T H E P O R T M A N Meet ’sMeet rising design star design rising Bags of style: of Bags 2015 Autumn The Portman The around and on Living Blüthner Piano Centre 6 Baker Street, Portman Square W1U 3AA Tel: 020 7753 0533 Email: [email protected] Opening Hours Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 18:30 Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00 5 contents

7 28 As told to Sport Ed Templeton , co-founder Rugby World Cup Our of restaurant Carousel, on round-up of the best places running a family business to watch the big games 10 32 Happenings Charity Bake-offs , jazz brunches, Portman Challenge The charity appeals and inaugural fundraising event performing-arts classes puts local teams to the test COVER: LOCAL DESIGNER, ELLA RABENER’S CHILTERN BAG SEE PAGE 20 14 34 Education Summer parties Max Haimendorf , head Alfresco The crowds take teacher, on the aspirational to the streets and squares ethos that powers his school to celebrate the season 18 37 Art Literature Eileen Hogan paints the Marylebone Lives The snow-covered squares of new book that chronicles The Portman is a regular journal about The Portman Estate extraordinary local stories life on and around The Portman Estate

Editor Advertising Lorna Davies Caroline Warrick 20 40 020 7259 1051 Fashion Property Deputy Editor [email protected] Ella Rabener on why Trophy offices The hot Cally Squires Marylebone inspires her Portman properties with the Bridget Rodricks Writers 020 7259 1059 luxury handbag designs corporate wow factor Sophia Charalambous [email protected] Annabel Denham Lucy Douglas Katie Thomas 24 42 Victoria Kingdon 020 7250 1053 [email protected] Food Obituary Sub-editor Trishna head chef Rohit Audrey Lewis Colleagues Holly Kyte Send information to Ghai shares his culinary pay tribute to the remarkable The Portman influences and local tips councillor and Lord Mayor Designer Publishing Business Andy Lowe 3 Princes Street London W1B 2LD Publisher 020 7259 1050 44 The Portman Estate www.pubbiz.com Baker Street Quarter Printed in the UK Cleaning up The new plans © Publishing Business afoot to tackle traffic and air Limited 2015 pollution in the area

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The unique concept of Carousel – to bring in chefs from around the world on rotation – has been a roaring success in Marylebone. Now, as the restaurant turns one year old, co- founder Ed Templeton tells Cally Squires how this family-run business all came together

Keeping it in the family

AUGUST WAS the first anniversary of It gives Londoners a chance to eat their food the restaurant opening, so we put on without getting on a plane. So it was more by a little party for locals and loyal good fortune than design that we ended up here, customers to celebrate. but we’re now very settled and the idea of ever There are four of us, all cousins, who started having to leave Marylebone is gut-wrenching. the restaurant. We had done pop-ups before in We have good relationships with nearby “places like Westbourne Grove, Clerkenwell and stores. For example, Ortigia supplies our hand Pimlico Gardens – basically all over the place. We soap and we often pop to Monocle for a coffee wanted a permanent site where we could have an and a chat with the guys there. Chiltern Firehouse office, a kitchen and a place to put on events. We has been really great; some of the chefs who have looked at some railway arches in East London, done residencies here at Carousel have worked but never in our wildest dreams did we think we’d with Nuno Mendes in the past. The Firehouse has end up in a place like this in Marylebone. been really generous by lending us their We heard about the unit in Blandford Street equipment – we’ll occasionally pop over to use through a friend of a friend at a wedding. The their vacuum packer, a bit like you would knock space was an empty shell and we fell in love with on the neighbour’s door for a cup of sugar! it immediately. Our ideas quickly accelerated I used to work in Marylebone at AMV, the towards the concept of Carousel, which is to advertising agency, so I was familiar with the area bring chefs from around the world to Marylebone. before we started Carousel. Anna was in TV 8 as told to

ICONIC HOTELS IN ICONIC PLACES

THE FOUR TEMPLETON COUSINS BEHIND CAROUSEL: WILL, ANNA, OLLIE AND ED

“The concept is to bring chefs from around the world to production, Will was in a sales job that he really didn’t like and Ollie has always been a chef. The Marylebone. It gives Londoners four of us all bring something different to the a chance to eat their food table, but we all love food and drink, and getting people together to have a party. without getting on a plane” We work together very collaboratively in terms of the direction we want to go in creatively, but within that we all have our own responsibilities. I look after the front of house, Ollie looks after the in Stockholm – he is such a great guy and really kitchen, Anna looks after the private events, like up for getting involved. His concept is to do the art exhibitions we hold upstairs, and Will looks amazing stuff with vegetables, which opened my after the operations and finances. eyes to how much you can do with just one Working with family has its challenges, but the simple piece of produce, like a beetroot. nice thing is you can kiss and make up the next The dinner service, which is Tuesday to day and it’s all forgotten. Our dads are identical Saturday, is almost exclusively advanced twins and we grew up down the road from one bookings – which is the opposite of what most another. As a result of that close upbringing we restaurants seem to be doing in London! But as have very similar views on the things we like and we know who is coming, it means there is very how the business should be run. So any little food wastage, which is much more disagreements are never fundamental. environmentally sound. Lunch, however, is My days vary quite a lot, which is the nice open to walk-ins as well as reservations. thing about this job. I look after things like the We have an idea for a book in the pipeline, but newsletters and social media, so there is a lot of in the shorter term we are looking to bring Mile office-based work that comes with that. I might High, one of the pop-up dinner events that we’ve also be meeting new suppliers, talking to new run in the past, back to London as a permanent chefs who are coming in or tasting wines. I’m not themed bar and restaurant. But as far as Carousel on the floor every night, but I usually do a couple goes, we think it is a concept that could of shifts per week, which is almost the aspect of translate quite well internationally, so in the job I like the most! a couple of years we might even look When we started we approached chefs we into opening a second site in New York. liked, but as we’ve got more established chefs have started coming to us, which is lovely. My Carousel, 71 Blandford Street favourite so far has been Henrik [Norén] from Gro www.carousel-london.com ” LONDON +44 20 7493 4545 DORCHESTERCOLLECTION.COM I I 10 happenings

Afternoon tea with a twist A taste of the Basque Country

THE ARCH London hotel is offering a unique take on the BASQUE RESTAURANT Lurra will open romesco sauce and ceps with egg yolk. traditional afternoon tea service. The hotel’s new street-food- on September 2, across the road from The new restaurant’s signature dish inspired tea menu (from £29) banishes scones and finger sister restaurant Donostia. It will is a whole grilled turbot cooked over sandwiches. Replacing them are delicious bites from specialise in cooking on wood and wood in a fish basket, inspired by cuisines around the world, including mini beef burgers in charcoal grills, as is the traditional Restaurante Elkano, located on the brioche buns, chicken satay with peanut sauce, Scotch method in the Basque region. outskirts of San Sebastián. eggs, coffee éclairs and a lemon and mango rice pudding. The concept is large sharing plates, The hotel’s general manager Michael Voigt explains: like cod tongues cooked three ways, red Lurra, 9 Seymour Place “We wanted to create an afternoon tea that is exciting and mullet, baby octopus, leeks with www.lurra.co.uk different, yet still gives people a quintessential taste of the best of modern London.”

The Arch London, 50 Great Cumberland Place T: 020 7724 4700, www.thearchlondon.com

A show of Heads

ARTISTS NIGEL LANGFORD and Lizzie Thurman are presenting their work at the A&D Gallery on Chiltern Street. The Heads exhibition will run from September 21–26. Langford is an artist and interior designer who has lived on Homer Street for over 30 years. Thurman met Langford when they were students together at Central Saint Martins in the 1980s. The duo lived as flatmates for seven years in Langford’s house in Homer Street. The Heads Readers exhibition is the first collaboration of their work and is the first showing in Marylebone. get a cut- price cut at A&D Gallery, 51 Chiltern Street T: 020 7486 0534, www.aanddgallery.com Toni & Guy

TONI & GUY hairdressing Bake it Better for charity salon has opened a new branch on Baker Street, A new Italian launches LOCAL BAKERY La Pâtisserie des Rêves is offering both hair and hosting a cake sale in Portman Square on beauty services to BROTHERS GABRIEL and Marcello Bernardi, co- September 20 to raise money for Bake it Better, a clients. The salon is founders of the Cubitt House group, are launching charity supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital. pleased to offer 20 per a unique Italian eatery at 62 Seymour Street. The picnic, 3–6pm, is open to all families in cent off all services when Bernardi’s, opening in early September, promises Marylebone. Budding bakers are encouraged to readers mention The seasonal, authentic and unfussy modern Italian bring a cake to enter into the baking competition, Portman magazine. food, using British ingredients where possible but which will be judged by the pâtisserie’s founder with olive oils, vinegars, cheeses and dry cured Thierry Teyssier and food writer Rose Prince. Toni & Guy, meats from Italy. 80 Baker Street Portman Square, T: 020 3603 7333, T: 020 3824 2567, Bernardi’s, 62 Seymour Street www.lapatisseriedesreves.com www.toniandguy.com www.bernadis.co.uk 12 happenings

Top chefs do the rounds Enjoy jazz brunch

TWO RESIDENT chefs will be cooking up a storm New York-style at Carousel this September. Firstly, from September 1–5 John Gregory-Smith will be NEW YORK’S Hotel Chantelle has kicking things off with a menu of regional Turkish opened a London outpost on Orchard cooking, inspired by his extensive travels around Street, with a gorgeous outdoor the country. Think daily changing mezze boards terrace for alfresco dining. The followed by salt-baked fish and grilled lamb. restaurant is also bringing its famous For the remaining three weeks Tom Ryalls, weekend jazz brunch to the capital, All-American cocktails formerly a chef at Moro, will return to Blandford with live music from 11am to 4pm. Street to prepare a seasonal menu just as Brunch dishes at the Manhattan SHOWDOWN BAR has now launched downstairs delicious as the dishes from his February import are created by executive chef at Southern US restaurant The Lockhart. The new residency earlier this year. Seth Levine, with signature items such all-American bar has a cocktail menu created by as waffle-crusted fried chicken with drinks expert Matt Whiley, focusing on rye and Carousel, 71 Blandford Street maple-syrup candyfloss, stuffed bourbon liquors. There is also an iced tea on tap, T: 020 7487 5564, www.carousel-london.com French toast loaf and a smoked made with maple and green tea. salmon and cream cheese bagel The bar-snacks menu is substantial, including platter all sure to tickle the tastebuds. JOHN GREGORY-SMITH Charities join forces for St Mary’s catfish goujons, fried chicken, beef ribs, devilled From Thursday to Saturday the eggs and cornbread. TWO CHARITIES are launching a allow hospital staff to treat up to restaurant will be a late-night dining major £2 million joint appeal to 200 more children each year, will venue, opening until 3am. The Lockhart, 24 Seymour Place raise money for the children’s offer increased space around T: 020 3011 5400, www.lockhartlondon.com intensive care unit at St Mary’s each bed and create a new Hotel Chantelle, 23 Orchard Street Hospital in Paddington. dedicated bereavement room. T: 020 729 92522, The More Smiles Appeal, a The specialist unit, which www.hotelchantelle.com/london joint effort between COSMIC and started in 1992, has a strong Imperial College Healthcare reputation for treating acute, life- Charity, will help fund an threatening conditions and helps expansion of the unit, which will over 400 children every year. almost double the current capacity from eight to 15 beds. For more information visit The refurbishment will also www.imperialcharity.org.uk/PICU

Back to (theatre) school

THEATRE SCHOOL Sylvia Young is offering classes for adults this Michaelmas term, teaching PAUL opens for daily bread singing and drama on Wednesdays, and drama only on Friday evenings. The lessons are for all A BRANCH of French boulangerie PAUL has opened on ages and abilities, and are designed to help adults the Edgware Road. The popular bakery serves a variety develop performing-arts skills and confidence. of breads, pastries and sandwiches, as well as cakes and tarts for the sweet-toothed. Sylvia Young, 1 Nutford Place T: 020 7723 8543, PAUL, 32 Edgware Road WAFFLE-CRUSTED FRIED CHICKEN www.sylviayoungtheatreschool.com T: 020 8665 7878, www.paul-uk.com 14 education

BELOW AND OPPOSITE: STUDENTS ON THE ACADEMY’S ORCHESTRAL TOUR TO MADRID THIS YEAR Six years ago the King Solomon Academy set itself a challenge: that all its pupils would be capable of getting into a top 10 university. Victoria Kingdon talks to head teacher Max Haimendorf about the importance of aspiration

Aiming for the top

“It is not just about our pupils passing an exam and getting into university, but being happy and successful while there, and after they’ve left”

WHEN I MEET head teacher Max Haimendorf at Last year the founding year group took their nearly a full timetable from the outset. He longer school week with Saturday school every the King Solomon Academy, he apologises for the GCSEs, and 93 per cent achieved five A* to C describes his three years there as challenging but month. Now, the day is marginally shorter to align state of his office. He’s just come back from a grades in English and maths. Haimendorf is hugely rewarding. He left to spend a year at with the primary school’s hours but is still far more recent trip to Slovakia – a possible location for understandably pleased with the attention these management consulting firm Oliver Wyman (“to rigorous than most. There is a strong focus on next year’s orchestral tour – and hasn’t had a results brought them, but stresses that there are rule out the traditional professional route and gain core subjects, specifically English and maths, but chance to tidy up yet. It’s almost immaculate. But other measures more in line with the school’s a little commercial experience”), but his heart was ‘life skills’ also form part of the curriculum. “It is then Haimendorf has exceptionally high goals than the government A–C benchmark. in teaching and his ambition was to start a small not just about our pupils passing an exam and standards. “What matters to us most is the number of pupils school with a very clear, anything-is-possible getting into university, but being happy and And it is these high standards, which he places who are getting six or more GCSEs at B grade or ethos. The then-small Ark Schools network was successful while there, and after they’ve left,” on himself, his staff and his pupils, that make the above. We teach a lot of challenging subjects: looking for someone to head up their new says Haimendorf. school he founded six years ago the success 75 per cent of our pupils study triple sciences. If secondary school. “It was a meeting of minds,” The school model was inspired by the KIPP story it now is. they’re able to achieve a decent number of Bs says Haimendorf. “The sponsors had a clear charter schools in America, a defining element King Solomon Academy opened in 2009 with and above, it means that they’re academically vision and were looking for someone enthusiastic being their transformational music programme. At a clear guiding principle: the expectation that all of prepared for A-levels and on track for university. and ambitious who would be keen to shake KSA, every pupil must learn to play an instrument, its pupils were capable of getting into a top 10 We want 100 per cent of pupils in this position.” things up. I had been dreaming of starting exactly starting the moment they join the school. In the university. “Not everyone I spoke to at the time He is unwavering in his focus on higher education. the kind of small school they described.” At just secondary school there are four hours of music thought this was a realistic goal for a challenging Haimendorf was the first success story to 29, he became the youngest secondary school lessons a week, compared to the average one community,” says Haimendorf. The majority of come out of Teach First, the teacher-training head teacher in the country. “That’s what they tell hour a week in most schools. The orchestral tour, students were from low-income households and programme that places bright young graduates me,” he says humbly. sponsored by The Portman Foundation, took 39 many did not speak English as their first language. into schools serving low-income communities. A KSA opened with 60 Year Seven pupils and pupils to Madrid this year. In 2014 they went to These were the children often expected to graduate of Oxford University and an alumnus of six teachers. “The motto from the outset was Salzburg. “We try and ensure the pupils have the struggle at school, not to be primed for first-rate St Paul’s School in Barnes, his first placement ‘Whatever it takes.’” In the early days this meant most fun possible, as we want them to spend the university placements. was at Uxbridge High School, where he taught a longer school day, from 7:55am to 5pm, and a next year working exceptionally hard inside and 16 education

outside the classroom,” says Haimendorf. to have a great life,” says Haimendorf. “That’s The message that hard work pays off is clearly what I want it to feel like here as well. I want our driven home. So, too, is the students’ end goal. students to be challenged and to be aspirational.” Blue banners hang in the school halls with the With the founding year group in the first year of motivational mantra: “Climbing the mountain to the new sixth form, it remains to be seen whether university.” There’s a can-do attitude that seems the end goal of getting into a top university will be to seep from the walls, and everyone from the achieved by them all – it’s hard to imagine it won’t pupils to the staff seem to be ‘on message’. “We be. But it seems that the success in King call it mission alignment. Some schools support Solomon Academy so far lies in its simple ethos the idea of the teacher being an island – the hero of instilling self-belief and ambition in its pupils – that is going to make it happen in isolation. For that everyone deserves happiness and success if us, it’s about being a consistent, supportive team they simply work hard enough. that will provide an all-round positive experience for the pupil, right from primary through to the sixth form.” That team also encompasses the local community. A number of businesses in the area, like The Portman Estate, are involved in the school’s work-related learning-opportunities programme – although Haimendorf is keen to highlight that they’re always looking for more. Every child is offered the chance for work shadowing in Year Nine and work experience in Year 10. In Years 11 and 12 there are focused work-placement opportunities. The school also partners with the charity ACCESS, which recruits graduates from professional firms to offer tutoring to students. There are currently 90 students at the school benefiting from the programme. “When you speak to children at selective private schools you realise that there is a sense of expectation in the fabric of those schools that ‘people here have a great future’, that they make the most of their time in school and then they get

ABOVE: THE CROWD DANCE DURING A MADRID CONCERT BELOW: ON THE BASKETBALL COURT IN MADRID 19 art

THE PORTMAN ESTATE’S picturesque squares – Browse & Darby director Charles Bradstock, who Bryanston Square, Manchester Square, Montagu says Hogan’s Edwardes Square painting is his Square and nearby Edwardes Square – are the favourite in the “wonderful” exhibition. “Having subject of an exhibition by London artist Eileen long been an admirer of Eileen Hogan’s work, we Hogan currently on show in Mayfair. were thrilled to have the opportunity to put on an Hogan, who was born in London in 1946 and exhibition,” he says. “Hogan was taught by Euan studied at Camberwell and the Royal College of Uglow, Anthony Fry and Robert Medley at Art, has brought together pictures from the series Camberwell in the 1960s, all of whom we show in which the green spaces are all snowclad, at Browse & Darby, so her work is at home in adding another layer of envelopment to the the gallery.” already enclosed squares. Edges and Enclosures, which will run until “Snow is so rare in London and I find the October 2, takes the viewer beyond London as experience dreamlike,” says Hogan. The well, opening with pieces from Hogan’s collection exhibition, entitled Edges and Enclosures, is the of landscapes from Little Sparta, the garden of first solo exhibition at Browse & Darby for the Scottish poet Ian Hamilton Finlay near Edinburgh, Kensington-based artist, and features pieces from built up over 16 years of visits. “I was drawn to three different series of her work. the beehives because of the particular sort of At its heart, the exhibition takes the viewer space in which they sit,” she says of the garden through Hogan’s images depicting the city’s feature that forms the subject of the exhibition’s garden squares covered in snow in the depths of opening piece, Imagined Beehives in Snow . winter. “The images are of landscapes I know The most recent works featured in the well, many from the almost daily walk to my collection bring us back to London, with the studio, which takes me through Hyde Park, industrial images of Trinity Buoy Wharf in the Kensington Gardens, Holland Park and Edwardes Docklands and, more intimately, into Hogan’s own Square,” she explains. “What I saw was bedroom through the reflective and powerful transformed by the suddenness of the snow.” images in her Self-portrait Through Wardrobe It is these images that caught the attention of series. “[These paintings] capture brilliantly the sense of a person you can gain through their clothes – each garment having its own story to tell,” says Bradstock of the personal pieces.

Browse & Darby, 19 Cork Street T: 020 7734 7984, www.browseanddarby.co.uk

Hogan’s winter wonderlands

The Portman Estate’s enchanting squares get their moment in the spotlight as resident Eileen Hogan’s snowy scenes go on show at Browse & Darby, says writer Lucy Douglas ABOVE: QUEEN CAROLINE’S TEMPLE, RIGHT: EDWARDES SQUARE, OPPOSITE: BRYANSTON SQUARE 20 fashion

The entrepreneur with bags of style Gloucester Place resident Ella Rabener has made the leap from consultant to handbag designer. Cally Squires finds out how she manages to juggle two companies, and why Marylebone is a big inspiration

“I HAVE LIVED IN MARYLEBONE for five years to the Scalable Capital office near Borough. “I will now,” Ella Rabener tells me as we sit down in the spend the day there going to various meetings kitchen of her Gloucester Place flat. She rented and maybe seeing an external marketing unfurnished because “everybody in Germany consultant for coffee, because I am in charge of brings all their own stuff when they rent, so I had marketing for the company globally. In the accumulated lots of furniture!” evenings I come home and work on the handbag The contemporary, uncluttered aesthetic of the brand, thinking about new leathers and new apartment hints at Rabener’s Germanic roots, a shapes. Luckily I have a husband who loves to heritage which she says has also influenced her cook, so very often dinner will be on the table!” designs. “The German style is quite reduced, so Multitasking is something that Rabener is no that element is in my DNA. My shapes for my stranger to. “When I was working as a consultant bags are quite structured and boxy, with at McKinsey I worked on very different projects, asymmetrical elements. I’m not a fluffy, slouchy often juggling them simultaneously, which is bag kind of person.” similar to what I do now with the two companies. Her London home has also been an influence, The mix of analytical business with the more given that her new Chiltern bag is named after the famous street. “The renovation of the Firehouse has made the whole area more lively. There are such great shops there. For me, it is really the new heart of Marylebone,” she tells me. Locally she loves La Fromagerie – “I could spend a whole day in the cheese room!” – and cites restaurant Texture on Portman Square as having “great experimental Scandinavian food, which is very different from other places. I also like eating at Donostia for their brilliant Spanish food. For clothes, I love Matches Fashion for the wide selection of brands, and I like the smaller boutiques nearer to , too.” The designer says living in Marylebone is wonderful, “because of the central location with great connections to Heathrow via Paddington. I also like being close to both Regent’s and Hyde Park; it is easy to go running or have a picnic at the weekend.” Not that she gets much time for leisurely walks in the park, with two businesses on the go. “Right now I am working on two projects: one is Ella Y A D Rabener the bag label, and the other is an online N A investment manager called Scalable Capital.” The A H Y E

latter will be launching in Germany this year. R

: O

A typical day for Rabener at the moment is T O H getting up in the morning and heading straight off P 22 fashion

The new Chiltern bag is named after the famous street. “There are such great shops there. For me, it is really the new heart of Marylebone”

hardly ever comes together in one job, apart from maybe architecture,” she muses. “But at that time I thought fashion was too risky, as few really succeeded big time, and I wasn’t sure whether I had it in me. So I decided to study business and economics.” However, as soon as she started work at McKinsey, she gravitated towards picking up fashion brands as clients. “I am also obsessed with handbags privately, and spend way too much money on them,” she confesses. From there came the idea to do something more creative on her own. “If I didn’t do it then, I would never have done it. For me, it has been worthwhile to take that risk. When I see someone like Donna Air wearing one of my bags it is amazing, because I think she is extremely stylish. That feeling when you make that transition from a sketch of a bag to holding it in your hands and creative business is what I really like,” she adds. seeing it in the press is brilliant.” So what persuaded her to give up a well-paid Does she have a favourite among her consultancy job to become her own boss? creations? “If I had to pick just one of my bags it “Obviously when you start out as an entrepreneur would be the Ava, because it is so versatile. You there is always the risk that you won’t succeed, can wear it as a shoulder bag or as a maxi clutch. especially with your first company. To go it on your It also fits a normal-sized wallet in it, which is a own you have to be comfortable with that risk and feature I love.” willing to take it. A lot of people who are very All the bags are limited edition, which Rabener successful now have failed several times before says is extremely important to her. “We only they hit the jackpot,” she rationalises. Rabener produce 100 copies of every bag style, because I says that timing is also very important for felt that over the last five years a lot of designer success, as well as having the right idea and the bags have become extremely expensive, but yet right team – “There are so many things that have you see them everywhere. I wanted to create to come together.” something that was more exclusive, but also more It seems a glass-half-full attitude is also affordable.” She clarifies that the bags are not important. “You have to tell yourself that even if cheap, “because you can’t do cheap when you it doesn’t work out as planned, you won’t be produce in Italy with quality leather”. sleeping under a bridge – I still have a career Currently all the bags are stocked online only, and education that I can build on.” but next year Rabener has plans to start I wonder why she did not pursue fashion negotiations with offline retailers. So watch this earlier in her career. “When I was in high school space, or a high-end department store, soon. I thought very hard about a career in fashion design. I majored in art and mathematics, which www.ellarabener.com 24 food

What do you like most about Trishna’s location? Trishna is in the centre of Marylebone Village, and what makes it so special is that it really does feel like a village. It has a neighbourhood atmosphere and there are a lot of familiar faces in the area, especially on the weekends. We have guests join us that have spent the morning at the market or wandering Marylebone High Street, who then pop in for lunch or dinner.

Where are your local haunts? I always like to know what is going on in the neighbourhood and tend to spend a lot of time in Marylebone when I’m not working. My favourite place to go is the farmers’ market across from Trishna on Sunday mornings. It is full of great produce and most of the traders are the same each week, so you really get to know one another.

What are your favourite gadgets for cooking at home? I like to keep it simple, so I don’t have many Spicing it up at Trishna gadgets for cooking. However, I do have a great set of knives at home. They are the essential tool, whether you’re just starting out or you’re a more experienced cook.

When did you know you wanted to be a chef? I knew from a young age, and my biggest inspiration was my mother. She made everything by hand as I was growing up, and I often helped her in the kitchen. Some of my fondest memories are cooking with my mother back in India.

Who has been the biggest influence on your cooking? I would say this has also been my mother. Inspired by his mother’s Although I have worked in some wonderful homecooking, Rohit Ghai kitchens in both India and London and have always knew he wanted to be had great mentors, my mother was my biggest a chef. Now running the influence. kitchen at Michelin-starred Do you have a favourite cookbook? restaurant Trishna, he tells Larousse Gastronomique is my favourite Cally Squires about his culinary cookbook, which I’ve had for years. Originally influences, his favourite dishes published in 1938, it’s incredibly comprehensive and why being in Marylebone and one of the first cookery books I ever bought. Village is so special Most memorable meal? My most memorable meal was at Bukhara restaurant in New Delhi, India. The menu is based around dishes from Northwest India, with most of the dishes being cooked in the tandoor [oven].

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: TULSI SCALLOPS, Current favourite dish on the menu at Trishna? HEAD CHEF ROHIT GHAI, TAWA SABZI It’s really hard to pinpoint just one dish on the 26 food

menu, because I thoroughly enjoy all of the menu items. However, I’d have to say that my favourite dish is the Andhra Lamb Masala.

Where do you source the spices you use in the restaurant? Although almost all of our ingredients are sourced from Britain, we do get our spices directly from India.

Three spices you couldn’t live without? SOFT Chilli, cardamom and coriander. SHELL CRAB What will be on the menu this autumn in terms of seasonal produce? Seasonality is incredibly important at Trishna, and autumn is my favourite season for produce. The food in season at this time usually pairs incredibly well with our flavours and spices. I can’t potentially help spread the word about a give all the details away, but it’s likely you’ll be restaurant or chef, and could also help inspire seeing aubergine, figs and parsnips on our other chefs. Regardless, it’s a very popular trend autumn menu. and I don’t see it slowing down any time soon, so better to embrace it. How do you feel about the trend of diners posting photos of their food on social media? Do you have any plans to release a cookery I have two frames of mind on this. Part of me book yourself? thinks that it’s very time consuming to interrupt a Although I have many recipes that I’d love to meal to take images of food and that it potentially share, there are no plans for a book any time takes away from the enjoyment of dining out. soon. However, there is another part of me that thinks that sharing images of restaurants and dishes is Trishna, 15–17 Blandford Street great. It’s sharing of information that can T: 020 7935 5624, www.trishnalondon.com

TANDOORI LAMB CHOPS 28 sport

Nevermind who’s going to win, the biggest question in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup is where to watch the games. Victoria Kingdon rounds up the best local spots Where to watch the Rugby World Cup

The Grazing Goat This chic hotel and gastropub will be part-embracing World Cup fever, silently screening the GB games, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the finals in their ground-floor bar. It isn’t the place for boisterous fans and roaring patriotism, but if you’re looking to enjoy a nice glass of wine and a delicious lunch (think short rib and Applewood cheddar pie or treacle beef rump, braised ox cheek and smoked fennel) while keeping half an eye on the game, The Grazing Goat is for you. The Grazing Goat, 6 New Quebec Street T: 020 7724 7243, www.thegrazinggoat.co.uk The Portman This popular Portman Village gastropub will be screening games in the main bar, but if you’re looking to escape the scrum book the upstairs restaurant, which will be available for private hire for large groups. The usually sedate dining area will turn sports bar, thanks to the installation of a large plasma screen. There will also be celebratory platters on offer, one of which – the slider platter – will include 15 mini burgers representing each of the countries in the World Cup, a large bowl of chips and a jug of beer. The Portman, 51 Upper Berkeley Street T: 020 7723 8996, www.theportmanmarylebone.com

Bok Bar You’re guaranteed to find an atmosphere at this South-African sports bar. Watch on the big screens in the bar or settle into one of the booths, but whatever you do get there early to secure your spot, as it’s bound to be busy and you can’t book ahead. The food menu is Thai, so tuck into spring rolls, Pad Thai or spicy Kaeng Pa curry to get you fired up for the game. Bok Bar, 56 Blandford Street T: 020 7467 3820 30 sport

ICONIC HOTELS IN ICONIC PLACES

The Three Tuns This traditionally British, oak-beamed pub just a stone’s throw from may be spacious, but it’s a popular spot for locals, so we recommend booking ahead for the games, which will be screened in the main bar. World Cup-themed food offers will be available but are yet to be confirmed, and there is also their renowned selection of ales to choose from. The Three Tuns, 1 Portman Mews South T: 020 7408 0330, www.taylor-walker.co.uk/pub/three-tuns-marylebone

The Tudor Rose For a no-frills viewing experience but a guaranteed spot in front of the screen, try The Tudor Rose. The usually sleepy pastiche Tudor pub will be showing all of the games in its main bar. The food menu includes all the British classics: scampi and chips, ploughman’s, gammon steak and even spam fritters if you’re feeling brave. There’s also a darts board for half-time entertainment. If the latest gastropub feels a little lah- dee-dah for your rugby-viewing experience then this old-school boozer should be just the ticket. The Tudor Rose Public House, 44 Blandford Street T: 020 7935 5963

The Carpenters Arms This is by far one of the prettiest pubs on The Portman Estate, thanks to the multitude of hanging baskets and floral displays covering its exterior, but that’s not important. The rugby will be screened from the start of the Cup to the finish, so you can’t possibly miss a game at The Carpenters Arms. Sister pub to the popular Market Porter in Borough Market, it serves some of London’s best pork pies and plenty of ale; it’s the London branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, so they know their stuff. The Carpenters Arms, 12 Seymour Place T: 020 7723 1050, www.markettaverns.co.uk 32 charity

THE INAUGURAL Portman Estate Charity impressive 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Challenge took place at The Portman Horse Artillery, which tested their brain Burtley Estate near Beaconsfield this power, teamwork skills, memory and summer on July 2. The event was run in brawn to the limit. aid of the West London Day Centre, a Competitors were bussed back to charity which supports homeless people Portman Square for tea, a BBQ and in Marylebone. Fourteen teams, including medals, after what everyone agreed was the Estate, Savills, KPMG and British a fun, testing and worthwhile day that Land, among others, put their skills in raised a considerable amount of money archery, shooting, power-buggy driving, for a very worthy cause. hay baling and climbing to the test. The teams also had to take on the www.wlm.org.uk/wldc

Putting local teams to the test in aid of homeless charity West London Day Centre, the inaugural Portman Estate Charity Challenge was a triumphant day of fun competition. Photos The Portman Estate Charity Challenge by Phil O’Connor 34 summer parties

Summer in the city means only one thing: street parties. And Portman locals certainly showed everyone how it’s done this year. With great food, games and live music on offer, this July was a feast of festivities

Local street parties celebrate summer in style

Portman Summer Street Party Despite the Tube strike, Portman Village brought the streets to life on July 9, with the Portman Summer Street Party. Local residents and guests enjoyed alfresco food, drinks and live music on New Quebec Street and Seymour Place, with special offers from the likes of restaurant newcomers Bernardi’s and Lurra, and a children’s tea party hosted by GAIL’s bakery. Visitors also enjoyed special offers at Summer in the Square beauty salons Lemongrass Boutique Spa and Portman Square Garden opened to the public Beauty Rose, as well as table tennis at The for a series of special summer July events, Portman and giant games of Jenga and organised by Baker Street Quarter Connect Four. Partnership. With 25 food stalls out in force selling lunchtime treats, garden visitors relaxed on deckchairs with Wimbledon screenings, crazy golf, table tennis and a pop-up casino. 37 literature

A place of real characters

With more blue plaques than any other borough, Marylebone has plenty of fascinating stories to tell – and as editor Carl Upsall tells Annabel Denham, you can read all about it

WHAT SHAPES AN AREA? Is it the architecture, the amenities, the cultural sights? These factors certainly play an important role in distinguishing one borough from another, but for Carl Upsall – co-editor of Marylebone Lives , a collection of essays – it is stories and events that have truly defined The Portman Estate. Marylebone, the book says, has been home to its fair share of rogues, villains and eccentrics. A little more than 300 years ago, the area was predominantly open fields, but the intervening period has seen Marylebone be home to so many illustrious characters that the borough currently has more blue plaques than any other in London. Yet would local residents be aware, for example, that the great Wilkie Collins once resided at 65 Gloucester Place? Or that, for many years, the author settled in with Caroline Graves – the “illegitimate offspring of a carpenter from Gloucestershire” with a “chequered past”? Equally fascinating is that, for a few months in 1871, 4 Upper Berkeley Street was among the most famous addresses in England. In January that year, it was the scene of the Great London Diamond Robbery – the theft of £2,500 worth (equivalent to £250,000 today) of gems from jewellers Dudley & Ryder. These are precisely the stories Marylebone Lives tells. But while Upsall tells me that these sketches of Marylebone characters are “to help people’s understanding of the area they’re living in”, the interest in what’s shaped the area is not entirely confined to the Marylebone parish. When Upsall sent information on the book to all Westminster libraries, it was Paddington Library that asked if he could do a talk on the book. Rather charmingly, Marylebone Lives was his daughter’s idea: “She pointed out that there were all these blue plaques and interesting stories – so why hadn’t I done a book on them?” Soon after, Upsall began investigating other works on the area, but found them all to be disappointing. 38 literature

“They were flattened-out tales about people with gongs for public service, but that’s not the complete Marylebone story. The eccentrics are just as important as the worthy grandees.” Consider, Upsall says, the Society of Froth Blowers, who raised charity funds by getting together, having a pint of beer and throwing foam at one another. “Crazy, but it worked!” he says. Or the critic and commentator John Ruskin, who in the 1870s decided to open his own teashop to supply the poor of Marylebone with pure tea. “Needless to say, the venture was a failure, not least because there were too many locals whose idea of a refreshing drink was not to be found in a teashop,” the book says. But of them all, none fascinates Upsall (who has lived in the area for over 15 years) more than Emily Faithfull, the writer and campaigner who promoted the women’s cause in the 19th century. “I knew nothing about her before editing Marylebone Lives , but in 1860 she created a printing press that hired women in real roles. She thought that women could be more than receptionists – they could be journalists, editors or typesetters. It’s nice to know that someone like her lived on my doorstep.” As a publisher himself, Faithfull’s story is close to Upsall’s heart. He has been working in the industry since leaving university – first on a specialises in employment and tax law. “It’s one motoring magazine for Haymarket and later for of those areas in which books can look terribly the Law Society. Today, Upsall owns his own boring if you don’t work in that field,” he admits. publishing house – Spiramus Press – which “Yet once you’re stuck into it, it’s tremendously intellectually stimulating. I enjoy publishing for its range – the whole chain of events, from an idea to a tangible finished product.” Although law remains the core of the business, Spiramus has a growing collection of history titles. Marylebone Lives is the third, but another – on trade and empire – is in the pipeline. But the real incentive for Upsall to create his own business – which he co-owns with his wife – lay beyond the intellectual stimulation. “It gave me flexibility and, with that, the opportunity to pursue other interests: sport, music, bringing up a young daughter.” And the Gloucester Place resident takes full advantage of what Marylebone has to offer, be it attending a concert at the Royal Academy of Music or mounting the climbing wall at Seymour Leisure Centre. He “loves” The Grazing Goat, thinks Carousel on Blandford Street is “a brilliant idea” and as a keen clarinettist he can often be found trying out new mouthpieces at Howarth on Chiltern Street.

Marylebone Lives: Rogues, Romantics and Rebels is available on Google Books, Amazon and at www.spiramus.com 40 property

Instead of just a functional floorspace, 21 Gloucester Place a trophy office oozing heritage, prestige Companies looking for a trophy office to call and brand ethos is the new corporate their own may aspire to an address of the calibre must-have. Cally Squires explores The of number 21 Gloucester Place, which is currently under offer with The Portman Estate. Portman Estate’s hottest properties The Grade II-listed Georgian property has been extensively refurbished to offer contemporary office amenities within a historic and prestigious building. Features such as modern shower rooms, new comfort cooling, Trophy offices: more than just bricks and mortar ៊ cycle storage and a new eight-person lift have not been made at the sacrifice of many period items, which have been retained to keep the character of the building intact. Fund manager for the Estate Tom Knight confirms: “We are delighted to be in a position to offer a lease of a headquarters office building, with the last refurbishment of a similar-size building on Gloucester Place being number 52, which was let on a single-head lease to Jo Malone.” So what defines a trophy office? Tom says that, in his opinion, it is “a landmark building with distinctive design features and the very best construction and finishes. It generally has widespread recognition and is considered a prestigious address. Such properties are an effective asset to a business and help attract the best workforce, while conveying to existing and potential clients the corporate ethos and brand of ៌ the company.” 52 Gloucester Place Jo Malone moved into the listed Georgian townhouse ៌ 52 Gloucester Place in 2012, and the stunning 10 Portman Square ់ building has since been the location of many of the ៉ Property developers Weston Homes made the fragrance house’s glamorous industry dinners and move to Marylebone this summer, and marked launch parties. the opening of their central-London office space “This is a flagship for the brand and epitomises by throwing a moving-in party in Portman Square our sense of elegance and welcome. We are, at for 250 guests. heart, a British brand – and what could be more Founder Bob Weston tells The Portman : “It magnificently English than a beautiful Georgian was a pleasure to open our new office with a building flooded with light and character?” ponders celebration. We will certainly consider hosting global general manager Jean-Guillaume Trottier. other events at the Square in the future. The late-18th-century property was decorated by “Being located on a garden square certainly interior designer Rose Uniacke, and getting the adds to the desirability of the new office, and interiors right was key to the building’s dual function Portman Square is home to some of the finest of office and reception space. businesses, such as Arrowgrass Capital Partners, “I was looking for a British interior designer whose Aramco Overseas Company and prestigious style reflects the elegance of the house,” said creative members’ club Home House.” He adds that the director James Gager. “I wanted to respect the location is particularly useful “to give us a strong architecture of the building, but to welcome anyone brand presence in the heart of London’s property who visits. The rooms complement the heritage of and investment communities”. the house and the unique couture aspect of Jo The choice seems to have been a good one. Malone London.” “The office has been positively received by both The building’s frontage is now so synonymous our clients and business associates. Portman with Jo Malone that it will even appear in cardboard Square is a short walk into Mayfair and the wider form on the gift packaging for the brand’s Christmas West End, and it offers great transport links into range – adorned with a festive wreath, of course. the City, making it an obvious choice for us.” 42 obituary

IT WAS WITH GREAT SADNESS that The Portman learned of the passing of ward councillor for Bryanston and Dorset Square Audrey Lewis. Audrey served as Lord Mayor of Westminster, only stepping down in May this year. She is survived by her step-daughter Victoria Lewis, and three grand-daughters, Frances, Nancy and Kathleen, who together served as her consorts during her Mayoral year. She was married to Peter Lewis, who sadly died in 2010. They lived happily together in Marylebone for over 40 years. Among the many tributes, chief executive of The Portman Estate Bill Moore told The Portman : “Audrey’s death was a huge sadness. She was an incredible lady who had the best interests of her ward, of Marylebone and of Westminster at her very heart. “A more proactive, cheerful and dedicated person would have been hard to find. We will all miss her drive, her determination and her carefully thought-through advice. Audrey Lewis, ward councillor and “She was a terrific sounding board on a former Lord Mayor of Westminster, wide variety of matters, and I particularly is remembered by those who valued her forthright views and no-nonsense worked with her approach. Her work on behalf of the Edgware Road was especially effective and has laid

Obituary: Councillor Audrey Lewis

strong foundations on which to build further. She will be sorely missed by us all.” Councillor Philippa Roe, leader of “She was an incredible Westminster City Council, also paid her lady who had the best respects: “Her year as Lord Mayor was one interests of her ward, that I know she enjoyed enormously, and Audrey’s mayoralty was, as with her whole of Marylebone and of Westminster career, characterised by her Westminster at her sense of dignity and duty, her extraordinary work ethic, but also her sense of fun and very heart” sheer enjoyment. “Being chairman of the main Licensing Committee was a role for which she was eminently experienced and able, and it was a “Her year as Lord Mayor … was role to which she took with huge dedication, as was widely recognised by the staff with characterised by her sense of whom she worked and the many people in the dignity and duty, her extraordinary licensing industry who knew her. “Westminster is left without one of the work ethic, but also her sense of most talented and hardworking councillors fun and sheer enjoyment” I have had the privilege to work with.” 44 baker street quarter

It’s one of the greatest impacts any city faces: how to reduce traffic and air pollution. Sophia Charalambous talks to Baker Street Quarter Partnership’s Penny Alexander to find out how the area is cleaning up its act

ABOVE: MARYLEBONE ROAD CROSSING A cleaner, greener Baker Street RIGHT: SMARTER RECYCLING IN ACTION BELOW: PENNY ALEXANDER

THE BAKER Street Quarter Partnership is advancing several projects to tackle the negative impacts of traffic in Marylebone, something which has been identified as a key concern for both local residents and workers in the area. Among the projects taking place are a Smarter Recycling scheme, a new delivery consolidation service and a proposed remodelling of roads in Baker Street and Gloucester Place. All have the aim of bringing about a significant reduction in traffic dominance and associated nuisances in the area. “It benefits those in the area, and The Partnership has been collating its findings reduces air pollution and traffic since 2013. Baker Street Quarter Partnership chief executive Penny Alexander explains how the dominance, especially as people issue was raised in 2008 in The Portman Estate’s aren’t fond of HGVs and vans” Public Realm Strategy, led by Jan Gehl, identifying MID BAKER STREET LOOKING NORTH, ABOVE: that a two way system would enhance the PROPOSED SCHEME, BELOW: EXISTING surroundings. Ms Alexander tells The Portman magazine: vans. We already have BDO, Oliver Wyman and The city has already seen the removal of “The dominance of traffic was a key area that Knight Frank keen to take this forward. The next gyratories in Wandsworth, Piccadilly, Haymarket came up time and time again. It is an important stage is to push it into delivery, which depends on and New Cross; and tasked with putting forward issue for our members, because it determines funding from TfL, but I’m hopeful that something the BID’s endorsement for removing the gyratory whether businesses want to relocate or stay here, would be starting by the end of the year.” on Baker Street and Gloucester Place is the and also for schools and residents. One head of a However, there is another project in the works, Baker Street Quarter Partnership. local school said trying to cross the roads with the the Baker Street Two Way Project, which is a “The air quality is a concern in the area, and in children on a school trip can be a nightmare.” combined effort from Westminster City Council, my mind it’s logical that two way does improve air Tackling reduction of the dominant traffic and Transport for London (TfL), The Portman Estate quality, because delivery vans, for example, won’t pollution has been done a number of ways. Two and the Baker Street Quarter Partnership. The two have to loop back round again, and there will be important schemes already in motion to reduce way scheme has the overall aim of creating both a less stopping and starting because the junctions the number of vehicles emitting toxic fumes in and safer and more enjoyable space for people to live will work more smoothly. around Baker Street, are the waste and recycling particularly for multi-tenanted office buildings, as and work in through remodelling of the roads. “And for an area like Marylebone, which is so consolidation service and a potential new delivery there are potentially many different suppliers all Benefits of the proposed Two Way Project will fabulous, with its longstanding residential consolidation service. travelling to one building. include 50 new and improved crossings, two new population and commercial interest all melded Ms Alexander explains: “We spoke to around “We’re working with TfL to see how we can cycle lanes, 22,000 sq m of high-quality paving together, this ongoing traffic impact is the weakest 40 companies and realised there were 19 different consolidate, either by joint procurement or by and 140 new street lights. The funding is covered link. It’s the thing that blights it.” waste companies servicing them, which is not some sort of out-of-area consolidation centre, largely by TfL, who are contributing £10 million, The Two Way Project consultation ended in good for the pollution levels or traffic. whereby non-perishables are delivered off-site, with £2 million from The Portman Estate, £1 July, and the next stage will be the council “Nearly half our members are now on our then come in on one electric vehicle. million from the Baker Street Quarter Partnership reviewing the findings and continuing with the Smarter Recycling scheme, and we’ve seen a “It benefits those living in the area, and and £2 million from other private-sector partners. local dialogue. 12 per cent reduction in waste collection trips. reduces air pollution and the volume of traffic, It’s a commitment to tackling traffic in one of “The next thing is delivery consolidation, especially as people aren’t fond of HGVs and London’s most structurally divided areas. www.bakerstreetquarter.co.uk