Download - Portfolio July 2015
JULY 2015
FREEThe region’s largest property publication
TownCountry&
HEATHER MILLS INTERVIEWON LIVING VEGAN AND LOVING BRIGHTON
A PLACE IN THE SUN
6 PAGE SPECIAL ON BUYING
OVERSEAS PROPERTYHealth MattersOur new regular column
Buying to LetYour essential guide
LIVING
VISIT OUR AWARD-WINNING HOVE SHOWROOM for a stunning range of kitchen displays, furniture, worktops and appliances.
The Kitchen Store offers a bespoke consultancy service to help you choose your dream kitchen.
For friendly advice and inspired kitchen ideas take a closer look or call us today.
Showroom: 130 Old Shoreham Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 7BD Tel: 01273 95 77 78Or visit our Lancing showroom | www.thekitchenstore.co.uk
INSIDENEW! Hill House & Home Truths
Property News
What’s Trending
Calendar : Out and about in July
Talk Money : Transferring NISAs
July Collection : Our pick of the best apartments and penthouses
Selling your home : Ready, Set, Stage
Social Media : Secure those leads
Up my Street: Pandora George M.D. of Bullet P R
Howlett Clarke : Planning ahead
Cover story : Our essential guide for new landlords
Gardening : Adding colour and texture to your garden Cover story : Buying overseas property – SPECIAL 6 page guide
Interiors : Inspirational bathrooms
The BIG interview : Heather MillsBusiness woman and celebrity
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Cover: Image courtesy of Hamptons-Int. Horsham. See page 12
Calendar, page 20
Heather Mills, page 67
Buying Overseasr, page 52... Continued over
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For all advertising, editorial and general enquiries contact Managing Director Lynne Edwards: 07931 537588lynne@portfoliopublications.co.ukwww.portfoliopublications.co.uk
Interiors, page 63
NEW! Health matters
Travel: Sizzling Spain
Golf Guy: The dreaded shank!
Local news from our city
National news
Business lunch: La Fourchette, Hove
Style: Get ready for a summer wedding
Motoring review : Mercedes SL65 AMG
The BIG feature : Greg Dyke profile 92
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For advertising and general enquiries contact
Lynne Edwards: 07931 537588
www.portfoliopublications.co.uk
Cover: Image courtesy of John Lewis www.johnlewis.com
Local News, page 76
Greg Dyke, page 92
Travel, page 72
Production Editor: Fiona [email protected]
Chief Sub-Editor and Feature writer: Danny [email protected]
Managing Director: Lynne Edwards07931 537588 • [email protected]
Designer: Sally [email protected]
Interiors Editor: Tara de la [email protected]
Business Editor: Maarten Hoffmann07966 244 [email protected]
The PORTFOLIO team
Published by:
All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit.
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Interiors Editor: Tara de la [email protected]
EXPERT column
...Microscopic ones, which feed on dead skin cells: dust mites. The
average dust mite is just 0.2mm long, and your house probably contains
around 10 million of the blighters. The mites’ guts contain an irritating
enzyme that passes through their digestive system: it’s not dust you’re
allergic too, it’s their poo. And the average mite will do about 200 poos
in its lifetime.
Did you know that there’s a
waiting list for scaffolding?
I ask because it seems that
every other house I pass these days is scaffolded to the hilt, each criss-
crossed with steel bars and boarding. Brighton is in the middle of (another)
development boom. Try to book a builder and you’ll find – if you’re lucky
– that they are busy through to next April. And as for the decorators… they
won’t even answer their phones until after the August rush.
I had some time to contemplate this last Saturday, which turned out to
be a Very Long Day. Woken shortly after my partner’s 5am start (work? On
a Saturday? Ah... he’s a joiner/furniture maker, you see. Busy through to
September) by torrential rain, I found water pouring through the roof of
our half-finished extension.
Naturally, I texted the builder immediately. And at 5am he answered
straight away (he’s a builder. He’s busy Saturdays too). Ten minutes later
both he and I – he looking rather dishevelled, I in my glasses, pyjamas
and wellies – stood damply contemplating the un-capped and un-covered
roof. A well-placed tarpaulin turned my kitchen wall back from water
feature to sullen-looking breeze blocks, we grunted thanks to each other
and got on with the day.
For me, this consisted of clearing dust and rubble, domestic duties,
thinking uncharitable thoughts about the planning department, and
sorting kids and dogs. It passed in a blur until, at 10pm, I tried to run a
bath - which turned out to be both cold and accompanied by a smell of
gas. Our CO alarm screamed into life, and once more I texted the builder,
AND the plumber. Then I called Transco.
When Transco finally arrived it took them moments to discover the
source of the problem: the morning’s tarpaulin had slipped and covered
the new boiler flue, blocking all exits and leaving carbon monoxide to
circulate back into the room. I rolled into bed at 1am, safe in the knowledge
that we’d all live to see another day – albeit one without hot water until the
plumber arrived to fire it all up again.
We are mid-way through a huge repair-and-extend project. It seemed
a great idea back when we could sit in our cosy then-kitchen, drinking
tea and planning. Now, with half a floor, half a roof, no cooker and one
picnic table, it’s less enchanting. I know it will be worth it in the end. The
kids are really very good about the rubble in their cereal, and the dogs
adore the builder – who in turn is very good about being called out at 5am.
But when I see new scaffolding going up, and shiny-eyed householders
clutching plans, I think - be careful what you wish for. And keep your
fingers crossed for a dry spell.
Your home may look clean, but microscopic dust
and mites are hidden in the cracks, corners,
carpets and in your bed.
Allergy UK estimate that at least 12 million
Britons suffer from dust mite allergy. But you
don’t have to suffer the consequences. Media
GP Dr Rob Hicks advises:
Your home is crawling with insects...
It takes just 0.000001g of allergen to trigger an allergic reaction
HOME TRUTHS
THE HILL HOUSE
KEEP IT CLEAN Bedding, soft furnishings and carpets are a mite’s favourite haunts,
as they provide (yuk) a steady food supply. You’ll never get rid of them
altogether, but you can reduce their numbers – and your exposure to
them – with:
4 Regular dusting – first with a damp cloth, then with a dry one
4 Vacuuming carpets, mattresses and soft furnishings - Dyson
produce a range of vacuums that are asthma-
and allergy-friendly, proven to remove mites
4 Fitting allergy-friendly barrier covers to
bedding
4 Airing your mattress and bedding
regularly (this helps keep it cool – mites
breed in warm conditions)
4 Washing bedding at 60 degrees –
this will kill the mites.
Pass me the duster…
Reducing the allergens in your home is the best way to keep your allergies under
control
“A well-placed tarpaulin turned my kitchen wall back from water feature to
sullen-looking breeze blocks”
Kate Hill
6 PORTFOLIO
BEAUTIFUL homes
PRIME LOCATION This magnificent and substantial, bay-fronted, detached period residence of considerable
character is one of a pair of homes situated in this tree-lined avenue; the property is
set back from the road, within its own gardens, and has a long private driveway.
The house retains a wealth of original features. The large, oak-panelled reception hallway
opens to the three reception rooms on the ground floor, which include a large sitting
room at the front and an impressive dining room overlooking the garden, both with ceiling
mouldings and period detail. A well-fitted office/library or family room complements the two
main rooms, offering added flexibility to the living space, and a large, well-fitted kitchen/
breakfast room also opens directly onto the garden. The staircase, with oak panelling and
original stained-glass window, leads to the four double bedrooms, including a superb master
bedroom with a spacious and well-fitted en-suite bathroom. There is potential to expand
into the roof space. The landscaped rear garden takes full advantage of the sunny westerly
aspect.
Fourth AvenueHove BN3 2PJ
Guide Price: £1,800,000Bedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 2Extras: Private driveway and garage; Sunny, west-facing garden; No chain Best Bits: Favoured prime location; Beautifully proportioned living space; Light and superbly presented
Mishon Welton 94 Church Road Hove BN3 3EBTel: 01273 778 877www.mishonwelton.com
Highdown House
IMMACULATE CONTEMPORARY FINISH INSIDE & OUT
T: 01403 214900www.green-plan.co.uk
BRIGHTON ROAD | HASSOCKS Computer generated images are for illustrative purposes only.
STUNNING NEW HOME WITH TRIPLE GARAGE & ANNEXE/OFFICE SPACE
For more information, please contact Mansell McTaggart:
01273 843377www.mansellmctaggart.co.uk
• Individual detached house with 3,689 sq ft of living space set in a secluded location unseenfrom the road
• Detached triple garage with additional 411sq fthome office or extra living space above
• Five bedrooms, three with en-suite bathroomsand a further generous family bathroom all fitted with Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware
• Master Bedroom suite with dressing room andthoughtfully designed en-suite
• Bespoke made-to-order German Kitchen fittedwith integrated Miele appliances
• Open plan Kitchen/Family Room with foldingdoors onto generous garden with secludedsunken Sun Terrace
• Built-in outdoor Kitchen by Fire Magic surrounded by a spacious patio area for easy outdoor entertaining
• 7 minute walk to Hassocks Town Centre andmainline station
• 41 minutes to London Victoria by rail• Close to both superb state and private
educational facilities including the prestigiousHurstpierpoint College and Burgess Hill Schoolfor Girls and a little further afield, Brighton College, all offering excellent bus links.Offers in the region of £1,475,000
GP_SH-HH_FP_Portfolio_March15_Layout 1 10/02/2015 12:10 Page 1
94 Church Road, Hove, East aSussex BN3 3EB
T: 01273 778 877
Mishon Welton & their clients give notice that:1. These sales and particulars do not constitute any part of an offer of contract, and are for the guidance of prospective purchasers only and should not be relied on as statements of fact.2. No representations are made in these particulars as to the condition of the property or as to whether any service or facilities are in good working order. 3. All Measurements are approximate.
www.mishonwelton.com
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Third Avenue,Hove BN3 2PDGuide Price£775,000
A quite magnificent Grade II, four bedroom mansion apartment of considerable character spanning the entire second floor of this prestigious detached Victorian building, situated in the sought after Avenues. The accommodation briefly comprises of a large entrance hall leading to a fabulous double aspect reception room which boasts wonderful sea views. The kitchen/breakfast room is immaculately presented and comes with a range of integrated appliances. The plush master bedroom with vistas to the sea oozes luxury and has a wonderful and spacious en-suite. Both the large family bathroom and en-suite are fitted with underfloor heating. The additional three bedrooms are bright, airy and generously proportioned. The property also benefits from a passenger lift and extended garage with additional off road parking for two cars.
94 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 3EB
94 Church Road, Hove, East aSussex BN3 3EB
T: 01273 778 877
Mishon Welton & their clients give notice that:1. These sales and particulars do not constitute any part of an offer of contract, and are for the guidance of prospective purchasers only and should not be relied on as statements of fact.2. No representations are made in these particulars as to the condition of the property or as to whether any service or facilities are in good working order. 3. All Measurements are approximate.
www.mishonwelton.com
www.mishonwelton.com
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 24 1 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
St. Catherines Terrace BN3 2RRGuide Price£475,000 - £495,000
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 22 1 1
A fabulous 2 bedroom, ground floor, flat forming part of this beautiful red brick period building, which benefits from its own private rear garden, situated in this prime central location adjacent to the seafront. As you enter the property you are immediately struck by the wonderful amount of light cascading in from the beautiful bay window. The spacious living room is a striking space with all the original period detailing with a Victorian fireplace and boasting direct sea views. The well crafted kitchen offers plenty of cupboard space with a breakfast bar and a spectacular vaulted ceiling which then leads through the double doors opening onto the private rear garden. The large master bedroom is a peaceful room and the flat also benefits from a second bedroom. All of this is complimented by a modern fitted bathroom plus a share in the buildings freehold.
Tel: 01273 778 877
94 Church Road, Hove, East aSussex BN3 3EB
T: 01273 778 877
Mishon Welton & their clients give notice that:1. These sales and particulars do not constitute any part of an offer of contract, and are for the guidance of prospective purchasers only and should not be relied on as statements of fact.2. No representations are made in these particulars as to the condition of the property or as to whether any service or facilities are in good working order. 3. All Measurements are approximate.
www.mishonwelton.com
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Third Avenue,Hove BN3 2PDGuide Price£775,000
A quite magnificent Grade II, four bedroom mansion apartment of considerable character spanning the entire second floor of this prestigious detached Victorian building, situated in the sought after Avenues. The accommodation briefly comprises of a large entrance hall leading to a fabulous double aspect reception room which boasts wonderful sea views. The kitchen/breakfast room is immaculately presented and comes with a range of integrated appliances. The plush master bedroom with vistas to the sea oozes luxury and has a wonderful and spacious en-suite. Both the large family bathroom and en-suite are fitted with underfloor heating. The additional three bedrooms are bright, airy and generously proportioned. The property also benefits from a passenger lift and extended garage with additional off road parking for two cars.
94 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 3EB
94 Church Road, Hove, East aSussex BN3 3EB
T: 01273 778 877
Mishon Welton & their clients give notice that:1. These sales and particulars do not constitute any part of an offer of contract, and are for the guidance of prospective purchasers only and should not be relied on as statements of fact.2. No representations are made in these particulars as to the condition of the property or as to whether any service or facilities are in good working order. 3. All Measurements are approximate.
www.mishonwelton.com
www.mishonwelton.com
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 24 1 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
St. Catherines Terrace BN3 2RRGuide Price£475,000 - £495,000
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 22 1 1
A fabulous 2 bedroom, ground floor, flat forming part of this beautiful red brick period building, which benefits from its own private rear garden, situated in this prime central location adjacent to the seafront. As you enter the property you are immediately struck by the wonderful amount of light cascading in from the beautiful bay window. The spacious living room is a striking space with all the original period detailing with a Victorian fireplace and boasting direct sea views. The well crafted kitchen offers plenty of cupboard space with a breakfast bar and a spectacular vaulted ceiling which then leads through the double doors opening onto the private rear garden. The large master bedroom is a peaceful room and the flat also benefits from a second bedroom. All of this is complimented by a modern fitted bathroom plus a share in the buildings freehold.
Tel: 01273 778 877
94 Church Road, Hove, East aSussex BN3 3EB
T: 01273 778 877
Mishon Welton & their clients give notice that:1. These sales and particulars do not constitute any part of an offer of contract, and are for the guidance of prospective purchasers only and should not be relied on as statements of fact.2. No representations are made in these particulars as to the condition of the property or as to whether any service or facilities are in good working order. 3. All Measurements are approximate.
www.mishonwelton.com
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Victoria RoadBrighton BN1 3FSGuide Price £750,000 - £800,000
A stunning three bedroom house with extraordinary 360 degree views from the secluded roof terrace. Perched on the summit of the Clifton Hill conservation area, within easy walking distance of the sea, Waitrose and the station. On entering the property, one is immediately struck by the wow factor this wonderful home offers. Spanning four floors, the ground floor boasts a lovely bright kitchen/diner ideal for entertaining or just enjoying a quiet meal. Tucked away on the lower level, the master suite affords a private, peaceful and luxurious retreat away from the main body of the house. The first floor features a sophisticated reception space with a two separately zoned area with expansive sea views. There are two good sized bedrooms at the top of the house with en-suite facilities and boasting the ubiquitous views. This is a truly superb period home in a highly sought after location, the quality of which will be difficult to match in similar properties!
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 23 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
South Street, Brighton BN41 2LEGuide Price’s between£250,000 - £375,000
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 22 1 1
A delightful mews style development, offering just 5 quality, flint faced homes, being part of a conversion of buildings that were originally the coach house and stabling to the principal manor house (Wychote) in the Old Village. All homes are beautifully presented and superbly appointed with modern, well fitted kitchens and bathrooms, together with brand new fitted carpets or hard floor coverings. Each home has a private allocated parking space, together with a decked terrace and overlooks the delightful private courtyard, creating a real sense of “community”. All windows are double glazed, in attractive Conservation style and have full gas fired central heating fired by 30kw combination boilers. Each property has a terrestrial aerial and is BT Infinity wired. This is an exciting and attractive, small, private development, in a very pleasant setting and the acquisition of such a home represents a rare and interesting opportunity.
94 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 3EB
94 Church Road, Hove, East aSussex BN3 3EB
T: 01273 778 877
Mishon Welton & their clients give notice that:1. These sales and particulars do not constitute any part of an offer of contract, and are for the guidance of prospective purchasers only and should not be relied on as statements of fact.2. No representations are made in these particulars as to the condition of the property or as to whether any service or facilities are in good working order. 3. All Measurements are approximate.
www.mishonwelton.com
www.mishonwelton.com Tel: 01273 778 877
1
94 Church Road, Hove, East aSussex BN3 3EB
T: 01273 778 877
Mishon Welton & their clients give notice that:1. These sales and particulars do not constitute any part of an offer of contract, and are for the guidance of prospective purchasers only and should not be relied on as statements of fact.2. No representations are made in these particulars as to the condition of the property or as to whether any service or facilities are in good working order. 3. All Measurements are approximate.
www.mishonwelton.com
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Victoria RoadBrighton BN1 3FSGuide Price £750,000 - £800,000
A stunning three bedroom house with extraordinary 360 degree views from the secluded roof terrace. Perched on the summit of the Clifton Hill conservation area, within easy walking distance of the sea, Waitrose and the station. On entering the property, one is immediately struck by the wow factor this wonderful home offers. Spanning four floors, the ground floor boasts a lovely bright kitchen/diner ideal for entertaining or just enjoying a quiet meal. Tucked away on the lower level, the master suite affords a private, peaceful and luxurious retreat away from the main body of the house. The first floor features a sophisticated reception space with a two separately zoned area with expansive sea views. There are two good sized bedrooms at the top of the house with en-suite facilities and boasting the ubiquitous views. This is a truly superb period home in a highly sought after location, the quality of which will be difficult to match in similar properties!
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 23 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
South Street, Brighton BN41 2LEGuide Price’s between£250,000 - £375,000
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 2
Lead in text goes here Lab il ium et prorepe lleste nus venditio. Tem. Ut essuntis dolut et aut rempores utemquiatet faccus et aut idus quundunt quaerci sit assi venda nume num et pel int aute mollit dolorernam fugitiunt ad.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent semper sem sapien, eget molestie purus condimentum et. Suspendisse at ex consequat quam tincidunt blandit. Vivamus rutrum ante sed venenatis pharetra. Etiam faucibus sagittis ex, ut ultricies lectus lacinia sit amet.
Pellentesque eleifend orci in dui feugiat rhoncus. Nullam sodales augue eu ligula semper molestie. Sed rhoncus dapibus ex. Suspendisse eget rhoncus tortor. quam. Vestibulum at mi id felis sollicitudin tristique vel sed magna. netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
Wilbury Villas, Hove BN3 6SE£499,995
5 2 22 1 1
A delightful mews style development, offering just 5 quality, flint faced homes, being part of a conversion of buildings that were originally the coach house and stabling to the principal manor house (Wychote) in the Old Village. All homes are beautifully presented and superbly appointed with modern, well fitted kitchens and bathrooms, together with brand new fitted carpets or hard floor coverings. Each home has a private allocated parking space, together with a decked terrace and overlooks the delightful private courtyard, creating a real sense of “community”. All windows are double glazed, in attractive Conservation style and have full gas fired central heating fired by 30kw combination boilers. Each property has a terrestrial aerial and is BT Infinity wired. This is an exciting and attractive, small, private development, in a very pleasant setting and the acquisition of such a home represents a rare and interesting opportunity.
94 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 3EB
94 Church Road, Hove, East aSussex BN3 3EB
T: 01273 778 877
Mishon Welton & their clients give notice that:1. These sales and particulars do not constitute any part of an offer of contract, and are for the guidance of prospective purchasers only and should not be relied on as statements of fact.2. No representations are made in these particulars as to the condition of the property or as to whether any service or facilities are in good working order. 3. All Measurements are approximate.
www.mishonwelton.com
www.mishonwelton.com Tel: 01273 778 877
1
12 PORTFOLIO
PROPERTY news
PROPERTY NEWS
The next Property Professionals’ Lunch will be on Thursday, 16th July,
2015, at Pub du Vin, Brighton. Organised by Portfolio Magazine and
Searches UK, the event is a great way of networking with others in
the property industry in an informal environment while enjoying
a three-course lunch with wine. The whole event is in support of the
Rockinghorse children’s charity.
The Property Professionals Lunch provides the perfect opportunity
to mingle with your peers and like-minded professionals in a warm,
friendly and relaxed atmosphere to discuss new ideas and create fresh
business opportunities. July’s Guest Speaker is Chris Manseld, Managing
Director of Davenport Property Investment. After investing in property in
2007, Chris founded Davenport Property Investment with the objective
of bringing transparency and honesty to the non-regulated property
investment sector.
To book your place on the event on July 16th, please email Melanie@
searchesuk.co.uk as soon as possible.
Searches UK have
published the SUMMER
edition of Conveyancing
Focus. Launched at the
beginning of 2015, this
quarterly magazine for the
searches industry features
interviews, news, articles
and more about trends
in the market, new products and commentary from industry
experts, plus an interview with TV presenter and architect Kevin
McCloud.
Existing clients will be sent the magazine and copies may be
requested by emailing [email protected] or via Searches
UK’s website to download a digital version.
www.searchesuk.co.uk.
Our front cover image features a magnificent Grade II listed historic barn
conversion situated in the South Downs National Park with beautiful
landscaped gardens and stunning views of the South Downs. The property
boasts five bedrooms and four bathrooms, in all over 7,300 square feet set in
beautiful landscaped gardens with pond and water feature.
For more information Contact Hamptons International
Horsham Office on 01403 211766
PROPERTY PROFESSIONALS LUNCH
SEARCHES UK CONVEYANCING FOCUS SUMMER ISSUE
PERCHING BARN, FULKING, WEST SUSSEX
Hove £475,000
Hove £450,000
Brighton £665,000
Hove £745,00001273 772175 | winkworth.co.uk/brighton-hove
A better With a breath-taking choice, offi cescountrywide and an eye for what matters toyou, we make moving home more exciting.perspective
ON THE
COVER
ConveyancingFOCUSISSUE 3 | SUMMER 2015
www.searchesuk.co.uk
360 LEGAL GROUPFocus On The Outcome
By
BUILDING BRITAINInterview With Kevin McCloud
LANDMARK FLOOD REProtection For At-Risk Properties
VEYOIt’s Here!
QUALITY SOLICITORSTrends And Predictions
GROUNDSURELocation Intelligence: Understand Your Area
CILEXBuild Your Career
searches-uk-ISSUE3-V3.indd 1 12/06/2015 13:38
PORTFOLIO 13
PROPERTY news
The UK’s first TV channel dedicated to the world of property was launched last month on Sky Channel 238. The channel has been two years in
the making, with founder Michael Hammond and co-director Nicky Davis using a mix of industry and non-industry figures and shows.
The channel’s first phase of broadcasting will transmit content which falls clearly into the entertainment genre, including UK programmes
such as Sarah Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare, Dream Homes and Mad About The House, as well as some original programming.
Davis has been involved in the launch of several TV channels in Europe over two decades and says the Property TV “meets a recognised gap
in the market for a channel focussed on what is, for most, our most valuable asset - our homes.”
PROPERTY TV CHANNEL LAUNCHED
Hove £475,000
Hove £450,000
Brighton £665,000
Hove £745,00001273 772175 | winkworth.co.uk/brighton-hove
A better With a breath-taking choice, offi cescountrywide and an eye for what matters toyou, we make moving home more exciting.perspective
STAMP DUTY REVENUE SOARS DESPITE REFORMS
NEW ITV DATING SHOW WANTS ESTATE AGENTS!
Stamp duty revenue raised in
England and Wales increased
by an estimated £1.5 billion to
£7.7 billion in the year to March -
easily outstripping the £6.2 billion
in the year to March 2008 at the
peak of the last housing boom.
Research by Lloyds Bank
shows that a higher number
of residential transactions and
increased prices are estimated
to have led to a significant rise in
stamp duty revenues in the past year, with the average homeowner now
spending £9,600 on it as they move up the housing ladder.
Homeowners stay in their homes for 7.8 years on average and take three
steps up the ladder in their lifetimes.The proportion of existing owners who
move who pay stamp duty has risen from 68 per cent in 1999 to 85 per
cent in 2015. In the southern regions of England more than nine out of ten
homemovers in this category now pay stamp duty on their purchases. The
highest overall stamp duty costs are faced by buyers in London and the
South East.
A new dating show to be broadcast on ITVBe is looking for single
estate and letting agents to take part. When Do You Get Off?,
a ten-episode series from production company Keshet UK, will
see one single Estate Agent date four potential suitors at their
workplace. The show is due to be broadcast later this year and
its producers are looking for agents to carry out dates at their
offices.
“The reason we’d like to feature an estate agent is because their
job reflects a lot of modern-day young professionals. Our target
audience is the 18-30 year bracket, and with a large percentage
of workers in sales jobs, particularly in property. We’d love to
feature this in the series,” says Davinia Richardson, one of the
show’s casting producers.
“We don’t want to disrupt the normal running of the business,
nor do we want to distract any of the staff or workers, so
we’re very flexible and can have detailed discussions with the
company directors to ensure our filming is managed to their
criteria,” she adds.
If you’re looking to take yourself ‘off the market’, you can
request an application form by contacting Keshet UK on:
[email protected] or 0203 771 0055.
Read more about this story and more at www.estateageenttoday.co.uk
14 PORTFOLIO
BEAUTIFUL homes
WINKWORTH’S ‘A’ LISTER
Unique location, exceptional design and the ultimate specification.
This contemporary house occupies an imposing location directly on
the front in Roedean Way, with breath-taking views of the sea and
Brighton Marina, offering almost 8,000 sq ft of ultra-modern styling in a
premier seafront position.
Striking expanses of floor-to-ceiling glazing encompass the exceptional
views from all floor levels. This five-bedroom property is arranged over
three floors , all served by a bespoke staircase, with only the highest-
quality materials being utilised, both internally and externally, to create the
ultimate in luxurious seafront living. The sunken ‘retro’-styled sitting room
with feature fire is complemented by a cinema/playroom. The kitchen/
breakfast room features state-of-the-art appliances and feature flooring.
An entire floor is dedicated to the master suite, with two guest suites, two
further bedrooms and a family bathroom. There is parking for numerous
cars at the front of the property and terracing stretches to both sides from
which to enjoy the outstanding sea views. The rear gardens are mainly laid
to lawn with various mature trees and shrubs.
Meadows, Roedean WayBrighton BN1 5RJ
Price: £2,700,000Bedrooms: 5Bathrooms: 4
32 Church Road, Hove 01273 772175www.winkworth.co.uk
Why you chose Winkworth;
“This home is all about the outside; the veranda pulls you outside to BBQ, eat and socialise; the
children spend time in the pod; you gravitate to the views and outside! We feel comfortable with
Winkworth; Sarah understands our needs and focus and she is always very straightforward. We
trust Winkworth to bring the right people round.” (Vendor)
Sarah Turck Winkworth
NEWS
Parallax Art Fair,
Europe’s largest
artists art fair
is being held at
Chelsea Town
Hall, King’s Road,
London 25-26th
July.
Over 200 makers
from around the
world will be
exhibiting work
including painting, drawing, and sculpture, all at
wholesale studio prices. Artist Golnar Malek says ‘I’m
thrilled to be part of this fabulous fair and drawing
inspiration from artists from all over the globe’.
For more information and to book tickets go to http://
www.parallaxaf.co
Picture credit: ‘A Time to Tear’
Studio Gol-e-Ros.com
by Golnar Malek MA MSt(cantab)
ART FAIR
LITTER BUGS
INDIAN SUMMER
PORTFOLIO 15
Brighton’s first specialist beer shop, Bison Beer
Crafthouse, have started a bespoke bottlebox delivery
service to businesses in Brighton and surrounding
areas for late meetings, Friday afternoons, staff
birthdays and those companies who just like to work
hard and play hard. The new service, will include a
selection from the over 365 different craft beers that are sourced from around the world
- including favourites from Beavertown, Yeastie Boys and Bison’s very own See Side. With
free delivery in Brighton & Hove, it’s the perfect way to bring on a summer weekend after
a long week in the office. Bison Beer Crafthouse was opened in March 2015 by Nick Vardy
and Jack Cregan to enable Brighton beer drinkers to sample the fruit of the recent craft
beer revolution. Bison Beer Crafthouse is the first shop to bring draught ‘growlers’ to
Brighton. Originating from the US, ‘growlers’ contain 64oz of beer (roughly three and a half
pints in the UK), and keep beer fresh for up to six weeks.
Prices start from £36 for a box of 12 craft beers. Order online www.bisonbeer.co.uk
or call 01273 809027. The Bison Beer Crafthouse, 7 East Street, Brighton.
Kirstie Allsop was in the news last month for naming and shaming litter bugs. Kirstie makes
no secret of her anti-litter stance and is an Ambassador for Keep Britain Tidy. The Guardian
took umbrage and accused Kirstie of ‘smug middle-class morality’ and (oddly) of promoting “a
set of highly specific middle-class values, that assume anyone who doesn’t agree is deviant
and needs to be penalised”. Well, sorry, but we are definitely with Kirstie on this one!
As she says: “How can anyone possibly think litter is a middle-class issue? It’s an appalling
form of inverted snobbery to say that being clean and tidy is a middle-class thing.” Kirstie
continues: “I have seen first-hand how litter affects people. For the past 15 years, my job has
involved travelling around the country looking for houses and flats for people. During this time,
I’ve learned so much about how people feel about their immediate environment. If it’s clean
and litter-free, it gives them an enormous sense of satisfaction and peace of mind.
“Conversely, if it’s full of litter, they feel disempowered and out of control. Litter begets litter and it impacts on everything. It creates more crime. It
affects house prices. A recent report by Keep Britain Tidy showed that a litter-strewn road can reduce a house price by as much as 12 per cent.”
Brighton’s award-winning Indian Summer restaurant has opened at larger adjacent premises at 70 East Street. Following an £95,000 reinvestment and
the creation of at least three new jobs for kitchen, bar and front of house staff, the new, larger venue seats around 90 diners, half as many again as its
previous site. Indian Summer is a prime mover in backing Brighton & Hove’s efforts to become the Curry Capital of the Year 2015, and was instrumental
in helping achieve the Runners Up spot in 2014 – up 13 places from 2013. Indian food lovers can nominate their city by emailing “Brighton” to vote@
fedrest.com. Details at www.currycapitalofbritain.org.uk
Indian Summer, 70 East Street, Brighton BN1 1HQ. 01273 711001. www.indian-summer.org.uk
WE LOVE:BISON BEER BOTTLEBOX DELIVERY
TRENDING
Courtesy of Bison Beer we have a box of 12 craft beer to be delivered to one lucky
office! Send an email to [email protected] for a chance to
win: just tell us: Where is Bison Beer Crafthouse based?
The office has to be within Brighton & Hove for free delivery.
Beyond your expectationswww.hamptons.co.uk
Hamptons International Estate Agents HoveSales. 01273 796 061 | Lettings. 01273 796 063
Albourne Road, West Sussex £1,250,000A stunning four bedroom family home with swimming pool. EPC F
Roedean Heights, Roedean OIEO £1,400,000Five bedroom detached family home in sought-after location. EPC E
Goldstone Crescent, Hove £1,395,000Detached four bedroom house overlooking Hove Park. EPC E
Old Fort Road, Shoreham-by-sea £1,750,000Impressive five bedroom beach front house with coastal views. EPC D
Shirley Drive, Hove £1,500,000Spacious six bedroom detached family home. EPC D
Dean Court Road, Rottingdean £1,195,000Five bedroom mock Tudor styled house with swimming pool. EPC D
PORTFOLIO 17
BEAUTIFUL homes
GRAND STYLEQuite simply, one of Brighton and Hove’s prettiest properties. This property has been
well maintained to an exceptionally high standard, both internally and externally, with
a number of rooms offering great versatility as a family home.
The carriage driveway is gated, offering privacy and seclusion. The ground floor rooms
host an abundance of oak, with polished floors, doors and wall panelling alongside period
decorative ceiling features. The lovely private garden to the rear is a very good size, with
trees providing seclusion, a lovely lawn and a secluded swimming pool complex, within
which is a kidney-shaped pool, changing room and bar, complete with an entertainment
centre having Bose outdoor speakers.
Dyke Road Avenue, Brighton, BN1 5LE
Price: £2,950,000Bedrooms: 7Bathrooms: 4Extras: Established front and rear gardens; Beautiful mock Tudor property; One of the City’s premier locationsBest Bits: Enclosed swimming pool complex; Beautifully presented; Versatile accommodation
Hamptons International82 Church Road Hove BN3 2EB 01273 230 230 www.hamptons.co.uk
18 PORTFOLIO
Port Hall Street, Brighton £650,000 FREEHOLD
A beautiful 3/4 bedroom 3 storey double fronted Victorian homeLocated in the sought after Port Hall district, close to
Brighton Station and Seven Dials. Energy Rating E53
Maslen Estate Agents174 Church Road Hove BN3 2DJ t:01273 321000 e:[email protected]
m a s l e n . c o . u k
L E W E S R O A D . W O O D I N G D E A N . H O V E . F I V E W A Y S
Maslen_Porthall Road_Layout 1 19/06/2015 18:20 Page 1
The Law Society Conveyancing Quality
Scheme (CQS) was established to
provide a recognised quality standard
and benchmark for solicitors’ firms who do
residential conveyancing. Achieving CQS
accreditation establishes a level of credibility for
its member solicitor firms with vital stakeholders
in the property world, such as mortgage lenders,
insurers, estate agents and, ultimately, for the
reassurance of best legal practice it give, to the
public generally and to our existing and much
valued customers. CQS is built around the
following principles:
• The integrity at all times of the firm through
its Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) and all other
key residential conveyancing team members;
• The firm’s adherence to good practice
management standards and conveyancing work
practices at all times;
• The firm’s commitment to the highest
standards of client care & service being given
to all customers and other parties to a property
matter.
David Crosby, Managing Partner & SRO says, “It is
the best recognition possible of both the hugely
talented and dedicated people in our property
team, and also of the excellence of their work and
the service given by them to every single client
that the firm has achieved reaccreditation of this
prestigious benchmark of quality granted by the
Law Society. Residential conveyancing, done very
well and done at a fair and proportionate cost
to every customer, requires a commitment of
excellence from absolutely everyone at the firm,
and this achievement both publiclyrecognises
and rewards all of the hard work by the team
to not just set the highest standards, but to also
maintain them every single day and for every
single client.
Crosby & Woods would be delighted to receive
enquiries in relation to any sale, purchase or
remortgage and in all cases we will provide a
no-obligation and fully itemised, fixed quotation
upon request for your consideration.
Crosby & Woods Solicitors
Sussex House, 75 Church Road, Hove.
01273 734 600
www.crosbywoods.co.uk
QUALITY ADVICECrosby & Woods are proud to announce membership of the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme
LEGAL
Port Hall Street, Brighton £650,000 FREEHOLD
A beautiful 3/4 bedroom 3 storey double fronted Victorian homeLocated in the sought after Port Hall district, close to
Brighton Station and Seven Dials. Energy Rating E53
Maslen Estate Agents174 Church Road Hove BN3 2DJ t:01273 321000 e:[email protected]
m a s l e n . c o . u k
L E W E S R O A D . W O O D I N G D E A N . H O V E . F I V E W A Y S
Maslen_Porthall Road_Layout 1 19/06/2015 18:20 Page 1
20 PORTFOLIO
CALENDAR of events
JULYOur pick of July events features dance and theatre legends, outdoor events and festivals!
On Before is created and danced by Cuban-born Carlos Acosta and Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Zenaida Yanowsky. The show combines existing and new choreography by some of the world’s leading dance makers, Russell Maliphant, Kim Brandstrup, Will Tuckett, Edwaard Liang, Yuri
Yanowsky and Miguel Altunaga, in a framework created by Carlos which tells the story of a doomed relationship between a man and a woman.The show has a wide-ranging score from Handel to a commission from Cuban composer Omar Puente and culminates in a moving finale featuring the live choral work of Morte Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium.Dome Concert Hall, Brighton, 7.30pm. www.brightondome.org
Direct from the flamenco heartland of Cádiz, Spain, Punta del Boquerón bring the fiery musical heart of Andalusia directly to our shores.Punta del Boquerón features the winner of Madrid’s world-famous Beca de Oro, dancer Patricia Hernández, along with six other of Spain’s prominent flamenco artists. Comprising authentic dance, song, guitar, cajon, palmas and violin, expect a thrilling and spectacular evening bringing the
fiery musical heart of Andalusia directly to our shores. With a famously upfront and gregarious populace, Cádiz is where the upbeat and heart-warming flamenco songs known as Alegrías and Tanguillos originate, along with the passionate Fandangos de Huelva and much more.The Old Market, 8pm. www.theoldmarket.com
The UK premiere of this show highlighting the legendary life and career of Judy Garland. This show is created in arrangement with the
Judy Garland Estate, and is the only officially recognised Judy Garland show.Judy’s dazzling songbook is brought to life on stage with the award-winning cast, including the cream of London’s West End plus Judy’s daughter Lorna Luft. The magical musical journey through the songs that made Judy a legend in show business history includes never-before-seen film highlights and interviews.Starring Lorna Luft and special guests Ray Quinn, Louise Dearman, and Judy’s dancers, The Boyfriends. Creative director is Arlene Phillips.Theatre Royal, Brighton. For times and prices visit: www.atgtickets.com/brighton
The world’s biggest free beach and watersports festival takes place on Hove Lawns and between the piers and features water, street & urban sports, live music, kids’ entertainment and ‘have a go’
opportunities. Paddle round the Pier also includes the gruelling Maritime Marathon Plus surfers, swimmers and all manner of vessels being paddled around and between the piers. Highlights are The Paddle, Paddle Something Unusual and the Pier2Pier Race. Plus a Mexican-themed Fiesta Party at Paddle Patron Norman Cook’s Big Beach Cafe. For the full timetable visit www.paddleroundthepier.com
Not long ago, and without saying a word, a group of pioneering film-makers changed the world. But, for writer, director, producer and owner of Keystone Motion Picture Studios Mack Sennett, forging a film is the easy part - compared to
working, and falling in love with a stunning one-off like Mabel.This dazzling musical comedy is both a poignant love story and a riveting tribute to the grit and glamour of the era of silent movies. Based on the true romance between Hollywood legends Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand, Mack & Mabel received eight Tony Award nominations when it opened on Broadway in 1974. Olivier Award-winner Michael Ball returns to Chichester to play Mack Sennett, following his celebrated performance in Sweeney Todd (2011). Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester. For times and prices visit cft.org.uk
9 - 11 JulyCarlos Acosta:
On Before
10 JulyPunta del Boquerón
7 - 11 July The Songbook
of Judy Garland
4 - 5 JulyPaddle Round The Pier
13 July - 5 SeptemberMack & Mabel
PORTFOLIO 21
CALENDAR of events
More than 100,000 people flock to this iconic 5 day Festival every July to enjoy the chic, relaxed and stylish atmosphere. Glorious Goodwood is international horseracing with champagne, strawberries, fashion and glamour in abundance. Includes
Ladies Day on 30 July, the most glamorous day of the meeting, and the place to see and be seen. A feast of top-quality racing attracts the best equine athletes in the world, accompanied by the biggest names in the sport. This year sees the start of a new association with Qatar, whose sponsorship of the meeting makes prize money for the week total £4.5 million. www.goodwood.co.uk
Carpenter was playing her songs in clubs before she was out of her teens. Word of Carpenter’s talents eventually reached Nashville, winning her a deal with Columbia Records, which released her 1987 debut album, Hometown Girl.After the massive commercial breakthrough of 1992’s Come On Come On, more success followed with such albums as the platinum Stones in the Road, A Place in the World, Time* Sex* Love* and Between Here and Gone. Carpenter has won five Grammy Awards, was named the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year in 1992 and 1993, and in 2012 was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea, 7pm www.dlwp.com
Until Sun 12 July Festival of ChichesterA month-long extravaganza of arts, crafts, music, spoken word and community events that also includes Chichester Cycling Festival, a beer festival, walks, an Artworks Exhibition, dramatic readings and world premieres. For full programme visit: www.festivalofchichester.co.uk
3 - 5 July Love Supreme Jazz Festival Jazz FM presents The Love Supreme Festival at Glynde Place, featuring international acts and outstanding emerging talent from the worlds of jazz, soul, R&B, pop and beyond, with Chaka Khan and Neneh Cherry on the Saturday, Van Morrison and Hugh Masekela on the Sunday, plus many more acts, including Candi Staton, Submotion Orchestra, The Bad Plus Joshua Redman, GoGo Penguin and Ginger Baker. For full details and prices visit: www.lovesupremefestival.com.
15 July - 1 August Petworth FestivalA two-week mix of classical and chamber music, jazz, comedy, young musicians and outdoor theatre, plus family entertainment at venues, including St Mary’s Church, Bignor Park and Leaconfield Hall. For full programme visit: www.petworthfestival.org.uk
21 - 26 July Alfriston Summer FestivalAlfriston Summer Music Festival brings some of the finest international artists to perform and share a great repertoire of old and new classical music in the South Downs. For full programme visit: www.alfristonsummermusic.co.uk
Until 20th August Glyndebourne FestivalGlyndebourne Festival 2015 continues with Donizetti’s Poliuto (until 15th July), Bizet’s Carmen (until 11th July), and Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail (through until August). Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia opens on 5th July. For full details and prices visit: www.glyndebourne.com
28 July - 1 AugustGlorious Goodwood
23 JulyMary Chapin Carpenter
Summer holidays with the National Trust This summer the National Trust offers visitors of all ages perfect places to play, whether you’re looking for family fun or a relaxing day out, with natural play areas, picnic spots and quiz trails, and activities and events unique to National Trust locations.Try the phenomenally successful children’s challenge, 50 things to do before you’re 11¾ - simple pleasures such as climbing a tree, creating a den and making a daisy chain. Pick up a scrapbook at your local property or download a planner to help you decide where to go: - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/london-and-south-east. You can also sign up for 50 things tips and rewards at www.50things.org.uk.The beautiful gardens, parkland and countryside offer plenty of fun for grown-ups, too. Many National Trust gardens are at their colourful best in summer, with enticing lawns, deckchairs and ice cream kiosks - perfect for picnics and chilling out.
www.nationaltrust.org
Festivals continue with literature, jazz, opera and more
Photographer: Mike Caldwell
22 PORTFOLIO
52 Church Road Hove, BN3 2FN • Tel 01273 778844113 St. Georges Road, Brighton BN2 1EA • Tel 01273 685111 10 Station Road, Portslade BN41 1GA • Tel 01273 383830
Marine Parade, Brighton - £325,000
As part of an impressive Grade II listed detached property, this lower ground floor flat is particularly well balanced in terms of its room size and layout. A high quality finish of Farrow & Ball neutral décor with contrasting black walnut engineered flooring throughout creates a contemporary and relaxed ambience and overall cohesion of style. Towards the eastern end of Brighton’s seafront with the bustle of Kemp Town village just behind, this south-facing flat is perfectly placed for sunny coastal living. EPC Rating D
Dyke Road, Brighton - £700,000
A stunning five story Victorian bay fronted town house located in central Brighton. Situated between Seven Dials and the city centre, this is the ideal location to access all that Brighton has to offer. The spacious and bright accommodation offers plenty of flexibility and is arranged over five floors. No onward chain. Viewing highly recommended. EPC rating D
www.sawyerandco.co.uk
Hove Office 01273 778844
Brighton Office 01273 685111
Your Local Multi-Award Winning Estate Agent
sawyerandco.co.uk
Sawyer & CoSouth East Agency
of the Year
Bronze
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCEfor
BESTLETTING AGENT
in Brighton And Hove
2014
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCEfor
BESTESTATE AGENT
in Brighton And Hove
2014
Winner2015
GOLD WINNER SOUTH REGIONSAWYER & CO
St Aubyns Road, Portslade - £450,000
A spacious four bedroom Victorian home on a quiet road in south Portslade. With a warm cream brick and red brick detail front, this solid mid-terrace home sits over three floors with an advantageous south facing garden. On a grid of mainly Victorian homes just east of Vale Park, original features remaining include fireplaces and stripped pine doors. This is a spacious family home which will realise its full potential after some minor interior updating. In an upcoming and increasingly sought after neighbourhood of Portslade, this property will not be on the market for long. EPC rating D
www.sawyerandco.co.uk
Portslade Office 01273 383830
TALK money
In the current world of low interest rates,
people are very keen to ensure they utilise
all of their tax free allowances. With rates
being low, any extra return is normally very
welcome, however small. Many savers trawl
the high street and internet to find the best
deals. Some have transferred to the stocks
and shares version of the NISA trying to
achieve a better return.
This tax year you can invest up to £15,240 into
a NISA, this can be a cash NISA, or a stocks and
shares NISA or a combination of the two. Over
the years some have built up quite a substantial
sum, so what happens if that person dies?
A less well known fact about NISAs is that
if your spouse or civil partner dies, you can
actually inherit an allowance up to the value of
their NISAs at the time they died. For example,
if a husband died and had £30,000 in an NISA,
the wife could invest £30,000 in an inheritance
NISA. This is called the “Additional Permitted
Subscription” allowance. The person can also
continue to use their own allowance, which is
not affected.
The extra allowance passes to the spouse/
civil partner even if the funds were not left to
them. They can even use their own money to
open an inheritance NISA. It is the allowance
that is inherited, rather than necessarily the
funds.
The new rules ensure that if someone
has spent years building up their tax free
investments, the allowance can be passed
on, so their spouse can continue to invest and
receive tax free growth. When you consider
that if someone had invested their maximum
PEP/ NISA subscription each year since they
were introduced in 1987 this would total
£242,320, not inclusive of any growth; there
are a lot of people who have built up quite a
sum. These new rules will benefit a lot of
people, but only if they know about it!
Is there a time limit?
The rules came into effect on 6th April,
2015 and apply to anyone who died after
3rd December, 2014. You have three years to
take up the allowance, or 180 days from the
date the estate is settled, whichever is later.
If you need advice on the above or any other
financial matters, please call me, Claire Cook,
on 01273 224667. I offer independent advice
and a free initial consultation.
www.talkmoney.co.uk
Talk Money is a trading style of Aspect 8 Ltd, an
appointed representative of Best Practice IFA
Group Ltd, which is authorised and regulated
by the Financial Conduct Authority. The value of
investments can fall as well as rise, and you may
not get back the amount invested.
CAN I LEAVE MY NISA TO MY SPOUSE?Claire Cook from Independent Financial Advisors Talk Money on inheriting NISA funds and allowances
“These new rules will benefit a lot of people, but only if they know about it”
24 PORTFOLIO
Fine & Country 52 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FN Tel: +44 (0)1273 739911
St Aubyns Mansions, Hove
Langdale Road, Hove EPC: D
Tel: 01273 739911
Tel: 01273 739911
£985,000
£1,100,000
A uniquely positioned 3-bedroom mansion flat in this friendly building from where there are wonderful sea views and glorious sunsets. The rich yellow facade of this period building catches the eye while walking along Hove promenade. Built in 1899 the Mansions shaped gables, Venetian style windows and corner turret also attracted leading musicians and performers of the day as can be seen from its two proudly displayed blue plaques. As well as its enviable seafront location this ground floor apartment also has beautiful period features of high ceilings, plaster cornicing, large panelled doors and well-proportioned rooms. The light touch interior palette of soft greys and neutrals embodies a stunning classic elegance. This is seaside living with style in abundance.
A beautiful 5-bedroom family home in Hove embodying an understated simplicity of style. On a tree-lined road in West Hove, this 1920s detached home has been meticulously renovated to stunning effect. With a half red brick, half white render frontage the home encompasses an effortless fusion of period and modern. Spacious rooms over three levels feature original cast iron fireplaces, solid wood doors and beautifully restored period window frames. Set against a palette of soft greys and whites from Farrow & Ball, its combination of wood and natural Hessian flooring together impart a calming ambience. With the seafront in sight at the end of the road, this singular home is ideally placed for relaxed coastal living.
in association with Sawyer & Co
26 PORTFOLIO
THE collection
THE JULY COLLECTIONWe love a luxe apartment… From lofty duplexes to mansion flats, we have sought out apartments with a touch of glamour...
This is the pinnacle of seafront living, superbly positioned on the ground floor with stunning sea views from a south facing living area. The flat
itself is split over two generous floors and the accommodation is comprised of three bedrooms two with en-suites, with the master benefiting
from a walk in wardrobe. The living room is at the front of the building and is steeped in period charm including oak panelling and an open fire
place. The private terrace is accessed via the kitchen; this large tiled city garden is a rare find for its location and a lovely spot for alfresco dinning
or relaxing in the sun. Access to the private Eastern Terrace gardens is included.
Sea viewsEastern Terrace, Brighton
Price: OIEO £925,000Winkworth01273 772175www.winkworth.co.uk
PORTFOLIO 27
THE collection
This stunning first floor period mansion apartment is located in the ever-
popular Fourth Avenue, Hove. Occupying the entire first floor, this spacious and
well proportioned property features two double bedrooms, a separate kitchen,
and a bathroom plus an en-suite. The large and bright lounge has bay windows
and is west-facing, making the most of the evening sun… Period features
include coved ceilings, picture rails and high skirting boards. There is also a
south west facing balcony with an iron balustrade, which offers space to lounge
and dine on summer evenings.
This loft-style Duplex apartment has an on-site concierge and well maintained
communal gardens.The apartment itself is located at the very front of the main
building with its stunning redbrick façade, sweeping front steps and double doors,
and benefits from gorgeous west facing light. The tree tops can be seen from the
three large double height stunning windows which flood the main entertaining
room with natural sunlight.
The main room provides a perfect entertaining space, with an open plan
kitchen/dining and living room. The oak wooden floor extends throughout
the entire living room and hallway, providing a seamless link between
the kitchen/dining space and living room.
A uniquely positioned three bedroom mansion flat in this friendly building with
wonderful sea views and glorious sunsets. As well as its enviable seafront location
this ground floor apartment has beautiful period features of high ceilings, plaster
cornicing, large panelled doors and well-proportioned rooms. The interior palette of
soft greys and neutrals embodies a classic elegance. This is seaside living with style
in abundance. The two main reception rooms face south giving wonderful sea views.
A Wide Venetian style three part window comprising a large central arch
distinguishes the lounge and allows the sunshine to flood in. The monochrome
kitchen/diner overlooks the pretty central courtyard. There is an allocated parking
space for each property.
Avenue styleFourth Avenue, Hove
Duplex livingRichmond Terrace, Brighton
Mansion flatSt Aubyns Mansions, Hove
Price: £595,000 Fox & Sons
01273 820280 | www.fox-and-sons.co.uk
Price: £475,000Mishon Mackay01273 821800 | www.mishonmackay.com
Price: £985,000Fine & Country01273 739911 | www.fineandcountry.com
108 Old London Road, Brighton. Tel: 01273 56556610 South Street Portslade. Tel: 01273 421777
www.spencerandleigh.co.uk
Citywide sales & lettingswww.spencerandleigh.co.uk
A stunning newly modernised four bedroom detached bungalow with two bathrooms and an amazing views over downland to the front and the sea to the rear.
WESTDENE - £750,000
This hidden gem occupies a secluded position in the sought after Surrenden district having a versatile arrangement of rooms resulting in a flexible living area.
SURRENDEN – OIEO £775,000
PORTFOLIO 29
BEAUTIFUL homes
UNIQUE STYLE New to the market is this unique four-bedroom
detached house, the epitome of modern
contemporary living, designed by well-known
local architect John Turner. The property is constructed
of smooth rendered elevations beneath a zinc roof, with
powder coated aluminium rain water goods, feature zinc
bay and large lights to the front elevation. Particular
attention has been paid to lifestyle, light and space. On
the ground floor the accommodation features a large
lounge dining room with two pairs of bi-fold doors and
opens into a smart fitted kitchen with quality appliances
and further space for a table and chairs.
There is a ground floor cloakroom and plenty of useful
storage space. At the first floor there are four bedrooms,
a family bathroom and en-suite which can be accessed
from either bedroom one or bedroom two. The bedrooms
feature vaulted ceilings, giving that extra feel of space.
Internal viewing recommended.
Bankside, Westdene, Brighton, BN1 5GN
Guide Price: £650,000 – £675,000Bedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 2Extras: Block paved private driveway with off-road parking for several cars:Wrap-around lawn garden; Ready to simply move inBest Bits: New fitted kitchen with quality appliances; Ground floor cloakroom; Four first-floor bedrooms
Spencer & Leigh Citywide Sales & Lettings 108 Old London Road, Patcham, Brighton, BN1 8YA01273 565566www.spencerandleigh.co.uk
30 PORTFOLIO
BEAUTIFUL homes
For friendly advice contact01273 423600
99 Trafalgar Road, Portslade, BN41 1GUwww.woodenflooringcentre.com
FREE PARKING AT BACK OF SHOWROOM
Sussex’s original wooden flooring centre
SOLD 2015
We are delighted to repor t that in 2014/2015 we sold more superb, high value homes (£1m-£4m) in the Hove Park area than any other estate agent in the city.*
Our reputation of achieving excellent prices for our clients is demonstrated by our success over the last 28 years and in 2014 included the highest price to have been achieved on a house sale in Brighton & Hove to date. In the first instance if you would l ike some bespoke advice please contact:
Steve Neocleous, Branch Director, on: 01273 829 301
H IGH VA LUE SA LES
*18 homes sold in this price bracket across the period 09.04.14 - 09.04.15, according to Rightmove’s figures.
SOLD 2014 SOLD 2014 SOLD 2015
MISHONMACKAY.COM
PROPERTY feature
In America house viewings are taken very
seriously indeed and ‘staging’ homes is an
entire industry. We can all learn from the
idea of staging homes to sell (or let). Cleaning
and organising your home will probably come
naturally, but do make sure you really stage it
to fully show it off. Frontdoor.com recommends
listening to professionals’ advice and walking
through each room, criticising the home from
a buyer’s perspective. Staging tips include:
Cleaning, decluttering and de-personalising;
maximising kerb appeal; paying attention
to kitchens and bathrooms, including hanging
fresh towels and appealing to the senses with
welcoming scents.
Once the house is ready for viewings and
you are showing potential buyers round,
Houseweb.com offer six points to consider:
GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
It is important to remember that the
prospective viewer may be the person who
will buy your house. You will end up spending
months in contact with that person, so it is best
to create a good working relationship from
the outset. Offer them a drink, but try not to
be over-friendly. The last thing you want the
visitor to think is you are desperate to sell the
house.
KNOW WHO IS COMING
Make sure you have the prospective buyer’s
details, and remember their names.
A LITTLE WORK MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE
Cleanliness is the key (especially in the
bathroom and kitchen). A faint aroma of brewed
coffee or pot-pourri can get rid of most house
smells. Don’t go overboard, though, as the visitor
will think you are trying to hide something.
A splash of paint can make an immeasurable
difference. If you do not have much time or
money on your hands, concentrate on the front
of the house. If you have a garden, make the
most of it. Clear away clutter, especially from
the kitchen, bathroom and entrance. Leave out
only what you will need on a daily basis.
GIVE THE PROSPECTIVE BUYERS SPACE
Give the viewers the chance to look around
themselves. They may as well see the visible
defects now, as the surveyor’s report will
detail them anyway.
If there are obvious defects point them out.
People will appreciate your honesty, and will
feel at ease that you are not trying to hide
anything. However, make sure that you have
listed the major positives of the house to
counter any negatives…
EXPLAIN WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH THE
HOUSE
State from the outset what you are including
with the house. If you are leaving the
appliances in a fully-fitted kitchen, tell them.
Likewise, if you are going to take every carpet,
set of curtains and plant, let them know.
IDENTIFY YOUR SELLING TECHNIQUE
Everyone is experienced in selling, having
been on the receiving end of it for most of our
lives. There are three main approaches:
• Hard Sell: try slipping into the
conversation how many other people
have recently viewed the house. Feel
free to mention whether anyone is
thinking of putting in an offer. If the
house is in demand let them know -
remember, demand = desirability.
• Soft Sell: avoid putting any pressure
on the buyer. Leave them to their own
devices. If they are really interested, they
will be back. Use this approach if the
house sells itself.
• No Sell: reverse psychology is the key
here. By pointing out defects and giving
a generally honest approach, the buyer
may view the house’s potential and
consider what they could turn it into.
Finally, do try to make viewers of your home
feel comfortable. Offer them a coffee and ask
them if they need any further information
about the house, the area, or local amenities.
Houseweb.com also recommends that you
keep bills handy for any related questions
viewers may have. These could be council tax
bands or when the boiler was last serviced…
READY, SET, STAGE!Showing your home to prospective buyers can be nerve-wracking, but follow some simple rules and you’ll ace it
32 PORTFOLIO Thanks to www.houseweb.co.uk | www.frontdoor.com | www.which.co.uk
“For advice with the sale of YOUR property contact Graham Farthing”
123-125 Dyke Road, Hove, BN3 1TJ
01273 232 [email protected]
www.austingray.co.uk
Addison Road, Hove
£599,950
The last word on showing a
property goes to property
expert Phil Spencer. He says,
“You’ll probably be paying an
agent to do this; they know their job, so I always recommend
that property owners go out during viewings. If you must show
your property yourself, then decide beforehand what order you
will show the rooms, and guide viewers around the property
once, showing the best rooms first or last. Don’t overload them
with detail, such as the size of your boiler or the trouble with
the neighbour’s cat. Be business-like during the first viewing; if
someone is interested, you can always get to know them a little
more on the second viewing. Never point out problems or issues,
but do feel free to highlight the odd positive point, like a south-
facing garden, or very convenient parking. Finally, invite viewers
to take another tour round the property on their own…but be
somewhere nearby, on hand to answer queries.”
SELLING A HOUSE - EIGHT ESSENTIAL TIPS FROM WHICH?
1. GET YOUR HOME READY
Make sure your property is clean, tidy and clutter-free and looks good from the outside.
Consider getting a survey done on your property - so you can either fix any problems or
use it to attract buyers by demonstrating how good the condition of your house is. If you are
selling privately, create an information pack with property details, plus facts and leaflets
about local amenities - including leisure facilities, transport and schools. Also take high-
quality photos of your house that capture all its best features.
2. DECIDE ON YOUR HOUSE PRICE
Set a realistic asking price by researching similar properties for sale.
3. PICK A GOOD BUYER
If several prospective buyers are interested in your home, pick the one who’s most likely to
see the process through, not necessarily the one who makes the highest offer. In order, the
safest buyers to choose are buyers who’ve already sold their house, first-time buyers, buyers
who have sold their home subject to contract and buyers who have not yet sold their home.
4. BE CLEAR WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
After you’ve attracted a buyer, make sure they understand exactly what’s included in the
price. This means things such as fixtures and fittings. Be clear about exactly what they are
getting for their purchase price.
5. AGREE A COMPLETION DATE
Establish a likely completion date that suits both parties. This will avoid arguments further
down the line. While this doesn’t need to be set in stone, it will give both parties something
to work towards.
6. GET IT IN WRITING
Although not legally binding, it’s a good idea to draw up an agreed note of the arrangement
with the buyer. This will record your intentions on matters such as finance and date of
completion.
7. CHOOSE A CONVEYANCER
Conveyancing is the legal paperwork to transfer the home to or from your name. Use a
recommended solicitor or licensed conveyancer. If you’re using a solicitor, make sure
they’re a specialist conveyancer and have a good reputation for moving quickly.
8. KEEP IN TOUCH
Keep communication going. Don’t disappear on holiday for two weeks without informing all
interested parties, such as your estate agent. Don’t ignore aspects of the purchase that you
don’t understand.
As I have discussed tirelessly in these
pages over the past four months,
while the UK housing market’s supply/
demand imbalance persists, finding new
vendors and landlords will remain one of the
biggest challenges facing estate agents and
letting agents.
From my perspective, there are three simple
but vital steps that every agency should be
undertaking in order to generate more leads
ripe for conversion…
Lead generation through instant valuation
A lot of agents’ sites are not designed to attract
vendors and landlords; instead, they are aimed
at the property-buying public, and this is where
many businesses may be missing out on new
instructions.
When it comes to capturing vendor and
landlord contact details, I’m afraid the days of
valuation request forms are long gone. These
days, the most common way to get your vendor
and landlord traffic to engage with your agency
is through an instant online valuation.
Prospective clients will be keen to know
how much their property is worth, and, if sign
posted correctly, they are likely to request an
instant valuation. Capturing their details gives
you the opportunity to do what you do best –
offer them a market appraisal and hopefully
take on the instruction.
No matter how many landlords and
vendors are visiting your site, if it has no call
to action, lots of this potential business could
unfortunately be lost to your competitors.
Why not try the tool for yourself at
www.valuemyproperty.co.uk?
Drive traffic from social media
In every aspect of your business, but
especially considering the above, increasing
and maintaining your website traffic is a must.
These days, almost all agencies have a social
media presence, but it is how they use this
presence which will affect traffic figures.
Posting interesting content on a daily
basis, as well as giving visitors a look into
the ‘human’ side of your business, is likely
to boost your social media figures. Managing
your social media channels properly gives you
the opportunity to consistently drive people
back to your website and capture those all-
important contact details.
The power of social media is twofold: firstly,
it gives you the platform to convey an overall
feeling of your business, and secondly, you
can use these channels to interact with new
potential clients, driving them to your data
capture facilities.
A variety of social media packages are
available for agents; for more information please
visit www.angelsmedia.co.uk/social-media
Improve your ranking and generate traffic
with a content strategy
As we all now know, Google holds the aces
when it comes to who is seeing our business
and where. However, as I discussed last
month, the days of SEO in its purest form are
most certainly behind us.
The key to upping your rankings – and
subsequently generating more traffic and
therefore leads – is now a clearly defined and
regularly executed content strategy.
You need to be writing, publishing and
sharing relevant content on a monthly basis.
Agreeing on a keyword strategy and running
this through all of your content, advertising
and so on is vital. Blogs that include one-way
inbound links to your website as well as a call
to action – to an instant online valuation, for
example – are likely to perform well.
As well as all these clear SEO and potential
lead-generation benefits, creating content like
this will also help to establish your agency
as an authority in its field, another weapon in
your armoury when it comes to taking on new
vendors and landlords.
That’s it for July. For further advice on how
to generate more leads for your agency and
enhance your digital marketing strategy,
please get in touch on: 0208 663 4963 or
SECURE THOSE LEADS
Craig Vile from Angels Media on the three steps required to secure your agency more vendor and landlord leads
• Four bedrooms• Three bathrooms/shower rooms• 3 - 4 interconnecting reception
rooms• Big kitchen/family room plus
separate utility room• Large lawn area plus two separate
sun terraces• Mature boundaries providing good
privacy• Large swimming pool with
adjoining summer house• Double and separate single garage
Occupying one of the largest plots in one of Hove’s most prestigious roads, enjoying a fabulous outlook and views to the rear, with a quite stunning rear garden including separate swimming pool/leisure area. This already sizeable house still offers enormous scope and potential, has both a double and separate single garage each with their own driveways together with an additional external garden room.
OFFERS IN THE REGION OF £1,400,000 FREEHOLDPlease respond to Elliotts in Hove 01273 773399
2 Church Road, Hove BN3 [email protected]
01273 773399
2 Queens Parade, Hangleton BN3 [email protected]
01273 322766
www.elliottsestateagents.co.uk
HILL BROW, HOVE
Brighton & Hove City OfficeResidential Sales & Lettings3-6 North Road, BrightonEast Sussex BN1 1YASales 01273 688881Lettings 01273 688884E [email protected]
Residential Estate & Letting Agents • Land & New HomesLewes Town & CountryResidential Sales & Lettings14a High StreetLewesEast Sussex BN7 2LNT 01273 487444E [email protected]
London Office40 St James’s PlaceLondonSW1A 1NS
T 020 78390888E [email protected]
oakleyproperty.com
Central Brighton £499,950
North Laine £650,000
Hove Park £429,950
Kemptownn £420,000
2 2
2 3
1 1
2 1
2 2
2 2 3
A third floor aparment with lift access presented in a modern contemporary style with a secure underground parking space.
A four storey property forming part of a gated cobbled mews with a rear patio and southerly roof terrace. Ideal home/income or home office opportunity.
A well proportioned first floor aparment offering direct views across Hove Park with parking for two vehicles.
A deceptively spacious three bedroom town house benefiting from a gated allocated parking space and the remainder of an 10 year NHBS warrenty.
PORTFOLIO 37
BEAUTIFUL homes
CROWN JEWEL A rare opportunity to purchase a stunning modern
central Brighton contemporary town house that
has been finished to exacting standards with
particular attention to detail & styling.
Positioned in the heart of the city and just a short stroll
from Brighton mainline railway station, the house
comprises a spacious lounge with doors opening onto
a private courtyard and a striking Linear Quattro Italian
kitchen/dining room with a high gloss white finish,
natural stone worktops & integrated appliances.
Arranged over three storeys, there are three bedrooms
with the master having an en-suite shower room and a
further contemporary white family bathroom suite both
from Bathstore. The house boasts a private courtyard
and a superb rooftop sun terrace/entertaining space
offering views across Brighton towards the Royal
Pavilion.
Crown Gardens Brighton BN1 3LD
Guide Price: £550,000Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2Extras: Solar hot water system; Built in wardrobes & storage, Stone tiled floors & walls to bathroomsBest Bits: Superb rooftop sun terrace; Atrium style entrance hall; Walking distance to Brighton Station & seafront
Oakley ResidentialBrighton & Hove City Office3 North Place, Brighton BN1 1YA01273 688881 www.oakleyproperty.com
PORTFOLIO 38
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I live in Hampstead Road, just off Dyke Road near Seven Dials in Brighton. I moved to the area primarily for access to good schools, but it’s got a real community feel, lots of families live here, and it’s still easy to get into town.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRIGHTON? I moved to Brighton ten years ago after living in London for many years and a short spell in Wales.
DESCRIBE YOUR HOUSE BRIEFLY I live in a terraced house with my husband, two children and miniature schnauzer.
WHERE DO YOU SHOP IN YOUR LOCALE?The Bullet PR office is in the North Laines, so during the week we are spoilt for choice for places to eat. I like Marwoods for coffee and Namul, who do delicious Korean Bimbap takeaway lunches.
ARE THERE ANY HISTORICAL OR CULTURAL POINTS OF INTEREST, OR GREAT OPEN SPACES IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD?The Booth Museum of Natural History is just down the road on Dyke Road. It was founded by Edward Booth, an eccentric Victorian naturalist and originally housed his private collection of British birds. It’s a really quirky little museum, very atmospheric. A good place to while away a rainy afternoon. Hove Park, Preston Park and Dyke Road parks are just minutes away from the house.
ARE YOU A SPORT FAN?My family are obsessed with sport and my son plays rugby for Hove under-15s and American football for Sussex Thunder. But, I am afraid to say, I have absolutely no interest in sport and avoid it all costs!
ARE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY LEISURE OR FITNESS CLUBS?I am a member of Withdean gym, which is just up the road. It had an overhaul a few years ago and it’s fantastic now - great facilities and never too busy.
DO YOU COMMUTE TO WORK OR REGULARLY TRAVEL FOR WORK AT ALL? I am lucky enough to be based in Brighton so don’t have a regular commute, though the majority of my clients are London-based, so I do travel quite a bit. I also have some clients in Ibiza, so try to get out there a couple of times a year.
DO YOU HAVE A GARDEN? Yes I have a small garden. I actually love gardening; I find it really relaxing. My garden is quite cottagey, though I also dream of a minimalist Moroccan-style garden with lots of seating and lovely lighting.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY YOU WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN?I would love to live in one of the big Hove squares, overlooking the sea.
DO YOU PREFER TO ENTERTAIN AT HOME, OR DO YOU LIKE EATING OUT LOCALLY? IF SO, WHERE DO YOU EAT/DRINK?I am an absolutely rubbish cook, so I find entertaining at home quite stressful. I much prefer eating out. Locally, I like the Japanese restaurant Murasaki at Seven Dials. I love seafood, so other favourites include Urchin in Hove, Riddle and Fins, and 64 Degrees is great. For drinks it’s The Cocktail Shack or The Plotting Parlour.
WHERE DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE VISITORS?It’s got to be a stroll along the seafront, then an afternoon exploring the North Laines and all the quirky shops Brighton has to offer. The city is a great place to visit in May for the festivals; my guests always love visiting the Artists’ Open Houses; they are a great way to tour the city.
DO YOU EVER HANKER TO LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD?I would love to live in Ibiza. It reminds me of Brighton. It has an ‘anything goes’ attitude, the sun (not that bit!) beaches, great restaurants… I’m just working on the plan!
www.bulletpr.co.uk
PANDORA GEORGE IS FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BULLET PR
UP MY STREET......THIS MONTH WE SPEAK TO PANDORA GEORGE ABOUT WHERE SHE LIVES AND WHY SHE LOVES IT
www.engleharts.co.uk
For more information please contact us at Engleharts Solicitors:
Vallance Hall, Hove Street, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2DE
[email protected] • 01273 204411
local & independent
solicitors
Incorporating Johnson McCabe
We are local, independent solicitors providing an expert legal service with a personal approach
Property• Buying and Selling
Property• Re-Mortgages• Freehold Enfranchisement• Lease Extensions• Buying and Selling
Investment Properties
Business• Landlord and Tenant and
Commercial Property• Buying and Selling
Businesses and Shares• Employment Law
• Licensing
Wills and Trusts• Wills• Probate and
Administration of Estates
• Inheritance Tax Planning and Trusts
• Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection
• Elderly Client Care
Life and Family• Family and Matrimonial• Co Habitation
Agreements/Disputes• Civil Partnerships• Pre-nuptial Agreements• Divorce
Civil Litigation• Employment• Debt Recovery • Property• Contentious Probate• Insurance Claims• Fraud Claims to include
Defending SOCA Claims• Consumer Law• Neighbour disputes• Dispute Resolution/
Mediation of Claims
Commercial Litigation• Commercial contract/
Consumer Disputes• Director/Shareholders/
Partnership Disputes• Insurance Claims• Construction and
Engineering• Commercial Property
Disputes• Professional Negligence
Claims• Intellectual Property
Disputes
Personal Injury• Road Traffic Accidents• Medical Negligence• Accident at Work and on
Construction Site• Fatal Accidents• Structured Settlements
GARDEN FLAT, 9 PALMEIRA SQUARE, HOVE
An impressive Grade II listed apartment with share of freehold and delightful garden in this beautiful Regency terrace. Two very large double bedrooms with
two en-suites, spacious hallways and lots of storage, high ceilings in the lounge with period fireplace and access through to patio garden, separate fitted kitchen
– MUST BE SEEN TO APPRECIATE THE SIZE
PRICE £600,000 EPC exempt
Jonathan Lloyd Western Road Office 01273 777000
DITCHLING ROAD, BRIGHTON
Lovely Tudor style five bedroom detached house with three reception rooms, original panelling, kitchen/breakfast room, bathroom, shower room, private
driveway to garage and a fabulous westerly rear garden. The house is now in need of some updating having been a family house for many years. Situated close to Hollingbury golf course, local schools and easy access to A27/A23.
Open House Saturday July 4th
PRICE £975,000 EPC TBC
Robert Harding Preston Park Office 01273 508761
ASHDOWN AVENUE, SALTDEAN
This stunning 1930’s art deco detached house is situated on Ashdown Avenue in Saltdean. The property is developed over 3 stories comprising four bedrooms with two en suites and a separate shower room. In addition, this house offers a private driveway in contrast to a generous rear garden with views over Saltdean and the sea. Internally, the property is in fantastic condition throughout with a beautiful bespoke fitted kitchen. This property is being sold chain free, Ashdown Avenue is not to be missed and viewings are highly recommended!
PRICE: OIEO £600,000 EPC TBCNick Pashby Rottingdean Office 01273 309968
MARINE GATE, KEMPTOWN SEAFRONT
SEAFRONT LIVING? VIEWS? PARKING? 3 DOUBLE BEDROOMS? HUGE LOUNGE? A beautiful flat in a well know Art Deco style building on Brighton Seafront. The large dual aspect lounge has both open and enclosed balconies making the most of the direct sea views. Being so close to Brighton Marina this apartment is in a great location. There is 24 hour security, well tended gardens and a secure underground parking comes with the apartment.
PRICE: £450,000 EPC CEdward Middle Kemptown Office 01273 688148
9 Offices Covering Brighton & Hove27 Offices in Sussex37 Offices in London
LANSDOWNE PLACE, HOVE
Stunning Grade II listed Regency townhouse of significant proportions in the Brunswick Town Conservation Area. This beautifully presented property represents a rare opportunity to acquire a potential home and income or large family residence; comprising a 6 bedroom house and garden with self-contained basement flat with private patio.This is an ideal base for holiday letting or those seeking a central position being located on the southern section of Lansdowne Place, just off the main shopping and transport along Western Road and within a few hundred yards of Hove Lawns and seafront.
PRICE: OIXO £1,350,000 EPC TBCJonathan Lloyd Western Road Office 01273 777000
www.rightmove.co.ukwww.primelocation.co.ukwww.fox-and-sons.co.uk
LEGAL matters
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney and
why should I have one?
People often use the phrase a ‘Power
of Attorney’ when discussing a much-loved
elderly relative and making sure their personal
and professional affairs are properly looked
after. But what is a ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’
and is it just something that applies to the
elderly?
A Lasting Power of Attorney or LPA ensures
that someone you choose can step into your
shoes and look after your financial, health
and welfare needs if you should no longer be
capable of making those decisions for yourself.
It is important to think about who you would
wish to help you if the situation arose. How
would you pay your bills? How would your
business continue? What if you needed to sell
your home?
This is not just about what happens if you
were to develop dementia in the future. What
if you became physically incapacitated and
were unable to communicate your wishes?
Creating a ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’ gives you
the opportunity to safeguard your decisions and
put them in the hands of someone you trust,
who can carry them out for you.
There are two different types of LPA. One
deals with health and welfare and includes
issues such as consent or refusal of life-saving
treatment, while the other deals with property
and financial affairs, such as allowing your
attorney to write cheques for you and pay bills
on your behalf. Once an LPA is created and
registered, your attorney can make all those
decisions for you.
You can give guidance to the people that you
choose to be your attorney before any capacity
issue arises. The people you appoint are also
under a legal duty to assist you in making your
own decision and also have to act in your best
interests. It can be reassuring to know that a
family member or close personal friend could
be making decisions for you and with guidance
that you have given to them previously.
The biggest drawback of not appointing an
attorney to look after your affairs when you are
no longer able to is that your friends or family
will need to apply to the Court to be appointed to
make decisions on your behalf. Applying to the
Court is a time-consuming and costly process
and can prevent or significantly delay important
decisions, such as selling a property or running
your business.
Preparing an LPA now is a bit of an insurance
policy. Hopefully, it won’t be needed in the future,
but if it is, it can save a lot of heartache for you
and the people who care about you, ensuring
that any practicalities can be dealt with as soon
as they arise.
Louise McKay is a Partner at QualitySolicitors Howlett Clarke8-9 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AZ01273 327272www.qualitysolicitors.com/howlettclarke
See more from Howlett Clarke at
www.portfoliopublications.co.uk
LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY A Lasting Power of Attorney isn’t only about caring for elderly relatives. Howlett Clarke on planning ahead
42 PORTFOLIO
NEW Landlords wanted
Awarded the best LETTING agent in Brighton & Hove 2 years running.We were also awarded the best letting branch in the south east.
to work with the best
LET US TAKE CARE OF YOUR INVESTMENT
LET IT BE…Thinking of becoming a landlord? Do your homework, and choose the right agent…
With an estimated 45% of landlords
owning only one property, the profile
of the typical landlord has changed
dramatically in the last decade, but make sure
you understand your costs and obligations
before you change your day job…
There are many different ways to become a
landlord. Perhaps you have inherited a property
that you want to keep but not to live in, or maybe
you have your eyes on a property you wish to
acquire with a view to renting out.
In most cases, the likelihood is that you’ll
probably need a buy-to-let mortgage. However,
if you have decided that you’re buying outright,
you won’t need a mortgage to finance the
purchase – unless you decide to use your
investment to buy several properties. Likewise,
if you decide to rent out your existing home and
move elsewhere, you may not need a buy-to-
let mortgage. But you must tell your mortgage
provider and request a ‘consent to let’.
In all cases, if you have a mortgage you’ll
need to contact your mortgage provider to
check what their policy is regarding renting,
whether to a tenant or a lodger.
CALCULATING THE RETURN ON YOUR
INVESTMENT
The property you buy and the tenants you aim to
attract will be driven by your underlying reason
for entering into buy-to-let. There are two ways
in which you can seek to make a return on your
investment: capital growth and rental income.
Most people are looking for a combination
of these, but it’s likely that your underlying
reasons for investing mean you will place more
focus on one or the other.
Your rental income depends on factors
like the size, condition and location of your
property. The quickest way to get an idea of
your property’s potential income is to contact a
local estate agent for an estimate, just as you
would if you were selling a house. As for capital
growth, the term is commonly used to describe
the change in property value over time.
Remember that whatever you earn in
income will have to cover maintenance, repairs,
management fees, any mortgage payments
on the property and empty periods in between
tenants.
Do make sure you speak to your financial
adviser about the tax implications of the rental
income.
PROPERTY TAX
You are obliged by law to advise the HMRC of any
properties that are let. Property tax is applied
individually, and what you owe depends on your
overall income and assets, not just earnings
from property. Deductions can be made from
the rental income to cover such things as the
interest element of any mortgage payment
on the property, agents’ fees, maintenance
costs, repairs, insurance, ground rents and so
on. Always seek the advice of a property tax
specialist - even if you are just letting your own
home.
PROPERTY TIPS FOR LANDLORDS
Property expert Phil Spencer and the
Telegraph’s Christopher Middleton offer some
top tips for investing in the buy-to-let market.
“The business of getting a buy-to-let
mortgage can take time and needs thorough
research. You also need to factor in the
safety checks that must be passed before
you can legally start taking in tenants. Once
the preparation is done, though, there is no
doubt that it will pay off,” says Channel 4’s,
Phil Spencer. “The key thing is to work out
who is your most likely customer, and present
your property accordingly,” advises Spencer,
a landlord in his own right. “Students need a
blank canvas, so that they can add their own
character. They need furniture, too, whereas
families are going to bring their own. They will,
however, expect it to be more than just basic.
It should be well presented, in good decorative
order and clean. “Young professionals might not
expect the garden. But they will want the basics
in terms of furniture, which should be, if not
trendy, at least not unfashionable.”
With thanks to: www.nationwide.co.uk, www.arla.co.uk, www.telegraph.co.uk44 PORTFOLIO
Before diving into the buy-to-let market, it’s
important to get into the rental mentality. Here
are some tips from Christopher Middleton from
The Telegraph Property Club to help you on
your way:
LEARN TO LISTEN
Meet lettings agents and other landlords and
hear what they have to say. Consider joining
the National Landlords Association.
TAKE AIM
Decide (with advice from lettings agents) what
size property to go for and what kind of tenants
you will be targeting (students, families, young
professionals, company lets).
SHOP AROUND
For a buy-to-let mortgage offering a reasonable
rate of interest, plus equally reasonable
arrangement fee. Also for reliable lettings
agents, to manage the property (do they belong
to a professional body, such as the Association
of Residential Letting Agents?)
DECORATE ACCORDINGLY
Not how you like, but how your tenants will
like. Don’t alienate men by making everything
pink, or put off women by opting for wall-to-
wall grey.
BE REASONABLE
Say you get £500 rent per month and your
lettings management firm takes 10 percent.
Isn’t it worth £50 for them to get “the-boilers-
broken” calls from your tenants at midnight?
RESIST GREED
If you’ve got reliable tenants. go easy on the
rent increases. Driving them away could cost
you a lot more money in the long run.
Join the Telegraph Property Club at:
www.telegraph.co.uk
ARLA’s TOP TIPS FOR BUY-TO-LET LANDLORDS
Buying a property to let isn’t always straightforward. But follow ARLA’s advice and it will be a
whole lot easier
1. Do some research - Buy-to-let can be a legal, practical and financial minefield, and you will
need to do your homework. Research the market with the help of your local NAEA or ARLA
estate and lettings agents, who will be able to advise on demand and any other issues in
the area you are considering.
2. Know the demand - Buying where there is no rental demand can be fatal to the buy-to-let
investor, yet it is a surprisingly common mistake. Make sure you are not investing in a
market which is already saturated with the sort of property you have to offer, and do not be
misled by stories of fast profits.
3. Understand your finances - Keep in mind whether you are in the market for capital gain
when you sell or simply monthly rental income. This will help you decide what to buy and
where, and what kind of mortgage you need.
4. Buy carefully - Make sure you buy a property which allows for sufficient profit margin. Do
not go for a ‘bargain’ property which may turn into a money pit very quickly. Major repairs
require much time and effort and paying more for a property which is in better condition
can be a wise move.
5. Decorate to demand - Don’t make the mistake of decorating and furnishing the property to
your own tastes; keep it simple, with clean lines, and do not fall into self-indulgence. You
are there to make money out of the property, so keep your market in mind, but do not treat
it like a doll’s house.
6. Be aware of new and updated regulations as and when they arise. Failure to comply with
the law can result in serious consequences. The best way to make sure you are kept up to
date is to use an NAEA agent who can make you aware of them while also ensuring you
comply.
7. Know your responsibilities - You, your letting agent and your tenant have different
responsibilities, and it is important to know where these lie. As the landlord you will be
expected to pay buildings insurance, ground rent and service charges and insure any items
you leave in the property. Your letting agent will be able to advise on others’ responsibilities
as part of your contract.
8. Prepare for voids - Your property may be empty and not generate any income for periods
of time, and you need to be ready for this. Advertising for new tenants, painting walls and
replacing carpets can take months off your lettings calendar and you should have a plan in
place for when this happens.
9. Move with the market - Know that if the market softens you will have to lower your rent
in order to stay competitive, no matter how desirable your property. If you are in it for the
long term this should not matter, as the important thing is that your property continues to
generate a fee for you.
Property Moves, 109 Church Road, Hove BN3 2AF. 01273 321333. www.propertymoves.co.uk
FEATURE PROPERTIES AVAILABLE AT PROPERTY MOVES:WARREN KNIGHT FROM PROPERTY MOVES
LETTINGS SAYS:
“Once you have bought your ideal
investment, it needs to present well, as first
impressions are always very important.
You will need to make sure it’s well
carpeted and decorated, with a modern
kitchen and bathroom, which will help you
attract the ideal tenant. We can always give
new landlords advice on this.” Harrington Road, Brighton - £1150
Recently refurbished, split level unfurnished
second floor two bedroom flat. Spacious
triple aspect lounge with wooden floors
and modern fitted open plan kitchen. Very
modern wet room style bathroom. Two
balconies. Short walk to Preston Park
station.
Tivoli Road, Brighton - £1500
Modern two double bedroom unfurnished
maisonette in popular location. Newly
decorated & carpeted. Newly fitted kitchen,
new en-suite & family bathroom. Spacious
lounge with high ceilings & double glazed
windows. Roof terrace with stunning views
across Brighton.
8/9 Old SteineBrightonBN1 1EJ
If you are buying or selling your property, Healys offers an unrivalled legal service. In order that your matter proceeds smoothly we offer the following as standard to our clients:
Direct dial to your SolicitorNo hidden chargesCompetitive fees
We would be delighted to provide you with a free personal quotation. Please contact one of our team on: 01273 669139 or email: [email protected] or visit www.healys.com and complete our online quotation form.
•••
Making Moving a Pleasure
H ME of the MONTH2 bedroom flat to rent Tisbury Road, Hove
www.onthemarket.com
Price: £1,400 pcm
Key features:
• Newly Refurbished• Modern Fitted Open Plan Kitchen• Two En Suite Shower Rooms• Two Double Bedrooms• Spacious Lounge• Wooden Floors• Patio• Short walk to seafront, shops & station
Property Moves 109 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2AF
Tel: 01273 321333 FREE VALUATION
CONTACT AGENT
...as selected by PORTFOLIO magazine
A new concept in bedroom and home storage
www.gapsolutions.co.uk | [email protected] 5B Enterprise Business Park, Crowhurst Road, Brighton BN1 8AF
Call now to book a free design and quotation 01273 550050
Sliding Wardrobes | Room Dividers | Walk in Wardrobes | Headboards | Built in docking stations
Our brand new collection of stylish sliding wardrobes and room dividers made to measure
48 PORTFOLIO
BEAUTIFUL homes
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PORTFOLIO 49
Now we have reached mid summer and
the garden is shimmering with jewel-
like colour. This is often one of the
hottest months of the year, so take advantage
of this hot period and sit outdoors, indulge in
alfresco dining or simply absorb the peace and
tranquility of your beautiful July garden.
One of the many joys of gardening is blending
together the colours you love most to create
atmosphere and impact. For me, cool whites,
gentle pinks, subtle blues, delicate mauves and
sophisticated greens make my ideal garden.
This year at the great Chelsea flower show
these colours played a huge part in many of
the garden designs. All the plants used were
ones that can be found in most gardens and
which are readily available in your local garden
centres. The trick is to weave these colours
together so they sit next to each other in perfect
harmony. With careful planning, we can all
achieve the Chelsea wow factor in our own
gardens, no matter how small.
The traditional borders with a mixture of
shrubs, trees, perennials and annuals in mixed
colours still remain very popular. However,
sometimes a change is called for. Gardens with
colours that are restricted to four or possibly
five can have a greater appeal with strong
intent. It is good to experiment with colour, even
if you restrict it to a small area of your garden.
Finally, for architectural and year-round
interest, invest in some topiary, either standard
bay trees or clipped box balls. Let the topiary
take centre stage throughout the garden and
place the other plants around the topiary.
Always remember to plant in multiples and odd
numbers and this will make a huge difference
to your garden.
Using architectural plants in the garden will
act as focal points and give structure through
the winter too. Using standard bays will
introduce height to break up the garden at eye
level.
A wonderful planting palette with limited
colours and sophisticated greens will provide
you with a refined, elegant garden to enjoy all
through the summer and beyond.
INTO THE GARDENSummer is fully here and your garden should be blooming… Portfolio Interiors Editor Tara de la Motte on adding colour and texture to your July garden
For a garden using whites, pinks, blues, mauves and greens, here is a great selection of plants that you will simply desire to have in your garden…
FOR BLUES, MAUVES AND PINKS
n Nepta ‘six hills giant’ — with delicate
purple flowers and aromatic silver and
green foliage
n Eryngium (sea holly) — has spiny leaves
and thistle-like pale blue flowers
n Agapanthus (African lily ) — strap-like
leaves and tall, stemmed blue flowers
n Lavandula (lavender) Hidcote - with
violet-blue flowers, highly fragrant, will
also attract bees
n Allium aflatuneuse — with majestic
purple-pink flowers, wonderful showy
plant
n Salvia sylvestris ‘may night’ — slightly
hairy leaves and has indigo blue
flowers
n Astransia involucrata — with green-
and-white-flushed pink flowers, can be
used as a dried flower
WHITES
n Phlox paniculata ‘white admiral’ —
a cool, scented phlox with a long
flowering period
n Nicotina alata (tobacco plant ) — widely
grown as an annual, with scented
flowers
n Crambe cordifolia — a beautiful
plant that has imposing foliage and
wonderfully scented flowers
INTERIORS
BRAND • VAUGHAN
in association with Sawyer & Co
Rand &C oLettings & Acquisitions
We’re On The Market: Your Local On The Market Agents
OnTheMarket.com is the new, simple way to search
hundreds of thousands of properties.
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and are advertising them exclusively with us fi rst.
So, for a head start in the hunt for properties you won’t
fi nd anywhere else, search OnTheMarket.com.
try the new, simple way to fi nd
your perfect new
h me
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Registered Offi ce: 3rd Floor Connaught House, 1-3 Mount Street, London W1K 3NB, England.
51242_TRAP_39L_Portfolio.indd 1 20/05/2015 09:01
A PLACE IN THE SUNA record number of Brits are buying properties abroad. Portfolio look into how to buy abroad successfully
Even before we arrive back from our
annual foreign holiday, many of us
are dreaming of owning our very own
property in the sun. Too much Sangria, sun,
and laying by a pool, perhaps, making us
believe that we can indeed live the dream. The
lure of having a gorgeous property abroad for
the family to escape to whenever you wish,
avoiding the endless searching for expensive
holidays, perhaps only to be disappointed by
the over-hyped descriptions of poor quality
accommodation, is surely tempting. With the
often low prices abroad, it may also prove to be
a good investment and an ideal place to retire to.
A record number of Brits are buying
properties abroad to escape the winter months
and enjoying a ready-made holiday home in
that familiar location that they can also lend
out to friends and family.
If you are seriously thinking of buying abroad,
then do a lot of research. To start you off, the
internet is a fabulous resource, but you can’t
beat on-the-spot talking to both the locals and
the region’s experts.
“Choosing suitable properties to view abroad
purely from web listings works for some
people,” said Elaine Ferguson, Head of the
Resource Centre at OverseasGuidesCompany.
com. “However, in reality, for most people this
type of research is a starting point and is a
good way of finding an estate agent.
“Typically, we see clients head off on a trip
to view properties that they think tick all the
boxes, only to be shown somewhere different
by an attentive agent who usually has a better
understanding of what suits their needs
than them. Today’s market conditions make
working with an astute estate agent even more
important in 2015.
Elaine adds, “As a foreigner, your agent
should not only help you find a property, but
also assist with getting set up as a homeowner,
which includes opening a bank account, getting
a tax identification number, finding a lawyer,
getting connected to utilities and dealing with
any other household issues.”
Many estate agents in the UK also have
offices abroad and can liaise to find you the
best properties to view, plus, there is no
awkward language barrier.
One such company is John D Wood & Co.
Nicholas Taylor, Operations Director, comments:
“We are able to help clients buy abroad, whether
selling in the UK to relocate or purchasing an
additional property. Many of our sellers tell
us they aim to live abroad for part of the year
and downsize from their main property in the
UK, keeping a base here to maintain a foothold
in the UK, usually close to family or for easy
flexi-commuting. Whatever lifestyle you are
seeking, we can now help you buy in Europe,
the Caribbean and America, as well as further
afield, and have a vast selection of properties.”
www.ritz-g5.com. 9772
PORTFOLIO 53
DECIDE WHY YOU’RE BUYING
If you are buying your property for investment, don’t imagine that you will have a full season
booked out. Take into consideration that there will inevitably be dry periods during the year which
you will need to build into your costings. Look in detail at its rental potential.
If you intend using the property regularly, work out how often you will visit and whether you are
able to maintain it effectively.
RESEARCH THE AREA
It sounds obvious, but find out what the property and the area are like in the winter, and whether
the facilities are even open in the off-season. Beaches, restaurants and bars may close, and public
transport may be affected. Ensure there are shopping and other amenities within a reasonable
distance.
INSTRUCT AN INDEPENDENT LAWYER
You would always use an independent lawyer when buying a property in the UK, so why do anything
different when buying abroad?
FIND OUT ABOUT COSTS AND FINANCE
The costs of buying and renovating abroad can be significantly higher than in the UK. It is therefore
vital that you do some calculations regarding the final cost of buying when looking at your budget
and build this into your total spend. Finding out about the total cost of buying ensures that you can
afford the property and makes sure that you stick to your budget.
UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
Whilst the process of buying in some countries may appear to be similar to that in the UK, it can
be very different in others.
SURVEYS
Just because you are buying a property abroad doesn’t mean that you need not worry about the
structure of the property. Hot climates can have equally as damaging an effect on properties and
surveys are therefore still highly advisable.
VALUATIONS AND DUE DILIGENCE
Carry out your own due diligence. When a property is for sale at a cheap price, it doesn’t mean it
is a bargain. It makes sense to get an independent valuation to ensure that you are not paying too
much.
CURRENCY
There can be large savings to be made by getting the right exchange rate on your purchase. Even
small fluctuations in the rate of exchange can have a major impact on the amount that you actually
pay for the property.
UNDERSTAND THE TAX IMPLICATIONS AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERSHIP
The tax systems abroad can be very different to those familiar to you. They may also have an
impact on your tax affairs back home. Buying the property is only the start of your ownership.
You need to understand how a whole range of different things work, such as taxes, insurance,
communal areas, inheritance rules and so on.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
If you’re planning to live permanently at the property, research your pension and healthcare
requirements as early as possible. If you are below retirement age, carefully consider your
healthcare insurance cover.
Some information provided by Peter Esders Judicare Group, which is a legal services company
specialising in property investment recovery. In this role, it works solely on behalf of buyers (not
developers or agents), helping them to seek compensation in the event of problems with the purchase of
a property overseas. For more information on buying abroad visit www.judicaregroup.com.
TIPS ON WHAT TO BE AWARE OF WHEN PURCHASING A PROPERTY OVERSEAS:
www.property-venture.com
www.fineandcountry.com
OVERSEAS
OVERSEAS
Simon Conn has over 30 years’ experience
in the overseas property market and has
worked for a number of major financial
services companies. He is especially well
known within the overseas mortgage industry
and is a regular media commentator on matters
relating to the purchase or refinancing of
overseas property.
LONGER TERM FIXED RATES ARE MORE
POPULAR IN COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF THE UK.
The tradition in the UK has been to move more
frequently, so there hasn’t been the demand
for longer-term products as people have been
concerned about early redemption penalties.
There are more long-term rates available now
because people haven’t moved as much in
the economic crisis, tending to re-mortgage
instead.
In some countries, such as South Africa,
there are no fixed rates currently available.
An example of both variable and fixed rate
products are listed below.
Please note that all lending terms depend on
a client’s personal financial status, valuation of
the property, location and type of property, plus
loan required.
USA
Interest continues to be high in the most popular
states/areas, such as Florida, California and
New York, with interest growing Colorado,
Texas and South Carolina, but with the cheaper
properties you have to be careful what you are
purchasing and the future saleability. Interest
rates are also quite low and maximum loan
to value rates vary between 70% and 75%
depending on the state and type of property
being purchased.
The majority of lenders we deal with for
foreign nationals offer 3, 5 or 7 year fixed rates
starting from approximately 4.875%. Normally
these fixed rate schemes have no early
redemption penalties. Adjustable rates start
from approximately 3.50%.
ITALY
Italy is still flourishing, with Umbria and Tuscany
becoming more popular again. Interest rates are low
and loan to values are still between 60% and 70%.
There is a variable fixed-rate market from
approximately 2.49%. Fixed rates are available
occasionally, but these are only offered on
approval, due to the volatility of the market and
can be expensive, starting from 6.00% over 1
year.
TURKEY
Still offers value for money, with lower-priced
properties when compared to other parts of
Southern Europe. Interest rates continue to be
high compared to others and mortgages are
available between 50% and 75%, depending on
an applicant’s location and financial status.
The cheapest fixed rate is from 6.40% over
1 year with a 2% redemption penalty. Variable
rates start from approximately 6.15%.
FRANCE
More properties have been built recently and
interest rates have dropped even further due
to European Central Bank rates being reduced.
Mortgages are still available up to 80% to 85%
loan to value.
The longest term for fixed-rate products in
France is 20 years, with rates starting from
2.40%. The penalty is six months’ interest or
a maximum of 3% of the mortgage. The best
variable rate is from approximately 1.85% and
with no early repayment charges.
SPAIN
Spain remains popular and there are signs of
possible new developments being built and
unsold projects being resurrected/renovated,
but in the latter case you should ensure all the
relevant planning permissions and building and
habitation licences are in place.
The fixed interest rate for 5, 10, 15 or 20 years
starts from 3.50%. The early redemption fee is
0.50% at any time.
PORTUGAL
Portugal continues to show an increase in
sales, not just in the Algarve, but also Lisbon
and the Silver Coast areas. Mortgages are now
available up to 80% on a case-by-case basis,
and it also benefits from the current low Euro
interest rates, although these are high when
compared to France and Spain.
Fixed rates over 5 years are available from
approximately 3.85%. Variable rates start from
approximately 2.00%.
For advice on financing your overseas
property, contact Simon on 07739 033 266
or visit www.simonconn.com
Twitter: @simonlconn
OVERSEAS MORTGAGESSimon Conn, overseas property and finance specialist, on buying or re-financing overseas property
54 PORTFOLIO
‘The World’ www.fineandcountry-marbella.com
PORTFOLIO 55
OVERSEAS
MANAGING THE EXCHANGE RATE
When buying a property overseas you will
have a set budget in mind. The difficulty when
it comes to buying a property abroad, in a
different currency, is that the movements in
the foreign exchange market can affect your
set budget.
Exchange rates move rapidly and frequently,
while it can take many months to buy a
property. Exchange rates are sensitive to a
range of economic factors such as productivity,
unemployment levels and the housing market.
Political developments, wars and natural
disasters will also cause rates to move up or
down.
These movements in the FX market could
make the difference between you going ahead
with your property purchase or having to
abandon your dream.
For example, at the end of January a pound
would buy €1.346, but just a week later
sterling had fallen to €1.321. That may not
sound much, but it means a €300,000 property
would cost you £4,000 more in a matter of a
few days. So, depending on when you actually
pay for your property, it could cost you much
more – or less – than you originally planned.
That’s why having access to a currency
specialist such as moneycorp is invaluable.
When you open an account with moneycorp,
you will be given a personal account manager
to discuss your needs and give you guidance on
the currency market. Your UK-based manager
is an expert in the field and can explain the
tools available to help protect you and your
budget from negative rate movements.
Having this peace of mind means you can
focus on the other details of your property
purchase, safe in the knowledge that your
dream will not be knocked off course by the
currency markets.
Since the foreign exchange market could
make or break your property purchase, it
makes sense to speak to the experts.
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR OVERSEAS PROPERTY
PURCHASE
Whether you are realising a dream to own a
place in the sun or you are selling up abroad
to move back to the UK, you will need to
move large sums of money between different
countries and currencies.
While you may grab a bargain and get a
good sale price, you may not have given much
thought to what kind of deal you’ll get when
you actually transfer money to pay for the
property.
It is essential to get a great exchange rate
when you send your money overseas. Most
people go to their high street bank but banks
seldom offer competitive exchange rates or a
personal service.
Fortunately, there is an alternative that
could save you money. Currency specialists
moneycorp offer exchange rates that are
typically 3/4pc better than those offered by
the high street banks. If you are moving a
large amount of money, this could make an
enormous difference. The saving might be
enough to pay for renovations or cover your
legal fees.
The bespoke service and typical bank-
beating exchange rates offered by moneycorp
do not mean clients pay high transfer fees.
While a bank may charge £20-40 every time
you make a transfer, moneycorp’s fees start at
£5 for an online deal, rising to a maximum of
£15 over the phone.
If you want to sleep easy knowing your
money is in safe hands and are looking for a
great deal, put yourself in the expert hands of
moneycorp.
To find out more call 0203 7402888 today or
email [email protected]
When buying abroad, always use a currency specialist to make sure you protect yourself from the
risks posed by the currency market, say moneycorp
MONEY MATTERS
“Exchange rates move rapidly and frequently,
while it can take many months to buy a
property”
OVERSEAS MORTGAGES
YOUR LOCAL SUSSEX AGENT FOR PROPERTY IN MOST REGIONS OF FRANCE
RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS | CHATEAUX | APARTMENTS VILLAGE AND COUNTRY HOUSES | VINEYARDS | HOTELS
SPORTING ESTATES AND LAKES | GITE COMPLEXES
www.primefrenchproperties.com | +44 (0)1323 896812
HOT PROPERTY According to research by Rightmove
Overseas, the most popular
destinations for Britons purchasing
abroad are Spain, France, Italy, the United
States and Portugal, with those interviewed
citing their motivations as wanting to enjoy a
better quality of life, to live in a warmer climate
with easy access to a beach and to experience
a new culture, as well as to live amongst
beautiful scenery. Alpine homes have also
been a big focus for overseas property hunters
this winter, especially those in resorts, which
are as popular in the summer with cyclists and
walkers as they are for winter sports.
It’s unsurprising, perhaps, that our love affair
with French properties continues and is the
most popular destination due to ease of access
to all parts of the country. Italy, too, has seen a
huge uplift in demand, with Savills reporting a
doubling of enquires from 2014/2015.
Having exited a six-year downturn, Spain is
going through a particularly purple patch and is
on course to become the largest economy in the
Eurozone – overtaking the UK and the United
States in growth. The nation has posted seven
consecutive quarters of growth and its property
market is mirroring this optimistic outlook.
The latest quarterly bulletin issued by
the Spanish Council of Registrars showed a
massive uptick for Q1 with just over 9% more
residential properties changing hands over the
same period in 2014. 12.22% of these homes
were bought by foreigners – again, up 9% on
Q1 2014. UK nationals top the non-Spanish
buyer chart, unsurprising given their long-
term affection for Spain. Spanish property
portal Idealista concurs, citing the Balearics
amongst the top three Spanish regions for
sharp price rises in April.
“More sales at higher prices, this is exactly
the news we want to hear in the Spanish
property market,” says Alejandra Vanoli,
Managing Director of Mallorca Sotheby’s
International Realty. “The Balearic Islands
reported some of the lowest house price falls
in Spain during the six-year crisis and are
now posting the fastest and highest rises. We
expected this as the Islands are supported
by huge numbers of tourists, a multi-national
house-buying population – Calvia alone has
19,000 non-Spanish residents from 100
different countries - and a strong appeal to the
high-end with luxury hotels, restaurants, beach
clubs, golf courses and marinas supporting a
growing super-yacht industry. This year we
are selling more houses than ever, and for us
in Mallorca the future is very bright.”
However, it is not just Europe that is
attracting UK buyers. The USA is also looking
very attractive lately, and the Caribbean, too,
for those with the cash to splash. Thanks to
regular flights with BA and Virgin and its warm
climate, Barbados has established itself as
a long-time favourite for British buyers and
holiday makers alike. Royal Westmoreland is
reporting the best sales period in more than
ten years, with $60million of its villa sales
coming largely from Brits.
The sales upturn shows that the appetite for
overseas property is returning. That’s backed
up by the latest findings of Moneycorp. In a
recent interview Moneycorp Chief Executive
Mark Horgan said: “Britons are starting to buy
foreign homes again, thanks to the strength of
the pound and low prices. The Brits are back.”
Royal Westmoreland’s Director of Sales Kim
Goddard says: “Most of the sales are to British
buyers, who are feeling more confident about
the economy back home and in the product
that is Barbados. They want a sure bet when
it comes to making their lifestyle choice for a
second home. This means built amenities, an
established, vibrant community and lower risk
on protecting resale values.”
St Leon Sur Vezere,
The Dordorgne, France
For sale through John D Wood & Co;
Guide price £572,000;
www.Johndwood.co.uk; 020 7908 1108
Quinta do Lago, Algarve, Portugal
For sale through John D Wood & Co;
Guide price €2,895,000;
www.johndwood.co.uk; 020 7908 1108
Terre Gialle Residence & Resort,
Tuscany, Italy:
For more information about Terre Gialle
Residence & Resort,
visit www.terregialle.com
Royal Westmoreland Barbados
For more information
phone+44 (0)1524 889341,
www.royalwestmoreland.com
Photo Credits:
Aylesford International
www.aylesford.com; 0207 7349 9772
www.property-venture.com
[email protected]; 01932 849536
TIP: to help with all your travel arrangements to visit your search destination visit travel counsellor Mark Gibson. www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/mark.gibson
Bathrooms play such an important part in the look of our homes. Update yours with these stylish and practical bathroom accessories
60 PORTFOLIO
SHOPPING
BATH TIME
SOFT BLUESMatching towels give a luxe feel to any bathroom. John Lewis Egyptian cotton towels come in a multitude of shades. From £5.00.www.johnlewis.com
ON A ROLLHeals specialise in stylish bathroom storage and essentials like this Wireworks Dark Oak Mezza Toilet Roll Holder Box. £30.00.www.heals.co.uk
MIRROR MIRRORThe timeless design, simple shapes and clean lines of these Robert Welch Burford bathroom accessories will complement any bathroom. From £20.00.www.johnlewis.com
BRIGHT TIMEMake weighing yourself a bright spot in your day with Terraillon Pop Digital Bathroom Scale. £30.00.www.johnlewis.com
HOUSE ROOMTurn your bathroom into your very own village with this La Ville ceramic bathroom set from The Gift Oasis. £19.99.www.thegiftoasis.com
Bathroom ideas and accessories from Marks & Spencer.
www.marksandspencer.com
YELLOW SUBMARINEYou may never live in one
but you can listen to it. Yellow submarine bath
and shower FM radio. £19.99.
www.thegiftoasis.com
FISH DISHInfluenced by Brighton’s own Royal Pavilion? We think so. Quirky fish-shaped bathroom set from Zara Home. Soap dish, tumbler and soap dispenser. From £9.99 to £17.99www.zarahome.com
LAUNDRY TIMEWith an oversized icon manual printed on its reverse, laundry was never simpler. One Load at a Time Laundry Bag from The Contemporary Home, £15.00. www.tch.net
HEAVEN SCENTEveryday luxuries are the essence of a perfect bathroom. Jo Malone’s signature Lime Basil & Mandarin bath oils and soaps are a modern classic. Bath oil from £17.00 for 30ml. Soaps £14.00 for 100g.www.jomalone.co.uk
SWEET SMELLThe ultimate bathroom accessory: scented candles are a must for a luxurious bathing experience. Oliver Bonas Scented Candles £16.50-£22.50.
SILVER LININGSilver in a bathroom is on trend and this silver-plated basket with rope handles is great for storing laundry or towels. From Zara Home. £29.99www.zarahome.com
BOLD AND BRIGHTOrla Kiely Stem Jacquard Towel Collection. In vibrant clementine and white this collection of towels adds a vibrant pop of colour. From £4.00.www.houseology.com
PORTFOLIO 61
62 PORTFOLIO
Web site: www.redjoinery.comTwitter: @redjoineryTel: 01273 463799Mob: 07970274626
We design, create and install bespoke furniture to commercial, domestic and retail sectors.
Most of the planning applications for
individual new homes by Sussex
residents are still being turned down,
whilst councils across Sussex are granting
permission for tens of thousands of ‘standard
house type’ new homes to be built on greenfield
sites. Most of these are by volume house-
builders from outside Sussex.
Julia Arnold, MD of Sussex Home Hub and
founder of the ‘Campaign to Get Sussex Building’
comments: “The volume house-builders are
generally from other counties. Therefore the
work is being given to architects, planning
consultants, builders and other workers from
outside Sussex, in priority over Sussex workers,
and the profits from the new homes are being
taken out of Sussex.”
There are two reasons for this bias against
Sussex self-builders. The first is the huge
increase in individual (and often unprofessional)
planning applications from self-builders, which
may have created too much administration for
councils.
It is much easier for councils to meet their
housing number targets by allowing fewer large
sites by wealthy volume builders, who can also
make social contributions, such as building a
school or doctor’s surgery.
The second reason local self-builders are
often turned down for planning permission
is because they have failed to make adequate
planning applications which comply with the
complicated regulations that surround the
planning system.
Julia continues: “Those who get it right
are making a lot of money building their own
new homes or converting their barns; it’s just
that most people don’t know how to do it the
right way. If you have the right experts around
you and you have land which is eligible for
development, the opportunity to make money
and create your own new home is very real and
often relatively easy.”
Well-designed self-build homes are good for
Sussex. They help the councils meet their local
housing quotas while at the same time reducing
the necessary number of volume-builder new-
home developments on greenfield land.
For free advice and more information visit:
www.sussexhomehub.org, call 01403 711 639
or email: [email protected]
GET SUSSEX BUILDINGProfits from new homes in Sussex are going out of Sussex, says Sussex Home Hub MD Julia Arnold
NEW homes
The bathroom is increasingly one of the most
important rooms in a home and it is one of
the most used rooms in the house too. Today
this room is more than a place to bath and wash.
If you wish to create a polished, elegant bathroom
with maximum functional space, then planning
ahead is the key to achieving the desired look.
For inspiration visit your local bathroom
showroom. Magazines, brochures and websites
will provide lots of inspiration towards helping
you create the perfect bathroom, but nothing beats
seeing and touching. Finally, create a mood board
with all the information you have gathered and
this will help you visualise the bathroom you will
create.
These days, many homeowners are looking to
create bathrooms that are sleek and chic. In such
bathrooms clutter-free design is hugely important,
but it is vital that this space does not become too
clinical. To avoid this, mixing old and new styles
within a bathroom is a good design trick. By
cleverly mixing the two styles it is possible to have
a bathroom that is sophisticated and timeless.
Many of todays ‘boutique’ hotels have been using
this method and this look has been filtering into
residential properties too.
INTERIORS
Your bathroom can be a private sanctuary, a home spa and a luxurious escape from the world, says Portfolio Interiors Editor Tara de la Motte
BATHROOM COUTURE
PORTFOLIO 63
BATHS
The way to achieve this look is to combine
traditional bath and sanitary-ware with
contemporary taps and showers. Many
bathroom manufacturers specialise in such
accessories. A traditional roll top or bateau
bath can look very elegant matched with
simple, almost minimal tap styles.
The bath plays an important role in our busy
lives, it has become reserved for indulgent
relaxation. So choosing a bath that is more
than a feature is important; comfort is the key,
so the size and shape have to be just right.
Most baths are built to last, so invest in the
best you can afford. Free-standing baths are
popular for instant impact but can be costly,
and the free-standing taps will push the price
even higher. Inset baths are easier and more
cost-effective to install and can be made
to feel luxurious if clad in stone, mirror or
contemporary panels of teak. Where space is
tight and there is no space for a full-size tub,
then there are some very stylish compact tubs
available on the market.
Baths come in various materials; acrylic
is popular as it is lightweight and affordable,
while enamelled steel, although cold to the
touch, has a hard surface that is impossible
to stain. Traditional free-standing baths are
generally made from cast iron, which is highly
durable, and the interior will be enamelled
while the exterior can be painted or buffed
to order. Free-standing baths made from
stone can be extremely elegant, but they are
heavy and floors may need to be reinforced to
take the weight of this type of bath. However,
powdered stone mixed with resin is less heavy
and offers a good alternative.
PORTFOLIO 65
SHOWER ENCLOSURES AND WET ROOMS
Showers come in all shapes and sizes and can
also be made bespoke. The current trend is for
minimalist glass panels that can give the look
of a wet room. The latest developments in glass
bending bring curves to the shower enclosure.
There is smoked glass for privacy and anti-
plaque finishes for easy cleaning. Modern
shower trays tend to be very low-profile, sitting
almost flush to the floor. These imitate the
seamless lines of a walk-in-wet room.
With the latest advantages in digital
technology, the shower can be switched on
without getting wet. These showers have flow
rate controls and systems which can report
how much water has been used and thus help
to regulate the overall usage of water in the
home. Today’s shower can be personalised
to individual needs with temperature control
facilities, provide music, LED lighting and
wonderful scents. Multi-functional shower
heads will have a choice of sprays, from a fine
mist to a strong jet. Some will even offer an
eco-friendly setting that adds air to provide a
more powerful flow but using less water.
Walk-in showers and wet rooms are set
to become an even more popular trend this
year. These are both stylish, modern and very
practical. A wet room has seamless floors
and walls and can make even the smallest
bathroom feel elegant and sophisticated. A
wet room can be fitted anywhere in the home,
and, provided that it is fitted by an expert using
sound material, this will be a place that will
invigorate in the morning and soothe come
night time.
EN-SUITES
En-suites are convenient and stylish additions
to master and guest bedrooms. An en-
suite will provide you with a relaxed private
bathing area, and if space allows, it is good to
include all the fixtures of a normal bathroom,
especially an indulging bath.
If you have enough bedrooms then
converting one adjoining room will ensure a
good space for an en-suite. Mirror the colour
and other features within the bedroom in your
en-suite for a seamless transition between
bathroom and boudoir. By doing this you will
create a space that is restful and harmonious.
Alternatively, get the chic ‘boutique hotel’
look by having an open-plan layout with a free-
standing bath in the bedroom. Before locating
a bath in a bedroom, ensure the floor joists will
hold the weight of the filled tub.
For those short on space it is worthwhile
opting for a compact en-suite wet room. By
erecting a glass screen and keeping sanitary
ware far away from the shower area to reduce
spraying, space can be efficiently utilised.
Under-floor heating will be beneficial for this
type of wet room as it will save wall space and
also dry the room rapidly after use.
Finally, for all your bathing needs choose
quality fittings and plenty of luxury touches to
transform your bathroom into a haven.
See more interiors ideas at
www.portfoliopublications.co.uk
“Mirror the colour and features from
the bedroom in your en-suite for a
seamless transition between bathroom
and boudoir”
Your Chartered Accountantswww.lucrafts.co.uk
PORTFOLIO 67
BEAUTIFUL homes
HEATHER’S VEGAN VISIONHeather Mills, Paralympic skier, environmentalist, vegan entrepreneur and one-time Mrs McCartney, entered the fast-growing vegan market in Brighton & Hove five years ago with her VBites flagship restaurant
Brighton is a city renowned for its vibrant and eclectic mix of restaurants, cafes
and eateries. With noted eateries such as The Chilli Pickle, 64 Degrees and
The Coal Shed for gorgeous steaks, as well as hundreds of pubs serving local
ales, Heather Mills added her own culinary flair to the cultural cooking pot in 2009,
launching VBites, a vegan restaurant café/restaurant which boasts a range of vegan
meat-free substitutes, in Hove Lagoon. Heather has since relocated VBites from
Hove Lagoon to East Street, Brighton, and finds the vibrant city the perfect setting
for her vegan venture. It was, she explains, a project nurtured through a long chain
of events.
PORTFOLIO 69
CELEBRITY interview
After losing her leg in an accident involving a
police motorbike in 1993, Mills first revitalised
her dietary habits for her own health. “My leg
just wouldn’t heal after five months in hospital
and they kept chopping more and more of it off
and I thought, you know what? I’ll try anything.
My friend had cured herself of breast cancer
through going vegan and she introduced
me to this health clinic in America. They put
wheatgrass and all sorts of disgusting-tasting
things in my mouth but it healed me and it
opened my mind to it.
“Lots of people were following my progress
at the time and asking, how did you heal
that? So I wrote a little book about it, which
raised funds for our convoy to then warn-torn
Yugoslavia to do prosthetics and land mine
removals. I ended up researching, studying
more, eventually doing a degree in nutrition,
and in the end researching alternative meats
and fishes and cheeses because I really
missed the taste of it but didn’t want the bad
side it was doing to my body.” A determined
Mills found a small factory through which
to tailor her meat-free foods, working on
consistency, texture and, of course, taste. “I’d
always planned to franchise VBites around
the world, but I’d wanted to perfect every
single recipe,” Mills says. “It’s very easy to do
vegetarian meats, but [they can] have a load
of rubbish in them still. The vegan ones are
much cleaner and much harder to make and
they taste like the real thing, so now they’re all
tested and perfected.”
Mills is confident that eating a vegan diet
benefits not only the animals but the consumer.
Since opening a charity-run VBites Café in
2009 in Hunts Point, The Bronx, an area with
alarming child obesity levels, Mills says the
area has seen dietary improvements. “I’ve got
4,000 kids in the Bronx who now eat the vegan
food, we’ve taught them how to grow veg,
obesity has gone down, type 2 diabetes has
been reversed after three months, type one
insulin injections have been reduced… acne
gone from giving up dairy, asthma reduced.”
With her ethos for converting carnivores over
to the vegan side by replacing like for like,
Mills would love to establish vegan McDonald
equivalents around the world “so that people
can get access to really good, yummy-tasting
good food for the transitional carnivore. You
can’t just take a kid from burger to broccoli
overnight, it’s just not possible. We did tests
and realised that if we replicated burger for
burger, nugget for nugget, milkshake for
non-cow’s milk milkshake, it worked; their
taste buds changed and they got to eat more
vegetables… that’s how the VBites concept
evolved, and now we’re in 24 countries and we
have 74 products.”
Happily, Mills’ Brighton branch feeds the
Bronx movement in America. “I opened a café
in Brighton five years ago as a test café to see
what people liked, didn’t like, what worked,
what didn’t work. I’ve also been with Holland
and Barrett products for over a decade and
am their biggest fridge seller. They said they’d
like one of my cafes in store and that’s how the
new Chester café came about.”
After starting off with a beachside Hove
location, Mills relocated V Bites to central
Brighton, still only a minute’s walk to the
pebbly coast. “We started it on the beach and
that was just absolutely mobbed in summer,
but of course the whole beach closes down
in winter. We had so many people say, ‘Please
open in the centre because we can’t go down
[to the lagoon] in the winter… so we were
under pressure from big vegan fans, so we
said OK, we moved to East Street and it’s really
been fantastic. We’ve been there for a year
and a half now, and five years in total since we
opened in Brighton.”
Resident Brighton celebrity Fat Boy Slim took
over the Hove premises, opening the popular
Big Beach Café in its place. She also sold the
DJ and his wife Zoe Ball her beachfront home
in 2012. Former Hove-ite Mills has now moved
out of the city: “I had to make sure my daughter
was based nearer her father”. But she returns
often for both business and leisure. “I’m here
all the time because of my café. When I’m
not in the ski resort training, or running the
factory in Corby, Northamptonshire, or doing
my charity work, I’m a bit of a nomad, always
on the move.”
When Mills is in the neighbourhood, she
finds plenty to fill her time: “My friend owns the
Japanese restaurant Moshimo, formerly Moshi
Moshi. Carl’s a really good friend of mine and
he uses a lot of our vegan cheeses and vegan
duck amongst his eclectic mix of more ethical
fishing, and so we go in there and have a lot
of vegan maki and tofu rolls.” Dining aside, for
a girl who grew up in the city, Mills is never
short of things to do. “I love walking around
The Laines, going for juices, I love going down
the beach and taking my sister’s chocolate
brown Labrador for a walk. My grandma was
from Kemptown, so we were brought up there
doing the penny slot machines as kids, rolling
a penny trying not to let it touch the black
lines.” Mills, who VegNews named 2009’s Most
Successful Vegan Businesswoman, has a deep
affection for the city: “I’ve got a big part of my
heart in Brighton and Hove.”
Heather Mills is launching her VBites range
of vegan food across the UK with Holland &
Barrett. Try the range in over 500 high street
stores today.
www.vbites.com
“I’ve got 4,000 kids in the Bronx who
now eat the vegan food, we’ve taught them how to grow
veg, obesity has gone down, type 2 diabetes
has been reversed after three months”
“You can’t just take a kid from burger to broccoli overnight, it’s just not possible”
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PORTFOLIO 71
HEALTH
We all want the best quality care, for
ourselves and the people we care
about. Whether it is for health, dental
care, support for mental health or even care
for older relatives when they need it, why
would we want anything less?
Yet finding out what’s best for us is no small
or simple task. Recent data from the Office for
National Statistics shows that of the 73% of the
UK population who use the internet daily, 43%
of adults (including 59% of 25-34 year olds)
use it to access health information. That’s an
awful lot of people online. Ask Dr Google a
simple question about cholesterol or eye care
and you’ll get millions of answers.
In this new monthly column, we’re going to
be looking at some of the key health issues in
Sussex, finding out what quality care looks like,
and giving our local providers and services the
chance to show just how excellent they are.
GREAT HEALTHCARE IS ALL ABOUT CHOICE
In the UK we’re fortunate to have the NHS
which, despite financial pressures and cuts,
remains one of the best and most respected
healthcare systems in the world. But we don’t
have to use it if it’s not right for us; before we
walk into the GP surgery, we have a choice
about whether we choose the NHS or a private
service. And once we’ve opened the door, there
are yet more choices, even in the NHS, where
choice and engagement are now central to
patient care. In order to make those choices
about treatment, location or service, we need
to ask the right questions.
WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Modern health and care services are all
about the evidence, basing what they offer on
information about ‘what works’ from research
and from national bodies like NICE (National
Institute For Health And Care Excellence) and
the Care Quality Commission. Of course, this
information is important to us all as service
users, but there are other things that are vital
to help to inform our choices, too. All of us have
preferences, worries, and responsibilities
that mean the research evidence alone won’t
always hold the answer.
If you’re thinking about a health or care service,
treatment or provider, you need to know about:
• Evidence - What does the evidence from
research say about what works for your
problem or condition?
• Context - What does it say about what
works best for people like you?
• Services - What is available locally?
• Benefits - What are the pros and cons of
each?
• Experience - How experienced are these
services at working with people like you?
• Practice – what does your doctor or
carer think is best, based on their expert
knowledge and their knowledge of you?
Use these questions to guide your
conversations with your doctor and any
background research you do.
EXCELLENCE ON YOUR DOORSTEP
Choosing the right treatment or service is a
win-win situation: it means you will get the
support you need for your health or care. This,
in turn, means you will have less need of other
services, which are freed up for others to
use. We are all consumers of health and care
services, and as consumers we can vote with
our feet; don’t be afraid to ask for the best!
Senior partner at Evidence into Practice
Associates, a research and delivery
organisation specialising in health, care and
community.
Catherine Swann on how to make sure you expect – and get – the best when it comes to health
HEALTH MATTERS
Dr Catherine Swann
www.eipa.co.uk
Marbella, the elegant city and resort on
Spain’s Costa del Sol, where the Sierra
Blanca mountains are the backdrop to
27 km of sandy Mediterranean beaches, villas,
hotels and golf courses. West of Marbella town
the ‘Golden Mile’ of prestigious nightclubs and
coastal estates leads to Puerto Banús marina,
filled with luxury yachts and characterised by
upmarket boutiques and bars.
Large areas of the city were renovated and
improved during the 1990s, including many
of the streets and beaches. With a stunning
coastline stretching for more than 25 km, the
sandy beaches are without doubt the resort’s
main tourist attraction, with many being lined
by the Paseo Maritimo, a scenic boardwalk.
Further tourist attractions include Basilica
Vega del Mar, the ancient ruins of a 4th century
church and Murallas del Castillo, the Castle Walls,
a vivid reminder of the area’s past, in the city’s Old
Quarter; Las Bóveda, the Marbella Vaults, historic
remains of Roman baths with guided tours and
well-preserved features, and Villa Romana de
Rio Verde, significant remains situated on the
outskirts, with many archaeological treasures.
Plus, the Plaza de Toros, Marbella’s bullfighting
ring…
Marbella is also home to a number of
gardens and parks, such as the Parque Arroyo
de la Represa, the Parque de la Alameda and
the Auditorio de la Constitución, which is
situated alongside the seafront.
The pretty historic centre of Marbella is a
hub of activity. Start your evening at the Parque
de la Alameda with its pleasant seating areas,
fountains, Salvador Dali sculptures, mature
trees and typical Mediterranean plants…
The Old Town, with its narrow cobbled streets
and flower-filled plazas, is packed with shops
and art galleries. The orange, tree-filled Plaza
de los Naranjos (Orange Square) is located
just off the main street and is home to the
16th-century Town Hall and the Tourist Office.
Partially surrounded by the ruins of an old Arab
wall with narrow white-washed streets, old
churches and squares, this area attracts lots of
visitors.
Located just west of Marbella, Puerto Banús
(officially, Puerto Jose Banús, named after the
architect who designed the town) is known as
the Costa del Sol’s playground for the rich and
wealthy and is famous for its beaches, beach
clubs and nightlife. The shops and restaurants
reflect this lifestyle, with designer names and
luxury brands. The ultimate venue for people-
watching, Puerto Banús is the ideal place to
enjoy a backdrop of luxury yachts and cars
while enjoying the open-air restaurants and
bars.
CITY OF CHARMSince the 1960s Marbella has enjoyed a reputation as the smartest resort on the Costa del Sol. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea between Málaga and the Gibraltar Strait in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca, cosmopolitan Marbella is the perfect destination for a summer break
“With a stunning coastline stretching
for more than 25 km, the sandy beaches
are without doubt the resort’s main tourist
attraction”
Marbella’s gastronomic scene is varied
and lively, with everything from beachfront
chiringuitos (bars), to Michelin-starred
restaurants, including that of Spanish
cooking star Dani Garcia.
Of course, most visitors come to
Marbella to enjoy the sun, sea and sand,
which has been drawing visitors since the
1950s when jet-set founder Prince Alfonso
de Hohenlohe fell in love with the place
and built a beachfront house (The Marbella
Club Hotel, still a destination beach resort),
drawing Hollywood stars and celebrities to
the city.
As with the rest of Spain, summer is
Fiesta time! Festivals include the lively and
popular Fiesta of San Bernabe Festival in
June, Feast of the Virgen del Carmen in July
and the grand Feria de Malaga in August.
PORTFOLIO 73
TRAVEL
WE STAYED:
At The Alanda Hotel, Marbella. Overlooking
the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra Blanca
Mountain, in Marbella’s Golden Mile, just three
kilometres from the vibrant Puerto Banús
Marina and from Marbella´s Old Town Centre.
A spacious hotel in lovely gardens, with a
perfect outdoor pool for lounging.
www.alandahotelmarbella.com
WE ATE:
Indian-Mediterranean fusion seafood, with
the best view of the Med at the stylish Sea
Grill, located in the beautiful grounds of
Puente Romano Beach Resort. The impressive
interior of this exclusive bar and restaurant
was designed by Andrew Martin.
www.puenteromano.com
Simply cooked seafood and regional
specialities in the pretty courtyard at
Restaurante Buenaventura opposite Iglesia de
Santa Maria de la Encarnacion in Marbella Old
Town. www.restaurantebuenaventura.es
A table with a view. Stunning Mediterranean
food on the balcony overlooking Orange
Square at Paco Jiminez. Situated in a quieter
corner above an art gallery, this restaurant
is perfect for people-watching while the sun
sets… www.pacojiminezmarbella.com
WE TRAVELLED:
We flew to Malaga with Easyjet, who offer up
to six flights a day from Gatwick.
www.easyjet.com
We booked a car ahead with Firefly – part of
Hertz – which we picked up at Malaga airport.
uk.fireflycarrental.com
WHEN TO GO:
Summer is hot and busy, but that’s what
the beach is for. Just book everything to
avoid queues. In Spring and late Autumn
the weather is still warm, but the city is less
crowded. Also an ideal winter destination: it
is generally still warm enough to eat outside
even in December.
With thanks to:
www.andalucia.com
www.marbellaexclusive.com
www.whatmarbella.com
THE DETAILS:
I am one of a dozen intrepid souls who play
golf regularly together around Sussex. We
also organise a yearly expedition to a lovely
golf course in Northern France, play a proper
72-hole tournament and award daily cash
prizes for longest drive and nearest the pin on
designated par 5s and par 3s. The overall best
performers in these categories win individual
trophies or the shield for most Stableford
points. It’s all good fun.
One member of our group, let’s call him
Boom Boom, is a very steady 12-handicapper
on home soil, and is by a country mile the
longest hitter in our group. However, when
we go to France each year, a remarkable
transformation takes place in our Boom Boom.
It begins already on the ferry as we
expectantly cross the Channel towards our
tournament destination. Boom Boom’s face
looks wan and drawn from lack of sleep. He
chatters nervously and endlessly about his
game and worries that he will once again
acquire the dreaded sh**ks.
Once on the course, Boom Boom takes a
flurry of practice strokes, growing tenser with
each one, and if he is hitting a short or mid iron,
he very likely shanks it miserably. The shorter
the club, the more likely he is to shank it. The
more shanks he hits, the more likely he is to hit
another. We call it the French Effect. He calls
it something else...unprintable. After the first
couple of rounds Boom Boom is inconsolable
and his demeanour implores his mates to
lend a helping hand. Alas, if we knew what to
tell him, we wouldn’t be amateur golfers. We
would be professionals. Is there any cure for
the shanks, or should we just hope that next
year we will have a prize for Shanker Of The
Year?
GolfGuy
SHANKER OF THE YEAR
Continuing our page of golf tips…This month: Get a grip on those shanks
GolfGuy writes:
GOLFGUY...
PORTFOLIO 75
GOLF
What is it about the shank that makes golfers panic? Three
things: Firstly, it looks such an awful shot! Second, they don’t
know what causes it; lastly, where there’s one shank, there
tends to be another.
This is why: Because the ball darts right, most golfers think an
open clubface causes the shank. But shanks usually come from
an excessively closed face. The player swings out-to-in with the
face closing hard – both actions push the hosel closer to the
ball (top). If the hosel catches the ball, it’s shank, shank, shank.
Solution: Put a tee peg just outside and behind the ball (Approx
2x2 inches) to learn to swing down from the inside.
What do most golfers do to prevent the shank? They try to close
the face with the right hand through impact and swing on an
even more left path. This only makes the path more out-to-in
and the face more closed - increasing the chances of another
shank.
Try this drill: Place a tee peg just outside the ball, and practice
hitting wedges. If you’re making a shank swing (out-to-in, face
closed), you’ll hit the tee peg. To miss it, you’ll swing from the
inside with the face more square to the target line. That’s the
main way to beat the shanks.
It is worth noting that shanks can also happen from an
excessive inside angle of attack with the face open or by being
ahead of the ball with your body before impact.
Therefore, my main suggestion would be to see a PGA
professional and ask to have your swing go on camera, and then
you can see for yourself the area you need to work on.
If you have any questions please feel free to email me at:
The Golf Pro replies:
With thanks to our golfing expert,Lee Andrews, PGA Golf Professional, Mid Sussex Golf Clubwww.midsussexgolfclub.co.uk
Position of a shank
Poor path causing possible shank Correct path (missing tee peg)
Tee peg practice drill.jpg
Bring this article with you to Mid Sussex
Golf Club, and when you pay for a round,
another player can go free.
76 PORTFOLIO
CITY news
CITY NEWSWINNING WINES
Recently we had the announcement of the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s (IWSC) first
Northern Hemisphere results of the year at the London Wine Fair, Olympia. English wine entries
have increased by 70% year on year and medals for home-grown wines are up an impressive 63%
from 2014, smashing records in the competition’s 46 year history. This success is a tribute to the
wines, which have all undergone the IWSC’s rigorous judging process, which includes a double blind
tasting.
In total, a record-breaking 80 medals were awarded to English wines. This year, three English
wineries achieved coveted Gold medals, including the very first IWSC medal for an English still wine.
Sussex success came from Nutbourne Vineyards in Pulborough, who achieved the Gold award with
their Nutbourne Sussex Reserve 2013 - White Still.
Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Director for English Wine Producers, comments on the announcement:
“It’s great to see that English wines are continuing to prove their international status through these
fantastic competition successes. It’s the consistency that is really showing just what world-class
wines are produced in England.”
NATWEST ACCELERATOR HUB
SUPERFAST BROADBAND
NatWest is surging forward with their Accelerator Hub in
Brighton, following hot on the heels of huge success in other
cities. The ‘hatchery,’ based at their Preston Road building,
is a part of Entrepreneurial Spark and is the world’s largest
free business accelerator for start-ups. The first tranche of
lucky applicants will begin their new lives in August with full
business and mentoring support and free offices for up to 18
months, with a further tranche being accepted for February
2016.
Bank CEO Ross McEwan will launch the hatchery on
September 9th, with a boot camp taking place on July
30/31st before the opening on August 10th. Any company/
entrepreneur looking to take advantage of this unique
hub should apply to www.entrepreneurial-spark.com or
SM @ESparkUK or @NatWestBusiness
Businesses in Brighton are taking advantage of a Government voucher scheme
that enables them to install superfast broadband. Brighton is one of 50 cities
around the UK to be eligible for the vouchers aimed at helping companies to
grow and develop.
In addition to SMEs, registered charities, social enterprises and sole traders
can all qualify for the Connection Vouchers scheme which offers up to £3000
per customer to install dedicated superfast circuits to their business.
Fraser Watson, Managing Director of Pescado, one of the scheme’s approved
suppliers, said: “The Connection Vouchers scheme is a fantastic opportunity
for businesses to upgrade their broadband and gain real business benefits.
“A better broadband connection enables businesses to improve their services,
enhance their customer experience and reduce software and hardware costs.
“We have already helped a number of businesses across the UK take advantage
of the vouchers, which can be worth up to £3000 to businesses.The impact of
upgrading to superfast broadband can be transformational for a business.”
In December Chancellor George Osborne announced that the Government was
making £40million available from April 2015 to March 2016 to help more cities
roll out the Connection Vouchers scheme.
PORTFOLIO 77
CITY news
CHESTNUT TREE LAUNCH NEW SHOP
With a new manager at the helm, Chestnut
Tree House children’s hospice re-launched its
Brighton charity shop in June.
The newly appointed shop Manager, Lynn
Hancox, said: “The shop is a treasure trove
of unusual items, and to help with the shop’s
success, some fabulous flamboyant costumes
have been donated from the opening and
closing ceremonies of the London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Lynn is appealing for donations to help stock
the shop: “All donations can be brought into
the store or collection can be arranged. We’re
especially interested in good quality funky
fashion and quirky items. All the money we
raise from the sale of items in our shops
ensures that we can continue to deliver care
and support to life - limited children and their
families across Sussex.”
Lynn is also keen to recruit volunteers to help
in the shop. Working hours are flexible and full
training is given. Pop into the shop or phone
Lynn on 01273 686040.
The annual Best of British event welcomed
over 500 guests from businesses across
Sussex to The Grand Hotel for a Rugby
World Cup 2015 special. Guests were
entertained by after-dinner speaker, 1990
Rugby World Player of the Year, Brian
Moore.
The event, in aid of Rockinghorse
Children’s Charity, raised £30,000 through
a charity auction and raffle. As the official
fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra
Children’s Hospital (the Alex), the charity
raises money for life-saving and cutting-
edge medical equipment, while ensuring
that children are treated in an environment
better suited to their needs.
Speaking at the lunch, the charity’s
Chief Executive and Best of British event
organiser, Ryan Heal, said: “At last year’s
Best of British, you raised enough money
to fund life-saving ventilators for the High
Dependency Unit at the Alex. As you all prove year after year at this event, your contribution
makes a direct and life-changing impact on the sick children of Sussex, and for that we are
incredibly grateful.”
To find out more about Rockinghorse and the work they do to support sick children and their
families in Sussex, visit rockinghorse.org.uk.
Next year’s Best of British charity sporting lunch will take place at The Grand Hotel in
Brighton on Friday, 3rd June, 2016 and will welcome 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper,
Gordon Banks OBE.
BEST OF BRITISH CHARITY LUNCH RAISES THOUSANDS
78 PORTFOLIO
CITY news
BRIGHTON SEAFRONT STUDY WINS NATIONAL PRAISEAn official report into the state of Brighton’s crumbling seafront infrastructure
has been recognised at a national awards ceremony. The Centre for Public
Scrutiny highly commended the report of a Brighton and Hove City Council
scrutiny panel last year.
The report detailed the need for investment of an estimated £100 million
to revive one of the defining elements of Brighton as a tourist resort and
conference trade destination. Some of the money will also need to be spent
ensuring the Victorian arches that support the A259 seafront road are restored
or rebuilt to prevent further highway collapses.
The cross-party scrutiny panel held public meetings, drop-ins and on-site
visits. It also brought together businesses, community groups and other
interested parties with council officers and politicians. Councillor Gill Mitchell,
who chaired the Seafront Scrutiny Panel, said: “It is absolutely vital to maintain
and improve our seafront, which plays a central role in the success of Brighton
and Hove. Many of our seafront structures are in urgent need of repair or
replacement.”
The seafront is the most popular attraction in Brighton and Hove, with visitors
and residents alike. It contributes significantly to the local tourism economy,
which is valued at £800 million a year.
Local charity Age UK Brighton & Hove recently
celebrated 50 years of supporting older people
in the city with the launch of its History Display at
the Mayor’s Parlour.
The History Display charts the evolution of the
charity and will be touring local community
centres and public places throughout the year.
The charity is also organising a 50th anniversary
raffle to raise funds for its future. It is keen to
hear from any local businesses that may be able
to help.
Age UK Brighton & Hove, 29 – 31 Prestonville Road, Brighton BN1 3TJ.
Tel: 01273 720603. www.ageuk-bh.org.uk
AGE UK BRIGHTON & HOVE CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARYRECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR
BRIGHTON FRINGERecord-breaking audience numbers, ticket sales and number
of shows have led to Brighton Fringe 2015 being the charity’s
strongest yet. Attendances were up by 25% from 2014, with
audience figures for Brighton Fringe’s opening weekend up
by 50%. This included a record number of people at Fringe
City and the Brighton Fringe Family Picnics, estimated to be
75,000. Of the nearly 780 events this year, 175 were free and
552 were under £10. There were 233 world premieres. There
were also 57 shows from 22 countries. Overall, more than
400,000 people attended Brighton Fringe events this year.
www.brightonfringe.org
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE TO EXPANDAn international college looking to open a new £20 million
boarding house is aiming to expand to have 1,100 pupils
in the next five years. Plans for a nine-storey student
accommodation block and offices in Brighton, as reported
in The Argus, are part of wider expansion plans revealed by
Bellerbys College.
Principal Simon Mower has said the college is looking
to create closer links with Brighton & Hove as part of a
change in direction after it started accepting local pupils last
September. Mr Mower described the college as a “hidden
gem”. It is the fourth-biggest private employer in the city, he
says, but is tucked away from view behind Brighton Railway
Station in Billington Way.
The college, which currently has 900 students from 60
countries, took a major step last September by taking on a
handful of Sussex-based students. Bellerbys has developed
new links for the next academic year to use university sports
facilities in addition to existing link-ups with local schools.
Mr Mower said: “Now that we have local pupils coming to the
college, I’m very keen to strengthen our links with the city.”
PORTFOLIO 79
CITY news
THE I360: GOING UP!Barges arrived at Brighton Beach from Holland
from first light on June 11, delivering the giant
steel cans which will form the slim and elegant
tower of the world’s first vertical cable car.
Said David Marks, Chairman of Brighton i360
Ltd, “This marks a major milestone in the
construction project, with the completion of the
foundations and the start of an exciting new
phase, when the i360 starts to come out of the
ground and reaches for the sky.” Said Eleanor
Harris, CEO of Brighton i360 Ltd, “We have been
preparing the ground for this arrival since last
July and now the project will be going up, up,
up!”
A 100-metre-high crane unloaded the 17
specially fitted out steel cans, each measuring
between six and 12 metres, directly onto the
beach and, using a giant jacking tower, are
joining them together to build the shaft of the
futuristic viewing pod.
Seven thousand tonnes of gravel, shingle and
chalk have been moved to create a platform
for the delivery, and a 4,000-tonne concrete
foundation has been built under the ground to
balance out the towering feat of engineering.
The tower will be completed this summer and
will open in summer 2016.
www.brightoni360.co.uk
Pictured: Cllr Lynda Hyde and Eleanor Harris
Acclaimed bass-baritone, Henry Waddington,
leads a cast of some of the top singers in British
Opera in an evening of Grand Opera with the
Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted
by Stuart Stratford on Saturday, 19th December,
2015. Expect some of opera’s most loved arias,
duets, and set pieces, including a few festive
surprises along the way. Every ticket sold for this
special event will help Mencap continue their work
supporting people with a learning disability, their
families and carers.
Tickets are now on sale, priced from £35.
Further details of the evening will be announced
in the coming months and stay up to date
via #MencapOpera.The event is directed and
programmed by acclaimed bass-baritone Henry
Waddington. The event has been organised by an
events committee that includes opera lover Neil
Pollington, who has a learning disability and is
supported by Mencap.
www.brightoncentre.co.uk
TOP SINGERS IN BRITISH OPERA UNITE FOR GRAND OPERA TO RAISE FUNDS FORMENCAP IN BRIGHTON
The property management
contract for the iconic,
modernist Embassy Court
on Brighton Seafront was
awarded to Harper Stone in
a defining win for the young
Brighton-based company,
founded by Chris Brotherton
in 2013.
Chris Brotherton, who started
his career with a small local
managing agent and has
subsequently worked in London for big names including Cluttons LLP and Farrar
Property Management, refers to Harper Stone as delivering a London quality product
with a Brighton fronted approach.
Embassy Court has undergone a major journey in the past ten years, from a dilapidated
neglected property to a beautifully restored example of modernist architecture, thanks
to the perseverance of the Bluestorm freehold company and the vision of Conran &
Partners. www,harper-stone.co.uk
HARPER STONE WINS MANAGEMENT OF ICONIC EMBASSY COURT IN BRIGHTON
80 PORTFOLIO
NATIONAL news
NATIONAL NEWS
Twitter Chief Executive Dick Costolo has announced he is stepping down - with the
site’s co-founder and previous Chief Executive, Jack Dorsey, replacing him. The
social media network has struggled to boost its numbers of users and develop
new advertising methods, despite a high-profile public offering on the stock
exchange two years ago. “Shareholders have been really concerned about the lack
of growth. User growth has slowed, especially when you compare it to a behemoth
like Facebook,” Tom Cheshire, Sky technology correspondent said. “There has also
been shareholder concern that the departing CEO didn’t have ‘the vision’ needed to
take the tech giant forward. Shares in Twitter rose by more than 7% in after-hours
trading on the New York Stock Exchange following the announcement. Mr Costolo,
who has been with the company for six years, said: “I am tremendously proud of the
Twitter team and all that the team has accomplished. There is no one better than
Jack Dorsey to lead Twitter during this transition. He has a profound understanding
of the product and Twitter’s mission in the world.”
The 84-year old CEO of Twenty- First Century Fox and News
International will hand the title to his son James. Murdoch is
tipped to continue in his role as the Executive Chairman of
the company, while his son Lachlan will become Executive
Co-Chairman. The Fox restructuring is rumoured to involve
the stepping down of its Chief Operating Officer, Chase Carey,
who has been in his role since 2009. CNBC notes that this
will leave the company without a senior manager outside
the family. Murdoch founded News Corporation in 1979 as a
holding company and used the name to buy up 20th Century
Fox and launch the Fox television channel in the eighties.
Murdoch has been described as ‘the last media mogul’ by the
Economist. He counts the Wall Street Journal, the New York
Post and Sky Television among his brands. Murdoch is not
expected to sit back from the running of Fox, despite today’s
announcement. No one doubts that the elder Murdoch will
still have the final say on whatever goes on at Fox.
MURDOCH STEPPING DOWN
TWEET-TWO
CHANCELLOR TO SELL RBS… AT A LOSS!The Government is to sell its majority stake in RBS, which was rescued during
the financial meltdown with £45.5bn of public money. Chancellor George
Osborne said sales of the taxpayers’ 79% stake in the bank will begin in the
coming months, and may take “some years” because of the size of the holding.
“It’s the right thing to do for British businesses and taxpayers,” he said at his
annual Mansion House speech to business leaders in London. “Yes, we may
get a lower price than Labour paid for it. But the longer we wait, the higher
the price the whole economy will pay. And when you take the banks in total,
we’re making sure taxpayers get back billions more than they were forced to
put in.” Selling the Government’s stake in RBS would result in a total loss of
between £13bn and £26bn, according to research by independent think-tank
New Economics Foundation. Mr Osborne faces fierce criticism if the shares
are sold at a discount.
PORTFOLIO 81
NATIONAL news
CREST NICHOLSON TO BUILD MORE HOMES British housebuilder Crest Nicholson have reported that they will increase the number of homes they
have planned to build over the coming years after posting a 52 percent rise in pre-tax profit in the
first half of their reporting year.
The company, which built over 2,530 homes in its 2014 financial year in London, south Wales and
southern and eastern England, said housing completions rose 3 percent in the six months to the end
of April.
The builder said it would now build more homes than it previously expected, due to the improving
economic climate in Britain and an unexpectedly clear result in May’s national election, which saw
Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives secure an overall majority.
The firm said it would now aim to build up to 4,000 homes by 2019, up from its previously stated
target of 3,500.
www.crestnicholson.com
Direct from London to the Mediterranean: Eurostar launches six-hour
train service to Marseille.
Eurostar has announced plans to launch direct services from London
to the southern French port city of Marseille from May 1st next year.
The year-round service will make stops at Lyon in eastern France and
Avignon before heading on to the oldest city in France.
The journey will take four and a half hours to Lyon, six hours to Avignon
and about six hours and 15 minutes to Marseille. Ahead of its year as
Capital of Culture, the Old Port was spruced up and several museums
were added to the Mediterranean city’s offering.
En-route stop-off Lyon is widely regarded as France’s gastronomic
capital while Avignon hosts the country’s best known theatre festival
in July.The return journey to London will take an hour longer due
to immigration and customs formalities that will take place in the
northern city of Lille.
Tickets for the new service to Marseille will go on sale from December.
www.eurostar.com
One of the biggest - and
smelliest - flowers in
the world may be about
to bloom in Scotland.
The Titan Arum - also
called the “Corpse
Flower” because of its
odour - has produced
a huge bud which is
growing by several
centimetres a day. If it
is a flower, it will be the
first one ever in Scotland.
Sadie Barber, senior
horticulturist at the
garden, said: “Every time
it grows a new bud from
its underground tuber it will form either a new flower or a leaf”. But she
said it is still too early to tell which it will be this time.
And she insisted that either will be spectacular. “The leaves are
amazing. They can grow up to five meters tall. “But we’ve never had (it)
flowering in Scotland before. So if we were the first to get it flowering,
we’d be extremely happy.” If it is a flower, visiting the glasshouse that
is its home could be challenging as it produces a pungent smell, like
a decaying corpse. “It smells that way to attract carrion beetles and
other insects that are attracted to rotting flesh”, Ms Barber explained.
The Botanic Garden said it may be several days before they know if the
latest bud will produce a leaf, or a flower.
EUROSTAR LAUNCHES SERVICE TO MARSEILLE
‘CORPSE FLOWER’ MAY BE ABOUT TO BLOOM
82 PORTFOLIO
BUSINESS lunch
Danny Lenovo has an authentic French Bistro dining experience at La Fourchette in Hove
If asked to have a guess at who had originally
invented the fork as a dining utensil, you would
probably suggest “the French”, naturellement.
After all, they generously provided us with
‘civilised’ words for some of our favourite food
items – veal, pork, beef, among many others –
and introduced us, historically, to the efficiency
and management benefits of the Civil Service.
And considering their unfettered penchant
for claiming to have invented everything from
motor cars to the potato, you would be forgiven
for thinking they had devised the fork. But you
would be wrong, mes amies.
La fourchette was in common use at
Byzantine dining tables at least as early as the
11th Century, at which time it arrived in Italy
as part of the dowry baggage of a Byzantine
princess. Her use of the fork got her into a bit
of a bother with the Church, who considered
the use of anything but the fingers for eating
an affront to God, who, in His infinite wisdom,
had already provided us with all the equipment
we would ever need for chucking food into our
mouths.
The fork arrived in England in the early
17th Century as the result of cultural contact
between English travellers to Italy and France,
where its use was beginning to gain acceptance
as a more hygienic and civilised way to
transport food to the mouth. Americans were
slower to adopt the use of anything other than
the fingers and the knife at table, and some
would say that nothing has changed much
“over there” since Byzantine times. To this day
it is against the law to eat chicken with a fork
in Gainesville, Georgia, the ‘Chicken Capital of
the World.’
I first visited La Fourchette in the late 90s,
when it was located in Western Road. It was
a pleasant, modest dining room with a nice,
relaxed French ambience, and the fact that
I can still vividly recall the succulence and
flavour of the rack of lamb I ate on that occasion
is a testament to the quality of the kitchen. La
Fourchette subsequently morphed into Pascal’s
and has now re-emerged just off Church Road,
Hove, flying its original flag.
There is something very reassuring about
a restaurant that actually is what it claims
to be. English pubs and ‘Italian’ restaurants
staffed by Eastern Europeans may serve very
LA FOURCHETTE
pleasant, decently prepared food in a friendly,
efficient manner, but it can be difficult to get the
feeling that you are having an authentic dining
experience. At La Fourchette we were shown to
our table by the very capable Frédéric, from the
village of Bonnieux in Luberon, Southern France,
where many of us have enjoyed memorable
al fresco meals and washed them down with
the very drinkable wines from that region,
and, incidentally, where the film A Good Year
was shot. The La Fourchette ambience is very
evocative of a traditional French bistro, married
with the clean, fresh feel of contemporary
décor. The bar is warm and inviting and has
a buzz that would make it very hard to resist
popping in for a bit of liquid refreshment at
lunchtime or after work for anyone working
locally, and there is a charming outdoor dining
area street-side, facing Church Road.
You always meet nice people in nice bistros,
and no sooner had we settled down with
Frédéric to the serious business of ordering
our lunch than Simon Kay from Just Lets
lettings popped in. Judging by the enthusiasm
with which he was greeted, Simon is clearly a
regular at La Fourchette. He is also a fan, and
he happily shared his positive experience of La
Fourchette.
Frédéric talked us through the lunch menu,
which changes every day, and, true to its bistro
heritage, is also fabulous value for money,
offering a special three course lunch menu. If
you can’t find something to eat here, or on the a
la carte menu, you’re either not hungry or you
have a pathological relationship with food.
We started with seasonal vegetable
soup accompanied by the de rigueur bits
of crusty bread and seared queen scallops
with asparagus, wilted spinach, bacon and
cauliflower. Scallops must be of a respectable
size, seared (not fried) and served piping hot.
These were gorgeous, with the added bonus
that the orange roe sacs were still attached.
The soup was a creamy vegetable garden in
a bowl, full of deep, rich flavours. For mains,
we plumped for lightly battered calamari and
sea bass fillets, garnished with vegetables,
salad and home made sauce tartare and grilled
chicken in a rich, spicy salsa, accompanied by
chorizo, couscous, courgettes and carrots. The
seafood was crispy on the outside, moist, soft
and piping hot on the inside. Parfait. The robust,
hearty chicken dish transported us instantly to
the French countryside, where simple, well-
prepared meals abound.
Between bites we enjoyed glasses of Picpoul
de Pinet, a citrussy southern French white that
also works very well with oysters, and a classic
Rosé de Provence, balanced, dry and with a
refreshing hint of strawberry notes.
Hot apple tart – an individual tart, not a slice
– with ice cream was very French, and the
only authentic way to finish off an authentic
lunch experience. We can see why local bon
viveur Simon Kay hangs out here. Simple,
authentic fare constructed from fresh, seasonal
ingredients, a truly representative French
wine list, with Frédéric and Amelie discreetly
at your beck and call. Vive la France! Vive La
Fourchette!
“There is something very reassuring about a restaurant that actually is what it claims to be”
PORTFOLIO 83
La Fourchette, 6 Queens Place, Second Avenue, Hove BN3 2LT01273 729990 | www.lafourchette.co.uk
Explaining why she started her
wedding gown business, designer
Vera Wang said ‘when I decided to get
married at 40, I couldn’t find a dress
with the modernity or sophistication I
wanted.’ Her words got me thinking;
dressing for weddings throws so many
guests into a tailspin, and rarely (in
my opinion) do they look modern or
sophisticated either.
You may have guessed that I am
not a fan of the traditional wedding
look. Women tend to look frumpy or
overdone, and men seem to wear
badly-fitting morning dress or the
same old boring office suits.
Dressing for a wedding can be really
stressful. Many people leave it to the
very last minute. They end up panic-
buying on the high street and the
result is an outfit they are unhappy
with and uncomfortable wearing. Or
(horrors of horrors) they arrive only to
find someone else has turned up in the
same outfit. It’s a sartorial minefield.
Let’s turn this around. In this article I’m going
to give you some tips and ideas to help you be
the best dressed guest this summer, without,
of course, upstaging the bride and groom.
First, let’s look at the options for men.
DON’T DRESS FOR THE OFFICE
Guys, I’m sure you don’t want to show up to a
good friend’s big day looking like you’re going
to the office. He won’t appreciate it, and you
won’t feel quite up-to-scratch. You will also
want to stay cool as the mercury rises, and
(hopefully) you feel comfortable enough to
dance.
Dressing for a formal wedding is fairly
straightforward. There are a number of places
on the high street to hire or buy morning
suits and formal highland dress. But do get
organised and plan in advance to ensure your
size is available and any necessary alterations
can be made.
For black tie weddings choose a dinner suit in
black or midnight blue (the Duke of Windsor’s
favourite) in wool. Single-breasted is the most
popular option, although double-breasted
is making a comeback. For a modern look,
go for a slim leg trouser, and don’t worry
about a cummerbund – these are rarely worn
nowadays.
84 PORTFOLIO
STYLE
BE THE BEST DRESSED GUESTSamantha Wilding on how to make sure your style is on point
for a summer wedding
“Keep it simple and refined, and you’ll be sure to be the best dressed guest this summer”
For weddings that call for lounge suits or
more informal dress, there are a variety of
ways to look stylish and up to date:
• Think three: the three-piece suit (in
classic or slim fit) is back and is a
clean and sharp take on the lounge
suit;
• Add some colour: suits in bright blue,
pale grey, stone or pale grey check
are great alternatives to dark grey
and navy. For more casual weddings,
be bold and go for a navy jacket
for example, with a pale blue shirt
and bright-coloured chino. A pink,
lavender or grey shirt is another way
to add a pop of colour;
• Beat the heat: keep things cool with
lightweight wool, wool-mohair blends
or cotton. Or choose linen, but beware
the crumpled effect;
• Show some ankle: slim-cropped
trousers (no more than an inch above
the ankle) worn with loafers and no
socks is a contemporary informal
look;
• Lose the tie: this depends on the
formality of the occasion. A beige
or soft grey suit worn with a white
shirt, pocket square and no tie looks
fantastic while keeping you cool;
• Add pattern and texture: inject these
into the details – ties, pocket squares,
socks – a great way to breathe
new life into an office suit if you
can’t stretch to a whole new outfit.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO WEAR A DRESS
Ladies, you don’t have to wear a hat. It’s not
obligatory. Or a dress, for that matter. There
are a number of cooler alternatives out there:
Trousers: consider wide-leg trousers in
vibrant colours (or a small print) with a silk
top, heels and a clutch. Or go ‘matchy-matchy’
in a floral print top and trousers (very 2015);
Slim trouser suits: in powder pink, sand or ice
blue are a great way to work pastel shades
without looking too girly. This look can also be
worn as slim trousers with a matching duster
coat;
Go ‘midi’: a midi-length skirt, dress or culottes
worn with block heels is a cool modern option;
The jumpsuit: this is fast becoming a classic.
A good look for women going to a black tie
wedding who don’t want to wear the ubiquitous
LBD.
Another quick word on black tie weddings.
Debretts states that a ‘smart dress’ is
appropriate, and can be long or short (but
not too short – no more than an inch above
the knee). And it needn’t be black. But do not
wear white, cream or ivory – the bride will not
appreciate it.
Don’t wear a hat with a long dress as it will
completely unbalance the look. Fascinators
can work but keep them small – I think your
best bet is adding sparkle and texture with a
hair clip or slide. If your dress (or trousers
or jumpsuit) is plain, you can wear more
elaborate accessories. Likewise, if you choose
a bold print, then keep your accessories clean
and simple. And no platform shoes, please –
they instantly make an outfit look cheap.
Modern weddings vary in type and venue, so
make sure you understand and adhere to the
dress code as stated on the invitation. If you’re
in doubt, ask. Consider your outfit as a whole,
while paying attention to the details; this will
help you retain elements of your individual
style and ensure that everything works
together. Finally, keep it simple and refined,
and you’ll be sure to be the best dressed guest
this summer…
STYLE
“Consider your outfit as a whole,
while paying attention to the details; this will help you retain
elements of your individual style”
www.styleandgrace.eu | @alwayschicUK
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ISSUE 13 . 2015 SUSSEX EDITION .
OUT NOW
PORTFOLIO 87
ACES: WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
The Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex (ACES)
links together the Chambers of Commerce, the
Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute
of Directors in East Sussex, representing
over 4,000 local businesses with over 15,000
members of staff.
ACES offer major networking events and
support to each local Chamber of Commerce.
They also work closely with policy makers,
including Central Government and County,
District and Borough Councils.
If you belong to one of the Chambers of
Commerce listed below, you are automatically
a member of ACES.
For more details of how to join and what
ACES can do for your business, visit www.
acesalliance.org
Save The Date: The ACES 2015 BEST4Biz
Conference takes place on Thursday, 15th
October. The emphasis will be on innovation and
skills, to include networking, a B2B exhibition,
an expert panel, valuable breakouts and
excellent speakers, so keep the date free.
FIZZ ON FOOT
Marketing guru Ian Shearer has joined forces
with health and fitness specialist Lucy-Ann
Prideaux to turn their hobbies into a new
business. With a love of fine wine and rambling
through the stunning Sussex countryside, Ian
and Lucy have put the two together to develop
Fizz on Foot. Fizz on Foot tours take in stunning
walking routes across the South Downs
National Park and Cuckmere Valley, along with
visits to local award-winning vineyards in East
and West Sussex with tutored wine tastings and
a delicious lunch.
Your vineyard hosts will explain all about
the wine, the grapes and the methods of
production so you can make an informed
decision about the wines available to purchase.
Tours commence in Alfriston, where you can
stay overnight at the beautifully refurbished
Star Inn before or after your Fizz on Foot tour.
For more details visit www.fizzonfoot.com
VISIT A VINEYARD
ACES and Wealden District Council are delighted
to support SEVA, the South East Viticulture
Association, and the South East Wine Route as
it meanders through some of the most beautiful
countryside of Sussex.
To help you find these hidden treasures
SEVA has produced a map of the South East
Wine Route including almost all the vineyards
in Kent, Sussex and Surrey, with information on
their events, opening hours and contact details.
If you would like a copy of the map, contact
your local Chamber of Commerce (listed
below) to collect a free map while stocks
last. Alternatively, download the South East
Vineyards app for just £2.99 so you can visit all
the Sussex vineyards and support your local
viticulture industry.
Visit multi-award-winning estates like
Ridgeview in Ditchling. Established in 1995 by
Mike and Chris Roberts, the status of the wine is
reflected by the number of international medals
they have won. They also have a stunning new
tasting room and spoke at the 2014 ACES
Best4Biz Conference, Buxted Park about the
way social media has helped them grow.
For more information email
SECRET VALLEY
We are now lucky enough to live in a county
which often beats Champagne in blind tastings
and is applying for a Protected Designation of
Origin (PDO) for its Sussex Sparkling. This will
mean that only sparkling wines produced in
Sussex by the méthode traditionnelle will be
able to call themselves Sussex Sparkling.
Sussex is home to about 20 successful
vineyards making sparkling and still wines
of excellent quality, and in the next couple of
years will see the first sparkling wines from
Rathfinny, which will be the largest vineyard in
the country.
By 2020 Rathfinny expects to develop 400
acres of the South Downs in an area known as
the “Secret Valley” near Alfriston. The owners,
Mark and Sarah Driver took 18 months after
Mark quit the City as a global hedge fund
manager to find the perfect location, with the
perfect climate and the perfect soil to which
they then added the perfect vines and the very
best expertise from France and New Zealand.
The team at Rathfinny will be producing
their first still wines this year and are running
a series of excellent events throughout the year
to encourage people to visit the estate.
Having embarked on this amazing journey
to create world-class wine on the South
Downs, Mark Driver spoke at the 2014 Best4Biz
Conference about risk management and
planning to succeed – something he knows
inside-out.
For more details of Rathfinny events, including
fine dining, classical music and regular
festivals, check www.rathfinnyestate.com
News from businesses who are part of the Chambers of Commerce in East Sussex. This month we put the spotlight on local wine-makers and related businesses
VIVA VITICULTURE
Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the new smart range: urban: 55.4(5.1)-58.9(4.8), extra-urban: 72.4(3.9)-76.4(3.7), combined: 65.7(4.3)-68.9(4.1). CO2 emissions: 99-93g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for camparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Model featured the new smart forfour passion at £149 per month oncontract hire. Business users only. Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 2248457 and has its registered address at Tongwell, Milton Keynes, MK15 8BA. 58127
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58127 297x210_LOOKERS 22/05/2015 12:07 Page 1
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MOTORING review
Mercedes Benz is a word synonymous with
quality, style and performance and having
owned many of them in my time, I approve
of Stuttgart’s efforts. I had a glorious 250SE and an
SL500 from the 70’s of which I have fond memories –
not quite so of the hugely collectable 540K that I once
parked in a Paris underground car park that flooded
– that car now would be worth £8 million – I think I
feel a little faint!
Then, be still my beating heart, Mercedes call and
ask if I would like to join them at Mercedes Benz
World and try out their new jet fighter – the SL65
AMG. I thought about this for 1.2 seconds and then
made my way out of the door like a scalded cat and
left considerable rubber on the driveway.
I arrive in Weybridge to the home of the old
Brooklands Track, now replaced with Mercs own
much smaller track, and after the customary effuse
greeting from their professional staff along with
endless tables of food and drink, before I know
it Charles has tossed me the keys and casually
mentioned that when I got tired of the roads I could
take to the track! I think I might of have died and gone
to heaven.
The SL has always been a beautiful car right from
its birth in 1954 and derives from the German Sport
Leicht or Sport Lightweight and the moniker was
first applied to the gorgeous 300SL Gullwing.
AMG is Mercedes tuning division and it’s always
a good sign when you see that badge - but in this
instance they have excelled. It looks beautiful, smells
beautiful and you just know that this twin turbo 6.0
litre V12 is about to try and rip your face off. Pulling
out onto the A3, I am enamoured by the superb
leather seats, the air scarf that wafts warm air on
my neck and the quiet threat that emanates from the
burbling hunk of metal under the bonnet.
To be honest, the A3 went past in a blur, as all
621bhp was unleashed by my right foot and the
smooth rapidity of the 7-speed auto is astonishing.
60mph came in less than 4 seconds, 125mph in 11
seconds and warp speed a second or two later. This
is a very dangerous car as the speed comes on so
fast and so smoothly that by the time you’ve noticed,
you’re in front of the beak and facing 6 months! I
think I’m in love.
It purrs along at traffic speed in total silence and
with the manners of an 18th Courtesan, ensuring
that you are lured into a false sense of security. But
one irreverent blip of the pedal and your world turns
upside down. The traction control dashboard light
can easily be made to introduce itself at 80mph. In
the dry! With little effort! And an insane smirk.
The profile and huge rubber at each corner means
that there is zero roll in corners and just to ensure you
feel tip top to push on, the seat bolsters electronically
squeeze you into the seat as you put the power
on. Not sure I like that, as it is very disconcerting
but it certainly works to fix you to the seat back. It
seems churlish to mention fuel economy but you
will struggle to better 20mpg in real world driving
but honestly, if you have just forked out £168,285 in
cold blood, I doubt you give a monkeys about the cost
of the fuel but at full Autobahn chat, the number of
refuelling stops would get old quite quickly.
The folding roof is a piece of engineering art in
itself and there is very little wind noise and although
the stowed roof limits the luggage space, it’ll do an
overnight for two quite comfortably. I sat there for
a few minutes pressing the roof up and down and
watched in awe at what is an engineering ballet
performance like no other.
Enough said, now back through the gates and into
the track control area awaiting my clearance to wring
the neck out of it. The waved hand appears and I let it
rip and I have to say that to a petrol head, this is about
as much fun as you can have with your clothes on.
Doesn’t matter what speed you arrive at the corner,
it refuses to over steer and has such incredible grip
that it seems to defy physics. The balance and sheer
devastating brute force is a thing to behold and just
goes to prove that decade after decade, the Germans
are the finest automobile manufacturers on the
planet and by this example, they will remain aloft for
many years to come.
Now becalmed with the behemoth powered down
in the car park, I must say that as awesome as this
thing is, it would be difficult to justify an increase of
£84,000 over the ‘standard’ excellent 4.7 V8 SL500
that offers almost everything you get in the 65, bar
the top end acceleration and a bit of grunt – that’s
50% more and it will be a rare breed that parts with
that wad, but whichever one you choose, sell the
kids, rent out the wife, flog a kidney or mortgage
your granny, but BUY one of these or at the very least,
drive one of these before you die. You’ll thank me!
THUNDER ROADBusiness Editor, Maarten Hoffmann, investigates the quality and style of the Mercedes SL65 AMG
90 PORTFOLIO
MOTORING review
TECHNICAL STUFF:Price: £169,670.000Speed: 0-60 4.0 secsTop: 155mph (limited)Power: 630bhpEconomy: 24.4mpg
“It looks beautiful, smells beautiful and
you just know that this twin turbo 6.0 litre V12 is about to try and rip
your face off”
GREGDYKE
Maarten Hoffmann profiles journalist, broadcaster and former BBC Director General, Greg Dyke
Greg Dyke certainly gets around. In the
1960s he started life in the media and
early on decided to shake things up a bit
and brought tabloid television to the masses.
In 1983, he was drafted into the ailing TV-
AM show to revitalise the ratings and this he
certainly did by adding bingo, horoscopes and
celebrity gossip, which generally began the
dumbing down of the nation’s television output.
His lifelong love of football led him to
become Chairman of Brentford F.C and then
finally into his present role of Chairman
of The Football Association, and his
endless TV and press appearance recently,
connected with the FIFA corruption scandal.
Greg Dyke’s life began in Hayes, Middlesex
in 1947, the youngest of three sons born into
a lower middle class family. His father was
an insurance salesman and Dyke attended
Hayes Grammer School, leaving with one
grade ‘E’ at A-level mathematics before going
on to become a lowly manager at Marks and
Spencer. He felt a strong urge to join the media
and left M&S to become a trainee reporter for
the Hillingdon Mirror, where his talents were
quickly recognised as he rose to become the
chief reporter within eight months. Having had
a taste of the media, he realised that to be taken
seriously he would need a degree and attended
the University of York as a mature student,
graduating in 1974 with a BA in politics.
During his time at York, he became active in
student politics and was part of a collective
that produced the psychedelic underground
magazine called Nouse. He also met and
married his first wife at York and his university
contemporaries were future journalists Peter
Hitchens and Linda Grant. Dyke was awarded
an honorary doctorate degree by the university
PORTFOLIO 93
BUSINESS interview
in 1999 and has been Chancellor since 2004.
Having become disillusioned with the press,
his first foray into television began when he
joined London Weekend Television under
bosses John Birt and Peter Jay and ruffled
a few feathers by insisting that to gain a
good audience share, programmes needed a
populist edge, and this led to him being given
control of The Six O’Clock Show, fronted by
Michael Aspel, with co-hosts Janet Street
Porter and Danny Baker. After a spell at TV-
AM he joined the consortium that successfully
bid for the Channel 5 licence in 1995 and
become the first Chairman of the new channel.
In 2000, he took over the helm of the BBC
from John Birt. At the beginning of his tenure,
he famously promised to “cut the crap” at the
Corporation. The “crap” he referred to was the
complex internal market Birt had introduced at
the BBC which, it is claimed, turned employees
away from making programmes and into
managers. Dyke reversed this trend; he
reduced administration costs from 24% of total
income to 15%. Unusually for a recent Director-
General, he had a good rapport with his
employees and was popular with the majority
of BBC staff, his management style being
seen as more open and risk-taking than Birt’s.
Apart from restoring staff morale, Greg
Dyke laid claim to two major achievements
during his office. In 2002, he introduced
the Freeview terrestrial digital transmission
platform with six additional BBC channels,
and persuaded Sky TV to join the consortium.
Previously this was an ITV subscription
service that had closed with major losses,
but by mid-2007 it could be seen by more
than half the population. After leaving
the BBC, he said that he always realised
that the introduction of Freeview helped
to prevent a subscription funding model
for the BBC gaining traction, because it is
impossible for broadcasters to switch off
the signal to individual Freeview boxes.
Dyke controversially described the
Corporation in early 2001 as “hideously
white”, based on statistics that showed the
organisation’s management structure was
98% white. Dyke said that “The figures we
have at the moment suggest that quite a lot of
people from different ethnic backgrounds that
we do attract to the BBC leave. Maybe they don’t
feel at home, maybe they don’t feel welcome.”
Dyke set a target that by 2003, 10% of the
BBC’s UK workforce and 4% of management
would be from ethnic minority backgrounds.
In September 2004, Dyke received an
award for his remarks from Glasgow-
based organisation Empower Scotland,
which fights against workplace racism.
Dyke attracted criticism when he ‘forgot’
to sell an equity stake in Granada Television,
which presented a conflict of interest in his new
position. He also caused controversy when he
lost the rights to Premier League football to ITV,
then accused the league of fixing the auction.
Others were worried that the openness
and high risk strategies of his management
style could backfire on the corporation. An
ITV executive was quoted as saying, “By being
too radical and playing fast and loose with
the public service remit, the BBC is inviting
external regulation – and it deserves it.”
Inevitably, it was not long before Dyke’s
interest in politics would surface and his
departure from the BBC top job, along with
Andrew Gilligan and Gavyn Davies, was
caused by the publication of the Hutton Report.
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about the tactics used by the Murdoch operation for many years – Mr Murdoch once described me as ‘an enemy’ – the events of the past week have been
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Hutton described Dyke’s approach to checking
news stories as “defective”; when Alastair
Campbell complained about the story, Dyke
immediately defended it without investigating
whether there was any merit to the complaint.
In an email sent to all BBC staff just prior to his
resignation, Dyke wrote: “I accept that the BBC
made errors of judgement and I’ve sadly come
to the conclusion that it will be hard to draw a
line under this whole affair while I am still here.
We need closure. We need closure to protect the
future of the BBC, not for you or me but for the
benefit of everyone out there. It might sound
pompous, but I believe the BBC really matters.”
It was subsequently established that Dyke
had offered his resignation to the BBC’s Board
of Governors in the hope that they would reject
it. However, he was only able to secure the
support of about one-third of the Governors.
Some BBC staff felt that in the Hutton Report
too much blame had been placed on their
organisation in the wake of the David Kelly affair,
and that the government was interfering in the
BBC. Tim Gospill, spokesman for the National
Union of Journalists, said, “Being independent
doesn’t just mean not having the government
telling you what to do. It means you can
criticise the government as well. I’m not at
all sure the government understands that.”
Groups of staff staged walk-outs
from Broadcasting House and other BBC
offices in Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle,
Glasgow, Cardiff and Londonderry, in protest at
Dyke’s resignation. In addition, on 31st January,
2004, BBC staff paid for a full-page advert in
the Daily Telegraph to express their dismay
over Dyke’s departure. The statement in the
advertisement read: ‘Greg Dyke stood for brave,
independent and rigorous BBC journalism
that was fearless in its search for the truth.
We are resolute that the BBC should not step
back from its determination to investigate the
facts in pursuit of the truth. Through his passion
and integrity Greg inspired us to make
programmes of the highest quality and creativity.
We are dismayed by Greg’s departure, but we
are determined to maintain his achievements
and his vision for an independent organisation
that serves the public above all else.’
Dyke’s departure came 20 hours after BBC
Chairman Gavyn Davies resigned following
the Hutton Report and after the governors
had spent all day in crisis talks in London.
An emotional Mr Dyke told BBC staff at
their central London headquarters: “I don’t
want to go. But if in the end you screw
up, you have to go.” The BBC had made
certain mistakes, he said, adding: “I do not
necessarily accept the findings of Lord Hutton.”
The pair quit after parts of Andrew Gilligan’s
BBC report of claims that Downing Street had
“sexed up” a dossier on Iraq’s illegal weapons
were branded “unfounded” by Lord Hutton.
Lord Ryder said: “The BBC must now move
forward in the wake of Lord Hutton’s report, which
highlighted serious defects in the Corporation’s
processes and procedures. On behalf of the BBC
I have no hesitation in apologising unreservedly
for our errors and to the individuals whose
reputations were affected by them.”
Then Prime Minister Tony Blair quickly
welcomed the statement, saying it meant both
the BBC and the government could move on.
He said: “This for me has always been a very
simple matter of an accusation that was a
very serious one that was made. It has now
been withdrawn; that is all I ever wanted.”
The apology was also welcomed by ex-
Number 10 media chief Alastair Campbell, who
told BBC News 24: “It was right that Gavyn Davies
has resigned; it’s right that Greg Dyke resigned.”
Lord Hutton’s report cleared the government
of “sexing up” its Iraq weapons dossier with
unreliable intelligence and Hutton stated that
he believed Dr Kelly had killed himself after
being named as the suspected source of the
BBC’s controversial weapons dossier story.
So there we have the neat package of
government ensuring its own backside is safe
by destroying a man who was genuinely trying
to raise the editorial standards of the state
broadcaster but had the temerity to question
what they were doing. With some questioning
how much they knew about Kelly’s death, Alistair
Campbell and his Labour attack dogs went to
work and the fact that Dyke also got involved
in the ‘sexed up’ dossier, just added grist to
the mill. Blair and Campbell managed to wipe
out two unpleasant stories in one fell swoop.
On 28th November, 2003 Greg Dyke was
formally appointed by the University of York as
its new Chancellor, replacing Dame Janet Baker,
PORTFOLIO 95
“The fact that Dyke also got involved in the ‘sexed up’ Iraqi dossier, just added grist to the mill as Blair and Campbell
managed to wipe out two unpleasant stories
in one fell swoop”
BUSINESS interview
“So there we have the neat package of
government ensuring its own backside is safe by destroying
a man who was genuinely trying to raise the editorial
standards of the state broadcaster”
who had served in the post since November
1991. There was some controversy regarding
his appointment in the midst of the Iraq Dossier
scandal. He officially took the post in August 2004.
In this role, he is the honorary and
ceremonial head of the University, as well
as heading the University Development
Board. He has also made a personal grant
to the new Department of Theatre, Film and
Television, to found the Greg Dyke Chair in
Film and Television. On 6th February, 2004
Dyke announced that he had signed a six-
figure book contract with HarperCollins. The
book “Inside Story”, subsequently published in
September 2004, goes into detail about Dyke’s
opinion on the relationship between the BBC
and the British government, and on the Dr.
David Kelly affair and Hutton Inquiry. In July
2004 Dyke was awarded honorary doctorates
from the University of Sunderland, Middlesex
University and in 2006 from The University
of Bedfordshire. He was appointed Chair of
the British Film Institute on 15th February,
2008, succeeding Anthony Minghella and
on 10th March, 2010, it was reported that
he had been approached by Alexander
Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev to
edit The Independent and The Independent on
Sunday newspapers. In the wake of the News
of The World hacking affair, Dyke frequently
appeared in the media to comment on events.
In April 2011 he said, “I don’t think the
News of the World is a great contribution
to British journalism. They have obviously
been playing fast and loose for a long time
and are now getting their just deserts.”
Dyke appeared on BBC2’s Newsnight
programme on 8th July, 2011 alongside
comedian Steve Coogan, where he confronted
former News of the World deputy features editor
Paul McMullen over his attitude to the events of
the phone hacking scandal. Dyke told McMullen
“Your tabloid’s nothing to do with a free press,
or a decent democracy”. Distancing himself
from McMullen, he said, “I’ve spent most of my
life being a journalist, and I’m nothing to do with
him, and neither are most other journalists.
You could see there are occasionally, very
occasionally, public interest cases but most
of the time it wouldn’t make it less morally
reprehensible. These tabloid journalists
just tapped anyone they could think of”.
He was also of the opinion that stronger
independent regulation of the press was
needed, claiming that broadcast media had
always been more strictly regulated. On 11th
July, 2011, Dyke wrote in the Financial Times
that “from the moment it was revealed that
the News of the World had hacked into Milly
Dowler’s phone, Rupert Murdoch’s bid to buy
the 60.9 per cent of British Sky Broadcasting
that News Corp does not already own was all
but over.” He admitted, “for those of us who
have been warning about the tactics used by
the Murdoch operation for many years – Mr
Murdoch once described me as ‘an enemy’ –
the events of the past week have been sweet.”
Such outspoken words all but secured his
permanent departure from the media as there
were few people he had not upset. As is often
the case, it is not the words that are so much
the problem as the method of delivery. Never
one to wrap those words in cotton wool, as all
long-serving politicians and BBC managers do
by default, Dyke spoke as he found and, sadly,
that will never do in the British establishment.
Casting around for a new berth, Dyke did
what so many do. He considered what he loves
and decided to apply his not inconsiderable
talent to his love of football, but the past
always has a habit of revisiting, and Dyke
was once again involved in a TV row when
the subject of football rights popped up. Dyke
served on the board at Manchester United as
a Non-executive Director, and was the sole
board member to oppose a takeover bid from
BSkyB, which was subsequently rejected by
the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
Dyke replaced David Bernstein as chairman
of The Football Association in July 2013 after
relinquishing his role as Brentford Chairman
and receiving approval from the FA council.
Now the head of UK football, Dyke reacted
to the recent FIFA corruption scandal in his
usual blunt fashion, and after hearing that
FIFA chairman Sepp Blatter had resigned for
‘honourable reasons’, he said: “I don’t believe a
word of this. If he believes that, why not step down
last week when we asked him to? He was cock-
a-hoop when he won the election and terribly
arrogant. Clearly, there is a smoking gun. This is
nothing to do with Mr Blatter being honourable;
he hasn’t been honourable for years”
Dyke has always been one of FIFA’s most
vocal critics and, to his credit, has been banging
on about corruption in the game for many years.
Many regard Dyke as Blatter’s mortal enemy:
“People keep coming up to me and saying, ‘Well
done, you got rid of him!’” he hoots, roaring with
laughter. “To which I say, ‘I think the FBI had
more to do with it than me.’” But the impression
of a gladiatorial clash between two titans is
unmistakable – as is the surprising degree
of similarity between football’s deadly foes.
Although still stunned by the FIFA president’s
resignation, Dyke thinks he can explain it,
starting with the allegations of a bribe to
erstwhile FIFA official Jack Warner. “I think it
was a combination of three things. The $10m
payment must have been authorised by him.
Nobody else could authorise $10m. Not $10m.
Also, I don’t know this for certain, but I wouldn’t
be at all surprised if Jérôme Valcke (FIFA’s
Secretary General, who faces strong evidence
that he knew of the alleged bribe) did say to
Blatter, ‘I’m not taking the rap for this, you
agreed.’ That’s one. Two, I think the FBI is getting
close. And three, I suspect the big sponsors
said, ‘You can’t do this, it’s got to change.’”
Decca Aitkenhead of the Guardian
newspaper, asked if Dyke expects Blatter to be
arrested, and he fell uncharacteristically silent,
so he put the question a different way. If he had
to put £50 on it, which way would he bet? “Yeah.”
Either way, says Dyke, Blatter hasn’t a hope
of remaining in post until his successor
is appointed this winter. “No!” he snorts
scornfully, perhaps thinking of the speed
of his own departure from the BBC. “He’ll
be gone. He won’t last. He can’t last more
than a couple of months. The one thing you
discover if you run an organisation is that the
moment you say you’re going, you’ve gone.
He’s dead. It’s over. If you resign, you resign.”
The two men first met shortly after Dyke
was appointed to the FA in 2013. “He was very
personable, very likable. In his way. He’s got
charisma, there’s no doubt. But I never trusted
him, no. He reminded me of Nixon, what I call
Nixonian politics. In other words, ‘You’re either
on our side or you’re the enemy, and anyone
who criticises is the enemy. Everything I do is
by definition right.’ Blatter’s argument at the
end, when he said this is a politically motivated
conspiracy – I mean, what world does he live in?
These are a bunch of crooks. Or it appears,” he
corrects himself, “they are a bunch of crooks.”
When the pair attended a meeting in February,
Dyke had been teetotal since New Year’s Day.
“And then I got sat next to Blatter at this bloody
thing, and I thought, ‘I can’t do this, I can’t sit here
without a drink.’ So it put me back on the bottle!”
Relations had by then more or less broken
down, perhaps predictably. “Blatter hates the
English. He hates the FA. And he hates the
British media. Blames them for everything.”
An FA Chairman who made his name and
fortune at London Weekend Television, “my
spiritual home”, before becoming Director
General of the BBC, would have been bad
enough. What must have made matters worse
is the absence of any discernible indication
that Dyke has forsaken his former profession.
“Once you’ve been a journalist, to some
extent you’re always a journalist,” he agrees.
PORTFOLIO 97
BUSINESS interview
98 PORTFOLIO
BEAUTIFUL homes
“Last week on Wednesday, which bits of my
brain jumped up? It was the journalistic bits.”
The animosity was mutual. Dyke has “always
assumed FIFA is corrupt. It’s always been
corrupt.” Blatter cast himself as a global
football missionary, and won praise even
from his critics for exporting the game into
developing countries. But when asked if
Blatter’s chief interest in Africa and Asia was
weak governance susceptible to bribery and
corruption, Dyke says without hesitation, “Yes.
That’s my view. Someone very senior in FIFA
– I won’t name who – said to me: ‘Football will
always be corrupt. Basically because it’s run
by men. If you walk into a room and there’s
a million pounds on the table and a naked
woman in the corner, most men will take the
million pounds and then fuck the woman.’
Now, I happen to believe that’s not what life
is like, and I think it’s a very depressing view of
the world. But that was someone quite senior in
FIFA, and his account of what life is like. It’s quite
sad, isn’t it? It’s a pretty sordid world, FIFA.”
Blatter, he was told, boasted to a pretty female
journalist: “‘What’s interesting about my job is,
whichever country I go to, I’m more important
than the President.’ Now, if that’s true, then it
tells you a lot about him. Massive ego. I think
he believed he was not answerable to anybody.”
Dyke’s analysis of his nemesis’ attitudes
sounds broadly reliable. The more he talks,
however, the more it sounds like an uncannily
accurate description of Dyke as well. With
the obvious exception of starkly different
attitudes to corruption, the two men’s
leadership styles do not appear to be dissimilar.
When asked if his public attacks on Blatter
and FIFA might have been rashly intemperate,
his tone is nonchalantly defiant. “See, I work
on the basis that we have nothing to lose, the
English FA. We don’t need FIFA’s money. We
don’t want to bid for another event, not while
Blatter’s there. We can say what we like.
Also, I’m 68. This is the end of my career.”
Will the FA be his last big public job? “Yeah.
Yeah. You know, I was 68 last week. The only
advantage of being old – well, of being old and
having made money – is you don’t give a f***.”
There are large parts of the world where the
FA is perceived as an arrogant, neo-colonial
elite and there Dyke’s comments might enjoy
less approval, and do little to dispel that
reputation. “No, I think it’s good for the FA’s
reputation. We stood up. The FA hasn’t always
stood up. The history is not that good. We
stood up to be counted. We stood up to him.”
If Blatter was oblivious to Fifa’s international
reputation, Dyke appears similarly unaware
of any animosity towards the FA. “Well, I think
it’s true that it’s perceived like that politically in
some quarters, but not by the football-watching
public. ’Cos they all love the Premier League. No,
I think this is a bit of a myth. That somehow it’s
colonialism. It’s not colonialism at all. But there
is no doubt that there is a set of values which
you find in Western Europe, and in America and
Australia, that don’t apply everywhere.” Such
as? “Well, my experience in Africa is that when
people go into politics in Africa, it’s incumbent
upon you as part of that to look after your family.
That’s just cultural, it’s a cultural difference.”
But he has no intention of heeding Qatar’s
public warning this week to stop querying its
right to host in 2022. “I thought it was funny,”
he laughs. “I’m an adult and I’ve been around
too long. I once had Blair after me, I’ve been
there before. Of course, you can’t convict people
on journalism, so we will have to wait for the
Swiss investigation to do its job. But if you
read the Sunday Times and the recent book,
it’s all in there. If you read all of that, it’s hard
to believe that it wasn’t corrupt.” His phone
rings, and when he hangs up he is beaming.
“We’ve just discovered that the FBI investigation
does include scrutiny of the two World Cup
awards. That’s good. I wouldn’t want to be
Qatar. They’ll sleep even less well tonight.”
Most of us hope to feel our lives have been
well lived, but seldom will you meet anyone
more convinced of it, and his contentment
makes him hugely likable. If Dyke has any
regret, it was his departure from the BBC.
“I hadn’t finished. There was more to be done
there. I wouldn’t have done more than a couple
of years anyway, but I would have liked to have
finished off all the stuff we were doing. But then,”
he starts to laugh, “that’s what Blatter said!”
75_Portfolio_Ad_Laurent Perrier.indd 75 27/06/2014 11:09
“This is nothing to do with Mr Blatter beinghonourable; he hasn’t been honourable for
years. I wouldn’t wantto be Qatar. They’ll
sleep even less well tonight”
75_Portfolio_Ad_Laurent Perrier.indd 75 27/06/2014 11:09
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