GORDON RAMSAY Christmas with Britains most successful chef

DAME KIRI TE KANAWA On singing her way to stardom WAYNE EAGLING The head of English National Ballet gives the season a shake-up

December 08

Mayfair Times
now in its 22nd year

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www.mayfairtimes.co.uk

Contents

17 Pump it up
The English National Ballet goes head to head with the Royal Ballet this Christmas with Manon

26 Operatic heights
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa on the secrets of her success

Cover
Interview with Gordon Ramsay. Photo from Cooking For Friends (HarperCollins). See page 22

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6 News
Kelly Brook, Sugababes and McFly help light up London

40 Fashion
Forget the LBD and see red

11 Events
All you need to feel festive, from carol concerts to ice-skating

42 Business
The Purdey shotgun: gentlemans jewellery, or work of art?

Editor Selma Day T 020 7259 1052 E selma@pubbiz.com Art Sophie Bishop Business, Personal finance Erik Brown Events Lucy Brown Fashion, Food & drink, Health & beauty Selma Day Property, Theatre Nuala Calvi Sub-editor Nuala Calvi Designer Andy Lowe Publisher & editorial director Erik Brown T 020 7259 1053 E erik.brown@pubbiz.com Publishing director Adrian Day Advertisement director Sam Bradshaw T 020 7259 1051 Advertisement manager Katie Thomas T 020 7259 1059 Sales manager, special projects Mellony Carr T 020 7259 1054 Printed in England by Precision Colour Printing. Publishing Business Ltd 2008 Mayfair Times is produced by Publishing Business in partnership with Grosvenor Publishing Business Blandel Bridge House 56 Sloane Square London SW1W 8AX T 020 7259 1050 F 020 7901 9042
Publishing Business is a member of the Periodical Publishers Association and observes the PPA Code of Publishing Practice

20 Art
Robert Polidori documents the Palace of Versailles

46 Personal finance
Drown your credit crunch sorrows and invest in fine wine

31 Gifts
Hampers to hanker after and presents with panache

54 Property
The multimillion-pound deals that are still being done in Mayfair, despite the housing slump

34 Food & drink

Top chefs do Christmas dinner. Plus: wines to go with the turkey

56 Interiors
Deck your home with decorations, from designer to high street

39 Health & beauty

Our choice of perfumes for that perfect Christmas present

58 Meanderings
A secret West End river once boasted Londons best salmon fishing, finds Erik Brown

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news

Shopping expedition
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC has opened its first global retail store on Regent Street. Set across three floors, the ecofriendly design features interactive visual displays aimed at stimulating, educating and inspiring visitors to celebrate global cultures. Customers can buy products including clothes, footwear, watches, home furnishings and hand crafted items sourced from global artisans. Theres also an exhibition area, auditorium, tapas caf, photography studio and travel desk where visitors can book expeditions and tours. In the auditorium there will be free film screenings and public lectures from some of National Geographics most renowned explorers, authors and photographers, while the exhibition hall has a rotating showcase of curated exhibits.

Colour collection
MOUNT STREET-BASED hair colourist Jo Hansford has brought out her own range of hair products. Colour Care is a capsule collection of three shampoos, two conditioners and two intensive treatment masques. Specially formulated for colour-treated hair, it uses natural ingredients and is paraben-free. The Colour Care range (14-20) is available from the salon at 19 Mount Street or online at www.johansford.com

A fragrant brew Fashionable flats

BEN DE LISI has announced he is to turn his hand to luxury flats. The fashion designer will create the interior of a three-bedroom garden duplex in Mayfair for Grosvenor, inspired by 1950s glamour, which will be on the rental market next summer. De Lisi said: This is a fantastic opportunity to create a stunning luxury contemporary home within a classical period setting. Tim Reade, investment director for Grosvenors Mayfair portfolio, added: Bens involvement in this project is a unique opportunity to translate the contemporary elegance of his design into the interiors world. PERFUMER LYN HARRIS has collaborated with tea specialist Timothy dOffay of Postcard Teas in Dering Street to launch her own range of fragrant teas, based on a selection of black and oolong teas. Harris has added some of her favourite natural essences to create the blends which, like her perfumes, are composed of top, heart and base notes. Customers can enjoy her Th Bergamot, Th Ptales and Th Fum in the fragrant tea room at the back of the Miller Harris store at 21 Bruton Street with miniature cakes that echo the natural ACTRESS AND MODEL Kelly Brook (pictured) switched on this years Bond Street lights for Bond Nol a spectacular shopping event in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity. The festivities included reindeer, Christmas trees, carol singers, entertainers, musicians and snow falling the length of Bond Street, with rickshaw sleighs on hand to whisk shoppers to and from their favourite designer stores. Meanwhile, on Oxford Street, 50,000 GROSVENOR HAS signed an agreement with Streetcar to give selected residents in short-let properties in Mayfair free membership to the car club. It has given Streetcar a dedicated parking space in Three Kings Yard, just off Davies Street the car clubs first street level parking space in Mayfair. Streetcar provides a flexible and costeffective alternative to car ownership. Members can book a car by phone or online as little as a minute in advance and use a smartcard to unlock the vehicle remotely. The service is being trialled by Grosvenor for six months and, if successful, will be rolled out more widely next year. people gathered outside House of Fraser to see the Sugababes push the button for the Christmas lights, with The X Factor finalists. And over on Regent Street, pop group McFly did the honours, transforming the street into a constellation of white stars. The crowd was treated to a performance by the band and a selection of songs from the London Community Gospel Choir. essences of the teas. The tea room is open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5.30pm.

Singing for supper

NANCY DELLOLIO (above), Angus Deayton and Henry Conway were among guests at this years Terrence Higgins Trust Supper Club. The event, which raised 70,000 for the HIV charity, saw 45 chic dinner parties take place simultaneously in some of the capitals homes and top restaurants including Nobu Berkeley, Benares, Cecconis, China Tang and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. After dinner, guests were treated to an exclusive performance by singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Caf de Paris.

Lights up for Christmas

Wonder stuff
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG (pictured, with Nicky Haslam) launched her new Wonder Womaninspired collection with an evening of cocktails and entertainment at her Bruton Street store. Guests were treated to an exhibition of The Adventures of Diva, Viva & Fifa a limited-edition comic series featuring the work of Konstantin Kakanias. A portion of the nights proceeds went to Vital Voices, an organisation committed to empowering women worldwide.

Smart moves

A month
in Mayfair

AROUND 2,500 GUESTS witnessed a dramatic night at the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square as Barack Obama was elected the first black president of the US. Political figures rubbed shoulders with celebrities and pop stars at the event, hosted by Ambassador Robert Tuttle.

STUART STOCKDALE has been appointed design director of Jaeger. A graduate from Central St Martins and the Royal College of Art, Stockdale has previously worked at Romeo Gigli, Pringle and JeanPaul Gaultier.
JAEGER AUTUMN/WINTER

ORIGINAL SWISS ARMY brand Victorinox opened its European flagship store at 95-96 New Bond Street. Guests attending the launch included Strictly Come Dancing contestant Jodie Kidd (pictured), Jasmine Guinness and Matthew Pinsent.

SIR DAVID ARCULUS has been announced as the new chairman of the Royal Institution in Albemarle Street. Sir David has previously served at Emap and O2 and as chairman of the governments Better Regulation Task Force. The Ri recently emerged from a 22 million refurbishment.

BOND STREET threw a VIP party for Breast Cancer Care as part of the Shop Pink campaign, which saw worldfamous luxury brands join forces to raise money for the charity. Benares chef Atul Kochhar provided canaps at the event, hosted by DKNY with music and bar by Mahiki.

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news

Game on
CHEF RICHARD CORRIGAN has opened his new restaurant Corrigans of Mayfair at 90 Park Lane, with a separate entrance at 28 Upper Grosvenor Street. The food menu is British/Irish with an emphasis on game and wild fish, while the 280-bin wine list, devised by head sommelier Andrea Briccarello (previously of Umu and Bentleys Oyster Bar & Grill), focuses on organic and bio-dynamic producers. The restaurant offers a set lunch menu (23.50 for three courses, 19.50 for two, including wine) and full la carte at the bar. To book, call 020 7499 9943.

Hidden talent
A SPECIAL EVENT showcasing the talents of six silent stars behind some of the UKs most successful fashion and textiles brands took place recently at Sohos Hospital Club. Among those featured in the Behind the Seams exhibition were Su Pointing, a pattern cutter for Jasper Conran, Mitch Allender from Mulberry and Ginny Seals (pictured), a coat maker with Savile Row tailor Henry Poole. The event was the culmination of a three-month campaign organised by Skillfast-UK, the Sector Skills Council for fashion and textiles, to find the industrys top 50 hidden heroes.

Oh, what a night

THE JERSEY BOYS IN ACTION

THE HILTON Foundation Ball at the London Hilton on Park Lane has raised 375,000, half of which will go to the Disability Sports Trust, an initiative of the Lords Taverners. More than 750 guests were present to see Christopher Biggins run the

charity auction and raffle at the event, which included a champagne reception and four-course gourmet dinner. Entertainment was provided by stars of the West End show Jersey Boys, and children from the Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone.

News in brief
A COLLECTION OF JEWELLERY formerly owned by Hollywood screen icon Deborah Kerr will go on sale at Bonhams in New Bond Street on December 4. It includes her diamond three-stone engagement ring (pictured), from her first marriage to Squadron Leader Anthony Charles Bartley, which is expected to fetch 20,000-25,000. Also on sale at The Art of Jewels event is an 18th century diamond, ruby and emerald ring belonging to the actress Vivien Leigh. FABULOUS FROCKS (Pavilion, 25), by Sarah Gristwood and Jane Eastoe, looks at 100 years of amazing dresses. From Grs draping to Diors New Look, Mary Quants mini to Coco Chanels Little Black Dress, the book pays homage to the most important fashion moments and most inventive designers of the 20th century. Pictured right: Vivienne Westwood (2006/2007). THE DORCHESTER has won a prestigious Westminster in Bloom award for its front garden. Created by head florist Belinda Bowles, the garden won first place for summer design.

Chocolate Tea menu (45). Along with classic tea sandwiches, guests are treated to chocolate brioche with praline filling, chocolate chip scones, chocolate macaroons with caramel, chocolate nougatine tarts and a creamy hot chocolate drink topped with vanilla Chantilly. To book, call 020 7493 8181.

SMIRNOFF BLACK BOUTIQUE Barbers and Hugo Boss are offering a grooming service at the Hugo Boss store in Regent Street from December 4-6. After being seated in a sleek, traditional leather barbers chair, customers will be served a Smirnoff Black Collins, before having a traditional shave and moisturising treatment. The service is 15 for 15 minutes.

LONDONS WEST END is Europes leading shopping destination, according to research by Experian. The capital beat Paris, Madrid and Berlin.

THE RITZ has CANADA DAY twist LAST YEARS added a new to afternoon tea IN TRAFALGAR a CELEBRATIONS by introducing

NEWS Selma Day

selma@pubbiz.com

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Ice rink and Christmas fair Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7. Monday to Sunday, 10am-10pm, late night and early morning sessions to be announced on the website. Children (12 and under) 8.50 peak/8 off-peak, adults 13 peak/11.50 off-peak, family ticket (two adults and two children or one adult and three children) 34.50 peak/31 off-peak, concessions 10.50 off-peak only. Runs until January 18. Skate on the museums beautiful ice rink, sit at the caf bar with a glass of mulled wine or a hot chocolate, or do some shopping at the Christmas fair, with 25 chalets selling toys, jewellery and more. Info: 0844 847 1577 www.nhmskating.com Winter Wonderland Hyde Park, 10am-10pm daily, free admission, charge for attractions. MONDAY 15 The Art of Christmas The Air Gallery, 32 Dover Street, W1, 11am-6.30pm, free admission. Runs until December 20. Christmas-themed artwork from past and contemporary artists, exhibited by Books Illustrated, including Peter Malones illustrations to this years The Nutcracker (pictured), published by Orion. Info: 020 7409 1255 www.booksillustrated.com www.airgallery.co.uk

Runs until January 4. Festive entertainment including Londons biggest open-air ice rink, a giant 50m observation wheel, the Ice Palace Mirror Maze, Haunted House, Giant Toboggan Snow Slide and

traditional rides. The German Market offers arts and crafts stalls and food and drink. Info: 0844 847 1771 (tickets for ice rink and giant wheel) hydeparkwinterwonderland.com The Dreamers of Inishdara Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, SW1. MondaySaturday 7.30pm, matinees Saturday 3pm, tickets 22, 16 concessions. Runs until December 13. A romantic comedy set in present day County Galway about a halfhuman, half-fairy girl who decides to intervene in the world of human affairs. Info: 020 7287 2875 www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk THURSDAY 4 Grays Christmas party 58 Davies Street & 1-7 Davies Mews, W1. 5pm-8pm, admission free by invitation call the number below. Late night Christmas shopping party at Grays. Enjoy some festive entertainment while exploring the antiques and jewellery. Info: 020 7629 7034 www.graysantiques.com

THURSDAY 4 Christmas tree lighting ceremony Trafalgar Square, WC2, 6pm. The traditional Norwegian Christmas Tree will be lit in Trafalgar Square, starting with carol singing led by the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields. The tree is a gift from the Norwegian people in gratitude for Britains support in the Second World War. The Lord Mayor of Westminster and the Mayor of Oslo will light the tree, which will be a focus of celebrations throughout the Christmas season, with groups singing carols from December 819, 5pm-9pm, until the tree is taken down for recycling on January 5. The Caf on the Square will be serving seasonal treats. Info: 020 7983 4100 london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare

FIONA HANSON / PA WIRE

SATURDAY 6 Shop West End VIP Day Oxford Street and Regent Street, 12pm-5pm, stores open until 9pm. On Shop West End VIP (Very Important Pedestrian) Day, Oxford Street and Regent Street will be traffic-free, with entertainment including live music, street performers, Victorian characters, breakdancing Santas and celebrity appearances. Info: 020 7462 0680 www.westendvip.com SUNDAY 7 West End Family Day Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, W1,12pm-6pm. The traffic may be back, but there will be events, entertainment, games and in-store offers. Info: 020 7462 0680 www.westendvip.com Belgravia Christmas Special Shopping Sunday Elizabeth Street, Motcomb Street and Pimlico Road, SW1, 11am4pm. Special Christmas shopping day in Belgravia, with free rickshaw rides, street entertainers, carol

singers, Father Christmas and seasonal food tastings. Dedication of the crib Trafalgar Square, WC2. A torchlit procession will start at 5.20pm from St Martin-in-the-Fields. Dedication of the crib provided by the Vicar of St Martin-in-theFields, featuring figures inspired by cultures from around the world, from Japanese artist Tomoaki Suzuki. The ceremony starts with a torch-lit procession led by the Salvation Army Band with the choir and clergy of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Info: 020 7983 4100 london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare WEDNESDAY 17 Important Jewels Sothebys London, 34-35 New Bond Street, W1. Time TBA. Sale of jewellery by top contemporary artists and jewellers. As part of the sale, a selection will be offered to raise money from the NSPCC, including pieces by Anish Kapoor, Louise Bourgeois, Subodh Gupta and Damien Hirst. Info: 020 7293 5000 www.sothebys.com

St Jamess Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, W1. 11am. With the Revd Hugh Valentine. Info: 020 7734 4511 www.st-james-piccadilly.org SATURDAY 13 Christ Church Mayfair, Down Street, W1. 10.30am. Carols around the tree a mixture of carols and games for families. Info: 020 7629 5885 www.christchurchmayfair.org

The Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, W1. 11am Sung Eucharist. With Canon Mark Oakley, Priestin-Charge. Music includes Gabriel Faurs Messe Basse and Orlando Gibbonss This is the Record of John and Fantasia of Four Parts. Info: 020 7499 1684 www.grosvenorchapel.org.uk St Jamess Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, W1. 11am. With the Revd Lindsay Meader. Info: 020 7734 4511 www.st-james-piccadilly.org

The Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, W1. 11am Sung Eucharist. With Fr Dayton Dewey, Associate Priest. Music includes John Taverners The Western Wind Mass, Robert Parsonss Ave Maria and JS Bachs Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme. www.grosvenorchapel.org.uk St Jamess Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, W1. 11am, 6pm. With the Revd Charles Hedley at 11am, Festival of Lessons and Carols at 6pm. Info: 020 7734 4511 www.st-james-piccadilly.org

The Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, W1. 11am, details TBA. www.grosvenorchapel.org.uk St Jamess Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, W1. 11am. With the Revd Hugh Valentine. Info: 020 7734 4511 www.st-james-piccadilly.org SUNDAY 28 Christ Church Mayfair, Down Street, W1. 10.15am. New Years resolutions. Info: 020 7629 5885 www.christchurchmayfair.org

St Jamess Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, W1. 11.30pm midnight Mass of the Nativity. With the Revd Charles Hedley. Info: 020 7734 4511 www.st-james-piccadilly.org THURSDAY 25 CHRISTMAS DAY Christ Church Mayfair, Down Street, W1. 10.15am.

EVENTS Lucy Brown

lucy.brown@pubbiz.com

whats on church services

SUNDAY 7 The Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, W1. 11am Sung Eucharist. With Fr Dayton Dewey, Associate Priest. Music includes GP da Palestrinas Missa Brevis, Thomas Talliss Audivi Vocem de Coelo and JS Bachs Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland. www.grosvenorchapel.org.uk

SUNDAY 14 Christ Church Mayfair, Down Street, W1. 10.15am. Imaging Christmas the Christmas story told through fine art. Info: 020 7629 5885 www.christchurchmayfair.org

SUNDAY 21 Christ Church Mayfair, Down Street, W1. 10.15am. Family carol service. Info: 020 7629 5885 www.christchurchmayfair.org

WEDNESDAY 24 CHRISTMAS EVE The Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, W1. 11pm carols for choir and congregation, 11.30pm midnight Mass by candlelight. With Canon Mark Oakley, Priestin-Charge. Music includes Haydn, Giovanni Gabrieli and JS Bach. www.grosvenorchapel.org.uk

Christmas service. Info: 020 7629 5885 www.christchurchmayfair.org

whats on events

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SATURDAY 6 Christmas Celebration by Candlelight St Jamess Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, W1. 7.30pm, tickets 18, 12 from St Martin-in-theFields box office, 020 7766 1100. The Belmont Ensemble of London English Chamber Choir perform music including Christmas Music from Handels Messiah, Vaughan Williamss Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Vivaldis Winter from the Four Seasons and Corellis Christmas Concerto, plus carols for the choir, audience, organ and orchestra. Conducted by Peter G Dyson and Guy Protheroe, with baritone James Lawrence and violinist Anna Bradley. Info: 020 7766 1100 www.smitf.org www.st-james-piccadilly.org WEDNESDAY 10 Carols by Candlelight Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, W1. 7pm, tickets 25. The Capital Childrens Choir sing carols to raise money for homeless young people. Radio 5 Live presenter Shelagh Fogarty and actor Timothy Ackroyd give readings. Refreshments provided. Info: 020 7939 1276 www.depaultrust.org/carolconcert SATURDAY 13 Christmas Spectacular The Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, W1. 7.30pm, tickets 12, 8 concessions, available on the door or contact Suzannah on 07977 066 040, or buy online from www.vocechamberchoir.org.uk. Candlelit Christmas choral concert by the Voce Chamber Choir,

whats on music

directed by Susan Digby Eatwell OBE of Last Choir Standing fame. www.grosvenorchapel.org.uk www.vocechamberchoir.org.uk Christmas concert St Jamess Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, W1. 7.30pm, tickets 14, 12 concessions. The Choir of Royal Holloway University of London and the Royal College of Music Baroque Orchestra perform Handels Messiah (part one) and the Hallelujah Chorus and Bachs Christmas Oratorio (parts 1 and 3). Info: 020 7734 4511 www.st-james-piccadilly.org SUNDAY 14 Handel House Singers: Georgian Christmas Carols Handel House Museum, 25 Brook Street, W1. Handel House coaching sessions 10am sopranos, 11am altos, 12.15pm tenors and basses, rehearsal at the Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, W1, 3pm, glass of wine for participants 5.15pm, 6pm public performance. 15, 12 to participate, 3 admission to public performance. Join the Handel House Singers in a singing session of Georgian Christmas carols, concluding in a public performance. The day will be led and conducted by historical performance specialist and harpsichord player Laurence Cummings, who will coach each vocal section in the morning at Handel House and then invite the choir to join him and members of the Linden Baroque Orchestra for a full rehearsal at Grosvenor Chapel at 3pm, followed by a WEDNESDAY 31 New Years Eve Party with Ruby Turner The Pigalle Club, 215 Piccadilly, W1. Doors 7pm, onstage 10.30pm, tickets 100 dinner and show. Tickets can also be purchased from the venue. Singer Ruby Turner performs at a special New Years Eve celebration. Info: 0800 988 5470 (reservations), 0871 230 0010 (See Tickets) www.vpmg.net/pigalle/ public performance at 6pm. Info: 020 7495 1685 www.handelhouse.org Duncan James The Pigalle Club, 215 Piccadilly, W1. Doors 7pm, onstage 9pm, 20 show. Tickets can also be purchased from the venue foyer. Duncan James, former singer with the boy band Blue and since seen in TVs Dancing on Ice and the hit musical Chicago, performs. Info: 0800 988 5470 (reservations), 0871 230 0010 (See Tickets) www.vpmg.net/pigalle/ TUESDAY 16 Boy George The Pigalle Club, 215 Piccadilly, W1. Doors 7pm, onstage 9pm, tickets 95 dinner and show, 45 show only. Also running on December 17. Iconic singer and songwriter Boy George performs. Info: 0800 988 5470 (reservations), 0871 230 0010 (See Tickets) www.vpmg.net/pigalle/ WEDNESDAY 17 Fanfare for Christmas St Jamess Piccadilly, 197

Piccadilly, W1. 7pm, tickets 12 on the door or in advance from Phab on 020 8667 9443, jan.clifford@phab.org.uk. Christmas carols and festive music for the choir and audience, with the London Orpheus Choir and celebrity guests. Info: 020 8667 9443 www.st-james-piccadilly.org THURSDAY 18 Family Christmas concert St Jamess Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, W1. 5pm, tickets 8 adults, 2 children. The London Oriana Choir leads music for the whole family to join in with. Info: 020 7734 4511 www.st-james-piccadilly.org SATURDAY 20 Carol concert St Jamess Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, W1. Afternoon concert 5pm, tickets 10, 8 concessions, evening concert 7.30pm, tickets 16, 14 concessions. Carols for choir and audience, with Christmas readings and instrumental solos, lead by the Orpheus Singers and Players. Conducted by John Landor. Info: 020 7734 4511, sjp.concerts@virgin.net www.st-james-piccadilly.org WEDNESDAY 31 New Years Eve Concert Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, W1. 7pm, tickets 32, 28, 24, 18. The Kings Consort perform a programme of Bach music. Info: 020 7935 2141 (box office) wigmore-hall.org.uk

TUESDAY 16 Royal Opera House: Humperdincks Hansel Und Gretel Curzon Mayfair, 38 Curzon Street, W1. 7.20pm, tickets 20, 19 concessions, 17.50 Curzon members, 5 children, royal box: 160, 140 Curzon members. Moshe Leiser and Patrice Cauriers new production of this operatic fairy tale stars Diana Damrau, Angelika Kirchschlager, Thomas Allen, Anja Silja, and Elizabeth Connell. Conducted by Sir Colin Davis. Running time 105 mins, one interval. Info: 020 7495 0501 (recorded info), 0871 703 3989 (box office) www.curzoncinemas.com SATURDAY 20 Met Opera Live: Massenets Thas Curzon Mayfair, 38 Curzon Street, W1. 5pm, tickets: 25, 20 concessions, 17.50 Curzon members and under-15s, royal box 200, 160 Curzon members (call 020 7495 0503). Book any

whats on film

five operas in the season for 112.50, concessions 87.50, members and under-15s 75. New York Metropolitan Opera performs a new production by John Cox of Massenets Thas, with Rene Fleming as the Egyptian courtesan in search of

spiritual sustenance and Thomas Hampson as the monk who falls from grace. Conducted by Jess Lpez-Cobos. Running time 201 mins, two intervals. Info: 020 7495 0501 (recorded info), 0871 703 3989 (box office) www.curzoncinemas.com

SUNDAY 28 Royal Opera House: Tchaikovskys The Nutcracker Curzon Mayfair, 38 Curzon Street, W1. 7.20pm, tickets 20, 19 concessions, 17.50 Curzon members, 5 children, royal box:

160, 140 Curzon members. Peter Wrights production of the seasonal favourite, conducted by Koen Kessels. Running time 140 mins, one interval. Info: 020 7495 0501 (recorded info), 0871 703 3989 (box office) www.curzoncinemas.com

BRIEF ENCOUNTER SHOWS ON DECEMBER 21, 27 AND 29

SATURDAY 20 Winter Warmers Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Mall, SW1. Tickets 8, 7 concessions, 6 ICA members, before 5pm Monday-Thursday: 7, 6 concessions, 5 ICA members, 5 for everyone all day Monday. Contact the venue for screening times. Runs until December 30. A season of favourite films running over the Christmas period. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (December 29-30), The London Nobody Knows (December 20-21, 27-30) screening with Together (December 20-21, 27) or Every Day Except Christmas (December 29-30), Casablanca (December 23, 28, 30), All About Eve (December 22, 29), Brief Encounter (December 21, 27, 29), Its a Wonderful Life (December 2223, 27) and The 39 Steps (December 20, 28, 30). Info: 020 7930 0493, 020 7930 3647 (box office) www.ica.org.uk

EVENTS Lucy Brown lucy.brown@pubbiz.com

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Pump it up
T
his Christmas heralds a first in the ballet world: the premiere of the English National Ballets Manon. The tragic tale of a young woman torn between her true love for the student Des Grieux and a life of comfort as the kept woman of the rich Monsieur GM, Manon is renowned for being one of the most passionate and grown-up full-length ballets in the repertory, and is rarely off the programme of world-class companies from the Royal Ballet to the Kirov. But up until now, Manon considered by many to be the masterpiece of acclaimed choreographer Kenneth MacMillan has been conspicuous by its absence from ENB over the course of the companys 58-year history. I think it has always been associated in everyones minds with the Royal Ballet, because MacMillan created it for them in the seventies, explains ENB artistic director Wayne Eagling. And theres always been a rivalry between the two companies, so weve never done it here before. But I think my dancers deserve to do this great piece, and I think its time. Having made his name at the Royal Ballet as a young dancer, Eagling is uniquely placed to accomplish this coup. He was, in fact, in the first ever cast of Manon, as a mere lad of 23. I was one of the three dancing gentlemen, which is a demisoloist role, he recalls. So when Kenneth was creating the ballet, my partner and I were in all the rehearsals, and occasionally hed say, What are you two doing there at the back? That looks interesting. Quite a lot of things we were fiddling around with became part of the choreography, which was a great honour. Eagling later went on to play Des Grieux himself, opposite Antoinette Sibley, and MacMillan subsequently created roles in numerous ballets for him, including Triad and Gloria. Kenneth could be difficult he was very demanding about what he wanted, recalls Eagling, of the late choreographer. But one of the joys at the Royal Ballet was when the list went up for a new MacMillan ballet and your name was on it. At the time MacMillan created Manon, he was artistic director of the company, and was keen to continue the tradition of making full-length ballets while progressing the artform in a more modern direction. He didnt want ballets that were about fairies and sprites and princesses, but real people, says Eagling. With a story encompassing everything from rape to death,

WITH LOVE, LUST, SEX AND DEATH, MANON MAKES FOR A RATHER MORE RACY CHOICE OF CHRISTMAS BALLET. AND ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET ARE CLAIMING IT FOR THEMSELVES. BY NUALA CALVI

Manon certainly does that. It initially received mixed reviews from the press, but was loved by the public. Now, the critics have caught up with public opinion, and the ballet is considered a classic of the 20th century to rival those of the 19th. It has also proved to be a piece that is loved by ballerinas. Over the years the title role has been taken by the likes of Darcey Bussell and Sylvie Guillem. Its one of the roles the ballerinas really fight for its considered one of best in the repertory, says Eagling. Every famous ballerina in the last 20 years has longed for it. Its partly because it gives opportunities for the principal dancers to really show something extraordinary. Theres a lot of the girl being thrown in the air its very acrobatic and very thrilling. But its also a very good acting role for the prima ballerina. She has to first of all portray a young, innocent girl and then

theatre

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theatre

For people who dont see much ballet and would normally play it safe, I would say, take a step into the unknown because Manon really is the most fantastic ballet Wayne Eagling, ENB

show, through her dancing, the story of her decline her temptation by money and jewels and finally, the realisation that actually there are more important things in the end. Eaglings production features Agnes Oaks as Manon, dancing with her real-life husband, Thomas Edur. She is retiring this year, but stayed on especially because Manon is coming into the rep and she wanted to do it, says Eagling. The decision to programme Manon at the Coliseum this Christmas is made even more intriguing because it will coincide with a revival of the Royal Ballet version; Eagling insists, however, that he programmed his Manon first. When I was given permission by Deborah MacMillan to do it, I checked very carefully that they werent performing it so there wouldnt be a clash, he says. I made all my programme, and lo and behold the Royal Ballet put it into their repertory! I think itll be interesting for the London ballet public to see different dancers and different productions and therell be a lot of interest in our Manon in particular, with people wondering how were going to do it. Celebrating his third Christmas at the helm of what he calls the peoples ballet, Eagling is keen to emphasise that his will be a more modern, pared-down production than that of the Royal Ballet one that will let the choreography speak for itself. The Covent Garden production is terribly lush and opulent lots of browns and oranges, whereas ours is designed by a Swedish designer, so its more Northern blues and blacks, he says. Hes also proud of the fact that, unlike the Royal Ballet, Manon is at the London Coliseum until January 11. ENBs tradition of touring means that it will be seen in the regions. It has already had standing ovations in Oxford, Southampton and Manchester. Sitting alongside ENB Christmas staple The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty in this seasons programme, Manon is a rather more sophisticated choice than its sugar-coated companions. But Eagling urges London ballet-goers who havent seen Manon before and certainly wont have seen an ENB production of it to give it a try. Of course its wonderful to see the Christmas staples I never get bored of classics like Swan Lake, he says. But for people who dont see much ballet the rest of the year and would normally play it safe, I would say, take a step into the unknown because Manon really is the most fantastic ballet. nuala@pubbiz.com

PHOTO: OLIVER LIM

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Palatial splendour
TV SANTHOSH, COUNTING DOWN 2008

FOR 25 YEARS the architectural photographer Robert Polidori has documented the transformation of the Palace of Versailles, charting its development from symbol and heart of Ancient Regime France to a monument to modern day museumification. Polidoris rich works capture the 18th century court paintings, sculptures and decorative elements set against the crumbling walls of Frances greatest chateau. Juxtaposing the past and the present, the images reveal the ambiguity involved in any restoration project: what happens to a room or structure when the old is made new? A selection of these images is now on show at Flowers Central, 21 Cork Street until January 3. Tel: 020 7439 7788.

ON LOAN FROM THE FRANK COHEN COLLECTION

Apocalyptic artwork

THE SECOND PART of the Royal Academys art season GSK Contemporary kicks off on December 16. Entitled Collision Course, the three-part exhibition brings together works by international emerging and established artists. Downstairs there is Sudden White, which opens with a vast painting of a postapocalyptic London, followed by film and video works from a huge selection of international artists such as Cyprien Gaillard, Linda Weiss and Guido van de Werve. Upstairs, a project entitled Burroughs Live aims to establish the presence of American novelist, film maker, social critic, painter and spoken word performer William Burroughs. Footage of Burroughs own performances and films including Thanksgiving Prayer and Tower Opens Fire are shown alongside Burroughs collaborations with artists such as George Condo and Keith Haring and portraits by Robert Mapplethorpe, Annie Leibovitz, David Hockney and Damien Hirst. A new film work by artist Malcolm McLaren, entitled Shallow, is also being screened. Elsewhere, recently-acquired works from the Frank Cohen Collection are on display. Entitled Dark Materials, the body of works evokes the aftermath of destruction, from Banks Violettes burnt-out framework of a church to Indian artist TV Santhoshs installation Counting Down, which eerily
LEIBOVITZS WILLIAM S BURROUGHS, 1995
ANNIE LEIBOVITZ

Titian extends his stay

TITIANS DIANA AND ACTAEONS visit to the National Gallery has been extended to December 14 due to popular demand. The 16th century masterpiece is on display at the gallery as part of the campaign to raise 50 million by the end of this year in order to secure the long-term future of the Bridgewater loan of Old Master paintings. The campaign is a joint venture between The National Gallery, London and The National Galleries of Scotland. So far, 10 million has been granted from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and 1 million awarded by The Art Fund. Should the campaign be successful, the two galleries will be offered the option to buy the paintings pendent Diana and Callisto at a later date for a similar amount. The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square. Tel: 020 7747 2885.

Estate of the nation

HAUNCH OF VENISON is bidding farewell to its current gallery space with an exhibition of works by British artist Keith Coventry. Painting and Sculpture: Part I Early Works is the first of a two-part exhibition on Coventry and brings together early signature works such as White Abstracts and History Paintings. Central to the exhibition is the series Estates, which reinterprets maps found at the entrances to housing estates as images reminiscent of Malevichs Supremacist paintings, highlighting the gulf between the idealism of Modernism and its legacies. Painting and Sculpture: Part I Early Works runs from December 10 to January 31 at Haunch of Venison, 6 Haunch of Venison Yard. Tel: 020 7495 5050. Haunch of Venison temporarily relocates to 6 Burlington Gardens in February 2009.

counts down the final moments to catastrophic disaster. If this all sounds too gloomy for a dark winters day, then head to the on site Art Bar, which is showing its own programme of artist-led performances and exhibitions from a mix of London-based artists. Or, if you can get a table, settle in at the criticallyacclaimed, pop-up restaurant FLASH, run by East End eatery Bistrotheque. GSK Contemporary runs until January 19 at The Royal Academy of Arts, 6 Burlington Gardens. Tel: 020 7300 8000.

art events

DECEMBER 3-20 Mark Shields: Colloquy New figurative pastel and charcoals on canvas by Irish artist Mark Shields his first with the gallery for two years. Grosvenor Gallery, 21 Ryder Street. Tel: 020 7484 7979. UNTIL DECEMBER 20 Julian Rosefeldt: The Ship of Fools New film installation plus two large-scale photographs by Julian Rosefeldt. Max Wigram Gallery, 99 New Bond Street. Tel: 020 7495 4960.

UNTIL DECEMBER 20 Ian Wallace New works exploring the interplay between form and content, by the pioneer of photo conceptualism, Ian Wallace. Hauser & Wirth, 196a Piccadilly. Tel: 020 7287 2300. UNTIL DECEMBER 23 Food A selection of photographs by Irving Penn dating from the late 1940s through to 2000, in the first exclusive exhibition of his food still lifes. Hamiltons, 13 Carlos Place. Tel: 020 7499 9493.

UNTIL JANUARY 10 Tom Wesselmann: Journeys into the Landscape Exploring pop artist Tom Wesselmanns engagement with the rural American landscape. Bernard Jacobson Gallery, 6 Cork Street. Tel: 020 7734 3431. UNTIL JANUARY 18 Renaissance Faces: Van Eyck to Titian A landmark exhibition exploring the dramatic rise of portraiture in the Renaissance, through the great Masters of Northern and Southern Europe.

The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square. Tel: 020 7747 2885. UNTIL JANUARY 23 Oleg Vassiliev Recent Work New landscape paintings by Russian artist Oleg Vassiliev. Faggionato, 49 Albemarle Street. Tel: 020 7409 7979. UNTIL JANUARY 24 Garry Fabian Miller: Time Passage The largest exhibition ever staged in London of cameraless photographs by Fabian Miller. James Hyman Gallery, 5 Savile Row.

Tel: 020 7494 3857. UNTIL JANUARY 30 Frans Hals: St Mark. A painting in focus Monographic exhibition of a rare Evangelist painting by Frans Hals, recently acquired by Colnaghi. Colnaghi, 15 Old Bond Street. Tel: 020 7491 7408. UNTIL FEBRUARY 15 Sisley in England and Wales An exhibition dedicated to Alfred Sisleys British landscapes. The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square. Tel: 020 7747 2885.

RED BLOCKS: KEITH COVENTRY LEDBURY ESTATE C.1997

KEITH COVENTRY 2008 COURTESY: HAUNCH OF VENISON

ART Sophie Bishop sophie@pubbiz.com

art

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in profile

hats it like being me? Ive never been asked that question before, says Gordon Ramsay. God, its busy. I feel recently that Ive had to make a reservation to go for a pee its been that busy. Im having haircuts on the go. Im having a tough time giving up weekends. My son Jack fines me 5 now every time I miss a football match. When hes not playing to the TV cameras or dealing with the pressure of running his restaurants, Ramsay is much calmer and surprisingly softspoken. The dcor of his south London home is modern and understated apart from his much talked about snazzy kitchen, which has every mod con going. But the family pictures on the walls, a comfy-looking sofa and the long, wooden dining table all give it a warm, homely feel. Cooking in the Ramsay household seems an altogether more relaxed affair, with the whole family involved in preparing the food. Ramsays lovely wife Tana (who makes a point of coming in and saying hello) has written three best-selling cookbooks herself, focusing on everyday cooking, and co-hosted UKTV Foods Market Kitchen. Christmas Day will feature scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on the family breakfast menu, then turkey with all the trimmings for lunch. Well have a late breakfast and a late lunch at about 4.30-5pm so that the children can pace themselves, says Ramsay. On Christmas Day morning I am always at my restaurant at Claridges I havent missed a lunch yet in seven years. The children always come with me and wish all the staff happy Christmas. I finish there about 3pm and then we come home. This year, they will be joined by Ramsays mum, who was largely responsible for fuelling her sons interest in cooking. Food was in my blood, he says. Mum worked at the Cobweb Tea House in Stratford-upon-Avon, and whatever wasnt sold at the restaurant got brought home. We had a very understated upbringing, very humble and very difficult, with an alcoholic father. But we always had food on the table nothing glamorous, by all accounts, but we never, ever went without. There were six of us round the table, and we ate very well from ham hock soup with barley to braised steak and liver and onions. And when mum baked bread, it was like, wow! The smell of baked bread... Its ten years since Ramsay opened his restaurant in Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea one of only three restaurants in the UK to hold three Michelin stars. Gordon Ramsay Holdings now runs 21 restaurants across the globe (with 12 Michelin stars in total), while Ramsays TV work, both here and in the US, book deals and advertising endorsements mean that the companys revenue will hit 100 million by 2010. In short, Gordon Ramsay is Britains most successful chef and, with an income of up to 15 million a year, the worlds highest earning one, too. If youd said to me ten years ago that wed be here now with 21 restaurants, 1,650 members of staff and calls topping more than 3,500 a day, Id never have believed you, says Ramsay. That was never the plan it just organically happened. And there are no signs of him stopping. Im 42 now, and Im really excited, he says. Im travelling at 1,000 miles an hour and everyone thinks theres a finish line in sight but oh no. If you sit still, you get overtaken. Everyone says, slow down slow down for what? This years new openings have included Gordon Ramsay at The London in west Hollywood, which picked up a Michelin star just five months after opening, Plane Food at Heathrow Terminal 5, Maze Grill in Grosvenor Square, Murano in Queen Street and York & Albany near Regents Park. And in March, Ramsay introduced his first restaurant in France at the legendary Trianon Palace & Spa near the Chateau de Versailles. Its going exceptionally well, says Ramsay. Ill keep my head down

WHATS A FAMILY CHRISTMAS LIKE WITH BRITAINS MOST FAMOUS CHEF? AS GORDON RAMSAY PREPARES TO SHARE HIS FESTIVE FOOD TIPS AT THE FIRST TASTE OF CHRISTMAS SHOW, SELMA DAY GETS A FLAVOUR OF LIFE IN THE RAMSAY HOUSEHOLD

and see what happens next year in the Michelin Guide but its good, really busy. Although Im a bit fed up with the French constantly saying how bad we are as a nation. Christ, outside America, France has more McDonalds than any other country in the world. What does that tell you? Over the past decade, not only has Ramsay achieved super chef status, he has also become something of a superstar. Mention the word fame, however, and he cringes. I hate that, he says. You dont go into cooking to become famous, thats for sure. Nevertheless, Ramsay has been known to rub shoulders with everyone from the Beckhams to Barack Obama. I met him seven months ago during part of the campaign through California, he recalls. He really is amazing. Aside from being the first black president, hes just a very astute, articulate, warm individual who has no axes to grind and is not obsessed with greed. Had it not been for an injury cutting short a career in football with Glasgow Rangers, Ramsay, who grew up on a council estate, may not have been a chef at all. But when his dreams of being a footballer were shattered, he opted for catering instead. It was an escape, really, he says. Mum and Dad were going through a horrific divorce and my brother was going off the rails. So what was I going to do sit there and be a part of that and get affected, tarred with the same brush? No it was a fight to get out, and thats why I dont stop now. And even if Id had the most comfortable and best upbringing in the world, I still would never give up what Ive got now. So no, I dont enjoy and never indulge in the fame side. Im not becoming a recluse or saying Im fed up with it far from it. It has its good points and bad points, but Im still working, no matter what people say. How much money youve got in the bank or what you drive has got nothing to do with it. I still work my arse off and why do I still work my arse off? I enjoy it, and I have a huge responsibility on my shoulders. But more importantly, were making headway. Its manic, but its a happy manic. I dont have a job I have a passion. Ramsay, of all people, knows that success can sometimes backfire. Hes lately taken a bashing from rival chefs and critics alike. Unfortunately, Ive become a sort of poster boy target for the industry, he says. So every time theres something wrong or every time I open my mouth, its catapulted. Yes, we should be scrutinised for using out of season vegetables, or if our kitchens arent up to scratch, but when restaurant editors or critics step over the mark into becoming personal, then game over. I laugh at it and find it all very fascinating. Were there to be targeted and its part of being Gordon Ramsay a dartboard. I quite like it. When its a bulls-eye, its wonderful, but Im not allowed to throw darts back. Next year looks set to be an even bigger one for Ramsay. He recently took over the Tante Marie School of Cookery in Surrey, a multimillionpound food and wine academy aimed at nurturing new talent. Then with Marcus Wareing having now set up independently theres the re-launch of Ptrus (location still to be confirmed) and the reopening of the Savoy Grill,

Cooking up Christmas

PHOTO: BRIAN ARIS

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in profile

which will see a re-invention of the original Escoffier menu and a new chef. I cant tell you who it is but its going to be a really exciting surprise, says Ramsay. Theres going to be huge excitement when we announce it. Ramsays ultimate goal is for three Michelin stars in New York and Paris. And hed also like to see more three-starred Michelin restaurants in London apart from his own. Were in a position now to rub shoulders with the very best, he says. London, New York and Paris are very similar they have pretty much the same clientele in terms of overseas travellers, and everything is very closeknit high-energy, high-octane and incredibly busy. Weve still got a long way to go. I think there are two or three seriously overpriced restaurants for what they offer, and we still have too many restaurants that are places to be seen as opposed to places to eat. But every city has that. Thats fashion for you. Having recently cooked at the Brilliant Restaurant in Southall, in

Taste of Christmas
GORDON RAMSAY WILL BE HOSTING the first Taste of Christmas at ExCel from December 4-7. A live show, launched in partnership with Taste Festivals and supported by Channel 4, the event will see a celebration of the best in Christmas food, drink and entertaining. Several Mayfair restaurants will be taking part, including Maze (Jason Atherton), York & Albany (Angela Hartnett), Tamarind (Alfred Prasad), Benares (Atul Kochhar), Le Gavroche (Michel Roux Jr) and, of course, Gordon Ramsay himself. There will be something for everybody there, says Ramsay. Great music, great food, great wine and an amazing, highly-intimate atmosphere. Weve got the most amazing suppliers, a Gordons bar and a chefs table on December 7 for the ultimate indulgence. Well have a few surprises in store as well. Ill be cooking live it will be an action-packed, hour-long demonstration with tips on how to perfect Christmas. Therell be exciting stuff taking place on what to do after Christmas as well creating the most amazing bubble and squeak using saut brussel sprouts as opposed to cabbage, making hash browns and turning the turkey into a fantastic curry. The show is the perfect outlet for Christmas when everyones in that festive spirit. And well show that you dont have to spend a fortune to enjoy yourself. For further information, visit www.tasteofchristmas.com

preparation for his latest Channel 4 Cookalong series, Ramsay believes Londons ethnic food scene has come along in leaps and bounds. I finished service with Angela [Hartnett] last week at Murano, and we popped into Tamarind [Queen Street] for a bite to eat, he says. It was 10.45pm on a Monday night, and the place was heaving. We had the lamb marinated in green papaya and the murgh makhani and it was beautiful absolutely fantastic. Boosted by the strengthening dollar, Ramsays restaurants in New York, Florida and Los Angeles are generating 25 million a year at the last count, and he spends a great deal of time going and backwards and forwards between the US and London, sparking reports that he might actually move there. Its really weird you become successful in America, and all of a sudden youve got to live there, he says. I definitely couldnt live in the US. I love it because I dont live there. I saw the inconvenience of being brought up on 17 different council estates in ten years and when I think about my children Megan, Matilda, Jack and Holly this is their base. Its their home. Secondly, in LA, everyone has a shrink. I dont want a shrink, Im not interested in having a shrink and I dont need one. I talk to myself Im happy where I am. So what does he see himself doing in another ten years, when hes passed 50? Fifty are you mad? he shrieks. Im not interested in talking to you about being 50. Come back and see me in ten years time. I imagine therell be a few more lines and a few more Michelin stars by then, but I suspect Ill find the same old Gordon Ramsay, still firing on all cylinders.
selma@pubbiz.com

Cooking for Friends by Gordon Ramsay (HarperCollins) is out now.

PHOTO COURTESY HARPERCOLLINS

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My goal is to find the new super singers, who unfortunately dont always come through the ranks. I like it when you see a beautiful voice coming through and you can nurture it

Operatic heights
D
ame Kiri Te Kanawa is laughing over a story in the New Zealand press. It reports the results of a poll, conducted to find out who people would most like to be president. I was voted in by at least 1,300 votes, she says. So Im president of New Zealand, hows that? She might as well be. One of the most celebrated opera singers of our time, her CV would probably take longer to recite than Wagners The Ring Cycle (at 18 hours, the longest opera ever written). But several performances are particularly significant. The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, when 600 million people heard her sing Handels Let the Bright Seraphim, was one. A dazzling operatic career spanning five decades, which took her around the world from Sydney to San Francisco, was concluded in 2004 when she sang in her final opera, Vanessa. Now, she spends half her time giving recitals, such as an upcoming Christmas gala concert at Chelseas Cadogan Hall, and the other half seeking out new singing talent. My goal is to find the new super singers, who unfortunately dont always come through the ranks, she says. I like it when you see a beautiful voice coming through and you can nurture it. To Dame Kiri, helping the next generation of singers is a duty, which is why she has set up a foundation to assist talented young vocalists and provide them with mentoring and financial support. Then theres the Solti Academy, which offers support and grants to aspiring singers and which she is also heavily involved in.

Some people just go and lay on a beach and dont want to be bothered, she says. But I am bothered, and Im searching all over the world. Im going to all these [music] schools and trying to find good singers. And there are plenty of them. But whether theyre going to make it is a different thing. Making it, according to Dame Kiri, is mainly about hard work. But you also have to have the right psyche, she says. There are some people who you cant imagine what theyve come through, and they make it. Or, they dont, they fall over and decide that having babies would be a better thing. And then, of course, they regret it afterwards, which is sort of sad. Dame Kiris website attributes her own success to her formidable drive, application and hard work. Born in a small town in New Zealand in 1944, she was adopted as an infant by an Irish mother and a Maori father. She would later adopt two children of her own with her husband, whom she divorced after 30 years of marriage in the late Nineties. She received formal operatic training at Saint Marys in Auckland, a college with a strong musical tradition, while having to work hard to pay her way. Aged 19, she won a grant to study in London and appeared in many operas, including The Magic Flute and Dido and Aeneas. But it was her performance in Le Nozze di Figaro, at the Royal Opera House in 1971 that made her an international sensation. Her success has meant that she can give her students valuable advice which isnt always popular. Yesterday a young girl came in and she wanted to sing an aria that I didnt think she should sing aged 18, she says. I said, Im sorry, I cant take responsibility for you singing that song, and I wont let you sing it, not on my watch. And thats an example of how determined I would be for an 18-year-old. I said, Singing that song would be like putting a 12-year-old in a car and telling them to drive down the main road. Its as dangerous as that. She didnt expect to achieve the level of success that she has, however. Never if you aim for that, I dont think you ever get it, she says. It just happened to be that I was in the right place at the right time on several occasions. But you cant attribute a career as prolific as hers purely to luck. What about talent and hard work? Id like to hope it was all that, yes. You have to work, work, work. But I look at the opportunities that were there and I think I was very, very fortunate to have taken advantage of them and succeeded. kate@pubbiz.com

LEGENDARY OPERA SINGER DAME KIRI TE KANAWA ATTRIBUTES HER OWN SUCCESS TO HARD WORK AND A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK. NOW, SHES HELPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SINGERS TO SHINE. BY KATE WHITE

PHOTO: JOHN SWANNELL

in profile

Advertising feature

Shepherd Market can lay claim to being the heart of Mayfair. It was here on
marshy ground by the Tyburn Brook in 1686 that the original May Fair began. Despite attempts to close it because of lewd and disorderly practices in 1708, it was still going strong in 1735 when builder Edward Shepherd constructed a butchers market and theatre on the site. The May Fair was eventually wound up in 1764 as the area was developed and gentrified. Today, Shepherd Market is a fascinating enclave of narrow streets, fashionable shops, galleries, restaurants and cafs in a district that still retains much of its 18th Century style and charm.

Mail Boxes Etc

Mail Boxes Etc offer access to their mail boxes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mail boxes can be rented starting from one hundred and fifty six pounds a year. An international courier service is also available info@mbemayfair.co.uk www.mbemayfair.co.uk 0207 491 0022

Paul Thomas Flowers opened its doors in March 1989 in Mayfairs Shepherd Market. Our policy is to stock only the highest quality flowers of the season and where possible English grown. We visit Londons flower market daily and source flowers specific to order. Our team take great pride in offering the highest quality service to our customers. Please call 020 7355 1876 for more information.

Paul Thomas Flowers

Shepherd Market

Ye Grapes

J&C Martin

Proprietor Mr John Shannon The only Freehouse in Shepherd Market, built in 1882 and a fine example of a Victorian Pub. Serving 6 Traditional Ales, 7 Lagers, Guinness and quality wines. First floor Thai Restaurant serving Thai and a selection of English dishes. Open seven days a week 0207 493 4216

Panter and Hall Gallery

Jewellery Handmade in Mayfair. These beautiful earrings are in the form of flowing stylised tulips. Set with two quarter carat diamonds in 18ct white gold 995. For the ideal stocking filler also available in sterling silver with a variety of semi-precious gem stones. 15 Shepherd Market, London W1J 7PH Tel: 020 7491 7040 www.jandcmartin.com

This wood panelled restaurant offering a modern eclectic menu in a buzzy warm atmosphere, serves popular dishes including fish, pastas, risottos and grills. The restaurant is open all day every day and also has a small outside eating area at the front. Mon-Sat 12 noon-11 p.m. Sun 12 noon-10.30 p.m. 18 Shepherd Market. London. W1J 9QH. Phone: +44 (0)20 7491 9442

The Market Brasserie

Panter & Hall Gallery has been established at 9 Shepherd Market for 8 years and in that time the gallery has developed an enviable reputation for selling high quality British Art, information on the gallery can be found at www.panterandhall.com. 0207 399 9999

At 11 Shepherd Market, you will find a selection of award winning books on nature and science, architecture, design, and the decorative arts. In the heart of Shepherd Market, the retail outlet for Papadakis Publisher stocks their wide range of beautifully produced titles. Signed copies and special Christmas offers available to all.

Give a book for Christmas

Stockleys Jewellers
of Mayfair
5 Shepherd Market

Mayfairs Nude, is the contemporary jewellery stop for Christmas. Stunning designer collections, a bespoke service, and in-store jewellery making courses are some of the unique gifts on offer. 36 Shepherd Market www.nudejewellery.co.uk 0207 629 8999

Nude

The Old Express Restaurant

Shepherd Market Website

A charming and cosy restaurant fronted with alfresco seating with mainly English dishes including a selection of pies, grills, and renowned for its very popular cod and chips in beer batter. Mon-Sat 12-11 pm Sun 12-10.30 pm 30 Shepherd Market. London. W1J 7QN. Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 1299

The only website dedicated to the Shepherd Market area Keep up to date with local news & events - Look up shops and restaurants - Read about the amazing history - View photos old and new

The Little Square Restaurant

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Telephone 020 7491 9293 www.papadakis.net

Intimate and bustling family run restaurant situated in the heart of Shepherd Market with outside seating. The modern eclectic menu offers dishes such as wild mushroom risotto, sea bass with crushed new potatoes and mushroom sauce, caesar salad, and the char-grilled burger. Mon-Fri 12-3 pm and 6-11 pm. Sat 1-11 pm. Sun 1-10.30 pm. 3 Shepherd Market, London. W1J 7PB. Phone: +44 (0)20 7355 2101

25% OFF
WHY NOT COME & DO ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT
What will be in your Stockleys box?
*Terms and conditions apply. See in store for details. Promotion valid until end December 2008

Christmas Promotion

A FANTASTIC
on all spends over 500.00*

Stockleys!

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THE CHAIRMANS COLLECTION of wines, chosen by Berry Bros & Rudd boss Simon Berry, will impress even the most discerning wine drinker. The 12-bottle selection of wines and spirits (1,500), which includes the Veuve Cliquot Rare Vintage Champagne, Graham Port and Glenlivet Whisky, comes in a chic crocodile leather effect brown trunk.

3 St Jamess Street. Tel: 0870 900 4300. www.bbr.com

For him
SKETCHS FABULOUSLY frivolous hampers come in a Chinese wooden birdcage basket, each with a theme inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The Who stole the tarts hamper (350) comes with a Nespresso coffee machine, a pair of silicon espresso cups and saucers, and a signed copy of Reinventing French Cuisine by Pierre Gagnaire.

9 Conduit Street. Tel: 020 7659 4500. www.sketch.uk.com

Hamper time
Would you like to have your own copy of Mayfair Times delivered to your office or home?
CHRISTMAS HAMPERS ARE NO LONGER JUST ABOUT FESTIVE FARE. THESE DAYS, YOULL FIND A WHOLE RANGE OF TREATS IN THEM TO SUIT EVERY TASTE AND BUDGET. HERES OUR PICK OF THE MAYFAIR BUNCH

In our continuing drive to improve the service to our readers and advertisers, we are looking at the potential for delivering personally-addressed copies to readers in Mayfair and St Jamess.

For the cheese lover

THE GOURMET HAMPER from Paxton & Whitfield (175) has a great selection of cheese and fine foods, all presented in a wooden hamper. You can also buy the same selection with wine (250).

93 Jermyn Street. Tel: 020 7930 0259. www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

For her
HANDBAG DESIGNER Anya Hindmarch has brought Christmas hampers into the 21st century with a stylish collection for Selfridges. The Ultimate Girlie Hamper (1,000) includes pink champagne,

For the chocolate lover

CHARBONNEL ET WALKERS Red Christmas Hamper (100) is a chocoholics dream. It contains a large tray of assorted chocolates, Port and Cranberry Truffles, Milk Marc de Champagne Truffles, plain chocolate bar, a tin of Original Drinking Chocolate and Original Truffle Sauce. The hampers can also be customised.

If you would like to receive your own copy of Mayfair Times, e-mail readers@pubbiz.com or ring the publisher, Erik Brown, on 020 7259 1053

cashmere socks, a Diptique candle, an iPod, Eve Lom products and a tin of biscuits in the shape of Anya Hindmarch handbags. Theres even a letter from Anya inside saying: If youve been given this hamper, Im really jealous.

400 Oxford Street. Tel: 0800 123 400. www.selfridges.com

1 Royal Arcade, 28 Old Bond Street. Tel: 020 7491 0939. www.charbonnel.co.uk

hampers

For the wine lover

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gifts

THE THREE RULES of giving lingerie as a gift, according to Rigby & Peller, are: sexy, pretty and feminine. Go for luxurious fabrics such as silk, vintage lace or styles that feature intricate embroidery. The Rigby & Peller Alondra in Teal padded balcony bra (pictured) costs 69.95 and matching G-string 51.95.

22A Conduit Street. Tel: 0845 076 5545 www.rigbyandpeller.com/mayfair

LOUIS VUITTONS city guides are the ideal gift for the jet-setter. Alongside the European City Guide (76), there are now five new individual guides devoted to Mumbai, Miami, New York, Paris and Tokyo (20). The guides look at the best of fashion, design, the arts and gastronomy in each city.

160 New Bond Street. Tel: 020 7399 4050. www.louisvuitton.com

Christmas classics

IN THESE CREDIT CRUNCH TIMES, WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING PRESENTS, GO FOR QUALITY RATHER THAN QUANTITY AND YOU WONT GO FAR WRONG. HERE ARE A FEW CLASSIC GIFTS THAT WONT BREAK THE BANK

EVERY YEAR, Smythson comes up with a fresh twist to its classic diaries. This year, its the Art Diary (350). Artists Ed Ruscha, Gary Hume, Rachel Whiteread and John Baldessari have designed the covers and customized the interior lining and ribbons. The diaries come complete with an art listings section.

40 New Bond Street. Tel: 020 7629 8558. www.smythson.com

IF YOURE GOING to buy socks for Christmas, make A PAIR OF Vilebrequin trunks (80-125) are a must for guys who want to A GOOD PAIR of cufflinks will last for years. Thomas Pink has all kinds of designs including several styles for women. These Silver Star Spiral Cufflinks (125) feature a spiral of small starshaped crystals. look stylish be it on the beach, by the pool or on the yacht. Choose from an array of whimsical prints. sure they are cashmere. The Brora collection comes in several different colours and is available in sizes 7-12. And to celebrate Broras 15th birthday, the socks normally 22 are 15 a pair just for this month.

18 Marylebone High Street. Tel: 020 7224 5040. www.brora.co.uk

85 Jermyn Street. Tel: 020 7930 6364. www.thomaspink.com

1 Burlington Arcade. Tel: 020 7499 6558. www.vilebrequin.com

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35

food & drink

Mark Hix
Director of food, The Albemarle, Browns Hotel, 33 Albemarle Street. Tel: 020 7493 6020.

Superior spreads

I go for a different selection of game birds for Christmas lunch the fun of eating game birds is that they each have their own unique flavour (and they only take about 15 minutes to cook). I like to include teal, snipe, woodcock, widgeon and pintail or even pigeon.

Richard Corrigan
Corrigans Mayfair, 28 Upper Grosvenor Street. Tel: 020 7499 9943.

I grew up on a farm in Ireland, where Christmas was a large family affair. It consisted of creating a huge feast and everyone helping. This Christmas, I will be having a turkey, which has to be free range and a Kelly Bronze. I also always have a ham on the bone at Christmas time, which I usually cook on a trivet of vegetables and a whole bottle of white wine. Cooking it this way means that the wine goes right through the ham. Being Irish, I will also be having lots of potatoes usually creamed and roasted and lots of brussel sprouts.

The whole thing is a bit of a ceremony, and the delicious accompaniments like bread sauce, jellies and game chips make it a unique dining experience. Ill also probably cook up some sprout tops served with roasted chestnuts. Sprouts when cooked well are a satisfying vegetable they just need a little creative thinking. Creamed brussel sprouts are simple and tasty. Game birds are not complete without bread sauce and game chips (parsnip crisps, sliced lengthways and deepfried). And to finish off, this year Im making a Christmas Mess using cranberries, chestnuts and Christmas pudding. British Seasonal Food by Mark Hix is out now (Quadrille, 25)

Dieter Mller
Andaman by Dieter Mller, 7-8 Park Place, Tel: 020 7316 1600.

Christmas for us is a festival of warmth and togetherness, which we celebrate with the whole family. We all dress up smartly and sing Christmas songs in front of the beautifully-decorated Christmas tree. After visiting church for a Christmas mass, we enjoy a wonderful fondue a la Chinoise, which is a consomm in which you cook small pieces of different meats: veal, pork and chicken. Once cooked, the meat is eaten with exquisite sauces and served with fine salads.

EVER WONDERED WHAT TOP CHEFS HAVE FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS DINNER AND WHETHER THEY GET THE NIGHT OFF? MAYFAIRS CULINARY STARS FILL US IN ON THEIR FESTIVE PLANS

Michele Granziera
Avista, Grosvenor Square. Tel: 020 7596 3399.

I have fond memories of Christmas growing up in a little village 40 minutes from Venice. It was always a traditional Italian family gathering with everyone preparing for the celebrations. All the produce was home-grown, with wine and grappa from my uncles vineyards. On my menu will be an assortment of delicious traditional dishes from Italy, such as roast pig with baby onions and balsamic vinaigrette, or potato gnocchi with baby stew and pecorino cheese a wonderful alternative to the traditional turkey.

Michel Roux Jr
Chef patron, Le Gavroche, 43 Upper Brook Street. Tel: 020 7408 0881.

Hlne Darroze
Hlne Darroze at the Connaught, Carlos Place. Tel: 020 7499 7070.

This Christmas I will be working, as all the restaurants at the Connaught will be open and I want to be with the guests and my staff. On Christmas Eve, my little daughter and my parents will join me and we will probably have dinner together in my office which is in the middle of the kitchen. We will probably start with caviar simple, with cream and little hot potatoes. And we will finish with a capon which is very traditional in Les Landes, where I come from in south west France. I will probably cook it with the first black truffles from Prigord. And for dessert I will have a buche [cake] cooked by Pierre Herm. He is my best friend and we have a tradition at Christmas: I cook the meal for his family, and he cooks the buche.

Despite my French origins, I was brought up in a family that relished a traditional British Christmas. Everyone prepares too much food on Christmas Day, and I am certainly no exception. Typically, my Christmas meal starts with smoked salmon, which I am very particular about. Thats followed by a capon or a couple of large chickens, as opposed to the traditional turkey, for the roast. I also love truffles, and if I am in France will go out and hunt for them especially. Cheese is a must for Christmas, but one of my enduring memories of past festive seasons is Christmas pudding, which is something I also make at Le Gavroche, and which will certainly be on the menu this year.

36

Charles Metcalfe
food & drink
Wine critic

CHOOSING THE RIGHT WINE TO GO WITH CHRISTMAS DINNER CAN BE A CHALLENGE. WE ASKED FOUR WINE EXPERTS TO DO THE HARD WORK FOR US AND REVEAL WHAT THEYLL BE KNOCKING BACK THIS SEASON

Whatever inventive ideas Kathryn and I have about Christmas dinner, we usually end up having the same thing after pressure from our children not to break with tradition. That means smoked salmon, roast turkey, Christmas pudding and brandy butter. For the smoked salmon, we have found lightly oaked Chardonnay works best. A couple of good ones Ive tasted recently are the crisp, citrussy Cono Sur Reserve Casablanca Chardonnay 2007, from one of the cooler climates in Chile (7.99), and the subtle, bready, perfumed

Pouilly-Fuiss Terroir de Vergisson 2006, by Olivier Merlin (21.50). We like red wine with our turkey, particularly Rhne varieties. The Nathalie Estribeau Ctes du Rhne Rserve 2007 (5.99) is brilliant rich, bright, spicy and intense. Another choice would be the Tabali Encantado Syrah Reserva 2005 from Limar (9.49) smooth, malty and toasty. Its always difficult to know what to drink with Christmas pudding. Id recommend the toffeed, raisiny De Bortoli Show Reserve Liqueur Muscat (11.99), a true Aussie stickie that can cope with anything.

Dawn Davies
Sommelier and head of wine-buying at Selfridges, Oxford Street. Tel: 020 7318 2448.

This year, I am heading to Portugal for my Christmas Day tipple. The wines are wellbalanced and elegant and are definitely the new thing to be drinking for those in the know. With the turkey, I am going with an Antao Vaz from Malhadinha (17.99) round and ripe with a Burgundian feel. For the red, it has to be Drink Me from Dirk Niepoort (11.99) light and fresh, so it wont overpower the white meat, but with a gorgeous berry flavour. To finish it all off with my Stilton or my Christmas pud, it has to be Whytinghams 2001 Selfridges own label port (27.99).

Ronan Sayburn

Christmas cheers

Head sommelier and wine buyer, The Greenhouse, Hays Mews. Tel: 020 7499 3331.

Simon Berry
Berry Bros & Rudd, St Jamess Street. Tel: 0870 900 4300.

What will I wash the turkey and all the trimmings down with this year? Turkey is a medium-weight dish, so can take a fullbodied white or a medium-bodied red. But it doesnt have much of a fat content in comparison to, say, roast lamb, so the red needs to be either low in tannin or old, so the tannins have fallen out. For white wine fans, use the same trimmings as you would for roast chicken: boiled potatoes, carrots and peas. For

aged claret lovers, accompany with bread sauce, brussel sprouts and a rich chestnut stuffing. For young, fruity red wine lovers, accompany with plenty of cranberry sauce, and pick a grape variety with thin skins and low tannin, such as Grenache, which is the major component of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. My recommendations are: 2005 Chassagne-Montrachet, BlanchotsDessus, 1er Cru, JC Bachelet, Burgundy, France (49), and 2003 Chateauneuf-duPape, Chteau de Beaucastel, Rhne, France (43.50).

I would recommend a really good bottle or two of Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blanc champagne, made from 100 per cent chardonnay. I usually begin my Christmas dinner with seafood oysters or smoked salmon and a great wine to accompany this would be a Riesling. I particularly like Austrian Riesling. There are quite a few very good producers at the moment, such as Franz Hirtzberger. I never have turkey at Christmas I prefer to have beef. With that Ill be drinking a Bordeaux, which is my favourite. It will be young and very fullbodied, probably a 2001 or 2003. I particularly like Chateau Pichon. If youre planning on having a traditional turkey lunch, I would recommend Pinot Noir to drink with it, particularly from Burgundy or Otago (New Zealand). To follow, and also to match Christmas pudding, I think an old sherry would be perfect, something like PX, as it is very sweet.

FOOD & DRINK Selma Day

selma@pubbiz.com

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39 CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR FRAGRANCE GIVING, BUT WITH THE THOUSANDS OF MASS-MARKET OFFERINGS, ITS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO PICK THE RIGHT THING. HERE ARE A FEW OF THE MORE UNUSUAL SCENTS FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN THAT CAN BE FOUND IN MAYFAIR

restaurant directory

ANNICK GOUTALS Ambre Ftiche (97 for the 100ml Eau de Parfum) is part of the collection Les Orientaistes, consisting of three oriental fragrances. A mix of amber, frankincense, vanilla and Russian leather, among other things, the result is a sweet but sensual fragrance.

Available from Annick Goutal, 19 Mount Street.

FOLLOWING THE success of his Black Orchid fragrance, Tom Ford has launched White Patchouli (56 for the 50ml Eau de Toilette), a reworking of the traditional patchouli scent. The fragrance, usually dark and heavy, has been given a fresh twist using notes from peony, rose and jasmine. CREATED BY legendary perfumer Christine Nagel, Lalique White (42 for the 75ml Eau de Toilette) is a new mens fragrance from Lalique. The classic spicy fragrance is brought up to date with the freshness of bergamot and citrus leaves. The fragrance is also available in a numbered crystal flacon, featuring a white drop blown into the heart of the flacon (POA).

To advertise in the restaurant directory call 020 7259 1050

Available from Selfridges, Oxford Street.

Available from Lalique, 162 New Bond Street.

ZIZAN (62 for 50ml) is the new mens fragrance from Ormonde Jayne. A powerful scent, it contains Sicilian lime, lemon, bergamot, clary sage, pink pepper and juniper berry, but is softened by notes of vetiver.

Available from Ormonde Jayne, 12 The Royal Arcade, 28 Old Bond Street.

Scents and sensibility

HEALTH AND BEAUTY Selma Day selma@pubbiz.com

FIGUE AMRE (70 for the 100ml Eau de Parfum) was inspired by perfumer Lyn Harriss trip to Ibiza and the smell of bitter green figs. A woody scent, it combines top notes of bergamot and mandarin with narcissus poeticus, rose and green violet leaves on a heady base of cedar, amber and sea moss.

Available from Miller Harris, 21 Bruton Street.

health & beauty

40
BE AS BRIGHT as you dare to go, urges Michael Herz, womenswear designer at Aquascutum. The labels autumn/winter collection includes the Pippa dress (pictured) in tomato red. Aquascutum, 100 Regent Street.

fashion

IF YOU DONT want to go for all-out red, then make a statement instead with a stand-out necklace such as this crystal curved tusk necklace from Butler & Wilson (68). Perfect for livening up a little black dress. Butler & Wilson, 20 South Molton Street.

MODELLED BY Erin OConnor, this elegant maxi dress has all the glamour youll need for the party season.

OSSIE CLARK'S autumn/winter 2008/9 collection features fresh, vibrant looks from new creative director Avsh Alom Gur. Available from Browns, 27 South Molton Street.

Priced at 99, it comes from the Autograph collection. Marks and Spencer, 173 Oxford Street.

Red alert

COOL AND QUIRKY, Lulu Guinnesss Red Snakeskin Lips Clutch (225) is just the thing to brighten up any outfit, from a plain black dress to a pair of jeans. Available from Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, Selfridges and John Lewis, Oxford Street.

HOT HEELS (left to right) Sequins add a touch of glamour to the Honor red suede boot from Jimmy Choo (575). Jimmy Choo, 27 New Bond Street. Tuscany black sandals from Rupert Sanderson (350) show a fabulous flash of red as you walk. Rupert Sanderson, 33 Bruton Place. Beatrix Ongs red patent Glare shoe (238) will take you from day to night. Beatrix Ong, Burlington Arcade.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT THIS CHRISTMAS, DITCH THE BLACK DRESS AND GO FOR RED ITS ONE OF THIS SEASONS HOTTEST TRENDS AND IS GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOU STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

DKNYS COLLECTION for this season is vibrant, with a nod to the 1970s. Standard pieces include brocade mini dresses, teamed with thick black tights. DKNY, 27 Old Bond Street.

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43

business

Shooting

star
PURDEY HAS BEEN A CLASSIC MAYFAIR BRAND SINCE MOVING TO SOUTH AUDLEY STREET IN 1882, AND DEMAND FOR ITS SIX-FIGURE PRICE TAG SHOTGUNS REMAINS STEADY. BUT THATS NOT SURPRISING THE FIRM ONLY MAKES 85 BESPOKE GUNS A YEAR, FINDS ERIK BROWN
he first thing to understand about a Purdey is that it is not just a gun. It is, at the very least, a style statement, certainly an investment and unquestionably a work of art. Nigel Beaumont, Purdeys chairman, describes a Purdey as gentlemans jewellery, but even that is wide of the mark. Functional art, another of his descriptions, gets closer. A bespoke Purdey can cost 50,000 to 130,000, depending on specification. You could buy two to five brand-new, hand built Morgan sports cars at those prices. And yet the demand for Purdeys from oil sheikhs, tycoons, royalty, celebrities and mere mortals is unwavering, and has been ever since Queen Victoria bought a pair of Purdey pistols in 1838. This year, James Purdey and Sons will produce just 85 bespoke guns. And that makes it the biggest manufacturer of quality guns in the world. Each gun is hand crafted in Purdeys workshop, located unlikely as it may seem in a Hammersmith mews. The long, low building is lined with benches, and the benches are lined with the tools of the gunsmiths trade: files, chisels, drills and specialist items unrecognisable to those outside of the craft.

NIGEL BEAUMONT, PURDEYS CHAIRMAN

Action maker Philip Butcher, who has spent all 36 years of his working life at Purdeys, shows me how he uses soot from an oil lamp to test a joint. He smokes the joint with the lamp black and closes and opens the action. If any soot remains, he picks up a file and works until the smoked joint opens and closes without residue. He works in thousandths of an inch. There are passenger aircraft carrying hundreds of people every day that are less well made. Lock maker Keith Ward, who has been at Purdey for 30 years, shows me the inner workings of the trigger mechanism. The engineering is intricate and very clever. There are some machines tugs and tractors among them in which form follows function so closely that the result has its own intrinsic beauty. Purdey lock mechanisms should be added to the list. Deeper into the workshop, an engraver works away at an action plate. We dont disturb him, but Nigel shows me a gun engraved with lions and cheetahs, which has been ordered by a billionaire. The quality of the scrivers work is stunning. Bespoke engraving can add thousands of pounds to the price of a gun, and its easy to see why. At the very back of the workshop, theres the technology: computer-controlled cutting machines, a CAD system, a digitiser capable of taking a craftsman-made item and rendering it in 3D on a computer screen reverse engineering, the techies call it. But the output from these machines is just raw material for the 35 craftsmen and artists on the shop floor. A Purdey shotgun doesnt shoot any differently to a Miroku, a Beretta or a Winchester, the ballistics are the same and all guns have to be proofed by The London Proof Authorities under the Gun Barrel Proof Acts, anyway. But a bespoke Purdey will handle better than any off-the-shelf shotgun its the difference between a made-to-measure Savile Row suit and a suit from a high street store, only more so. Stocks, for instance, are hand-carved from blocks of walnut to fit from the shoulder to the trigger finger. Stocks and barrels are finely balanced, so that when a shooter lifts his gun it swings easily into the centre of vision. Purdeys are noted for their grace of movement, but it comes at a cost each gun takes up to 500 craftsman hours to produce. Everything is carefully considered. The walnut, for instance, has to be from a temperate climate. The best wood at the moment is from eastern Turkey, where walnut grows at the correct pace, and the mineral qualities of the ground give the best colour and grain. Turkish walnut produces a longer grain that is more flexible than, say, North African walnut, which grows more slowly and is harder. If you cant afford, or dont have the patience to wait for, a bespoke Purdey, you could try a Sporter Purdeys Baby Bentley, produced in joint venture with Italian gunmaker Perugini & Visini. Traditionalists may have raised a collective eyebrow when Purdey announced the Sporter range, but it has sold well and is still a highvalue item at 25,000 a gun.The Sporter has been entirely re-

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business

Ive really got to make these things look classy, really good and desirable, sexy mens jewellery. Some people describe it as functional art. Its both of those things.

engineered in Purdeys machine shop, with 62 alterations from the base model. Purdey was founded in 1814 the year before the battle of Waterloo and had moved to Oxford Street by 1826. The showroom and factory relocated to Audley House on the corner of South Audley Street and Mount Street in 1882. Nigel Beaumonts decision to join the business 30 years ago was the result of a chance meeting at a funeral. Born in Rhodesia, he had studied physical chemistry at university and had had a few jobs I built oil rigs for a while when, in the late 1970s, his grandfather died. My grandfather was the favourite uncle of Richard Beaumont, who owned Purdeys, says Nigel. He met me at my grandfathers funeral and wrote to me a couple of months later saying, well, why dont you come and work for me? Always good with his hands, Nigel was placed in the care of an old action maker, Ben Delay, and learned how to make the action. Then he learned stocking, barrel making, finishing and regulating before managing the workshop, which is where he is still based. He became chairman last year. Its actually quite a privileged sort of job, Nigel says. You are a little bit removed from the absolute coal face of competition, because Purdeys has the base. But the converse of that is that you have to support the brand in terms of quality and fineness, fit, function, you know, everything the beauty and aesthetics. That really is my domain. Ive really got to make these things look classy, really good and desirable, sexy mens jewellery. That really is essentially what it is. Some people describe it as functional art. Its both of those things. And a Purdey is reliable. Thats one of the things we pride ourselves on. Purdeys range includes 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge shotguns as well as 4/10s and, if anybody wants one, 10 gauge. The company also makes a double rifle, an express rifle for African game hunting, and bolt rifles for African and European hunting. Prices for a side-by-side shotgun start at 57,000 after VAT. An over and under is around 67,000, depending on personal

specification. Oh, and you usually buy a pair so that your man can be loading one while youre shooting the other. There are those who order a new pair of Purdeys for every season. The brand is known worldwide, but the business is not huge. Annual turnover is around 8 million, with accessories accounting for around 25 per cent of that. Asked how he thought the credit crunch would affect business, Nigel replies, with disarming honesty: Ive absolutely no idea. But the future is likely to be more of the same. Ive been doing this for long enough to know that its probably not going to change, Nigel says. I remember way back in the 1980s when we were saying, gosh, a Purdey costs 17,500, we cant put it up to 19,000 because nobody will buy them. Well, here we are 25 years later and people are still buying them. Look back at the track record. I think you can probably rely on it going forward for a while.
erik.brown@pubbiz.com

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Conversations with a wealth doctor

5. Drown your sorrows
COMMODITIES, EQUITIES, PROPERTY THEYRE ALL UNDER THE COSH. SO, IVE BEEN THINKINGWINE. FINE WINE. THATS WHERE IM GOING TO INVEST. WHAT DO YOU THINK? AM I MAD?
Not necessarily. Wine as a long-term investment has done pretty well, top Bordeaux wines have increased on average by 10 per cent a year over the past 50 years. That said, there has been a glitch in the market recently. The Liv-Ex 100, which tracks the performance of the top 100 investment grade wines, fell by 12.4 per cent in October. It was the largest monthly movement in any direction since the index was set up in 2001.

personal finance

HM. FOR SOME REASON THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS. SO WHATS YOUR FORECAST?
As Nils Bohr, Nobel Laureate in Physics, once said: Prediction is very difficult, especially if its about the future. Im not into forecasting right now.

WHAT DOES LIV-EX SAY?

It says that there are some excellent buying opportunities at the moment, but whether or not prices have further to fall is open to argument. In the long term, it says, there is nothing to suggest that the pattern of rising value wont continue. But its a tough one to call. On the one hand, the market for fine wines has expanded dramatically in recent years. Once Europe was the key market. Now, the emerging markets China, Russia, Brazil and the like have emerged as huge customers, especially for wines with famous names like Lafite and Petrus. On the other hand, if you were under pressure, which would you sell first your house or your wine cellar? Its difficult to second guess supply and demand in this market.

I GUESS THATS JUST A RESPONSE TO CREDIT-CRUNCH ANXIETY, THOUGH, ISNT IT?

Probably. Liv-Ex has already said that the crisis will have an impact on the wine market in the medium term. Late in October it said it expected prices to remain soft into 2009.

Free advertising
Get your business on-line for free in a directory promoted by Mayfairs lifestyle magazine

SO, THERE ARE SOME BARGAINS TO BE HAD OUT THERE?

Some people think so. Liv-Ex reports that those with cash to spend bought heavily at the reduced prices and as a result October 2008 trade was up 9.7 per cent on last year. Another interesting development is that Liv-Ex has teamed up with the prediction market Intrade.com to launch the first publicly-traded futures contract on fine wine.

WELL, I THINK ILL TAKE A PUNT ANYWAY. ANY ADVICE?

You could sign up for the Liv-Ex cellar watch. That will give you real-time trade prices. After that, its fairly obvious. Invest for the long term. Use a reputable merchant, like Berry Bros & Rudd. Go for the good stuff the best vintage Bordeaux. If youre nervous, think about using one of the regulated wine investment funds just Google those three words, youll find them. And if you keep your investment in a bonded warehouse, youll escape VAT.

SO NOW YOU CAN SHORT WINE AS WELL AS BANK STOCKS.

Precisely. You can bet on the performance of the Liv-Ex 100. To begin with, there are three contracts expiring at the end of November, the end of December and the end of January. That gives you a chance to hedge the market.

AND IF EVERYTHING GOES BELLY UP?

Ill join you in a drink. At least youll have some good stuff handy.

If you want to talk to the Mayfair Times wealth doctor email Michelle Stanger at michelle@pubbiz.com

Mayfair Times is offering every business in Mayfair and St Jamess a free listing in the new directory on its web site at www.mayfairtimes.co.uk. It doesnt matter whether

youre a club, a five star hotel, a caf or a fashion boutique if youre in Mayfair or St Jamess and youre in business youre entitled to a place in the directory.

Just go to www.mayfairtimes.co.uk and follow the instructions.

Maintaining Mayfairs green spaces is a year-round responsibility

AS THE LAST WISPS OF BONFIRE SMOKE give way to tinsel and fairy lights, you could be forgiven for thinking that it is a quiet time for gardeners. Stephen Smith, gardens and landscape manager at Grosvenor, is keen to assure anyone who will listen that this is very far from being the case. Holly, assorted conifers and mistletoe may move indoors, but the Grosvenor team remain out in the cold. Its the leaves. The gardens department, which recently celebrated 60 years of caring for ten hectares of precious green oases across Mayfair and Belgravia, hosted a conference on Londons garden squares in October. The event was well attended and examined ways of managing the squares in the 21st century. It was a rare day indoors and brought a wealth of new ideas. About those leaves: between October and January, the team deals with around 30 tonnes of them. As many as possible are composted within the gardens. The resulting leaf mould is used to nurture new planting schemes, but the leaves keep falling. The surplus is recycled locally to form the base of mulches and similar garden products. Sometimes its not just the leaves that fall. During a severe gale in January 2007, there were a couple of trees to deal with, too. The gardens of the Grosvenor Estate were originally designed in the 18th and 19th centuries as a foil to the elegant houses they served, with the emphasis on simplicity of design a lawn with a tree-lined path around the edge. They have evolved a great deal since then, with numerous initiatives changing their appearance and use. Many were converted to allotments during the Dig for Victory campaign, but have since been restored to their pre-war glory although the team produced an edible garden in Eaton Square last year, which proved both popular and palatable with residents. London is famous for its gracious plane trees and though a plethora of other species are found in Grosvenors gardens, these capital stalwarts make up by far the largest percentage of our mature trees. The gardens are an integral part of Mayfair and the London cityscape. Grosvenors green lungs are not just aesthetically pleasing, theyre good for you, too. A recent study published in the Lancet found that proximity to green spaces helped reduce blood pressure and stress levels, resulting in a marked difference in incidences of heart disease and stroke. The next time youre passing, take a deep breath, relax and spare a thought for the gardeners battling with the leaves. Giles Clarke Executive Director (Investment)

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property

SALES IN MAYFAIR DURING SEPTEMBER WERE DOWN 60 PER CENT ON LAST YEAR. BUT AS THESE MULTIMILLIONPOUND DEALS FROM THE LAST THREE MONTHS SHOW, PROPERTIES THAT TICK ALL THE RIGHT BOXES CAN STILL SHIFT FOR A GOOD PRICE. BY NUALA CALVI

THIS THIRD FLOOR, 295 sq ft apartment set within historic Albany was on the market for 1.7 million and sold through Savills in November. It has an entrance hall, reception room, kitchen, bedroom with en suite bathroom, balcony, cellar, communal garden and 24-hour porter.

Deal makers
TWO FLATS AT ALBION GATE, Albion Street, opposite Hyde Park, were on the market for 3.8 million and 3.5 million. Foxtons sold them in September for 3.4 million and 3.2 million. The latter, pictured, comprises a large reception room, kitchen, master bedroom with en suite shower room, second bedroom with en suite, third bedroom, extra reception room or fourth bedroom, family bathroom and cloakroom.

17 CULROSS STREET was on the market with Knight Frank and Mercer Pasqua and had two rival bidders after the property in the final week. It sold with Knight Franks buyer for 15 million, having had an asking price of 17.7 million. The property includes a cinema room, gym with steam room, master bedroom, four double guest room suites and private roof garden. Achieving well over 2,000/sq ft, this was a landmark sale for a freehold house in Mayfair in 2008.

THIS 1,968 SQ FT MAISONETTE at 131/132 Park Lane had an asking price of 3.5 million and sold for 3 million with Greens of Mayfair. Set over two floors it has timber wall panelling and oak floors in the reception rooms, bespoke fireplaces, a kitchen by Bulthaup and a garden by George Carter.

THIS 1,905 SQ FT TOP FLOOR apartment in Grosvenor Square with staff studio flat, secure parking and storage was due to exchange as Mayfair Times went to press for just short of its 3.5 million asking price. It has three bedroom suites, a 45ft reception room and views over the square and towards the City. The agent is Wetherell.
nuala@pubbiz.com

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57

interiors

SCENTED WITH a blend of evergreen, redcurrants and juniper

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GIVE YOUR HOME A FESTIVE FEEL THIS YEAR IS RIGHT HERE IN MAYFAIR

berries, these holiday candles make a festively fragrant addition to any Christmas dinner table. 35.

Ralph Lauren Home, 1 New Bond Street. Tel: 020 7535 4600.

Christmas presence
HANDMADE BY a small team of Italian artisans, Buccellati's real gold and silver Christmas tree decorations are just a bit too good to pack away once the festive season ends so some customers have been known to wear them as belt buckles and even necklaces. 220-350.

HOUSE OF FRASER'S Deco Christmas range is a stylised take on 1920s Art Deco. Gold lacquer charger 5, fine china dinner plate 9, fine china side plate 8, fine china pasta bowl 9, fine china cereal bowl 8, napkin 5, napkin ring 4, Amber gold champagne flute 4, Amber gold wine glass 4.

318 Oxford Street. Tel: 0844 800 3752.

THESE CHRISTMAS candles look deceptively similar to baubles. Bougie Rouge candle and Bougie Or candle, 20.

33 Albemarle Street. Tel: 020 7629 5616.

Descamps, 6 Marylebone High Street. Tel: 020 7486 1900.

NEQU'A ART BAUBLES are hand-painted from inside using an ancient Chinese technique. Each bauble shows a scene from the 12 days of Christmas. 295. THE KRAFTWORK range at House of Fraser is based on traditional Scandinavian Christmas designs with a contemporary twist. Felt stocking 10, knitted reindeer stocking 12, wooden tree advent calendar 20, wreath 20, polar bear snowstorm 15, candles 5, red and white cushion 15, disco ball 5.

Fortnum & Mason.

House of Fraser.

NO CHRISTMAS is complete without the little red guy. Eleven Inch Santa, 42 by Hearts & Ivy.

LET creatures of the forest gather round your hearth. Large white peacock, 55.

Fortnum & Mason, 118 Piccadilly. Tel: 020 7734 8040.

Liberty, Regent Street. Tel: 020 7734 1234.

GET TRADITIONAL with this Christmas wreath, 100.

Fortnum & Mason. INTERIORS Nuala Calvi nuala@pubbiz.com

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meanderings erik brown

A river runs through it

I AM INDEBTED to the directors of Lancer Property Asset Management for their recent venture into publishing. Not only is their book The Berkeley Square Estate by David Wixon and Alison Graham the most entertaining tome on Mayfair to have appeared for some time, it has reconnected me with an old friend, James Bowdidge, who heads up The Property Merchant Group in Grosvenor Hill. Hi, James. Bowdidge always a cheery chap founded the Tyburn Angling Society, the stated aim of which is to demolish 1 billion worth of property in Mayfair and restore the River Tyburn to its former glory for the benefit of anglers and Westenders alike. He has been joined in this laudable ambition by the Hon Nicholas Soames MP, who is president, and former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who as Triturus is responsible for the rivers newts. Before Mayfair was built, the Tyburn is said to have supported some of Londons best salmon fishing. It still exists rising on Haverstock Hill in Hampstead, and meeting the Thames at Pimlico but has been channelled into culverts and conduits (hence Conduit Street) beneath the West End. Lancer, incidentally, manages The Berkeley Square Estate for its somewhat secretive owners. The book doesnt mention them, so nor will I. The book costs 35 and you will find an order form on pages 14-15.

United we stand Taking a fence

GREAT BRITAINS OLYMPIC fencing team is ranked eighth in the world. Polands is ranked second. I mention this because the two teams clashed recently in a conversation du fer at The Lansdowne Club in Fitzmaurice Place (where the British team trains), and the Brits beat the Poles 44-36. Britains Richard Kruse, who were betting on for a medal in the 2012 Olympics, was on dazzling form and went on to win the Old Thomson Challenge match the same night. If youre interested, the match was filmed by Channel 4 and will be shown in the new year. Ill keep you posted. HERES A FORECAST: as the recession begins to bite were going to see more joint marketing initiatives between previously unconnected Mayfair businesses. In fact, its already happening. The Curzon Cinema recently ran a joint promotion for the latest Bond film Quantum of Solace with the Washington Mayfair Hotel on Curzon Street. The Martini lunch/dinner offer wasnt a huge event in marketing terms, but it was creative. Were going to see more of that kind of thing in the near future.

Wordturning
A SNIGLET, according to US comic Rich Hall, is a word that isnt in the dictionary but should be its an echo of Douglas Adams and John Lloyds little book The Meaning of Liff, published in the 1980s. Hall suggests furnidents, for instance, for the indentations left by chairs and tables in carpet and sniffleridge for the philtrum, that little groove between nose and lips. Following a few recent experiences, Id like to throw in one of my own: a notworking group is a failed attempt to set up a networking organisation. Ask me when you see me.

The crunch bunch

JUST A QUICK NOTE to all of you PRs out there please stop sending me news that we can all beat the credit crunch by buying cheaper suits, holidaying in Venice, buying a particular brand of Granola or eating cheaper chocolate. We cant. A better strategy would be to work harder, become more creative and stop chasing bandwagons.