portfolio magazine march 2016

March 2016

special

The region’s LARGEST property publication

JOSÉ MOURINHOLoving London

NEW HOMES City and rural developments

PICTURE PERFECT PRIORY For sale with Hamptons

Designer Orla Kiely Does Sport Relief

Clean for the QueenSupport the campaign

HomesGardens&

Country Life The charm of Steyning

FREE

WIN A stay at My Brighton hotel

VISIT OUR AWARD-WINNING HOVE SHOWROOM for a stunning range of kitchen displays, furniture, worktops and appliances.

The Kitchen Store offers a bespoke consultancy service to help you choose your dream kitchen.

For friendly advice and inspired kitchen ideas take a closer look or call us today.

Showroom: 130 Old Shoreham Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 7BD Tel: 01273 95 77 78Or visit our Lancing showroom | www.thekitchenstore.co.uk

INSIDEHill House & Home Truths

Property News

What’s trending

COVER STORY : Picture postcard Steyning

Calendar : What’s on in March

March Collection : Steyning

New homes : Exclusive Hurstpierpoint hideaway

Interview : Sally Hubbard, M.D. Justin Lloyd estate agents

Legal matters : Stamping down on stamp duty

Up my street : Jason Bradshaw

You can do it yourself : Smile while you tile

Selling tips : Quick and easy kitchen makeover

Talk Money : Taking stock

Overseas : Get the jump on deals in Austria

Gardens : Spring outside

Future Brighton : Chalk Architects at play

Interiors : Get the Scandi look

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Cover: Image courtesy of www.hamptons.co.uk

Steyning, page 16

Gardens, page 75

Interiors, page 80

... Continued over

For all advertising, editorial and general enquiries contact

Lynne Edwards, Managing Director 07931 537588

[email protected]

www.portfoliopublications.co.uk

Subscribe to our newsletter

New homes, page 35

For advertising and general enquiries contact

Lynne Edwards: 07931 537588

[email protected]


Cover: Image courtesy of John Lewis www.johnlewis.com

Shopping, page 84

Production Editor: Fiona [email protected]

Chief Sub-Editor & Features Editor: Daniel [email protected]

Managing Director: Lynne Edwards07931 537588 • [email protected]

Designer: Sally [email protected]

Contributor: Kate Hill

Contributing Editor: Tara de la [email protected]

Contributing Editor: Maarten Hoffmann07966 244 [email protected]

The PORTFOLIO team

Published by:

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit.

Shopping : Our Easter pick

Days out : Bluebells in bloom

COVER STORY : WIN a stay at My Brighton

Health : Hoping for leaner times

Style : First impressions count PLUS Beauty Box

Golf Guy : Save us from the chipping yips

Local news from the region

Business lunch : The Glass House, Wickwoods Country Club

Clean for the Queen : Please Keep Brighton Tidy

National news

Motors : José Mourinho takes a drive in Sweden

COVER STORY : Orla Kiely does Sport Relief

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104Orla Kiely, page 104

WIN, page 87

Motors, page 102

PORTFOLIO 5

Chief Sub-Editor & Features Editor: Daniel [email protected]

Contributing Editor: Tara de la [email protected]

EXPERT column

February has been a wash-out, too wet to start outside. Finishing

up inside still hinges on Mr Hill recovering from his broken ankle,

and now a case of man ‘flu. An enforced pause – and an evening

in the pub with a friend embarking on building work- has prompted

some reflection: What would we have done differently, knowing what

we know now? Well… these things:

1. Be a pain in the builder’s backside from the start. Get detailed,

itemised quotes, get everything explained, ask what contingency

covers. Assume nothing: Removing waste and debris, making

good damage, dealing with planning and building control – If you

want it done, get it in writing and make (significant) final payment

contingent on everything being finished. Ask up front and thou

shalt avoid (some) surprises later.

2. Builder X is probably £10k cheaper than builder Y because there’s

no project manager on site, and he’s trying to oversee multiple

projects himself. Choosing builder X will be a false economy.

Big projects need a site manager, or things don’t get finished,

everyone leaves at 3pm and it all runs late. Spend money upfront

and you avoid £15k (or, in our case, more) making up for it later.

3. Don’t surprise your neighbours. Talk through plans, and keep

talking. Apologise for noise or mess, take wine, flowers, whatever

it takes to keep relations cordial. Do not, on any account, allow

your scaffolder to set up in their front garden without even

warning them about the work (NB: this was not our mistake, but

something our now ex-neighbours did to us. (The ‘ex’ bit says it

all. It didn’t end well).

4. Everything you own will get covered in filth. Everything. Put stuff

in the attic, in storage, use dust sheets – move out for a bit if you

can. Pack up your kitchen stuff. Realising my salt pig contained

90% rubble and 10% rock salt was a lightbulb moment. Also, if

you put stuff away (especially tools or decorating equipment of

your own), it won’t go ‘missing’ during the work.

And that’s just for starters. I promise these four things alone will

save you money and grey hairs. If the last 18 months have taught me

anything, it’s to stop being so bloody British and polite about things,

and start asking difficult questions. The world of building work is big

and scary; make sure you go in fully armed, with quotes, plans, and an

awful lot of tea.

Spring is springing, and it’s time

to clear up winter’s mess and

start thinking about seeds and

planting for the coming year.

Now is a great time to clear, dig

and prepare those flowerbeds.

But what’s that noise?

Ah yes, pesky critters if you’re not a cat lover, worse if they get to your

seedlings and freshly dug earth. ‘Oh look,’ thinks Tibbles from next door

‘someone has considerately dug me a brand-new toilet. I had better

move those plants out of the way and use it.’

There are numerous folk remedies for repelling cats: placing orange

peel or chilli powder on the soil, using lion poo on your garden, turning

the hose on them. Most won’t work in even the short term, and some

are downright cruel. Even if you’re not a cat fan, roaming is their natural

behaviour, and you can’t expect them to read your ‘no cats allowed’ signs.

The Royal Society for the Protection

of Birds (RSPB) endorses a motion-

activated sonic cat repeller, which

emits a high-frequency noise that cats

hate (but which humans can’t hear).

Over a two year trial, it reduced cat

visits by 33% . However, that doesn’t

account for hearing-impaired cats (of

which there are surprisingly many),

and it leaves the other 67% of visits

to contend with. Animal behaviourist

Janetta Smith (furryittlemonsters.co.uk) recommends cleaning down

their ‘entry points’ with a solution of biological washing powder to

remove familiar smells, and spritzing with lemon juice (which they

don’t like, apparently); placing saucers of water around areas you want

to protect (they don’t like getting their feet wet) and making use of

reflective surfaces (a reflection will make them think there is another

cat). Use canes and nets to make access to the flowerbed difficult,

old holly leaves are prickly under foot – basically, approach it like you

approach burglary deterrence, and make your garden less appealing /

more bother than the one next door.

Well, it might. But cats are surprisingly resilient creatures. They are also

extremely territorial, and one of the most effective things you can do is

to get a dog (who has access to your garden) or, even better, get your

own cat. Once you’ve got your own cat, it will mark its territory and keep

other cats away. Like it or not, Tibbles is here to stay.

Let’s get outdoors

...THE NEIGHBOURHOOD CATS AND THEY’RE RUINING MY GARDEN

Will it work?

So how do I keep them out?

HOME TRUTHSTHE HILL HOUSE

Kate Hill

WIN, page 87

WHATEVER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR

NEW WEBSITE NOW LAUNCHED!

mishonwelton.com

4 3 3 7 4 4

TIVOLI CRESCENT NORTH, BRIGHTON Guide Price £1,250,000 - £1,300,000 SHIRLEY DRIVE, HOVE Guide Price £1,500,000 - £1,750,000

A rare opportunity to acquire an immaculately presented and recently refurbished 1920s family home situated in the sought after Withdean Area of Brighton. The impressive hallway with solid oak floors leads to the formal reception room, which benefits from a fabulous open fire. The open plan kitchen/reception area is an ideal space for entertaining. In short, simply breath-taking with views of the city, the sea and the Downs. Over two levels, the double height windows further enhance the stunning scenery. Sleek and contemporary in design, the solid wood kitchen and its inviting Aga is the hub of the home. The additional reception and dining area with French doors lead out onto a Juliette balcony and upper terrace. The lower floor very cleverly houses both a study and wine cellar while the first floor boasts four double bedrooms, two of which are en suite, shower room and a family bathroom. With bi-folding doors onto a slate patio area, the various tiered patio and garden areas include the office garden, the entertaining garden with pizza oven to boot and vegetable garden.

A substantial and most impressive detached family home of significant proportions, offering living and leisure space totalling a massive 6,003 square feet. The property occupies an impressive position on the corner of Shirley Drive and the Droveway, set within it’s own gardens on all sides. This is a superb property, which provides lovely light, generously proportioned and versatile living space, spanning 4 floors, making it a comfortable family home, consistent with modern demands and expectations. The reception space is light and airy, benefiting from many south and west facing windows, which fills the house with light. The huge choice of bedrooms occupies the first and second floors, together with modern well fitted bathrooms. Leisure and recreation are very ably accommodated, by the addition of a fabulous, heated indoor swimming pool complex as well as a massive cinema and games room. This then, is a remarkable property, with a wealth of space and special features, making it well worthy of an early visit and viewing.

94 Church Road | Hove | BN3 2EB 01273 778 877 | mishonwelton.com [email protected]

WHATEVER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR

PROPERTY news

PROPERTY NEWS

Oakley are pleased to

announce the promotion of

David Beaken from Branch

Manager to a Director of Oakley Residential Lewes.

Executive Chairman Chris Oakley commented: “David has played an

extremely active role in driving forward our estate agency business

in the town of Lewes, and we are delighted to recognise his success

by appointing him to the position of a Director of the business.”

Prior to working with Oakley, David gained considerable experience

in the property market working with estate agencies in Brighton

and Hove, and commented: ‘It has been a really exciting experience

working with Oakley. We have a fantastic team and are able to advise

clients across a diverse range of property matters, which is a great

strength of the business over our competitors.

“Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with and

learning from some of Sussex’s most ethical and highly regarded

professionals. Having the opportunity to put these experiences into

practice has always been a goal of mine.”

David Beaken can be contacted on: 01273 487444

or [email protected]

Countrywide has announced that Peter Long will take over from

Grenville Turner as chairman at the end of April. Long is currently

chairman of Royal Mail plc, and has held a variety of senior roles in

the travel and leisure sector.

He was formerly senior independent non-executive Director of RAC

plc from 2001 to 2005 and Rentokil Initial plc from 2005 to 2014.

He was also a non-executive director of Debenhams plc between

2006 and 2009.

“Peter brings a strong customer focus and a wealth of plc board

experience,” says a Countrywide statement. Long himself says: “I

am delighted to be joining the Countrywide plc board as Chairman

and am looking forward to working with Alison and her team. The

group has a clear focus on its customers as it executes its strategy

and generates long-term, sustainable shareholder value.”

In another development, Countrywide is going to announce “in

the very near future” that it is taking a stake in two tech start-up

companies as it builds what it calls a “digital offer” to customers.

Countrywide Chief Executive Alison Platt said that “We’re behind

the curve when it comes to delivering mobile and digital technology

to customers.” www.countrywide.co.uk

The Government has worked with Openreach – BT’s local access network business – and the Home Builders Federation (HBF) on an agreement

which aims to deliver superfast broadband connectivity to new-build properties in the UK. The new deal will see fibre-based broadband offered

to all new developments, either for free or as part of a co-funded initiative. It is estimated that more than half of all new build properties can be

connected to fibre broadband free of charge to developers.

HBF will promote and support uptake of the co-funding offer amongst their members, and emphasise the need to plan for connectivity early in the

development. Broadband speeds are an increasingly important factor in the home buying process, and this offer to developers will see more new-

build purchasers benefit from the very best connectivity to go alongside the many other advantages of purchasing a brand-new home.

DAVID BEAKEN MADE DIRECTOR AT OAKLEY CHANGES AT COUNTRYWIDE

NEW-BUILD HOMES TO HAVE SUPERFAST BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY

Call us today and let us show

Citywide sales & lettingswww.spencerandleigh.co.uk

Trusted & Professional

In 2015 we sold more properties

PROPERTY news

The government claims 43 per cent of new homes built since the

introduction of the Help to Buy equity loan scheme in 2013 would not

otherwise have been built. A survey published by the Department

of Communities and Local Government also claims that 82 per cent

of buyers under the Help to Buy equity loan scheme would not have

been able to purchase their homes without it.

DCLG claims over 130,000 people have now been able to become

homeowners since the launch of the scheme.

Read more about this and other industry stories at

www.estateagenttoday.co.uk

Sawyer & Co. has been awarded both Silver, for Best Lettings

Agent in the UK, and Silver for the South Region for Sales at a

ceremony hosted by The Guild of Professional Estate Agents, in

association with The Telegraph.

Held on 28th January, in Mayfair, The Guild’s Annual Awards

recognise outstanding levels of customer care and industry

expertise in its 800-strong network of independent estate

agents.

The judging panel commended Sawyer & Co. on its consistently

high levels of customer service, outstanding expertise and

use of unique marketing tools. Director Chris Sawyer said,

‘Receiving this award is a huge honour to all of us at Sawyer &

Co. 2016 promises to be an extremely exciting year for us, and

we’re confident that this award is the first of many successes’.

Brand Vaughan officially celebrated their merger with Cambridge Residential recently and PORTFOLIO magazine went along to check out their

fabulous new office in Western Road, run by partner Simon Lemcke. No expense has been spared in turning their flagship office into a beautiful

customer-focused environment, complete with striking artworks. The partners and staff were on hand to serve champagne and canapes to over

100 guests, clients, local solicitors and business contacts.

Brand Vaughan, 117-118 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1DB. 01273 221100 www.brandvaughan.co.uk

HELP TO BUY HELPS BUILD NEW HOMES

SAWYER & CO. SCOOP TWO AWARDS

BRAND VAUGHAN

in BN1 than any other agent*

you how we achieved this

*data supplied by Rightmove Intel

Tel: 01273 565566

STEYNINGAn Attractive and Spacious Detached Family House

A well-presented and spacious family house in an elevated position with views to the ridge of the South Downs. The house comprises reception hall, cloakroom, sitting room, family room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, study, four bedrooms and a bathroom. The

property is in a mature plot with well-tended lawns on three sides, parking for three cars and a single garage. EPC rating E

Price £700,000 Freehold

STEYNINGA Grade II Listed Freehold Cottage in Steyning High Street

A particularly attractive and slightly elevated double-fronted town cottage built a little over 300 years ago. The cottage elevations are much as they were when built although internally the cottage has been remodelled to provide comfortable living. room with unique angled fireplace, double-aspect dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms and bathroom. There is a west-facing garden to the rear of the property and

single garage in a small compound close-by.

Price £575,000 Freehold

NEWS

One Must Dash create interior

accessories with a twist, with

products from Art Prints, Cards,

Tea Towels, Hanger to Bags.

All products are made in Britain using FSC

certified papers and high quality materials.

We have a copy of The Bearded Lady print

(pictured) to give away! The print is sold

unframed, stamped and named on the back.

Just send an email to:

[email protected]

with your name, address and the the answer to the following question:

What nationality are the founders of One Must Dash?

One Must Dash is stocked locally in Abode, Design Vintage and Dowse

Design or visit www.onemustdash.com.

The Royal Pavilion Estate has been awarded nearly £5 million

from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The £4.99m HLF funding

comes on top of £5.8m pledged by Arts Council England, along

with money from the city council, charitable trusts and individual

patrons.

The money will help to pay for a major refurbishment of the

Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and the Studio Theatre. The project

forms the first phase of an ambitious regeneration of the Royal

Pavilion Estate to create a world-class cultural destination for

heritage, culture and the performing arts in the heart of the city.

Refurbishment and essential conservation work will secure the

future of the Corn Exchange, a Grade I listed building, and the

Grade ll listed Studio Theatre. Work is due to start in the autumn

of this year.

Combining an historic royal palace and Regency garden, a

museum, art gallery and three performing arts spaces, the Royal

Pavilion Estate is the city of Brighton & Hove’s cultural heart and

the Royal Pavilion its internationally recognised emblem.

www.brightonmuseums.org.uk | www.brightondome.org

Actor Antonio Banderas

has bought a £2.4 million

country house in Surrey.

Banderas is currently

studying at Central Saint

Martins, where he is

enrolled on a bespoke

short-course programme to learn the art of crafting menswear. He

bought the five-bedroom Huf Haus, one of only 200 in Britain, in Surrey

with girlfriend Nicole Kimpel, in order to have a permanent base within

commuting distance.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Banderas explained: “This house gives

me the simplicity and freedom I need in my life at the moment. I find

Surrey completely magical. I am not a party person anymore, so I have

the space and peace to write.“ “I go cycling in the woods and everyone

in Cobham, Weybridge and Esther is incredibly friendly. Above all, I am

surrounded by nature.”

THE BEARDED LADY PRINT

BANDERAS’ SURREY HUF HAUS

PORTFOLIO 15

TRENDING

We love this Spring Radiant Orchid

and Rose Hand-tied bouquet,

part of British designer Julien

Macdonald’s exclusive Collection

with Interflora. Perfect for making

your mother’s day on Mother’s

Day! Exotic green Cymbidium

orchids with a touch of hot pink

at their centre bring a touch of

the tropical to the arrangement and contrast beautifully against a

backdrop of glittering gold roses and sunny yellow Calla lilies.

Julien Macdonald says: “This bouquet is simply bursting with fabulous

Spring style. It’s the embodiment of everything I love about the Spring

season – a time for colour and new, fashionable creations.”

Presented in a gift box with designer tag and ribbon, the Spring

Radiant Orchid and Rose Hand-tied, available from 4th January

2016, is priced at £75, plus delivery, and can be ordered online at

www.interflora.co.uk.

HAMPTONSLying on the outskirts of Hassocks, Clayton

Priory is Listed Grade II, being of particularly

important ‘historic and architectural

interest’, and is a superb example of a

classic Regency Country House. It has seven

bedrooms, numerous reception rooms, an

orangery, swimming pool, paddock and lies

in 12.4 acres. For more information contact

Hamptons-International on 01444 419140.

www.hamptons.co.uk

WE LOVE: SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

ONTHE

COVER

WIN!

£5 MILLION FUNDING BOOST FOR ROYAL PAVILION ESTATE

STEYNING, West Sussex

A couple of years ago BBC Radio 2’s very

own Steve Wright was introducing a

caller from “Staining” in West Sussex.

The young lady quickly put him right: “That’s

pronounced like “stenning,” not “staining.” So,

that’s the first thing you need to know before

you start exploring the nooks and crannies

of Steyning. Just like the Greeks – who don’t

want no freaks – they don’t want no staining

in Steyning. One other need-to-know bit:

Steyning is closely linked with the villages of

Bramber and Upper Beeding, much as Hove

is joined at the hip with Brighton, and locals

think of them as a unity. Otherwise, the usual

rules apply: be curious, be hungry and thirsty,

search out the twittens and local attractions.

Steyning and Bramber/Upper Beeding

began life in Saxon times when, according

to legend, St Cuthman stopped to rest while

carrying his mother in a wheelbarrow, which,

I assume was how saints stayed fit prior to

the invention of golf courses. In the end, he

decided to build a church (as one does), now

St Andrews & St Cuthman’s. It is thought that

Alfred The Great’s father, Ethelwulf, was once

buried here. His earthly remains have since

been moved to Winchester, but his burial

marker stone may still be seen in the church’s

porch.

These days Steyning is a thriving market

town lying alongside the A283, four miles

up the Adur River from Shoreham-by-Sea.

Around 1047, prior to the Norman Conquest,

it was already a busy, well-established port,

and the area leading from Shoreham-by-

Sea through the break in the South Downs

A JEWEL IN THE DOWNS

Nestled softly in the undulating folds of the South Downs, midway between Brighton and Worthing, the ancient town of Steyning enjoys the best of two worlds. Daniel Frickelton points you in the right direction...

16 PORTFOLIO

STEYNING, West Sussex

PORTFOLIO 17

to modern Steyning and Bramber would

have been flooded. Even when the Normans

eventually built their post-invasion castle at

Bramber, it would have been approachable

by boat. The river began silting up in the 14th

century, its course was altered to its current

location and commerce became difficult. The

1861 establishment of a Shoreham-to-London

railway line, with a station serving Bramber

and Steyning, would have been a welcome

boost to the local economy. Ironically, that

same railway bed, now a walking/cycle path

stretching from Shoreham-by-Sea to Dorking,

still provides locals and daytrippers with what

is surely one of the most beautiful walks or

bike rides to be found anywhere in the south

east, with much of the southernmost stretch

following the course of the Adur.

When it comes to natural beauty, local

residents enjoy an embarrassment of riches.

Perched on the edge of The South Downs

National Park, the towns enjoy the natural

tranquillity of marshland, downland and river

views from every window. There are scores of

downland or riverside walks to choose from,

all with stunning views and many beginning

or ending with the prospect of a good pub

lunch and a pint. The annual South Downs

Way Walk (10-18 June), a nine-day trek along

the beautiful South Downs Way National

Trail, stretching 100 miles from Winchester

to Eastbourne and enjoyed by hundreds of

people from all over the world, takes you right

through Steyning. Visit www.southdownsway.

com for more information.

Visitors from Brighton & Hove and

Worthing have, of course, long been coming

to Steyning and Bramber for weekend flights

into the countryside. Conversely, residents

of these villages have the two cities at their

doorsteps for those times when even the rich

array of cultural and shopping opportunities

available in the local community are not

enough. Steyning boasts four public houses,

the award-winning Steyning Tea Rooms, four

estate agents and three banks. Besides the

thriving shops populating the High Street of

this pretty village, there is a leisure centre

and a modern, state-of-the-art health centre,

a public library and the popular Steyning

Museum. Inevitably, some enthralled visitors

will see the advantages of raising children in

the shadow of the sumptuous Downs. When

that happens, it is useful to know that the

town is home to Steyning Grammar School,

founded in the Stuart period (1614), now a

comprehensive school comprising 2,500

pupils, with a sixth form comprising over

400 pupils. It also has a primary school (400

pupils) and a pre-school.

Bramber and Upper Beeding contribute

a further three public houses, the well-

known Best Western Hotel and Old Tollgate

carvery, an Indian and a Chinese restaurant,

and Bramber Castle, the historic ruins of the

Norman castle that formed part of William

the Conqueror’s post-invasion line of defence,

stretching along the south coast. Towers

Convent School, in Upper Beeding, a Catholic

independent day and boarding school, caters

for girls from pre-prep to age 16 and boys up

to age eight.

Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding

have the best of all worlds: country living in

spectacular surroundings on the doorsteps

of Brighton & Hove and Worthing. If there is

something missing, it is hard to see what that

might be. Maybe it would just be you...

“When it comes to natural

beauty, local residents enjoy an embarrassment of

riches”

Haywards Heath SalesTel: 01444 419140 | email: [email protected]

Beyond your expectationswww.hamptons.co.uk

Crawley Down, West Sussex £4,950,000 FreeholdAn outstanding eight bedroom Grade II listed Georgian country house, extensively refurbished but retaining many period features, extending to 8,700 sq ft, with 2 ancillary cottages, a swimming pool and equestrian facilities, in all about 34 acres.

Nr Lewes, East Sussex £3,500,000 FreeholdA magnificent nine bedroom Grade I listed property built in the style of Sir Christopher Wren around 1686 by Theobald Shelley. The property offers flexible and beautifully maintained accommodation spanning over 7700 sq ft. In all about 4.7 acres.

Prime & Country House DepartmentTel: 01483 572864 | email: [email protected]


An outstanding and historic Grade II listed manor house with magnificent views of the South Downs. The interior has been impeccably restored throughout and the immaculate formal and informal rooms are in keeping with its historic and stately character.

Price on Application, FreeholdSteyning, West Sussex• 10 Bedrooms & 7 bathrooms• 7 Reception rooms• 3 Bedroom cottage• 2 Staff apartments• Swimming pool & tennis court• Gardens and grounds, approx. 35 acres

Hamptons International Estate Agents HoveSales. 01273 796 061 | Lettings. 01273 796 159


An exceptional quality three bedroom apartment in a Grade I listed building on Sussex Square. This elegant apartment is on the first floor with South facing sash windows off the main living area and stunning views over the private landscaped gardens. The property benefits from a large open plan kitchen and living area. The second level leads to the rear of the property with steps down to a private lift, guest WC and Laundry room with generous storage. The master bedroom has 100% wool carpets and neutral wallpapered walls with a 42” recessed LCD TV, separate dressing space with full height, mirrored sliding doors and a stunning en-suite bathroom with feature marble wall slabs, double sinks and limestone floor. There are a further two double bedrooms and an en-suite bathroom. Throughout the apartment there are wide solid oak floors and American black walnut flush doors. EPC 80.

£3,000 PCMSussex Square• Grade I listed• 3 Bedrooms• 2 Bathrooms• Oak Floors• Walnut doors• Communal gardens• Stunning views• Garage• Available for 3 months from April

SHORT LET


Hamptons International Estate Agents HoveSales. 01273 796 061 | Lettings. 01273 796 159

Nash Watson Sales. 01273 733500

A selection of six brand newly built, four bedroom, two bathroom, terraced houses, all benefiting from a roof terrace, parking space and patio garden available NOW in Brighton. These terrific new homes offer all the advantages that come with new-build properties, and are situated in a quiet Mews but in a great central Brighton location.There are numerous benefits on offer commensurate with new build houses, such as good insulation, both from a sound and heating perspective, up-to-date double glazing throughout, and photovoltaic panels on the roof which help to reduce energy usage, keeping electricity bills lower. On the ground floor are the living room and kitchen which are semi open-plan, offering an adaptable way of using the space, as well as a guest WC. At the rear of the living/dining space, double doors open out onto a bijoux patio which would serve perfectly as a little space to sit out in, possibly for a barbeque with friends or even just to hang out the laundry!On the first floor there are three bedrooms, one good size double, overlooking the Mews at the rear and two smaller bedrooms, all served by a nicely appointed bathroom. On the top (second) floor is a further well proportioned double bedroom with bright and amply-sized en-suite shower room. This floor also affords the access to the roof terrace, ideal for entertaining friends in the evening or to enjoy a morning coffee on those balmier mornings. A great opportunity to buy a low maintenance, four bedroom home with parking, in a well-connected part of central Brighton.

£500,000 eachConnaught Mews, Brighton

10 & 12 MarchThe Hollies

22 PORTFOLIO

CALENDAR of events

MarchOur pick of March events. Celebrity chefs, iconic bands, ballet and Sport Relief

Celebrity chef James Martin, with his brand new live show. The show promises to be a fast-paced, interactive and high-tech extravaganza. Packed with James’ signature cooking

demonstrations, full of surprises and some very special guests.James Martin said: “I’ve been cooking live on TV for 20 years now and I felt it was time to do something I’ve never done before that was truly special. I’m so excited to be heading out on my first-ever tour, doing what I do best, but on the big stage. I’m pulling out my favourite recipes and mixing in plenty of surprises and special guests in what I hope is going to be a feast of a live show.”Brighton Centre, 7.30pm. www.brightoncentre.co.uk

The Hollies perform their Hits - The Air That I Breathe, Bus Stop, Carrie Anne, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother and many more of their classic hits in a brilliant two-hour performance.With an Ivor Novello Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to British Music’ and induction into the prestigious American Rock n’ Roll Hall Of Fame ‘for their Impact on the Evolution, Development, and Perpetuation of Rock n’ Roll’, there is no doubt that The Hollies helped shape the world of Pop and Rock as we know it and continue to perform with pride and passion around the world.10th: The Hawth, Crawley, 7.30pm. www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk. 12th: Pavilion Theatre, Worthing, 7.30pm. www.worthingtheatres.co.uk

Love, desire and betrayal are the ingredients of the shocking true story which inspiredPicasso’s masterpiece, The Three Dancers. Now Rambert springs Picasso’s painting from the canvas to the stage, as choreographer Didy Veldman brings to life his vivid Cubist imagery and the themes of ecstasy and doom that fill his work.

The 3 Dancers forms the centrepiece of a triple bill that also includes Transfigured Night. Created by two-time Olivier Award-winning choreographer Kim Brandstrup, it is a heart-breaking love story, with intimate duets and spectacular ensemble dancing amplifying the beauty and romance of its Schoenberg score.Hydrargyrum, a new work from Rambert’s Patricia Okenwa, completes the programme. Full of drama, world-class dancing and live music, this is Britain’s national dance company at its most captivating.Theatre Royal, Brighton. For times and prices visit www.atgtickets.com/brighton

Currently riding high in the charts with Secret Love Song, Little Mix have sold over seven million records, had two UK No.1 singles and two platinum albums. As well as a successful arena tour, they have been the recipients of both a Cosmo Ultimate Woman Award and a Glamour Women Of The Year Award. With over half a billion YouTube views worldwide, they’ve also

successfully become one of Britain’s greatest exports, with massive tours in the US, Australia and Japan – breaking the Spice Girls’ long-held record of highest debut US chart position for a UK girl group in the process. Brighton Centre, 7.30pm. www.brightoncentre.co.uk

The 26th Sussex CAMRA Branches Beer & Cider Festival hosts over 160 beers from across the UK, including new beer launches from some of our Sussex breweries, plus a large selection of ciders and perries. There will also be an excellent selection of British and foreign bottled beers to drink at the venue or take away. Real ales from Sussex breweries include 360 Degrees, Sheffield Park: Black Cat, Framfield: Crooked Brook, Copthorne Greyhound,West Chiltington: Gun, Heathfield: Naked Beer,Lancing: and Heathen, Haywards Heath.Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome. For detailed information, times and prices visit www.sussexbeerfestival.co.uk

22 MarchJames Martin:

Plates, Mates and

Automobiles

16 -19 MarchRambert: The 3 Dancers

14 March Little Mix

17 - 19 MarchSussex Beer & Cider Festival

PORTFOLIO 23

CALENDAR of events

The nation is being encouraged to walk, run, swim or cycle themselves #proud at Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games events from 18th to 20th March – with hundreds of local events across the UK. As ever, celebrities have been challenged to go the extra mile – including Jo Brand’s Hell Of A Walk,135 miles from one side

of the country to the other in seven days, and Eddie Izzard’s 27 Marathons in 27 days.Get kitted out: Sport Relief Merchandise is available from Sainsburys, Rymans, Oxfam, Pottermore, Robert Dyas, T K Maxx and Home Sense. For more information about how to do yourself proud by entering the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games, go to www.sportrelief.com.

Lianne La Havas’ critically acclaimed album ‘Blood’ was released to a flurry of her best reviews to date, with many critics drawing comparisons with the likes of Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Joni Mitchell, and went straight into the charts at number two – two places higher than the peak position of her popular debut album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough?’.‘Blood’ also received similarly glowing reviews across the board in the States. “What comes across first is the sheer grace of her voice. It can be a breathy purr, a lilting tease, a liquid confession or a torchy declaration,” commented the New York Times, while the New Yorker described Lianne as a “polished guitarist and inventive songwriter.” Even President Barack Obama proved to be a fan when he featured Lianne in his summer Spotify playlist.Lianne’s show-stopping performances captivate huge audiences – such as on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – and intimate sessions alike, as with her Tiny Desk Concert for NPR. De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea. 7.30pm. www.dlwp.com

Sandi Toksvig - comedian, novelist, actor, broadcaster, university chancellor, and (inter)national

treasure, MC. She now finds herself in the startling position of having co-founded the UK’s fastest-growing political party, the Women’s Equality Party.Sandi is celebrating the launch of the party with a fundraising tour of a uniquely witty evening of her stand-up, stories and fascinating facts. Whether you’re a Sandi fan, a supporter of gender equality or you just want to have a great night out, this could be just the ticket.Brighton Dome, 7.30pm. www.brightondome.org

The legendary British jazz-influenced folk band featuring Jacqui McShee, Gerry Conway, Spencer Cozens, Alan Thomson and Gary Foote, will perform a set spanning over five decades. “Pentangle were one of the most influential groups of the late 20th century.” John Leonard – producer and presenter at Radio Sheffield.“Pentangle expanded the frontiers of folk music in the 1960s, and since then the various line-ups have continued to make groundbreaking music. One thing has remained constant, however – Jacqui McShee’s unique voice.” Expect to hear an eclectic mix of folk, jazz, blues and folk rock, including the classics I’ve Got a Feeling and Cruel Sister.Komedia, Brighton, 7.30pm. www.komedia.co.uk

Following the success of their 30th anniversary ‘Steeltown’ tour, Big Country set off again to celebrate their catalogue of songs. The band will perform classic hits and live favourites, including Harvest Home, Fields Of Fire, In A Big Country, Chance,

Wonderland, Look Away, The Teacher, plus a surprise for longtime fans…Steeped in a stunning catalogue of proud and stirring hit songs and huge selling albums, including The Seer, Steeltown, Peace In Our Time, and the triple Grammy-nominated, The Crossing, Big Country they continue to look beyond the next horizon in 2015.The band: Bruce Watson (guitars/vocals), Mark Brzezicki (drums, vocals), and Jamie Watson(guitars/vocals) will be augmented on stage by Simon Hough, and Eric Bell. The Ropetackle, 8pm. www.ropetacklecentre.co.uk

18 - 20 March Sport Relief

12 MarchLianne La Havas

8 MarchSandi Toksvig Live! Politically Incorrect

30 MarchJacqui McShee’s Pentangle

26 MarchBig Country

North Gardens, Brighton OFFERS IN EXCESS OF £725,000 FREEHOLD

A simply stunning three double bedroom townhouseLocated in the heart of central Brighton conservation area just off the North Laine, the property benefits from spacious open plan living with front

and courtyard gardens on the ground floor. There are two double bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor and a third double bedroom with roof terrace which offers panoramic views across Brighton and to the South on the second floor. Situated within 200 metres of Brighton Station - on a

relatively quiet one way street - it has the added benefit of two off street parking spaces. Viewing this property is essential.Energy Rating D58.

Maslen Estate Agents174 Church Road, Hove BN3 2DJ t:01273 321000 e:[email protected]

m a s l e n . c o . u k

L E W E S R O A D . W O O D I N G D E A N . H O V E . F I V E W A Y S

Maslen_North Gardens.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2016 13:27 Page 1

PORTFOLIO 25

BEAUTIFUL homes

STYLISH HOMEThis smart three-bedroom terraced house has well-arranged accommodation over

two floors. The property has a modern submarine grey kitchen featuring granite

work surfaces, a stylish bathroom with modern white suite, contemporary radiators,

a useful cellar space for storage (that could be converted, subject to normal consents) and

a lovely decked rear garden, ideal for entertaining. The master bedroom is light and airy,

with painted wooden floorboards. Energy Rating is D65

Situated close to the vibrant areas of Kemp Town and Brighton Marina, with their excellent

range of shops, cosmopolitan restaurants and bars, and sporting & leisure facilities, this is a

superb home.

Bennett Road, Brighton, BN2 5JL

Price: £450,000Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 1Extras: Cellar space which could be converted, subject to normal consentsBest Bits: Great location; smart, modern kitchen & bathroom; garden ideal for entertaining

Maslen Estate Agents39 Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3HQ01273 677001www.maslen.co.uk

52 Church Road Hove, BN3 2FN • Tel 01273 778844

113 St. Georges Road, Brighton BN2 1EA • Tel 01273 685111

10 Station Road, Portslade BN41 1GA • Tel 01273 383830

Beautiful Edwardian 4 bedroom semi-detached house. An elegant three storey bay fronted house with a wealth of beautiful period features set in a quite tree-lined street in Hoves highly sought after Wilbury District. A classic red tiled path leads up to an elegant bay fronted home arranged over three floors. Double sash windows, picture rails, ceiling architraves and tasteful colour schemes all combine to create a beautiful example of contemporary living in a period property. This sympathetically extended four bedroomed family house is situated within walking distance of the seafront, town centre and both Brighton and Hove railway stations.

Two bedroom top floor apartment in purpose built Victorian mansion block. Sitting at the top of Hove’s very first purpose-built mansion apartment building, this elegant property has been completely renovated for todays contemporary lifestyle whilst retaining a wealth of period detail. Set in the grandeur of this Victorian building, contemporary interior design blends seamlessly with a host of original features dating back to 1883. Boasting panoramic views stretching from the South Downs all the way across the roof tops of Hove to the sea, this beautiful two bedroom apartment is ideally placed for all that Brighton and Hove has to offer. There is a communal lift and share of freehold with this property. EPC Rating F.

www.sawyerandco.co.uk

BURTON VILLAS, HOVE - £850,000 HOVE OFFICE: 01273 778844

GRAND AVENUE MANSIONS, HOVE - £500,000 HOVE OFFICE: 01273 778844

Lovely 5-bedroom family home in South Portslade with south-facing garden. On a small grid of very popular residential roads off Portslades main thoroughfare, St Aubyns Road is unexpectedly quiet being just one-way. Over three levels this yellow brick Victorian home with distinctive red brick detailing sits mid terrace. Inside décor is largely neutral with a combination of engineered wood flooring on the ground floor and cream carpets elsewhere. This is a spacious and light home in a family-friendly neighbourhood. EPC rating E

A unique and individual five bedroom, detached family home with stunning triple aspect views to Saltdean Oval, the sea and the Sussex Downs. Situated in one of Saltdeans most sought-after, peaceful locations, the property is built nestled into a gentle incline in a street where each house has its own independent architecture and style. Originally a bungalow with a separate annexe, the building has been sympathetically extended by the current owner to form a versatile, three storey home, the lower level forming a self-contained apartment, lending itself to a myriad of possibilities. With its landscaped front terraces and its beautiful rear sun terrace and secluded Spanish style garden, this property is a covetable example of a spacious seaside residence with impregnable views and versatile interiors. Enjoying a variety of nearby independent shops, a childrens park, outstanding local schools, dazzling walks and easy access to the city centre via regular public transport. EPC Rating E

www.sawyerandco.co.uk

ST AUBYNS ROAD, PORSTLADE - £499,950 PORTSLADE OFFICE: 01273 383830

CHICHESTER DRIVE WEST, BRIGHTON - £595,000 BRIGHTON OFFICE: 01273 685111

28 PORTFOLIO

BEAUTIFUL homes

COACH HOUSEImmaculate, historic, architect-designed three-bedroom Coach House with roof terrace.

Discreetly set back from the road in a central yet very secluded and peaceful mews, the

visually stunning flint and bungaroosh front wall of this three-storey house dates back to

at least 1800. Behind the elegant black and white facade, a brand new architect-designed

house has been constructed to seamlessly incorporate imaginative modern technology

alongside reclaimed original Georgian features, thereby creating a stunning 21st Century

home.

From the fireplace in the living room to the vaulted ceiling of the cinema room, every aspect

of this home is finished to an incredibly high modern standard with the highest attention to

detail.

To highlight the other aspects of this unique property, a wealth of historic, original Georgian

documentation, some handwritten on velum and dating back to 1820, will accompany the

sale.

The Coach House, Norfolk Buildings, BN1 2PZ

Price: £1,400,000Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2Extras: Integral garage; Roof terrace; Set in secluded mewsBest Bits: Vaulted ceiling; Gated; Architect-designed

Fine & Country46 Church RoadHove BN3 2FN 01273 739911www.fineandcountry.com

Fine & Country 46 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FN Tel: +44 (0)1273 739911

Grand Avenue, Hove EPC: Exempt

Springfield Road, Brighton EPC: E

Tel: 01273 739911

Tel: 01273 739911

OIEO £400,000

OIRO £1,100,000

Sitting at the top of one of Brighton and Hove’s most prestigious art deco buildings, this wonderfully light and spacious home commands spectacular direct sea views.Set in the grandeur of a Grade II listed building, contemporary interior design combines seamlessly with a host of original 1930’s period features. Boasting direct sea views from all main rooms and commanding vistas stretching from the roof tops of Brighton all the way to the Sussex Downs, this beautiful two bedroom flat is ideally placed for all that Brighton and Hove has to offer.

Beautiful Period 4 Storey Semi Detached House. An elegant bay fronted period house with an extensive garden and a wealth of beautiful 1890s period features.Conveniently located on a quiet road, this expansive and versatile house features spacious rooms, tall ceilings and large bay windows. Set over four floors this four bedroom home offers ideal flexible family living for a contemporary lifestyle within the grandeur of a period property.Situated within easy reach of both Varndean and Dorothy Stringer schools, this house is very close to London Road station and approximately just a 15 minute walk to Brighton’s famous North Laines.

fineandcountry.comTM

30 PORTFOLIO

THE collection

THE MARCH COLLECTIONThis month we bring you the best homes from in and around the beautiful,

ancient town of Steyning

A substantial Edwardian semi-detached, five-bedroom house in a prime residential location.

The spacious accommodation includes a ground-floor bedroom suite, a stunning family

kitchen and an impressive principal bedroom suite on the second floor. This is a charming

family home with many original features such as high ceilings, panelled doors and a variety of

fireplaces. Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, five bedrooms,

shower room and two bathrooms, separate WC, charming gardens.

Family CharmGoring Road, Steyning BN44 3GF

Price: £750,000Hamilton Graham01903 879212www.hamiltongraham.co.uk

PORTFOLIO 31

THE collection

Approached via a long private driveway behind high electronically operated gates,

the former farm house boasts an impressive Grade II Listed family home with

five bedrooms and three bathrooms, with a substantial amount of secluded land

offering stunning views across the Sussex countryside.

The living area and dining room both feature an Inglenook fireplace and there is a

modern fitted kitchen with period-style ‘Butler Sink’.

To the outside, the property boasts a considerable amount of land, followed by

three timber stable/loose boxes, with yard to front and small paddock bound by

post-and-rail fencing.

A stunning two-bedroom barn conversion located within the favourable South

Downs National Park, surrounded by beautiful countryside.

Offered with no onward chain, this idyllic two-bedroom countryside property

comprises of a modern open-plan high-gloss fitted kitchen, through lounge / dining

area with vaulted ceilings with original beams and modern bathroom suite.

To the outside of the property there is a low-maintenance, paved rear garden with

planted borders and fence surround with ample space for table and chairs. Off-

street parking for a number of vehicles to the front of the property.

An outstanding and historic Grade II listed manor house with magnificent views

of the South Downs. The interior has been impeccably restored throughout and

the immaculate formal and informal rooms are in keeping with its historical and

stately character.

In summary: 10 bedrooms & 7 bathrooms : 7 Reception rooms : 3-bedroom

cottage : 2 staff apartments : Swimming pool & Tennis Court : All set in

approximately 35 acres of gardens and grounds

History HouseBlocques, Ashurst, Steyning BN44 3AP

Barn Conversion Long Barn, Upper Beeding, Nr Steyning BN44 3TN

Magnificent ManorSteyning, West Sussex BN44 3AA

Price: £1,250,000Fox & Sons 01273 461671 | www.sequencehome.co.uk

Price: £549,950Fox & Sons 01273 461671 | www.sequencehome.co.uk

Price: on applicationHamptons Prime & Country House Department

01483 572864 | www.hamptons.co.uk

HURSTPIERPOINT | Offers In The Region of £1,600,000

DITCHLING | Price Guide £725,000 - £750,000

Character country house - Set in approx. 2 acres - Detached annex over double insulated garage/gym complex - Large master

suite with dressing room - Rural views over neighbouring farmland - Swimming pool - 4 bedrooms - 6 reception rooms -

3 bathrooms

Spacious detached family house - Approximately 2,760 sq ft - Flexible accommodation over two floors - A Stone’s throw from

the centre of the village - Garage - Private driveway with parking for several cars - 4/5 bedrooms - 4/5 reception rooms -

3 bathrooms

chattestates.co.uk | 01273 844500 34 HIGH STREET, DITCHLING, EAST SUSSEX BN6 8TA

PORTFOLIO 33

BEAUTIFUL homes

VILLAGE LIFE ‘Merlins’ is a rare example of a good-sized family home with a larger-than-average

garden, sitting centrally within the village and having potential for further

extension if required, subject to any necessary consents.

The property, with its balanced accommodation, boasts good-sized and well-appointed

rooms. The sitting room is of an excellent size and is beautifully light, with the benefit of

corner bi-fold doors opening onto the south-facing terrace with beautiful views over the

large garden.

The property is highly adaptable, with a further reception room and wet room on the ground

floor, which could suit any potential purchasers requiring an attached annex. The first

floor provides a master bedroom with en-suite shower room, three further bedrooms and

a family bathroom. There is also the added bonus of a games room/study being accessed

via the bedroom on the east side of the property. A good deal of privacy and seclusion is

achieved with the garden surrounding the property on all sides.

South Street, Ditchling, BN6 8UQ

Price: OIRO £1,250,000Bedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 3Extras: Potential for further extension; Flexible accommodation; Further timber outbuildings; Games room/studyBest Bits: Gardens surrounding the property on all sides; Central village location: Highly adaptable

Chatt Estates34 High Street, Ditchling,East Sussex BN6 8TA01273 844500www.chattestates.co.uk

Situated within minutes of the centre of the sought-

after village of Hurstpierpoint lies the unique and

select development of ‘Erskine’, which is proudly

being presented to the market by Chatt Estates. Ornate

wrought iron gates open onto a central courtyard, where the

four exclusive properties sit and enjoy backing onto South

Downs National Park. The majority of the properties have

grounds in excess of an acre, which make them an extremely

rare commodity indeed. The six-bedroom Manor House is

accompanied by two stunning six-bedroom traditional-style

barns and a beautiful four-bedroom ‘Sussex style’ house.

Craftsmanship is of the highest standard, using only the

finest-quality materials. State of the art technology and

opulent touches run throughout the properties and all have

the benefit of detached double garages and ample parking.

Price on application.

For more information contact Chatt Estates,

34 High Street, Ditchling. BN6 8TA.

01273 844500

www.chattestates.co.uk

PORTFOLIO 35

NEW homes

If the idea of a beautiful new home just 10 minutes’ drive from Brighton appeals to you, then you’ll need to take a look at a prestigious new development in Hurstpierpoint.

“Ornate wrought iron gates open onto a central courtyard, where the four exclusive properties sit and enjoy backing onto South

Downs National Park”

EXCLUSIVE hideaway

Buy & sell with the experts.

Dyke Road, Brighton£1,250,000

A truly magnificent and substantial 2300sqft+ five bedroom Edwardian house with 70” mature rear garden, garage, garden room and additional driveway parking. This spacious property is in the popular residential area of Brighton being close to Preston Park station, as well as having ease of access in and out of the city via the A23/A27, making this area extremely popular for families and commuters alike.

5 2 3

Four of our favourite properties this month . Visit our website at justinlloyd.co.uk to view all our properties.

George Street, Brighton £449,950A charming and central two bedroom, two bathroom end of terrace character house which is arranged over 4 floors and has a quaint rear courtyard garden. The property is neutrally decorated and is in an enviable location minutes from the seafront and amidst the Bohemian and eclectic buzz that central Kemp Town is famous and admired for.

2 1 1

“An extremely efficient service from start to finish. From initial valuation through to the sale, the team at Justin Lloyd were informative, available and honest. Would use them again” Vendor comment, November 2015

Call us now 01273 692424

Visit justinlloyd.co.uk

Email [email protected]

Kemp Town 118 St James’s Street, Brighton BN2 1TH

Hove 111 Western Road, Hove BN3 1DD

Cambridge Mews, Hove£530,000

This modern four bedroom house comes with parking and is located in a picturesque gated mews development just off The Drive in Hove. The property is beautifully presented throughout with a professionally landscaped rear split level garden, morning balcony to the front of the property, a fully fitted kitchen with integrated Bosch appliances and the master bedroom is equipped with an en-suite and built in wardrobe.

4 2 1

Charles Street, Brighton £500,000 O.I.E.O

Guide Price £500,000-£550,000. This fantastic two/three bedroom semi-detached townhouse is arranged over four floors, with integral garage and located just off the seafront in Kemp Town. This superb property is in an excellent location being moments from the beach, Brighton Pier and all the local shops and restaurants; it is also a short walk to both the city centre and Brighton Train Station.

3 2 1

HighlyCommended

Real EstateAgencyEast Sussex

The InternationalProperty Awards2013-2014

There was a warm colourful glow suffusing from Justin Lloyd’s office in St. James’s Street when PORTFOLIO dropped in to

congratulate Sally Hubbard, her partners and team in Kemp town. They were celebrating their take-over of the company, and

completion of a major refit in their prominent office. Champagne corks were popping as clients, friends, locals and staff from both

offices came along to enjoy the evening with fabulous food supplied by neighbouring Wheat and Beans and served by Fabricio.

Justin Lloyd celebrate

PORTFOLIO 37

The first thing to note when meeting the

boss at Justin Lloyd estate agents is

that she isn’t called Justin Lloyd; Sally

Hubbard took over from her mentor and friend

in the summer of 2015. She had worked with

Justin for six years when he decided to retire

from the business. Sally then eagerly stepped

forward to take up the reins and carry on his

good work. Together with her two partners,

mother Lesley Hubbard and aunt Sue Gidney,

Sally was determined to build upon the

relationships built up over the years Justin

and she had worked together, and further their

reputation for high standards with staff and the

public. Which also explains why, having become

a respected professional in the local property

community, Sally was in no mood to cast off the

Justin Lloyd brand.

The refurbished office looks bright and

impressive, with some lovely touches, including

a bold feature wall of reclaimed oak panels and

some strikingly smart coloured neon window-

light display frames, the colours of which can

instantly be changed to fit any national or local

occasion. Indeed, when splashing out on these,

Sally surely had “Pride’s” rainbow display in

mind. It all adds up to a calm and clean look

that perhaps is an antidote to the continually

buzzing pedestrian activity just outside the door

of the St. James’s Street office.

Sally, you are clearly the one in the hot seat,

running the business day-to-day, so what do

your partners bring to the business? “Lesley

is a Fellow FCCA (Accountant) and therefore is

perfectly qualified to look after the company

accounts, and Sue is hugely experienced in

lettings in the West Country. However, I have

sole responsibility for overseeing both the

Kemp Town and Western Road, Hove branches.”

Presumably, the staff are an important part

of the business? “Absolutely essential. Nick

Kelly manages the sales division and Gary

Banks heads up the lettings, and have been

with us for 7 and 5 years respectively. I

passionately believe in training, and all our

staff are qualified and receive ongoing training.

We even have an apprentice, Victoria, a recent

addition to our team in Hove.”

Taking over the job of running the company

must be exciting, Sally, but perhaps also a

little daunting, as you’ve clearly had to do

quite a lot in such a short time: “Yes, It’s been

a busy few months. We’ve recently relaunched

our website, which is now very interactive, and

have developed a special mobile platform. The

internet plays a huge part in our business now,

so we’ve made significant investment in all the

tools available to increase traffic and activity.

Even social media is vital. However, it is still

a big ‘people’ business, and I strongly believe

that the client still has to like what they see

and hear when you are visiting their home, and

buy into you as an ethical person and business.

They need to entrust their property to you to

sell or let, after all, so they need to like you as

an individual.”

Many clients clearly do, as the majority

of Justin Lloyd’s business comes from

recommendations and repeat business.

Sally explains that she has a lot of overseas

investors and property developers, both local

and from London, and is currently handling

several new developments. Indeed, Justin

BOUTIQUE BRAND BUYOUTLynne Edwards caught up with Sally Hubbard, Managing Director of Justin Lloyd estate agents, soon after the major refit of their busy Kemp Town office

Kemp Town 118 St James’s Street, Brighton BN2 1TH

Hove, 111 Western Road, Hove,BN3 1DD

Tel 01273 692424 | www.justinlloyd.co.uk

INTERVIEW

Lloyd estate agents achieved the highest

prices per square foot across the City, which

demonstrates just how hard they work for

their clients.

Do you think there is a bit of over-reliance

on the internet property portals? “Well,

there is no denying that our two main portals

OnTheMarket.com and Rightmove.com deliver

a lot of business, particularly potential buyers

and tenants. However, as demonstrated with

our long-term commitment to PORTFOLIO

magazine, we definitely like to see our brand

showcased in such a high-quality publication

that reaches right across the region, as it

shows potential clients that we truly believe

in a total marketing package. When it comes

to presentation, we are only prepared to invest

in advertising that reflects our own high

standards.”

So, what else would you like to achieve now,

Sally? “We’d like Justin Lloyd to get more

involved in some community projects and

support some worthy local charities. I’m

particularly keen to help some less well-

known organizations that resonate with me

and my family personally, so watch this space.”

I thought I knew Sally pretty well but finished

by asking her to let us know some little known

facts about her and her partners: “I held a

black belt in karate and was Scotland’s ladies

champion, my mother was an Air Traffic

Controller in the RAF, and my aunt Sue was

previously in a top security post” Clearly, you

don’t want to mess with these women – they

really mean business.

“Potential clients still need to buy into you as an

ethical person and business”

“An extremely efficient service from start to

finish…”Nicos N

“…I cannot thank them enough for their support and

dedication.”Helen Bailey

“…in the past had some pretty terrible experiences when buying properties, but Gary

and Nick were amazing.”Scott Learmouth

Justin Lloyd’s Charter of Care

• We put our clients at the heart of everything we do

• We are proud of the city we live in, and support our local communities

• We embrace technology and innovative marketing

• We are committed to quality and openness

• We work as a team and value the contribution each of us brings to our clients and each other

• Above all else, we act with integrity

LEGAL matters

40 PORTFOLIO

New Stamp Duty rules are due to come

into force on 1st April, to affect second

properties and buy-to-lets. There are

also income tax changes, including significant

changes in income tax relief.

The potential impact of this is that it will cost

more to purchase a buy-to-let property and it

will also make a significant percentage of them

unprofitable. The knock-on effect of this is that,

for those Landlords who decide to stay in the

buy-to-let market, it will likely result in longer

term in rents increasing to offset the additional

costs.

There is a popular view that fat cat landlords

have been buying up housing stock and getting

in the way of first-time buyers getting on the

property ladder, as well as helping to drive

up house prices. There may well be some

truth in this, but the landlords who will be

most seriously affected by the rules will be

those smaller scale ones who perhaps bought

investment properties as opposed to investing

in more traditional pensions. A cynic might say

that the Government have been encouraging

people for years to provide for their retirements,

and some of those who have are now having

that door slammed firmly in their faces, leaving

them high and dry.

It is expected that there will be a large

number of properties coming onto the market

this year as landlords look to vacate the buy-

to-let market altogether, or at least reduce

their exposure. The good news is that this will

lead to an influx of available properties, a lot

of them at the lower end of the market. This

is positive news, at least in the short term, as

the last couple of years have been dominated

by a chronic lack of property as against a large

number of people looking to buy. In fact, it is

believed that there has been less available

property than at any time since 1997.

Something that has become popular over

the last decade is let-to-buy, which is where

people buy their new residence before selling

their current one. These people will be caught

by the new rules and will have to pay the extra

3% stamp duty. Should they sell their current

property within 18 months of completing their

new purchase, they can claim a refund of the

extra duty, but of course, still need to find the

funds in the first place.

Whilst there will probably be a reduction in

the percentage of properties owned by investor

landlords and more available for people to buy

to live in, this needs to be balanced against the

downsides. The main downside could be a

significant impact on the increasing pensions

crisis and also in rents in a rental market,

where rents are already prohibitively high in

some areas. If people are paying higher rents,

the knock-on effect makes it more difficult for

them to save up deposits to enable them to buy.

Of course, there are exemptions for some

large-scale corporate landlords. The inner cynic

may suspect that such bodies are being looked

after by those in power, although that is not the

reason given, and perhaps the cynic should give

them the benefit of the doubt …

The new rules are currently in a proposal

stage, with the final version due to be announced

on 16th March, just two weeks before they are

due to be implemented.

Warren Robertson is Head of Conveyancing

and Partner at

QualitySolicitors Howlett Clarke

8-9 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AZ

01273 327 272

www.qualitysolicitors.com/howlettclarke

See more from Howlett Clarke at


STAMPING DOWN ON STAMP DUTYNew Stamp Duty rules are due to come into force on 1st April to affect second properties and Buy-to-Lets. Howlett Clarke ask: is this the death of Buy-To-Let?

“The Government have been encouraging people

for years to provide for their retirements, and some of those who have are now

having that door slammed firmly in their faces, leaving

them high and dry’”

Brighton & Hove City OfficeResidential Sales & Lettings3-6 North Road, BrightonEast Sussex BN1 1YASales 01273 688881Lettings 01273 688884E [email protected]

Residential Estate & Letting Agents • Land & New HomesLewes Town & CountryResidential Sales & Lettings14a High StreetLewesEast Sussex BN7 2LNT 01273 487444E [email protected]

London Office40 St James’s PlaceLondonSW1A 1NS

T 020 78390888E [email protected]

oakleyproperty.com

Hove £1,195,000

Kemptown £699,995

Hove Seafront £999,950

Brighton £659,950

4 3

44

3 2

31

2 2

12

An attractive and spacious detached house offering versatile accommodation and benefitting from a good sized garden, a generous in/out driveway, off road parking and views to the coast.

A contemporary four bedroom house finished to high standards and situated close to Kemptown Village with bi-folding doors creating amazing outside inside modern living. 10 year BLP premium guarantee.

A stunning raised ground floor mansion flat situated on Hove Seafront having many stunning original features and well proportioned rooms with fabulous views across Hove Lawns and to the sea.

A generously proportioned semi detached house extending across three stories and benefitting from 1 ½ garages, off road parking and an attractive rear garden in a prime location for Preston Park Station.

simon lemckeget to know the man at helm of our hove sales office

brandvaughan: Tells us about your career in estate agency ...

simon lemcke: I started my career in 1985 age 16 working in Hove for a well known Corporate Estate Agency. I worked for there for next 17 years working throughout the City but also opening a new branch in Horsham. I became the youngest Area Director over seeing 7 offices and eventually left in 2002. For the next 13 years I worked for my own company which was one of the most successful Agencies in Hove.

brandvaughan: What are your market predictions for 2016?

simon lemcke: My prediction for 2016 is that Brighton & Hove should see an increase of between 8 and 10% on sales.

Our city is seeing some exciting new investments, such as the Brighton I360 which is open to the public in August 2016, Brighton Marina is undergoing a new development of 4 significant towers, which will offer some of the finest living spaces to be found on the market.

On lifestyle Brighton has also had the green light for a prestigious private members ‘Soho Club’ an exclusive establishment, which will be directly opposite Brighton Pier.

book a valuationif you’d like to know the value of your property in hove then call Simon Lemcke on

01273 22 11 02for kemp town: 01273 683 111for preston park: 01273 504 441

brandvaughan: You’ve been leading the hove sales team for 4 months now, how’s it going?

simon lemcke: We are going from strength to strength building the stock of properties for sale to a good level, to service the demand from the buyers that we already had registered from the huge Brand Vaughan database. We have had a fantastic start to February, agreeing sales on 10 properties in the first 11 days.

We have listed a wide range of properties from 1 bedroom flats starting at just over £200,000 to a large 6 bedroom house in Hill Brow at 1.6 million. We have had a large number of new buyers register who are actively looking in the New Church Road area and in Poets Corner, so we urgently need more properties in these areas. On a personal note the new Sales team are settling in well with a good mix of experience, youth and above all enthusiasm.

brandvaughan: The launch party was a huge success, what makes this type of event so important?

simon lemcke: It was great to have so many people attend to say “hi”. We had a real diverse mix of local business people, current landlords and clients who were here to congratulate us on the opening/re-launching of the Brand Vaughan/Cambridge merge, but also new potential clients who were here on recommendations from friends.

The new office has been received extremely well and connects nicely the Brighton and Preston Park branches. It means we have can offer far more coverage as a company.

hill brow, bn3celebrity lifestyle beds: 3/6 double | living rooms: 2/4 spacious | location: hove park

Ten minutes from central Brighton brings you into a leafy and exclusive area of Hove, and this stunning contemporary house stands out even amongst its splendid neighbours. Completed in 2013, this architect designed home provides a celebrity lifestyle with glamorous entertaining rooms, sea views and landscaped gardens, but also has a discreet eco- friendly ethos and an integral double garage to keep your cars secure when you’re away.

oieo £1,600,000

eaton place, bn2tranquil serenity beds: 4 (1 SC) | living rooms: 1 (1 SC ) | area: 2479 sq ft | location: kemp town

This handsome Victorian home is in a conservation area close to the centre of the City, the sea and the Hospital. Withgracious proportions and period details, this beautiful house has been sensitively updated by the innovative “HIPHAUS” to create a light and spacious home with a landscaped garden, but which still has plans in the pipe line including: top landing extension to create 5th bedroom and 2nd bedroom, basement flat changed to huge kitchen/diner/utility, and garden made bigger, and loft ripe for conversion. Within walking distance of popular schools and parks, there is also a spacious one bedroom self- contained apartment on the lower ground floor.

£1,250,000 - £1,300,000

north road, bn1generous proportions beds: 3 | living rooms: 1 | area: 1185 sq ft | location: preston village

This light and airy home is beautifully situated in a popular area with lots of local shops and green spaces. The city centre shopping districts and the beach are within easy reach, and this spacious house also offers easy access to the A23 as well as the train station with its regular, fast links to the airports and London.

£550,000 - £575,000

hove officecall: simon lemcke01273 22 11 02

kemp town officecall: david vaughan01273 683 111

preston park officecall: jason brand01273 504 441

Hove: 01273 773399 | Hangleton: 01273 322766

NEW LOOK, SAME GREAT SERVICE!

W W W. E L L I OT T S E STAT E AG E N T S . C O. U K

Visit our new and improved website to view the wide variety of properties we have for sale in the Brighton & Hove area.

PORTFOLIO 45

BEAUTIFUL homes

CITY LIVINGThis almost new town house is in a small select development in a tucked away cul-de-

sac in Brighton’s famous Kemp Town Area. The property comes with the remaining

benefit of a 10-year warranty and is packed with contemporary features like LED

downlighters, oak-panelled internal doors, central heating and double glazing, with every

effort having been made to utilise the space available, which is particularly apparent on the

ground floor.

The four double bedrooms include the master with its own en-suite. A signature area for

the house is its stunning ground-floor living space, which includes plenty of room for both

lounge and dining sections, and interconnects to a large and well-fitted high-gloss kitchen,

with a host of appliances, two sets of bi-fold doors at a 90 degree angle and providing

excellent natural light, plus both an outlook and immediate access onto the rear patio. There

is also an integral garage. This is truly a convenient and contemporary home in a first-class

location.

Prince Regent Close, Brighton, BN2 5JP

Price: £699,995Bedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 2Extras: Integral garage; Secluded rear patio; Cul-de-sac locationBest Bits: Two sets of 90 degree bi-fold doors; Signature ground-floor living area; Immaculately presented

Elliotts Estate Agents2 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FL 01723 773399 www.elliottsestateagents.co.uk

Hove: 01273 773399 | Hangleton: 01273 322766

NEW LOOK, SAME GREAT SERVICE!

W W W. E L L I OT T S E STAT E AG E N T S . C O. U K

Visit our new and improved website to view the wide variety of properties we have for sale in the Brighton & Hove area.

Fiveways01273 561534

Brighton Central01273 720714

Brighton Marina01273 622007

AN INCREDIBLE WATERSIDE DESTINATION

Whether you are looking for a stunning home or an impressive investment, the iconic landmark Brighton Marina development should

be at the top of your list. With marina and sea views, high quality finish and spacious well laid out accommodation the development

offers a unique and desirable way of life from just £428,000.

For full details of the development and the breath taking apartments available contact us on 01273 622007.

Fiveways01273 561534

Brighton Central01273 720714

Brighton Marina01273 622007

AN INCREDIBLE WATERSIDE DESTINATION

Whether you are looking for a stunning home or an impressive investment, the iconic landmark Brighton Marina development should

be at the top of your list. With marina and sea views, high quality finish and spacious well laid out accommodation the development

offers a unique and desirable way of life from just £428,000.

For full details of the development and the breath taking apartments available contact us on 01273 622007.

Hove01273 321721

North Laine01273 675571

LEADERS

With the first phase of the landmark

Brighton Marina development

nearing completion, interest in the

site from buyers and investors is reaching

new heights. Leaders, the sole agent for all UK

sales at the development, has recently unveiled

a fully furnished show home in the marina,

giving interested parties an insight into elegant

waterside living and the precise specifications of the new properties.

The multi-million-pound project is set to bring 11 new towers

containing 853 state-of-the-art apartments to the heart of the marina,

offering a luxurious waterside lifestyle and breathtaking views out to

sea.

Greg Hall, branch manager at Leaders in Brighton Marina, says:

“This is a hugely exciting development, and we are receiving more

enquiries by the day as we edge closer to the first apartments being

completed this summer. Not only will the 11 towers revolutionise

the landscape of Brighton Marina, they will set new standards in the

quality of residential property available in the area.

“Our new show home gives prospective buyers an opportunity to go

behind the scenes and see exactly what is on offer in a typical luxury

apartment. More than 65 per cent of the 175 apartments that make

up the first phase of the scheme have already been sold. With buyers

set to receive the keys to this initial batch of homes by the summer,

more people are registering an interest in Brighton’s most dynamic

and exciting development of the decade.”

While many of the luxury apartments have been reserved by people

who plan to set up home in the marina, significant interest has been

seen from investors who can achieve a great return in one of the

country’s buy-to-let hotspots.

Greg adds: “High tenant demand will create top rents, giving

investors the chance to enjoy a great overall yield. Landlords have

the advantage of being able to target both traditional tenants seeking

a home and Brighton Marina’s sizeable holiday lets market, plus the

short-term corporate sector, enhancing their prospects of a very

healthy return.”

The apartments range in size from one-bedroom to penthouses, and

prices start from £428,000.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing of the new show home,

please contact Leaders Waterside in Brighton Marina on 01273

622007 or visit www.leaders.co.uk.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTSThe landmark Brighton Marina development is set to to be the city’s most dynamic destination. Sole UK sales agents, Leaders, explains why

Conveyancer Of The Year

sinceLawyers for Life™

31 Duke Street, Brighton, BN1 1AG

Tel: +44 (0) 1273 725229

www.cunningtons.co.uk

If you are buying or selling a property you couldn’t be in

safer hands

The Estate Agency of the Year Awards 2012 in association with The Sunday Times and The Times

WHERE DO YOU LIVE, JASON? I live in Hove, on Grand

Avenue. It’s great, as it’s just a stone’s throw from the

seafront. I’ve lived in Hove for about 12 years now,

having lived in London for a while and done the usual

thing of moving down here when I’d had enough of

the big city. However, I was born in Worthing, so

consider myself at home here on the south coast.

I’m very close to Hove Lawns, which has a great vibe

in the summer and plays host to lots of great events,

like the Brighton Foodies Festival, and, of course,

the Santa Dash in December for the Rockinghorse

appeal (yes, I did don a suit this year!).

YOUR OFFICE IS IN DUKE STREET, SO YOU MUST BE SPOILT FOR CHOICE WITH PLACES TO EAT

FOR LUNCH… ANY FAVOURITES? Duke Street is

a perfect location for lunch (not that this is what I

spend all my time doing!), with a great mix of small

coffee shops, sandwich bars and little independent

local restaurants. I’ve not had the chance to sample

them all yet (plenty of time for that), but a couple

of favourites are The Coal Shed, which serves

amazing steaks, Gars, which for me is the best

Chinese eatery in Brighton, and Julien Plumart for

afternoon tea and cakes (which is handily just two

doors down from our office!).

WHAT ABOUT SHOPPING IN THE CITY? Duke

Street’s not far from the North Laine, and there are

some great small independent shops. I love music

and am not averse to queuing for several hours

outside Resident Records on Kensington Gardens

on Record Store Day for some unusual vinyl. Then

there’s Pussy just a few doors down, a must for

unusual birthday cards and quirky gifts.

HOW DO YOU COMMUTE TO WORK? Ah, this is

easy: I walk! If the weather is good, I’ll walk along

the seafront, or if the weather is somewhat windy

and raining like it has been lately, then it’s more

sheltered along Western Road. It takes about 25 to

30 minutes and is a great opportunity to just relax

and gather one’s thoughts before the day starts,

enjoying the sunrise on the seafront and seeing the

i360 take shape!

YOUR HOME AND OFFICE ARE BOTH FABULOUS LOCATIONS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER AREAS OF

THE CITY THAT ATTRACT YOU? The Montpelier &

Clifton Hill conservation area has always appealed

to me. The lovely whitewashed properties on Clifton

Terrace or the surrounding streets just ooze charm

and are just so Brighton.

YOU’RE HEADING OUT OF THE CITY. WHERE DO

YOU GO? You just can’t beat the Downs. A trip up

to Devil’s Dyke with a walk along the top offering

great views for miles around. A favourite objective

on a walk is the Shepherd & Dog in Fulking, a good

hearty Sunday lunch with some well-chosen local

ales.

DO YOU EVER HANKER TO LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE

IN THE WORLD? I’m very much a city dweller. Give

me the buzz of a vibrant city with a great streetscape

and eclectic night life. Of the places I’ve visited, my

favourites would have to be Florence or New York.

They are very different places, but they both have

something for everyone: history, architecture,

culture, beautiful parks, and, of course, the plethora

of bars and restaurants.

DO YOU ENTERTAIN AT HOME, OR DO YOU LIKE EATING OUT LOCALLY? WHERE MIGHT WE

FIND YOU? I’m not exactly Jamie Oliver so if I’m

entertaining it has to be out at a local restaurant.

Around where I live there is plenty of choice on

Church Road, but particular favourites are the Paris

Wine Bar for something informal, or the Giggling

Squid. I’m also partial to a curry and you can’t

beat Hove Tandoori locally. If I’m in Brighton after

work then the Curry Leaf Café on Ship Street is

exceptional, and although I’m a carnivore through

and through, the food in Terre a Terre on East

Street is amazing. Later in the evening I find the

atmosphere, the drinks and music at Bohemia in

the Lanes are a great combination!

JASON BRADSHAW SPECIALISES IN RESIDENTIAL CONVEYANCINGAT CUNNINGTONS SOLICITORS BRIGHTON OFFICE

UP MY STREET......THIS MONTH WE SPEAK TO JASON BRADSHAW ABOUT WHERE HE LIVES AND WHY HE LOVES IT

www.cunningtons.co.uk

Photo credit: Domonic Alves

Laying ceramic tiles is actually fairly

simple. If you are a novice you can

start with a wall or room that has a

simple square or rectangular shape and

with a minimum of pipes, sockets or other

obstructions to reduce the amount of tile-

cutting you need to do. Or update a splash back

in a kitchen or a bathroom for a wow factor

feature.

What You Need

You really don’t need a great variety of

materials for this job. Apart from the ceramic

tiles, you’ll need a measuring tape, foam

brushes, grout, adhesive, spacers and a trowel.

The adhesive goes on the floor - or wall -

below the tiles to stick them to the surface.

You can buy combs which will help you apply

an even layer of adhesive onto your surface.

You use the spacers to create even gaps

between each tile. Don’t try and complete the

job without spacers; they are cheap, and using

them will dramatically improve the quality of

the finish and make the job much faster. You

can buy spacers of different sizes; some will

create wide gaps between tiles and others

will hardly leave any room at all. The size of

the gap has a considerable effect on how the

finished tiles look: normally, narrow gaps look

more modern. Have a look through a few tile

catalogues and pay attention to the gaps. What

look are you aiming for?

Grout is then used to fill in between the tiles.

Again, the grout used can change the look of

the finished job. You can buy grout or grout dye

to colour-match the grout exactly to your tiles

to produce a modern, sleek look. Alternatively,

you can use a different colour to the tile. Again,

have a look through a catalogue, or online,

and see what different grout colours look like

before you decide what to buy. If you are tiling

in a bathroom or around a sink, do make sure

you buy waterproof grout.

Measure Up

You need to work out the area of floor or wall

that you are going to tile. You will need to buy

enough tiles to cover this area, plus some

extra for cutting and wastage.

Clear the area you are going to tile and clean

the surface: vacuum and mop, or wipe down

with a detergent. This will ensure there is a

clean, grease-free surface for the adhesive to

stick to.

Lay Them Down

It can help (especially if you are new to tiling)

to lay the tiles out first so you can see how they

will fit into the space. Think about how you can

minimise tile cutting. You should also think

about the pattern: does horizontal, vertical or

diagonal look best?

Once you have a clear picture of exactly

how you are going to position the tiles, you

can start. Pick a corner to start in carefully.

You can’t walk on the tiles until the adhesive

is dry, so you need to think about how you

can work across the space towards the door.

Spread out the adhesive generously over a

smallish area (maybe enough for four tiles),

using an adhesive comb. This creates ridges in

the adhesive. Lay a tile on top, and then you

can slide or rotate it a little to get its position

exactly right (the ridges in the adhesive help

with these small adjustments).

After every three tiles, put spacers down

around each tile. Once you have laid all your

tiles, you need to leave them for 24 hours for

the adhesive to dry and fix them in position.

Do not walk on drying tiles or put anything on

them.

If you need to cut tiles, do make sure you have

the right tools.

Grouting

Once the adhesive is dry you can start to grout

(fill in the gaps between the tiles.) You can

leave the spacers in as long as they have been

set deep and will be covered by the grout. Or

you can just pull them out with your fingers, or

prise them out with the tip of a knife.

Spread grout over the top of the tiles, and

then use a moist sponge to force it into the

spaces between tiles. Run a damp finger over

the finished grout to create a smooth finish.

Let it dry, then remove the excess with a damp

cloth. If you have tiled a floor, try not to walk on

it for a few days, until it sets, then use a foam

brush to apply the tile sealer.

WHY NOT DO IT YOURSELF: ...TilingCeramic tiles are hard-wearing, easy to clean, and come in a wide range of styles, finishes and sizes. They are a brilliant way to update your look and easier than you might think to work with yourself

50 PORTFOLIO

How many tiles will you need?

This depends on the area you’re covering

and the size of the tiles. Start by multiplying

the height of the wall by its width to get the

area. Multiply the width of the tile or sheet

by its height. Then divide the area of the wall

by the area of the tiles (or sheets of tiles).

To be safe, add another 10% to allow for

breakages.

Preparation

Flatten it. If the surface is uneven, sand it

down, or fill it with a patching material.

Clean it. Paint and wallpaper must be

removed or the adhesive will just stick to

that, and may pull away from the wall. If

there are grease spots or flaky plaster,

consider removing this section and patching

it. New plaster must be dry and will need a

plaster primer. Roughen other surfaces with

sandpaper to ensure the adhesive will stick.

Above all, ensure the wall is firm enough to

hold the weight of tiles you’re putting on it.

Plan it. Lay your tiles on a flat surface near

the wall, using your spacers. This will tell you

if your last tile needs to be cut. remember,

you’ll need to leave a little room at the edge

for grout.

Get it square. Never assume the floor or the

wall can be used as a guide for a straight line!

“Laying ceramic tiles is actually fairly simple. If you are a novice you can start with a wall or room that has a simple

square or rectangular shape”

DO It Yourself

PORTFOLIO 51

Tips• Start small: Do not plan to lay tile

in a large kitchen for your first project. Try a small bathroom first.

• Watch a “how-to” video: reading is great, but this is a hands-on project, and there is no substitute for watching an expert at work.

• Buy quality tools: a trowel that costs 30% less is not a bargain if it breaks halfway through your project. Buy the best quality that

you can afford.

The Facts

FOR SALE WILBURY ROAD TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT £440,000

69A&B CHURCH ROAD HOVE 01273 733500 [email protected] [email protected]

A two bedroom lower ground floor apartment with a garden. Located in The Willett Estate Conservation Area on Wilbury Road, Hove. This apartment has an authentic feel, exudes calm and gives a real sense of privacy. Styling compliments the period with good choice of colours throughout. A great garden apartment in a cool location.

FOR SALE SURRENDON ROAD SIX BEDROOM HOUSE £1,390,000 A six bedroom detached Edwardian family home near Preston Park, Brighton. In many ways unspoilt by modern tinkering around the edges, this rustic Edwardian build shines authenticity. The garden leading to the Coach House is a gift in this part of Brighton. A home waiting for the next interpretation and a home that can provide extensive facilities. A great space in the City.

FROM HOUSE TO SALES

LETTINGSVALUATIONS

PORTFOLIO 53

BEAUTIFUL homes

FOR SALE WILBURY ROAD TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT £440,000

69A&B CHURCH ROAD HOVE 01273 733500 [email protected] [email protected]

A two bedroom lower ground floor apartment with a garden. Located in The Willett Estate Conservation Area on Wilbury Road, Hove. This apartment has an authentic feel, exudes calm and gives a real sense of privacy. Styling compliments the period with good choice of colours throughout. A great garden apartment in a cool location.

FOR SALE SURRENDON ROAD SIX BEDROOM HOUSE £1,390,000 A six bedroom detached Edwardian family home near Preston Park, Brighton. In many ways unspoilt by modern tinkering around the edges, this rustic Edwardian build shines authenticity. The garden leading to the Coach House is a gift in this part of Brighton. A home waiting for the next interpretation and a home that can provide extensive facilities. A great space in the City.

FROM HOUSE TO SALES

LETTINGSVALUATIONS

FOR SALE GOLDSTONE VILLAS FIVE BEDROOM HOUSE OIEO £875,000 A substantial three storey Victorian family house built circa 1895. Located close to Hove station. A classic home with many original features with modern décor that compliments the original fabric. Tasteful use of colours in the key areas make for an interesting narrative.

01273 28 66 66CLYDE CORNER,PRESTON CIRCUS, BRIGHTON

Waldegrave Road, Brighton BN1

Preston Circus, Brighton BN1

A beautiful semi-detached period house in the coveted “Golden Triangle Area” moments from Blakers Park. Two reception rooms, large kitchen/dining room, three bedrooms, family bathroom and large landscaped rear garden. Well-presented throughout with numerous period features. View Next Generation Virtual Tours at www.knightandknoxley.com.

A choice of two stunning upper & lower maisonettes which have been refurbished to a high specification throughout, both with large exterior sun terraces. Beautiful upper two bedroom maisonette over three levels, with south/west private sun terrace. Exceptional lower floor two bedroom maisonette with over 1,100 sqft of living space and tiered terraced Mediterranean style garden. Both maisonettes offer versatile living space over split levels/floors and have their own separate entrance accessed via video entry phone. View Next Generation Virtual Tours at www.knightandknoxley.com.

£650,000

From £365,000 - £385,000

THE NEXT GENERATION OF ESTATE AGENCY KNOWLEDGE & KNOWHOW

[email protected]

WWW.KNIGHTANDKNOXLEY.COM

PORTFOLIO 55

BEAUTIFUL homes

VICTORIAN VILLAThis beautiful Victorian villa with four double bedrooms is located in

a highly sought-after residential enclave, just behind Preston Circus

and moments from the Duke of York’s cinema.

The open spaces of Preston Park are close by, also a short walk away is

Brighton central station, perfect for commuters.

The house has sash windows and other period details such as old cast iron

radiators and Victorian fire surrounds in the living room and bedrooms.

There is a custom-built high-gloss white kitchen with an area of built-in

seating designed with family meals in mind.

The lovely, light reception room has wooden floorboards and has been

knocked through to give a large dual aspect living/dining space. A period

turning staircase leads to the first floor, where you will find a stylish

bathroom with a modern freestanding bath and a large walk-in shower.

Continuing to the second floor, there are two further generously-sized

double bedrooms and a contemporary en-suite shower room. Next

Generation Virtual Tour Available.

Clyde Road, Brighton, BN1 4NU

Price: £685,000 Bedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 2Extras: Newly refurbished throughout; Period features; Landscaped gardenBest Bits: 25-ft south-facing dual-aspect reception; 20-ft Kitchen/Dining room; Highly sought-after location

Knight & KnoxleyClyde Corner, 2 Clyde Road,Preston Circus, Brighton BN1 4NP 01273 286666 www.knightandknoxley.com

We are repeatedly reminded by experts

that the kitchen is the single most

important room in the process of

selling your house. Time and money spent

(carefully) here will reap benefits as well as

making you feel more organised and uplifted in

your kitchen.

We are all inspired by dream kitchens in

gorgeous, glamorous spaces. We appreciate the

details, materials, the layout, all the finer things

that make it special and swoon-worthy.

However, if your kitchen is looking a bit tired,

you don’t have to spend a fortune to give it a

fresh new look. All it takes is a little time, effort

and creativity to pep up the heart of your home.

If your cupboards are dated, in style or colour,

why not consider just replacing the doors if the

framework is still in good shape? There are a

host of companies that specialise in providing

replacement doors. Alternatively, simply give

your cabinetry a quick refresh with a few coats

of paint. Both of these ideas are a lot cheaper

and less hassle than replacing the entire

kitchen. Paint in general is easiest and least

expensive way to transform a kitchen. Look for

a rich, yet calming, shade that will allow you to

relax in your space.

There’s so much you can do with a little

imagination. Here are some clever ideas to

transform your kitchen.

Replace the taps

This is a very simple, straightforward way to

upgrade your kitchen, a small investment for

something you use multiple times a day.

It is well worth paying more for high-end, top-

quality taps that will not only look good but be a

pleasure to use.

Get a great dish rack

If you don’t have a dishwasher, it makes a big

difference to have a reliable dish rack, not to

mention it looks nice sitting on the counter.

SimpleHuman do great heavy-duty dish racks.

Update the plug socket plates

Swap white switch plates for stainless steel

ones. There’s something really effective about

this small change. The stainless steel plates

are easier to clean, and they will lie flatter to the

wall too. You can find decorative switch plates

from places like Anthropologie.

Paint your cabinets

Painting your kitchen cabinets is one of the

cheapest and easiest ways to create a new look.

It’s easy to give your kitchen a fresh feel by

choosing from the latest colours available. Visit

Brewers, Wickes, B & Q or Farrow & Ball for a

great range of paints.

Install new worktops

Dramatically change the look of your kitchen

by replacing your existing worktops. Laminate

is the most cost-effective to purchase. If you

have spare cash, consider extras, such as heat

rods that can be fitted into the surface for a

permanent pan stand or a built-in draining

board. Wickes have a great range of budget

worktops.

Update your kitchen floor

If your current kitchen floor is letting the

scheme down, you don’t need to go to the hassle

of taking it all up as you can potentially lay new

flooring on top. Most kitchen designers will

advise that you can simply run it underneath the

plinths, instead of wall-to-wall, which cuts your

costs further.

Ideal for a classic or traditional kitchen, try

pre-oiled structural-engineered oak. A modern

solution like Amitco flooring gives a practical

and polished look.

TOTAL TRANSFORMATIONIf you want to sell your home, the kitchen is a room that can do this for you – if you get it right. These easy upgrades will go a long way towards creating a dream kitchen

56 PORTFOLIO

SELLING tips

56 PORTFOLIO

“We are all inspired by dream kitchens in gorgeous, glamorous

spaces”

Improve kitchen storage

Clearing your worktops will instantly improve

your kitchen and it won’t cost you anything

at all. Also, try rethinking your storage

solutions. Pull-out drawers in a cupboard

instantly make every spare inch of space

usable. Larder units with pull-out shelves are

available from all good kitchen retailers.

Change your cabinet doors and handles

If the basic structure of your kitchen is in

good condition, you can change the look of

the room by simply replacing the cabinet

doors and handles. You could even try a mix-

and-match look by replacing just the wall or

base cupboard doors of your existing kitchen.

Sleek white doors and handles will give you

a modern feel. Try B&Q for inexpensive door

handles, from around £4.

Liven up your scheme with accessories

Accessories will brighten your kitchen in

an instant, and you can choose a theme to

bring the look together. Display selected

items on open shelving and think about

re-organising your worktop so you only

have your favourites on show. If you have a

dresser or open shelving, this is the perfect

place to show off neat stacks of crockery,

cups and glassware. IKEA, Habitat, Heals and

John Lewis are great for simple classics and

stylish serveware and glassware.

Make a statement with lights

You need task lights, such as spotlights, over

the worktops, halogen bulbs on the extractor

and overhead lighting with ambient light in

a dining area. Oversized metal pendants are

the perfect way to make a statement and

introduce an industrial feel. Hang them over

a table or island to create a focal point and

provide both task and mood lighting. If you

choose a smaller design, hang them in threes

for maximum impact. Always use a qualified

electrician for anything complicated.

Update kitchen walls

Painting the walls is a great way to give a

kitchen a fresh, new look without breaking

the bank - and, best of all, you can do it in

a day. If you have wooden units, opt for a

splash of colour and paint a feature wall, or

all the walls, in one of the season’s latest

shades.

Try Brewers or Farrow & Ball for a great

range of kitchen paints.

Create a kitchen diner

Even the most compact kitchen can usually

squeeze in a table and chairs. Choose

a small round table with stackable or

foldaway chairs if you have the floorspace,

or, if space is at a premium, position a

drop-leaf table against a wall or fix a wall-

mounted design.

An extendable table is a good option if you

entertain frequently. Make a multipurpose

kitchen space by adding in a comfy sofa to

create a relaxed seating zone. Take a look at

IKEAfor a range of tables starting at around

£30. IKEA also have a good range of sofas

suitable for a kitchen.

Alter the splashback

Splashbacks are perfect for protecting

kitchen walls. Glass and stainless steel can

be expensive options, but sometimes less is

more, and you can use a small amount to

make a statement.

Tiles, on the other hand, are a good

budget buy and a great opportunity to

add colour and pattern. Take your pick

from standard size, mosaic or brick, and a

selection of materials including ceramic,

glass and stone.

See our DIY feature on Tiling on page 50.

Thanks to www.thekitchn.com and

www.housetohome.co.uk

from pads to maisonettes you’ll soon be planning madly with property moves...

Westbourne Villas, Hove £1,300 pcm

Modern two bedroom garden flat off Hove seafront

Vernon Terrace, Brighton £1,250 pcm

Furnished two bedroom flat with panoramic views

Buckingham Road, Brighton £1,595 pcm

High specification two bedroom flat with garden

Lennox Road, Hove £1,595 pcm

Three bedroom house in popular Poets corner

We had the biggest market share and took on the most properties out of all these agents in 2015.Source: Rightmove.co.uk Figures show number of properties taken on from 01/01/15 to 01/01/16.

HEAD & SHOULDERSABOVE THE REST

Another reason why we have been voted Best Letting agent in Brighton and Hove for the Third year running, also Best Branch in the South East for the last two years!

LOCALINDEPENDENT

350

ONEBRANCH

373

MULTI BRANCH

415

MAJOR CORPORATE

417

LOCAL INDEPENDENT

461NATIONAL

CORPORATE

462

PROPERTYMOVES

615

Estate Agents

This Grade II, four bedroom country cottage is a

perfect blend of charm, history and counrty living

£700,000 - £750,000 Freehold

Poundford Cottage, East Sussex

THE SMARTER WAY TO SELL CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

01273 622664See more properties:www.qsalesandlettings.co.uk

FURZE HILL, HOVE - £350,000 LEASEHOLD

BRUNSWICK PLACE, HOVE - OIXO £295,000 SOF

BRUNSWICK TERRACE, HOVE - £295,000 SOF

SALES & LETTINGS 01273 323000 30C WESTERN ROAD, HOVE BN3 1AF

brices sales & lettings

A BEAUTIFUL, STYLISHLY PRESENTED

TWO BEDROOM SOUTH-EASTERLY

ASPECT SECOND FLOOR FLAT IN

THIS SOUGHT AFTER BUILDING next

to ST ANN’S WELL GARDENS. The

accommodation comprises entrance hall,

LOUNGE/DINING ROOM with FEATURE

FIREPLACE, BALCONY, MODERN FITTED

KITCHEN, TWO DOUBLE BEDROOMS,

MODERN BATHROOM, COMMUNAL

GARDENS, COMMUNAL HEATING AND

HOT WATER, PASSENGER LIFTS, EPC D.

A BEAUTIFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY

PRESENTED one bedroom second floor

converted flat situated OFF WESTERN

ROAD and CLOSE TO HOVE SEAFRONT.

The property benefits from entrance hall

with STORAGE, 20’1 x 13’1 LIVING ROOM

with FEATURE FIREPLACE, separate 20’0

KITCHEN WITH BREAKFAST/DINING

AREA, DOUBLE BEDROOM, STUNNING

SHOWER ROOM, gas fired central heating.

A WELL PRESENTED QUIRKY TWO

BEDROOM FIRST FLOOR REAR FLAT

in a CONVERTED GRADE I LISTED

PERIOD BUILDING LOCATED ON

HOVE’S MOST SOUGHT AFTER AND

FINEST SEAFRONT TERRACES. The

accommodation comprises 29’ OPEN

PLAN LOUNGE/DINING AREA/KITCHEN

with INTEGRATED APPLIANCES, TWO

DOUBLE BEDROOMS, MEZZANINE

LEVEL, MODERN BATHROOM, SHARE OF

FREEHOLD.

NEW

NEW

NEW

PORTFOLIO 63

NEW homes

Following last year’s significant growth in

capital and 18% increase in rental prices,

2016 is looking extremely promising for

buyers seeking to purchase a property within

Brighton. More and more students are seeking

accommodation in the area, and Brighton has

received the recent accolade of being amongst

the best places to invest in property.

Adding to the local area’s popularity is the

forthcoming opening of the i360, scheduled for

summer 2016. Conceived and designed by the

creators of the London Eye, the i360 will take the

title as the world’s first-ever vertical cable car,

and this breathtaking icon is set to put Brighton on

the world map. Boasting 360-degree views over

a 26-mile radius, the i360 will be equipped with

specialist restaurants, exhibitions and a kids’

play zone. The landmark attraction promises to

hurtle Brighton’s eclectic community into a new

era, bring in a wealth of tourists to skyrocket the

economy, and offer a world-class architectural

design for local residents.

Just a stone’s throw away from the centre

of it all, Hyde New Homes is delighted to

offer a selection of exciting new properties at

three of its Brighton developments, with an

immediate move-in date and leading investment

opportunities. The new homes are available at

three of the housing developers’ most recent

schemes, including One Hove Park and Brighton

Rocket, all located within a few miles of the i360.

Nestled in between Hove Park and Hove

Recreation Ground, the last remaining three-

bedroom homes at One Hove Park feature

generous balcony space and are just a short

walk from Hove station.

Equipped with high specifications and modern

amenities throughout, including an ensuite with

thermostatic shower and underfloor heating

to bedrooms and bathrooms, the properties

also come with their own secure underground

parking spaces. Starting from £479,950 for

outright sale, these fabulous apartments are

also available through the Help To Buy scheme,

that allows for purchases against a deposit of

only 5%.

Brighton Rocket is Hyde New Homes’ latest

development on the eclectic St James Street.

The luxury two-and three-bedroom penthouses

encompass stunning views of the city’s vibrant

panorama.

Each penthouse enjoys access to its own

spacious rooftop terrace, making these homes

ideal for entertaining. All kitchens contain

integrated SMEG appliances, whilst chrome

Hansgrohe taps in the bathrooms complete

the polished feel throughout. Residents at

the development also benefit from modern

amenities, including a video entry security

phone and Sky+ access.

Within walking distance of the Brighton

seafront and the soon-to-launch i360, the

private sale penthouses at Brighton Rocket start

at £475,000.

Visitors can view a show home or the finished

apartment of their choice. To find out more

about any of the above homes visit

www.hydenewhomes.co.uk,

www.onehovepark.co.uk or call Sales Agents

Oakley residential on 01273 688 881.

LUXE LIVING

Hyde New Homes adds to the Brighton landscape with their key city developments

“Brighton has received the recent accolade of being amongst the best places

to invest in property”

REDHILL DRIVE, BRIGHTON

Superb 4 bedroom, detached family home enjoying elevated views across Withdean. Built in the 1950’s and then comprehensively redesigned 4

years ago with a feature 30’ kitchen/family/living room with Cimstone work surfaces, master bedroom with dressing room and luxury en-suite, level

patio leading to lawned rear garden. No chain.

GUIDE PRICE: £675,000 - £725,000PRESTON PARK OFFICE: 01273 508761

NORTH ROAD, BRIGHTON

This charming two bedroom cottage lies in the heart of the Preston Village Conservation Area. With beautiful, dual aspect bathroom – featuring an

opulent freestanding, roll-top bath; through lounge/dining room, separate kitchen leading out to a pretty, flint-walled south facing garden. Ideally

placed for the village stores and only moments from the station and park.

PRICE: OIEO £375,000 PRESTON PARK OFFICE: 01273 508761

NEW CHURCH ROAD, HOVE

A stunning four double bedroom, two bathroom family home situated in a superb position on New Church Road. This home includes off street parking, a garage, a lovely south facing rear garden, and an open plan kitchen / living space with a WOW factor which has been created by the current owners.

GUIDE PRICE: £750,000 - £775,000HOVE OFFICE: 01273 820280

9 Offices Covering Brighton & Hove27 Offices in Sussex38 Offices in London

ST MARTINS PLACE, BRIGHTON

A fantastic new development consisting of a selection of one & two bedroom apartments. All the apartments are fitted with engineered oak flooring, oak framed internal doors with polished chrome handles, triple glazed ‘tilt and turn’ windows, Gem stone kitchen worktops, high gloss Anthracite and white kitchen cabinets, Bosch induction hob and single oven, integrated fridge freezer and dishwasher, freestanding A+ rated washing machine. Mitsubishi air source ‘Ecodan’ heat pumps (for every 1kw input, 3kw is produced), MHVR mechanical heat ventilation recovery system (90% efficient in recovering waste heat), under floor heating throughout, 7W cool white micro interceptor LED downlights, ‘Twyford Celtic’ steel bath, Roca The Gap basin semi pedestal, ‘Curze’ contemporary mono basin mixer, Alaska back to wall pan soft close toilet seat, ‘Curze’ thermostatic shower, Porcelain ‘Mavric’ and relief tiles. There are facilities for recycling on the development.’

PRICE RANGE: £285,000 - £425,000 LEWES ROAD OFFICE: 01273 677544

www.rightmove.co.ukwww.primelocation.com

www.fox-and-sons.co.uk

A sixth floor south facing two bed apartment with balcony in established seafront development. Marine Gate is a U-shaped development on a large elevated plot with landscaped grounds and residents parking.

Charming detached cottage requiring completion of partial renovation. The potential accommodation could be 4/5 bedrooms, bathroom, shower room, kitchen/breakfast room, 2/3 reception rooms. There are gardens to three sides of the property.

Marine Drive, Brighton £295,000 Leasehold

East Dean Road, Seaford £450,000 Freehold

Graves Son & Pilcher, 51 Old Steyne, Brighton, BN1 1HU01273 321123 | www.gravessonandpilcher.co.uk

PORTFOLIO 67

BEAUTIFUL homes

DOWNS VIEWA beautifully presented detached Chalet Bungalow, extended and improved by the

present owners and occupying a popular and elevated location between Braybon

Avenue and Peacock Lane, enjoying far-reaching views across Withdean to the

Downs beyond. The property provides access to the Balfour/Stringer/Varndean Schools

complex, Preston Park mainline railway station, Hollingbury Golf Course and both Brighton

and Sussex Universities.

This home comprises 3 bedrooms, en-suite shower, family bathroom, lovely sitting room,

well-fitted kitchen and a conservatory. The property also has a beautiful stocked and

landscaped rear garden with access to a detached garage with additional car standing

space.

Woodland Way, Brighton, BN1 8BA

Price: £575,000 Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2Extras: Gas central heating; Double glazing; Karndean flooringBest Bits: Lovely views; Well-stocked and landscaped rear garden

Graves Son & Pilcher LLP51 Old Steyne, Brighton BN1 1HUTelephone: 01273 321123www.gravessonandpilcher.com

Healy & Newsom 19 Richardson Road, Brighton & Hove, East Sussex BN3 3RB01273 74 66 74 | [email protected] | www.healynewsom.co.uk

An opportunity to acquire a rarely available double fronted, extended Victorian terrace house, situated in one of the most sought-after streets in Hove. Internally, the house offers flexible and well-appointed accommodation throughout that includes four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two reception rooms, a large kitchen/breakfast room and a substantial rear garden.

A very spacious, immaculately presented bay fronted semi-detached 1930’s property with a delightful west facing

garden and parking. Internally the property offers five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a sitting room, a snug and an

extended kitchen breakfast room.

An exceptional house that has generous accommodation throughout constructed with sustainability in mind is set within a corner plot having a landscaped garden, periphery grounds and parking. Internally the property has five bedrooms and three impressive bathroom suites. A notable kitchen has been fitted and the living and dining rooms have bi-folding doors opening to the garden. Situated near to Preston park station, frequent bus routes and local independent amenities on Matlock Road.

Walsingham Road, Hove£1,200,000

Langdale Road, Hove

Guide price: £999,950 to £1,125,000

Tivoli Crescent North, Brighton £999,950

TALK money

The last few weeks have seen much

volatility in the stock market. Investors

have been reeling from one bad

news story to the next. First, the state of

the Chinese economy, then the oil prices,

then commodities, and, most recently,

the European banks. Many investors have

decided it is time to sell their shares, causing

the downturn and volatility. Some are saying

this is an over-reaction and are buying into

the market, share prices have reduced, and,

by choosing the right investments, there are

many opportunities to be had. There is much

speculation that the current volatility is due

to market sentiment rather than the actual

performance of the underlying companies

themselves.

So, how does this affect you? If you have

investments which involve stocks and shares

you will almost certainly have seen the value

drop in the last few weeks. If you are invested

long-term this may not be so much of an

issue, as you have time to ride through the

volatility. You only crystallise a loss when you

sell your shares or investment. Here is where

the problem lies. People who are due to retire

may have a time when they wish to sell, and

this may be the wrong time to do so. So what

should they do?

If your plan is to purchase an annuity and

your pension fund has dropped, it may be

better to try and hold off. The amount you

receive will depend on various factors, but if

your pension fund has reduced, the annuity

it can purchase will be lower. The decision

about when to buy is crucial as it could affect

your income for the rest of your life.

If you are planning to use income drawdown

to fund your retirement, this is a different

matter, and the downturn may not affect your

timing as much. The fund will continue to be

invested and your income will be paid directly

from the fund itself. If invested long-term,

it will therefore benefit from future market

upturns. You may want to delay taking too

much tax-free cash if this is not essential.

This will allow more of your pension fund to

recover and should increase the tax-free cash

you can take at a later date. Flexible pensions

definitely help in these market conditions; a

specific plan can be made to suit your overall

needs.

If you are about to retire and would like to

discuss the best options for you, please feel

free to call me, Claire Cook, on 01273 224667.

I offer a free initial consultation and would be

very happy to assist.

Talk Money is a trading style Aspect 8, a member

of Best Practice IFA Group Ltd which is authorised

and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The value of investments can fall as well as rise

and you may not get back the amount invested.

See more from Talk Money at


TAKING STOCKHow will the stock market volatility affect your pension? Claire Cook from Independent Financial Advisors Talk Money analyses recent developments

“People who are due to retire may have a time when they wish to sell,

and this may be the wrong time to do so”

PORTFOLIO 69

www.engleharts.co.uk

For more information please contact us at Engleharts Solicitors:

Vallance Hall, Hove Street, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2DE

[email protected]

• 01273 204411

local & independent

solicitors

Incorporating Johnson McCabe

We are local, independent solicitors providing

an expert legal service with a personal approach

Property• Buying and Selling

Property• Re-Mortgages• Freehold Enfranchisement• Lease Extensions• Buying and Selling

Investment Properties

Business• Landlord and Tenant and

Commercial Property• Buying and Selling

Businesses and Shares• Employment Law

• Licensing

Wills and Trusts• Wills• Probate and

Administration of Estates

• Inheritance Tax Planning and Trusts

• Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection

• Elderly Client Care

Life and Family• Family and Matrimonial• Co Habitation

Agreements/Disputes• Civil Partnerships• Pre-nuptial Agreements• Divorce

Civil Litigation• Employment• Debt Recovery • Property• Contentious Probate• Insurance Claims• Fraud Claims to include

Defending SOCA Claims• Consumer Law• Neighbour disputes• Dispute Resolution/

Mediation of Claims

Commercial Litigation• Commercial contract/

Consumer Disputes• Director/Shareholders/

Partnership Disputes• Insurance Claims• Construction and

Engineering• Commercial Property

Disputes• Professional Negligence

Claims• Intellectual Property

Disputes

Personal Injury• Road Traffic Accidents• Medical Negligence• Accident at Work and on

Construction Site• Fatal Accidents• Structured Settlements

OVERSEAS

With property prices up to 50% lower

than in the Swiss and French Alps,

Kühtai holds great investment

potential for anybody looking for a ski property.

Kristall Spaces, a British-managed

international developer in the Austrian Tirol

is launching two new apartment schemes

in Kühtai and St Anton at a time of strong

demand from UK buyers, driven by affordability,

demand from an international rental market

and substantial investment in ski resort

infrastructure. Currently, Austrian ski resort

property offers exceptional value for money,

with prices generally about 50% less than

resorts in France and Switzerland on a per-

square-metre basis.

KRISTALL SPACES HAS STARTED

CONSTRUCTION ON THE FOLLOWING TWO

NEW SCHEMES:

2020 Residences, Kühtai, Austria

This 16-apartment development offers

exceptional value for money, with prices starting

at just €213,500 for a 1-bedroom apartment,

€275,000 for a 2-bedroom apartment and

€398,000 for a 3-bedroom apartment. Situated

in Kühtai, Austria’s highest ski resort village

at 2,020 metres, the apartments have breath-

taking views of the surrounding peaks and are

ski-in and ski-out. Kühtai was voted the best

value for money ski destination in Europe by

ADAC (from 100 resorts) and is the winner of

the SkipassIndex 2014. Innsbruck airport is just

35 minutes away. Completion date is Autumn

2016.

For the interior design, customers can choose

from various alpine themes or opt for a more

bespoke finish from one of Austria’s leading

hotel designers, Köck & Bachler. Facilities

include a sauna, steam and relaxation area. A

fully managed and flexible rental programme is

also included.

For centuries, Kühtai was the preferred

hunting estate of the Habsburgs, and today

Christian Count Stolberg (great-grandson of

Emperor Franz Joséph I and Empress Elisabeth

of Austria) runs the neighbouring Jagdschloss

Hotel.

Mountain Spa Residences, St. Anton

The 28 fully furnished apartments are situated

in one of the sunniest parts of St Anton and are

surrounded by alpine meadows with some of

the best views in the valley. Offering a ski-out

location, the Nassereinbahn ski lift is just 500

metres away.

Owners have access to extensive leisure

facilities, including a 600m² on-site spa with a

sauna and massage rooms, a 12-metre indoor

and a 12-metre outdoor swimming pool. Other

facilities include an on-site lounge bar and

brasserie restaurant and underground parking.

The apartment comes with an on-site concierge,

providing truly VIP services such as airport

pick-up and chauffeur service. A fully managed

rental programme from the experienced ski

holiday specialist, MW Hotels & Resorts, is also

included.

Prices start at €635,500 for a 2-bedroom,

2-bathroom apartment with a large balcony.

Completion date is planned for the 2016/2017

ski season.

Savills’ newest Spotlight Report ‘Alpine

Property Market 2015/16’ reveals that Austria’s

strong domestic economy and record low-

interest rates have resulted in a national house

price growth of 41% since 2008, compared to

falls of 0.9 per cent in France over the same

period. Despite the increase, Austria’s ski

properties are still up to 50% cheaper than

resort property in the Swiss and French Alps,

triggering a growing interest from savvy UK

buyers, who in practice find it difficult to buy a

second home in Austria, unless it is in a resort.

The report highlights that properties in

Zell am See in Austria achieve square metre

prices of €5,000 to €7,000, whilst the average

ski chalet in France demands €10,000 and in

Switzerland €9,000 to €10,000.

Branson Atterbury, Marketing Director at

Kristall Spaces comments: “We have seen a

22% increase in Brits looking for property in

Austria this year, driven by reasonable prices

and the strong Euro / Pound exchange rate,

which means buyers are now able to save up

to £20,000 when purchasing a property priced

at €400,000.”

Over the last 15 years €6 billion has been

spent to give Austrian resorts the most updated

lift infrastructure and resort amenities in the

industry, and to make facilities more luxurious.

Examples include 8-seater chairlifts with

heated seats, snow machines on over 50% of

Austrian pistes and some of the most innovative

piste facilities, ranging from night-skiing and

world-class fun parks to child-friendly, themed

slopes.

For more information visit

www.kristall-spaces.com

GET THE JUMP

Channel 4’s The Jump, hosted by Davina McCall, is being filmed in Austria’s ski resort of Kühtai, where Kristall Spaces has now launched a new development, the 2020 Residences

“With property prices up to 50% lower than the Swiss and French Alps, Kühtai holds great investment potential for anybody

looking for a ski property”

PORTFOLIO 71

Milton Road, BrightonA two bedroom top floor flat occupying part of the second floor of this three storey corner property. The flat is in need of some updating however has a gas fired heating system via radiators and double glazed windows. Located in the ever popular Hanover district of Brighton the city centre and mainline railway station can both be found less than a mile away. EPC:TBCGuide: £125-130,000 - LEASEHOLD

83 Bates Road, Brightonwww.cliveemson.co.ukCall: 01273 571853 [email protected]

SUSSEX & SURREY AUCTION - FRIDAY 18TH MARCHTHE HILTON BRIGHTON METROPOLE - COMMENCING 11AM

Parkhurst Road, Bexhill-on-SeaA well maintained vacant town centre office block considered suitable for a variety of commercial uses or, perhaps, conversion into residential, subject to all necessary consents. EPC:DGuide: £245-255,000 - FREEHOLD

Guides are provided as an indication of each Seller’s minimum expectation. They are not necessarily figures which a property

will sell for and may change at any time prior to Auction. Unless stated otherwise, each Lot will be offered subject to a reserve (a figure below which the Auctioneer cannot sell the Lot during the Auction). We expect the reserve will be set within the guide

range or no more than 10% above a single figure guide. Please check our website regularly at cliveemson.co.uk,

or call 01273 571853, in order to stay fully informed.Richard Payne, Emma Attrell, Sam Kinloch & James Emson

Sea Road, Pevensey BayA detached public house now in need of some refurbishment and re-decoration located in a prominent position in Pevensey Bay and considered ideal for owner occupation or could again be let to provide a good income. Alternatively the site could be re-developed to provide residential accommodation or may be suitable for a supermarket chain or similar commercial space, subject to all necessary consents. EPC:TBCGuide: £350,000 Plus - FREEHOLD

Old Steine & Marine Parade, BrightonAn exciting opportunity to acquire the freehold of this substantial landmark building situated directly opposite Brighton Pier. The block is subject to a head lease for the term of 99 years from 2nd December 1934 at a current ground rental of £1,750 per annum.With the unexpired term of 17 years remaining the block has considerable reversional value.Guide: £750,000 Plus - FREEHOLD GROUND RENTS

Milton Road, BrightonA two bedroom top floor flat occupying part of the second floor of this three storey corner property. The flat is in need of some updating however has a gas fired heating system via radiators and double glazed windows. Located in the ever popular Hanover district of Brighton the city centre and mainline railway station can both be found less than a mile away. EPC:TBCGuide: £125-130,000 - LEASEHOLD

83 Bates Road, Brightonwww.cliveemson.co.ukCall: 01273 571853 [email protected]

SUSSEX & SURREY AUCTION - FRIDAY 18TH MARCHTHE HILTON BRIGHTON METROPOLE - COMMENCING 11AM

Parkhurst Road, Bexhill-on-SeaA well maintained vacant town centre office block considered suitable for a variety of commercial uses or, perhaps, conversion into residential, subject to all necessary consents. EPC:DGuide: £245-255,000 - FREEHOLD

Guides are provided as an indication of each Seller’s minimum expectation. They are not necessarily figures which a property

will sell for and may change at any time prior to Auction. Unless stated otherwise, each Lot will be offered subject to a reserve (a figure below which the Auctioneer cannot sell the Lot during the Auction). We expect the reserve will be set within the guide

range or no more than 10% above a single figure guide. Please check our website regularly at cliveemson.co.uk,

or call 01273 571853, in order to stay fully informed.Richard Payne, Emma Attrell, Sam Kinloch & James Emson

Sea Road, Pevensey BayA detached public house now in need of some refurbishment and re-decoration located in a prominent position in Pevensey Bay and considered ideal for owner occupation or could again be let to provide a good income. Alternatively the site could be re-developed to provide residential accommodation or may be suitable for a supermarket chain or similar commercial space, subject to all necessary consents. EPC:TBCGuide: £350,000 Plus - FREEHOLD

Old Steine & Marine Parade, BrightonAn exciting opportunity to acquire the freehold of this substantial landmark building situated directly opposite Brighton Pier. The block is subject to a head lease for the term of 99 years from 2nd December 1934 at a current ground rental of £1,750 per annum.With the unexpired term of 17 years remaining the block has considerable reversional value.Guide: £750,000 Plus - FREEHOLD GROUND RENTS

NEWS

Clive Emson Auctioneers, 83 Bates Road, Brighton, BN1 6PF

01273 571853 | www.cliveemson.co.uk

CLIVE EMSON AUCTIONEERS newsThe latest news from Clive Emson Auctioneers

We are delighted to announce that from the 1st March we will be moving from The Level to our newly renovated premises at 83 Bates Road,

Brighton. The ground floor office has undergone major refurbishment by Fraser Miles Construction and now offers a modern working environment

with unrestricted street parking! Please drop by for a coffee should you wish to discuss anything auction-related.

Following on from 2015, when £24,000,000 of property was sold throughout Sussex & Surrey, our

first auction raised a staggering £4,000,000 for our clients at a success rate of 84%. With auctions

increasing their share of the market year on year, there has never been a better time to join the

thousands of people who enjoy the speed and transparency that the auction market can offer.

The March auction catalogue is out now! Visit

www.cliveemson.co.uk to view all land and

properties available in our upcoming sale, or

call us on 0330 024 1044 to request a printed

copy of the catalogue.

The third of our 2016 auctions will take

place at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on

Wednesday 4th May, starting at 11am.

Please contact one of the team if you

are considering placing a lot into the

auction, or if you have any other auction-

related questions. Tel 01273 571853

[email protected]

A substantial Grade II listed property at

Lansdowne Place in Hove has gone under

the hammer for £1,045,000 against a

guide price of £750,000-plus.

The five-storey property, arranged as

five self-contained flats, was subject to

a bidding war at the February auction,

showing that confidence in the local

market is still strong.

AUCTION STATIONS!

AUCTION RESULTS

MARCH AUCTION

MAY AUCTION INVITE

LANSDOWNE PLACE

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As winter gives way to springtime it

is now that the garden really begins

to come to life. March is a wonderful

month in the garden as colour, hidden away

during the winter months, now starts to creep

through, the first burst of colour being the

daffodils, which appear in our gardens and in

the woodlands like a golden carpet.

If you didn’t get around to planting your bulbs

last autumn, then for some instant colour, visit

your local garden centre and choose from one

of many varieties of ready planted bulbs.

Remove the bulbs from their plastic

containers and plant them in your borders,

or simply plant them in terracotta pots for an

instant burst of vibrant colour.

Bring in the new season with this striking

combination of mauves and purples against

zesty greens and silver foliage and enjoy your

March garden as it awakens.

CHOOSING A COLOUR PALETTE

Come spring, flowers of all colours return to

our gardens. Traditionally, spring is all about

the colour yellow, but choosing a more elegant

spring palette of mauves, purples, burgundies,

offset by lime green and silver foliage, will set

the scene for a summer border-in-waiting.

These colours work well in the golden spring

light and will add excitement to the border.

Keep the planting simple, choose three to

four different plants and plant in odd numbers,

from three to nine. Adjust the number of plants

according to the size of your border. Try not to

plant in straight lines; instead, aim for a wave

effect, with plants slightly separated from each

other.

If space is limited, this same colour palette

of plants can look just as good in pots, but to

soften the edges use plenty of ivy to cascade

over, linking the container to the ground.

INTO THE GARDENAs Spring takes hold it is wonderful to see bursts of colour appear in the garden. Portfolio Interiors Editor, Tara de la Motte, on making the most of your garden in March

Plants to choose…

• Tulipa ‘Arabian Mystery’ - Flowers in

late spring, deep mauve with a silver

edging to every petal.

• Centaurea ‘Jordy’ - A perennial

cornflower with dark purple flowers

and soft grey - green leaves. This is

hardy and will flower from May until

autumn.

• Viola ‘Belmont Blue’ - Is a long-

flowering, pale blue perennial with

delicate flowers. This will flower from

April right through to autumn.

• Euphorbia Polychroma - This produces

striking acid yellow flowers from mid-

spring onwards.

• Artemisia Indoviciana - This is known

as white sage and has silver leaves

that are aromatic and distinctive to

look at.

• Stachys Byzantina - ‘Lambs Tongue’

- One of the most popular evergreen

perennials, which has woolly silver -

grey foliage with mauve - pink flower

spikes in summer.

INTERIORS

“Keep the planting simple, choose three to four

different plants and plant in odd numbers”

FEATURE home

8/9 Old SteineBrightonBN1 1EJ

If you are buying or selling your property, Healys offers an unrivalled legal service. In order that your matter proceeds smoothly we offer the following as standard to our clients:

Direct dial to your SolicitorNo hidden chargesCompetitive fees

We would be delighted to provide you with a free personal quotation. Please contact one of our team on: 01273 669139 or email: [email protected] or visit www.healys.com and complete our online quotation form.

•••

Making Moving a Pleasure

Afantastic furnished three bedroom flat, situated

within one of Hove’s most prestigious buildings.

Spacious dual aspect living area with high

ceilings, feature fireplace and brilliant sea views.

Bespoke fitted kitchen with built in dining area. Very

good size master bedroom with brilliant marble en

suite bathroom and large dressing room. Two further

double bedrooms both with fitted wardrobes, lovely

family bathroom with marble floor and freestanding

bath, off street parking space, third floor, lift, furnished,

gas central heating. Short walk to seafront, shops,

local restaurants & Hove Station. Viewing highly

recommended. Tenant fees apply, further details upon

request.

109 Church Road, Hove BN3 2AF01273 321333www.propertymoves.co.uk

...as selected by PORTFOLIO magazine

3 bedroom flat for rent

Grand Avenue, Hove

Price: £2600pcm

HOME OF THE MONTH

SOCIAL event

PHOTOBOOTH FUN

The Brighton & Hove Estate Agents

Association dinner took place last month,

with new president, Chris Sawyer,

presiding over a fabulous evening of

great dining and entertainment.

This included the fun photobooth. Here

are just a few of the best from our estate-

agent friends and their guests.

Thanks to Those Party People

www.thosepartypeople.co.uk

Tel: 01273 380 445

Mob: 07963 386 024

PORTFOLIO 77

From roughly the centre of Brighton’s

built-up area you are never more than

5 kilometers from either the edge of the

South Downs or the beach. You can walk that

in 50 minutes, run it in 30-40 minutes (my PB

is 24.42, just saying), ride or bus it in 15-20

minutes. By the way, the centre of Brighton’s

built up area happens to be Preston Park,

hardly dense urban townscape.

Compare this to living in London, anywhere

in London. Whilst the Royal Parks, various

commons and the glorious Thames offer

residents there some very fine amenity space,

the competition to use it is immense given the

population density. Our own parks and lawns

are pretty wonderful too; the Downs and the

Sea are another league. Brighton’s 270,000

residents have plenty of space to play in at

their leisure without fear of overcrowding; it

requires a little effort, though.

In the studio at Chalk we are fascinated with

the notion of play, how it fuses the mundane

acts of the everyday with ritual and festival to

create the cultural landscape of the city. Where,

what and how we play shapes our perspectives

on life. Our memory of play forms the identity of

place. In our work to support various planning

applications that we are responsible for, there

is a tendency for the surrounding verbiage to

be far more prosaic. This is a shame. Somehow,

across the plethora of policy paper work and

form filling, the value of our geographic location

is blurred by what is directly connected to a

dwelling. A space to hang your washing, grow

some shrubs or just sit in the sun is critical to

wellbeing, but not all of us need nor want a

garden or a driveway.

Having worked in and around the New

England Quarter for the last 10 years, it has

been fascinating watching it take shape. When

designing high-density residential dwellings,

there is a great deal of compromise to consider.

Some of the design in the New England has

been successful; some of it has been tragically

awful. The development is dense in terms

of units per hectare and the proximity of the

residential blocks to one another is at times

surprising. On the whole, it works, sometimes

because of the strange little spaces that are

created in between the forms that have become

FUTURE BRIGHTON PLAY TIMEPaul Nicholson at Chalk Architecture on thinking big – and never forgetting how to play

“Where, what and how we play shapes our

perspectives on life. Our memory of play forms the

identity of place”

“Create better public places,

small ones and large ones; create

better access to the natural

environment on our doorstep”

Discover inspiring, standout jewellery & accessory designers.

Shop online at www.collectiveboutique.co.uk

15% off orders for Portfolio readers with

code PORT15*

* Ts & Cs apply, see online boutique for details.

a cut-through that saves two minutes on the

walk to the station or mini play area or a place

to perch. We do have to live with the scourge of

white render and cedar cladding, both of which

weather appallingly in our coastal environment.

As a city we have to face up a to post-modern

dialectic between sub-urban historicist

convention and the innovation of iconoclastic

urban design. We have recently been given the

news that Crest Nicholson and Rob Starr will

be the developers of the King Alfred site. The

architect Haworth Tompkins chose to design

the first iteration of the building envelope in

stark modernism with what appear to be deep

recesses with precious metal paneling. N.B.: the

Herring Gulls love sheltered alcoves as much

as salty air loves metal. It is early days for the

design, and I suspect the option appraisal for

the scheme’s look and feel will run for quite

some time. I have no doubts, though, that such

an accomplished architect will create a great

scheme: they have to be confident, bold and

brave and stick fast to their concept. Before

they come up with their final pitch, though, it

would be advisable to spend some more time

here so that a better appreciation of what the

place is about can be garnered.

The Gehry scheme wore its pants on the

outside, the gratuitously bedecked super-hero

building; we already have the Pavilion, so we don’t

need more “flambo”. We need an architectural

legend of the Thor variety, robust, self-assured,

witty, and guess what? He’s wearing a skirt. If I’m

honest, I’m surprised that the Crest Nicholson

scheme is not taller, given it sits with what should

be a regionally significant leisure centre and is

right next to the beach. Suggesting that we will

end up with a seafront like the Costa Brava is odd,

and missing the point of commercial residential

development. Building tall on the seafront will

create units of greater value; conforming to

mediocrity and reducing the height will stagnate

the value. A higher value of the site means more

money for the council and a better leisure centre,

benefitting the wider community.

I return to the idea of play. Create better

public places, small ones and large ones;

create better access to the natural environment

on our doorstep; understand that, for this, we

have to compromise on other factors, and

overall our post-modern, post-suburban lives

will be better. A lot better.

Chalk Architecture, The Cycle Hub,

109 Stroudley Road, Brighton BN1 4DJ

Tel: 01273 448700

Twitter: @chalkdesign &

@chalkarch #FutureBrighton

www.chalkarchitecture.com

https://m.facebook.com/ChalkArchitecture

BUSINESS

THE HYGGE HOME

The minimalist tone of Scandinavian style continues to be the vogue

for interior décor. But just what is it that Scandivanians get so

right about interiors? They nail minimalism with an understanding

of form, function and classic designs, but they are also masters of what

the Danes call hygge. The Danish word, pronounced “hoo-ga,” is usually

translated into English as “cosiness.” But it’s more than that: it’s a way of

life, an attitude. Above all, it’s about creating warm, safe, cosy spaces at

home …

It’s an understanding of texture and warmth, friends and family,

indulging in the importance of the tactile and the luxe.

Nor is it just interiors that have had us obsessed: Over the past few years

Scandinavian style has taken over television in the shape of Nordic noir’s

celebration of crime and political drama, adding to our new fascination

with the nations’ style.

Danish-British designer Ilse Crawford’s collection for Danish brand

Georg Jensen was partly inspired by Nordic noir. “The combination of

silver and yellow metals is very much part of Danish culture,” she says.

“It was about bringing that together with something like the TV show The

Bridge. It’s a shadowy world, so the idea of having glowing moments in the

shadows really appealed to me.”

We are all familiar with classic mid-20th century Scandinavian

furniture: Eero Aarnio’s Ball, Arne Jacobsen’s Egg, Eero Saarinen’s Tulip.

The furniture and accessories that are taking over our 21st century living

spaces, however, are not just the design classics, but a whole new wave of

contemporary, affordable and on-trend pieces.

Furniture from the Nordic nations has a quiet, understated aesthetic,

Scandinavia has a particular flair for affordable, functional furniture using

natural materials and traditional craftsmanship. It’s one of the reasons

why IKEA has such universal appeal; the prices may be low-end, but the

design aesthetic always nods to classic design and the importance of the

overall look.

“Scandinavian design has been on the radar in the UK for a while,” says

Christina Schmidt, co-founder of Scandinavian design & furniture retailer

Skandium, “at first, among an initiated crowd of architects, designers and

aficionados, but increasingly with the wider public, too.”

It’s not just the heritage brands making waves. Nordic countries now

boast some of the best design schools in the world, such as the Bergen

Academy of Art and Design in Norway, Finland’s Aalto University and

Konstfack University in Sweden. Investment in education (higher education

is free in all three countries) is clearly paying off.

Designs are often innovative, yet continue Scandinavian traditions:

functional, honest and produced to the highest standards of quality and

craftsmanship, combined with an egalitarian aim of affordability.

INTERIORS

Fresh Scandi style has taken the world by storm, becoming one of the biggest interiors trends in the last decade

PORTFOLIO 81

“It’s an understanding of texture and warmth, friends and family, indulging in

the importance of the tactile and the luxe”

See below for our tips on bringing some Scandi Nordic style into your homeFLOORS

Opt for wooden, preferably light, floor in all rooms, apart from the

bathrooms.

COLOUR

White walls, cool grey and blue textiles give off the right ambience of a

Scandinavian interior. Add colourful textiles and textures for interest.

FORM

Clean lines in everything, from architecture to furniture. Style, quality

and craftsmanship are the key ingredients.

FUNCTION

Scandinavian interiors are beautifully liveable. Scandanavians take the

mantra that everything in your home must be beautiful or useful and

simply make it both.

STYLE THAT LASTS

Mid-century period designers like Hans Wegner, Alvar Aalto and Arne

Jacobsen’s pieces are as fresh and beautiful today as they were when

they were conceived.

ADD AN OUTSIDE/ INSIDE ROOM

Scandanavians love a connection with the outdoors, so you’ll find

a balcony or terrace in a BBQ to your outdoor space for entertaining

outdoors during the late-light nights of the summer.

SCALE BACK ON ACCESSORIES

Edit and curate the items on display in your home. Less is more.

Web site: www.redjoinery.comTwitter: @redjoineryTel: 01273 463799Mob: 07970274626

We design, create and install bespoke furniture to commercial, domestic and retail sectors.

82 PORTFOLIO

INTERIORS

MARIMEKKO

WEATHER DIARY

BOWL

Marimekko is

a design house

celebrated

worldwide for

its original prints and colours. They transformed the

tradition of textile printing and clothing in Finland. £16.00

ww.johnlewis.com

ADD A RUG

Keep the other elements in the room subdued, and let a tactile rug take centre stage.

A colourful rug will look fantastic against a dark floor.

ADD TEXTURE

Playing with textures in your decorating can be just as interesting as playing with

colour. Keep colours muted, but add rich textures — with a lamp, a rug, textiles on a

couch or bed.

SPACE

Keep furniture spaced out enough to allow each piece room to breathe. Negative

space can be really important — it allows the eye to rest so that a room reads as

interesting and not chaotic.

MIX AND MATCH

Mix and match your chairs to make your dining space more interesting. Or pair a

traditionally styled table with modern chairs for a dynamic look.

LIGHTING

Getting this right is key. With the right lighting you can create the perfect atmosphere

in any room. Don’t be mean – take advice, and spend whatever it costs.

ADD WARMTH

Leather furniture is a great way to add a little warmth and texture to a space. And a

wooden floor stops any space from feeling too cold or sterile.

COLOUR POPS

if you love colour but don’t want to be overwhelmed, try adding little bits of colour to

a mostly neutral space. Take inspiration from Marimekko and Joséf Frank.

BE BOLD

Mixing bold patterns together can work beautifully — just keep everything within the

same palette, and keep the rest of the room nice and simple.

INTERIORS

Get The LookNORMANN

COPENHAGEN

NORM 69

LAMPSHADE

A design

classic with a

timeless quality.

The flatpack,

self-assembly

lampshade comes

with 69 white

plastic pieces.

Sizes small to XX large, from £65

www.black-by-design.co.uk

ARNE JACOBSEN EGG CHAIR

No-one was more responsible

for the international prestige

of ‘Danish Modern’ than Arne

Jacobsen. And in his Egg chair

Jacobsen created one of the

most enduring symbols of the

20th century. £5,004.00

www.conranshop.co.uk

HALL STAND

If you can’t afford the

originals, look for

well-made repros

from companies like

Brighton-based Ønske.

This (Inspired by

Vaerksted) Hall stand is

industrial-styled in hard

wood and a steel frame,

perfect for both period

properties or modern

loft apartments. £489.00

www.ønske.co.uk

Thanks to www.apartmenttherapy.com,

www.freshome.com,

www.elledecor.com

See more interiors ideas at www.portfoliopublications.co.uk

Spring is in the air and Easter is coming. Brighten up your home with our picks of Easter homeware

84 PORTFOLIO

SHOPPING

YOLK FOLKMeet the Yolk Folk – three make-them-yourself paper chick decorations. The set contains templates to cut out and full instructions. The characters range from 9cm to 10cm high when made. Printed on 100% recycled 200gsm card. £6.50www.clareloves.co.uk

SILVER SERVICEThe Wedgwood Peter Rabbit baby Egg Cup & Spoon is part of the Peter Rabbit silver-plated gift collection. Beautiful gifts for christenings and little ones. £75www.wedgwood.co.uk

WHITE RABBITSA delightful Easter accessory, this jar features a charming white rabbit lid. Great for decoratively storing chocolate Easter eggs and sweets.John Lewis Jar with white rabbit £8www.johnlewis.com

DAISY DAISYChildren will love a Daisy the Rabbit glass tumbler, perfect for juices or squash. £1.95 www.dotcomgiftshop

EASTER

LEMON ZESTBring some zesty cheer to your kitchen with this set of three lemon pie tea towels.John Lewis Lemon Pie Tea Towel, Set of 3 £12 www.johnlewis.com

TWEETY PIEThis adorable chick with chocolate button eyes is bursting with bubbles and the sweet fragrance of tangerine oil for an uplifting bath filled with springtime excitement. Tweet bubble bar from Lush. £3.45 each www.uk.lush.com

PORTFOLIO 85

EGGS FOR TEAA pretty trio of candles, shaped like cracked eggs. Perfect for your Easter table!John Lewis Yellow candle egg white £4 for a set of three. www.johnlewis.com

SPRING STYLEThornback & Peel Rabbit & Cabbage Apron in Blue from Not On The High Street. This unbleached cotton apron is printed with rabbits and cabbages. Thornback & Peel’s intricately

drawn, hand printed products make beautiful gifts. £24.95. www.notonthehighstreet.com

HOP IT!Adorable egg cup with bunny ears and smiley face will make Easter breakfast fun.John Lewis White Bunny egg cup £3www.johnlewis.com

SPELL IT OUTBring this decorative letter garland out year after year to add a touch of spring joy to a hall wall, or kitchen chimney breast. Blue Wood Happy Easter Garland £9.The Contemporary Home. www.tch.net

ON A PLATEDisplay your Easter treats on this unique, Bunny Rabbit collar plate. Utterly adorable and a perfect gift for rabbit enthusiasts! Sweetpea & Willow Ceramic Bunny Rabbit Plate £16www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

EASTER WREATHDisplay this Pastel Easter Egg And Twig Wreath on your door or wall to welcome guests to your Easter Day celebrations in style… This springtime decoration doubles as a candle surround on a dining table. £24 from The Contemporary Home. www.tch.net

BUNNY EARSThese handmade green linen napkins are great for an Easter table or spring weddings. From LinenHomeShop on DaWanda.com. £19.30 for a set of 6.en.dawanda.com

86 PORTFOLIO

DAYS Out

Spring has arrived, and what better way to

brighten your day than with the sight and

scent of bluebells covering a woodland

floor on a warm spring day? Now the National

Trust has revealed the best places to spot

dramatic carpets of bluebells in West Sussex.

With over half the global population of

bluebells flowering in the UK, Britain’s beautiful

blue spring is a quintessential part of our native

landscape. And the National Trust is one of the

most important organisations in the UK for

bluebells.

Matthew Oates, a Naturalist for the National

Trust, adds: “The bluebell starts growing in

January with its sole purpose to flower before

the other woodland plants. However, timing of

flowering depends on elevation, latitude, aspect,

soils, geology and local climate conditions; they

depend on warm ground conditions to help them

grow. The true beauty of our bluebells - the

intense blue colour, the delicate scent, the view -

makes them an essential and special element to

our springtime experience.”

The native bluebell species can be identified

by its delicate scent, intense blue colour and

flowers that droop down like a bell along one

side of the stem. Bluebells usually burst into

flower between April and May, but as they

depend on warm ground temperatures to help

them grow, can often appear earlier in the year.

The top National Trust places in West Sussex

where you can enjoy bluebells in all their glory

include:

THE SLINDON ESTATE, NEAR ARUNDEL,

01243 814730

The 1,400 hectare Slindon Estate on the South

Downs is a fantastic place to see wildflowers.

Woodland flowers such as violets, primroses

and wood anemones can be found in abundance,

but a springtime star is the carpets of bluebells

that cover the woods. You’ll discover these if you

stroll out of the pretty village on a walk to Nore

Hill Folly. Download the self-guided walking

route from the website: www.nationaltrust.org.

uk/slindon-estate/.

Guided walk to ‘secret bluebells’, 24 April,

11am – 1pm Discover a magnificent bluebell

display off the beaten track on a ranger-led

guided walk Booking essential, on 01243

814730: adults £4, children £2.

NYMANS, HANDCROSS, NEAR HAYWARDS

HEATH, 01444 405250

Nymans is a true spring garden – it has over 60

glorious varieties of magnolia, for starters – but

its woods are equally colourful at this time of

year. Rumoured to bloom on St George’s Day (23

April), there are carpets of delicately scented

bluebells in the wild garden at Nymans, and

throughout the ancient woodland.

Wildflower woodland walk: 30 April, 11am –

12.30pm We can’t predict what will be in bloom

but we can promise you idyllic woodlands and a

lovely springtime experience. Normal admission

charge only, no need to book.

Bluebells art workshops: 26 – 28 May, 10.30am

– 3.30pm Join local artist John Thompson for

another of his popular painting workshops,

inspired by the seasonal changes at Nymans.

May’s theme is bluebell woods, where you can

enjoy a day of relaxed and informal art-making

in our Potting Shed, learning easy techniques

using acrylic paints on board. Booking essential

on 01444 405250: £65 per day (includes

materials, tea, coffee and cake).

Discover a sea of bluebells with the National Trust in West Sussex

BLUEBELLS IN BLOOM

THE NATIONAL TRUST AND BLUEBELLS

The National Trust is one of the most

important organisations in the UK for

bluebells as a quarter of the Trust’s

woodland is ancient or semi-natural, the

ideal habitats for bluebells to flourish.

These plants, protected by law in the UK,

depend on warm ground temperatures to

help them grow and are normally, but not

exclusively, found in old woodland, thick old

hedges, bracken-covered hillsides and sea

cliffs.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

“The National Trust is one of the most important organisations in the UK for

bluebells”

TOP FIVE BLUEBELLS FACTS

1. Bluebells depend on warm ground

temperatures to help them grow and are

normally, but not exclusively, found in old

woodland, thick old hedges and on bracken-

covered hillsides.

2. Half of the world’s population of bluebells

can be found in the UK. UK bluebells are

currently at risk of disappearing as a result

of hybridizing with the scentless non-native

Spanish bluebell, which were often planted in

gardens.

3. The native British species, which will

not flourish in the average garden, can be

identified by its strong, sweet scent, and

intense violet-blue colour (rather than the pale

blue of the Spanish plant), and has flowers

that droop down like a bell along one side of

the stem.

4. The bluebell is associated with many old

stories and folklore: ringing the ‘bells’ would

summon fairies; wandering into a bluebell ring

could put the walker under fairy enchantment

leading to death; turning a bluebell flower

inside out without tearing it would result in

winning the heart of a loved one

5. The bluebell has lots of local names,

including auld man’s bell, culverkeys, ring-o’-

bells, wood bells and wild hyacinth.

“Enjoy the vibrant ambience of a hotel where every detail has been thought about for your pleasure and relaxation”

PORTFOLIO 87

READER offer

WIN!

PORTFOLIO have joined forces with

fabulous boutique hotel My Brighton

to offer one lucky reader a very special

overnight stay at gorgeous North Laines hotel

My Brighton.

Everything you need is on site. An artisan

cocktail at Merkaba? Let the bar’s dedicated

team look after you. Dinner somewhere special?

Sample Brighton’s favourite Indian restaurant

The Chilli Pickle which boasts a Michelin Bib

Gourmand.

Above all, enjoy the vibrant ambience of

a hotel where every detail has been thought

about for your pleasure and relaxation.

THE HOTEL

My Brighton is situated in the heart of Brighton,

ideally located for walks to the beach - with

its iconic pier, crashing waves, cafés and art

galleries. The city centre, North Laines, and old

Lanes are all close by, with fantastic options for

eating, drinking, gigs and events, on which the

friendly and knowledgeable staff will happily

advise.

Inside, My Brighton has combined the

aesthetic ideas of New York designer Karim

Rashid with cool studios created by local

artisans to offer a futuristic and native flavour.

GUESTROOMS

The 80 contemporary guestrooms have décors

and layouts reflecting the quirky nature of the

city; with bold colour accented against clean

white beds, desks and walls; as each bedroom

offers a fully integrated sound system, eco-

friendly Anyah toiletries and complimentary

Wi-Fi.

Local artisans lavished love and affection

to create beautiful studio rooms; Heaven, Jade

and Bamboo, featuring curved white walls and

mandala artwork. Even the beds have been

positioned to balance and stimulate and each

room inspires fun and games – plus a great

night’s sleep.

The variety of guestrooms available means

My Brighton offers the perfect option for a short

or long city visit, for work or leisure. The hotel is

also proud of its green heart, providing in-room

recycling bins and using non-toxic cleaning

products with a commitment to respecting the

planet and ensuring a sustainable future.

FOOD & DRINK

All situated within the hotel itself, guests can

choose to indulge in the award-winning Indian

restaurant, The Chilli Pickle, the atmospheric

cocktail bar Merkaba and resident coffee

lover’s paradise, Small Batch Coffee.

My Brighton

17 Jubilee Street, Brighton BN1 1GE

01273 900 300.

www.myhotels.com/brighton

Ts and Cs apply. The prize is for one night B & B, plus welcome cocktails for two people. The prize is valid Sunday to Thursday in April 2016.

About My Hotels: Founded in 1999, My Hotels Group has three boutique hotels in London and the South East – My Bloomsbury, My Chelsea and My Brighton. Each hotel provides a personalised service with an

ambience that reflects the qualities of their surrounding neighbourhood. Each hotel offers warm hospitality that combines style, design and culture. We are especially proud of our connections with local creatives

– from artisan food and drink, to art and craftsmanship – whose products and services you’ll find in the very fabric of our hotels.

A stay for two with bed, breakfast and welcome cocktails at My Brighton!

For a chance to win this fantastic prize, email us at [email protected] with your name, address and answer to the following question: In how many locations do My Hotels have hotels?

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PORTFOLIO 89

HEALTH

In 2013-14, more than 60% of adults were

overweight or obese (Health and Social Care

Information Centre, 2015). Over the past

30 years, the issue has, well, ballooned, and

whole industries have sprung up around weight

reduction. But when should you worry? And

what can you do to effectively lose weight – and

keep it off?

WHAT DOES OVERWEIGHT MEAN?

Overweight and obesity aren’t automatically

problems on their own – but their impact on

your overall health and risk of type 2 diabetes,

cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis,

certain cancers, gallstones and a host of

other conditions is considerable. Although

not without issues, Body Mass Index (BMI) – a

calculation that includes weight and height

(check yours at www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/

Healthyweightcalculator.aspx) – is the standard

tool for weight assessment. A BMI of 25-30 is

considered overweight, 30 or more is obese for

the majority of people.

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT

We gain weight when we consume more energy

– calories from food and drink – than we use.

Our bodies store excess energy as fat. In some

ways, losing weight is simple – eat less, exercise

more. Most of us can do that for a while, but

maintaining change over time – permanently, if

we want to keep a healthy weight - eludes most

dieters. There’s a huge amount of information

on how to lose and maintain weight: Most

effective interventions will help you change the

way you think and act about food and exercise

permanently, making new behaviours habitual.

WHAT WORKS?

It’s a good idea to talk to your GP about the

best approach for you. Interventions that are

behaviour-based are more likely to be effective

if they tackle both food and activity, provide

personalised information and regular support,

and focus on long-term habits. Because of their

associated risk, medication and surgery should

only be considered when other measures have

failed, and the individual is prepared to commit

to follow-up and long-term change.

Group weight loss: NICE guidance published

in 2014 (www.nice.org.uk/guidance/PH53)

advises that community-based groups (eg

Weightwatchers and Slimming World) can be

effective over time, because they tackle diet and

activity, provide and assess personal targets,

and give support. If you’re comfortable in group

settings, this could work for you.

Online tools and apps: If you don’t like groups

but are comfortable online, there are many

tools, apps and companies (and the NHS

choices website) offering online resources

for weight loss. Features to look for include

tracking nutrients and exercise, motivational

interaction (emails, texts etc) and personalised

assessments.

Training: Personal training and exercise

programmes can make huge changes to

your fitness, but on its own exercise won’t

automatically make a difference to your weight

– you will need to make dietary changes to make

a difference. A good trainer, gym or leisure

centre will help you make a plan.

Medication: There’s a small number of medicines

licensed in the UK for weight management,

including appetite suppressants (which work on

the central nervous system and stop you feeling

hungry), and drugs like Orlistat, that block the

absorption of dietary fat into the bloodstream.

All medicines can have side effects, and strict

prescription criteria: talk to your GP.

Surgery: Bariatric surgery – a variety of

techniques to reduce the size and capacity of the

stomach – is available on the NHS to people with

a BMI of 40 or more (or over 35 if they have other

health issues), and also privately. Although it can

help people lose weight quickly, as a surgical

procedure it carries risks and clinicians will

usually insist that other weight-loss methods

are tried first.

Dr Catherine Swann

www.eipa.co.uk

Senior partner at Evidence

into Practice Associates,

a research and delivery

organisation specialising in health, care and

community.

“Overweight and obesity aren’t automatically

problems on their own – but their impact on your overall health is

considerable”

Obesity is a major health issue. Dr Catherine Swann looks at what you can do to effectively lose weight – and keep it off

LEAN TIMES

American humourist Will Rogers once

said, “You never get a second chance

to make a first impression,” and he

was right. First impressions count. Especially

these days, when everything is so instant and

image-driven. Did you know that you only get

about three seconds to make that impression?

That’s how long it takes for people to make a

judgement about you, based on what you look

like and what you’re wearing.

Now, I know that you want that judgment to

be as favourable as possible, whether you are

heading to an important meeting, networking

event, job interview or meeting your future in-

laws. So, what are the things you should think

about?

FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND CONFIDENCE

Research tells us that when you meet someone

for the first time, your eyes, your hair and your

smile are the things they notice first. But they

also notice your clothes. What you wear conveys

specific messages about your lifestyle, status

and personal style preferences. How you wear

it says a lot about how you feel: for example, if

you wear clothing that is too big and baggy, it

may be that you are lacking body confidence

and want to hide yourself.

Taking pride in your appearance and

dressing well does not mean that you are vain

or shallow. It means that you care about how

you present yourself to the world. Dressing well

not only enables you to alter your appearance,

it also improves your mood and boosts your

confidence, which is, of course, vital to making

a good first impression. Dressing well will help

boost your confidence on the less-than-good

days, and will give you something less to worry

about on the great days. If you know you are

wearing a fantastic outfit that fits, suits your

shape and is comfortable to wear, this gives you

the freedom to focus on other things.

IS IT EASIER FOR WOMEN?

You may think that it’s easier for women, as

we have a myriad of clothing choices available.

I would argue that it’s easier in terms of

dressing for social occasions, but dressing for

work can be a real minefield. Women tread a

fine line between wanting to look smart and

professional without having to look like one of

the boys, or undermining our professionalism

by looking too ‘girlie’ or ‘sexy’. It’s a question of

balance, and it’s tricky. My three golden rules?

1. Check your hemlines. Depending on your

age (and the state of your legs), two to

three inches above the knee is the shortest

you should go;

2. Nothing should be too tight or revealing if

you want to be taken seriously;

3. Make sure your workwear fits your office

culture.

PREPARE, BE YOURSELF, AND CHECK THE

DETAILS

Whatever the occasion, and whether you are

male or female, make sure you have thought

about the following:

• Preparation is everything. I’ve said this

before. Please don’t leave it to the last

minute to decide what to wear to an

important meeting or event. Nothing is

more panic-inducing than discovering

a broken zipper, missing button or not

having the right socks, jumper or bag. Try

your full outfit on in advance; this will give

you time for any last-minute cleaning or

repairs.

• Dress as you, for you. Don’t try and be

someone else or what you think others

expect. Ladies, if you never wear heels,

don’t wear towering stilettos – you will

feel (and look) very uncomfortable. Guys,

if you feel most comfortable in a suit but

are going to a smart casual event and don’t

want to look out of place, keep it smart with

dark jeans or chinos and a blazer.

• Pay attention to the details. It goes without

saying, really, but it’s surprising the

number of people who neglect the small

details. Clean teeth, hair and nails, please.

Enough said. Keep these points in mind and

you’ll be sure to make a great impression,

every time. Let me know how you get on!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNTSamantha Wilding on how to make the best possible first impression

90 PORTFOLIO

STYLE

“Taking pride in your appearance and dressing well does not mean that you are vain or shallow. It means that you

care about how you present yourself to the world”

www.styleandgrace.eu | @alwayschicUK

BeautyBox

It’s March, and Spring is almost here - the perfect time of year to

clear out the old and make way for the new.

Speaking of clearing out the old, have you looked at your

cleansing routine recently to make sure it’s still getting results?

If not, is it time to switch to another product? I’ve been testing two

cleansers recently, both of which are full of natural ingredients and

suitable for sensitive skin.

The first is This Works Clean Skin Gentle Cleanser. I

love This Works’ products – their Perfect Legs Skin

Miracle is one of my all-time favourites – but that’s

for another column. The Clean Skin cleanser got

top marks immediately as it’s in a pump dispenser

– less mess and you can pump the exact amount

you need. It has a rich and velvety texture, but it’s

also light and fresh, with rosehip and eucalyptus

oils (thankfully, not too much, as this can be

overpowering). Most importantly, it easily dealt

with my black eyeliner and three coats of mascara

without any rubbing, and left my skin soft, but not

tight or dry.

My only niggle? The product information says it can be used over

your face and eye area, while the bottle itself says ‘avoid contact

with eyes.’ I used it to remove my eye makeup with no problem at

all, but this could be misleading.

The second is the new Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins™

Mega-Mushroom Skin-Relief Micellar Cleanser

(quite a mouthful), described as a gentle no-rinse

formula, fortified with Dr Weil’s skin-soothing

Mega-Mushroom blend and antioxidant-rich Berry

Ferment. I was excited to try this lovely-looking

product, but I have to say I was a little disappointed.

You soak a cotton pad to cleanse your face, but it

took at least three goes to ensure all my makeup

was removed. Without rinsing, my skin didn’t quite

feel ‘clean’. It would, however, be a great product

for travelling, or, if you like a quick-cleanse. You

could even use it as a toner.

This Works retails at £19 and is available at Boots, Space NK and

various online beauty websites. The Origins cleanser retails at

£27.50 and is available at Selfridges, other select department

stores and at www.origins.co.uk

Until next month….

Samantha

Time for a clean slate…

MAKE A GREAT IMPRESSION

Maintaining your clothes regularly will mean no last-minute panics or a pile of repairs. Make sure you:

• Check your clothes regularly: heels should not be worn down, hems should not be frayed or falling, buttons should not be missing, tights should not be laddered

• Invest in these four: shoes, coats, watches and bags. These are the pieces that everyone notices

• Keep it clean: clean and polish your shoes regularly and check clothes for stains.

• Pay attention to fit: ill-fitting clothing makes you look sloppy

STYLE

Most of us have had a brush with the

“yips,” either personally or through our

playing partners. We usually associate

this phenomenon with putting, and, like

any proper ailment, the “yips” has its own

pathology. Identifying characteristics

include hesitation – or “freezing” - over

the ball on the putting green, tense, jerky

putting stroke and a tendency to be, uhm,

unreliable with putts from three feet in.

Like the other golfing curse, the sh**ks

(too terrible to utter or print), the “yips”

can cause otherwise decent golfers to

give up the game.

A friend and golfing companion of ours

recently declined to join us for a casual

round, admitting that golf was no longer

much fun now that she could no longer

make decent short chip shots. Sarah (not

her real name) has been a keen golfer

for years, playing off a respectable

handicap. Her overall game is sound, but

this one aspect of it was now threatening

to derail the entire train. We talked her

into coming out for nine holes on one

of our favourite downland courses to

see if we could spot anything she was

doing wrong. The train wreck happened

already on the first hole. Sarah had

a straightforward 20yd chip to the

green. She went ashen with angst and

made little whimpering noises as she

approached her ball. Her hands were

shaking so badly, we thought she might

drop her wedge, or accidentally (mis)hit

the ball. She froze over the ball for what

seemed an eternity, then attempted to

hit it three times – unsuccessfully. As in

whiff! Her stance and grip all appeared

to be normal, but an assembly-line robot

at a German car factory could have made

a smoother, more relaxed swing than

our poor Sarah managed. It was painful

to watch. What we were witnessing was

clearly a case of the “yips” ¬— only with

a wedge rather than with a putter. The

Chip Yips are destroying our friend’s

enjoyment of the game, and it is clear

that anyone could be next. Is there

anything that can be done to help, such

as lessons, drills and so on? Or is it all

in her head?

GolfGuy

CHIP YIPSIf you thought the “yips” only applied to putting, think again...

GolfGuy writes:

GOLFGUY...

GOLF

Other than perhaps the shank, the most

frustrating shot in golf is the chili dip, a chip shot

that is supposed to go several yards but only

moves a few feet.

The frustration comes from that fact that

golfers can often hit two great shots that cover

some 400 yards. Get to within 10 yards of the

green, and duff!… you can only end up taking two

more to get onto the green!

Golfers turn two shots into four around the

green and end up making a six! Here are some

tips to avoid this nightmare!

Check your lie: You have to be able to see the

grain in the grass a bit. If it is against you, be

careful. It is very easy to stub the club behind

the golf ball into the grain. Here’s a quick tip for

dealing with grain: If you’re chipping on an uphill

slope, you are most definitely into the grain, so

be careful. Start to look more closely at the grass

that surrounds your ball around the green, and

you will begin to see growth patterns.

Choose your club carefully: The lob wedge is

the bane of the average golfer, and a dangerous

tool in the wrong hands. Forget the flop shots you

see pro golfers hit with their 60-degree wedges

on television and play your own game. Like it or

not, golf played along the ground is MUCH easier,

so get used to playing bump-and-run shots. If I

could give one tip and one tip only, it would be

to play more shots along the ground when you’re

around the green. Take your 8- or 9-iron onto the

practice area and learn how to use those clubs

to chip.

Set up: The set-up for the chip shot is different

than for all other shots. The stance is quite narrow

and slightly open. The ball is in the middle of the

stance and the weight should favour your front

foot. The set up that most golfers use is wrong,

and here’s why: When you move the ball back in

your stance and de-loft the golf club your hands

move forward of the ball and you are exposing

the leading edge of

the club. This is very

dangerous in chipping

as it causes too much

shaft lean and ‘digging in’

When golfers stub their club in the ground on

chips, it is simply because the leading edge is

so sharp that it digs into the ground, stopping a

natural follow-through. Remember, if you de-loft

the golf club, you are taking off loft (why do this

instead of playing an 8- or 9-iron?) So bump and

run, with your hands slightly ahead and keeping

your weight on your left side. Hold this position

through impact to an end.

The stroke: Simply put, “wristy/flicky” strokes

are dangerous. Golfers can break their wrists a

little going back, but NEVER coming through.

Try this: Take a wire coat hanger and bend it

into a ‘L’ shape. Push the wire into the ground

four inches in front of the ball and four inches

from the ground. The object of this exercise is for

the club to travel under the wire as the ball flies

over the wire.

Another drill: For those of you suffering from

the chipping yips, try the putt-chip method. Stand

close to the ball with the club straight up, like

a putter. You’ll have the heel of the club off the

ground and the toe down. Take your putting grip

and make a putting stroke. Suitable for very short

chips as it will go a short distance. But it is almost

yip proof!

The coat hanger and the putt-chip are two

ways to prevent the wrists from flicking. To play

the shot normally, hold your finish and check

your weight is still on your front foot with the

hands holding the same position through impact.

The club head should still be low to the ground.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at: [email protected]

The Golf Pro replies:

With thanks to our golfing expert,Lee Andrews, PGA Golf Professional, Mid Sussex Golf Clubwww.midsussexgolfclub.co.uk

Bring this article with you to Mid Sussex Golf Club, and when you pay for a round, another player can go free.

Lee Andrews

3

3

7

94 PORTFOLIO

LOCAL NEWSLOCAL news

GLYNDEBOURNE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF PIONEERING EDUCATION WORK IN 2016

Glyndebourne will celebrate 30 years of its education department in 2016,

culminating in a celebratory event this autumn.

Formed in 1986 with the initial aim of complementing Glyndebourne’s touring

activities, the department has expanded to deliver a year-round programme

of work and is responsible for a large percentage of Glyndebourne’s new

commissions, many of which are performed on its main stage.

Current projects include Performances for Schools; Glyndebourne Youth Opera

(GYO), providing workshops and performance opportunities for local young

people; the community-based music and dementia project Raise Your Voice; pre-

performance talks and events and a Young Composer in Residence post, currently

held by Lewis Murphy.

Among the education projects taking place in 2016 are:

The world premiere of Nothing, a new opera by composer David Bruce and librettist Glyn Maxwell; A Glyndebourne Youth Opera performance of

new compositions by Glyndebourne’s Young Composer in Residence Lewis Murphy; A partnership with Battle Festival and De La Warr Pavilion to

commission a major new contemporary opera by the internationally acclaimed composer Howard Moody.

For more information visit www.glyndebourne.com

This Easter, the National Trust is inviting families to join Cadbury

Easter Egg Hunts in locations across East and West Sussex, from

spring woodlands and historic houses to picturesque South Downs

landscapes. Easter events including searches for missing egg

baskets, bunnies and the all-important eggs themselves, providing a

fun family day out to remember, in surroundings that are second to

none. Everyone will be rewarded with an Easter Egg at the end of each

completed hunt, and every single Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt will help

support special places looked after by the National Trust for future

generations to explore.

To find a Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt near you, visit

www.cadbury.co.uk/easter | www.nationaltrust.org.uk

EASTER EGG HUNTS AT NATIONAL TRUST HOUSES AND GARDENS

Brighton-based ARCH-angels Architects have been awarded planning

permission for an “Architecturally Outstanding” Eco home in rural

Hampshire. ARCH-angels Architects conceived the building as one

that could be ‘reclaimed’ by the earth when its life is over, made from

natural materials that can be found on the site or close by.

The core ethos behind the scheme was to turn the traditional stately

home on its head to become the country home of the future, which

would be recognisable as outstanding in relation to contemporary

architecture and the modern way of living. Being approved under the

infrequently obtained Paragraph 55 of the National Planning Policy

Framework, this scheme, six years in the making, is a fantastic win

for all involved. www.aaarchitects.co.uk

ARCHITECTURALLY OUTSTANDING

PORTFOLIO 95

LOCAL news

The annual Midsummer Charity Ball, which this year takes

place on Saturday, 18 June, is supporting the DM Thomas

Foundation for Young People and Brighton-based children’s

charity Rockinghorse. The Midsummer Ball will be held at the

Hilton Brighton Metropole hotel and is sponsored by Skerritts.

Four local personalities have been tasked with the challenge

to perfect a Bollywood-style dance, all in the name of charity,

guided by their expert dance partners. They are: Kirsty Pollard from Brighton Marina, Henry

Butler of Butlers Wine Cellar, Kevin Duala from Overline UK and ex-Sussex Sharks cricketer,

Michael Yardy.

Hosted by the team at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, guests will be treated to a sparkling

drinks reception and a lavish Indian banquet specially prepared by Madhu’s. Guests will

have the opportunity to take part in a number of fundraising events as well as to enjoy the

infamous indoor dodgems, sponsored by City Cabs.

To book a table, visit www.dmthomasfoundation.org/events/indian-midsummer-ball.

Oakley have announced the sale of a

high-profile town-centre site in Seaford

to Hyde Housing, who, at the beginning

of February, commenced with the approved development of 35 new affordable housing units.

The development was approved for planning permission during the course of last year and

will provide a mix of 26 x 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom new houses and 9 apartments, situated in a

prominent position in Claremont Road/Station Road, immediately opposite Seaford Station.

Chris Oakley commented: “We sold the site on behalf of Crosstone Homes, who secured the

planning permission last year. It is really exciting to see that Hyde have committed to build out

the development for affordable housing.” Chris Oakley added: “Hyde have been extremely active

in the local area, and this sees them extending their development programme eastwards along

the coast.” For further information, contact: [email protected]

Brighton Centre has today been awarded ‘gold

status’ for its commitment to deaf and disabled

music fans, following recognition by Attitude

is Everything - the charity that campaigns on

behalf of disabled audiences and operates a nationwide Charter of Best Practice.

To qualify for Charter status, live music venues and festivals must demonstrate exemplary

access provision and an ongoing commitment to improving accessibility - working with

Attitude is Everything to go beyond the legal obligations set out in the Equality Act, to

implement best practice, and to provide a fair and equal service to their deaf and disabled

customers.

More than 100 have already committed to the Charter, from large-scale events and arenas,

including Glastonbury, Latitude, Download, The Roundhouse and The O2 through to the 14

mid-sized venues owned by Academy Music Group and a diverse range of smaller clubs

and student union halls.

Attitude is Everything improves deaf and disabled people’s access to live music by working

in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry to implement a Charter of Best

Practice across the UK. www.attitudeiseverything.org.uk

A Sussex man who has dedicated his life to

supporting the community has been awarded

the prestigious Certificate of Achievement by the

Lord Lieutenant and the Chairman of West Sussex

County Council for the outstanding contribution he

has made.

Bob Phillips was presented with the certificate

by Pat Arculus, Chairman of West Sussex County

Council, during a special ceremony in front of

family and friends.

Having joined the 1st Shipley Scouts as a Cub in

1944, Bob has remained devoted to the group

ever since. As well as becoming a troop leader in

1958, Bob has dedicated his free time to the group

by taking on many other duties, including driving

the minibus to collect and drop off children for

meetings, maintaining the land surrounding the

Scout hut at the base at Dragons Green, arranging

the restoration of several village ponds and wells

and organising the annual Christmas carol singing

group, who visit local residents to raise money to

help support 1st Shipley Scouts.

In addition, Bob was a member of Shipley Parish

Council from 1972 to 2015 acting as Chairman for

four of those years, and has been a Governor at

Shipley C of E School and a committee member at

Weald School.

He became a church sidesman at the Church of

St Mary the Virgin in Shipley in 1984 and became

the Vice-President and Coach at Shipley Football

Club in the 1960s and 1970s. Bob is also an

active member of the Shipley History Society and

organises talks and walks of local historical sites.

INDIAN THEME FOR BRIGHTON MIDSUMMER CHARITY BALL

NEWDEVELOPMENT SITE

BRIGHTON CENTRE AWARDED GOLD STATUS FOR DEAF & DISABLED FANS

RECOGNITION FOR A LIFE OF GIVING BY UNSUNG SUSSEX HERO

Photo: Bob Phillips being presented with the Certificate of Achievement from Mrs Pat Arculus, the Chairman of West Sussex County Council.

96 PORTFOLIO

GLASS ACT

Until the other night we had only ever

experienced Wickwoods Country Club in

fair, warm weather, and in the daytime.

It had always been one of our favourite places

to meet up with friends for an alfresco lunch

on the expansive deck, overlooking the tennis

courts. The bar menu was always bursting

with well-prepared pub-lunch favourites and

punctuated with zingy, imaginative alternatives

for those craving something slightly different.

The atmosphere has always been classy-but-

laid- back, allowing guests to relax in comfort

and style.

On this particular winter night in February,

however, it was wet, windy and cold in the

Sussex countryside, and it was very quiet

in the car as we picked our way through the

narrow Sussex lanes, where the dark and the

murk were almost palpable. The inviting lights

of Wickwoods soon appeared as a beacon of

welcome in the forest primeval. As we shed

our outer garments in front of a roaring log fire,

we regained our voices, left our winter blues

behind, and basked in the comfort of this warm,

welcoming space.

The first impression of the Glass House dining

room is very pleasant: a long rectangular space

with a vaulted glass conservatory-style ceiling.

Several immense crystal chandeliers elegantly

fill the vaulted ceiling spaces in a classy-glassy

way. One side of the room is draped windows,

the other, French doors leading onto the vast

deck area and the tennis courts beyond. So...a

glass house. When I noticed that the floor

consisted of tasteful ceramic tiles, I feared that

we might be dining in Echo Canyon, surrounded

by hard, reflective surfaces. It’s tough when the

only sound you can hear is your own tinnitus, but

my fears were without foundation. Whether it is

the height of the ceilings, the sound-absorbing

voile curtains along one wall or the magical

properties of the potted fig trees dotting the

foodscape, there was not a trace of echo in the

room. Just the happy sound of people chatting

around us in this elegant, relaxed space.

Our waiter turned out to be Buddy Holly with

a Kiwi accent. His proper name is Hayden, and

when I told him how closely he resembled my

rock ‘n roll hero, he confessed sheepishly that

he didn’t know who Buddy Holly was. Richie

Valens, Otis Redding and The Big Bopper were

also pop culture mysteries to our Hayden. I

realised that I was experiencing perhaps my

first full-blown episode of “generation gap.”

I was digesting this somewhat unpalatable

reality as we made our menu choices, while

Hayden was demonstrating his deep, essential

knowledge in a realm of immediate interest to

us: food and wine.

My guest had already decided on the halibut

and was searching for a suitable white wine.

Hayden would have recommended the Picpoul

de Pinet – an excellent choice, but a rather

too familiar one for my companion, who was

intrigued by an offering from a local Sussex

winery just down the road. He assured her that

she would enjoy the Albourne Estate Bacchus

(£28.00) – a citrussy, zingy white, redolent of

the clean, fresh taste of elderflower – and the

appreciative looks and sounds confirmed the

success of her patriotic choice.

The moment I said “pan-fried duck” Hayden

suggested that the Claro Riserva Pinot Noir

(Chile, £20.50) would be the perfect partner.

One mouthful of this velvety stuff told me in big,

bold capital letters that Hayden knows exactly

what he needs to know. This heady mixture

of ripe strawberries, red currants, herbs and

smoky dryness paddled in perfect synch with

my duck.

The surprise of the evening was the amuse-

bouche: far removed from the rather tedious,

bland, and sometimes unrecognisable, little

blobs of stuff one often gets, this morsel of

Our food writer, Daniel Frickelton, seeks shelter from the winter storm – and a hearty meal – in the West Sussex countryside

BUSINESS lunch

“You will get faultless, knowledgeable service,

superb food and drink and a warm, welcoming dining

experience”

BUSINESS lunch

smoked mackerel with its own crisped-up

skin, dressed with pickled cauliflower and

cherry tomato to offset the unctuous fish, and

finished with fluffy horseradish whip, truly

rang the dinner bell for our sleepy taste buds.

A larger portion of this would have made a

wonderful starter.

Speaking of which... starters at The Glass

House range in price from £6.25 to £10.50

for the scallops. My companion’s cauliflower

velouté, at the bottom of this scale, was

fabulous value for money. A generous bowl

of silky creaminess, enhanced by a couple

of pungent onion bhajis elicited appreciative

sounds and comments. My oxtail, accompanied

by finely chopped winter vegetables, pearl

barley and horseradish in its own beef broth

was, at £7.95, also fine value and a delicious,

hearty start to my meal. A morsel of bread to

mop up the last of the gravy would have been

perfect.

The lady’s main dish of roast halibut was

near the top of the price range for main

courses (£12.95 - £22.95). At £18.95, this is

a couple of quid dearer than the norm, but

halibut is one of the most expensive items

offered by fishmongers, and what appeared

on our table was perfection: moist, succulent

fish, perfectly prepared and beautifully

presented. The dish was accompanied by

some local samphire, honey-glazed kolrabi

(an unusual, imaginative treat) and sweet

potato purée. She ate every morsel, and for

a moment I was sure she was going to lick

her plate.

My pan-fried duck breast was melt-in-the-

mouth tender and moist, served on a bed of

Moroccan-style cous-cous tagine, chock full

of dates, apricots, and raisins and laced with

sprigs of crunchy baby broccoli, baby kale

and carrots. A hearty bouquet of mildly spicy

goodness.

To finish, we shared a plate of panacotta

pudding and fruit that was almost too pretty to

eat. We were brave, though, and it disappeared

in a flash.

Hayden/”Buddy Holly” is from the achingly

beautiful South Island, New Zealand. When I

suggested that he must get homesick once

a while, especially on cold winter nights in

Sussex, he said that when he had recently been

home for a few weeks, he had actually been

homesick for Sussex. Lucky us. And lucky you,

when you visit this excellent eatery. You will

get faultless, knowledgeable service, superb

food and drink and a warm, welcoming dining

experience. What are you waiting for?

THE GLASS HOUSE RESTAURANT, WICKWOODS COUNTRY CLUB, ALBOURNE, WEST SUSSEX01273 85756www.wickwoods.co.uk/glasshouse

“Several immense

crystal chandeliers elegantly fill the vaulted

ceiling spaces in a classy-

glassy way”

PORTFOLIO 97

ISSUE 21 . 2016 The widest-read business publication in the South East

PLATINUM

PLATINUMPLUS:Legal IssuesAccountancyBusiness TravelChamber NewsBusiness StyleEditorial OpinionNetworkingMotoringBusiness Funding GuideInternational TradeWealth Management

READ ALL PAST ISSUES AT WWW.PLATINUMBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

SUSSEX EDITION

BUSINESS TRAVELShake hands …Copenhagen

LUXURY LINERThe BMW 7-Series

GATWICK DIAMONDFinalists announced

ANGER MANAGEMENTEvery little helps..Tesco

Interview with:

SANJEEV BHASKER

THE BIG STORY

DAVID CAMERON

The Cunard Man

OUT

NOW

SUSSEX COVER - issue 21.indd 1 18/02/2016 15:42

PORTFOLIO 99

THE environment

ISSUE 21 . 2016 The widest-read business publication in the South East

PLATINUM

PLATINUMPLUS:Legal IssuesAccountancyBusiness TravelChamber NewsBusiness StyleEditorial OpinionNetworkingMotoringBusiness Funding GuideInternational TradeWealth Management

READ ALL PAST ISSUES AT WWW.PLATINUMBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

SUSSEX EDITION

BUSINESS TRAVELShake hands …Copenhagen

LUXURY LINERThe BMW 7-Series

GATWICK DIAMONDFinalists announced

ANGER MANAGEMENTEvery little helps..Tesco

Interview with:

SANJEEV BHASKER

THE BIG STORY

DAVID CAMERON

The Cunard Man

OUT

NOW

SUSSEX COVER - issue 21.indd 1 18/02/2016 15:42

KEEP BRIGHTON TIDY

Launched by Country Life magazine in

partnership with Keep Britain Tidy to clear

up Britain in time for The Queen’s 90th

birthday in 2016, the campaign will rally an

army of volunteers across the country to clean

up their local areas and will include a special

clean-up weekend on March 4–6. Adrian Evans,

who has been appointed as Campaign Director,

ran The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant

in 2012. With the full backing of Keep Britain

Tidy, the campaign already has the support of

well-known national organisations with a total

membership in excess of 1.5 million, as well as

individual ambassadors.

NOW IT’S UP TO ALL OF US

Environment Minister Rory Stewart said: “Her

Majesty The Queen is an inspiration to all of us.

Her 90th birthday is a unique opportunity for

people to come together in celebration of Her

Majesty’s long service and dedication to this

country.

“Everyone has a responsibility to keep their

community tidy, and this campaign provides us

with a great chance to protect our wildlife and

improve the quality of our streets and public

spaces. I hope it will help lead to a lasting

legacy of a cleaner, tidier Britain.”

HOW MUCH LITTER IS THERE?

About 2.25 million pieces of litter are dropped

on the streets of the UK every day. Thirty million

tons of rubbish are collected from England’s

streets each year. That’s enough to fill Wembley

Stadium four times over.

The Highways Agency clears about 180,000

sacks of litter from motorways and A roads

alone. There could be 46,000 pieces of plastic

floating in every square mile of the ocean. About

80% of that comes from the land. Plastic takes

at least 450 years to break down in seawater.

In 2013/14, local authorities dealt with

852,000 fly-tipping incidents in England and

Wales. These cost roughly £45 million to clear

up. The RSPCA receives 7,000 calls a year about

animals injured by litter.

In 2013, 8.3 billion single-use plastic bags

were handed out in the UK. The amount of litter

on UK beaches has almost doubled over the

past 15 years.

An RSPB study found that 95% of fulmars

washed up dead on the North Sea coast had

ingested plastic.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BIODEGRADE?

• Paper bag up to one month

• Orange peel up to two years

• Banana skin up to two years

• Plastic bag up to 10–20 years

• Cigarette butts up to 12 years

• Plastic bottle up to 450 years

• Glass bottles and chewing gum are not

biodegradable

HOW MUCH IS IT COSTING?

• It costs taxpayers almost £1 billion every

year to clean up litter from our streets

• The cost of cleaning up chewing gum from

a town centre is up to £60,000

• Fly-tipping costs Network Rail more than

£2.3 million each year

• Clearing litter costs Dartmoor National

Park £20,000 a year

• According to a 2014 Keep Britain Tidy

report, if we recycled 50% of items littered

in England, it would have an economic

value of at least £14.8 million

When asked by PORTFOLIO magazine what

our local Council was doing for the campaign,

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the city’s

environment committee, said: “Brighton & Hove

City Council has an ongoing programme of

working in partnership with local communities

on clean up days in nominated areas. The Clean

for the Queen campaign gives us an added

opportunity to encourage people to do their bit

and help clean up their neighbourhoods. Our

street cleaners do a fantastic job and there

is a huge amount of goodwill from residents

and businesses to work together to improve

the environment. Our special clean up days

are community led and the council would be

pleased to hear from residents, businesses or

other organisations wishing to take part in the

campaign in March.”

To get involved, contact cityclearn@

brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 292929

To take part in Clean for The Queen, go to

www.cleanforthequeen.co.uk, where you’ll

find advice and tips about how to join a group

or to simply do your bit. If every adult picked up

just one piece of litter and put it in a bin, that

would be more than 50 million pieces of rubbish

disposed of. Imagine if everyone picked up at

least one piece of litter every day for the next

nine months. We can do it. We can all Clean For

The Queen. #CleanForTheQueen

The subject of street cleaning and litter is always a contentious issue so PORTFOLIO magazine tackles the subject and gets behind the national Clean For The Queen campaign

100 PORTFOLIO

NATIONAL news

NATIONAL NEWS

FIRST-TIME BUYERS LEAD SURGE IN BORROWING In December 2015 first-time buyers borrowed £4.5 billion for house

purchases - that’s up 18 per cent on December of 2014. This totalled

29,300 first-time buyer loans in December 2015, says the Council of

Mortgage Lenders. During the final month of last year, home movers

in general borrowed £6.6 billion, up 20 per cent year-on-year. This

totalled 33,400 loans.

Responding to the data, Anderson Harris mortgage broker Director

Jonathan Harris says the plethora of mortgage deals at high loan-

to-values, combined with government schemes such as Help to Buy,

make it easier for first-time buyers than for some time.

“Confidence is also high among borrowers more generally. They have

good reason to believe that interest rates are likely to remain low

for many months to come, and, with plenty of cheap, competitive

mortgages to attract them, many believe that now is a good time to

borrow or remortgage,” he says.

ENGLISH HOME OWNERSHIP RISES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADEThe number of people owning their own homes in England has risen for the first time in 10 years,

according to government figures. The 2014/15 English Housing Survey shows that 5,000 more

people were home owners than in the previous year.

The proportion of home owners rose from 63.3% to 63.6% of the total, the first rise since 2002. By

contrast, the number of people renting privately fell to 4.3m, the first fall in 17 years.

However, experts said not too much should be read into one year’s figures. “The short-term

trends shown in the latest English Housing Survey need to be treated with caution, given that the

reported fall in private renting in 2014-15 follows a particularly large increase in the preceding

year,” said Lucian Cook, head of Savills UK residential research. Behind the short-term volatility,

levels of private renting among under 35s are still up by over 1 million in the past decade.”

New rules have been announced for the Eurovision Song Contest in the

biggest change to voting since 1975.

In previous years each country’s jury and public votes were combined

and announced in one go.Now the votes will be split, with each country’s

jury vote cast first, and votes from viewers in all countries combined

and announced at the end.

Organisers say this will create a “dramatic finish” as the winner will

only be revealed at the very end. “This format change will inject a new

level of excitement into the finish of the Eurovision Song Contest,” said

Martin Österdahl, Executive Producer for this year’s show.

The new voting system is a “big step forward”, according to Jon Ola Sand,

Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, that will “make a

better television show as well as a more exciting competition.” The final

of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Stockholm on

Saturday, 14 May.

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST OVERHAULS VOTING RULES

The prototype for a new two-seater Rasa was developed in Llandrindod Wells, Powys, by

Riversimple Movement Ltd.

Its road-legal prototype does 0-60mph (96kmh) in 10 seconds, with water as its only output.

The Rasa, which received a £2m Welsh grant in 2015, will go on trial for 12 months later this

year, with the final model set for release in 2018.

Hugo Spowers, founder of Riversimple, said the prototype marked a “key milestone” in

bringing the Rasa to market. “The car is simple, light and fun in every respect,” he said.

UNVEILING WELSH-MADE HYDROGEN-POWERED CAR

CONTINUED LOW INTEREST RATES PREDICTION

ASDA DIP

UK households have kicked fears of an interest-rate rise this year into the long grass,

despite official figures showing unemployment at its lowest for a decade.

The number of households expecting the Bank of England to raise its record-low interest

rates over the next 12 months has fallen to its lowest in more than two years amid near-

zero inflation and growth fears, according to Markit, the financial data firm.

Its snapshot showed that fewer than half of respondents expect the Bank’s Monetary

Policy Committee to raise rates before February 2017 – down from 71 per cent in

November, and the lowest since October 2013.

The findings came as the Office for National Statistics data showed an unemployment rate of 5.1 per cent for the three months to December –

slightly above the 5 per cent expected, but still at its lowest level since 2005.

Supermarket Asda has seen sales fall

5.8% during the three months that include

Christmas - its biggest quarterly sales fall

on record.

The chain, which is owned by US retailing giant Walmart, saw sales fall 4.7% over the

year as a whole.

Parent company Walmart also reported falling profits. Net income for the fourth quarter

fell 7.9% to $4.57bn.

Andy Clarke, President and Chief Executive of Asda, said 2015 had been a “difficult year.”

Asda’s figures contrast with those of the other “big four” UK supermarkets. Morrisons

and Tesco both beat forecasts, while Sainsbury, the weakest, saw sales fall just 0.4% over

the fourth quarter, which includes the vital Christmas period.

Discounters Aldi and Lidl, are both thriving and expanding fast.

Unemployment in the UK fell by 60,000 between

October and December to 1.69 million, according to

the Office for National Statistics.

The rate of unemployment was unchanged from

a month ago at 5.1%, maintaining a decade-low

rate. More than 31.4 million people are in work, the

highest figure since records began in 1971.

But ONS statistician Nick Palmer said that growth

in people’s earnings was still slow. “While the

employment rate continues to hit new highs and

there are more job vacancies than ever previously

recorded, earnings growth remains subdued and

markedly below the recent peak of mid-2015,” Mr

Palmer said.

The number of Britons in work increased by

278,000 in the three months to the end of December,

to 28.28 million, while for non-UK nationals, the

figure rose by 254,000 to 3.22 million.

There were 5.35 million people employed in the

public sector in September 2015, according to

ONS, down 59,000 on a year earlier. It is the lowest

figure since comparable records began in 1999, the

ONS says.

PORTFOLIO 101

NATIONAL news

UK UNEMPLOYMENT STILL AT 10-YEAR LOW

HIGH-SPEED MOURINHO

José Mourinho tests the new Jaguar F-PACE prototype and shares his career plans ahead of the car’s UK launch in late spring 2016

José Mourinho has mastered the art of

high-speed drifting and full-throttle ice

driving on a 60km frozen lake at Jaguar

Land Rover’s extreme testing facility in Arjeplog,

Sweden.

The sporting icon was testing a high-

performance Jaguar F-PACE S as part of an

extreme driver training experience just 40 miles

from the Arctic Circle. In 2017, the Jaguar Ice

Drive Experience will be available to customers

from all over the world.*

José Mourinho said: “The experience was

magnificent. For people in my world, I think a

few days in a place like this is magnificent.”

In temperatures as low as -30˚, Mourinho’s

driving skills were tested to their extreme limit

in the Jaguar F-PACE by Finnish professional

driver, Tommi Karrinaho.

Mourinho said: “I am always learning. Even

in football, which is an area that obviously I feel

that I’m an expert, I’m never perfect and I’m

always learning.

“The flying lap with Tommi sent my

adrenaline soaring. It’s something I’ve only ever

experienced before when I have walked out in

front of 80,000 football fans.”

Mourinho is experiencing widespread interest

about his future, but in the isolation of Jaguar’s

extreme testing facility in Sweden, the three-

time Premier League-winning manager was

philosophical about his next move.

Mourinho said: “I have worked for as long as

I can remember as a manager, and this is now

the second time I have stopped in 16 years. So

it’s not a drama, but for sure I will be back soon.”

Mourinho, who owns a Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé

and has already placed an order for the new

Jaguar F-PACE, insists he will be staying in

England for the foreseeable future.

“This is a moment when my family needed

some stability and my wife and I made the

decision to stay in London. It’s an amazing place

to live, an amazing place for my children to

study. I don’t know where football will take me,

because in football you never know, but for sure

as a family our home will still be in London,”

added Mourinho.

The Jaguar F-PACE offers an unrivalled

blend of performance, design and practicality.

To ensure that every system functions perfectly,

even under the most extreme conditions, the

new F-PACE has been subjected to one of the

most demanding test programmes the company

has ever devised.

MOTORING: Jaguar F-PACE

102 PORTFOLIO

JAGUAR LAND ROVER TEST CENTRE

From the searing heat and dust of Dubai to the ice and snow of Northern Sweden, the new F-PACE has been tested to the limit in some of the most

inhospitable environments on Earth.

At Jaguar Land Rover’s test facility in Arjeplog, Northern Sweden, average winter temperatures rarely exceed -15°C and often plummet to -40°C. The

60km of purpose-built handling tracks, mountain climbs, inclines, split-friction straights and off-road areas are ideal for optimising the calibration of the

all-wheel drive system, Dynamic Stability Control and technologies such as Jaguar’s revolutionary All-Surface Progress Control. The work done here

makes sure that, whether on asphalt, snow or ice, the F-PACE delivers the connected steering feel and agility fundamental to Jaguar dynamics DNA.

• The F-PACE is the latest aluminium-intensive Jaguar and will be manufactured in Solihull, UK

• The F-PACE will go on sale from 2016.

• The all-new Jaguar Ice Drive experience opens in 2017.

To find out more visit: www.jaguar.com/experience-jaguar/iconic-experiences/ice-drive-sweden.html

“The flying lap sent my adrenaline soaring.

It’s something I’ve only ever experienced

before when I have walked out in front of 80,000 football fans”

BRAND ORLAFashion Designer Orla Kiely on her brand, her business style and

her involvement with Sport Relief

Irish fashion designer Orla Kiely is absolutely

everywhere. From wallpaper to bedding,

saucepans to shoes – and, of course, bags - the

Irish fashion-designer’s designs are iconic and

so uniquely adaptable that they somehow have

a subtle mass appeal whist remaining fresh and

exciting.

Orla Kiely has collaborated with a host of brands

over the years, including Uniqlo, Citroën and

Brabantia. Now she is putting her name to Sport

Relief and has created a limited-edition apron for

the charity. The apron was presented each night to

the winner of ‘The Great Sport Relief Bake Off’ and

is available at TK Maxx and Home Sense stores

nationwide.

“Orla Kiely is simply iconic,” says Shannon

Haswell, Assistant Buyer at The Pod Company,

which has stores in Bristol, Cheltenham and

Oxford. “Instantly recognisable, ever stylish and a

firm favourite with customers who like the modern

twist on retro patterns, simple stylish designs and

iconic status of the stem print.” The brand stays

fresh by “introducing new prints, mixing up colour

combinations and having a constant flurry of new

products which play on key trends”, according to

Haswell.

“Colour and pattern – they’re the two

cornerstones of what we do,” says Orla Kiely of her

brand. And this focus on her signature aesthetic

has enabled the 53-year-old designer to build

her name from a small handbag collection into

a global business, last year being awarded the

Premium Brand of the Year prize by top industry

commentators Drapers.

Orla Kiely produces four clothing collections a

year, as well as handbags and accessories and

beauty and homeware ranges, covering everything

from dresses, bags and watches to stationery,

cushions and candles. The brand is stocked in

major stores around the world as well as through

Orla Kiely’s own website and standalone stores in

London, New York and Tokyo.

“We weren’t an overnight success,” she says

about her brand’s growth. “We’ve just worked

really hard, stuck to our guns and stayed on brand.”

Orla’s husband, Dermott Rowan, is also the

brand’s CEO and co-founder. “He’s the one on

the business side,” she says. ”I think that’s the

reason it’s worked successfully, because we have

our clear responsibilities. I’m a creative director

and he is business.“I’m aware and involved in the

business, we are a team, but I love that I can just

leave that responsibility to him. I’m much happier

when I’m being creative.”

Kiely studied Textile Design at the National

College of Art and Design in her home town of

Dublin, followed by a stint designing wallpaper

in New York and working for fashion brand Esprit

in London. She completed a Masters degree in

Knitwear at the Royal College of Art in London

1992. Her final collection was accessorised with a

small range of hats, bought on the spot by a buyer

from Harrods…

“When I started doing bags, almost by accident, I

loved it. It was really very rewarding,” she says. In

1997, she officially launched the Orla Kiely brand,

adding a small line of knitwear, which eventually

evolved into the full ranges she now creates.

“Colour and pattern – they’re the two cornerstones of what we do,” says Orla Kiely of her brand

PORTFOLIO 105

THE interview

For those wanting to

‘sport’ a new look in

the kitchen, designer

Orla Kiely has created a

limited-edition apron for

Sport Relief.

The apron was presented

each night to the winner

of ‘The Great Sport Relief

Bake Off’ and is available

to buy exclusively from

Sport Relief official

partners: brands-for-

less homeware retailer,

HomeSense, TK Maxx

stores, tkmaxx.com and

sportrelief.com. The apron

retails at £12.99 with at

least £5.25 going to Sport

Relief.

Complete the look with

the Orla Kiely Tea Towel

(£4.99 with at least

£2.50 going to Sport

Relief, available from

HomeSense, TK Maxx and

sportrelief.com).

QUESTION & ANSWER ...With Orla Kiely

106 PORTFOLIO

THE interview

106 PORTFOLIO

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SUPPORT SPORT

RELIEF?

It’s a real honour to be involved in such a

tremendous cause that brings the entire

nation together to get active, raise cash and

change lives.

All profits from the sale of the range will be

donated to Sport Relief to help transform

people’s lives in the UK and across the

world’s poorest communities.

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR PATTERN DESIGNS

FOR THE SPORT RELIEF APRONS?

It is our iconic Pear print, and I thought it

would be perfect for the Sport Relief apron.

It makes you think of pear tarts, and baking,

of course.

WHY ARE YOU EXCITED TO BE WORKING

WITH HOMESENSE & TK MAXX ON THIS

PROJECT?

My ambition was to create something

which HomeSense fans and Orla Kiely

followers alike would really love and which

would celebrate all that is best about both

companies for Sport Relief 2016.

We have loved working with HomeSense

and know that together we have created

something that will be a real collector’s

item and which celebrates the spirit of Sport

Relief and this year’s theme – bake like a

champion.

DO YOU EVER GET TIME TO PUT ON AN

APRON AND BAKE?

Yes, I do love to bake for my boys.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BAKING?

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE RECIPE?

My favourite is a cake made from ground

almonds instead of flour, from the book

Breakfast, Lunch, Tea by The Rose Bakery. It

is for small cakes, but I make it

into a big cake.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED

POSSESSION?

The sewing machine that my father gave me

when I was a young teenager.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CITY, AND WHY?

Dublin, because I grew up there and I love

going home to see my family. London is

where I live, so I can’t choose.

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?

Finish what you have started.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Everything.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTIEST PLEASURE?

A chocolate fondant.

HOW DO YOU RELAX?

By watching movies or walking the dogs.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF

CLOTHING AND WHY?

My favourite at the moment is my new

collection, which we will show in Paris soon.

WHAT NEW PRODUCTS/RANGES CAN WE

EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU IN THE FUTURE?

We have made some wonderful jewellery,

which complements my fashion line.

YOU RECEIVED AN OBE FOR SERVICES TO

BUSINESS AND THE FASHION INDUSTRY;

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR HOW TO

SUCCEED IN BUSINESS?

Work hard, never give up and do something

you love doing.

Sport Relief 2016: Events across the country

from Friday, 18th to Sunday, 20th March 2016.

www.sportrelief.com

Additional information from www.drapersonline

www.orlakiely.com

75_Portfolio_Ad_Laurent Perrier.indd 75 27/06/2014 11:09

For friendly advice contact01273 423600

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