

INDUSTRY INSIDERJANE LYONS, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT MANAGER, ROOMS DIVISION AT THE LANGHAM LONDON

With 380 guest rooms and suites, 15 function rooms and two fine dining

restaurants, The Langham London finds itself at the heart of hospitality during a landmark year for the capital, meaning a big task in inspiration and creativity

for the hotel’s team

inter iors

COFFEE TABLE ESSENTIAL

Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi have collaborated on a culinary expose of their mutual homeland, reaping the benefits of a melting pot of culture as they offer up recipe after recipe

of delicious cuisine. Jerusalem offers fail-safe recipes for soups, mains, vegetables, salads, pulses

and grains which are healthy, easy to prepare and interesting. There’s also a generous dessert section (the

clementine and almond syrup cake gets our vote). The book follows the success of Ottolenghi: The

Cookbook and eateries across London.

£27, Ebury Press, www.ottolenghi.co.uk

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How does The Langham prepare for the festive season?

The festive season is full of excitement at The Langham. Every year the hotel celebrates Christmas with traditional decorations and menus to ensure that guests can enjoy a true British experience. A beautiful Christmas tree sets the scene in the lobby and the resident pianist in Palm Court entertains guests with Christmas carols.

Are there specific themes and decor for Christmas?

The Langham concept for Christmas decorations is based on the Victorian era and therefore is very traditional in style. While we are moving towards a more contemporary theme for the decorations this year, the hotel still takes inspiration from this era with lots of natural decorations – pine cones, berries, festive lanterns with candles.

How long does it take to prepare for the festive season?

Typically, festive planning occurs during the summer months so that all menus and events are confirmed by early September. The teams will debrief in January following the previous Christmas season to agree on any changes to dining, afternoon tea and event requirements and then look to prepare for the year ahead. This year, with the London 2012 Olympics, The Langham festive preparation and planning started even earlier, at Easter, to anticipate

the other priorities that might arise.

How much food is ordered in ahead of the Christmas meals?

Once the menus have been planned and agreed, the team will discuss the necessary quantities with suppliers. The majority of food is ordered in advance as the Chefs will have considered the needs of each outlet before the festive period.

Cherish Finden, executive pastry chef at The Langham, creates an impressive gingerbread house measuring over 4 ft and made entirely from sweets including ginger biscuits, macaroons, sugar mice and icing.

As a hotel welcoming lots of guests over the holidays, what advice would you give to someone expecting visitors over the festive season?

Always be prepared – Christmas brings lots of excitement and, of course, there is always plenty to do. By planning in advance you can make sure that everything runs smoothly and can enjoy the festivities as much as your guests.

Who is the typical guest at The Langham during the holidays?

The hotel typically receives more families over Christmas as parents bring their children to the city to enjoy the celebrations.

The Langham London1c Portland Place, W1B 020 7636 1000www.langhamhotels.com

RRP: £999

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inter iors

Melissa Miller+Boasting prior experience designing for clients as wide-ranging as Caprice Holdings in London and

Martha Stewart in New York, Melissa + Miller bring a modern edge to interior design, says Lana Jordan

When asking the team behind Melissa + Miller to explain what defines their style, the chic duo are momentarily

lost for words. “The thing is, that rather than enforcing a generic ‘house style,’ we see each client as an opportunity to start from scratch,” they explain. By reviewing the clients’ lifestyle, budget and design sensibility, the company creates a truly individual look and feel for each client. “Ultimately, creating a finished product that can be lived in – and lived in well – is of utmost importance.”

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inter iors

Taking inspiration from their considerable combined past experience has ensured a wealth of knowledge to draw on. Prior to founding Melissa + Miller Interiors, Kathryn Miller honed her skills working for renowned designers Todhunter Earle and Kelly Hoppen, while Melissa Bodie worked with both Nina Campbell and Martha Stewart in London and New York, respectively. Following this, she moved to Martin Brudnizki Design Studio as managing director, overseeing the designs of various hotels, restaurant and private residences, including the Soho Beach House, Jamie Oliver’s restaurants and Caprice Holdings’ portfolio such as Scott’s, Annabel’s and J. Sheekey’s Oyster Bar.

These days, their numerous projects range from a 7,000 sq ft country house outside London to an 82 ft sailing yacht, and their current plans see them working in Hampstead, Richmond, Chelsea and Surrey, as well as penthouse apartments in Pennsylvania and Manhattan and a private residence in Arizona.

This global approach has ensured not only a vast array of styles and skills from which to draw, but the opportunity to work with and commission artisans and craftspeople based around the world. “We only source the finest materials, furniture, accessories and antiques that suit each project. Whether it is designing a bespoke piece of joinery or a c ustom-made carpet, we scour the globe for the perfect item,” they explain.

With a comprehensive knowledge of architecture, textiles, antiques, project management and custom design, Melissa + Miller provide a comprehensive service – for projects of all sizes across the globe – creating the ultimate in luxury spaces. n

Melissa + Miller Interiorswww.melissaandmiller.com

We like to create projects where comfort and functionality

are as paramount as luxury and style

‘‘’’

33 Albemarle Street - Mayfair, London WIS 4BP - Tel. 020 7629 5616

MILANO, VENEZIA, FIRENZE, CALA DI VOLPE, CAPRI, PARIS, M ONTE CARLO, LONDON, MOSCOW, NEW YORK, CHICAGO,ASPEN, BEVERLY HILLS, TOKYO, OSAKA, HONG KONG, SIDNEY

WWW.BUCCELLATI.COM

From the Honeycomb Eternelle Ring Collection

RUN WILDbracelet london_UK 13/04/12 09.37 Pagina 2

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The DepaysemenT ColleCTionUrban landscapes throughout the universe share a familiar terrain: one that is polished, smooth and, more often than not, modern. They can be both beautiful and functional but they always distinguish themselves from their counterpart, the rural, with their streamlined architecture, neutral colours and geometric shapes.

Through these aspects, Cartier has drawn an accurate depiction of this landscape through one part of its latest collection. The pieces within the Urban collection exhibit radical design in every last curve. The graphic world has

been conveyed through simple, clear and taut lines, perfectly formed shapes and the striking use of

black and white to create optical effects. Pieces range from a curved white gold and onyx

bracelet and square emerald ring to a globe-shaped white gold and diamond necklace.

In addition to Urban, the collection interprets four other landscapes from the frosty Arctic to the scorching desert, represented under the names Temporal, Luxuriant, Solar and Boreal. Cartier has often referenced the natural world

through its jewellery designs; the long-established Panthère collection captures

the essence of the feline in multiple and diverse forms. To represent the Boreal, an

icy and barren land populated by wildlife, the panther rears its beautiful head once again in the

form of a sapphire and platinum ring. n

www.cartier.com

collection

list

Cartier necklace, white gold, one 8.35-carat briolette-cut diamond, rock crystal, brilliants, POA020 3147 4850; www.cartier.comPhoto by Iris Velghe © Cartier 2012

Gift

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collection

jewellery news

“The story of how these gemstones were discovered and introduced is truly inspiring. Our 175th anniversary is the

perfect occasion to celebrate our heritage by showcasing these exquisite stones in one-of-a-kind jewels which so perfectly reflect Tiffany’s brilliant design legacy”

Anniversary Morganite necklace and matching earrings POA, Tiffany & Co. www.tiffany.co.uk

Ice KIngHarry Winston brought an unexpected touch of colour to his latest Water collection. The 19 new pieces have been set with sapphires, emeralds, turquoise and Paraibas and, as Art Director, Sandrine De Laage comments: “For the past few years we have focussed on diamonds but we shouldn’t forget that Harry Winston was a lover of coloured stones also.” The essence of water has been captured not simply through the use of colour (mirroring the varying hues) but through the design and settings, as the short strings of diamonds flowing along the bracelet illustrate the natural element’s fluidity, while the baguette diamonds on the Glacier earrings evoke ice crystals of water.www.harrywinston.com

A Truly royAl occAsIonWith 16 years of experience and 7,000 private commissions of fine statement jewellery under its belt, Robinson Pelham was an unsurprising, and perfect, solution for Carole and Michael Middleton when they had to choose a brand to commission to create bespoke earrings for their daughter, Kate Middleton, which she would wear on her wedding day as she became the Duchess of Cambridge. Previously by appointment only, the fine jewellery brand has finally opened its first flagship store on Elystan Street, which aims to promote the brand’s ready-to-wear collection. As a result of this, the trio behind the brand – Vanessa Chilton, Zoe Benyon and Kate Pelham Burn – has also launched six new collections, all of which will be available alongside the couture commission service. New season ready-to-wear collections, ranging from £1,000 to £20,000, will include Elystan, in honour of their new home, along with Drusy, Orb, Champagne and Maratea. www.robinsonpelham.com

ImAgInAry nATureJewellery designers have often looked to nature to find their inspiration. At the recent Biennale des Antiquaires exhibition in Paris, Wallace Chan’s display of delicate butterfly jewellery pieces was the talk of the show. Although Van Cleef & Arpels’ Palais de la Chance collection mainly drew upon eternal symbols of luck and fortune, the French jewellery house managed to incorporate its signature organic designs with floral patterns and a Coccinelle (ladybird) Mysterieuse clip. Entitled Imaginary Nature, De Beers’ latest seven-piece all-white diamond and platinum jewels aim to capture that moment of metamorphosis in nature; for example, a bird about to draw its wings or a flower on the brink of bloom. www.debeers.com

“The story of how these gemstones were discovered and introduced is truly inspiring. Our 175th anniversary is the

perfect occasion to celebrate our heritage by showcasing these exquisite stones in one-of-a-kind jewels which so perfectly reflect Tiffany’s brilliant design legacy”

Anniversary Morganite necklace and matching earrings

cuTTIng edgeIn celebration of its 175th anniversary, Tiffany & Co presents its Legacy collection, featuring the precious gem stones the jeweller initially introduced to the world

latest seven-piece all-white diamond and platinum jewels

that moment of metamorphosis in nature; for example, a bird about to draw its wings or a flower on the brink of bloom. www.debeers.com

Executive vice president at Tiffany & Co. Jon King comments:

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Midnightin

ParisAs time turns its hands to darkness with the changing of the clocks, sparkle this winter in ice-white diamonds, glacial crystals and translucent sapphires

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1 Cabochon Falls necklace, POA, Harry Winston Water Collection, www.harrywinston.com 2 Ladies vintage watch in 18-karat white gold case with pavé diamond bezel and silver coloured dial, £5,250, Asprey, www.asprey.com 3 Rhodium-plated cubic zirconia earrings, £155, Kenneth Jay Lane, www.NET-A-PORTER.com

4 W900 Belisama diamond automatic watch, £1,150, Christopher Ward, www.christopherward.co.uk 5 Cultured South Sea pearl opera length necklace with diamond petal clasp in platinum, POA, Tiffany & Co., www.tiffany.co.uk 6 Art Deco platinum, sapphire and diamond ring, £6,450, Heirlooms, www.NET-A-PORTER.com 7 Cosmos watch in

white gold and diamonds with a black satin strap, POA, Chanel, www.chanel.com

collection

8

16

9

10

11

1314

15

12

8 Main de Fatma earrings, POA, Van Cleef & Arpels, www.vancleefarpels.com 9 Cape Gooseberry pendant, POA, Mikimoto Regalia, www.mikimoto.co.uk 10 Magnolia necklace, POA, Mikimoto Regalia, as before 11 1920s platinum, diamond and sapphire earrings, £5,300, Heirlooms, www.NET-A-PORTER.com 12 La Mini D de Dior

19mm watch in white gold with falcon eye dial and diamonds, £7,800, Dior, www.dior.com 13 Dolphin ring in 18-karat white gold, POA, Boodles Wonderland Collection www.boodles.com 14 Tonda crystal-embellished leather clutch, £320, Diane Von Furstenberg, www.dvf.com 15 Crystal butterfly headband, £295, Miu Miu

www.miumiu.com 16 Fuchsia bracelet, POA, Mikimoto Regalia, as before

www.bachet.fr

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collection

listGiftA Time & A PlAceIf you’re the sort of person who appreciates the intricacies of mechanical timepieces, chances are you’ll value the exquisite craftsmanship that can go into housing them. Driven by the same admiration of exceptional engineering, Germany’s Buben&Zörweg have been exploring the limits of technology and workmanship since 1995.

Founded by two childhood friends, Gröbminger Harald Buben and Christian Zörweg, within just a few years the company had become the market leader in the design and manufacture of watch winders and mechanical table and wall clocks. Combining their two areas of expertise – watch winding and timekeeping – in 2006 Buben&Zörweg created their first Objects of Time; multi-functional models that in addition to

winders and clocks boasted cigar humidors, liquor bars, safes and high-performance hi-fi systems.

The company’s Grand Collector XL (above left, €76,900) features a high-security safe, 60 watch winders and a Buben&Zörweg signature clock. Elsewhere, its Orbit Tourbillon Connoisseur (above right, €78,800) comes equipped with a humidor, bar and an optional HiFi system with Bluetooth and iPhone/iPod docking station. More than simply somewhere to store your treasured possessions, Buben&Zörweg’s elegant creations are sure to form the focal point of any interior space. n

www.buben-zorweg.com

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collection

watch news

Mechanical Masterpieces The company produces one of the most complex and revered grand complications in watchmaking so it’s no surprise that when Patek Philippe invited VIP customers and members of the press to view a unique collection of 18 Minute Repeaters, the invitations were snapped up immediately.

The exhibition, hosted on 10 and 11 October in London’s Lancaster House, was attended by Patek President Thierry Stern and included the Patek Philippe Ladies First Minute Repeater (Ref. 7000R) and the Patek Philippe Minute Repeater Monopusher Chronograph. Only eclipsed by the grand/petite sonnerie in its complexity, the minute repeater will sound the time to the nearest minute upon demand. www.patek.com

Out Of this WOrldUnless you’ve been holed up in a cave for the last six weeks, you will have either seen, heard or read that Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner has become the first human to break the speed of sound under gravity alone. In doing so with the all-new El Primero Stratos Flyback

Striking 10th chronograph on his wrist, Baumgartner

made Zenith the first watch manufacturer to

have a timepiece cross the sound barrier

in a near space environment, a fitting claim for a watch already equipped with the world’s most

accurate automatic chronograph

movement. An exact replica of the watch

worn by Baumgartner can be purchased from Zenith

stockists for £6,100.www.zenith-watches.com

El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th chronograph

on his wrist, Baumgartner made Zenith the first

watch manufacturer to have a timepiece cross

the sound barrier

chronograph movement. An exact

replica of the watch worn by Baumgartner can

be purchased from Zenith stockists for £6,100.www.zenith-watches.com

tracking tiMeBerlin’s Kraftwerk building formed the backdrop for the international unveiling of the Royal Oak Offshore Michael Schumacher Chronograph in October. The converted ex-power station welcomed journalists from around the world to its disused confines as Audemars Piguet presented its latest horological collaboration. Two blue and five red stars on the watch’s dial symbolise Schumacher’s record seven championship victories, while a black and white scale pattern pays homage to the checkered flags the legendary driver achieved. The 1,600 limited edition watches come in titanium (£31,550), 18-karat pink gold (£55,000) and platinum (£83,590).www.audemarspiguet.com

the grand/petite sonnerie in its complexity, the minute repeater will sound the time to the nearest minute upon demand. www.patek.comof

Swiss movement, English heart

Swiss made / High-tech ceramic bezel and bracelet centre / Marine-grade stainless steel/PVD rose gold case and bracelet / Anti-reflective sapphire crystal / SuperLuminovaTM filled hands and indexes / Deep-etched back plate engraving / Luxury presentation case and owners handbook

046_ChristopherWard_Vantage.indd 1 07/11/2012 10:52

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collection

the powerpurple

of

In a season where berry shades dominated fashion catwalks, purple reigns supreme. This A/W12, pick the gifts and accessories devoted to the primary colour of luxury and extravagance

13

4

5

6

7

8

2

1 PAM00496, £28,500, Panerai, www.panerai.com 2 Sterling purple cufflinks, £56, Ettinger, www.ettinger.co.uk 3 Elephant daisy printed tie, £65, Thomas Pink, 18 Davies Street4 Zip-top pouch, £120, Gucci, www.gucci.com 5 Small and medium Explorer holdall, £399 and £485 respectively Tusting, www.tusting.co.uk 6 Playing cards, £75, Asprey

www.asprey.com 7 Leather hip flask, £90, Thomas Lyte, 12-13 Burlington Arcade 8 Woven-wool bow tie, £95, Alexander Olch, www.olch.com

73

collection

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

9 Calfskin pocket jotter, £70, Noble Macmillan, www.noblemacmillan.com 10 Collection Excellence Platine: Patrimony Contemporaine Automatic, £41,530, Vacheron Constantin www.vacheron-constantin.com 11 Vintage PW1 pocket watch £1,800, Bell & Ross, www.bellross.com 12 Bale magenta and navy club stripe tie, £24.95, Charles Tyrwhitt

100 Jermyn Street 13 Travel backgammon set, £250, Aspinal of London, 25 Brook Street 14 London triple satchel bordeaux, £910, Dunhill, www.dunhill.com 15 Sunburst lilac cufflinks, £175, Aspinal of London, as before

74

Ask the CEO of any high-end watch manufacturer how the ‘Great Recession’ has affected their business and they’ll tell you it hasn’t. They’ll talk about new ventures in

new (eastern) markets and lyricise about innovation and streamlining but words like cut-backs and redundancies aren’t ones you’ll hear in the watch-making world. No; expansion, openings and launches are the words leaving the lips of the industry’s most senior servants. As belts have tightened across other areas of the global economy, there has been no let-up in the demand for Swiss-made timepieces. Despite hiccups in 2009, when Switzerland’s exports slowed for the first time in several record-breaking years, exports to markets across the world have been swelling ever since. Indeed, according to figures released from the Swiss Watch Industry Federation last year, of Patek Philippe, Rolex and Omega’s 2010-11 top 30 markets, only Taiwan reported a slump.

And of the British watch-making industry? While it may have been slow to capitalise on the sector’s

QuantumPrecision

SalonQP has taken just four years to cement its place on the international watch event calendar. Taking up residence in the Saatchi Gallery for the second year running, 2012’s event proved that in a sea of economic instability, the watch industry remains

as buoyant as ever, writes Richard Brown

unprecedented growth, Britain now boasts a roster of burgeoning brands. In the year that a George Daniels auction achieved more than £8.2 million at Sotheby’s, Bremont opened its first stand-alone store, Peter Speake-Marin launched no less than four new timepieces and Schofield sold out of both of its debut collections.

So this brings us to this year’s SalonQP. As was the case in 2011, the Saatchi Gallery played host as a mix of media, industry moguls and horological fanatics descended on the UK’s only fine watch exhibition. Amongst a programme packed with discussions, workshops and interactive watchmaking activities, 54 brands were present, spanning from industry heavyweights like Vacheron Constantin and Girard-Perregaux to smaller independent makers including Urwerk and MB&F.

What, then, constituted highlights? Worthy of note were those watches making their debuts at the show. When we interviewed TAG Heuer’s Honorary Chairman Jack Heuer back in the summer he spoke extensively

Event photography: Ghislaine Salabert-Mougin

collection

about the company’s MikrotourbillonS. Enjoying its first UK outing, the timepiece impressed not only by virtue of being regulated by the world’s fastest tourbillion but also as a result of its sleek styling and split-dial design.

The presence of the Meridian Watch Company heralded the entrance of a brand new marque to the watch-making arena, and (by manufacturing their creations on home soil) an English one at that. Indeed, Made-in-England became a recurring theme. In addition to the likes of Bremont, Robert Loomes and Schofield, Speake-Marin was also promoting the best of British. Boasting a new movement, dial and case, yet retaining the sophistication that has come to signify the brand, the company’s Spirit Mark 2 proved particular popular.

In 2011, a customised Harley Davidson bejewelled with a Bell & Ross timepiece drew some of the biggest crowds. This time, it was an example of seafaring, rather than road-faring, engineering that attracted attention. For 130 years, Englishman Thomas Mercer was the undisputed leader in marine chronometers. Testament, again, to the current revival of British horology, 2012 saw the welcome relaunch of this venerable brand. The Thomas Mercer Classis chronometer features an

ebony body produced by the internationally renowned furniture manufacturer Linley and a façade emblazoned with the silhouettes of the most celebrated ships from the age of discovery. You’d certainly want one in your study.

Fresh off the back of winning 00:24 Watch World magazine’s 2012 Readers’ Watch of the Year award with its Watch Engineer Hydrocarbon Ceramic XV, Ball presented its collaborative effort with BMW. Paying homage to the distinctive hallmarks of the German manufacturer’s automobiles, the American watchmaker has produced a range of lightweight, shock-absorbing watches. While they’re unlikely to find as much favour as the Hydrocarbon Ceramic XV, the range’s sharp looks and defined angles will appeal to those with a penchant for the sportier timepiece.

Those who ventured up to the Saatchi Gallery’s second floor were treated to a unique collection of one-off timepieces presented by Harrods. Commissioning the likes of Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Franck Muller and more to produce stand-alone pieces, the department store found a novel way of celebrating the first anniversary of its Fine Watch Room. With a case, bezel, crown and bracelet adorned with 621 brilliant-cut diamonds, Audemars’ 7.45 carat Ladies Tuxedo Automatique gave bling-lovers something over which to salivate, while Roger Dubuis’ intricate Excalibur World Time was reinvented with the substitution of its

Indeed, Made-in-England became a recurring theme

‘London’ time zone for a ‘Harrods’ time zone, a quirky twist on an already eccentric piece.

In a gallery featuring watches as complicated as Harry Winston’s Opus 12 and as high-tech as the Slyde by HD3, it was fascinating to enter Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie’s enchanting Mastery of Time. Featuring mesmerising artefacts from as far back as the 15th century, the exhibition highlighted the sort of history and passion that has rendered the watch industry seemingly recession-proof. n

BMW Power Reserve, Ball

Opus 12, Harry Winston

High Jewellery Dentelle Diamond, Breguet

Canary Wharfbars & restaurants • fashion & style • arts & events canarywharf.com

Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 December12pm, 2pm & 4pm

santa’s showtime£2 for children and concessions,

£4 for adults. Children under 2 go free.visit canarywharf.com to book.

tickets are subject to availability.

Every weekend from Saturday 1 to Sunday 23 December

plus Monday 24 December11am - 5pm

free art & Craft Workshopsfree festive face Painting

free Magical treasure trailvisit santa’s Grotto*

plus Monday 17 to Monday 24 December

11am - 5pmvisit santa’s Grotto*

*visits to santa’s Grotto cost £2.

see below for supported charities.

Children’sFestive Activities

3 hours free parking

at Weekends and bank holidays When you sPend £10 at Canary Wharf

terMs and Conditions aPPly.

santa’s showtime proceeds will be donated to richard house Children’s hospice.

santa’s Grotto proceeds will be donated to variety, the Children’s Charity.

SHOPPING

@yourcanarywharfwww.canarywharf.com

Celebrate the Festive season at Canary WharF

With a fantastic line-up of Wintery events, canary Wharf’s

christmas offering is second to none

This winter, Canary Wharf, accessible in just 20 minutes from St John’s Wood via the Jubilee Line, will host not only a magical Grotto, stunning ice rink and festive fashion show, but also a

range of activities ranging from ice sculpting and face painting to cupcake making and glass decorating. Over 240 shops, bars and restaurants complete the picture to make Canary Wharf the perfect Christmas destination for all the family.

STep inTo SanTa’S GroTToLaunching 1 December, Santa’s Grotto in Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place returns with a whimsical and magical theme. Open every weekend in December as well as the week before Christmas and on Christmas Eve, excited children can meet Santa in his Grotto and whisper their wish list for the big day. All donations for Santa’s Grotto will be provided to Variety, the Children’s Charity. Meanwhile, Santa and his ‘Little Helpers’ will take to the stage in Santa’s Showtime in the East Wintergarden, keeping the kids (and adults) entertained with a series of shows on 1 and 2 December. Three shows will take place daily at 12noon, 2pm and 4pm.Tickets are free for under 2s, £2 for children and concessions, £4 for adults and will be available from early November, visit canarywharf.com for further information. All donations for Santa’s Showtime will go to Richard House Children’s Hospice.

Children’S FeSTive aCTiviTieSWind your way around Canary Wharf on the Magical Treasure Trail or enjoy a splash of Festive Face Painting in Cabot Place, Canada Place and Jubilee Place. Canary Wharf also allows you to get in touch with your creative side with some cookie and cupcake decorating workshops courtesy of Sweet Couture, Cake Boutique and the little ones can also personalise love heart boxes and stained glass creations. Throughout December, children can spend the weekends enjoying Canary Wharf’s Enchanted Mirror installation, which provides endless fun for young ones, whilst adding to the magic and sparkle of Christmas. Spend £10 or more at any shop, café, bar or restaurant in Canary Wharf at the weekend and enjoy 3 hours free parking in any of its public car parks.

a Foodie’S heavenTo add some glamour to the festive period, experience one of Boisdale of Canary Wharf’s ‘Christmas In Vegas’ packages, which come complete with Pete Long’s 9-piece Big Band and the ultimate Rat Pack singers Iain Mackenzie and Steve Pert. Those looking to warm up should visit ROKA for its popular Weekend Brunch, a spectacular array of dishes, including ROKA’s acclaimed dessert platters. To watch the winter world go by, make for the impressive Plateau Restaurant Bar & Grill which overlooks the glittering ice rink below.

Santa’s Showtime, East Wintergarden

Boisdale of Canary Wharf, Cabot Place

Ice Rink Canary Wharf

In Safe Hands

If you have a hand condition or injury,

and need expert care and treatment,

the London Hand and Wrist Unit offer

direct access to world renowned hand

surgeons and highly skilled therapists.

We have expertise in the management of:

Acute trauma including Hand Fractures

and Sporting Injuries; Carpal Tunnel

Syndrome, Arthritic and Rheumatoid

Conditions, Dupreytren’s Disease and

work related hand and wrist injuries.

Call our team today

The wetter weather can make hand and wrist injuries hard to avoid.

020 7483 5000 www.londonhandandwristunit.com

The London Hand and Wrist UnitSpecialist multi-disciplinary service for upper limb conditions and injuries

LHWU_Hand_Wrist_Advert_final_AWk.indd 1 19/11/2012 16:23

79

health&fitness

health &

Presenting LayLa anna-LeeAs the voice of London’s Olympic Opening Ceremony and presenter of the Queen’s Jubilee Party in Trafalgar Square, it’s safe to say that Layla Anna-Lee has had a rather special summer. Ambassador for women’s-only bike race organisation Cycletta, the former West Hampstead resident talks to Vantage about her Olympic experience and what she misses about our area.

Can you tell us about your work with Cycletta?Cycletta is a wonderful cycling event for

women only, created to encourage more women to get on their bikes. Cycling is still dominated by men even as a hobby, but Cycletta have created some fabulous events up and down the country so ladies can cycle together with no pressure (it’s not a race) and enjoy beautiful scenery. But at 40k it’s still a push – just the right ratio of pain to pleasure. I really enjoy it and am an ambassador alongside the wonderful Victoria Pendleton. My aim is simply to get more ladies’ bottoms on their bikes!

How did you overcome any nerves ahead of doing the voice over for the Olympic Ceremony?

Nerves are a serious problem in my industry. For the Opening Ceremony my voice was being boomed over a million watt PA system, a single shake of the voice and any fear shows. Practice is the main thing – simply hearing myself saying some of the more powerful lines helped. For instance, “Please stand for the National Anthem” sounded quite special, but I was terrified about introducing Mohammed Ali. Due to secrecy we were not allowed to practise his name over the PA system as journalists were listening outside the stadium. The live Opening Ceremony was the first time I had said it. That was scary.

How did it come about?I’ve been presenting for a while now and

moved into sports presenting about four years ago. I was hosting cycling and BMX events on Eurosport before moving to Sky Sports. I hosted the ‘London 2012 Prepares’ events and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee party in Trafalgar Square, from a series of events Danny Boyle and LOCOG spotted me and I was selected to host beach volleyball for the Olympics and voice the Opening Ceremony.

What are your lasting memories of West Hampstead?

West Hampstead is a gorgeous place to live. I love how green the area is and how it truly feels like London’s little secret. West End Lane holds many memories for me.

Dancing through LifeDuring the whirlwind that was their ascent on the world of international ballet, dancers (and husband and wife) Christina Gallea and Alexander Roy made a stop in Hampstead, where they established one of Britain’s most successful ballet companies, the Alexander Roy London Ballet Theatre. The Eton Avenue based company quite literally danced across the world, incorporating such notable dancers as Keith Rosson, Frederic Werner and Jean-Marie Dubrul along the way. Chirstina Gallea Roy’s Here Today, Gone Tomorrow is an affectionate reflection on the north west London beginnings of her company, and the subsequent worldwide adventures that followed.Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: A Life in Dance Christina Gallea Roy, Book Guild Publishing

stuDioThe exclusive Marylebone Village Fitness has recently inaugurated its new Power Plate Hatha Yoga programme, which combines the prowess of Power Plate machines with yoga asanas to improve the range of participants’ movement. Housed in a Georgian townhouse this cosy fitness centre is the ultimate anti-gym. The personal wellness and beauty studio offers carefully developed sessions with sports, Pilates, nutrition and beauty consultants, all within a charming, welcoming and unabashedly pink-themed décor.49 Upper Montagu Street, W1H, 020 7723 8768

fitness

80

for the familyLocaL StyLe

North West London has a plethora of high-end, designer fashion boutiques for children. But how to pick to the best one?

Olive Loves Alfie is a great way to avoid the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping in central London. The shop boasts quirky designs by both British and international brands that you won’t find on the high street, guaranteed to give your child that ‘je ne sais quoi’. Collections range from newborn to nine and above, and the shop also stocks shoes, toys, crafts, games and interiors items, making it quite the one-stop-shop if you want unique gifts this year. www.olivelovesalfie.co.uk

Almost every little girl has at one time or another paraded around the house dressed in over-large shoes and designer pieces snaffled from their mother’s wardrobe. Now, fashion savvy kids can have their very own pieces from their parents’ favourite designers. This year has seen new collections from Stella McCartney, Oscar de la Renta, Marni and Dolce

& Gabbana. The result is fashion-forward style and age-appropriate outfits in miniature. Designers have clearly focused on creating clothes that reflect the brand while being versatile and comfortable to wear, ensuring your little ones always look both chic and adorable.www.dolcegabbana.comwww.marni.comwww.oscardelarenta.comwww.stellamccartney.com

Mini Me

Iglookids in St John’s Wood is a wonderful place to get fashionable clothes, but it also offers a unique shopping experience, with products for everyone from babies to 12-year-olds, and designer items from international brands such as Petit Bateau, Antik Batik and UGG. And the shopping experience doesn’t stop there: Iglookids also offers a shoe-fitting and hair-cutting service. www.iglookids.co.uk

www.marni.com

ww

w.d

olce

gabb

ana.

com

family

SkaterS’ ParadiSeFor the best in festive fun with your family, head to Ice Rink Canary Wharf this winter; absolutely worth the venture south. The area’s soaring skyscraper buildings provide an idyllic backdrop to the stunning rink, complete with London’s only skate path, lit by twinkling fairy lights. There are lessons available and an array of festive treats for children at the Boisdale-on-Ice bar, which features a rinkside viewing terrace, allowing parents to watch their children have fun on the ice while sipping mulled wine.3 November 2012 – 13 January 2013Ice Rink Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park, E14 www.skatecanarywharf.com

away with the fairieS Mystical Fairies is the ultimate little girl’s paradise; bedecked in pink and shimmering glitter, the shop is an overflowing dress-up box of everything little girls hold dear: fairy wings, princess outfits, tiaras and sparklingly fairy regalia. Boys haven’t been forgotten either, there are wizard, pirate and knight costumes in the dressing-up area. In December, Mystical Fairies is running its Christmas Fairy School and Princess Academy with a program of themed arts and crafts, cupcake decorating, makeovers, dancing and more!12 Flask Walk, Hampstead, NW3 www.mysticalfairies.co.uk

enchanted PuPPetSThe Puppet Barge in Little Venice is a delightful floating marionette theatre, which offers a magic interpretation of diverse classic texts, from Shakespeare to Dickens, through theatrical lighting, visual effects and live animation. This December, the Puppet Barge will be showing A Christmas Carol, a charming show and an imaginative and enchanting way for the whole family to rediscover this classic Christmas tale.

Little Venice, opposite 35 Blomfield Road, W9 www.puppetbarge.com

Capturing precious family moments is sometimes best left to the skills of a professional photographer. Rosalind Hobley, based in Marylebone, offers a fun and relaxed atmosphere for family shoots, either outside in a natural backdrop or inside your home, allowing both children and parents to shine. For the festive season you have the option to turn these spontaneous and intimate shots into Christmas cards, framed prints and albums, for the family to treasure.www.rosalindhobley.com

toyS & teaOne of our favourite toy shops in London is Cachao. Situated down a Primrose Hill

side street, this shop-turned-café has a varied collection of toys and gifts, including partyware,

arts and crafts, wooden toys, puzzles and clothing. Cachao also has a café where parents can relax while their children rummage through

the piles of toys.www.cachaotoycafe.com

in the frame

A book is the kind of personal present that children will treasure for years to come, perfect at Christmas. Our favourite selections this year include, The Adventure and Enchanted Collections – which bring together classic novels every child should read at least once in their life, accompanied by magnificent illustrations. If you want to inspire the more creative child, The Children’s Book of Classic Poems and Rhymes is a perfect choice. Divided into thematic chapters, it includes classics texts such as ‘The Owl and The Pussy-Cat’ and ‘Kubla Khan’.‘The Enchanted Collection’ and ‘The Adventure Collection’, www.amazon.co.ukChildren’s Book of Classic Poems and Rhymeswww.waterstones.com

the Story of chriStmaS

82

Ian Winspur, hand and wrist surgeon at The Wellington Hospital explains what it could mean if you experience numbness or tingling in your hands

Tunnel Vision

Everyone has heard of carpal tunnel syndrome: a dreaded

disease acquired from excessive use of computer keyboards,

requiring those afflicted to abandon their careers. Actually,

nothing could be further from the truth. Carpal tunnel occurs when

nerves in the hand become trapped or squeezed, causing a tingling

or numbness, and sometimes loss of muscle power.

The carpal tunnel, a tunnel lying between the wrist and the palm, is

the most common place for a nerve to be trapped in the upper limb.

The nerve affected is the median nerve, but also running through this

tunnel are the tendons which enable us to move our fingers into a

closed fist, and they can become inflamed too. When this happens the

tendons become swollen and are surrounded by inflammatory tissue

and fluid, causing the median nerve to temporarily cease to function

properly, and patients experience a tingling or numbness. This may

develop even though the nerve may not be physically compressed;

and can also happen to the nerves in other areas within and outside

tunnels - in fingers or adjacent to an inflamed joint or other inflamed

tendons in the arm. It will also happen if a nerve is directly irritated as

occurs, for example, in the thumbs of ten-pin bowlers.

Carpal tunnel syndrome, with compression of the median nerve,

occurs because the tunnel is tight. In some individuals it can become

too tight, and it only becomes tighter as we age; hence it is a much

more common condition in people over 50. The tingling is very

specific in that it affects the thumb, index and middle fingers, and is

usually worse at night or early in the morning. Sufferers may ease their

symptoms in the same way that those suffering from swollen tendons,

but the relief is usually only temporary. If this is the case, a short

day- surgical operation with a short recovery time will usually cure the

condition permanently.

Patients suffering carpal tunnel- like symptoms from swollen

tendons will obtain relief by a temporary reduction in manual activity,

temporary use of a wrist splint at night and during vigorous activity,

and oral anti-inflammatory medicines. Sometimes this can cure the

problem, but if this fails a steroid injection into the carpal tunnel is

often curative. Women suffering carpal tunnel syndrome in the latter

stages of pregnancy usually completely recover once the child is born,

or shortly after.

Tendons inflame when there are subjected to unaccustomed

activity. We seldom see carpal tunnel syndrome or inflamed wrist

tendons in professional musicians who are, by the nature of their

profession, fully conditioned, but it is not uncommon in students and

amateur musicians.

Therefore:

• IfyoustartagardeningorDIYproject,orperhapsanewupper

arm or wrist routine in the gym - start slowly and build up gradually

• Ifyouspendlonghoursatthecomputer,tryandtakeregular

breaks, divide your work equally

and try and ensure you sit in

a comfortable, relaxed

position

• Donotspend

long hours working

on a lap-top

computer, which is

placed in your lap

If you believe

you have carpal

tunnel syndrome,

consult your doctor

who can advise you

and arrange for some

simple non-invasive tests

to help clarify the diagnosis.

Ian Winspur consults at The London Hand and Wrist Unit and

appointments can be made on 020 7483 5000.

health promotion

DrLisaAnderson,GPatTheWellingtonHospital,

looks at the most common health conditions the

colder winter weather brings.

Winter is fast approaching, and each year the cold weather leads

to an increase in deaths and many more cases of hospitalisation,

but there are ways to prevent this.

1. Influenza – the flu season has already started and with it the

campaign to vaccinate all those at risk. Every year around 4700 people

die in England after contracting flu. So far in 2012 the uptake of the flu

vaccine in the over 65s has been less than last year; if you are at risk,

pleasegetvaccinated.Forthoseover65oratrisk,theNHSofferthe

vaccine for free. For those not at risk, but who want the vaccine, this

canbeorganisedatTheWellingtonHospital.

2. Falls – the elderly are much more at risk from falling than

younger people, due to the higher possibility of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, causing them to

become weak and fragile and more likely to break. Falling on the ice

can cause wrist and hip fractures most commonly, but can affect other

bones such as the spine or pelvis. If you are post menopausal, think

yourheighthasdecreased,orhaveafamilyhistory,visityourGPwho

can refer you for a bone density scan and treatment, if needed.

3. Norovirus – the winter vomiting bug affects about 1 million

people each year. It is highly contagious so good hygiene is essential.

Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds to destroy germs,

use disinfectant on the household surfaces and ensure you drink

plenty of fluids to avoid dehydrating.

GP SESSIONS: WINtEr IllNESSES

Meet the specialist

Ian Winspur is a hand and wrist surgeon practicing exclusively in private practice.

He trained in Britain and in the United States in plastic surgery and hand surgery.

He practices all aspects of adult hand surgery, with a particular interest in musicians’ injuries. He is a trustee of The British

Association of Performing Arts Medicine and an Honorary Lecturer

at University College London.

For further information please visit

The Wellington Hospital

www.thewellingtonhospital.com

Or contact the Enquiry Helpline on 020 7483 5000

020 7483 5000www.thewellingtonbreastcareunit.com

1 in 8 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Many cases show no symptoms and have no family history of the disease. With The Wellington Hospital’s digital mammogram

technology, abnormalities can be highlighted earlier, allowing for a greater chance of a full recovery.

Now it is even easier to get peace of mind. The Wellington Hospital is offering a 30% discount off the cost of a screening mammogram, until the 31st December 2012.

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The best luxury hampers and gastronomic gifts

food&drink

listGift

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Spoil someone special.Ultimate Hamper, £130, Peyton & Byrne, www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk

For the Italian connoisseur.Extra Virgin & Organic Olive Oil set from £18, Zucca, www.zuccalondon.com

A taste of the exotic.Food Halls Collection Fruit Flavour Loose Leaf Tea Gift, £9.95, Harrods www.harrods.com

Perfect for lunch.Fish Pate Gift Set, £19, Heal’swww.heals.co.uk

Viva Italia! Il Maestro Hamper, £245 Gelupo, www.gelupo.com

Just for the tree.Beaded Christmas Ball, £28 Godiva, www.godiva.com

A Christmas classic with a twist.Panettone Cioccolato, £13 Vallebona, www.vallebona.co.uk

A little taste of the country.Things We Love Hamper, £200 Daylesford, www.gift-library.com

Shaken not stirred.Cocktail Shaker, £550, William Yeoward, www.gift-library.com

For elegant parties.Light Green Lulu Caviar Server £519, William Yeowardwww.gift-library.com

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Marcus Wareing at the BerkeleySitting at the Chef’s Table, at two-starred Marcus Wareing, means you and your guests will be in a privileged position to appreciate the magic created by the kitchen team while enjoying the exclusivity of a private space. The menu will be created directly in front of you, with divine food from one of the top chefs in London.www.the-berkeley.co.uk

“

favouritesFoodie

in the kitchen cupboard…2. White truffle Oil: For me, versatility is key, and white truffle oil can be used to enhance many dishes. It is best in Italian cooking, adding earthy flavours to pasta and vegetables. Be aware, though, there are a few key things to consider with white truffle oil. Quality is important, try to ensure you get oil without other additives, and it is worth going organic too. Use it sparingly, especially if livening up dishes such as scrambled eggs or even mashed potato, the key is to complement, not overpower. But be adventurous; I love it mixed with butter and a dusting of Parmesan and used to coat popcorn – delicious!

3. Dried yeast: Nothing beats coming home to a house filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread. It is such a wonderful, homely smell. Baking bread is so rewarding, the smell of yeast fermenting, making the bread light and fluffy. We always have yeast in our kitchen cupboard, it means fresh bread is never far away.

throw a partyIf the number of guests at your Christmas party goes through the roof, hiring a private dining room saves time and hassle. With an intimate ambience, these venues offer an unmatched dining experience, perfect for a tailored Christmas party without the stress.

the DOrchesterWith a choice of three different spaces, which can all accommodate up to 28 people, the three-Michelin starred Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester is a great place for a party. The Salon Privé and Salon Park Lane rooms offer an intimate space and magnificent views of Hyde Park, while our favourite, The Table Lumière private room, is separated from the rest of the restaurant with a luminescent curtain, allowing the guests to feel the buzz of the place while being separated from the crowd. In addition, you

will get to choose between three stunning collections of Hermès china, meaning serious glamour points.www.alainducasse-dorchester.com

ed shaerf, chef patron of One Blenheim terrace in st. John’s Wood, shares his kitchen cupboard essentials

galvin at WinDOWsThe big draw of Galvin at Windows lies in those very windows, boasting exceptional views from the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane. The restaurant alone is an impressive place to dine, and the private dining room, separated from the restaurant by a shimmering gold curtain, enjoys floor to ceiling windows offering a peerless and staggering view of Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and beyond. The menu can be specially tailored based on the Michelin-starred modern French dining options. www.galvinatwindows.com

1. saffron: Saffron is perfect for marinating fish and poultry, and its luxurious flavour and colouring is crucial in classic dishes from across the globe, such as Spain’s paella valenciana. It’s also an essential in bouillabaisse, (a spicy fish stew from Marseilles), and gives the classic Italian risotto alla Milanese its rich colour and flavour. You can even use it in numerous Indian and Moroccan dishes.

Raise a glass

“

Catalonian CoolMarylebone’s latest must-eat is the Catalonia-inspired The Fat of the Land, from the same team behind The Queen’s Head & Artichoke in Regent’s Park. An old pub just off Marylebone High Street, it has been transformed into a tapas bar and restaurant, boasting an excellent wine list and a diverse and interesting menu. The para picar and tapes offer smaller dishes of traditional and contemporary Catalonian food, while the racions and pasta and rice sections cater for larger appetites. Everything is delicious, we especially loved the ham croquettes, braised rabbit, pan-fried baby squid and marinated fennel salad. 35 New Cavendish Street, W1Gwww.thefatoftheland.co.uk

CoCina argentinaShowcasing traditional cooking from the different regions of Argentina, the newly opened Zolio in Marylebone offers a lot more than steaks, with fish, sausages and even sweetbreads gracing the menu. A large open kitchen creates the popular food theatre approach, while dark brickwork and warm woods and chequered walls makes this a cosy and relaxing spot.9 Duke Street, W1Uwww.zoilo.co.uk

indian Street KitChen

The Roti Chai Dining Room in Marylebone has just launched weekly supper clubs, a perfect opportunity for the kitchen to explore their creative side and for guests to taste bespoke dishes, such as Masala Mac, a spin on classic macaroni and cheese.3 Portman Mews South, W1Hwww.rotichai.com

food&drink

the best news from the capital’s restaurant scene...For Christmas hosts, wines and spirits must be carefully chosen, and – for it is the party

season – be available in great quantities. Magnums, jeroboams and methuselahs not only provide plenty of glorious grape to go around, but are a perfect way to impress and delight at a party. Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne Rosé, with its light aroma of strawberry, redcurrant and orange, is a perfect party tipple,

while The Louis Roederer Cristal is a great accompaniment for caviar. For something delicious to sip during dinner, Drouhin’s Montrachet Marquis De Laguiche 2006 has intense flavours of hawthorn, apricot and hints of tobacco, which pair well with scallops or fish, while we would drink the Chateau Haut Brion with red meat or cheese.All available as magnums from www.harrods.com

to youR dooRThe innovative delivery service from Jessica’s Recipe Bag takes all the stress out of food shopping and planning. With ingredients sourced from Waitrose, local delis and grocers, and a selection of recipes which change every week, the bags provide four delicious high quality meals, easy to cook but not in any way predictable. Last week, the Vantage team enjoyed Chinese-style beef with sweet chilli and peanut sauce, and breaded chicken with honey and balsamic roasted beetroot. Seasonal and sensational.www.jessicasrecipebag.co.uk

hotteSt new opening

time foR teaAs Christmas approaches and families gather in their warm homes to kick off the festivities, nothing’s better to raise the spirits than picking on traditional wintery treats around the fire. Fine tea maker Whittard’s mulled wine instant tea is perfect for a cosy afternoon in; its lingering fruity and spicy flavour fully encapsulates the winter spirit while leaving you clear-headed. Serve it with traditional mince pies, iced Christmas fruit cake and Stollen from local artisans, Melrose and Morgan; all prepared using the best natural and organic ingredients, and often using traditional techniques. Joyeux Noel!www.whittard.co.ukwww.melroseandmorgan.com

london’s latest…

Argentina, the newly opened Zolio in Marylebone offers a lot

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christmaswine

Maud Fierobe, one of the founders of local Champagne wholesalers French Bubbles, takes us through some of their best loved fizz options for the holidays

Well-travelled, innovative and expertly cooked food is just the thing that King’s Cross needs, and Caravan is the place to get it, says Emma Johnson

caravan of Love

tipples

The British have a love affair with Champagne, and as a nation we are the world’s biggest export market for bubbles from the French region. However, we tend to save it for special occasions and stick to heavily branded

Champagnes, such as Krug, Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon. My husband and I set up French Bubbles after discovering a niche in the market for distributing and selling grower Champagne from small, independent producers. There are literally hundreds of these growers in the appellation, all of whom choose to make and market their own Champagne, rather than sell their grapes to the power-houses. Grower Champagne is affectionately nicknamed ‘farmer fizz’ as they come from the farmer rather than a factory, resulting in individual and quirky wines, reflecting the subtleties of its terroirs.

With Christmas almost upon us, no doubt everyone will be drinking more Champagne than usual. But don’t just save it for a pre-dinner tipple, I’ve given some advice on how you can drink it alongside your festive menu too.

On Christmas morning treat yourself to a Champagne breakfast and choose the Waris-Larmandier Cuvée Sensation Brut NV. This fresh and lively sparkler does wonders with all different kinds of egg dishes, particularly eggs benedict and asparagus!

Pertoise-Moriset Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV pairs well with seafood, making it a great choice to go with your starters. Made only from Chardonnay grapes, this creamy Champagne has a long, lingering finish with rich, fruity aromas, which go hand in hand with oysters and smoked salmon for a match made in heaven.

If you choose lamb or game for your main meal, then I suggest pairing it with Michel Furdyna Brut Rosé NV. This versatile Champagne is made from black Pinot Noir grapes and has a savoury backbone, packed with ripe red fruit flavours.

Finally finish off the meal with the Waris-Larmandier Cuvée Empreinte Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2004. A poised and very

complete vintage, it has hints of delicate candied fruits and a great depth which it is excellent with creamy desserts of apples, pears, stone fruits or exotic fruits, especially if they have a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg. A luxurious treat! n

www.frenchbubbles.co.uk

This deluxe brasserie, with warm, elegant surroundings, offers food all day, but we love the breakfast most of all. Featuring such treats as Fortnum’s welsh rarebit, kedgeree, omelette Arnold Bennett and kippers, there’s a real focus on the provenance of all the food here, and a laid back approach to the most important meal of the day. With warm, efficient service and a peaceful atmosphere away from the main shopping floor, this is a perfect place to fuel up for a long day’s shopping.www.fortnumandmason.com

food&drink

dinefestive fuelFor BreakFast the Fountain, Fortnum & Mason

Set in a mezzanine section above the fruit and vegetable hall in Harrods, Galvin Demoiselle is the perfect place to rest weary feet and take in the awesome magic of this iconic shopping destination. After a long morning Christmas

shopping, sink into one of the cosy leather booths and order from the all-day menu of classic French cuisine. Charcuterie plates, wild mushroom veloute, lobster fish cakes and slow cooked Cornish lamb are particular favourites. www.harrods.com

For LunchGalvin Demoiselle, harrods

Situated in the new Shoe Galleries department on the second floor, this gorgeous little bistro is the perfect place to get inspiration (and some personal indulgence) after a long day shopping for everyone else! With a fresh, bright setting it has

a rustic warmth and serves simple, elegant food all day, but is best for a late afternoon tea. Teas and coffees are plentiful and varied, the pastries and sandwiches are first class and the wine list has an impressive list of great French tipples.www.selfridges.com

For teaaubaine, selfridges

Granary Square near King’s Cross is a relatively new development that garnered a lot of attention in the summer months especially – helped by an extensive space dotted with glorious water fountains and a vast array of

impressive summer events.As winter draws in, though, it is no less inviting, not least because

of the presence of Exmouth Market favourite Caravan, which has found a second home in NW1 in an old grain store. After the main press hubbub had died down, we visited to see if the winning formula of rustic, intriguing, seasonal food, served with personality and panache could be replicated somewhere else.

This second venue is a much bigger affair than the Exmouth market location. A vast industrial room opens out to rows of wooden tables and grey chairs, as well as more casual bar seating, while behind a tall set of shelving housing all manner of interesting wines, sits their roastery – expertly roasting beans from around the world which are then sold wholesale, for customers to take home and also for use in the restaurant.

It’s a big, bold space, for sure, (the noise level alone is something to behold!), and décor is relaxed enough to let the impressive building do the talking, but it is also strangely warm, intimate and cosy. Soft lighting, warm wood and the relaxed, friendly welcome can’t help but put you at ease. Plus, it doesn’t really matter what it looks like, this place is all about the food.

And what food! Caravan’s mantra is food ‘well-travelled’ – a clever play on our current fixation with food miles and locally-sourced produce. Caravan’s food (and refreshingly, its wine too) takes its inspiration from all over the world, but is at the same time unashamedly seasonal and local. With big New Zealand influences (both Miles Kirby and general manager Chris Ammermann hail from NZ), expect on-trend sharing plates, bold flavours and something a little different.

On the evening we dined, we started with caramelised onion and Parmesan pizza bread, Summerhimu blue cheese, with fig, vincotto and truffle oil and ham hock terrine, served with smashed peas and soda bread. And already the menu was impressing – the blue cheese and truffle oil was suitably pungent and earthy in taste, while the brilliantly deconstructed version of pea and ham soup with soda bread was moreish.

Next up, we enjoy the grits, girolles, pecorino, truffle oil (I do love truffle). With a wonderful smooth texture, the sweet girolles and salty pecorino gave a burst of delicious flavours. Scallop ceviche (very on trend these days) was beautifully marinaded and tasty, while fried chicken with watermelon was completely inspired – the crisp watermelon and crunchy pomegranate provided the perfect antidote to the juicy, spicy chicken.

We finished off with sea bass, mussel and saffron broth, fennel and rouille – a French-inspired dish, updated with the fennel and perfectly cooked with soft, moist fish complemented by a wonderful broth.

While we dined in the evening, I should point out that Caravan is open for brunch at the weekend too, and is renowned for its leisurely, indulgent and eclectic approach to a meal that we Brits are yet to really offer more to than a ‘fry up’. Here everything is on offer, and with dishes like coconut rice and roasted plums, cheddar and onion jam on toast, salt beef bubble with poached eggs, the Hang Town fry (fried oyster, bacon and potato omelette) and sides of creamed corn, spiced avocado or boar sausage, this is the kind of place you could visit again and again, and never get bored. Wonderful.

www.caravankingscross.co.uk

858 �BBR Candles Mayfair Resize-AW.indd 1 13/11/2012 12:19

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food&drink

In October of last year, Hampstead pub The Duke Of Hamilton was named by a beer-lovers’ website as the best in London. It was a fabulous accolade for an establishment which has roots dating back 300 years,

but had the award been up for grabs in the pub’s early days the Duke wouldn’t have had a look-in. Back then, London was London and Hampstead and Highgate were but distant cousins. And those few short miles, it turned out, came to serve the area’s publicans rather well.

“It’s all got an awful lot to do with Smithfield Market,” says Susan Trackman, archivist at the Highgate Literary And Scientific Institution (HLSI), who recently worked on a history of Highgate’s drinking establishments. “This was the last resting and watering place for people who had crossed the country with their livestock. There was plenty of grazing land and water in the ponds, and you could fatten up your sheep and cattle

Some of the oldest watering holes in NW London have a history worth knowing. Mike Peake goes in search of the best brewery backstories

before walking down the hill to Smithfield.”In the 18th Century, she says, Highgate had at least

49 drinking establishments, a disproportionate number for a village whose male residents numbered in the hundreds. It was a boom time for the booze-merchants, if you will, and adding to the landlord’s smiles was the fact that for every drover heading south, there was a coachman heading north. The area became the perfect place to change horses after a steady uphill slog – and to stop for a drink and some lunch.

Today, while there’s a lot less than 49 pubs to choose from, Hampstead and Highgate still enjoy a dizzying number of gloriously old pubs which infuse the local history with every shade of colour. That oak-panelled hostelry in which you nurse today’s cask ale could have been where Charles Dickens once did his thinking, or a former resting place for highwaymen

storiestelling

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– just before they set out to pounce on the unwary traveller. Central London might have its stories of back-street inns and rowdy gin dens, but for a real slice of pub history, right here is where it’s at.

Centuries before twinkling fruit machines tried to separate drinkers from their hard-earned money, the publicans of Highgate hit on an equally canny way of doing it. Their idea was a mixture of fun, drinking and theatre, and it was known as the ‘Swearing On The Horns’ ceremony.

As early as the 17th Century, visitors to the area were asked if they had ever been sworn in before. If they hadn’t, they were urged to do so and, standing under a pair of animal horns fixed to a pole – deftly whipped out from under the bar by a grinning landlord – they swore an oath on the horns. Susan Trackman explains

For a real slice of pub

history, North West London is

where it’s at’’‘‘

food&drink

that they were then told to kiss the horns and, more importantly, to buy a round of drinks for everyone at the inn.

“I suspect the whole thing was really an advertising gimmick by the various publicans in an attempt to increase takings,” says Trackman. “You’d do it in one pub and then be carted off to another pub where it would happen again, and the locals may well have trooped around with you in the hope of more free drinks.”

Some victims, evidently, were actually quite willing to be fleeced out of a few shillings. “I think some came up specially for it,” says Trackman. “Do the ceremony, have a good lunch and a jolly drink-up and then roll back down to London.”

A recent episode of Midsomer Murders was based around a similar – if rather more sinister – historic pub ritual, and stories abound of landlords continuing ancient beery ceremonies to this day. North West London is no exception, and Trackman explains that an old set of horns kept by the HLSI are still brought out for ‘Swearing On The Horns’ re-enactments by local mayors every now and then.

Amongst several pubs in contention for the title of the oldest in the area, The Gatehouse in North Road claims that its earliest mention on official documents dates back to 1670. Now home to London fringe theatre group Upstairs At The Gatehouse, the pub has been a local melting pot for centuries, archives also showing that the borough boundary between London and Middlesex used to run through the middle of the building. Legend has it that if ever the premises were used as a courtroom, a rope divided the sessions to ensure that prisoners didn’t flee to the neighbouring authority. Dickens and Byron are said to be former customers, though they can’t have been attracted by the venue’s famed first-floor live entertainment room as it was only opened rather recently. Recently, of course, is all relative in local public house terms: the auditorium was inaugurated in 1895.

Trackman isn’t so convinced by the notion that the Gatehouse is the oldest pub around. “My guess is The Angel,” she says. “Not as it is now, but at that site I think there’s been a pub there since the 15th century.”

The Angel Inn on Highgate High Street was rebuilt as it stands today in 1930 and is perhaps best known locally as the place where the Monty Python team used to do their writing. Just this year, a plaque to commemorate Python Graham Chapman was unveiled at the pub. It reads: “Graham Chapman, a very naughty boy, drank here often and copiously.”

Historian Edward Walford, who wrote extensively on the history of the area’s pubs in 1878 for a publication called Old And New London, singled The Angel out for its “antiquity, dating probably before the era of the Reformation.” As he stood looking at it in the late 19th Century, he said it was made entirely out of wood.

Not all of the local pubs that Walford wrote about are still serving customers, of course. Some have been turned into homes or business premises, the old Fox and Crown at Highgate West Hill amongst them. Writing about the Fox in his 1878 history of London, Walford says: “It bears on its front the Royal arms, with a notice to the effect that: ‘This coat of arms is a grant from Queen Victoria, for services rendered to her majesty

when in danger travelling down this hill’.” He goes on to explain how the landlord of the pub had seen something wrong with one of the wheels of the Royal coach as it passed and had, “the good sense to stop the horses.”

In Hampstead, history buffs are drawn like beer-loving fireflies to the Spaniards Inn on Spaniards Road, which boasts some of the area’s best local legends. The Guardian included it on a list of Britain’s 200 best pubs in 2009, their writer pointing out that, according to folklore: “The Spaniards was yet another hideout for Dick Turpin.” Thought to have been built around 1585, the pub is positively steeped in history, some rumours insisting that Turpin was actually born at the pub in 1705. “It’s certainly an old establishment,” says Trackman. “And there’s a possible query that Dick Turpin’s father may once have been the landlord.” Its proximity to the Heath only helps add to its slightly nefarious claims to fame. “Back then the Heath was a very dangerous place,” Trackman asserts.

In addition to Turpin, the Inn’s owners also say it was immortalised in Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers and that Keats wrote ‘Ode To A Nightingale’ there. Others, however, will tell you that Keats’ most famous poem was actually written under a plum tree at his Hampstead home, but it’s a nice image all the same – the romantic young poet sipping claret in a pub on the edge of the Heath as literary magic tumbled from his quill. So too is the notion that The Holly Bush in Holly Mount once hosted art lectures by celebrated landscape painter John Constable. And that the Old Bull And Bush in North End Way was the inspiration for the music hall classic Down At The Old Bull And Bush. And, indeed that the Freemasons Arms in Downshire Hill is the only place in Britain where you can play the ancient game of London skittles.

Perhaps you should order a pint, and cock an ear towards the cellar door the next time you’re passing; you might find the dull sound of wood on wood oddly comforting.

It has, after all, been drifting up from the basement since 1934. n

Top:Spaniards Inn

Bottom:The Duke of Hamilton

The Holly Bush in Holly Mount once hosted art lectures

www.theritzlondon.comenquire@theritzlondon.com Telephone: 020 7493 8181

Make it a Ritz Christmas!

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Travel-sized luxury.Weekender Bag, £18, Bamford www.quintessentiallygifts.com

travel

listGiftInspire dreams of far flung places with the most stylish in travel accessories

Be in-the-know.Cool Hotels: Best of Europe, £70 Teneues, www.gift-library.com

Style for every season.Ladies Polka Dot Umbrealla, £175, Aspinal of London, www.aspinaloflondon.com

Light the way.Flashlight and Holder, £85 Carolina Herrerawww.carolinaherrera.com

Practical perfume.Artemisia Solid Fragrance, £44 Penhaligon’s, www.penhaligons.com

Business traveller extraordinaire.Business traveller extraordinaire.Arch Case, £4,600, Williams British Handmade Arch Case, £4,600, Williams British Handmade www.quintessentiallygifts.comwww.quintessentiallygifts.com

Got it covered.Passport Cover with Slide, £140 Smythson, www.smythson.com

Keep things beautifully in order Make Up Brush Roll in Black & Ascot Pink, £150, Aspinal of Londonwww.aspinaloflondon.com

A very classy carry-on.Double Y Linen And Leather Tote £1,199, Yves Saint Laurentwww.harrods.com

Take a little piece of London with you.London Bus Keyring, £125 Mulberry, www.harrods.com

Ultimate in-flight comfort points.Wool Leggings, £339, See by Chloéwww.harrods.com

For the first-class flyer.Printed Silk-satin Travel Kit, £295 Lanvin, www.net-a-porter.com

Get in the picture.La Sardina Beluga Metal Edition Camera in Red, £149 Lomography, www.gift-library.com

Family memories in miniature.Lifestyle Red Small Double Photo Frame, £64, Ettingerwww.ettinger.co.uk

The sound of style.Apollo Headphones, £70 Nixon, www.harrods.com

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TRAVEL in style

Luxury hotels are another

component of the city’s decisively modern edge. The Mamilla Hotel overlooks the Old City, affording guests magnificent views of the crumbling 16th century stone walls from the always popular rooftop restaurant. Among its array of individually designed rooms and suites – each installed with wonderfully extravagant liquid crystal bathroom walls – lies the Akasha Wellbeing Centre, recently recognised as one of the world’s finest new spas by Condé Nast Traveller’s 2012 Hot List.www.mamillahotel.com

HOT SPOT in December

stay

Within this culturally rich haven, Jerusalem stands out as a city of

timeless religious and spiritual value, a treasure trove of historical memory exemplified by the architectural delights of the eternally charming Old City. No visit to the city is complete without taking in the revered Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock, sites representative of the city’s intense attachment to three different major religions. Much of Jerusalem’s charm lies in its juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern, and those in pursuit of the latter need look no further than the trendy Alrov Mamilla Avenue, the city’s fashionable upmarket shopping district.

where

JeruSalem, ISrael

The slither of land upon the eastern Mediterranean has long held an unparalled draw

for inspired travellers from across the globe. With Hanukkah celebrations running from 8 – 16 December, this is a month of festivities in Israel, making it well worth a winter sojourn.

why

component of the city’s decisively modern edge. The Mamilla Hotel overlooks the Old City, affording guests magnificent views of the

staycomponent of the city’s

staycomponent of the city’s

the latter need look no further than the trendy Alrov Mamilla Avenue, the city’s fashionable upmarket shopping district.

short haulaltapura, Val thorens

Opened in November this year, and perched on the highest resort in Europe, the modern aesthetic at Altapura offers a refreshing tonic to the usual twee wooden cabin approach. Surrounding the Trois Vallées, the hotel’s enviable location makes for breathtaking views, and complete ski-in, ski-out capabilities. The hotel oozes elegance, offers some of the finest cuisine, and can also arrange ‘Adrenaline Packages’ which include thrills such as snow driving, tobogganing, dog sledding, glacier hiking, or airboarding. www.altapura.fr

travel

The divine Necker Island is the kind of private idyll afforded to few and envied by many. Since suffering a dramatic, and much publicised fire, last year, Richard Branson’s island hideaway has been immaculately restored and during selected Celebration Weeks, the 74 acre tropical retreat offers individual rooms for hire. Guests at the Balinese style villas can enjoy the aqua trampoline anchored to the seabed, sample food from Michelin-trained chefs served under the stars or simply relax and admire the blue waters from their beautiful beachside suite, complete with outside rain showers, a relaxation deck and sunset views. www.neckerisland.virgin.com

loNG haulthe little Nell, aspen

Every winter, Aspen in Colorado becomes a byword for the best in skiing terrains, sporting prowess and a seriously affluent crowd. America’s favourite ski town boasts a range of different slopes and a timelessly welcoming, glamorous ambience. The Little Nell Hotel matches the high standard of Aspen’s snowy peaks with its impeccable service, beautifully adorned rooms and suites (each with excellent mountain views) and gourmet gastronomy. www.thelittlenell.com

EscapE to MExicoThis winter, Mexico beckons. The five star paradise Capella Pedregal, located in coveted Cabo San Lucas, was recently anointed by Condé Nast Traveller as having the country’s best spa. Auriga Spa specialises in bestowing upon guests an authentic Mexican experience, and with this objective in mind has recently launched a new ‘Real Mexico’ product and treatment line. Infused with natural ingredients indigenous to the tropical region, such as sweet honey, Aloe Vera and Damiana herbs, the line is a holistic exploration of Mexican therapeutic tradition.www.capellapedregal.com

snowy dElightsNestled scenically in the Bernese Alps, the family-run Gstaad Palace’s winning combination of breath-taking alpine views, unspoilt seclusion and refined, elegant accommodation has made it an institution in the winter calendars of

many. This festive season, the hotel will add a new element to its appeal with the launch of its magical igloo experience, where guests are invited to spend a tranquil night in the beautifully undisturbed Saanerlochgrat Igloo Village. Yet another reason to encounter this perennially charming hotel.www.palace.ch

ski sEason hotEls

RooM with a ViEw

many. This festive season, the hotel will add a new element to its appeal with the launch of its magical igloo experience, where guests are invited to spend a tranquil night in the beautifully undisturbed Saanerlochgrat Igloo Village. Yet another reason to encounter this perennially charming hotel.www.palace.ch

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Wildgoing

Annabel Goldie-Morrison visits the surprisingly lush Kalahari, and finds a secluded wilderness escape boasting some of the most endangered species in the world

In the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, at the foot of the Korannaberg Mountains, lies Tswalu Kalahari. One of the largest private conservation projects in Africa, Tswalu covers some 386 square

miles of wilderness, over half the size of the Masai Mara. This is the country home of Nicky Oppenheimer, probably better known in his role as chairman of De Beers. Oppenheimer’s mission is to restore this substantial slice of the Kalahari to its original state, and so far this seems to be going rather well. Tswalu has recently been responsible for reintroducing black-maned Kalahari lions, and also supports a healthy population of desert black rhino – in fact, the reserve supports a

third of South Africa’s entire population of this critically endangered species.

Upon arriving by private plane from Cape Town (or Johannesburg), we were amazed by the surroundings. Here in the Southern Kalahari, or ‘Green Kalahari’ as it is sometimes known, there are wide open savannahs of semi-arid grassland and a huge diversity of habitat. At maximum capacity Tswalu only hosts thirty guests across two lodges, and therefore the 100,000 hectares of spectacular wilderness feel as close to private as it comes. We stayed in the Motse lodge, where there are eight suites including two family-sized ones. Each stone-walled, thatched cottage has huge

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double height rooms, king-sized beds kitted out in crisp linen and glass sliding doors opening onto a private sun deck overlooking the watering hole. Each suite has not one, but two, bathrooms, one indoors with a luxurious roll-top bath, and an outside shower with views across the plains. The Motse’s communal areas are perfect for lounging around post-game drive, sharing sightings with other guests. There are comfy seating areas inside and out, a bar, library and infinity pool with a truly endless view over the savannah. For large families and groups, Tarkuni Private Villa, previously the Oppenheimer’s exclusive private house, sleeps up to ten people. Set amidst two rolling mountain ranges, it is entirely self-contained with its own pool, living and dining areas, chef and private game viewing vehicle.

The main attraction at Tswalu is of course the wildlife, and most days are spent on sightings. On arrival our guide chatted with us and determined what we most wanted to see, so that he could tailor our stay accordingly. The ideal times for game drives are first thing in the morning, and around sunset, when the animals are at their most active. Waking at 5.30am to a magnificent African sunrise is quite an experience, with the early

light washing over the pale silken bushman grass and the landscape shimmering as the day gradually warms up.

Many of the animals we came across are those found in most safari areas, such as zebra, buffalo, giraffe and white rhino, but there are also some more unusual species that make the game experience at Tswalu particularly special. Rare species, seldom seen in the ‘usual’ safari destinations include roan and sable antelope, Tsessebe, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, as well as the aforementioned – and elusive – desert black rhino. Leopards are rarely seen, but the open savannah provides excellent cheetah viewing. We also saw Kalahari lions, famed for their size and beautiful manes, as well as wild dogs and hyena. With many safari-goers obsessed with ticking off the ‘Big Five’, it’s easy to overlook the smaller species. Tswalu has a habituated colony of meerkats that have grown to trust people and allow close observation. It was fascinating to watch them slowly wake and emerge from their burrows to bask in the sun and forage for grubs, and it was very difficult to tear ourselves away! Other smaller species you may spot at Tswalu include aardvark, pangolin, porcupine, silver fox, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, lynx, honey badger and small spotted genet.

4x4s aren’t the only method of transport at Tswalu; for a different view of the game, Tswalu has a stable of beautifully mannered horses, and without the constraints and noise of a vehicle the wildlife reacted differently to our presence we were able to ride through a herd of sable antelope, enjoying the magical stillness of the peaceful grazers who weren’t remotely bothered by us. the walking and horse safaris both.

The African sunrise is quite an experience, early

light washing over the pale silken bushman grass

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Tracking wildlife on foot also provides an alternative perspective of the flora and fauna, and allows you to see the unique vegetation up close, inspect nests and burrows and examine the smallest insect – things you’d usually miss in a vehicle.

Aside from the game, Tswalu has some ancient archaeological sites well worth exploring, with San rock carvings believed to be up to 380,000 years old – making it some of the oldest art on earth. We also visited the community health centre, school and adult learning centre to see the Tswalu Foundation at work.

During lazy afternoons we were drawn to the Tswalu Kalahari Spa, a serene space kitted out in simple natural decor, and offering massages and treatments by highly skilled therapists using a range of Kalahari ingredients. There’s also an outdoor treatment area set within an indigenous garden, where the occasional antelope wandered past and you are swiftly lulled into relaxation by the chirruping birdsong.

The food at Tswalu is a revelation, and worthy of any high-end cosmopolitan restaurant – were it not for the accompanying views and the fact that you are sitting in the midst of 100,000 hectares of unpopulated wilderness. Dishes include interpretations of classic South African dishes such as chakalaka and koeksisters. If you visit at the right time of year, you may get to sample the rare Kalahari truffle too! Meals are served in a variety of locations, whether on the terrace, on your private deck, in the open boma, or on the dunes with candles and starlight. Sundowners – that safari speciality – can be enjoyed on top of one of the hills with views in all directions of Tswalu.

Our last night was spent at the Malori, a true safari experience. This is a raised wooden deck out on the dunes, with a thatched shelter, canvas sides, huge comfortable bed and outdoor ‘bathroom’. We were escorted there in the early evening, and enjoyed sundowners and a showcase of the incomparable Kalahari sunset, whilst our guide prepared a sumptuous bush dinner. We were left to enjoy cheese and biscuits and a nightcap, before retiring to bed under a canopy of a trillion bright stars, listening to the nocturnal calls around us. We awoke to a spectacular sunrise and panoramic views all around us. Right on time, our guide arrived with tea and breakfast, and we were joined by a family of giraffes who lumbered slowly past, completely oblivious to our prescence. Unfortunately it was soon time to make our way back to the lodge and our flight out of the reserve, although I think a piece of Tswalu will always stay with us. n

Rates from £600 per person, per nightwww.tswalu.com

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travel

five of the best

Plush pads for big groups

Marco Polo, Val D’IsereAn ultimate chalet in an ultimate resort, making the most of your stay here means doing things like indulging in a glass of Perrier Jouet in the gold leaf covered swimming pool while watching a film on the cinema screen. The chalet has six beautiful en-suite bedrooms and there’s an entire floor dedicated to wellbeing with a sauna, gym and outdoor hot tub. Décor is opulent and indulgent, designed to make a glamorous impression, while foodies will love the fromagerie and wine cave.www.luxurychaletcollection.com

ToP of MIll, asPen This stunning mountain residence offers the epitome of luxury in one of the best locations in Aspen. The property can be hired to include a bespoke range of services, tailored around you, including the services of a chef and a butler who can cater for your every whim, while you can pick delectable tipples from the extensive wine cellar. The sumptuous living area is the perfect base for a family holiday, with its cosy ambience, large open fireplace and Steinway piano. Groups of friends will love the potential for a great get-together with a BBQ on the terrace or gathered round the billiard table.www.oxfordski.com

les anges, ZerMaTT Ultra-modern chic decor meets luxurious flourishes in this designer chalet. Floor-to-ceiling windows encourage light to flood through the space, while a roaring fire, two lounges, seven bedrooms – many with views of the Matterhorn – and as much Champagne you can drink, means this is the kind of place to celebrate with friends. Decked out with beautifully weathered reclaimed wood, stone, marble and bamboo, and with a dedicated spa area and an outside heated pool, this is the perfect spot to recline in the evenings and watch the sun set behind the mountains. www.elysiancollection.com

The loDge, VerbIer Boasting the luxury of 13 experienced staff at your disposal, including a chef trained by Raymond Blanc, and vast bedroom suites offering stunning views, Sir Richard Branson’s very own mountain retreat is nothing short of spectacular. Not only does it have its own ice rink, along with ski-in and ski-out capacity, but the impressive party room embraces everything the very word epitomises. Dance the night away beneath the glitter ball, while enjoying cocktails from the private bar; and the next day soothe sore heads in the in-house spa.www.luxurychaletcollection.com

chaleT arTeMIs, ausTrIaA food lover’s playground and party goer’s paradise, Chalet Artemis in the St Anton area of Austria is a sight to behold from inside and out. The quasi-hexagonal chalet boasts four floors of luxury and sleeps 12 in modernist, clean surrounds. The truly breath-taking top floor is dedicated to living and eating, while the separate 12-seater cinema is the perfect place to recline in the evening. As with all top class chalets, a wellness area on the lower ground floor offers everything you need to soothe aching joints after a long day skiing. www.summitretreats.com

The Lodge, Verbier

Marco Polo, Val D’Isere

Top of Mill, Aspen

Les Anges, Zermatt

Chalet Artemis, Austria

luxury skichalets

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The Luxury Brand Show

aLL aBoard

From the outset it was designed to be different; a showcase without an equal. Now, after a year of planning, the Luxury Brand Show 2013 is set to achieve its aim, opening next month as

the most impressive exhibition of its kind in the UK. Set within the auspicious confines of the 2013 Tullett Prebon London Boat Show, and featuring the products of more than 100 luxury lifestyle brands, this year’s Luxury Brand Show breaks the mould from anything that has gone before.

Based on the success of a similar show in 2012, from which the exhibition has evolved, this year’s fair returns at nearly twice the size; imagine walking into the largest luxury department store you’ve ever seen, complete with boys’ toys, designer gadgets, home cinemas and much more under one enormous roof. In addition to the world’s latest supercars, high-end road cars and classic automobiles, the Luxury Brand Show

Running the same time as this year’s Tullett Prebon London Boat Show, the Luxury Brand Show 2013

promises to be a Mecca for those who appreciate the finer things in life

xxx

2013 will showcase lavish homeware, exclusive UK and overseas properties, the best in leisure and holiday pursuits, the International Watch Fair and a collectors’ gallery.

Should that not be enough, a ticket to the exposition will grant you access to the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show 2013, a glittering meet of some of the

world’s most desirable sailing and motor yachts. Running at ExCeL

London the same time as the Active Travel Show, the Outdoors Show and

London Bike Show, a ticket will also grant you entry to these fascinating, adventure-led exhibitions.

Keith Kemp and Peter Stow, partners at St. James’s Place, comment: “Following our participation and support of last year’s show, we are again delighted to be sponsoring the next Luxury Brand Show which promises

to be even more exciting!” And so it certainly does; visitors will bear witness to a host of exclusive product launches and UK firsts. One of which will be the public debut of Kopi Luwak One, the world’s most exclusive coffee brand, courtesy of Bespoke Beverages Ltd. Known as ‘the Pinnacle of Coffee’, the incredible taste of Kopi Luwak One has, until now, only been available by appointment or referral, enjoyed by just a handful of coffee connoisseurs around the globe.

Elsewhere, MTECH, the UK’s leading independent Ferrari race specialists, will be offering visitors the chance to develop their driving skills. MTECH offer their clients complete racing packages, including the chance to develop circuit driving skills and obtain an official racing license. They’ll also fly you out to Scandinavia for some Ice Driving in a Lamborghini, Audi RS4 or Porsche 997.

To put your driving skills to the test, Ultimate Car Control specialises in empowering drivers of high performance vehicles with an unsurpassed level of car control. Gracing the carpets of ExCeL London this year, the company teaches advanced driving techniques that allow you to remain in control of your vehicle, even in extreme circumstances.

Promising to provide experiences to remember, Club Wembley will be on hand to offer the best in food, football, music and sporting events. For premium homeware, Gallery Rouge will be providing contemporary fine art and sculptures while Hydropool displays the most luxurious in self-cleaning hot tubs.

Elsewhere, fine watch and jewellery lovers can behold the latest collections from the likes of Chopard and Girard-Perregaux (pictured).

Motoring enthusiasts will also be given plenty at which to ogle. As well as the Lightning Car Company and Imperials Cars, a replica of a hand-built 1958 Vanwall will be in attendance. Vanwall was the first British manufacturer to construct a car that won a Formula 1 World Championship race. The year was 1957 and the driver one Sir Stirling Moss. The car at the show will be the world’s first replica of the famous Vanwall ’58.

But perhaps the star of the show will be P&A Wood’s Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Made in 1908, ‘The Silver Dawn’ has been laboriously renovated to feature all of its original parts, including its chassis, engine, gearbox and under seat fuel tank. Worth around £4 million it will no doubt attract as much attention as even the biggest boats across the hall.

Showcasing so many eminent brands, from the worlds of motoring, travel, jewellery, interiors, leisure and finance, the Luxury Brand Show 2013 is a Mecca for those with an appreciation of the finer things in life. n

The Luxury Brand Show was designed to be different; a showcase without an equal

The Luxury Brand Show 2013

Dates: 12 – 20 January 2013

Destination: ExCeL London

Show features include:

• The Supercar Showcase Gallery and Millionaires Playground – featuring supercars, classic cars and

the ultimate motoring experiences

• The Luxury Home & Property Show – presenting the latest products and finest UK and international properties

• International Watch Fair – for the latest pieces and most sought-after collectors’ editions

• The Limited Edition Gallery – a selection of collectable artworks and sculptures

• Leisure & Wellbeing – from the world’s most amazing holiday destinations to the most luxurious beauty and

spa treatments

For tickets please visit www.theluxurybrandshow.com

promotion

Arlington residentiAl8 Wellington Road, NW8 9SP020 7722 3322www.arlingtonresidential.co.uk

Aston ChAse69 / 71 Park Road, NW1 6XU020 7724 4724

800 Finchley RoadNW11 7TJ020 8455 3538

www.astonchase.com

BArgets16 Park Road, NW1 4SH020 7402 9494www.bargets.co.uk

Surrendale Place, Little Venice W9£2,350,000 freeholdAn immaculate & contemporary 4 storey family house, located on one of the quieter streets of Maida Vale. Accommodation comprises up to 2,762 sq ft of living space, including a double reception room with parquet flooring, 3 bedrooms & a spacious master suite, kitchen, conservatory & garden. The amenities of Maida Vale & Notting Hill are within close proximity.

Little Venice 020 7286 4632 sales.littlevenice@chestertonhumberts.com

chestertonhumberts.com

Che 1660 Vantage DPS 297x210.indd 2 18/11/2011 14:47

Chesterton humBerts55-56 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1QH020 7794 3311

26 Clifton Road, W9 1SX020 7286 4632

99-101 Parkway, NW1 7PP020 7867 2053 122 St. John’s Wood High StreetNW8 7SG020 3040 8611

www.chestertonhumberts.com

See below for eSee below for eSee below for eSSState agenttate agenttate agentSSS in Y in Y in YoooUUUrrr area area area

listing

RUNWILDM E D I A G R O U P

If you would like to appear within the property pages of VANTAGE, contact Felicity Morgan-Harvey, property manager, on 020 7987 4320 or f.morgan-harvey@runwildgroup.co.uk

SALES & LETTINGS

faronsutaria.co.uk

OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU

HOLLOWAY ROAD, N19

An impressive period conversion occupying the entire ground floor with own entrance and private garden. Approx. 888 sq ft. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room.

£425,000 Share of Freehold 020 7267 7074 camden@faronsutaria.co.uk

GAISFORD STREET, NW5

A 1st floor apartment with twin doors leading out to the cast iron balcony and communal gardens. Approx. 406 sq ft. Bedroom, bathroom, open-plan kitchen/reception room.

£330,000 Leasehold 020 7267 7074 camden@faronsutaria.co.uk

FS Vantage September 2011.indd 1 10/08/2011 12:51

FAron sutAriA114 -118 Parkway, NW1 7AN020 7267 7074www.faronsutaria.co.uk

hAmptons internAtionAl99 St John’s Wood Terrace NW8 6PL020 7717 5319

21 Heath street, NW3 6TR020 7717 5301

www.hamptons.co.uk

hAnover residentiAl102 St. John’s Wood TerraceNW8 6PL020 7722 2223www.hanover-residential.com

Knight FrAnK5-7 Wellington PlaceNW8 7PB 020 7586 2777

79-81 Heath StreetNW3 6UG 020 7431 8686 120a Mount StreetW1K 3NN020 7483 8349

www.knightfrank.co.uk

lAurenCe leigh020 7483 0101www.laurenceleigh.com

mArsh & pArsons35 Maida Vale, W9 1TP020 7368 4458www.marshandparsons.co.uk

pArKheAth208 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2AG020 7431 1234

8a Canfield Gardens, NW6 3BS020 7625 4567

192 West End Lane, NW6 1SG020 7794 7111

www.parkheath.com

resCorp residentiAl58 Acacia Road, St John’s Wood, NW8 6AG020 3348 8000www.rescorp.co.uk

sAvills7 Perrin’s Court, NW3 1QS020 7472 5000

15 St John’s Wood High StreetNW8 7NG020 3043 3600

www.savills.co.uk

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Va ntageshowcasing the finest hoMes & PRoPeRtY fRoM the best estate agents

PROPERTY

Image: Hanover Terrace, Regent’s Park, NW1Courtesy of Knight Frank, p. 108

a regal & Historic Home in nW1

Golden Gates

KnightFrank

Hanover Terrace, Regent’s Park NW1

Leasehold 121 Years

Unique regal residenceOne of the grandest houses in London, on the most exclusive terrace inside Regent’s Park.Meticulously refurbished with unsurpassed quality and design. Master suite, 3 furtherbedrooms, reception room with terrace and spectacular views, private garden and securedparking in mews with gym and additional 2 bedrooms. Approximately 625.0 sq m (6,727 sq ft).

(SJW120103)

Hanover Terrace, Regent’s Park NW1

Leasehold 121 Years

Unique regal residenceOne of the grandest houses in London, on the most exclusive terrace inside Regent’s Park.Meticulously refurbished with unsurpassed quality and design. Master suite, 3 furtherbedrooms, reception room with terrace and spectacular views, private garden and securedparking in mews with gym and additional 2 bedrooms. Approximately 625.0 sq m (6,727 sq ft).

KnightFrank.co.uk/St-Johns-Wood

020 7586 2777daniel.daggers@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank

(HAM080173)

Frognal Lane, Hampstead Village NW3

Freehold

£8,300,000

Impressive double fronted detached village house An impressive Grade II listed detached family house, set in the heart of Hampstead Village. The property is maintained to a high standard and offers flexible accommodation over four floors. 4/6 bedrooms, 3/5 reception rooms, 5 bathrooms, 90’ west facing rear garden, double garage with off street parking for 4/5 cars. Separate staff flat. Approximately 566 sq m (6,095 sq ft)

KnightFrank.co.uk/Hampstead

020 7431 8686hampstead@knightfrank.com

St Marks Square, Primrose Hill NW1

Freehold

Guide Price: £5,500,000

Impressive white stucco fronted houseArguably one of the finest Penthouse apartments within Central London. Master bedroom suite, 2 further bedroom suites, reception room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room, 3 south facing terraces, cloakroom, parking, lift, 24 hour porter. Approximately 243.03 sq.m (2,616 sq.ft)

KnightFrank.co.uk/Hampstead

Knight Frank

(SJW120285)

St Marks Square, Primrose Hill NW1

Freehold

Guide Price: £5,500,000

Impressive white stucco fronted houseArguably one of the finest Penthouse apartments within Central London. Master bedroom suite, 2 further bedroom suites, reception room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room, 3 south facing terraces, cloakroom, parking, lift, 24 hour porter. Approximately 243.03 sq.m (2,616 sq.ft)

KnightFrank.co.uk/St-Johns-Wood

020 7586 2777stjohnswood@knightfrank.com

Because we are alwaysthere to lend a hand

And enough fi replaces to hold millions of stockings

This year we HAVE LET enough kitchensto cook thousands of turkeys

Every year, our agents help thousands of people to buy, sell, rent and let some of the UK’s fi nest properties, from manor houses to town houses, working farms to cosy apartments. With the latest online marketing tools and an international reach to rival Santa’s, our experienced teams know just how to bring people and property together.

Discover more reasons why so many clients choose Knight Frank, whatever the season – talk to ourSt John’s Wood team on 020 3463 2622 or visit

Wishing you a prosperous New Year

KnightFrank.co.uk

St John's Wood Lettings Ad.indd 2 08/11/2012 11:47

property

Another yeAr over

Most experts would agree that the property market throughout 2012 has not been without its challenges, both for buyers and sellers. The continuing economic uncertainty and restricted lending from banks has

impacted the rest of the UK more than in London, where property in prime central locations remains unaffected and is holding up well as a solid investment.

The ongoing demand continues from overseas buyers in search of trophy houses and apartments. Wealthy buyers are hailing from across the globe from India, UAE, China and South East Asia, and of course, Eastern Europe. It is the buyers from Eastern Europe who seem prepared to outbid those from other countries to secure their ‘trophy’ home. At this level of the market, the tax changes and new legislation appears to have had little or no impact, with buyers at this level retaining expert and costly advisors to negotiate hard and advise in the wake of any such changes.

It seems that a shift in the rationale of moving has emerged throughout 2012, with lower mortgage rates putting would-be sellers under less pressure and people are also less inclined to move for the sake of it, recognising that inevitably selling well will still mean paying a premium to move on and secure their ideal home. As this year has progressed, the reality is that only perfect properties are attracting serious buyers and selling. The property and the location must fulfil all the criteria to secure a deal. Buyers at the top end of the market are in no rush and feel no pressure to move, so they view properties on the market with the most critical of eyes, drilling down to every conceivable detail and piece of paperwork. Premium prices continue to be achieved for the best properties, which tick all the boxes, while those that fall short remain unsold. Further down the market, buyers and sellers have remained cautious, only venturing into the market if the right place is available at the right price; again anything that does not fulfil their exact requirements remains unsold.

Looking ahead to 2013, I suspect that the demand for prestigious, trophy homes in the prime addresses will continue. Throughout 2012, the restricted lending to developers resulted in a noticeable lack of newly developed properties and unfulfilled buying requirements. This situation looks set to improve slightly with more developments in the pipeline, enabled by funding coming from outside sources and private equity.

The market will continue to move albeit at a slower pace, with a greater divide between the good properties, ‘ticking all the boxes’ achieving premium prices, and those on the fringes remaining unsold. Prime locations will continue to mean an increase in price, but whereas before buyers may have considered buying property that came close to their wishlist, I suspect, based on how the tail end of 2012 is going, that those buyers will wait until the right place comes along rather than settle for second best. n

020 7499 3434www.simonbarnes.com

Simon Barnes reflects on the challenges 2012 has

brought to the residential property market in London

and looks ahead to 2013

HAMILTON TERRACEST JOHN’S WOOD NW8£3,950,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

A unique opportunity to purchase a substantial duplex garden apartment (260sq m/2,800sq ft) on one of the finestthoroughfares in St John’s Wood. The apartment, which provides scope for restoration and refurbishment, benefits fromtwo large reception rooms with high ceilings and a beautifully presented landscaped private garden.

Hamilton Terrace is superbly located for the boutiques, shops, cafés, restaurants and transport facilities of both St John’sWood High Street and Maida Vale, including St John’s Wood Underground Station (Jubilee Line) and Maida ValeUnderground Station (Bakerloo Line) whilst within close proximity to the open spaces of both Regent’s Park andPaddington Recreation Ground and tennis courts.

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIESPrincipal Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, 3 Further Bedrooms, 2 Further Bathrooms (1 En-Suite), Fully Fitted Kitchen,Drawing Room, Dining Room, Conservatory, Guest Cloakroom, Utility Room, Balcony, Patio, Landscaped Private RearGarden, Residents Only Permit Parking.

SOLE AGENT

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ELM TREE ROADST JOHN’S WOOD NW8£8,950,000 FREEHOLD

A rare opportunity to acquire a wonderful low built non-basement 5/7 bedroom detached family home (436sq m/4,700sq ft)arranged over three floors only. The house features excellent entertaining space including a stunning orangery and furtherbenefits from an enchanting private walled garden.

Elm Tree Road is ideally located between Circus Road and Grove End Road, thus within walking distance of the fashionableboutique shops, restaurants and transport facilities of St John’s Wood High Street including St John’s Wood Underground Station(Jubilee Line).

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIESPrincipal Bedroom with Dressing Room, En-Suite Bathroom and Balcony overlooking the Orangery, 4/6 Further Bedrooms, 2 Further Bathrooms (1 En-Suite), Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Family/Sitting Room, Studio/Bedroom6 with private adjoining Bathroom, Study/Bedroom 7 with En-Suite Shower Room, Orangery, Utility Room, Cloakroom, Storage,Balcony, Terrace, Landscaped Private Walled Garden, Double Length Garage.

SOLE AGENT

REGENT’S PARK OFFICE69–71 PARK ROADLONDON NW1 6XU

T–020 7724 4724F –020 7724 6160

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HAMILTON TERRACEST JOHN’S WOOD NW8£3,950,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

A unique opportunity to purchase a substantial duplex garden apartment (260sq m/2,800sq ft) on one of the finestthoroughfares in St John’s Wood. The apartment, which provides scope for restoration and refurbishment, benefits fromtwo large reception rooms with high ceilings and a beautifully presented landscaped private garden.

Hamilton Terrace is superbly located for the boutiques, shops, cafés, restaurants and transport facilities of both St John’sWood High Street and Maida Vale, including St John’s Wood Underground Station (Jubilee Line) and Maida ValeUnderground Station (Bakerloo Line) whilst within close proximity to the open spaces of both Regent’s Park andPaddington Recreation Ground and tennis courts.

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIESPrincipal Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, 3 Further Bedrooms, 2 Further Bathrooms (1 En-Suite), Fully Fitted Kitchen,Drawing Room, Dining Room, Conservatory, Guest Cloakroom, Utility Room, Balcony, Patio, Landscaped Private RearGarden, Residents Only Permit Parking.

SOLE AGENT

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astonchase.com

ELM TREE ROADST JOHN’S WOOD NW8£8,950,000 FREEHOLD

A rare opportunity to acquire a wonderful low built non-basement 5/7 bedroom detached family home (436sq m/4,700sq ft)arranged over three floors only. The house features excellent entertaining space including a stunning orangery and furtherbenefits from an enchanting private walled garden.

Elm Tree Road is ideally located between Circus Road and Grove End Road, thus within walking distance of the fashionableboutique shops, restaurants and transport facilities of St John’s Wood High Street including St John’s Wood Underground Station(Jubilee Line).

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIESPrincipal Bedroom with Dressing Room, En-Suite Bathroom and Balcony overlooking the Orangery, 4/6 Further Bedrooms, 2 Further Bathrooms (1 En-Suite), Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Family/Sitting Room, Studio/Bedroom6 with private adjoining Bathroom, Study/Bedroom 7 with En-Suite Shower Room, Orangery, Utility Room, Cloakroom, Storage,Balcony, Terrace, Landscaped Private Walled Garden, Double Length Garage.

SOLE AGENT

REGENT’S PARK OFFICE69–71 PARK ROADLONDON NW1 6XU

T–020 7724 4724F –020 7724 6160

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CHESTER PLACEREGENT’S PARK NW1£3,995,000 LEASEHOLD

A bright and well-presented Grade I Listed residence (240sq m/2,583sq ft) within thissought after Nash Terrace located directly opposite Regent’s Park. The house providesextensive family accommodation including an elegant first floor drawing room with floor to ceiling windows. Further benefits include a private courtyard and residents only offstreet parking.

Chester Place is superbly located on the eastern side of Regent’s Park providing easy access to the West End and the City.

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIESPrincipal Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, 3 Further Bedrooms, Family Bathroom,Shower Room, Fully Fitted Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Double Length Drawing Room, DiningRoom, Study, Guest Cloakroom, 2 Storage Vaults, Residents Only Off Street Parking.

PRINCIPAL AGENT

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astonchase.com

HIGHGATELONDON N6POA FREEHOLD

A unique family home set discreetly off Highgate West Hill, standing in a west-facing double plot of almost 3/4 of an acre. The house, which extends to 522sq m (5,942sq ft), has been well maintained by the current owners andfeatures expansive well planned entertaining areas including a large conservatory and a library with the capacity tostore some 3,000 books together with well-balanced bedroom accommodation.

The house is approached via a footpath from the property’s garage and parking which is just off Highgate West Hill.Highgate Village’s shops and restaurants are within 500 metres and Hampstead Heath is less than 300 metres away.

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIESPrincipal Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, 5 Further Bedrooms, 3 Further Bathrooms (1 En-Suite), Shower Room,Drawing Room, Dining Room, Sitting Room, Library/Study, Conservatory, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Guest Cloakroom,Utility Room, 3 Store Rooms, Extensive West-Facing Rear Garden, Landscaped Front Garden, Garaging for 2 Cars,Additional Private Residents Off Street Parking.

JOINT SOLE AGENT

REGENT’S PARK OFFICE69–71 PARK ROADLONDON NW1 6XU

T–020 7724 4724F –020 7724 6160

Ast_Chs DPS2:Vantage_DPS 14/11/12 16:48 Page 2

CHESTER PLACEREGENT’S PARK NW1£3,995,000 LEASEHOLD

A bright and well-presented Grade I Listed residence (240sq m/2,583sq ft) within thissought after Nash Terrace located directly opposite Regent’s Park. The house providesextensive family accommodation including an elegant first floor drawing room with floor to ceiling windows. Further benefits include a private courtyard and residents only offstreet parking.

Chester Place is superbly located on the eastern side of Regent’s Park providing easy access to the West End and the City.

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIESPrincipal Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, 3 Further Bedrooms, Family Bathroom,Shower Room, Fully Fitted Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Double Length Drawing Room, DiningRoom, Study, Guest Cloakroom, 2 Storage Vaults, Residents Only Off Street Parking.

PRINCIPAL AGENT

Ast_Chs DPS2:Vantage_DPS 14/11/12 17:11 Page 1

astonchase.com

HIGHGATELONDON N6POA FREEHOLD

A unique family home set discreetly off Highgate West Hill, standing in a west-facing double plot of almost 3/4 of an acre. The house, which extends to 522sq m (5,942sq ft), has been well maintained by the current owners andfeatures expansive well planned entertaining areas including a large conservatory and a library with the capacity tostore some 3,000 books together with well-balanced bedroom accommodation.

The house is approached via a footpath from the property’s garage and parking which is just off Highgate West Hill.Highgate Village’s shops and restaurants are within 500 metres and Hampstead Heath is less than 300 metres away.

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIESPrincipal Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, 5 Further Bedrooms, 3 Further Bathrooms (1 En-Suite), Shower Room,Drawing Room, Dining Room, Sitting Room, Library/Study, Conservatory, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Guest Cloakroom,Utility Room, 3 Store Rooms, Extensive West-Facing Rear Garden, Landscaped Front Garden, Garaging for 2 Cars,Additional Private Residents Off Street Parking.

JOINT SOLE AGENT

REGENT’S PARK OFFICE69–71 PARK ROADLONDON NW1 6XU

T–020 7724 4724F –020 7724 6160

Ast_Chs DPS2:Vantage_DPS 14/11/12 16:48 Page 2

Lancaster Grove NW3 £2,195,000

Aberdare Gardens NW6 £1,500,000

Well positioned in the heart of Belsize Park and with easy access to Primrose Hill and the Heath, a garden apartment with private entrance within a handsome Victorian house.

Superbly renovated throughout, and with sliding glass doors connecting the kitchen/diner to the 60ft garden, this is an outstanding, bright and contemporary living space.

Aberdare Gardens is a prime residential street within the sought-after South Hampstead Conservation Area.

This sleek and contemporary garden apartment comes with the benefit of off street parking, and a secluded private south-facing terrace and garden.

28’6 Kitchen/Diner 20’9 Reception Room 3 Double Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms60’ Private Rear Garden Share of Freehold

Contact Belsize Park Office 020 7431 1234

18’3 Reception, 15’9 ConservatoryStunning Kitchen with Glass Walls3 Double Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms62’3 South-facing Garden Off Street Parking

Contact South Hampstead Office 020 7625 4567

www.parkheath.comwww.parkheath.com

Belsize Park Sales 020 7431 1234 Lettings 020 7431 3104 nw3@parkheath.com Property ManagementTel 020 7722 6777pm@parkheath.com

Belsize Park Sales 020 7431 1234 Lettings 020 7431 3104 nw3@parkheath.com Property ManagementTel 020 7722 6777pm@parkheath.com

South Hampstead Sales 020 7625 4567 Lettings 020 7644 0800 nw6@parkheath.com West Hampstead Sales 020 7794 7111 Lettings 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

South Hampstead Sales 020 7625 4567 Lettings 020 7644 0800 nw6@parkheath.com West Hampstead Sales 020 7794 7111 Lettings 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

NOTE: THIS IS LHP NOTE: THIS IS RHP

Lancaster Grove NW3 £2,195,000

Aberdare Gardens NW6 £1,500,000

Well positioned in the heart of Belsize Park and with easy access to Primrose Hill and the Heath, a garden apartment with private entrance within a handsome Victorian house.

Superbly renovated throughout, and with sliding glass doors connecting the kitchen/diner to the 60ft garden, this is an outstanding, bright and contemporary living space.

Aberdare Gardens is a prime residential street within the sought-after South Hampstead Conservation Area.

This sleek and contemporary garden apartment comes with the benefit of off street parking, and a secluded private south-facing terrace and garden.

28’6 Kitchen/Diner 20’9 Reception Room 3 Double Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms60’ Private Rear Garden Share of Freehold

Contact Belsize Park Office 020 7431 1234

18’3 Reception, 15’9 ConservatoryStunning Kitchen with Glass Walls3 Double Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms62’3 South-facing Garden Off Street Parking

Contact South Hampstead Office 020 7625 4567

www.parkheath.comwww.parkheath.com

Belsize Park Sales 020 7431 1234 Lettings 020 7431 3104 nw3@parkheath.com Property ManagementTel 020 7722 6777pm@parkheath.com

Belsize Park Sales 020 7431 1234 Lettings 020 7431 3104 nw3@parkheath.com Property ManagementTel 020 7722 6777pm@parkheath.com

South Hampstead Sales 020 7625 4567 Lettings 020 7644 0800 nw6@parkheath.com West Hampstead Sales 020 7794 7111 Lettings 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

South Hampstead Sales 020 7625 4567 Lettings 020 7644 0800 nw6@parkheath.com West Hampstead Sales 020 7794 7111 Lettings 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

NOTE: THIS IS LHP NOTE: THIS IS RHP

Wedderburn Road NW3 £3,750,000

Crediton Hill NW6 £1,075,000

A rarely available raised and lower ground floor maisonette within an imposing double-fronted detached property on a sought after tree-lined Hampstead street.

Bright throughout and with flexible internal accommodation of nearly 3,600 sq ft

In a premier West Hampstead location and with the multiple transport links of the area within easy reach, a superb garden apartment with high ceilings and large sash windows, set within a grand period conversion.

The reception opens to a conservatory/dining room which leads to the south-west facing garden with terrace and lawn.

27’4 Reception Opening to Garden22’4 2nd Reception with Bay Window33’4 Kitchen/Conservatory5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms Magnificent 90’ Garden with Patio

Contact Belsize Park Office 020 7431 1234

20’3 Reception RoomBright Kitchen Opening to Conservatory3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms45’ Private Garden Share of Freehold

Contact West Hampstead Office 020 7794 7111

www.parkheath.comwww.parkheath.com

Belsize Park Sales 020 7431 1234 Lettings 020 7431 3104 nw3@parkheath.com Property ManagementTel 020 7722 6777pm@parkheath.com

Belsize Park Sales 020 7431 1234 Lettings 020 7431 3104 nw3@parkheath.com Property ManagementTel 020 7722 6777pm@parkheath.com

South Hampstead Sales 020 7625 4567 Lettings 020 7644 0800 nw6@parkheath.com West Hampstead Sales 020 7794 7111 Lettings 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

South Hampstead Sales 020 7625 4567 Lettings 020 7644 0800 nw6@parkheath.com West Hampstead Sales 020 7794 7111 Lettings 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

NOTE: THIS IS LHP NOTE: THIS IS RHP

Wedderburn Road NW3 £3,750,000

Crediton Hill NW6 £1,075,000

A rarely available raised and lower ground floor maisonette within an imposing double-fronted detached property on a sought after tree-lined Hampstead street.

Bright throughout and with flexible internal accommodation of nearly 3,600 sq ft

In a premier West Hampstead location and with the multiple transport links of the area within easy reach, a superb garden apartment with high ceilings and large sash windows, set within a grand period conversion.

The reception opens to a conservatory/dining room which leads to the south-west facing garden with terrace and lawn.

27’4 Reception Opening to Garden22’4 2nd Reception with Bay Window33’4 Kitchen/Conservatory5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms Magnificent 90’ Garden with Patio

Contact Belsize Park Office 020 7431 1234

20’3 Reception RoomBright Kitchen Opening to Conservatory3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms45’ Private Garden Share of Freehold

Contact West Hampstead Office 020 7794 7111

www.parkheath.comwww.parkheath.com

Belsize Park Sales 020 7431 1234 Lettings 020 7431 3104 nw3@parkheath.com Property ManagementTel 020 7722 6777pm@parkheath.com

Belsize Park Sales 020 7431 1234 Lettings 020 7431 3104 nw3@parkheath.com Property ManagementTel 020 7722 6777pm@parkheath.com

South Hampstead Sales 020 7625 4567 Lettings 020 7644 0800 nw6@parkheath.com West Hampstead Sales 020 7794 7111 Lettings 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

South Hampstead Sales 020 7625 4567 Lettings 020 7644 0800 nw6@parkheath.com West Hampstead Sales 020 7794 7111 Lettings 020 7794 7111 192@parkheath.com

NOTE: THIS IS LHP NOTE: THIS IS RHP

S t J o h n ’ S W o o dL O N D O N N W 8

An end of terrAce VictoriAn house comprising of 2,424 sq ft (225 sq metres) of AccommodAtion presented in beAutiful decorAtiVe condition, situAted in A quiet enclAVe on the West side of st John's Wood. the house feAtures An impressiVe 32ft/10m reception room As Well As A kitchen leAding to A lArge dining room.

4/5 bedrooms, 2 bAthrooms, 1 shoWer room, lArge 1st floor reception room, dining room, kitchen, util ity room, guest cloAkroom, 2 pAtio AreAs

Freehold sole agents £2,395,000

LHP_281883_Arlington_Vantage_DEC12.indd 1 16/11/2012 10:27

W a d h a m G a r d e n sL O N D O N N W 3

A beAutifully presented second floor ApArtment (top floor), providing 1741 sq ft / 162 sq m of AccommodAtion. the ApArtment forms pArt of A hAndsome detAched double-fronted house, And is locAted in A quiet tree-lined roAd A few moments from the entrAnce to primrose hill pArk.

3 bedrooms, 2 bAthrooms, 1 shower room, double reception room, kitchen/breAkfAst room, study AreA

985 YEAR LEASE SoLE AgEntS guidE pRicE £2,000,000

RHP_281883_Arlington_Vantage_DEC12.indd 2 16/11/2012 10:28

S t J o h n ’ S W o o dL O N D O N N W 8

An end of terrAce VictoriAn house comprising of 2,424 sq ft (225 sq metres) of AccommodAtion presented in beAutiful decorAtiVe condition, situAted in A quiet enclAVe on the West side of st John's Wood. the house feAtures An impressiVe 32ft/10m reception room As Well As A kitchen leAding to A lArge dining room.

4/5 bedrooms, 2 bAthrooms, 1 shoWer room, lArge 1st floor reception room, dining room, kitchen, util ity room, guest cloAkroom, 2 pAtio AreAs

Freehold sole agents £2,395,000

LHP_281883_Arlington_Vantage_DEC12.indd 1 16/11/2012 10:27

W a d h a m G a r d e n sL O N D O N N W 3

A beAutifully presented second floor ApArtment (top floor), providing 1741 sq ft / 162 sq m of AccommodAtion. the ApArtment forms pArt of A hAndsome detAched double-fronted house, And is locAted in A quiet tree-lined roAd A few moments from the entrAnce to primrose hill pArk.

3 bedrooms, 2 bAthrooms, 1 shower room, double reception room, kitchen/breAkfAst room, study AreA

985 YEAR LEASE SoLE AgEntS guidE pRicE £2,000,000

RHP_281883_Arlington_Vantage_DEC12.indd 2 16/11/2012 10:28

We have moved office.

Clifton Hill, St John’s Wood, NW8 | £6,395,000

Principle Agent Freehold

A detached freehold house with a current gross internal floor area of 4,061 sq ft, with planning permission to extend the house to the rear and to create an extra floor at basement level, giving a potential total area of approximately 5,400 sq ft. In addition, the house could also be demolished and an exciting new home designed and built on the

existing site (subject to the necessary planning consents).

You can now find us at 102 St John’s Wood Terrace, St John’s Wood, London NW8 6PL t: 020 7722 2223 f: 020 7722 6679 e:info@hanover-residential.com

t: 020 7722 2223

e: info@hanover-residential.com

w: hanover-residential.com

Hamilton Gardens, St John’s Wood, NW8 | £2,695,000

Joint Sole Agent Freehold

A well presented Victorian family house (2,477 sq.ft / 230 sq.m) located on this quiet residential street in St John’s Wood. The house offers spacious accommodation over five floors and benefits include a 31” reception room occupying the entire first floor, a kitchen breakfast room and a south facing patio garden.

St Edmunds Court, St John’s Wood, NW8 Castellain Mansions, Maida Vale, W9

Sole Agent Share of Freehold £799,950 Sole Agent Share of Freehold £875,000

A delightful two bedroom apartment (752 sq ft / 70 sq m) situated on the first floor of this smart purpose built block in this prime St Johns Wood location. This bright apartment features an impressive 18ft reception room with double height ceilings,

access to a balcony, wooden flooring and a large loft space providing fantastic additional storage.

A delightful three bedroom (996 sq ft / 93 sq m) apartment situated on the third floorof this highly regarded mansion block in the heart of Maida Vale. The property boasts

an excellent reception room with period fireplace and a sizeable eat in kitchen andaccess to stunning communal gardens to the rear of the block.

Blazer Court, St John’s Wood, NW8 Boydell Court, St John’s Wood, NW8

Principle Agent Leasehold £1,325,000 Principle Agent Leasehold £1,850,000

An immaculately presented two bedroom two bathroom apartment (1,017 sq ft/94 sq m) set within this modern purpose built block benefitting from a double reception/dining

room and a fantastic 20 ft west facing terrace. Blazer Court has 24 hour porterage, secure underground parking and is located on St John’s Wood Road, directly opposite

the world famous Lord’s cricket ground.

An excellent three double bedroom, two bathroom duplex penthouse apartment (1,362 sq ft / 126 sq m) situated on the tenth floor of this smart gated complex with 24 hour concierge. This exceptional apartment features a stunning 36ft roof terrace with

panoramic views across London, passenger lift and a secure lock up garage.

We have moved office.

Fairfax Road, South Hampstead, NW6 St John’s Wood Court, St John’s Wood, NW8

Principle Agent Freehold OIEO £2,000,000 Joint Sole Agent Leasehold £2,350,000

Situated very conveniently moments from Swiss Cottage and South Hampstead, is thislarger than average five bedroom house offering good living and entertaining space,off street parking and a multi-tiered patio garden. The house is situated within close

proximity to the shops, restaurants and transport links of the Finchley Road and within easy reach of the amenities of Swiss Cottage.

A unmodernised four bedroom, three bathroom apartment situated onthe fourth floor of this prestigious block. This bright apartment is ideal for entertaining,

featuring impressive reception rooms and access to a balcony. Additional benefits includepassenger lift and uniformed porterage. St Johns Wood Court is located opposite

London’s famous Lords Cricket Ground

Sole Agent Freehold £3,250,000 Principle Agent Freehold £6,000,000

A beautifully presented five bedroom period family house set within this tranquil crescent, moments from the open spaces of both Primrose Hill and Regents Park.

The house boasts an exceptional kitchen/breakfast room which leads to a pretty and secluded private rear garden, elegant reception room with separate study, master

bedroom suite, four further bedrooms, one en-suite bathroom and family bathroom.

White Lodge Close is quietly situated off London’s internationally renowned The Bishops Avenue. A detached house being sold with the benefit of planning permission

to demolish and construct a new residence of approximately 1,022 sq m (11,000 sq ft) which also incorporates a lower basement floor to provide leisure facilities and

swimming pool. Further details available upon request.

Gloucester Crescent, Primrose Hill, NW1 White Lodge Close, Off The Bishops Avenue, N2

You can now find us at 102 St John’s Wood Terrace, St John’s Wood, London NW8 6PL t: 020 7722 2223 f: 020 7722 6679 e:info@hanover-residential.com

t: 020 7722 2223

e: info@hanover-residential.com

w: hanover-residential.com

You can now find us at 102 St John’s Wood Terrace, St John’s Wood, London NW8 6PL t: 020 7722 2223 f: 020 7722 6679 e:info@hanover-residential.com

t: 020 7722 2223

e: info@hanover-residential.com

w: hanover-residential.com

Avenue Road, St John’s Wood, NW8 Jack Straws Castle, Hampstead, NW3

£500 per week £1,250 per week

A newly refurbished apartment situated on the second floor of this modern development is available to rent. Benefiting from a balcony the property comprises of entrance hall, two double bedrooms, bathroom, reception room and a fully fitted

kitchen. Avenue Road is close to Regent’s Park and St John’s Wood High Street and underground station (Jubilee line).

A very spacious (2,247 sq ft) recently refurbished penthouse set within a prestigious, historically significant Hampstead development. Retaining many original features the

property has been very well planned and benefits from a large private roof terrace overlooking Hampstead Heath.

Clarence Terrace, Regents Park, NW1 Collection Place, St John’s Wood, NW8

£1,750 per week £2,000 per week

An impressive two bedroom, two bathroom first floor split level apartment with study, grand double height reception and direct access onto east facing balcony that overlooks the park

and boating lake. Clarence Terrace is a much sought after period terrace with resident porters and reserved underground parking located on the western perimeter of Regents

Park conveniently positioned in close proximity of Baker Street underground station.

Located in arguably the best location within this landmark development is this stunning three bedroom, three bathroom contemporary house offered in immaculate condition

throughout. The house benefits from a large private decked patio garden, secure underground parking for two cars, comfort cooling, Crestron Automation, underfloor

heating, limestone and timber floors, decked roof terrace, 24-hour concierge and CCTV.

You can now find us at 102 St John’s Wood Terrace, St John’s Wood, London NW8 6PL t: 020 7722 2223 f: 020 7722 6679 e:info@hanover-residential.com

t: 020 7722 2223

e: info@hanover-residential.com

w: hanover-residential.com

Ordnance Mews, St John’s Wood, NW8 Gloucester Avenue, Primrose, Hill, NW1

£550 per week £1,000 per week

A beautifully presented two double bedroom apartment with its own entrance, located in one of St Johns Wood’s premier locations. The accommodation comprises a spacious reception room, separate fully fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms and a large family bathroom. The property boasts an abundance of natural light and is located moments from the shops and cafés of St John’s Wood High Street and St John’s Wood Station.

Located behind an electric gated entrance, a new development of six contemporary mews houses offering a fully fitted kitchen, a double aspect reception room leading

to a bridged terrace, 3 double bedrooms one with an en-suite bathroom and an additional family bathroom. The house also benefits from one allocated parking space.

The Galleries, St John’s Wood, NW8 Hamilton Gardens, St John’s Wood, NW8

£2,500 per week £3,250 per week

A well proportioned 4 bedroom Penthouse apartment situated on the fourth floor of a prestigious modern development along Abbey Road. The apartment comprises four bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 en-suite), a stunning reception room with large semi open

plan kitchen, large enclosed balcony and separate roof terrace.

Refurbished to an exacting standard; this mid terrace Victorian house offers spacious and contemporary accommodation with superb attention to detail throughout.

Accommodation comprises double reception room with hardwood floors, contemporary fully fitted kitchen and dining room, West-facing rear garden, study, four double

bedrooms and 3 bathrooms (2 en-suite).

The Terraces, NW8 A stunning three bedroom apartment set on the third floor of this exclusive portered block.

Pavilion Apartments, NW8 A bright and spacious two bedroom apartment - opposite Lords Cricket Ground.

Northgate, NW8 A fantastic portered apartment comprising two en-suite bedrooms.

Stockleigh Hall, NW8 A beautifully presented, three bedroom apartment benefitting from porterage.

Eyre Court,NW8 A beautifully refurbished, four bedroom family apartment.

Sutherland Avenue, W9 A stunning and immaculate three bedroom, garden apartment.

LEFT-HAND

St. John’s Wood Office Lettings. 020 7717 5487

stjohnswoodlettings@hamptons-int.com

Hamptons St. John’s Wood Office Lettings. 020 7717 5487

stjohnswoodlettings@hamptons-int.com

Happy Christmas from all at Hamptons International.From London penthouses to cottages in The Cotswolds, with our expanding international network of 85 branches, we can find your perfect home, buyer or tenant. Contact Chloe Ellis, Lettings Manager (St John’s Wood) today for market-leading advice before the New Year rush.

Hamptons St John’s Wood

99 St. John’s Wood Terrace, St John’s Wood, London NW8 6PLLettings. 020 7717 5487 stjohnswoodlettings@hamptons-int.comSales. 020 7717 5485 stjohnswood@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.ukPlease dial in full. If you have already appointed another agent, you may be subject to a restrictive contract. Beyond your expectations

We can provide the perfect home, the tree is down to you.

RIGHT-HAND

Happy Christmas from all at Hamptons International.From London penthouses to cottages in The Cotswolds, with our expanding international network of 85 branches, we can find your perfect home, buyer or tenant. Contact Chloe Ellis, Lettings Manager (St John’s Wood) today for market-leading advice before the New Year rush.

Hamptons St John’s Wood

99 St. John’s Wood Terrace, St John’s Wood, London NW8 6PLLettings. 020 7717 5487 stjohnswoodlettings@hamptons-int.comSales. 020 7717 5485 stjohnswood@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.ukPlease dial in full. If you have already appointed another agent, you may be subject to a restrictive contract. Beyond your expectations

We can provide the perfect home, the tree is down to you.

Regent’s Park, NW1An elegant Grade I Listed Nash residence (613 sq m/6,602 sq ft) located in one of Regent’s Park’s most desirable locations. The property is one of the largest in the terrace and features excellent entertaining rooms and further benefits from a magnificent 53 ft west facing garden and a separate Mews House, as well as being one of the only properties in the terrace to have a lift. The complete refurbishment and renovation programme that is being carried out is almost complete now, and the property is offered for sale or rental as a shell enabling the prospective purchaser to design a home to their own specifications.

Double Length Reception Room, Family Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Dining Room, Conservatory, Master Bedroom with En-Suite Dressing Room and Bathroom, 5 Further Bedrooms, 3 Further Bathrooms, Staff Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, Guest Cloakroom, Separate Mews House, Bedroom, Reception Room, Kitchen, Dining Room, Study, Garden.

FoR SALE oR RENTAL

LoNG CRoWN LEASE

PRICE UPoN APPLICATIoN

E L E G A N T G R A D E I L I S T E D N A S H

281441_Vantage_Bargets_Dec12.indd 1 07/11/2012 12:05

Regent’s Park, NW1An elegant Grade I Listed Nash residence (613 sq m/6,602 sq ft) located in one of Regent’s Park’s most desirable locations. The property is one of the largest in the terrace and features excellent entertaining rooms and further benefits from a magnificent 53 ft west facing garden and a separate Mews House, as well as being one of the only properties in the terrace to have a lift. The complete refurbishment and renovation programme that is being carried out is almost complete now, and the property is offered for sale or rental as a shell enabling the prospective purchaser to design a home to their own specifications.

Double Length Reception Room, Family Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Dining Room, Conservatory, Master Bedroom with En-Suite Dressing Room and Bathroom, 5 Further Bedrooms, 3 Further Bathrooms, Staff Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, Guest Cloakroom, Separate Mews House, Bedroom, Reception Room, Kitchen, Dining Room, Study, Garden.

SOLE AGENTS

R E S I D E N C E F o R S A L E o R F o R R E N T

RHP_281441_Vantage_Bargets_Dec12.indd 2 07/11/2012 12:06

Regent’s Park, NW1An elegant Grade I Listed Nash residence (613 sq m/6,602 sq ft) located in one of Regent’s Park’s most desirable locations. The property is one of the largest in the terrace and features excellent entertaining rooms and further benefits from a magnificent 53 ft west facing garden and a separate Mews House, as well as being one of the only properties in the terrace to have a lift. The complete refurbishment and renovation programme that is being carried out is almost complete now, and the property is offered for sale or rental as a shell enabling the prospective purchaser to design a home to their own specifications.

Double Length Reception Room, Family Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Dining Room, Conservatory, Master Bedroom with En-Suite Dressing Room and Bathroom, 5 Further Bedrooms, 3 Further Bathrooms, Staff Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, Guest Cloakroom, Separate Mews House, Bedroom, Reception Room, Kitchen, Dining Room, Study, Garden.

FoR SALE oR RENTAL

LoNG CRoWN LEASE

PRICE UPoN APPLICATIoN

E L E G A N T G R A D E I L I S T E D N A S H

281441_Vantage_Bargets_Dec12.indd 1 07/11/2012 12:05

Regent’s Park, NW1An elegant Grade I Listed Nash residence (613 sq m/6,602 sq ft) located in one of Regent’s Park’s most desirable locations. The property is one of the largest in the terrace and features excellent entertaining rooms and further benefits from a magnificent 53 ft west facing garden and a separate Mews House, as well as being one of the only properties in the terrace to have a lift. The complete refurbishment and renovation programme that is being carried out is almost complete now, and the property is offered for sale or rental as a shell enabling the prospective purchaser to design a home to their own specifications.

Double Length Reception Room, Family Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Dining Room, Conservatory, Master Bedroom with En-Suite Dressing Room and Bathroom, 5 Further Bedrooms, 3 Further Bathrooms, Staff Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom, Guest Cloakroom, Separate Mews House, Bedroom, Reception Room, Kitchen, Dining Room, Study, Garden.

SOLE AGENTS

R E S I D E N C E F o R S A L E o R F o R R E N T

RHP_281441_Vantage_Bargets_Dec12.indd 2 07/11/2012 12:06

www.laurenceleigh.com / 020 7483 0101

Ashworth Road, Maida Vale, W9

A low built semi detached house situated on this desirable tree lined road. The house comprises 3,264 sq ft/367 sq m of internal accommodation and boasts excellent entertaining rooms leading onto a magnificent 70 ft/22 m lawned rear garden. The property also benefits from off street parking for 3/4 cars. Ashworth Road is ideally located within half a mile from the shopping and transport facilities of Little Venice.

Freehold

Asking Price: £3,795,000 Joint Sole Agent

020 7483 0101 / www.laurenceleigh.com

Hill Road, St Johns Wood, NW8

A beautifully presented six bedroom semi detached period family home 3,875 sq ft/359 sq m situated on this much sought after tree lined road on the west side of St John’s Wood. The house has been fully refurbished whilst retaining a wealth of period features. The property boasts a magnificent 400sq ft/36 sq m double volume artist studio room, a hand built designer eat in kitchen and a delightful 42 ft rear garden.

Freehold

Guide Price: £4,950,000 Sole Agent

138

Paul Goldstein and his property development company, E+O have created the first secure gated development in Hampstead for many years. Enjoying an elevated position with Hampstead Heath on the doorstep, Telegraph Hill is

a development of four substantial luxury houses. The houses have been completely reconfigured and reconstructed behind original 1930’s facades. Much attention has been paid to security, with the private road location, gated entrance, daytime porterage and CCTV and video technology.

Boasting high quality craftsmanship and materials and integrated cutting edge technology, the houses are a smart choice for contemporary living. The six and seven-bedroom homes offer large proportions, while a sense of free-flowing space and light throughout makes them ideal for large families and those who love to entertain at home.

House 3 is the showstopper – arranged over four floors and with seven bedrooms, it has an extensive lower ground floor leisure area of 2500 sqft, including dedicated cinema room, gym/games area, indoor heated pool, changing room, steam room and access to a patio area ideal for entertaining. Luxury details such as the £20,000 Gaggenau fridge freezer mean unexpected guests can be catered for! A double garage and off street parking for two cars cater for visitors. The landscaped gardens enjoy a southerly aspect, including BBQ area and summer house, have been designed by leading landscape garden designer and Randle Siddeley. The interiors are contemporary and luxurious; in House 3 a feature staircase and bespoke chandelier create a glamorous feel in the entrance hall.

As any discerning buyer would expect, high levels of security and technology are inbuilt. House 3 can be controlled via an an iPad, iPod Touch or an iPhone with the appropriate apps/software and in addition, the house can be controlled via all TV and home cinema controls.

Frank Townsend, head of Savills Hampstead office, says: “Today buyers are particularly attracted to secure houses in exclusive gated schemes and Telegraph Hill does this well. What really impresses though, is the bespoke design of each home. On walking into one of the spacious halls, an ambient contemporary feel comes across, while the finish is truly exceptional. This is all set against the backdrop of the latest in technology.” n

www.telegraph-hill.co.uk

ONE TO VIEWHampstead, NW3Prices from £6.35m

TK International020 7794 8700www.t-k.co.uk

Savills 020 7472 5000www.savills.co.uk

property

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state of the market

Frank Townsend, head of Savills Hampstead office, takes a look back at 2012 and a look forward to 2013

2012 has been an interesting year in Hampstead. After a quieter first half, we saw the market pick up after the Olympics and this continued into the autumn and winter months, with a measurable uplift in activity from both new buyers registering and sellers wishing to put their properties on the market.

Despite this rise in market activity, online tools have allowed greater clarity on prices achieved which has increased price sensitivity from buyers. With this in mind, there is no doubt that the most successful sellers have been adopting a realistic approach to pricing and many have attracted multiple bids. Fiscal pressures from both here and abroad have meant that getting the price right is more important now than ever before, as prospective buyers are less willing to pay over the odds. Whilst accepting this current market is challenging, demand is

strong enough that no seller is being forced to sell below value, but by being too optimistic they are compromising the number of buyers they are likely to get through the door. Moving forward into the New Year, it is important that focussed and serious sellers look carefully at their pricing strategy.

Demand up to £2m is the engine room of the local market and is essential for business, particularly in Hampstead where there is a lot of movement within that price range. However, the stamp duty hike to seven per cent earlier this year for property purchases over £2m has had a noticeable effect on demand. Most affected by this are buyers who are looking to upgrade from a smaller house or apartment to a family home, most of which tend to fall into the £2m – £4m bracket. We also believe that these higher levels of stamp duty are driving some buyers to improve their current home instead of moving, particularly when all the other attendant costs of moving are factored in as well.

Looking ahead to 2013, we believe that the New Year will continue in the way that 2012 has ended. We expect there to be serious buyers keen to secure the right property at the right price and a reasonably tight supply of property, assuming interest rates stay at their all time low. On a positive note, this is a market that is stable and reasonably well balanced and a market in which the Savills business model works extremely effectively in delivering results for our clients. n

Savills Hampsteadwww.savills.co.uk

T: 020 7499 3434 M: 078 3146 5414

E: simon@simonbarnes.com

work smarter, not harder.

Operating independently from his Mayfair base – and never actively acting for more than four or five clients at one time – Simon Barnes is able to provide a personal level of service far beyond the

average buying agent or property consultant.

His service will be committed, impartial and utterly discreet

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www.simonbarnes.com

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Thinking

Until recently, Knightsbridge, Kensington and Chelsea together with Mayfair were the locations most associated with wealthy property owners domiciled abroad. These locations are now accustomed to achieving prices of £4,000 plus per square foot. Levels not yet established elsewhere. In the last decade this surge of wealthy overseas home owner/investor which has fuelled values in Central London has created a ‘knock on’ effect into the areas my company operates in. St John’s Wood and Regent’s Park in particular have seen huge increases in values with buyers from abroad perceiving these areas as being competitively priced compared to the South West London postcodes only 15 minutes drive away. The stunning John Nash designed terraces overlooking Regent’s Park, the period villas of St John’s Wood and the secure portered buildings are the main target of the international buyer. We have experienced first hand buyers who start their search in South West London or Mayfair only to end up buying further North. The gated closes of Highgate have also become highly prized addresses of the international buyer.

We have nurtured relationships over many years with West African and Eastern European connections as a result of which Arlington Residential deal exclusively with the extensive requirements of several high profile families. Ten years ago around 40 per cent of sales we handled were to overseas buyers, in the last 12 months over 60 per cent of the sales we concluded were to buyers from abroad. Almost two thirds of homes we sold. The plentiful supply of newly built mansions in St John’s Wood have only one audience in mind- the overseas buyer. The buyer that is prepared to pay handsomely for a bespoke home. With this in mind, developers are building homes to the specification that is demanded by international home owners. Top of the list is security as many of the homes we have sold are not occupied all year round. At the rarefied top end of the market the domestic buyer is competing with fabulously wealthy buyers from all corners of the globe. The new super power, China, has yet to flex its muscles at the very top end of the North West London market, however they are expected to contribute substantially to the phenomenon that is the super wealthy overseas buyer. n

Arlington Residential, 8 Wellington Road, NW8 9SP020 7722 3322 www.arlingtonresidential.com

The effect of international buyers has had a unique impact on the market in North West London, says Marc Schneiderman

Global

We look forward to hearing from you.Vic Chhabria

Director

The spirit of St John’s Wood

SALES

Whether you’re buying, selling or renting…

SoldSold

lET

Balmoral Court Wellington Court St Stephens Close

58 Acacia Road, St Johns Wood, London NW8 6AG - T: 0203 348 8000

www.rescorp.co.uk

LETTINGS MANAGEMENT

…Be a part of our belief, be a part of our success.

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As we come to the end of 2012, how has this year been for Rescorp Residential?

2012 has been strange year thus far. The chancellor’s brutal tax measures implemented earlier this year have certainly taken their toll on properties worth over the £2m threshold and, contrary to what people might say, this has definitely had a negative impact on the area. We have also found we have had far less international buyers zoning in on London. In the same way, the Olympics, while being a phenomenal success and making me proud to be British, did indeed soften the number of buyers we would have normally expected. That said, October and November have thankfully proven to be excellent months, with a sudden surge in transactions.

What makes the London property market so interesting to work in?Oh, London, there’s no place like it! Of course, I don’t disagree

that the broadwalks of New York, the electricity of Hong Kong, immaculate Singapore and downtown Dubai are all exciting cities in which to live and work – and have achieved record breaking property prices – but there’s only one London! Anyone and everyone with money to invest in property nearly always looks at London first and that’s what makes it exciting. As the decades have passed, we’ve had a flurry of affluent communities investing in London, starting with buyers from the Middle-East, followed by Russia, Malaysia and most recently, India. There is a magic that’s only found in central London and you have to love the property business to appreciate it.

How has the economic climate affected the way you work?I think the current economic climate has affected everyone to

a certain extent. Being an agency still relatively new in the industry, we do not have the luxury of business automatically making its way to us. Every opportunity absolutely must be explored and given the due respect that it deserves. The current climate only means that we continue to focus on this approach and never take our eyes off the ball. I do believe that the market is going to get even tougher, and while we still plan to forge ahead, we try and do so in a sensible and controlled manner. I am confident that there are still many opportunities that will filter through over the coming months and we intend to find them.

What would you say is Rescorp Residential’s USP?Unparalleled service. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, to me,

Moving on Up

service is of paramount importance and must not be compromised whatsoever. I feel very strongly about this.

Rescorp Residential specialises in a bespoke, personal approach – how important is this to you?

The personal approach is one of the main facets and strengths that we bring to the table. Of course there is no denying that the larger agents appear to have a greater dominance in the market, and they do to a certain extent, however one must not underestimate an independent agency like us, who have carved a niche in the market and made a place for ourselves. The perseverance and drive behind a more humble company can often surprise you with tremendous results, and our agile approach enables us to truly offer a tailor-made service.

How did you get into property?I have always been intrigued and fascinated by property. As

a youth, I would read property publications from cover to cover and ride my bike to all the advertised houses in St Johns Wood to familiarise myself with their names and locations. But, at the time, I had no motive or clue that one day I would be an agent in the area. After selling my share in a telecoms company back in 2006, I then decided to get in to property full-time, working initially for free at a local agent to gain as much experience as I could, so I could learn the business and then leave and start my own agency.

What does 2013 hold for Rescorp Residential?I am very excited and bullish for 2013. We are very proud

to announce that we have recently moved into our new office on Acacia Road right in the heart of St John’s Wood and thankfully the move has proved to be a great success. We have also now ventured into the Lettings and Management side of the business and this has also had a vibrant start. With our new found location, new divisions and even more mettle being poured into our business, I have absolutely no doubt that Rescorp Residential is going to grow from strength to strength. We look forward to what the future holds. n

Rescorp Residential 58 Acacia Road, St Johns Wood, NW8 6AG020 3348 8000, www.rescorp.co.uk

Vantage talks to local agent Vic Chhabria, director of Rescorp Residential, about the changing face of the London property market

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In honour of our 5th birthday this April, “The Divas and Divos” will be taking part in “The Moon Walk London 2012” on May 12th in aid of breast cancer. We have increased our initial target of £5,000 (which represented a £1000 for every

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Helping you find 1st place…

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All creaturesgreat small

Helping to house

&Proud sponsor of the Petting Zoo

Hampstead Christmas Festival 2012

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Property Divas Limited34a Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead NW3 1NH 020 7431 8000, info@propertydivas.com www.propertydivas.com

All creaturesgreat small

Helping to house

&Proud sponsor of the Petting Zoo

Hampstead Christmas Festival 2012

lettings | sales | bespoke property management | property finder service

Property Divas Limited34a Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead NW3 1NH 020 7431 8000, info@propertydivas.com www.propertydivas.com

All creaturesgreat small

Helping to house ‘‘All ‘All ‘‘‘ &

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small

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Proud sponsor of the Petting ZooHampstead Christmas Festival 2012

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“Thank you for being part of our 2012. We look forward to being part of your 2013…”

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Our mobile friendly website ensures our

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On average, we have:

VISITORS EACH YEAR TO

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FROM 194 COUNTRIES

to get the latest property news and

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