inhouse winter 2010 edition

inhouseWinter 2010 Edition

The Property Lifestyle Magazine

Property, Style & Fashion, Motoring, Travel, Food & Drink, Sport and much more...

Where Better Homes Are Found

LAWLORSPROPERTY SERVICES

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2 winter

www.lawlors.co.uk

4 PROPERTY/Property Section

A selection of some of the finest properties

currently available in your area from Lawlors.

46 EXCLUSIVE/Counting Our Blessings

Jim Lawlor took time out to talk to Jane Steward

of Haven House Children’s Hospice.

54 PROPERTY/Under £500,000

A selection of properties under £500,000

currently available in your area from Lawlors.

70 EVENTS/MasterChef Live

A behind the scenes look at London’s premier

gourmet food event, and an exclusive interview

with John Torode.

79 ARTS/Winning Hearts And Minds

Devon’s Mercury Music Prize nominated folk

singer/songwriter Seth Lakeman talks exclusively

about the release of his latest album, and his

battle to win mainstream recognition.

84 SPORTS & FITNESS/Taking To The Floor

Double gymnastics World Champion Beth Tweddle

MBE, tells of the highs and lows of life in the

sporting spotlight.

90 HOMES/Room For Improvement

Caroline Rogers, Associate Director of Berkshire’s

finest interior design company Alexander James,

talks styles, spaces and the ultimate design sin!

94 MOTORING/Le Mans

Our motoring man Kevin Haggarthy joins the Jaguar

Racing Team as their invited guest, on their debut

GT2 race entry at the famous 24hr Le Mans.

100 FASHION/Sir Paul Smith

Iconic English designer talks exclusively about

his journey to top, and the launch of his new

Junior collection.

106 FOOD & DRINK/Wine For All Seasons

We discover Chateau Civrac, a modern boutique

winery in Bordeaux, and the dream venture of

Cornishman Mark Hellyar.

112 TRAVEL/Algarve’s Hole In One

Travel correspondent Claire Durkin takes a trip

to Portugal’s exclusive resort, and golfing haven,

Vale do Lobo.

Advertising: Tel: 0845 521 5275 E-mail: [email protected]

Editorial: Tel: 0845 521 5221 E-mail: [email protected]

© Cream Worldwide Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction is forbidden except by express permission of the

publishers. The content of this magazine is believed to be correct but its accuracy is not guaranteed and does

not form part of any offer or contract. Lawlors cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors.

The views expressed within editorials are those of the writers and not those of Cream Worldwide Ltd.contentsWinter 2010 collection

inhouse

T H E

C L U B

Lawlors OTB S10 contents:Layout 1 20/10/10 10:47

winter 3

As the winter months draw in we have entered the third

quarter of the year and reflect on what has been a

busy summer at Lawlors. Despite the mixed messages

regarding the state of the economy, demand for property

in our local area is still extremely good. However, it is

fair to say that every transaction requires the intense,

personal attention that our staff at Lawlors excel at.

We have a fantastic magazine full of fresh instructions,

most of which are exclusive to our agency. With the

continued success of our Under £500,000 department

we have seen a marked increase in both instructions and

sales at this level, as clients recognise that our skills and

expertise can be applied to this price bracket.

We believe we cover the full spectrum of the property

market within these pages and hope you will find

something of interest. Further properties are of course

available on our website www.lawlors.co.uk.

Finally, please take time to read our in-depth article

on our chosen local charity, Haven House Children’s

Hospice, which gives an amazing insight into the

excellent work they do.

welcome


J C Lawlor FNAEA, Partner

Lawlors OTB S10 contents:Layout 1 21/10/10 10:03

Piercing Hill,Theydon Bois P.O.A

JOINT SOLE AGENCY

An exceptional Victorianresidence situated in this prestigious setting offering panoramic views to the rear of surrounding forest land. This delightful residence providesflexible accommodation arranged over three floors with a detached garage which also provides further annex accommodation.

The vendors have modernised and updated the property throughout whilst retaining many original features. Property benefits include:impressive reception hall, modern kitchen/breakfast room leading to family room and orangery, cloakroom, utility room, elegant drawing room,dining room and gym. On the first floor there is a delightful master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, further bedroom with en-suite, two furtherbedrooms, study and family bathroom. On the second floor there is a spacious room currently configured as an entertainment room but waspreviously two bedrooms. To the front of the property there is a carriage driveway providing off street parking for numerous vehicles andallowing access to the detached garage which also has further guest accommodation with wet room. The rear garden has an extensive patioarea leading on to well tended grounds of two acres.

Elite Homes: 020 8418 18904 www.lawlors.co.uk

E L I T E H O M E S

LAWLORS

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Forest Lane,Chigwell £2,450,000

SOLE AGENCY

Located in one of the mostdesirable roads in Chigwell is this Executive Detached residence overlooking Chigwell Golf Course. This stylish property has been recentlyupdated to the exacting standards of the current vendors.

The property benefits from a spectacular centralised marble staircase, stunning indoor swimming pool and leisure area, cloakroom/WC, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room and utility room. On the first floor there is an elegant master bedroom with en-suite dressingroom and bathroom and three further bedroom suites whilst on the second floor there is a further bedroom/gymnasium and cloakroom.Externally the property is approached via double electric gates giving access to the carriage driveway and allowing access to the integralgarage whilst the 150ft rear garden has been tastefully landscaped with a wide variety of mature shrubs, plants and trees.

E L I T E H O M E S

LAWLORS



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Church Lane, AbridgeP.O.A

SOLE AGENCY

An impressive newly constructed country family residence situated in this semi rurallocation. The property stands in approx 3 acres of grounds and benefits from panoramicviews across the Essex countryside yet is conveniently located for access to CentralLondon, the M25, M11 and North Circular and both City and Stansted Airports yet is only approx 40 mins from Central London.

The house has seven bedroom suites and a one bedroom staff apartment. There are four receptions and a state of the art kitchen measuring10.5m x 7m. A stunning indoor pool complex also includes a steam room, a Jacuzzi and a gymnasium with male and female changing andshower rooms. There is also a sunken garden adjoining the indoor pool. A large cinema room, cloakroom and wine store are adjoining agames/snooker room/bar room being an impressive 11m x 9m which gives ample scope to accommodate any needs. The property has beenbuilt to the highest specification and the latest technology has been used to create an amazing 'Eco' House that will have minimal runningcosts. This includes rainwater harvesting to irrigate the garden. The latest insulation has been used and a full air management system has beeninstalled. A lutron electrical system has been run throughout the house so all lighting, media and data cabling is of the highest calibre. Externally the property is approached via an impressive driveway via electric gates giving access to the substantial detached garage.


E L I T E H O M E S

LAWLORS


www.lawlors.co.uk 9

E L I T E H O M E S

LAWLORS

Broadstrood, Goldings ManorLoughton £1,400,000 SOLE AGENTS

We are pleased to offer this exceptionally well presented family residencesituated within the sought after Goldings Manor area of North Loughton.

The current vendors have considerably updated and extended the propertyover recent years to provide spacious accommodation for the modernfamily on the ground floor in addition to four bedrooms on the first floor which are all en-suite and two further bedrooms on the second floor withfamily bathroom. Therefore the property benefits include: stunning fittedkitchen, utility room, cloakroom, garden room, sitting room, family room, six bedrooms - four of which are en-suite and a family bathroom. To the front of the property there is a block paved driveway providing off streetparking for numerous vehicles and allowing access to the integral garage.The rear garden enjoys a panoramic backdrop with forest land to the rear.The garden itself comprises of patio area with remainder laid to lawn andplanted with a wide variety of mature shrubs,plants and trees.

Stradbroke Grove, Buckhurst Hill£1,150,000 SOLE AGENTS

An exceptionally attractive five bedroom executive residencesituated on a double plot in what is popularly regarded as one of Buckhurst Hill's premier roads.

The property is ideally located for access to the Central Line withits transport links to the City and the West End, the shoppingfacilities of fashionable Queens Road with its delightful Boutiquesand Eateries and impressive local schools. Property benefitsinclude: reception hall, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room,cloakroom, drawing room, dining room, sitting room and study.On the first floor there are four bedrooms and family bathroomwhilst on the second floor there is a further bedroom with en-suite. Externally to the front of the property there is a carriagedriveway providing off street parking for numerous vehicles andallowing access to the attached double length garage whilstthe landscaped rear garden of 135ft comprises of patio area toimmediate rear of the property with remainder laid to lawn andplanted with a wide variety of shrubs, plants and trees.

Elite Homes: 020 8418 1890


Hainault RoadP.O.A

An exceptionally attractive five bedroom executiveresidence situated on a double plot in what ispopularly regarded as one of Buckhurst Hill's premierroads. The property is ideally located for access to theCentral Line with its transport links to the City and theWest End, the shopping facilities of fashionable QueensRoad with its delightful Boutiques and Eateries andimpressive local schools.

Property benefits include: reception hall, kitchen/breakfastroom, utility room, cloakroom, drawing room, dining room,sitting room and study. On the first floor there are fourbedrooms and family bathroom whilst on the second floorthere is a further bedroom with en-suite. Externally to thefront of the property there is a carriage driveway providingoff street parking for numerous vehicles and allowingaccess to the attached double length garage whilst thelandscaped rear garden of 135ft comprises of patio areato immediate rear of the property with remainder laid tolawn and planted with a wide variety of shrubs, plants and trees.

Chester Road, Chigwell P.O.A

We are pleased to offer this exceptional SixBedroom Detached executive residence which hasbeen extended and decorated to the exactingstandards of the current vendors.

This individually crafted property is situated on theever popular Chester Road with spaciousaccommodation arranged over three floors andcomprises: Spacious kitchen/diner, cloakroom, tworeception rooms, study, six bedrooms - two ofwhich have en-suite facilities and family bathroom.Externally there is a block paved carriage drivewayand 60ft West facing rear garden. The property isideally located for the shopping facilities of thefashionable local parade and the Central Line withits transport links to the City and the West End.

LAWLORSE L I T E H O M E S

10 www.lawlors.co.uk Elite Homes: 020 8418 1890


Mulvey & CoMaintenance & Refurbishment Contractors

2 Oak Lodge Avenue, Chigwell, Essex. IG7 5HZT: 020 8500 1366 E: [email protected]

www.mulveyandco.com

Mulvey & Co are a company of building contractors established in 1991. We started out by doing decorating and small buildingworks including extensions and conversions. We are now proud to be called a large contractor with turnover in excess of

£4 million per year. At Mulvey & Co we believe that genuine quality services tailored to our customers needs will keep us aheadof the competition, maintain integrity and keep customers happy.

We are continuously striving to achieve the highest standards for health and safety through training and insist all our workmenadhere to the construction design and management regulations.

Refurbishment

Non commercial - Domestic

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Lee Grove, Chigwell £1,295,000 SOLE AGENTS

We are pleased to offer this spacious family residencesituated at the end of this desirable residential road -siding onto open fields.

The property has been substantially extended to create a delightful family residence with accommodationarranged over three floors. Property benefits include:reception hall, cloakroom, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, five receptions, six bedrooms, three bathroomsand two shower rooms. To the front of the property there isa paved driveway providing off street parking fornumerous vehicles and allowing access to the integralgarage. To the rear of the property there is a patio areawith remainder laid to lawn.

Daleside, Chigwell £1,450,000 SOLE AGENTS

A beautiful traditional Chigwell residence which issituated within the Courtland Estate. Propertybenefits include: large modern kitchen/breakfastroom, utility room, cloakroom, three receptionrooms, master bedroom with walk in wardrobe and en-suite.

There are four further bedrooms and familybathroom. Externally the property has a spaciousdrive and access to the integral garage. The rear garden offers views over open farmland.The Central Line with its transport links to the City and West End and Chigwell’s fashionable local shopping facilities are all within easy walking distance.




www.lawlors.co.uk 13

E L I T E H O M E S

LAWLORS

Vicarage Lane, Chigwell £1,395,000 SOLE AGENTS

We are pleased to offer this delightful characterproperty situated on this substantial plot with a delightful front aspect over open fields.

This spacious residence offers flexible accommodationand offers the scope for further enlargement subject to usual planning permission. Currently the propertycomprises of kitchen, utility room, cloakroom, dining room, sitting room, family room, five bedroomswith en-suite to master and family bathroom. The delightful rear garden has been planted with a wide variety of plants and trees.

The Sanctuary, Rolls ParkP.O.A

A charming family residence situated within theprestigious Rolls Park area of Chigwell. The propertyoffers total privacy and seclusion yet is only a shortdistance to all local amenities.

The property offers total privacy and seclusion yet isonly a short distance to all local amenities. This fineproperty which has been well maintained by thecurrent vendors also has the benefit of a selfcontained one bedroom annex. The maturelandscaped grounds extend to approx 0.66 of anacre and are set behind electric security gates.Five bedrooms, including master with en-suite,family bathroom, four reception rooms, largekitchen, utility and conservatory. Detached selfcontained one bedroom annexe with open-plankitchen, shower room, walled gardens anddetached garage.

Elite Homes: 020 8418 1890


Church Hill, Loughton £1,100,000 SOLE AGENTS

An attractive character property built in 1912 situatedon a double frontage plot. The property boasts anarray of characterful features and we stronglyrecommend an internal viewing.

The property has been substantially extended to create a delightful family residence with accommodationarranged over three floors. Property benefits include:reception hall, cloakroom, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, five receptions, six bedrooms, three bathroomsand two shower rooms. To the front of the property there is a paved driveway providing off street parking fornumerous vehicles and allowing access to the integralgarage. To the rear of the property there is a patio areawith remainder laid to lawn.

Baldwins Hill, Loughton£999,995 SOLE AGENTS

A stunning executive family residence situatedwithin this highly desirable location backing ontoForest Land. The property offers bright and airyaccommodation arranged over three floors and westrongly recommend an immediate internal viewingas it is rare for properties situated in this location tocome to the open market.

Property benefits include: modernkitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, dining roomand sitting room. On the first floor there is a masterbedroom with en-suite whilst two further bedroomsshare a family bathroom. The second flooraccommodation comprises: two double bedroomsand a further en-suite. To the front of the propertythere is a substantial block paved drivewayproviding off street parking for numerous vehiclesand allowing access to the integral garage. Sideaccess to the rear of the property with raised patioand sweeping steps leading down to lawn areawith borders planted with a variety of shrubs andplants. There is a spacious summer house withfurther storage to rear of the garden which backsonto Epping Forest.





E L I T E H O M E S

LAWLORS

Albion Park, Loughton £1,295,000 SOLE AGENTS

A well presented Executive family residencesituated within this prestigious cul-de-sac location.

The property has been thoughtfully modernised andextended to the exacting standards of the currentvendors to provide a delightful home with flexible livingaccommodation. Currently the property comprises:entrance hall, cloakroom, utility room, spaciouskitchen/breakfast room, sitting room, dining room,family room, master bedroom with en-suite, four furtherbedrooms and family bathroom. To the front of theproperty there is off street parking whilst the stunningsecluded rear garden has been tastefully planted witha wide variety of shrubs, plants and trees in addition toa heated outdoor swimming pool.

Spareleaze Hill, Loughton£1,650,000 SOLE AGENTS

We are pleased to offer this Executive familyresidence ideally located for access to the CentralLine with its transport links to The City and West Endand the shopping facilities of the fashionable High Street.

Property benefits include: impressive reception hall,stunning kitchen/breakfast room, utility room,cloakroom/WC, sitting room, dining room, familyroom, games room, five bedrooms - three with en-suite facilities and family bathroom. To the front ofthe property there is substantial off-street parkingleading to integral garage whilst the rear gardencomprises raised terrace with steps leading to thetastefully landscaped garden. To the extreme rearof the property there is a heated swimming poolwith electric cover and a summer house whichoffers flexible usuage.

Elite Homes: 020 8418 1890


Millwell Crescent, Chigwell £709,995

SOLE AGENCY

A stunning Four Bedroom Detached property situatedwithin a quiet sought-after location off Manor Road.

The property benefits from a spacious lounge, fittedkitchen/breakfast room, family room, guest cloakroom,master bedroom with en suite plus a family bathroom.There is a beautifully landscaped rear garden and off-road parking for several vehicles to the front. Offered chain free.

Chigwell Office: 020 8281 0123

PROPERTY SERVICES

LAWLORS

Mount Pleasant Road,Chigwell £879,995 SOLE AGENCY

An extended Four Bedroom Semi-Detached house inone of Chigwell's most sought-after turnings.

This stunning property is well presented throughout andbenefits from two reception rooms, large kitchen/diner,utility room, cloakroom/WC, en suite to master bedroomand a family bathroom. The rear garden isapproximately 100ft and has a brick built BBQ, swimmingpool with pool house, a hot tub and an outside WC.


16 www.lawlors.co.uk


COLCHESTER33 Sir Isaac’s Walk

Tel: 01206 577682E-mail:[email protected]

RAYLEIGH44A High Street


SOUTHEND132/4 London Road


www.rayleighhifi.com

Essex’ leading supplier and installer of high quality home entertainmentand home control systems. Experience the best.

CHELMSFORD216 Moulsham Street


The ultimate audio systems

Full range of Naim Audio systems stockedincluding the state-of-the-art Naim 500 Series.

Naim Audio systems from around £4k to £60k+

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The Lanterns, High Road, Chigwell £1,399,995

SOLE AGENCY

An Investment Opportunity - We are pleased to offer this row of four propertieswhich are available for sale as an entire site.

Currently the site comprises: four two bedroom units each having kitchen,sitting room, cloakroom/WC, first floor bathroom and their own garden. This istruly a rare opportunity to acquire a unique investment portfolio. The propertiesare ideally located for the Central Line with its transport links to the City andthe West End and the shopping facilities and offered CHAIN FREE.

Gainsborough Place, Chigwell £974,995

SOLE AGENCY

A delightful Five Bedroom Detached property situated within a gateddevelopment with kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, three reception rooms,a study, cloakroom/WC, en-suites to two bedrooms, family bathroom, double detached garage and off-street parking for two cars.


Chester Road, Chigwell £824,995

An excellent opportunity has arisen to purchase this Four Bedroom Detachedhouse which is ideal for someone wanting a project or to develop, subject tothe necessary planning consents.

Built in the late 1930s this property benefits from lounge, dining room,kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom/WC, family bathroom with separate WC.The rear garden is in excess of 100ft with a carriage driveway to the front, off-road parking for several vehicles and an integral garage. Offered chain free.

Courtland Drive, Chigwell O.I.E.O £915,000

SOLE AGENCY

A magnificent chance to acquire a home with development potentialoverlooking stunning views on Courtland Drive. Situated on a 70ft plus frontageplans have been passed to create an extensive five bedroom home with anapprox 60ft rear garden. Within walking distance of both Brook Parade shopsand Chigwell's Central Line Tube Station this is a must to view.




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Brook Rise, Chigwell £784,995

SOLE AGENCY

Just a short walk from Chigwell's Central Line Station and local shops is thisstunning Four Double Bedroom Detached property situated within a quiet location.

This detached residence is beautifully presented throughout and benefits froma modern spacious lounge/diner, a fabulous fitted kitchen/breakfast room,utility room, study, cloakroom/WC, family bathroom a landscaped southerlyaspect garden with decked patio area and a carriage driveway with off-roadparking for several vehicles.

Murtwell Drive, Chigwel £695,000

SOLE AGENCY

Offered chain free is this Five/Six Bedroom Semi-Detached house which has beenfinished to a very high standard. The property offers two en suites, a family bathroom,spacious lounge, separate dining room, cinema room with projector and acloakroom/WC. The property has many features including under floor heating to theground floor, air conditioning and a multi-room audio system. There is an outbuildingcomplete with plumbing, power and ample storage also there is an approximate90ft rear garden and off-road parking for several vehicles.

Lyndhurst Rise, Chigwell O.I.R.O £750,000

A stunning Four Bedroom Detached family house situated within a sought-after location.

This family home has an en-suite to the master bedroom with an additionalfamily bathroom, lounge, dining room, a study, kitchen, breakfast room,conservatory and a cloakroom/WC.

Mount Pleasant Road, Chigwell £685,000

SOLE AGENCY

Situated within one of Chigwell's most desirable roads is this delightful Three/FourBedroom Semi-Detached house.

The property has been well kept throughout and tastefully decorated, theground floor offers three reception rooms, a fitted kitchen with integratedappliances, breakfast room and a ground floor cloakroom/WC.

22 www.lawlors.co.uk Chigwell Office: 020 8281 0123



www.lawlors.co.uk 23Chigwell Office: 020 8281 0123


Lyndhurst Rise, Chigwell £714,995

SOLE AGENCY

This family home is located close to Chigwell's Central Line Station and issituated on the ever-popular Chigwell Park Estate.

This Five Bedroom Semi-Detached property benefits from having two receptionrooms, conservatory, kitchen/breakfast room, downstairs shower room, familybathroom, garage, an approximate 143' rear garden and off-street parking forseveral vehicles.

Roding Lane North, Woodford Green £649,995

SOLE AGENCY

Having been totally refurbished throughout to a very high standard is this Five/SixBedroom Semi-Detached property.The property benefits from an en suite to one

The property benefits from an en-suite to one of the bedrooms, a familybathroom plus a ground floor shower room, a beautifully crafted fittedkitchen/dining room, a spacious lounge and a TV/family room.Offered chain free.

Fontayne Avenue, Chigwell OIEO £600,000

A truly spacious and well presented Four Bedroom Detached house.

The ground floor comprises: three ample reception rooms, a downstairscloakroom/WC, a contemporary kitchen and sizeable utility room. To the firstfloor there is a bright family bathroom, four good sized bedrooms including anen suite accessible via the master. The southerly aspect garden makes thisproperty a delightful family home.

The Dairy, Stapleford Abbotts £599,995

SOLE AGENCY

Formerly a dairy beautifully transformed into a Four Bedroom End of Terrace homecomprising: fitted kitchen/diner, lounge, ground floor bedroom with en-suite showerand on the first floor there are three further bedrooms with en-suite to the masterand a family bathroom. Set in a farmland location with fabulous views and beingwithin easy access to all surrounding towns. With no on-going chain an earlyviewing is highly recommended.


Fontayne Avenue, Chigwell OIEO £575,000

SOLE AGENCY

With potential to extend, subject to planning, is this Four Bedroom Semi-detached house offering lounge, dining room, kitchen/breakfast roomand guest cloakroom. The property offers attached garage with off-streetparking with a garden in excess of 145ft.

Lechmere Avenue, Chigwell £595,000

Ideally located close to Chigwell's Central Line Station, local shops and amenities is this Four Bedroom Semi-Detached house recently built to a very high standard. The benefits include: lounge, study, kitchen, dining room, utility room and guestcloakroom with the master bedroom having an en-suite as well as a familybathroom. With off-road parking for two vehicles and no on-going chain viewingsare a must.

Chigwell Park Drive, Chigwell £539,995

SOLE AGENCY

Situated within the sought-after Chigwell Park Estate and being within walkingdistance of Chigwell Station is this very well presented Three Bedroom Semi-Detached house with garage. The property benefits from a lounge, fitted kitchen,conservatory, utility room, cloakroom/WC, family bathroom and good sized garden.

Coolgardie Avenue, Chigwell £524,995

Set within the ever-desirable Chigwell Park Estate is this spacious ThreeBedroom Semi-Detached house which has excellent opportunity to developinto a much larger home, subject to planning permission. The property has aSoutherly aspect garden, fitted kitchen, sitting room, utility room, lounge/diner,cloakroom/WC and is approximately 400 yards to Chigwell's CentralLine Station.

24 www.lawlors.co.uk Chigwell Office: 020 8281 0123



Loughton Office: 020 8502 5588


SOLE AGENCY

Goldings Rise, Loughton £525,000

Situated in this elevated position with far reaching views is this Three/Four Bedroomfully Detached Chalet Bungalow. The property is very spacious and has en-suite to themaster bedroom, along with a dual aspect lounge with balcony/patio overlooking therear garden. With a beautifully maintained rear garden and a garage with owndriveway, early viewings are highly recommended to avoid disappointment.

SOLE AGENCY

The Uplands, Loughton £799,995

We are pleased to offer this Detached Five Bedroom Property ideally located for theshopping facilities of the High Road and within close proximity to the ever-popularStaples Road Primary School. The property is offered Chain Free and we stronglyrecommend an immediate internal viewing. Property benefits include: kitchen, sitting room, dining room, conservatory, ground floor WC/shower room as well as two further en-suites.

SOLE AGENCY

Stradbroke Grove, Buckhurst Hill £689,995

Located in the heart of Buckhurst Hill in the ever-popular turning of Stradbroke Grove isthis Four Bedroom Semi-Detached residence. The property offers everything that agrowing family needs, with three receptions rooms, potential to extend in the loft(subject to planning), garage, ample off-street parking and an approx 100ft reargarden. Situated just a stone’s throw away from Buckhurst Hill Central Line Station andfashionable Queens Road.

JOINT SOLE AGENCY

Hornbeam Road, Theydon Bois £675,000

This fantastic Four Bedroom Detached property has been well maintained by the currentvendors and is simply a property that you can move straight into. This really is a mustview. Ideally located in Theydon Bois the property has everything that a growing familycould want, with en-suite to master bedroom, three reception rooms, off street parkingfor five plus vehicles, with additional rear parking and detached garage, along with awell maintained garden.

Wellington Hill, High Beech £675,000

An exceptional Three Bedroom Semi-Detached Family Residence situated in thisdelightful semi-rural location fronting High Beech Golf Course, surrounded by farmlandand forest. The property itself has been extended to the rear creating a ratherimpressive conservatory coming straight from the kitchen and lounge, whilst upstairsthere is an en-suite to the master bedroom. The property also has added benefits of a spacious drive, a swimming pool, garage.

JOINT SOLE AGENCY

St Johns Road, Loughton £415,000

A chance to acquire this spacious three bedroom penthouse apartment. The propertyboasts three double bedrooms with en-suite to master, 21 x 20 ft lounge and aseparate kitchen. Ideally located for Loughton High Road with its popular restaurantsand boutiques as well as the Central Line tube station. Offering two parking spaces behind secure gates, a lift and communal gardens an internal viewing is highly recommended.


SOLE AGENCY


26 www.lawlors.co.uk Loughton Office: 020 8502 5588


JOINT SOLE AGENCY

The Lindens, Loughton £750,000

A spacious Four Bedroom extended family home situated within the quiet location ofThe Lindens. The property benefits from Four Double bedrooms, en-suite shower/WC tothe master bedroom and family bathroom to first floor. On the ground floor there arethree reception rooms, cloakroom/WC & a modern fitted kitchen. There is ample off-street parking to the front & un-overlooked landscaped garden to the rear.

SOLE AGENCY

London Road, Abridge £575,000

This double fronted three/four bedroom detached property ideally located for thosewishing to be in a semi rural environment with panoramic countryside views. The property also has potential to extend STPP, with further benefits including recentlyfitted modern kitchen, large lounge, dining room, en-suite to master bedroom withdressing room which also can be converted back to the fourth bedroom, en-suiteshower to bedroom two.

SOLE AGENCY

The Crescent, Loughton £750,000

An opportunity to purchase this extended executive family residence situated in theSouth side of Loughton. The property offers; luxury fitted kitchen/dining room withluxury bi-folding doors, utility area, cloakroom/WC, three receptions, master bedroomwith en-suite shower room, dressing room with sky lights, luxurious family bathroom,off-street parking, detached garage, landscaped rear garden & detached gardenroom with shower room

JOINT SOLE AGENCY

Stradbroke Grove, Buckhurst Hill £650,000

Situated in the heart of Buckhurst Hill is this four double bedroom "Mock Tudor Style"detached property. Situated just a stone’s throw from Buckhurst Hill Central Line Station,the property itself offers great sized living accommodation with large and impressivelounge/diner, en-suite to master, garage and off street parking. This property is a mustview for any investment buyer and any commuter.

SOLE AGENCY

Meadow Road, Loughton £595,000

This unique four bedroom detached family home situated in a prime cul-de-sac, withinwalking distance to Loughton Central line station and the High Road is a must view.The property lends itself to the modern family with spacious open plan livingaccommodation. Offering four double bedrooms with en-suite to the master bedroom.Stylish kitchen with granite work surfaces and utility room leading to integral garage.

SOLE AGENCY

The Lindens, Loughton £549,995

A spacious Four Bedroom Detached property ideally located within close proximity toLoughton Central Line Station and the High Road. The property offers three receptionrooms, en-suite to master bedroom, garage and off- street parking. Situated in a quietturning off the Lindens an internal viewing is highly recommended.


www.lawlors.co.uk 27Loughton Office: 020 8502 5588


Eleven Acre Rise, Loughton £985,000

SOLE AGENCY

Situated in this prime location just off Loughton High Road lies this substantialdetached family home currently laid out as a Three Bedroom property with anadded benefit of a One Bedroom Self-Contained Annex.

The property could easily be joined to create one large home. There is a largedouble garage & ample off-street parking to the front of the property and awide landscaped rear garden. Early viewing is highly recommended to avoiddisappointment.

Powell Road, Buckhurst Hill £799,995

JOINT SOLE AGENCY

Situated in the tree-li ned Powell Road, one of Buckhurst Hill's premier locations, is this Four Bedroom Detached family home with panoramic views across the Essex countryside.The property has been well maintained by the current vendor boastingconservatory, large garage and plenty of off-street parking. The property issituated a stone’s throw from Buckhurst Hill Central Line Tube Station and theever popular Queens Road.

The Avenue, Loughton £749,995

SOLE AGENCY

This rather large and impressive Four Bedroom Semi Detached property haseverything needed in a family home.

Set behind secured electric gates, the property offers two reception roomswith high ceilings, downstairs shower and steam room, downstairs study room,summer house, garage and off street parking for several vehicles. We stronglyrecommend an internal viewing.

Spring Grove, Loughton £729,995

JOINT SOLE AGENCY

This unique four bedroom detached townhouse offers more space then your average home.

Arranged over three floors the property offers magnificent views acrossLoughton, double garage, off street parking for five plus vehicles, en-suite tomaster bedroom and easy access to Loughton Central Line and the High Road.This property is a must view for any growing family to put there own stamp on thislarge and impressive property.


Eleven Acre Rise, Loughton £895,000

SOLE AGENCY

This executive Five Bedroom Family Home situated in a prime location andsought after road with panoramic views across Loughton is not one to be missed.

Boasting a large entrance hall, three spacious reception rooms, en-suitebathroom to master, double garage, off-street parking whilst perfectly locatedfor Loughton High Road. This truly is a perfect family residence, internalviewings are highly recommended.

Queens Road, Loughton £875,000

SOLE AGENCY

A substantial Four Double Bedroom Detached Family Property located in this primelocation in the conservation area of Loughton situated on this elevated position withfar reaching views across London.

The property has three reception rooms, large kitchen/breakfast room, integralgarage as well as a heated plunge pool. Being in close proximity to Staples RoadPrimary School, this property is a must view.

Upper Park, Loughton £750,000

SOLE AGENCY

This four bedroom detached property is located in the sought after location offUpper Park.

The property itself comprises; luxury en-suite shower room to master bedroom,family bathroom, two reception rooms, study, kitchen/breakfast room and utility.Outside, the property has double garage with potential to extend above subjectto planning,

The Uplands, Loughton £599,995

SOLE AGENCY

We are pleased to offer this charming Three Bedroom character property ideallylocated for the shopping facilities of the High Road and within close proximity to theever-popular Staples Road Primary School.

The property is offered Chain Free and we strongly recommend an immediateinternal viewing. Property benefits include: kitchen, games room, sitting room,dining room, lounge, ground and first floor shower rooms.

28 www.lawlors.co.uk Loughton Office: 020 8502 5588



Wellfields, Loughton £725,000 SOLE AGENCY

If you are looking for a large family home then look

no further. This Extended Seven Bedroom Semi-

Detached Property offers ample space,

overlooking the green in Wellfields. This property is a

must view with two reception rooms, good sized

kitchen, three bathrooms, pet friendly alarm

system, large garden and spacious driveway, this

property is not to be missed.

Nursery Road,Loughton £975,000 SOLE AGENCY

Situated in this prime location within walking

distance of Loughton High Road and Central

Line station is this Four Bedroom Property situated

on an elevated position with far reaching views

across open countryside. The property also

benefits from planning permission for a further

bedroom with en-suite and dressing room.

The property consists of; four bedrooms, family

bathroom to the first floor and lounge/diner,

kitchen/breakfast room, utility, shower room to

the ground floor. There are well maintained

gardens to both front and rear.

Algers Road, Loughton£775,000 SOLE AGENCY

This unique Five Bedroom Semi Detached Period

property is situated in one of Loughton's desirable

tree lined roads, situated just a stone’s from

Loughton Central Line station and High Street.

This property is immaculately presented throughout

with many fine features such as tiled flooring, ornate

fireplaces, sash bay windows, dressing room to

master bedroom (which can be converted in to

en-suite) Modern and stylish kitchen and bathroom.

Garage with off street Parking and 80ft Approx rear

garden with the further benefit to extend.

This property is a must view for anyone looking for

a character yet stylish property.


www.lawlors.co.uk 29Loughton Office: 020 8502 5588


The Dell, Woodford Green £1,175,000 SOLE AGENCY

A rare opportunity has arisen to purchase abeautifully appointed Detached Family Home in the heart of the ever-popular Knighton Estate inWoodford Green.

Complete with five bedrooms, three with en-suites,three receptions, kitchen/breakfast room and adouble garage, this house would suit a family of anysize. The large frontage provides ample parking andthe rear garden is beautifully maintained. Thisproperty is ideally located for schools on WoodfordHigh Road and connections into Central London viathe Central Line Station at Woodford Broadway.A viewing of this property is highly recommended.

Woodford Office: 020 8506 0828


Castle Avenue, Highams Park £849,999 SOLE AGENCY

Are you looking for a beautiful period house on alovely tree lined street? Then look no further! Thisunique five bedroom four bathroom Victorian familysemi-detached home has everything you might want.

Lovingly renovated and thoughtfully modernisedthroughout, every detail has been taken care of in a noexpense spared refurbishment project. Built in 1875 thehouse reflects the best that this period has to offer andthe addition by the current vendors of a magnificentkitchen extension with automated lantern roof and topspecification appliances from Wolf, and Gaggenau aswell as bespoke sweet gum kitchen units which furtherenhance the property's appeal.


PROPERTY SERVICES

LAWLORS


Monkhams Lane,Woodford Green O.I.R.O £929,999 SOLE AGENCY

A rare opportunity has arisen to purchase a FiveBedroom Detached property situated within theever-popular Monkhams Estate. The propertyboasts five bedrooms, three ensuites, tworeceptions, conservatory, beautiful garden anda driveway with parking for numerous vehicles.The property is immaculately presentedthroughout and makes a great family home.Don't delay call the office today to book yourinternal viewing.

Queens Avenue,Woodford Green £899,999 SOLE AGENCY - SSTC

A rare opportunity has arisen to purchase a six bedroom, three bathroom, two receptiondetached home on the ever-popular QueensAvenue. This family home takes advantage ofthis prime position on the Monkhams beautifully.Designed with high ceilings and coving on theground floor, a modern fitted kitchen andgenerous reception rooms, this house is perfectfor a growing family. Upstairs there are sixbedrooms spread over two floors with an en-suite to the master bedroom. To the rear, the garden extends over one hundred feet in length and has a range of mature trees and borders.

Bressey Grove,South Woodford£925,000 SOLE AGENCY

Located on the Firs Estate we are offering adelightful family home featuring five doublebedrooms, four bathrooms plus cloakroom, two receptions, kitchen/diner with a sittingarea overlooking the garden. The property alsofeatures a heated swimming pool, garage andfurther off-street parking. This property has beenrefurbished to a high standard and is full of styleand character. Ideal for a family looking forspace and style.


www.lawlors.co.uk 31Woodford Office: 020 8506 0828


Denehurst Gardens,Woodford Green£860,000 SOLE AGENCY

Set in the heart of the Knighton estate this immaculate family home offers fivebedrooms, three bathrooms, and beautifullypresented living space. Complete with manyluxurious touches including under-floorheating, bathroom on each floor with mirrordemisters in two of the bathrooms and highspecification kitchen/diner, this property issecond to none. Outside the propertyfeatures a garage and further off-streetparking for two vehicles as well as a privaterear garden.


PROPERTY SERVICES

LAWLORS

Broomhill Road,Woodford Green £999,995 SOLE AGENCY

Situated within one of Woodford's mostdesirable turnings is this Five Bedroom VictorianTerraced home with bags of period charm.Spread over four floors this family home wouldeasily accommodate the largest of families;complete with generous bedrooms, flexiblereception areas, modern kitchen andbathrooms as well as landscaped garden withrear vehicular access. The front aspect of thehouse overlooks the cricket green and offerseasy access to local schools on the High Roadwhilst retaining a private and exclusive feel.Houses on Broomhill Road rarely come to themarket and this property must be seen.


Monkhams Avenue,Woodford Green £759,999 SOLE AGENCY

Set in the heart of the ever-popular MonkhamsEstate this Four Bedroom Two Bathroom 1930sSemi-Detached home offers a wealth of charmand character. The first floor has ample spacefor a family with an en-suite bathroom to one ofthe double bedrooms. Downstairs the propertyoffers three reception areas. There is a formaldining area, a large sitting room leading on to aconservatory as well as a morning room just offthe kitchen. The kitchen itself is a good size withspace for all modern appliances. The groundfloor is completed with a garage, accessedinternally. The rear garden offers privacy and iswell stocked with mature plants and shrubs. To the front there is off-street parking. Interest inthis property is bound to be high so call for yourviewing today.


Our Services

� Design Service

� Decking and Fencing

� Ponds and Water Features

� Irrigation Systems

� Garden Lighting

� Garden Clearance

� Private and commercial maintenance contracts

� Sensory and wildlife gardens

� We Supply Shrubs, Trees and Bedding Plants

� Specialising in creating a perfect low maintenance garden

� Excellent customer service

Visit our website www.russellandson.com Offices in Chigwell, Loughton and Buckhurst HillTel: 020 8518 3388 � Mob: 07736 670531 e-mail: [email protected]

Russell & Son LandscapingCreating that perfect garden for you

Russell & Sons 2010:Layout 1 30/9/10 17:10

The Glade,Woodford Green£759,950 SOLE AGENCY

Situated on one of the most popular roads onthe Knighton Estate is this beautiful detachedcottage which offers period charm andcharacter. Features include four bedrooms,two receptions, conservatory, country-stylekitchen, two bathrooms and cloakroom.Outside the property features a landscapedprivate garden to the rear as well as off-streetparking to the front. Overlooking the greenthis home is ideal for a young family looking tosettle into the heart of one of WoodfordGreen's most popular areas, ideal for accessto Bancroft School, Woodford Broadway,Buckhurst Hill and surrounding areas.

Queens Road,Buckhurst Hill £639,999 SOLE AGENCY

A rare opportunity has arisen for you topurchase a beautiful five bedroom Victorianfamily home in the heart of Buckhurst Hill.Upstairs this period home offers five generousbedrooms and a lovely family bathroom,perfect for your family. On the ground floor theproperty offers a beautiful through loungecomplete with solid wood flooring ideal forrelaxing. The modern kitchen/diner is completewith all mod cons and offers ample space forfamily dining, as well as access to the garden.The property also benefits from a cellar perfectfor storage. To the rear the garden has beenlandscaped to provide a practical andrelaxing space and to the front there is offstreetparking for one car.


PROPERTY SERVICES

LAWLORS

Snakes Lane West,Woodford Green £605,000 SOLE AGENCY

We are pleased to present this four bedroomtwo bathroom detached house for sale.Beautifully presented throughout with off-streetparking and garage this property is truly a rarefind. Internally the property is contemporarywith recently fitted kitchen and bathrooms therest of the house is tastefully decorated inneutral tones. This family home is ideally locatedfor Woodford Central Line ideal for commutersand local shops on The Broadway. Property inthis location rarely comes to the market so anearly viewing is advised.



Head OfficeUnit 6 • Knight House • Lenthall Road • Loughton • Essex • 1G10 3UD

T • 020 8508 2555 E • [email protected]

Creating exceptional wooden floors, naturally.

For further information, please visit www.naturallywood.net

Natural Wood Flooring_OTB:Layout 1 16/9/10 18:54 Page 1

Worcester Crescent, Woodford Green £799,999

SOLE AGENCY

Set in one of the most sought-after roads on the Monkhams Estate, we areexcited to offer this beautifully presented Four Bedroom SemI-Detached property.

This property benefits from reception room, american style open-plan kitchenwith diner/sitting room, utility room, cloakroom. The property also features a west facing garden, off-street parking, and being ideally located forWoodford Broadway.

Beresford Drive, Woodford Green O.I.E.O £550,000

SOLE AGENCY

Situated in one of the Monkhams Estate's most desirable roads, this Four BedroomSemi-Detached House offers a unique opportunity for you to purchase a CHAIN FREEfamily home in need of some TLC.

This property benefits from four generous bedrooms, two ample receptions,kitchen, bathroom, off-street parking and a south facing garden. It is ideallylocated for amenities at Woodford Broadway.

Worcester Crescent, Woodford Green £725,000

SOLE AGENCY

Located in the heart of the Monkhams Estate is this Semi-Detached FamilyHome offering four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two separate receptions, a wellappointed kitchen/diner, utility room and a double garage to the side.

With further off-street parking to the front and an 80ft approx west facing reargarden, this property makes an ideal family home for those wanting to moveinto the area for the popular schools, local amenities.

Hillington Gardens, Woodford Green £525,000

SOLE AGENCY

Are you looking for a family home on a quiet street? Then look no further! This five bedroom three reception house is the one for you.

Complete with modern kitchen, utility room, through lounge, large TV room,family friendly garden, off-street parking and garage this home is bothspacious and well appointed.

36 www.lawlors.co.uk Woodford Office: 020 8506 0828




Brook Way, Chigwell £3250pcm Pudding Lane, Chigwell £3,000pcm

Alderton Hill, Loughton £5,000pcm Mount Road, Epping £4000pcm

Lettings Office: 020 8502 3388


• AVAILABLE NOW

• FOUR BEDROOMS

• UNFURNISHED

• Recently refurbished

• Second floor taken up entirely by

master bedroom

• Three reception rooms

• Three bathrooms

• Off street parking

• Situated in a premier location

• Viewing highly recommended

• AVAILABLE NOW

• FOUR BEDROOMS

• PART FURNISHED

• Detached

• Modern Kitchen

• Two receptions

• Master with en-suite

• Modern Décor

• Ample off street parking

• Swimming pool

• AVAILABLE FROM MID SEPTEMBER

• THREE BEDROOMS

• PART FURNISHED

• 15th Century Cottage

• Two bathrooms

• Period features

• Landscaped gardens

• Semi-rural location


• Set in grounds of 5 ½ acres

• AVAILABLE NOW

• FIVE BEDROOMS

• UNFURNISHED

• Barn conversion

• Two bathrooms

• Ample parking space

• Gym

• Outside heated swimming pool

• Set within 4.2 acres

LETTINGS


Connaught Avenue, Loughton £2,650pcm Murtwell Drive, Chigwell £2,750pcm

Milwell Crescent, Chigwell £2,200pcm Steeds Way, Loughton £2,100pcm

• AVAILABLE NOW

• FOUR BEDROOMS

• UNFURNISHED

• Ideal family house

• Two reception rooms

• En-suite to master bedroom

• One family bathroom

• Separate utility room


• In walking distance of local amenities

• AVAILABLE NOW

• FIVE BEDROOMS

• UNFURNISHED


• Three bathrooms

• Large kitchen diner

• Integrated home audio system

• Cinema room

• Air conditioning throughout


• AVAILABLE NOW

• FOUR BEDROOMS

• UNFURNISHED

• Detached property

• Ideal family home


• Large Kitchen/Diner


• Garage

• Close to local amenities

• AVAILABLE NOW

• FOUR BEDROOMS

• FURNISHED

• Three reception rooms

• Fully integrated kitchen

• Separate utility room

• Garden room


• Landscaped garden

• In close proximity to local amenities

PROPERTY SERVICES

LAWLORS

38 www.lawlors.co.uk Lettings Office: 020 8502 3388

LETTINGS

LET



Honeysuckle Court, Buckhurst Hill £1,250pcm Horn Lane, Woodford Green £800pcm

Canfield Road, Woodford Green £1,600pcm Hilltop Place, Loughton £2400pcm

Lettings Office: 020 8502 3388


AVAILABLE NOW

THREE BEDROOMS

UNFURNISHED

MODERN DÉCOR

NEWLY REFURBISHED

FULLY FITTED KITCHEN

Through Lounge

Off Street Parking

Double Garage At The Rear Of The

Property

Close To Local Amenities

• AVAILABLE NOW

• TWO BEDROOMS

• UNFURNISHED/PART FURNISHED

• Two flats available in this building

• Top floor apartment

• Modern décor throughout

• Fully fitted kitchen

• En-suite to master bedroom

• Allocated parking space

• Call now to avoid disappointment

• AVAILABLE FROM END OF SEPTEMBER

• ONE BEDROOM

• PART FURNISHED

• First floor apartment

• Modern decor

• Generous living space

• Shower room

• Fully fitted kitchen

• Allocated parking space

• In walking distance to Woodford Central

Line station

• AVAILABLE MID OCTOBER

• FOUR BEDROOMS

• FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED

• Two Reception Rooms

• Study

• En-suite to Master Bedroom

• Off Street Parking

• Double Garage

• Detached

• Serene Location

LETTINGS

LET


www.davidlloyd.co.uk

BE FITLIFEFOR IT

Achieve Your Goals

with a Membership

at David

Lloyd

If the thought of exercise seems daunting

as you struggle to find the time or

enthusiasm to take that first step,

David Lloyd might be just what you

are looking for.

Getting fit by joining a gym doesn’t have

to mean hour upon sweating hour on the

treadmill, or self-consciously struggling to

lift the lightest weights while the honed,

rippling gym-junkies around you cast you

sidelong glances of disdain.

At David Lloyd, fitness is about having fun,

and about finding not just a routine,

but also a sport, to suit your lifestyle.

Our expert team of nutritionists and fitness

professionals are here to help, and can tailor

make a programme to suit you.

In addition to state-of-the-art gyms, David

Lloyd membership gives you access to more

indoor and outdoor swimming pools than

any other UK leisure group, bespoke health

and beauty spas, badminton and squash

courts, and indoor and outdoor tennis

courts. For tennis enthusiasts, we employ

450 qualified tennis professionals, endorsed

by the Lawn Tennis Association.

David Lloyd also hosts an extensive range of

holistic classes to keep your body and mind

in harmony and increase flexibility. Why not

try Yoga, Pilates, Tai-Chi or if you’re feeling

really energetic you could give Body Balance

classes a go. David Lloyd members are also

fortunate to be offered increasingly popular

dance classes such as Ballroom, Latin,

Samba and Body Jam.

Extending your leisure time can include

all the family as you embark on a healthier

lifestyle together. Family orientated,

David Lloyd Leisure pioneered kids’ gyms

in the UK and continues to put kids at the

heart of its thinking with its DL Kids

offering over 2,000 activities a week. Kids

activities are supervised by highly qualified

staff and have been developed alongside the

key learning stages set out by the National

Curriculum to improve motor and

social skills.

To find out more about David Lloyd

Leisure, including their exclusive

three month membership offer, visit

your local David Lloyd in Chigwell,

call us on 0208 559 6470, or log on

to www.davidlloyd.co.uk.


By Appointment ToHer Majesty The Queen

Removals and Storage Contractor Abels

Certificate No. FS23942

Freephone: 0800 626769 E-Mail: [email protected]

www.abels.co.uk

The fine art of moving.

OVERSEASREMOVER

AdvancePayment

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We moved this celebrated Bellini across England, and will move your own cherished possessions

with the same practised ease, anywhere in the world.

OTB_FP:Layout 1 16/9/10 13:01 Page 1

Repton Park LETTINGS020 8502 3388

Sutherland House, Repton Park £1,600pcm

Devonshire House, Repton Park £2,100pcm Kensington House, Repton £1,200pcm

Kensington House, Repton Park £1,800pcm The Boulevard, Repton Park £2,950pcm

• AVAILABLE NOW • TWO BEDROOMS • PART FURNISHED• Fully fitted Kitchen • En-suite to Master Bedroom

• First floor Apartment • High ceilings • Recently refurbished • Two allocated Parking spaces • Secure Development

• AVAILABLE NOW• THREE BEDROOMS• UNFURNISHED• Luxury Apartment• Set across eight floors

• High spec kitchen• Three en-suite bathrooms• Off street parking• Membership of Esporta gym included• Magnificent panoramic views

• AVAILABLE FROM MID OCTOBER• THREE BEDROOMS• UNFURNISHED• Ground floor apartment• Fully fitted kitchen

• Two en-suite bathrooms• One family bathroom• High ceilings• Two allocated parking spaces• Garden space

• AVAILABLE OCTOBER• TWO BEDROOMS• UNFURNISHED• Modern Kitchen• Top Floor

• Allocated Parking• High Ceilings• En-suite to master bedroom• Ample Storage• Gated development

• AVAILABLE MID OCTOBER • ONE BEDROOM • UNFURNISHED • Ground Floor • Tiled Flooring

• Recently refurbished bathroom • Ample storage • Garden Space • Two allocated parking spaces • 24 hour security


LET

LET“An unrivalled

location…Set within 235 acres of beautiful

wooded parkland offering spectacularpanoramic views.”


Repton Park SALES020 8281 0123

Tavistock House, Repton Park £289,950 Kensington House, Repton Park £299,995

Sutherland House, Repton Park £374,995 Cadogan House, Repton Park £314,995

Hazel Lane, The Avenue £384,995 Sutherland House, Repton Park £424,995

Offered chain free is this beautifully presented Three Bedroom End of Terraceproperty situated within the ever-popular gated development of The Avenue,Repton Park. The property comprises: through lounge with dining area,cloakroom/WC, kitchen, family bathroom, a secluded southerly aspect rear gardenwith a decked area and three allocated parking spaces. SOLE AGENCY

A splendid First Floor Apartment situated on the exclusive private developmentoffering a large entrance hall, two double bedrooms with en-suite to master,lounge/diner, cloakroom/WC and superb views over the communal grounds.Also offering two car parking spaces, this apartment is a must see! SOLE AGENCY

A spacious One Bedroom First Floor Apartment with stunning views overlooking thegrounds of Repton Park. This apartment is beautifully presented throughout with an openplan lounge, dining room and a fitted Urban Myth kitchen. There is a large masterbedroom with fitted wardrobes, shower room with His and Hers sinks, and also allocatedparking for one car plus visitors parking. SOLE AGENCY

Ideally suited for a first time buyer or for someone looking to downsize is this OneBedroom Ground Floor Apartment. This apartment benefits from a lounge with doorsleading to own patio area, kitchen/breakfast room, double bedroom with ample storageand bathroom. Two allocated parking spaces, one of which is underground. SOLE AGENCY

Offered chain free is this One Bedroom Second Floor Apartment with en suite bathroom tomaster bedroom, lounge with stunning views, kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom/WC,allocated parking space with visitors parking. SOLE AGENCY

A unique One Bedroom Mews House split over two floors and boasting beautiful highceilings, skirtings and ornate coving. This immaculate bright and airy apartmentcomprises a well presented lounge, fitted kitchen, ample storage, bedroom, dressingroom, a contemporary bathroom and allocated parking for two vehicles which issituated directly outside of the property.



Repton Park SALES020 8281 0123

Bartholomew House, Repton Park £449,995 Bartholomew House, Repton Park £464,995

Devonshire House, Repton Park £469,995 Northumberland House, Repton Park £467,500

Brandesbury Square, Repton Park £829,995 Chapel Mews, Repton Park £569,900

A substantial Five Bedroom End of Terrace Town House. The property boastskitchen/breakfast room, utility room, dining room, conservatory, cloakroom/wc to theground floor, the second floor offers lounge with balcony, two bedrooms plus a familybathroom. The master bedroom sits on the second floor with en suite with two furtherbedrooms both with en suites. SOLE AGENCY

We are delighted to offer this beautifully kept extended Two Bedroom Mews house in this exclusive development. The property not only offers a good sized lounge, an extended kitchen, ground floor cloakroom/WC and en suite to master bedroombut it also has its own stunning rear garden with large patio area plus office/study.

We are delighted to offer this Two Bedroom Top Floor Apartment benefiting from no on-goingchain. This apartment boasts high ceilings, a grand hallway, master bedroom with en suiteplus a separate bathroom, storage cupboards and a huge reception room with stunningviews overlooking communal grounds. The property also has two allocated parking spaces.

Offered chain free is this fabulous ground floor Two Bedroom Apartment which has en-suites to both of the spacious bedrooms. The apartment offers a separate lounge anddining area both of which are good sizes, in addition there is a well proportioned kitchenand high ceilings. With direct access to a small patio area and communal gardens plustwo allocated parking spaces.

Situated within the desirable Repton Park development is this Two Bedroom First FloorApartment with views overlooking the grounds. The apartment benefits from a spaciouslounge, fitted kitchen, cloakroom/WC, en suite to master bedroom and two allocatedparking spaces, one being underground. Offered chain free.

A stunning First Floor (Top) Two Bedroom Apartment with fantastic views over ReptonPark. This apartment has many fine qualities including a spacious lounge/dining room,master bedroom with en suite plus an additional bathroom, kitchen and allocatedparking for two vehicles. Offered chain free. SOLE AGENCY



Abridge

Open 7 days a week

THE COACH HOUSE Market Place, Abridge, RM4 1UA, 01992 815972 LONDON OFFICE PO Box 64922, E4 0BZ 0333 600 1250

From contemporary designs to traditional styles - woodburning to gas... www.ashandembers.com

Abridge

Open Sundays

Ash & Embers new design:Layout 1 30/9/10 12:15 Page 1

46 winter

COUNTING OUR

BLESSINGS

Since the global financial crisis struck in 2008,many of us have been forced to tighten ourbelts and cut back on some of life’s luxuries,

which we had all - to some degree - taken forgranted. With uncertainty still surrounding manyof the proposed cuts to public services, thephrase ‘a decreased quality of life’ has becomesomething of a cliché.

While cuts to funding of the arts, and publictransport, may temporarily affect our culturalleisure pursuits, or mean that commuter trainsremain hopelessly overcrowded and unreliable,we can, if we’re brutally honest, cope with it.

However, charities in particular, have beensomething of the forgotten victims of ours - and the government’s - belt-tightening. To gain a better understanding of the magnitude thefinancial crisis has had upon a local charity whichLawlors passionately supports, and to find out howthe proceeds raised by our annually sponsoredRepton Park Ball will be put to use, Jim Lawlorwent to meet Haven House’s Jane Steward.

Taking a break from her busy schedule, Haven House’sMarketing Media Manager Jane Steward settles back inher chair to explain to Jim a little bit more about her roleat Haven House, and the vital importance of the hospiceto the lives of numerous families.

“I have been with Haven House for just over three years as a member of staff. I’m responsible for a broadarray of jobs, but basically promoting and telling peopleabout Haven House and what we are all about,supporting events, telling people about the services and giving them a greater understanding of what is going on,” begins Jane.

“Before becoming a full time member of the team, I had previously been a volunteer for four years.”

Explaining the importance of the work carried out byHaven House it soon becomes apparent why Jane is sodedicated and enthusiastic about its promotion.

“Haven House is a children’s hospice, but it’s a lot morethan that. We look after children up to the age of 19who have life limiting conditions. They have conditionsthat will mean, in the majority of cases, they will not

“ ONLY A MINORITY OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROMCENTRAL GOVERNMENT, LESS THAN TEN PER CENT IN FACT. ”

In September, Lawlors were the main sponsor of the Repton Park Ball, an annual event held in aid of local charities. Jim Lawlor went to meet one of the extremely worthy beneficiaries of the event; the inspirational Haven HouseChildren’s Hospice. Words: Chris Peck Interview: Jim Lawlor

Haven House Editorial 4pp:Layout 1 20/10/10 12:17

winter 47


PROUD SUPPORTERS OF HAVEN HOUSE HOSPICE


48 winter

reach adulthood. These can range from progressivecongenital illnesses, to conditions like cancer.”

The results of the team’s hard work to raise awarenessfor Haven House, are essential for its day to day runningand no one understands the effect of positive promotionbetter than Jane herself. Recalling how Haven House wasbrought to her own attention, she explains: “I rememberbeing at home with my family and deciding I wanted toget involved with a local charity. I came across HavenHouse and it really inspired me, I just had to get involved.”

To elaborate further on why she found Haven House soinspiring, Jane provides a clearly impassioned explanationof the invaluable help and support Haven Houseprovides to families.

“There really is no other place that can give families therelief that we can give in terms of the quality of care thatthey want for their child, and giving them a break fromthe demands of care. Looking after a life limited child is a24 hour job, seven days a week. We can give them somerespite from that. They can have some normal time tospend on the everyday things we may take for granted,like a simple night’s sleep for instance. And we do all ofthat at no cost to the families”.

“Haven House is very much about supporting andlooking after whole families. Currently we have 95 familieswhose children come to stay, off and on, throughout theyear, and we keep in touch with many other families whohave lost their child, and who we are still supportingthrough their loss.”

Given the nature of the work and the considerablenumber of families being aided by Haven House, many could be forgiven for thinking that such a worthyand essential operation would receive considerablefunding from the government. However, as Jane highlights,this is a perfect example of people failing to see thewider consequences of the global recession.

“Only a minority of our funding comes from centralgovernment, less than ten per cent in fact. We have togenerate over fifty per cent of our funding fromdonations, with the rest raised through the health trusts.But health funding is all changing so it’s very much anunknown quantity at the moment.”

With such a large amount of Haven House’s fundingbeing dependent on public donations, it is clear to seewhy Jane and her dedicated colleagues work so tirelesslyto promote the outstanding support that is provided tofamilies in times of great emotional turmoil.

Thanks to the efforts of so many of the people involvedwith Haven House, the facility has managed to weatherthe financial storm of the recession. But despite thisincredible achievement, Jane cannot help but drawattention to the dark clouds looming on the fundinghorizon. “We have had times when we have had to closebeds because of lack of funding. We hit crisis point acouple of years ago, but have fortunately recovered fromthat. Ultimately we are in a position where we have to

raise over a million pounds from donations every year. It’s an ongoing thing at Haven House, you don’t everreach a point where you are standing still and not havingto worry about the money situation.”

Fortunately for Haven House, Jane Steward and the teamhave succeeded in attracting a great level of support andthey are keen to express their gratitude.

“We get a tremendous amount of support, particularlyfrom the local area. Local people from all walks of life,from schools, local clubs, and corporate businesses, arefantastic and help us to make a real difference. It’s anucleus of support and we are obviously always lookingto raise greater awareness and attract more support.”

As Jane herself discovered in the past, volunteering andplaying an active role at the inspirational Haven House isa fantastically worthwhile and rewarding experience. And there are a great many ways in which people canbecome involved and offer support to the outstandingwork done there.

“There are lots of opportunities to volunteer for us atHaven House, from gardening to admin support, whichreally can save us lots of costs. Alternatively people canalso volunteer to help out at our many events, which isobviously helpful to us, and also incredibly good fun at thesame time.”

As well as attracting the help of individuals in thecommunity, Jane also hopes that local businesses will jointhe cause and offer help too.

“We publicise our events with promotional leaflets andposters. We have a newsletter that people can subscribeto, so they can be updated regularly regarding what’sgoing on at Haven House.

“It would be great if businesses could encourage theirstaff to get involved, whether that be by coming down tothe hospice to help out or by raising £500 by asponsored activity, and their company matching theamount raised. Payroll giving is fantastic also and an easyway of making a donation.

“Right now, it’s the pure and simple running costs weneed to take care of, so regular giving, whether it is £5 or£20 a month really makes a difference to us. Because it isregular income that we can count on, it means ourfamilies can always count on us.”

Given the incredible courage displayed by every child andfamily who relies on the tireless work of Haven House, it is fair to say that we should probably face any futurepublic service cuts a little more bravely, and rememberthat we can all become a bit richer by volunteering ordonating to such an exceptionally worthy cause.

So if there is one charity you are going to support, make it a local one and choose Haven House.


SUPPORT USDonate If you are in a position to make a one off gift or sign a regular giving form or consider a legacythen please contact us. In addition we always require gifts and prizes for our auctions, if you have something you think would be suitable please email us at:[email protected]

winter 49


DISCOVER A WHOLENEW WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY

POST

PRE

inhouseWinter 2010 Edition

The Property Lifestyle Magazine

Property, Style & Fashion, Motoring, Travel, Food & Drink, Sport and much more...

Where Better Homes Are Found


This is the first point at which ouradvertisers get involved... everyproperty video begins and endswith a succinct pre and post roll advert. These professionallyproduced adverts wrap aroundeach high-traffic video, and what’smore, our advertisers can specifya chosen value bracket for theirsponsored properties in order togain exposure to their exacttarget market.

Our TV portal also includes aninspirational lifestyle directory,which arms our homebuyers and sellers with information about an array of luxury products and services offered bybusinesses locally and nationally. Your bespoke, professionally produced, promotional video can be included on our TV site’slifestyle directory, and your brand will be aligned with some of thecountry’s premium luxuryproducts and services

We also produce bespoke,seasonal luxury lifestylemagazines which aredistributed to some of thecounty’s wealthiest individuals.Combining premium propertywith high-end editorial, eachmagazine is also duplicatedonline, providing you with both a traditional and a fully interactive advertising opportunity.

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Swift House, South Woodford £159,999

This well presented studio apartment would make an ideal first time orinvestment purchase. Complete with modern fitted kitchen, separatebathroom and garage it is a rare find.

Ideally located for shops, bars and Central Line tube connections at SouthWoodford, this is a great opportunity to get a first foot on the property ladder in one of East London's most desirable locations. Call today for yourinternal viewing.

Prospect Road, Woodford Green £319,999

We are pleased to offer this beautifully presented Two Bedroom VictorianHome. Ideally located for the Central Line at Woodford, along with the shopson Snakes Lane East. The property itself benefits from entrance hallway withoriginal features, double glazing, a modern kitchen, first floor bathroom, along with off street parking.

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All Seasons OTB:Layout 1 30/9/10 14:47 Page 1

Finchingfield Avenue, Woodford Green £249,995

We are pleased to offer this exceptionally well presented property which hasbeen renovated to the exacting standards of the current vendors. Propertybenefits of this stylish unit include: modern kitchen/diner, spacious sitting room,two double bedrooms and modern family bathroom. The property also boastsoff-street parking and a delightful terrace for al-fresco entertaining.

Broadmead Court, Woodford Green £239,950

A well presented two bedroom purpose built flat offering reception, kitchen,bathroom and south facing balcony. Set within a well maintained communalgarden the property also features a separate storage/laundry room and agarage. This home is ideal for the High Road, local shops and Woodford Centralline station.

Walsingham House £325,000

We are pleased to offer this delightful Two Bedroom Top Floor Apartmentsituated within this prestigious development with panoramic views acrossChingford Golf course. Property benefits include: kitchen with integratedappliances, sitting room/dining room, two bedrooms, family bathroom,allocated parking and security entry phone system.

Tempus Court, South Woodford £285,000

This is a beautifully presented Penthouse Apartment within a gated development.This apartment offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, open-plankitchen/reception with a full length balcony. The apartment is located on thesecond floor within easy reach of South Woodford Central Line and its local shops,restaurants and cinema. Priced to sell, call our office today for an early viewing!

High Elms, Woodford Green £225,000

Situated close to Woodford Green Golf Club and overlooking the green, we are offering this One Bedroom Apartment within a tasteful Victorianconversion. The property offers: reception featuring cast iron fireplace, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, private courtyard and garden. Chain Free.

Montgomerie Court, Forest View £349,999

This immaculate two bedroom, two bathroom first floor apartment is truly a rarefind with forest and golf course views. Complete with lift and allocated parkingthis property is both practical and stylish. The property benefits from beingideally located for shops, restaurants and bars at Station Road plus overgroundrail connections into Liverpool Street.



WOODFORD: 020 8506 0828 SOLE AGENCY


WOODFORD: 020 8506 0828 SOLE AGENCY


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Warendorf is an exciting new brand of innovative and stylish kitchens; designed to impress and built to last.

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CHARACTERKITCHENS FOR PEOPLE WITH PERSONALITY. FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE COOKING. FOR THOSE WHO SEE THE KITCHEN AS A ROOM FOR ENJOYMENT AND SENSUALITY. FOR THOSE WHO FIND COOKING AN EXPERIENCE. FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EXTEND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL LIFESTYLE TO THEIR KITCHEN.

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AFG ADvertorial OTB:Layout 1 16/9/10 13:34 Page 73

Martham Close, Oakwood Gate £499,995

Located on the Oakwood Gate Development is this Four Bedroom Detachedfamily home. The property comprises: master bedroom with en-suite, family bathroom, lounge, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room and ground floor cloakroom/WC. The property has also been granted planning permission.

Tomswood Hill, Chigwell/Ilford Borders £499,995

A beautifully presented Three Bedroom Detached property which the currentowners have totally refurbished and modernised throughout to a very highstandard. The benefits include a spacious lounge, fitted kitchen/dining room,cloakroom/WC, fitted bathroom, attached garage with off-street parking forseveral vehicles, as well as having an approximate 120ft landscaped garden.

Eastdene, The Chase, Chigwell £469,995

A beautifully presented Three Bedroom Semi-Detached Cottage with garagesituated within a sought-after location off Hainault Road. The property islocated just a short walk from Chigwell's Central Line Station. The ground floorbenefits from two reception rooms, kitchen and cloakroom/WC. The first floorhas two double bedrooms and a single plus a family bathroom.

Stalham Way, Oakwood Gate £499,995

Situated within this highly sought-after development is this well presented FourBedroom Link Detached family home. The property boasts en suite to masterbedroom, family bathroom, downstairs cloakroom/WC, lounge, spaciouskitchen/diner, TV/family room, utility room and an integral garage. Viewings are highly recommended.

The Bowls, Vicarage Lane £415,000

An opportunity to purchase this First Floor Apartment within this sought-aftergated development. The property benefits from two double bedrooms, tworeception rooms, fitted kitchen, bathroom, separate shower room, a balconyoverlooking communal grounds, detached garage and ample parking. Beingclose to Grange Hill Central Line Station.

Dickens Cottage, Chigwell Village £399,995

Oozing with charm and character is this Two Double Bedroom Grade II ListedCottage. The property comprises: lounge, dining room, fitted kitchen,downstairs bathroom, a secluded Southerly courtyard garden, off-streetparking for two cars and having close links to M11, London and Chigwell'sCentral Line Station and amenities.

CHIGWELL: 020 8281 0123 SOLE AGENCY CHIGWELL: 020 8281 0123 SOLE AGENCY


CHIGWELL: 020 8281 0123 SOLE AGENCY




Tel: +44 (0)1702 480 072 Showroom: +44 (0)1702 715 794 Fax: +44 (0)1702 480 076Email: [email protected] Website: www.stevethornedesign.com

At Steven Thorne Design, we take particular pride in ensuring that, from concept through to detailed design, every step of the process is tailored to theneeds and the desires of the most discerning clients, with the highest expectations of quality. Our schemes are meticulously planned and

executed to ensure that the best possible quality of service is delivered at every stage of its development, from an initial client meeting to outline project requirements, to final installation and completion.

We communicate and evaluate every aspect of a design using 2D and 3D renders and walkthroughs to demonstrate spatial and interior layouts, and mediasystem design layouts which incorporate lighting, sound, vision, security, heating and window treatment control. Further in-depth consultation will occur

for furniture design and layouts, and for kitchens, bathrooms and accessories detailing. We believe that this synergy between customer service and design excellence ensures that client expectations are exceeded. With over 30 years’ expertise in the diverse field of interior design,

our knowledge and professionalism is a considerable benefit to our clients’ projects as we provide coherent direction and a consistent quality of servicethroughout the project.

Fundamental to the success of the business is the design approach based on the uniqueness of each project the studio takes on, and theimportance given to establish our clients’ needs, desires and requirements. From spatial planning through to project managing, attention to

detail is key to every stage of a project. The end result is a complete life design that is as individual as our clients themselves.

SOFT FURNISHINGSBATHROOM DESIGN KITCHEN DESIGN

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Steven Thorne Advertorial:Layout 1 7/10/10 09:30 Page 3

Roding Hall, Ongar Road, Abridge £299,995

Set within a semi-rural location is this splendid Two Double Bedroom First FloorApartment. The apartment has its own entrance, good sized lounge, fitted kitchenand en suites to both bedrooms. Having been recently refurbished throughout andwith fantastic picturesque views over the countryside.

Ludham Close, Oakwood Gate £359,995

Located within this popular development is this Three Bedroom End of Terracehouse. The property has been maintained to a very high standard and offerslounge, dining room, kitchen, cloakroom/WC, two double bedrooms, a singleand a family bathroom. There is an approximate 50ft landscaped rear gardenand two allocated parking spaces.

Hill Top Cottage, Chigwell Village £349,995

An idyllic Two Bedroom Weatherboarded Cottage full of charm and characterbenefits from lounge, separate dining room, kitchen, utility room anddownstairs shower room. To the first floor there is a master bedroom with en-suite and dressing room and on the second floor sits bedroom two. Viewings are highly recommended.

Woolhampton Way, Chigwell Row £379,995

This well presented Three Bedroom Semi-Detached house is situated within asemi-rural location being close to Hainault Forest. The property comprises:lounge/diner, fitted kitchen, cloakroom/WC, family bathroom, a 50ft rear gardenwith a good sized patio area as well as having off-road parking and an integral garage.

The Lanterns, High Road £314,995

A charming Two Bedroom Mid-Terrace Cottage situated moments away fromChigwell's Central Line Station. The property benefits from a well decoratedlounge, modern kitchen, downstairs cloakroom/WC, two bedrooms, a familybathroom and further access to a loft room. Externally, there is a peaceful reargarden with allocated parking for one vehicle plus visitors parking to the front.

Karina Close, Chigwell £299,995

Recently refurbished throughout and offered chain free is this beautifullypresented Three Bedroom Semi-Detached house which benefits from lounge, a recently fitted kitchen/diner with integrated appliances and a ground floorcloakroom/WC. To the first floor there are two double bedrooms, one single and a brand new family bathroom.


CHIGWELL: 020 8281 0123 CHIGWELL: 020 8281 0123 SOLE AGENCY





FACT WWW.LAWLORS.TV

TO THE INTERNET IN THEIR MILLIONSHOMEBUYERS ARE TURNING

Cream Teaser Ad:Layout 1 7/10/10 09:44

Sunnymede, Chigwell Guide Price £250,000 - £275,000

Situated within a cul-de-sac is this well decorated Two Bedroom Mid-Terracehouse. The property comprises a spacious lounge/dining area, a naturally brightkitchen and a downstairs WC, two modern double bedrooms and a three piecefamily bathroom. Externally there is a separate garage.

Long Green, Chigwell £184,995

Ideal for first time buyers or for someone looking to downsize is this TwoBedroom Split Level Apartment with spacious lounge and fitted kitchen. The property is within close proximity to Grange Hill Central Line station and all local amenities, therefore an early viewing is advised.

Amanda Close, Chigwell £149,995

Offered chain free is this One Bedroom First Floor Maisonette complete withopen plan lounge/diner, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, one allocated parkingspace and visitors parking. An excellent opportunity for a first time buyer andwith this being within close proximity to Hainault Central Line Station. An earlyviewing is advised.

Lambourne Road, Chigwell Row O.I.E.O £200,000

Set within a semi-rural location is this Two Bedroom End of Terrace Ground Floor Maisonette which benefits from a fitted kitchen, bathroom and lounge. The property also has the advantage of having both front and rear gardens, own garage and a separate allocated parking space.

Highfield Road, Woodford Bridge £184,995

An ideal opportunity for a first time buyer or someone who is looking todownsize. This Two Bedroom First Floor Maisonette comprises: lounge, kitchen,shower room, its own southerly aspect garden and garage en bloc with reargarden access.

Smarts Lane, Loughton £290,000

This delightful end of terrace character cottage is located on one of Loughton'smost sought after roads within walking distance of the High Street and CentralLine. The property offers two double bedrooms with upstairs bathroom, gardenand off street parking for one vehicle plus joint shared off-street parking to theside for four vehicles.

CHIGWELL: 020 8281 0123 SOLE AGENCY LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 JOINT SOLE AGENCY

CHIGWELL: 020 8281 0123 CHIGWELL: 020 8281 0123 JOINT SOLE AGENCY





Hatfields_OTB:Layout 1 16/9/10 19:00 Page 1

Shore Point, Buckhurst Hill £299,995

A stunning Two Bedroom Executive Apartment situated within this exclusive purposebuilt gated development. The property which has been much improved to theexacting standards of the current vendor is offered CHAIN FREE. The apartment isideally located for the shopping facilities and eateries of fashionable Queens Road,the Central Line with its transport links to the City and the West End.

Meadow Road, Loughton £350,000

This delightful and charming Two Double Bedroom End-Of-Terrace PeriodProperty has been well maintained by the current vendor and finished to a veryhigh standard. The property has many fine features with original fireplaces, rolltop bath, wooden flooring. Everything you would expect in a charming periodproperty. Additional benefits are two reception rooms, potential to extend inthe loft, summer house.

Pottery House, Upshire £499,999

Have you ever dreamed of escaping to the country? If so this could be the onefor you! This Detached Three/Four Bedroom property is situated in this semi-rural location within easy access of the M25. The property benefits from a 1/3of an acre of gardens with ample off street parking and double vehicle port.This is a real one off and should be top of your list for viewings!!

High Gables, Loughton £349,995

This Regency style Two Double Bedroom Property, situated just a short stroll fromLoughton High Road, is being sold with no on-going chain. The property benefitsfrom UPVC double glazing and detached garage en-block. Properties of thisnature rarely become available and we would recommend an early viewing toavoid any disappointment.

Goldings Road, Loughton £329,950

Is open plan living for you? If so, this could be the perfect home for you. This Three Bedroom Extended Family home offers contemporary living for themodern family. The property offers three bedrooms, loft room, and off-streetparking for two vehicles. The rear garden is in excess of 100ft backing directlyonto woodland. Call now to arrange your viewing.

Octave House, Theydon Bois £250,000

An ideal opportunity for a first time buyer investor to purchase this onebedroom modern apartment being offered to the market CHAIN FREE. The property itself is ideally located close to the station and High street. The property offers: a large bedroom, lounge, seperate kitchen, and allocated parking. Early viewings are highly recommended.

LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 SOLE AGENCY LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 SOLE AGENCY

LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 JOINT SOLE AGENCY LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 SOLE AGENCY

LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 SOLE AGENCY


LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 MULTI AGENCY


Bang & Olufsen of Loughton offer an inspirational, world-leading, state of the art, product range, as well as expert and helpful advice on all aspects of home entertainment.

With technology constantly changing, it’s no surprise there’s an increased demand for integrated multi-room systems and creating a system from scratch can sometimes seem a little daunting. Our expert knowledge will ensure that the correct audio-visual products are perfectly suited to their placement and to your individual requirements.

The Bang & Olufsen BeoLink® multi-room system enables you to move and share the experience around the home. With just one easy to use remote control, you can operate your Television, Hi-Fi, Sky, Freeview, Wii, Playstation as well as many other products connected to the system. From the comfort of your Bedroom, you can start the DVD player in your Lounge, and watch the film with perfect clarity on your Bedroom television. In fact Bang & Olufsen remote controls will allow you to do just about anything you can think of, including dimming the lights and lowering the blinds. From the functional design of the BeoSound 5 Media Server to

the clear, crisp, detailed pictures of the very latest super slim BeoVision 10 HD LED TV and sensational sound of BeoLab “Active” loudspeakers, the experience will bebeyond your wildest dreams. Whether choosing a single product or a fully integrated home system, we are pleased to offer a complete home survey and planning service byappointment. As you would expect, our high quality delivery and installation comes as standard!

The Loughton store features breathtaking displays of the full range, showcased in an engaging showroom set-up, allowing visitors to experience and interact with the very latest technology. Call in at anytime and allow us to demonstrate any television, DVD, music system, digital media or telephone of interest to you.

Whether you’d like straightforward friendly advice, demonstrations or simply a chat and a coffee, the Loughton showroom and it’s staff look forward to welcoming you.

Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.30pmOut of hours by appointment.

INTEGRATEEntertainment, Style, Integration & Simplicity around the home...

YOUR HOME

Bang & Olufsen of Loughton285 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1AH Tel: 020 8502 5225

Email: [email protected] www.bang-olufsen.com/loughton

B&O Loughton:Layout 1 16/9/10 19:01 Page 1

Palmerston Road, Buckhurst Hill £130,000

This first floor, One Bedroom Retirement property is situated in the heart of BuckhurstHill. The property itself offers large reception, lift, with further benefits of communalareas such as gardens and social hall and parking for visitors. If you are looking for a low maintenance property and aged 55 plus call us to arrange your internal viewing.

Upper Park, Loughton £199,995

A unique chance to acquire this spacious one bedroom mid terraced property,located just off Loughton High Road and close to Loughton Central Line tubeStation. This property is being offered CHAIN FREE. The property also benefitsfrom off street parking, sash style double glazed windows, modern Kitchen andBathroom. A perfect opportunity to get a foot on the property ladder or a greatinvestment. Call us today to arrange your viewing.

Barrington Road, Loughton £249,995

A Three Bedroom End Of Terrace Property in a quiet location situated close toall local amenities including Central Line Station. The property offers two doublebedrooms and further benefits from off street parking. This is the ideal first timebuy or investment property and is offered with no onward chain.

Fallow Fields, Loughton £420,000

A desirable Three Bedroom Semi-Detached residence set within this secure andsought-after gated development of Great Woodcote Park. The property benefitsfrom kitchen, lounge/dining room, cloakroom/WC, master bedroom with en-suite,family bathroom, off-street parking & single garage. A must view for any onelooking for that modern family home.

Boleyn Court Buckhurst Hill £352,500

We are pleased to offer, on a CHAIN FREE basis; this well presented ThreeBedroom Executive Apartment situated within this ever-popular gateddevelopment benefitting from extensive communal grounds, tennis courts anda BBQ area. Accommodation comprising: Lounge, kitchen, video entry phonesystem, master bedroom with en-suite and family bathroom.

Shore Point, Buckhurst Hill £235,000

This unique yet private, spacious One Bedroom Ground Floor Apartment,situated in the heart of Buckhurst Hill on the Shore point development. This property is great for any investment purchase or anyone looking to get onthe property ladder. Close to the ever popular Queens Road, High Road, and London Underground. The property also benefits from No Onward chain.

LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 JOINT SOLE AGENCY LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 SOLE AGENCY

LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 MULTI AGENCY LOUGHTON: 020 8502 5588 SOLE AGENCY

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Colne Stoves OTB Summer:Layout 1 16/9/10 19:02 Page 1

MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace and JohnTorode judge competitors of MasterChefLive’s Invention Test, under the watchful eyeof compère Andy Peters

70 winter

Masterchef Live OTB:2-1-1-1 21/10/10 14:07

FOOD HEAVENWe uncover the secrets of London Olympia’s upcoming culinary extravaganza, MasterChef Live,

and talk exclusively to one of the show’s star judges John Torode.

Words: Fiona Collins

For true food lovers, there is surely no better

day out than to wander the aisles of one of the

country’s leading gastronomic festivals, living,

breathing, eating and absorbing all things food.

Wholesome cheeses, handmade chocolates,

fresh breads, exotic spices, pickles, chutneys,

sauces and marinades...and all that before you

start on the wines.

However, the introduction of the MasterChef

element into what was formerly the BBC’s

annual Good Food Show, has turned a grown

up celebration of culinary excellence into a

family-friendly food frenzy.

“I’ve talked to visitors with boys and girls as young

as 11 and 12, and the adults have said ‘Oh they

made me go, they really wanted to come and see the

show,’ which is amazing! If we’re influencing and

getting children of that age coming to a really,

really fabulous celebration of great food and

entertainment, then that’s a much nicer day out

that sitting in and playing computer games!”

So says Laura Biggs, Managing Director of BBC

Haymarket, the brains behind this year’s event.

Such is the event’s dedication to its young fan base,

that on the Sunday of the three-day extravaganza

kids go free, with a special parent and child

‘invention test’ pitting families against each

other in the ultimate winner-takes-all cook off.

“Obviously kids love food,” continues Biggs.

“And there are some amazing, amazing delicious

foods here. Last year there were more cupcakes than

you could throw a stick at – I imagine it will be

macaroons this year! And the demonstrations are

really interesting, and it’s great fun because of all

the live theatres, so as a family it’s a great day out.”

This is not to say that the food lover has been

forgotten in the cross-over to the new format,

which made its successful debut in 2009;

quite the opposite, in fact.

“We have over 250 exhibitors who will come to

the show, and more than half of them are speciality

producers; tiny little producers of the most fantastic

foods. And generally the exhibitors love to have

a chat and that’s what they’re there for,” says Biggs.

“That’s one of the great things about the show, that

you can meet the people behind the product, which

you wouldn’t necessarily be able to do in your local

store. The exhibitors will tell you exactly how

they’ve made their cheese for example, how long

it’s matured, and where the cow’s come from!

Or the ladies who hand-make the chocolates and

tell you exactly what’s in them all.”

One addition to this year’s show, which is most

certainly not aimed at the younger audience,

is MasterChef Live’s new partnership with The

Wine Show, which formerly took place each year

in Islington. With tickets now interchangeable

between the two events Biggs says that the

experience is not just about enjoyment, but

education too.

“We’ll have over 150 wines here for people to try,

and we’ll have wine talks, and wine walks, and of

course a fabulous bar. It’s a great place if you’re

looking to get inspiration for how you pair wines

with different foods, and it will be very integrated.”

In addition, The Restaurant Experience

(“the ultimate celebration of gourmet food”) -

in which ten of London’s leading restaurants

will cook up tester menus for visitors to try –

is sponsored by Hardys Wine, who have paired

every dish on offer with one of their own tipples.

winter 71

➛


72 winter

Then of course there’s the MasterChef element itself.

“The big feature of the show is the Invention Test,”

says Biggs. “It’s basically replicating the first round

of the TV programme where contestants have 30

minutes to make a dish from a bag of mystery

ingredients. It’s the only place where the public

can have a go and do that.”

Promising all the glitz and glamour of the TV show

itself, the Invention Tests will run throughout the days

(but be sure to pre-reserve your entry), and will be

compèred by Andy Peters in front of a live audience.

Former MasterChef contestants such 2010 winner

Dhruv Barker will mentor each of the competitors

on stage, while TV judges John Torode and Gregg

Wallace will be on hand to deal out the prizes.

“Unless you are on a

diet, I don’t think you

could have a bad day

at MasterChef Live!”

“It’s nerve-wracking I have to say,” says Biggs who

admits to giving it a go last year. “But when you get

out there it’s great, great fun!”

And if that’s not enough excitement, there is also the

MasterChef Demonstration Stage, and the Chef ’s

Theatre featuring the likes of James Martin, Rick

Stein and Michel Roux Jr. Or you could just sidle up

to one of the stars and get some tips all of your own.

I ask Biggs whether the famous culinary names are

shielded from the public at the event, “No quite the

opposite actually, we have to pull them away to go to

their next thing; they’re all very approachable at

the show!”

As Biggs says: “If you love food it is the ultimate

day out; it is gastronome heaven; it’s a day out

of great entertainment. Unless you are on a diet,

I don’t think you could have a bad day at

MasterChef Live!”

MasterChef Live takes place in the Grand Hall atOlympia in London, on 12-14 November 2010. For more information visitwww.londonbbcgoodfoodshow.com

Above left: A contestant inthe Invention Test dishes

up for the judges. Above right: Say cheese! One

of the 250 exhibitors onshow at MasterChef Live


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74 winter

My interview with John Torode is squeezed

between an 8am appearance on GMTV,

and the beginning of the day’s filming for

the final few episodes of Celebrity MasterChef.

Torode is businesslike in his approach, shooting back

no-nonsense answers to my questions, and – without

prompting - spelling out the names of people and

restaurants, which he suspects might trip me up.

“I worked with a guy called John Gench G-E-N-C-H,

in a place called Tsindos T-S-I-N-D-O-S,” Torode

says, rapid fire, when I ask him of his culinary

apprenticeship in his native Australia. Here is a

man who has done an interview or two in his time.

His approach is professional, almost blunt, but he

has a schedule to stick to and clearly knows what is

needed for the interview to succeed.

Much as he is on MasterChef, today Torode is

largely deadpan in his responses, with the odd

glimmer of dry humour: “In the late 90s I used to

be the resident chef on This Morning on a Friday

and Saturday with Richard and Judy, and because

I was so attractive they wanted me for television,”

he pauses then chuckles, when I ask him how he

made the transition from chef to TV personality.

After learning the ropes in Melbourne, Torode did

what many young Aussies seem to do and headed

north, taking up positions in some of London’s best

known restaurants including Quaglino's and Bluebird.

As Torode himself acknowledges, times have changed.

“The fact is, that people in the UK have decided that

they actually quite like food, whereas when I first

arrived twenty years ago, I don’t think that they really

liked it. I think they used to go out for occasions and

sit opposite each other, and talk about nothing; those

sort of grand dining rooms with silence running

through them.”

“Now people go out to eat and to enjoy themselves

and have fun, and eating out is no longer just about

eating plates of food, it’s about going out with mates

and having a good time.”

One thing has remained constant though, and that is

the role of commercial kitchen. Despite the

apparent pressure and chaos of these culinary centres,

captured on shows like MasterChef, Torode says that

professional cooks are actually immensely focussed

and organised.

“In a commercial kitchen you’re a trained cook and

you’re part of a team in the same way that a football

team will have a winger. In a commercial kitchen

you only do a certain job – you might only cook

three dishes, and that’s all you do for three months.”

By contrast, Torode says, the turmoil and stress

displayed on MasterChef stems from the fact that

cooks are asked to produce multiple dishes across

multiple disciplines - without training - in a

limited timeframe.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

JOHN TORODEThere’s more to the man than a dislike of scallops on pea puree!

➛


Clear Designs OTB:Layout 1 16/9/10 19:03 Page 1

76 winter

“Masterchef is a competition about watching people

grow, about challenging people, and about challenging

their perceptions of their own abilities. I think the

pressure is absolutely enormous because it’s about

self-achievement, self-belief, and about having the

guts to put your food up and your personality on

a plate and say to Gregg (Wallace) and I, ‘What do

you think?’”

I am interested to know whether Torode himself

would, as an aspiring young chef, have risen to the

challenge of contesting his own show?

“I would probably never answer that question for the

simple reason it’s not part of my psyche.” I’m not

entirely sure what he means by this, but I think it

means no! He elaborates: “I started off washing dishes

and mopping floors, and worked my way up to being

able to make chocolates, to doing the basics, that’s

what I set out to do. I think MasterChef is a very,

very different thing altogether. I think MasterChef is

about people who already have a love and a passion

for food, who want to go and do something new

and interesting and something which is really,

really exciting.”

But sometimes, as Torode and co-presenter Gregg

Wallace’s grimacing reactions contest, they clearly

don’t find every dish ‘really, really exciting.’ ‘Are there

any dishes which you dread being made on the show?’

Aspiring MasterChefs take note: “The beloved

chocolate fondant will always be the death knell of

somebody. Presently, scallops, pea puree and black

pudding seems to be one of those things that

everybody loves to do, but actually really doesn’t

involve very much. I think the idea of chicken

wrapped in ham filled with cheese; that seems to be

one of those ones that you think, ‘Oh no, please don’t

do that one again’, and when somebody says to me

they’re going to be cooking chips, because invariably

they don’t have a thermometer, they don’t have the

time, and they don’t have the patience, because they

actually take quite a long time to do properly.”

My time is nearly up; the next media appointment

beckons. ‘One final question, sorry, I know you’ve got

to get on.’ “Yeh, right!” Broad Aussie emerges for a

second. I ask whether Torode actually enjoys the

MasterChef Live experiences; whether he enjoys

meeting the show’s adoring public.

“We are very fortunate with MasterChef...we’ve got

a great viewing public and we want them to come and

meet us. They’ve got to understand we’re real people,

but then also with MasterChef Live they have the

ability to get involved. They can come and do the

Invention Test, they can come and watch

demonstrations, they can see other competitors.

But more importantly they can come and be inspired,

and they can go and buy the produce from various

suppliers and all the equipment that goes with it,

and they can go home and replicate it themselves.”

Aside from his TV work, Torode now owns

two successful London restaurants, Smiths of

Smithfields, and The Luxe in Commercial Street,

which, according to one noted critic, ‘sits in a little

gastrocluster of aching trendiness.’ A fitting

analogy for Torode himself perhaps, for, as he says:

“Human nature dictates that we all like to impress

each other, we all like to show off a little bit, and you

know food is a very, very good way of doing that.”

“Human nature

dictates that we all

like to impress each

other, we all like to

show off a little bit,

and you know, food is

a very, very good way

of doing that.”

John Torode and fellow judge GreggWallace pose for the cameras in theMasterChef kitchen.


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winter 79

Seth Lakeman has been at theforefront of the Nu Folk revival foralmost a decade, first embarking on

a solo career in 2001

If, in the distant future, the BBC

decides to bring back the I Love...series, then there is a strong

possibility that I Love 2010 will look

at the phenomenon of Nu Folk.

This all-encompassing term has come

into popular use to describe the wave

of acoustic and folk music that has

populated the airwaves over the last

twelve months, from such artists

as Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes

and Noah and The Whale.

But the spearhead of this revival has

undoubtedly been Seth Lakeman.

The Devon-born multi-instrumentalist

was the first contemporary artist to cross

over the folk/pop divide – paving the way

for other ‘traditional’ musicians to follow

suit. But despite this status, Lakeman still

feels a little underwhelmed by the Nu

Folk term.

“I think it’s more of a media label that

they have to pin on certain acts in order

to be able to sell them,” says Lakeman –

talking by mobile phone on the way back

from Leicester, after a successful gig at

the city’s cathedral the previous night.

“But I think that’s the way it’s been

incorporated by the record companies

and by people who are ‘selling’ you –

the marketeers.”

This relaxed attitude towards the

perceived media hype is indicative

of Lakeman’s pure love of music,

which unsurprisingly was the dominant

feature of his childhood. At the age of

four, he started to learn the violin,

before quickly moving onto the banjo

and tenor guitar. Before long, Lakeman

was performing with his parents and

brothers, Sam and Sean, at local fêtes

and festivals, and immersing himself in

Andy Evans talks to Mercury Prize nominated musician Seth Lakeman about Nu Folk and old traditions

WINNINGHEARTS AND MINDS

Seth Lakeman OTB:Layout 1 21/10/10 14:20

80 winter

Main and inset: Lakeman began learningthe violin aged four and immersed himselfin traditional music from an early age

traditional music. But the young Lakeman was already

looking to other musical forms for inspiration.

“Obviously, I love folk music and I’ve grown up

playing it, really enjoying songs and stories,”

he explains. “But when I was playing fiddle every day

in my early teens, I was really into swing jazz – swing

gypsy jazz. I was a big fan of Joe Venuti and Stéphane

Grappelli. I loved the way they played off each other.

“But also growing up, I got into the dance scene in

Plymouth, which was massive, so I was a big fan of

house music and other different sounds.”

In between his weekend raving, Lakeman was

performing at this time with his siblings as

The Lakeman Brothers. The group soon joined

forces with Kathryn Roberts and Kate Rusby to

form the band Equation – leading to three critically

acclaimed albums and successful tours of the UK,

Europe and the US. But in 2001, Lakeman took a

leap of faith and decided to leave Equation to embark

on a solo career. It proved to be a successful choice.

Lakeman’s solo work immediately revealed a desire to

make folk music with traditional themes, but “a very

different sound” reflecting his many different tastes.

This approach is still very much in vogue today.

“I’ve been very much influenced by rock, Americana

music, singer/songwriter music – all sorts of different

styles,” says Lakeman. “So, there’s no doubt there’s

a lot of other influences.”

“I mean, you can hear the house music influence quite

clearly when I play Kitty Jay. I have this stomp –

this 4/4 stomp – which is quite hypnotic, with the

fiddle pattern over the top.”

The aforementioned ‘Kitty Jay’ was the title track of

Lakeman’s second solo album, which was nominated


winter 81

for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize; not bad for an

album that reportedly only cost £300 to make.

Despite losing out to I Am a Bird Now by Antony

and the Johnsons, Lakeman’s nomination made waves

in the music industry. Support slots with Billy Bragg

and Jools Holland, and a sell-out UK tour quickly

followed, and folk music was suddenly cool again –

with Lakeman at its forefront.

Lakeman’s upsurge in popularity was reflected by his

success at the 2007 Radio 2 Folk Awards, where he

won ‘Singer of the Year’ and ‘Best Album’ for his 2006

record, Freedom Fields. But it was in the live arena

that Lakeman flourished, his outstanding festival

performances winning over a host of fans who

wouldn’t normally have given traditional music the

time of day - something which Lakeman is fully aware

of. “To be honest, I don’t think the audiences that we

have were really into folk music beforehand – I really

don’t,” he says. “Sometimes it’s hard to say because

you’re actually doing it, but they’re definitely not the

normal folk audience that I was seeing when

I was working with artists like Cara Dillon and Steve

Knightley. It’s definitely a different audience, so in

that way you don’t upset anyone because you haven’t

brought them into the ‘camp’ in the first place.”

So, does Lakeman think his music translates well in

an outdoor setting? “It seems to, yeah, because it’s

quite energetic, it’s very rhythmical – so to that extent,

I think it suits people who have got a drink and want

to jump up and down. I mean, we’re not an obvious

rock band and to be honest, you don’t have to be

familiar with the songs in order to understand it and

enjoy it. So in that way, it does seem to suit – it really

does. We’re lucky with that.”

Lakeman’s first live DVD certainly seems to suggest as

much. Filmed at Cornwall’s open-air Minack Theatre

in May 2009, it is a perfect snapshot of Lakeman’s

mastery as a live performer. “It was amazing for us –

a very magical evening. It was something we’ll all

remember, and we’ve got it there as evidence.

A fabulous performance and a wonderful audience –

we had a brilliant night,” says Lakeman. “It’s probably

one of the best things we’ve done because obviously

we love playing live, and to have an example of that in

such an incredible, stunning location is just fabulous.”

But perhaps inevitability, Lakeman’s success hasn’t

always gone down well with some folk music purists.

Some critics have accused him of crossing over too

much into the mainstream, but Lakeman believes that

they’ve missed the point. “I think certainly now, more

than ever, artists are experimenting and I guess they’re

bridging genres – they’re incorporating lots and lots of

different sounds,” he explains. “I think obviously the

internet has helped that a lot, and it’s helped new

artists, it’s helped these new sounds. I think that

people aren’t as blinkered as they used to be.”

This sense of experimentation has informed

Lakeman’s latest album, Hearts and Minds. ➛


82 winter

After the success of 2008’s Poor Man's Heaven,which reached no. 8 in the UK album charts,

Lakeman has continued his quest for a different kind

of folk music – leading to a record reminiscent of

Robert Plant at his most mystical and REM during

their Out Of Time era. “I guess I’ve approached it in

a different way this time round,” explains Lakeman.

“I was writing an awful lot of the songs when we were

out on the road live, so it’s a very live sounding record

– no doubt about it.”

“It’s quite heavy. I think it’s a lot edgier and there’s

probably more variety of sound than other records

that we’ve done. So we’re really happy with it.

We’re really proud of the final result.”

Despite his desire to experiment, Lakeman remains

a folk musician at heart, and the theme of the

lyrics on Hearts and Minds remain fuelled by

traditional tales of sea-farers and ghostly legends.

“There’s obviously stories of the working man,

there’s songs of heartache, there’s soldiers dying

abroad. Lyrically I’ve tried to make the approach

more universal and bring it up to date, but I’ve

resorted back to the narratives that I’ve always loved

to write on previous records, especially with songs

like Preacher’s Ghost, which I wrote about

Billy Bray (the 19th Century Cornish preacher).”

Lakeman can often be found jamming with local

musicians at his nearby pub – thus keeping alive one

of the founding traditions of folk music. And, when it

comes to comparisons, some critics have spotted links

to Led Zeppelin, Richard Thompson and Damian

Rice, but Lakeman is quite clear which association

he values the most. “I’m absolutely flattered by every

single one, and I’m majorly influenced by all of them.

But Richard Thompson – I’m a massive fan of what

he does, because he’s just kept it alive for such a long

period in his whole career, within Fairport

Convention and into his solo career.”

This desire for longevity is obviously very important

to Lakeman, but not many musicians manage to

achieve it. However, if he continues to bridge the gap

between folk and pop, whilst staying true to his roots,

Seth Lakeman should be able to enjoy a long career.

His forthcoming UK tour in late October and

November will combine performances in concert

halls, with gigs in ‘stood up, sweaty, raucous venues’ –

perfectly encapsulating Lakeman’s ethos. It’s about

playing authentic, traditional, yet contemporary music

– and at the moment, he appears to be hitting all the

right notes.

Left: Despite his desire toexperiment, Lakeman remains

a folk musician at heart

“It’s quite heavy. I think

it’s a lot edgier and there’s

probably more variety of

sound than other records

that we’ve done.”


AMKA OTB:Layout 1 30/9/10 15:05

84 winter

Double gymnastics World Champion Beth Tweddle talks of the highs andlows of life in the sporting spotlight.

Words: Fiona Collins.

TAKING TOTHE FLOOR

For most 25-year-olds, their career is still a

newly-fledged, and precious thing. They have

stepped out of the cocoon of the graduate

recruit - who are excused all but the most extreme

of gaffes - and they might just be embarking on their

first tentative solo projects; even gaining a degree

of authority. Sometimes, when managers are feeling

trusting, or jaded, the mid-twenties-employee might

even be asked to pitch their ideas on serious,

grown-up business matters!

Never, however, will a 25-year-old find that they

are considered the grandmother of their chosen

career; wise beyond their years, seasoned, ripe for

retirement. That is, unless their chosen career is

that of a gymnast.

At 25, Britain’s reigning Floor World Champion,

Beth Tweddle, is one of the oldest competitors

still performing at the very highest level on the

international circuit. That said, she is by no means

the oldest. Germany’s Oksana Chusovitina won a

silver medal in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 at the

grand old age of 33. However, following a heart-

breaking fourth place on her favourite apparatus

-the uneven bars - in Beijing, the then-23-year-old

Tweddle could have been forgiven for throwing

in the towel.

“Gymnastics is a sport where you have to specialise

from such a young age,” Tweddle says after

consideration. “Most gymnasts start from the

ages of five or six, and from day one you’re just

a gymnast; that’s it. I mean, I’ve been doing it for

18 years now, and I’ve literally just been doing

gymnastics, so maybe people would assume that

I’ve just had enough and would want to try

something else.”

Not so Tweddle. In her typically stoic way,

following what must have been a bitter

disappointment in Beijing, she cheerfully told the

waiting media, "I was pleased just to be in the final.

I am not disappointed with fourth. Now I'll have to

leave it to London in 2012 to get a medal.” One can

only imagine what she must really have felt.

However, despite her knee-jerk reaction in 2008,

that she would continue to compete until her home

Olympics at London 2012, there has since been

much debate as to an impending retirement.

Never mind Tweddle’s metal fatigue, could her

Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 21/10/10 14:24

Beth Tweddle launches The NationalLottery’s Games Brain quiz to celebrate£500 million being raised by players forLondon 2012. Photographer Mark Bond

winter 85

Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 21/10/10 14:24

86 winter

This page: Beth Tweddle launches TheNational Lottery’s Games Brain quiz tocelebrate £500 million being raised byplayers for London 2012. PhotographerMark Bond Opposite page: In the run upto a major competition, Tweddle trains forup to 35 hours a week; here chalking herhands before taking to the bars

Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 21/10/10 14:25

body really withstand another four years of the

gruelling training regime, given that even by 2008

she had already undergone multiple surgeries on

her ankles and shoulder?

“Obviously there’s a huge impact on your body,”

Tweddle admits. “You’re constantly having to take

the force of your own bodyweight plus gravity.”

“That’s why I made the decision to go from four

piece, down to two piece,” she continues, referring to

her decision to retire from the vault and beam events

after Beijing, effectively ruling her out of the all

around competition as well.

“It was a very hard decision to give up, but I think

in the long-run it will be the right decision. My body

just wasn’t able to take the constant pounding. I was

struggling a lot with the beam. I had a lot of injuries

with my feet, and it wasn’t one of my strongest events.

I was also having foot injuries with the vault.”

This meant that at last year’s World Championships

in London, Tweddle had just two shouts at a medal;

in her favoured uneven bars, and in the floor event.

The bars were the first of the two events to take place,

and, as a former World Champion on the apparatus

in 2006 (this was the first World Championship gold

ever won by Britain), Tweddle was the big home hope,

not just for a medal, but – when the fans dared to

whisper it – maybe for a gold?

The stadium reverberated to the screams of

an expectant crowd as Tweddle entered the arena

for the qualifying event. Here was the British darling

of gymnastics, doing what she did best.

A shocked silence descended as Tweddle crashed to

the floor, slipping from the bars during a complicated

move, ironically named after her as her signature

showpiece (the Tweddle). She left the arena in tears,

but was forced to compose herself when her coach

almost instantly made her face the media.

“Straight away they (the media) wanted to know how

I was feeling. Obviously when you’ve just crashed

out of what you were hoping to medal in, it’s not the

best feeling in the world,” Tweddle almost smiles at

the recollection.

“But my coach said, ‘You’ve got to do the interviews,

because you have to take the good with the bad’.

I did it, and spoke to the press, which was hard.

“Then I went out to the main entrance. There were

all these little kids there waiting for autographs,

which put it all into perspective. My two little twin

cousins came running up to me saying that I was

amazing, and that they couldn’t believe that I had

fallen...‘we can’t wait to see you on the floor.’ And so

I thought ‘Yes, I’ve fallen on bars, but at least I have

something to aim for’. Really it was the kids who put

things into perspective.”

If Tweddle felt the pressure, as she came out four days

later to try and give her fans something to cheer

about, by gaining a respectable placing in the

eight-women floor final, she didn’t show it.

She was the first of the girls to take centre-stage,

and, after stumbling on her first tumble in the earlier

qualifying event, the crowd held their breath as

they waited for her to begin.

With a practiced flick of the wrist to acknowledge

the judges, Tweddle was off...spinning, tumbling

and flipping across the mat. The routine was inch

perfect and the crowd, who clapped along to her

foot-tapping display, jumped to their feet as Tweddle

scored 14.650 for a flawless effort.

What ensued, was forty of the most agonising minutes

of Tweddle’s career, as she paced the floor with her

coach, Amanda Reddin, watching as one, then

another of her fellow competitors failed to eclipse

her score. Finally, to a standing ovation, Tweddle

was confirmed as the new World Champion.

Needless to say, the ecstasy of Tweddle’s ensuing

press conference was the antithesis of the one

reluctantly given before the flashbulbs four days

earlier. Reddin’s insistence that her protégée take

the good with the bad had proven to be prophetic.

“Winning the bars (World) title in 2006 was really

good, but with this being on home soil and not in

my signature event, it is probably my best ever

achievement,” a jubilant Tweddle said, post-event.

The stunning victory, and the fairytale nature of

the win, helped to further increase Tweddle’s public

profile in the UK, and earned her her second

nomination for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the

Year; an award eventually won by footballer Ryan

Giggs, with the runner-up spot going to F1 World

Champion Jenson Button. It is an ironic aside that

Button and Tweddle were both crowned World

Champions on the same day, but only the former

received a congratulatory phone call from then Prime

Minister Gordon Brown; something which Tweddle

laughed off at the time saying, "Maybe the letter's

got lost in the post?"

The truth is though, that until Tweddle’s rise to

prominence, gymnastics was a sport largely ignored

in this country, and she - almost single-handedly -

has propelled it (both in terms of profile, and the

funding it receives) to its current standing.

Those behind Tweddle in the team have now begun

to follow the path that she has forged, with the men’s

team particularly helping to lift some of the pressure

from Tweddle’s shoulders. Last year, Daniel Keatings

(20) won silver in the all around event at the World

Championships, bettering by one position the

Olympic bronze won by Louis Smith (21) on the

pommel horse in Beijing a year earlier. Despite being

Britain’s first Olympic medal in 80 years,

the momentum in the current squad means that

British Gymnastics have been tasked with bringing

home at least two medals in 2012.

Tweddle is obviously enjoying Britain’s newfound

success in her sport. “It takes the pressure away from

me,” she says, smiling again. “It’s not just what will

Beth do, but now it’s a case of what British gymnastics

will do at the Worlds or Europeans.”

Someone else who has watched with interest as British

gymnastics has emerged from obscurity, is Tweddle’s

long-time coach Reddin. “I’ve had the same coach

since I was twelve,” Tweddle says with obvious

Olympics 2012: “I’d rather say I tried to go forit, than I’ve retired and not given it a chance.”

winter 87

➛

Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 21/10/10 14:26

88 winter

Tweddle flies through theair during a practice sessionin the gym. Photography bySean Malyon

affection, “and she’s basically like my second mum.”

She pauses. “In fact, she probably knows me better

than my mum!”

“Leading up to a major international, I train six days

a week, 30 to 35 hours a week, and my life is entirely

focussed around training. My life revolves around

what time Amanda wants me in the gym, and it can

be intense, but from the age of seven I haven’t known

any different.”

Tweddle’s current focus is the 2010 World

Championships, which kick off in mid-October

in Rotterdam, and so the gruelling regime is

currently in full flow. But Tweddle is not one to moan,

and comes across as a very grounded and matter-of-

fact individual, not given to self pity. Perhaps this is

another thing instilled in her by Reddin, of whom

Tweddle says: “The only thing that she says to me

prior to a major event is ‘Go and do what you do in

training, and if it works, it works, but if it doesn’t,

then we have to work on it some more when we get

back to training.’” One suspects that it is this calm

pragmatism that has allowed Tweddle to find the

mental energy to continue with her sport for so long.

That Tweddle is a model sportswoman is

unquestioned – dedicated, hard working,

and honest. What still remains a question mark

however is her participation at London 2012.

Although nothing is a given in her gruelling sport,

and with uncertainty still surrounding her ability

to continue competing for another two years,

I am surprised that Tweddle takes no time in

coming up with an answer: “Yes. The Olympics

in London are the main target now. That’s the one

thing that I haven’t achieved yet,” she is matter

of fact once again.

“Ever since Beijing, it’s been taking one competition

at a time and seeing how I go, and really, that’s still

the mentality. But the qualifiers start this October

(at the World Championships in Rotterdam),

so I guess I’m getting towards it now.”

“I think that’s the one thing that I’m still chasing.

I’ve got every other title to my name and obviously

I would love to come home with any Olympic

medal...naturally gold,” this time she doesn’t laugh.

She pauses, and then adds, “I’d rather say I’d tried

to go for it, rather than I’ve retired and not given it

a chance. And at least I can look back at my career

and what I have achieved knowing that I’ve tried.”

Back in 2006, following her first World title, and in

the lead up to Beijing, Tweddle was asked whether she

would consider continuing to compete until London

2012. Then, she had laughed and dismissed it out

of hand: "I'll simply be too old by then. What I hope

is that winning the World Championship will inspire

other young gymnasts, and there are some really good

ones coming along aged 12 to 14. These are the kids

we should be looking at for 2012."

Four years on, with the focus very firmly on London,

I’m sure I would have gained a similar response had

I asked Tweddle about Rio 2016. But, by then,

Tweddle will only be 31...two years younger than

Beijing’s silver medallist Chusovitina...so really,

as I say, nothing is a given in this gruelling sport!

Beth Tweddle OTB:2-2-1 21/10/10 14:26

AND SO TO BED:Layout 1 16/9/10 12:56 Page 1

Main image: Attention todetail is key for CarolineRogers when achieving thestylish sophistication requiredfor this show home inWeybridge. Inset: CarolineRogers at work in her studio

90 winter

Alexander James OTB:Master 21/10/10 14:30

Alexander James’ Associate Design Director, Caroline Rogers, talks styles, spaces,and the ultimate design sin!

Words: Chris Peck

If the wonder of television

has taught us anything in

the past twenty years,

it’s that as a nation our style

stinks. If we’re not being told

what not to wear, then we’re

being shown how to look good

naked. However, of all these

style focused shows, few have

managed to capture the nation’s

imagination to quite the extent

of the BBC’s Changing Rooms.

Seeing a trained (and occasionally eccentric) design professional

enter an average home and transform a dowdy terraced house,

dusted with a liberal sprinkling of tacky commemorative plates,

into a replica of the Sistine Chapel was unlike anything the viewing

public had seen before. Of course, for many people the real pleasure

of the show was the big reveal of the finished space – or more

specifically – the prospect that the home owner would be reduced

to a trembling mass of tears and fury.

Who doesn’t secretly wish that occasionally someone would become

so enraged that their reclining chair and plasma TV had been

replaced by a chaise longue in the shape of a Canadian snow goose,

that they would spontaneously burst into flames?

Fortunately, in the real world, the work of an interior designer is

considerably more measured. Nothing is left to chance, and clients

are consulted every step of the way, through what is a sophisticated

and often painstaking process. Interior designer extraordinaire,

Caroline Rogers explains; “Your ultimate goal, professionally,

when embarking on any project for a client is to be able to create

something that fulfils their brief.”

This is a comforting thought given the often blasé attitude displayed

towards clients’ tastes by some of the TV interior designers of

yesteryear. However Rogers’ obvious desire to create beautifully

designed living spaces, which realise dreams rather than evoking

nightmares, is indicative of the ethos and approach she and her

colleagues employ in all their interior designs.

As a key player for the exclusive and highly regarded Alexander

James Interior Design, Rogers is at the top of her game and oversees

every element of a project from start to finish. But, unlike the rapid

transformations performed on Changing Rooms, Rogers’ success

didn’t just happen overnight and it certainly wasn’t all glitz and

glamour in the early days as she remembers; “I started out as

a junior designer mostly making tea and ordering samples for

a small showhome interior design company.”

“After a year I moved on and went to a retail interiors company

where I first started working with private clients. Two years later

I joined Alexander James where I started as a Designer for private

clients and also show homes. Eight years on I am still here and have

gradually moved up the ladder, to where I am now; the Associate

Design Director.”

Having reached the pinnacle of interior design and being

a respected figure in her field, it would be easy to think that her

clients would be more willing to listen to her opinions and advice

in trying to fulfil their design dreams. However, as Rogers jovially

winter 91

IMPROVEMENT


92 winter

admits, this isn’t always the case, and sometimes

dissuading people from making disastrous choices

is part of the territory; "Yes, it does happen.

Sometimes it can be difficult as it’s their home

and if their heart is set on something they love

and you think it’s awful then it can be hard to get

them to change their mind.”

Equally, some design requests create challenges

purely due to their obscurity. Reflecting on a

particular scenario with baffled amusement Rogers

recalls; “I was once asked to source a propeller for

a couple who loved sailing so they could hang it

on their wall!”

Given the absolute attention to detail that goes into

each and every project, it understandably couldn’t be

condensed into a half hour TV show a la Changing

Rooms, but how long does a project of such

magnitude actually take? The designer’s reply is

matter of fact: “It depends how big a house is really.

If it’s needed urgently we can turn it all around in

four weeks, but ideally a bit longer. A lot of the time,

items like fabrics and furniture are out of stock which

is always a pain.”

To provide a sense of perspective as to just how big

some of the houses can actually be, Rogers describes

one of her more demanding projects; “I did two

houses in St Georges Hill, Weybridge, which were

enormous - 18,000 sq ft. The rooms were so big and

there were so many of them that it was a challenge to

make them all look different and to fill all the space.”

Ultimately, when done well, interior design can add

significant extra value to a home, so what helpful

hints can Rogers provide to those looking to

transform their own homes and create a lasting

look of stylish sophistication? “Styles do change

pretty frequently. Shabby chic seems to still be

really popular with the painted furniture look.

The colour pewter is also popular at the moment.”

As Rogers stresses though, much like high fashion,

interior styles do have a tendency to change with

regularity, so how does one avoid the pitfall of

adopting a style that will almost certainly change?

With effortless simplicity the dynamic designer

provides the perfect answer;” I would stick to classic

neutral pieces of furniture and then you can just

change the accessory pieces like cushions as and

when styles and colours change.”

The pleasure and enthusiasm with which Rogers

dispenses this invaluable advice exemplifies the

obvious passion she has for her work – a passion

which she happily takes home with her as she

explains her constant desire to change the interior

of her own home; “I would do it monthly if I could

afford it. I am always wanting to change pieces as

I’m always seeing new and lovely things at work.

I mostly just change accessories…quite often.”

So aside from constantly changing the style of her

own home, does Rogers have her ambitious eyes on

anywhere else that she believes could use a touch of

her makeover magic? With the slightest hint of

mischief she reveals; “I would like to revamp

The Ritz, I love its Englishness, but I think it

could do with an update.”

As a final gesture before rushing off to oversee her

next high profile design project, Rogers is happy to

offer a final piece of advice to steer people away from

committing the ultimate interior design crime.

“Avacado bathroom suites... the 1980s was a bad

time for interior design!”

Clockwise from right : Neutral coloursand stand out features create anelegant and relaxed ambiance in thisCobham dining room; a mirrored deskcreates an eye-catching and modernfeature; Rogers’ distinct stylecontinues in this Esher sitting room


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Motoring’s Kevin Haggarthy travels to the Le Mans 24 Hour Race – the world’s oldest endurance race – as a special guest

of Jaguar at their Le Mans GT2 debut

LIVINGTHE

BOYHOODDREAM

For many of us, there is often just one special

sporting event we feel compelled to attend in our

lives. It can be something as challenging as

participating in the London Marathon, to being a

spectator at the Wimbledon finals, or attending a World

Cup football event. For car buffs though, it is one thing

and one thing only; attending the Le Mans 24 hrs.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans (in French its 24 Heures du

Mans) is the world's oldest endurance sports car race,

held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans in

France. It is 24 hours of gruelling racing, and an equal

challenge for car and driver alike. Many of the cars we

see racing at Le Mans in the GT Class, look identical

to those we can buy in our showrooms, thus the

race becomes a perfect marketing and publicity tool

for manufacturers.

Every year, thousands of people descend on the

famous Le Mans circuit for the European motoring

calendar’s spectacle event. If you are doubtful about

attending, don’t be, for it is a truly spectacular

occasion, and my advice to you would be ‘just do it.’

For many racing devotees, Le Mans is almost a

religious commitment in their social calendar;

it begins with the long 350 mile drive down to the

event itself, alongside many other enthusiasts.

Step two is the setting up your tent when you get

there, (yes, most people camp on the site) and the rest

involves two days of just soaking up the atmosphere.

SPECIAL INVITATIONBut even that cannot beat an invitation to join a team

actually participating in the event, so you can imagine

94 winter

Le Mans Autumn OTB:Master 21/10/10 14:33

winter 95

Main Image: Jaguar’s Le MansGT2 offering in action on the

track. Inset from left: Jaguar’slatest medium-sized luxury

saloon, the XFR, which was usedto cruise down to the race


our delight at receiving such an invitation from

Jaguar to join them as their guests for their

Le Mans GT2 debut.

And what better way to do so than to head to

Le Mans in Jaguar’s latest top, medium-sized luxury

saloon, the Jaguar XFR. Its supercharged 5.0L

direct-injection V-8 develops some 510 bhp,

and achieves 60 mph in under five seconds; a car

that has already proved itself by outgunning the

mighty 500 bhp BMW M5 in testing.

MOBILE MOTOR SHOWDriving down to Le Mans is like participating in a

mobile motor show. If you’re driving an interesting car

(like ‘my’ XFR) you are constantly stared at, or given

the ‘thumbs up’ – especially being British. There are so

many Brits attending that you wouldn’t be blamed for

thinking Le Mans is a British race held in France.

Just about every other Le Mans junkie has an

interesting set of wheels, and you’ll find them catching

up, or holding back, on those long, boring, but fast

motorways, to feast their eyes on someone else’s car.

My XFR was getting a fair bit of attention too, so on

just the one occasion (honest) I floored it and wow!

It left all of those hot GT’s for dead. The Dr Jeckyll in

me lied that I was just testing the car on pickup and

acceleration, but the Mr Hyde knew I was being

naughty and wanted to entertain the masses.

To be frank, I just couldn’t get over how good the

XFR was at overtaking – everything. This car has

seriously big cruising speeds and massive overtaking

prowess, its power speaking volumes where it counts.

A brief reflective period (Dr Jeckyll’s back again)

suggested that I just may end up spending the

weekend with the French Gendarmerie in a nice

warm prison cell rather than enjoying Jaguar’s

excellent hospitality; somehow that would have

defeated the object. Nevertheless, it says a lot about

96 winter

Main Image: Competitors line upon the track during the Le Mans24 hour race 2010. Below fromleft: Rocketsports Racing’s JaguarGT2 qualified 15th for the mainevent; a spectacular air displayover the pit lane of Le Mans

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the capability of the XF – it simply eats journeys

like this for breakfast.

COUNTRY BASKINGSpeaking of breakfast, I felt even more grateful

for my brief spell of sanity when seated for an

excellent breakfast spread at the Châteaux Coulans,

Coulans-sur-Gee, where we stayed. Each of the

bedrooms were as big as my house, and my room

was haunted, but what better way to prelude the

noise, buzz, and excitement of Le Mans than this...

Day One - the Friday - was the Supercar Parade

through the local town; a magnificent cavalcade

of some of the greatest cars the world has known.

Yours truly had the privilege of driving the Le Mans

winning XK140 behind an original LMP1 class

winner, in a special parade to mark Jaguar’s

75th Anniversary.

Day Two was Race Day, and Jaguar kindly organised

for us to be chauffeured to the event in the very latest

Jaguar XJ Saloon. Having just sampled some three

hundred miles plus behind the wheel of the excellent

XF, this surprising chauffeur-driven ride in the back

of the XJ sealed a confident sense of optimism about

Jaguar and its future. This is a company that only just

weathered the recession, and is now coming back

mighty credibly on the strength of its class-leading

products alone – what better way to do it than that?

ROCKETSPORTS RACINGRocketsports Racing was founded in 1985 by

my long-time buddy and friend, racing driver Paul

Gentilozzi, to compete in the Trans-Am series.

Rocketsports competed in Trans-Am until 2004,

when the championship was cancelled, and achieved

57 outright wins in 20 years. It has also raced in the

IMSA sports car racing championship. In 2010,

Jaguar announced the company would enter the 2010

24 Hours of Le Mans with the JaguarRSR XKR GT2,

built by Rocketsports Racing, so it was with great

anticipation that we attended the event.

So how did our Jaguar fare in qualifying?

Well here’s what the press release said:

Ok, so only 15th on the grid, but at least we qualified.

A great time was spent talking to Paul and his team

about the car and its development; complex stuff.

The car is still in its development stages and was beset

by engine management problems from the start of the

race, unfortunately leading to an early retirement.

But that’s racing, and you have to be big enough to

take it.

But hey, we had a truly great time, it was good to

see Jaguar back at Le Mans, and the British crowd

simply loved its presence there. On the return journey

I spread my little green Jaguar flag, that had been

handed out to the crowds, across the back window of

the XFR in tribute to the Jaguar team. The XFR

proceeded to eat up the miles on the journey home,

in a time that would put an equivalent train journey

to shame. 750 miles of hard driving and the XFR

didn’t miss a beat, yet it took the journey with such

commanding high speed authority, leaving me

refreshed and relaxed behind the wheel. Come home

Jaguar, all is forgiven, your road cars are proving that

you will live to fight another day.

98 winter

LE MANS, FRANCE (JUNE 11, 2010)

“The second and third qualifying

sessions for the Le Mans 24 Hours saw

the JaguarRSR team make valuable

improvements from Wednesday.

Drivers Ryan Dalziel, Paul Gentilozzi and

Marc Goossens had adequate time behind

the wheel and gains were made in time.

Le Mans rookie Dalziel recorded the

#81 JaguarRSR XKR GT2’s fastest lap of

4:12.431 minutes, putting it 15th in class.”

Clockwise from left: After an improvedperformance in the second and third

qualifying sessions, Jaguar’s GT2 entrysecured 15th place on the grid; heading

into the pit lane during qualifying; enginemanagement problems led to early

retirement from the race


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100 winter

With the launch of his brand new Junior collection, we talk to one of Britain’s mostsuccessful designers, whose ‘classic with a twist’ style remains a firm favourite,

more than thirty years after its inception.

Words: Fiona Collins

PAUL SMITHMORE THAN JUST A NAME

Paul Smith_Master OTB:Lawlors 21/10/10 14:36

winter 101

Paul Smith is one of those designer brand names,

so universally known and yet so quintessentially

English, that one might well wonder - or those

at least for whom fashion is not a first language -

whether Paul Smith is indeed a person, or in fact

a prosaic marketing name dreamt up to reflect the

Britishness of a brand which prides itself on its stylish,

sharply tailored, and very wearable clothing lines.

Yet Smith, or Sir Paul as he has become known since

his knighthood in 2000, is very much more than just

a name. Born in Nottingham in 1946, Smith is as

hard working as his own label, which now enjoys

wholesale success in more than 35 countries

worldwide. Whilst perhaps lacking some of the

artistic pretentions of his more flamboyant designer

counterparts, it is Smith’s grounded, businesslike and

entrepreneurial approach to fashion that has seen his

empire flourish.

“The secret to success is keeping your feet on the

ground,” Sir Paul says firmly. “Accountants should be

trained to see both sides of the picture; finance and

creativity.” With his credentials as a businessman

(his brand has an annual turnover of more than

£340 million), Smith has always kept a sensible

head on his statuesque shoulders, and has never let

creativity impede sound judgement.

“The Paul Smith way started innocently, and came

about because of my love of craftsmanship, tradition

and Britishness, but also my love of humour,” he says.

“Because of this, ‘classic with a twist’ was born,

and now it is a very over-used phrase, but still very

relevant today.”

Indeed, in Smith’s latest collection, classically-cut

khaki checked jackets are paired with red and

purple chequered trousers and dramatic, overly-tall

bowler hats, in a style described as “an elegant,

detailed collection that references the modern

bohemian gentlemen.”

One might well use the same phrase to describe

Smith himself.

Born to working class parents in the town of Beeston,

just south of Nottingham, Smith left school at 15 to

begin work at a local fabric warehouse. The job was

not undertaken as an early calling to the fashion

industry, but rather was borne of necessity. Having

struggled with formal schooling, Smith needed

to fund an altogether more energetic ambition.

“I aspired as a teenager to be a professional racing

cyclist,” says Smith, who at the time was clocking up

to 300 miles a week as part of a rigorous training

regime. “The dream was shattered after a bad accident

when I was 17.” In truth, the ‘bad accident’ was

a horrifying smash with a car, which left Smith with

such acute injuries that he was hospitalised for six

months, and resulted in him being unable to bend his

leg sufficiently to pedal a bicycle. “But to be honest

I don’t think I would have succeeded (as a cyclist),

as I was not brave enough or strong enough,” says

Smith pragmatically. He is – perhaps understandably -

not bitter about the hand that fate dealt him.

Opposite page: Sir Paul Smith; the manbehind the name; Above from left; AutumnWinter 2010: Khaki check jacket, fish hookprint shirt, purple shadow check trousers;Prussian blue two button suit, white shirt;Pale grey knitted shawl collar coat, camel

crew knit, grey flannel trousers


102 winter

During his recuperation, Smith "discovered the

English pub” and it was here that he “met a lot of

people that were at the local college of fashion and art,

and that’s what got me into fashion design.”

At the height of the swinging sixties, Smith moved to

London and met Pauline Denyer, a fashion graduate

from London’s Royal College of Art, whom he credits

with guiding and inspiring him throughout his career

(the pair finally married in 2000). Following evening

tailoring classes, Smith joined Lincroft Kilgour in

Savile Row, where he began to forge his early

reputation as a stylish menswear designer. In 1970,

with the help of Denyer, Smith finally opened his

own store in his hometown of Nottingham.

His designs then, just as they are today, were inspired

by the playful dandyness of that era; beautifully cut,

tall, lean suits with characteristically cheeky detail

such as lime green trimmings, floral linings and

intricately woven maps of London on the interiors.

Or androgynous looking, vivid pink suits finished

with bright red linings and bowler hats, which

he designed for his Spring / Summer 2010 Congo-

inspired collection. Without ever quite crossing

the line into the ‘un-wearable’ realms of haut couture,

it is this cheerful individuality, which has been so key

to Smith’s enduring success.

“The fashion industry today is more competitive than

ever,” Smith says. “Especially with the addition of

e-commerce sites and low cost high street brands that

follow catwalk designs very closely. It’s so important

to have a real character to your brand; in our case it is

reliability, continuity and always easy to wear clothes,

but with a sense of humour.”

By the early eighties, Smith had already begun to

expand his business, and had successfully opened two

stores in London. But it was his invitation to Japan

in 1982, at the hands of a local licensing scout,

that really launched Paul Smith as a global brand.

At the height of the eighties fashion explosion in

Japan, at a time when many European designers

“looked at the country as something of a cash cow”,

Smith took the time to get to know its fashion

industry from the inside out.

Speaking in an earlier interview, Smith said of the

experience: “I was young and very keen. I'd make

visits to the factory several times a year, which

I believe was key to our success. I also designed

pieces for the Japanese market from scratch;

they were getting pure ‘Paul Smith’."

The first Paul Smith store opened in Tokyo in 1984,

and after early teething problems, the Japanese brand

became so successful that Smith is now Europe’s

biggest selling designer in the country, with sales from

Japan alone accounting for half his brand’s annual

sales. Smith’s iconic status in the country meant that

doors were flung open for him in Hong Kong, Korea,

Singapore, Thailand and China.

Closer to home, Smith’s brand was growing too,

with ranges of shoes, fragrances, watches, pens,

Above from left: Brown Harris tweedjacket, pleated donegal wool corset dress,curved leather saddle belt, tweed flat cap,cashmere fingerless gloves and leather rolltop boots; Black and pink organza waterroses print fitted dress, black leather smallMaggie bag, cashmere fingerless gloves andleather Mary Janes; Lilac felted woolcircular dress, wide webbing belt andknee-high leather boots ➛


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Inside2Outside AW 2010:Layout 1 20/10/10 12:34 Page 78

104 winter

furniture, rugs, china and spectacles all bearing

his name. Ultimately, in 1994, Smith finally – if

somewhat reluctantly – branched into womenswear.

“Women would ask, ‘Could you do men's clothes

to fit us?’ But that wasn't really the truth,” he says.

“They claimed they wanted just men's clothes,

but then they'd say, ‘We need a skirt.’ ‘Can we have

a dress?’” In the end, Smith played to his strengths

and concentrated on tailored suits, coats and shirts,

while an assistant designed the dresses and skirts.

They still work this way today.

Which brings us to the present. The sub context

for my interview today is the launch of Paul Smith’s

latest venture; his brand new ‘Paul Smith Junior’

collection, which is available from the end of August.

With cheeky young models, and cheerfully coloured

fabrics, Junior succeeds in being both playful and fun,

whilst retaining Smith’s trademark love of classic cut

and line.

But the collection is “not about mini-me adults”

as Smith puts it. “It’s more about taking the spirit

of what I do for men and women,” says Smith.

“For instance, on a boy’s striped shirt there will always

be a little secret that one day he will notice, like the

inside of the cuff will be a different colour. For girls,

it will be picking up on colours from the women’s

collection – maybe literally one of the prints,

or maybe just the feeling of the print.

“Junior is about very simple styling with the boys

clothes, leaning towards more of a preppy look,

and the girls; slightly more fashionable, easy to wear,

but definitely not urban or rock.”

At 64, Simth’s enthusiasm and verve for his fashion

empire is as strong as ever, and three decades at the

top of this notoriously fickle industry have done

nothing to dim the integrity of his mission. “What

I want with the business is for it to retain its character

and have a heart; a business which is down to earth.”

Smith is the embodiment of his own aspiration.

“I once read an obituary where a man was

remembered for living ‘a clean and honest life and

having had a sense of humour’ – I think that sounds

quite nice!”

Paul Smith Junior will be available in stores fromthe end of August 2010. For more information visit:www.paulsmith.co.uk/collections/paul-smith-junior

Clockwise from above: Paul Smith Juniorrange 2010: Mack wears a corduroy jacket,

long sleeve t.shirt and jeans, Calypsowears a corduroy skirt, tights and cardigan;

Willow in classic Paul Smith shorts, withshirt and fair isle cardigan; Finn shows off

Junior’s ‘preppy’ look, with curduroy jacket,shirt and jeans


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106 winter

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Mark Hellyar - Chateau Civrac OTB:Layout 1 21/10/10 14:39

The West Country is not known for its winemakers, but Cornishman Mark Hellyar has set about redressing the balance, and has travelled to

Bordeaux to follow a lifelong dream, as we discover.

Words: Chris Peck

CHATEAUCIVRAC

HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

The great Ernest Hemingway once said that

“Wine is the most civilized thing in the

world." Clearly he’d never seen a rowdy hen

night at closing time in Yates’s wine lodge on a Friday

night. However, despite this exception, he does make

an interesting point. A good wine is a thing of beauty.

It is a living entity which grows in flavour and changes

with age, and has a wonderful ability to elevate and

complement food.

Like people, a good wine has individuality;

a personality made up of subtle nuances of colour,

aroma and flavour which differentiate it from its peers,

so that every label you sample has its own unique

qualities. Wine is liquid elegance – the sophisticated

dinner guest that is always welcome.

As a nation, our enduring relationship with wine is

evident in the £15 billion which UK consumers spend

on it each year, but how many of us could claim to

love it enough to give up a successful career in the

pursuit of producing a wine of their own?

Step forward Cornishman Mark Hellyar, a man

with such enthusiasm for wine that he elected to leave

his successful I.T. career to transform a neglected

18th century chateau in Bordeaux and go into the

winemaking business for himself.

So was this the choice of a man with a plan,

or had Mark perhaps had one glass too many?

Mark smiles wryly as he explains, “I would say that

it was a carefully thought through career decision.

Sarah, my wife, would say it was a mid-life crisis.

Probably somewhere between the two is true!”

While, in most cases, such a dramatic change in

lifestyle would serve to raise only eyebrows, Mark has

instead been raising glasses, as some of the most

discerning palates in the world pour praise on his

new Claret, Chateau Civrac.

But what makes Hellyar’s story all the more

impressive, is that he embarked on his Claret crusade

with virtually no experience. “I’d had an interest in

fine wine for about 15 years and was lucky enough

to work in a job that took me to some of the best wine

making areas of the world,” says Hellyar. “I believed

that I knew quite a bit about the science and had

a good idea of what I wanted to make. Actually,

I soon realised that I knew very little.”

With realisation that enthusiasm and a good palate

would not be sufficient to achieve his goal,

Hellyar sought some expert advice. But, to succeed

in producing something truly original in Bordeaux,

this meant finding someone who shared his own

forward thinking and rebellious tendencies.

winter 107


108 winter

“Bordeaux is an extremely traditional and cautious

region. It’s very hard to be innovative. However,

being a maverick has allowed me to question many

of the traditional views and has allowed me to have

a wider view on the style of wine I wanted to make.

“Olivier Dauga has been my consultant since the start

and he has guided me through this journey. Much like

me, Olivier is a maverick character in Bordeaux,

and unlike many traditional consultants, he does

not have a rigid formula.”

The strong bond forged between Hellyar and Dauga

has proved to be a genuine recipe for success and as

a result Chateau Civrac has become a star on the wine

lists of some of the best restaurants in the country.

Hellyar is quick to credit the vital role his flamboyant

consultant plays, in making Chateau Civrac stand out.

“Olivier advises me on all stages of the winemaking,

from how we prune the vines to how we vinify.

He always says that a wine should reflect where it

comes from and the person who makes it. He allows

me to express myself in my wine. He is a rock,

but also an outrageous personality. I love him!”

So what exactly is the maverick approach to

winemaking employed by Hellyar and his team

at Chateau Civrac?

“Our style is a fusion - the handmade quality

of the old world, with the fruit and approachability

of the New World. Chateau Civrac is a 'natural wine'

that is made in a very natural and handmade style,

with minimal intervention and chemical treatments.

We make the wine by hand and respond to what

nature gives us for fruit each year. This ultimately

means that the wine has a true sense of where it comes

from, it is able to age in the bottle, but is soft, fruity,

and drinks younger.”

While the natural approach to winemaking employed

by Chateau Civrac clearly has a big effect in its

fabulous richness of flavour, Hellyar believes that

there is another even more vital element to the wine’s

amazing success.

“Making good wine is all about passion. You have to

have it because it’s extremely hard work, has little

financial reward and takes a long time to see the

results of your efforts. When I’m up all night during

vinification, alone and exhausted I think, ‘What am

I doing here?’ Then I see someone in a fabulous

London restaurant drinking and enjoying my wine.

Then I know.”

And it’s this sense of achievement that Hellyar is now

enjoying with consistent regularity as Chateau Civrac

enchants the most discerning of palates of some of the

world’s greatest chefs. Even Hellyar himself is still left

mildly flabbergasted by the incredible response his

wine has received and the places it has thus far taken

him, as he explains with charming exuberance.

“Making good wine is all

about passion. You have

to have it because it’s

extremely hard work,

has little financial reward,

and takes a long time

to see the results of

your efforts.”

Left: Cornishman Mark Hellyarnow supplies wine to some of

the UK’s top restaurants

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110 winter

“It’s a fantastic feeling. I often can’t believe it myself.

Perhaps the most surreal moment was sitting down

in La Gavroche with Michel Roux Jr drinking my

wine. It’s moments like this that makes all the

hard work, stress, sleepless nights and money

concerns worthwhile.”

For Hellyar, working with and learning from some

of the country’s top chefs and restaurants has been

one of the outstanding experiences of his winemaking

journey and it has also played an intricate part in

Chateau Civrac’s evolution.

“I love working with restaurants. My first break was

with chef Michael Caines at Gidleigh Park in Devon.

That was, for me, the first in a set of wonderful

encounters. I love seeing how my wine works with

food, what it works with, and what it doesn’t work

with. I use this to tweak my own winemaking process

and style.”

So, has working alongside giants of the culinary world

had an effect of Hellyar’s own ability in the kitchen?

With a huge smile he asserts confidently: “I think I’m

pretty handy in the kitchen. But I like food that is

simple and fast to prepare. Coming from Cornwall

we are lucky to have some of the best seafood in the

country. Fish is surely the ultimate fast food and you

do not need fancy sauces. One of the best things in

the world is a freshly caught mackerel on the BBQ.”

Clearly Hellyar is very proud of his Cornish roots and

despite his dedicated involvement in the production

of Chateau Civrac in Bordeaux, he remains based in

his native Cornwall. Being a UK resident he is keen

to highlight the wines being produced this side of the

channel, and offers some insight as to what he thinks

they should aspire to.

“There are some good wines being produced in the

UK, particularly white and sparkling white. I believe

a wine should reflect where it comes from, so a good

UK wine should be green and crisp because that’s

what the UK is like.”

However, despite his enthusiasm and support for UK

wine production, Hellyar has no intention of entering

into the arena himself, or indeed of expanding his

existing operation in Bordeaux.

“Chateau Civrac is small and it will remain so.

There is a limited supply and I think it would

be a mistake to attempt to expand it and expand

production. That’s when quality could be

compromised and that’s not something I’d ever

want to do.”

However, this isn’t to say that the charismatic

Cornishman hasn’t got his eyes set on another

vineyard venture elsewhere in France. “If Civrac

remains as successful, then I would love to repeat

the idea somewhere else. Maybe with a white

in Burgundy.”

We’ll certainly drink to that.

Main image: Hellyar has transformed the neglected 18thcentury chateau in Bordeaux into a successful boutique

winery. Below inset from left: Barrels in the ancient cellarsof Chateau Civrac; the beautiful setting of the Chateau


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112 winter

Claire Durkin takes a trip to Portugal’s exclusive resort, and golfing haven, Vale do Lobo

ALGARVE’SHOLE IN ONE

From a distance, the Algarve doesn’t bear much

resemblance to the rest of Portugal. For a start,

the landscape appears more North African than

European. Also, where are the cosmopolitan cities,

medieval castles and grand palaces? Rather, it is more

recognisable for its luxury apartments, stunning hotels

and world-class golf courses, which actually, is the

reason why you would want to be here in the first place.

To get to Vale do Lobo you will land at Faro

International Airport, which is just twenty minutes

away by car. Despite being the provincial capital of the

Algarve, Faro is largely ignored by tourists, who tend to

fly in, have their holiday somewhere else, and then fly

out again. This is a shame because if you take time to

look around, you will discover a wealth of historic and

cultural monuments, a picturesque old quarter, and

authentic restaurants, cafes and bars. So give it a chance

next time and soak it up.

Faro is largely ignored by

tourists, which is a shame

because if you take time to

look around, you will discover

a wealth of historic and

cultural monuments,

a picturesque old quarter,

and authentic restaurants,

cafes and bars.

I came here in order to visit the famous, and very

popular, Vale do Lobo, which is extra special as it was

the earliest development of its kind in the Algarve.

Even 48 years later, hats off to it for still being the

largest luxury resort of its kind. It is also still operated

by the same company.

Beautifully positioned on the wilder Atlantic coastline,

there is something about the rugged formation of the

ochre-coloured cliffs that makes them appear to have

been freshly revealed by nature.

Vale do Lobo was founded by Trust House Forte,

under the watchful eye of Sir Richard Costain in 1962,

but it was not until the resort had established a firm

foothold and its five star hotel, Dona Filipa, opened,

that Faro International Airport was built.

When construction began in the early sixties,

Vale do Lobo was actually an area of mature pine forest,

and the main inhabitants were farmers and fishermen.

Instead of removing all traces of the region’s heritage,

the designers had the vision to retain many examples of

lovely, indigenous architecture, and echoed the original

forests with the sympathetic planting of oleander,

bougainvillea, lavender and olive trees to complete

the picture.

In 1967, a Dutch entrepreneur called Sander van

Gelder was holidaying at Vale do Lobo. Wowed by

the beauty and character of the setting, and recognising

its potential, he bought the resort and set about

nurturing it into a truly unique holiday location.

Thirty five years later it is now a stunning 450 hectare

enterprise that is famous for being Europe’s finest golf

and beach resort, offering countless luxury facilities and

services in a breathtaking location.

Catering for sports lovers, relaxing spa breaks,

gourmands and sun worshippers, many of the resort’s

villas are privately owned, meaning that real estate is

a huge concern here. Vale do Lobo delivers a wide

Vale do Lobo OTB:Layout 1 21/10/10 14:42

winter 113

Main image: The breathtakingOcean Course at Vale do Lobo.

Inset from left: The Ocean Courseheads gently down the shores ofthe Atlantic; unspolit beaches arejust one of the highlights of Vale

do Lobo


114 winter

Clockwise from top left: The Royal Spapromises to be a revitalising renaissance

for mind, body and spirit; the Praca at Valedo Lobo; the resort delivers a wide

variety of properties from roomyapartments to luxury villas; The Royal

Spa at Vale do Lobo

variety of properties, from roomy studio apartments

through to truly magnificent, five bedroom detached

villas with private pools.

There are different styles of linked villas and

apartments ready to be purchased off-plan, from

classic design, to cutting-edge modern. Plots for

self-style build are still available and come with

a guiding hand throughout the whole project,

if so desired. By the way, in 2003 Vale do Lobo

won the “Best Luxury Development Worldwide,”

in Homes Overseas Awards, and the Portuguese

Tourism Gold Medal of Merit was awarded to

Chairman Sander van Gelder. As the longest

established development on the Algarve,

resort property values have demonstrated consistent

capital appreciation and continue to rise every year.

Vale do Lobo’s main attraction is sport, and it is home

to two challenging and beautiful golf courses, the

Royal and the Ocean, which have twice been host to

the Portuguese Open; a European PGA Tour event.

To get a better idea of the Royal Golf Course, which

opened in 1997, try to imagine rolling fairways set

amidst pine trees, and lakes flanked by an abundance

of wild flowers. Its features include the almost-island

green of the 9th, and the world famous 16th, whose

iconic cliff-top carryover (where players need to carry

the ball more than 200 metres over the spectacular

cliffs to reach the green), has become one of the most

celebrated golfing images in the world, and has

become the veritable symbol of golf in the Algarve.

The Ocean Golf Course features undulating fairways

which run alongside a nature reserve, before leading

down gently to the shores of the Atlantic.

Its emblematic holes are the challenging and

spectacular par 4, 11th and 14th, which treat golfers

to some of the most breathtaking views in the Algarve.

Then there’s the lovely par 3, 15th which runs parallel

to the beach.

While holidaying at Vale do Lobo you will be offered

a fifty per cent reduction on green fees, as well as

discounts on golf equipment, such as trolleys,

buggies and clubs. And for the less confident player,

there are golf lessons available to help rid you of your

divot tendencies, before you are set free on these

fabulous courses.

If tennis is more your style, the fantastic Roger Taylor

Tennis Centre, which was completed in 1980,

has 14 courts (ten of which are all weather and four

synthetic). This is one of the largest tennis facilities

in Portugal, (there are also a mini tennis and paddle

tennis courts), which attracts national and

international tennis fixtures, including an annual ATP

Seniors Tour competition: The Vale do Lobo Grand

Champions Caixa Geral de Depositos tournament.

The Tennis Academy runs a busy year-round

programme of individual and group coaching,

tournaments and social events for members and

holidaymakers. After you have thrashed it out on

the courts you can take a refreshing dip in the cool,

blue pool which is waiting for you round the corner.

You will probably be hungry after all that activity,

so help yourself to the selection of varied snacks and

meals on offer at the bar and restaurant.

You are supposed to be relaxing, so you must take

a visit to the spa. Wow, no wonder they describe it as

Absolute Wellbeing. I strongly advise you to give in

and succumb to the power of salt, water and nature,

the three essential elements that are the inspiration

behind The Royal Spa at Vale do Lobo: “A revitalizing

renaissance for mind, body and spirit.”

Integrated in the Vale do Lobo Wellness Centre are

several outstanding facilities, including The Royal Spa

which offers a diverse range of treatments and holistic

therapies, and specialises in many excellent massage

types, drawing on old and new techniques and

featuring the latest technologies.

So, what else have we? Apart from the activities to

keep the active active, and the spa, don’t forget that

gorgeous beach, which is meticulously maintained

and runs for two kilometres along this lovely coastline.

Then there are the restaurants, 15 in total,

ranging from French to Asian. I had a superb

dinner at La Place and recommend it highly.

All in all, Vale do Lobo really does offer something for

everyone, in a classy setting which includes all the

ingredients for a great holiday. Enjoy!

Indicative property values at Vale do Lobo:

Studios from €256,000

Apartments from €693,000

Townhouses from €695,000

Linked villas from €925,000

Plots for custom designed villas from €1,150,000


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Steinway_OTB:Layout 1 16/9/10 13:16 Page 1

Sofa Design OTB Summer:Layout 1 5/10/10 11:23 Page 1

inhouse winter 2010 edition

Documents

food drinkwine

exclusive interview

local area

cream worldwide

portugals exclusive

golng haven

instructions andsales

selection of properties