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Winter2014

Living on and aroundThe Portman Estate

Glamour, glitz andglorious food - we’ve gotChristmas wrapped up

7As told toTheo Dubroy talks about histime as head concierge atThe Arch Hotel

10HappeningsRemembering heroes ofwar, plus Peruvian cuisine,supper club and chocolatecocktails for food lovers

18ArtsStrictly Ballroom We meetthe founder of dance schoolSimply Dancing Partners

22GiftsChristmas wrapped up Ourselection of gorgeous giftsfrom Marylebone’s finest

30CommunityAll together now TushnaGhadially tells us why she setup a local parents network

36Food & drinkFestive feasts Give turkeystime out and have Christmaslunch with a difference

40ServicePutting you first PortmanEstate staff put residents’ andoccupiers’ needs foremost

43Baker StreetChristmas market It’s timeto grab a mulled wine and fillyour festive boots

Editor Lorna Davies

WritersTim ArbabzadahCatherine Payne-SmithCally SquiresDebbie WardFelicity KentLorna Davies

Sub-editors Tim ArbabzadahVanya Marks

Designer Andy Lowe

PublisherThe Portman Estate

AdvertisingSam Bradshaw 020 7259 1051 sam@pubbiz.com

Send information toThe PortmanPublishing Business3 Princes StreetLondon W1B 2LD020 7259 1050www.pubbiz.com

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The Portman is a regular journal aboutlife on and around The Portman Estate

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5contents

7as told to

Over Arching

I’M ORIGINALLY FROM CANADA andstudied at Ottawa University receiving mydegree in Media Communications and

Public Relations. During my summers I worked inhotels, mainly in the guest services department. Itook three years off to travel after university. I went to Fiji and New Zealand for eight months, then toAustralia for two years. It was only supposed to beone year off, but ended up as three. I loved it. I livedin Sydney first and then travelled up to Port Douglas,Queensland, for those years and worked in hotelsthere. You only get a two-year holiday visa. One ofthe hotel managers in Australia said I should come toLondon, so I did and took a PR course here as a sortof upgrade from my degree, but I ended up workingin a hotel on weekends. So I just sort of fell into it. I never actually got a job in PR, so I don’t even knowexactly what I would have been doing!

The most memorable moment in Australia wasworking as an extra on a movie, The Thin Red Line,for almost seven months. I was with my friend andwe had spent all our money and that just popped up.We were up on war ships in the middle of the oceanfor about two weeks during filming – that ended upas about two minutes of footage.

I arrived in London in 1999 and worked atopening a few 5-star boutique hotels. I had theopportunity to start working for The Arch and openedthis hotel five years ago. This is a great little hotel. Wehave 82 rooms, so not too big, not too small. It’s alsoa great location: right in the centre of everything.

Theo Dubroy, headconcierge at The ArchHotel, 50 GreatCumberland Place,tells us about hisaward-winning role

“

8as told to

There’s Hyde Park for all the joggers and so many nice places for people to go out inMarylebone and Mayfair. It’s the perfect locationand the perfect size.

We have demanding guests; they know whatthey want. For example, one group wanted last-minute Wimbledon tickets, which were quite hardto get. There are a lot of regulars, too. During thesummers we get many families, so there is a lot oforganising family activities and, during the winterperiod, we get many business travellers so thereare different tasks for this kind of traveller.

I remember one of the funniest incidents wasthese guys who were going to a party in drag, sowe needed to find high-heeled shoes in size 14 atthe last minute for three men. We had to find aspecialist shop in the end.

My manager here encouraged me to apply forthe Golden Keys. It’s quite a long process. Youneed sponsors and at least five years of conciergeexperience to actually apply. Then you need to gobefore the board if they accept you. There’s a testand I wasasked aboutmy knowledgeof London andmy own hotel. Iwas also givenscenarios andasked what Iwould do. Plus I had to knowabout TheSociety of theGolden Keys. It was moreintense than Ithought itwould be, lotsof studying, butit’s all good toknow that stuffanyway. Also,you get to goto theInternationalconferences(Les Clefs d’OrInternationalCongress2014), which isin Argentinathis year. Now thisaward is for life. IMAGES OF THE ARCH LONDON COURTESY OF THE HOTEL

“We needed tofind high-heeledshoes in size 14at the lastminute forthree men”

”Theo was talking to Tim Arbabzadah

10happenings

Historic landmark set in stoneFIFTY YEARS on from the originaldedication of the Tyburn Stone plaqueon September 29, 1964, stone masonshave meticulously repaired and restoredthe historic landmark. The stone, locatedat the intersection of Edgware Road andMarble Arch, marks the site wherecriminals, traitors and priests were

executed for almost 600 years. Edgware Road Partnership, the

Tyburn Convent, Westminster CityCouncil and Transport for London invitedthe local community to celebrate therestoration last month, when TfL alsoplanted three oak trees around thestone. Father Christopher Pedley SJ,from The Jesuit Church of ImmaculateConception, led a private blessing of the stone, with Friends of the TyburnCommittee present to witness thededication. Pupils from nearbyHampden Gurney CE Primary Schoolalso wrote special Tyburn-format poems,and read them to guests as part ofNational Poetry Day.

The earliest record of a public execution at Tyburn – originally a villagein Middlesex – was in 1196, but itbecame most notorious in the 16thcentury. Henry VIII used Tyburn toexecute the ringleaders of the Pilgrimageof Grace, and in 1571, the Tyburn Treewas erected near the modern-dayMarble Arch. WESTMINSTER CITY Council has unveiled a commemorative

flowerbed in Marble Arch to remember all those who lived, foughtand died during World War One.

Built 100 years after the start of World War One, the flowerbed is part of the council’s campaign of commemorative events,‘Westminster Remembers’, and was unveiled by the Lord Mayor ofWestminster, Cllr Audrey Lewis, and Westminster’s Armed ForcesChampion, Cllr Rachael Robathan, in October.

A TROOPER IN THE BLUES & ROYALS HOUSEHOLDCAVALRY REGIMENT PAYINGHIS RESPECTS TO THEWORLD WAR ONE‘WESTMINSTERREMEMBERS’ FLOWERBED

FATHER CHRISTOPHERPEDLEY SJ AND GUESTS ATTHE BLESSING OF THETYBURN STONE

CHILTERN STREET will be illuminated withfestive lights on November 12, followed byMarylebone High Street on November 19.Chiltern Street will also play host to a late-nightshopping evening on November 27. From 5pmuntil late, stores will be serving celebratorydrinks, with Glühwein (mulled wine) andSwedish cinnamon buns at Monocle; whiskeytasting at Cadenhead’s; and mulled wine anda Christmas Grotto sneak preview Hardy’sBrasserie and Wine Bar. Salons includingBharti Vyas and West One Beauty will also beoffering discounts and special treatments. Plusthere will be music from Tyler Rix to get youwell and truly in the festive spirit!Info: www.chilternstreetsw1.co.uk

Christmas cracker New look for Locatelli

Council honours war heroes

LOCANDA LOCATELLI has reopened after athree month refurbishment. Almost £1 millionhas been invested into Plaxy and GiorgioLocatelli’s Michelin-starred Italian, with thelion’s share of the cost spent on a newkitchen. In the restaurant, aside from arefreshed interior, two new Damien Hirstpaintings adorn the walls and a semi-privatedining room has been created. Launched in2002, the restaurant in the Hyatt RegencyLondon – The Churchill hotel, has servedfamous faces including Kate Winslet,Madonna and Kate Moss.

Locanda Locatelli is at 8 Seymour Street. Info:020 7935 9088, www.locandalocatelli.com

12happenings

Peruvian fusion arrives in Thayer Street

Supper club for stylish singlesLONDON DINNER CLuB ishosting a series of socialnetworking and matchmakingevenings over the festive period.On November 20, the supper clubis hosting its stylish monthly drinksevening to connect singleLondoners at private member’sclub Home House. On December4, Chinese restaurant Royal Chinais providing a delicious banquet oftheir speciality dishes, with after-dinner drinks for more socialisingat Home House.

After working for six years ininvestment banking, Salima Manjiwas looking for a new directionand heard colleagues complaining

about the perils of online dating. “My ‘lightbulb moment’

happened, as I love planningdinner parties and drinks forfriends. using my networking skillsgained in banking, a supper clubfor singles seemed like a perfectbusiness idea,” she told ThePortman. “We’ve been successfullymatching up couples since 2010.”

London Dinner Club will be atHome House, 20 Portman Square,November 20, 7.30pm and RoyalChina, 40-42 Baker Street,December 4, 7.30pm. Booking is advised. Info:www.londondinnerclub.org

ANuP SARIN, general manager at theDoubleTree by Hilton in Marble Arch, hasbeen awarded the Sanch EurasionGolden Award for Hospitality. Sarin waspresented the award – which recogniseshis 20 years of hard work in the hotelindustry – by Baroness Sandip Verma atthe House of Lords.

“I am originally from India and startedmy career in 1988, and have beenworking in hotels ever since. I beganwith the Holiday Inn in New Delhi. Then I worked for Crowne Plaza beforemoving to the Hilton for a couple ofyears and then Intercontinental,” Sarintold The Portman.

Sarin also opened a hotel in Shrinagain Kashmir, in a former Maharaja’spalace, and an Intercontinental inBangalore in India. He has been at the 4 Bryanston Street hotel (formerly BestWestern) for 12 years.

Sarin has also achieved the Pride ofIndia Leadership Award in 2010 and is a fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.

Earlier this month, he and othervolunteers from the hotel worked toimprove the gardens and children’s playarea at the Portman Early ChildhoodCentre, as part of the Baker StreetQuarter’s CSR Smarter GivingProgramme to help businesses supportlocal charities.

DoubleTree winshospitality award

Give thanks at the Firehouse

ANUP SARIN, CENTRE, WITHOTHER REPRESENTATIVES OFDOUBLETREE BY HILTON. CREDIT: DOUBLETREE BY HILTON

CELEBRATE Thanksgiving at the ChilternFirehouse, which is offering a specialmenu and longer opening hours. Therestaurant will be serving food all dayfrom 12noon on November 27.Executive chef Nuno Mendes hascreated two special dishes. For mains,there is Rhug Farm turkey, slow roastedover hay truffled stuffing and liverparfait with sides of French beans, andalmondine and maple bourbon sweetpotatoes (£32). Dessert is spicedpumpkin and brown butter pie raisincaramel and bourbon cream (£9). 

Chiltern Firehouse is at 1 Chiltern Street.Info: 020 7073 7676,www.chilternfirehouse.com

PHOTO: JAMIE ORLANDO SMITH

PACHAMAMA has opened on Thayer Street.The menu features Peruvian dishes using Britishingredients such as salmon tacos, sea bassand tiger’s milk and chicken anticuchos. Headchef Tom Catley has an impressive CV includingOttolenghi, Nathan Outlaw, Peyton and Byrne,as well as working at Amaz in Peru.

“We couldn’t be more excited about theopening,” Catley told The Portman. “Ourconcept of British-Peruvian cuisine is a London

first and seems to have excited many. We’vehad particularly great feedback on our SmokedGloucester Old Spot ribs with English malt andpeanut glaze. So far so good!”

The restaurant is also home to a cocktailbar, with home-infused Pisco, British/Peruvianmash-ups and South American wines.

Pachamama is at 18 Thayer Street. Info: 0207935 9393, www.pachamamalondon.com

SALIMA MANJI

14happenings

LA PETITE Poissonnerie hasopened on New Quebec Street.The boutique fishmongerspecialises in locally and sustainablysourced fresh fish, shellfish andsmoked fish, plus a selection ofFrench and Japanese groceries,wines, dressings, sauces,sandwiches and salads. Formerchef and founder Nic Rascale plansto become the best fishmonger inLondon, with a focus on very highquality grade of produce, bespokeservice and recipe suggestions.“The road is just right for us, veryvillage-like,” he says of the newstore location. As well as NewQuebec Street and an existingbranch in Primrose Hill, Rascaleplans to expand to Belgravia,Mayfair, Soho and King’s Cross.

La Petite Poissonnerie is at 19 NewQuebec Street. Info: www.lapetite-poissonnerie.co.uk

MEACHER HIGGINS & Thomas is 200years old this year. The Crawford Streetpharmacy celebrated the milestone witha party attended by the Lord Mayor ofWestminster last month. Opened in 1814 by Thomas Meacher

and later succeeded by James Higgins,records from residents show thepharmacy had a good reputation, withcarriages regularly queuing up outside.Meacher Higgins & Thomas has beenowned by Gist Health Ltd for the pastten years, and provides a range ofservices including flu vaccinations,medicine use reviews, help to stopsmoking, as well as advice on healthylifestyle and nutritional advice.

Pharmacist Ghada Saleh said shewas “delighted” to be celebrating the bi-centenary. “The community pharmacyhas changed enormously in the last fewdecades and we’ve come across someinteresting records to show this,including a manuscript list of prices ofdrugs and instruments charged to anursing home, which includes: ‘Leeches– best speckled at 4s per dose’.

Meacher Higgins & Thomas is at105a Crawford Street.

Info: 020 7723 2788,www.meacherhigginsandthomas.co.uk

New fishmongermakes a splash

Local pharmacy celebrates bicentenary

GHADA SALEH FROMMEACHER HIGGINS &THOMAS AND STEPHENFISHWICK FROM THENATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALASSOCIATION

THE WALLACE RESTAuRANT,at The Wallace Collection, hasreopened. The Peyton andByrne restaurant has undergonea recent refurbishmentalongside the works at thegallery. Ivan Simeoli has beenappointed as head chef and hasintroduced a new menu with aFrench influence.

Hertford House, ManchesterSquare. Info: 020 7300 5913,www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk

WAITROSE has opened a new store onBaker Street. Little Waitrose PortmanSquare – unveiled by City ofWestminster Councillor, KarenScarborough, on October 21 – is theninth store in Westminster and hasrecruited 56 staff after receiving morethan 400 applications.

The store will include a bakery, freshfruit and vegetables, a range of take-away sandwiches and snacks, andhundreds of everyday items.

Waitrose Portman Square will donate£6,000 and 100 staff working hours ayear to local causes nominated bycustomers through its Community

Matters ‘green token’ scheme andPartner Volunteering initiative. Localcharities The West London Day Centre,Faith Forum and Fitzrovia Group will bethe first causes to benefit fromCommunity Matters.

Waitrose Portman Square is at 12 BakerStreet. Info: www.waitrose.com

16happenings

THE CHuRCHILL Bar’s alfresco terrace has beentransformed into an alpine winter scene, completewith a chocolate cocktail menu curated by Green& Blacks, twinkling lanterns, lavish fur-lined seatsand vintage wooden sleighs and skis. Cocktailsinclude Off Piste, made with Green & Black’sLemon Chocolate, Limonchello, grapefruit, thymeand lemongrass syrup, Cazadores Blanco Tequilaand baked meringue.

The Churchill Bar & Terrace is at 30 PortmanSquare. Info: 020 7299 2035,www.london.churchill.hyatt.com

Refreshed décor and menu at the Wallace

Chocolate at the Churchill

Little Waitrose has landed

18arts

LEFT: SIMPLY DANCING PARTNERS GET TO GRIPSWITH THE JIVE RIGHT: PROFESSIONALS AT WORK

“CLienTS geT aDDiCTeD. They just keep coming back for more, term after term. normally, they only stop if they leavethe country or move out of London,” says Simply Dancing Partners founder Jenni Kravitz.

We are sitting in the atrium of the WestLondon Synagogue in Marylebone, waitingfor my beginners’ Waltz and Jive class tobegin. as someone whose entire StrictlyCome Dancing knowledge is based on afrantic googling of the show’s YouTuberepertoire mere hours previously, i don’tknow quite what to expect. i do know thatnever before has Denise van Outen seemedso intimidating. Jenni assures me i am notthe only one to be lured without the Strictlyhook: “i didn’t even watch the first series,but became a fan of the second.” Strangely,none of my fellow non-professionals arereligious viewers of the BBC primetime showeither. But rather, keen amateurs who think itwould be a lovely way to spend a Tuesdayevening, not to mention a good skill to have.

Jenni herself didn’t set out to start adance school – in fact she was a potentialclient. “i did some research and found fourdifferent schools which promised that therewould be plenty of men to dance with. Whatthat actually turned out to mean was thatyou’d be lucky if there was one man in theclass; it was unlikely that he’d be able todance; and you’d have to share him with upto ten other women.” Certainly not what youdream about when you’re at home watchingStrictly, then.

She didn’t, however, have two left feet. “i learned ballet as a child and actually didperformances in the same room we now use

for the Simply classes. i also did some jazzin my teens, but then i married a man whohad no interest in dancing, which made itimpossible for me to carry on. For the next30 years, i didn’t do any dancing at all,because i couldn’t find a willing partner togo with me.”

Thus, the idea for Simply DancingPartners was born. “When i did start

Dust off your dancing shoes

When Jenni Kravitz took upballroom and Latin dancingeight years ago, she couldonly find classes full ofwomen with hardly anymen. That’s why shelaunched Simply DancingPartners. With the finalof Strictly on December 13,we sent our girl CallySquires for a spin

watching Strictly, i realised that if i didn’ttake the initiative and start dancing againnow, the opportunity would pass me by,”recalls Jenni. “The classes i had tried wereonly £10 per lesson; you’re lucky if you canbuy a coffee and a cake for that much. Whywould i expect a quality lesson for that sortof money? i really wanted to go to a classand dance with a partner who knew what hewas doing. if you were learning tennis, you’dhire an experienced player to teach you, notsomeone who’d never held a racket before.”

On Valentine’s Day 2006, Jenni set out to find a venue, a teacher and some willingdancers, “who were prepared to be paid todance with amateurs like me.” She originallythought the latter would be thesps whowere in between stage jobs, but eventuallyshe discovered that the best partners werenot professionals, but were current or ex-students who were – or had been – ondancesport teams at university. “They trainso hard alongside their degrees that theyreach an incredible level of technical skill,”Jenni tells me.

“My vision for Simply Dancing Partnerswas for it to be like my bridge club – a reallywelcoming atmosphere, where everybodywould say hello to you when you walked in.”She certainly seems to have achieved herdream. not only do i find the other dancersto be warm and friendly, but they have

clearly built up a rapport with each other,having attended the same class togethereach week of the term. Jenni says this iswhy she shunned taking private lessonswhen she was learning: “The classes weretoo short and not very satisfying from asocial point of view.”

Currently, Simply Dancing Partners offers instruction in Latin, Cha Cha, Rumba,Jive, Samba, Salsa, Waltz, Foxtrot,Quickstep and, most recently, argentineTango. “We hold the classes in a hall in theSynagogue building, which has recentlybeen refurbished beautifully. My parentswere both active members – as was i –when i was a child.”

now that she has been dancing solidlyfor nine years, i wonder what her favouriteroutine is? “Definitely the argentine Tango,it’s really captured my heart. i also lovedancing the Rumba, so i’m taking privatelessons in that at the moment.” Jenni saysthe private option is great for engagedcouples picking a first dance: “We can workout exactly what choreography suits thembest.” The Foxtrot and Waltz are the mostpopular wedding dances, but Jenni says:“We did have a bride-to-be who wanted tolearn the dance of the theme tune to DirtyDancing. She and her now-husbandpractised for about eight weeks with us, and i heard afterwards that the routine was

20arts

“My vision for SimplyDancing Partners wasfor it to be like mybridge club – a reallywelcoming atmosphere,where everybody wouldsay hello to you whenyou walked in.”

Jenni Kravitz

very well received on the day!” Being based so centrally, the school

attracts clients from near and far. “Someclients are Marylebone locals. There is one lady who lives opposite us and sawthe classes through her window. Sherushed down and asked to join!” Oneclient who has come from very far indeedis Jean – in my class – who found SimplyDancing Partners online and has flownfrom California to spend six months inLondon, taking weekly dancing lessons at 33 Seymour Place.

in the course of the inevitable Strictlychat, Jenni says she would like Casualtyactress Sunetra Sarker or EastEndersactor Jake Wood to win. “i realise howgood some of the younger girls are, but i do feel they have an unfair advantage.When i watch Sunetra and Jake, who havecome from nowhere, i really empathise. it is terribly exciting to see them improveover the weeks.

“i’m a very determined person andwhen i want to do something i get myhead down and do it. i was absolutelydetermined to make Simply DancingPartners work,” says Jenni. Happily, so far, it has.

Simply Dancing Partners holds classes at33 Seymour Place on weekday evenings.info: 020 3648 0377,www.simplydancingpartners.co.uk

22gifts

Christmas gifts

It’s that time of year again: the number of shoppingdays left until Christmas are ever-dwindling and theto-do list is ever-increasing. The good news is thatyou don’t need to go far to fill the stockings.Catherine Payne-Smith reveals treasure trove ofinspiration available on your doorstep

Comfort and joy

Tis the season to grab a box-set,light the fire and retreat from theworld until the chimes of the newyear. Here’s what to give if you’replanning an indoor-fest

MY 1ST YEARS STAR TWO-PIECEGIFT SET 0-12 MONTHS, £30,SELFRIDGES, 400 OXFORD STREET. INFO: 0113 369 8040,WWW.SELFRIDGES.COM BETHLÉEM CANDLE, £65, CIRE

TRUDON BOUTIQUE, 36 CHILTERNSTREET. INFO: 020 7486 7590,WWW.CIRETRUDON.COM

MILTONDUFF-GLENLIVET DISTILLERY1994 WHISKY, £75.50, THE CADENHEAD’SWHISKY SHOP AND TASTING ROOM, 26CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7935 6999,WWW.WHISKYTASTINGROOM.COM MHL ROLL NECK, £155,

MARGARET HOWELL, 34 WIGMORE STREET. INFO: 020 7009 9009,WWW.MARGARETHOWELL.CO.UK

ROCOCO ROUND BOX NO.1 WITHMIXED CHOCOLATES, £28, ROCOCOCHOCOLATES, 3 MOXON STREET.INFO: 020 7935 7780,WWW.ROCOCOCHOCOLATES.COM

SUPER FLUFFY LEOPARDPRINT ROBE, £50, LONGTALL SALLY, 21-25 CHILTERNSTREET. INFO: 020 7487 3370,WWW.LONGTALLSALLY.COM

CLIFTON ROSE THREE-TIERCAKE STAND, £35, CATHKIDSTON, 51 MARYLEBONE HIGHSTREET. INFO: 020 7935 6555,WWW.CATHKIDSTON.COM

CASHMERE RIBBEDSOCKS, £40, SUNSPEL,13-15 CHILTERNSTREET. INFO: 020 7009 0650,WWW.SUNSPEL.COM

24gifts

MakingmemoriesSometimes the best presentis one that doesn’t fit underthe Christmas tree.

WINE TASTING SESSION, £25, EUROCAVEUK, 57 CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 79354679, WWW.AROUNDWINE.CO.UK

STENTOR STUDENT VIOLIN,£94, JAS MUSICALS, 14CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7935 0793,WWW.JAS-MUSICALS.COM

GIFT VOUCHERSFOR BEAUTYTREATMENTSAVAILABLE AT: LEMONGRASSBOUTIQUE SPA, 8 SEYMOURPLACE. INFO: 020 7258 7997,WWW.LEMONGRASSBOUTIQUESPA.CO.UKBEAUTY ROSE, 21 NEW QUEBEC STREET. INFO: 020 7724 2114, WWW.BEAUTYROSE.CO.UK IBROWS, 16 SEYMOUR PLACE. INFO: 020 7725 5791, WWW.IBROWSETC.CO.UK

GIFT VOUCHERS FOR WORKSHOPS IN KNITTING,PERFUME MAKING AND MORE, FROM £10,HOMEMADE LONDON, 21 SEYMOUR PLACE. INFO: 020 8616 0771, WWW.HOMEMADELONDON.COM

MAKE A DONATION TO THE WESTLONDON DAY CENTRE, WHICHPROVIDES FOR THE IMMEDIATENEEDS OF 100 HOMELESSPEOPLE EVERY DAY, ATWWW.JUSTGIVING.COM/WLM. WEST LONDON DAY CENTRE, 19 THAYER STREET. INFO: 020 7569 5900,WWW.WLM.ORG.UK/WLDC

26gifts

Objects ofdesireIt feels fabulous to unwrapsomething you never knewyou wanted until you see it –and feet your heart flutter.Treat your loved one to athing of beauty.

NAKAMOL BEADED FRINGENECKLACE, £55, SAHARA, 42 CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7935 8990,WWW.SAHARALONDON.COM

WHITE LACE DRESS, £85, PAOLITA, 18 NEW QUEBEC STREET. INFO: 0203 620 5806, WWW.PAOLITA.CO.UK

EDITH BAG, £185, WILBUR &GUSSIE, 20 NEW QUEBECSTREET. INFO: 020 3696 4920,WWW.WILBURANDGUSSIE.COM

TOWNHALL DRESS,£795, SUZANNAH, 3 NEW QUEBEC STREET.INFO: 020 7258 0782,WWW.SUZANNAH.COM

RIVIERA POLO SHIRT,£80, SUNSPEL, 13-15 CHILTERN STREET.INFO: 020 7009 0650,WWW.SUNSPEL.COM

HARDY & PARSONS BREDON WEBBINGBELT, £75, TRUNK CLOTHIERS, 8 CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7486 2357,WWW.TRUNKCLOTHIERS.COM

JOHN SIMONS APPARELCOMPANY SHIRT, £89, JOHNSIMONS, 46 CHILTERN STREET.INFO: 020 3490 2729,WWW.JOHNSIMONS.CO.UK

GOLD BOX UMBRELLA, £29.99, THEWALLACE COLLECTION, HERTFORDHOUSE, MANCHESTER SQUARE.INFO: 020 7563 9500,WWW.WALLACECOLLECTION.ORG

Gail’s in PorTMan VillaGE is buzzing. The artisan bakery,which opened on seymour Place in september, is filled with mumschatting animatedly, while their babies snooze in prams andtoddlers play underfoot. Portman Estate resident and local mumTushna Ghadially is holding her second coffee morning for thewebsite and network of parents she set up earlier this year.

Tushna and her husband moved to Bryanston Mews West inapril 2013 after living in the lancaster Gate area for about ten years.The relocation brought huge benefits. “Marylebone definitely hasmore of a community feel than even lancaster Gate and, living in amews, we have quite a few families living on our street and thechildren play out in the evenings,” says Tushna.

Gloria rexer agrees. she moved to Marylebone last august andhad her baby, Camila, in February. “You can do almost everythingjust walking and, as we don’t have a car, that’s perfect! i love takingCamila to the park (either the small one in Paddington streetGardens or regent’s Park), a lot of restaurants are easy to visit witha baby [see box], and it’s easy for us to meet my husband duringlunchtime as he works so close.”

after having her daughter, Katayoun, in March 2013, Tushnagave up work as a fund manager. However, she soon discoveredthat there was no established community for local parents, soTushna set up MaryleboneMums.com at the beginning of the year.

“The website provides a blog, where news and informationabout local events, classes and coffee mornings are posted. These

30community

Mum’s the word

Marylebone Mums was set up earlier thisyear to help parents find child-friendlyactivities on and around The Portman Estate.Felicity Kent finds out more about theconcept from founder Tushna Ghadially ABOVE: SIRIO

OPPOSITE: TUSHNA GHADIALLY AND KATAYOUN

32community

Marylebone Dad, Jethro, and 17-month-oldFlorence. she wanted to give something back tothe local community so started up rossmorerascals, a playgroup for babies and toddlers at stPaul’s Church on rossmore road. “i thought thateven if it just ended up being Florence’s matesand their mums that would be great, but it’s beenreally popular and we have 15 kids at eachsession. it’s been rather altruistic and really helpsto precipitate the local ‘village’ feeling that wehave been trying to create.”

after achieving so much in so little time,Tushna and her Marylebone Mums will surelyenrich the vibrant fabric of The Portman Estate’sfamily-friendly offerings for the future.

info: www.marylebonemums.com orwww.facebook.com/groups/marylebonemums/

Twitter: @MaryleboneMums

The concept is perfect for new mums …“We’re all about being convenient, andwe’re quite affordable too.”

Manya Klempner

Tushna’s guide: where to eat with kidsGail’s Bakery, 4-6 seymour Place: “a familyfavourite for a sweet treat or yummy lunch.”Bright Courtyard Club, 43-45 Baker street:“Especially for dim sum – super kid-friendly.”Natural Kitchen, 55 Baker street: “The atriumarea is great.”Chiltern Firehouse, 1 Chiltern street:“supposedly very child-friendly, although not triedit with the kids yet!”La Porte des Indes (pictured), 32 Bryanstonstreet: “For sunday brunch.”

are also on our Facebook page and Twitter feed. There is also acalendar of events so you can see what is on every day.”

Gloria, who is originally from Brazil, says: “The MaryleboneMums Facebook group really helped me to meet other mums.” 

While her network of parents grows, Tushna now wants to builda relationship with local businesses. “i want to make sure that localbusinesses value the loyal custom that local families bring. i plan toencourage classes to start running in the area and try to help findthem space where activities can happen. There is also a gap in themarket for a family club around here, especiallygiven the large number of kids.”

aurore Martial has been living on Montagusquare for three and a half years and had herson, sirio, last november. she has an idea for afamily club but is struggling to find suitablespace. 

“i started going to playgroups, and was justshocked to see that there wasn’t that much goingon: surely there should be better settings thanchurch basements or libraries? so i decided tolaunch a pop-up cafe and created Take a DeepBreath, just to see if it was just me dreaming ofsomething a bit more sophisticated or if there wasreally a gap in the market.

“The idea was pretty simple: an afternoon teafor the mums, a play area for the kids (with fingerfood) and a music class – all wrapped up in twohours. We held it at Hardy’s Brasserie and iabsolutely enjoyed it. since then, i have beenlooking desperately for a space.”

another local mum saw a gap in the marketfor personal training. Manya Klempner is the co-founder of Moose X-Training, a personal trainingboutique that comes to the client. The concept isperfect for new mums. 

“Many of our clients have children and eitheruse our services to get rid of stubborn excessbaby weight or to get in a workout at home whilebaby naps or hubby supervises in the evening.We’re all about being convenient, and we’re quiteaffordable too. as a small company celebratingour second birthday soon, we always valuesupport from the community.”

suzy Kruger lives on rossmore road with herhandyman husband and self-confessed

BELOW: MANYA KLEMPNER AND CHARLIE

OPPOSITE TOP: GLORIA REXER AND CAMILA

OPPOSITE BELOW: LES PORT DES INDES

36food & drink

Roti Chai The Indian street food served at Roti Chaihas proved such a popular antidote toturkey and mince pies that, in previousyears, it has seen people queuing forBoxing Day and New Year’s Day lunch.

There are two separate rooms andmenus; the more casual Street Kitchen(open from midday, last orders 10.30pm)and the Dining Room (open from 5pm).The former is more popular with familiesand group lunches and the latter forChristmas dinners with colleagues orfriends. The street food-inspired sharingstyle helps to keep things sociable.

Try the £32.50 ‘Atma’ sample DiningRoom sharing party menu, which includes‘small plates’ such as lamb Gilafi seekhkebab and ‘comfort food’ dishes likecreamy butter chicken, a Koliwada fish karicooked with coconut, and a slow-cookedpork belly goan vinha d’alhos. A spicedBombay banoffee is among the desserts.

The Street Kitchen party menus startfrom £24.50 per person.

3 Portman Mews South. Info: 020 74080101, www.rotichai.com

The Lockhart Thanksgiving is the big turkey-focusedevent Stateside, and you can get a taste ofit from now until November 27 at Americanrestaurant The Lockhart, with fried turkeylegs, country ham, smoked brisket andtraditional side dishes.

The restaurant’s varied Southern menu,meanwhile, can be adapted for ‘family-style’ Christmas parties from £35 perperson. Mississippi-born chef BradMcDonald turns out the likes of catfishgumbo; dirty rice with brown crab and

West Mersea oysters; short ribs; or thefestive-sounding grouse, sour cherries andbacon with Madeira glaze. Side dishesnaturally include grits and cornbread, whiledesserts feature the lemon icebox pie thatrecently proved a winner at the PortmanBake Off. Wash it all down with a Californiawine, a mint julep, an ice tea or somehomemade lemonade.

A New Year’s Day ‘Lucky Brunch’ willrecreate the traditional Southern inclusionsof collard greens for wealth, and Hoppin’John (rice with black-eyed peas) for luck.

22-24 Seymour Place. Info: 020 30115400, www.lockhartlondon.com

CarouselWith a promise of “no stuffing, no sprouts,and definitely no mince pies”, Carousel is waging “a one-kitchen war againstsoporific Christmas lunch menus” thisChristmas. The restaurant, which takes theform of a string of pop-ups, has producedan original Christmas menu with “seasonalingredients and punchy flavours.”

Starters include cured and charredmackerel with fennel, mint, grilled orangeand shallot vinaigrette, or slow cookedrabbit, with pickled carrots, chervil andsourdough toast.

Mains are a choice of pan-fried hakewith mussels, a vegetarian rotola pastadish with sage and walnut butter or, theclosest thing to a traditional roast, a dryhung chicken with spiced yoghurt andpearl barley. Dessert hits the off-beatfestive spot, with the likes of caramelisedlemon and Seville orange cake withcardamom yoghurt or mascarpone, redwine prunes and baby doughnuts.

Bookings for parties of four or more are being taken for lunch or dinner fromNovember 24 to December 18.

71 Blandford Street. Info:020 7487 5564,www.carousel-london.com

Nordic BakeryThat famous Danish feel-good word‘hygge’, meaning something like‘cosiness’, will be much in evidence at the

Alternative Christmas dinners

Tired of turkey? Crave a more original festive seasonget-together? These eateries in the Portman areaembrace different nationalities and styles. All are greatfor sociable sharing and there’s not a sprout in sight.Debbie Ward reports

CHILI PANEER AT ROTI CHAI

CAROUSEL

FRIED CHICKEN, COLLARDGREENS AND BLACK-EYED PEASAT THE LOCKHART

38food & drink

Nordic Bakery this season. The menu’s stillevolving, but expect the likes of glogg – atraditional mulled wine, usually served withalmonds and raisins, plus cranberry buns,Christmas ginger stars and other seasonalbiscuits. Meet up with friends, take somebaked treats home for entertaining, or do a spot of Christmas shopping: a “hamper”is being created, with contents likely to bea bottle of Glogg, Nordic Bakery jam andblueberry juice, and a branded tray and teatowel, all in a Nordic Bakery shoulder bag.

37b New Cavendish Street. Info:020 79353590, www.nordicbakery.com

DonostiaTapas have always been a great sharingmeal, so Donostia is a perfect port of callwith friends. Along with favourites liketortilla and Donostia’s take on patatasbravas, a sophisticated range of dishesfeatures scallops, cod cheeks, pigeon withceps and chestnut purée, and an orangeand hazelnut salad. Hand-carved three-year-old Iberian jaman, a charcuterie

selection, or octopus in Basque marinadeare among the cold plates.

There are classic or gourmet set menus(£36 or £47) for groups, featuring some ofthe above dishes, plus the likes of slow-cooked pigs cheeks and a choice ofdesserts. Or you can pre-order a leg ofsuckling lamb or goat for £32/34. If you’rein full party mode, hire a room for up to 16people, or book Donostia’s catering.

10 Seymour Place. Info: 020 3620 1845,www.donostia.co.uk

Lanes of London For a fun twist on the pre-Christmas get-together, gather at Lanes of London where the afternoon tea has been given a festive makeover. This November andDecember, the tea will feature Christmaspudding spiced macaroon, chocolate andorange opera cake, a gingerbread house,coffee and mascarpone yule log and warmeggnog with spiced foam. The indulgencecosts £35 per person, which includes aglass of champagne, and is available forgroup bookings.

Lanes’ regular street food menu is also

a hit for sociable dining, with tapas-styleplates designed to represent the best ofmulti-cultural London.

London Marriot Hotel, 140 Park Lane. Info:020 7647 5664, www.lanesoflondon.co.uk

Christmas is a celebration common to many countries,but the traditional meal is very much a moveable feast.

Molly, part of the Lockhart team, is originally fromKansas City but met her husband Brad, Lockhart’s chef,while at university in Mississippi. She says: “A lot ofSouthern cuisine is based around pork. Christmas dinnerwould be no different, with ham as the main. Cornbreadwould be a side, and then dessert would probably besome pies like a pecan pie or a sweet potato pie that’soften also served for Thanksgiving. Each family has theirown variations. Mine has Danish heritage so we had ared cabbage dish.

New Year’s Day is one of my favourite Southerntraditions with collard greens and black-eyed peas. Bradand I would do a brunch. People would come a littleworse for wear but still laughing about the night before,and we’d toast the New Year.”

Naturally, fish is much in evidence at NordicChristmas dinner tables. Nordic Bakery operationsdirector Richard Keen says the first course is typically afish buffet, including gravlax served with boiled potatoesand mustard and dill dressing, sill – a kind of herringserved with mustard and pickled vegetables – and‘lutefisk’ – a dried cod soaked in a lye solution.

Ham is the main event again, with a slow-roastedwhole gammon the star, served with root vegetablecasseroles and beetroot and red cabbage salads,homemade mustard and peas.

Donostia co-owner Nemanja Borjanovic says therestaurant will be playing out a humorous Spanishtradition this New Year’s Eve: “We will be counting downto New Year with grapes. For every count, every guestwill put a grape in their mouth entering 2015 with amouth full of grapes.”

TAPAS AT DONOSTIA LANES OF LONDON’SAFTERNOON TEA

Christmas grub around the worldHunter 486If a taste of the traditional is what you’re craving,The Arch London’s stylish Hunter 486 restaurantis offering a lavish five-course lunch or dinner for£55 per person. Dishes include wild mushroomcappuccino with parmesan crisp; traditional roastNorfolk turkey with chestnut stuffing, roastpotatoes, Brussels sprouts, chipolatas in bacon,cranberry sauce and roasting jus; and chocolateand clementine tart with clotted cream ice cream.The meal is also available as three courses for£35 and four courses for £45 (until December 31).On Christmas day, a four-course lunch including a glass of Taittinger is available for £65 per person.

Hunter 486 at The Arch London, 50 GreatCumberland Place. Info: 020 7724 0486,www.thearchlondon.com/hunter-486-brasserie

“We value allfeedback andwelcome anyideas andsuggestions”

40service

Teresa Kearney, associatedirector of customer services,and Kirsty Arnold, team leader,facilities management, havelooked after the residents,occupiers and visitors of ThePortman Estate for the past ten years. They tell us howthey stay on top of the game in customer service

take your call and to respond to maintenanceissues as required.We also have a handyman service. Andy hasworked with us for the past five years and is afamiliar face. It’s very important to us to havesomeone around the Estate that people know.Teresa: Most of the contractors we use arepeople we have worked with for many years.They tend to be smaller companies where wehave developed strong working relationships.Kirsty: We have a detailed procedure for vetting

our contractors, and place great importance onhealth and safety. We’re in constantcommunication with them and hold regular reviewmeetings.Teresa: We continually look to improve the levelof customer service we offer and know that wecan never be complacent. We benchmarkourselves against others in the property industryas well as organisations outside the propertyworld, such as those in the hotel and servicesector. We encourage people to give us feedback,whether they live or work on the Estate or not,and even if they’re not our direct occupiers, wevalue all feedback and welcome any ideas andsuggestions.

The Portman Estate office is at 40 PortmanSquare. Info: 020 7563 1400, www.portmanestate.co.uk,info@portmanestate.co.uk.

Maintenance enquiries: 020 7563 1750,service.desk@portmanestate.co.uk

Teresa: Our job is to ensure that ThePortman Estate is a desirable place tobe: to live, to work, to shop and to visit.A key part of our role is looking after ourcustomers – whether they arecommercial, retail or residential. Kirsty: It’s going above and beyondperhaps what other landlords mightprovide but also above and beyond theexpectations of our customers. We havemany different initiatives and ways wecan enhance the customer service weprovide, and that is something we’recontinually looking at, it doesn’t stop. Teresa: Sometimes, with the best will inthe world, things may go wrong, but if itdoes we will do our utmost to put thingsright as quickly as possible. We are in a unique position on ThePortman Estate, in that all of ourproperties are within a five minute walk ofour office here on Portman Square. Thatdoes make a big difference. We are a founding member of the

Real Service Best Practice Group(www.rsbpg.com), whose aim is to improve customer service in theproperty sector. Respect for others is very important

to us and we strive to be fair andprofessional in everything that we do.Clear communication is key. We meet all customers when they

move into one of our properties. Myself,Kirsty or one of the facilities managementteam will attend and make that personalcontact. We like to get to know peoplewell and build relationships with them.You can see who we all are on ourwebsite:www.portmanestate.co.uk/contact.Kirsty: At the end of a check-in meeting,our new occupiers always feel reassuredto have met one of the team and have apersonal contact here at the office. I thinkpeople really value that. We’ve got a 24-hour service desk as well, which meanswe can be on-hand all day, every day, to

Above and beyond

KIRSTY ARNOLD (LEFT)AND TERESA KEARNEY

43baker street quarter

Stocking and stomach fillers

LOCAL FOODIES and hungry workers are nodoubt already familiar with the monthly foodmarkets held on the second Wednesday of everymonth by the Baker Street Quarter. Throughoutthe summer months, they take place in the lushsurroundings of Portman Square gardens,retreating to the outdoor atrium of 55 Baker Streetwhen the weather gets cooler. However, when itcomes to the (now second annual) Christmasmarket: “We up our game and try to dosomething even more special,” the Quarter’scommunications manager Kirsty Jones tells me.For starters, the Christmas market lasts for two

days, and gift traders are invited along, as well asthe usual food stalls. “Some are local traders andothers are from further afield in London. We mix itup a bit so that different stalls will be there on theWednesday and the Thursday,” Kirsty says. Giftson offer this year will include books, scarves andjewellery, in addition to Christmas-themed wareslike tree decorations and wreaths. “The perfectstocking fillers,” says Kirsty.

Cally Squires gets thelow-down from theBaker Street Quarter’sKirsty Jones on what’sin store for this year’sChristmas market, fromDecember 10-11 at 55Baker Street

The Portman talks toSophie Mitchell, a localresident who will be sellingStella & Dot jewellery at thisyear’s Christmas market…

Sophie lives on York Street, andfirst heard about the marketthrough friends who work at 55Baker Street. “The mulled wine is delicious so I will definitely bequeuing up for more of that againthis year! I love all the seasonalfood products, especially thecheeses, and I can’t resist a freesample! As a vendor, I’m veryexcited to showcase someJOANNA WOODof the jewels inStella & Dot’s brand new wintercollection, and see which pieceswill be the most popular. I was a vendor for Stella & Dot at the Baker Street Quarter’sChristmas market last year, too. I had a wonderful time chatting to people and helping them pickout the perfect gift or some sparklyaccessories for the officeChristmas party. It was abeautifully crisp day and theatmosphere was so festive.”

44baker street quarter

Gourmands will be pleased to hear thatregulars including Roti Chai from Portman Mews –whose Indian street food is a firm favourite amonglocals – and Fire & Spice from the Double Tree byHilton Marble Arch (another fantastic Indianoffering) – will be at this year’s market. Made inMarylebone, a local enterprise project workingwith women from a nearby refuge centre, will alsobe selling the “most amazing” cakes. “We try andoffer something a bit different from the standardmince pie-filled Christmas market,” says Kirsty.“Although, of course, there will be plenty of roastchestnuts and mulled wine!”

GOLD AND SILVER NECKLACE, £170GREEN AND GOLD NECKLACE, £40DROP EARRINGS, £35BRACELETS, £19 EACHSTUDS, £19 EACH